Curiosity. Faith. Questions.: Recent Episodes
Kate Drefke
Living in faith with curiosity, asking questions. Mostly my Sunday sermons, occasional other recordings of my writings.
This sermon was preached the afternoon/evening of 25 Sept. 2024 for the Lutheran-Episcopalian worship at NAMMA (North American Maritime Ministry Association).
I forgot to record the gospel reading. This sermon for an ecumenical service, part of a Season of Creation one of the congregations is doing.
Lectionary cuts off at v.69.
Hear my sermon on this text from 3 years ago (it was better than this one) at: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/5gpAqYfnmMb
Coffee Hour Worship sermon discussion. Big blocks of silence have been edited out, but there are still pieces that weren't caught.
Lectionary John 6.35, 41-51.
Next week is coffee hour worship. Be thinking about the deeper relationship.
Today we started a 5-week stretch in John 6 (lectionary portions below), a lot on the “Bread of Life” and communion. I encourage you to read the whole chapter sometime this week (or month of August). Help my sermon prep by sharing your thoughts- questions, insights, wonderings, etc.- with me via email, text, old-fashioned phone call, or drop a note my hand Sunday morning. Thanks! -Kate
DATE JOHN 6:v Sundays & Seasons’ Super Summation
7/28 1-21 Christ feeding the five thousand
8/4 24-35 Christ the bread of life
8/11 35, 41-51 Christ the bread of life (yup- a repeat)
☕︎ 8/18 51-58 Christ the true food and drink
8/25 56-69 The bread of eternal life
The homework foci:
today’s 4:5-12, the treasure of Christ and Christ’spower in our earthly vessels;
4:13-5:1, trusting in resurrection and not despairingin mortality;
5:6-17, living by faith and not by sight, God’s newcreation;
6:1-13, Paul’s defense of his ministry, God’s workingfor our salvation;
8:7-15, honoring the commitment to the Jerusalemcollection;
12:2-10, not boasting in one’s own accomplishments,seeing God’s power made perfect in weakness
Today's readings:
Acts 2:1-21 (Ezekiel 37:1-14)
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
Romans 8:22-27
John 15:26-27; 16:4b-14
Cut out most of the conversation from the recording, but there are still bits and pieces, other noise from the room.
Readings: Acts 1:15-17, 21-26; 1 John 5:9-13; John 17:6-19.
Playlist:
"I Am Not Ashamed" Flamy Grant https://youtu.be/36ZabB5hZcU
"I Don't Know How to Love Him" (Mel C as Mary M) https://youtu.be/lw5HdK8_p6w (Tim Minchin as Judas https://youtu.be/NFjDJ1i0CY8?t=96)
"Judas" Lady Gaga https://youtu.be/wagn8Wrmzuc
Read Psalm 23 from a couple of different translations. (BibleGateway.com is a great resource for this.)
This sermon was preached/dialogued with my first service Sunday, 21 April 2024. My second service was not recorded, part of "coffee hour worship." Also used as devotions for a conference assembly that afternoon. Each discussion yielded new insights.
Numbers 21:4-9. I used ChatGPT to write part of this like it was for a Jewish audience because the scriptures of Moses' time stand on their own. They don't need Jesus-fying. If there are any Jewish listeners, please let me know how I and the AI did.
This was a shorter delivered sermon with discussion time. Recorded discussion at first service where discussion not as intentional. At second service, talked more in depth about the different covenants and other agreements we make with one another and how we might struggle to keep them. Ended with an acknowledgement of God's own struggle with humanity and keeping their covenants with us.
What was Jesus like as a kid? What would he want to be different about his life? What would he be like now?
Christian eschatology is a "big ball of wibbley-wobbley timey-wimey stuff."
https://www.bobdylan.com/songs/ring-them-bells/
Matthew 25:1-13.
Eschatological Discourse: be prepared for living in the now and not yet realm of God.
A slightly different rendering of the poem read at the end: https://genius.com/Mohammed-el-kurd-my-nakba-birthday-lyrics It can be heard in its entirety on Spotify.
The poem, "Born On Nabka Day," as quoted, comes from Rifqa (c)2021 Mohammed El-Kurd.
Matthew 21:23-32. The parable will (probably) be talked about next week with the next parable.
Gospel lesson read is Matthew 16:21-28 (following last week's reading).
Read Romans, or at least Romans 12 for this sermon.
Quoted song lyrics: http://www.melodywalker.com/tipjar
Quoted book info: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/rainn-wilson/soul-boom/9780306828270/?lens=hachette-go
This sermon brought to you by jetlag. I had a member suggest I use AI to write the next jetlag sermon- before even hearing this! :-)
hymn of the day, The Reign of God, like Farmer's Field, has great lyrics and I should have just read those: https://youtu.be/A_idTlnDXrk
Yes, the church should be concerned with equity and inclusion, casting out demons of White Supremacy, curing poverty, etc.
In my other service, people talked about the Spirit moving intergenerationally, encouraging conversations and sharing faith stories with one another.
Study Bibles used for the breakdowns: Lutheran Study Bible; New Interpreters Bible. Both NRSV.
Abraham and Sarah had Isaac, Jewish and then Christian lineage.
Before Isaac, Abraham and Hagar had Ishmael, Muslim lineage.
Luke 24:13-35
https://apnews.com/article/mass-killings-record-pace-2023-d685a6cd67e0f449f3f9d1d8713d451c
Scripture: John 20:19-31
Book discussed: Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas (2003), Elaine Pagels
Gospel read at the beginning of worship to announce the Resurrection. Recorded and added later.
Teasing our Lenten Book study: Sermon on the Mount: A Beginner's Guide to the Kingdom of Heaven by Amy-Jill Levine.
Salt and light are essential for living. Our "good works" are not for ourselves, but for glorifying God and loving our neighbors.
Jesus fulfills all righteousness, obedient to God's right and just will. Like his foremothers and fathers.
A little recap-ish of the Advent Mothers, comparing Mary in Matthew and Luke, and how Jesus is part of it all.
2 Samuel 11-12 (13-14 for the narrative pairing concerning Tamar, Amnon, and Absalom), and 1 Kings 1-2.
Content warning: rape, murder, infant death. NOTE: God's casting judgement upon David for his sins results in the death of their first son. Despite seeing such things happen in scripture throughout this series, KNOW that God does not kill in judgement of our sins.
Reading selection: Joshua 2:1-21. For all of Rahab, read Joshua 2, 6:15-25.
Hymn not recorded/ included.
Genesis 38:13-19, 24-27 read. Read all of Gen. 38 for the full story.
Hymn lyrics written and sung by Kate Drefke. Set to the tune of "Rejoice, Rejoice Believers" and available upon request.
Hear the hymn referenced, You, Lord, Are Both Lamb and Shepherd at https://youtu.be/4_63xC8cy5g
After the destruction of the Temple, Luke's writer uses Jesus to speak to the present/future fears of the people.
Because it's Election Day in two days, and I didn't explicitly work it into the sermon, and in case anyone reads this: VOTE! Vote for your neighbor's well-being. What do they need? Who will help? Who will hurt? Vote as if your neighbor's life depended on it.*
*Your neighbor's life really could depend on how you vote. Is there a proposal on your ballot to expand access to or coverage of mental health and/or medical care? Any equal rights measures? What are the candidates priorities? Even if you disagree with the choices someone might make, vote for compassion and mercy. US Senator Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock says, "A vote is a kind of prayer for the kind of world you want." [exact wording may be a touch off]
What are some of the changes, reformations, transformations, you have witnessed here? …
What are, or have been, some of your fears in times of uncertainty or transition? …
What are, or have been, your hopes in times of uncertainty or transition? …
Sing: The Church of Christ, in Every Age (ELW #729) https://youtu.be/Q35unipWCuI
There's a long quote from The Jewish Annotated New Testament citing several passages of scripture. They are:
- Luke 11:4
- Genesis 18:24-33
- Luke 18:14b
- Luke 14:11
- Mathew 23:12
The widow cried "avenge me!" The judge feared a black eye so did as the woman said. But what is justice- not vengeance- in the hard and impossible times?
Anchor does not (yet) allow episodes to be arranged as a playlist, so here's the super episode of summer 2022 mission and discernment series. Individual episodes can be found by searching this podcast for "Trinity Sunday 2022" (#1), "Mission and Discernment" 2, 3, and 4.
Anchor does not (yet) have a way of sharing episodes as playlist, so I've created this super episode of the Grief and Loss sermon series done in summer 2022 at the two ELCA congregations I serve: Faith, Troy and Evangelical, Poestenkill. The series used William Worden's four tasks of mourning, a clinical model for grief counseling and therapy. My intention was to balance the clinical grief education with spiritual care, each complimenting and supporting the other. (To be clear: the Bible is NOT a mental health resource. Mental health and spiritual health are distinct things, but with shared and overlapping qualities.)
See the individual episodes titled "Grief [n]" 1-4 for details of each instalment.
Worden's fourth task is, "to find a way to remember the deceased while embarking on the rest of one's journey through life." Death is not the end of our relationships with loved ones, just the end of how they were. We create continuing bonds that carry our relationships forward in transformed ways, and make room in our lives for new relationships.
Readings: John 11:14-17, 21-26a; 1 Corinthians 15:51-55; Romans 6:3-5, 8-9
Hymn of the Day: ACS #1030 "Death Be Never Last" https://youtu.be/xJAUoYBzOZY
Scripture readings: Luke 9:1-6; Matthew 10:5-8, Acts 6:1-7
see/compare Lk 9:1-6, Mt 10:5-15, Mk 3:13-19
Hymn: We All Are One in Mission (ELW #576): https://youtu.be/UqTdphvJODY
A brief consideration of Paul's letter to Philemon (et al.), reviewing the top two theories about the letter's intent and what they might mean for us today.
Worden's third task of mourning: “to adjust to a world without the deceased.”
A reading from Psalm…1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?
2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer;
and by night but find no rest. (Ps. 22:1-2)
A reading from Bonnie Raitt…And just like that your life can change
If I hadn't looked away
My boy might still be with me now
He'd be 25 today
No knife can carve away the stain
No drink can drown regret
They say Jesus brings you peace and grace
Well he ain't found me yet (“Just Like That” ©2022)
A reading from Luke…13 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16 but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” 19 He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. (Lk 24:13-21a)
Jesus liberates us from the legalisms used against us, AND those we use against others.
This does some brief cross-talk with the congregation.
Scripture readings: Exodus 3:7-12 and Romans 12:1-8
Spiritual Gifts Assessment tool referenced: https://www.elca.org/Our-Work/Congregations-and-Synods/Faith-Practices/Spiritual-Renewal/Assessment-Tools
Assigned epistle reading: Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16. Preached on v. 1 & 3- definition of faith.
lyric video of hymn, "Faith Begins By Letting Go": https://youtu.be/HoGpu2P4rTA
Sunday's worship was a hymn sing, so here's a little sermonette on why we sing and have hymns in our worship.
Assigned Gospel: Luke 10:38-42. Touched on last week's (Luke 10:25-37), and spent most of the time on next week's (Luke 11:1-13, v.1-4).
First in a four-part series on grief and loss. Guiding clinical model is William Worden's 4 tasks of mourning. Task 1: to accept the reality of the loss.
If you find yourself needing to talk or otherwise having difficulties, talk to Pr. Kate or a licensed therapist.
Hymn of the day: ACS #1054 "God Weeps with Us Who Weep and Mourn": https://youtu.be/1gzIzRA43mE and https://youtu.be/cXRPvVG9pMI
Prayer intercession: God who knows our losses, our griefs. Sit with us like Job’s friends. Weep with us. In time, help us to accept the reality of our losses as we trust always in you. God of grace, hear our prayer.
Gospel lesson read Luke 8:26-39
Hymn recommendation: "Lift Every Voice and Sing" https://youtu.be/xit09LrjJUU (see ELW 841 for lyrics)
Also the first in a summer series on mission and discernment.
HOD: "Come, Join the Dance of Trinity" (ELW #412) by Richard Leach; music: English folk tune https://youtu.be/__cSgHK9yhw
Acts lesson (16:16-34) read and added in.
School shootings are bad. Mass shootings anywhere are bad. Killing people is bad. Remember your baptism and renounce evil forces which turn you from God. Remember your baptism and proclaim Christ in word and deed, forsaking violence always for peace and justice.
This was my sermon 4 days after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL. That shooting was Valentine's Day and Ash Wednesday in 2018. The Sunday was the first of Lent. I was on internship. This was preached at Joy Lutheran in Eagle River, AK.
Racism and White Christian Nationalism are bad and antithetical to the Gospel of Jesus.
A post-reading of the Acts lesson today, and then the sermon reading of the Gospel from John 20:19-31.
The Easter sermon "series" will be on the Acts readings, and surrounding stuff.
Assigned lectionary: Acts 10:34-43; Luke 24:1-12
Preached most of Acts 10 and about 1/2-3/4 Luke 24
John's unique features and loving one another like Jesus.
Hymn after: ELW #358 "Great God, Your Love Has Called Us" https://youtu.be/VytOka1mXHQ
The worship service was exclusively Palm Sunday (not Passion), so was the sermon.
Hymn of the Day: Pave the Way with Branches by Bret Hesla, performed here by Tim McNabb: https://youtu.be/MZ_uUXCDMk4
Elizabeth Schrader's website with a link to the article I mentioned: https://www.elizabethschrader.com/about-7
Lectionary assigns only the third parable (Lk 15:1-3, 11b-32). all of chapter 15 read and preached here.
Hangry Jesus resists temptation and reminds us that even the devil can quote scripture to prove their point.
Mountain highs and valley lows.
Sermon begins with reading Luke 9:18-27.
Quoted article: https://religionnews.com/2022/02/24/next-year-in-kyiv/
Jesus' sermon continues with more hard truths for us- this time about how we live in relationship with the divine and one another.
Luke's beatitudes hit at our propensity for economic violence and calls us to economic justice as a means of realizing the realm of God in the here and now.
Reading quote (below) from Preaching the Gospels Without Blaming the Jews: A Lectionary Commentary (2004) by Ronald J. Allen & Clark M. Williamson; p. 184.
The term “deep water” translates the Greek bathos, that is translated “deep” in Gen. 1:2. The deep was a fierce, untamed, dark, primal sea that existed before God began to speak into existence and bring into covenantal relationship the elements of creation. In Jewish mythology, the sea often represents chaos.
Lectionary for 23 Jan/ 3rd Sunday after Epiphany Luke 4:14-21, for following Sunday Luke 4:21-30. It's a passage that (I think) should be read and preached together. So I did.
Preached at ELCP ahead of their annual congregational meeting. Gospel of the day (Luke 4:14-21) read, and primary preaching text was 1 Corinthians 12. Recording paused during the dialogue portion and then picked up again for the final minute.
At a wedding in Cana, Jesus turns water into wine as the people around him trust without comprehending what he has done.
Sunday was a service of lessons and carols for the naming of Jesus: Savior, Christ, and Lord. Gospel lessons are followed by a brief reflection.
Readings:
Psalm 8
Isaiah 12:2-6
*Matthew 1:18-21
Isaiah 61:1-3, 11
*John 1:19-23. 29-34
Isaiah 6:1-8
*Luke 1:26-35
*recorded and followed by a brief reflection
Brief reflection following seven lessons (NRSV) and carols (ELW- Evangelical Lutheran Worship).
- Genesis 1:1-5, 14-18
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear v.3-4 2. Micah 5:2-5a
O Little Town of Bethlehem v.3-4 3. Luke 1:26-35, 38
The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came v.1-2 4. Matthew 1:18-25
That Boy-Child of Mary v.1-2 5. Luke 2:8-20
Angels from the Realms of Glory v.1-2 6. Matthew 2:1-11
In the Bleak Midwinter v.2-3 7. John 1:1-14
Of the Father's Love Begotten v.1&5
Even in-utero John proclaims Jesus as the Holy One, the Messiah. The Magnificat- Mary's (or Elizabeth's) song is a song of revolution.
Hymn of the day, based off the Magnificat: ELW 723, Canticle of the Turning (one of my absolute favorites!). Church musician Robert Morehead (Emmanuel Lutheran Church) presents on and plays it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xE8oe9qM5Cc
And church musician Tim McNabb (Halifax Lutheran Church) plays it here: https://youtu.be/BBm597ApG3Q?list=RDMMBBm597ApG3Q
Advent 3, following Advent 2: John the Baptizer reminding us of covenant, practicing mercy and justice, generosity, and integrity.
The quote from Dr. Miguel A. De La Torre, professor at Iliff School of Theology:
"When soldiers ask John the Baptist what they must do, John responds that they must not use coercion or extortion against anyone. But an empire can only be sustained by its army carrying out violent actions. War, by its very definition, requires violence, and therefore John’s response is revolutionary, for if imperial armies cease doing violence, empires will cease to exist." (The Peoples' Bible (2008). study note, p. 1476.)
First Sunday in new call! Two-point; both recorded, second recorded and posted (first available upon request).
This Sunday is known in the calendar as Christ the King Sunday. It is the last Sunday of the Church year, and was my final Sunday in this congregation which has its closing service Jan 9.
The tweet I quote:
Nadia Bolz-Weber
@Sarcasticluther
Pope Pius XI established Christ the King Sunday in 1925 to counter what he regarded as the destructive forces of facism and the totalitarian claims of Nazi ideologies. I know I am 4 days early, but Happy Antifa Sunday, everyone.
6:44 PM · Nov 17, 2021·Twitter Web App
Mark's people are stressed, feeling the end of all they knew upon them. Jesus speaks to their hurt and trauma.
Assigned lectionary was John 11:32-44. I read 11:1-54 to let the text, the story speak for itself.
Congregation has started process to close, has no traditions around All Saints.
References to Phyllis Tickle's 2008 book, The Great Emergence: How Christianity is Changing and Why. I highly recommend reading it.
Context, referenced: congregation voted two weeks ago to pursue Holy Closure, and will finish worshipping together in early January. Change is hard.
It seems we aren't familiar with Bartimaeus because his story showing up in the lectionary usually conflicts with Reformation Sundays.
"Jesus loves you, but I'm his favorite." The baptized life is about service, care and concern for the oppressed and vulnerable, not occupying places of favor or honor.
Small congregation voting on closure after several months of dedicated discussion, which followed years of "kicking the can down the road."
Congregation will meet next week after worship to vote on council recommendation to close. Hard conversations have been had and will be had.
The young, rich man was given a hard choice. What happened to him?
Reminder: Jesus said divorce is bad, and NOTHING about gays or other LGBTQ+ people. We are made for relationship with the Divine and one another. This means healthy, nurturing, caring, loving relationships. Abusive relationships of any sort are antithetical to the Gospel and God's Creation, ongoing creative activity.
Lots of references to myriad things, including this sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v00iAqhUno&t=791s
Congregation is grappling with upcoming vote to close.
Small congregation without live music. Worshipped outside to resume singing during worship. Music for worship played from YouTube* and we sang along. Hymn referenced at end of sermon (All Are Welcome by Marty Haugen): https://youtu.be/U-S-Peltx-c.
*Thank you Halifax Lutheran Church/Lutheran Church of the Resurrection and Tim McNabb. Your channel/recordings are what we use every week (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8Cc1Y1pshqQ8X8F3nBr-lQ).
Got an excellent follow-up/clarifying question after worship about identifying Jesus with the cross at this point. Remember, the gospels were written ~40+ years following Jesus' resurrection and ascension and are NOT first person accounts. The writers wrote to different audiences and had different ways of emphasizing the life and ministry of Jesus. Also, Jesus wasn't crucified for going around telling everyone he was God (or the Messiah as he instructs the disciples in today's reading to keep quiet), but for telling the earthly powers that they, like God, needed to be concerned with the needs and rights of the poorest among them- a clear challenge to their power and privilege. Picking up Christ's cross and following him requires us to put down our power and privilege and pick up the needs of the poor, oppressed, downtrodden, and to work towards the realization of God's justice for all.
Assigned lectionary is Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23. Read Mark 7:1-15, 17-23 (no v.16; some translations offer one. Mark is weird).
Remember: Jesus was Jewish and we shouldn't use our scriptures to disparage Judaism/Jewish people.
Warning: lots of rhetorical questions for your deeper consideration.
For John's writer, Jesus doesn't institute the eucharist in a single event, but his whole life institutes the eucharist.
August 2021 Second Saturday at local bookstore sharing own writing.
Pandemic's America (a slight revision from last month's presentation)
A Late Morning Wake-Up (a fun shortie I wrote that morning)
Goddess 10-1 (playing with form; written out there are 10 stanzas of four lines each; stanza 1 each line is 10 syllables, stanza 2, 9 syllables, down to 1)
Reading adds v. 22-23 to assigned lectionary. Imagined snarky-ish Jesus responses in sermon.
Compares/contrasts Mark's version (read the week before) with John's telling. Allow our hearts to be broken open to God's abundance.
Assigned lection for the day: Mark 6:30-34, 53-56. I added in v. 35-52 to the reading for narrative context. Sermon also references earlier events of chp. 6.
Preaching setting: tiny, older congregation without a called pastor for the last 2-3 years; a local retired pastor served as their stated supply most weeks until re-retirement in June. COVID shutdowns meant a lot of "at home worship" because no technology know-how for an online option.
BYOW(writing) event at local bookstore, 10 July 2021. First piece is a work in progress, working title "Pandemics America" and the second is a very slight rework of my 2021 Pentecost Sunday sermon.
Pt. 4/4 of "ask the pastor" series. Forgiveness and Confession.
Citations* at end of manuscript:
[1] Johnathan C. Richardson. "Forgiveness that matters: The witness of peacemaking by a forgiven people." Christian Century (May 5, 2021 issue, p. 23). https://www.christiancentury.org/article/critical-essay/christian-peacemaking-and-role-forgiveness
[2] Book of Concord (2000). Kolb, Wengert, eds. "Brief exhortation to confession," M. Luther. p.477.
*Yes, I know- not properly formatted.
Recommended viewing:
search "Azim Khamisa" on YouTube for several videos on his story and the work he and others do to end youth violence.
"Meeting with a Killer" documentary (2001)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxk7X7PXCOY&t=6s
Pt. 3 of "ask the pastor" sermon series. Asks about Bible translations and what to do with ancillary texts and sources beyond scripture.
Pt. 2 of "ask the pastor" sermon series. Q1: What are the different parts of a church building and where did those names come from? Q2: What are the seasons of the church, their colors, and the meanings of those colors?
Refers heavily to an accompanying handout. Information from that handout can be found by google definition search (terms: sanctuary, chancel, nave, narthex, sacristy), and https://blogs.elca.org/worship/541/ images can be found here and here.
Pt. 1 in "Ask the Pastor" sermon series. Stated belief in God creating the universe and all that it contains. Assuming life on other planets, do they each have their own Jesus?
Sermon for Pentecost Sunday, 2021. Pseudo-spoken word style.
Preaching context: congregation in call process.