Claimed, gathered and sent

This is the reflection that was sent out to the people of God at St. Timothy Lutheran Church. This is the text I'll be preaching on Sunday.  First Reading: Ezekiel 17:22-24                                                  22 Thus says the Lord God:  I myself will take a sprig   from the lofty top of a cedar;   I will set it out.  I will break off a tender one   from the topmost of its young twigs;  I myself will plant it   on a high and lofty mountain.   23 On the mountain height of Israel   I will plant it,  in order that it may produce boughs and bear fruit,   and become a noble cedar.  Under it every kind of bird will live;   in the shade of its branches will nest   winged creatures of every kind.   24 All the trees of the field shall know   that I am the Lord.  I bring low the high tree,   I make high the low tree;  I dry up the green tre...

This is the sermon I preached on Sunday, 6/10/18 at St. Timothy Lutheran Church . It is sprinkled throughout with family pictures. The text was Mark 3:20-35. It is nearly officially summer and we look forward to all those activities in which we participate at this time of year. For you it may be boating, bicycling or traveling. Among the various summer ventures, you may find yourself at a family reunion. And often at such events, we find quite a variety of lovely and loving family members that we may know well or perhaps never met. Then there’s always a character or two who you may try to escape throughout the reunion. l to r: Nick and Sarah Van Staalduinen, Hugh & Kathy Van Staalduinen Grace Alessi (in middle) Prior to today’s gospel reading from Mark, Jesus had been quite busy teaching, healing and setting people free by exorcising demons. His popularity was on the rise. Jesus had to be exhausted, so he went home. One would expect a nice family reunion. We would exp...