Claimed, gathered and sent

This is the sermon I preached last Sunday, 11/17/19 at St. Timothy Lutheran Church. The text was Luke 21:5-19 . It has happened once again—another school shooting that has resulted in the death or injury of children. This time the act was committed in Santa Clarita, CA, by the children’s classmate on his 16 th birthday. We cry out like the Psalmist, “ Turn, O  Lord !  How   long ? Have compassion on your servants!” (Psalm 90:13). No matter what our feelings are on gun control, we struggle to understand how this can continue to happen in our country week after week. As of November 15, which was the 319 th day of the year, there have been 366 mass shootings in our country. This means an average of more than one mass shooting a day. More would have been hurt and/or killed had the kids not followed their active shooter training. I find it difficult to comprehend our children and grandchildren needing to practice in anticipation of the day when someone ...

This is the reflection that will be sent out to the people of St. Timothy this Thursday. This is not an easy text of scripture with which to grapple and I would like to hear your insights. Let's dialogue! Gospel: Luke 21:5-19 5When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, [Jesus] said, 6“As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.”   7They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” 8And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them.   9“When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.” 10Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; 11there will be g...

This is the sermon I preached this past Sunday, 11/13 at St. Timothy and St. Mark Lutheran Churches. The gospel text was Luke 21:5-19 . A while back, Ray and I watched the movie "The Agony and the Ecstasy." It is the story of Michelangelo and the conflicts and joys he experienced as he painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. To begin with, Michelangelo felt ill equipped for the task for which Pope Julius had commissioned him. He was a sculptor, not a painter. Additionally, during his work on the chapel, Michelangelo experienced significant barriers to his artistic inspiration from society, his family, the Pope, and the Church leadership of the day. To produce the marvelous frescoes on the chapel's ceiling, he worked day and night for four years on top of scaffolding lying on his back! What a feat! In order to produce the wonderfully, amazing work of art, Michelangelo had to endure agony before experiencing the ecstasy of the finished work. Ho...