Claimed, gathered and sent

What do you think about this passage? This was shared with the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church.  What is God saying to you through it? Gospel: Matthew 3:13-17 13Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” Three basic things happen in this short telling of Jesus’ baptism: he is baptized by John, touched by the Spirit and publicly identified as God’s Son. Why was Jesus baptized after all? He certainly did not need to have his sins washed away ...

This is the sermon I preached last Sunday, 1/5 at St. Timothy Lutheran Church . The gospel text was Matthew 2:1-12.  What in the world is Epiphany and why do we celebrate it? Epiphany means "showing forth." It names the day that the church tells Matthew's story of the magi from foreign lands who follow the light of the star and "see" Jesus as Christ. This is important because this acknowledges that the greatest gift given by the God who comes down to be with His people, is to be shared by Jew and Gentile alike. The irony here is the wise men who were not Jewish scholars were the first to recognize the sign of the star in the sky and the importance of its meaning. It's commonly believed that the star would have also been seen in Jerusalem and Judea but somehow the Jewish scholars were asleep in the temple. Even if they saw it, they either ignored it or didn't look in the Jewish scriptures to find out what it meant. More importantly, if they did unders...

This Sunday we will be celebrating Epiphany. The text below is the one I'm preaching from. What are your thoughts about this text? Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12 1In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” 3When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:  6‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,   are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;  for from you shall come a ruler   who is to shepherd my people Israel.’ ”   7Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8Then he sent t...

This is the sermon I preached on Christmas Eve at St. Timothy Lutheran Church. The text was Luke 2:1-20. On a long winter evening, we gather to proclaim the coming of the light. Isaiah announces that the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Paul reminds us that the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all. In this familiar account of Jesus’ birth, the evening sky is bright with the heavenly host singing, “Glory to God in the highest.” Amid our broken world, we proclaim that the prince of peace is born among us. (Sundaysandseasons). After all the shopping, cleaning, cooking and preparing and after trying to make ends meet; keeping a distraught family together, struggling to get a job and worrying about a loved one serving overseas—after all the stuff that makes our lives crazy—the short, simple, peaceful word that we are of infinite value and worth to God is perhaps just what we need to hear tonight. We long and hope that God will counter the ch...

This is the sermon I preached for Blue Christmas, Sunday 12/22/19 at St. Timothy Lutheran Church. The Bible passage I used was Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 .     The people of Israel were in a really bad way. Psalm 80 is a psalm of lament, the psalmist’s response to the trouble. Diving together into the psalm, we will find comfort. The feelings expressed mingle with our own as we allow God to be with us in our sufferings, when we are blue. I’m not trying to put anyone on the spot, but is there anyone here who has never suffered pain and sorrow at some time in their life? If so, I’d like to see your hand. That’s what I thought. This psalm is one of communal lament. People broke with their normal routines, assembled at sanctuaries, offered sacrifices, lamented their distress and pleaded with God to intervene on their behalf. Psalms of lament follow this pattern: God We have a problem Why have You allowed this to happen to us?        ...

This is the reflection that was sent out to the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church . This Sunday will be our Blue Christmas service and I will be preaching from this text. What are your thoughts about the psalmist's cries? Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 1  Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,     you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth 2      before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh. Stir up your might,     and come to save us! 3  Restore us, O God;     let your face shine, that we may be saved. 4  O Lord God of hosts,     how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers? 5  You have fed them with the bread of tears,     and given them tears to drink in full measure. 6  You make us the scorn of our neighbors;     our enemies laugh am...

What are your thoughts about this passage from Isaiah? I'm curious, even though I'm not preaching this week. We have a special guest. This is being sent out to the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church.  First Reading: Isaiah 35:1-10  1The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,         the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus 2it shall blossom abundantly,   and rejoice with joy and singing.  The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,   the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.  They shall see the glory of the LORD,   the majesty of our God.  3Strengthen the weak hands,   and make firm the feeble knees.  4Say to those who are of a fearful heart,   “Be strong, do not fear!  Here is your God.   He will come with vengeance,  with terrible recompense.   He will come and save you.”  5Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,   and the ears of the deaf unstopped;  6then the lame shall leap like a deer,   and the tongue of the speec...