Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 Our dear Dr. Luther was, on more than one occasion, accused of theological pessimism.  Did ya know that Lutherans?  Theological pessimism.  Not a bad place to begin a sermon… When it came to how Luther understood our ability to make faithful decisions and live faithful lives – how we spend our time, how we use our resources, how we care for creation and for our neighbor – Luther could be pretty pessimistic.  Why?  Because for Luther, when you really get down to it, in our best efforts to do as we should and live into our faith, we are helpless again ..read more

When I was little, my grandparents lived close by, and often took care of me when my parents were at work.  My Pap would get me off the preschool bus, and he and my Mom-Mom  would give me snacks. I got to watch a little TV, which was special because my parents didn’t have cable.  Often, they would have a tv land on, full of reruns of their favorite shows from the 60s, 70s, and 80s.  One show that I remember them watching often- and I loved too – was I Dream of Jeannie. The show ran for five seasons, from 1965-1970. The pilot episode tells the story of Tony, a handsome astro ..read more

Mark 6:1-13 This past week we celebrated the Fourth of July – our Independence Day.  Celebrations that have marked the calendar as a federal holiday since 1941, that go back as far as the 18th century, to the American Revolution – when those Patriots of the 13 colonies rose up against British rule, eventually resulting in American independence on July 2, 1776 – the Continental Congress voting in favor… the Declaration of Independence signed two days later on July 4th… Our historians in the room know that those initial battles of the Revolutionary War broke out in April of 1775 – more than ..read more

Mark 5:21-43 Today’s gospel brings before us two separate yet connected stories, in which encounters with Jesus bring healing and hope, restoration and new life. Jesus has just returned to Jewish territory from the far side of the sea of Galilee.  As he steps out of the boat, he’s greeted by a crowd of people gathered along the shore.  Among them – a man named Jarius, a leader of the synagogue, begging Jesus to heal his daughter… to make her well…  As Jesus and disciples work their way through the crowd, following this desperate father, an woman suffering from hemorrhages reache ..read more

Eternal Father, strong to save, Whose arm hath bound the restless wave, Who bid’st the mighty ocean deep Its own appointed limits keep; O hear us when we cry to Thee, For those in peril on the sea. –Eternal Father, Strong to Save, written by William Whiting 1860 Today’s sermon hymn, Eternal Father, Strong to Save, will always remind me of this man: aka, my Pap, who on June 4th, , would have turned 99 years old.  He was born on June 4, 1925, and passed a few days before I turned ten, in September of 2007. The hymn was played at his funeral, a perfect tribute to his almost three year long ..read more

Mark 4:26-34 Most of you, I think, know by now that I am a child of the church – a cradle Lutheran.  The church, like a second home for me throughout my life.  Born into a family with five Lutheran pastors, and well, could it really have happened any other way? While I was baptized at the font of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Carlisle, as you’ve heard before, my church upbringing took place on the other side of the Susquehanna – at the congregation, my then pastor developer father began to form when I wasn’t quite two years old. My parents would tell you, in a walk down memory lane ..read more

Good Morning! This past Friday evening, Pat Sajak ended his run as the host of the TV Show Wheel of Fortune. In the spirit of the game show genre, I thought I would begin today’s sermon with a bit of a game. The following clues are about famous TV shows. Can you guess which ones I’m referencing? July 5, 1989 to May 14, 1998 Comedian as the main character Frequent lunch trips to the Cafe Festivus Answer: Seinfeld September 24, 2007, to May 16, 2019,  Physics Fun with Flags! Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock Answer: The Big Bang Theory September 22, 1994, to May 6, 2004 NYC Purple A ..read more

Mark 2:23 – 3:6 Through two separate incidents of conflict, today’s gospel presents us with a glimpse into how Jesus interpreted Torah law – those laws outlined in the first 5 books of the Bible.  Specifically, how he interpreted the laws of sabbath.  Of what acts… what work… a good and faithful Jew is allowed to do on the day of rest and what they are not.   On the one side of the conflict, there’s Jesus.  On the other side, there’s the Pharisees – a sect of Judaism, who, among others, considered themselves to be the keepers of the law. In our first incident, we find Jesus ..read more

Preached by Pastor Paul Lutz, Pastor in Residence at All Saint’s Church and St. George’s Chapel Rehoboth Beach, DE and proud grandpa to Lincoln Oliver Lutz. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.    This morning, God will make another disciple as Lincoln Oliver Lutz is baptized in the name of the Triune God -Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. That’s Lincoln Oliver Lutz LOL –Laughing out Loud, or. consider it’s happening on Trinity Sunday = Lots of Love. He’s not the first in the extended f ..read more

Acts 2:1-21, John 15:26-27, 16:4b-15 This weekend, in the life of the church, we celebrate the day of Pentecost.  The day, when following Jesus’ ascension into heaven, the Holy Spirit is sent from the Father over the apostles and the crowds gathered in Jerusalem.  Moving through them…  Entering into them…  As it’s recorded at the end of Acts chapter 2, converting three thousand people into faithful followers of Christ in the blink of an eye. Bible scholars often regard this weekend’s text from the Acts of the Apostles – describing these events – as one of the more fantastic ..read more