Luke 24: 36b-48 Looking through the pages of history, while I think we’d all agree that every moment bears some measure of significance, there are those moments – those events, those natural occurrences, those human actions – that have measurable significance in much larger ways.  Some, for better or for worse, forever changing the course of the days ahead. The first use of fire by humankind, dating back as far as 2 million years ago.  Those first forms of communication – of language.  The invention of the wheel.  Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press.  Alexander ..read more

It was a spring day, in the year 33 AD – the beginning of the week of Passover – what was and continues to be recognized as the most sacred week of the Jewish year.  Members of the Jewish faithful from all over the Roman world made their way to Jerusalem – the capital city of ancient Israel… to the temple – the center of sacred imagination for the Jewish people, believed to be God’s dwelling place on earth.  Roughly a quarter million travelling from their homes, some for days on end, for a time of worship and celebration. Coming together to remember – to thank God, for God’s delivera ..read more

John 3:14-21 This past week, the ELCA Conference of Bishops issued an official statement calling for the permanent bilateral cease-fire in Gaza…  Adding its’ voice to the ever-increasing group of faith leaders across the world – including the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Pope – who, to put it bluntly, are fed up with all the violence and suffering in the Land we deem Holy…  Urging President Biden and our nation’s legislators to do everything in their power to bring it to an end… to begin to lay the foundation for peace… For those who haven’t been following the conflict as closely ..read more

Good Morning! We’re going to begin today’s message with a word association game. Here’s how it works. I’ll give you a few words, and you tell me how they are connected. There’s a theme.  Apple Seven Mirror Sleep Answer: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Underwater Red hair Legs Voice Answer: The Little Mermaid Snowman Ice Gloves Scandinavia Answer: Frozen The last one, Frozen, has been a family favorite for a little over 10 years. It tells the story of Princess Elsa, a girl born with special ice powers. Afraid of what her powers could do, she self-isolates in her castle, until her cor ..read more

Mark 8:31-38 Today’s gospel, presents us with the first of Jesus’ passion predictions in the Gospel of Mark – “that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.” I’ve read this text a hundred times and preached on it more than once, but for whatever reason, as I prepared for this morning’s sermon, our second verse – verse 32 – caught my attention.  “He said all this quite openly.”  I don’t know if it’s the phrasing or what.  It just struck me as an odd detail to mak ..read more

Mark 1: 9-15 Today – the first weekend of Lent – we read from the Gospel of Mark, of Jesus baptism in the Jordan by John and of his temptation in the wilderness at the hands of Satan.  It’s a familiar text.  One, for regular church goers at least, that we’ve heard time and time again.  Yet, for me, regardless of how many times we’ve heard it, regardless of how well we think we know it – one we can’t hear enough.  A reminder, that our baptismal life, if we’re truly living into it, as it was for Jesus, ain’t supposed to be easy. Mark describes that as Jesus rises from the wat ..read more

The past few weeks have been full of interviews, questions, answers, and reminders to “breathe, Libby”. And one question one I think I’ve received more times this month than any other is simply to describe my call story. Those of you who were here on Wednesday heard me speak about growing up Lutheran, attending Catholic and Episcopal schools, and being active in Penn State’s Lutheran Student Community. But there’s one formative experience that I’m not sure I’ve shared with you all.  And that experience was Camp Mount Luther in Mifflinburg, PA- my camp Nawakwa. I spent many summers there ..read more

Mark 1:29-39 This week, in the life of the church, we commemorate the Holy Martyrs of Japan – the 26 Catholic Christians who were executed on February 5, 1597, in Nagasaki, Japan because of their faith in Christ.  Most historians agree that the earliest known presence of Christianity in Japan dates back nearly fifty years earlier, to 1549.  A group of Jesuit fathers traveling from Portugal during an era of great turmoil, known as the Warring States Period, in hopes of spreading the gospel – baptizing people into the faith.  While these early missionary efforts bore great fruit ..read more

Mark 1:14-20 So, after a quick detour last weekend to John’s Gospel, we’re back to Mark.  Our focus last week – on John’s rendition of Jesus calling his first disciples.  This week – on Mark’s version of the story. The emotional backdrop is set in our opening verse.  John the Baptist – Jesus’ friend and cousin, the one whose baptism initiated Jesus’ public ministry – has been arrested and imprisoned.  With this, Jesus makes his way to Galilee proclaiming the good news of God that he has come to bring – “The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and b ..read more

John 1:43-51 Last week – the first Sunday after Epiphany – we celebrated the Baptism of our Lord.  Our focus drawn to Jesus’ baptism and to our own.  To its’ promise of new life given to us, to the gift of community that it brings.  Today – the second week after Epiphany – through John’s rendition of the calling of the first disciples, our focus is drawn to the life that is to follow.  From baptism to baptismal life. Looking to our assigned Gospel for the day, we find this simplistic reflection of what it looked like for Jesus to bring disciples into this baptismal life, th ..read more