Jesus is risen! He is risen indeed! Fling wide the door, unbar the gate, The king of Glory comes in state! 2 weeks ago we sang that song while processing into our beloved sanctuary. Palm Sunday it was and we welcomed Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Only to join into the screams of […]
Sermon Luke 24:1-12; Easter Sunday – April 21st, 2019
What are you doing here? This is my paraphrase for the first words the women, who have waited 2 long days to embalm Christ’s body, hear as they come to the tomb. Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Don’t you remember how […]
Lenten Reflections 2019: Living in a Broken World – Week 5: The Vatican
No one who conceals transgressions will prosper, but one who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. Proverbs 28:13, NRSV Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. James 5:16, NRSV Last week, Pope Emeritus […]
Lenten Reflections 2019: Living in a broken world – Week 4: The Mediterranean
‘Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured.’ Hebrews 13:1-3, NRSV A friend recently shared […]
Lenten Reflections 2019: ‘Living in a Broken World’ – Week 3: Antelope Valley
“Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture, but you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture? When you drink of clear water, must your foul the rest with your feet? And must my sheep eat what you have trodden with your feet, and drink what […]
Lenten Reflections 2019: ‘Living in a broken world’ – Week 2: Christchurch, Continued
“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid… Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good deeds and give glory to your father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14, 16, NRSV Last week, 50 people were killed and scores more injured in a […]
Sermon Luke 13:31-35; 2nd Sunday in Lent -March 17th, 2019
In today’s gospel lesson, Jesus is a short distance away from Jerusalem. He is on his way to suffering and death. Now Jesus is, mildly said, a controversial figure, revered by some, loathed and even feared by others. There are those who see Jesus and his teachings of the kingdom […]
Lenten Reflections 2019: ‘Living in a Broken World’ – Week 1: Christchurch
‘Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, […]
Sermon Luke 6:27-38; 7th Sunday after the Epiphany – February 24th, 2019
The story of Joseph and his brothers, which we find at the end of the book of Genesis, has always been one of my favorite stories from the Bible. Since I was a kid, I’ve liked a good story, and this IS a good story. Just in case you don’t know or have forgotten […]
Sermon Luke 6:17-26; 6th Sunday after the Epiphany – February 17th, 2019
I got my first introduction to U.S. American worship and spirituality when I was a teenager in the 80s back in Germany. I think it was in the 8th grade when our religious studies teacher showed us a clip from ‘The PTL Club’ – PTL stands for ‘Praise the Lord’ – also known as […]
Sermon 1. Corinthians 13:1-13; 4th Sunday after Epiphany – February 3rd, 2019
Years ago, I served as an associate pastor in Saratoga in the South Bay. One Sunday, the Scripture lessons assigned for that day were all about love; God’s love, and Christ’s command to love our neighbor as ourselves. And guess what I preached about that Sunday: love, of course. As I was shaking hands […]
Sermon John 2:1-11; 2nd Sunday after Epiphany – January 20th, 2019
A couple of weeks ago, I got together with D H, N H’s son, and his wife B to prepare for N’s burial and to talk about her life. Now I already knew that N had a big heart and that it was her nature to take people under her wings. But then D […]
Sermon Luke 3:15-17, 21-22; 1st Sunday after Epiphany – January 13th, 2019
Some years ago, I stumbled across a great short film that actually won a few awards. This short film is called ‘Validation’. I strongly recommend you watch it, I think it’s very uplifting – and makes you think! You can find it on You Tube. But a little bit about this short film. We […]
Sermon Matthew 2:1-12; Epiphany – January 6th, 2019
There is one word I just learned about a couple of days ago, and I decided that this will be my motto for 2019: coddiwomple. And I kid you not, this word actually exists. Has anyone here ever coddiwompled? I have. And I have a hunch, you have too. But what does ‘coddiwomple’ mean? ‘Coddiwomple’ […]
Sermon Luke 2: 8-20; Christmas Day – December 25th, 2018
The first congregation I served as a pastor was a small Lutheran church down in San Jose. Right around the corner from my congregation was one of those mega churches, a church that probably drew hundreds of worshipers on any given Sunday. Everything about this church was BIG. I remember driving by this big […]
Homily Luke 2:1-20; Christmas Eve – December 24th, 2018
It was exactly 200 years ago that one song was played and sung for the very first time that since has become a Christmas classic: Silent Night, Holy Night. There are some legends around the origins of this song, but what we know for sure is that Joseph Mohr, a young priest, at some […]
Sermon Luke 1: 39-55; 4th Advent – December 23rd, 2018
Mary’s Voice (Sings Marty Haugen’s ‘Magnificat’) This is my song. This is my voice. I am Mary. The mother of Jesus, the mother of God. A mother figure to many who were – and are – overwhelmed by a threefold all-male God. From early on, I was venerated by the church, put on a pedestal. […]
Advent Devotion 2018: Peace, Joy, and Love – Week 3: Love
‘What is love, anyway?’ Howard Jones, ‘What is love?’ ‘Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only […]
Sermon Luke 3, 7-18; 3rd Advent – December 16th, 2018
Did today’s lessons leave you a little confused? Did it maybe sound a little schizophrenic to you? First, we heard from the Old Testament book of the prophet Zephaniah, ‘Sing aloud, Daughter Zion; shout, o Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, o daughter Jerusalem! God is in your midst!’ Rejoice! In today’s […]
Advent Devotion 2018: Peace, Joy and Love – Week 2: Joy
“To get the full value of joy you must have someone to divide it with.” Mark Twain “And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me […]