The word ‘gospel’ means ‘good news’, and if we go by that definition, today’s gospel story is anything but good news. Here we are in the midst of summer, when everything is supposed to be more easygoing than usual, and our lectionary throws such a heavy story at us! So today we heard the […]
‘Nicht der Gott, den wir zu kennen glaubten’: Predigt zu Markus 6, 1-13; 5. Sonntag nach Trinitatis – 4. Juli 2021 (auf Englisch)
Jesus has to make this experience as he returns to his hometown of Nazareth after a year or so of life on the road – a new life as a rabbi and healer, a new life as the Son of God proclaiming the kingdom of heaven come near in word and deed. A new […]
‘Berührt’: Predigt zu Markus 5, 21-43; 4. Sonntag nach Trinitatis – 27. Juni 2021 (auf Englisch)
Most of us have been given the gift of 5 senses: sight, smell, taste, hearing, and touch. These are the channels through which we experience the world, and connect with the world. And those senses are something to be truly thankful for. Now which of our 5 senses, do you think, is the most […]
Das andere Ufer: Predigt zu Markus 4, 35-41; 3. Sonntag nach Trinitatis – 20. Juni 2021 (auf Englisch)
Today is the first Sunday after what the State of California calls a ‘full reopening’ after 15 months of restrictions because of the COVID-19 pandemic. And though this ‘full reopening’ has a little asterisk attached to it – there are still settings like healthcare facilities, any facility involving children, and mass transit, which will […]
Wilder Samen: Predigt zu Markus 4, 26-35 – 2. Sonntag nach Trinitatis; 13. Juni 2021 (auf Englisch)
This year we had a great wildflower season here in the San Francisco Bay Area. Yes, there are wildflowers every year, but this year, they just sprang up with abandon, displaying their bright colors and their beauty over abundantly. My husband and I are lucky that a trail up into the hills starts merely […]
‘Ein Haus, das mit sich selbst uneins ist, kann nicht bestehen – aber kann es wiederaufgebaut werden?’ Predigt zu Markus 3, 20-35; 1. Sonntag nach Trinitatis – 6. Juni 2021 (auf Englisch)
Jesus is coming home. And his family is not happy. In today’s gospel story, it becomes very clear that Jesus and his family – mother, brothers, and sisters – don’t agree on his new way of life as the Son of God. He’s an embarrassment to them, tainting the family’s good name and reputation […]
1,2,3 – Eine göttliche dynamische Balance: Predigt zu Johannes 3, 1-17; Trinitatis – 30. Mai 2021 (auf Englisch)
Today is the Sunday of the Holy Trinity, the day we honor God Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And I would like to introduce you to a woman who saw this trinity reflected in all of creation: Hildegard of Bingen, who lived in the 12th century AD in what today is Germany and today […]
‘Es geht um uns’: Predigt zu Apostelgeschichte 2, 1-21; Pfingstsonntag – 23. Mai 2021 (auf Englisch)
Today is Pentecost, the day we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit among the disciples who, 52 days after the death of Jesus and 50 days after his resurrection, still were not quite sure where to take it – that is, Christ’s mission – from there. We heard the story how God’s Holy […]
“Alles Gute kommt von oben”: Predigt zu Lukas 24, 44-53; Christi Himmelfahrt – 16. Mai 2021 (auf Englisch)
The Germans have the following proverb: ‘Alles Gute kommt von oben’, which translates to, ‘all that is good comes from above’. And this proverb comes straight from the Bible, from the letter of James, the first chapter, to be exact; and this passage refers to the good gifts God, who supposedly is enthroned […]
Liebe ist Pflicht: Predigt zu Johannes 15, 9-17; 6. Sonntag der Osterzeit – 9. Mai 2021 (auf Englisch)
You may have noticed that today’s gospel lesson talks about love – a lot. The word ‘love’ in some form or another is mentioned 9 times in 9 verses, to be exact. Today is also Mother’s Day, a day we hear and talk a lot about love. So let me begin with a story […]
Fröhlich auf dem Wege? Predigt zu Apostelgeschichte 8, 26-40; 5. Sonntag der Osterzeit – 2. Mai 2021 (auf Englisch)
Today I would like to invite you to join me on a road through the wilderness. A road that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza, to be exact. It is around the year 35 AD. On this road through the wilderness, we meet Philip. He’s been trudging along this road for a couple of days, […]
‘Herdenimmunität’: Predigt zu Johannes 10, 11-18; 4. Sonntag der Osterzeit – 25. April 2021 (auf Englisch)
Alleluia, Christ is risen! He is risen indeed, alleluia! This past February, a curious story from Down Under made the news: a sheep was found in a forest in Australia that hadn’t been shorn in years. Wild sheep don’t grow such enormous fleeces of wool – and, like many other animals, wild sheep shed their […]
‘Let’s Get Physical’: Predigt zu Lukas 24, 36b-48; 3. Sonntag der Osterzeit – 18. April 2021 (auf Englisch)
Alleluia, Christ is risen! He is risen indeed, alleluia! I recently had a very stimulating exchange with a young man who had visited St. Matthew’s on occasion – before the Corona lockdown – and who became a faithful follower of our online worship services. His initial question was, when did the idea of […]
How to Re-Member: Predigt zu Lukas 24, 1-12; Ostersonntag – 4. April 2021 (auf Englisch)
Alleluia, Christ is risen! He is risen indeed, alleluia! Looking back at last Easter, I can’t believe how naïve I was. I thought this pandemic would last maybe a couple of months, and that we’d be able to worship again in our sanctuary come May or June, and just go back to ‘normal’. […]
Predigt zu Matthäus 21, 1-11; Palmsonntag – 28. März 2021 von Rev. Dr. Fred Weidmann (auf Englisch)
GOSPEL READING Matthew 21:1-11 When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If […]
‘Und immer wieder ein neuer Anfang’: Predigt zu Johannes 12, 20-33; 5. Sonntag der Passionszeit – 21. März 2021 (auf Englisch).
On this day, March 21st, in the year 1685 –Johann Sebastian Bach was born in Eisenach. He was the 8th and youngest child of Johann Ambrosius and Elisabeth Bach. Two days later, he was baptized, and consequently raised as a Lutheran. Johann Sebastian wasn’t the first musician in his family. This tradition went back […]
‘Nicht zu richten, sondern zu heilen’: Predigt zu Johannes 3, 14-21; 4. Sonntag der Passionszeit – 14. März 2021 (auf Englisch)
Our planet earth looks blue and beautiful from outer space. It’s the world we know. It’s our living space. And, by the way, it’s the only one we have. Mars is too dry, as we are seeing again – too lifeless. The world we know is populated by billions of people of different colors, sizes, […]
‘Heiliger Zorn’: Predigt zu Johannes 2, 13-25; 3. Sonntag der Passionszeit – 7. März 2021 (auf Englisch)
My husband Fred and I have been watching more TV than usual over the course of the last year – it happens when you don’t get out much. And so I’ve discovered – and got hooked on – a particular PBS show: ‘Finding Your Roots’ with historian Henry Louis Gates Jr. (show pic ‘Gates’). […]
Selbstverleugnung – vom Ich zum Du: Predigt zu Markus 8, 31-38; 2. Sonntag der Passionszeit – 28. Februar 2021 (auf Englisch)
Have you ever been in denial about something? I am the first one to admit that there were times in my life when I was in denial. Until I got a physical recently, I was in denial about how many pandemic pounds I had put on, for example. Now what, […]
‘Die dunkle Nacht der Seele’: Predigt zu Markus 1, 9-15; 1. Sonntag der Passionszeit – 21. Februar 2021 (auf Englisch)
As I was getting my annual physical a couple of weeks ago, the intake nurse asked me, among other things, ‘Have you felt down or depressed over the course of the last year?’ I must have given her an incredulous look, because she gave me a little, understanding smile. I said, ‘Who hasn’t?’ The […]