Sermons

July 11, 2021
Texts: Mark 6:1-13
           2 Corinthians12:2-10

The lectionary scriptures this week, at least in the gospel and the epistle, are about embracing vulnerability, or in the Holy Spirit’s words to Paul, “Your strength is made perfect in weakness.” Jesus sends out the disciples with just the clothes on their backs and they come back rejoicing about the amazing outcome of casting out demons and healing sick people.  Paul, after a stunning heavenly revelation, receives a thorn in the flesh and is given the paradoxical wisdom: be thankful for your weakness.

Gail and I have been keeping Nathan a bit this week while Matthias is away.  We consider it a great privilege and a lot of fun.  Tuesday, he just would not take a nap even though we took turns rocking him, Gail took him to a darkened room, we played, read books, sang, and did patty cake.  He just squirmed and grinned at us and insisted on his own way.  His behavior is just a perfect image of my resistance to rejoicing in weakness and finding strength in it.

I resist, I squirm, I get busy and distract myself.  I have not yet fully accepted the fact that I am really, really old.  I am just beginning to learn the developmental task of hallowing my diminishments, of finding strength in the increasing weakness of my body and even more, my mind.

June 27, 2021
Text: Mark 5: 21-43

In our scripture today we have a wonderful story of Jesus going about his ministry.  He crosses the Sea of Galilee, and when he gets off the boat, there is a large crowd wanting to hear more from him.  He gets ready to teach them and then a man comes up and says his little daughter is dying and he asks Jesus to come to his house to heal his daughter.  Jesus knows that a lot of people have gone to a lot of trouble to get the venue and set up the sound system for his appearance; furthermore, the crowds have been waiting.  But he is able to change his plans and plans that his followers had for him, in order to go with this man to attend to his daughter.  So, he starts out on his journey.  Then a woman touches his garment and he knows it, and he stops what he is doing and asks who touched him.  He waits.  Everyone else is trying to give him excuses and explanations for what he feels.  But he waits.  And finally, the woman speaks up and tells him her story.  He takes the time to listen and to assure her that her faith has healed her.  About the same time, the father of the sick daughter is told that his daughter has died, so there is no need to go to the man’s house.  Jesus overhears this exchange and says, “Don’t fear; only believe.”  So, he continues his journey along with a few of his close disciples.  But there is a large crowd at the house lamenting the death of the child.  Jesus is not dissuaded.  He says to them, “Stop your weeping.  The child is only sleeping.”  The crowd laughed at his naiveté.  They surely said things like, “Bless his heart.  He wants to help but this is a lost cause.”  Jesus then goes inside and brings the child to life.  The scripture says, they were overcome with amazement.  Jesus said: ”Give the child something to eat, for Pete’s sake.”

June 20, 2021

God of History, God of eternity, God of life, speaking to us, acting through us, in the midst of the storm.

Good morning! Happy (belated) Juneteenth; happy Father’s Day; happy summer solstice! We are blessed to be joining together, before God, in the presence of one another, even though physically we are yet apart.

In the Old Testament reading, God responds, speaking out of the torment of a storm, to Job’s many professions of innocence as he had been subjected to so many afflictions and much slander, even though he considered himself a righteous man. God asks Job,

Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? Brace yourself, I will question you, and you will answer me. Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone - while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?

In other words, God is telling Job that, in spite of his great efforts to be God’s faithful servant, efforts that are undeterred even in the midst of his “unjust” sufferings, that God has a deeper purpose and Job really doesn’t know what he is talking about.

June 15, 2021

Texts:
     I Samuel 15:34-16:13
     Mark 4:30-32

The Old Testament scripture lets us know that the youngest and unlikeliest child can be the one to do great things — not the first-born son as usually expected.  Whenever stories like this have things like “seven sons” they make me think they are being used as a parable — and the other version of this story in the Old Testament has David being the seventh, not the 8^th

son.  The names of his brothers here all have grand meanings — but David’s name simply means “Beloved.”

Little things can add up.  God can use small things and small acts to change lives.  God can use a young shepherd boy to become a good king. God can use even you and me and this little 8^th Day Faith Community to demonstrate the power of love and God, change lives, and bring about the Reign (or Kingdom) of God.

Mark’s gospel was written before the other three, and today’s reading is part of the parables about seeds recorded in that book, with the focus being the Reign of God.

June 6, 2021

Scripture references:  Genesis 3:8-15, Psalm 130, 2^nd Corinthians 4: 13- 5:1, & Mark 3:20-35

Greetings in the love and light of Christ my siblings. It is indeed a pleasure and a privilege to be with you today.  I appreciate the invitation and opportunity to share with you today as we continue to celebrate the season of Pentecost. 

You have heard and read today the series of texts that inform our reflection today.   First let me ask you a question, and feel free to unmute yourselves and talk back to me, have you ever felt an unction so deep inside of you that it felt like it was trapped in the very fibers of your bones and muscles?  It was such a strong compelling feeling that it was so inescapable that it consumed you. 

Thomas Aquinas said if God had made all things perfect or all good, we may not be able to differentiate the good and bad.  This phrase I describes what I will try to talk about today. 

We lived four terrible years under Trump administration.  That was the darkest era I have seen in this country since moved up here.   

This year began with a new Administration and a new era with new objectives including people who were not welcomed by the past administration.  Dreamers kept their dreams and their hope alive to become permanent residents then citizens and continue their education.  Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries also still have hope to remain in this country and obtain their legal documents to become permanent residents then citizens.

March 21-21

Texts:
     Jeremiah 31:31-34
     Psalm 119:9-16
     Hebrews 5:5-10
     John 12:20-33

For Zoom video of teaching click here.

Let's start with a little exercise to get us all here in our seats.  Feel your seat, feel your feet, feel your breath.  Notice sounds, smells or tastes, colors or shapes in the room around you.  Notice your thoughts, your emotions.

The title is "From Discomfort to Suffering to Creativity to Joy."

August 16, 2020

Text: John 8:1-11

That gospel reading is one of my favorites.

I love that Jesus did not respond immediately to the religious authorities, but knelt and began writing in the dirt with his finger. 

Perhaps he needed a minute to connect with his deepest, truest self in order to respond from that place.

Perhaps Jesus wanted to give them a minute to pause and connect with their own, truest selves.

What we know from the story is that Jesus called them to self-reflection, not as a mob, but as individuals.  He said, “Let the ONE who has not sinned be the ONE to cast the first stone.”

June 14, 2020
Text: Genesis 18:1-15

Sara laughed.  Here’s what I think really happened.  Sarah overheard the discussion and once again was stabbed in the heart.  She, a woman of 90, had been barren.  When she married Abraham, there were big dreams about children – lot of them.  But year after year, when all her friends were having children, she could not conceive.  Then four times she conceived but lost the babies within a few months into pregnancy.  And here was this stranger saying she would have a child at her old age.  How ridiculous.  How absurd.  And Abraham just listened, as though he believed it.  “Yeah, right,” she thought.  “God says I’m going to have a baby after all this time?  What a joke.”  She laughed. 

May 31, 2020

Good Morning 8th Day!   I’m so thankful for this opportunity to share with you this morning on such a special day.  Today we celebrate Recommitment Sunday, Pentecost, and my first teaching at 8th Day!   I’m thankful for Sito’s invitation to speak today, as it both gave me the opportunity to dive deeper into understanding of Pentecost (which I honestly didn’t know much about) and gives me a chance to share more of me with all of you!