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Showing posts with the label children

Rules, Rules, Rules

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These are some thoughts on this Sunday's gospel that I shared electronically with the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church.  Gospel: Mark 10:2-16 2 Some Pharisees came, and to test [ Jesus ] they asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3 He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” 4 They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.” 5 But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. 6 But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ 7 ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”   10 Then in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. 11 He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; 12 and if she divorces her

Jesus Loves the Little Children

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This is the sermon I preached at St. Timothy Lutheran Church and St. Mark Lutheran Church on Sunday, 9/20. The text is Mark 9:30-37.  "Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. Red and yellow black and white they are precious in his sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world." Don't we get all mushy gushy when we read of Jesus' interaction with little ones? They're so cute and innocent. How we wish we had more of them here at church. Today, our gospel is about the second of Jesus' three predictions about his approaching suffering and death. There is an identical pattern in each of the three predictions. First, Jesus teaches that he will suffer and die. Second, the disciples are confused and misunderstand Jesus' meaning. Third, Jesus spends more time   teaching his disciples. In today's gospel, the whole point of the secrecy about Jesus and the disciples passing through Galilee until they got to Capernaum

The Season You're In

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Kathryn wrote: The Season You're In - Friday Five Headquarters for me is the northeast of the United States. Here school is getting back in session, the tease of autumn is in the air (or the hope for the tease of autumn is in the air) and church life is gearing up to full throttle. One thing I've learned with blogging and social media is that the where I live is not necessarily where you live. And so I want to know what September means to you, in your place of the world and time in your life. This week's Friday Five is: What are 5 things that the beginning of September mean to you? Bonus: What's one thing you could do without?   So...here are my responses:   1. School--this is my last year of seminary!!!! My grown daughter is returning to school and my granddaughter is starting 2nd grade as well. 2. Cooler temperatures--In the mornings it's now starting to feel like fall. 3. New beginnings--New program year at church a

Summons to Service

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It's been a very long time since I posted. I've been juggling sickness and classes, but I think I'm back now. Here is a sermon I preached for my Preaching Mark class based on tomorrow's gospel text. The Holy Gospel according to Mark. “What did you say? What were you talking about?” Many of us have heard the all too familiar answer, “Nothing.” Of course that’s because the children know they have been caught. The disciples’ responded to Jesus ’ similar inquiry with silence, perhaps because they were ashamed, perhaps because Jesus had just been teaching them of his upcoming death and resurrection. And the topic of their conversation—who is the greatest? The setting is Capernaum in Galilee , Jesus ’ home base there, It is from this place he began his Galilean ministry according to Mark . This passage follows the Transfiguration and some healings. For the second time, Jesus teaches of his approaching death and resurrection. In verse 33, “ A

Taizé - A Jew’s prayer for the children of Gaza

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Yesterday in our J-term class on music and spiritual formation, there was a presentation by a woman who had been to the Taize community in France. Regarding the numerous languages and cultures touched by this movement, she drew our attention to a prayer written by a Jewish rabbi for the children of Gaza. Please read it at this link. Taizé - A Jew’s prayer for the children of Gaza We used it during our intercessions at compline last night. Today's appointed psalm caught my attention with a verse that certainly speaks to the situation, "For the Lord hears the needy, and does not despise his own that are in bonds" (Psalm 69:33). Lord in your mercy... flickr picture