All Saints Sunday, November 4, 2018, First Trinity Lutheran Church – Eight men and three women were martyred in a synagogue four hours northwest of us eight days ago. They were not Christian martyrs, and they did not set out last Saturday morning, to give their lives for their faith. They went to Shabbat, Hebrew Read More …
By Jesus’ Side
Twenty-second Sunday After Pentecost, October 21, 2018, First Trinity Lutheran Church – Every once in a while, the lectionary text for the day directly lines up with what’s going on in the world or in a congregation. So here we have it today – a text about serving on a day when we are committing Read More …
Being kind, tenderhearted and forgiving in hate filled times
Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost, October 7, 2018, First Trinity Lutheran Church – One of the joys of being a pastor is being involved in conducting the wedding service for a couple, who at the time of the service, are very much in love. It is almost a fairytale moment with beautiful dresses, tuxedos, flowers, candles, Read More …
Whoever is not against us is for us
Nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost, September 30, 2018, First Trinity Lutheran Church – There’s a lot going on in today’s passage from Mark’s Gospel. To recap, Jesus had just finished teaching his disciples about what greatness means in the Kingdom of God – whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of Read More …
What does it Mean to be Great?
Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost, September 23, 2018, First Trinity Lutheran Church – “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” These words spoken by Jesus reminds me of Gordon Cosby the Pastor and Founder of the Church of the Savior here in Washington DC. Gordon founded this church in Read More …
Who Do You Say That I Am?
Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost, September 16, 2018, First Trinity Lutheran Church – Are any of you familiar with the “what I really do” meme? It’s a series of images that goes around Facebook every now and then. The title of each meme is an occupation or identity group, like accountant, or runner, or lawyer, and Read More …
Speak the Truth in Love
Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost, September 2, 2018, First Trinity Lutheran Church – In the Gospel lesson for today, Jesus is arguing with the Pharisees about what is really important in life. There was a basic theological difference between Jesus and the Pharisees because Pharisees believed that obeying the complex rules for piety were what it Read More …
You Are Who You Say You Are
Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost, August 26, 2018, First Trinity Lutheran Church – First, if you are able, raise your hand over your head. Bring it behind, to your back. And pat yourself on the back. You have made it through the 5 weeks of hearing about the bread of life from chapter 6 of John’s Read More …
This Bread Will Change Your Life!
Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost, August 19, 2018, First Trinity Lutheran Church – This bread will change your life! I came across this claim as I was looking through one of my favorite cooking blogs. You see, one of my favorite ways to relax is to find a new recipe, and then give it a try Read More …
I Smell Bread
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost, August 5, 2018, First Trinity Lutheran Church – Today we read in Exodus that the Israelites are traveling through the desert, hungry, tired, and cranky. It’s been six weeks since God led them out slavery, rescued them from Pharaoh, but as the old saying goes, “What have you done for me Read More …