Today we hear the story of the rich man and Lazarus in the gospel. This is the only parable where someone is given a name. The rich man didn’t pay attention to Lazarus. He was indifferent to him. The truth is, we pass Lazarus every day. How are we going to respond? We need to…
Pastor Eric had preached the night before at the prison in Shelton and he asked that congregation if it was easier to love in prison or outside of prison. He asked us the same question but in reverse. It was a trick question because you can love anywhere. God’s love for us changes us and…
Bishop Rick Jaech joined us on “God’s Work, Our Hands” Sunday to celebrate the beginning of our “Clean Kids” program (laundromat for homeless kids in the North Thurston School District), and the dedication of our new “GUS” (Garden Utility Shed). Bishop preached the sermon and talked about the “Soggy” moments of our lives.When he was…
Pastor Beth’s sermon today talked about God’s grace and love when the human condition becomes painful. She shared her personal story of a double concussion a year ago, and its profound repercussions in her life today. Memory loss has caused her to forget important things (Important things a “Pastor” shouldn’t forget, she says”), multitasking is…
On this 15th Sunday after Pentecost, Jesus’s parable in our Gospel reading from Luke 14 reminds us that when we give a banquet we should “invite the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind” rather than our friends and rich neighbors. We will be blessed because “they cannot repay you, for you will be…
Luke 13:10-17 tells the story of Jesus, on the Sabbath, healing a woman who had been bent over for eighteen years. She has no other name other than ‘bent over woman’. Jesus is preaching in the synagogue to the men, all seated in the front, and the women, all seated in the back, but he…
The Gospel reading for the 13th Sunday after Pentecost, Luke 12, 49-56, cites fire, water, and division. Fire signifies warmth and gathering; Jesus laments that he wishes the fire “was already kindled” on earth, that his people were already a community of God. Jesus speaking about water reminds us that in baptism, the spirit washes…
Pastor Beth asked us, ‘Why do we give?’. Many people responded. She then asked, ‘What moves us to give?’. Again, many responded. In today’s Gospel, Luke 12:32-40, Jesus is talking about Holy Giving which is a sacred holy act. What does sacred holy giving look like? Pastor Beth shared a personal story with us and…
In the Gospel reading (Luke 12:13-21), Jesus told a parable about a man so rich that he had no room to store all his crops so he decided to knock down his barns and build larger ones. He then would feel secure and could eat, drink, and be merry for several years. Jesus told the…
The Gospel of Luke (chapter 11) says, “Knock and the door will be opened for you”. On this 10th Sunday after Pentecost, we were reminded that God always hears and answers prayer. When Jesus first taught his disciples The Lord’s Prayer, he encouraged them to child-like trust and persistence in prayer. When we pray for…