Sermons

June 16, 2013

As you know, we are once again standing at a turning point in the life of the Church of the Saviour. Gordon has died. The Potter’s House Church is setting down its call, and the Eighth Day Community has agreed to own this building in order to support the call of the Banyan Tree Mission Group. For some, it feels like a death. For others, it is an exciting time of new birth.

When Peter and I arrived at the Church of the Saviour in 1976, we had read all of Elizabeth O’Connor’s books, and we eagerly anticipated a small, close-knit worshipping body that we could join. Instead, we found a rolling boil of change. Church of the Saviour was giving birth to an unknown number of smaller churches. It seemed like we had come just in time to bury Church of the Saviour and we were HORRIFIED. 

June 9, 2013

First of all, I want to thank you all for the honor of asking me to share with you, I have a real appreciation for the Eighth Day practice of hearing from all members of the community, and I am a bit in awe when I think of some of the others that have stood at this podium 

I am preaching on the readings from the Catholic lectionary from last week, which was the Feast of Corpus Christi.  The readings you just heard are all about communion and the Eucharist, which is something I have been wrestling with lately,

My reflection today is from my own Roman Catholic journey and perspective.  Hopefully it will speak to something truly  universal about our Christian way.

June 2, 2013

Texts:

Luke 5: 1-11

1 Cor. 1: 25-31

My entry into the Church of the Saviour community was in 2005, though the seed was planted sometime in the late 90’s and happened this way.  At that time my family and I were attenders of Adelphi Friends Meeting, and one of the things I value about the unprogrammed worship of Quakers is that if—a very big ‘if’--if a message arises out of the silence and is the prompting of the Holy Spirit, it can be a very powerful experience.  One day during worship a message was given by someone who said she had been to a church in Washington, D.C., and had heard  someone preaching who was more authentic in his Christian witness than anyone she had heard preach before,and  whose name was Gordon Cosby. Although I am poor at remembering names, this name I would remember. Some years later, in search of a church with a more overtly Christian expression, I decided to check out Gordon Cosby’s preaching at the ecumenical service on 2025 Massachusetts Ave.

May 12, 2013

My talk today centers on the theme presented by Jesus to his disciples that they and others in the future become one, even as he and God were one. What kind of oneness do we have and do we want in this community. As I look around at you all, I see a lot of differences. We are young and old, short and tall, from different cultures with a great variety of interests, gifts and intellects. If you have been to any of our meetings lately you know we aren't exactly one in our opinions or beliefs. So what are we looking for in this area of oneness.

When I was first married I lived in the town of Grand Haven Michigan and often went to sit by the shores of Lake Michigan with my neighbor and our families. One day my neighbor said she was disturbed by the teachings of her church that unless people belonged to their denomination they were going to hell. She wondered if that could be true. I felt sad that her church had developed a sense of oneness by being so extremely exclusive.

May 5, 2013

Good morning.

Ann Barnett asked me a few weeks ago if I had something to share with our church about dying. I wasn’t sure then that I did have something to share.

David Hilfiker had just shared his awareness of the life transition towards dying and eventual death he finds himself in now: big for him, big news for us all and to me, dare I say, “glorious” for the sense of awareness and wonder and something even deeper than acceptance – perhaps “welcome” – is the spirit I sense in David at a time when he is beginning to lose his life as he has always known it. Is that right? What manner of loss is this? A big part of David’s loss includes a deeper sense of wellbeing, if I understand him well, than almost ever before in his life. Wow. David shared his truth, and my fear of losing my mind, my fear of loss of control of my life, my fear of dying this way was lifted. A lot. Now I’m kind of curious. What might become possible for me when it’s my turn to lose the things that have defined me to myself and others all of my life? I’ve been giving this question a lot of thought.

April 21, 2013

Good morning!

I am so delighted to be with you this morning, and to share how the Church of the Savior community continues to make new ripples through the Discipleship Year program.  I am one of five “new ripples” taking part in the year-long volunteer program, and let me assure you that it has felt more like a tidal wave to this Lutheran from southern Minnesota!

Today I am honored to speak about my experience at Joseph’s House, my placement for the year.  Now, I will go ahead and say that I will need a lot of grace from you this morning.  I know, how very Lutheran of me to bring up grace within the first minute of a sermon!

April 7, 2013

About twelve and a half years ago, I was at a friend’s house and she introduced me to a man from her church who was helping her with household repairs.  I still remember the kind and gentle spirit of this man, and I don’t know many people who have made a better first impression on me.  When I was leaving, I noticed his pick-up truck and it had a bumper sticker that said something about being for gun ownership.  Now although I disagreed with this man’s bumper sticker, I didn’t judge him.  I remember thinking to myself that I could see how a nice, gentle soul like this would want to have something strong to back him up.

March 31, 2013

Text:

I Corinthians 15:19-26, 28,
Luke 23:39-43

I want to talk with you this Easter Sunday about three people who are both very important to me and in my experience related agents of God: Gordon Cosby, David Hlfiker and Jesus. For visitors, Gordon was the founder of the Church of the Saviour from which 8th Day Church sprang and until his death 11 days ago a treasured mentor to me and many of you. David isa fellow member of 8thDay and dear friend who shared with us a few weeks ago that he has been diagnosed in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. These two men have been special links to Jesus for me, and that is the context in which I want to talk about them and Jesus on this day when we celebrate and contemplate God’s act of vindicating the crucified Jesus and sending him on his next mission Word of God in and to the church by raising him from the dead,

March 24, 2013 (Palm Sunday)

Text:Luke 19:28-40

28 After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, “Why are you untying it?” just say this: “The Lord needs it.” ’ 32 So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’ 34 They said, ‘The Lord needs it.’ 35 Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, 38 saying,

     ‘Blessed is the king

     who comes in the name of the Lord!

     Peace in heaven,

   and glory in the highest heaven!’

39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, order your disciples to stop.’ 40 He answered, ‘I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.’

*****

 So here we are at Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week. I imagine that for many of us here it seems more like the end of Holy Week, having held vigil these past days as one of our great prophets passed on. You will have to forgive me if I am somewhat out of step with the liturgical season, and all too eager to speak of death and resurrection.