Karin Liebster, Associate Pastor

Ezekiel 17:22-24
Psalm 92:1-4, 12-15
2 Corinthians 5:6-10, 14-17
Mark 4:26-34

Grace to you and peace from God, our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Today is a very different Sunday. Last week you welcomed me back, with applause; this Sunday is the first of the last ones remaining before my call ends in August. It is whiplash, I know, surprise, maybe confusion, sadness.

The senior pastor retired, and now what little is left, will also be taken away.

What do we do now, what do you do now? Continue reading →

Karin Liebster, Associate Pastor

Genesis 3:8-15
Psalm 130
2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1
Mark 3:20-35

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Well, here we are: I am back, and you are back, we are here in this building!, at long last. Hello, you all, and at the same time, hello, summer! A lot has happened since we saw each other last, and now it is summer and we are in for more change.

When I checked to look what readings we would have this Sunday, I actually laughed out loud – could there be greater irony than having to deal with sinful Eve on my first Sunday back, and with decidedly dark, strange words from Jesus? Continue reading →

Duane Larson, Senior Pastor
Based on John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15

This is a daunting day for this pastor. No question. I am full of emotion and gratitude, and tempted to be too maudlin on this day of great import and turning, my professional retirement day. But it is Pentecost. And a farewell must yet speak a vision. So I must speak about you and the Holy Spirit. Continue reading →

Duane Larson
Sermon for B Easter 3
Based on Luke Acts 3:12-19 [20-21] and Luke 24:36b-48 

Some of you know the Harvard Business School’s acronym advice for long-range planning. The acronym is BHAG. When you think long-range, think BHAG: Big Hairy Ambitious Goal. Maybe Harvard got this popular acronym by plagiarizing God’s plans. Plagiarizing is bad. Likely it is okay to plagiarize from God as long as you don’t claim you are God when doing so. Maybe that is a challenge for some Harvard folk, but we do pray for God’s will to be done! So, don’t worry, BHAGgy! Continue reading →

2^nd Sunday of Easter. 4, 11, 2021. Series B.
Vicar Sergio Rodriguez 

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our risen Lord Jesus Christ, who breathes upon us the Spirit. Amen.

Alleluia! Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen Indeed. Alleluia!

“If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

In the power of the Spirit, Jesus sends forth his disciples with this commission to forgive or to retain the sins of any. Though this commandment is as clear as day, one must ask how does forgiveness relate to the retaining of sins? If you retain the sins of any, they are retained. Such phrase, beyond simplistically interrupting our Easter joy, has a sort of ominous tone; a kind of unforgivable sin lurking in the foreground. When may sins be retained? Why ought we to retain sins? Who ought to forgive or not forgive? Continue reading →