May 28, 2017
Gift Of Oneness
Series: (All)
May 28, 2017. In the Gospel reading this week, the disciples overhear Jesus' prayer to the Father. He makes a startling request, that they be given a sense of oneness. We are modern day disciples, and not only does Jesus want this oneness for us as well, but he wants it to spill out into the world too. In her sermon, Pastor Penny discusses ways that we can apply this to our lives today. *** [Keywords: 2000 years later 2017 Ascension story God's love in unshakeable Ian and Pa Jesus continues to pray for us Jesus entrusts us with the world Jesus' final word Matthew Memorial Day weekend Pastor Penny Holste Spirit will guide us accepted adopted older gentleman angels and archangels as I am in you as they listen as you are in me babysitter report how evening went bask in closeness beautiful silver because we are in Christ begins here and does not end best for whole community big hug care for each other celebrate Holy Communion celebrate Pentecost chalice child childish faith come to church with family commencement speech commit atrocities congregation conversation conveyed to disciples death bed speech decisions did not disband didn't have many words didn't start arguing doctor of theology doesn't end with death don't feel judged eager to hear enemies enthusiastically responding entrusted to him eternal life even in death even though we fail event we call Pentecost fallen prey father final request find the truth fisherman followers gift of oneness gold-rimmed china grandfather hateful worldviews heaps of food heartfelt talk how he cared for how will we share this gift? invites you to a table laud and magnify listen in to this prayer little boy named Ian liturgy may they be in us mental energy modern day disciples mother needed not a lot of words not be kept here one day Pa died our best friend overheard parent teacher conference place you feel safe politically and racially divided country pray for each other prayed day after day praying to the Father preaching about the Gospel precious possessions progress protect them Father that they may be one protect these disciples proud rarely praised realize they're one of main topics received Holy Spirit recounts what has happened repair relationship with relative replicated in our communities reports retrieve beloved pet sermon share closeness among themselves sign language sit together smile spill out into the world spouse startling request still don't understand taught them Father's words tax collectors that close to him that they may be one they were yours and you gave them to me toddlers took the bread treasure of the Father true that dad is a doctor two angels understand other side university professor uplifting very much about us visiting best friend watched Jesus disappear we are listening in we are never divided we are not alone what other people think about us when I leave go to Jerusalem where is Pa? why are you standing there wishes for the future women won by Jesus' death and resurrection worked with yeah but not the kind that helps you yearns young son]
WatchNotesDownloadDateTitle
  • May 28, 2017Gift Of Oneness
    May 28, 2017
    Gift Of Oneness
    Series: (All)
    May 28, 2017. In the Gospel reading this week, the disciples overhear Jesus' prayer to the Father. He makes a startling request, that they be given a sense of oneness. We are modern day disciples, and not only does Jesus want this oneness for us as well, but he wants it to spill out into the world too. In her sermon, Pastor Penny discusses ways that we can apply this to our lives today. *** [Keywords: 2000 years later 2017 Ascension story God's love in unshakeable Ian and Pa Jesus continues to pray for us Jesus entrusts us with the world Jesus' final word Matthew Memorial Day weekend Pastor Penny Holste Spirit will guide us accepted adopted older gentleman angels and archangels as I am in you as they listen as you are in me babysitter report how evening went bask in closeness beautiful silver because we are in Christ begins here and does not end best for whole community big hug care for each other celebrate Holy Communion celebrate Pentecost chalice child childish faith come to church with family commencement speech commit atrocities congregation conversation conveyed to disciples death bed speech decisions did not disband didn't have many words didn't start arguing doctor of theology doesn't end with death don't feel judged eager to hear enemies enthusiastically responding entrusted to him eternal life even in death even though we fail event we call Pentecost fallen prey father final request find the truth fisherman followers gift of oneness gold-rimmed china grandfather hateful worldviews heaps of food heartfelt talk how he cared for how will we share this gift? invites you to a table laud and magnify listen in to this prayer little boy named Ian liturgy may they be in us mental energy modern day disciples mother needed not a lot of words not be kept here one day Pa died our best friend overheard parent teacher conference place you feel safe politically and racially divided country pray for each other prayed day after day praying to the Father preaching about the Gospel precious possessions progress protect them Father that they may be one protect these disciples proud rarely praised realize they're one of main topics received Holy Spirit recounts what has happened repair relationship with relative replicated in our communities reports retrieve beloved pet sermon share closeness among themselves sign language sit together smile spill out into the world spouse startling request still don't understand taught them Father's words tax collectors that close to him that they may be one they were yours and you gave them to me toddlers took the bread treasure of the Father true that dad is a doctor two angels understand other side university professor uplifting very much about us visiting best friend watched Jesus disappear we are listening in we are never divided we are not alone what other people think about us when I leave go to Jerusalem where is Pa? why are you standing there wishes for the future women won by Jesus' death and resurrection worked with yeah but not the kind that helps you yearns young son]
  • May 21, 2017Commencement
    May 21, 2017
    Commencement
    Series: (All)
    May 21, 2017. Commencement speeches such as we hear this time of year always have at least two parts: advice, and encouragement to the graduates. In her sermon today, Pastor Penny talks about Jesus' "commencement speech" to us. He offers us advice and encouragement, and also a promise: that by his death and resurrection he has paid the fine for the penalty we deserve. *** [Keywords: 2017 Gospel Greek Holy Spirit Jesus claims that we are his friends Jesus gives the disciples Jesus has removed our guilt Pastor Penny Holste a little unfair admit to ourselves advances in technology all the things he taught them also points to truth another police car arrested at least two parts ate meal together because we remember his love for us began to get nervous beyond any promise big comfort big help by his death and resurrection by the Spirit and the Son and the Father came up to his window commentator counselor country congregation crucifixion dear to me deeper and more beautiful didn't have sidewalks disciples do things wrong doesn't even seem fair doesn't get you anywhere doesn't make sense don't want to face driving to meeting at night entire city block entryway everything is electives failed the test failures we have final exams financial advisor flashing red lights from now on there is no core curriculum give encouragement give some advice gives you something to do gnarled tree trunk going out into the world alone going wrong in family got off the hook graduates great aunt green leaves oranges bright butterflies guilt gets to us he pays that fine he will ascend out of their vision forever help not only survive but succeed here comes the encouragement part here comes the promise that Jesus makes highway patrolman if you love me keep my commandments in bed with a mosquito interpret keep that lamp keepsakes killed knows he's about to die lamp that looked like tree late to meeting lawyer legal problems license lifestyle shows it look for truth in Washington love our physical comfort member of his congregation minister friend need help next Sunday no traffic not begrudgingly not going to be easy not so easy to see truth in our own lives now and forever we are guided and comforted obey my commandments on our piano painted glass paper dolls in cupboard point out our guilt politicians are human beings politics preserving this planet really believe remember her love remember patient gentle loving woman rest of your life in front of you resurrected from the dead rollerskating see him alive send them the Advocate seniors sergeant says you're a friend of his sergeant was his friend sermon sisters and brothers slow down and drive safely so hard to believe solve problems of the world someone you call to your side speaker spirit of Christ spirit of truth started speeding take away all failures of disciples things are hard time for commencement speeches tiny house to guard to hold dear to preserve too small to be effective truly exciting thing about your life uncomfortable uncomfortable truths unfairness that God treats us with vehicle waited for verdict walking we are forgiven and loved we are guilty we deserve penalty we feel very alone we haven't earned it who's telling the truth and who's not will be alone will they remember willingly went through world doesn't accept it worry is like rocking chair your generation]
  • May 7, 2017Voices We Can Trust
    May 7, 2017
    Voices We Can Trust
    Series: (All)
    May 7, 2017. We are surrounded by voices in our lives, some we can trust and others we cannot. Some voices, even those we respect, can suck the life out of us. Whether they come from our work, raising our children, or making money, how do we determine which voices we can trust? Of course there is one voice we can trust. Jesus is our perfect good shepherd who came for us to have abundant life. Pastor Penny preaches on what that means for our lives today. *** [Keywords: 2017 Africa Augustana Lutheran Church Christ lived and died and rose for us Christian faith mysteries El Salvador God restores our souls God was using her Gospel Haiti I came that they may have life John 10:1-10 Pastor Penny Holste Sabbath Spotlight movie Washington D.C. abundance of wealth fame success abundant life accused Jesus activities advertising afraid agree all about voices all these years alluring voice ask questions assignments bald head beautiful believed leaders best interest in mind better than that better use of time breaking God's law buy this product challenges and hardships made me strong changing diapers children grown chores close relationship with God coached son's baseball team college commentator computer camp controlling our lives crime curriculum domestic and international organizations don't want to listen emails energetic father eternal future excused from meal preparation experiences financial frustrated full of gratitude future hope to have gates give them things give your kids everything you can grade point average greater purpose greed harried have it abundantly have to be perfect healing man of blindness high school art teacher hurt our relationships impossible claims instilling in you keep a lot of rules kindness knowing our past leisure lessons life of Carol Kramer live our moments lose ourselves in our work magazines or TV makes a difference in our lives making money meaning joy hope meaningless means to an end media literacy meetings more long lasting mother wonderful cook mowing lawn mundane no hesitation not just that moment not suspect not to question one voice that gives us life one voice we can trust online video ordinary day our lives have a purpose ourselves and God parenting patience peace and community building pedophilia people warning against perfect good shepherd person's life position of power present can have eternal meaning provided everything psalmist reconciliation to city remembering handsome college man retrospect revere and respect religious leaders sacrifice time and energy sap the joy self doubt seminary president sermon shared past sheep shepherds sister Joan Rivas snapshot from each era of our lives softening muscles some viewpoints some voices you can trust some you cannot son stubborn successful in everything suck the life out of us suffered suspicious synagogue taking kids to practice tasks taught our children taught people taught to respect tension theologian Paul Tillich tired travel two parables untrue statements voice of Jesus voices in their lives voices we can trust warn us what is abundant life what it isn't whole family why am I raising these funds width of Minnesota wisdom work into pattern world wrinkles writing reports you are so handsome younger]
  • Apr 30, 2017Recognizing Jesus
    Apr 30, 2017
    Recognizing Jesus
    Series: (All)
    April 30, 2017. If we met Jesus, would we recognize him? In today's Gospel the apostles did not recognize the risen Christ even when he himself came up and walked along with them. Pastor Penny preaches on this text, asks us to consider how our desires might cause us to believe in ideas that aren't true, and offers ideas about how we can go out into the world as Easter people and share the gift we've been given. *** [Keywords: 2017 30 more years A self-made success? American dream Christ in actions as you come together Easter evening Easter peple Elijah Ezekiel God promises us Holy Communion every week I didn't recognize you I love you no matter what happens Isaiah Jason Ford Jeremiah Last Supper Let's kill that myth Luke 24:13-34 Maundy Thursday Moses PBS NewsHour Pastor Penny Holste St. Peter Why did you let that car hit me? advantages all on your own angels said Jesus had arisen armed with wits and strong work ethic astronaut baby was not going to live be prepared to suffer be transformed beaten beautiful idea but isn't true began to believe best possible future blinded them blinds us born into bought land decades ago bring meals broke through that desire burst into tears care about people charismatic leader climbed way to top college with no school debt color of our skin corporate ladder couldn't be Messiah created it dead discipline doctor gave bad news don't recognize him empowered exiled extreme dedication face to face in eternity facelift fail to be grateful fed the 5000 four year old boy free Israel generations before gift we've been given give rides glorious vision good schools good success story hair dyed hand-me-down clothes handshakes harsh realities he's alive heart attack hearts kept them from recognizing help to buy house hit by a car and killed how foolish you are hugs humble background image of Messiah imprisoned in community with him once again inherit intelligence interpret story invest in startup kept them from seeing king leader killed leading people into idolatry left some money lending discrimination less fortunate love into your families make it on our own maybe he's alive meet Jesus mid 70s military leader millionaire miraculous way modern day parallel neighbors not one of the twelve not practicing justice and mercy of course the Messiah was going to die on fire with hope out into the world pastor friend pearly gates people of God had to suffer pick up hints place where you work live learn play prayerfully with other people preach and do miracles predicted would die and rise pregnant prophet prophetic tradition rally the troops really isn't true relatives rely not on ourselves but on God retraced their steps rocket fly to moon rooted in history safe neighborhood save Israel saw God in that little boy say things that were hard scripture see christ through us send letters serious help sermon seven miles to Jerusalem show us the stars slow of heart to believe slow to believe smiles sold for fortune son stand up stand up to powers that be story preserved 2000 years for us suffering servant support structure take care of people take care of widows and orphans and foreigners in country teachers tech entrepreneurs testimony of women through this faith community throw off power of Roman Empire tomb was empty took the bread blessed it and broke it tummy tuck two generations ago two men in Jesus' inner circle unable to see vanished very sad want to believe it wanted to believe we don't recognize God we have seen him we made a mistake white light white man white privilege whole new possibility woke up woman taken to hospital working your way up from nothing worth it]
  • Apr 16, 2017This Easter Hope
    Apr 16, 2017
    This Easter Hope
    Series: (All)
    April 16, 2017. The Easter story may be hard to believe, but it rings true. Pastor Penny talks today about Mary Magdalene, the first person to see Jesus alive after his resurrection. Suddenly she had a future, and she could go through life confidently sharing the good news. We're like Mary. As Jesus called her by name, so he is calling us. He wants us too to share in word and deed this Easter hope. *** [Keywords: Easter Easter story changes us Garden of Eden Garden of the Resurrection God called us by name God is holding us God planted us God's precious planting Gospel Jesus cured her Jesus himself appears Jesus understands grief Magdala Mary believes Pastor Penny Holste agonizing death all four Gospels all she has left of Jesus always hanging on always searching anchored approached the tomb ascend to the Father avid gardeners baptism because they've taken the body boy walking with grandfather cast out seven demons cloths wrapped around commissioned concern for the body confidently through life cross crying outside tomb did not share hope disciple dismiss friends' encouragement does not recognize him doesn't recognize them everything you need expected worst experience of humanity we cannot avoid experienced human life famous Roman statesman Cicero far as he could see first Easter first person to see Jesus alive flourish follow me for balance excitement success security for the future for us too frame of mind fruit that isn't so good garden and a library garden was quiet gardening as a chore get on the team get that scholarship go to my brothers good fruit good place or bad place grace of God gratefully great apostle great place to be the garden green tall strong trees grow handkerchief rolled up carefully hang on to him physically hard to believe held comforted strengthened by Jesus' spirit her lord her teacher friend beloved leader hold onto the past hope and prayer instinctively grabs hold is this orchard dying lay someone we love to rest in grave leaves reaching up lives are like orchard lost him once lump must be cancer maybe I'll be lonely mental illness messengers of hope mourn a dead body mourn at Jesus' tomb must have stolen his body my Father and your Father my God and your God never really notice not all we have not good enough for job not like robber would do old story one again with God only hope orchard our lives matter outcast in society pain in Mary's soul planted in God's garden power of the Holy Spirit rated gardens right up there with library reason to believe recognizes that voice reconnected records of the church recreating relationship between human beings and God resurrection reunited rich soil rings true rival Peter rock over entrance had been rolled away roots go down deep scrubby looking send her his spirit sermon share in word and especially in deed sharing good news sins are forgiven solitary figure sometimes both spring blossoms around us tall and strong things we love this Easter hope this joy this message this promise those that have gone before us those we love took her sad news took his body top of the ridge two angels until he calls her name Mary use this life vast forest into eternity very hard things victory over death and evil we are like Mary we are like a tree wept at tomb of Lazarus who are you looking for why are you crying without going in woman named Mary Magdalene wonderful things 2017]
  • Mar 26, 2017Though I Was Blind, Now I See
    Mar 26, 2017
    Though I Was Blind, Now I See
    Series: (All)
    March 26, 2017. Not everyone wants to be free from blindness. Pastor Penny preaches today on both the physical blindness of the man Jesus healed in John 9:1-41, and on another kind of blindness. The Pharisees who questioned the healed blind man were themselves blinded, by their rules, and by their obsession with keeping the law. Are we more like the blind man or the Pharisees? When Jesus invites us to the baptismal font, do we promise to try to see others as God sees us? *** [Keywords: Amy high powered New York architect At First Sight movie God valued him Gospel James Jesus invites us to the baptismal font Jesus offers healing Jesus' intention John 9:1-41 Pastor Penny Holste Pharisees Sabbath Shirl Jennings Ten Commandments Virgil able to see accepts afraid all their many rules already loves us anxieties baptized based on true story beggar bird took off flying blind from birth blinded by rules booted from synagogue breaking rules broken commandment called him Lord can be painful challenged their blindness come to see God compulsion confident couldn't remember their image crucified did not want to dirt distances were confusing doctor dog from cat drives wedge between us and people we love educated ends on sad note excellent in work or school eyesight fall back fall in love feeling fell on knees felt more disabled felt superior first a man free from blindness get rid of their blindness gift good life in spite of blindness great temptation having our trust healer helping someone on Sabbath highly respected leaders ice skating on pond identity independent keep all the rules keeping trust kneading bread know world without seeing known by everyone light of God's love look at life through God's eyes lost confidence love and forgive us forever love and mercy maintaining certain lifestyle make paste man from God massage therapist mitzvot mixing anything with hands more aware of Jesus more confusing and scarier never gave up on them obsession with keeping the law offered to end their blindness our value is already there outcast physical blindness physical sight pool and be healed prefers to remain blind questioned the healed blind man reaction to world reason he was killed recover sight regained energy religious leaders renewed creative energy road leading to village rose from darkness of death saddest thing about their compulsion about rules see others as God sees us see others like God sees us sinful society portrayed solution for eyelids something more precious soul searching spit still blind stronger than blindness succeeding in physical challenges successful operation take over our lives teaching then prohpet they were seeing God third commandment through hearing time and money touching trust Jesus trust in loving God unfailing promise unless they were dying vacation spa valued by God wash eyelids in pool wasn't being punished when we fail who God was who he was whole new understanding your sins remain 613 rules]
  • Mar 19, 2017Quite a Transformation
    Mar 19, 2017
    Quite a Transformation
    Series: (All)
    March 19, 2017. Pastor Penny preaches on John 4:5-42, the story of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well. He transformed her and her community when he told her that the traditions that divide us are not that important, and that he was the Messiah. Jesus invites us too to be transformed, to trust in the living water of baptism and God's love. *** [Keywords: Easter morning Gospel story of transformation Harry Potter I am the Messiah I've got news Jesus invites us Jesus is the magic wand Jews and Samaritans John 4:5-42 Judea back to Galilee Samaritan woman at well afraid for future ask for living water bad habit best she could blame wife bold third step break down wall because of religion bringing the harvest broke two taboos challenges we face confessed Jesus dance changed completely demand or invitation or request dependency didn't criticize difficult disciples eternal first as a baby first step five husbands forgot bucket at well garage gave woman courage get rid of it give me this water gives life go ask your husband to come here greater than Jacob? had hope hard to shake it hated Samaritans he walks with us heat of day her whole community home and garden channel issue in relationship keeping two people apart leaving himself open lifeless body live day to day makes a move making himself vulnerable man divorce wife unable to have children man not your husband man stretched out on cross man to man to man medical or financial challenge men did not speak to women in public messy room tidy minister to him neat and functional needed roof over head no choice no confidence no longer despairing no power to change situation not her fault at all old house paper picked up twirled around dance partner project real world requested drink of water resolving issue risky savior of the world second step seems impossible seen the Messiah share the love of God she could ignore request spoke to woman step by step stuck swipe a wand talked to her through not around Samaria traditions that divide us are not that important transformed woman's life transforms in a process transforms us treated her as equal trust in his love trust in living water trust in power of God unclean bucket understood pain and valued her until she met Jesus used to criticism village invited Jesus water of baptism water of baptism where are you getting this water? why are you asking? willingness to be vulnerable willingness to engage winter being transformed into spring woman not cared for women go in groups work through it worship in Jerusalem]
  • Mar 5, 2017Our North Star
    Mar 5, 2017
    Our North Star
    Series: (All)
    March 5, 2017. Do we need a kind of North Star in our lives? Today we hear the gospel story of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness. How did he know he was being tempted? Pastor Penny preaches on this text and says that he knew because what the devil was offering didn't match up with his mission. Our mission, like Jesus', is to help and care for others. Knowing this helps us to know when we're being tempted. And we can resist temptation because of our loving relationship with God, a relationship that becomes our North Star that will guide us home.
     
    *** Transcript ***
     
    We begin this morning in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
     
    Well you may know this, but I just discovered that the North Star is not a particular star — that it is a kind of a star. And that right now as we are alive, Polaris is the North Star, but that different stars throughout the eons have served as a North Star. And a North Star is simply the star that is closest to the North Pole, that aligns with it most closely. And of course, the beauty of having a star that serves as a North Star is that in the night sky all the other stars seem to be rotating around and they're moving, but the North Star does not. So through the centuries, sailors for instance could always find their way by the North Star that would lead them safely home. And I bring that up because I think that as we talk about temptation, which is what our lessons are about today, we really need a kind of North Star for our lives.
     
    Temptation is the topic. Adam and Eve were tempted in the garden. Jesus was tempted in the desert. And we are tempted in all kinds of different places. Maybe sometimes at our computer we're tempted to push "send" and send an angry comment, an angry email, or maybe to post something a little sarcastic. Or maybe it's that we're tempted to push "buy" when we shouldn't, but it's a spur-of-the-moment decision to purchase something that we really don't need. Or maybe we're tempted to have just one more cookie, or just one more drink. In either case, we don't really need them. Or maybe it's a matter of how we use our time. You know, we're tempted to watch just one more movie, play just one more video game, spend just a little longer on Facebook, or do one more crossword puzzle. Maybe we're tempted to spend another session in the gym or spend a long time on our phone, or maybe go to just one more store in the mall or online. And in all these cases, as we're confronted with things that can tempt us I think we need to ask two questions: how can we recognize when we're being tempted, and once we realize that how do we resist?
     
    Well, we can look to Jesus in the gospel today, because he was tempted. There's nothing wrong with being tempted; it's what you do with it. And it's interesting, what you wouldn't know necessarily is that the thing that happened just before the lesson today is that Jesus was baptized. And then immediately after his baptism the Spirit of God sends him into the wilderness to be tempted. Now, why would the Father send his Son to be tempted? Is it that he wanted him to have some practice in resisting temptation and build up his moral muscles? Did he want Jesus to understand the human situation? We don't really know. But he was sent there, and a spirit — called Satan, the devil, the tempter — tempted him. And Jesus had to figure out what and whether he was being tempted. Because the first two temptations don't really stand out. Jesus had fasted and his fast was over, so what was wrong about accepting some food? Or the second one: Jesus as the Son of God had special powers. Was it really so bad to have a little fun and jump off a high building and watch the angels scoop you up and protect you? But the third one — that probably stood out as a clear temptation — was when the devil said all these kingdoms and their glory will be yours if you worship me.
     
    How did Jesus determine whether he was being tempted or not? He used one method — and that was to see if those things being offered matched up with his mission. Jesus had a mission in life. And he knew what that mission was from scripture. And that's why he kept quoting all these passages from scripture. He knew his mission, and he knew his mission was not to have power and glory. He knew it was not to be frivolous about the powers that he had and tempt the angels. He even knew that his mission wasn't always to have a full stomach. He knew his mission was to rescue us. He knew his mission was to be a poor, traveling healer, who would be hurt and crucified and die and rise again, so that we might be children of God. He knew his mission, so he knew when he was being tempted.
     
    Well, Jesus' mission is really, in some respects, our mission. Not that we're rescuing him, but we are called to look out for other people. So our mission isn't just to do whatever we're able to do or buy whatever we have money to buy or experience whatever we have opportunity to experience. Our mission is to see how our actions impact other people, to help people and to care about them. Knowing our mission helps us to know when we are being tempted. To spend hours on the phone with a friend who's going through a hard time, for instance, might very well be part of our mission in caring for people. To spend hours on the phone building ourselves up by criticizing other people and talking behind their backs would probably be a temptation. To spend a lot of time at the gym in preparation for the occasional marathon might be part of our mission to keep our bodies intact and maybe enjoy the community of athletes. But spending time at the gym to avoid responsibilities of schoolwork or work or family responsibilities — that could be a temptation.
     
    So knowing that we have a mission helps us to identify and recognize when we're being tempted. But what do we do when we know we're being tempted? How do we have the strength to withstand those temptations? In the play — and it's also a book and a movie — To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch is a lawyer in a small, southern town. And he has been appointed to stand up, to be the lawyer for a black man who has been accused of attacking a white woman. Now, he had a temptation not to do that, not to be that man's lawyer, because the whole town didn't like the man and they didn't want Atticus to do it. But Atticus felt he was being unfairly accused, that he was an innocent man. And so he went ahead and became his lawyer, and he was a strong lawyer in his defense. Of course, he paid a price. His family paid a price, and he paid a price. They were even attacked. But he didn't give in to the temptation. And then later on in the play he thinks his son might have been implicated in a crime, and he's tempted by his friend who's the sheriff to just sweep the evidence under the rug and forget about it. But Atticus says no. He says I can't be one person in church and another person in life. He says, if I don't live up to the things I've taught my son, I will lose him. And he is my most precious possession. Atticus did not give in. He had the strength to resist temptation because of a loving relationship, because he cared for his son and his son cared for him.
     
    It is a loving relationship that Jesus uses to give himself strength. The relationship, of course, with the Father. He is in constant communication with his Heavenly Father through prayer. He senses the Father's presence in his regular worship, and we get a glimpse into the closeness between Jesus and his Father — the love they have for each other — in the prayer that he prays in the Book of John shortly before he is taken into custody. It goes like this (he's praying to the Father about his disciples): the glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one as we are one — I in them and you in me — that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you love me. That loving relationship is what gave Jesus strength. It was his North Star. The relationship he had with a loving Father guided him, gave him strength, and gave him the ability to make it home safely.
     
    It's interesting that both Atticus Finch and Jesus Christ are not motivated by dread or fear. It's not a drudgery for them to resist temptation and to follow their mission. Instead, they do it out of love — love for someone who loves them. Maybe, as we think of ourselves going through life with various temptations, and we think of our relationship to our Heavenly Father, maybe the prodigal son will help us get some insight into how we interact with God. You know the story of the Prodigal Son probably. He took his father's hard-earned money, he went out and squandered it, and then he was penniless and hungry so he headed for home. And I think a lot of times we think, oh he went home because he had to. That was the only place, that was the last place he could go, so he went. But I wonder if there wasn't more to it than that. I can imagine him walking along those dusty paths home and thinking about his father, thinking about the relationship he had had with his father, how his father sacrificed to provide for him, how his father taught him, how his father had dreams for this son, a mission. And he must have hoped that that love that he used to know was still there. Well of course, we know the end to that story. The father is standing there with open arms ready to forgive this son when he comes home, still loving him.
     
    That father figure represents for us our relationship with our heavenly parent, with God. Because we know that in the same way, God has sacrificed to provide for us, God has taught us, God has given us strength, and God, like the father in the Prodigal Son, forgives us when we fall on our faces. So it is that relationship with a loving God that is the most important relationship we have in life. And as we go through a field of temptations, it is that relationship with a loving God which becomes our North Star that will guide us safely home.
     
    Amen.
     
    *** Keywords ***
     
    2017, Christ Lutheran Church, Webster Groves, sermon, podcast, transcript, Pastor Penny Holste, Matthew 4:1-11, Luke 15:11-32, Prodigal Son, To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
  • Feb 26, 2017We’ve Got Work to Do
    Feb 26, 2017
    We’ve Got Work to Do
    Series: (All)
    February 26, 2017. We live in different worlds and have different experiences. We are white and black, police and nonpolice, hopeful and hopeless. It's all too easy to live our lives without knowing how other people live theirs. But when that bubble bursts, what do we do? Being exposed to new truths can be overwhelming. Pastor Penny relates this to how it must have been for Jesus' disciples, wondering whether they were on the right track following him. Jesus shared his vision with the disciples. What is God's vision for us, and what are we called to do with this new understanding? *** [Keywords: African Americans Bible Easter morning Father 2 Father Ferguson Get up and don't be afraid God was at work God's action in our world Holy Redeemer James Jerusalem Jesus would be crucified Jewish cemetary Jews John Lenten journey Lutheran Mediterranean Muslim PBS Peter Pontius Pilate Roman Catholic Rust Belt Syrians The Talk This is my son, the beloved, in whom I am well pleased Transfiguration United Nations a few bad actors actions of Jesus afraid agonizing experiences alive again anger animosity ban been followed in store black people bottom of socioeconomic ladder boy's body brightness brought people together bubble burst caucasians civil war cloud college students come to worship command conflict country courage to listen cowardice crack open these silos crowds came out crucified days that followed demean different experience disappearing lifestyles disciples dishonor documentary drought drowned election face to face fisherman follow him forgave going to hell in a handbasket good will prevail grave challenge to police hardship have hope headed to Jerusalem healed healing holy communion honor and revere hope dried up hopeful and hopeless how do we deal hymns ideologically opposed insinuations insult jobs dried up killed by police late night comedians lepers lips of Christian friends listen to him little boys killed live in a bubble lived in shadows lives of others love your enemies males media midweek services millions of children mosque mountain new ways of understanding no hope no jobs norms of our society not comfortable not trying to escape on the right track out of body experience outright lies overwhelmed Penny Holste police and nonpolice political enemies politicians power of God prayers pulling gun pushed over headstones re-energized reignited rejuvenated religious leaders religious radio stations rituals selfishness shoplifting split second standards of decency have really dropped starvation stopped by police take heart the Word time for a vision together bringing love to this world two different worlds unclean unjustly untouchables vandals violence of mobs visionary experiences voice of God warning we have each other we have the world we support you we welcome immigrants we've got work to do what Jesus would say what are we supposed to do white and black white people without knowing about other people's lives worked together]
  • Feb 5, 2017Build Bridges, Not Walls
    Feb 5, 2017
    Build Bridges, Not Walls
    Series: (All)
    February 5, 2017. In Matthew 5:13-20, Jesus tells us that we’re the salt of the earth and the light of the world. In the time of Jesus, salt and light were very important. We’re important too. Especially now, with our politics and our communities and country divided more than ever, Jesus urges us not to hide our light. Instead of building walls between us and those with whom we disagree, we should build bridges. We’re reminded just how much power God gives us, and in her sermon today Pastor Penny talks about some ways we can be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
     
    *** Transcript ***
     
    I want to start with a word association this morning. If I would say Starbucks, you would say? If I would say McDonald's? Okay, how about Boeing? And Enterprise? Christ Lutheran Church? We have to think, right? What is our product? It's not quite so easy, and it might be different for different people. And you have to think about it. I think that some churches are known for things that they do within their four walls. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church hosts the Feed My Starving Children program, and we've been involved in that. We think of that, maybe, when we think of that church. There are churches that have a community meal. There are churches that might have daycare or a latchkey after school. But I have to believe that what people know about a congregation is not so much what happens here, but what happens outside these walls. I believe that we are the product of Christ Lutheran Church -- that you all are the product. And when you think about how many people (I was asking the children how many people they see) think of the people that we make contact with in one day's time. And then multiply it by all of you. You know that our impact is mostly felt out in the world. We are the product of Christ Lutheran Church.
     
    And Jesus tells us how important we are as a product. He says, You are the light of the world. You are the salt of the earth. And of course, salt and light are important today. Food would taste pretty bad without a little salt. But in Jesus' day, salt and light were very important. Salt particularly, because it was the way you preserved food. It became a very important trade commodity, salt did, and we get our word salary (like in "earning a salary") from the Latin word for salt, because some Roman soldiers were paid in salt. That's how important it was. Light, of course, is always important. If we didn't have artificial light when the sun went down, we wouldn't get much done. In Jesus' day, when the sun went down they would light little lamps with oil. And it wasn't a very bright light, but it allowed them to go out into the world in safety or to stay home and do what they needed to do safely and securely and with comfort. So when Jesus says you are the salt of the earth and the light of the world, he means it is very important.
     
    And it is, and you are. You are these things in your communities. You -- through your words of encouragement, through your faithful work, wherever you work, through your volunteer efforts, through the promises you make and faithfully keep, through the protests or marches you're in or the prayers you pray, when you show patience with a child, when you sacrifice for a friend -- you are the light of the world, the salt of the earth. And you are important. And I think we are especially important right now, because this is a hard time as a nation and as a world community. We know that with each new event that happens in politics, our country is more divided. When we think of the last two weeks under a new administration, I know that a good share of the country is going "Yes!" and a good share of the country is going "No!" And a good share of the country is saying, I don't know what's going on. I'm going to wait and see. We are divided. So it is very much the time that we need to be salt and light.
     
    And I think that's why Jesus urges us in today's gospel not to, he said, let your salt lose its flavor. And I'm not quite sure how to depict that. But he says don't put your light under a bushel basket. Don't hide your light. And I do think it would be easy to do that right now, with all the division in our country. It would be easy to do it by disengaging, by just turning off the news and throwing yourself into your work, into your family, into your hobbies, into the Super Bowl and just saying, I really have no control over this and I don't have that much power. So I'm just not going to bother with it. But Jesus said we do have power. A little bit of salt goes a long way. A little candle, when the power goes out in a storm and you reach for that candle or that flashlight, makes a big difference. A little bit of God's power goes a long way.
     
    In the second lesson, Paul said to his congregation, "I came to you and I didn't have lofty wisdom or lofty words. I was trembling," he said. "But my meager words had power because the Spirit was behind them." In the same way, we may feel powerless. But God says, You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. If we don't disengage, we might be tempted to hide our life in the opposite way. We might accept our power and use it abusively. Instead of disengaging, we might demonize the people we don't agree with. We might demonize the other side. We might eagerly take every negative statement we hear, every stereotype, and began piling these grievances on one another, like we're building a wall, until we've built a wall -- and we can't see through it or beyond it to see the goodness or even the neutrality of people who are on the other side. And when we do that, when we demonize people, what we do is we not only discard their ideas, their political views, but we discard them as people. We stop asking why. Why do they believe differently than I do? What hardships have they experienced in the past that makes them feel the way they do? What good have they experienced that they want to bring back again? Why do they believe the way they do? So clearly, if we are not to hide our light under a bushel basket, if we are not to disengage or demonize, we've got to build bridges and not walls. And that requires us to talk. We have to be willing to listen and to talk to people we don't agree with.
     
    Maybe you saw the news story about the Retired Marine who went around the country, and he'd go to cities and he'd hold a placard that said "I am a Marine and a Muslim. Ask me anything." And people did. When he listened and he talked, I'm sure he learned a lot, and they did too. I said this at first service -- and I'm waiting for someone to take me up on it: I would love it if this congregation could model what that could look like, because I'm sure we have the wide range of political spectrum here in this congregation. If we could model what it would be like to talk about controversial subjects, and do it while we care for each other, what a light we would be to this community, and really to the world. It may be, however, that you just feel that you haven't got the energy to take this on, that you just don't have the strength to fight this fight, to try to listen and to try to speak to people who don't agree with you. And in that case, I think it's important to remember that when Jesus said you are the light of the world and you are the salt of the earth, the "you" in Greek was plural. He meant we as a community are that. Sometimes we need to hold each other up. When one of us gets weary, we need to give each other strength. And that's why we come here on Sunday morning. That's why we worship here. That's why we pray together. We pray for understanding and for wisdom. We pray to have the courage to live out the beliefs that we have. And we pray for people who don't agree with us.
     
    Or maybe you have the strength, but you're just not sure. You're in that middle group and you just don't know what to believe. What is right? What is the right thing to do? What is the right thing to say? Well, we could look at Jesus' life. And he gives us a glimpse of that in the last part of the gospel, where he talks about the law and fulfilling it. We see in Jesus' life that he did not keep the law -- he fulfilled it. And that sometimes meant breaking the law. Like when he healed people on the Sabbath, or when he ate with the outcasts, the church society said no. No, don't do that. And Jesus said yes, this is the will of God. Because he knew God, because he had a firm relationship with the Heavenly Father, he knew what God would want him to do in that situation. It's kind of like if you have older children, and parents go out for the evening and the children are on their own, and you have this rule: you say "no friends over." In fact, don't let anybody in for safety's sake. Well if there's a fire, of course they're going to let in the firefighters and they're going to break your commandment. But they're going to fulfill your wishes as parents, because they know we love them, and they know what you would want them to do in that situation. So it all comes down to the relationship we have with God, that we stay close so that we can let God speak to us about how to live out our faith in these separate situations.
     
    It's all about our relationship with God. And you know, our relationship with God is strong. Our relationship with God is solid, not because our faith is so strong or our self-discipline is so strong or our wisdom is so strong, but because God's love for us is unshakable -- so much so that Jesus died to make us what we are. So when it comes right down to it, being the light of the world simply means to be what God has made us to be, to stay close to God, and to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
     
    Amen.
     
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    2017, Christ Lutheran Church, Webster Groves, sermon, podcast, transcript, Pastor Penny Holste, Matthew 5:13-20, 1 Corinthians 2:1-12