Tenth Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Martin Elfert

Lessons: 1 Kings 19:9-18 Psalm 85:8-13 Romans 10:5-15 Matthew 14:22-33   Peace Be Still. Jesus in the middle of the storm. Jesus in the middle of the storm is a story that we hear six times across the Gospels. Maybe, way back when, this was two stories, two encounters with Jesus, one in which JesusContinue reading “Tenth Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Martin Elfert”

Seventh Sunday of Pentecost by The Rev. Corbet Clark

Lessons: Genesis 28:10-19a Psalm 86:11-17 Romans 8:12-25 Matthew 13:24-30,36-43 View You Tube video of the sermon here.   In the name of God: Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier. The Sunday readings always present a challenge and an opportunity. Sometimes they’re very closely related, and you can easily see a theme emerging. Other times it’s harder toContinue reading “Seventh Sunday of Pentecost by The Rev. Corbet Clark”

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Martin Elfert

Lessons: Zechariah 9:9-12 Psalm 145:8-15 Romans 7:15-25a Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30   A reflection with four stanzas or, four movements. Let’s call the four Joy, Love, Confusion, and – because there is a symmetry in beginning where we ended – Joy again. One. Joy. Rejoice greatly, says the prophet Zechariah. These words are not phrased asContinue reading “Fifth Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Martin Elfert”

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Martin Elfert

Lessons: Jeremiah 28:5-9 Psalm 89:1-4,15-18 Romans 6:12-23 Matthew 10:40-42   Just before the climax of a great many books and movies and plays, there is a speech that changes everything. The speech comes at halftime at the big game or on the eve of the final battle or as the ragtag bunch of misfits areContinue reading “Fourth Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Martin Elfert”

Trinity Sunday by The Rev. Martin Elfert

Lessons: Genesis 1:1-2:4a 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 Matthew 28:16-20 Psalm 8   I don’t know about you, but I am exhausted. I am physically exhausted, emotionally exhausted, spiritually exhausted, full of grief. There has been so much loss and hurt and anxious uncertainty during this pandemic. To use the particular example of church, the appearance ofContinue reading “Trinity Sunday by The Rev. Martin Elfert”

Pentecost by The Rev. Martin Elfert

Lessons: Acts 2:1-21 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 John 20:19-23 Psalm 104:25-35, 37   It is the Feast of Pentecost and it is an overcast day in Portland, Oregon. The sermon that you are about to hear is one that I recorded several days ago and that I wrote several days before that. And while there isContinue reading “Pentecost by The Rev. Martin Elfert”

The Last Sunday after Pentecost: Christ the King by The Rev. Martin Elfert

  Lessons: Jeremiah 23:1-6 Psalm 46 Colossians 1:11-20 Luke 23:33-43 It is the end of the church year and, as is always the case, we bring these liturgical 365 days to a close with the Feast of Christ the King. Now, what is unusual about this particular Feast Day, about this particular “always,” is thatContinue reading “The Last Sunday after Pentecost: Christ the King by The Rev. Martin Elfert”

Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Martin Elfert

Lessons: Malachi 4:1-2a Psalm 98 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 Luke 21:5-19     One of the themes that recurs throughout Jesus’ teaching is: Be ready. You don’t know when the bridegroom is coming, you don’t know when the owner of the house is coming, you don’t know when the thief is coming. So stay awake. HaveContinue reading “Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Martin Elfert”

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