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Transfiguration of Our Lord—February 27, 2022
Preacher: Pastor Bree Lloyd
Lessons: Exodus 34:29–35 | Psalm 99 | 2 Corinthians 3:12–4:2 | Luke 9:28–43a
Summary: Our experiences, our jobs, our community, and so on change and shape each of us. The current situation in Ukraine has been shaped by a series of events over decades. The real source of power comes from outside us as Christ transforms us from one degree of glory into another. This is the message of the Transfiguration. We are implicated in the worst we can do to the world around us, yet the divine still moves through us. We are all changed daily by Christ working in us.
Seventh Sunday after Epiphany—February 20, 2022
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Genesis 45:3–11, 15 | Psalm 37:1–11, 39–40 | 1 Corinthians 15:35–38, 42–50 | Luke 6:27–38
Summary: Growing up, my brother and I saw each other as enemies. This may not be all that uncommon across families, or among people across the world. Everything that Jesus tells us in today’s Gospel about loving our enemies seems so impractical that we think it applies to someone else. What would it look like to love the one person you hate the most? In Jesus’ time, reciprocity was the way of life. However, we see times in scripture where individuals do not seek revenge. Saul tried over and over again to kill David, but while David had many opportunities to kill Saul, he never did. In our reading from Genesis, Joseph had every reason to hate his brothers, who had left him in a hole to die; but when Joseph had risen to second in command in Egypt and his brothers came seeking food, Joseph did not take revenge. How can this work in our own lives? Jesus tells us to love our neighbor, and we ask who is our neighbor. But what about asking who is my enemy? Jesus answers that we are all children of God. The good measure we receive is not a prize for being good but good for being prized by God. So often we are ready for revenge, but by seeing our enemies as neighbors, we are ready for love and abundance.
Sixth Sunday after Epiphany—February 13, 2022
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Jeremiah 17:5–10 | Psalm 1 | 1 Corinthians 15:12–20 | Luke 6:17–26
Summary: Today’s Gospel should have left you nervous or upsete. We prefer Matthew’s version of the Beatitudes to Luke’s. In Luke, Jesus is intent on changing the world, and we want to keep Jesus spiritual so we can remain blissfully unchanged. Notice the tense: the poor are blessed now, but woe to the rich now. A common Zulu greeting translates to “I see you,” meaning “I acknowledge you.” The poor and powerless have been unseen for millennia. When we see each other and all humanity, the world is ready to change. In Jeremiah, we hear that we are planted by the streams, to survive and prosper in the desert. Jesus offers us the change to be planted by the streams, with deep roots that allow us to truly see each other.
Fifth Sunday after Epiphany—February 6, 2022
Preacher: Pastor Bree Lloyd
Lessons: Isaiah 6:1–8, (9–13) | Psalm 138 | 1 Corinthians 15:1–11 | Luke 5:1–11
Summary: In the latest issue of Christian Century, the editor laments the rise of white grievance in the US. He believes that it arises from the fear of the loss of whiteness and a sense of being under siege. This leads to rage and grievance among people scared by diversity. It would be a mistake to believe that such rage and grievance don’t exist here in Hawai‘i. Similar dynamics exist around gender, ability, education, and who we love. These are all examples of the fear of lost status and a zero-sum understanding of reality. Media and marketing prey on these fears. How can we enter into a world of diversity with an understanding of this diversity as a blessing? In our Gospel, the disciples follow Jesus after their miraculous catch. By what are our own nets filled after we step up to follow Jesus? In Isaiah, God is so holy and powerful that the prophet recognizes his own unworthiness, understands grace, and says “Here I am, send me.” What if we live in this same understanding that any decline in our status is of no importance, and we see more empathetically? Filled with a strong sense of belovedness, we understand that the pie of God’s abundance has no limit, that it is no zero-sum game.
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany/Reconciling Sunday—January 30, 2022
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Jeremiah 1:4–10 | Psalm 71:1–6 | 1 Corinthians 13:1–13 | Luke 4:21–30
Summary: In our Gospel, Jesus reads from Isaiah and tells them that these words have been fulfilled. But quickly the people move from acceptance to wanting to throw Jesus off the cliff as he point to many time is the Hebrew scriptures when God blessed foreigners and not Jews. When we read in 1 Corinthians of active, unconditional love—a love so powerful that when we put it in practice, it can take us to the cross—how do we feel? The ELCA went through 30 years of struggle over welcoming LGBTQI folks as full members and clergy, and when the decision was made to welcome them, many congregations left. Now we are more secure in our commitment that love aways comes first. Still, we are tempted to stay behind the plexiglass and observe love as a noun. In our Gospel, we are invited to enter into life as active lovers as we live out out the promise that we are all welcome in this place.
Third Sunday after Epiphany—January 23, 2022
Preacher: Pastor Bree Lloyd
Lessons: Nehemiah 8:1–3, 5–6, 8–10 | Psalm 19 | 1 Corinthians 12:12–31a | Luke 4:14–21
Summary: Who are the interpreters of scripture? Do they interpret scripture literally and authoritatively? Do we interpret critically and become uncertain about the possibility of holy reality? Or do we ask what is being offered to disclose the character of God? In this way, with study and imagination, we can live lives that manifest holy presence.
Second Sunday after Epiphany—January 16, 2022
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Isaiah 62:1–5 | Psalm 36:5–10 | 1 Corinthians 12:1–11 | John 2:1–11
Summary: Today’s Gospel tells of Jesus’ miracle. The story of Jesus changing water into wine at the wedding feast at Canna has entered into common parlance and become trivialized. As Christians we see this a sign of Jesus’ great gifts. Reading our lesson from 1 Corinthians and thinking of our gifts, we see them as so much less than Jesus. My friend Deena has a gift of kindness that is much greater than mine; it seems natural to think of her that way and not to call it her spiritual gift. It isn’t amazing like turning water into wine, but it has great impact on those around her. What are your spiritual gifts? Paul tells us that there are a variety of gifts for the common good. Some are obvious like the musical gifts of our choir and accompanist. Some of you have the visible gifts of kindness, of noticing other people, of sharing your time and wealth, and of being able to teach. When all of these gifts come together, we have a church engaged in mission. Our giftedness is wrapped up in the abiding presence of a God who chooses to be with us. Look within yourself for the gifts that God has given you.
Baptism of our Lord—January 9, 2022
Preacher: Pastor Bree Lloyd
Lessons: Isaiah 43:1–7 | Psalm 29 | Acts 8:14–17 | Luke 3:15–17, 21–22
Summary: Names are important in so many ways. In our first lesson we hear that God has called us by name and promises to be with us. This is the reminder we need for each new day.
Second Sunday of Christmas—January 2, 2022
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Jeremiah 31:7–14 | Psalm 147:12–20 | Ephesians 1:3_14 | John 1:(1–9), 10–18
Summary: When I would visit Muir Woods, the towering redwoods showed the unmatched wonder of God’s creation; but these days both the environment and civilization seem to be in decline. However, today’s Gospel calms me back to creation, the beginning, and permanence. The image of cosmic creation in today’s Gospel distills to John the baptizer, who will prepare the way and testify to the light. And we hear the most poignant statements in scripture: the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. God has chosen to be present—not theologically or philosophically, but in the person of Jesus. We may not be able to be present with each other, but God’s presence stands in our midst and gathers us together in an embrace of love. And that is enough.
Christmas Day—December 25, 2021
Preacher: Pastor Bree Lloyd
Lessons: Isaiah 52:7–10 | Psalm 98 | Hebrews 1:1–12 | John 1:1–14
Summary: As we were decorating for Christmas, each of us was amazed at the beauty of the Nave and the courtyard. Maybe we had doubted our own abilities to create beautiful adornments or to do the work, but we were in awe. This kind of awe and amazement calms our souls amid the structure of daily life that works against awe. Christmas is a day of wonder and awe. The miracle of any birth is enough to evoke awe, but our story goes further as the Holy One comes to dwell with us in this messy world. God is with us! We have heard this over and over, yet it still amazes us. God comes again into our messy world, and we are amazed.
Christmas Eve—December 24, 2021
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Isaiah 9:2–7 | Psalm 96 | Titus 2:11–14 | Luke 2:1–14 (15–20)
Summary: Today’s familiar Gospel paints a picture of tranquility with the child asleep on the hay, the gentle mother, and the adoring shepherds. Now that I have a grandson, I remember how different it must have been in reality. Luke sets this story in history and reality; in the midst of chaos and suffering, God chooses to come into the world as a child. God comes into the messiness of our lives. Our services this evening have been disrupted by covid, but this is the place where Christ is born. God chooses to be born in the midst of a messy world, God chooses to bring hope. this is who God is.
Fourth Sunday of Advent—December 19, 2021
Preacher: Pastor Bree Lloyd
Lessons: Micah 5:2–5a | Luke 1:46b–55 | Hebrews 10:5–10 | Luke 1:39–55
Summary: In many ways the most amazing part today’s Gospel is that Mary says yes to the angel. What a life that yes led to. What kind of a yes is in store for us this year? In the Magnificat Mary recognizes the relationship between God and the suffering poor. When we say yes to God, the lonely and broken hearted are lifted up and the hungry are fed. We are called to rise from all that signals despair, not to give up. What kind of yes are you and I and we as a congregation in for this Christmas?
Third Sunday of Advent—December 12, 2021
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Zephaniah 3:14–20 | Isaiah 12:2–6 | Philippians 4:4–7 | Luke 3:7–18
Summary: In today’s Gospel, after John tells the people who have come out to see him that they are doing everything wrong, the writer says that John proclaimed the Good News. Their question is like ours: what shall we do? We often think it all depends on us, but it does not. John sets a low bar and reminds them that Jesus is coming with a baptism that changes everything. There is nothing we can or should do; the kingdom is already unfolding around us. The kingdom is coming because Christ is already her and God in grace has poured out on us all that we ned so that we may pour ourselves out for the world.
Second Sunday of Advent—December 5, 2021
Preacher: Pastor Bree Lloyd
Lessons: Malachi 3:1–4 | Luke 1:68–79 | Philippians 1:3–11 | Luke 3:1–6
Summary: In today’s Gospel, God’s message comes to one of no political or economic power and in the wilderness. This is not a metaphorical wilderness; it’s a rugged desert where returning exiles revel in shade trees and level ground. Life in these wild places surprises us and highlights our vulnerability, so our senses are on high alert and we are open to the voice of God. In our less-wild world, there are whispers of God in our gardens. The mystery that unfolds in the wild or the garden reminds us that we are not in control. We are filled with anticipation—unknowing attention—and we hear the unpredictable and unscheduled word of God.
First Sunday of Advent—November 28, 2021
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Jeremiah 33:14–16 | Psalm 25:1–9 | 1 Thessalonians 3:9–13 | Luke 21:25–36
Summary: I looked and looked for Good News in today’s Gospel, but it was hard to find. Jesus tells the disciples that the world will pass away in destruction. These words seem particuarly true these days when we face violence, misogyny, hatred, racisim, and climate change. Humans have always faced them, but they seem particularly stark today. Jesus calls us to be alert and ready to endure all of these forces so that we may stand before the Son of Man—so that we are ready for the promise in Jermiah that the Lord is our righteousness. We want these troubles to end soon, but the promise is that God continues to stand wth us and that God’s word will endure. The Good News of Advent is that we begin again to see our place in the world and begin again our renewal as children of God.