Rev. Zach

Psalm 19      1 Corinthians 12:12-31a      Luke 4:14-21 Our Gospel Lesson ended with Jesus telling his listeners that the reading had been fulfilled in their hearing. I wonder what you think of when I say the word, “fulfilled?” Tell me, in a word or phrase, what pops into your mind when I say the word, “fulfilled?” [Congregation members shared their thoughts. Responses ranged from “complete” to “finished” to “satisfied” or “an obligation or contract that has been successfully completed.”] If a promise is fulfilled, is there generally more that needs to be done after that? You would think not, right? So, why in the world would Jesus have said that the promise of literal restoration from prison, hunger, and blindness be fulfilled in his presence? Maybe it was hyperbole. Maybe it was an acknowledgment of what Dr. King meant when he popularized the saying that “the moral arc of the universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” I'd like to think that is the case. I

Need Dat Gumbo Isaiah 62:1-5 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 John 2:1-11 “Personal faith is never private. It only exists in a public body for the common good.” That’s a statement from the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota Environmental Stewardship Committee , and I’ve been wrestling with it. All week I’ve been thinking about what to say about Paul’s words about gifts of the Spirit and the idea of personal faith. I was pretty sure that God’s word was coming from Minnesota, until I met a Cajun at the grocery store last night. He greeted me in the parking lot with a sincere, “How you?” I said, “Good, but cold.” He said, “Aw yeah. Need dat gumbo.” It didn’t hit me until later, but when it did I realized that it fit pretty nicely with what Paul had to say. First, let me go back to Minnesota real quick and maybe just add some seasoning. “Personal faith is not simply private. It’s a gift that we share for everyone to enjoy.” I think that gets closer to the core meaning of what Paul

Isaiah 43:1-7      Acts 8:14-17      Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 After reading the scriptures I lead the congregation in making rain sounds by snapping their fingers, clapping, and stomping. I started our reflection today with rain sounds because we’ve just read about God’s claims to bring us through water and fire and all manner of struggle and strife just because God is God and God loves us. That’s tremendous claim! In fact, it’s so incredible that God – the original cause for all that is – would claim to love us,  that God only says it directly one time in the Old Testament. Of course, he is speaking specifically to the People of Judah through the Prophet Isaiah, but we know that this claim includes us. I say we know it, but maybe “believe” is a better word. We believe it to be true, and it gives us hope and meaning when there seems like there is nothing left to hope for. That is what many in our community and our region felt like in 2016 after an unnamed storm dropped 7.

Isaiah 60:1-6      Ephesians 3:1-12      Matthew 2:1-12 After reading the scriptures I put a blindfold on and find my way back down from the pulpit to the floor level of the sanctuary. Some of you are wondering why in the world I have a blindfold on. Some will recognize the “Bird Box Challenge” that is going viral. For some unknown reason people who are otherwise competent and reasonable are putting blindfolds on – sometimes to their great peril – and completing normal tasks without assistance. This is, of course, modeled after the movie, Bird Box, and it should be noted that an international media corporation has issued advisories against it. It makes about as much sense as those warnings on hair dryers that tell you not to use them in the tub. This is the world we live in, and here I stand as a testament to it preaching to you in a blindfold. For those who have not seen the movie, I can’t say that I recommend it. It’s violent and nasty, but it is also a statement