Summer Sundays at the Park ~ 7pm All of the Sundays in July and August, Our Redeemer’s will be hosting worship in various parks around North Seattle. Featuring musicians from the informal ensemble, it will be a casual gathering at 7pm with communion, song, and story. The schedule is as follows: July 21 – Carkeek Park July 28 – Green Lake August 4 – Golden Gardens August 11 – Sunset Hill Park August 18 – Carkeek Park Added live stream … Continued
Every year I find myself in a bit of a quandary about whether I will march in PRIDE. I am an introvert, and that makes large parades of thousands of people not my jam. I have never been to a Seahawks game. I don’t go to concerts in large venues unless I have front row seats and a relationship with the artist. I am truly not a big crowd person unless. Unless I am performing. I probably wouldn’t say … Continued
Ballard Sunday Dinner 3rd Sundays ~ Ballard First Lutheran Vacation Bible School Registration July 29- Aug 2 Vacation Bible School Volunteer Sign-up July 29- Aug 2 Volunteer for Summer Worship Sundays ~ 7pm Coffee Hour Host Sunday Mornings
Beginning. Middle. End. That’s always the order. Of course. BEGINNINGS: Well, babies. New ventures. First day of school. So often full of hope. Excitement! Anticipation! Dreams! Though probably mixed with anxiety. Awkwardness. Trepidation. THE MIDDLE: Well, everything’s that’s not the beginning or the end. It covers a lot of ground. Ups. Downs. Sideways. The same old thing day after day. Surprises. Strategies. Accomplishments. Setbacks. Worries. Temptations. Growth. Losses. Gains. Being stuck. The middle is where it all happens. THE END: … Continued
After a great deal of back and forth, Pastor Gretchen and I have decided to cancel worship services at the church tomorrow. It’s supposed to get down to 15 degrees tonight, and that means any wetness on the roads will freeze, and still be frozen tomorrow a.m. While some of us could make it if we have weather-worthy vehicles, it’s probably not safe or maybe even tempting for many of us to try. HOWEVER, thanks to the marvels of technology, … Continued
Advocacy: public support for or recommendation of a particular cause or policy (Merriam Webster Dictionary) I have a confession. I came late to Christian advocacy – or public advocacy of any kind. I certainly felt angry and moaned and complained about injustices I saw. Moreover, I was (and still am) an expert at participating in righteously indignant conversations with people with whom I agree. But as it has been humorously observed, there is a limited amount of effectiveness in “vehemently … Continued
(listen along for a more enhanced sermon experience!) First Reading / Gospel Genesis 3:8-15 8 [Adam and Eve] heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 He said, “I heard the sound of … Continued
(listen along for a more enhanced sermon experience!) Gospel Mark 2:23–3:6 Jesus challenges the prevailing interpretation of what is lawful on the sabbath and tells his critics that the sabbath was made for humankind, not the other way around. Healing the man with the withered hand is work that cannot wait until the next day. 23One sabbath [Jesus] was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. 24The Pharisees said to him, “Look, … Continued
(listen along for a more enhanced sermon experience!) Gospel John 3:1-17 1Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” 3Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from … Continued
We at Our Redeemer’s feel called to share this statement by the Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJH). Israel’s violent action a few days ago against unarmed protestors at the Gaza border resulted in the deaths of at least 60 human beings and more than 2000 injuries. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land statement strongly condemns these killings and the unjustified and disproportionate use of force against unarmed civilians, … Continued