Wicker Park Lutheran Church Sermons WPLC

Today we continue our 8-week study on Mark’s gospel. Last week, we heard about two different reactions to Jesus’ message both from his family and the scribes. Between last week and today’s readings, Jesus began to tell parables about the kingdom or reign of God. So far, he’s told the famous parable about a Sower spreading seed onto different types of soil, and he followed that up with some comments about the revelation of Jesus’ ministry being like a lamp being put on a lampstand instead of under a bushel basket.. The post Fourth Sunday after Pentecost appeared first on Wicker Park Lutheran Church.

If I had to pick a favorite genre of Bible stories “Jesus gets tired of people’s nonsense and responds with scripture and snark” would be right at the top of the list.  And perhaps that is because it’s one of my go to techniques when I’m tired of people’s nonsense. And perhaps that’s one of my go to techniques because Jesus modeled it for me. Who can say really?... The post Second Sunday after Pentecost appeared first on Wicker Park Lutheran Church.

This is the day of Pentecost – my very favorite day of the church year. But the story of Pentecost is bigger than just one day. This story has been unfolding for a very long time... The post Pentecost Sunday appeared first on Wicker Park Lutheran Church.

This week Jesus says, “As my father has loved me, so I have loved you. And this is my commandment: that you love one another as I have loved you..." The post Sixth Sunday of Easter appeared first on Wicker Park Lutheran Church.

Today’s gospel reading is from John. As a gospel, John is deceptively difficult to read. It’s complex, filled with deep theology, and possesses a high Christology. It’s a gospel where the shorter readings in our lectionary often make it more confusing. In today’s gospel, we heard the circularity in the text that is emblematic of John... The post Fifth Sunday of Easter appeared first on Wicker Park Lutheran Church.

In the summer of 2020 I was a hospital chaplain. I was in my first year of seminary and I was nervous about it, and I would have been nervous anyway, but the global pandemic happening didn’t make anything easier. The chaplain supervisor at the hospital said, “I know you’re scared, but it doesn’t matter.” She said she needed all hands on deck because almost everyone else in my program had dropped out. So… I showed up. And I got to work... The post Fourth Sunday of Easter appeared first on Wicker Park Lutheran Church.