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Easter 2018; Pastor Rebecca Ellenson; ICCM

The Easter gospel as told by Mark has the startling ending, “So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone for they were afraid.” At first glance it seems like a strange way to end a gospel.  There is no shout of victory, only astonished silence.  No leap for joy, only running in fear.

Both Matthew and Luke end their gospels with resurrection appearances, reunions with the eleven, and a commandment to preach.  Some scholars explain Mark’s abrupt ending by suggesting that the scroll of Mark had become worn and frayed and the last lines were lost.  In the second century, longer and “more expected” endings were added to the original text.  Modern editors of the English versions of the New Testament don’t always agree on what to do with those later endings.

In any case Mark certainly believed in the resurrection even if he did not include any dramatic resurrection appearances.  His account zeroes in on the difficulty the women had with what they encountered, their questions and fears.  The gospel of Mark was written for believers.  It is described by Mark as “the beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ.”  It IS open ended perhaps because it is only the beginning.  The rest of the story takes place out there– where he meets us, in Galilee– in the place of life.  The women obviously found their tongues– we wouldn’t have Mark’s gospel or the church at all if they hadn’t been able to tell witness. but early on that first Easter morning their response to the empty tomb was fear and silence.  Continue reading “Is God Coming? Easter 2018”

Passion Sunday 2018;  Pastor Rebecca Ellenson

Once there was a man who suffered from many illness, for a very long time.  He had seen countless doctors, had countless tests, had taken countless prescriptions.  But he didn’t get any better.  He turned to alternatives.  He drank exotic teas, took mega doses of vitamins.  Still he was no better.  He heard of a master diagnostician.  Made an appointment and waited to get in.  Finally, he thought, his problems were over.  This master doctor would be able to cure him, he was certain.

The day came for the examination.  The doctor sat with him and she said, “My friend, you are not a healthy man.  But you can be well again if you follow my advice.  You need to lose about 60 pounds, maintain a regular course of exercise, and eat more grain, fruit and vegetables.  You don’t need the medicines you are taking, or the vitamins, or the teas.”

The man was indignant.  He demanded a new drug, a cure.  The doctor smiled and said.  “You don’t need medicine.  You need to change your lifestyle.”   The man stomped out and cursed the doctor and for the rest of his sickly life he told everyone about that the quack who didn’t deserve to be called a doctor.   Continue reading “Passion Sunday”

Bread in the Kingdom of God; ICCM; March 4, 2018; Pastor Rebecca Ellenson

(This sermon draws heavily on the book The Greatest Prayer by John Dominic Crossan)

 We pray to Our Father for daily bread in the Kingdom of God.  In the days of Jesus, Ceasar was the ruler of the empire and thought to be a God. Fathers were typically the heads of households, and as such, were responsible to provide for all in thier care.  The Householder had a good name, a reputation of honor, when all those within the household, the children, the servants, the animals were well cared for and justly treated.  Continue reading “Bread in the Kingdom of God”

Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow; Pastor Rebecca Ellenson; March 18, 2018; ICCM

Pastors get a fair amount of feedback about the choice of hymns for worship.  Not just here, in every congregation, everywhere!  How many praise songs, how many contemporary songs, how many traditional hymns, how many verses, how many new songs?

It reminds me of a story.  A visitor was attending a particular church for the first time.  Inspired by something in the sermon she raised her hands and exclaimed, “Praise the Lord!”  The regular attender seated next to her leaned over quietly and informed her, “We don’t ‘praise the lord’ here.”  Overhearing the comment another long-time participant seated in the row behind them corrected, “Oh, yes we do.  But we sing it in unison during after the offering—it’s called the Doxology.” Continue reading “Doxology”

Abba; February 18, 2018; Pastor Rebecca Ellenson; ICCM

I’m reading a book right now called, The Greatest Prayer.  In it, John Dominic Crossan says that the Lord’s Prayer is both Christianity’s greatest and strangest payer.  Prayed by all Christians it never mentions Christ, prayed in all churches it never mentions church, prayed on all Sundays but never mentions Sundays, called the Lord’s prayer but never mentions Lord.  It is prayed by all types of Christians without mention of any of the things that divide the church, doctrines and structures… It is prayed by Christians who emphasize what it never mentions and also prayed by Christians who ignore what it does. …The Lord’s Prayer is … both a revolutionary manifesto and a hymn of hope.  Revolutionary because it presumes and proclaims the radical vision of justice that is the core of Israel’s biblical tradition. A hymn, because it presumes and produces poetic techniques that are at the core of Israel’s biblical poetry.”  Continue reading “Abba”

February 4, 2018; Grasshoppers and Eagles

Pastor Rebecca Ellenson; ICCM

Isaiah 40:31 is one of those verses of scripture many of us know by heart, thanks to a song.  Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength, they shall mount up on wings, as eagles, they shall run and not be weary they shall walk and not faint.   It expresses a great hope –that God would lift us up on Eagle’s wings. Who wouldn’t love the idea of soaring above it all, like a swift and strong eagle, with a bird’s eye view of life below.   Continue reading “Grasshoppers and Eagles”