Passion Sunday

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

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”

Doxology

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”

Free

March 11, 2018; Free; ICCM; Pastor Rebecca Ellenson

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.  We are given the keys to the kingdom, the power to bind and loose here on earth.  Our actions or inaction has indefinite consequences.  Psalm 38 says, My guilt has overwhelmed me, like a burden too heavy to bear.  Resentment, holding on to sin, or to injury and insult can be just as big a burden as guilt.  Forgiveness works on the forgiver and the forgiven.  Jesus once called Peter the Rock. And then he called him a stumbling block.  Continue reading “Free”

A Hymn of Hope for All Creation

A Hymn of Hope for all Creation *;  Pastor Rebecca Ellenson

Preached by Steve Cherne; Feb  25, 2018; ICCM

Tony Campolo, a well-known Baptist public speaker and author reflects on his own prayer life, saying that sometimes he feels like his prayer life resembles that a little child, always focusing on asking God for things.  He tells a story about when his son was 7 years old. The boy came to bed.  I’m going to be praying.  Anybody want something?” That’s just a bit off target isn’t it? Prayer is more than asking for things. Continue reading “A Hymn of Hope for All Creation”

Abba

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”

Beyond Transfiguration

Just a few days ago I dressed up like a peacock, complete with mask and a tutu-like bustle for the Masquerade Ball. It was a fun night of music and dancing and bright colors and sparkles, and laughter. Fireworks were going off in the near distance when we got home. Then last night the major fireworks display launched right over our heads. One could say the whole city undergoes a change at this time each year, for Carnaval. But, the costumes, the sparkles and confetti don’t last. The Monigotes will come down, the stages and the bathrooms will be packed away and the noise and commotion will subside. And life will go on without the spectacular. Continue reading “Beyond Transfiguration”

Grasshoppers and Eagles

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”

Power and Authority

Mark 1: 21-28; January 28, 2018; Pastor Rebecca Ellenson: ICCM

He taught as one with authority.  Let’s talk about power today.

Biblically-speaking, there are two words for power.  One is the word from which the word dynamite comes.  That’s raw power, strength or force.  The other word is best translated Authority.  It means a power that is granted, like the power of a position, like that of an elected official. When that word is used about Jesus it means he had the authority from God and the right to use it.  Continue reading “Power and Authority”

A Big Fish Story

Jonah 3:1-5; January 21, 2018
Pastor Rebecca Ellenson; ICCM

One of Gary Larson’s “Far Side” cartoons depicts a bearded man standing at his front door. He is dripping wet and his clothes are in tatters. His wife opens the door. She takes one look at her disheveled husband and says, “For crying out loud Jonah! Three days late, covered with slime and smelling like fish. What story have I got to swallow this time?” Continue reading “A Big Fish Story”