June 17, 2018 / 4th Sunday after Pentecost / Richard E. Holmer First Lesson: Ezekiel 17:22-24 / Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:6-10,14-17 / Gospel: Mark 4:26-34 Motivated By Love How many of you watched the royal wedding last month – either live or a recorded version?  Millions of viewers around the world tuned in.  Those who watched heard the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, the Most Reverend Michael Curry, deliver a sermon that has drawn widespread attention.  (Incidentally, I have just two degrees (or one?) of separation from Prince

June 10, 2018 / 3rd Sunday after Pentecost / Richard E. Holmer First Lesson: Genesis 3:8-15 / Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 / Gospel: Mark 3:29-25 Sin Happens The ancient story of Adam and Eve is fascinating.  After a few thousand years this familiar tale is still fresh and relevant.  This is true because the story of Adam and Eve is our story – yours and mine. To trace their history is like looking into a mirror.  Each of us wants what they wanted:  MORE.  Consider their situation:  They had

June 03, 2018/ 3rd Sunday After Pentecost / Richard E. Holmer First Lesson: Deuteronomy 5:12-15/Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:5-12/ Gospel: Mark 2:23-3:6   I sometimes wonder if St. Paul is actually trying to discourage prospective disciples by what he writes – instead of trying to encourage them.  The picture he paints of the faithful life to which believers are called can, at times, be daunting – even a bit bleak.  Some verses we heard in our reading today from Second Corinthians would not be the first ones selected for a promotional

May 27, 2018/ Trinity Sunday/ Richard E. Holmer First Lesson: Isaiah 6:1-8, Second Reading: Romans 8:12-17, Gospel: John 3:1-17   Holy Relationship How do you picture heaven? It’s quite common for people to describe heaven in terms of what they already know.  That is, heaven will be like earth – only more so:  the best of everything, earthly life perfected.  And so heaven is imagined to be like Camelot, where the weather is always perfect, there is plenty of food and drink, dogs don’t bite, bees don’t sting, no mosquitoes. 

May 13, 2018/ 7th Sunday after Easter / Richard E. Holmer First Lesson: Acts 1:15-17, 21-26/econd Reading: 1 John 5:9-13/ Gospel: John 15:1-8   Christian Unity Unity is not a goal, not a task to be accomplished – It is a gift to be received. Ultimately, Christians cannot create unity.  But we can acknowledge and accept the blessing of unity that is ours in Christ.  Unity is not the product of negotiations and dialogues, though these are good and helpful.  Our unity is the direct result of our baptism into Christ. 

April 29, 2018 / 5th Sunday after Easter / Richard E. Holmer First Lesson: Acts 8:26-40 / Second Reading: 1 John 4:7-21 / Gospel: John 15:1-8 Abide in Love Where do you live? If I was asked that question while on vacation, say in California, I might first say, “Chicago.”  And then, if they are familiar with this part of the world, I could add: “about 30 miles north, in Lake Forest.”  If asked by a local, I’d say, “In Whispering Oaks, about two blocks from the Fort Sheridan train

April 22, 2018 / 4rd Sunday after Easter / Richard E. Holmer First Lesson: Acts 4:5-12 / Second Reading: 1 John 3:16-24 / Gospel: John 10:11-18 Revival Back in the early 80‘s I was still pretty new as a pastor. I was serving a congregation that had struggled through a rough patch with my predecessor. We were faced with a number of challenges common to small churches: not enough money, not enough space. I was also new as a husband and father – coping with the inevitable stresses of juggling

April 15, 2018 / 3rd Sunday after Easter / Richard E. Holmer First Lesson: Acts 3:12-19 / Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 / Gospel: Luke 24:36b-48 We Are Witnesses Like many of you I have watched countless courtroom dramas: on stage, on screen, on television.  There is something compelling and engaging about a trial where people in conflict come together to state their case – and await the decision of a jury.  Whether it’s the courtroom scene in “To Kill A Mockingbird,” or the O.J. Simpson trial, or a rerun

April 8, 2018 / 2nd Sunday after Easter / Richard E. Holmer First Lesson: Acts 4:32-35 / Second Reading: 1 John 1:1-2:2 / Gospel: John 20:19-31 One Heart and Soul The Christian Church is a direct consequence of Christ’s resurrection.  If God had not raised Jesus from the dead, his followers would have scattered and gone back to whatever they were doing before they met Jesus.  Without the resurrection there would not have been a gathered community of believers – because the belief they shared, the faith that inspired and

April 1, 2018 / Easter Day / Richard E. Holmer First Lesson: Acts 10:34-43 / Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 / Gospel: John 20:1-18 Whom Are You Looking For? The setting for the Easter story is a garden.  John describes how Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus placed the body of Jesus in a new tomb in that garden.  But before we get to the Easter story, we need to go back a few days to another garden.  After the last supper, Jesus went with his disciples to the garden of