Pastor Jess
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Sermon Podcast (Audio) On Journey with Jesus

What Language?

6/9/2019

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THe Texts

Tower of Babel

Gen 11: 1-9

Pentecost

Acts 2: 1-21

Sermon Audio

Prayer for Bishop CANDIDATES and Bishop-Elect

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I Don't Wanna, Endings, and BEginnings

6/2/2019

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Bible Texts

John 17:20-26
Rev 22:12-21

Sermon Audio

Bishop's Forum

You can watch the video below to hear Rev. Walker's direct words about church, discipleship, and overcoming fear.  
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Time Machine with Lydia

5/26/2019

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Lydia, Dealer of Purple Cloth

Acts 16: 9-15
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Sermon Audio

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Raise Each Other Up

5/12/2019

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Bible Texts

Psalm 23
Acts 9:36-43
John 10:22-30
Rev 7:9-17

Sermon Audio

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Don't Be Perfect

4/28/2019

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Bible Text

Commentary

John 20:19-31
Who's With Us?

Sermon Audio

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The Resurrection Story

4/21/2019

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Alleluia banner at church.
If you want to bury the Alleluia next year, try this post for a liturgy and coloring sheet for Ash Wednesday.  

Bible Text

Luke 24:1-12

Video Sermon

Audio Sermon

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How Jesus Breaks Open Suffering

4/20/2019

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I've lived through a lot of suffering my life, and I've been able to heal (not be cured) though understanding the magic of communion.  Listen below to find out how communion heals my suffering, and how it can be that for you, too.  The text is 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26.  Communion means everything to me.  

What is communion?

For those who do not know, communion is a time a worship service or home visit where we eat a small piece of bread, sometimes a wafer, and drink some wine or grape juice.  We do it because of this passage in 1 Corinthians.  Early Christians celebrated that ritual.  It means different things to different people at different times.  We, as Lutherans, believe that Jesus is present in, with, under, and around the bread and wine.  We believe that in the gathering community and speaking of the words and God's promises, Jesus' spirit comes alongside, and therefore alongside us.  This means everything to me and my ability to live well with physical suffering, chronic illness, and disability.  What happens in this meal is a little mystical, a little magical.  It is a moment, an event, that involves a Pastor (usually, but not always), God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the gathered community, and the relationship between a person and their Savior.  It is full and complicated, and no words or one way of describing it will ever encompass all of what is means that Jesus said to do this, God attached promises to it, and it includes bread and wine.  I hope you find healing in what this ritual means to me, and discover what it can mean for you, too.  Feel free to ask any questions in the comments.  

for a more detailed academic take on this topic, read this, Bones and Bread. 

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Bodies, Impact, and Intent

4/7/2019

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Text is John 12:1-8, Mary anoints Jesus' feet.  Teaching and discussion on intent, impact, and the importance of bodies to Jesus.  Mentions of toxic charity.  Enjoy! 
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Who leaves home and why

3/31/2019

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Questions

What happens when we imagine ourselves as each character in the Prodigal Child story?  Listen for ways this story connects to your life, and for the ways the Queer community has a unique perspective on the story, and they've often had to leave their families and hometowns. Text isLuke 15: 1-3, 11b-32.

The Sermon

Resources

Read this article from QSpirit by Kittridge Cherry:
“Prodigal Son and his husband receive a blessing” and other LGBTQ resources on the Prodigal"
  • Read Rev. Emmy R. Kegler's blog post.  
  • Order Rev. Emmy Kegler's new book, One Coin Found.
  • Rev. Emmy Kegler's website. 
  • Read Remmy Remmer's blog post on Disrupt Worship.  ​
  • Follow Disrupt Worship. 
  • Fund Disrupt Worship's Patreon. 
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REAL Enemies

3/17/2019

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Islaphobia is the enemy of the cross.  The one where Jesus gave everything up so that we could have life.  So that we could face death-dealing messages of the world, and respond to them with self-sacrificing love.  Hate is NEVER the way of the cross.  Love and sacrifice are the ways of the cross, and they always call us to love our neighbors as ourselves.  For the passages, read Luke 13.31-35 and Philippians 3:17-4:1. For the news story, seethis article. Also, learn about Jesus referring to himself in feminine terms and about how NOT to misuse scripture to hurt others. 

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    Pastor Jess loves preaching and wants church to be about Jesus.  The end. (Or read the rest of the site for more.)

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  • Pastor Jess
  • Open Space
    • Open Space Resources
    • Consulting: Open Space Bethlehem, DeKalb, IL
  • Spirited Speakeasy
  • Congregational Renewal Stories and Resources
  • Sermon Podcast On A Journey with Jesus
    • Video Sermons
    • Kid's Time (Audio and Video)
  • When Jesus Wears Makeup
  • About
    • Events >
      • Takiya's Birthday Bash
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    • Contact
  • Consent Culture Pledge
    • Consent Culture Pledge Discussion Blog
  • Store
    • Family Systems Workshops
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