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we are…Those Who Dream

Posted on by Jamie Gaffke
You can watch the video of Pastor Kris’ reflection, we are...Those Who Dream, HERE. O holy night. The stars are brightly shining (even on a night which is mostly cloudy!). This evening’s Bible reading from Luke is a delightful tale woven with the noisy-ness of a decree put forth by Emperor Augustus, followed by the quiet of a newborn baby sleeping in a manger. Hush. And then suddenly, there is a reversal in the stillness. For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn! Fall on your knees, and hear the angel voices. Suddenly, the glory of God breaks forth, and shepherds are terrified. The ...
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Those Who Dream…are not alone

Posted on by Jamie Gaffke
You can watch the video of Pastor Kris’ reflection, Those Who Dream…are not alone, HERE. Merry Almost-to-the-Birth-of-Jesus everyone! This has been quite the journey. The past few months, we have been reading—and walking—through the Bible in a way which is different for us. Traditionally, our church uses a set of assigned Bible readings called the Revised Common Lectionary. Now whether or not you are familiar with the Revised Common Lectionary doesn’t really matter. The specifics of the tradition isn’t important. What is important is in September we shifted to the Narrative Lectionary, a diff...
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Those Who Dream…sow joy

Posted on by Jamie Gaffke
You can watch the video of Pastor Kris’ reflection, Those Who Dream… sow joy, HERE. This is a fascinating place to begin a reflection on sowing joy. Great Hope immersed in God’s love. Because in the reality of today’s Bible reading, Isaiah is standing in the ashes of Jerusalem. The city has been destroyed. The Temple torn down. Yet Isaiah’s poem is a wonderful blend of the joy… and lament… and faith… the people were experiencing as they returned to Jerusalem after nearly 50 years of exile in Babylon. And in this emotional space of raw feelings, God issues a proclamation: A year of God’s favor...
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Those Who Dream…prepare the way

Posted on by Jamie Gaffke
You can watch the video of Pastor Kris’ reflection, Those Who Dream… prepare the way, HERE. If you have a copy of the bulletin nearby, I invite you to take a look at the title for this morning’s reflection: Those Who Dream… prepare the way. I have been sitting with those words, and in particular the phrase “prepare the way” and have been wondering what the gift—and the challenges—of being forced into an exodus the past 9 months might be preparing us for. All of this COVID-19 stuff hit us so quickly. As we settle into Advent and the upcoming winter months, I have been pondering how we might us...
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Those Who Dream…keep awake

Posted on by Jamie Gaffke
You can watch the video of Pastor Kris’ reflection, Those Who Dream… keep awake, HERE. This morning we heard the story of Daniel in the lions’ den and… well… doesn’t this seem like an odd way to begin the Advent season? We should be making time to lean into the pausing. The waiting. Wondering. Maybe even taking a slow deep breath. Not giving in to the hustle and bustle. It is comforting to listen to familiar stories and imagine once again what might be… Hope. Peace on earth. Joy. Love. Breathe… Apparently, we are not there… yet. Instead of a tale about angels and messengers of God appearing t...
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Beloved, Love: Dream Anew

Posted on by Jamie Gaffke
You can watch the video of Pastor Kris’ reflection, Beloved, Love: Dream Anew, HERE. Today we have the pleasure of getting to know a very, very persistent God. From the very beginning, God has been adapting, and re-adapting the ways through which the Divine reaches out to humankind. To us. To me. To you. A Living Presence who intimately longs for us. In our very human we-don’t-quite-get-it selves, God has repeatedly shifted to meet us where we are. Generation after generation accounts have been told of God’s frustration, God’s longing, and God’s loving persistence. From the very beginning, G...
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Beloved, Love: Thresholds Shaken

Posted on by Jamie Gaffke
You can watch the video of Pastor Kris’ reflection, Beloved, Love: Thresholds Shaken, HERE. Well… you probably already knew this… but we are… in a time… of transition. Great. Political. Shifts. No, I do not mean 2020. I am talking about 738 B.C.E. King Uzziah has died. Who in the world will reign next? Will the transition go smoothly? Will there be factions in the government? Collectively, we hold our breath. There is anxiety in the land. It is in this time of tension and uncertainty we meet up with Isaiah today. This is a story of visions and dreams. Have you heard that during the pandemic p...
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Beloved, Love. All In (Or…Beloved, RUN the Other Way!)

Posted on by Jamie Gaffke
You can watch the video of Pastor Kris’ reflection, Beloved, Love: All In, HERE. Reading and rereading Jonah’s responses, I can’t seem to shake a feeling that I am… Tired. Of. All. The Stuff. Just like Jonah, I am tired of the getting up. The going. The proclaiming. The walking. I just want to sit down in the ashes and cry. And then what? GOD CHANGES HER MIND??? It seems to me there are 2 ways we can go with this Bible reading: Either we can go ALL IN, as the people in Nineveh do Or, we can follow Jonah’s example (in all CAPS)… and RUN THE OTHER WAY! People of God, which choice will we make...
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Beloved, Love: Be Fed

Posted on by Jamie Gaffke
You can watch the video of Pastor Kris’ reflection, Beloved, Love: Be Fed, HERE. A show of hands: How many of you would like to get away? Away from the extra time and effort it takes to navigate each day as we attempt to avoid exposure to the coronavirus? Away from the influx of messages and overwhelming amounts of information—and disinformation—and political ads—which is just exhausting? The catchphrase, “Calgon, take me away,” has so many more layers of meaning today than it did as a 1980’s advertising promotion for bubble bath. And maybe… today… eight months of physically distancing, worsh...
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Beloved, Love: Great Hope

Posted on by Jamie Gaffke
You can watch the video of Pastor Kris’ reflection, Beloved, Love: Great Hope, HERE. On this cool fall morning, as leaves fall and trees become barren—how are you doing? We are culturally programmed to instinctively say, “I’m fine,” or we might venture an “OK.” Really, I am fine… Yet… I don’t know about you, but for me the past week has been personally challenging. There is something unsettling about living in this in-between time: We are somewhere in-between what was and what will be in our lives once a vaccine is widely available We are in the midst of actively voting across the country, b...
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