Holy Trinity Ankeny
We can spend a lot of time waiting for God to do something about the brokenness of our world and the challenges of life. The Book of Acts, however, says that it is not our impatient waiting on the Spirit to act that is the problem. The Spirit has preceded us and plowed the ground already. The Spirit impatiently anoints even as we argue about who is worthy to be in the church. When we wonder what God wants us to do, is it possible we already know the answer? Has the Spirit already spoken and our preconceptions and biases, our resentments and self-justification, are just in the way of God’s...
info_outline WILD GOOSE CHASE: APRIL 28, 2024Holy Trinity Ankeny
The ancient Celtic Christians named the Holy Spirit the Wild Goose. The Holy Spirit is wild and untamed. Our Acts reading today is about Philip’s encounter with the Holy Spirit and his Wild Goose Chase. Acts 8:26-40 | 1 John 4:7-21 | John 15:1-8
info_outline THE VOICE OF THE SHEPHERD: APRIL 21, 2024Holy Trinity Ankeny
In Jesus’ day, there would be times when multiple shepherds would bring their flocks together. Whether by accident or on purpose, they would gather them in a paddock, an area that was walled off to keep the predators out of the flock. The sheep would mingle together and do all the things sheep do. Now that presents a problem for the shepherd. How do you tell your sheep apart from the other shepherd’s sheep? When the shepherds would leave the paddock, they would call out to their flock. The sheep would hear their shepherd's voice and would follow. The shepherd's voice is key. The...
info_outline RESURRECTION RESISTANCE: APRIL 14, 2024Holy Trinity Ankeny
The resurrection of Jesus reveals that God’s way is the way of life, light, love, peace, hope, and wholeness. Whenever these things break through the darkness of the world it is a moment of resurrection. Sadly, we don’t see it, nor do we often want to accept this eruption of new life. We are resistant to the resurrection.
info_outline RESURRECTING COMMUNITYHoly Trinity Ankeny
We live in the age of the individual. We are a lonely, fragmented people often at each other’s throats. The resurrection of Jesus binds people together in love to stand against the individualism that makes everything about “me.” “Doubting” Thomas struggled in despair and doubt because he was not with the others when Jesus first appeared. The church in Jerusalem in Acts “held” all things in common and lived in joy. Readings: Acts 4:32-35 John 20:19-31
info_outline EASTER SUNDAY: UNSATISFACTORY ENDINGHoly Trinity Ankeny
The Gospel of Mark ends at chapter 16, verse 8 (other endings were added much later). It is an odd, perplexing end that leaves us with an empty tomb and three women who say nothing to anyone. Yet, maybe Mark was less concerned with what happened then and more concerned with what happens now. The resurrection means that God is loose in the world, unrestrained and persistently confronting us with life, love, and grace. What do you say about that?
info_outline GOOD FRIDAYHoly Trinity Ankeny
info_outline MAUNDY THURSDAYHoly Trinity Ankeny
info_outline HOSANNAHoly Trinity Ankeny
I grew up thinking that the word hosanna meant something triumphant. Knowing that it means something else entirely changes how I see Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Mark 11:1-11
info_outline MARCH 17, 2024: THE CROSSHoly Trinity Ankeny
The cross is the chief symbol of our faith, a sign of the saving work of Christ. What does it mean “to be saved?” Some would say it is assent to beliefs. Others point to a religious experience. Those are not, however, works of Christ. They are things we do. In John’s gospel, Christ’s work on the cross is bigger than forgiving sins. It is to judge the world, drive out the evil, and draw all people to himself.
info_outlineThe woman at the well in today’s Gospel brings an empty jar to a well and has an encounter with Jesus. The woman brought a jar to fill up with water.
We all have jars that we carry around hoping to fill up with something. Most times it is with things that are not life giving.
Jesus offers us another way.