“If You Have Any Encouragement…” Joshua 1:5-6, Philippians 2:1-5 By Rev. Don Ludwig, May 17, 2020 Asking the Right Questions My brother and I grew up in a working-class family in the ’70-’80s. He is one year older than me. One of my favorite memories was when our family decided to move to California — […]
“A Touch of Transformation” Mark 5: 24-34; Romans 12:1-2 Rev. Don Ludwig, May 3, 2020 Change and Story of Transformation “Change alone is unchanging.” That is wisdom from the ancient Greek philosopher, Heraclitus. We know that change is inevitable — in our personal lives and in the world. And whether we like the change […]
“Inequities of Disaster” Luke 4:18-21; Theme Reading from C.S. Lewis, “Learning in War-Time” By Rev. Don Ludwig, April 26, 2020 Introduction: Donald Trump goes on a fact-finding visit to Israel. While on a tour of Jerusalem he suffers a heart attack and dies. The undertaker tells the American diplomats accompanying him, “You can have him […]
“The Resiliency of Grace” Psalms 118:1-2, 22-24; 16; John 20:24-29; and Another Voice: Lewis Smedes Introduction In a wonderful book titled Running on Empty, Fil Anderson tells the story that had circulated around his home in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. A New York investment banker was vacationing and walked down to the pier one afternoon. […]
“Ta Da!” Easter Sunrise Meditation, Mark 16:1-8 A Sunday School teacher had just finished telling her third graders about how Jesus was crucified and placed in a tomb with a great stone sealing off the only way in or out. Then, wanting to share the excitement of the resurrection, and the surprise of Easter […]
“An Upside-Down World: Hallelujah!” Isaiah 56:7-8, Mark 11:15, Luke 4: 18-19; Theme Song: Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen, Cover) Introduction Has your world been turned upside-down? If so, Hallelujah! Today we celebrate the calendar day of Palm Sunday. The day that Jesus enters into Jerusalem riding on a donkey. The disciples believe that this was going to […]
“Rebirth of the Soul” By Rev. Don Ludwig, March 29, 2020 “Lockdown” A Poem by Brother Richard Hendricks; Excerpt from Parker J. Palmer, American Author and Founder of Center for Courage and Renewal; and Gospel of Thomas 32: 18b – 33 Gospel of Thomas 32: 18b – 33 Jesus says: “If those who lead you […]
“Even in these days…” Matthew 4:1-11 By Don Ludwig, March 22, 2020 Christian Reading: Matthew 4:1-11 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to […]
Welcome to Southminster’s Virtual Worship Service. While we are not together physically, we can connect spiritually online. My hope is that by setting aside an hour of quiet time (perhaps on Sunday mornings) for yourself to read the attached sermon, watch the video by clicking on the embedded link, listening to the music suggested, and using the prompts for reflection and prayer will provide a way to nurture your soul.
Today I want to simply focus on one blessing of Jesus’: “Blessed are the poor in spirit…”. In our COVID-19 reality and with a wavering economy as a result, in a nation where the poverty rate is the highest since the Great Depression, where homelessness among children and youth in Oregon is considerably rising, when we have a President that is fickle at best, we are finding a trend that sociologists and futurists note as a time when “the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer” more sharply than ever before.
“The Bead Within You” Matthew 5:14-16; The Gospel of Thomas, Saying 70 Other Voices: Matthew Fox, Creativity; Nadia Bolz-Weaver, On Jesus Dream Team By Rev. Don Ludwig, March 8, 2020 Introduction Five years ago, when we were in the process of adopting our children, I would take Tony to downtown Portland and we would throw […]