A PROSTITUTE AND THE CHURCH LADY
Easter - 7
June 2, 2019
Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21/John 17:20-26
The Rev. R. Kurt Traugott
Phillip Yancey is a contemporary writer on spiritual themes. Two books I have read are “The Jesus I Never Knew” and “What’s So Amazing About Grace?” At any rate I once heard him tell the story of a woman from his church in Chicago who had a conversation with a prostitute on a bus. As the woman of the street told her sad tale of running away from home, of sex and drug addiction, of being beaten up and pimped out by her man; the church lady listened quietly and then suggested gently that she go to church. The prostitute sputtered, “Good God, why would I want to do that? I already feel bad enough.”
To read the rest of Pastor Kurt's sermon A Prostitute and the Church Lady......click here
Easter - 7
June 2, 2019
Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21/John 17:20-26
The Rev. R. Kurt Traugott
Phillip Yancey is a contemporary writer on spiritual themes. Two books I have read are “The Jesus I Never Knew” and “What’s So Amazing About Grace?” At any rate I once heard him tell the story of a woman from his church in Chicago who had a conversation with a prostitute on a bus. As the woman of the street told her sad tale of running away from home, of sex and drug addiction, of being beaten up and pimped out by her man; the church lady listened quietly and then suggested gently that she go to church. The prostitute sputtered, “Good God, why would I want to do that? I already feel bad enough.”
To read the rest of Pastor Kurt's sermon A Prostitute and the Church Lady......click here
MY PEACE I GIVE YOU
Easter - 6
May 26, 2019
Acts 16:9-15/John 14:23-29
The Rev. R. Kurt Traugott
Jesus is pictured in John’s Gospel as giving us something: his Peace, or his Shalom. And in this day and age our American culture, we desire an awful lot and compared to some parts of the world we already have a lot. So, in some sense it is hard to imagine what more can the world give. Indeed, the gift of peace the world has not been able to give totally or universally. Yet, that is God’s gift to us in Christ: God’ shalom, God’s peace, is greater than anything we can desire or imagine.
To read the rest of Pastor Kurt's sermon My Peace I Give You......click here
Easter - 6
May 26, 2019
Acts 16:9-15/John 14:23-29
The Rev. R. Kurt Traugott
Jesus is pictured in John’s Gospel as giving us something: his Peace, or his Shalom. And in this day and age our American culture, we desire an awful lot and compared to some parts of the world we already have a lot. So, in some sense it is hard to imagine what more can the world give. Indeed, the gift of peace the world has not been able to give totally or universally. Yet, that is God’s gift to us in Christ: God’ shalom, God’s peace, is greater than anything we can desire or imagine.
To read the rest of Pastor Kurt's sermon My Peace I Give You......click here
THE WAY OF LOVE
Easter -5
May 19, 2019
John 13:31-35
The Rev. R. Kurt Traugott
“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.” With these eleven words, Jesus turns the world order upside-down—in first-century Palestine and here, today. “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.” Jesus tells us that everyone will know we are his disciples if we have love for one another. And it sounds quite simple, doesn’t it? Just love! Love your neighbor. Love yourself. Love your enemy. Love your spouse. Love your friend. Love your bus driver, your mailman, your pharmacist. Love everybody. Just love! Now, some of that may be harder than other parts, right? Like, “Love your enemy.” But the overall gist: love— that’s something we can affirm. Love is the answer. As St. Paul tells us, love “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things”. If love can do all that, it really is the answer. So, if love is the answer, what is the question?
To read the rest of Pastor Kurt's sermon The Way of Love......click here
Easter -5
May 19, 2019
John 13:31-35
The Rev. R. Kurt Traugott
“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.” With these eleven words, Jesus turns the world order upside-down—in first-century Palestine and here, today. “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.” Jesus tells us that everyone will know we are his disciples if we have love for one another. And it sounds quite simple, doesn’t it? Just love! Love your neighbor. Love yourself. Love your enemy. Love your spouse. Love your friend. Love your bus driver, your mailman, your pharmacist. Love everybody. Just love! Now, some of that may be harder than other parts, right? Like, “Love your enemy.” But the overall gist: love— that’s something we can affirm. Love is the answer. As St. Paul tells us, love “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things”. If love can do all that, it really is the answer. So, if love is the answer, what is the question?
To read the rest of Pastor Kurt's sermon The Way of Love......click here
STILL WATERS
Easter -4
May 12, 2019
Psalm 23
The Rev. R. Kurt Traugott
Psalm 23 It has been said this portion of scripture is the favorite of Christians in Americans. Though it is used only a few times for Sunday worship in the lectionary, I and many pastors frequently read it to hospital patients, to the dying, and at memorial services. Did you ever wonder why? I have.
To read the rest of Pastor Kurt's sermon Still Waters...click here
Easter -4
May 12, 2019
Psalm 23
The Rev. R. Kurt Traugott
Psalm 23 It has been said this portion of scripture is the favorite of Christians in Americans. Though it is used only a few times for Sunday worship in the lectionary, I and many pastors frequently read it to hospital patients, to the dying, and at memorial services. Did you ever wonder why? I have.
To read the rest of Pastor Kurt's sermon Still Waters...click here
THE WORK OF EASTER
Easter -3
May 5, 2019
John 21: 1-19
The Rev. R. Kurt Traugott
In today’s gospel story of breakfast on the beach, we enter further into the Easter season, and the work of Easter: working out what it means to have Resurrection set loose in the world, in the church, and in our lives.
One of the oddest experiences of Easter is that it can feel empty, after the graphic realities of Holy Week: bread broken, feet washed, thorns pressed into Jesus’ scalp, crosses raised, a body laid in a newly hewn grave. Easter, by contrast, is about an absence: the body is no longer in the tomb; and we are left to work out what that means. Today’s story makes it clear that one of the functions of Resurrection life is restoration of relationship, and deep forgiveness.
To read the rest of Pastor Kurt's sermon the Work of Easter......click here
Easter -3
May 5, 2019
John 21: 1-19
The Rev. R. Kurt Traugott
In today’s gospel story of breakfast on the beach, we enter further into the Easter season, and the work of Easter: working out what it means to have Resurrection set loose in the world, in the church, and in our lives.
One of the oddest experiences of Easter is that it can feel empty, after the graphic realities of Holy Week: bread broken, feet washed, thorns pressed into Jesus’ scalp, crosses raised, a body laid in a newly hewn grave. Easter, by contrast, is about an absence: the body is no longer in the tomb; and we are left to work out what that means. Today’s story makes it clear that one of the functions of Resurrection life is restoration of relationship, and deep forgiveness.
To read the rest of Pastor Kurt's sermon the Work of Easter......click here
WELL, HERE WE ARE
Easter-2
April 28, 2019
John 20:19-31
The Rev. R. Kurt Traugott
Well, here we are again on Thomas Sunday. Good old doubting Thomas. Thomas could be the patron saint of modern people. Thomas was reported to have been a twin, and it’s possible he was an identical twin” as such, he would have known all about mistaken identity. He would have known how easy it is to be wrong about something, even when we see it with our own eyes. He couldn’t take the disciples word about having seen Jesus alive; he needed proof; he needed to be sure.
Jesus says to Thomas, blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe. That would be us. We didn’t make it to the empty tomb, didn’t see the angels, didn’t hear Jesus call us by name in the garden. We weren’t in the upper room with the other disciples when they got to see Jesus.
To read the rest of Pastor Kurt's sermon Well, Here We Are......click here
Easter-2
April 28, 2019
John 20:19-31
The Rev. R. Kurt Traugott
Well, here we are again on Thomas Sunday. Good old doubting Thomas. Thomas could be the patron saint of modern people. Thomas was reported to have been a twin, and it’s possible he was an identical twin” as such, he would have known all about mistaken identity. He would have known how easy it is to be wrong about something, even when we see it with our own eyes. He couldn’t take the disciples word about having seen Jesus alive; he needed proof; he needed to be sure.
Jesus says to Thomas, blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe. That would be us. We didn’t make it to the empty tomb, didn’t see the angels, didn’t hear Jesus call us by name in the garden. We weren’t in the upper room with the other disciples when they got to see Jesus.
To read the rest of Pastor Kurt's sermon Well, Here We Are......click here
PRACTICE THE RESURRECTION
Easter
April 21, 2019
John 20:1-8
The Rev. R. Kurt Traugott
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark…things happen early in the morning. Mornings are mystical and sacred, the earth rises from its slumber to greet the coming day, but this morning did not feel mystical, this morning did not feel sacred. Mary Magdalene did not want to get out of bed but the orange glow in the east was spreading across the sky. The day’s doings were calling.
Sitting on her bed Mary said the customary prayer; “Blessed are you Lord God, Ruler of the Universe. I offer thanks to You, living and eternal King, for You have mercifully restored my soul within me; Your faithfulness is great.” (Modeh Ani, traditional Jewish first prayer of the day.) But the words didn’t offer the usual comfort. This morning the words were just words.
To read the rest of Pastor Kurt's sermon Practice the Resurrection.....click here
Easter
April 21, 2019
John 20:1-8
The Rev. R. Kurt Traugott
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark…things happen early in the morning. Mornings are mystical and sacred, the earth rises from its slumber to greet the coming day, but this morning did not feel mystical, this morning did not feel sacred. Mary Magdalene did not want to get out of bed but the orange glow in the east was spreading across the sky. The day’s doings were calling.
Sitting on her bed Mary said the customary prayer; “Blessed are you Lord God, Ruler of the Universe. I offer thanks to You, living and eternal King, for You have mercifully restored my soul within me; Your faithfulness is great.” (Modeh Ani, traditional Jewish first prayer of the day.) But the words didn’t offer the usual comfort. This morning the words were just words.
To read the rest of Pastor Kurt's sermon Practice the Resurrection.....click here
WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT
Maundy Thursday
April 18, 2019
John 13:1-17, 31b-35
The Rev. R. Kurt Traugott
It had been a busy week. We finally made it to Jerusalem with Jesus, and not a moment too soon. The city was crowded! It was the week of the Passover celebration and it seemed as though every man, woman, and child for a hundred miles was in the city of Jerusalem. People were everywhere. Every shop, tavern, and stall had a line of people just waiting to get in. The city was not built for this many people, and yet here they were. Luckily, we had a place to stay. Jesus had seen to that. He seems to have friends just about everywhere and we had a really nice, big room to celebrate the Passover feast together above the store of an oil merchant from Jericho, whose brother Jesus had healed.
When we first got to Jerusalem earlier in the week, Jesus was met at the Damascus Gate by a crowd of people singing, “Hosanna in the highest!” and calling him the “Son of David”. We were all afraid. Pontius Pilate and the army were showing the might of Rome as they entered the city from the main gate.
To read the rest of Pastor Kurt's sermon What's Love Got To Do With It..... click here
Maundy Thursday
April 18, 2019
John 13:1-17, 31b-35
The Rev. R. Kurt Traugott
It had been a busy week. We finally made it to Jerusalem with Jesus, and not a moment too soon. The city was crowded! It was the week of the Passover celebration and it seemed as though every man, woman, and child for a hundred miles was in the city of Jerusalem. People were everywhere. Every shop, tavern, and stall had a line of people just waiting to get in. The city was not built for this many people, and yet here they were. Luckily, we had a place to stay. Jesus had seen to that. He seems to have friends just about everywhere and we had a really nice, big room to celebrate the Passover feast together above the store of an oil merchant from Jericho, whose brother Jesus had healed.
When we first got to Jerusalem earlier in the week, Jesus was met at the Damascus Gate by a crowd of people singing, “Hosanna in the highest!” and calling him the “Son of David”. We were all afraid. Pontius Pilate and the army were showing the might of Rome as they entered the city from the main gate.
To read the rest of Pastor Kurt's sermon What's Love Got To Do With It..... click here
LOOKING FOR JESUS
Palm-Passion Sunday
April 14, 2019
Luke 19:28-40
The Rev. R. Kurt Traugott
When I was in Southern Pines, the Lutheran pastor shared this interesting story with us at our weekly clergy lunches. It seems a young woman who recently join his church moving to Southern Pines from somewhere in the Midwest, dropped by his office for a chat about her love life, or rather about the lack thereof. She brought along a personal ad she had seen in the Daily Messenger.
She wanted to know what he thought because she was planning to write one like it. He confessed he didn’t know why she came to him, the last time he had a date with someone he was not married to, he as 20 years old and was too young to buy beer. Anyway, the ad read like this: VERY WANTED: 30-ish drummer in rockabilly band like the Billygoats, with a romantic spirit, professional career, blue eyes, Episcopalian.
At the time, I thought about that exchange it seemed a bit too specific, I still do but it came back to me as, I was thinking about the events of Palm Sunday and Holy week,
To read the rest of Pastor Kurt's sermon Looking for Jesus....click here
Palm-Passion Sunday
April 14, 2019
Luke 19:28-40
The Rev. R. Kurt Traugott
When I was in Southern Pines, the Lutheran pastor shared this interesting story with us at our weekly clergy lunches. It seems a young woman who recently join his church moving to Southern Pines from somewhere in the Midwest, dropped by his office for a chat about her love life, or rather about the lack thereof. She brought along a personal ad she had seen in the Daily Messenger.
She wanted to know what he thought because she was planning to write one like it. He confessed he didn’t know why she came to him, the last time he had a date with someone he was not married to, he as 20 years old and was too young to buy beer. Anyway, the ad read like this: VERY WANTED: 30-ish drummer in rockabilly band like the Billygoats, with a romantic spirit, professional career, blue eyes, Episcopalian.
At the time, I thought about that exchange it seemed a bit too specific, I still do but it came back to me as, I was thinking about the events of Palm Sunday and Holy week,
To read the rest of Pastor Kurt's sermon Looking for Jesus....click here
MIXED EMOTION –SORROW AND JOY
The Fifth Sunday of Lent
April 7, 2019
John 12:1-8
The Rev. R. Kurt Traugott
In an odd sort of way, today is a day of mixed emotions, of conflicted feelings. As the world emerges from the dark and cold of winter into the light and warmth of spring, our religious tradition calls us deeper into the darkness and gloom of Jesus’ suffering and death. Sadness and celebration; darkness and light; the cold of winter and the warmth of spring, the death of Christ and the birth of new hope, all mixed up together in one day.
To read the rest of Pastor Kurt's sermon Mixed Emotion-Sorrow and Joy...... click here
The Fifth Sunday of Lent
April 7, 2019
John 12:1-8
The Rev. R. Kurt Traugott
In an odd sort of way, today is a day of mixed emotions, of conflicted feelings. As the world emerges from the dark and cold of winter into the light and warmth of spring, our religious tradition calls us deeper into the darkness and gloom of Jesus’ suffering and death. Sadness and celebration; darkness and light; the cold of winter and the warmth of spring, the death of Christ and the birth of new hope, all mixed up together in one day.
To read the rest of Pastor Kurt's sermon Mixed Emotion-Sorrow and Joy...... click here
LOST AND FOUND
The Fourth Sunday of Lent
March 31, 2019
Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
The Rev. R. Kurt Traugott
Flannery O’Connor was Christian novelist and short story author who died in 1964. She lived in Georgia and many of her writing reflected her Catholic faith. She also wrote of her correspondence and speaking engagements. Not long ago, found some excerpts from one of her speaking engagements that was interesting. She was asked to come and read at nearby Wesleyan College. She says:
“Week before last I went to Wesleyan and read (my story) “A Good Man Is Hard to Find.” After it I went to one of the classes where I was asked questions. There were a couple of young teachers there and one of them, an earnest type, started asking the questions. “Miss O’Connor,” he said, “why was the Misfit’s hat black?”
I said most countrymen in Georgia wore black hats.
He looked pretty disappointed.
Then he said, “Miss O’Connor, the Misfit represents Christ, does he not?”
“He does not,” I said.
To read the rest of Pastor Kurt's sermon Lost and Found......click here
The Fourth Sunday of Lent
March 31, 2019
Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
The Rev. R. Kurt Traugott
Flannery O’Connor was Christian novelist and short story author who died in 1964. She lived in Georgia and many of her writing reflected her Catholic faith. She also wrote of her correspondence and speaking engagements. Not long ago, found some excerpts from one of her speaking engagements that was interesting. She was asked to come and read at nearby Wesleyan College. She says:
“Week before last I went to Wesleyan and read (my story) “A Good Man Is Hard to Find.” After it I went to one of the classes where I was asked questions. There were a couple of young teachers there and one of them, an earnest type, started asking the questions. “Miss O’Connor,” he said, “why was the Misfit’s hat black?”
I said most countrymen in Georgia wore black hats.
He looked pretty disappointed.
Then he said, “Miss O’Connor, the Misfit represents Christ, does he not?”
“He does not,” I said.
To read the rest of Pastor Kurt's sermon Lost and Found......click here
TURN, TURN, TURN
The Third Sunday of Lent
March 24, 2019
Luke 13:1-9
The Rev. R. Kurt Traugott
I am going to begin with a story but want to say before
I begin: not sure if its true,
may not be politically correct,
and I am not the pastor.
There is a story of a young woman who talked to her pastor about her sin of pride.
She says, “Pastor, every Sunday I come to church and look around and think
to myself that I am the prettiest girl in the church. I try to stop but I just can’t. Am I horribly sinful?” Pastor looked at her and said, “No dear not sinful; just horribly mistaken.”
In today’s Gospel lesson, some folks come to Jesus to talk not about their own sins, but the sins of others. And Jesus tells them that they, like the young woman, are horribly mistaken.
It’s important to remember that Chapter 12 of Luke ends with several judgment stories in which Jesus warns his hearers to watch out for signs of the last days.
To read the rest of Pastor Kurt's sermon Turn, Turn, Turn....click here
The Third Sunday of Lent
March 24, 2019
Luke 13:1-9
The Rev. R. Kurt Traugott
I am going to begin with a story but want to say before
I begin: not sure if its true,
may not be politically correct,
and I am not the pastor.
There is a story of a young woman who talked to her pastor about her sin of pride.
She says, “Pastor, every Sunday I come to church and look around and think
to myself that I am the prettiest girl in the church. I try to stop but I just can’t. Am I horribly sinful?” Pastor looked at her and said, “No dear not sinful; just horribly mistaken.”
In today’s Gospel lesson, some folks come to Jesus to talk not about their own sins, but the sins of others. And Jesus tells them that they, like the young woman, are horribly mistaken.
It’s important to remember that Chapter 12 of Luke ends with several judgment stories in which Jesus warns his hearers to watch out for signs of the last days.
To read the rest of Pastor Kurt's sermon Turn, Turn, Turn....click here
THE HEN HOUSE
The Second Sunday of Lent
2 March 17, 2019
Luke 13:31-34
The Rev. R. Kurt Traugott
Most of us are familiar with various expressions about “a fox loose in the hen house.”
While the dictionaries trace this idea back to a medieval proverb yet note its similarity to the Roman adage about “the wolf guarding the sheep;”
Most likely it is probably much older than that.
One might guess that any country that has foxes, chickens, and crooked politicians has a similar saying. Jesus grew up in what we might call farm country and often used experiences common to rural life to make his points.
Today is no exception.
To read the rest of Pastor Kurt's sermon The Hen House...click here
The Second Sunday of Lent
2 March 17, 2019
Luke 13:31-34
The Rev. R. Kurt Traugott
Most of us are familiar with various expressions about “a fox loose in the hen house.”
While the dictionaries trace this idea back to a medieval proverb yet note its similarity to the Roman adage about “the wolf guarding the sheep;”
Most likely it is probably much older than that.
One might guess that any country that has foxes, chickens, and crooked politicians has a similar saying. Jesus grew up in what we might call farm country and often used experiences common to rural life to make his points.
Today is no exception.
To read the rest of Pastor Kurt's sermon The Hen House...click here