Posts in Kate Fiedler
"A Full Church" - Psalm 145:1-10; Ephesians 1:15-23

After more than a year worshiping online, we returned to gather for worship in this sanctuary on Pentecost of 2021—May 23rd. That may seem like a long time ago for some of you, and just last week to others. I am grateful that we are now able to gather more safely for worship, with the wonderful option of worshiping online for those who can’t be here for one reason or another. Yet, there were some unexpected blessingswhen we weren’t gathering and our best, most caring option was a recorded service.

One blessing was the delight of looking for familiar faces during the pre-recorded videos of hymns from worship services in 2019 and earlier. While we were quarantined at home, it was lovely to see families and friends in their usual spots in the pews, and tender to see the faces of those who have died. For me, watching Bo Jacob’s work, weaving together recently recorded liturgy and music with hymns that were previously recorded, it was a reminder of the fullness of the community of faith. I got to know this church family during the hymns each week, and I learned where many of you prefer to sit in this sacred space. Old and young, those who have been members for decades and those who were just visiting that week—the cameras often moved from different angles to display the full congregation. I got a glimpse of this church family and beloved saints who are still present in memory and hearts, even if they no longer sing with us.

Read More
Kate FiedlerVirginia Evans
"Persistent Faith" - Psalm 121; Luke 18:1-8

I got my first taste of the excitement found in a courtroom in high school. Truth be told, it was not a real courtroom, but the school library. Mr. Peter Lustig taught History of the United States. Mr. Lustig was popular with the students; he made history matter and come alive for us. As we moved through the centuries, we were invited to bring historical figures to trial. Teams were selected to do the research for the defense and the prosecution, and all the remaining students who stayed after school served as the jury. We brought defendants like Christopher Columbus, Andrew Jackson, and John F. Kennedy to trial before our peers. Some trials went on for over three hours, as each side tried to defend their stance. Through these courtroom proceedings, I learned that history has different layers and different interpretations. Through his teaching, Mr. Lustig taught me to read between the lines and to look for patterns.

Our gospel story today includes courtroom excitement and has many layers and lessons beyond the parable Jesus shares with the disciples. This story is unique to Luke. It’s a story with a message about God, and lessons about God’s people too. Listen now, to this parable from Luke, chapter 18 from The Message:

Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for [the disciples] to pray consistently and never quit. He said, “There was once a judge in some city who never gave God a thought and cared nothing for people. A widow in that city kept after him: ‘My rights are being violated. Protect me!’

4-5 “He never gave her the time of day. But after this went on and on he said to himself, ‘I care nothing what God thinks, even less what people think. But because this widow won’t quit badgering me, I’d better do something and see that she gets justice—otherwise I’m going to end up beaten black-and-blue by her pounding.’”

6-8 Then the Master said, “Do you hear what that judge, corrupt as he is, is saying? So what makes you think God won’t step in and work justice for his chosen people, who continue to cry out for help? Won’t he stick up for them? I assure you, he will. He will not drag his feet. But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?”

This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Read More
Kate FiedlerVirginia Evans
"Come and Celebrate!" - Luke 15:11-32; Psalm 113

Whether or not you are an Anglophile, the pageantry and communal grief over Queen Elizabeth’s death has held the attention of people all over the world. Tomorrow morning people the across the globe will observe her funeral service. As the Queen is honored for her service, her life is not the only topic for the spotlight. Woven behind the statements and the public appearances, the family dynamics of the royal family have provided another venue for curiosity and commentary. There are stories told about the Queen’s four children and their changing roles after her death. And then there’s Prince William and Harry who are reunited with their wives, and additional questions stir about their relationship. There is plenty of drama—past, present, and future—in this royal family.

Of course, you don’t have to be a member of the royal family to be familiar with complicated family dynamics.We experience our own family dynamics too.You may have an adult child who makes choices you don’t understand, a sibling who is often defensive, or a parent who practices favoritism. We carry our own tenderness with stories of messy family dynamics.

Read More
Kate FiedlerKate Fiedler
"God's Vision" - Isaiah 58:6-14

This week, Frederick Buechner—writer, preacher, theologian, and teacher—died at age 96 at his home in Vermont. He published 39 books—novels, memoirs, collections of sermons, historical fiction, and theological essays—influencing the faith of countless seekers and preachers searching for insight into how faith and life connect. As Buechner wrote about the events of his life and the holiness of God, he urged his readers to pay attention, to look for grace, and to trust God. In his memoir, The Eyes of the Heart, he shares one time on a hike when paying attention led to grace and trust.

[H]e and his wife were visiting their grown daughter and her children [in Switzerland.] On a family hike in the Alps, they came across a picturesque cowshed, where a previous visitor had scrawled something. Mr. Buechner took a closer look at the graffiti, wondering if it would be ''a Swiss version of the crudities'' one sees in the United States.

But instead, the words declared (in German), 'God is love and life,' a phrase that seemed, he writes, as 'serene and transcendent as the snow-capped mountains.'

Buechner continues…‘Trust what? Trust that it is worth scratching on the wall that God is love and life because, all appearances to the contrary notwithstanding, it may just be true. Trust that if God is anywhere, God is here, which means there is no telling where God may turn up next -- around what sudden bend of the path if you happen to have your eyes and ears open, your wits about you, in what odd small moments, almost too foolish to tell.’[1]

Read More
Kate FiedlerKate Fiedler
"Earth, Wind, and Fire" - 1 Kings 19:1-15a

When I told my seminary friends that I was going on a silent retreat for a May term class, they were surprised. “You? Really? Do you think you’ll be able to be silent for so long?” I wasn’t confident that I could keep my mouth shut for days on end, but I wanted to try. Now, over a decade after that silent retreat, I am grateful still for the time set apart, spent in shared silence. I learned how to be comfortable in a room with other people without conversation, and I learned how to listen more intently to my surroundings. Our class agreed that we would make eye contact at meals, but we would not break the silence for three days. During that retreat, I was awakened to the power and delight that silence can offer. I found the experience freeing and calming to join a community that practiced silence together.

We at Second Church offer opportunities to sit in silence together. Thanks to the practice of Lectio Divina, our group spends time in shared silence every Monday afternoon. We share silence and space for the Spirit to inspire us through scripture, pausing in the quiet three times for reflection. Additionally, Roger and Kelley lead a monthly Taizé worship, centered around shared silence. I invite you to join them in the chapel on the first Tuesday of the month to join them in prayer, song, and to sit in silence and listen. Many of us are uncomfortable with silence, and practice in community can help. Our life together offers moments when we can share silence as a church family.

Read More
Kate FiedlerKate Fiedler
"Would we shout both Hosanna and Crucify him?" - Luke 19:28 - 40; Luke 23:13 - 25

This week, more than most Sundays, our scripture readings are made for the movies. Liam read the familiar story of the parade to Jerusalem. From Luke’s account, we hear about Jesus instructing two disciples to bring him a colt, and then Jesus rides this humble colt from the Mount of Olives down to Jerusalem. I bet you can imagine the scene—slowly panning the crowds, shouting their praises. Cloaks and coats of different colors and sizes cover the road. Children and teenagers gather in groups and run alongside Jesus, their thumbs uploading selfies #theGOATonaColt #Hosana. Adults are smiling and waving. And the disciples are soaking up this moment when they have successfully followed directions and the people are cheering. Jesus rides at a slow and steady pace, making eye contact with the people on both sides of the road. In every culture across the globe, people love a parade to welcome a hero. Still today, we line up along the road for parades to celebrate a championship-winning team or a newly elected candidate, a high school’s homecoming court, or certain holidays. Parades are festive and fun, full of hope and rejoicing. Such joy is the kind of scene we want to hold on to—it’s the kind of formative memory we will share for years to come.

Read More
Kate FiedlerVirginia Evans
"Is Anything Un-Forgivable?" - Psalm 32 & Matthew 18:18 - 22

One of the most important lessons I learned in seminary is this: context matters. So, I start by sharing the context of how this sermon began. A few weeks ago, Alex and I were catching up, when he shared a list of questions he created for this ongoing sermon series. Each question was intriguing. As I was reading through his handwritten list, I voiced my hesitation with this one, saying something like, “Whoa! Is anything unforgivable? That’s a tough one!” Alex was quick to respond, “You think so? Is anything beyond God’s forgiveness?” Right there in the hallway, we began the delightful enterprise of discussing theology, scripture, and swapping ideas. Since he is a stellar colleague, Alex gifted me with this question to allow me to wrestle with it in a sermon.

We will explore the question “Is Anything Un-Forgivable?” together. And I will do my best to begin the dialogue with two parts. First, is anything un-forgivable for God? And then, is anything unforgivable for us—we mortals of humanity? There is a theological angle to this question, and also life lessons to learn. Lucy started us off well with the hopeful words of Eugene Peterson’s translation for Psalm 32. We can “count ourselves lucky” before a God who forgives us, with a fresh start and a slate that is wiped clean. We take heart that, “God-affirmers find themselves loved every time they turn around.” This good news is in line with how God forgives Abraham, Moses, Jacob, David, and many more for their transgressions throughout the Hebrew scriptures. Repeatedly, God forgives the people after their disobedience when they turn to God and acknowledge their sins. The rainbow is a sign of God’s covenant of mercy—a promise painted in the sky that God will forgive us and not destroy when humanity turns against the Creator. Throughout the Psalms, we hear of God’s steadfast love and abundant mercy. And we are reminded in Romans 8 that neither death, nor life, nor our present, nor our future, nor powers, nor presidents—nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Forgiveness is part of that extravagant love. The promises of God from Genesis through Revelation proclaim that God’s forgiveness is without limits or an expiration date when we recognize our mistakes. This is not cheap grace, but an act of hope by the Creator of the cosmos for the reconciliation of all creation. God’s redemptive love has the final word. I can stand here and affirm that according to what I read in Scripture, according to what I’ve witnessed through the power of the Holy Spirit, according to the hope of the church, there is nothing that is unforgivable for God. God’s love is complete. With God, we find mercy and forgiveness, always, rooted in love and redemption.

Read More
Kate FiedlerVirginia Evans