21 Dec 2025
4th Sunday of AdventDecember 21, 2025Matthew 1.18-25 We’re going to start with a little quiz this morning, take you back to your high school English days. First topic on the table, famous first lines of novels. Alright, let’s see how we do. Number one, “It was the best of time, it was the worst of times.” Bingo. A Tale of Two Cities. We’ll go a little bit more of a deep cut for this next one, “It was a pleasure to burn.” Fahrenheit 451. Short and sweet, “Call me…
14 Dec 2025
3rd Sunday of AdventDecember 14, 2025Matthew 11.2-11 This morning we are going to take a journey, a through the seven levels of the Candy Cane Forest, past the Sea of Swirly-Twirly Gumdrops, and finally, through the Lincoln Tunnel. Yes, we are taking a journey to the Christmas movie Elf. Now, I understand that this is a love it or hate it movie, but I love it, so bear with me. Elf is the story of Buddy, a fully adult, human man who grew up at the…
07 Dec 2025
2nd Sunday of AdventDecember 7, 2025Matthew 3.1-12 Before we get started this morning, I figure I should probably take a second to introduce myself to those of you who don’t know me. I am Pastor Jenn’s baby sister, Tina. I currently serve at Trinity Lutheran Church in Newport News, Virginia, and it is my immense joy and honor to be here with all of you this morning to finally give Jennifer the ordination celebration she deserves. I have to say of all the things…
30 Nov 2025
1st Sunday of AdventNovember 30, 2025Isaiah 2.1-5 On top of the turkey and the official beginning to the Christmas crazy, this week also brought with it a pop culture moment that has been years and years in the making, one that folks have been waiting for with baited breath. Not Wicked: For Good. Not Zootopia 2. Not Chiefs/Cowboys. No, this week brought us the premier of Stranger Things season five, the final season. Now, even if you know nothing about this show, you have probably seen…
23 Nov 2025
Christ the KingNovember 23, 2025Jeremiah 23.1-6, Luke 23.33-43 The other night, the strangest and yet kind of sweetest thing happened to me while leaving the movie theater. It feels a little bit like a funny thing happened on the way to the Forum, but anyway. I was walking out of the AMC in Hampton, just minding my own business, heading towards my car. Now, I have entered into my do not care, I’d rather be comfy phase when it comes to the movies,…
16 Nov 2025
23rd Sunday of PentecostNovember 16, 2025Luke 21.5-19 Over the last month or so, you may have seen previews for the movie Roofman with Channing Tatum. If you take the trailer at face value, it seems like just kind of a feel good, fun movie. Random guy ends up secretly living in a Toys R Us where he plays with toys and roller skates through the aisles at night. However, when you see it, you realize that the story is much bigger than that, and is, in…
09 Nov 2025
22nd Sunday of PentecostNovember 9, 202Job 19.23-27a My apologies to the Bible study crew because they have already heard this story, but it is the one that always pops into my head whenever I think of the book of Job. At my first call, we had two services, a contemporary and a traditional. The contemporary service was where all of my kids were, but because it was a condensed service, only about 50 minutes, there was never time for a children’s sermon. The kids…
02 Nov 2025
All SaintsNovember 2, 2025Ephesians 1.11-23 I don’t know about you, but there are times when I reflect on how I’ve gotten to this iteration of my life, of my self-hood and I can see what I have picked up along the way from various family members. There is a strange sort of comfort in looking at yourself in the mirror and not only knowing the things that are uniquely your individual self, but also those parts that reflect and remind you…
26 Oct 2025
ReformationOctober 26, 2025Romans 3.19-28 Nine years ago, I thought Carol wanted to be the Pope when she grew up. Some context for some of you and a reminder for others, because let’s be real, nine years is a long time ago. Reformation Sunday 2016 was my call sermon Sunday here, so other than a few of you, I was meeting everyone for the first time, and at that first sermon, I asked what people had wanted to be when they grew up. Carol,…
19 Oct 2025
19th Sunday after PentecostOctober 19, 2025Luke 18.1-8 I will be the first to admit that my nephew’s have me entirely figured out. They know that I am the weak link when it comes to decision making and making them happy. I cannot handle when they don’t get something that they want, and I guess that makes me a good aunt, right? Because I’m the one that will just say yes, regardless of circumstances or situation. Sebastian is a big one for wanting you to watch him do…
12 Oct 2025
18th Sunday after PentecostOctober 12, 2025Luke 17.11-19 For the second time in three years, I have come home from Costa Rica having left part of my heart with a little guy of no more than four or five years old. The first time, it was Mateo, a five year old heartbreaker who spent tons of time with me showing me his gold chain and playing with my necklace, only to go back to his mom and wink at me. Give it ten years or so…
21 Sep 2025
Good morning and joyful greetings, my beautiful siblings in Christ! What a wonderful day to be out in God’s Creation worshipping together and relishing our shared community in Jesus Christ! Let us rejoice and be glad in it! Today is… abnormal. We’re outside, yes, but today is a particularly special day for all of us gathered here and myself specifically—It is a day of spiritual renewal. Long story short, I approached Pastor Tina a few months ago and asked to…