Real Good Courage - The Westwood Podcast

The Power of Names - The Second Commandment

Too often, we are admonished to not use the Lord's name in vain, with the implicit meaning being that if we just avoid 'swearing' we're good with the Second Commandment. In this message, Pastor Jason explores this idea, and explains how Martin Luther defined the broader scope and why 'not taking the Lord's name in vain' is how we as Lutheran Christians understand that concept is a gift in nurturing a community of grace. 

Our scripture reading comes from Exodus, Chapter 3, verses 1-15, and the Gospel is John Chapter 8, verses 31-36. 

Big G and little g gods. What is your most important thing?

Unlike the Israelites in the desert, our gods often don't come in the form of golden idols. Watching the Olympics makes me realize I participate in a bit of hero worship. Come on Simone Biles! It’s fun, but in all seriousness, we all put all sorts of people and ideas on pedestals, and they can overshadow the unique voice of God in our lives.

In a message that launches a series on a Fresh Look at the Ten Commandments, Pastor Sarah talks about all the little g “gods” (wealth, family, health, nation, leaders etc…) that can take the place of God in giving us a sense of identity. When those are taken away, your identity can falter. But when God’s grace is at the center of who you are, then win or lose, your life is secure. 

Today’s message is delivered by Pastor Sarah. The Scripture reading is from Exodus, Chapter 32 Verses 1-16, and our Gospel comes from the Book of Mark Chapter 12 Verses 28-31.

 

We Are One Body

Too often, the message we receive is "You don't fit in. You are broken!" and yet the real message should be: “There’s nothing wrong with you. You’re OK.  It’s true!  There’s something wrong with the village.”

On this PRIDE Sunday, the passage from I Corinthians reminds us that although we each serve different purposes in ‘the body’, each part is critical, valued and of equal import to the whole body.  A youth choir, Singers of This Age, performed a powerful song “Something’s Wrong With the Village” earlier, so we reflected on those words. 

It’s our culture, some people and even some churches that tell our LGBTQIA+ siblings that something is “wrong with you”….whereas we believe EVERY person is created in God’s image.  And God has a message for ALL of us, for YOU:  You are my beloved child, loved just as you are…and you belong…and you matter! 

This message is presented by Pastor Tania, and the relevant scripture is 1 Corinthians, Chapter 12, verses 12-20, 26.

Celebrating Juneteenth: Hope for the future. Rejoicing in the now.

The celebration of Juneteenth, our nation’s 2^nd Independence Day, is a powerful reminder that joy can be an act of faithfulness in the face of the world’s injustice and disorder.

In this sermon, Pastor Sarah traces the brief history of Juneteenth, pointing out that celebration is necessary to sustain the long struggle for justice. She quotes Rev. Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil, who said “the greatest symbol of resistance is when I am supposed to die, and I choose to live anyway.”  And she points out that Jesus’ oft-used metaphor of seed-planting, reveals that God works through time – and sometimes in imperceptible ways - to create a future where all God’s children will live in peace.

The scripture lesson comes from 2 Corinthians, Chapter 5, Verses 6-10. Today's Gospel is from  the book of Mark, Chapter 4, Verses 26-34.

 

The Importance of Belonging

It is common for us to struggle with our direction and a sense of belonging.  So how do direction and belonging relate?

The length of our direction is based on the depth of our belonging to one another. Our sense of belonging starts from trusting the promise that by the grace of God in Jesus, we belong to the God who created and redeemed us. And that gives us the good courage to go deep in belonging to each other. On this Big Tent Sunday, Westwood will be talking about our direction as a community of faith.

This message is from Pastor Jason, and the Scripture lesson is from the 2nd Book of Corinthians verses 4:13 - 45:1. The Gospel is from March chapter 3, verses 31-35.

Other People's Children: No Such Thing

Raising children can sometimes seem like a dog-eat-dog world of competition and isolation. We are often so focused on the myriad tasks at hand that we can lose sight of the larger community around us, both in terms of other children but also resources that help connect us to community as parents. Jesus didn’t have children “of his own.” He blessed other peoples’ children – and not just the high-achieving ones! - and said they would inherit the kingdom of God.

It’s a gift and a joy to discover a different culture of child-rearing – and of life support for adults too! That’s a culture where we care for one another deeply, recognizing we all belong to each other. As the popular quote summarizes, “there is no such thing as other people’s children.”

In this message we celebrate the culture that the Westwood Early Childhood Center has embodied for 40 years. And it’s part of all of our vocation as Lutheran Christians. We care about the well-being not only of our own kin, but of all God’s children, anywhere in the world. 

This message is brought to us by Pastor Sarah, and our scripture is from the book of Deuteronomy Chapter 6.  The Gospel is from Mark, Chapter 10.

 

Theology and Memory

In this Memorial weekend sermon, we are invited, through two examples, to wonder about the connection between our core theological confessions and how they relate to memory. 

This message comes from Pastor Jason.

The New Testament reading is from Romans Chapter 8, verses 12-17 and the Gospel is from  John Chapter 3, verses 1-17

Come Dance With Me

The Journey Outward into community is not one done alone.  It is done in relationship with the Holy Spirit who influences, nurtures and supports the life of discipleship.  Today we wonder about the gift the of Spirit’s presence in our journey.

This message is shared by Pastor Jason.

The scripture is from the book of Acts, Chapter 2, Verses 1-21