SERMONS

A few months ago in confirmation, the kids and I wrestled with what it means that Jesus is truly present in the Bread and the Wine of Holy Communion. At first, they all agreed that yes, he was present, but the more we talked, the more questions they had. What does “present” really mean? How can someone be everywhere at once? How can Jesus’ body be here at Grace and at other churches in other places? What does it mean that Jesus is both God and man? And finally someone asked

Jesus has just told his disciples that he is going on ahead of them, preparing a place for them in his Father’s house of many mansions. He tells them to believe in him, and set their troubled hearts at rest, because God has good things in store for them—greater works than they can even imagine! And even though these words in John 14 happen right before the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, they echo what Jesus says to his disciples right before he ascends into heaven: yo

To the six confirmation candidates and to the rest of you, welcome to the starting line! You maybe thought you came to day to witness a finishing, a completion, a graduation of sorts: the final ritual in Sunday School and church membership. Except today is not a graduation, and this is not a valedictory address. It’s not a farewell talk or one last chance for me to get in some inspiring closing words before you all disappear for the summer and for the rest of high school. In