Sunday Stretch: Vol. 10

Start off your week with a grounded take on Bible, prayer, the world, and your life ...

Today is Christ the King Sunday, and it’s a Sunday that looms large in my memory.

The first memory that pops up comes from Southwest Florida, where I was still working as a sportswriter and sporadically attending a Lutheran Church off U.S. 41 in north Naples. The pastor there was a down-to-earth native Pennsylvanian with a rambunctious streak, and every year his tradition was to preach on Christ the King Sunday wearing a Burger King paper crown.

Sadly, I don’t quite remember the theological lesson behind this sermon - but what I do remember is the pastor’s accessibility and kindness. Later, when he heard I was discerning a call to seminary, he invited me to preach - something I have never been invited to do in the congregation where I grew up. This pastor’s generosity and openness to my involvement in his church opened the door to me as I was considering leaving a vibrant sportswriting career and utterly changing my life. I’m grateful to him for trusting me and inviting me into the life of his congregation. Later, this same church would hire another pastor, a more-recent seminary grad and a young woman, who would become a dear friend to this day and also a roommate (she let me live with her when my landlord sold the place I was renting for the last few months in Florida).

I find that the older I get, sometimes I take for granted or question the past steps of my life. But it’s the people who forever indent themselves on my memory and remind me of the Holy Spirit’s guidance each step of the way. I bet it’s the same for you.

This morning, I’m thinking of Pastor Tom and Pastor Dana. Happy Christ the King Sunday! Don’t forget your tattered paper crowns. You’ve earned ‘em.

This is Christus Victor Lutheran Church in North Naples, Fla. They weren’t far from Hurricane Ian’s path, so please keep this church and all of SWFL in your prayers as they work to recover and rebuild.

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