Grace and Peace to you.

As a new Pastor I am experiencing a number of firsts this year.

Going first is often a little scary, yet the level of anxiety depends on preparation.

Palm Sunday is supposed to feel like a day of victory.

In our Processional gospel from Mark we join Jesus on this triumphal parade.

Waving palms and singing the praises of Glory, Laud and Honor.

I think that is why I usually remember Palm Sunday as a joyous day.

Take for example my first St. Urho Parade.

Wow, that was great.

Beginning with a delicious pancake breakfast and followed by a casual walk to the parade.

The smell of food, the sound of music, and the energy being exchanged by the crowd.

Where did all of these people come from?

This was a day of victory celebrated by the people of Finland and the surrounding shore.

After meeting some new people, listening to music, and filling my pockets with candy I headed home content and a little tired.

No wonder I was happy to get home, much like Jesus and the disciples settling in for the night.

When I was a volunteer firefighter, the department participated in many parades.

I remember the thrill and excitement that was reignited on Saturday’s parade.

The smiling faces, sirens and horns, and the excitement of being together.

We were out to celebrate with the community that supported us and in turn we felt honored to support them.

So if we were to end our reading with the Processional gospel we might feel that everything is alright with the world, but many of us know there is more to the story, much more.

Our gospel reading from Mark is long, I chose to include the whole reading as it paints a full picture.

In this reading from Mark we get the specific details of Jesus walking to the cross.

While victory results in the resurrection this reading doesn’t take us there quite yet.

I clearly remember the details of a fire call on July 6, 2016.

Just two days after another successful 4th of July parade in our city.

It was a late evening call for a wash down. That usually meant that there was a traffic accident and the roadway was covered with a car's bodily fluids, oil, coolant, gas.

Only this time it was much different. Halfway to the station I heard over my radio that all units were to cancel and responding personnel should return home.

The lack of details was confusing, as I never heard a unit check in, and my mind was trying to figure out what was going on.

Only later that day did I get the terrible news.

That evening Philando Castille was stopped in his car and later fatally shot by a police officer.

My world changed that day, not only as a firefighter, but as a Christian.

The wash down was for the life blood of Philando that stained the streets of Falcon Heights.

Suddenly our small city was in the spotlight and our Chief limited our exposure with a minimal response.

How was I supposed to respond?

How are we all supposed to respond when an innocent person dies?

Soon the news media wanted to get the details out to the public.

We all have a right to the truth, but what is truth?

The next day at the station we had an opportunity to have a debriefing, which was brief.

Often in situations like this we are also given an opportunity for Critical Incident Stress Debriefing.

Many stories started to circulate that essentially had people choosing sides.

The sides became quite clear, anti-police and undecided.

In a way it put all “public safety” in the news.

I was torn between the loss of human life and the protection of human life that the police are sworn to protect.

Protect and Serve, which also has a Christian ring to it.

I knew the officer who shot Philando Castille.

I knew the situation and the escalation of the situation.

I didn’t nor will I ever know why?

Depending on which side you were on was how you used the supposed facts you heard.

The horrible images of the body camera and youtube video leave deep scars.

Consequently what was reported and the accusations made against both men leave me profoundly sad.

I am not saying who or what was or should have happened, but two men lost their lives that day.

One a kindly young man who was loved by the students he worked with.

The other who would walk away from policing with the grief of taking a life in the line of duty.

In my search for answers I realized that I needed Jesus’ help to understand this.

I need to have faith in love and forgiveness.

The world we live in produces many tragic results.

Both men didn’t have their lives stopped in vain.

God loves them both equally and I pray especially for the mother’s who lose their children.

Through this ordeal is the victory of love, of turning to God for salvation.

Jesus' trial on this Sunday of the Passion is very similar.

What sounds like a victorious parade is filled with deceit and hate.

This is not a celebration of chasing crickets away from the grapes.

This is as real as the blood that dripped from Jesus’ body on to the hill of Golgotha as the blood of Philando Castille that dripped onto the street that now carries his name.

Truth to power is the message that Jesus was charged with.

The deceitful lies and fabrications of the Sanhedrin can only be leveled by the truth.

Jesus didn’t have a chance and he was treated like the worst of criminals.

Known for healing and compassion the crowd released a murderer only to have Jesus killed.

Hated and teased by the soldiers, mocked and wounded by a crown of thorns.

We are told that the facts against Jesus just didn’t add up, but something had to be done.

Pilate used his power to take out the threat, to keep the people from rioting.

We are left looking at a lifeless body, either in an old Honda in Falcon Heights or on the cross in Jerusalem.

We stand with the women looking from a distance, at their son, brother, and friend.

Those who provided for him and loved him from the first time they met.

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the Highest. Amen

Grace and Peace to you.

As a new Pastor I am experiencing a number of firsts this year.

Going first is often a little scary, yet the level of anxiety depends on preparation.

Palm Sunday is supposed to feel like a day of victory.

In our Processional gospel from Mark we join Jesus on this triumphal parade.

Waving palms and singing the praises of Glory, Laud and Honor.

I think that is why I usually remember Palm Sunday as a joyous day.

Take for example my first St. Urho Parade.

Wow, that was great.

Beginning with a delicious pancake breakfast and followed by a casual walk to the parade.

The smell of food, the sound of music, and the energy being exchanged by the crowd.

Where did all of these people come from?

This was a day of victory celebrated by the people of Finland and the surrounding shore.

After meeting some new people, listening to music, and filling my pockets with candy I headed home content and a little tired.

No wonder I was happy to get home, much like Jesus and the disciples settling in for the night.

When I was a volunteer firefighter, the department participated in many parades.

I remember the thrill and excitement that was reignited on Saturday’s parade.

The smiling faces, sirens and horns, and the excitement of being together.

We were out to celebrate with the community that supported us and in turn we felt honored to support them.

So if we were to end our reading with the Processional gospel we might feel that everything is alright with the world, but many of us know there is more to the story, much more.

Our gospel reading from Mark is long, I chose to include the whole reading as it paints a full picture.

In this reading from Mark we get the specific details of Jesus walking to the cross.

While victory results in the resurrection this reading doesn’t take us there quite yet.

I clearly remember the details of a fire call on July 6, 2016.

Just two days after another successful 4th of July parade in our city.

It was a late evening call for a wash down. That usually meant that there was a traffic accident and the roadway was covered with a car's bodily fluids, oil, coolant, gas.

Only this time it was much different. Halfway to the station I heard over my radio that all units were to cancel and responding personnel should return home.

The lack of details was confusing, as I never heard a unit check in, and my mind was trying to figure out what was going on.

Only later that day did I get the terrible news.

That evening Philando Castille was stopped in his car and later fatally shot by a police officer.

My world changed that day, not only as a firefighter, but as a Christian.

The wash down was for the life blood of Philando that stained the streets of Falcon Heights.

Suddenly our small city was in the spotlight and our Chief limited our exposure with a minimal response.

How was I supposed to respond?

How are we all supposed to respond when an innocent person dies?

Soon the news media wanted to get the details out to the public.

We all have a right to the truth, but what is truth?

The next day at the station we had an opportunity to have a debriefing, which was brief.

Often in situations like this we are also given an opportunity for Critical Incident Stress Debriefing.

Many stories started to circulate that essentially had people choosing sides.

The sides became quite clear, anti-police and undecided.

In a way it put all “public safety” in the news.

I was torn between the loss of human life and the protection of human life that the police are sworn to protect.

Protect and Serve, which also has a Christian ring to it.

I knew the officer who shot Philando Castille.

I knew the situation and the escalation of the situation.

I didn’t nor will I ever know why?

Depending on which side you were on was how you used the supposed facts you heard.

The horrible images of the body camera and youtube video leave deep scars.

Consequently what was reported and the accusations made against both men leave me profoundly sad.

I am not saying who or what was or should have happened, but two men lost their lives that day.

One a kindly young man who was loved by the students he worked with.

The other who would walk away from policing with the grief of taking a life in the line of duty.

In my search for answers I realized that I needed Jesus’ help to understand this.

I need to have faith in love and forgiveness.

The world we live in produces many tragic results.

Both men didn’t have their lives stopped in vain.

God loves them both equally and I pray especially for the mother’s who lose their children.

Through this ordeal is the victory of love, of turning to God for salvation.

Jesus' trial on this Sunday of the Passion is very similar.

What sounds like a victorious parade is filled with deceit and hate.

This is not a celebration of chasing crickets away from the grapes.

This is as real as the blood that dripped from Jesus’ body on to the hill of Golgotha as the blood of Philando Castille that dripped onto the street that now carries his name.

Truth to power is the message that Jesus was charged with.

The deceitful lies and fabrications of the Sanhedrin can only be leveled by the truth.

Jesus didn’t have a chance and he was treated like the worst of criminals.

Known for healing and compassion the crowd released a murderer only to have Jesus killed.

Hated and teased by the soldiers, mocked and wounded by a crown of thorns.

We are told that the facts against Jesus just didn’t add up, but something had to be done.

Pilate used his power to take out the threat, to keep the people from rioting.

We are left looking at a lifeless body, either in an old Honda in Falcon Heights or on the cross in Jerusalem.

We stand with the women looking from a distance, at their son, brother, and friend.

Those who provided for him and loved him from the first time they met.

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the Highest. Amen