Tag Archives: Sunny

Preaching, Sermons

Serving Others in Uncertain Times [OR Blessing Animals in Honor of St. Francis]

Caitlin Trussell with Augustana Lutheran Church on October 5, 2025

[sermon begins after three Bible readings]

Genesis 2:19-20a So out of the ground the Lord God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air and brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all cattle and to the birds of the air and to every animal of the field.

Luke 17:5-10  The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
7 “Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here at once and take your place at the table’? 8 Would you not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me; put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink’? 9 Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!’ ”

2 Timothy 1:1-14 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,
2 To Timothy, my beloved child:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 I am grateful to God—whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did—when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. 6 For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.
8 Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, in the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace, and this grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 For this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher, 12 and for this reason I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day the deposit I have entrusted to him. 13 Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us.

[sermon begins]

Our dog Sunny has been a part of our family for almost 11 years. She was originally rescued in New Mexico, fostered here on the Front Range, and initially adopted by a different family. Someone died in that family and the foster dog-mom was asked to take Sunny back. That’s where we came into the picture. Sunny was six months old. A very slender caramel and black, medium-sized mutt that we were told was part Lab, part Greyhound, part Rottweiler, and part Other. She had the speed and shivery nerves of a greyhound, the sweetness and snorts of a Rottie, and the smiles of the Lab. We theorize that Sunny’s anxiety was due to uncertainty and trauma as puppy and she has carried it with her for 11 years. While she is sweet and loves us very much, she is not brave. She wishes she could be your friend, but she was formed in uncertainty and finds it hard to trust you. Very few of us are allowed to pet her all over. But she has taught us about grace, about meeting animals and people where they are, not where we think they should be.

Meeting animals and people where they are was a specialty of primatologist Jane Goodall who died on Thursday at the age of 91. I grew up admiring her intelligence, her patience, and the way that chimpanzees responded to her. In a 2021 interview, Dr. Goodall had talked about her grandfather a Congregationalist minister, her new pastor when she was a teenager, and how religion “entered” her and “how science and religion are coming together.”[1]

In a video of her from just a few years ago, this faithful, smart, gentle scientist was part of a group releasing a recently rescued and rehabilitated traumatized chimp named Wounda onto an island of refuge.[2] Jane had not met Wounda before. While the group made their way to the island, she touched the chimp’s hand through the bars of the travel crate. When they opened the crate, Wounda snuggled with her main rescuer and then she climbed onto the crate, sat there for a minute, and turned to Jane who stood still and silent. The traumatized and rehabilitated chimp reached out and gently hugged and held Jane for several seconds and then left the group to check out her new home. Jane Goodall quotes are everywhere at the moment. One of my favorites is, “Let us develop respect for all living things. Let us try to replace violence and intolerance with understanding and compassion. And love.” My response to that is, “Preach it, sister.”

Dr. Goodall died just a few days before the annual celebration of St. Francis of Assisi that we’re ritualizing today with the Blessing of the Animals. St. Francis is honored for his love for creation, for his challenge to faithful Christians to tend and care for creation, and for saying, “Preach the gospel always, and, if you must, use words.” I suppose I must use words as a preacher or this moment in the pulpit would be awkward, but there are so many times when actions speak louder than words especially related to animals’ trauma and tending and to our own uncertain times.

I’m not interested in turning this time into a scientific lecture, nor do I have the expertise to pull it off, so I won’t. Suffice it to say that there are many layers to trauma in both our individual and collective experiences of it and the ways we make our way through it. I AM interested in our congregation’s, experience of faith when suffering and uncertainty seem to be piling on either personally or publicly like it is these days of religious, political, and school violence, as well as government shutdown.

While theologians and philosophers have tried, there remains no satisfactory explanation for the existence of suffering. All we know for sure is that uncertainty, suffering, and trauma are part of the human condition. It’s so much a part of the human condition that God knows suffering personally in Jesus’ death on the cross and, through Jesus’ suffering, God knows our suffering personally too. Such is God’s promise to us to always be present even, and maybe especially when we don’t feel it. When times are dark. When hope feels lost. Those are the times when God is present with us. The churchy words for that is the Theology of the Cross.

Just before the Bible verses in Luke we hear today, Jesus challenges his followers to see and help people who suffer, to not cause other people to stumble in their faith, and to forgive and forgive and forgive again.[3] Then we get to the apostles pleading for more faith, literally in the Greek “add faith to us!”[4] Who can blame them?  Jesus raises the bar high on discipleship telling them to relieve deep suffering—not ignore it, to give away money and possessions, and to forgive each other. A bit more faith to get these things done would be awesome! Most of us would like a heap more faith if it actually worked that way.

The apostles plead for more faith as a group – “Increase our faith!” This is unfamiliar ground for most of us. We tend to think of faith as an individual rather than a group project. In an individual way, I can wonder if I have any faith or enough faith or certain faith. It’s one reason why the apostles’ demand is so interesting. “Increase OUR faith,” they say to Jesus. They say it as a group. Jesus replies to them as a group. In the Greek, Jesus uses the plural “you” that means “all y’all,” and then he uses an awkward 1st century slavery metaphor to call them to obedience in service to others. I don’t know who would need to move a mulberry tree into an ocean but it’s more possible with a team of folks working together than with one person.

In the Bible book that bears his name, Timothy was encouraged to trust and obedience by faith. But he wasn’t encouraged to trust alone. Paul reminded Timothy of the faith of his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois. Ancestors to whom Timothy could look for inspiration from faith larger than himself. By the larger faith of community, he could trust and endure the uncertainty and trauma of the present.

Trusting in God’s grace doesn’t negate or minimize uncertainty or suffering and the experience of being overwhelmed by them. Trusting in God’s grace means that we’re given a community of Christ to share each other’s burdens as we have the capacity to do so. It also means admitting something is beyond our capacity, and we need help. And, when we’re able, it means stepping in when help is needed.

Stepping in when help is needed is something that we tend to learn a little more easily from our pets. Maybe it’s because we can’t reason with animals. Caring for animals includes the tone of our voice, key words that they may know, and the way we touch them or give them space. Voice, words, touch, and personal space make a difference whether it’s my dog Sunny, Dr. Goodall’s chimpanzees or other people. And we are people formed by God’s grace to be present with each other in whatever we bring to the mix.

We are a church of the cross as much as we are a church of the resurrection. It means we tell the truth in times of uncertainty, name suffering for what it is, and actively work privately and publicaly to alleviate it or, at the very least, be present with those who are suffering. Loving them in obedience to the One who sent us to do so. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we can trust God’s good news of grace given in Christ Jesus before the ages began and we can serve creation and one another in love. Amen.

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[1] Religion News Service, ‘Religion entered into me': A talk with Jane Goodall, 2021 Templeton Prize winner. May 22, 2021. ‘Religion entered into me': A talk with Jane Goodall, 2021 Templeton Prize winner | National Catholic Reporter

[2] Dr. Jane Goodall and the Jane Goodall Institute. Wounda’s Journey – Jane Goodall Witnesses Release of Chimpanzee Into New Island Sanctuary Site. February 5, 2015.  https://youtu.be/ClOMa_GufsA?si=2D16QmbmrjlPpXIv

[3] In order: Luke 16:19-31 (challenge against indifference), Luke 17:1-2 (challenge to teach well), Luke 17:3-4 (forgive).

[4] Audrey West, Adjunct Professor of New Testament at Lutheran School of Theology Chicago. Commentary on Luke 17:5-10 for WorkingPreacher.org, October 2, 2016. http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=3028

Preaching, Sermons

My Dog Sunny and the Apostle Peter Have Something in Common [OR Jesus’ Commands Us to Love One Another – How’s That Going?] John 13:1-17, 31b-35

Caitlin Trussell with Augustana Lutheran Church for Maundy Thursday on April, 1, 2021

John 13:1-17, 31b-35  Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper 3Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 5Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. 6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” 9Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” 11For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. 14So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. 16Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. 17If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.”

31b“Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. 33Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ 34I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

[sermon begins]

 

My dog Sunny doesn’t like baths. I’ve seen videos of dogs who loves baths loaded with bubbles, laying on their backs with shower caps on just to be silly. Sunny? Not so much. I have to coax her with treats into the tub and remind her that I love her while she presses her head into my shoulder. This makes washing her face a real challenge. You’d think we’d have this down after almost seven years, but it seems it’s as good as it gets. This story about Sunny is a tricky because, yes, I’m comparing Sunny to Peter in the Bible story. He doesn’t want a bath either. His issues may be different than her issues, in fact they really are different, but the bottom line is the same. He won’t get in the water. Well, he won’t put his feet in the water. You’d think he’d have this down after several years of ministry with Jesus. Jesus tells them what to do and they do it, right? Peter seems to mess up the process over and over again. It’s handy that Peter does this a lot because it makes it easier to see ourselves in the story. If the Bible were full of perfect people being with a perfect Jesus it would be much harder to connect.

Many of us are like Sunny and Peter. We find it hard to trust and would rather come up with our own ideas. That’s pretty much what the Holy Week and Easter stories are – we find it hard to trust and would rather come up with our own ideas. Thank God for Jesus. Jesus reminds Peter and us that our own ideas may not be best for us or each other. The Bible story says that Jesus knew that he came from God and was going to God. Right after that, Jesus gets up from the table, takes off his outer robe, ties a towel around his waist and starts washing dirty, stinky disciple feet. He gets to Peter. Peter argues with him. He looks up to Jesus. Jesus is his leader. He doesn’t want Jesus washing his feet. Jesus basically tells Peter that this is the way it works. This is the way Jesus works. Jesus is a servant. A servant from God who washes feet and tells us to love each other like he loves us, a love in service to each other.

Before anybody runs out and starts washing other people’s feet, think bigger. We are named ‘child of God’ as we’re bathed in the water of baptism in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Children of God, washed by God. Like Jesus in our Bible story today, we can say that we now come from God and one day we will go to God.[1] That’s handled. And by the power of the Holy Spirit through our baptism we are given gifts that help us serve in the way that Jesus asks us to serve.

During Communion Instruction class, I asked each parent to say something that they liked about their child. The answers included “love of music, zest for life, loves dogs, kind, snuggly, determined, and loves to read.” Being limited to one answer is tough. I’m sure the lists of what you parents like about these kids would be a mile long. But the point is this, the list of qualities, things about you that make you you, these can also be called gifts from God. Gifts that you can use to serve and love the world. It’s pretty simple even though we complicate it with ambition, goals, and what everyone else seems to be doing. Those are distractions. Gifts you’re given to serve are the very ones you’re given to lead. Jesus led his disciples and leads us with wisdom, determination, kindness, intensity, vulnerability, love, grace, and more – a real mishmash of gifts. We’re not Jesus but we’re similarly mishmashed.

It’s been a mishmash kind of year though, so we fit right in. It’s been a year of figuring a lot of things out including how to serve each other. Our old standbys of service like hugs, spending time with people who need a boost of emotional support, serving meals, and holding a hand have been changed. Everyone who works or goes to school outside their home has experienced dramatic changes in how we serve through our different roles. We had to get creative in our ways to work, learn, serve, and stay in touch. Reimagining so much of our lives has been an adjustment in using our mishmash of gifts.

Jesus doesn’t leave us there though, with our confusing jumble of gifts. Jesus gives us each other as the church to figure out those gifts and he gives us the food we need for the journey. That’s what Holy Communion is about at its most basic level. It’s food for the journey of faith. First, it’s food for the journey purely as a gift from God – a blessing and promise of forgiveness and faith from God to us. It’s also food for the journey to do what God asks us to do. To be strengthened and freed to love and serve each other as Jesus loves and serves us.

Jesus’ meal of bread and wine that we share in communion draws us deeply into an even wider community too. The other Bible story that we heard together was long ago. It’s called the Passover story. It’s a story about how God freed God’s people from slavery in Egypt. Our Jewish cousins in the faith celebrate Passover to this day. Jesus was a Jew and connected the lifeline of Passover to the lifeline that we celebrate as Holy Communion when he was with his friends at a Passover celebration. Jesus expanded the promise that God made to the Jews to be a promise for all people. His new covenant connects us with God’s ancient promises as we move into the future. Jesus’ set a table for one and for all people, as Jesus table set for you.

Things happen quickly during communion. There are words, and prayers, and often singing. It can be easy to miss what’s happening in the special celebration that Jesus gave us. The words from our other Bible reading are the main words to hear. Listen to that Bible reading again:

…Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. [1 Corinthians 11:23b-25]

These words are the promise. Jesus promises that what he did – every word he spoke against harm, greed, and hatred while speaking for love of God, enemy, and neighbor, for grace and forgiveness, for faith and generosity, for hope and healing; every word that made him that much more vulnerable to death on a cross – is a promise strong enough to claim us by faith.

Today we celebrate Jesus’s table, where there is a place for everyone and there is a place for you.

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[1] John 13:3

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1 Corinthians 11:23-26   For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Exodus 12:1-4,  11-14   The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: 2This month shall mark for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you. 3Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth of this month they are to take a lamb for each family, a lamb for each household. 4If a household is too small for a whole lamb, it shall join its closest neighbor in obtaining one; the lamb shall be divided in proportion to the number of people who eat of it. [5Your lamb shall be without blemish, a year-old male; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. 6You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembled congregation of Israel shall slaughter it at twilight. 7They shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. 8They shall eat the lamb that same night; they shall eat it roasted over the fire with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 9Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted over the fire, with its head, legs, and inner organs. 10You shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. ] 11This is how you shall eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it hurriedly. It is the passover of the Lord. 12For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both human beings and animals; on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. 13The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live: when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.
14This day shall be a day of remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord; throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance.