The texts for Sunday, October 23, 2016: Joel 2:23-32; Psalm 84:1-7; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18; and Luke 18:9-14 How do you receive a gift? Or many gifts? I think God pours out gifts beyond measure— Gifts of God’s Spirit Gifts of forgiveness and mercy Gifts of grace and abundance Gifts of vision and life — “I will pour outContinueContinue reading “Open, empty hands”
Author Archives: jabbokdawn
Seeking
The texts for Sunday, September 11, 2016 are: Exodus 32:7-14; Psalm 51:1-10; 1 Timothy 1:12-17; and Luke 15:1-10 “Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?” -Luke 15:8 The unrelenting love of God. That seeks And looks inContinueContinue reading “Seeking”
This prayer thing
The texts for Sunday, July 24, 2016 are: Genesis 18:20-32; Psalm 138; Colossians 2:6-15 [16-19]; and Luke 11:1-13 “Lord, teach us to pray …” What is prayer, exactly? I confess that I have mixed feelings about this whole prayer thing — and I know that I am not alone. I remember when I was doingContinueContinue reading “This prayer thing”
Neighbor
The texts for Sunday, July 10, 2016 are: Deuteronomy 30:9-14; Psalm 25:1-10; Colossians 1:1-14; and Luke 10:25-37 Alton Sterling Philando Castile Officer Brent Thompson Officer Patrick Zamarripa Sergeant Michael Smith Officer Michael Krol Senior Corporal Lorne Ahrens I watched the videos this week. I watched Alton killed. I watched Philando die. I watched the chaos thatContinueContinue reading “Neighbor”
On feeling overwhelmed
The texts for Sunday, July 10, 2016 are: Deuteronomy 30:9-14; Psalm 25:1-10; Colossians 1:1-14; and Luke 10:25-37 “Surely, this commandment that I am commanding you today is not too hard for you, nor is it too far away. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will go up to heaven for us, and get it forContinueContinue reading “On feeling overwhelmed”
Living Questions
“There’s no proof that God exists so I don’t believe in God.” *sigh* confirmation class challenger pushing the new pastor “You believe in lots of things you have no proof for.” Ugh. The words die as they fall off my lips It’s not the answer I long for Not the answer that touches my soulContinueContinue reading “Living Questions”
Small miracles
The texts for Sunday, January 17, 2015 (2nd Sunday after Epiphany): Isaiah 62:1-5; Psalm 36:5-10; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; and John 2:1-11 So, let’s see … six stone water jars — not overly standard in size (they were hand-hewn from rock!) but the text says they are around 20 to 30 gallons a piece — andContinueContinue reading “Small miracles”
Called to Be
The texts for Sunday, January 10, 2015 (The Baptism of Our Lord): Isaiah 43:1-7; Psalm 29; Acts 8:14-17; and Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 (A note to help with context: this was the first sermon I preached at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Pearl River, NY. It’s a new call for me! Yay! and I had movedContinueContinue reading “Called to Be”
Body of Christ
The texts for Sunday, January 24, 2016 (3rd Sunday after Epiphany): Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a; and Luke 4:14-21 Having received what you are may you become what you have received. You may have noticed my use of this blessing after communion and pondered it … or not. It does notContinueContinue reading “Body of Christ”
Handful by handful
The texts for Sunday, November 8, 2015 (24nd Sunday after Pentecost): 1 Kings 17:8-16; Psalm 146; Hebrews 9:24-28; and Mark 12:38-44. + A couple of coins. A handful of meal. A little oil. Tiny drops in a vast sea of need — and yet, from such generosity, sacrifice, and faithfulness, the reign of God isContinueContinue reading “Handful by handful”
Take heart …
The texts for Sunday, October 25, 2015 (22nd Sunday after Pentecost): Jeremiah 31:7-9; Psalm 126; Hebrews 7:23-28; and Mark 10:46-52. (We didn’t choose the Reformation texts this day, but something about these texts seems to speak pretty closely to the Reformation too, even if they aren’t Martin Luther’s favorites.) † A blind man, he wasContinueContinue reading “Take heart …”
Missed turn
Missed Turn Huh. Well, damn airport pre-dawn bye-bye see you soon safe travels alone, I missed my exit. I blame the leaves — pink hues pink-yellow pink-red pink-orange pink haze reflecting the pink and bluing sky mesmerizing ephemeral beauty — blinding me Berating myself I take the longer way waste of time mistake that itContinueContinue reading “Missed turn”
Stewardship
The texts for Sunday September 27, 2015 (18th Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary 26): Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29; Psalm 19:7-14; James 5:13-20; and Mark 9:38-50 What is stewardship? Some people—and maybe you’re among them— think that Stewardship is about convincing you that you need to give money to the church to help pay theContinueContinue reading “Stewardship”
The Epistle of Straw
The texts for Sunday September 20, 2015 (17th Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary 25): Jeremiah 11:18-20; Psalm 54; James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a; and Mark 9:30-37. Ah, the book of James… the sermon every angry pastor is tempted to preach and the letter we’re most apt to misquote. We’ve been hearing it for a number of weeks nowContinueContinue reading “The Epistle of Straw”
To whom can we go?
The texts for Sunday August 23, 2015 (13th Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary 21): Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18; Psalm 34:15-22; Ephesians 6:10-20; and John 6:56-69 If you are unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve … well that’s a pretty easy choice To put it all in perspective, Joshua, in the versesContinueContinue reading “To whom can we go?”
Remembering Fall in Alberta
Inspired by the news of the August snowfall in Alberta (see the HuffPost article or CBC), I found myself reminiscing about my childhood there and the pretty regular occurrence of hard frosts and snow during this time of year. Inspired by a conversation, I wrote a poem. August snow and killing frost “Gather ye rosebudsContinueContinue reading “Remembering Fall in Alberta”
Drink
The texts for Sunday August 16, 2015 (12th Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary 20): Proverbs 9:1-6; Psalm 34:9-14; Ephesians 5:15-20; and John 6:51-58 Drink deeply all you in search of insight in search of faith in search of hope in search of life Drink of the wine of Lady Wisdom the blood of the lamb theContinueContinue reading “Drink”
What’s in it for me?
The texts for Sunday August 9, 2015 (11th Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary 19): 1 Kings 19:4-8; Psalm 34:1-8; Ephesians 4:25-5:2; and John 6:35, 41-51 We are on the third week of bread and I thought that I should maybe preach about bread about God’s sustaining us about God’s giving strength for the journey —ContinueContinue reading “What’s in it for me?”
Jabbok Dawn 