BEIJING, CHINA: A man enters a crumbling structure along the the Great Wall at Qinglongxia, north of Beijing, 16 July 2003. (Photo credit: FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images) Reflections for Lent – Day 5 Did you know the Great Wall of China is crumbling? Apparently, “State media reported 01 December 2003 only about one third ofContinueContinue reading “Sidewalk Flowers: Falling apart”
Tag Archives: church
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”
Wilderness Time
The texts for Sunday August 2, 2015 (10th Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary 18): Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15; Psalm 78:23-29; Ephesians 4:1-16; and John 6:24-35 (This sermon was preached at a yearly ecumenical worship service at which the Episcopal, Congregational, Methodist, Lutheran, and often other churches in town gather to worship together. This recording is a re-recordingContinueContinue reading “Wilderness Time”
The Challenge of New Things
The texts for Sunday, October 26, 2014 (Reformation Sunday): Jeremiah 31:31–34, Psalm 46, Romans 3:19–28 and John 8:31–36 I didn’t record the sermon this week, but I sang the gospel using Luther’s rules for the chanting of the Gospel. A practice run before worship is below. The sermon is roughly transcribed following. Audio of Gospel: Chanted GospelContinueContinue reading “The Challenge of New Things”
Learning to let go
The texts for Sunday, February 10, 2013 (Transfiguration Sunday): Exodus 34:29-35; Psalm 99; 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2; and Luke 9:28-36 “Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah’–not knowing whatContinueContinue reading “Learning to let go”
Habit of the heart
The texts for Sunday, November 11, 2012 (Lectionary 32): 1 Kings 17:8–16; Psalm 146; Hebrews 9:24–28; and Mark 12:38–44 Did you know that giving is a habit of the heart? It is not something that best comes from hearing a sermon about how you should give It is not something that best comes from guiltContinueContinue reading “Habit of the heart”
For All the Saints
The texts for Sunday, November 4, 2012 (All Saints’ Sunday): Isaiah 25:6–9; Psalm 24; Revelation 21:1–6; and John 11:32–44 During All Saints Sunday, everyone was given the opportunity throughout the service to light a candle for a saint that they remembered and were thinking about that day. Often, this time of remembrance is to specifically rememberContinueContinue reading “For All the Saints”
Built on a Rock
Built on a rock, the church shall stand, even when steeples are falling; crumbled have spires in every land, bells still are chiming and calling— calling the young and old to rest, calling the souls of those distressed, longing for life everlasting. There are very few hymns that I dislike and I love most ofContinueContinue reading “Built on a Rock”
Welcoming the Child
The texts for Sunday, September 23,2012 (Lectionary 25): Jeremiah 11:18–20; Psalm 54; James 3:13—4:3; 4:7–8a; and Mark 9:30–37. “Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes notContinueContinue reading “Welcoming the Child”
A Parable about “Pure” Religion
The texts for Sunday, September 2, 2012 (Lectionary 22): Deuteronomy 4:1–2, 6–9; Psalm 15; James 1:17–27; and Mark 7:1–8, 14–15, 21–23 “It wasn’t about the stained glass window. At least it wasn’t supposed to be,” Bobby thought as she looked at the swirling colors of shattered glass through her tear-filled eyes. She had wanted toContinueContinue reading “A Parable about “Pure” Religion”
Religion of the Heart
The texts for Sunday, September 2, 2012 (Lectionary 22): Deuteronomy 4:1–2, 6–9; Psalm 15; James 1:17–27; and Mark 7:1–8, 14–15, 21–23 “So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, ‘Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?'” – Mark 7:5 Every once in a while,ContinueContinue reading “Religion of the Heart”
The Feast of Mary Magdalene
The texts for Sunday, July 22, 2012 (The Feast of Mary Magdalene): Ruth 1:6–18; Psalm 73:23–28; Acts 13:26–33a; and John 20:1–18 “Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.” – John 20:18 I’m sure there was a goodContinueContinue reading “The Feast of Mary Magdalene”
Thoughts on transitions: vis-à-vis belated reflections on the New England Synod Assembly
Tammee told me that I needed to write an article for the newsletter about the synod assembly. It’s nice not to have to think about what to write sometimes … but now I have to figure out how to write it. The Naugatuck Lutherans sent five voting members—Nancy and Don G., Brett B., Jay M.ContinueContinue reading “Thoughts on transitions: vis-à-vis belated reflections on the New England Synod Assembly”
The Depths of Worship
The texts, moved from Sunday, July 1, 2012 to Sunday, June 24, 2012: Lamentations 3:22–33; Psalm 30; 2 Corinthians 8:7–15; and Mark 5:21–43 “The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.” -Lamentations 3:25-26ContinueContinue reading “The Depths of Worship”
That we may be one…
The texts for Sunday, May 20, 2012: Acts 1:15–17, 21–26; Psalm 1; 1 John 5:9–13; and John 17:6–21. (Also mentioned: Acts 2:7-11) … And Jesus’ prayer for us? “that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the worldContinueContinue reading “That we may be one…”
Love, Jesus (the Christ)
The texts for Sunday, May 13, 2012: Acts 10:44–48; Psalm 98; 1 John 5:1–6; and John 15:9–17 …Dear Church, That seems so formal. I wish I could list you all by name—each and every one of you but then, I suppose I’d never get to what I’d like to say. You are each so preciousContinueContinue reading “Love, Jesus (the Christ)”
They cast lots?
The texts for Sunday, May 20, 2012: Acts 1:15–17, 21–26; Psalm 1; 1 John 5:9–13; and John 17:6–19. “And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.” -Acts 1:26 I typed “leadership books” in Amazon and 85,792 books came up. Typing in “leading church”ContinueContinue reading “They cast lots?”
Running Behind
The texts for Sunday, May 13, 2012: Acts 10:44–48; Psalm 98; 1 John 5:1–6; and John 15:9–17 “While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word.” – Acts 10:44 Have you ever felt like you were a little behind the ball on something? Or maybe everything? I feel thatContinueContinue reading “Running Behind”
Jabbok Dawn 