Reflections for Lent – Day 14 We received some hard news about our newest kitten, Marcella Maple Syrup (yes, that’s her name. She came with the Maple Syrup, but Marcella was added as all our cats get names of theologians. Marcella is named after Marcella Althaus-Reid.). We call her Marci for short. Back in October,ContinueContinue reading “Sidewalk Flowers: A day at a time”
Tag Archives: hope
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 …”
Let’s talk about death …
The texts for Sunday, November 2, 2014 (All Saints Sunday): Revelation 7:9–17; Psalm 34:1–10, 22; 1 John 3:1–3; and Matthew 5:1–12. Audio of Sermon: All Saints Sermon
Praying for Everyone?
Image by Ri Butov from Pixabay The texts for Sunday, September 22, 2013 (Lectionary 25 C): Amos 8:4–7; Psalm 113; 1 Timothy 2:1–7; and Luke 16:1–13 . “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone” – 1 Timothy 2:1 I know this sentence continues in the text to tell us to prayContinueContinue reading “Praying for Everyone?”
Reclamation Grace
The texts for Sunday, September 15, 2013 (Lectionary 24C): Exodus 32:7–14; Psalm 51:1–10; 1 Timothy 1:12–17; and Luke 15:1–10. “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” – Psalm 51: 10 I’d say that God is a God of second chances; but, besides it sounding a little cliché, it might give the impressionContinueContinue reading “Reclamation Grace”
Proclaiming hope
The texts for January 20, 2013 (Epiphany 2C): Isaiah 62:1-5, Psalm 36:5-10, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, and John 2:1-11 “For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch.” – Isaiah 62:1 Did you knowContinueContinue reading “Proclaiming hope”
The water and the fire
The texts for Sunday January 13,2013: Isaiah 43:1-7; Psalm 29; Acts 8:14-17; and Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” – IsaiahContinueContinue reading “The water and the fire”
Slivers of Light
The texts for Sunday, December 16, 2012: Zephaniah 3:14–20; Isaiah 12:2–6; Philippians 4:4–7; and Luke 3:7–18 You don’t light a candle in a well lit space You don’t use a flashlight to guide you in the middle of the day. You don’t hope and dream when the world is perfect… It’s almost the Winter Solstice.ContinueContinue reading “Slivers of Light”
Dreaming in the Dark
The texts for Sunday, December 16, 2012: Zephaniah 3:14–20; Isaiah 12:2–6; Philippians 4:4–7; and Luke 3:7–18. I have heard the news repeated again and again. 28 dead. 20 of them children. I’ve seen picture after picture of the events surrounding the tragedy at Sandy Hook School—the trauma, the tears, the shattered lives, the shock, theContinueContinue reading “Dreaming in the Dark”
The Power of Hope
The texts for Sunday, December 2, 2012 (Advent 1C): Jeremiah 33:14–16; Psalm 25:1–10; 1 Thessalonians 3:9–13; and Luke 21:25–36 “Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”- Luke 21:28 I suppose this is the power of hope. Everything prior to this sentence inContinueContinue reading “The Power of Hope”
Trusting in Rulers
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. “Put not your trust in rulers, in mortals in whom there is no help. When they breathe their last, they return to earth, and in that day their thoughts perish.” – Psalm 146:3-4 Edit: I justContinueContinue reading “Trusting in Rulers”
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”
Born into a Broken World
The texts July 1, 2012 (moved from June 24, 2012 — the celebration of the birth of John the Baptist): Malachi 3:1–4; Psalm 141; Acts 13:13–26; and Luke 1:57–80 … Our world is full of shattered lives and broken people and all sorts of broken dreams, ideas, systems, and priorities. Our world is full ofContinueContinue reading “Born into a Broken World”
The ever-present Wind
The texts for Sunday, May 27, 2012 (that we will use): Ezekiel 37:1–14; Psalm 104:24–34, 35b; Acts 2:1–21; and John 15:26–27; 16:4b–15 “The hand of the LORD came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full ofContinueContinue reading “The ever-present Wind”
God is greater…
The texts for Sunday, April 29, 2012: Acts 4:5–12; Psalm 23; 1 John 3:16–24; and John 10:11–18 “… for God is greater than our hearts…” – 1 John 3:18-20 This week, I’ve had a couple of depressing conversations. Conversations about how the world is such a hard place, how things don’t seem to ever getContinueContinue reading “God is greater…”
You are Witnesses
The texts for Sunday, April 22, 2012: Acts 3:12–19; Psalm 4; 1 John 3:1–7; and Luke 24:36b–48 “You are witnesses of these things.” – Luke 24:48 What does your life bear witness to? The Greek word for witnesses is μάρτυρες (martyres). Yes, it is the same word we use for martyrs. Martyr means witness. A martyrContinueContinue reading “You are Witnesses”
Waiting for Resurrection
I think my favorite day of Holy Week is Saturday. I love Maundy Thursday and the footwashing and communion shared with a smaller number of people in the dim lighting of the evening, remembering the last night that all the disciples were together with Jesus at the meal. I am always moved, transformed, convicted byContinueContinue reading “Waiting for Resurrection”
Saved from Death
The texts for Sunday, March 25, 2012: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Psalm 51:1-12; Hebrews 5:5-10; and John 12:20-33 “In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.” – Hebrews 5:7ContinueContinue reading “Saved from Death”
Jabbok Dawn 