February 3, 2019 On this fourth Sunday after Epiphany, we hear the reaction / response of those hearing Jesus’ first sermon preached at his Nazareth synagogue. It’s hard to grasp what Jesus said, or what this synagogue congregation heard, that set them off. I’m thinking, since they’d heard reports of the marvels Jesus had worked […]
January 27, 2019 On this third Sunday after Epiphany, we hear Jesus preach his first sermon at his home-town synagogue in Nazareth. After wrestling in the desert with the devil’s three strategies for navigating world: prosperity, power, and immortality, Jesus tells his prayer partners in the synagogue he has an alternative vision. Jesus makes it […]
January 20, 2019 On this second Sunday after Epiphany, we mark the last of the four great manifestations of Emanuel – God-With-Us: the Nativity, Epiphany, the Baptism of our Lord, and the Wedding Feast at Cana. We Christians mark time differently than does the world. The world measures chronos time, time marching forward chronologically, relentlessly, […]
January 13, 2019 Sunday, we celebrate the Baptism of Our Lord. During the week following, we’ll be reminded of both the achievements and the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He’s been gone long enough that, among the many lofty remembrances, we’re likely to hear more about his clay feet. What’s most often left […]
January 6, 2019 Sunday we celebrate Epiphany (which means, literally, manifestation) – as reported in Matthew’s Gospel. Matthew’s writing is the most Jewish of all the Gospels. You can tell that from the title in verse 1: An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham. As […]
December 30, 2018 On this first Sunday of Christmas, we hear the stories of the boy, Samuel, and the boy Jesus – two teens whose faith in and relationship with God are growing independently from their parents. Hannah’s and Elkanah’s faith family included the priest Eli. Mary’s and Joseph’s circle of faith included the holy […]
December 23, 2018 On this fourth Sunday of Advent, Luke invites us to listen in and observe the encounter between pregnant mothers Elizabeth (John the Baptist) and Mary (Jesus). This divine – human story celebrates women and mothers bringing their creativity to God’s movement for change. There’s no marginalizing of women’s stories here. The roles […]
December 16, 2018 Many of our Advent scriptures sound harsh. Some even frighten us. On this third Sunday of Advent, Luke reports more of John the Baptist’s preaching, as well as his hearers’ reactions / responses. John’s language is stark and scary. “Bear fruits worthy of repentance.” “Even now the ax is lying at the […]
December 9, 2018 On this second Sunday of Advent, Luke introduces us to the mission and ministry of John the Baptist. John’s word and ritual are not radical because they offer forgiveness; the Bible offers both a forgiving God and repentance rituals long before John arrives. What’s radical is that this word and this ritual […]
November 25, 2018 Today’s worship focuses on a particular theme. It’s the day of Christ the King – a rather curious feast to celebrate in 21st century America. All four Gospels report this so-called trial of Jesus before Pilate. Each Gospel also reports snippets of this clipped dialogue between the two. There’s a great deal […]
