3 Pentecost, Proper 6 – June 13, 2021 Mark 4:26-34 This morning we’re hearing the parable of the mustard seed. Eugene Peterson, somewhere, has called parables “narrative time bombs” and that is certainly what today’s parables are. They are meant to undermine our assumptions of what we think are the “givens” and even the […]
2 Pentecost, Proper 5 – June 6, 2021 Mark 3:20-35 It is still early in Jesus’ ministry; but already, he has driven out unclean spirits, healed the sick, eaten with sinners, chosen his disciples when we come to today’s story. He has mesmerized every crowd he’s come into contact with, stirring up such hope, […]
Trinity Sunday – May 30, 2021 John 3:1-17 You may know that I have a habit of listening to podcasts while I take my walks. I just listened to an interview with an astronomer, Jill Tarter, who is one of the pioneers in the field of SETI, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence and she […]
Pentecost – May 23, 2021 Acts 2:1-21 and John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 It’s Pentecost! This day is considered the birthday of the church, the remembrance of the day marked by wind and flames and the filling of the Holy Spirit which brought with it speaking in different languages. Some speaking a language they had never […]
6 Easter – May 9, 2021 John 15:9-17 Last Sunday we heard about vines. Jesus used a vivid image of a branch abiding in a vine. If the branch were to separate itself from the vine, it would wither and die. But if it simply stays connected, the vines aliveness flows into the branch […]
5 Easter – May 2, 2021 John 15:1-8 and Acts 8:26-40 We are given two rich pieces of scripture today, the amazing story of Ethiopian eunuch and the story of the vine and the branches. Jesus is telling us that we are the branches and he is the vine – that we cannot bear […]
4 Easter – April 25, 2021 John 10:11-18 Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd”. This usually conjures up, for me, the image of Jesus holding a sheep lovingly and tenderly in his arms and it’s actually an image I have hanging on my wall at home. It brings me comfort. Just prior to […]
2 Easter – April 11, 2021 John 20:19-31 We’re hearing about two resurrection stories this morning. Jesus appearing one week after the first, coming through locked and closed doors, saying “peace be with you” for the second time. And so, today, one week after we shout, “Alleluia!” and sing, “Christ the Lord is Risen […]
Easter – April 4, 2021 John 20:1-18 While it is still dark, Mary arrives at the tomb and finds the stone has been removed. The entryway is open wide. Mary was grieving – imagine how she must have felt when she realized Jesus’ body was not there. It’s odd, mysterious, uncomfortable, a little scary […]
Good Friday – April 2, 2021 And so, it is Good Friday. It’s day of paradox, of tension, of contradiction. It’s a day of darkness and light. It is a day filled with vulnerability and truth. On Good Friday, we find ourselves standing at the foot of the cross. Beholding the cross. And through […]