Luke 11:1-13 Lord, teach us to pray. God bless the disciple who asked, no, demanded this lesson from Jesus. We don’t know how to pray, Lord, teach us. It is such a simple thing, and such a vulnerable thing for a religious person to admit. And yet, I hear it again and again in myContinue reading “Lord, Teach Us to Pray”
Category Archives: ordinary time
Rest, Rise, Refill
Luke 10:38-42 A few months ago, I had the opportunity to participate in a Bake & Pray workshop at St John’s in Lynchburg. Some members of St Mark’s also participated in the workshop, which was open to the community. My friend Maria, a talented baker and lay minister, led us in the art of bakingContinue reading “Rest, Rise, Refill”
An Unwanted Savior
Luke 10:25-37 The parable of the Good Samaritan looms large in the Christian imagination. The role of the “good Samaritan” is embedded in our cultural vernacular and enshrined in our legal codes. College students attend trainings when they arrive on their campuses in which they are encouraged to be a good Samaritan, an active bystanderContinue reading “An Unwanted Savior”
Freedom & Costly Grace
Galatians 5:1,13-25 For freedom Christ has set us free. As the red, white, and blue decorations go up and the flags wave and we prepare for our own celebration later this week, the topic of freedom is timely. This nation in which we live and whose birth we remember on the 4th of July everyContinue reading “Freedom & Costly Grace”
The Truth Reigns
John 18:33-37 This day is a peculiar one in the church calendar. Depending on who you ask, this day is Proper 29, or the 27th Sunday after Pentecost, or Christ the King, or Reign of Christ Sunday. Technically, Christ the King is not a major feast in the Episcopal Church. It is not listed inContinue reading “The Truth Reigns”
Crying in Church
1 Samuel 1:4-20 & 1 Samuel 2:1-10 As you may have noticed, I am not a particularly stoic person. When we sing a particular hymn, or read the words of a particular psalm, or even at times when I am preaching or teaching or sitting with folks going through something hard, tears come to myContinue reading “Crying in Church”
Faith at the Margins
Mark 12:38-44 As a person who walks around wearing long robes and prays long prayers in public on a regular basis, I find myself thinking often of this teaching of Jesus. I do like my long robes most of the time, and I appreciate being greeted with respect, and I do think I have oneContinue reading “Faith at the Margins”
Happy Are We
Psalm 146 To view a recording of this sermon, click here “Put not your trust in rulers, nor in any child of earth, for there is no help in them. When they breathe their last, they return to earth, and in that day their thoughts perish.” For generations, the people of God have prayed thisContinue reading “Happy Are We”
Serve Boldly
Mark 10:35-45 Right on the heels of the rich young man’s challenge to let go of all the possessions and privileges that have shaped his life, we encounter two more young men about to learn a hard lesson from Jesus. When picturing the scene, I find it helpful to remember that many of Jesus’s disciplesContinue reading “Serve Boldly”
Welcoming the Child
Mark 9:30-37 One of the best sermons I’ve ever heard preached came from the mouth of a 3 year old. It was in seminary, in the school chapel, on a Thursday night. Normally, that chapel was a pretty intense and intimidating place. It was where we learned to do the dance of liturgy to theContinue reading “Welcoming the Child”
Mother A Writes 