easter – Mother A Writes

Wearing Ministry

Hands that show signs of age feeding fabric through a sewing machine, taken from the perspective of someone looking over the shoulder of the textile worker

Acts 9:36-43 When I was newly ordained, a woman in my first parish died and I was to preside at her funeral. Instead of flowers, her children told me they would be bringing some things she had made to adorn the altar. She was a quilter, and an embroiderer, with an artist’s eye. The dayContinue reading “Wearing Ministry”

Changing Minds

A vibrantly colored painting of a man in the middle of falling from the back of a horse, looking up at a bright yellow figure of Jesus with arms outstretched as if on the cross

Acts 9:1-6, (7-20) I am convinced that one of the hardest things to do in this world is change your mind. Something that might be even harder is admitting aloud that your belief or opinion has changed from what you once fervently professed. We are not rewarded for it, either socially or by our ownContinue reading “Changing Minds”

Scars & Tattoos

John 20:19-31 After the events of Holy Week, and the impossible news of Easter, I can’t blame the disciples for hiding away together. As a pastor, I understand the instinct. The events of Jesus’s final days before his death, the sham trial and gruesome execution, the long day of waiting and the baffling witness ofContinue reading “Scars & Tattoos”

Being Made New

Luke 24:1-12 Why do you look for the living among the dead? The messengers of God may be dazzling, but they don’t seem to have much tact. The women come to the tomb carrying spices, after weeping their way through the Sabbath, faces tear stained and eyes puffy, with the intention of seeing their friendContinue reading “Being Made New”

Death Made Beautiful

Luke 24:36b-48 One of my favorite Easter traditions from my childhood was the flowering of the cross. On Easter Sunday, all the children were given flowers in a beautiful rainbow of colors, and at the start of the service we processed with our flowers toward a cross that had been riddled with holes. One byContinue reading “Death Made Beautiful”

The Story Continues

Mark 16:1-8 And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. Can you imagine if the Bible had ended here? For some early listeners, it apparently did. The oldest authorities we have end the story here, with the first half of verse 8. Later versions extend the story by three more verses, and evenContinue reading “The Story Continues”

Come, Lord Jesus.

Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21 I have included in the spoken version of my sermon a reading of Amanda Gorman’s most recent published poem, which she shared on her social media platforms in the wake of the school shooting in Uvalde. In the interest of supporting her in her work and directing web traffic to theContinue reading “Come, Lord Jesus.”

Who will we accept?

Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5 You’ll find that this sermon is more topical than my usual style of preaching, more a Biblically inspired call to action than an exegesis of the texts of the week. For those of you who are following along with my sermons but not affiliated with St Mark’s Clifford or Grace Massies Mill,Continue reading “Who will we accept?”

Post Apocalyptic Faith

Revelation 21:1-6 “I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard aContinue reading “Post Apocalyptic Faith”

Encountering the Feast

John 21:1-19 On Easter, we heard the story of the first witness to the resurrection, and how her encounter with Christ prompted the first Easter acclamation. Last week we heard about a very well-known encounter with the risen Lord, in which one doubts and is given the gift of face-to-face proof that his beloved friendContinue reading “Encountering the Feast”