Isaiah 61:10-62:3 I had the great blessing of going home to Kentucky this week to see my family and celebrate Christmas with them. As so many of us have done over the last week, we exchanged and opened gifts together. We all received beautiful flannel shirts from our grandmother, and many of us were soContinue reading “The Perfect Fit”
Tag Archives: sermons
The Good News
Luke 2:(1-7) 8-20 The theologian Frederick Buechner wrote that the Gospel is bad news before it is good news, and I wonder if the Holy Family would say amen to that. The good news of Jesus probably felt like bad news at first. The young woman is unmarried, and I doubt many people believed herContinue reading “The Good News”
Living Jubilee
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 Today’s Isaiah passage might be familiar to some of you. Jesus read from this part of Isaiah in the synagogue of his hometown, then told all who were listening that this scripture had been fulfilled in their hearing. This particular passage was important enough that Jesus was run out of his hometownContinue reading “Living Jubilee”
Comfort That Lasts
Isaiah 40:1-11 Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Our world is crying out for comfort. So often when we seek comfort, we are not seeking the comfort Isaiah proclaims. We seek happiness, contentment, disruption of the unpleasant sensations and emotions that come with being human. We find distraction, fleeting pleasures to fill theContinue reading “Comfort That Lasts”
Honest Hope
Isaiah 64:1-9 In our first gathering for our Advent study this past Thursday (it’s not too late to join us!), I invited everyone to introduce themselves and share one thing about this time of year that they love, or that is special to them. People shared stories of childhood, of sacred time with their ownContinue reading “Honest Hope”
What To Do at the End of the World
Matthew 25:31-46 Lately, I’ve been having a lot of conversations about the end of the world. The pandemic, the once-in-a-generation cataclysms that are happening multiple times a year, the horrors of war and genocide all have us anxious, and grieving, and exhausted. A friend who lives and works in Jerusalem recently said to me “IContinue reading “What To Do at the End of the World”
Talents or Seeds?
Matthew 25:12-30 I was speaking with another preacher this week and he mentioned that this week’s parable is the perfect opportunity for a stewardship sermon. I think most lifelong churchgoers will know what he meant by that, a sermon specifically reflecting on financial stewardship, even more specifically the money we share with our worshipping community.Continue reading “Talents or Seeds?”
Keeping the Light-Together
Matthew 25:1-13 There is a lot going on in the world and in our individual lives right now that might be affecting our sleep. The time change and the changing seasons, shortened days and longer nights are the least troubling of these, but still they affect us in our bodies and impact our ability toContinue reading “Keeping the Light-Together”
Maps to Jesus
Matthew 5:1-12 I don’t know if any of you have had the chance yet to watch The Chosen, or if you’ve even heard of it yet. It has been around for a couple of years now, but Ben and I are very often late to things like this, and we are just now getting aroundContinue reading “Maps to Jesus”
A How-to Guide to Sainthood
All Saints Day 2023 My campus minister was once asked the question “what does it take to be a saint?” He answered baptism, and death. That simple answer was met with stunned silence followed by a rush of questions and challenges. He stood by his answer, and all these years later I find it stillContinue reading “A How-to Guide to Sainthood”
Mother A Writes 