A few weeks ago, my Facebook pages and blog feed were abuzz with discussions about impending Mothers’ Day worship services. Most of the posts said essentially the same thing: Remember that Mothers’ Day is hard for many people. It’s hard for women who have chosen not to be mothers and women who want to be…
And an excerpt from this week’s sermon on Philemon: Paul’s basic claim in Philemon is the same as it is in Galatians 3:28: “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” At…
So I haven’t been posting on the blog much. I’ve been caring for people and planning for church conferences and driving to swim lessons and trying to buy a house. (I hope to have exciting news to share soon!) Oh yeah, I’ve also been writing sermons. (Because, if you will recall, I have the best…
(Below is an excerpt from last Sunday’s sermon on Psalm 46. You can find the full sermon here.) According to the psalmist, God’s presence with us now, our knowledge of God’s presence with God’s people–Jacob and others–in the past–this means that we do not need to be afraid. The psalm opens with these words of…
Call to Worship (based on Psalm 46): The earth shakes, the mountains quake — tempting our hearts to fear. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Storms rage, winds swirl–destroying schools, hospitals, homes. Still, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Violence comes to light…
Almighty Creator, We come before you in shock, in brokenness, in sorrow, in the wake of the mighty winds that devastated schools and hospital, homes and businesses; in the wake of this tragedy that has shifted the earth beneath our feet. We come before you because the tide of our grief roars and foams and…
Here is an excerpt from a Pentecost sermon I preached a couple of years ago. You might also be interested in this Call to Worship and Benediction written for Pentecost. – – – – – – – At one point Jesus says to the gathered believers, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift…
My Sabbath prayer time this morning was spent sitting on my back deck in the glorious sunshine. I did a little sketching and a little journaling. Talking with God about some difficult parenting stuff. Most of the struggles right now are with our 16-year-old son who has been diagnosed with ADD and Aspergers. I won’t…
Yes. It is horrible that a man held three women and a child captive in his home for years. Yes. It is almost unbelievable that neighbors, police, and even the captor’s family members knew nothing about this for so long. Yes. These women and this child need our earnest prayers for the full healing of…
This story from Acts is a troubling one in many ways. Here are some reflections from a sermon I preached in 2010. (Full sermon is posted here.) – – – – – As far as we can tell, Paul does not free this slave girl out of kindness. He commands the spirit to leave the…
Spacious Faith 