Here is the prayer of confession and assurance of pardon I wrote for our worship this coming Sunday. I use imagery from both the Old Testament and Gospel texts for this week: Ezekiel 37:1-14; John 11:1-45. These scripture passages are so, so powerful. I’m seriously considering skipping the sermon and just telling these amazing stories. …
Last Friday night I led a Lenten spiritual retreat for a small group from my congregation. As a logistical note, let me recommend the Hollis Renewal Center for anyone in the Kansas City area. Our group found it to be a hospitable, Spirit-filled place. (And the prices are quite reasonable as well.) I cannot begin…
If you look to the right of the screen, you will notice some new links labeled “pages.” I’ve been trying to post sub-pages for my “Sermons, Etc.” page for the last few weeks, and realized they were not showing up. So the helpful support folks at WordPress told me I could change my theme or…
This prayer of confession emerges out of the story from 1 Samuel 16:1-13; particularly from God’s statement to Samuel: “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord…
[I know, I know . . . it’s Saturday. Guess I don’t have the delayed publication feature quite mastered.] This prayer is based on the Gospel reading for the third Sunday of Lent (Year A): John 4:5-42. As always, you are welcome to use this in your worship setting. Prayer of Confession God of living…
On March 24, 1980, Salvadoran Catholic priest Oscar Romero was shot and killed while celebrating mass. Following Jesus had led Romero to speak out against the abuses of the Salvadoran elite and to work for the rights of the people of El Salvador. These prophetic words and actions led many powerful people to perceive him…
Holy God, You led Abraham and Sarah to a new land; You led your people across the Egyptian border to freedom; You sent your angel to warn Joseph to take Mary and Jesus to a foreign country, because their homeland was not safe. You are a God who calls us to love and care for…
Holy God, Our nation is involved in another war– We read yesterday of missiles launched in Libya which is the other side of the world, but also in our homes; in our hearts. Gadhafi tortures and kills his own people, Desperately grasping at power with weapons, threats, force. The Libyan rebels launch bloody attacks, hoping…
I attended a preaching workshop at First Baptist Church here in Lawrence yesterday. The kind American Baptist folks let me hang out with them and learn from them for awhile. (Thanks!) Something one of the presenters, Matt Sturtevant, asked has particularly stuck in my head: As preachers, are we answering the questions our people are…
from Mennonite Central Committee. Let us continue to hold the people of Japan in our prayers. God of healing and mercy, we come before you with our hearts filled with grief as we see the devastation in Japan. We pray that your presence would be felt by those who are grieving, who are injured, who…
Spacious Faith 