This is the week we move. Just a few miles away. Onto three glorious acres. I can’t wait to meet all of the trees. To host s’more parties and craft parties and retreat times. To sit on the deck and look at the stars. The bright, twinkling, abundant stars. Of course, there is still the…
Gathering Hymns: Bwana Awabariki 32 The love of God 33 Scripture Reading: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8, 10-11 Call to Worship: You who are poor, why have you come? To hear good news. You who are brokenhearted, why have you come? To heal our hearts. You who are captive, why have you come? To hear words of…
A couple of years ago at a conference, a mutual friend introduced me to an editor of a denominational magazine. The editor promptly said, “Oh. You’re the notorious pastor.” I did feel like a minor (very minor) celebrity at that conference in the wake of news stories about “the wedding” and “the review.” That would…
True to form, I haven’t packed yet for the national Mennonite convention in Phoenix. I have, however, been avoiding pink clothes this week to make sure they are clean when I do pack. Because once again I will be joining with other Pink Mennos to bear witness to our denomination–witness to the hurt and exclusion…
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…
Spacious Faith 