Reflections on the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Maidens Matthew 25: 1-13 Someone once told me there are two kinds of people in the world: those who divide the world in to two kinds of people, and those who do not. Rich and poor; men and women; Republicans and Democrats, believers and non-believers, liberal…
On Epiphany, fellow pastor and blogger Marci Glass was giving out star words–words to hold and ponder and listen to in the coming year. My word is desiring. And it has woven its way through these past five months with glitters and shimmers and quavers and shouts and sighs too deep for words. The good…
At Peace this week, we will continue to talk about the virtues listed in 2 Peter 1. We’re on endurance/perseverance/patience. Our opening scripture is Romans 5:1-5, and here’s the call to worship that the passage inspired. In the midst of our failures, We stand in God’s grace. In the midst of our struggles, We boast…
For the Monday prayer practices during Advent, I will be posting reflections on different characters from the Advent and Christmas stories. I pray a blessed and holy Advent for you all! The reflection below is adapted from a sermon I preached a few years ago. The scripture reading is Luke 1:5-25. – – – –…
As an adoptive parent, I feel obligated to write a post about adoption this November–National Adoption Month. And since the month is about over, the post is going up even though I don’t have a lot of warm fuzzy things to say about adoption right now. It’s been a difficult few days in parenting world…
This prayer of confession and assurance of pardon is adapted from the Message version of Ephesians 2:1-10. Holy God, there is always a temptation to be mired in that old stagnant life of sin. We let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell us how to live. We fill our lungs…
If you are looking for material connected to this week’s lectionary readings, there is a call to worship and benediction that go along with the feeding of the 5000+ here. Tomorrow is the funeral for the 6-year-old son of two of my college friends. I have been holding them in deep prayer this week, while…
I was just about to settle into bed with a good book last night when I heard, “Love. . . . Love?” drifting up from downstairs. “Love” is what my husband and I call each other when there is a problem. Pretty much only when there is a problem. My mind raced. The kids were…
God of the foolish cross, tottering down the streets of Jerusalem on a donkey, You are not the savior we expect. Your power doesn’t look like the power we want our God to demonstrate. Your wisdom makes no sense to us. We are happy to join the crowd, waving branches, But not so sure we…
Today’s worship piece was not written for the context of corporate worship. Rather it is a prayer I wrote for myself at then end of what has been two long days of pastor work and parenting work and simply trying to do what needs done. Earlier today I read through the sermon that one of…
Spacious Faith 