After the followers of Jesus had made it through the shock of the death of Jesus, they had amazed it through the resurrection of Christ. They lived in excitement in the 40 days of greatest hits of “tell me another.” The disciples looked at the sky with the ascension wondering where Jesus had really gone as he went up to heaven. Now,…
“DO Believe In Resurrection” Today, we begin a short series, three sermons on belief. Three weeks to ground us on three crucial beliefs that we hold in common in the larger Christian church – resurrection, the vital role of Holy Spirit as we celebrate Pentecost next week, and then the mystery of Trinity as we together ponder Trinity Sunday, the following week.…
This Easter, I received spinach seeds ahead of the planting season, along with a geoplanter, gardening gloves, and the right tools. So, after I heard the frost warnings had passed us by (a bit harder this season), we diligently planted our small spinach seeds in our planter and have been faithfully watering them each day. We are getting ready to plant our…
God has always called God’s people to remember that they were strangers in a land they did not know. Sometimes we might feel like we know exactly where we are and, other times, what is going on around us. When the people of God were enslaved in Egypt, God reminded again and again to care for others and not mistreat those who…
In the gospel lesson, we find the crowds, perhaps even Jesus’ own family, accusing and worrying that Jesus is out of his mind! Things have gotten out of control and Jesus might have gotten a bit more here! What should we do!? They find themselves wondering. What is Jesus doing!! The complexities of family are not glossed over in anyway. In fact,…
This year, we have been taking the challenge to read together the gospel of Gospel of Mark. After a slight detour with Holy Week and Easter readings, we pick up back in chapter 3. The writer of Mark gives a quick clear account of the gospel immediately as rushing us towards to the words that require our action and attention. Immediately, we…
Throughout my message today, you will notice Waldos. When I was a little girl, I had books called, Where’s Waldo. On each page, you would look for this gentleman named Waldo. He was hidden in plain sight. You merely had to train your eye to find him. This is Waldo. You have a picture. And in each picture, you want to find…
I sat with him and waited. His family had said good-bye. They had gone home. Chaplain, they asked, could you wait with James, until he passes over, they wondered. Yes, I nodded. And so, I sat with him and waited. All of the machines had been turned off. All of the medical professionals had taken leave. And so, I sat with him…
“Do this in remembrance of me.” Throughout the world, across denominations. There is plenty that divides us in the body of Christ. We have different understandings and theological posturings of what happens during Communion. This we hold in common: Do this in Remembrance of Me. Throughout this season of Lent, we have been pausing. On this holy night, we pause to remember. …