Moses’ shining face, Paul’s proclamation of transformation from glory to glory, and dazzling Jesus on a mountain top. Must be Transfiguration Sunday once again. Who doesn’t need a dose of dazzle to launch us into Lent? These are all odd texts, but there is hope and power embedded in them just waiting to come alive… Read More
Thursday Prayer on Valentine’s Day
God of all hearts, be with us today as we seek to bring Love into the world. From the slow heart beats of morning to the rapid pulse of running late for the next thing, remind us that it is you who gives life and breath, and you who makes hope and love possible. Teach… Read More
RCL: Behavior Modification Edition
Do you ever get discouraged by human behavior? I do, often. I sometimes find even my own behavior disheartening. We know what is right and good, yet we persist in doing things that are harmful to ourselves, to our neighbors, or to the planet. The other day, after reading a particularly horrid news article, I… Read More
RCL: Get Dressed and Go!
For most of the world, Christmas is over. For a few of us we are counting down the twelve days of Christmas. Many of the people who will gather for worship on Sunday have packed up their Christmas decorations and have moved on to New Year’s plans and resolutions. Yet, on the only Sunday in… Read More
RCL: Hope, Even While the Seas Roar
Over the years, I have grown to love Advent. In the early years of my ministry, I didn’t exactly love the season. It was too busy, too demanding, too conflicted. It was hard to find a message of hope while ignoring the whole idea of the Second Coming. I had tangled up my unfortunate experiences… Read More
RCL: May Our Eyes be Opened
I was 10 when I first needed glasses. I was a little bit nearsighted, nothing unusual or significant. That is, until I first wore my glasses in school. Then I was teased relentlessly. I learned to only put on my glasses for reading the blackboard or watching a movie. That was good for a couple… Read More
RCL: Turning Sorrow into Gladness
I don’t know about you, but it has been increasingly difficult to remain positive and hopeful amidst the political chaos that seems to have free reign over the U.S. (and other parts of the world for sure). People come and ask what it means to be Christian in the face of such chaos. The response… Read More
RCL: Trying to Abide in God’s Tent
After reading the texts this week, my first thought was can we please have more bread? The return to Mark is rather jarring. Many U.S. pastors are on vacation this weekend, some are concluding summer sermon series, and the rest might be right with me in wishing for more bread. Then, without further delay, let’s… Read More
Monday Prayer: Be with us
Holy God, Be with us. Be with us in the quiet. Be with us in the chaos. Be with us in our routines. Be with us when change comes. Be with us. Awaken us, God of Life. Awaken us to your glory. Awaken us to your grace. Awaken us to your presence. Awaken us to… Read More
RCL: Toward a Worthy Life
“Live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called,” writes the author of Ephesians. I can’t help but wonder if we have all forgotten that we are supposed to be living a life worthy of the love and grace we have been given. I don’t see much evidence of people striving… Read More
