Preaching on Christmas Eve 2020

Today I cut the side of my toe. I cut it in a weird way. I took a long walk to try to stretch out my aching hips, which are tight from sitting too much in a season of many things to do. In the late afternoon sun, I walked through my town and I… Read More

RCL: Growing Advent

Here we are at John 1:19-28 at the forerunner, the John the Baptist, the missing figure from the Nativity scene. The one who is preparing the world for Christ. How is he preparing? He is baptizing people. John baptizes people so much, it become a part of his identity. John the Baptizer. Are we preparing… Read More

RCL: Advent 2 – Comfort and Peace

Here we are at the second Sunday of Advent, traditionally the Sunday of Peace. You may be using different themes for you Advent Sundays and still choosing the lectionary. These texts speak to the chaos and challenge of today as much as they ever did, particularly the Isaiah and Gospel texts. Isaiah begins with a… Read More

RCL Advent I: Keep Awake!? You’re kidding, right?

Keep Awake!???  There it is in Mark’s Gospel reading for Advent I—”Keep awake.” (Mark 13:24-37) Hmmm. I don’t actually know anyone who is getting a good night’s sleep. Do you? Between the pandemic and it’s ancillary product line of economic, social, political, and religious turmoil, the people I know want more strategies for getting asleep… Read More

RCL; thoughts on November 15, Proper 28 Year A

(Judges 4:1-7, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18, Matthew 25:14-30) We walk a narrow path, it seems. The whole world is in a seemingly precarious state, from additional and unprecedented Covid 19 cases, to the election in the United States, to racial tensions and climate change; well, it all sort of feels overwhelming and end… Read More

RCL: Apocalypse When?

Nothing beats a bunch of apocalyptic texts in the middle of a pandemic. The word apocalypse’s meaning is not well known in general public. Most people think it means the end of the world. But of course, what it really means is “uncovering,” because what will be uncovered will be how people really are. There… Read More

RCL Commentary: Re-Forming Church

Many Protestant congregations will be celebrating Reformation Sunday this week. What a year for it! The church has been pushed in to a reformation whether we were ready for it or not. We have re-formed the way we worship. We have re-formed our education ministries and our outreach efforts and our governing assemblies. Some of… Read More