Summer is officially here when the RCL gives us a choice between the thematic and the continuous readings from the Hebrew Bible. I don’t know about you, but I’m not quit prepared to make that choice this year. I feel like I am running a few steps behind, like I’m still in Lent, or maybe… Read More
The pastor is political: choose your own adventure
More often than not, I’ve woken up lately feeling like an elephant was curled up on my chest. Here in the United States we find ourselves in the midst of a pandemic that remains relatively unchecked because our leaders lack the political will to make hard choices. Of systemic racism that manifests in new ways… Read More
Wednesday Prayer
As the seasons change we continue to wait, to hope, to imagine, to trust and to believe in you, Oh God We believe that there is a time for every season and we’re getting ready and we’re doing the work and we’re building the relationships and we’re refusing to move in a spirit of “business… Read More
RCL: Sharing a Cup
It’s not often that as the lectionary cycles around, I end up writing on the same passages I wrote on three years ago. Or maybe it is more often than I realize and these texts just stand out more than some others. Either way, I’ve written on these passages before and you can see what… Read More
RCL: Humility
So many texts to choose from this week! Even more if you observe Reformation Sunday. Sometimes it’s hard to tell what holds all the texts together. This week I see a very clear thread of humility. In one way or another each of these texts reminds us that God is God and we are not.… Read More
RCL: Trusting God’s Promises (for real)
I don’t know about you, but I’m having some difficulty staying focused. There’s the Sunday School plans, the stewardship campaign, the funeral services, the special worship services, the Bible studies, and don’t forget Advent will soon be upon us. And have you completed your review of the draft budget? Oh, and what about sabbatical planning… Read More
Friday Festival
In the past few weeks and months I have spent many hours, praying and meditating on call: my call, my sense of something new coming… just round the corner. Still intangible, undefined, ineffable (I love that word, and its use in Good Omens made me laugh out loud) – this call I have responded to… Read More
RCL: Must be Thomas
It’s the first Sunday after Easter, so it must be time for Thomas. Of course, there are other options if Thomas doesn’t have appeal for you. There’s Peter defending his right, and the rights of the other apostles to preach Jesus. There are the Psalms full of praise and thanksgiving. There’s the Alpha and Omega… 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
Friday Festival: A Change Is Gonna Come
“It’s been a long, long, long time coming but I know: change gonna come.” If you need a song today — for hope or for comfort, for resisting or lamenting, for holding on or for letting go — I recommend letting Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” wash over you. Maybe it’s the changing… Read More
