Dear God, For the sake of our children, all children May all love be acceptable and a source of joy and pride for more than one month a year May freedom be more than a one-day holiday for some, while many remain colonized, enslaved, hidden May the Church reclaim our role to accompany one another,… Read More
Sunday Prayer: labor pains
Sovereign God,
in the midst of chaos, you are calm;
in the center of unrest, you are peace.
Quiet our spirits
and focus … Read More
Sunday Prayer: petitions inspired by Ruth and Naomi
For the gift of faithful friendship, Lord,
we thank you.
For the burden made lighter
by the sharing, … Read More
RCL: The Way of Kings or the Way of God?
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
Sunday Prayer: thank God for the teachers
At the Spirit’s urging,
all along our journeys of faith,
we have been greeted by
teachers
who took the time time … Read More
Narrative Lectionary: O joy! A meeting! (Acts 15:1-18)
I must say that my first reaction to the inclusion of this reading in the Narrative Lectionary was one of doubt and trepidation. Would Sunday’s sermon turn out to be little more than an intellectual exercise lacking any application to the life and faith of my congregation? However, thanks be to God, some thoughts are… Read More
Narrative Lectionary: the tweenager Jesus (Luke 2:41-52)
The celebration of New Year’s Eve (Hogmany) is a big event in Scotland. However, this year it will be very much curtailed, as were our Christmas and Easter celebrations, along with the festivals of other faiths in 2020. It’s within this very different New Year that we read of Jesus’ family going up to Jerusalem… Read More
Wit’s End Day: What Pastors have learned during COVID
Sure, 2020 has been a rough year with lots of adjustments and some difficult losses. But just think of all the stuff we’ve learned along the way! Talk about “things they didn’t teach us in seminary”! (Except #5. Dr. Graves tried very hard to teach me #5.) So here are The Top 10 Things I’ve… Read More
Sunday Prayer: a haven for the hungry
Living Water,
We come before you this day, lifting before you those who need your healing touch,
your comforting presence,
your reassuring word. Read More
RCL: Negotiating the Path
How have we arrived at the end of August so quickly? Even with pandemic this summer has sped by at an alarming rate. Many of us might be on vacation this week; I am. For those of us who are preaching this week, the texts contain countless sermon possibilities. Admittedly, I am seeing them all… Read More