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
Narrative Lectionary: Rituals Then and Now (Luke 2: 21-38)
This week’s lectionary passage, saturated in ritual and tradition, invites us to consider the rituals of our own lives. Read More
Wednesday Prayer
Our Parent God, When Jesus taught us to pray “thy kin-dom come on earth” could it be because he knew the hell we would experience? Was it meant as a “go to” to ground us when all hell is breaking loose on earth? A way to conjure up a bit of heaven – calling on… Read More
Wednesday Prayer
As we cry out for the end to violence all around us May we seek to address the violence within us As we demand justice from leaders and systems May we ensure that our actions are just As we declare love as the answser May we seek to ground our work and lives in love… Read More
Wednesday Prayer
God, sometimes it is hard to pray Perhaps that’s why those earlier followers asked Jesus to teach them to pray Perhaps that’s why Jesus laid it out: Our Creator God, who is above all things We call on your name God and ask that you bring your full power into this moment, into our very… Read More
Narrative Lectionary: Source of Love
It’s the infamous LOVE text! Read it (maybe for the umpteenth time) here. It is not unfamiliar. This text is often used in wedding and union ceremonies; sometimes ordinations and installations, too. In the Working Preacher Commentary, you can find a historical and contextual glimpse into what might have prompted the Apostle Paul to write these… Read More
Friday Prayer: When We See the Lord
Oh, Lord, how do we see you and minister to you? When you do not hoard resources, but make sure the enough that exists is shared- you minister to me. When you spoke the truth about what is and remained calm about what could be- you minister to me. When you prepare food for those… Read More
Revised Common Lectionary: Come to the Water
I love this passage (John 4:5-42) so much, it is hard to approach it with anything resembling even-handedness. The story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well was the appointed gospel lesson for my first-ever preaching experience (Lent 3A, 1990). And thanks to the chaplain who craftily invited me to give a homily… Read More
Narrative Lectionary: Code-Switching (Mark 4:1-34)
The parables found in Mark 4:1-34 are familiar, but I must admit that I got a bit annoyed when I read the text this time. Why the word games? Why do some get to understand and others don’t? Given the oh, so many political and religious pundits, media outlets that have been co-opted by corporate… Read More
Narrative Lectionary: Miracle of Miracles (Mark 1:21-45)
We’ve finally made it! The Gospel Readings are here! Okay, technically they were here last week but if you’re like me, your church did something special or you had a guest preacher or something. Our scriptures this week are challenging enough, but if you did do something special last week you may want to read… Read More
