“Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Mark 10 is a text that has been used against divorce and against gay and lesbian marriage, there is a kernel here that really needs to be focused on. This is one of those “clobber” texts, weaponized to fight against beliefs different from one’s own.… Read More
Wednesday Prayer
God of many names We lift up those facing the ravages of storms that go by many names Present storms and storms that have passed, leaving stark reminders of just how small and vulnerable we are The fear is real The loss is real The trauma is real Bring peace and restoration to every person,… Read More
Wednesday Prayer
Gracious God, in these times of remembering, help us to recall Your grace towards us that we might extend grace to one another. Loving God, in the midst of hateful rhetoric and fearful behavior, help us to feel Your love in our very flesh in ways that cannot be contained and held back from one… Read More
Friday Prayer
Holy One of Perfect Love- Your servants have written: perfect love casts out fear. Yet I see so much fear everywhere. Our imperfect love creates fear. Crooked, off-balance love stirs fear. Flawed, self-seeking, other-shaming “love” feeds fear. How do we regain trust in your perfect love? How do we remember that your perfect love is perfecting us? What will it… Read More
RCL: You are My I Love You
When I read John 15:9-17 I find myself reading it in many different tones. So far, my favorite is to read it in is exasperation. You the super-exasperated “I love you” that is sometimes the best you have to give one another. Its a favorite of my husband and I’s, we will be completely be… Read More
RCL: The Challenge to Love
I’m having some difficulties with these texts this week. It’s the third anniversary of my mother’s death and my grief is complicated. And the things happening in the world that displace such callous indifference to human lives brings the angry cynic out in me. I’m working to contain these feelings as I read these texts… Read More
RCL: The On-Going Story Continues
Throughout Lent, I’ve been contemplating the power of stories – biblical stories, ancient stories, personal stories, fictional stories, mythical stories, new stories, my story, written stories, oral stories, poetic stories, musical stories, all kinds of stories. There’s power in words. Sometimes we forget the power words have. Sometimes we’re too busy or too burdened to… Read More
Narrative Lectionary: Soft Targets (John 13:1-17)
“Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!” The departing parishioner accosted my pastor friend at the church door, at the end of worship. “Is that all you have to talk about?” “Pretty much,” he answered. The Narrative Lectionary asks us the same question, and, thankfully, the answer is still yes. Read the scripture here. Read Meda Stamper’s commentary for Working… Read More
Revised Common Lectionary: The You are Holy (so act like it) Edition
Pick a text, any text, this week and we’re confronted with who we are and how we are to be in this world. It can be a celebratory experience – we are holy because God is holy! And it can be a humbling experience – do we really love our neighbors as ourselves? In Deuteronmy… Read More
Saturday Prayer – Believe In Love
It’s not about what you deserve, it’s about what you believe, and I believe in love. – Wonder Woman, superhero (and theologian) We do not deserve Your grace, but it comes. Thank You for that. And thank You, too, for giving us love to believe in. Even now. Yes, especially now. Amen Jennifer… Read More
