Most of us are familiar with the wedding feast at Cana and Jesus’ first miracle. It’s a sweet and fun sort of miracle—easy to understand and joyous. John starts us off with something relatable and simple. We aren’t jumping right in to exorcisms of demons, healing the sick, or raising the dead. Instead we hear […]
The book of the Acts of the Apostles describes the story of how the mission of the apostles shifted focus from the Jews to the conversion of Gentiles. We get a brief glimpse of this work in today’s reading from Acts. Phillip, the first travelling evangelist, has converted Gentiles in the region of Samaria. If […]
Today is the day; Christmas is over. The decorations have been put away. The tree is on the street. The leftovers are gone. The house no longer looks magical but mundane: and so does life. Back to school and work, paying the bills, doing the grocery shopping, driving carpool, and worrying about taxes. It […]
GOD’S PERSPECTIVE A Sermon on Psalm 126 The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad indeed! In my early days here, I wrote something for your e-newsletter. It was about Robert Wicks, a writer, therapist and spiritual guide. Wicks is also a popular speaker. His Brooklyn accent helps bring his stories […]
A LONG, LOVING LOOK A Sermon on Mark 10:17-31 Is it here? Is it finally here? Spring was sprung an eternity ago, and for the longest time, it’s felt like an endless summer. But one day last week, I opened the front door back home, and I took a deep breath. Yes, it’s Fall in […]
THE SCANDAL OF RECOVERY A Sermon on Mark 9:38-50 When I turned eighteen, I thought I was a real man. An oldest son and high school graduate with honors, I enrolled in a prestigious university, on full scholarship. Now . . . I’d been invited to join a fraternity! I also joined another well-known, unofficial […]
WELCOME THE CHILDREN OF GOD: Part One A Sermon on Mark 9:30-37 Last week, while I was getting ready to leave my house in Memphis and visit a clergy friend who is now in hospice, I decided I needed to spend some time in prayer. I sat down to pray. Soon after I had become […]
CONSTANTLY CALLED TO CONVERSION A Sermon on Mark 7:24-30 Have you met Tux? Tux is a new member of Rosa’s family. Tux is young and small and friendly. Sometimes, Tux comes to work with Rosa. When Tux wags that tail, I want to pet Tux. But right now, Tux is teething. That means Tux likes […]
BECOMING WISE A Sermon on Proverbs 9:6 Be silent, still, aware. For here in the midst of us the Spirit is at prayer. Knock, and open. Seek, and find. Heart wisdom. Christ. AMEN. That prayer was introduced to me by Jim Fenhagen, Dean of General Theological Seminary while I was a student there. Jim prayed […]
BROKEN FOR ME, BROKEN FOR YOU A Sermon on John 6:56-69 Broken for me, broken for you / The body of Jesus, broken for you. I like to sing the Lord’s Prayer on Sunday. When we do, I remember the Fisherfolk. “Fisherfolk” was a stage name for musical artists who are also part of a […]