1 Kings 19:1-4, 8-15 My son is four. There are many things he doesn’t understand. “Mama, just play with me a little hour!” He has no concept of time. “Mama, when I was fifteen, I couldn’t buckle my own car seat.” He doesn’t understand age. “Mama, when can we go to the jungle to […]
2 Samuel 11 – 12:7a Our scripture starts today with 2 Samuel 11, verse 1. In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab with his officers and all Israel with him; they ravaged the Ammonites, and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. It happened, late
Bathsheba’s Lament Read More »
Today’s worship service was special. We recognized our 50+ year members, and we installed four new elders. Then our choir surprised Shirley Curry, our Minister of Music, with an anthem that was commissioned in honor of her birthday. You can watch the whole service here or read the sermon, below. “Doing the Impossible” 1 Kings 17:8-16
Founders’ Day Worship Read More »
John 14:8-17, 25-27 For our scripture today I chose to go back to a text that was the gospel reading for Pentecost Sunday. We didn’t read it that day—in fact, we often don’t read it because the story of the Day of Pentecost in the Book of Acts is so compelling. But it is a
What greater works? Read More »
Acts 1:1-11 My favorite preacher and writer, Barbara Brown Taylor, says that going to church “is one of the most peculiar things twentieth-century human beings can do—to come together week after week with no intention of being useful or productive, but only … to declare things they cannot prove about a God they cannot see.” [1]
Click the arrow above to hear the scripture read. Acts 11:1-18 Click here to listen to the sermon. Toddlers often do not understand boundaries. They don’t understand that plastic bags and kabob skewers are not good toys, do not know why climbing into the dishwasher is not a recommended activity. They are not capable of
Over Your Shoulder Read More »
John 21:1-17 My maternal grandmother was a wonderful and difficult woman. She could be sweet and kind and loving. And she could be cantankerous, domineering, and demanding. I have several childhood memories of my mother in tears after my grandmother had raked her over the coals for this, that, or the other thing. It was
Acts 9:1-20 Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he could see. I was 27 years old. I had recently come through a disastrous marriage, and was still recovering from the emotional trauma of it all when my ex-husband declared bankruptcy, leaving me on the hook with several of his creditors. I had
Open My Eyes, Lord Read More »
Luke 24:1-12 Our theme during Lent this year was Broken Blessings. On the first week I asked everyone to write on a slip of colored paper something that had been a broken blessing in their lives—some area of brokenness or woundedness that had ultimately become something beautiful. The answers were heartbreaking and heartwarming: stories of
Light in Broken Places Read More »
Luke 19:28-40 “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.” This verse is not original to the gospels. The people are quoting Psalm 118. “Save us, we beseech you, O Lord! … Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.” The followers who gathered around Jesus as
