Category Archives: lectionary reflection

Advent joy

I was blessed to hear our deacon-in-training preach this morning, so instead of a sermon for Advent 2, I am sharing the reflection from the closing Eucharist of yesterday’s Advent Quiet Day at St Peter’s Episcopal Church, Lakewood, Ohio. The … Continue reading

Posted in advent meditations, lectionary reflection, meditation | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Burnt blessings

On Twitter last night, reflecting on the readings to come in a week that was … chaffy … I posted that I could stand to see some chaff burn: Bring it on, was the prayer that I tweeted. Whether rashly … Continue reading

Posted in blessings, lectionary reflection | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The Feast of St Andrew

“No, the word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe.” (Deuteronomy 30:14) “And he said to them, ‘Follow me …’ Immediately they left their nets and followed him.” (Matthew … Continue reading

Posted in holy days, lectionary reflection, poetry, prayer | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Stealing a blessing

Christ the King Sunday arrives with less pomp and circumstance than ambiguous authority; a compromised crown; the scandal of the crucifixion. Yet there is a promise to be heard: not only that we, like the thief on the cross whose … Continue reading

Posted in blessings, holy days, lectionary reflection | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

“Do not be weary of doing what is right”

The work hasn’t changed since last week. But some of the challenges have. Continue reading

Posted in lectionary reflection, sermon | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Weary blessings

I apologize for skipping last week’s lectionary-based blessing post. I was overwhelmed by the choices – All Saints’ or Proper 27? Track 1 or Track 2? Narrative Lectionary or RCL? Actually, that last one’s a bit of red herring, because … Continue reading

Posted in blessings, current events, lectionary reflection | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

A post-election sermon on a pre-election Sunday

All Saints, 2016 Readings: Daniel 7:1-3,15-18; Psalm 149; Ephesians 1:11-23; Luke 6:20-31 Paul wrote, “I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you … Continue reading

Posted in lectionary reflection, sermon | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Prayer and empty air

A sermon for the 24th Sunday after Pentecost, October 30, 2016 Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4, Psalm 119:137-144 or Isaiah 1:10-18, Psalm 32:1-8, 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12, Luke 19:1-10 On Friday morning, I went to the new Old Fort steps at the Rocky River Metropark. They carry visitors … Continue reading

Posted in lectionary reflection, prayer, sermon | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The view from the top

empty light shuffling shadows fall out unseen if you never look down

Posted in haiku, lectionary reflection, poetry, sermon preparation | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Climbing the blessings tree

Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4, Psalm 119:137-144, or Isaiah 1:10-18, Psalm 32:1-8, 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12, Luke 19:1-10 In this Sunday’s gospel, a long-ago tax collector reminds me of the days when our youngest child was small, but climbed higher than any of her siblings or their … Continue reading

Posted in blessings, lectionary reflection | Tagged , , | Leave a comment