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Category Archives: sermon
The day after
In the days of Noah, God saw that “the earth was filled with violence” (Genesis 6:11b), and so “God said to Noah, ‘I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence because of them’” (Genesis 6:13). Continue reading
Posted in gun violence, homily, sermon
Tagged #Parkland, Genesis 6-9, gun violence, Kansas City, Lent 1 Year B, mercy, Noah, Ohio
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Tell no one
On the mountain top, a conspiracy: Elijah, Moses, and Yeshua plotting to overthrow sin and save the world. Below the cloud line all is clear. In the valley, people die, live, love, and hate without once looking up. Here on … Continue reading
Which story do we tell?
A fever could be, can be deadly. It is debilitating. It wrings the humanity out of one. She couldn’t tell how long she had lain there, hovering between earth and heaven, but when Jesus came, and took her hand, heaven and earth came together as one, and she felt that new kingdom flowing through her veins, and her heart stopped only long enough to miss a beat as she leapt for joy, and in gratitude ran through the house to celebrate with cakes and oil and wine, to serve and celebrate him who had healed her. Continue reading
Posted in lectionary reflection, sermon
Tagged annual meeting, church, disciples, healing, Isaiah 40:31, Mark 1:29-31, service, Year B Epiphany 5
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Love builds up
Knowledge is like a little bird making itself look large by fluffing up its feathers; it warms the bird, it helps the bird, it protects the bird at times; it is all for the bird’s own good.
Love is like the bird that builds a nest, patiently searching for just the right materials to stop the draught and secure the foundation for its family, who stocks it with food when the eggs are incubating, who creates the conditions for new life to flourish. Love is the bird who comes back and starts again when it all goes wrong because of the storms or the predators or the sadness of the world. Love builds up. Continue reading
Posted in lectionary reflection, sermon
Tagged 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, authority, Jesus, love, Mark 1:21-28, Year B Epiphany 4
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Cast out
Demons shake and scream; for God alone my soul in silence waits. Something deep within mutters “unclean”; for God alone my soul in silence waits. Power demands authority, but humility whispers and spirits writhe. For God alone my soul in … Continue reading
The kingdom of God is at hand
The kingdom of God has drawn near. The kingdom of God is at hand. That’s how the Revised Standard Version translates Jesus’ opening message: that the kingdom of God is at hand, at your fingertips, so close that it is almost … Continue reading
Posted in lectionary reflection, sermon
Tagged 1 Corinthians 7:29-31, Jonah 3, kingdom of God, Mark 1:14-20, Year B Epiphany 3
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Fisher
You flee again to Galilee, another Herod, another threat, kings and prophets always at odds and you, raised with the memory of blood and fire, fishing for another way, the kingdom of God, as it were, silver-scaled and just, within … Continue reading
It is the Lord: Come and see
Evangelism, Year B Epiphany 2, 1 Samuel 3, John 1:43-51, Nathanael, Philip, Eli, Samuel, church hurt, church healing Continue reading
Posted in lectionary reflection, sermon, story
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Anything good
Anything good this way comes, fragrant from the desert, fat from fasting, presumptuous in his humility,faint traces of aloe following him like a draft, children hanging from his heels like lambs trying to suckle from the hem of his garment. … Continue reading
Epiphany 2024
I have probably said this before, but the Gospel story of the visitation of the Magi to the manger of the Christ never mentions three kings, nor their names, nor their camels. It does not specify their country or countries … Continue reading
Posted in holy days, sermon
Tagged community, Epiphany, Galileo, Matthew 2:1-12, Revelation, three kings
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over the water 