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Category Archives: sermon
Damien and Marianne of Molokai (and Robert Louis Stevenson of Scotland)
Jesus answered, ‘Go and tell John what you hear and see:
that the blind see beauty, the lame leap for joy, the deaf are sung lullabies, the lepers are loved, a dead faith finds new life and poor souls have good news brought to them.
And blessed is anyone who takes no offence at me.’ Continue reading
Year B Easter 2: that our joy may be complete
These fifty days of Easter are a strange and troubling time, when the risen Christ walks abroad, taking his disciples by surprise on the road, by the water, behind closed doors, murmuring of Peace. They are days when the signs of God are all around us, the signs of resurrection, calling us into the good news that the kingdom of God has drawn near. Continue reading
Posted in sermon
Tagged 1 John 1-2:2, God-sightings, Jesus, John 20:19-31, testimony, Thomas, VBS
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Easter 2015: on not winning
Our Sunday School children know the rule about running at church – the one that says, “Please don’t run in the church.” This morning, the rule was suspended for five minutes – set on a timer – so that the story might be told. Continue reading
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Easter Vigil 2015: ready or not
Last night, I buried Jesus under the apple tree. Good Friday, and the daytime of Holy Saturday, are the only times in the Christian year in which the Eucharist, the Great Thanksgiving, is not celebrated. Instead, on Maundy Thursday at … Continue reading
Posted in sermon
Tagged Body of Christ, Easter, Holy Saturday, Resurrection, Sacrament, Vigil
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Maundy Thursday 2015
When I came home, my foot was bleeding from a cut acquired through the wearing of open-toed sandals in a dirty and dangerous city. My mother came into the bathroom where I was going through the tortured motions you have to go through in order to get your own feet under running water and into clean bandages. Without hesitation, my mother took my feet out of my hands, washed them, anointed them with antibiotic ointment, and bandaged them for me. As she worked, she offered from her knees and from her heart her forgiveness, her acceptance, her love; and I found myself doing the same. Neither of us had changed our position, yet love and mercy won, and we were reconciled. Continue reading
Posted in holy days, sermon
Tagged discrimination, family, foot washing, forgiveness, Maundy Thursday
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Everyday holiness
Although they had warned him against her, there was nothing untoward in her touch. The salt of her tears drew out his skin as though it reached back toward her. She dried his toes with her hair, barely tickling; no … Continue reading
Year B Lent 5: love with the lights on
It’s a big decision, to turn on the light, invite someone into your face, into your space, into your truth, your way, your life. Continue reading
Posted in sermon
Tagged community, greeting, Jeremiah 31:31-34, John 12:20-33, newcomers
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Year B Lent 4: snakes alive
There comes a time, Jesus tells Nicodemus, to look up, and to trust God, even though you know there are snakes snapping at your ankles, even though you know there is more work to do, more wilderness to slog through, more sin to solve, more than you can shake a stick at; there comes a time to look up and to trust God, even though what you see looking back is the serpent that bit you; even though what you see is the Son of Man crucified, dying on a cross. For God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Continue reading
Posted in sermon
Tagged Ephesians 2:1-10, For God so loved the world, Jesus, John 3:14-21, Moses, Nicodemus, Numbers 21:4-9, snakes
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Prayer drought
A reflection for the Lenten collection of the Diocese of Ohio. From the day’s readings: “Jesus was casting out a demon that was mute; when the demon had gone out, the one who was mute spoke, and the crowds were … Continue reading
Posted in lectionary reflection, meditation, poetry, prayer
Tagged Diocese of Ohio, Lent, Luke 11:14, prayer
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