Category Archives: sermon preparation

The middle man

#preparingforSundaywithpoetry
Continue reading

Posted in lectionary reflection, poetry, prayer, sermon preparation | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Seventy times seven

How many hurts accumulate like straws under a camel’s nose before it sneezes, before the involuntary blast of anger, grief, ugliness propels one’s inside out, clutches at the throat like stone eggs, tears a slow, impassible river floating faded, sodden … Continue reading

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

No stray bullets

There are no stray bullets, just as there were no stray nails pounding themselves into the Cross. Continue reading

Posted in current events, gun violence, lectionary reflection, sermon preparation | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Two or three

Two or three: Jesus why are you afraid to be too alone with me? ______________ #preparingforSundaywithpoetry. This Sunday’s Gospel is full of numbers – no, not of numbers, of people, unalone. Matthew 18:15-20

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

Savour

This week’s #preparingforSundaywithpoetry perhaps bears more relation to the stories of Jesus’ original temptation than to his twin command to Peter to, “Get behind me, Satan!” But between those threads, and the idea that one could follow Jesus, taking up … Continue reading

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

First and last

Do you remember how,in the parable, he paid them, last and first?To the first he was fair, but to the last he was magnificent. Neither knew whether to laugh or shout or fall to their knees; so we, too, swayed between the thirsty and the relieved, envying and blaming each in … Continue reading

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

Walking on water

Heartracing like the tideebbing and flowing withoutvolition, permissionbattering this vesselbattered by the moonand its phasesfading Do not be afraidof ghostsconjured of foamand fearsome prayer on the cusp of translation Takea stepmy handmy life and let it betake heartthe storm by … Continue reading

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

Mustard seed

Split it with thumbnail or teeth, feel its tiny fire upon the tongue, a supernova soon consumed; or let it swell from within, fed by filtered light and living water, until it bursts open and eager, expanding like a universe … Continue reading

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

Together

Together we grow side by side rise and fall together who can tell us apart but God? Together in awful glory we will shine together with all the fire of the sun _______________________ Year A Proper 11: the parable of … Continue reading

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

Confessions of a crow

Dear One, do I perceive that you have told this parable against me? Have I stolen the seeds of contentment from those with whom I am on the way, the path that you have laid out in crazy paving, gravel, and grass, where joy should be … Continue reading

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