Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me … Read More
~ “Pursuing Justice Persistently” ~ The Parable of the Persistent Widow is usually taught as a lesson on prayer. However, a closer reading reveals that it really is about pursuing justice. Pursuing justice is hard work, never-ending it seems. Does the arc of the moral universe bend towards justice? … Read More
Friend of Noe Valley Ministry, Emil Miland, joins with Karen Heather for a music-filled service of worship with beautiful cello/piano duets by Brahms and more. Emil plays his 300-year old cello with the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and is a gardener extraordinaire. … Read More
~ Luke 17:11-19/Jeremiah 29:4-7 ~ Thus says the God of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, … Read More
~ “He Was a Samaritan” ~ Labels — Stereotypes — Prejudice — Discrimination. Jesus heals the ten lepers and only one returns to thank him. A simple lesson in gratitude, right? Except that “he was a Samaritan.” Why is that an issue? In a world that is obsessed with “the … Read More
~ Luke 17:5-10/Habakkuk 2:1-4 ~ So the disciples say to Jesus, “Increase our faith!” Seems like a completely legitimate thing to ask. Doesn’t every sincere Christian want to have more faith? And God knows we never have enough faith. These disciples, particularly, might have felt their faith was lacking because … Read More