~ Psalm 33:8-14 ~ The 4th of July! Independence Day! A day to celebrate our country! Backyard picnics with friends and family! Grand fireworks displays! Oh, wait, they were all cancelled. And, in their place thousands of illegal fireworks going off all over the city late into the night … Read More
~ Matthew 10:40-42 ~ “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward … Read More
~ Selections from Genesis 16 & 21 ~ Photo Credit – Sarah and Hagar by Marc Chagall Stories in the book of Genesis can be really messy. And the story we just heard is particularly messy and troubling and difficult to understand. Frankly, it shows an embarrassing and shameful side of … Read More
~ Matthew 5:38-48/Deuteronomy 19:16-21/Leviticus 19:18 ~ My sermon title today can be said in two different ways. One is as a prayer: “Jesus, this is really hard to do.” The second as a profane exclamation: “Jesus, this is really hard to do!” For here we have two of … Read More
~ Genesis 1:1-5, 26-27/Matthew 28:16-20/2 Corinthians 13:11-14 ~ Talk of God is a real problem for many people today. Belief in God for many harkens back to an authoritarian mindset that limits human freedom and liberty. For many, belief in God just continues to perpetrate injustice and oppression. And for … Read More
~ Acts 2:1-21 ~ The Spirit comes…and stuff happens! Tornados, fire, and a sudden unexplained ability to speak other languages! And from there, as the story goes, the once-hunkered down, scared disciples go out and change the world. Whew! That spirit-stuff is really powerful…or so goes the story. A critical … Read More