“Our Calling” (The following is an edited version of the sermon from May 7, 2023.) We have been cooking on all our burners lately. The fundraiser for Camp Sunflower was a huge success in so many ways. We raised funds for camperships, and good will beyond measure. Last week someone who won a raffle came… Read more Worship Reflection Sunday, May 7, 2023
“From Kin-dom to Kin-ship” Caleb Jones is a writer for Progressive Christianity. In a recent Earth Day article he wrote: “Earth Day is about creating a world where peace reigns, justice prevails, and compassion permeates life.” Peace, justice and compassion, the great themes of Earth Day. Maybe they have always been the themes of Earth… Read more Worship Reflection Sunday 24, 2023
“Stay Woke in an Eastered World” The resurrection does not make sense. It does not fit into our experience of what’s real. It’s not rational, it is not reasonable, it is not routine. But maybe that is just the point. Maybe the point of Easter is to remind me that my definition of what’s rational… Read more Worship Reflection Sunday, April 9, 2023
“Our Palm Sunday Choice” Our Palm Sunday Choice I picture Jesus’ Palm Sunday Parade as masterful street theater carefully planned down to the smallest detail. It is an orchestrated event. I see Jesus coming into the capital city through the South Gate riding on a borrowed donkey. In the Bible the donkey is a symbol… Read more Worship Reflection Sunday, April, 2, 2023
“Transmitters of Life” My annotated Bible says that the raising of Lazarus is the “crowning miracle” revealing Jesus as the giver of life.” For some of us this is a true statement. We believe in the physical bodily resurrection, without question. If John says that Jesus called Lazarus to come out of the grave, he… Read more Worship Reflection Sunday, March 26, 2023
“The Politics of Exclusion” The story in the ninth chapter John that we heard today is about the politics of exclusion. The man who is blind from birth is judged to be a sinner. If not him, then surely his parents sinned. In the biblical tradition, because God is holy, the people of God must… Read more Worship Reflection Sunday, March 19, 2023
“God’s Mandate for a New Order” The story in the 17th chapter of Matthew is called the Miracle of the Transfiguration. It seems like either you believe it or you don’t and there is no place in between. Rationalists and children of the Enlightenment will say that it makes no sense. It’s just one more… Read more Worship Reflection Sunday, March 12, 2023
“God’s Mandate for a New Order” The story in the 17th chapter of Matthew is called the Miracle of the Transfiguration. It seems like either you believe it or you don’t and there is no place in between. Rationalists and children of the Enlightenment will say that it makes no sense. It’s just one more… Read more Worship Reflection Sunday, March 5, 2023
“All About: Living Diversity” The theme for today is “All About Living Diversity.” I would start by asking you to recall the Protestant Reformation, which began about 500 years ago. That seems long, long ago and far, far away, but as William Faulkner said, “history isn’t dead, it isn’t even history yet.” The Reformation let… Read more Worship reflection Sunday, February 19, 2023
“All About: Thinking Christians” Phil asked me the other day if I would offer some reflections on our mission statement, which says: All About: Thinking Christians, Living Diversity, Seeking Justice. So, I want to thank him for this suggestion. Today the topic is “All About Thinking Christians.” The text for this theme is Romans 12.… Read more Worship reflection Sunday, February 12, 2023