Recently, a friend and colleague of mine asked me two questions: What is the Gospel? Why are you a pastor? We were in seminary together and that ‘what is the Gospel’ question was one we were often asked to answer in a few sentences. The second question is something a lot of us clergy types…
Many years ago (sooo many years ago) when I had my first job just out of High School I remember coworkers and supervisors talking about Martin Luther King Day. It was a joke to them. A joke so serious, in fact, that some of them said they would rather work on that day even if…
Who is to blame? That is one of those universal questions. We tend to believe that if we figure out who to blame for a problem or mistake that will make things better. Who is to blame for how my life, our lives, the world, and fill in the blank are not as the should…
This week I finally had a chance to watch the Pixar movie, Soul. It was every bit as good as I had heard it would be. Something that stuck with me was a little metaphorical story one of the characters told another. Once there was a little fish who always wanted to swim in the…
Romans 14:1-12 Paul writes: Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions. Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgement on those who eat; for God has…
Easter 2B John 20:19-31 “…the doors of the house where [they] met were locked for fear…” This is a description of Jesus’ disciples on that first Easter evening. They were afraid. So afraid! So much so that they were hidden, doors locked. It is a feeling we might find very familiar these days. At…
Beloved of God, I join you this day, Maundy Thursday, with no elaborate service and no physical presence but still… all the same… with you. This night that is different from all other nights is more different for us than I have ever known. But it is not unknown to the Great Cloud of Witnesses,…
Lent 4A John 9:1-41 On this 4th Sunday of Lent, it is good to have a long gospel reading! I think we could use all the good news we can get right now. It is obvious that this is a stressful time. That’s an understatement of course. It is a frightening and uncertain time. We…
Transfiguration Sunday Exodus 24:12-17 Matthew 17:1-9 If someone told you they had a mountaintop experience, what would you think they meant? Most of the time, people mean they had an experience that changed them. They went someplace or to an event or perhaps just experienced something in a new way that they never…
Sermon for December 15th, 2019 Third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday Today is a Sunday of rejoicing! We began with our litany of praise and thanksgiving for all the things in which we rejoice. Today, we also rejoice with Mary. My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God, my savior.…
Shepherdess Writes 