ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS April 8, 2026 Though I focused this Easter on Matthew’s telling of the resurrection story, I have always liked a line from Luke’s telling: “But Peter ran to the tomb. When he bent over to look inside, he saw only the linen cloth. Then he returned home, wondering what had happened” (Luke 24:12). After the women gave witness to the resurrected Christ, Peter hightailed it to
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS April 6, 2026 Prayer for the Week: In a world filled with violence and unhinged threats of violence; in a world where too many children experience suffering that is easily avoidable if there were even a semblance of justice and compassion; in a world lost to a dance between arrogance and a delusional lust for power, how can we proclaim that your great gift of love
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS April 5, 2026 Easter Sunday Good morning, people of the resurrection and even those who aren’t too certain about this whole resurrection thing. It’s all good, because at the end of the day, resurrection is not so much about making a claim as it is believing and living that claim. I can make the theological statement that Jesus, the one crucified and buried, was raised from
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS April 4, 2026 It said, “Insufficient memory.” My response was simple, “Tell me something I don’t know.” It was the copy machine at the church that had insufficient memory for the graphic I was trying to print, but at first, I was a little insulted. Joking aside, during these last days of Holy Week, I feel as if I have insufficient mental capacity to absorb it
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS April 3, 2026 Good Friday: In yesterday’s Maundy Thursday Service, we opened with the words from Philippians 2:5-8, “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard e quality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS April 1, 2026 Today, our Jewish siblings are celebrating Passover, though a strange and occasional coincidence, it is also April Fools’ Day. And today is also Wednesday of Holy Week, which is often associated with the disciple, Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus. Some say today, the day before Maundy Thursday, was the day the money exchanged hands between the religious leadership and Judas (Matthew 26:14-16). To
ECCLESIOGICAL ETCHINGS March 31, 2026 So yesterday, I was driving on Strack, between Louetta and Cypresswood, and as I came to the School Zone (20 mph), I slowed down to about 21, maybe 22 mph. I am a pretty good rule follower, but I noticed the car behind me not slowing down. He tailgated me about as close as I have ever had someone tailgate me. In fact,
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS March 30, 2026 Prayer for the Week: Rev. Gerlyn Henry – she is the incumbent of the Church of the Holy Wisdom in the Anglican Diocese of Toronto. This prayer was written as part of an interview with Sojourners Magazine. She was asked to offer a prayer for 2026… Gracious and living God, break open what has hardened in us and awaken what has grown callous,
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS March 29, 2026 Today is Youth Sunday, a wonderful tradition here at Cypress Creek Christian Church. As I always say, it is about the youth having a good experience in planning and leading the worship service. Many of the youth are given their first glimpse behind the curtain, and just yesterday, one of the youth said, “There’s a lot of work that goes into planning worship,
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS March 28, 2026 Church signs, and specifically the thoughts congregations put on the signs, can be thoughtful, inspiring, and even a bit edgy at times. Some churches spin cultural references, make puns, or some even use language that invites a little fear. Of course, my favorite things are the mistakes, misspellings, or not taking a close look at how the sign is going to be perceived