ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGMarch 29, 2022My sermon on Sunday was intended to raise the complexity of following Jesus in a time of war. Of course, there has almost always been war in some place since the time of Jesus. In some situations, the war is only a distant news story. For others, it is their daily experience. Of course, at the time of Jesus, it wasn’t war but living under
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGMarch 28, 2022Prayer for the Week:Good and Gracious God, one from among us was called by you to the task of Ordained Ministry. We give thanks for your Spirit’s capacity to patiently and persistently foster the different gifts you have given. Today, we celebrate Rev. Mariah Newell – whose gifts are abundant and far-reaching; whose love for you and all of creation are without question; whose passion
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGMarch 27, 2022Some of Paul’s final words in 2nd Thessalonians are: “May the Lord of peace himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” What does it mean for God to give us peace “always” and “in every way”? And if God is giving peace without end, and using every creative measure to deliver it in spite of many obstacles
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGMarch 26, 2022In the story made famous by the musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, I always forget the character of Reuben. When the brothers’ jealousy turned to violence, they made a plan to kill Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob. Reuben is the one who said, “Let’s not shed his blood. Just throw him in the pit.” Scripture then provides us some insight into Reuben’s
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGMarch 25, 2022On the BBC’s website, there are these short videos under the heading: Reel. I love watching them. They are 5-10 minutes long, but very informative on a range of topics. Recently, I was watching one entitled, “The Extraordinary Power of Kindness,” where the narrator spoke about the science of kindness. “There are patterns of activation in the brain which correspond to a boost of wellbeing.
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGMarch 24, 2022Imagine yourself a person who has lived in desert land. You’ve traveled long distances, across barren landscape, requiring a knowledge of where water can be found. Your journey is a zigzag from well to stream, never wanting to push yourself or the animals beyond what is safe. Then suddenly the Prophet Isaiah offers a vision. In chapter 43, we read the words, “I have put
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGMarch 23, 2022What is good news? In your own thinking, what attributes are essential for you to claim something to be good news? In the Gospel of Mark 13, Jesus was speaking about turbulent times. He goes on to say, “First, the good news must be proclaimed to all the nations. When they haul you in and hand you over, don’t worry ahead of time about what
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGMarch 22, 2022Jesus traversed many boundaries and borders, on both the geographic map and sociological map. In John 4, Jesus travels through Samaria. In his interaction with a woman near a well, he traverses a pretty significant boundary when he requests the woman to draw some water from the well and give him a drink. Men rarely spoke to women in public. Her follow-up question makes clear
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGMarch 21, 2022Prayer for the Week: O Merciful God, allow for your life-giving sustenance to flow into our hearts anew this day. Be for us a fountain from which we can drink your blessings of love and mercy. Many of us are thirsty; many of us are parched; many of us are longing for the living water you provide. Take us to where we can drink from
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGMarch 20, 2022From her book, Christianity After Religion, Diana Butler Bass wrote the following: “All Christian practices work in this way. The practice of hospitality opens our hearts to those who are strangers; it anticipates that, in God’s kingdom, there will one day be no strangers. The practice of forgiveness cleanses our souls from guilt and shame; it anticipates that, in God’s kingdom, all will be forgiven.