ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSNovember 1, 2023Though we as a church will be celebrating All Saints’ Day this coming Sunday, technically today is All Saints’ Day… the first day of November. A few months ago, as I was pondering my sermon for this Sunday, I was doing some research on how different traditions have understood and celebrated this special day in the life of the church. There were two websites that
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSOctober 31, 2023Tombs are often the setting for the climax in a horror movie. It is usually dark, and there is a good layer of fog. The wind is blowing just enough to cause the leaves to swirl around and the branches to crackle. An owl usually gives off a startling call as a distant dog echoes back with a chilling howl. Hollywood is quite good at
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSOctober 30, 2023For this week’s prayer, I draw upon the words of Ann Weems, who wrote a poem/prayer entitled “I No Longer Pray For Peace.” On the edge of war, one foot already in,I no longer pray for peace:I pray for miracles. I pray that stone hearts will be turn to tenderheartedness,And evil intentions will turn to mercifulness,And all the soldiers already deployed will be snatchedout of
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSOctober 29, 2023I saw the following saying online, but it was not attributed to anyone. I did some research but was not able to find who said it or wrote it. Yet, I still felt a need to share it — “Stop shrinking to fit places you’ve outgrown.” I don’t know about you, but I find those words speaking ever so powerfully and prophetically to multiple parts
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSOctober 28, 2023As you have heard me talk/write in recent days, we are beginning a new series where I will suggest that self-care is not selfish. With that said, there are some caveats that need to be named. Permanent laziness is not self-care, and choosing to not take care of one’s responsibilities cannot be justified as self-care. I have witnessed people justifying some pretty odd behavior as
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSOctober 27, 2023Jesus talked about knocking and persistence in that knocking, and today we have learned the importance of not giving up. If you have tried to park on the west side of the church (York Minster Drive), then you know that after a rain there is a small lake. When the County built the bus lane along the road last spring, they put up a curb
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSOctober 26, 2023The author, Nikki Rowe, wrote, “Solitude is where I place my chaos to rest and awaken my inner peace.” I love those words, but I cannot say for sure how I do that. I believe she is right, but like so many wonderful quotes, we can repeat them joyfully without a clue to how we live them. If you’re like me, a six-step process is
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSOctober 25, 2023Did anyone else open their eyes this morning, glance at the date, and realize that we are two months away from Christmas? And for the church, we are one month and one day away from decorating for Advent/Christmas. A week from today, the overnight low is to be 50, so that will help my mood and attitude. I need at least a few days of
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSOctober 24, 2023With so many things, your starting place will determine your interpretation. I think of that in regard to how we approach scripture. On Sunday, we looked at the well-known and well-read words of John 3:16, yet so often the focus becomes on the words toward the end of the verse: “believe,” “perish,” and “eternal life.” Suddenly, people are arguing over what determines true belief, what
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSOctober 23, 2023Prayer for the WeekWe echo the words of scripture and joyfully declare that you, O Lord of the Universe, so loved everything, including us. You are the One who did not stand idly by and do nothing, and for that, we are thankful. As we celebrated in worship yesterday, you gave yourself to the world to make your love real. When words like unconditional and