Sermon: Break the Chains

“Break the Chains”

(May 12, 2013) This phenomenal story from the Book of Acts invites us into the heart and experience of those who have been complicit in oppression, and reminds us that the chains of bondage and oppression bind both the jailers and the jailed. The true power of God lies not in the breaking of shackles around our feet, but breaking those around our hearts. Where are you called to be set free? (Acts 16:16-34)

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I share in this sermon my compassion for Bishop McLee, which I wrote about here, and my own need to, like Paul and Silas, wait with him in our shared sorrow, so that each of us might find healing.

We then sang this hymn by Mark Miller, which is too good to not share.

Sermon: Powerless Palms

“Powerless Palms”

(March 24, 2013 – Palm Sunday, anniversary of the death of Oscar Romero) We have a choice, as individuals and as a society, in how we respond to violence. The expectation for that choice for people who follow Christ has been set by Jesus himself, and those faithful followers who’ve lived out the radical non violence he demonstrated in the events we celebrate on Palm Sunday. Do you choose the soldiers and their spears, or the peasants and their palms? (Luke 19:28b-40)

Sermon: A Caterpillar with Wings

“A Caterpillar with Wings”

(February 17, 2013) I’m embarrassed to admit how old I was when I realized that butterflies were not simply caterpillars with wings. I’m also embarrassed to admit that most often in my life, I’d like to just have wings added, rather than open myself up to complete transformation… (John 12:20-33)

Sermon: Be. Loved. Beloved.

“Be. Loved. Beloved.”

(January 13, 2013) Each one of us is unique, marked and known in our imperfections, scuffs, and rough places. And yet we are known and loved intimately by God, claimed and called God’s own. (Isaiah 43:1-7; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22)

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The exercise I use in this sermon is a simple one to try on your own with a bag of peanuts (still in their shells), and has the added bonus of coming with a snack as long as you don’t have allergies. I first learned this at a mother-daughter seminar in my teens, when it was used to illustrate a parent’s love for a child. I have never forgotten that lesson. The seminar was hosted by Planned Parenthood, St. Johnsbury VT.

Sermon: Fallen Fragments

Altar display on Sunday, featuring our broken and re-broken cross.

“Fallen Fragments”

(July 29, 2012) We all are broken. While we may be tempted to focus on the magnitude of the things Jesus does, in God’s economy, the broken, fallen fragments are of infinite worth, and add up to more than whatever we started with. If you’ve been gathered into God’s nameless love, will you take a basket and gather the broken? (John 6:1-21)

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I found the Welcome from Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Community on Jon Acuff’s blog.

In case you are unfamiliar with them, here are the lyrics of the closing hymn, “How Can We Name a Love” (UMH 111), which spoke powerfully to me this week.

How can we name a Love that wakens heart and mind,
indwelling all we know or think or do or seek or find?
Within our daily world, in every human face,
Love’s echoes sound and God is found, hid in the commonplace.

If we awoke to life built on a rock of care
that asked no great reward but firm, assured, was simply there,
we can, with parents’ names, describe, and thus adore,
Love unconfined, a father kind, a mother strong and sure.

When people share a task, and strength and skills unite
in projects old or new, to make or do with shared delight,
our Friend and Partner’s will is better understood,
that all should share, create, and care, and know that life is good.

So in a hundred names, each day we all can meet
a presence, sensed and shown at work, at home, or in the street.
Yet every name we see, shines in a brighter sun:
In Christ alone is Love full grown and life and hope begun.

Video Sermon: Grown Together

I also created a video of last Sunday’s sermon, “Grown Together.”

With lots of love and thanksgiving to Jim and his family. Love you magnificent women!

Sermon: Grown Together

“Grown Together”

(June 17, 2012) When Jesus tells the story of the weeds sown into the field of wheat, he is reminding us of one of life’s deepest truths: pain and sorrow are intricately woven into our lives alongside joy and blessing and peace. We cannot pull apart these aspects of living, but have to let them grow together. (Matthew 13:24-35)

 

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This sermon also serves as a tribute to my Rent-a-Dad, Jim Egger, with love.
It draws from a blog post of mine, here.

Sermon: Dreams and Drunkenness

“Dreams and Drunkenness”

(May 27, 2012 – Pentecost Sunday) A movement is underway to help shape the future of the United Methodist Church by inviting and including as many voices a possible. Using the social media tool of Twitter (follow @DreamUMC and #dreamumc), anyone and everyone can share their hopes, visions, and strategies for the denomination, and listen to the dreams of others. Can we hear a worthwhile message in the midst of this “holy noise,” or will we write off the dreamers as drunkards and fools? (Acts 2:1-21)

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video coming soon!

Sermon: Tell God Your Plans (GC2012)

Lifting the bread and cup. Photo from UMNS

“Tell God Your Plans”

(May 13, 2012) Reflecting on the United Methodist Church’s General Conference, much of it seemed to me to be a lesson in how God works outside of our plans, expectations, and categories. In the face of a wily and wild Holy Spirit, who refuses to be contained by little things like place of origin or status as delegate, who is willing to withhold the grace of God from those upon whom the Spirit has been poured? (Acts 10:44-48)

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powerfully present in spirit with me today were the people who had been with me in the moment, and/or who had helped me with some sermon crafting details. Most especially: Gregory (for lifting the cup), Leigh, Steve, JoAnn and Annie (for weeping with me– on camera), Jeremy S, Karen O and Laura Y (for information now as then), my NE delegation and UNY “step” delegation and volunteers (for being you), Kristen, Justin, and Chett (for laughter through tears), and Sean (for friendship that doesn’t fit inside parentheses).

I used a handful of photos on screen during the sermon, illustrating the chaos, brokenness, and tears of General Conference.

Non-delegates just outside the bar. Photo by UMNS

The progressive ad hoc caucus huddles at the communion table (picture from afar by Laura Young)

Steve and Leigh Dry do the only thing one can do in the face of such brokenness. Photo by UMNS

JoAnn, Annie, and I share communion in the midst of the Body’s brokenness. Photo from the UMNS.

Sermon: Unsporting Conduct

“Unsporting Conduct”

(April 15, 2012) We love to celebrate Eater with great fanfare and language and images evocative of military conquest. But Easter is a victory not of might, but of peace. Can we leave our touchdown dances behind, and listen to message of forgiveness? (Luke 23:33-43)

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This sermon is heavily indebted to Roger Wolsey’s blog post, “A Kinder, Gentler, more Grown-up Easter.” Thanks, Roger! With apologies to Queen, CeeLo, Lenard Cohen, and anyone who had to hear me sing. Also, if you love the f-word play on words, this video should give you a laugh.