"A new command I give you: Love one another; as I have loved you, so you must love one another." That's how Jesus sums up his message to his disciples in John 13:34. But sometimes it's unclear how to best live out that love. I was contacted today by Mary Jacobs, who works for the… Continue reading Of Connection and Commandment
Month: June 2010
Sermon: Don’t Look Back
"Don't Look Back" (June 27, 2010) We are very accustomed to praising Jesus for calling his disciples away from sin or labor and into a life of servant-hood, but what about those times when Jesus calls people away from good things like home and family and honor and tradition? Are we ready to respond when… Continue reading Sermon: Don’t Look Back
Sermon: “Silence”
"Silence" (June 20, 2010) The translators of the Hebrew Bible aren't even sure how to describe the sound--or lack thereof-- that Elijah encounters as the sound of God's voice. Translations include "a still, small voice," "barely a whisper," "a gentle breeze," and "the sound of sheer silence." In part, this could be because we do… Continue reading Sermon: “Silence”
Sermon: Let Your Hair Down
"Let Your Hair Down" (June 13, 2010) The uninvited woman at the dinner worships Christ with her whole heart; shamelessly and shockingly pouring perfume on his feet and washing them with tears and drying them with her unbound hair. We lack the context to understand how shocking her actions are, but do we stifle ourselves… Continue reading Sermon: Let Your Hair Down
Praise and Lament
I recently sat with a woman who felt more like lamenting than like praising, and together we pondered what it means to grieve, to mourn, to feel without joy or hope at times. We discussed Psalm 23, and the beautiful image of a shepherd caring for sheep, tending them, protecting them, helping them find green… Continue reading Praise and Lament
Pastors only work on Sundays, right?
Today was one of those days. One of those wonderful, glorious days when it may have looked like I did very little to edit a church bulletin or craft a brilliant sermon, but the church and the people of God were foremost on my mind. I began the day with a meeting in Barre (next… Continue reading Pastors only work on Sundays, right?
Sermon: A Higher Consciousness (link corrected)
"A Higher Consciousness" (June 6, 2010) Einstein is quoted as saying that "no problem can be solved by the same level of consciousness that created it." How true this is, when we consider so many of the human-made disasters that plague our world. Perhaps there is no human solution to these crises, but we must… Continue reading Sermon: A Higher Consciousness (link corrected)
We Your People, Ours the Journey 