Annie Dillard describes church as a dangerous place, a place where we should wear hard hats and lash ourselves to the pews lest God’s power should sweep us away and turn our worlds upside down. When we read something like this passage from Matthew’s Gospel, I start looking for my hard hat. As it happens, … READ MORE…
Over Labor Day weekend we traveled to Birmingham, Alabama to visit good friends from seminary. We had a great time, partly because our daughter Robin is best friends with their daughter, Mary Bentley. They had a blast playing together, except when they didn’t. I can’t tell you how many times I heard: “I’m sorry, Robin.” … READ MORE…
Last week we encountered Moses as a baby in the bullrushes, given up by his mother and adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter. Today we have moved at warp speed from his infancy to his maturity. Moses has grown up; he has killed an Egyptian whom he saw abusing a Hebrew slave and he is a wanted … READ MORE…
Welcome to the scenic resort of Caesarea Philippi. In our guided Gospel tour of the Holy Land, we have now arrived at the northernmost point in our journey with Jesus. It’s literally a turning point in the Gospel. From here he will turn south and head for Jerusalem. But at this hinge moment he talks … READ MORE…
Sermon – Ninth Sunday After Pentecost Genesis 37:14, 12-28; Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22; Romans 12:9-18; John 20:19-23 In the Name of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. Theodore VanKirk died two weeks ago. He was the last surviving member of the crew that dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. … READ MORE…
When I started thinking about today’s sermon, a couple of weeks ago, I had in mind a celebration of the ways the world has opened up to women and other oppressed groups. This week we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the ordination of the first 11 women to the Episcopal priesthood, an act which was … READ MORE…
When I was young and newly married, thirty-some years ago, I thought it might be fun to have twins, to watch how they would grow and how they would interact in the mysterious ways that twins have. Then I had one baby and quickly decided that one at a time was quite enough of a … READ MORE…
Happy Independence Day weekend! We live in an incredible country, to be sure. These days, as nation after nation succumbs to violence, often in the wake of elections, I am deeply grateful for the willingness of Americans to transfer power peacefully, even to those with whom we disagree. It is right and proper to celebrate … READ MORE…
Today the Episcopal Church invites us to find ways to highlight the use of social media in our faith life. Social media technology offers us new ways to share the Gospel with our friends, to show what church looks like, to pass along a word of comfort, grief, or challenge to those who are dear … READ MORE…
The Feast of Pentecost, June 8 2014 It’s party time in Jerusalem. Jews have come from all over the world to celebrate one of the three major feasts of the religious year: Pentecost. That’s the name St. Luke gives to Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks, a celebration mandated by Moses to take place 50 days, … READ MORE…