Second Sunday in Advent Penelope Bridges The story of Hannah is about a woman who is abused, persecuted, and falsely accused. This is a woman who is seeking reproductive justice. She is regarded as a second-class citizen because she has not produced a child. Her husband loves her dearly, but he doesn’t understand the depth … READ MORE…
Preacher The Rev. Canon Allisyn Thomas RCL/Year B Mark 12:38-44 If we were called to read scripture simplistically, the message of today’s Gospel reading from Mark could be summed up pretty easily: Scribes—bad; Widow—Good. In fact, after the deacon reads the lesson, ending with “The Gospel of the Lord,” and we respond with “Praise to you, Lord … READ MORE…
This line from the Wisdom of Solomon caught my attention this week and wouldn’t let me go. Wisdom of Solomon, or just Wisdom, is one of the deuterocanonical books, or Apocrypha, of our Bible. None of these books are in the Hebrew Bible, but almost all of them are in the ancient Greek version of … READ MORE…
Penelope Bridges Several things strike me about the Gospel we just heard: Maybe what the disciples suffer from here is a simple lack of imagination. What Jesus is predicting just doesn’t compute for them. The Messiah executed? Rise again after three days? Inconceivable. They are still stuck in this misconception that Jesus will be a … READ MORE…
St. Francis Day Oct 6 2024 (Blessing of Pets at 10:30)Penelope Bridges Given the theme of the day, I want to share a story about my visit to the Zoo the other day. As is my habit, I headed first for the orang utan enclosure, where Kaja, who was born about 3 months after my … READ MORE…
Penelope Bridges How do you feel about our reading from Proverbs? Reading these verses is frankly exhausting for me. The capable wife (or in another translation Woman of Power) does everything, it seems. She makes clothes, grows food, engages in real estate transactions and commercial deals, runs the household, gives to the poor, supports her … READ MORE…
Penelope Bridges Today is Homecoming Sunday. You saw the procession of ministries at the beginning of this liturgy, and in a few minutes I will read off a list of our many ministries as we commission the lay ministers – that’s all of you – for renewed service. There is something for everyone, and if … READ MORE…
Rev. Cn. Richard Hogue Jr. I hope everyone is enjoying their Labor Day weekend. I want to meditate on this national holiday this morning. When we speak about labor in the context of the church, what do we feel, what images do we see? How do we experience labor in the light of Christ? Perhaps … READ MORE…
Penny Bridges Jesus says, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” If this first verse of today’s Gospel sounds familiar, it’s because last week’s Gospel ended with this same verse. In fact, we are now in the third week … READ MORE…
Penelope Bridges, Sermon from 8 am service (at the 10:30 am service we had a guest preacher) For family reasons, I’ve recently been thinking about songs that include the name Mary. Not so much the Blessed Virgin Mary, but, rather, poems and nursery rhymes. There’s Mary had a little lamb, of course; and Mary, Mary … READ MORE…