Category: Church Stuff
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A thought on ministry
I remember when I first felt the tug to enter ministry. I was probably 15 or 16 years old, and somehow the pastor from my church convinced me and then my parents that I should be allowed to attend the Presbyterian Youth Triennium in Indiana. And so somehow I found myself on a plane, and…
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To Be Holy: A Parable
The following is a narrative sermon which borrows heavily for Salman Rushdie’s new novel, “Luka and the Fire of Life.” An excellent novel, and I highly recommend it. (newsflash: it is much better than my edited version of it below!) Sermon Texts: Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18 Matthew 5:38-48 There once was a young boy named Luka. …
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A Lament for Peace on World Communion Sunday
1 By the rivers of Babylon— there we sat down and there we wept when we remembered Zion. 2 On the willows there we hung up our harps. 3 For there our captors asked us for songs, and our tormentors asked for mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” 4 How could we sing the Lord’s…
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On Retreat: Day Three
Peace Be Still; Peace Be Still; the Storm Rages; Peace be still. -Stephen Iverson This week is flying by! It is so energizing to spend time in community with ministers, and to find that we have so much to share with one another. I am relishing the time on retreat, and even, dare I say,…
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On Retreat: Day Two
“Torah is acquired in the presence of community” Our mighty band of fellow travelers gathered in fellowship for a second day of study and conversation. Our task today: to gather and consider the Scriptures of Epiphany through Transfiguration. To help us do this, our facilitator, the talented Dr. Judy Siker, introduced us to the practice…
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On Retreat: Day One
“God doesn’t answer prayers; our prayers are answers to the prayer that God has already started” The alarm buzzed irritably from the window where I had left it the night prior. Morning, I thought to myself. How swiftly we are plucked from the warmth of our beds to greet the day. Earlier than I would…
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Memorial Day Prayer on Trinity Sunday
In the quietness of our own hearts,let each of us name and call on the Triune God, whose power over us is great and gentle, firm and forgiving, holy and healing… You, Holy God, who created us, who sustain us, who call us to live in peace, hear our prayer this day. Hear us as we…
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Great Day
Well, it probably wouldn’t look like it on the surface… this week was dominated by the sudden passing of Gilbert Smickle, the brother of our clerk of session at UPC. It was painful, and it certainly was occasion for more than a few tears and sighs too deep for words. And yet, I am consistently…
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Holy Wind
Man it’s only Thursday and I am getting fired up for Pentecost…. I think, in fact, that Pentecost is one of my favorite celebrations of the church. And this year, it has been made all the more meaningful through the conversations that I have had the privilege of being a part of. One conversation that…
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Mother’s Day
A Sermon for Mother’s Day: Title: True Parenting Scripture: Acts 16:9-15, John 14:23-29
Deeper in me than I 