September 8, 2024
Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 & Mark 7:24-37
Pastor Benjamin Durfee
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September 1, 2024
Matthew 5:1-9
Gayle Davidson
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August 25, 2024
James 5:14-16 & Mark 11:24-25
Sandy Gaffey
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August 18, 2024
Psalm 103:1-5 & John 14:1-7
Tom Williams
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August 11, 2024
Ephesians 4:25-5:2 & John 6:35 and 6:44-51
Wes Rice
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August 4, 2024
Matthew 14:22-23, Luke 5:16 & Luke 6: 12-13
Lois Bascom
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July 28, 2024
Psalm 130 & 2 Corinthians 8: 7-15
Rev. Marilyn Wilcox
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July 21, 2024
Psalm 139: 1-6 & 2 Corinthians 4: 5-12
Rev. Marilyn Wilcox
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July 14, 2024
Psalm 32 & John 15: 1-17
The Leadership Team
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July 7, 2024
2 Corinthians 12:2-10 & Mark 6:1-13
Pastor Benjiman Durfee
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June 30, 2024
2 Corinthians 8:7-15 & Mark 5:21-43
Rev. Linda M. Rhinehart Neas, M.Ed
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June 23, 2024
Psalm 9:1-2 & Philippians 4:6-7
Nancy Parland et al
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June 16, 2024
Psalm 92: 1-4, 12-15 & 2 Corinthians 5: 6-17
Clare Chapman et al
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June 9, 2024
2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 & Mark 3:20-35
Rev. Linda M. Rhinehart Neas, M.Ed
June 2, 2024
Isaiah 6: 1-8 & John 3: 1-12
Rev. Ken Downes
This morning, I would like to share with you my reflections about the spiritual tension that we all
experience when our travels take us away from home. Not just our physical residence, but the emotional and spiritual space that gives us comfort or the feeling of safe harbor. For those of you who know even a little bit about my living anangements for the past 7 months, and, my love of world travel, I am well qualified to reflect upon both the joys and the challenges of being "on the road." But before we get into any of that,
May 26, 2024
Isaiah 6: 1-8 & John 3: 1-12
Rev. Allen "Mick" Comstock
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May 19, 2024
Psalm 108: 1-5 & John 15: 1-8
Rev. Dr. Ken Downes
I'm glad that I don't have to make my living as a farmer. I would end up starving because I lack the spine to tear out things that are dead. Part of the problem is that I get attached to my plants. I've kept plants in my home for a year after they died. In the middle of November when the first snow starts falling and my perennials have been withered for months, I still find mhoping: “just leave them alone--myself aybe we'll have a warm-spell and they will perk up.”
May 12, 2024
Proverbs 31:10, 20, 25-26, 28-30 & Luke 1:46-55
Bishop Peggy Johnson
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May 5, 2024
Hebrews 5:11-6:3
Rev. Ken Downes
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April 28, 2024
Acts 8:26-39 & John 15: 9-17
Rev. Kate Stevens
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April 21, 2024
Genesis 9:1-3, 8-15 & John 1: 1-5
Rev. Kate Stevens
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April 14, 2024
Acts 2: 41-47 & Luke 24:36-43
Rev. Kate Stevens
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April 7, 2024
Acts 4: 32-35 & John 20: 9-31
Rev. Kate Stevens
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March 31, 2024
Acts 10: 34- 42 & Mark 16:1-8
Rev. Kate Stevens
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March 24, 2024
Psalm 118: 1, 19-29 & Mark 11:1-11
Rev. Kate Stevens
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March 17, 2024
Matthew 14:13-21 & Matthew 12:1-8
Rev. Ken Downes
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March 10, 2024
Genesis 1: 1, 26-31 & John 3:16
Rev. Kate Stevens
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March 3, 2024
Exodus 20:1-17
Rev. Kate Stevens
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February 18, 2024
Mark 1: 9-15
Rev. Kate Stevens & Rev. Megan Stowe
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February 11, 2024
1 Samuel 16: 14-23 & Mark 1: 21-28
Rev. Kate Stevens
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February 4, 2024
Luke 4:1-13 & Luke 4:14-29
Rev. Allen "Mick" Comstock
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January 28, 2024
Deuteronomy 18:15-19 & Mark 1: 21-28
Lois Bascom and Eileen McCusker Rauch
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January 21, 2024
Jonah 3:1-10 & Mark 1: 14-20
Rev. Kate Stevens
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January 14, 2024
1 Samuel 3:1-10 & Mark 1: 4-11
Rev. Kate Stevens
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A celebration of life for Faith Kindness.
At Trinity Church on December 13, 2023.
Obituary here.
December 31, 2023
Isaiah 64:8 & John 1:1-18
Lois Bascom and Dr. Barbara Beall
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December 24, 2023
Isaiah 61:1-4 & Luke 1:39- 56
Rev. Kate Stevens
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December 10, 2023
Isaiah 40:1-5 & Mark 1:1-8
Rev. Kate Stevens
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December 3, 2023
Isaiah 64:1-2 & Mark 13:24-37
Rev. Kate Stevens
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November 26, 2023
1 Timothy 6:17-19 & Luke 12:13-21, 32-34
Rev. Ken Downes
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November 19, 2023
Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 & Luke 6:27-38
Rev. Kate Stevens
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November 12, 2023
Genesis 1: 26-31 & Matthew 25:14-30
Rev. Kate Stevens
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November 5, 2023
Psalm 78:1-7 & Hebrews 12:1-2
Rev. Kate Stevens
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October 29, 2023
Deuteronomy 34:1-12, Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17,
1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 & Matthew 22:34-46
Rev. Thaddeus Bennet
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October 22, 2023
Job 16:1-16 & John 11:30-36
Rev. Ken Downes
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October 15, 2023
Acts 8:26-39 & Matthew 3:13-17
Rev. Dr. Donna Schaper
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October 8, 2023
Joshua 3:7-17, Psalm 107:1-7;33-37, Mtthew 23:1-12
Rev. Dr. Donna Schaper
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October 1, 2023
Kings 22:12-20, 2 Chronicles 34:19-33 & Matthew 6:4-6
Rev. Dr. Donna Schaper
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September 24, 2023
Matthew 19:6-26
Dr. Ken Downes
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August 20, 2023
Genesis 6:14-16
Rev. Dr. Donna Schaper
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August 13, 2023
Genesis 37:1-4 & Matthew 14:22, 23
Rev. Dr. Donna Schaper
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August 6, 2023
Psalm 46 & Matthew 14:13-21
Rev. Dr. Donna Schaper
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July 30, 2023
Psalm 61:1-5
Rev. Dr. Donna Schaper
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July 16, 2023
John 9:1-7
Rev. Dr. Donna Schaper
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July 9, 2023
Genesis 1:21, 1:30 and 9:2-3
Rev. Dr. Donna Schaper
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July 2, 2023
Psalm 33:1-9 & Matthew 9:9-13,18-35
Rev. Kate Stevens
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June 25, 2023
Genesis 21:1-21 & Luke 15:11-32
Rev. Allen "Mick" Comstock
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June 11, 2023
Hosea 5:15-6:6 & Matthew 9:9-13
Rev. Dr. Donna Schaper
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June 4, 2023
Psalm 8 & Matthew 28:16-20
Rev. Dr. Donna Schaper
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May 28, 2023
Psalm 104 & Acts 2:1-18
Rev. Kate Stevens
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May 21, 2023
Psalm 68:1-10 & Matthew 13:31-32
Rev. Dr. Donna Schaper
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May 7, 2023
Psalm 31:1-5,15-16
Rev. Dr. Donna Schaper
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April 30, 2023
John 10:1-10
Rev. Dr. Donna Schaper
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April 16, 2023
Psalm 16 & John 20:19-31
Rev. Kate Stevens
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April 9, 2023
Acts 10:34-42 & John 20:1-18
Rev. Dr. Donna Schaper
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April 2, 2023
Isaiah 50: 4 - 9 & Matthew 21: 1 - 11
Rev. Dr. Donna Schaper
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March 26, 2023
Ezekiel 37:1-14 & John 11:1-46
Rev. Kate Stevens
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March 19, 2023
I Samuel 16: 1 - 13 & John 9 : 1 - 7
Rev. Dr. Donna Schaper
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March 12, 2023
Romans 5: 1 - 11 & John 4: 5 - 42
Rev. Dr. Donna Schaper
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March 5, 2023
Psalm 121 & Matthew 17: 1-9
Rev. Dr. Donna Schaper
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February 26, 2023
Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Psalm 32
Romans 5:12-19 & Matthew 4:1-11
Rev. Thaddeus Bennet
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February 19, 2023
Genesis 9:1-17 & Matthew 16:13-23
Rev. Allen "Mick" Comstock
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February 12, 2023
Deuteronomy 30:15-19 & Matthew 5:21-24
Rev. Kate Stevens
Here we are with Jesus on the mountain continuing to preach to the disciples his most famous sermon. This time he speaks of murder and the other lesser crimes. We can all agree that one who commits murder deserves judgment – Jesus doesn’t say what judgment but judgment for sure. But he suggests, as he continues to turn the most obvious laws slightly upside down. Also, if you are angry with another, you are liable for judgment. or insult another, or name call another, still you are liable for judgment.
February 5, 2023
Genesis 4: 1-16; 3:1-14 & Mark 4: 1-20
Rev. Allen "Mick" Comstock
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January 29, 2023
Micah 6: 6-8 & Matthew 5:1-10
Rev. Kate Stevens
How does one define a Christian? When someone says they are a Christian, what do they mean?
Some people proclaim that Jesus Christ is their personal Lord and Savior.
Does that make them a Christian? Is it about Worshipping Jesus? is that it?
Some say they are saved or have been reborn; does that make them a Christian?
Some people go to church every Sunday. Does that make them a Christian?
Some never enter a church but live their lives trying to follow in Jesus’ footsteps
Will the true Christian please stand up?
January 22, 2023
Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-14 & Luke 4:13-30
Rev. Allen "Mick" Comstock
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January 15, 2023
Genesis 32: 2-32 & Luke 3:21-22; 4:1-13
Rev. Allen "Mick" Comstock
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January 8, 2023
Psalm 29 & Matthew 2:1-12
Rev. Dr. Kenneth R. Downes
Throughout history, stars have been understood practically and symbolically. Before the compass, stars were the guiding light for mariners as they crossed oceans. Stars were also the basis for calendars and the counting of the seasons. In this regard they served a practical purpose, but they have always been understood to be other-worldly. In ancient and modern times, stars belonged to the heavens rather than to the earth. Stars will always be a symbol of mystery.
January 1, 2023
Psalm 148 & Luke 2:41-52
There is no formal sermon this week.
Happy New Year!
Dec. 25, 2022
Isaiah 9: 2-7 & Luke 2:1-14
Rev. Linda M. Rhinehart Neas
I came upon this idea for our message today after hearing someone say, “What does Christmas mean, anyway?” I wasn’t part of the conversation, so I simply pondered the question. I thought I would go check out what the theologians had to say, but their answers were lengthy, academic, and full of those twelve letter words that make my head spin.
After meditating on the question, it came to me to ask children for an answer. Afterall, Where would Christmas be without a child, a wee babe? I sent a message to my four daughters asking them to ask my twelve grandchildren, ages two ½ to sixteen the question – What does Christmas mean to you?
December 18, 2022
Isaiah 7: 10-16 & Matthew 1: 18-25
Rev. Dr. Christine Fontaine
December 11, 2022
Isaiah 35:1-10 & Luke 1:39-56
By Rev. David Fobes
Today is the third Sunday of Advent, the period which extends from the Sunday nearest November 30th (St. Andrew’s Day) and ends on Christmas Eve. Advent means ‘coming’ and, traditionally referred to the birth of Christ in the manger at Bethlehem. During the Middle Ages, however, the original meaning of the term ‘Advent’ was expanded to include reference to the Second Coming of Christ on the Day of Judgment, as well as to Christ’s present coming to every believer through grace [The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. (2000), 24].
This morning’s reading from Luke’s Gospel relates the story of the angel Gabriel’s annunciation of the forthcoming birth of Christ to the blessed virgin Mary.
December 4, 2022
Isaiah 11:1-10 & Matthew 3: 1-11
By Rev Kate Stevens
Much of the world is thinking it’s just 20 days of shopping till Christmas. But we know we are in the second week of Advent. We are also waiting for something. But we are working from a different calendar – a liturgical calendar and that calendar tells a different story than the “Night before Christmas”. A story that was predicted. As in Isaiah: a shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
The people were waiting. They didn’t yet know the story. But we do.
Nov. 27, 2022
Isaiah 2:1-5 & Matthew 24:36-44
By Rev. Leslie Fraser
I love labyrinths and spirals–cyclical symbols of transformative evolution, guiding us back with beginner’s mind to the same place, for the first time. Advent starts the new year, always again, and always for the first time–because we have never stepped into this river, or this year, twice. The Christian year closes with the promise of Christ’s majesty, Christ’s kingdom, Christ’s reign, and then we begin the year again in wonder, awe, waiting, and preparation for a new birth of who knows what and who knows who and who knows when? We are actually meant to enter that luminal space, like feeling the squishy gel and discomfort of an ultrasound. There is something growing inside of us, inside of the world, inside of our longing, our hurting, our joy and our wanting. But we don’t know what it is.
Nov. 20, 2022. Jeremiah 23:1-6 & Luke 23:33-43
By Rev. Kate Stevens
Christ the King Sunday is always the last Sunday before the new liturgical year, which begins with Advent, which begins next Sunday. And yet our reading for this special Sunday is the story of the Crucifixion. . . .You see what I mean about this Sunday being about lots of things. We sing Thanksgiving hymns, we talk about Christ’s kingship and we read about Jesus’ crucifixion.
To be honest with you, Christ the King is not the image I have of Jesus and the image is not one I use in preaching or teaching or praying. But I wanted to look at it and try to understand why it is held up at this last Sunday of the liturgical year. The scripture is the crucifixion; that’s not very regal; perhaps they could have chosen a different text to talk about Christ the king: his birth perhaps - though that’s not so regal either - a barn, straw, animals.
Nov. 13, 2022. 2 Samuel 23:13-17 & Mark 12:28-31
By Rev. Susan Grant Rosen
If you ask Christians what teaching of Jesus most clearly defines how we should live our faith, many would speak the words we just heard: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” This teaching is central for us this morning as we honor the veterans among us. There are 18 million veterans in our country and they are our neighbors--the people Jesus says we are to value second only to God, and to love at least as much as we love ourselves.
Let me tell you about one of my neighbors. A few years ago I was living in a 3-family house not far from here. One morning a U-Haul pulled into our parking lot, followed by other cars filled with people who came to help with a move-in. As I watched, I tried to see which of these people were my new neighbors. Soon it became clear. There was a handsome young man in a wheelchair. Both his legs ended at mid-thigh. I’ll call him John. The other new tenant was his young wife, whom I’ll call Liliana.
Nov. 6, 2022. Job 19:23-27a & Luke 20:27-38
Reflection by © 2022 Rev. Linda M. Rhinehart Neas
Faith is a verb! As a teacher of English, I am acutely aware of language – how it is used, when it is used, who is using it, where they are using it, what words are being used and why they are using them. This is called context. This is part of critical literacy. Words are powerful. Language is capital, the kind of capital that can afford you a place at the table or keep you from even getting in the front door.
If we look at the word faith, and think of it as a verb, which comes from the Latin word “fidem” – to trust, we can say, I faith God. I faith you. In other words, in order to have “faith” the noun, we must have “faith or trust” the verb.
Oct. 30, 2022. 2 Thessalonians 1: 1-4, 11-12 & Luke 19: 1-10
Another morning and I wake with thirst for the goodness I do not have.
I walk out to the pond and all the way God has given us such beautiful lessons.
Oh Lord, I was never a quick scholar but sulked and hunched over my books
past the hour and the bell;
grant me, in your mercy, a little more time.
Love for the earth and love for you are having such a long conversation in my heart.
Who knows what will finally happen or where I will be sent,
yet already I have given a great many things away,
expecting to be told to pack nothing,
except the prayers which, with this thirst,
I am slowly learning.
(Mary Oliver)
October 23, 2022. Psalm 65, and Luke 18: 9-14
This morning, as well as receiving new members into our church, we received another one of Jesus’ parables. Today’s parable continues the teachings about prayer that Jesus is bent on gifting to his disciples before he heads finally to Jerusalem where they will meet him again praying in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Before we turn toward this parable, can we look back to the prayers we prayed this morning? Our Call to Worship set us to praying like this. “God, we come from years of losses – pandemic years, disappointment years, hiding years – and from broken days, wasted hours, painful moments. Yet our hands are out, expecting love so wide it seeps through our fingers. We hold only what we share. We receive only what is shared with us – worship blessings, life blessings, surprising blessings.”
October 16, 2022, Psalm 119: 97-104. Luke 18: 1-8
I love how Jesus’ parables hold the heart of his message. He tells parables more than any other kind of story so that his message will get inside us, puzzle and make us uncomfortable, and sometimes, if we are open, transform us.
The Jesus that I follow wants to help us to not lose heart. He also wants to help us grow a bigger heart and mind. To re-connect us with the Big Heart that shatters all the time and when put back together can help heal the world.
Sometimes parables make us laugh or cry or shout. We cry when we imagine the many injustices that this widow has experienced; turned away time and time again by the unjust justice system. We laugh at the childish behavior of the judge. “Because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice so that she may not wear me out by continually coming!” We shout joyfully with her when the unjust judge does finally wear out.
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October 9. 2022, Jeremiah 20:1, 4-7 Luke 17: 11-19
I love new words. When I find definitions of words that I have not read or heard before I know I have received something precious and exciting. Maybe that is one of the reasons I also love reading about and hearing from Jesus who John the Evangelist called “the Word made flesh.”
The word that I stumbled on this week is exude, from the prayer “Help us to exude the faith that makes us well.”
One definition of exude is to “discharge (moisture or a smell) slowly and steadily.” “The beetle exudes a caustic liquid." Well that was interesting, but I am not sure it was what the writer of our morning prayer was trying to put into words. It seems to me that God is not exactly delighted when we burn incense to reach God’s nostrils but rather, when we praise God for the simple joy of it.
October 2, 2022, 2 Timothy 1:1-14 and Luke 17: 5-10
What is this faith that the apostles wanted Jesus to increase? Is it certain beliefs about Jesus? Is it confidence that they could do what Jesus wanted them to do? Or is it a deep trust, like when we say, “I have faith in you!” we really mean, “I trust you to the core.”
When I read today’s scriptures, I found them curious, especially the Gospel with that idea of testing our faith by saying to a mulberry tree “Be uprooted and planted in the sea!” What an absurd thing to say. What mulberry tree could survive, never mind root, in the sea?
September 25, 2022, Jeremiah 32: 1-3a, 6-15 and Luke 16: 19-31
We are becoming the house of hope,
the field of sunflowers,
the vineyard of great caring.
Come to a shared commitment
to abundance possible for all people.
We are an earthenware jar,
to keep safe the tomorrow of children.
Our security question is – the word of God,
and our password is love.
September 18, 2022, Jeremiah 8:18-9:1 and Luke 16:1-13
Once again, I come to you in prayer; for our church in this time of transition, for the world, and for each and every one of us. Those who like Jeramiah are lamenting, “Is there no physician here for my wounds?” Those of us like the scheming manager who are too ashamed to beg for help and then find ourselves astonished by God’s blessings. And all of us who wonder if our personal and political divisions are beyond redeeming.
Let us pray.
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September 4, 2022, Jeremiah 18:1-11 and Luke 14: 25-33
“Holy and Merciful God, we have come to hear your word. Help us to bear it. Break down in us all that resists your will and plant in us a willingness to turn, for we would live; that we would be your disciples. By your Holy Spirit, come to us, now, in ancient texts, in everyday visions, in the needs and the hard work of our neighbors. We pray in the name of Jesus, our light.
On this Labor Day Sunday I am grateful to be among the prayerful workers of our church. I am also thinking about all the workers in and out of church who have passed on before us and the children growing up in our midst, wanting to be as malleable as clay in the Great Potter’s hands. Molded as vessels of love and grace.
August 28, 2022, Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 Luke 14: 1.7-14
I love Jesus’ parables even when most of them throw me into a tizzy. Maybe that is his intent. Not to humiliate us when we don’t get what he is saying, but to shake us out of our familiar assumptions and into God’s viewpoint.
Today’s Gospel starts with a surprising invitation. A pharisee, who we often hear were not exactly fans of Jesus, invites him to dinner. In fact the person issuing the invitation is the leader of the pharisees. What a surprise! Immediately we are wary. What is happening? Why is everyone watching Jesus closely? To see how he handles the Sabbath meal protocols perhaps? See how easy it is for us to get suspicious about other people’s behavior?
The Conviction of Things Not Seen August 7, 2022
Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 and Luke 12:32-40
Dear Friends – I am so glad to be here with all of you today as our congregation, one of Jesus’ little flocks, begins to walk together through this time of change. I have always loved the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, so I was glad that Luke mentions the little flock in his Gospel and that we got to hear more about the Good Shepherd in our Time For All Ages.
I also love that in our Time for All Ages story we got to hear how Jesus knew other shepherds and many sheep, whether in his flock or not. As the story said “Shepherds made their living by caring for their sheep. They guided their flocks to water and to grass and to safe places for the night. Jesus spent time with them and saw how they cared about their sheep.”
Tending and Preserving August 14, 2022
Psalm 80 and Luke 12:49-56
O Jesus, why are you showing up today talking about heat waves and fire, weather forecasts and division? Can’t we rest a while on your shoulder, little flock that we are? Can’t we take a summer break from troubling weather and division? Yes Jesus, in fact we do think that you came to the earth to comfort us and even blanket us, like children snuggling down for a summer nap.
Am I the only one who wants to say that to Jesus? I think not because even the Psalmist, who of course sang her/his song way before Jesus cried out sings today “Hear me O God for I am missing you! Heed the cry of my open heart.”
Our truth Jesus is that we are not looking for open heart surgery. We are mainly looking for comfort.
Jeremiah 1:4-11 and Luke 13, 10-17
This morning we received two messages about God’s work in the world, through us, with us, and all around us. In the first one, from the Book of Jeremiah, one of the Hebrew prophets, we got a kind of coming of age story that reminds me that God, who formed us in the womb, speaks to youth and adults. “Do not say “I am only a boy;” for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.’
Hosea 11:1-4 and Luke 12:13-21
This week in our Listening to the Gospel group all of us were lively in our reactions to the Gospel. Each of us had stories to tell about how much or how little “stuff” we had and didn’t know what to do with.
We all knew someone who is holding on tight for dear life and others of us who readily share the wealth, including one person we heard about who purchased a cow for his own use after not having milk in his youth and then gave milk away free to anyone in need! We also talked about houses that were knocked down to build something larger, often to the detriment of folks of lesser means.