There are many different visions of the future. Sometimes the future seems fearful and we fear we are going towards a national dictatorship, and that there are wars and mangled lives and tortured souls in so many places in the world, we might not see any hope of peace to anchor ourselves for. But these…
I sit at my desk in the lobby. Person walks up. What’s your name please? I say. Name she says. Were you born on date I say? Yes, she says. Can I see your bracelet? I say. She shows me her bracelet. Yes, that’s right. You can have a seat, I say. Next person, it…
“In actions and in truth.” Powerful words with the emphasis being on the last word today – Truth. But trust is hard to restore once lost. Saying, “I’m sorry is not enough.” You will have to see that I love you in action and in truth. People in general have lost trust in humanity…
The scripture we heard was about the disciples’ third time of seeing Jesus after the resurrection. The scene takes place at least a week after the resurrection, and after Jesus had sent them out with specific instructions to forgive the sins of others. “So send I you,” are the words we best know that Christ…
In the story of Jesus’ passion walk through the streets, his punishments, his legal trials, illegal trials, to the cross and beyond to the grave and the resurrection, women played a significant role in the Easter story. Women were depicted as the only courageously strong people who cared deeply for Jesus and were repeatedly not…
Do you know what Palm Sunday is? I was surprised to find among our meeting people who had not experienced Holy Week. As someone from a high church tradition, I have layers of memory from decades of Palm Sunday services. If you see people in front wearing fancy clothes or smell incense you may be…
Have you ever candled an egg? If you have laying hens and a rooster you have to look at eggs to see if they are fertile, have a chick embryo inside, or if they are good for breakfast or to hold a cake together. You hold the egg up in a dark closet or at…
Reading In 1981, the wife of John Shelby Spong, noted Progressive Theologian and Episcopal priest, was diagnosed with metastatic cancer and given a prognosis of two years. Immediately people all over New Jersey where he served began prayer groups for his wife, and there was an outpouring of concern and good thoughts for her. She…
Of all the great things created by love and desire, know that you are the most extraordinary. You are more amazing than buildings and poems and paintings. You are chosen and have been chosen over and over and over again. Not just by your parents choosing to have a child, but by choosing what they want when they chose one another. Each time one of your ancestors looked at the other and saw something they wanted, they were choosing who you would be. They chose your hair color and eye color. They chose the size of your nose and shape of your jaw. They chose whether you are book smart or street smart. They chose your sense of humor. You are the collective choices of your ancestors beyond history, beyond when your ancestors could even speak. You are special. You are chosen
The poem read by Mike this morning has great relevance in today’s adversarial climate. Remember when we were taught to keep things civil, just talk about the weather. Well, we can’t do that any longer because there is such disagreement about why our weather is a bit erratic and too warm. From what we read…