Down by the riverside I laid my burdens down and I'm travelin' light
Posted in Sermon Notes on Jan 24th, 2021
The Way of Love: Time Mark 1:14-20, NRSV Reflections Lord of time fulfilled, who was not born an angel but walked the common earth: with those you called by the lakeside may we share your mission to bring good news to all, to let the world know that God is among us; through Jesus Christ, […]
Posted in Sermon Notes on Jan 17th, 2021
The Way of Love: Follows Psalm 139:1-6, NRSV John 1:35-51, NRSV Reflections What would happen if we left our comfortable vantage points, and dared to believe that just maybe, we have been limited and hasty in our original certainties about each other, about God, and about the world? To “come and see” is to approach […]
Posted in Sermon Notes on Jan 10th, 2021
The Way of Love… Receives Mark 1:4-11, NRSV Reflections As we enter the season of Epiphany, new questions arise: Will we allow the light that has broken forth to illuminate the darkest corners of our hearts, our families, and our lives? Can we—will we—follow Jesus as he untwists the mangled metal of our shattered souls […]
Posted in Sermon Notes on Jan 3rd, 2021
Dark Winter Hope Matthew 2:1-12, NRSV Reflections Hope is a song in a weary throat. Give me a song of hope And a world where I can sing it. Give me a song of faith And a people to believe in it. Give me a song of kindliness And a country where I can live […]
Posted in Sermon Notes on Dec 27th, 2020
Those Who Dream… Will Not Keep Silent Luke 2:22-40, NRSV Reflections Then perhaps there is a third kind of loss—the loss that comes when you notice the limits of your knowledge of God, when you feel bereft of guidance, when you feel the loss of God’s saving power or of God’s grace. This feeling of […]
Posted in Sermon Notes on Dec 20th, 2020
Those Who Dream… Sow Joy and Justice Isaiah 61:1-4, NRSV Luke 1:46-55, NRSV Reflections If this great reversal (of Mary’s Magnificat) is not my longing, if I hesitate or downright refuse to construe Christ’s coming in terms of systemic change and resistance to oppressive forces, Mary’s Magnificat presses me to ask if I am among […]
Posted in Sermon Notes on Dec 6th, 2020
Those Who Dream… Prepare the Way Isaiah 40:1-11, NRSV Mark 1:1-8, MSG Reflections Preparing the Lord’s path means challenging systems and structures that we have institutionalized as normal but that God condemns as oppressive and crooked. It means clearing the path of self-aggrandizement, self-absorption, and greed to make way for a community where all of […]
Posted in Sermon Notes on Nov 29th, 2020
Those Who Dream… Keep Awake Isaiah 64:1-4, NRSV Mark 13:24-37, NRSV Reflections Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly. — Langston Hughes, Dreams dominant power is not the ultimate power keep awake is to do truth telling, often with sadness learning to wait for God what […]
Posted in Sermon Notes on Nov 22nd, 2020
When Things Fall Apart: Deconstruction Acts 9:1-19, NRSV Reflections Fanaticism is always a compensation for hidden doubt. Religious persecutions occur only where heresy is a menace — Carl Jung The dark night is God’s attack on religion. — Rowan Williams It was Apostle Paul’s dark night Jesus is one with the bodies of those who […]
Posted in Sermon Notes on Nov 15th, 2020
When Things Fall Apart: Unraveling Internalized Shame John 4:1-16, NRSV Reflections Our internalized shame can become a barrier to intimacy with God. When we are seen for who we are, we can begin to heal and reconcile with our true selves, reconcile with our community and also reconcile with our Creator. — Mira Sawlani-Joyner Usual […]
Traveling Light Relay
Down by the riverside I laid my burdens down and I'm travelin' light