Down by the riverside I laid my burdens down and I'm travelin' light
Posted in Sermon Notes on Nov 8th, 2020
When Things Fall Apart: Turn Matthew 25:1-13, NRSV Reflections “The fragile human world will one day be caught up into the endless glory of God and will be held securely in God’s hands forever. But this is not a moment that has arrived in all its fullness in our history. We know about the promise […]
Posted in Sermon Notes on Nov 1st, 2020
When Things Fall Apart: Uncertainty Matthew 14:22-33, NRSV Reflections We might see the moral of the story as “you should have so much faith that you can walk on water toward Jesus” but the truth of this story is that Jesus walks toward us. The truth of the story is that my abundance of faith […]
Posted in Sermon Notes on Jun 22nd, 2016
Treasure in Clay Jars 2 Corinthians 4:5-15, NRSV Matthew 5:13, NRSV Reflections Whenever we deny that we’re wounded, we prepare the perfect breeding ground for bitterness, anger, cynicism, coldness, and rage. When we don’t recognize and accept our wounds and frustrations, we easily grow cold, grow hard, and toughen our skins, minds, and hearts. We […]
Posted in Sermon Notes on Jun 18th, 2016
The Gift of Life Together 2 Corinthians 2:1-17, NRSV Reflections People take time. But in our haste, we size them up or cut them down to what we take to be a more manageable size, labeling people instead of trying to hear, understand or welcome them. And we love our labels as ourselves even as […]
Posted in Sermon Notes on Jun 18th, 2016
The God of All Consolation 2 Corinthians 1:1-11, NRSV Reflections It is not that suffering or failure might happen, or that i will only happen to you if you are bad (which is what religious people often think), or that it will happen to the unfortunate, or to a few in other places, or that […]
Posted in Sermon Notes on Jun 18th, 2016
Sermon Series: Welcome of Resurrection Strugglers Welcome Luke 24:13-35, NRSV Reflections Emmaus is whatever we do or wherever we go to make ourselves forget that the world holds nothing sacred… where we spend much of our lives, you and I, the place that we go to in order to escape — a bar, a movie, […]
Posted in Sermon Notes on Jun 16th, 2016
Sermon Series: Welcome of Resurrection Enemies Welcome Acts 9:1-19, NRSV Reflections The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because generally they are the same people. — G.K. Chesterton It is our experience, good or bad, of our lives that teaches us Paul’s transformation from violence to breakdown […]
Posted in Sermon Notes on Jun 16th, 2016
Sermon Series: Welcome of Resurrection Failures Welcome John 20: 1-19, NRSV Psalm 32:1-2, NRSV Reflections We must always be ready to be surprised by God. They were, that spring morning, the third time they saw him after his resurrection… They were surprised by the huge catch… They were surprised by Jesus himself. And they were […]
Posted in Sermon Notes on Jun 16th, 2016
Sermon Series: Welcome of Resurrection Doubters Welcome John 20: 19-31, NRSV Psalm 56:1-4; 8-11, NRSV Reflections I’m grateful to be a practicing Christian. I’m always amazed when people say, “I’m a Christian.” I think, “Already?” It’s an ongoing process. You know, you keep trying. And blowing it and trying and blowing it. — Maya Angelou […]
Posted in Sermon Notes on Jun 5th, 2016
Sermon Series: Welcome of Resurrection Weepers Welcome John 20: 10-18, NRSV Psalm 56:8, NRSV Reflections Tears are a biological gift of God. They are a physical means for expressing emotional and spiritual experience. But it is hard to know what to do with them. If we indulge our tears, we cultivate self-pity. If we suppress […]
Traveling Light Relay
Down by the riverside I laid my burdens down and I'm travelin' light