This is an adapted version of the sermon I preached this morning, the Baptism of Our Lord. The gospel text was Matthew 3:13-17. When my wife and I were expecting our children, we thought a lot about what we would name them. It was an important decision, and there were a lot of things to … Continue reading You Are … (Sermon)
An image in words based on Matthew 3:13-17 Soon. So soon it comes. So soon silently a torrent rips across the sky. A wrenching rending thunderstorm cataclysm in reverse. Silently. So silently. The waters bubble and shimmer, hydrogen and oxygen quivering in homage to the one whose cells and humors descend into the darkwater abyss. … Continue reading The Watery Theophany
It's very hard to be patient when you're trying to get your first book published. At least that's been my experience. People often ask me, "How's your book coming along?" And my answer is usually a shrug, and something mumbled about, "I'm waiting at this point." I'll tell you, it has been a long process … Continue reading The Slow Telling of a Story
This is an adapted form of the sermon I preached this morning. Today we observed the Epiphany of Our Lord, and used a service of Lessons and Carols. All of the readings and songs were in some way related to light, and I invited the congregation to repeat the word and point to the cross … Continue reading There is Light (Sermon)
I enjoy walking labyrinths. Labyrinths are maze-like structures that have been used as spiritual tools for centuries. There are many of them around, and I am in the habit of trying to visit a lot of them. For more information about labyrinths, check out The Labyrinth Society. Find where labyrinths are in your area at the … Continue reading Labyrinth #35: Karl Stirner Arts Trail, Easton, PA
This is an adapted form of the sermon I preached on Christmas Eve 2019. One thing must be distinctly understood, or nothing wonderful can come of the story I am going to relate: Every Christmas Eve I have a sort of dialogue sermon with Kermit the Frog. Yes, that Kermit the Frog. You see, I … Continue reading Something So Tiny… (Christmas Eve Sermon)
This is an adapted version of the sermon I preached at a "Blue Christmas" service today. It’s almost Christmas, just a few more days and families will gather together, present will be opened, children will be ecstatic, memories will be made. Some of us will be back here again in this place, singing joyful carols … Continue reading Christmas is for the Suffering (Blue Christmas Sermon)
