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This is an adapted version of the sermon I preached this morning, the Fourth Sunday in Lent. The gospel reading was John 9:1-42. It's printed below throughout the sermon, because of the particular way I preached today. 1As Jesus walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, … Continue reading Breaking Through (Sermon)
This is an adapted form of the sermon I preached today, the Fifth Sunday of Easter. The gospel text was John 13:31-35. I’m like to teach you something new today. It’s called breathing. It’s easy. Here. Do it with me. Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out. There. Now you can go out and … Continue reading A New Way to Breathe (Sermon)
This is an adapted form of the sermon I preached tonight, Good Friday. The gospel text was John 18:1 -- 19:42. On Sunday, we heard the Passion of Our Lord according to Luke. And I invited you to write down questions that the story brought up in you. A few of you did so, and … Continue reading Who Am I in the Face of the Cross? (Good Friday Sermon)
This is an adapted form of the sermon I preached this morning, the Fourth Sunday in Lent. The gospel reading was Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32. God comes to us. This is a message we see throughout the story of scripture. When the Israelites were about to enter the promised land after forty years in the wilderness, … Continue reading God Comes to Us — What if We Go to Them? (Sermon)
This is an adapted form of the sermon I preached this morning, the Seventh Sunday after Epiphany. The gospel reading was Luke 6:27-38. There is a third way. There is always a third way. I believe that. Now, I don’t always succeed in acting on that. I don’t even always remember that I believe it. … Continue reading The Third Way of Love (Sermon)
This is an adapted version of the sermon I preached at our annual Blue Christmas service in 2021. Blue Christmas is a special service designed for people who find the holidays difficult. The gospel I preached on was John 1:1-14. When we think of the night sky at Christmas, I think we tend to think … Continue reading Lights in the Night Sky (Blue Christmas Sermon)
There are many things in my life that seem to cause me distress. But it’s not the things themselves that cause the distress – it’s my response to them that causes it. I think this is kind of like the Buddhist teaching that suffering is caused by our attachment to things. It’s not the thing … Continue reading I Accept Myself
I have noticed that I have a very difficult relationship with some words. For instance, the sentence, you’re welcome. When someone thanks me for something, I usually respond with, “No problem,” or, “Sure,” or just a nod. I can’t get myself to say the words, “You’re welcome.” I’m not entirely sure why, but I think … Continue reading The Hardest Words to Say
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 #40: Christ Presbyterian Church, Martinsville, New Jersey
The very first creed of the Christian church was two words: Kyrios Iesous. Or, in English, "Jesus is Lord." That was it. At first, there was no Apostles Creed, no virgin birth, no Council of Nicaea, no Holy Trinity, no theories of the redemption. Just two words. Kyrios Iesous. It was a political statement. The … Continue reading God loves us. Why have we forgotten?
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