While I’m not sure how it conveys in the aural sermon, we were exposed to Abram as he questioned how and when God would make him a mighty nation – since he and Sarai were getting very old. God restated God’s promise to Abram and because Abram trusted God, they formed a covenant relationship. We […]
Lent 2019 is upon us – our annual journey of reflection, listening, and, if necessary, redirecting ourselves to the places God is leading us.The children, and all who are children of God, renew our story and the presence we bring in our community; truth in our past, our present, and our future. Lent is a […]
What a phrase: “The invitation to the observance of a holy Lent.” Sometimes that phrase seems odd but when we remember that something that is holy is something that is set aside for God. As we gathered for worship, both at St. John’s and at Lake Prince Woods retirement center, we were asked to pause […]
Today was the Sunday often named Transfiguration Sunday (not to be confused with the Feast of the Transfiguration – which falls later in the liturgical calendar). We heard stories of Moses’ shining face and his having to hide his reflection of God’s presence in his life behind a veil – because Israel couldn’t handle being […]
In worship we were blessed to be bathed by rich music and insightful scripture. Our reading from Genesis told the story of Joseph’s reconciliation with his brothers; our psalm reminded us to not fret and wait for God to show where God is leading us. Our New Testament and Gospel described the Golden Rule and […]
we live in the moment of the light of Christ come into the world. In worship, we heard the story of Luke’s “Sermon on the Plain” with its blessings and woes; we heard Paul circle about resurrection, faith, and Christ and how if we say there is no resurrection then our faith is for naught. […]
As we approach the end of the season after the Epiphany, we hear stories in worship about how God calls and reaffirms the calls placed on our lives. Sometimes God comes to us like the story of Isaiah – with great pomp and grandeur that takes our breath away. Sometimes God comes to us in […]
Today in worship we heard readings and a reflection on the fractured church and lack of tolerance in Jesus’ time and in the new Church in Corinth. The cross section of readings today spoke to our calling to be witnesses and prophetic for God in the world (Jeremiah) and the assurance that God alone is […]
As we continue our journey this Epiphany season we are invited to spend time reflecting on how God is being made clearer to us day by day. Sometimes clarity comes, like Jesus shows us, through a simple direct statement “the promise made by the prophets has been completed in me” and other times, like we […]
In worship we considered what we think it means to be bathed in God’s light and sacrament. But not just to be bathed in, but to actively share God’s light and sacrament. Our scripture reminded us today that we need both space and independence to function in the way God calls us to function; but […]