Through our worship and the practices observed this Epiphany season, we are reminded of the grace we have received and God’s providence. We hear about the act of an epiphany – becoming aware of the presence of something already present. The Psalmist reminds us of both the immenseness of God – the ability to make […]
As we worship and hear the lessons for the Feast of the Epiphany we can be struck by the themes of light and awareness. We hear the worshipful and worship-filled interaction between the prophet Isaiah and his people, between Paul and his church in Ephesus, and the Magi from the east (not kings but wise […]
Our lessons bring us the message of hope: that one will come to be savior, redeemer, and the one who brings peace. We were reminded that the times of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph are not unlike our present time. There are those who have and those who don’t and a lot who are chugging along. […]
In worship today, we were overwhelmed with Mary’s Song (the Magnificat) – it appeared in three instances in worship, twice in scripture readings and once in the Advent Wreath liturgy. Mary and Elizabeth were coupled with stories from Micah and the letter to the Hebrews – the old way isn’t what saves us; the new […]
In worship we picked up the theme of being joyful and rejoicing. Our Gospel today brings back John the Baptist and his railing at the Israelites “You brood of vipers” and the direction that all we need to do is be hospitable, loving, and generous. There’s no magic formula, just connection with our community as […]
In worship we built on the foundation laid last week about the days (of the Lord) coming. Malachi, the messenger, helped us remember there are messengers in our midst – sometimes we are the messenger for others – and that we need to be refined by God to share the message of hope. Yet the […]
In worship we were greeted with lessons and hymns that, while fitting for Advent, are not in keeping with our social state. Our lessons spoke of waiting and trusting that God’s providence was already present and would continue to be present. All we need to do is look for God’s fingerprints and footprints to recognize […]
Today was a day to celebrate our community and the relationships we have within our church, within our community, and with God. In worship we had an experience of the apocalypse in our readings: part of the salutation from John of Patmos in the Revelation to John and a summary of David’s life as the […]
Today was also a day to pause and remember those who serve faithfully to help others know the grace of God – often without knowing it. Today is also a reminder of the power of faithful generosity and charity for our community and for our church. As we gathered for worship we had an opportunity […]
As we celebrate All Saints’ and All Souls our scripture invites us to consider how our story is important; the story of God’s grace and presence and how God’s presence brings hope. Interestingly, we are invited to remember that God is intimately connected to us and all creation, so much so that God came among […]