Text: John 12:1-8 (Jesus anointed for burial) * Video of complete service * Bulletin (PDF) Today, I start with a discussion of “The Slap.” Last Sunday evening, Kim and I, like so many others, were shocked when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock during the Oscars telecast. This occurred after Rock made a joke about the shaved head of Jada … [Read more…]
Text: Mark 10:17-31 (the costs of discipleship) * Video of complete service * Order of service (PDF) Since it started more than three weeks ago, the horrors of the Russian invasion of Ukraine have dominated many of our hearts and minds. So many people killed; so much destruction and displacement; and so much fear and uncertainty with … [Read more…]
Text: Luke 4:1-13 (Jesus in the wilderness) * Video of complete service * Order of service (PDF) The Good News of Jesus Christ was written to help Jewish people deal with an unspeakable disaster. In the Year 70, a three-year-long Roman siege of Jerusalem finally broke through its walls. The Empire’s soldiers killed tens of thousands of patriots who … [Read more…]
Texts: Mark 9:2-9 (the Transfiguration) * “Fear” by Kahil Gibran Video of complete service * Order of service Dreams sometimes seem to contain important messages. The difficult part is interpreting them. For example, does the appearance of a grandparent in a dream point to one’s attachment to family traditions; to a desire to move beyond those traditions; … [Read more…]
Texts: Mark 8:27-36 (“take up your cross”) * “A Deeper Awareness” by Cynthia Bourgeault Order of Service * Video of complete service Church, for me, is a serious business; and no church season is more serious than Lent. It is six weeks in which we confront the fragility of life and the dangers of upholding sacred values. … [Read more…]
Text: Luke 15: 11-31 (the Parable of the Prodigal Son) During Lent, we journey to Jerusalem with Jesus. This can feel like a dark season because it ends in Jesus’ death. But the path is illuminated by the light of Easter, which shines back at us. This light is the promise of resurrection. The Parable … [Read more…]
Text: Luke 4:1-13 (Jesus tempted in the wilderness) Lent is supposed to be a season of silence, fasting, and prayer. As in today’s story of Jesus in the wilderness, we are invited to spend the 40 days and nights of Lent in contemplation with just the Holy Spirit, and perhaps the devil, for company. This … [Read more…]
Text: Mark 14:1-9 (Jesus is anointed for burial) The journey of Lent is called “the narrow path” because Jesus says “the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life” (Matthew 7:13). But is there one path or many? In today’s reading, Jesus describes an act of oil being poured on his … [Read more…]
Text: Mark 8:37-45 (“take up your cross”) Peter gets a bad rap in the gospels. He is the first person Jesus calls as a disciple. He has more conversations with Jesus than anyone else. He is present at every turn in the story, from the mission in Galilee, to the Transfiguration that Bruce preached about … [Read more…]
Text: John 11;1-45 (Jesus raises Lazarus) Why does Jesus weep as he approaches the tomb of Lazarus? As John tells the story, Jesus is going to bring Lazarus back to life. So why weep? Perhaps Jesus weeps in sympathy with Mary and Martha, the sisters of his dead friend Lazarus. Perhaps he weeps for the … [Read more…]