The parable of the mustard seed is one of the classic stories Jesus tells. But Ezekiel’s prophecy of the mighty cedar is a little less well-known. The Gospel of Mark weaves these two together to show that God’s kingdom is both everywhere (like the mustard plant) and a haven for nurturing life (like a mighty […]
In the gospel of Mark, Jesus is on a mission to save and liberate everyone from the forces of evil. But some have a problem with this: the religious authorities and Jesus’ own family. How do we follow the Spirit’s call to change the world when it conflicts with our own need for order and […]
Today the word “awesome” is part of our everyday vocabulary as another word for “great.” But thinking of God as the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) moves us beyond “awesome” to AWE. When we see God’s majesty and mystery reflected in countless ways, it’s OK to give ourselves permission to be awestruck. That is […]
On Pentecost we celebrate the pouring out of the Holy Spirit, who takes our groans (including our sighs, cries, prayers, and swears) and transforms them into signs of grace. It takes time, not unlike the birth of anything new. It takes patience and hope to see what is unfolding. But the Spirit can transform our […]
After Jesus ascended into heaven, his followers had to figure out what to do next. They prayed, planned, gathered, and chose a new leader to take Judas’ place by flipping a coin. Little did they know what the Holy Spirit—about to enter the scene—would do next by choosing the unchosen. This worship service includes a […]
God is love. Simple as that. But the meaning of that statement is far more profound. Love is tenderness; love is justice; love transcends our human limitations; love changes the world. Love is part of our unique stamp as those who bear the image of God; we love because God first loved us, and Jesus […]
In the Great French Wine Blight of the mid-1800s (a real thing), grafting French vines into American rootstock saved the wine industry and made vines around the world healthier and hardier. Jesus tells a story where he is the vine, we are the branches, and God is the vinegrower, but what Jesus forgets to mention […]
Good Shepherd Sunday often conjures up peaceful images of fluffy white sheep frolicking in green pastures without a care in the world, as their kind and loving shepherd keeps watch. Real life is not so idyllic. There are thieves and wolves who seek to do harm and hired hands who are only in it for […]
In the middle of grief and trauma, it’s the little things that we remember. When Jesus appeared to his disciples later on the day of his resurrection, they were still in shock from his death and struggling to believe he was alive. While he does explain everything to them, first he greets them in small, […]
Alleluia! Christ is risen! We celebrate Easter after a year when we need to hear about resurrection more than ever. We don’t like to admit that it’s been a fearful time. But the women were also filled with fear when they went to anoint Jesus’ body and found that he was missing—and terrified when they […]