If faith is a relay race, Jesus would run both the first leg and the anchor leg. He is the strongest and most reliable runner, able to endure the greatest hardship of all, but as each of us takes our turn with the baton of challenge and heartbreak, he is right there, coaching and encouraging […]
Talking to yourself is totally normal…right? Sometimes it’s just safer than trying to engage with other people. But today we hear about the misstep of talking only to yourself. How easily we get caught up in ourselves and our stuff and forget about the needs and perspectives of others! How easily we forget that true […]
Does it matter how we pray? As we hear the story of Jesus teaching his disciples to pray, we ponder the words of the Lord’s Prayer that hand us a lifeline to the faith of previous generations. At the same time, we explore how to continue this conversation as we go forward, knowing our loving […]
“Comparison is the thief of joy.” We see this so clearly in the story of Martha and Mary welcoming Jesus into their home. Martha is hard at work, taking care of business, but struggling to keep it together. Jesus reminds her that she, too, deserves to know joy. This worship service includes Communion as an […]
We all know the story of the Good Samaritan, right? Love your neighbor as yourself, and all that jazz. Well…it might be more difficult than it seems. Our neighbor might not be who or what we expect, and we might not be the hero of the story. Today we re-think this key parable of Jesus. […]
Freedom! It should be a simple concept, but as we see today, it’s anything but. Freedom and power have a complex relationship and in our second reading, Paul has many thoughts on how Christians should exercise them both. On this weekend when we celebrate freedom in the United States, we ponder what it truly means […]
Elijah and Elisha might be called the dynamic duo of prophets in the Old Testament. Elijah was brash and bold (most of the time); Elisha was the faithful apprentice learning the ropes. Until one day everything changes, and Elisha has to wrestle with how to move forward. Like Elisha, how do we move forward into […]
Who is God, really? Trinity starts with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but it doesn’t end there. Today we are invited to wonder and delight in the mystery of God. True wisdom comes from knowing how little we actually understand, and being willing to learn the same way the same way a little child does: […]
The story of Pentecost is not about everyone speaking the same language, but about everyone being truly understood. Poured out in wind and fire, water, wine, and bread, the Holy Spirit abides in and among us. We give thanks that God speaks to each of us, no matter our origins, language, or life path. Filled […]
When are the free not really free? In today’s reading from Acts, the free are enslaved and the enslaved are made free in a topsy-turvy story about an exploited young woman, a city suspicious of newcomers, and a jailer conflicted about his role in a corrupt system. Paul and Silas come preaching the kingdom of […]