Only ten percent of an iceberg is visible above water…the rest is hidden underwater. Everyone has a story that is far deeper than what we can perceive, and pain that often is hidden. Jesus sends the disciples (and us) to go and preach the good news, not just by sharing words of hope, but by […]
What is God calling me to do? We ask ourselves variations of that question throughout our lives as we navigate life choices time and time again. In today’s readings, God calls Abram and Jesus calls Matthew to go into uncharted territory and empowers them to do the important work of blessing and helping those in […]
How can God be one and three at the same time? It’s a good question, but it’s a question about our world as well. How can we be ourselves and be part of a greater whole at the same time? Which one is more important? Who gets to decide what that looks like? Because we […]
Pentecost derives its name from the Jewish festival celebrating the harvest and the giving of the law on Mount Sinai fifty days after Passover. Fifty days after Easter, we celebrate the Holy Spirit as God’s presence within and among us. In Acts the Spirit arrives in rushing wind and flame, bringing God’s presence to all […]
How does Jesus’ ascension into the heavens work in our modern day thinking? Perhaps Jesus is simply going into the presence of God—which means he is breaking a path for us as well. His ascension is not just a “good luck and see you later.” It’s his way of building a bridge to reunite and […]
Jesus commands his followers to love one another, but that’s easier said than done. How do you learn how to love? How do you make yourself love someone? Fortunately, the thing that is impossible for us is not impossible for God. Through the presence of Holy Spirit within us, Jesus comes to abide with his […]
Today’s gospel begins with two disciples walking to Emmaus, overcome with sadness, loss, and disappointment. They had hoped Jesus, who was crucified, would be the one to redeem Israel! Yet the risen Christ walks with them and then opens their minds in the breaking of the bread. Each Sunday our hearts burn within us as […]
In today’s gospel the risen Christ appears to the disciples, but his resurrected body continues to have wounds (and Thomas wants to make sure). What’s up with that? Shouldn’t the resurrection mean everything is fixed and perfect? Jesus’ wounds are a testament to his love, his obedience, and his fight against evil. In the same […]
This is the day the Lord has made! Christ is risen, and through him all creation is made new! Even when our world is shaken…Christ is the one to whom we can hold fast! Today we sing hymns of praise, gather around sacred words, and proclaim God’s faithfulness, power, and love in the feast of […]
Today, our worship service follows a different path than usual. Today we encounter the paradox that defines our faith: Jesus Christ is glorified king and humiliated servant. We too are full of paradox: like Peter, we fervently desire to follow Christ, but find ourselves afraid, denying God. We wave palms in celebration today as Christ […]