The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus at his baptism, “This is my son in whom I am delighted.” After this, Jesus went into the wilderness where he was tempted by power, by earthly pleasures, and by the Devil. Returning…
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Following the One in Whom God Delights
John the Baptist calls out, “Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight.”But how do we prepare for the Christ? Don’t cheat. Don’t harass others. Share what you have. Don’t rely upon the ancestors to cover up your…
Posted in Call to Worship, Isaiah, Isaiah 42, Isaiah 42:1, Luke, Luke 3, Luke 3:1-22, narrative lectionary, New Testament, Old Testament
Grow & Follow, Follow & Grow
Jesus was actively engaged in Temple life. He asked questions, challenging ideas, and listened to the rabbis.He wanted to learn and grow. Faith is about questions and doubts. It is about listening to those who have studied and experienced beyond…
Pondering, Wondering; God is Moving Closer
Gabriel appears to Mary. A practical woman, she asks for more details. “How can this be?”And she ponders. God is moving closer. Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth for counsel. Elizabeth’s child leaps for joy in her womb.And we wonder. God…
Jubilation will come.
The people were finally home.After generations in exile, they returned to their ancestral land. The joy that was anticipated was real,but it was also different to return home.Though they yearned for the way it was, the future is a place…
What if?
Though the earth is ravaged by pandemic and climate change…What if there is still reason to hope? Though the earth is ravaged by a people bent upon polarization and war…What if there is still a chance for peace? Though the…
Make Us Like Isaiah
We create images of you,placing you within the constraints of our humanity.But you are beyond our imaginings. You call upon us to be your people,pushing the limits of who we think we can be.But you know we can be so…
Not so unnatural
A scavenger delivers food to a man twice a day in the wilderness.It’s unnatural. In the middle of a famine, a jar of flour never decreases no matter how often used.It’s unlikely. A stranger heals a widow’s son with only…
What if our job is to build a new post-pandemic church?
The Creator is worthy!God is worthy indeed! The cool breezes, grey and damp days, and blowing leaves remind us of the divinity that undergirds the world.The Creating One is worthy! In each generation a particular purpose and particular tasks become…
Our Authentic Purpose
Hannah yearned for purpose in a world in which women’s worth was only childbirth and nurturing children. Like Hannah, we live in a world which defines our worth by standards not all of us can meet. Like Hannah, we hurt…
