2006

Readings: Genesis 1:1-5; “The Creation” by James Weldon Johnson I’m not real big on New Year resolutions, but the new year is often for me one of those “stock-taking” times where you sort of step back from yourself and ask yourself what you’re doing and why and whether there need to be some adjustments along … Read more

Scripture: Luke 6:27-36 The sermon this morning is in a way a follow-up to last week when we were dealing with and listening to the words of Martin Luther King, and a follow-up as well to a couple of the sermons from before Christmas, which somehow seems like a long time ago now. Of course … Read more

Scripture: Mark 1:21-28 When I started working on this sermon, I thought it was going to be about authority and healing, two themes from the scripture reading this morning. I realized, however, about 1/3 of the way into the writing, as I was struggling with the question of authority, that I wasn’t going to get … Read more

Scripture: Mark 1:21-28 Those of you who were here last Sunday know that the scripture that was just read a moment ago is that same one that was read last Sunday. Those of you who were here last Sunday also know that the reason we’re hearing the same passage a second time is not because … Read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-6, 11-16 A word or two of explanation to start with. You’ve heard Debbie and John report on the Christian Education retreat that was held a week ago Saturday. The retreat itself was an effort to be more intentional about our Christian education program, to gather some of the thoughts and wisdom and … Read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11 This is the first Sunday in Lent. I said Wednesday night at the Ash Wednesday service and also in the newsletter, that I find myself reflecting this year about what it means to walk humbly with God, kind of my personal Lenten theme. Many of you recognize that phrase as being the … Read more

Scripture: Mark 8:31-38 The scripture you heard read a moment ago is the lectionary gospel reading for this Sunday. It’s one of those interesting coincidences that this should come up in the pre-arranged schedule of scripture readings, because it’s a passage that deals directly with what I wanted to talk about anyway, and in fact … Read more

Scripture: Psalm 32 and 1John 1:5-10 I’m continuing this morning with the theme of walking humbly with God, focusing today on the idea of confession, an important part of that process and maybe sort of a typical theme for the Lenten season. I’d be interested to know what you think I’m going to talk about … Read more

Scripture: John 12:20-36 A couple of weeks ago I remember saying that the Bible passage I had chosen to deal with that morning was in fact the lectionary scripture, one of the recommended passages for that Sunday, and that the reason I was dealing with it was that by coincidence it was a passage that … Read more

Scripture: Mark 11:1-11; 2Corinthians 4:7-12, 16-18 So we come today to what many people consider to be the heart of the Christian story, the events that begin on Palm Sunday, take us through the last days of Jesus life, his last supper with the disciples, the arrest and trial, betrayal and abandonment, crucifixion and resurrection. … Read more