Hope Breaks In Lamentations 3:55-57, Luke 1:5-13 When we think of Advent, we usually think of candles and carols, warm light in the darkness, and hopeful anticipation. Fear is probably not the first word that comes to mind. But fear runs all through the Advent scriptures. Every time God’s messengers appear to Zechariah, to Mary, […]
Who Do You Serve? Psalm 45, Colossians 1:11-19 Earlier this week, before I had even published the sermon title—“Who Do You Serve?”—one of our members sent me a message with a link to a song they thought I might appreciate. It was Bob Dylan’s “Gotta Serve Somebody.” And if you know the song, you know […]
Resurrection Now! Luke 20:27-38 People say, “There’s no such thing as a dumb question.” And that’s mostly true, mostly. But then someone asks me: If vegetarians only eat vegetables, what do humanitarians eat? Or, if God wanted us to eat vegetables, why did God make bacon taste so good? Or, how long is eternity, exactly? […]
Saints, Sinners, and Sycomores Luke 19:1-10 Jesus has been busy since last Sunday, when he told the parable of the Tax Collector and the Pharisee to those who trust in their own righteousness and look down on others. On his way to Jerusalem, he’s been blessing little children, telling a rich young ruler that it […]
Honest to God Luke 18:9-14 Our gospel lesson this morning immediately follows our parable last week about the persistent widow and the unjust judge — where we are reminded that if we pray for justice without working for justice, or prayers are hollow, and if we pray and work for justice without faith, we will […]
