Remember the Old Gospel Hymn…, Proper 16 (B) – 2006

August 27, 2006

Remember the old gospel hymn, “When the roll is called up yonder”? Today’s scripture challenges Christians’ exercise of God’s gift to servant ministry and how we will respond to God when we are called to share in God’s “glory.” Throughout our lessons Joshua, David, Paul, and Jesus lay challenges of servant ministry before us. It […]

As We Move From Easter To Pentecost…, Easter 6 (B) – 2006

May 21, 2006

As we move from Easter to Pentecost our lessons highlight the broad spectrum of what the Christian faith brings to the people of God. The Gospel lesson and the Epistle remind us of the Commandments of God, while in Acts we hear of the necessity of baptism, even for those who may have already received […]

Today We Continue…, Lent 5 (B) – 2006

April 02, 2006

Today we continue to draw closer to the week of the Passion of Jesus. Our scripture lessons focus on the passion he experiences as he moves toward the trial before Pontius Pilate, the cross, and the Resurrection. We talk a great deal about compassion. Jesus was the most compassionate person God ever put on the […]

Conflict Comes…, Epiphany 6 (B) – 2006

February 12, 2006

Conflict comes in the religious community as well as in the secular world! We have all heard of the inevitable collision between two ships on the sea traveling the same course toward each other. There is no time to change direction. So it is in our gospel lesson for today. Jesus’ action in showing compassion […]

The Annual Stewardship…, Proper 26 (A) – 2005

October 30, 2005

The annual stewardship season is fast coming to a close. We will be making decisions on how we share the gifts that God has given us with our church, and in other ways that touch lives and causes that are special interests of ours. We most often consider what we do based on our financial […]

Today Is September 11…, Proper 19 (A) – 2005

September 11, 2005

Today is September 11, a date that will be remembered for generations yet to come. It is a date that Americans consider one of the most significant in the nation’s history. It is a date that is associated with other epic historic events such as the founding of the United States, the end of the […]

From Isaiah to the Psalms…, Proper 15 (A) – 2005

August 14, 2005

From Isaiah to the Psalms, to Paul’s letter to the Romans, and in Matthew’s Gospel we hear the offering of mercy to God’s children. John Wesley, always an Anglican, whose evangelical preaching led to the founding of the Methodist Church, emphasized that Christians should show their actions in word and deed. He was emphatic that […]

Our Lessons for Today Speak…, Proper 11 (A) – 2005

July 17, 2005

Our lessons for today speak with dynamic emphasis of the power of God. In the passages from Wisdom we read of God’s presence in the life of his people, a presence combining firmness and power as well as compassion and caring. “Although you are sovereign in strength, you judge with mildness, and with great forbearance […]

His Power: Our Heart and Our Mind, Ascension Day – 1998

May 21, 1998

Collect: Grant we pray, Almighty God, that as we believe your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into heaven, so we may also with heart and mind there ascend, and with him continually dwell; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. “Wait […]

Almighty and Everlasting God…, Ash Wednesday – 1998

February 25, 1998

Collect: Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you , the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus […]