Authors

Machrina L. Blasdell

The Rev. Machrina Blasdell teaches religious studies online for Park University from the flexible locations allowed by a traveling laptop. She is enjoying the return to her hometown of Phoenix where she revels in growing roses and making anything chocolate.

Sermons and Bible Studies

Heaven, Day of Pentecost (A) – May 31, 2020

May 31, 2020

[RCL]: Acts 2:1-21 or Numbers 11:24-30; Psalm 104:25-35, 37; 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 or Acts 2:1-21; John 20:19-23 or John 7:37-3 What do you believe about heaven? According to polling in recent years, about 70% of Americans believe that heaven exists – and about the same number of Americans think they have an excellent chance of […]

The Woman at the Well, Lent 3 (A) – March 15, 2020

March 15, 2020

[RCL]: Exodus 17:1-7; Psalm 95; Romans 5:1-11; John 4:5-42 There is a story told of a little boy who was put to bed, only to ask for a drink of water. And again. And again. And again. Does this happen at anyone’s house? Many parents know this well from when their children are small. Anyway, […]

There Is More, Trinity Sunday (C) – 2019

June 17, 2019

[RCL]: Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31; Psalm 8 or Canticle 13 (or Canticle 2); Romans 5:1-5; John 16:12-15 Jesus said something curious in today’s gospel: “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” Why do you suppose that Jesus said that? He was speaking to his disciples. Whatever did he […]

Indispensable, Epiphany 3 (C) – 2019

January 27, 2019

“The knee bone’s connected to the… thigh bone. The thigh bone’s connected to the… hip bone. The hip bone’s connected to the…,” and so on. Does this sound familiar? Remembering this song is appropriate in getting us to the punchline. It comes from an era of romantic songs and bobby sox. There is also an […]

Jesus Comes to Coffee Hour, Easter 3 (B) – 2018

April 16, 2018

The language of scripture is, for the most part, a graceful and formal language. There’s that one place in Paul’s epistles where he uses a word we don’t use in polite company. There is more than one instance of whining, of rudeness, even of insult. Of course, there are the stories of things we don’t […]

What’s the Question?, Epiphany 4 (B) – 2018

January 28, 2018

“If this is the answer, then what is the question?” Have you ever wondered that about something? Jesus often asks questions without providing answers: “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” “Who do you say I am?” “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” Anytime we read […]

Whom Ought I Welcome?, Proper 8 (A) – 2017

July 02, 2017

“Jesus said, ‘Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.’” Just so we get this straight: whoever welcomes you welcomes Jesus, and whoever welcomes your friend or neighbor or family member or work colleague or elected official or mother-in-law or next door neighbor or chatty seat companion on […]

What Does It Take To Believe?, Easter 2 (B) – 2015

April 12, 2015

Last Sunday, the celebration of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, we proclaimed with joy and wonder: “He is risen!” That was the theme for the day, that was the truth renewed and declared. The stone is rolled away! The Lord is alive! And what we have is an empty tomb. The women came […]

Our Mandate for This Day: Love One Another, Maundy Thursday – 2014

April 17, 2014

The ancient designation of this day, this night, is “Maundy,” a form of the word “mandate.” And what is a mandate? It is a command, a demand, an order, an administrative determination, a legal authority, something required. It is mandatory, rather than optional. No choice. So, what is our mandate on this day? To love […]

Inflection Is Everything, Advent 3 (B) – 2014

December 14, 2014

Inflection is everything. What do Americans call the game of table tennis? Do we say, “ping pong”? No. We call it “ping pong.” In English, men’s names such as David, Matthew, Isaac, Daniel, are emphasized on the first syllable. We tend to inflect with emphasis. In other languages inflection is handled differently. In Turkish, for example, even […]

The Power of Interruptions, Proper 13 (A) – 2014

August 03, 2014

Have you ever noticed that wherever food is present, Jesus is there? As often as he was praying, he was sharing food. Late in his ministry, he even identified himself with bread and wine – staples in the Mediterranean diet, then as now. Food: It nourishes, brings pleasure and comfort, fills us up – sometimes […]

What Does “King” Mean to You?, Christ the King (C) – 2013

November 24, 2013

The King. Christ: the King. The feast of: Christ the King. This is what we mark and celebrate today, but what does it mean? Back around the time our current Prayer Book was approved, it wasn’t uncommon to hear clergy say, even lament, that confirmation was a sacrament needing a theology. Our understanding of baptism […]

17 records

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