Readings: Isaiah 43:16-21; Philippians 3: 8-14; John 8: 1-11 Preacher: Brigit Hurley Yesterday I held my 5-day-old grandson Levi for the first time. As I marveled at the miracle of his dark eyes and tiny fingers, I couldn’t help but think of Frederick Buechner’s words: “Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don’t be afraid.” Little Levi was born into… read more →
Readings: Joshua 5: 9a, 10-12; 2 Corinthians 5: 17-21, Luke 15: 1-3, 11-32Preacher: Cathy Glisson I remember being on a Lenten retreat when the director asked us to choose one of the figures we most relate to from the Gospel of the Prodigal Son/Forgiving Father. Several of us chose the older son, perhaps it being human nature that we tend… read more →
Readings: Exodus 3: 1-8a, 13-15; 1 Corinthians 10: 1-6, 10-12; Luke 13: 1-9 Preacher: Deni Mack Picture that Samaritan woman at the well. Imagine you’re at that well.You and your family have lugged water from this well for years. Jesus approaches and asks you for a drink. I watched that scene last Friday night. Our watering hole was a local hospital… read more →
Readings: Genesis 15:5-12 17-18; Phil 3:17-4:1; Lk 9:28b-36 Preacher: Deirdre McKiernan Hetzler Happy Lent! What? Whoa! Whoever puts “happy” in the same breath with Lent? Growing up, the emphasis seemed so negative. Yes, we are sinners, and repentance is an essential part of our Lenten journey. But… What if we thought of Lent as a time of courtship? A chance to know more… read more →
Readings: Deuteronomy 26: 4-10; Romans 10: 8-13; Luke 4: 1-13 Preacher: Margot Van Etten I recently saw a clip on You Tube from the musical Les Miserables. (Back story — Jean Valjean is an escaped prisoner—condemned for stealing a loaf of bread. From a saintly bishop, he receives wealth, a new identity, and home. He starts a business and becomes mayor.… read more →
Readings: Sirach 27: 4-7; 1 Corinthians 15: 54-58; Luke 6: 39-45 Preacher: Gloria Ulterino Are you ready? Am I? Lent is almost here! We begin this coming week, on Ash Wednesday: our season of self-examination… of preparation for Eastertime joy. So, are you ready? This weekend’s readings point the way, ready or not. In fact, today’s Gospel, which I recall from… read more →
Readings: 1 Samuel 26: 2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23; 1 Corinthians 15: 45-49; Luke 6: 27-38 Preacher: Marilyn Catherine “Love your enemy!” I have enough trouble loving the one who is good to me. Little irritations push my buttons and send me off. Insignificant disparities offend my sensibilities. Too often I sit and stew, licking my scratches, silently scripting a drama where I… read more →
Readings Jeremiah 17: 5-8; 1 Corinthians 15: 12, 16-20; Luke 6: 17, 20-26 Preacher: Sr. Barbara Moore We folks living in upstate New York see beauty in our trees even on the coldest of days. They are covered in a white snow dress and seem to resist the bitter cold. But no matter the season, the Scriptures make use of their… read more →
Readings: Isaiah 6: 1-2a, 3-8; 1 Corinthians 15: 3-8, 11; Luke 5: 1-11 Preacher: Meghan Kellogg As I prayed over the readings, a song started to emerge in my head and before I knew it, I was singing out loud “The Call.” If you are unfamiliar, it’s a piece by Ralph Vaughan Williams composed using George Herbert’s poem, “The Call,” as… read more →
Readings: Malachi 3: 1-4; Hebrews 2: 14-18; Luke 2: 22-40 Preacher: Deni Mack Today we heard the prophet Malachi tell us God said, “I am sending a messenger to prepare the way before me.” God did send us John the Baptist and many prophets before him to prepare the way for Jesus, the savior of the world. Malachi also asks us, Who can stand when he… read more →