Readings: Wisdom 1: 13-15, 2: 23-24; 2 Corinthians 8: 7, 9, 13-15; Mark 5: 21-43 Preacher: Sister Karen Dietz Mass shootings, climate anomalies wreaking havoc, refugees clamoring at our borders, wars in too many lands to track, shootings, homelessness, and so much more. These are the daily realities that confront us each time we read or watch the news. The value… read more →
Readings: Job 38:1, 8-11; 2 Corinthians 5: 14-17; Mark 4: 35-41 Preacher: Sonja Livingston In spring of 1657, 12-year old orphan Françoise Nadreau boarded a ship in La Rochelle, France, and landed months later at the rugged outpost of Ville-Marie, which today we call Montreal. In 1855, 15-year old James Cass, body weak from famine, left a Tipperary workhouse for America.… read more →
Readings: Ezekiel 17:22-24; 2 Corinthians 5:6-10; Mark 4:26-34 Preacher: Suzanne Schnittman This spring my backyard has beckoned me outside to play farmer—in the smallest way imaginable. I am not designing a dramatic landscape, nor am I planting a crop to feed my family. I am simply scattering grass seed around in two patches to cover some dirt. I am in a… read more →
Readings: Genesis 3: 9-15; 2 Corinthians 4: 13-5:1; Mark 3: 20-35 Preacher: Gloria Ulterino Our oldest, Stacey, was just 3 years old. We had just bought our first house and had just finished painting a hallway that ran the entire length of the house. It was now a creamy off-white, rather than the original brown. So, Stacey decided to help. She… read more →
Readings: Acts 10: 25-26, 34-35, 44-48; 1 John 4: 7-10; John 15: 9-17Preacher: Susan Howard Divine Love, a love that is so complete and self-giving that it is bigger than life itself. That is the love that Jesus embodied; it is the love that Jesus hoped we all would embrace and make room for in our own hearts. Divine love… read more →
Readings: Acts 9: 26-31; 1 John 3:18-24; John 15:1-8 Preacher: Cathy Kamp Well into the Easter season, the Gospel of John—and Jesus— offer the gift of the true vine on this fifth Sunday: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.” These are words spoken by Jesus to prepare the disciples for his impending death and the… read more →
Readings: Acts 4:8-12; 1 John 3: 1-2; John 10: 11-18 Preacher: Nancy DeRycke Okay—the Gospel about Jesus calling himself the “good shepherd” has sucked me in once again. Probably because it got me thinking about Pope Francis’ oft-repeated challenge that “a shepherd must smell like his (her) “sheep.” What does it mean to “smell like your sheep” or to “lay down… read more →
Readings: Acts 3: 13-15, 17-19; 1 John 2: 1-5a; Luke 24: 35-48 Preacher: Deni Mack Peter says to us what he said to those who first heard him – “I know that you acted out of ignorance.” But we’re ignorant only some of the time. Other times we’re repentant and dependent on God. Our dependence on God wipes away some of… read more →
Readings: Acts 4: 32-35; 1 John 5: 1-6; John 20: 19-31 Preacher: Meghan Kellogg On her thirteenth day in the hospital, the medical team removed her breathing devices and artificial nutrition. The rollercoaster of hope and doubt arising from whether she would awaken from the coma came to a halt. As much as we didn’t want to accept it, God was… read more →
Readings: Acts 10: 34a, 37-43; Colossians 3: 1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5: 6b-8; John 20: 1-9 Preacher: Susan K. Roll My mother used to claim that early on Easter Sunday morning, the light shone through the stained-glass window in the sanctuary with a unique glow. We didn’t say much because, after all, Easter can fall anytime between March 22 and April… read more →