Readings: Micah 5: 1-4a; Hebrews 10: 5-10; Luke 1: 39-45 Preacher: Gloria Ulterino I was there.  At the home of the priest Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth, that is.  A dozen or so years ago now, on pilgrimage to Israel with some 30 other women. On this one particular day, we headed to the “hill country,” as it’s called, just outside… read more →

Readings: Zephaniah 3:14-18a; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:10-18 Preacher: Deirdre McKiernan Hetzler “Rejoice!” “And again, I say, rejoice!” writes Paul. “Sing aloud!” “Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!” says the prophet Zephaniah. Neither Paul, in prison, nor the oppressed and sinful Israelites in exile, would seem to have much to rejoice about. And these days, many people might… read more →

Readings: Baruch 5: 1-9; Philippians 1: 4-6, 8-11; Luke 3: 1-6 Preacher: Ruth Marchetti Many of us are struggling with hope right now. The world’s painful problems appear increasingly unresolvable and the always-imperfect vision of our country as a beacon of justice and refuge for the persecuted seems more distant than ever. Climate change, immigration, inflation, rent hikes and housing shortages,… read more →

Readings: Jeremiah 33: 14-16; Thessalonians 3:12–4:2;  Luke 21: 25-28, 34-36 Preacher: Susan K. Roll Cayuga Lake is one of the two longest of the Finger Lakes, aptly named because of its very long narrow profile, running roughly from north to south and pointed on each end, cutting down through central New York State.  At its southern end lies the city of… read more →

Readings: Daniel 7: 13-14; Revelations 1: 5-8; John 18: 33b-37 Preacher: Lourdes Perez Albuerne The Jewish authorities had given Pilate a man who was enigmatic.  Sometimes he talked about things that were not understood.  And the accusation that the Jews made of him is that he said he was King.  Pilate wanted to know the truth that was enclosed in that… read more →

Readings: Daniel 12: 1-3; Hebrews 10: 11-14, 18; Mark 13: 24-32 Preacher: Patrick Fox As we close out another Liturgical Year we find ourselves in a time and space that may challenge us more than normal. Our first reading reminds us that our Hebrew sisters and brothers faced unsurpassed distress.  Our second reading from the Letter to the Hebrews reminds all… read more →

Readings: 1 Kings 17: 10-16; Hebrews 9: 24-28; Mark 12: 38-44 Preacher: Margot Van Etten The Temple is busy as people bring their offerings. The thirteen large, horn-shaped metal offering boxes resound as coins are put or poured into them. Wealthy people open their bags, pour the coins in, and as they cascade around the metal spiral the sound resembles a… read more →

Readings: Deuteronomy 6: 2-6; Hebrews 7: 23-28; Mark 12: 28b-34 Preacher: Sister Karen Dietz The readings given to us by the Church this weekend are relatively short, but packed with age old wisdom that crosses all boundaries of religious expression, race, gender, and nationality. What we read from the Book of Deuteronomy is that we are called to love God, to… read more →

Readings: Jeremiah 31: 7-9; Hebrews 5: 1-6; Mark 10: 46-52 Preacher: Cathy Kamp When I moved to Rochester from Long Island close to 30 years ago, I was astounded at how common it is here to run into people you know and how friendly people are. In the congested New Your City area, bumping into someone you know is quite unusual.… read more →

Readings: Isaiah 53:10-11; Hebrews 4: 14-16; Mark 10: 35-45 Preacher: Brigit Hurley The Gospel reading poses a question very much alive today–who is most important in the kingdom of God? What can we do to help build the kingdom in the here and now? Responding to James’ and John’s request for positions of status, Jesus dismisses established notions of power. He… read more →