-
·
Writing Our Future
a Sermon for Christmas 2AText: Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 A Troubling History A few years ago, Diana Butler Bass wrote a book called A People’s History of Christianity. Like other “People’s Histories,” it is a history told, not from the perspective of the victors, but of the vanquished: in this case, it is the people, whose…
-
·
With Us
a homily for Advent 4A Text: Matthew 1:18-25 “Don’t be afraid” The most common phrase Jesus utters in His ministry is some variation of “don’t be afraid”. So often, the disciples are in the midst of something really hard, something truly frightening. Like Jesus appearing to them in the boat, rocked by storms and He…
-
·
Someone’s In the Kitchen With Martha…
a homily for Proper 11C Text: Luke 10:38-42 Dividing Each Other Before we get into the meat of this week’s gospel story, I want us to acknowledge something. This is a divisive gospel. There are many among us that feel recognized and justified. They feel like Mary. They love to be reminded that they are…
-
·
You are not blessed with stress
Or why I might not remember your name Stress is not a blessing Something we’ve inherited from our Protestant ancestors is an anachronistic attachment to labor, stress, and a propensity to die early. Probably from a heart attack. Last I looked, there are only nine Beatitudes. I wouldn’t be surprised if some used book shoppe…
-
·
Mary, the Witness
a Sermon for Advent 4C Text: Luke 1:39-55 Learning about Mary One of the things that excited me as a priest and presbyter of the church is how many people have mentioned Fr. Steve Bancroft’s sermon a year ago. Several people have come to me and spoken of that moment in which they heard for…
-
·
Don’t Be Afraid. I Really Do Mean It!
Text: Luke 1:26-38 In this morning’s gospel, we have what should seem absolutely crazy. It doesn’t for two reasons: 1) its very familiar and 2) the virgin birth has been an ideological litmus test for fundamentalists as something to intellectually believe with deep-rooted conviction. Rather than treating this like we do the rest of the…
