Our first reading is from Genesis 18:1-15, 21:1-7. It is a most complex text, and scholars insist that it has been heavily edited, going through many revisions before it became the version we have before us. There are four themes that jump out at us today that connect the text to our current climate. The […]
First Sunday after Pentecost
In this time of the pandemic, protest, riot, and divisive politics, I choose nature’s beauty. On Facebook, I post pictures of our home gardens, pictures of dogwood, iris, tulips, daffodils, dianthus, and roses. Our church gardens contain iris, tulips, hosta, azalea, salvia, geraniums, pansies, and rhododendron. We choose nature’s beauty to connect to our […]
The Celebration of Pentecost
The other night, on Memorial Day, in our neighborhood, people were setting off fireworks. I suspect that most firework shows will be canceled this year for the Fourth of July. As teenagers, Leigh and I would pile our younger brothers and sister, all six of them, in her parents’ huge Vista Cruiser station wagon and […]
Safe Worshiping Guidelines for All Saints
The Executive Committee and the Vestry have reviewed the following response to the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania guidelines for the resumption of us gathering for Sunday morning worship. Second Sunday at Six worship will be in recess until the fall. These procedures have been reviewed by Canon Chad Linder, a member of the Bishop’s staff. […]
The Seventh Sunday of Easter
Our readings for today are Acts 1:16-14; Psalm 68:1-10, 33-36; I Peter 4:12-14,5: 6-12; John 17:1-11. The reading from Acts is a favorite. Jesus ascends into heaven, and the apostles just stand there watching while two angels ask, “Why do you stand looking up toward heaven?” The angel’s words direct them to mission rather than […]
The Sixth Sunday of Easter
Our readings for today as follows – Acts 17:22-31; Psalm 66:7-18; I Peter 3:13-22; John 14:15-21 While there are variations in the last two lines, this is the verse popularized in the mid-nineteenth century. The origin of the verse is unclear. One possible origin maybe the defeat of King Richard III of England at Bosworth […]
The Fifth Sunday of Easter
Acts 7:55-60; Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16; I Peter 2:2-10; John 14: 1-14 “When times are tough, the tough get going.” These are tough times we live in. St. Stephen lived in tough times, too. The Jesus movement was challenging the ancient faith of Israel, challenging the traditionalists of his day. The disciples were guiding the people […]
The Fourth Sunday of Easter
Today is traditionally called “Shepherd’s Sunday”. Our readings are – Acts 2:42-47, Psalm 23, I Peter 2:19-25, and John 10:1-10. From the 23rd Psalm, we observe that a shepherd has three tools to care for the sheep, voice, staff, and rod. With the voice “he calls his own by name…the sheep know his voice”. The […]
The Third Sunday of Easter
What is essential and necessary, and what is good and helpful? We are all self-quarantined these days, prohibited from gathering for worship together, from graduating together, from learning together, from drinking coffee together. While smog around the world is dissipating and we are able to see more clearly and breathe more deeply, this crisis is […]
The Second Sunday of Easter
God had additional plans beyond the empty tomb. The stone was rolled away; the linen cloths were neatly folded; the crucified Jesus as raised from the dead. Alleluia. Christ is Risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia. The glory of God is revealed. The glory of God is more powerful than the darkness of the […]