Readings – Acts 1:1-14; Psalm 68:1-10, 33-36; I Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11; John 17:1-11 This morning we will begin with our first reading. The Resurrected Jesus is again with the gathered disciples, this time on Mt. Olivet. Together they asked him — Master, are you going to restore the kingdom of Israel now? Is this…
Readings – Acts 17:22-31; Psalm 66:7-18; I Peter 3:13-22; John 14:15-21 Ever since Monday when I began to think about our readings for today, this was the verse that kept popping up — I will not leave you orphaned [alone]; I am coming to you. John 14: 18 This passage continues our reading…
Readings – Acts 7: 55-60; Psalm 31: 1-5,15-16; I Peter 2: 2-10; John 14: 1-14 Often, we see illustrations of the entrance into heaven. There are the pearly gates. There is the long-bearded St. Peter. Sometimes he is at a podium with a long scroll of names. Sometimes there is a long line before him. …
Readings – Acts 2: 42-47; Psalm 23; I Peter 2: 19-25; John 10: 1-10 Before we approach the text from the Gospel according to St. John, I would like to place it in context. Today’s passage immediately follows the healing of the man born blind. Jesus made mud with his saliva and placed it on…
Readings—Acts 2: 14a, 36-41; Psalm 116: 1-3, 10-17; I Peter 1: 17-23; Luke 24: 13-35 My thoughts this morning begin with the words of our proper collect – Open the eyes of our faith that we may behold [God] in all [the] redeeming work… The Risen Jesus invites us as baptized members of his…
Readings – Acts 2: 14a, 22-32; Psalm 16; I Peter 1: 3-9; John 20: 19-31 158 years ago, the Civil War was ending. It was the war when those states who insisted on white supremacy and slavery pulled away. They no longer wished to stretch to the value put forth in the Declaration of Independence:…
Readings – Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 130; Romans 8:6-11; John 11:1-45 Primary Elections are coming up, on 14 May. We will again host a polling place in our parish hall. It is a good thing for us to do. As people of faith, we lift up our voices and vote on the issues of the day. …
Readings – I Samuel 16:1-13; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41 The prophet Samuel anointed the first king of Israel, King Saul, and Saul’s reign did not go well. In fact, Saul was still the monarch when Samuel was instructed by God to anoint another. Samuel was sent to Jesse, the Bethlehemite. In the Gospel,…
Readings – Genesis 12:1-4a; Psalm 121; Romans 4:1-5, 13-17; John 3:1-17 In 1774 Benjamin Franklin wrote in Poor Richard’s Almanac the following — Tart words make no friends. A spoonful of honey will catch more flies than a gallon of vinegar. We don’t need to take his word for it. Vinegar, negativity, dehumanizing others,…
Readings – Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7; Psalm 32; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11 A few weeks ago I was leaving Weis Market without a cart and was carrying multiple bags of groceries in each hand when an old friend came toward me. He wanted to chat, and we did for a short time. It was difficult to…