Readings – Galatians 6: 14- 8; Psalm 121; Matthew 11: 25-30 Today as part of our blessing of pets, traditional for the celebration of St. Francis, we will sing Hymn #405, “All things bright and beautiful”.  The hymn was first published in 1848.  The author, Cecil Frances Alexander, was inspired by the very beginning of […]

Readings – Esther 7: 1-6, 9-10, 9: 20-22; Psalm 124; James 5: 13-20, Mark 9: 38-50 The Lutheran Church outdoor sign on Ridge Road in Northumberland reads “God’s Work; Our Hands”.  I find these words to be a good reminder – “God’s Work; Our Hands”.  We are invited to join in God’s work.  We can […]

Readings – Proverbs 31: 10-31; Psalm 1; James 3: 13-4:3, 7-8a, Mark 9: 30-37 The beginning of our proper collect for today is – “Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things”.  My Grandmother Donecker used to tell us, “This, too will pass”.  Yes, “we are placed among things that are passing away”, […]

Readings – Proverbs 22: 1-2, 8-9, 22-23; Psalm 125; James 2: 1-17; Mark 7: 24-37 On September 18 – 20, 1863 in Chickamauga, Georgia the Union and Confederate armies fought the second largest battle of the Civil War, second only to Gettysburg.  There were over 34,000 casualties.  A few years following the war the veterans […]

Readings – Song of Solomon, 2: 8-13; Psalm 45: 1-2, 7-10; James 1: 17-27; Mark 7: 1-8, 14-15, 21-23 Our proper collect for today includes – “increase in us true religion”.  How would you describe “true religion”?  In the seventeenth century, in England, the Anglican bishops decreed that on the East wall of every Anglican […]

Readings – II Samuel 18: 5-9, 15, 31-33; Psalm 130; Ephesians 4: 25 – 5:2; John 6: 35; 41-51 My grandmother Donecker loved to cook for the family.  When I was young Sunday dinner was at noon at her home in Philadelphia.  A white tablecloth was always on.  She said that it had to be […]

Readings – II Samuel 11: 26 – 12: 13a; Psalm 51: 1- 13; Ephesians 4: 1- 16; John 6: 24 – 35 As many of you know, I am a baseball fan, especially a Philadelphia Phillies fan.  Not last night for sure, but a couple of nights ago the Phillies were down 5 -3 going […]

Readings – II Samuel 11: 1-15; Psalm 14; Ephesians 3: 14-21; John 6: 1-21 The Old Testament reading and the Gospel reading are about contrasting kings, King David, and the long-awaited King of Heaven, Jesus Christ. In the Gospel, we hear the very familiar tale of Jesus feeding the crowd. It was supper time and […]

Readings – II Samuel 6: 1-5, 12b-19; Psalm 24; Ephesians 1: 3-14; Mark 6: 14-29 Jesus had just begun his public ministry.  He and his earliest disciples were going from village to village.  A woman had touched his robe and was healed.  Jesus took Jairus’ daughter by the hand and she miraculously recovered.  Then the […]

The Fourth of July Readings—Deuteronomy 10: 17-21; Psalm 145; Hebrews 11: 8-16; Matthew 5: 43-48 What a lectionary for Independence Day!  These readings point to the very core of our faith on a day when we celebrate our birth as “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all”.  From Deuteronomy – “the […]