The Executive Committee and the Vestry have reviewed the following response to the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania guidelines for our gathering for Sunday morning worship. A Revised Plan All enter by the Market Street parish hall entrance (which is accessible by all). Immediately inside the door will be a greeter who will record the individual’s…
The Epistles of 1 John and the Johannine Community The Johannine community was one of several sects of Christianity during the First and Second centuries. It was characterized by a very high Christology, emphasis on the Holy Spirit, and a rejection of the Bishop/Presbyter form of church government beginning to emerge in Christianity. In the…
Readings — Exodus 3:1-15; Psalm 105:1-6,23-26,45c; Romans 12:9-12; Matthew 16:21-18 To be a person of faith in our times is to be a person of courage. To be a person of faith is to keep our eyes, our ears, our hearts, and our minds open to the presence of God, and to act in partnership…
Readings – Exodus 1: 8-2:10; Psalm 124; Romans 12: 1-8; Matthew 16: 13-20 Let’s focus on St. Peter today. Just a couple of Sundays ago we read about his water-walking. He stepped out of the fishing boat of disciples crossing the Sea of Galilee. He walked alone toward Jesus who was also water-walking. At first,…
Readings – Genesis 45: 1-15; Psalm 133; Romans 1-2a,29-32; Matthew 15: 10-28 The Prayer of the Church is the Lord’s Prayer, the “Our Father”. Every Sunday, we pray together at the conclusion of the Great Thanksgiving, just before the climactic “Breaking of The Bread” – “The Gifts of God for the People of God”. Morning…
Readings: Genesis 37:1-4,12-28; Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b; Romans 10:5-15; Mathew 14: 22-33 This morning’s sermon grows out of reflection on two Biblical figures in our readings today—Joseph from our Old Testament reading, and Peter from our Gospel reading. Joseph is called a dreamer by his brothers, and Peter is portrayed as a risk taker who…
Readings: Genesis 29:15-28; Psalm 105:1-11, 45b; Romans 8:26-39; Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 Today in our Old Testament reading we continue the saga of Jacob, the legendary father of Israel. With his first wife, Leah, whom Laban tricks him into marriage, he has sons – first Ruben, second Simeon, third Levi, and fourth Judah. Sons five Dan…
Reading – Genesis 28:10-19a; Psalm 139:1-11,22-23; Romans 8:12-25; Mathew 13:24-30, 36-43 Our proper collect for today begins with these words — Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking… What are our necessities? Talk about a big question. What do we need to live? …
Readings: Genesis 25:19-34; Psalm 119:105-112; Romans 8:1-11; Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, 0 Lord, our strength and our salvation. I recently learned about a chemistry professor at a Christian university who wanted to help his students not only understand how…
Readings- Genesis 24: 34-38, 42-49, 58-67; Psalm 45: 11-18; Romans 7: 15-25a; Matthew 11: 16-19, 25-30 Tucked in among all the stories of the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, we find this wonderful story in Genesis of an unnamed servant and a young woman named Rebekah. Let’s stay with this rather than rushing toward the…
Joseph’s Trouble by Wes King Joseph’s trouble started with a dream and a coat that was sewn with a colorful seam. The story of Jacob’s son Joseph is told in the last eleven chapters of Genesis. It’s a story of betrayal, deceit, hardship, triumph, and forgiveness; a story of God’s providence. This summer we will…