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…
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…
Readings—Exodus 24:12-18; Psalm 99; II Peter 1:16-21; Matthew 17:1-9 On this last Sunday after the Epiphany, the season that celebrates the infant of light coming into the world in a stable in Bethlehem, we conclude with the Gospel according to St. Matthew’s account of the Transfiguration. On a mountaintop, Jesus shone brilliantly, accompanied by Peter,…
Readings – Malachi 3:1-4; Psalm 84; Hebrews 2:14-18; Luke 2:22-40 The author St. Luke has jam packed this mornings Gospel reading with meaning. First is the Jewish rite of purification of women following childbirth. At forty days following the birth of a boy, and eighty days after the birth of a girl, the mother was…
Readings – Micah 6:1-8; Psalm 15; I Corinthians 1:18-31; Matthew 5:1-12 This morning’s reading from the Gospel according to St. Matthew is where we begin today. It is immediately recognized as the Sermon on the Mount. St. Luke has a similar passage called the Sermon on the Plain. Scholars tell us that both texts are…
Readings – Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 40: 1-12; I Corinthians 1: 1-9; John 1: 29-42 This week I have been thinking about and praying for the people of Ukraine. If you want a picture of evil, just watch what the Russians are doing to them. They are striking the utilities, gas, water, and electricity, and slowly…
Readings – Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12 This morning as we celebrate the Epiphany, there are four life-enhancing elements for all of our lives in these twelve brief verses. Let’s begin with being alert to our surroundings beyond our routine, and our everyday bubble. How do we expand our horizons? I…
Readings—Numbers 6:22-27; Psalm 8; Philippians 2:5-11; Luke 2:15-21 Holy Name Day is the celebration of the circumcision of the child of Mary and Joseph, marking and welcoming him into the People of God of ancient times. Eight days after birth he is named by his father, “Jesus”, “God saves”. In our times it is through…