Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

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 – Job 1-7,34-41; Psalm 104:1-9, 25, 37b; Hebrews 5:1-10; Mark 10:35-45 Sixteen more days of political ads on T.V.  Sixteen more days of mailers that arrive every day.  And there are those phone calls at supper time, and the text messages at all hours.  Promises, promises, promises, vote for me, and I will deliver…

Reading – Isaiah 1: 1, 10-20; Psalm 50: 1-8, 23-24; Hebrews 11: 1-3, 8-16; Luke 12: 32-40 Most likely all of us have been to sporting events or witnessed them on T.V. when the crowd chanted, “U.S.A., U.S.A”.  I have been there, and it is exciting.  Yet, in our reading from the Letter to the…

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 — Exodus 17:1-7; Psalm 95; Romans 5:1-11; John 4:5-42 A few quotes to start this morning. – If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.                                                                  – My ancestors did not come on the Mayflower; they met the boat.                                                                   – A stranger is just a friend I have not met yet. William Penn Adair Rogers…