Tag: Church
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Season after Pentecost (Proper 13 [18]): The Epistles Passage – Mapping some slippery slopes with Paul
“I am speaking the truth in Christ–I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit– “ (Romans 9:1) Call me a skeptic of long running, but many times when someone tells me they are speaking the truth, I prick me ears up and discern whether they are really lying. Maybe it is…
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Fifth Sunday of Easter: The Epistle Passage – Coming to the Lord from . . . . wherever
“Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation- if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.” I Peter 2:2 – 3) This is a good verse when thinking about new believers – of any faith tradition really. The apostle Peter is talking about…
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Fifth Sunday of Easter: The Gospel Passage – Jesus gives some final instructions
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come…
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Fourth Sunday of Easter: The Substituted Old Testament Passage – Wonders & Signs being performed
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles.” (Acts 2:42- 43) “Wonders and signs” – I dearly wish I knew what the writer of Acts meant by that. I (or you)…
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Seventh Sunday After Epiphany: The Epistles Passage – Don’t exalt the teacher over what is taught
“According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it. Each builder must choose with care how to build on it. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus…
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Seventh Sunday After Epiphany: The Gospel Passage – A Valentine’s Day Message
Yes, I know if is Valentine’s Day, a day of hearts, roses, chocolates and cards; pick and red, puffy clouds and little cherubs with tiny arrows that do not hurt. I was faced with two choices for the scripture passage for today. Originally I was going to go with the Old Testament passage from Leviticus…
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First Week of Advent: The Epistle Passage Year A – Waiting in hope
I am very much relieved that the verses for Advent delicately touch on the season. It seems far to early to start thinking about Advent. Yet, Thanksgiving comes at the end of this week and this Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent. The first candle in the Advent wreath will be lite, and soon…
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Third Sunday After Epiphany: The Gospel Passage – The ministry of Jesus begins
“Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.” (Luke 4:14-15) Jesus, according to the gospel of Luke, had come from the desert where he had been “ministered to”…
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Season After Pentecost – What we need, and when we need it (The Epistle Passage)
“Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick,…
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Season After Pentecost – Sneaky things for good causes (The Epistles Passage)
“Now as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you—so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking.” (II Corinthians 8:7) The writer of II Corinthians wants money – not for himself, but for another faith circle that the writer of II Corinthians…
A Simple Desire 