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The Good News of Change and Trust
A Sermon on Mark 1:9-15 (for an audio recording of this sermon, click here. Photo by Jared Verdi on Unsplash.) Is anyone else exhausted just listening to that gospel? Jesus travelled (several days journey) from Galilee to the Jordan...and when he got there he was baptized...and as soon as he came out of the water the heavens were opened, and the Spirit descended on him and drove him into the wilderness... and he was there for 40 days being tempted by Satan... and then John go
Why Repentance is Good News
A sermon on Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 and Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21. [for an audio recording of this sermon, click here. Photo by Annika Gordon on Unsplash.] In last year’s Ash Wednesday sermon, I told you all how much I love the rituals and focus of this night…. how the reminder of my mortality is cleansing, and the words and touch of dust are healing, and the message of the service offers a sanctuary in which to confess my vulnerability in an atmosphere of grace. I still affirm the valu
Not a Hallmark Love Story
A sermon on Mark 9: 2-9 (for an audio recording of this sermon, click here. Photo by freestocks on Unsplash). This past week I was shopping for a Valentine’s Day card for my husband. Actually, I was shopping for 2 cards for him. We have a tradition that started back on our very first Valentine’s Day, when we both – without pre-arrangement – bought each other 2 cards: one funny, and one sweet. It’s been a tradition ever since. (Bonus cute fact about your pastor). Anyhow – I wa
Lifted Up
A sermon on Mark 1:29-39 (For an audio recording of this sermon, click here.) You know almost nothing about me, not even my name. I’m just Simon’s mother-in-law. A woman whom Jesus healed, and then she served lunch. Of all the things to be known for down through the ages it’s not bad. It’s a good story – a story of grace and hope. And there are no messy details about Sabbath laws or debates about sin causing disability. Mine is a simple, easy healing story, told in just 2 ve
To Speak of Truth and Love
A Sermon on 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 (for an audio recording of this sermon, click here. Photo by Shane Rounce on Unsplash.) I am going to start out by just being honest that I struggled with my sermon this week.It’s not that I struggled with the message I was being called to proclaim. As sometimes happens, the Holy Spirit unequivocally grabbed me with one particular phrase my first time reading through today’s texts. I immediately knew that was my message. That was what I needed
