Ecclesiastes 3:1 “For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven.” After a lifetime of ministry, Richard Rohr said, “I have become convinced that most anger comes, first of all, from a place of deep sadness.” Life disappoints and hurts us all, and the majority of people don’t know how… Continue reading Before you jump to the resurrection
Tag: UCC
Using banned words often and with intentionality.
In a world where certain words are being removed from government sites, I intend to use them often and with intentionality. I recently had the following words explained to me as if life is a library. Okay, now apply this library lesson to life and to our society. I hope you can insert the above… Continue reading Using banned words often and with intentionality.
Finding the holy amid the garbage.
How do you find the holy amid all the garbage of the world? There’s a lot of garbage in politics and in our relationships. How can we find holy moments in the middle of all our living? That thought has come alive in a new way in my life this year. Wendy’s parents were hoarders and… Continue reading Finding the holy amid the garbage.
Why is IHELP closing?
For the past five plus years we have partnered with Lutheran Social Services (LSS) to provide the homeless population a safe place to sleep. Over 100 volunteers have supported the program. Five-plus years equals over 250 nights of hosting with 330 guests. The people in the program have come through our doors searching for hope,… Continue reading Why is IHELP closing?
Keep the chocolate.
Lent is finally upon us. Throughout my life, I have traditionally given up things for Lent. While self-sacrifice has its place in our faith journeys, I have come to believe that Jesus would probably laugh at our efforts during Lent. Jesus looks us in the eye, chuckles and smiles, and asks us why we’re giving… Continue reading Keep the chocolate.
The unusual season of Lent
Lent. The season of Lent is, to my mind, the most unusual season of all. Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany are filled with expectation, warmth, and wonder. Easter is full of joy. The Day of Pentecost is filled with excitement. Ordinary time (the time between Pentecost Sunday and Advent) describes much of my life—ordinary. But Lent… Continue reading The unusual season of Lent
Be outraged, church.
Optimism is hard to come by these days. But cynicism and pessimism won’t help us now. Together, we can make the world a better place. Actually, we can do more than our wildest dreams. That’s not a merely faith statement; it’s a fact verified by human history. Here are excerpts from the sermon last week: The… Continue reading Be outraged, church.
Where is hell?
Where is hell? In 1979, archaeologists began excavating in the area that is believed to be ancient Gehenna. The Valley of Gehenna is outside the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem and was the town dump. In the Bible, Gehenna is often translated as Hell. Fires were common – it was hell on earth.… Continue reading Where is hell?
Our new theme for 2025 is…
“Imagine! Doing Justice, Loving Kindness, and Walking humbly with God!” Based on Micah 6:8, that theme will be woven into all of our activities and help us reframe the narrative of Christianity. In 2025 this church will be a citadel against the storms of bigotry and hatred. We will embody the words of Bishop Marianne… Continue reading Our new theme for 2025 is…
This Saturday: The State of the Church Address
When I was in a preaching position for the first time 33 years ago, a new thought occurred to me. That year, I was sitting in front of my TV watching the president give the State of the Union Address. The governor gave a State of the State Address. And the mayor gave a State… Continue reading This Saturday: The State of the Church Address