New Year’s Day January 1, 2019 Friends, In the Methodist tradition, the New Year is an opportunity to begin again not just in our calendar but in our lives with God. A few weeks ago I spoke to you about “do-overs” and how crucial they are in our lives, especially in our lives with God. …
Friends, We have been waiting and light continues to emerge. We invite you to continue to come together to celebrate the greatest story ever told. Invite your neighbors, friends, and co-workers to sit with you this weekend – Saturday at 5:30pm and Sunday at 9:00am & 11:11am. And to celebrate Christ’s coming this Christmas Eve. Cannot wait …
Historically the third Sunday of Advent calls us to “bear fruit worthy of repentance.” I don’t like the word “worthy” it smacks of shame, judgement, and exclusion. But then I dig a little about its meaning, history, and context. Worthy means to “have merit,” “meritorious,” “to have reasons to be named such,” and maybe even …
I love Christmas lights on houses. They represent to me the joy and anticipation of the Advent season; a season where we are called to prepare and make ourselves ready for the Christ child to be born, once more, into our midst. This week, we will light the second candle on our Advent wreath, representing …
“I found my way back to the way of life, the journey on which — it suddenly occurred to me — every juncture appears to be but another beginning.” Scott Cairns in Short Trip to the Edge: A Pilgrimage to Prayer The Christian tradition claims that though we live in time, in the world, in …
I believe that gratitude is one of the cornerstones of the Christian life. At times this has seemed too ordinary of a practice to sustain such a complex relationship as our relationship to God and one another. Over the years though, I have seen this reality at work. Gratitude opening our hearts to mystery, awe, …
In the end, simplicity and generosity are virtues that open the door to the fruit of the Spirit called Joy! Less clutter means more room, more margin, and more space for us to pay attention to what God is doing around us. Less clutter means less anxiety about having it all, which leads to more …
Generosity is grounded in our connection to one another as the body of Christ, and in our desire to share God’s mercy and love with all whom we encounter. However, there are practical struggles that come with this. In my years as pastor, I have had many a conversation with individuals and couples alike, both …
Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, …
Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years; and though she had spent all she had on physicians, no one could cure her. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his clothes, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped. Then Jesus asked, “Who touched me?” When all denied …
