lenten journal
affirmation season the best part of deacons’ meeting on the night after the Oscars was when one said, “how long has it been since we told the staff they were doing a good job?’ after a short silence another replied, “it’s always a good time to say that” someone
lenten journal
I know I was not the only preacher who mentioned that we are close to the four year anniversary of the beginning of the Big Lockdown. That, along with the scripture passage, got me thinking about befores and afters. ______________________ Before and after. The two words are often used together to
lenten journal
making stock the air was as cold as it was grey today and the forecast of rain sent me stacking the stock pot on the stove pulling poultry bones from the freezer as well as a couple of bags of celery butts and carrot ends garlic fresh parsley and a
lenten journal
I am writing on Friday night, but most of you will read this on Saturday or later, which means this wa the night to write about daylight savings. saving time some time in the night we will be robbed of an hour of sleep in order that we might save
lenten journal
rain on me today was a rainy day to which the rain never fully committed the mist loitered without purpose the showers were scattered unfocused rather than pelting me as i walked the moisture wafted like a parachutist blown off course putting the whether in weather in it all I
lenten journal
spiritual practice start with intent make a promise show up and then miss the next day live with failure then deal with grace you did not write everyday this lent easter will come good friday too the season does not ride on you faithfulness and perfection are not synonyms saints
lenten journal
On evening this week, I rewatched Serendipity, one of our favorite movies. At one point, Jeremy Piven’s character encourages John Cusack’s character to be a jackass—to be willing to be foolish for love. Today’s sermon centered around 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, a pasasage in which Paul
lenten journal
specifically, the time . . . you left a note you drove me home you called to check on me you paid my bill you dropped by to say hi you answered the phone and listened you called me out you came to Dad’s funeral you laughed at my jokes you said
lenten journal
We are two weeks into Lent and I am finally getting to my Lenten Journal, my spiritual practice for the season. If you follow my newsletter, you know part of the reason is our little Lizzy! had to have her eyes removed to alleviate the pain caused by the glaucoma
sermon
In churches that follow the lectionary cycle, this past Sunday was Transfiguration Sunday, which coincides with the last Sunday in the season of Epiphany before Lent begins. (Did you get all that?) It comes around every year and it is never an easy Sunday to preach for me because, one,
sermon
This week we had a crisis at our house related to Lizzy!, our little dancing extrovert of a Schnoodle who went blind suddenly, or at least so we thought. That story is still unfolding, but in the process of things, she made it into my sermon, which draws from Isaiah
sermon
A few years ago, I was speaking at a youth camp and I began by saying, “I basically have one sermon—we are all worthy of love and here to love each other—and I just keep trying to find new ways to say it.” Well, here’s another example.