sermon
In Robert Frost’s poem “Death of the Hired Man,” one of the characters says, Home is the place where, when you have to go there, They have to take you in. That line came to mind as I read about Jesus’ return to Nazareth, his hometown, and left me
sermon
I was back in the pulpit at Mount Carmel Congregational Church this past Sunday after my time away in and around Belfast. I am grateful I get to be in both places. Here is what I found at the crossroads. _________________________ Since I just got back from Ireland where I was
sermon
One of my favorite things to do, particularly now as spring is here, is to take the long way back to Guilford as I go home. I meander down Highway 22, through Northford and North Branford, winding through farms and houses, and I have also gotten into the habit of
sermon
If you were looking for a sermon that includes a Hebrew prophet, seraphs, clams, and homemade pizza, you just found it. _________________________ I did something on Friday I had never done before: I went clamming. A man in the Guilford church named Charlie has talked to me about going for a
poetry
practice the little blind dog sits with her face to a sun she cannot see basking without asking for more so much to learn
sermon
This past Sunday was Pentecost in the Christian tradition, one of our major calendar events that has lots of layers to it. Here is what I found in the layers alongside of this story from Ezekiel. _________________________ When we read the story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on what we have
Uncategorized
It was on a summer day some thirty years ago that I sat across from my friend Billy for our fifth or sixth consecutive night of eating lobster at Nunan’s Lobster Hut in Kennebunkport, Maine. I loved lobster, so the chance to eat there night after night was heaven.
sermon
The scripture for this past Sunday was the story of Jesus’ followers trying to figure out how to choose someone to replace Judas. It is a story of grief and community. ___________________ One of the tools counselors used to help their clients evaluate what is happening in their lives is the
sermon
My sermon this week was based on John 15:11-17, a passage where Jesus tells his disciples they are his friends. That set me wondering . . . ____________________________ Many years ago I was in a worship service in Texas where a visiting minister from Zambia was preaching. He began his sermon by talking
sermon
Since today marks Ginger and my thirty-fourth wedding anniversary, I thought I would start my sermon with a story from the early years of our marriage. It’s actually a story about Ginger and our friend Cherry, who lived with us at the time in our little row house in
sermon
I guess it makes sense that most of the lectionary passages during Eastertide deal with Jesus’ appearances, but this week’s text (Luke 24:36-43) is another version of his surprising the disciples as they gathered in a locked room, still trying to figure out what was going on. Maybe
sermon
It’s been a couple of weeks since I posted. Part of the reason is we have been in the throes of selling our house in Durham and buying a different house there and also dealing with Lizzy!’s recovery from her surgery to remove her eyes. Along with that