Reflection on Matthew 25:31-46

Mike

The lectionary text emphasized by the UCC (Matthew 25:31-46) is a celebration of justice work and a condemnation of privilege. Jesus names some of the most common consequences of oppression in his time (lack of nutrition and water, lack of recognition and inclusion, lack of dignity and honor, lack of health care, lack of freedom). He celebrates those who help counter the consequences of oppression and condemns those who don’t. The basic means by which people are oppressed haven’t changed that much. More ways have been added to the mix, and more ways of rationalizing have been, too. But the … Continue reading Reflection on Matthew 25:31-46

11/13/2020 COVID-19 PNC Update

Mike

This will likely be a note that will only interest a few of you. I’ve had several people ask what sources of information I use to try and figure out what suggestions to pass on to all of you. If you’re one of those folks that wondered this, too, this email is for you. In the early weeks of the pandemic, I, like many folks, was doomscrolling through news feeds and social media trying to get some sort of handle on what was happening and how we all might protect ourselves. Although that was helpful in the short term, it … Continue reading 11/13/2020 COVID-19 PNC Update

11/11/2020 COVID-19 PNC Update

Mike

Dear Siblings in Christ: Take a deep breath. Let it out slowly. Take another deep breath. Let that one out slowly, too. It’s been a while since I’ve sent you two notes two days in a row, but recent news reports warrant it.  Most of you have likely seen articles like this in your local news source within the last 24 hours. This one is from The South Seattle Emerald: “We should probably all stop socializing for the next several weeks.” Even though this isn’t a surprise – we’ve been warned about the likelihood of this possibility for months – … Continue reading 11/11/2020 COVID-19 PNC Update

11/10/2020 Reflection: A Beautiful Mess on the Inside

Mike

Dear Siblings in Christ:Take a deep breath. Let it out slowly. Take another deep breath. Let that one out slowly, too. One of the things I’ve been saying a lot the last couple of months is that possibilities are exciting and uncertainty is exhausting. Last week, it felt even deeper than that. I got to the point where I was too exhausted to have the capacity for excitement. Every day was like walking through water. Or molasses. Or wet cement. I know many of you can relate. It’s been day after day of waiting for the next shoe to fall … Continue reading 11/10/2020 Reflection: A Beautiful Mess on the Inside

Election Day, 2020

Mike

Dear Siblings in Christ:Take a deep breath. Let it out slowly. Take another deep breath. Let that one out slowly, too.“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change,Courage to change the things I can,And Wisdom to know the difference.” This is one of those prayers I say almost every day. Some version of it was originally written by The Reverend Reinhold Niebuhr. He stood squarely in the middle of those he considered to be unrealistically dependent on a shallow and narrow interpretation of scripture and those he considered to be unrealistically hopeful about human nature. … Continue reading Election Day, 2020

A prayer for this morning…

Mike

Dear God: We feel dizzy from holding our collective breath. There are uncertain words hanging in the air like smoke. We cannot avoid them. They color everything we see. Help us take this moment to rest in you; to re-center ourselves; to hear you whisper words of hope and comfort in our ears. Help us to rest in you; to trust your love for us in the middle of hardships and heartaches; to cry on your shoulder; to pound our fists with grief and rage. Help us to rest in you; to feel your presence; to feel your strength; to … Continue reading A prayer for this morning…