3-13-2020 COVID-19 PNC Update

Dear Siblings in Christ: Take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Go ahead and do it again. We’re at another one of those key moments in the COVID-19 pandemic. Minutes ago the Governor of Washington State closed all schools in the state until, at least, April 24th.  This was done not just to protect the children at our schools but because there was a high risk that those who work with and attend our schools would spread the COVID-19 virus to their families and communities. I think the most prudent thing for us to do, whether or not … Continue reading 3-13-2020 COVID-19 PNC Update

3-10-2020 COVID-19 PNC Update

Dear Siblings in Christ: Monday mornings are when I usually start reading the lectionary text for the coming Sunday. The text includes one of my favorite passages in the Gospel of John (4:5-27). Its the story of Jesus meeting the woman at the well and the conversation that happened there. Three things struck me this week.  The first and second were somewhat unique to this moment in time. As Jesus and this woman met in this spiritually intimate moment, I thought about social distancing and handwashing. We’re talking about it so much these days that it’s become the lens for … Continue reading 3-10-2020 COVID-19 PNC Update

COVID-19 PNC Update (3/6/2020)

This well-known prayer attributed to St. Francis was a helpful centering for me this morning: “Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we … Continue reading COVID-19 PNC Update (3/6/2020)

Cancelling Worship Services (3-5-2020)

In 1888, a huge snowstorm hit the US that no one saw coming. At that point and time, weather prediction was in its earliest stages and the primary weather information that was available came from looking at the sky, factoring in the wind direction, and guessing whether or not the clouds you saw on the horizon might be coming your way. In some areas, the day started with clear skies and mild temperatures but, within a couple of hours, temperatures plunged into the twenties, two feet of snow fell quickly, and the wind started to blow hard enough to cause … Continue reading Cancelling Worship Services (3-5-2020)

COVID-19 PNC Update (3/4/2020)

Dear Siblings in Christ: Take a deep breath. Let it out slowly.  Take another deep breath. Let it out slowly. When you’re ready, try saying these words from Psalm 56 a few times: “When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.” If it helps, say it as many times as you need in order to get your heart rate down a bit. These have not been easy days in our corner of the country and in many other parts of the world. We’ve all been learning a lot about pandemics, epidemics, and disease outbreaks in the last few … Continue reading COVID-19 PNC Update (3/4/2020)

Ashes and Viruses (2-26-2020)

A Blessed Lent to each of you.One of the texts for Ash Wednesday really stood out to me today: “Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Sanctify the congregation; assemble the aged; gather the children, even infants at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her canopy.Joel 2:15-16 We want to get together when times are hard. I remember how people gathered after 9/11 or the 2004 Tsunami or any one of the too many gatherings after acts of mass violence that have taken place over the last few … Continue reading Ashes and Viruses (2-26-2020)

Confession of a sort

Sermon on Luke 18:9-18 (Keystone UCC [Seattle], October 27th, 2019) He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look … Continue reading Confession of a sort

Tuesday Prayer: A prayer for a sibling church

Inspired by Luke 9: 37-43, John Wesley and the denomination that raised me Dear God: We convulse. We foam at the mouth. We are seized By this power that throws Us to the ground and mauls us and will not leave us. Today, I pray for my United Methodist siblings; for the church that raised me. They have been seized by a force that is tearing them apart; that has thrown them to the ground. None of our churches are perfect. Not one. We all have our demons to contend with. We understand what this is is like. It is … Continue reading Tuesday Prayer: A prayer for a sibling church

Tuesday Prayer for 2/5/19

Inspired by Luke 5:1-11 Dear God: I look for you, the most, when I’m doing other things. When I am feeling overwhelmed or failing or lost I whisper “Oh God…” “Jesus…” And I don’t even always know how much I mean it. It’s like my pacing when I’m winded or my tight shoulders when I’m afraid or my stomach grumbling when I’m hungry. It’s a reflexive prayer. My heart speaks. “Oh God…” “Jesus…” And then… Sometimes… (take one step), you whisper back. (rest one more minute. take a real breath. pause. be present, be present, be present. this is all … Continue reading Tuesday Prayer for 2/5/19

Sermon for Westminster Congregational United Church of Christ on their 140th Anniversary

Westminster 140th Anniversary Sermon January 27th, 2019 The two lectionary texts for today are two of the best known in the bible. I’m going to dive in to each text a bit today because, within these scriptures of the ancient church there are some very important things for the modern church to consider. Today’s text from Luke starts off with the words, “Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit…” Just a little while later in the text, it says “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…” In the Greek, the word used for Spirit is pneúma which means … Continue reading Sermon for Westminster Congregational United Church of Christ on their 140th Anniversary