Scripture: Mark 1:21-28. Do we celebrate Christ - or celebrate with Christ? Do we focus on him - or follow him? And what difference does it make?
January 21: Beyond "Christolatry"
For over 20 centuries, the Church has focused on the Messenger at the expense of his Message. What would our world look like if we lived into the Good News: not Christ, but the Kingdom of God?
January 14 - "Come and See": The Art of Invitation
Nathanael: "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip: "Come and see." (John 1:46) Philip does not take the argument bait. Nor does he browbeat or cajole. He simply invites an encounter with Jesus. What's to prevent us from doing the same?
Epiphany: "A Sense of Where You Are"
Even as they search: the magi seem to have that sense! In this new year, what can they teach us about our sense of location - "where we are" - as a church? Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12.
New Year's Eve: Christmas and the Fullness Of Time - Guest: The Rev. Pat Jackson
Scripture: Luke 2:22-40. What does the arrival of the Christ child mean to us? What longing does Christmas satisfy? And what longing does it awaken?
Christmas Eve: "Here I Am ... Let It Be"
Scripture: Luke 1:26-38. How can Mary teach us to receive - versus to give? To let go - versus to be so good?
December 17 - Can Justice Be Joyful?
As we light the third Advent candle - Mary's candle, the pink candle, the candle of Joy: John the Baptizer's prophetic words may ring harsh. Must they be so? John 1:6-8, 19-28
December 10 - In the Wilderness: Communion!
'Midst the craziness of Christmas: Escape from the world's trivial madness into the communion of a common wilderness can actually be appealing! Scripture: Mark 1:1-8
December 3 - From Chaos to Calm: Seeing in the Dark
December 3 - From Chaos to Calm: Seeing in the Dark. (smaller letters) Practicing a Christmas alternative with those we love, perhaps we can see God's New Humanity more clearly around us. Scripture: Mark 13:24-37
November 26 - A Christmas Alternative
An invitation this Christmas to honor our loved ones ... with gifts for less loved ones ... our loved ones have chosen.
November 19 - Around the Pool of Bethesda: Listening for God's "Yes!"
Our church's grounds its rich past and liminal future in our founding biblical story: the healing around the pool of Bethesda (John 5:2-9). The healing around the pool. Not the healing in the pool. Perhaps all of us are called to listen for the healing taking place all around our own dedicated pools: establishing our presence and expressing our gratitude as we go ...
November 12 - BPC 300, Part 2: Commissioned!
What does our church's credo Love in Action/A Place to Belong mean? And beyond that: what does being a church member mean - in a day and age when this is less appreciated?
November 5 - Our 300th Anniversary: The Dead Tell Many Tales
What might the spirits of our church's 300 years of yore have to say to our spirits today?
October 29 - From Denial: Hope!
Jesus appears to Peter - post-resurrection. He gives him the chance to make his amends to him. Not apologies. Amends. By commissioning him: Which doesn't involve cheap forgiveness. It requires costly redemption.
October 22 - From Denial: Hope!
We can all sympathize with Peter when he denies his allegiance to Jesus three times in the Temple courtyard. He had insisted to Jesus that that would not happen. In other words: he denied his denial-to-be. Which made his ultimate denial extra painful for him. So he wept - with tears that would water his hope - and ours - ahead ...
October 15 - Older Brother, Younger Brother: God's Practice of Forgiveness
In the Parable of the Prodigal Son - creatively enacted here by Jean Dudek - church folk generally relate more to the older brother. To brothers older and younger both: God's practice of forgiveness is the same.
October 8 - Forgiveness Is a Spiritual Practice
Forgiveness is hard work. Our recall of those who have hurt us can be instant. How can that recall become less potent over time? Power of Forgiveness, Part 5 of 8. Scripture: Matthew 18:21-33.
October 1 - Why, God? Part 2
Sometimes, we find it hard to imagine that forgiveness is possible - until something comes along and shakes us up a bit. Power of Forgiveness series, Part 4 of 8. Scripture: Jonah 3:10-4:11.
September 24 - Why, God?
Might be the oldest question in monotheism! Can we forgive God when bad things happen? And is that forgiveness important - or even necessary? Scripture: Job 23:1-9
The Power of Forgiveness, Part 2: Only as Sick as Our Secrets
Scripture: 2 Samuel 11:26-12:15. Through stealth and power, King David murders the husband and marries the wife. What do we wish to keep secret - that honesty and grace might be a stranger to us?
