April 23, 2017 Second Sunday of Easter Luke 24:13-35 Hearing Anew This is an Easter story. It happens on that first Easter. And it is a story we typically tell on the 2 nd Sunday of Easter. As a result, many of us know this story. We may know it as well as the two disciples know the story of what had happened in Jerusalem…
April 16, 2017 – First Sunday of Easter Luke 24:1-12 Empty Tomb Empty How scary is empty? Empty plates scare us. Empty bank accounts scare us. Empty wells scare us. Empty homes scare us. And then we have today. Today, empty is liberating. Today, empty is miraculous. Well, it’s those things if we know why it’s empty. Otherwise, it’s terrifying. What have they done with…
Our Easter Sunrise service begins in the uncertainty of the morning, and moves to the joy of the resurrection.
April 9, 2017 – Palm Sunday Luke 19:29-44 Triumphal Entry Even the Stones Jesus, make them stop, the priests say. Make them stop tell the story of what you have done. Make them stop, it’s Passover. Make them stop, you’re from Nazareth. Make them stop! Make them STOP! Jesus says no. Even if they stopped, Jesus says, the stones would shout out! Are we shouting…
April 2, 2017 – Fifth Sunday of Lent Luke 18:31-19:10 Zacchaeus To See and Be Seen Zacchaeus is a story from my childhood, and probably from many of your childhoods as well. A song that may now be running through your head, incessantly. Zaccheaus is a wee little man. A man who wants to see Jesus. And so, of course, he climbs up in the…
March 26, 2017 – Fourth Sunday in Lent Luke 16:19-31 Parable of Lazarus and the rich man Even If What does it take to convince us? The rich man, who dresses like royalty, and knows the name of Lazarus, but does not care for him, is clearly not convinced of what God requires. On the other side, he sure wants what he did not…
March 19, 2017 – Third Sunday in Lent Rev. Laurie Fields John 4:5-42 Proof #722 – Lord Speak to Me That I May Speak #173 – A Woman and a Coin #803 – My Shepherd will Supply My Need
March 12, 2017 – Second Sunday in Lent Luke 13:1-9, 31-35 Tower in Siloam and need for repentance, fig tree that bears no fruit Judgment and Pardon These are not fun passages. Why does someone suffer like this? Are they “worse” than us? We’d like to believe that, but Jesus won’t let us. But this does sound like us, doesn’t us? Those people deserve what’s…
February 26, 2017 – Transfiguration Luke 9:28-45 Transfiguration, healing a possessed boy To the top, and down They go to the top, and they see and hear impossible things. Voices from the clouds, long dead prophets, and blinding lights, bright white robes. And no matter how much they want to stay up there, they have to come down. And when they come down, they…
February 19, 2017 – Seventh Sunday After Epiphany Luke 7:36-50 Woman weeps at Jesus’ feet and is forgiven Dinner, Interrupted This is one of those few times when Jesus goes to the halls of power. He’s invited to dinner with a Pharisee, and he goes. And while he’s there, dinner is interrupted. A woman, a sinner, (not that that is much of a distinguishing…
