Jesus said, "If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand." He was talking about something else, but I still think this stands as a warning to the Church. We're so fragmented these days, paying more attention to who we think belongs here (and who doesn't) than on the things of the Realm of God that Jesus taught.… Read the rest “Table Meditation (Gospel) for Proper B5 – 9-Jun-24”
In our gospel story for today, Jesus says something that may sound a bit odd. Well, Jesus does that a lot, but in this case, people came and told Jesus that his mother and brothers and sisters were waiting for him and Jesus said, "The people who do what my Father wants to have done are my brothers and sisters."… Read the rest “Children’s Moment for Proper B5 – 9-Jun-24”
How important are rules? How important is it to follow them? [wait for answers]
Rules are important. They help us to live together without annoying each other all the time. They keep us safe. Sometimes they even remind us of what's important.… Read the rest “Children’s Moment for Proper B4 – 2-Jun-24”
When Jesus disciples went through the field and picked a few heads of grain to eat, they were doing something which the people of Israel in Jesus' time not only allowed but planned for. It was part of the directions that God had given to Israel about how they should treat the stranger and traveler.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Proper B4 – 2-Jun-24”
Jesus and the disciples were going through a grain field and as was allowed in Jesus' time, they picked off some of the heads of grain and ate them.
Some of the Pharisees were not happy about this because, to them it was work and it was the Sabbath, where the people were supposed to rest.… Read the rest “Table Meditation for Proper B4 – 2-Jun-24”
There are a lot of things about God that are sometimes difficult to understand, things like how God presents God's self in at least three ways, as Father, Son, and Spirit. However, one thing we can say is that those three aspects of God work together in a complementary way in order to do the work God wants to get done,
Likewise, the Church is made up of a lot of very different people and the only way we can do God's work is when we work together in complementary ways, each giving of ourselves and our resources to make that happen.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Trinity Sunday B – 26-May-24”
Jesus tells Nicodemus that one must be born of the Spirit; born from above in order for one to enter the Realm of God. Part of being born of the Spirit is having that Spirit within us, the Spirit of Christ who is our host here at the Table.… Read the rest “Table Meditation (Gospel) for Trinity Sunday B – 26-May-24”
Has anyone ever told you that "You have your father's eyes." or maybe "I can see your mother in you." or maybe "You said that just the way your father would." Have you noticed yourself that you look or act like your parents in some ways?… Read the rest “Children’s Moment for Trinity Sunday B – 26-May-24”
On the Church's first day of Pentecost, the Spirit made it possible for the Good News of God's love to spread throughout the known world. The Spirit is at work in this congregation as well, providing the abilities and resources for us to reach out into this place, into our community, and into the larger world.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Pentecost B – 19-May-24”
Have you ever been listening to someone else, maybe even trying very hard to understand them and you just can't? What was the problem? Why do you think you couldn't you understand? [wait for answers]
One of the problems everyone has is trying to understand people who learned and speak in a different language than we do.… Read the rest “Children’s Moment for Pentecost B – 19-May-24”