The scripture for today is one of those that show us how the Church is supposed to be run differently than any of the other institutions we come into contact with. Our whole "business" is built around the concept of building community and as highlighted in the scripture, treating others with love and forgiveness.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Proper 19a – 17-September-23”
Jesus speaks to us about restoring broken relationships. That's actually not a bad description of what Church is about. We work on our relationship with God, both individually and as a community. We work on our relationships with each other, so that we can become the beloved community that Jesus began.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation (Gospel) for Proper 18a – 10-September-23”
Isn't it amazing that, even in the midst of talking about what to do with difficult people, Jesus never loses sight of the open arms of God's welcome? His focus is not on how to punish someone who has wronged another, but on how to restore them. … Read the rest “Table Meditation (Gospel) for Proper 18a – 10-September-23”
What do you do when someone does something you don't like -- something that makes you feel bad? [Allow for answers]
Jesus said, that when someone does something that hurts you, that you should go and talk with them and tell them about it.… Read the rest “Children’s Moment (Gospel) for Proper 18a – 10-September-23”
Jesus showed the truth of his own words, "those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it." So, at the Table, as you meet our Host, who laid down his life that we might have life with God, let's recommit ourselves to laying down all that stands in the way of our life with God. … Read the rest “Table Meditation (Gospel) for Proper 17 – 3-September-23”
Jesus stated the paradox, "those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it." There's another one very like it: "We gain a lot from giving away."… Read the rest “Offering Meditation (Gospel) for Proper 17 – 3-September-23”
I have a riddle for you today. What gets bigger when you take away from it? [Allow time for guesses]
The answer is a hole. Most riddles are like that. There's a kind of a trick to finding the answer.… Read the rest “Children’s Moment (Gospel) for Proper 17a – 3-September-23”
The people of Jesus' time had a lot of ideas about what the Messiah would be like. When Peter says to Jesus, "You are the Messiah, the Christ." he was saying that he was beginning to understand the way that Jesus was messiah.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Proper 16a – 27-August-23”
Jesus commends Peter saying "flesh and blood have not revealed this to you." Interesting that Jesus himself was revealing God in flesh and blood. Here at the table, these two symbols, the bread and the cup represent the broken flesh and spilled blood that Jesus gave to open the way for us to be right with God. … Read the rest “Table Meditation (Gospel) for Proper 16a – 27-August-23”
Who do you think Jesus is? How would you describe him to a friend or a teacher?
[Allow time for answers]
Jesus asked the same question to his disciples, and they came up with a lot of different ideas, just like you.… Read the rest “Children’s Moment (Gospel) for Proper 16a – 27-August-23”