There are a lot of incredible things that go on in the ministries of this congregation. I don't believe we've ever fed 5000 men, with women and children on top of that, but we do have ministries that work to help those without food, clothing, or shelter.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Proper B11 – 21-Jul-24”
The scripture from Ephesians for today recalls a time when the Church was just beginning, and the main difficulty was trying to figure out how Gentiles and Jews could worship and serve together. The issue of Jews and Gentile is long gone, but we still struggle with trying to bring together people from different classes, politics, and thought.… Read the rest “Table Meditation (Epistle) for Proper B11 – 21-Jul-24”
In today's story from the gospel, Jesus feeds over 5000 people. Now I don't want to ask you how Jesus did that. I'm pretty sure I don't know either. What I want you to think about is why Jesus did that.… Read the rest “Children’s Moment for Proper B11 – 121-Jul-24”
Who is Jesus? That's what people in Jesus' day were asking. People are still asking that today. Oh, they know that Jesus was a teacher, who said some important things about loving other people, but they're still wondering what difference that makes.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Proper B10 – 14-Jul-24”
In our gospel reading for today, people are having a lot of trouble figuring out who Jesus is. Some thought he was Elijah, the prophet come back. Herod thought he was his cousin John, the baptizer, raised from the dead to plague him some more.… Read the rest “Table Meditation (Gospel) for Proper B10 – 14-Jul-24”
In today's story from the gospel, people were having trouble trying to figure out who Jesus was. People were (and still are) always having trouble figuring out Jesus. That's because Jesus was always saying things and acting in ways that people didn't expect him to.… Read the rest “Children’s Moment for Proper B10 – 14-Jul-24”
In our scriptures for today, we're told that we have the great responsibility to carry the Good News of God's love into the world. We're not guaranteed a good reception and we're certainly not expected to be perfect in order to do this.… Read the rest “Table Meditation for Proper B9 – 7-Jul-24”
In our gospel reading for today, Jesus is rejected by his hometown and he warns the disciples that they may face rejection where they go as well. Imagine what it would be like to learn after the fact that you had turned away God's chosen messengers!… Read the rest “Table Meditation (Gospel) for Proper B9 – 7-Jul-24”
Sometimes the people who are hardest to convince that you're growing up are the ones who have known you since you were little. That's some of the problem Jesus had in our gospel story for today.
He had come back to his home town and the people there expected him to go right on being Mary and Joseph's son, working in the carpenter shop.… Read the rest “Children’s Moment for Proper B9 – 7-Jul-24”
Sometimes Jesus' ministry was very public. He fed over 5000 people in one instance. Sometimes Jesus' ministry was private and personal, like the stories of healing one small girl and one particular woman from our scripture for today.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Proper B8 – 30-Jun-24”