Julia Stewart Memorial 1 Corinthians 13 1/3/14 Earlier this week Amie texted me: If you have about an hour of time… I recommend reading through all the journal entries in CaringBridge. Many of you who gather this day have been part of that amazing online community of support. August 29, 2012. Amie writes: “I asked Julia if she would like some lunch. Julia replied, I don’t have time for this.” It wasn’t the only time she said those words. I don’t have time for this. That … [Read more...]
Grace for the Old Too
Grace For the Old Too Anthony B. Robinson "Do not be afraid, Zechariah . . . Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness . . ." - Luke 1: 13 - 14 With these words the angel Gabriel told Zechariah that he and his wife, Elizabeth, were going to have their first child. It was an improbable announcement as both Zechariah and Elizabeth were by now far too old for such things and had given up hope. And yet, they would become the parents of … [Read more...]
New Year’s Eve
New Year's Eve Maren Tirabassi "May God send you help from the sanctuary, and give you support from Zion." - Psalm 20 Where are you on New Year's Eve? I'm in an AA meeting, one of God's strong sanctuaries, even though they are often located in church basements. Some of you will be there, too, later today – it's the kind of holiday that is hard to take "one day at a time." Others of you will be in Watch Night services, Weight Watcher meetings, airplanes headed back to college, Alzheimer's … [Read more...]
Hail Mary Full of Grace
Advent, Week 4 Luke 1:26-38 By Melody Kroeger In the late 15th century, the gifted Italian Renaissance master Sandro Bottecelli, commissioned by the Church, painted the Annunciation scene. His painting, hanging in the main gallery in the Uffizi in Florence, is so powerful and beautiful that, 600 years later, people still travel across the world to see it. Bottecelli’s painting is unique because it captures, at least for me, that moment of hesitation - between Gabriel’s announcement and Mary’s … [Read more...]
Julia
Thanks for the rich life you left behind, Julia. Rest in peace and joy in the company of the angels. We will miss you. … [Read more...]
Longest Night
I've often said that December 21st--winter solstice--is one of my favorite days of the year. On the face of things that may seem odd since it's the shortest day and longest night of the year. But that's just the point. Beginning this coming Sunday the days begin to grow longer! That mixture of "darkest night" and "brightest hope" is a more helpful reflection of the season than the "tinsel and glitter" cultural expression of Christmas. The Advent and Christmas seasons are indeed full of … [Read more...]
Merry Xmas
Yesterday I changed the church lawn sign to announce “Christmas Eve 4:00” worship. I confess to being a little annoyed at having to spell out “Christmas,” which is much longer than “Xmas.” I was trying to be sensitive to those who object to “Xmas” as a crass or irreverent treatment of the season. I get that. “Xmas” could appear to be a capitulation to popular culture: X-Files, X-Men, xBox, X Factor, and yes, x-rated. But that’s not how I see it. “X” is a cross! The birth of Jesus is just the … [Read more...]
Christmas Truce
As we approach Christmas Eve I find myself preoccupied with “amazing grace.” Specifically, I’m thinking of the Christmas Truce of WWI in which enemies put down their arms and granted the world a glimpse of Isaiah’s vision of turning “swords into plowshares”—or, in this case, soccer balls. This Christmas Eve marks the 100th anniversary of this stupendous moment in history. Tragically—predictably—it was short-lived. Even so, it remains a symbol of hope in a world that seems to have learned little … [Read more...]
Have You Seen the Rainbows?
3 Advent B—12/14/14 Isaiah 61:1-4,8-11; Psalm 126; 1 Thess. 5:16-24; John 1:6-8,19-28 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Well, what do you think? Do these seem like realistic expectations? And yet, St. Paul is clear in his letter to the Thessalonians that this is what Christian faith looks like. To be a disciple of Jesus Christ is to allow these high standards to guide our … [Read more...]
For the Sake of Peace
2 Advent B—12/7/14 Isaiah 40:1-11; Psalm 85:1-2,8-13; 2 Peter 3:8-15a; Mark 1:1-8 The heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire…the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire. –2 Peter 3:10,12 December 7th: A deafening roar filled the room and the entire ship shuddered…One and a half million pounds of gunpowder exploding in a massive fireball disintegrating the whole forward part of the ship… Seconds after … [Read more...]
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