Lessons: Sirach 10:12-18 Psalm 112 Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 Luke 14:1, 7-14 Three meditations on setting your heart free. Meditation Number One. Jesus goes to a party. It is the Sabbath and Jesus is at a fancy dinner party. The party is held in the home of a Pharisee, a wealthy and privileged andContinueContinue reading “Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Martin Elfert”
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Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Canon Neysa Ellgren
Lessons: Isaiah 58:9b-14 Psalm 103:1-8 Hebrews 12:18-29 Luke 13:10-17
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Mary Anne Gard
Lessons: Jeremiah 23:23-29 Psalm 82 Hebrews 11:29-12:2 Luke 12:49-56 Wow, is Jesus upset or what? “I come to bring fire.” “Households will be divided.” “Like the changing weather, I have been showing you signs of change, of upheaval and you just will not pay attention!” He is so frustrated with us that He is almost sputtering, almostContinueContinue reading “Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Mary Anne Gard”
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. John Scannell
Lessons: Genesis 15:1-6 Psalm 33:12-22 Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 Luke 12:32-40 Today God invites you and me to recognize and claim our own place in that great parade of people who have said “yes” to God, and “yes” to the things of God. I’m hoping we’ve brought our marching clothes, and that we will join inContinueContinue reading “Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. John Scannell”
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Martin Elfert
Lessons: Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23 Psalm 49:1-11 Colossians 3:1-11 Luke 12:13-21 The Franciscan priest and teacher, Richard Rohr, often writes and speaks about what he calls The Shadow Self. The Shadow Self is a concept that originally shows up in the work of Carl Jung. Rohr and his colleagues have developed and evolved itContinueContinue reading “Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Martin Elfert”
Tenth Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Richard Toll
Lessons: Genesis 18:20-32 Psalm 138 Colossians 2:6-19 Luke 11:1-13 What do we do about living life to its fullest? How do we address God? How do we even know God? Does God mean anything to you or me? Why do we even care about the answers to these questions? If, there areContinueContinue reading “Tenth Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Richard Toll”
Justice as Radical Hospitality + Ninth Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Canon Naim Ateek
Lessons: Genesis 18:1-10a Psalm 15 Colossians 1:15-28 Luke 10:38-42 “Lord do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work? …” (LK 10:40) “Do not neglect to show hospitality” Hebrews 13:2 Thanks to Fr. Martin Elfert for the invitation. I bring you greetings from your brothers andContinueContinue reading “Justice as Radical Hospitality + Ninth Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Canon Naim Ateek”
Eighth Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Martin Elfert
Lessons: Deuteronomy 30:9-14 Psalm 25:1-9 Colossians 1:1-14 Luke 10:25-37 We have just witnessed a play in three acts. In each act, a new character takes his turn upon the stage. None of the characters has a name; each of them is known only by the category to which he belongs. In Act One,ContinueContinue reading “Eighth Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Martin Elfert”
Seventh Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Martin Elfert
Lessons: Isaiah 66:10-14 Psalm 66:1-8 Galatians 6:1-16 Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 There is a scene early on in Clint Eastwood’s film, American Sniper, in which a family is gathered around the dinner table. Here are Mom and Dad. And here are two sons, one perhaps eleven, the other perhaps nine. The décor and the clothes and theContinueContinue reading “Seventh Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Martin Elfert”
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Martin Elfert
Lessons: 1 Kings 19:15-16,19-21 Psalm 16 Galatians 5:1,13-25 Luke 9:51-62 Former Secretary of Defence, Donald Rumsfeld, has been lampooned at some length for the 2002 press conference during which he spoke of “known knowns,” “known unknowns,” and “unknown unknowns.” But while Rumsfeld may have expressed himself in a somewhat goofy or awkward fashion,ContinueContinue reading “Sixth Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Martin Elfert”