Lessons: Job 38:1-7, 34-41 Psalm 104:1-9, 25, 37b Hebrews 5:1-10 Mark 10:35-45 I arrived at Grace during the middle of the day in the middle of July in 2006. There were kids everywhere. And so were kitty litter cubbies and left-behind shoes and remnants of lunch……… and in the parish hall a Greek music CDContinue reading “Holy Dance + Twenty First Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Esme J. R. Culver”
Tag Archives: The Rev. Esme J. R. Culver
The Flowers in the Desert + Fifth Sunday in Lent by The Rev. Esme J. R. Culver
Lessons: Jeremiah 31:31-34 Psalm 51:1-13 Hebrews 5:5-10 John 12:20-33 By the Fifth Sunday of Lent, the shadows of the cross spread like cold ash across the wilderness landscape…..and yet, at this same time……desert wildflowers are in bloom. At this same time, the floor of the desert becomes, for one brief moment carpeted with the colorContinue reading “The Flowers in the Desert + Fifth Sunday in Lent by The Rev. Esme J. R. Culver”
The Name of Faith + Second Sunday in Lent by The Rev. Esme J. R. Culver
Lessons: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 Psalm 22:22-30 Romans 4:13-25 Mark 8:31-38 The Ella Brown Room is filled with crosses. And there are crosses in the glass case in the hall outside the chapel. Each is treasured enough to be shared and each carries a story that partly defines the one who lives with it… and definesContinue reading “The Name of Faith + Second Sunday in Lent by The Rev. Esme J. R. Culver”
A Place of Stillness + Ash Wednesday by The Rev. Esme J. R. Culver
Lessons: Joel 2:1-2,12-17 Psalm 103:8-14 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 Matthew 6:1-6,16-21 There comes a time for stillness. A time to stop. To assess. To look around what is on the outside of us and what is on the inside. A time to focus. A time to peer into with intention. It is a time of awareness. Continue reading “A Place of Stillness + Ash Wednesday by The Rev. Esme J. R. Culver”
Deciding Yes + Third Sunday after the Epiphany by The Rev. Esme J. R. Culver
Lessons: Jonah 3:1-5, 10 Psalm 62: 6-14 1 Corinthians 7: 29-31 Mark 1:14-20 In this scenario…..it is four o’clock in the afternoon and it’s still a busy day. You have been working through a multi-layer of tasks and yet sense only a little headway. You didn’t count on that long phone call, that need toContinue reading “Deciding Yes + Third Sunday after the Epiphany by The Rev. Esme J. R. Culver”
Wake Up Call + First Sunday of Advent by The Rev. Esme J. R. Culver
Lessons: Isaiah 64:1-9 Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 Mark 13:24-37 When we come to the end of the liturgical year and begin a new one, it seems to come with a bit of a jolt. We always know that it’s coming….we expect it…..even plan for it. We know the colors will change from theContinue reading “Wake Up Call + First Sunday of Advent by The Rev. Esme J. R. Culver”
Treasure on the Mountain + Twenty Third Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Esme J. R. Culver
Lessons: Judges 4:1-7 Psalm 123 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 Matthew 25:14-30 There is a cross high on a mountain along the Colca Valley in Peru. You can reach it by bus which will take you to the top of the mountain at 17,000 feet until you come to it on the other side…. sitting close toContinue reading “Treasure on the Mountain + Twenty Third Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Esme J. R. Culver”