On July 4, 1776 the American Colonies declared their independence from the British Crown. Sometime in late August or early September King George received it. The Crown’s official response was dated, … [Read more...]
A Season of Grief
A video version of this sermon follows the text “When he trawled so wide he should’ve trawled deeper.” ~From “Fishermen” by Francis Harvey Oh, heck yes! Jesus trawled way too wide and would have … [Read more...]
A word about grief
~A video version follows the text ~ This sermon did not leave from the station I expected, nor did it arrive at the destination I was aiming for. Just so you know. Last week we wrung out our … [Read more...]
To cry over a single blade of grass
For a video version scroll to the bottom of the following text Texts: Luke 24:36-48 and "What the Living Do" by Marie Howe In that poem we heard, Marie Howe is talking to her deceased brother, … [Read more...]
What about grief?
This is overly autobiographical but I mean it as an illustration. It points toward something true for all of us, especially right now. I learned about the covert nature of grief the hard way. I … [Read more...]
Almostness
Enduring the pandemic is like living in a tunnel - we can look behind us and remember how things were, and we can look to the light ahead but have no idea how long it will take or how hard it will be … [Read more...]
Collapse of Time
In a flash miles and years collapse, time jerks us away from the moment and whirls us back to another time and another place. A note from a childhood friend letting me know his ninety-eight year old … [Read more...]
Naming the stranger at the table
I suddenly recognized a face I couldn’t quite put my finger on (this is a metaphor, by the way). My congregation has been having a Sunday morning coffee hour via Zoom, and this past week someone … [Read more...]
A Small Thought About Blame
I have been thinking about blame. It is difficult not to because of how much it is part of the culture and language of politics. As the election cycle revs up and snarls toward its crescendo a year … [Read more...]
A Wednesday Rant: Rime Ice Around the Heart
When fog freezes over, not Hell, the tiny droplets of water forms a layer of white ice over whatever it touches. This is called hard rime ice. Soft rime ice is the same thing, I think, except it is … [Read more...]