Last Sunday's Epistle reading and today's Epistle reading both speak of gifts and talents that God gives to members of the church.... Last week's Clergy-Laity Conference in Boston brought into focus some of the ways God provides for the church to fulfil its mission..... I'm not including any text today, preferring to allow the audio file …
The bottom line according to Jesus – and Paul
Sisters and brothers, you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators, speakers in various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? …
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Was Jesus naive?
A study published this week offers startling facts about the behaviour of 62 mammal species - from opossums to elephants. Because of fear of humans, more and more animals are shifting their activity to nighttime in order to avoid encounters with humans. In parts of Africa, antelopes are more active at night - even …
Permission to “Be”
The first chirps of the waking birds mark the “point vierge” of the dawn under a sky as yet without real light, a moment of awe and inexpressible innocence, when the Father in perfect silence opens their eyes. They speak to Him, not with fluent song, but with an awakening question that is their …
Rediscover the Greatness of Spirit
While waiting for my MRI on Friday, I was reading a book by Rob Riemen, To Fight Against this Age: On Fascism and Humanism. It actually felt good to have a book with me instead of looking at my iPhone while waiting. The pleasure of holding a book is rapidly being lost, and that’s …
The Unspoken Morality
Viet Thanh Nguyen came to the United States in 1975 as a refugee from Vietnam. He was interviewed last night by Christiane Amanpour on PBS. They discussed the current policy of the United States to separate children from their parents if they enter the US "illegally". After playing a clip of Attorney General Jeff Sessions …
A Community of God’s Spirit
Let's start with an interesting contrast of biblical paradigms: Exodus paradigm: Revolution →→ Revelation Pentecost paradigm: Revelation →→ Revolution! The Pentecost paradigm can be illustrated with these two passages from the New Testament. Luke 6:12-19 == Prayer (Solitude) →→ Community →→ Ministry (Mission) Now during those days he went out to the mountain to …
The Fire of Love
What a wonderful wedding yesterday. Wasn’t it? The pomp and pageantry of British royal tradition with a refreshing dose of American energy. Fabulous! And the African-American Episcopal bishop who gave the homily! And that gospel choir singing “Stand By Me”! But that African-American bishop, he spoke of love - as one would expect at …
Another School Shooting…More Hypocritical Prayers
In the wake of today's school shooting in Texas, Ted Cruz, senator from Texas, appeared before the cameras, as politicians do in order to fool voters into thinking that they care about anyone or anything. So Mr. Cruz is talking about the newest shooting and as he links it to other recent shootings and tragedies …
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Naomi & Ruth – Two Mothers for Today
There are many mothers in the Bible, but few that feel contemporary to us. I offer to you today on this Mother’s Day, the Book of Ruth in the “Old” Testament. A marvelous, short book, with a beautiful story of two women, Naomi and Ruth; a story that we can relate to. I will …
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