The Bible is full of ordinary folks. In fact, that’s who mostly makes up our extraordinary holy scripture. Ordinary people trying simply to live, and to figure it all out, in the midst of marginalization, fear, oppression, and uncertainty…of Empire. But also in the midst of hope and wonder and… Read More »Advent for Ordinary People in Not Ordinary Times
Some time ago, I posted the Tenebrae for Creation service here on the website. In the spring of 2023, a few of us in my congregation gathered in our sanctuary and conducted an informal version of this Tenebrae. We recorded the service, and with the exception of a couple of… Read More »Tenebrae for Creation video
Blessing of the animals – we extend our hands, and in our magnanimity, we offer our blessing because that is, of course, what all our animals and the wild things really want, after all. And we bless, and we bless. And then we go home. Uh, no. Blessing of the… Read More »Blessing of the Animals: A Celebration in Two Parts
The journey leads us to an empty tomb.Easter brings surprise.Easter brings a shout and a sob…Easter brings questions…God picks us up, spins us around, and pushes out, saying “Go! Love! Hope!” Years ago, my son and I went to see the most recent “Jesus” movie at the time (it was… Read More »Easter: Wonder, Absurdity, and Holy Questions
O beautiful and wounded Creation, we confess we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed… O God of love and unity, we lament the many ways we find ourselves separated from others, from ourselves, and from you. We’ve allowed our beliefs, our politics, our biases, and our fears… Read More »Lent: A Journey from Separation to Connection, for the Love of Creation
A Journey from Separation to Community Lent is a journey.Lent is a journey from separation to connection and life.The steps are reflection and lament, confession and celebration. There’s letting go and taking in.This is the journey we have to take for the sake of our world, God’s good Creation.We take… Read More »Ash Wednesday – For the Love of Creation
(as world leaders gather at the Glasgow Climate Summit) Nations are gathering again. And in so doing, rekindle the light of hope for our world. On my cynical days, I say, “Well, here we go again!” Another climate summit. This time it’s the UN Climate Summit – held in Glasgow… Read More »Ritual for Leadership and Action
I may not know a lot of things, but I do know that Christmas is about something truly grand, and that it fights against all that would tear creation apart. Christmas Eve deals with the local congregation, but also the family of all Creation. It deals with the personal and… Read More »Christmas Eve in the Family of Creation
We do yearn so fiercely for peace, for justice, for healing of creation, for healing of our lives. We do yearn so fiercely for restoration of all creation, for joy, for a new world to be born. Advent is a time of holding on, in the midst of yearning, in… Read More »Advent for a New Creation
Come, thou unexpected Jesus!Thought you’d be so meek and mild.Never causing any trouble.Nope! That’s not the Holy Child! Although a savior for Israel was expected and hoped for, Jesus was, in a very real sense, unexpected. He did what proper society did not expect him to do – he ate… Read More »Come, Thou Unexpected Jesus