Crackling leaves on a hurried evening walk. Rustling jackets in the frenzy of getting out the door. Buzzing alarm clocks in the darkness of early morning. Autumn has a particular soundtrack, doesn’t it? It’s not the bright energetic sounds of summer—full of laughter, insects, and long evenings—but something quieter, layered,… Continue reading
As we gather in worship and remember together the promises of God, and we RECEIVE together the gift of love and life, we are free to share that love with those who are different than us in some way. We aren’t trying to prove that we are right or better…. Continue reading
It feels like in so many aspects of public life, locusts are swarming. But what if that’s not the end of the story? “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you.And my people shall never again be put to… Continue reading
ELCIC 2025 Summer Sermon Series Pentecost 11C, Luke 13:10-17 We cannot say we value a day of rest when a person in our gathering is being excluded from that rest. We cannot say we value rest when those who are bound by disease, prejudice, oppression, inequality or our ignorance are… Continue reading
A Palm Sunday guide to praying with our handsclick here for a workbook/devotional guide to go along with this poem. With our fingers we point and clap and wave a big helloWith our fingers we hold on tight and measure how tall we growWith our fingers we eat and drink… Continue reading
In the response to criticism about who he’s spending time with, [Jesus] begins by telling stories about people who deeply value that which is in their care. He begins with relationship that has nothing to do with the achievement the thing that gets found. Lent 4C (Luke 15:11b-32) I read a… Continue reading
A sermon for Salem Lutheran Church, Pass Lake, ON on the occasion of their 100th Anniversary. John 15:1-16 Feel deeply at home in me, Jesus is saying, just as I feel deeply at home in my Father. It’s the difference between being in a house where rules and regulations keep everyone on… Continue reading
Sermon prepared for the ELCIC 2024 Summer Sermon Series–July 21, 2024 Sometimes we can get so caught up in doing the work we think Jesus has tasked us with, that we miss the invitation to step away, take a break, and witness the new thing that God is up to… Continue reading
Jesus hears her truth and calls her “Daughter”. Jairus seeks Jesus out because his little daughter is near death, and an unnamed woman who is near death is seen by Jesus and named Daughter. This woman’s identity is no longer tied to her chronic condition. Her identity is now tied to relationship—daughter. Sermon—Mark… Continue reading
In 2009 I created a series of materials to teach the Fruit of the Spirit at the preschool where I was teaching. My class was in charge of the lesson on self-control, so we chose the story of the Israelites in the desert to talk about self-control. Here is our… Continue reading