(Excerpts from Luke 21: 8-19) There is a story, in our tradition, that takes place just after Jesus’s death. Though his death had been foreshadowed, his friends and followers could not imagine that outcome. After all, they believed him to be the Messiah, and how could he BE the Messiah and also be killed? After…
My friend Katie is a nurse midwife at Planned Parenthood. What this means is that she walks WITH women through a wide variety of reproductive journeys. Sometimes she sees women who have gotten pregnant as soon as they started intentionally trying, and they are thrilled to be having a baby! But… that scenario is relatively…
When Hope Shines Brightest: A Recipe for Surviving the Dark To listen click here (A Sermon inspired by Ezekiel 34:11-15) At our house, we sleep with the heat turned all the way down to 55 degrees, which forces you to hunker down under layers of flannel and fleece. I will admit, it is my favorite…
Genesis 37:1-4; 12-28 (For audio of this sermon, click here) In seminary I had a brilliant professor, Dr. Su Pak, who shared a story[1] that I have found myself revisiting again and again. It revolves around her experience living with her mother who had Alzheimer’s related dementia, and how that dementia radically altered long-held…
Wrestling with God: A Recipe for Discovering your Gifts (preached as Loving Your Limp) (For Audio of this sermon, please click here) The sermon this morning comes in the form of two interlacing stories: one is about a youth in the Senior High group at the church I serve in Granby , CT, and the…
Love Notes to God: A Recipe for the Present (Audio Version) Last week, as people recessed from the church, I received lots of comments about the way I looked on Sunday. Several folks asked me about the change in my hairstyle. Others mentioned that I looked somehow younger. A few people suggested that I…
Last weekend my partner Piper and I drove up to visit family in Maine. As we drove along the rural back roads the wind was picking up and a fine drizzle was starting to fall. Up ahead an older gentleman was in his yard, pulling his American Flag down from the tall flagpole. With one…
(photo borrowed from this article) Matthew 21:6-11 AND Matthew 27:20-46 Palm-Passion Sunday: where in a single hour service we try to cover the euphoria of Palm Sunday when Jesus entered Jerusalem like a King, and Passion Sunday with all of the gruesome events leading up to the crucifixion. A service like this runs the risk…
(Genesis 3:1-13) For audio of this sermon click here How many of you are parents? So, let me ask you an honest question: Have you ever exaggerated the truth to your child in order to protect them? For example, exaggerated the danger of a certain behavior: “If you jump on the…
(1Corinthians 3: 1-9) Piper’s mentor and former high school English teacher, Mac, is one of those rugged guys that I associate with rural health and vitality. He is 70 years old and still leads dogsledding and canoeing trips regularly. When he retired, he decided to celebrate by hiking to his son’s house. To be clear,…
Love's Kitchen 