Christmas. The Festival of the Incarnation. A celebration of God's enfleshment and embodiment. As I'm reflecting on Christmas and preparing myself to lead my community in the celebration of the birth of Christ, I'm considering the connections between the festival of Christmas and the community of faith. The church, as the body of Christ, is … Continue reading Festival of Incarnation
A little over a month ago, I preached a sermon talking about the difficulty of being in community together and how being in community together can also be messy. In that sermon I asked for forgiveness for the inevitable ways that we, as a faith community, would let you down and disappoint you. This blog … Continue reading A Word of Hope…and an Invitation
"It could have been me..." "It could have been been me in that club. You could be posting about me right now." "It could have been me." These very same words were posted by at least 5 of my friends yesterday after learning about the horrific massacre at an Orlando gay nightclub … Continue reading “It Could Have Been Me.”
Listen, Christian... We need to talk... And I need you to listen. I know your first reaction will be to want to jump in and say something. But please fight that urge. Just listen. By now you've seen the reports of the terrorist attack that happened in Charleston, South Carolina. And I know you've seen … Continue reading Christian, We Need To Talk…..
* a sermon preached at Luther Memorial Church of Chicago on June 14, 2015 * Since sermons are primarily intended to be heard, you can listen along here. Text: Ruth 2:1-23 *************** Please pray with me: Be our hope, Holy One. And whether a comforting hug, a listening ear, or simply stillness, Let it be exactly what … Continue reading A Girl’s Best Friend
Some thoughts on the Grace of God. I was asked to offer a reflection on God's grace for an interment of one the true gems of our congregation, Kim. Below is my attempt to offer something meaningful. ------------------ Think of a gift you’ve received. But not just any gift. Think of something that you were given … Continue reading Goodness Gracious
*an Advent reflection given at Luther Memorial Church of Chicago on December 10, 2014* Text: Mark 1:1-8 Prepare Wilderness. Untouched, undomesticated, unknown. Full of lush foliage, I imagine. Or lying barren and uninviting. Or sitting under ages of crumbling infrastructure, rubble, and dust. Certainly not the picture we have of our beautiful city. There aren’t many “untouched” parts … Continue reading Realign — or ‘The Call of a Scraggly, Strange-Dressing, Bug-Eating Prophet’
Stop domesticating Jesus! You want prayer in schools, but you can’t stand the sight of people of faith praying in the streets. You want a nation that reflects “Christian values,” but you turn a blind eye to injustice perpetrated against the immigrant, the outcast, and those on the fringes of society. You’re so convinced that … Continue reading “I Can’t Breathe…” – Jesus
Many Christians I know hold up Micah 6:8 as one of the prime examples of how to live a Christian life. The verse is often translated: “What does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God?” Really nice sentiments, and honestly, not a bad way to live. … Continue reading Make Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly
A few weeks ago, I ended my post with a question: Can I hold hope? I'm not sure I have an answer, but I've got a few more thoughts. ------------ I’m not a particularly graceful person. I’m clunky. I’m a little oddly-shaped. I’m slightly awkward. My feet turn inward. I stumble, misstep, drop, falter, and … Continue reading Holding Hope
the narrow way 