the tentmaker

Moving back to Wordpress

2011-08-26T16:45:00.001-04:00

You can find me at The Tentmaker

Year A - Proper 9/Ordinary 14/Pentecost +3

2011-06-27T05:42:00.001-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Zechariah 9:9-12
Psalm 145:8-14
Romans 7:15-25a
Matthew 11:16-30

Year A - Proper 8/Ordinary 14/Pentecost +2

2011-06-21T05:31:00.003-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Jeremiah 28:5-9
Psalm 13
Romans 6:12-23
Matthew 10:40-42

Year A - Pentecost 2 & Father's Day

2011-06-17T10:06:00.003-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Genesis 1:1-2:4a
Psalm 8
2 Corinthians 13:11-13
Matthew 28:16-20

Year A - Pentecost

2011-06-11T13:13:00.001-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Numbers 11:24-30
Psalm 104:24-35
1 Corinthians 12:3b-13
John 20:19-23

Year A - Easter 7

2011-06-02T18:04:00.001-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 1:6-14
Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35
1 Peter 4:12-14
John 17:1-11

Year A - Easter 6

2011-05-22T13:30:00.001-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 17:22-31
Psalm 66:8-20
1 Peter 3:13-22
John 14:15-21

Year A - Easter 5

2011-05-21T10:12:00.003-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 7:55-60
Psalm 31:1-16
1 Peter 2:2-10
John 14:1-14

Year A - Easter 3

2011-05-01T18:22:00.000-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 2:36-41
Psalm 116:1-19
1 Peter 1:17-23
Luke 24:13-35

Year A - Easter 2

2011-04-26T05:40:00.001-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 2:22-32
Psalm 16
1 Peter 1:3-9
John 20:19-31

Year A - Easter

2011-04-22T10:19:00.001-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Jeremiah 31:1-6
Psalm 118:1-24
Acts 10:34-43
Matthew 28:1-10

Year A - Passion

2011-04-12T11:43:00.001-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm 31:9-16
Philippians 2:5-11
Matthew 27:11-54

Year A - Lent 5

2011-04-04T05:11:00.001-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Ezekiel 37:1-14
Psalm 130
Romans 8:6-11
John 11:1-45

Year A - Lent 4

2011-03-27T18:54:00.001-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
1 Samuel 16:1-13
Psalm 23
Ephesians 5:8-14
John 9:1-14

Year A - Lent 3

2011-03-20T18:40:00.001-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Exodus 17:1-7
Psalm 95
Romans 5:1-11
John 4:5-42

Year A - Lent 2

2011-03-14T19:59:00.001-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Genesis 12:1-4a
Psalm 121
Romans 4:1-17
John 3:1-17

Year A - Lent 1

2011-03-05T13:58:00.001-05:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Genesis 2:15-17
Psalm 32
Romans 5:12-19
Matthew 4:1-11

Year A - Epiphany 9

2011-03-01T12:48:00.002-05:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Deuteronomy 11:18-28
Psalm 31:1-9, 19-24
Romans 1:16-17
Matthew 7:21-29

Year A - Epiphany 8

2011-02-25T09:55:00.000-05:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 49:8-16a
Psalm 131
1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Matthew 6:24-34

Year A - Epiphany 7

2011-02-17T06:45:00.000-05:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Leviticus 19:1-18
Psalm 119:33-40
1 Corinthians 3:10-23
Matthew 5:38-48

Year A - Epiphany 6

2011-02-07T05:40:00.002-05:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Psalm 119:1-8
1 Corinthians 3:1-9
Matthew 5:21-37

Year A - Epiphany 5

2011-02-04T06:04:00.003-05:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 58:1-9a
Psalm 112:1-9
1 Corinthians 2:1-12
Matthew 5:13-20

Year A - Epiphany 4

2011-01-23T12:18:00.001-05:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Micah 6:1-8
Psalm 15
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Matthew 5:1-12

Year A - Epiphany 3

2011-01-18T05:48:00.002-05:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 9:1-4
Psalm 27:1-9
1 Corinthians 1:10-18
Matthew 4:12-23

Year A - Epiphany 2

2011-01-10T09:38:00.001-05:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 49:1-7
Psalm 40:1-11
1 Corinthians 1:1-9
John 1:29-42

Year A - Epiphany

2011-01-02T14:41:00.001-05:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 60:1-6
Psalm 72:1-14
Ephesians 3:1-12
Matthew 2:1-12

Year A - Christmas 2

2010-12-27T09:01:00.002-05:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Jeremiah 31:7-14
Psalm 147:12-20
Ephesians 1:3-4
John 1:10-18

Year A - Christmas 1

2010-12-25T10:00:00.002-05:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 63:7-9
Psalm 148
Hebrews 2:10-18
Matthew 2:13-23

Year A - Advent 4

2010-12-13T18:02:00.001-05:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 7:10-16
Psalm 80:1-19
Romans 1:1-7
Matthew 1:18-25

Year A - Advent 3

2010-12-06T13:22:00.001-05:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 35:1-10
Luke 1:47-55
James 5:7-10
Matthew 11:2-11

Year A - Advent 2

2010-11-29T18:12:00.001-05:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 11:1-10
Psalm 72:1-19
Romans 15:4-13
Matthew 3:1-12

Year A - Advent 1

2010-11-25T11:38:00.002-05:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 2:1-5
Psalm 122
Romans 13:11-14
Matthew 24:36-44

Christ the King / Reign of Christ C

2010-11-19T16:30:00.001-05:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Jeremiah 23:1-6
Luke 1:68-79
Colossians 1:11-20
Luke 23:33-43

Proper 28C / Ordinary 33C / Pentecost +25

2010-11-13T10:09:00.001-05:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 65:17-25
Isaiah 12
2 Thessalonians 3:6-13
Luke 21:5-19

Proper 27C / Ordinary 32C / Pentecost +24

2010-10-31T18:31:00.001-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Haggai 1:15b-2:9
Psalm 145:1-5, 17-21
2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17
Luke 20:27-38

Proper 26C / Ordinary 31C / Pentecost +23

2010-10-25T15:41:00.000-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4
Psalm 119:137-144
2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12
Luke 19:1-10

Proper 25C / Ordinary 30C / Pentecost +22

2010-10-17T15:14:00.001-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Joel 2:23-32
Psalm 65
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
Luke 18:9-14

Proper 24C / Ordinary 29C / Pentecost +21

2010-10-16T17:30:00.000-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Jeremiah 31:27-34
Psalm 119:97-104
2 Timothy 3:14 - 4:5
Luke 18:1-8

Proper 23C / Ordinary 28C / Pentecost +20

2010-10-05T05:52:00.001-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7
Psalm 66:1-12
2 Timothy 2:8-15
Luke 17:11-19

Proper 22C / Ordinary 27C / Pentecost +19

2010-09-30T06:05:00.001-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Lamentations 1:1-6
Psalm 137
2 Timothy 1:1-14
Luke 17:5-10

Proper 21C / Ordinary 26C / Pentecost +18

2010-09-22T13:09:00.001-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15
Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16
1 Timothy 6:6-19
Luke 16:19-31

Proper 20C / Ordinary 25C / Pentecost +17

2010-09-17T14:05:00.001-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Jeremiah 8:18 - 9:1
Psalm 79:1-9
1 Timothy 2:1-7
Luke 16:1-13

Proper 19C / Ordinary 24C / Pentecost +16

2010-09-06T10:45:00.001-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28
Psalm 14
1 Timothy 1:12-17
Luke 15:1-10

Proper 18C / Ordinary 23C / Pentecost +15

2010-09-02T18:07:00.000-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Jeremiah 18:1-11
Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18
Philemon 1-21
Luke 14:25-33

Proper 17C / Ordinary 22C / Pentecost +14

2010-08-23T15:41:00.001-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Jeremiah 2:4-13
Psalm 81:1, 10-16
Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16
Luke 14:1, 7-14

Proper 16C / Ordinary 21C / Pentecost +13

2010-08-17T11:45:00.002-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Jeremiah 1:4-10
Psalm 71:1-6
Hebrews 12:18-29
Luke 13:10-17

Surgery is today

2010-08-12T10:10:00.001-04:00

Surgery on my achilles tendon is today at 12:00 Noon.

Proper 15C / Ordinary 20C / Pentecost +12

2010-08-09T11:51:00.002-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 5:1-7
Psalm 80:1-2, 8-19
Hebrews 11:29 - 12:2
Luke 12:49-56

I apologize for missing last week. I have an injury to my achilles tendon and had other things on my mind.

Proper 13C / Ordinary 18C / Pentecost +10

2010-07-31T12:12:00.001-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Hosea 11:1-11
Psalm 107:1-9, 43
Colossians 3:1-11
Luke 12:13-21

Proper 12C / Ordinary 17C / Pentecost +9

2010-07-22T19:42:00.000-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Hosea 1:2-10
Psalm 85
Colossians 2:6-15
Luke 11:1-13

Proper 11C / Ordinary 16C / Pentecost +8

2010-07-13T13:33:00.000-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Amos 8:1-12
Psalm 52
Colossians 1:15-28
Luke 10:38-42

Proper 10C / Ordinary 15C / Pentecost +7

2010-07-07T10:54:00.001-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Amos 7:7-17
Psalm 82
Colossians 1:1-14
Luke 10:25-37

Proper 9C / Ordinary 14C / Pentecost +6

2010-07-03T14:13:00.000-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
2 Kings 5:1-14
Psalm 30
Galatians 6:7-16
Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

Proper 8 / Ordinary 13 / Pentecost +5

2010-06-21T09:29:00.001-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21
Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20
Galatians 5:1, 13-25
Luke 9:51-62

Proper 7 / Ordinary 12 / Pentecost +4

2010-06-17T08:12:00.000-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
1 Kings 19:1-7
Psalm 42
Galatians 3:23-29
Luke 8:26-39

Proper 6 / Ordinary 11 / Pentecost +3

2010-06-07T10:49:00.002-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
1 Kings 21:1-21a
Psalm 5:1-8
Galatians 2:15-21
Luke 7:36 - 8:3

Proper 5C / Ordinary 10C / Pentecost +2

2010-06-02T05:52:00.002-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
1 Kings 17:8-24
Psalm 146
Galatians 1:11-24
Luke 7:11-17

Year C - Pentecost

2010-05-21T14:39:00.001-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Genesis 11:1-9
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
Acts 2:1-21
John 14:8-17

Year C - Easter 7

2010-05-11T06:14:00.000-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 16:16-34
Psalm 97
Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21
John 17:20-26

Year C - Easter 6

2010-05-04T20:07:00.001-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 16:9-15
Psalm 67
Revelation 21:10, 22 - 22:5
John 14:23-29

Year C - Easter 5

2010-04-25T16:03:00.001-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 11:1-18
Psalm 148
Revelation 21:1-6
John 13:31-35

Year C - Easter 4

2010-04-18T17:07:00.002-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 9:36-43
Psalm 23
Revelation 7:9-17
John 10:22-30

Year C - Easter 3

2010-04-17T10:12:00.003-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 9:1-6
Psalm 30
Revelation 5:11-14
John 21:1-19

Year C - Easter 2

2010-04-04T21:28:00.001-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 5:27-32
Psalm 150
Revelation 1:4-8
John 20:19-31

Year C - Easter Sunday

2010-04-03T08:58:00.000-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 65:17-25
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
Acts 10:34-43
Luke 24:1-12

Year C - Passion

2010-03-26T14:48:00.000-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm 31:9-16
Philippians 2:5-11
Luke 23:1-49

11 Thy Loving Care

2010-03-20T13:00:00.003-04:00

Father in Heaven! In the evening, when we prepare to go to sleep, we are consoled by the thought that Thou art the one who watches over us--and yet, when we awaken in the morning and when we remain awake during the day, what a desolation if Thou wert not the one watching over us! The difference that we establish between sleep and waking is then only a pleasantry--as if we needed Thy wakefulness only as long as we are asleep, but not when we ourselves are awake.
Soren Kierkegaard

8 Thou Hast Loved Us First

2010-03-16T20:15:00.002-04:00

Father in Heaven! Thou has loved us first, help us never to forget that Thou art love so that this sure conviction might triumph in our hearts over the seduction of the world, over the inquietude of the soul, over the anxiety for the future, over the fright of the past, over the distress of the moment. But grant also that this conviction might discipline our soul so that our heart might remain faithful and sincere in the love which we bear to all those whom Thou hast commanded us to love as we love ourselves.
Soren Kierkegaard

6 Thou God of Love

2010-03-15T18:35:00.002-04:00

How could anything rightly be said about love if Thou wert forgotten, Thou God of Love, from whom all love comes in heaven and on earth; Thou who didst hold nothing back but didst give everything in love; Thou who art love, so the lover is only what he is through being in Thee! How could anything rightly be said about love if Thou wert forgotten, Thou who didst make manifest what love is, Thou, our Savior and Redeemer, who gave Himself to save us all! How could anything rightly be said about love if Thou wert forgotten, Thou spirit of love, Thou who dost abate nothing of Thine own, but dost call to mind that sacrifice of love, dost remind the believer to love as he is loved, and his neighbor as himself! O eternal love! Thou who art everywhere present, and never without testimony in what may here be said about love, or about works of love. For it is certainly true that there are some acts which the human language particularly and narrow-mindedly calls acts of charity; but in heaven it is certainly true that in its self-abnegation, a necessity for love, and just because of this, without claiim or merit.
Soren Kierkegaard

Year C - Lent 5

2010-03-15T18:27:00.001-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 43:16-21
Psalm 126
Philippians 3:4b-14
John 12:1-8

5 Thy Word

2010-03-14T15:10:00.002-04:00

Father in Heaven, what is man that Thou visitest him, and the son of man that Thou are mindfull of him?--and in every way, in every respect! Verily, Thou didst never leave Thyself without a witness; and at last Thou didst give to man Thy Word. More Thou couldst not do; to compel him to make use of it, to hear it or read it, to compel him to act according to it, Thou couldst not wish. Ah, and yet Thou didst do more. For Thou are not like a man--rarely does he do anything for nothing, and if he does, he at least would not be put to inconvenience by it. Thou, on the contrary, O God, bestowest Thy Word as a gift--and we men have nothing to give in return. And if only Thou dost find some willingness on the part of the single individual, Thou art prompt to help, and first of all Thou art the one who with more than human, yea, with divine patience, dost sit and spell it out with the individual, that he may be able rightly to understand the Word; and next Thou art the one who, again with more than human, yea, with divine patience, dost take him as it were by the hand and help him when he strives to do accordingly--Thou our Father in Heaven.
Soren Kierkegaard

4 Thou Art Unchangeable

2010-03-13T20:43:00.002-05:00

O Thou who are unchangeable, whom nothing changes! Thou who art unchangeable in love, precisely for our welfare, submitting ourselves to any change: may we too will our welfare, submitting ourselves to the discipline of Thy unchangeableness, so that we may in unconditional obedience find our rest and remain at rest in Thy unchangeableness. Thou art not like a man; if he is to preserve only some degree of constancy he must not permit himself too much to be moved, nor by too many things. Thou on the contrary art moved, and moved in infinite love, by all things. Even that which we human beings call an insignificant trifle, and pass by unmoved, the need of a sparrow, even this moves Thee; and what we so often scarcely notice, a human sigh, this moves Thee, O Thou who art unchangeable! O Thou who in infinite love dost submit to be moved, may this our prayer also move Thee to add Thy blessing, in order that there may be wrought such a change in him who prays as to bring him into conformity with Thy unchangeable will, Thou who are unchangeable!
Soren Kierkegaard

2 Thine is the power

2010-03-12T08:07:00.002-05:00

Father in Heaven! In the external world one is stronger, another is weaker; the first is perhaps proud of his strength and the second perhaps sighs and feels jealous; but in our own inner world we are all weak in the light of Thy countenance, Thou the powerful one, Thou, the only strong one.
Soren Kierkegaard

3 Thou Art Incomprehensible

2010-03-11T21:13:00.005-05:00

Father in Heaven! Thou are incomprehensible in Thy creation; Thou livest afar off in a light which no one can penetrate and if we recognize Thee in Thy providence, our knowledge is feeble and veils Thy splendor, Thou who art incomprehensible in Thy splendor. But Thou art still more incomprehensible in Thy grace and in Thy mercy. What is man that Thou art mindful of him, Thou Infinite One--but even more, what is the son of a fallen race, that yea Thou wouldst visit him, Thou Holy One; yea what is the sinner that Thy Son wouldst come into the world because of him, not to judge but to save, not to make known His own dwelling place so that the lost might seek Him, but in order to seek out that which is lost, having no den such as wild beasts have, having no place on which to lay his head, knowing hunger in the desert, thirst on the Cross. Lord, Father of compassion! What is man able to do for such great benefits; he is not even able to give Thee thanks without Thee. Teach us then the humble discernment of true intellegence that, as a broken heart sighs under the weight of its guilt, saying in its sorrow: "It is impossible! it is impossible that God is able to show such compassion," so that the one who appropriates this assurance in faith must also say in his joy, "it is impossible." If death too seemed to separate those who love one another and again they were given to each other, their first cry at the moment of their reunion would be, "it is impossible." And this joyous message of Thy compassion, Father in Heaven, even if man has heard it since his tender infancy, is not for that the less incomprehensible! And even if man meditates on it day by day, it does not become for that less incomprehensible! Was then Thy incomprehensible mercy like that of a man, which disappeared on closer aquaintance, like the happiness of those who loved each other in days of old incomprehensible (then) but not any more. O torpid human reason! O guileful earthly wisdom! O cold thought of slumbering faith! O miserable forgetfulness of the cold heart! No, Lord, keep Thou everyone who believes in Thee in the proper humble understanding and deliver him from evil.
Soren Kierkegaard
Lord, I cannot do it without you. I even need you to have faith in you.

1 Thy Greatness, My Nothingness

2010-03-10T18:25:00.002-05:00

God in Heaven, let me really feel my nothingness, not in order to despair over it, but in order to feel the more powerfully the greatness of Thy goodness.
Soren Kierkegaard

7 O Infinite Love

2010-03-09T20:14:00.004-05:00

Thou loving Father, everything goes wrong for me and yet Thou art love. I have even failed in holding fast to this--that Thou art love, and yet Thou art love. Wherever I turn, the only thing that I cannot do without is that Thou art love, and that is why, even when I have not held fast to the faith that Thou art love, I believe that Thou dost permit through love that it should be so, O Infinite Love.
Soren Kierkegaard
For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do... Oh, wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Paul, the apostle

Year C - Lent 4

2010-03-07T14:37:00.001-05:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Joshua 5:9-12
Psalm 32
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

Year C - Lent 3

2010-02-28T16:39:00.000-05:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 55:1-9
Psalm 63:1-8
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Luke 13:1-9

Year C - Lent 2

2010-02-21T08:39:00.003-05:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
Psalm 27
Philippians 3:17 - 4:1
Luke 13:31-35

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
God had promised Abram that he would be the father of a great nation. But Abram was getting old. Sara was well beyond her years of childbearing. Naturally, Abram had begun to question the promises of God. Are we not the same? Do we not get impatient for God to fulfill his promises to us? We are promised peace, but there is no peace. We are promised Christ's quick return and yet it has been two thousand years we have waited. And Christ does not come. So, we, too, begin to question the promises of God. But God renews his promise to Abram and, the scripture says, Abram "believed the Lord, and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness." Once during Jesus' ministry, he was approached by a man whose son was ill and near death. Jesus told him not to fear, only believe. The man's response is quite like Abram in our lesson. He said, "I believe, help thou mine unbelief." Abram believed but he wanted a sign. He wanted something concrete to hold on to so he would not fall into disbelief. He wanted God to help is unbelief. Again we see ourselves depicted here. How hard it is to believe in that which is unseen, that which is unheard. This is why men for ages have worshiped idols. We need a God we can see, touch and feel. But God is faithful. His promises, though they be long in coming, are real. That is the substance of faith. Abram had faith in God and that faith was reckoned to him as righteousness.

Psalm 27
The psalmist begins with a word of praise and exultation. He experiences God as light shining in a dark place. Just as he spoke of the valley of the shadow, he is not afraid. He is not afraid of death and he is not afraid of what anyone may do to him. God is his strength. In 4 Maccabees, a widow is forced to watch the torture and horrendous death of her sons. Many times the boys are offered the chance of being spared if they would just renounce God and worship the Syrian god. Each time their mother encourages them to be strong in their faith. Each time, they refuse to renounce their God. God is their strength. God is her strength. Of whom will they be afraid? How different we are. How easy it is for us to compromise our beliefs for the conditions of the moment. The disciples huddled in the upper room with the door locked from Thursday night to Sunday morning. They were struck with paralyzing fear. I can't be too hard on them, however. I keep wondering what I would do in their place. So, I keep on seeking the face of God and waiting on him. I know that he will strengthen my heart.

Philippians 3:17-4:1
Paul knows us almost as well as the Lord himself. We continue to make our decisions based on what is the easy way, not on what is right and just. Self sacrifice and discipline are words that are not in our vocabulary. How many of us, if truthful, would have to admit that our god is in our belly? Our minds are set on things that bring pleasure in this world. How often do we crave something only to become bored with it when we finally get it. Treasure on earth is short lived. It rusts, it gets eaten up by moths or it gets stolen. Treasure in God lasts. He will transform our body of humiliation. So we must stand firm in our faith and trust in his strength and ability to provide all that we truly need.

Luke 13:31-35
It seems that it is only those who stand up and advocate for justice for all who must face the assassin. Herod wanted to kill Jesus. Was it because people reported to him that Jesus was, in reality, John come back from the dead? Maybe. But perhaps it was also because demons were being cast out and people were being cured of their illnesses and others were being set free from the cares that kept them enslaved to a hedonistic world. Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life." He called us little children. So often he would swoop us up under the covert of his wings, but we would not. Pie in the sky bye and bye is not enough incentive to abandon the pleasures of the moment. Too bad. The greatest gift of God is abundant life in the here and now. Trusting in him causes us to want his will for us. We actually can become satisfied with what he provides for us.

Year C - Lent 1

2010-02-14T18:57:00.000-05:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16
Romans 10:8b-13
Luke 4:1-13

Year C - Transfiguration

2010-02-09T05:25:00.002-05:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Exodus 34:29-35
Psalm 99
2 Corinthians 3:12 - 4:2
Luke 9:28-36

Knowing God

2010-02-07T14:53:00.004-05:00

Our discovery of God is, in a way, God's discovery of us. We cannot go to heaven to find him because we have no way of knowing where heaven is or what it is. He comes down from heaven and finds us. He looks at us from the depths of his own infinite actuality, which is everywhere, and his seeing us gives us a new being and a new mind in which we also discover him. We only know him in so far as we are known by him, and our contemplation of him is a participation in his contemplation of himself. We become contemplatives when God discovers himself in us.

Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation

Year C - Epiphany 5

2010-01-31T15:34:00.000-05:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 6:1-13
Psalm 138
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Luke 5:1-11

Year C - Epiphany 4

2010-01-24T15:17:00.001-05:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Jeremiah 1:4-10
Psalm 71:1-6
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Luke 4:21-30

Year C - Epiphany 3

2010-01-23T09:56:00.002-05:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
Psalm 19
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Luke 4:14-21

Year C - Epiphany 2

2010-01-10T14:51:00.000-05:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 62:1-5
Psalm 36:5-10
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
John 2:1-11

Year B - Epiphany 1 Baptism of Christ

2010-01-03T17:46:00.001-05:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 43:1-7
Psalm 29
Acts 8:14-17
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Year C - Epiphany

2009-12-29T08:54:00.001-05:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 60:1-6
Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14
Ephesians 3:1-12
Matthew 2:1-12

Year C - Christmas 1

2009-12-21T05:19:00.004-05:00

Liturgy of the Word:
1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26
Psalm 148
Colossians 3:12-17
Luke 2:41-52

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
would save our sons and daughters?

Did you know that your baby boy
has come to make you new;
the child that you delivered
will soon deliver you?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy
will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
will calm the storm with His hand?

Did you know that your baby boy
has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little baby,
you kiss the face of God!
Oh Mary did you know?

Oh Mary did you know?
The blind will see, the deaf will hear
the dead will live again.
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak
the praises of the Lamb.

Mary, did you know that your baby boy
is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
will one day rule the nations?

Did you know that your baby boy
is Heaven's perfect Lamb?
The sleeping child you're holding
is the great I Am!

Mary did you know?

Year C - Advent 4

2009-12-19T15:05:00.005-05:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Micah 5:2-5a
Psalm 80:1-7
Hebrews 10:5-10
Luke 1:39-56

THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT: LOVE

Last Sunday we lit the candle of joy. We light it and the candles of hope and peace again as we remember that Christ, who was born in Bethlehem, will come again to fulfil all of God's promises and bring us everlasting peace and joy. (a person lights the candles of hope, peace, and joy)

The fourth candle of Advent is the Candle of Love.

God's love is a perfect love. It holds nothing back. God, in love, gives us everything we need to live a life of hope and peace.

The bible says that "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life." Jesus shows us God's perfect love.

This is what love is like: Love is patient, love is kind and envies no one. Love is never boastful or conceited, rude or selfish. Love is not quick to take offense, it keeps no records of wrongs, it does not gloat over other people's troubles, but rejoices in the right, the good, and the true. There is nothing that love cannot face, there is no limit to its faith, to its hope, to its endurance.

Love never ends. We light the candle of love to remind us that Jesus brings us God's love and shows us how to love others. (a person lights the candle of love)

Love is like a light shining in a dark place. As we look at this candle we celebrate the love we find in Jesus Christ.

Let us pray:
Thank you God for the love you give us. We ask that as we wait for all your promises to come true, and for Christ to come again, that you would remain present with us. Help us today, and everyday to worship you, to hear your word, and to do your will by sharing your love with each other. We ask it in the name of the one who was born in Bethlehem. Amen.

Year C - Advent 3

2009-12-06T18:30:00.004-05:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Zephaniah 3:14-20
Isaiah 12:2-6
Philippians 4:4-7
Luke 3:7-18

Last Sunday we lit the candle of peace. We light it and the candle of hope again as we remember that Christ, who was born in Bethlehem, will come again to judge the world and bring it everlasting peace. (a person lights the candles of hope, and peace.)

The third candle of Advent is the Candle of Joy. When the angel
Gabriel told Mary that a special child would be born to her she was filled with joy. She sang a song that began with the words: "My soul magnifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my saviour.

Just as the birth of Jesus gave great joy to his mother, so his presence in the world gave joy to those who had none before. He healed them and gave them hope and peace when they believed in him. From hope, peace, and love grows joy.

We light the candle of joy to remind us that when Jesus is born in us we have joy and that through him there will be everlasting joy on earth. (a person lights the candle of joy)

Joy is like a light shining in a dark place. As we look at this candle we celebrate the joy we find in Jesus Christ.

Let us pray: Thank you God for the joy you give us. We ask that as we wait for all your promises to come true, and for Christ to come again, that you would remain present with us. Help us today, and everyday to worship you, to hear your word, and to do your will by sharing your joy with each other. We ask it in the name of the one who was born in Bethlehem. Amen.

Year C - Advent 2

2009-12-01T16:45:00.004-05:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Malachi 3:1-4
Luke 1:68-79
Philippians 1:3-11
Luke 3:1-6

Last Sunday we lit the first candle in our Advent Wreath, the candle of hope. We light it again as we remember that Christ, who was born in Bethlehem, will come again to fulfil all of God's promises to us. (a person lights the candle of hope)

The second candle of Advent is the Candle of Peace. Peace is a word that we
hear a lot. It is one of the things that we hope for. Christ brought peace when he first came to us and he will bring everlasting peace when he comes again.

The prophet Isaiah called Christ "the Prince of Peace". When Jesus came he taught people the importance of being peace makers. He said that those who make peace shall be called the children of God.

We light the candle of peace to remind us that Jesus is the Prince of Peace and that through him peace is found. (a person lights the candle of peace)

Peace is like a light shining in a dark place. As we look at this candle we celebrate the peace we find in Jesus Christ.

Let us pray: Thank you God for the peace you give us. We ask that as we wait for all your promises to come true, and for Christ to come again, that you would remain present with us. Help us today, and everyday to worship you, to hear your word, and to do your will by sharing your peace with each other. We ask it in the name of the one who was born in Bethlehem. Amen.

Year C - Advent 1

2009-11-28T11:28:00.001-05:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Jeremiah 33:14-16
Psalm 25:1-10
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
Luke 21:25-36

Today is the first Sunday of Advent. Advent means "coming" and in this season we prepare for the coming of Christ. One of the ways we prepare for his coming is by making an Advent wreath and lighting its candles to remind us of the gifts Christ brings to the world.

The Advent wreath includes many symbols to help us think about Christ and his gifts. The wreath itself is in the shape of a circle. A circle has no beginning and no end. This reminds us that there is no beginning and no end to God and that God's love and caring are forever.

The light from the candles - which grows stronger each Sunday in Advent, reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world.

Today we light the candle of hope. The people of Israel hoped in
God's promises and were not disappointed. Again and again God delivered Israel from its enemies. We too have the same experience of salvation. That is why we believe in God's promise to send Jesus to us once again to judge the world and establish his kingdom forever upon the earth. (a person lights the candle)

Hope is like a light shining in a dark place. As we look at the light of this candle we celebrate the hope we have in Jesus Christ.

Let us pray: Thank you God for the hope you give us. We ask that as we wait for all your promises to come true, and for Christ to come again, that you would remain present with us. Help us today, and everyday to worship you, to hear your word, and to do your will by sharing your hope with each other. We ask it in the name of the one who was born in Bethlehem. Amen.

Year B - Christ the King

2009-11-16T08:55:00.000-05:00

Liturgy of the Word:
2 Samuel 23:1-7
Psalm 132:1-12
Revelation 1:4b-8
John 18:33-37

Year B - Proper 28

2009-11-14T11:17:00.000-05:00

Liturgy of the Word:
1 Samuel 1:4-20
Psalm 16
Hebrews 10:11-14, 19-25
Mark 13:1-8

There is no holy One, or no rock like our God who causes my heart to rejoice and my strength to increase,
For the Lord is a God of knowledge, who judges our actions.
Who breaks the power of the mighty, and clothes the feeble with strength,
The Lord makes rich and makes poor, brings low and lifts up.
Raising up the poor from the dust and the needy from the ash heap;
Giving them seats of honour and guarding the feet of those who are faithful.
While the wicked and those who rebel against the Lord will be shattered.
We worship and praise God - judge of all the earth.

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

When church culture becomes substitute for Christ’s power

2009-11-14T09:53:00.002-05:00

COMMENTARY: When church culture becomes substitute for Christ’s power

Shannon Vowell, Nov 19, 2009

By Shannon Vowell
Special Contributor

This is a tale of two churches.

No. 1: Once upon a time there was a Methodist Church that grew and grew. Why? Because it was 1955, and everyone in the land wanted to celebrate peace, to baptize the many babies they were having, and to make friends with the baby-having-and-baptizing couples who lived next door...

Read the rest of this aritcle at the website.

Year B - Proper 27

2009-11-01T16:15:00.001-05:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17
Psalm 127
Hebrews 9:24-28
Mark 12:38-44

Year B - Proper 26

2009-10-25T19:06:00.001-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Ruth 1:1-18
Psalm 146
Hebrews 9:11-14
Mark 12:28-34

Year B - Proper 25

2009-10-18T14:12:00.002-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Job 42:1-6, 10-17
Psalm 34:1-8
Hebrews 7:23-28
Mark 10:46-52

Year B - Proper 24

2009-10-14T19:23:00.000-04:00

Liturgy of the Word:
Job 38:1-7
Psalm 104:1-9, 24, 35c
Hebrews 5:1-10
Mark 10:35-45