September 12, 2021 SCRIPTURE READING: Mark 8:27-36 The text for the morning is a part of the Lectionary Readings and most of the readings have a theme of wisdom. Mark says Jesus and the twelve were walking between villages: “On the way, he asked them, ‘Who do people say that I am?’” Easy question. They … [Read more…]
September 5, 2021 SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 146 Last week I began this two-part series on the topic of service. It’s taken me all of these three years we’ve been together to feel like I’m just beginning to understand all of the things (of service nature) that you are involved in. All of the ways that … [Read more…]
August 29, 2021 SCRIPTURE READING: James 1:19-27 Each of the writers of the New Testament seem to have their own personality and style. Whoever wrote the book of James was a very practical church leader. “Here’s how it is. Here is what you ought to be doing.” Six times in the first chapter he uses either the … [Read more…]
August 22, 2021 SCRIPTURE READING: 1 Kings 8:1,6,10-11,22-30 Thanks for engaging in the little exercise and the reading of Psalm 84 before our prayer time. It is very interesting to become aware of how you FEEL when you enter a particular space. Especially when you aren’t given any preparation (with words) about the space and … [Read more…]
August 15, 2021 SCRIPTURE READING: Nehemiah 8:8-12 I’m returning to my sermon series on issues that are presently capturing my attention when I think of direction for St. John’s. It may be of some surprise to you that one of my focal points is FUN. Maybe it doesn’t seem serious enough for the church. I … [Read more…]
August 8, 2021 SCRIPTURE READING: 1 Kings 19:4-8 We had a wonderful time at the beach a week ago – five families, 18 individuals in one house. I wondered how we would all deal with that. I hoped we would all be patient with one another and our uniqueness. As usual, I wasn’t expecting the … [Read more…]
July 18, 2021 SCRIPTURE READING: Matthew 18:1-6 Thanks so much to Ashley for sharing her passion. She and Ginny share a similar commitment to the Reggio Emilia philosophy of education and you will get a chance to hear from Ginny next Sunday! (And Allison the following Sunday). It is so exciting for me to be … [Read more…]
July 11, 2021 SCRIPTURE READING: Mark 9:33-37 Some time ago now, I sat down and began to reflect on some focal points that I thought were emerging here at St. John’s and that deserved some attention. One is the needs of the children both already in our congregation and also those who are just on … [Read more…]
July 4, 2021 SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 146 Today is the 4th of July with all the usual celebrations only slightly muted by the pandemic. It is all rooted in our struggle for independence from Great Britain. To refresh my memory, I decided to take a look at that Declaration of 1776, which started it all: … [Read more…]
June 20, 2021 SCRIPTURE READING: Ezra 1:1-5, 3:10-13 When I say I’m doing a sermon series on my vision about where St John’s is heading, it is as much or more about what I notice about the directions we are already moving as it is about where I think we SHOULD go and aren’t. Last … [Read more…]