Facing Apocalypse: Climate, Democracy, and Other Last Chances Eighth Sunday after Pentecost Today’s Reading: Revelation 5:1–8:13 Have you noticed–there’s a lot of apocalypse swirling around these days? Not just fundamentalists waiting to get raptured out of the world. But responsible folk scared for the world: oh, the creepy mix of pandemic, racism, crisis of democracy,…
Zizania Mania, or, When Bad Things Happen in Good Soil Seventh Sunday after Pentecost Today’s Readings: Genesis 28:10-22 & Matthew 13:24-30 “Surely the Lord is in this place—and I did not know it!” Genesis 28:16 Things are a mess. The world’s in a mess. The country’s a mess. And truth to tell, I’m a bit…
Am I Teachable Sixth Sunday after Pentecost Today’s Readings: Romans 7:15-25; Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 The young woman narrator of Octavia Butler’s novel, Parable of the Sower, speaks to the importance of personal and collective learning, especially in times of crisis. She says, “I mean to learn everything I can while I can…none of us knows…
On the Fifth of July Fifth Sunday after Pentecost Today’s Readings: 2 Timothy 2:8-15; Matthew 11: 1-5, 16-19, 28-30 “Come to me, all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 We could all use a break, I think it’s safe to say. It’s been a long season…
Breaking the Walls Pride Sunday Today’s Readings: Ephesians 2:13-22 ; Matthew 10:40-42 Jesus said, “Whoever welcomes you welcomes, me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the One who sent me.” Matthew 10:40 We will still celebrate Pride! We will still celebrate our God, who welcomes all people. Join us this Sunday, online, as we testify to the…
A Sacred Conspiracy Third Sunday after Pentecost Today’s Readings: Genesis 21: 8-21, Matthew 10: 26-39 “And the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, and said to her, ‘What troubles you, Hagar?’” (Genesis 21:17) The story of Hagar, the slave of Sarah and the mother of Abraham’s first-born son, is devastating. Born in Africa, she…
Go, Go, Go Sunday Service with the New York Annual Conference Today’s Reading: Matthew 28:16-20 Click here for the order of the service This service will also be streamed on the NYAC Facebook page on Sunday morning at 8:45 and available by telephone (phone number is: 929-436-2866) for those who prefer to listen in on Sunday. We continue to…
Therefore Go Trinity Sunday Today’s Reading: Matthew 28:16-20 “Go to the world, go struggle, bless, and pray; the nights of tears give way to joyous day. As servant church, you follow Christ’s own way… Alleluia?” In the last words of Matthew’s Gospel, Christ sends us into a grieving, bleeding, aching world. We are given work…
Blown Away Pentecost Today’s Reading: Acts 2: 1-21 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to each other, “What does this mean?” But others said, “They are filled with new wine.” Acts 2:12-13 The different reactions that the people of Jerusalem have to the outpouring of the Spirit on the apostles at Pentecost remind me of…
Stay Grounded Ascension Sunday Today’s Readings: Acts 1:1-11, Luke 24:44-53 “So stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24:49 Happy Ascension Day! On Sunday we’ll mark the Ascension, the moment the risen Christ took off, after those forty days spent with the apostles after that first…