Gospel conversations
According to Masha Gessen, a Russian-American journalist and staff writer for the New Yorker, “We’ve lost the ability to have political conversations.”..
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Prayer for Easter
Another day has dawned, a day we anticipated would be like yesterday — full of despair and confusion, fear and sorrow —..
Prayer for Holy Saturday
We woke today hoping against hope that you would be alive and with us, Lord. We had wished yesterday was a nightmare,..
Resurrection of the Lord/Easter — April 1, 2018
Mark 16:1-8 Secrets people take to the grave don’t often stay there. Movies, reality television and soap operas make great use of..
Prayer for Good Friday
Lord, days like today we wish we could wipe off the calendar. The pain crushes our spirits. Seeing you mocked and beaten,..
Prayer for Maundy Thursday
Servant Lord, you come not to be served but to serve. You tell us to emulate your actions becoming least and last..
Prayer for Wednesday of Holy Week
You call us, Lord of all, to keep awake, to watch and be ready, to be on alert for the in-breaking..
Prayer for Tuesday of Holy Week
Lord Christ, Hosanna in the highest, even as you prepare to face your death, you continue your God-given work. We marvel at..
Prayer for Monday of Holy Week
Lord, after the crowds and noise, the branches and cloaks, the shouts of “Hosanna!” and the scramble to follow your instructions and..
Prayer for Palm/Passion Sunday
Cloaks on the road, leafy branches cut from the fields of those who welcomed you, Lord Christ, all offerings of what..
March 25, 2018 — Palm/Passion Sunday
Mark 11:1-11 Palm/Passion Sunday, Year B Why are you doing this? What are you doing? These two questions are front and center..
5th Sunday in Lent — March 18, 2018
John 12:20-33 (34-36) Lent 5B Some Greeks want to see Jesus. They must have heard stories about Jesus. Word had gotten around..
Lord, make me useless
Lately my prayer has been to be useful: Make me useful, God. Where this plea originates during days overflowing with unending tasks..
4th Sunday in Lent — March 11, 2018
Numbers 21:4-9; Ephesians 2:1-10; John 3:14-21 Lent 4B John 3:16. Even in this age when education through memorization has fallen out of..
3rd Sunday in Lent — March 4, 2018
Exodus 20:1-17; John 2:13-22 Lent 3B Jesus, early in his ministry in John’s Gospel, ventures to Jerusalem for the festival of Passover...
NEXT Church challenged to get on the holy way
Baltimore — To be God’s people rising, get on the holy way. That was the message of closing worship for NEXT Church’s..
2nd Sunday of Lent — February 25, 2018
Mark 8:31-38 Lent 2B Immediately after Peter declares that Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus begins to teach the disciples that he will..
In Jesus’ name
I attended Catholic school for the first three years of elementary school. I appreciated Mass, even though the wafer and the cup..
1st Sunday in Lent — February 18, 2018
Mark 1:9-15 Lent 1B Mark’s Holy Spirit dove does not sit cooing on a nearby branch, placidly watching. No, Mark’s version of..
Prayer for Parkland, Florida
Lord God, on this Ash Wednesday when we repent and turn to the gospel, we once again turn to you with cries..
Prayer for Ash Wednesday
Lord to whom we belong in life and death, our only comfort, we come before you aware of our failings and awed..
Transfiguration Sunday — February 11, 2018
Transfiguration of the Lord Mark 9:2-9 Calvin and Hobbes cartoon strips come to mind when I read the account of the Transfiguration..
5th Sunday after Epiphany — February 4, 2018
Mark 1:29-39 Ordinary 5B Four scenes, two settings. The two settings? Simon’s home and a deserted place. The four scenes? Healing of..
Hubs on the community wheels
Every church, every neighborhood, every committee, every organization of which I have ever participated has had unheralded, unofficial leaders. I can picture..
4th Sunday after Epiphany — January 28, 2018
Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Mark 1:21-28 Ordinary 4B What an exciting day at the synagogue. Astounding teaching, interrupted by an angry outburst, followed by..