Why I give to the church
This fall stewardship season the good folks at “my” church asked if I would share with the congregation why I support..
More Stories from this Author
Prayer for Sutherland Springs, Texas
How long, O, Lord? How long will we keep killing each other? How long until sanctuaries are truly sanctuaries? How long until..
22nd Sunday after Pentecost – November 5, 2017
Joshua 3:7-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13; Matthew 23:1-12 Ordinary 31A; Proper 26 Whom are we to follow? How are we to lead? As..
21st Sunday after Pentecost – October 29, 2017
Deuteronomy 34:1-12; 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8; Matthew 22:34-46 Ordinary 30A; Proper 25 Reformation Sunday Reformation Sunday in this year of our Lord 2017..
Baptismal calling
For years Frederick Buechner’s quote about vocation both haunted and inspired me. You likely have heard it: “The place God calls you..
20th Sunday after Pentecost – October 22, 2017
Exodus 33:12-23; Matthew 22:15-22; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 Ordinary 29A; Proper 24 Right smack dab in the middle of what is “stewardship season”..
Prayer for California
Lord, the scenes are horrific: swaths of communities obliterated, smoldering ashes, flames still threatening in the background. Entire neighborhoods devastated, people missing,..
19th Sunday after Pentecost – October 15, 2017
Exodus 32:1-14; Matthew 22:1-14 Ordinary 28A; Proper 23 The parabalous horriblus continue this Sunday. Matthew doesn’t shy away from violence, judgment or..
We aren’t as irrelevant as we thought we were
Wear your vestments. Clergy will sit together at the front. Faith leaders are needed in the park. We want the clergy to..
18th Sunday after Pentecost – October 8, 2017
Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20; Matthew 21:33-46 Ordinary 27A; Proper 8 Jesus gets dystopian this Sunday. The world described in this parable is..
Prayer for Las Vegas
Lord God, we awake to another city that will now be known as an event, rather than a place. We greet the..
17th Sunday after Pentecost — October 1, 2017
Philippians 2:1-13; Matthew 21:23-32 Ordinary 26A; Proper 21 The sense of urgency is ramped up at this point in Matthew’s Gospel. Jesus..
Prayer for World Communion Sunday
Do this and remember me. Those simple words, spoken over bread and cup, call us back to you, Lord Christ. This is..
News flash: The Presbyterian Mission Agency Board met last week and you should care
The Presbyterian Mission Agency Board met last week in Louisville, Kentucky. There were a lot of other meetings, too: Way Forward Commission,..
Libyan, Muslim immigrant
“I can’t believe he said he was lucky.” My 16-year-old is processing our cab driver’s story. Wasim is a native of Libya..
16th Sunday after Pentecost – September 24, 2017
Exodus 16:2-15; Matthew 20:1-16 Ordinary 25A; Proper 20 Are you envious because I am generous? That’s the final question of this parable..
Prayer in the wake of earthquakes and hurricanes
God of heaven and creation, the earth is yours and all that is in it. We cannot help but recognize the limits..
15th Sunday after Pentecost – September 17, 2017
Romans 14:1-12; Matthew 18:21-35 Ordinary 24A; Proper 19 What is it about human beings that we like keeping score? We don’t just..
A prayer in the face of many storms
Lord, it feels as if all of creation is groaning. As entire communities are devastated by hurricanes, fires and earthquakes, we wonder..
14th Sunday after Pentecost – September 10, 2017
Exodus 12:1-14; Romans 13:8-14; Matthew 18:15-20 Ordinary 23A; Proper 18 Church Conflict Management 101 is the order of the day for this..
Prayer for the dreamers
Holy God, our undocumented sons and daughters are calling out in the streets, asking to be seen and valued. Come, Holy Spirit,..
The power of banana bread and Bible study
Banana bread, coffee, a glass bowl of mixed nuts. These treats welcomed us into the large, cinderblock classroom. Every week a comforting..
Pastoral prayer for Sunday, September 3, 2017 — Labor Day weekend
Almighty God, as the flood waters recede and the extend of the devastation is revealed we cannot help but feel overwhelmed by..
13th Sunday after Pentecost — September 3, 2017
Exodus 3:1-15 ; Romans 12:9-21; Matthew 16:21-28 Ordinary 22A; Proper 17 Look. See. Hear. Show. Listen. Observe. Both Moses and God do..
A prayer for those in the path of the storm
LORD, as the waters rise and the rain keeps coming we pray relief for all those impacted by the water and winds..