Mission Accomplished?
Palm Sunday AWe always do this thing in Episcopal churches (lots of others do too) when on Palm Sunday we gather outside of the church building before the service. Someone deals palms and miniature crosses to everybody, and we wave ...
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Some Recommended Reading
I won't be writing a new post today or next Monday because I'm neck-deep in plans to be away for nearly a week. Every two years, that "virtual" workplace I've written about here, in which I collaborate and converse with ...
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Dry Bones
Lent 5A: Ezekiel 37:1-14We step closer and closer toward Holy Week, and this week we read all about death and the hope of resurrection—first in Ezekiel’s trek into the valley full of dry bones, second into Bethany whe ...
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When We Don't Like God's Seating Chart
My "virtual" workplace was in an uproar again last week. (In the Christian blogosphere, uproars 'r us.) World Vision, a Christian nonprofit that enlists people to sponsor children in developing countries, made a surprising announcement: They would welcome employees in ...
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Weakness is Strong
Lent 4A: 1 Samuel 16:1-13
Think that some of that New Testament talk about the weak being strong and the disadvantaged being blessed was revolutionary? Think again. The story of David’s unlikely rise to power as the youngest, one of t ...
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Why We Pray
A few weeks ago, I got an email from a friend, asking for advice. I am godmother to his 8-year-old daughter, and he was looking for my thoughts on how to answer one of those sticky theological questions that kids ...
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Thirsty
Lent 3: John 4:5-42We’re going to step a little (a lot) beyond the lectionary this week because I think it might be important—or interesting, at least. We’re going to cover John 4:5-15 and jump to John 19:28-30. Read ...
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Why I (Sort of) Believe in Miracles
I just re-read Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, which is the true story of Louis Zamperini—Olympic runner and American soldier who endured a plane crash, more than a month on a raft on the Pacific Ocean, and almost two years o ...
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Blessing & Curse
Lent 2: Genesis 12:1-4a
God’s relationship with Abram (later “Abraham”) does not begin with a rule, it doesn’t begin with a law, and it doesn’t begin with a code. God’s relationship with Abram begins as a promise:
“ ...
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When Church Happens Out There, Instead of In Here
What would happen if we took to the streets of West Hartford Center next Ash Wednesday, asking anyone whose path we crossed if they would like ashes on their forehead? Would people laugh at us, or perhaps purposefully avoid us ...
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