A Cup of Cold Water...

Scripture: Genesis 22:1-14 and Psalm 13  • Jeremiah 28:5-9 and Psalm 89:1-4, 15-18  • Romans 6:12-23  • Matthew 10:40-42

 In this Sunday's readings we have the amazing story of God telling Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Are we, like Abraham, being tested?  Consider Dan Clendenin's "A Terrifying Text: Abraham and Isaac on Mt. Moriah," and, along with Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard, put yourself in Abraham's shoes. Compare this with last Sunday's gospel where Jesus says that whoever loves his son or daughter more than me, or who does not take up their cross and follow me, is not worthy of me.  What does God ask of us?

Enjoy the story of wild haired college student John, who squats in the isle of a church service in  Christopher Burkett's "The Smallest of Good Deeds." 

What does God want us to do? Read Fr. Ric Morley's "sit up straighter..." Whoever welcomes you, welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the One who sent me.

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches over me

Scripture: Genesis 21:8-21 and Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17  • Jeremiah 20:7-13 and Psalm 69:7-10, (11-15), 16-18  • Romans 6:1b-11  • Matthew 10:24-39

"His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches over me." Words from a favorite hymn. In this week's scripture, from Hagar's despair over her son, Ishmael, cast out in the desert and death of her son looming, to Jeremiah's lament, to Jesus telling the disciples that God cares for them as he sends them out to take his message of love and forgiveness to a hostile world, we learn that God sees, hears, is present, and provides. God knows when every sparrow falls, and every hair on our heads is counted, Jesus tells us. He watches over us.

There will be storms and battles, but, thanks be to God, through Christ, there will be victory, even victory over death. Our readings this week are "Ishmael: God Hears and Sees," by Dan Clendenin;  "The Fine Print of Commitment," by Elizabeth D. Beck; and "Facing battles with the promise of victory," by The Rev. Canon Frank S. Logue.

More than words...

Scripture: Genesis 1:1-2:4a and Psalm 8  • 2 Corinthians 13:11-13  • Matthew 28:16-20

 When studying Matthew's gospel, the 28th chapter, we usually focus on that portion known as The Great Commission - "Go ye therefore into all the earth, making disciples of all nations, and baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and Holy Ghost."  We are to spread the Word. Immediately before that, however, Jesus says "All authority under heaven and on earth has been given to me." What is his "authority? What is his power and dominion? Consider John van de Laar's "God in a Word."

This is also Trinity Sunday. In "A glowing oven full of love," The Rev. Dr. Joseph Pagano discusses the social nature of God, and "relationship," within the Godhead, with God and us, and the relationships we have with each other. Part of our scripture is one of two creation stories from Genesis which says that we are created in the image and likeness of God. And God saw what he had created, and it was good. This is cause for celebration in relationships. See Psalm 8.

In "Family Ties," Jenny Williams helps put a human face and sense of community to this week's lesson.

In our Genesis creation story, God spoke the universe into creation. In John 1, we are told that with God was the Word, and the Word was God... and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. In Christ, we are given so much more than words.

This will flip your switch...Pentecost

Scripture: Acts 2:1-21 or Numbers 11:24-30  • Psalm 104:24-34, 35b  • 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 or Acts 2:1-21  • John 20:19-23 or John 7:37-39

  This week is the church's birthday - Pentecost. We read in Acts of the Holy Spirit descending on the disciples with a sound like a violent wind, and divided flaming tongues dancing over their heads. Top that Mick Jagger! And then the most amazing thing, those rustic Galileans spoke in languages all flesh, for all time, could understand. 

  In her Reflection on the gospel of John's account of Jesus giving us peace through the Holy Spirit , Sister Kym Harris tells us that  it is not the kind of peace that turns us off, but like electricity, it turn us on to a power enabling us to do far more than we can ever do ourselves, to live lives of abundance, free from compulsions, selfishness, and whatever holds us back from advancing God's kingdom of love. In her Exposition, she speaks of the power given to us by the Holy Spirit to deal with sin - the power to forgive, not only others, but our selves, so we can get up off the mat, renewed to serve up the Good News of Christ's love and abundance of life.

  In "Things like that don't happen anymore, right?," The Rev. Marshall Jolly asks "Could a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit happen? What do you think? What would it look, sound, feel and be like?