Our gifts differ more broadly than most of us imagine. It is challenging for us as a human race — and as a church! — to be so diverse. The challenge of inclusion is to affirm our own gifts humbly, to affirm others gifts graciously, and to recognize the one
Continue readingThe Spirit that cones upon us in our baptism subsequently leads us throughout our life. In so many moments of our lives, the waters of our baptism touch us, cleansing us, return us from death to life, reminding us of the presence of the Sacred, and touching our hearts with
Continue readingThe Ephesians reading refers to the array of blessings which are ours in Christ and John refers to the ultimate blessing of the presence of God in our world and in our lives. These blessings are the spiritual equipment that we need for living well into our new year.listen view
Continue readingA birth is anticipated. It is the birth a a child. It is the birth of the child — the promise of life. It is the Spirit of God, at work in our world, exciting our minds and hearts with all the potential in this world. There are so many
Continue readingIn this gospel reading, John the Baptist recognizes the potential God has planted in this world and in this time. We are called to recognize that potential, to discern it, to perceive it. And when we perceive it, we find ourselves looking in a direction that is at least a
Continue readingWe need to take mercy out of the narrow context of wrongdoing and expand it to the difficulty of life. Scott Peck says that life is difficult, but once we accept that fact, it is no longer so difficult. We also speak of life in contentious, belligerent terms — “how
Continue readingWhat lies ahead ultimately for the human race and indeed for the whole creation? In our time, we are offered an array of differing visions. How we choose makes all the difference.listen view
Continue readingWhat threatens our soul in the life and this world? What do we resist in order to preserve our life for eternity? We die at peace when our life has been given to something beyond our life. To what would we “lose our life in order to save it”?listen view
Continue readingAll Saints Day is a time for celebrating all those who have died– all of “the saints”– by welcoming their spirits into our presence. In true Christian faith, the presence of the spirits of the dead is a blessed presence– neither a morbid view of death, nor a denial of
Continue readingHow do we do stewardship in an Affirming Ministry? We value our church in a diversity of differing ways. But above all, it is an opening of our hearts to one another. As the heritage passes from one generation to the next, it is cherished both in the receiving and
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