Prayers of the People for September 11th, based on the occasion of the Tenth Anniversary of the Terrorist Attacks on September 11th, 2001 and the lessons from Proper 19 Year A of the Revised Common Lectionary. • Also on this site is a longer, litany-style, set of prayers for the same day, • a reflection on Matthew 18:21-35, the Gospel lesson for 9/11/11, and • a reflection on Exodus 14:19-31, the Hebrew Bible lesson. Officiant Lord, […]
The following is a reflection on Matthew 16:21-28, the Gospel lesson for August 28, 2011, according to the Revised Common Lectionary (Proper 17). • Be sure to check out a reflection on the Hebrew Bible lesson for the same day . “Get behind me Satan!” has been a stock conversational phrase in our culture for quite some time now. But, even though we use it, and hear it, often, I’m not sure we’re much closer […]
The following is a reflection on Matthew 16:13-20, the Gospel lesson for August 21, 2011, according to the Revised Common Lectionary. On this site there is also a reflection on the Old Testament lesson for the same day. Peter could have proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ, in many, many places. The choices were practically limitless. He could have done it in the Temple, on a mountaintop, or on a boat by the sea. […]
There have been some excellent posts recently by Michael Hyatt and the Tentblogger on email management. I’d like to add a few things about email that are specific to pastoral ministry. First of all, pastoral ministry is not a “desk job.” An office is helpful in many respects, but it shouldn’t be the place where someone in pastoral ministry spends even 50% of their time, unless you happen to be doing a lot of counseling […]
The following is a reflection on Genesis 1:8-2:10, the Old Testament lesson for August 21, 2011, according to the Revised Common Lectionary. On this site there is also a reflection on the Gospel lesson of the day. The opening of the Book of Exodus is a primer on two ways of living: reacting out of fear, and acting out of compassion. Throughout the conflict with Pharaoh and the Egyptians, it’s fear and hard-heartedness which drives […]
A reflection on Matthew 15:10-28, the Gospel lesson for August 14, 2011 according to the Revised Common Lectionary. A reflection on the Old Testament lesson for the same day can be found here. …”it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.” In Frederick Buechner’s The Son of Laughter, Rachel says to her son Jacob: “A word can never be unspoken once it has been spoken. Do you understand what I mean?…This is what […]
A reflection on Genesis 45:1-15, the Old Testament lesson for August 14, 2011 according to the Revised Common Lectionary. A reflection on the Gospel lesson for the same day can be found here. “And now, do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life…God sent me here before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth…So it was not you who […]
Stewardship in church isn’t about money. I mean, it is. But, it’s also about far more than that. It’s about relationship. It’s about our relationship with God, and our relationships with each other. It’s also about thankfulness. Thankfulness to God for life and it’s many blessings, including our church community. Last year we tried a new stewardship idea at St. Mark’s–an idea that highlighted the twin themes of relationship and thankfulness. Our stewardship campaign looked […]
A reflection on Matthew 14:22-33, the Gospel lesson for August 7, 2011, for proper 14 in the Revised Common Lectionary. A reflection on the Old Testament lesson for the same day is available here. If ever there is a story in the gospels which sums up the Gospel, this is it. The story begins like the story of Creation. As the Spirit of God hovered over the waters just before light was called into being—Jesus […]
A reflection on Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28, the Old Testament lesson for Sunday August 7, 2010 according to the Revised Common Lectionary. A reflection on the Gospel lesson for the same day is available here. Isaac had two boys, and one conspired to lie and cheat his way into a blessing that, by birth right, belonged to the other. Jacob had twelve boys, and ten of them conspired to kill one of their brothers–and probably would […]