Thank you all for being here tonight. A few years ago there were rumors of ice on the night of Christmas Eve, and while we did have our service, we were missing some of the wise folks who decided to stay home where it was warm and dry. It’s good to have a nice, full … read
There is something greater than honor and shame. That would have been an interesting thing for Joseph to have heard in the minutes or days before the angel’s dreamtime visit, in the weeks or months before their families negotiated the betrothal between Joseph and Mary. Joseph’s whole world was structured around bringing honor and not … read
“And certainly and easily I can see how God might be one rose bud, one white feather in the heron’s enormous slowly opening wing. It’s after that it gets difficult.” So wrote Mary Oliver in her poem “Evening Star” but I would hazard a guess that most of us can agree with that last line, … read
Being a pastor is a weird thing. People – especially people who don’t do church – have no idea how we spend our days and imagine we have a direct line to God, our trusted counselor and mentor and advisor. I would reckon that every pastor I know has been asked how she or he … read
Some of you had the great pleasure of knowing Mary Jean Pagter, a member of Westminster who for the last few years lived in Eugene and who died earlier this year. Gregg and I did not have that pleasure, but we enjoyed notes from Mary Jean now and then, and we drove by her yellow-orange … read
Several years ago, I was back East for a college reunion and was very happy to get together with some of my oldest and dearest friends. While we were walking around campus, my friend Emily asked a favor. Emily and I had roomed together for two years in college and one year after; I was … read