Last night in Portland, hundreds of children went to bed hungry. Last night across these United States of America, hundreds of thousands of children went to bed hungry. Right now, in Yemen, five million children are at risk of famine. While it is World Communion Sunday today, and while you and I and Christians around … read
For and Against and With Mark 9:38-50 This seems like the wrong week to speak about being in community with those we disagree with. The confirmation hearing for Judge Kavanaugh has unearthed, once again, the deep divisions among us: divisions along the lines of gender, along the lines of use of power, along the lines … read
A while back I heard a scholar say that the gospel of Mark can be understood as a circular thing. The gospel begins with the adult Jesus in Galilee, starting his ministry, and it ends with an angel in the empty tomb telling the women to go back to Galilee and the risen Jesus will … read
In this beautiful slice from Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth, the great apostle is making the case for hope. Hope! That thing with feathers that perches in the soul, as Emily Dickinson says. Desmond Tutu says that hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness. Hope … read
“Church people.” When you hear those words, what comes to mind? Some of a certain age will remember comedian Dana Carvey’s incarnation of the Church Lady, in a gray wig, fake pearls, making multiple references to Satan, and the expression, dripping with sarcasm, “Isn’t that special?” “Church people” might conjure up an image of any … read
A few years ago as I was rummaging through one of the many storage spaces in the church, I came across a very large plaque. It measures about 3 feet by 5 feet and weighs about 1,000 pounds and is hand-inscribed. On it are the names of Westminster members, men and women, who served the … read