If the only gospel we had was the fourth one, the Gospel According to John, things might look a lot different today. We might not be celebrating the birth of Jesus; we would have no crèche adorning the chancel, no star-banners twinkling above us, no carols about babies sleeping in hay amid lowing cattle and … read
“There is a truth past knowing. There is a joy past hope.”—Tracey Miller (my dad) It’s hard to believe that twenty-one years ago, during Advent, I was newly pregnant with the person we came to know as Alex Vischer. The happiness was made brighter and sweeter by Christmas lights and candles, the fresh scent of … read
Is it right to experience joy when there is so much suffering in the world? If you’re not much of a sermon listener, consider yourself done for this morning and contemplate this question during your week. If you’re still with me, I’ll ask the question again: is it right to feel joy when there is … read
We Americans get uneasy around talk of kings.The only monarchs we like are butterflies and tabloid stars. Yet, here we are on the last Sunday of the liturgical year, celebrating Reign of Christ Sunday, a celebration of royal doctrine if ever we met one. That dis-ease with monarchy isn’t just us. The Torah (the first … read
This morning I told my colleague Melissa Olmsted that this sermon feels like it should come with a warning label.It feels like it may be too heavy.She paraphrased Mr. Rogers. Instead of looking for the helpers, perhaps what we need in this time is to look for the light.Look for the light. At 11 a.m. … read