Being a "servant of all" seems like a lot of work. Is it even possible? Not by ourselves alone. But one of the things that the Church as a whole can do is combine our abilities, our time, and our financial resources to make it possible.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Proper 20B – 22-Sep-24”
One day when Jesus was meeting with his disciples, he took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me."… Read the rest “Children’s Moment (Gospel) for Proper B20 – 22-Sep-24”
“Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.”, Jesus says in our gospel reading for today from Mark. Most often, we remember that statement from John, as he washed the Disciples feet.… Read the rest “Table Meditation (Gospel) for Proper B20 – 22-Sep-24”
People don't usually come out and ask the question like Jesus did: "Who do you say I am?" But they are wondering who we think Jesus is? What we do and how we do it tells them more about who we think Jesus is than what we say, as important as what we say is.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Proper 19B – 15-Sep-24”
When you're trying to describe someone to another person, what kinds of things do you say about them? [Wait for answers]
In our gospel story for today, Jesus is talking with the disciples and he first asks, "Who do other people say that I am?"… Read the rest “Children’s Moment for Proper 19B – 15-Sep-24”
"Who do you say that I am?" Jesus asks the disciples. How would they know? Where did they learn it? They learned who Jesus was from watching him -- watching him as he healed those with sicknesses and infirmities, watching him as he taught and argued, watching him as he reached out to the outcasts and the forgotten.… Read the rest “Table Meditation (Gospel) for Proper 19B – 15-Sep-24”
Sometimes we forget that the Good News of God's love for each and every one of us is for everyone, people right here in this community of faith, people is this city and nation, and people all over the world.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Proper 18B – 8-Sep-24”
The passage from James for today warns us that we must not show partiality, must not treat one person as more important than another. We're all adopted children of God. That's true everywhere, but especially here at the Table.… Read the rest “Table Meditation (Epistle) for Proper 18b – 8-Sep-24”
Meeting someone new, especially someone who is very different from you can be difficult. Can you think of a time when you met someone who looked different from you... maybe they had different-looking clothes or maybe they spoke differently, maybe even in another language from what you're used to hearing.… Read the rest “Children’s Moment for Proper 18B – 8-Sep-24”
I think one thing that Jesus was trying to teach the Pharisees in our scripture for today is that what comes out of our heart goes into the world, so it not only affects us, but affects those around us.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Proper B17 – 01-Sep-24”