January 2021

Texts: Deuteronomy 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; Mark 1:21-28 The long light of morning sent shafts of light into the synagogue of Galilee on the Sabbath. The congregants hurried to take their places, jostling for a good view. No one wanted to miss the guest teacher. As with other synagogues, they frequently drew from the wisdom of […]

I just recalibrated how many weeks of official pandemic status we’ve endured so far. Counting from the third week of March last year, it should be forty-six. I think. Somewhere my numbers got off. Your calculations may differ from mine, but as most of you know public math is not one of my strengths. Perhaps

Texts: Jonah 3:1-5, 10; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31; Mark 1:14-20 It may be winter still, and cold, but have you noticed the light coming back? The mornings dawn just a breath earlier and the afternoon light leans longer into eventide. As the light gently grows, so does optimism seem to take hold in our hearts. When Jesus

Years ago as a tour guide and bus driver in Alaska I had a co-worker who was exceedingly outspoken about the uniforms we wore.  It’s true they were awful, medium-blue pure polyester slacks, white shirt, blue tie, and suit jacket.  Yes, for both the men and the women. Some people just knew how to bring

Texts: 1 Samuel 3:1-10 [11-20]; 1 Corinthians 6:12-20; John 1:43-51 Most of us were probably asleep and unaware when the power went out in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Except, perhaps, for a few wide-eyed night owls, sufferers of insomnia, or those awakened by the sound of the storm’s fury. Some awakened in the night

You’d never know it by any measure of the length of day or month of the year, but on January 6th a new season begins.  It’s called Epiphany which means “appearance” or “manifestation.”  The main image of this season is the star which led the magi to find Jesus.  So the Epiphany is all about

Texts: Genesis 1:1-5; Acts 19:1-7; Mark 1:4-11 Have you ever had one of those conversations where you’re not sure who you’re talking to? An unrecognized person on the phone or a mysterious email? It happened to me this week. I got an email from someone who I didn’t recognize, signed only with a nickname. The note

Texts: Jeremiah 31:7-14; Ephesians 1:3-14; John 1:[1-9] 10-18 It’s whole new year. And who knows what will happen, right? Few of us could have imagined the events that came to pass last year in every aspect of social life. Let the record show that we have a long road ahead in matters of racism, elections, and

On the edge of a year that has lasted, it seems, far longer than anyone wished, my thoughts are already turned toward new possibilities. In the coming year I looked forward to our borders being open again. I pray that people will be employed as fully as they wish to be. I hope that first