Archive for the ‘Sermon’ Category
Tornadoes, God and God’s People
Posted by: revjmk on: March 12, 2012
- In: Ministry Moments | Sermon
- 4 Comments
Exactly ten days ago, deadly tornadoes rolled through our region. Since noon that Friday, when my son’s school announced an early closing, every plan, task and to-do list has been tossed aside. Our town is just a few miles from Henryville, Indiana, which took a direct hit from an EF4 tornado. Our congregation has families that [...]
Ash Wednesday Sermon
Posted by: revjmk on: February 26, 2012
- In: Sermon
- 2 Comments
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10 The apostle Paul writes with some dizzying logic sometimes, doesn’t he? He calls those of us who follow Christ “ambassadors of reconciliation,” but then he goes on to leave a trail of irreconcilable contradictions about how we reconcilers are seen in the world. “We are treated with honor and dishonor, verbal [...]
Book Review: Love Wins
Posted by: revjmk on: April 28, 2011
Love Wins: A Book about Heaven, Hell and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived, by Rob Bell, HarperOne, 2011, 202 pp. Last Easter, a friend of mine used Rob Bell’s inspirational sermon from sometime around 2006, which was originally called “The Cross,” but soon became known as “Love Wins.” (You can purchase it [...]
Sermon Sapling: Epiphany 8A — In the Palm of God’s Hand
Posted by: revjmk on: February 27, 2011
Highlighted Passage: Isaiah 49:8-16 Speaking in God’s voice, Isaiah writes: “I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands. Your walls are continually before me.” It’s such a familiar, ordinary kind of image. “I won’t forget—see? I wrote it down right here on my hand.” What do you [...]
Advent 4A — Praying with Love
Posted by: revjmk on: December 14, 2010
- In: preaching | Sermon | Sermon Sapling
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Sometimes, I need to take time early in the week to express my disagreements and resentments toward a passage of scripture. It is my hope that, by Sunday, these frustrations can be transformed into a helpful, insightful struggle to share with others, or at least be set aside to make way for the Gospel. This [...]
Sermon Sapling: Advent 3A, Praying for Joy
Posted by: revjmk on: December 7, 2010
- In: Bible | Sermon | Sermon Sapling
- 1 Comment
Highlighted Passage: Isaiah 35:1-10 I am struck in my initial reading by the audience for this passage from Isaiah. The prophet is declaring joy and courage and gladness, but for whom? For the wilderness, the dry lands, the weak hands, the feeble knees, the fearful hearts. Those are the places and peoples that probably need [...]
Wrestling the Angel
Posted by: revjmk on: June 13, 2010
- In: Sermon | UCC | United Church of Christ
- 6 Comments
This is a sermon I preached at our United Church of Christ Conference Annual Meeting in June. The texts were 2 Peter 3:13 and Genesis 32:22-32, and the theme of the Annual Meeting was “Transformed Lives, Changing Church, Responsive God.” The pictures in the post were chosen by me and displayed on a screen behind [...]
About Me
I am a full-time pastor in the United Church of Christ, mother of a preschooler (B.), married to an aspiring academic and curmudgeon (J.). I live by faith, intuition and intellect. I follow politics, football and the Boston Red Sox. I like to talk about progressive issues, theological concerns, church life, the impact of technology and media, pop culture and books.
- Aleada SIragusa: I am a member of United Church of Christ also. One of our pastors, Rev Victoria Long is also a woman. I am on the net searching for photographs I may
- Samantha R.: Hello, I work with a publication called The Traveler's Friend. We are a coupon book for hotels. I was wondering if I could get your permission to use
- Marilyn Holt: Thank you for your inspiring comments on the disaster in your neighborhood and the uplifting section from your sermon. This entry in your blog is maki
