Archive for the ‘Sermon Sapling’ Category
Sermon Sapling: Lent 1A — Fasting is Making Room for God
Posted by: revjmk on: March 9, 2011
Highlighted Passage: Joel 2:1-2, 12-17; Matthew 4:1-11 “Call a fast… call a fast… call a fast…” Over the last few months, these words have come as a whisper to me in quiet moments of prayer and harried hours. They have been a summons and an invitation, a demand and a relief. I recognized their source [...]
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 [...]
Sermon Sapling: Epiphany 7A — Building on the Foundation
Posted by: revjmk on: February 17, 2011
Highlighted Passage: 1 Corinthians 3:10-23 I have always been fascinated by the construction of cathedrals. In the Middle Ages, when the cardinals of Europe were competing with one another to build the most magnificent edifice, craftsmen and laborers used the simplest of tools to build these spectacular buildings. Construction provided employment for hundreds, if not [...]
Sermon Sapling: Epiphany 4A — What Does the Lord Require of You?
Posted by: revjmk on: January 29, 2011
Highlighted passage: Micah 6:1-8 (My church is in the heart of a major capital campaign right now, so that experience definitely colors my reflections on this week’s text. So did my reading of Amy Oden’s commentary at workingpreacher.org, which offered helpful context information and many ideas that influenced this writing.) Usually, we see the famous words of Micah [...]
Sermon Sapling: Epiphany 3A — Put Down the Nets
Posted by: revjmk on: January 19, 2011
Highlighted Passage: Matthew 4:12-23 Put down your nets—you’re after the wrong fish. When Jesus approached those would-be disciples on the shores of the Galilee, they were doing what they had done every day, probably since they were young boys—climb into boats, row out into the Sea of Galilee, cast out nets to catch fish, haul [...]
Sermon Sapling: Epiphany 1A — Called to the Promise
Posted by: revjmk on: January 8, 2011
Highlighted Passage: Isaiah 42:1-9 This passage in Isaiah conjures for me an iconic image from Disney’s The Lion King. Even if you’ve never seen it, you probably know this image. It’s a cliff, jutting out high up over the savannah, that the lions visit to look out over their entire kingdom. The movie features a young [...]
Sermon Sapling: Epiphany A — The Treasure Guys
Posted by: revjmk on: January 1, 2011
Again because this post didn’t happen until late in the week, this is closer to my final manuscript for the sermon than a sermon sapling. Hopefully all will be back on track next week. Highlighted Passage: Matthew 2:1-12 What’s the first thing you think of when you think of the three wise men? I’m guessing [...]
Sermon Sapling: Christmas 1A — On the Run
Posted by: revjmk on: December 26, 2010
I didn’t have the time to post a sermon sapling early in the week, so this is a copy of my final manuscript. However, I did not read from the manuscript in the pulpit, so the sermon as delivered can be found here. B has been seeing the ads for a new Disney movie for [...]
Advent 4A — Praying with Love
Posted by: revjmk on: December 14, 2010
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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
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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 [...]
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
