Sept. 14, 2014 Romans 14:1-12 Matt 18:21-35 A friend of mine and seminary classmate has made something of a name for himself in the UCC, serving a few large churches first in MA and now in Chicago. He’s written for some national publications and he’s been mentioned in at least one recent best seller on […]
Sept. 7, 2014 Ex. 12:1-14 Rom 13:8-14 Matthew 18:15-20 A visiting YDS professor was called upon to preach at the downtown New Haven church where I interned about 18 years ago. I don’t remember his name, but a story he told has found a permanent place in my collection of important religious experiences. He talked […]
Aug. 31, 2014 Romans 12:9-21 Matthew 16: 21-28 Greg Jones was at one point the Dean of Duke Divinity School. His wife was a United Methodist Pastor serving a new parish somewhere near the school. Jones talks about the divisions in that church and recalls the experience that his wife witnessed one night in the […]
Rom. 12:1-8 Matthew 16:13-20 I was 25 or 26 years old. A woman who had participated in the groups that I led at the church came to my office. She was concerned with the state of her spiritual life – even a bit discouraged that here she was in her late 50’s or early 60’s […]
Aug. 3, 2014 Matthew 14:13-21 You do it. You give them something to eat. You look upon these people with compassion. You help them. You do it. That’s the message the stood out for me as I read our gospel passage today. Of course, there are thousands of people there. The disciples are small in […]
Genesis 28:10-19a Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 In a recent edition of the Christian Century a chaplain talks about receiving a call to visit a dying man. At the base of the man’s bed sat his eldest son, John. John told the chaplain not to worry. He said his dad was a Christian and had been “saved” […]