Matthew 1.18-25 The lone wolf. We know the trope well, don’t we? The picture of self-sufficiency and individual strength. The phrase likely stems back to a novel written by Louis Joseph Vance written in 1914 by that name. It tells the story of Michael Lanyard, a thief turned detective, who worked alone. But the same […]
Luke 1. 26-38 Janice sat at the table with her blue binder, furiously scribbling notes. Her friend Pam was a few minutes late, but it gave Janice some more time to think and write. When Pam got to the coffeehouse, she found the table, and immediately laughed out loud. “Ah, the infamous Blue Binder! I […]
Luke 1.5-25, 57-80 Zechariah was at the top of his game. And a mighty good game it was, at that. He was a coveted member of the tribe of Levites, the priestly class whose job it was to attend to the work of the Temple. Each day, the Israelites attended Temple worship, and gazed with […]
“It’s time.” Those are the words that came to mind as my sabbatical came to an end this summer. I had been on so many wonderful adventures, seen so many wonderful things, stood in awe in so many wonderful places. But as I returned home, I wondered what I was supposed to do with these […]
Acts 1.4-8 When we last left the 120 followers of Jesus, he was giving them last minute instructions before he left them. “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea and Samaria….” Now, maybe this is just my twisted mind, but I picture at that moment a Monty Python skit breaking out. In the […]
Acts 1.4-8 One hundred and twenty believers are gathered together for a church dinner. The hummus and pita and fish and olives and wine overflow the tables and there is laughter all around the crowded room. The kids are already done and running around after each other, while their parents yell at them to be […]
“Eternal Communion” Rev. Cheryl Harader (In observance of All Saints Day) John 11:32-44
Luke 17.11-19 Simeon lay still, eyes closed, as he slowly woke up. He smelled smoke from the fire, blowing from somewhere close-by. He had woken from a dream. In it, he was back home in his beloved Samaria. He lived in the shadow of the holy Mt. Gerizim. He could see the sun on it […]
Ecclesiastes 1.1-9 This summer, my brother and I went on a backpacking trip in the Olympic Mountains in Washington. One morning, we woke up and started our morning tasks. I grabbed the water filter and went down to a little stream near camp, and when I got there, I was amazed by this beautiful scene […]
Psalm 65 On our way out to Virginia Beach this summer, we drove up into the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was a good stopping point half-way from Kentucky, and, well, it was in the mountains. We stayed at a hotel in Roanoke, and I woke up early and drove a mile or two down to […]
