Today Northwood was incredibly fortunate to have the Wartburg Choir visit us. The number of choir members was approximately equivalent to the number of other worshippers. The choir was full of energy, grace, and (most importantly) voices that moved us all to tears. The recording of Give Me Jesus, is currently playing on repeat in my […]
Sermon Remix: The Hailstorm & Wartburg College Read More »
One of the most helpful things anyone ever said to me about Sabbath keeping is that Sabbath keeping should be thought of in terms of smaller parts of a larger whole. Just as we strive to take a Sabbath day out of our week, perhaps we can take a Sabbath week out of our year.
Practicing Sabbath for One, Three or Five Minutes — 30 Ideas Read More »
I just got back from a weekend retreat at Mo Ranch where I spoke to the Presbyterian Women of Mission Presbytery. It was such an honor to be the keynote speaker, and I had a great time doing it. Given that it was the week after Holy Week, I’m pretty sure my body didn’t think
Sermon Remix, Retreat Edition: Join the Dance Read More »
This Thursday, inspired by this post “Be a Poet, not a Preacher During Holy Week,” I read three poems during the Maundy Thursday service For the Dying by John O’Donohue from his book To Bless the Space Between Us Kindness, by Naomi Shihab Nye from her book Words Under the Words and Fair is Fair by
Sermon Remix: Maundy Thursday and Easter Read More »
Awhile ago I was keeping up with the “sermon remix” and posting the thoughts from the Sermon on Sunday afternoons so that they could be used in a different way. I don’t know if I’ll be able to remix the sermon for a blog post every week, but I’d like to bring back the idea,
Sermon Remix: Palm Sunday 2016 Read More »
This week I caught up with a colleague over a cup of coffee. It was there she told the story of an Easter morning debacle unlike any I had ever heard: A rat had crawled into the oven and died sometime during lent. When the oven was turned on to heat up breakfast casseroles, the
The Stench of Resurrection Read More »
Note to readers: This is a slightly edited version of what I posted in the Northwood Presbyterian Newsletter The Breezeway for the month of March. Have you ever heard someone speak with absolute certainty about who God is, based on a verse or two from the Bible? I have to admit, whenever I hear someone says
Preached on December 24, 2014 at Northwood Presbyterian Church Shepherds. What do you know about the shepherds? What have you heard? Were shepherds poor or rich? Were they young, or old? Were they men or women? Were they well respected, or were they lower on the social ladder? Shepherds were poor. Their work was a
Shepherds — A Christmas Message Read More »
Today is All Saints’ Sunday, a day when we remember the community of saints who have gone before us and reflect on their meaning in our lives. I love All Saints’ Day for so many reasons. Today at Northwood Presbyterian Church we each brought up flowers and laid them on the front table, remembering and
Junia, John and Clayton Read More »
Last Sunday we read the story of Bartimaeus who stands at the side of the road and asks Jesus for healing. “Son of David,” he cries “have mercy on me.” The crowd tries to shush him, but this makes him even more determined. (Anybody ever had that happen to you? The more you are asked
Sermon Remix: Jesus is the Son of David Read More »
