Series

Hidden Stories

Aug 23, 2020   ·  

The Reverend Patricia Catalano August 23, 2020 Proper 16   When Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son … More

Under the Table

Aug 17, 2020   ·  

We have to be careful here because Jesus initially treats this woman very, very badly. There is nothing that can take away how painful it is that Jesus calls a woman in need a dog. And it’s not particularly soothing that she uses that same dog language to expand his thinking. It’s insulting and baffling, and I don’t think we should easily move on from that stumbling block. I do want to say that the Rev. Dr. Joy Jay Moore[3] reflected on this text by saying that she did not think it was ok that a woman of color or a minority woman had to argue for her humanity, argue for the fact that she was made in the image of God to God itself. Instead she preferred to interpret the text that Jesus was voicing the prejudices of his peers, knowing, all along, the humanity of the woman in front of him. More

… grant that we, being delivered from the disquietude of this world

Aug 09, 2020   ·  

The image of Jesus off alone praying crops up in the narratives of his life and as I have gotten older I have craved this kind of example that he sets, this connection to quiet, and to his ability to anchor the work that he is doing in the world. I have spent more time in quiet meditation since March than I have since I was in seminary. I have gotten quiet a lot. I am trying to find a way to anchor this experience of grief and sadness as we continue to try and stay home and keep each other safe.   Cases are over five million in this country and over 160,000 people have died. More

Women and children count in the feeding of the 5,000

Aug 02, 2020   ·  

Well…. Not only did he teach with them, parable after parable, story after story he spent time with them, and he with drew got on a boat and moved to another place in says in the text that, “Moved to compassion Jesus moved along them and healed them.”

Moved to compassion, what a great phrase. What a wonderful way to hear about moving through the world. What an amazing aspirational stance to take when you look at people.   I looked at people and I was moved to compassion. We look at a group of people and we are moved to compassion. We look at each other and we are moved to compassion. More

How do we go deeper to show up better?

Jul 05, 2020   ·  

As Wisdom calls to us, we are called to change. To understand beyond our sensory perception, the use of scripture, and gatherings, and talking to each other and bringing our whole self forward into the work of God in the world is the call.  It will change us.   Bring our whole selves. Bring our whole selves rather than picking and choosing.  I am not talking to just the Christians in this I am talking to you to go and do your work, to become more of what Wisdom is calling from us.  We need to seek an order to chaos, to be humble,  to use the tools that we are given to change. More

Someone is hurting our people and it’s gone on far too long and we cannot be silent anymore.

Jun 21, 2020   ·  

The Poor People’s campaign was in our building in 2018 and I remember this moment, when I swear it happened this way, I went downstairs to greet the folks who had showed up and it was the organizers.  One of the women asked me to stay as they prayed.  Of course.  And she started to sing a call and response.  We stood in a circle together and as we responded the doors to the parish Hall opened up and a couple of people joined us and then more and more.  We stepped back and expanded the circle again and again and from the circle as we expanded finally our circle was as big as the parish hall.  That is the call that is what we are called to do and to be.  Ever-expanding and ever more part of the circle.   More

All Lives Do Not Matter Unless Black Lives Matter

Jun 14, 2020   ·  

“We are taught to that we should just be really good at what’s already possible and to leave the impossible alone” Adrienne Maree Brown More

Most everything I needed to learn in this life I learned because I made a mistake.  And I was in a relationship with someone who could help me; hold it up, made me look at it.

Jun 07, 2020   ·  

The Rev. Cannon Stephanie Spellers says “Because “God created humanity in God’s own image, in the divine image God created them…” (Gen 1:27). You spit on a child of God, you’re spitting on God. And if somebody’s spitting on God, people of faith HAVE to step up. It’s not optional. It’s not “two sides.” Step up with and for the holy One who has been kicked, shot, choked, crucified, denied. Step up because oppressive systems dim the beneficiaries’ divine spark and full humanity. For the love of God, step up.” More

The Way of Love: Introduction to an Epiphany Sermon Series

The Reverend Michele H. Morgan introduces the 7 Steps in the Way of Love, as proposed by presiding Bishop Michael Curry.
TURN Pause, listen, and choose to follow Jesus.
LEARN Reflect on Scripture each day, especially Jesus’s life and teachings.
PRAY Dwell intentionally with God each day
WORSHIP Gather in community weekly to thank, praise, and draw near God.
BLESS Share faith and unselfishly give and serve.
GO Cross boundaries, listen deeply, and live like Jesus.
REST Receive the gift of God’s grace, peace, and restoration.
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Peacemaking: Talking the Talk; Walking the Walk

One hundred-four years ago, there was a man who had to ask this same question for himself. His name was Adolf von Harnack. He was a German theologian. He had been teaching for decades as a leading voice of the “liberal theology” school of thought . . . In the summer of 1914, von Harnack would have known that war was on the horizon . . . For decades, von Harnack had been talking the talk about Jesus and his teachings. Von Harnack had spread the idea that modern Christians should figure out Jesus’s core message and try to live it in the modern world. Now he had a decision to make: was he going to walk the walk of being a peacemaker, as Jesus had instructed? More