A friend once shared a prayer with me to be offered when something is lost: “Tony, Tony, Turn Around, somethings lost and must be found.”
I did some checking and discovered that the prayer comes from the Roman Catholic tradition. It is a prayer to St. Anthony of Padua, the patron saint of lost things.
“How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God!
A Christmas or so ago, Susan gave me a smoker. Never having cooked with the “low and slow” method of smoking various meats, I read a few books, talked to a couple of people, but more than anything, I became a devotee of the “Do It Yourself” video.
Poet Thomas John Carlisle describes, in her words, the plight of the woman at the center of our text this morning:
Cantor Jennifer Rueben was recently in El Paso. On the trip she used $2,000 from her Norfolk, VA Synagogue to purchase $50 gift cards for Walmart. She donated them to an El Paso shelter that serves immigrant families. Her congregation wanted them to know they were glad they were here and that they were cared for from afar.
The flight was delayed because another flight had been canceled. The passengers at the gate became increasingly impatient as the wait dragged through the afternoon.
Well, we got back from vacation yesterday. We rented a small place down in Nags Head. It was a great week, good weather, a few adventures and time to relax, read and reconnect.
This story of Mary & Martha’s dinner party is guaranteed to stir up an argument. The story itself contains an argument. On top of that, down through the centuries, there have been countless arguments about the story.
We come to one of Jesus’ most famous parables, the good Samaritan. So familiar is the story, even non-Christians are likely to know this tale. Yet familiarity can also make it easy to lose sight of the message.
He is afraid. He is exhausted. He has done all he can, so he throws in the towel, prays to God for death then does the one thing that gives him peace, he takes a nap.
Trinity Sunday 2019
Pentecost 2019
Easter VII, 2019
Easter VI, 2019
Confirmation 2019
Easter III, 2019
Easter II, 2019
Easter 2019
Alleluia, Christ is Risen! The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia!
Maundy Thursday, 2019
Palm Sunday 2019
Lent V, 2019
Self-Development of People
Lent III, 2019
He was born for the sea. His father was a captain. He went to sea at age eleven. He learned the trade on voyages in the Mediterranean and the West indies. He served in the navy and was abandoned by a crew. Eventually rescued, the ship that saved him was nearly lost in a storm.
Lent II, 2019
Lent I 2019
I sure would love to win the lottery. Oh, what I could do with a great big winning pot. Pay off the kid’s education, give to the church so we could close the struggle we have every year and invest in an education director, oh the things I could do…
At the end of last week’s gospel message, Jesus seemed to be on the verge of a social revolution. He said blessed are you who are poor, hungry, suffering and despised and woe to you who are rich, fat, happy and popular.
Read Luke 6:17-19
What is a long day like for you? Is part of the day spent asking yourself if you’ll have enough? Will you make enough to cover your family’s needs?
OK, more wedding talk. How can I not with this text?
Second Sunday after Epiphany 2019
Baptism of the Lord, 2019
Epiphany 2019
Advent IV, 2018
Advent III, 2018
Advent II, 2018
Advent I, 2018
Reign of Christ