Matthew 5:13-16 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth…. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. (Genesis 1:1-2). So begins the light we find throughout the Bible. The very first thing God does is to create light. In the Kabbalah, a mystic tradition within Judaism, the ancient myth […]
Upside-Down Blessings
Matthew 5:1-12 Jesus has been teaching and healing long enough to have built a reputation. Jesus was amazing! He seemed to be able to cure every kind of disease. And he didn’t charge for this gift. He was also teaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God, but it was the healing […]
Souper Bowl of Caring begins now
In 1990, Souper Bowl of Caring began with a simple prayer from a single youth group: “Lord, even as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us be mindful of those without a bowl of soup to eat.” Since then, more than $150 million has been generated for local charities across the country through […]
The Prairie Blossoms in concert February 5
Bell Tower Concerts presents… The Prairie Blossoms – Karen Kitchen & Mel Kubik Wednesday, February 5, 7pm in Copeland Commons …performing a program of contemporary and traditional Native American music, drawing from an engaging repertoire of tribally-specific American Indian songs: Lullabies, stomp dances, round dances, stick-game songs, planting songs, and more. Using their voices, a variety […]
Light Dawns
Matthew 4:12-25 It is the season of epiphany. Most preachers seem to offer from this text a call to discipleship, just like the one offered Simon and Andrew, James and John. Yes, of course, we are all called to be disciples of Jesus and to go into the world with him to welcome, inaugurate and […]
Come and See
John 1:35-42 After worship today, I will need to leave quickly. I am part of the installation commission for the Rev. Joshua Dunham, being installed as the new pastor at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Gresham – and it begins a 1pm. Covenant Presbyterian Church has called a new pastor, to lead them into a new […]
Thin Places
Matthew 3:13-17 “Remember your baptism and be thankful.” These lines are part of many traditional Presbyterian worship services. In some communities, they are part of each celebration of the Lord’s Supper. They are spoken at the beginning of presbytery, as the font, the Christ candle, the Bible, the water are brought in. Water is poured […]
Of Stars and Other Guidance
Matthew 2:1-12 The main reason why I finally broke down and got a smart phone was that I wanted to have access to GPS. The hand-me-down Garmin I was using was cumbersome and failing. I wanted to be able to get help to go where I wanted to go. I already had a nice camera. […]
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
7pm in the sanctuary at Mt. Tabor Church It is such a big part of the season – passing the light of hope and peace from hand to hand, singing, telling the story. Please be part of the light.
Hope: the Mary & Elizabeth Story
Luke 1:39-56 The old woman shuffled around the fire pit in the lean-to which sufficed for a kitchen. Propping herself on a cane, she bent down to check on the dough baking on the hot stones. “Zechariah, I am getting too old for this!” (She continued muttering to herself, knowing that no response would be […]
