John 9:1-41.
I’ve often said before, and I want to remind you of this to put this reading in context, and that’s this: when we read the scriptures, and we hear about the religious customs or traditions of its time, particularly Judaism, we’re not so much just reading about Judaism, but we’re really reading about all religion…
When I was growing up, my family went camping a lot. It started when I was in elementary school, camping in tents, and we even had a teepee for a little while. Then we got this trailer we pulled behind our station wagon. It was 17 feet long and seven people could sleep in it. So I still love camping but I have learned in my adult life to go “wilderness camping.”…
I’d like to share three things with you this morning: one from that reading from Genesis about Abraham, one from our Gospel reading about Nicodemus, and another experience I had on Ash Wednesday…
As I was thinking last week about our readings for today, the first Sunday in Lent, my thoughts kept returning to a period in my life about fifteen years ago, I think, when I would make frequent trips to my hometown to check on my parents well being, a routine not unfamiliar to some of you, I suspect…
So you’re at the checkout line at Harris Teeter or Food Lion. There’s a person in front of you and all their stuff has gone through. It’s time to pay. The person takes out their piece of plastic and puts it through. It’s always a debit or credit, or pays cash and there’s some problem…
When I was a young adult I remember my father repeating a story that his father was born before cars existed. That means probably before there were any roads. Then by the time Grandpa died and he was 95 years old and we had put a man on the moon. So my dad was overwhelmed about the amount of change that had taken place in our world in these less than 100 years of his own father’s life…
The Gospel reading this morning really invites me, engages me, more than any of these other readings. It reminds me of some things I’ve shared with you before about some of the stages that religion can go through. Some of this is from Richard Rohr. You may remember my mentioning him. I want to put this in some sort of context. It’s that reading where Jesus says, “You’ve heard it said, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say…”
When Ricky asked me to stand before you and share my story I was more than a bit apprehensive. Then after we scheduled my talk for February thirteenth, I realized I woukd be speaking after Bishop Curry. So you might be wondering why I accepted this opportunity to speak given all of the powerful talks that have come before me. But as the mother of three small children, all under the age of seven, I could not pass up the chance to talk for ten uninterrupted minutes…
It’s a joy to be back at St. Paul’s. I must tell you that once in a while when I get a Sunday off, I’ll slip in and sit in the back at the 7:30 (I like that 7:30) and then go to Starbuck’s and see all those Episcopalians who are supposed to be in church. I really do give God thanks for the witness, the ministries, the service that you do as St. Paul’s Church here and well beyond Cary. I really do thank God for your ministries and your witness. This is just a lovely church, a wonderful place. And your clergy are among the best that God has called for in the church…
Good morning. My name is Rick Bradley and I have to tell you how I came to be the parishioner before you to share my stewardship story. For many of you who have come before me to share your story, you know how this works. If you’ve been an involved parishioner as a ministry leader or on Vestry or served in some other capacity that made you known to others, you just know that your time is coming and you will be asked to stand before the congregation and share your story…