Shocking...that doesn't seem to fit Heartbreaking...that may be better, but doesn't quite get there 500,000 That's the number of COVID deaths we have reached in the United States. In one of the wealthiest, most medically sophisticated countries in the world, over half a million people have died from a virus they knew little to nothing…
Three Things…from Schitt’s Creek: The Rose Family
This week in worship we continued a series called Family Values, looking at the intersection of television and theology. We are looking at what lessons we can learn for our own relationships, both inside family and out. This week, we looked at the Rose family and the people of Schitt's Creek, along with Nicodemus' encounter…
Three Things…from This is Us: The Pearson Family
This week in worship we began a new series called Family Values. The series will explore the intersection of television and theology, especially around issues of family. The term "family values" brings up a lot if images, some helpful and some...well, not so helpful. One of my hopes for this series is that we will…
The Gospel According to Christmas Vacation
I was in my early teens when my friends and I went to the movies to see National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. This was one of the first PG-13 movies I remember seeing in the theaters (do you remember those? Before March, we used to go to this building called a theater to see movies) Now…
Seeing the Holy…in Cobra Kai
Over Labor Day weekend, we finally dove into Cobra Kai. I had cruised past it a couple of times but finally decided to dive in. We made it through Season 1 and are looking forward to Season 2. The Karate Kid is an 80s classic (never-mind the sequels) and Ralph Macchio doesn't age, so we…
6 Things I’ve Learned at the Church Door
I was thinking the other day about what I miss most about having church in-person. There are many things to miss about not being able to gather in-person and when we do, I suspect church will look different for the foreseeable future. It struck me that I really miss church door conversations. Now, I know…
We Don’t Agree…Now What?
“Go along so we can get along” How many times in your life has someone told you that? It’s never felt very good to me, when another tells me that I should conform to expectations, just so we can move along. It does not create a fulfilling life nor needed change. We like unity. We…
Worthy
One of the great promises of scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, is that you belong. You are worthy. We don't tell ourselves that enough. It's something we don't tell others enough. It's something we don't proclaim in church enough. I once had a conversation with a young adult who had grown up in our church.…
Thursday- A Difficult but Important Meal
I can’t help but wonder if the Passover meal that Jesus shares with his disciples seems odd to them. In Mark’s Gospel, it is the twelve disciples who seem to be the last to understand what is going on around them. Jesus has been trying to teach them about his upcoming death, but they don’t…
Wednesday-Unconditional Grace
We come to Wednesday of Jesus’ Last Week. Tuesday had been a long day, filled with a lot of teaching and a lot of tension. Wednesday begins with Jesus and his disciples at a house in Bethany, the home of Simon the Leper. Bethany was not far from Jerusalem, about two miles or so. We…
therevdanny 