Wednesday, June 27, 2012

B 4 Pent 24 June 2012



1Sam 17: [1a,4-11,19-23] 32-49; Ps 9: 9-20; 2Cr 6: 1-13; MK 4:35-41

In the name of God, who created us from love…. AMEN.’

The stilling of the storm, like the mustard seed, is totally familiar, and it sounds like any sudden windstorm over any water, “The waves beat on the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But Jesus was in the stern asleep on the cushion, and they woke him up and said to him, ”Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing? He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” And there were filled with great awe and said to one another. “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Monday, June 18, 2012

B 3 Pent 17 June 2012 proper 6

1 Sam15: 34-16:13; Ps 20; 2 Cor5: 6-17; MARK 4: 26-34

In the name of God who created us from love…AMEN.

“With what can we compare the kingdom of God or what parable will we use for it? Jesus did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.” And off we go to the long green season until Advent, of hearing and considering the teachings of Jesus—so a little about these parables, a little more broadly about Jesus’ teaching and parables, and to begin, Paul’s comment, “We walk by faith not by sight.”

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Trinity Sunday


Is 6: 1-8; Cant 13; Ro 8: 12-17; JOHN 3: 1-17


Glory to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; we will praise you and highly exalt you forever. AMEN.

We don’t say we’ll understand you now or soon. Kathryn Piccard suggested that I show this lovely Andrej Rublev ikon and preach with or about it, because it’s often referred to as his Holy Trinity ikon. It’s a particularly good place for me to have started my thinking, since it wasn’t named “The Trinity,” but the “Hospitality of Abraham,” who’s not present in today’s readings, the ikon, the Trinity, or in Christianity— so a clarifyingly confusing place to start.