Text: Luke 4:1-13 (Singing) Tempted and tried we’re, oft made to wonder Why it should be thus all the day long; While there are others living about us, Never molested, though in the wrong. Refrain: Farther along we’ll know more about it, Farther along we’ll understand why; Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine, […]

Text: Exodus 34:29-35, Luke 9:28-36 Every once and so often, something so touching, so incandescent, so alive transfigures the human face that it’s almost beyond bearing. Of such moments, Walter Brueggemann writes: “The coming of the power of God into the midst of human reality is no ordinary event. It does not admit of precise […]

Text: Luke 4:14-21  If you could start a new religion that would change the world for the better, what would it look like? That is the challenge question being asked by the 92nd Street Y in partnership with radio podcast and website On Being. And if you can come up with a compelling proposal, you […]

Text: John 2:1-11 We’ve all witnessed the drama and some of us have been actors on the stage. And this drama of which I speak? You are in a room full of people attending a very important event. This room is filled with people of all ages—from two year olds to ninety-two year olds. About 15 […]

Text: Isaiah 43:1-7, Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 These are the descendants, the sons and daughter of Zimmie and Lela Floyd: Howard, Ray, Sod, Jack and Lillian. Their descendants numbered ten. From Lillian, the only daughter, came two descendants: John Donald and Robert. From John Donald came two more descendants: Allyson Don and Nancy Ellen. These are the […]

Text: Matthew 2:1-12 I imagine the name Robert Craig Knievel doesn’t ring a bell with most of you; maybe not any of you. But what about the name Evel Knievel? Ah, I imagine now, at the very least, those of us who grew up during the late 1960’s and 70’s riding motorcycles (or wanting to […]

Text: Luke 1:46-55 When I say the word “love” what image comes into your mind? A dozen red roses? A diamond ring? A box of chocolates? A plump angelic figure with wings and a bow and arrow? Maybe the image is of someone’s face that is dear to you—your spouse, friend, mother, father, brother or […]

Text: Malachi 3:1-4 It’s hardly the “silent night—peace on earth” kind of message that we expect to hear at “the most wonderful time of the year.” “For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap…” Many people, when they hear that phrase, “For he is like a refiner’s fire,” know not only the […]

Text: Jeremiah 33:14-16 When was the last time you said to someone, “I promise?” When was the first or last time you broke a promise? What promises have you made that you have kept—to yourself or someone else? Today, on this first Sunday of Advent—Hope Sunday—I want to talk about promises: promises made, promises broken […]

Text: John 18:33-37 I suspect we’ve all heard the expression, “You can’t get there from here.” One of our favorite family stories on this subject occurred about 30 years ago. During a visit with my sister Susan’s family in Atlanta, my parents were asked to pick up one of their grandchildren, then a third grader, […]