The Preachers’ Table
Preaching is a communal, multi-layered act; listening, reading, writing, proclaiming, absorbing. This is a place for us to share our preparations for our sermons. Share your first impressions, new discoveries, old favourites, burning questions. This is a place for preachers and listeners alike, to prepare our hearts and minds for the Word.
6th Sunday after Pentecost: tell it slant
I think the structure of the universe has something interesting to say about how we get to the centre of things. I contend that our efforts to point squarely in one direction and say, “there, that’s the centre/truth/origin” will never be anything more than a gesture at a guess of an approximation of an estimate. Yet there is another way. Continue reading
Pentecost 5: sprouts?
We won’t know for sure how fruitful or fruitless the word will be in a persons life until we observe the way is grows. Continue reading
Being pastoral: St. Peter and St. Paul
Is “pastoral” a word laypeople use to describe their clergy? We clergy certainly use it a lot to describe an encounter or a relationship where we are caring for a person or a community. Continue reading
Trinity Sunday, 2014: it wasn’t a good death
Yes, I know it’s Trinity Sunday and everyone wants to jump into explaining just what that means. But before you dust off your favourite three-in-one metaphors and launch into a full-blown apologetic for the dogma of the Trinity–all clovers and trees branches and what not–you would be wise to go back and consider the crucifixion and resurrection for a minute. This will probably lead you away from doctrinal apologetics and towards proclaiming Jesus, which is always good thing. “Put down the three-leafed clover and step away, Reverend, no one needs to get hurt!” Continue reading
“Pentecost” in John: You Send Me
Jesus said “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
So how is that? Continue reading
Easter 7, 2014: A Prayer of Intertwining Love
The forms of repetition and return intertwine Jesus’ prayer into a nearly impenetrable knotted mass as it traces the love of the God. The giving and receiving of this love is what knits everything together. Continue reading
Where is God?
As the Rev. Peter Harris, rector of the Cathedral, stepped into the pulpit, she pointed at him, pulled my head down and, in her toddler shout whisper, asked, “Is that God?” Continue reading
Easter 5, 2014: Can you show me the Church?
Maybe it’s not about looking past the facade to the true beauty underneath or behind, but seeing Jesus in the fleshy bits: a weird chancel there, a double-chin there, a dirty wall here. Our God incarnates in human form not to wear a mask, but to dwell with us. Continue reading
Apostolic Addictions Anyone?
Easter 4. Does your church involvement make you act like an addict? Where will you get your next fix? Continue reading
May 4, 2014: Easter 3
Cleopas has been cut to the heart and pours it out to this stranger on their way to Emmaus. He proclaims Jesus’ death, entirely unaware that he is speaking to the risen Christ. Continue reading
