Paul’s Call to Unity and Dr. King’s Legacy (1 Corinthians 1:10-17)

January 20, 2014 by Leave a Comment
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By Doug HumeDoes the faith community fall short of the ideals established by Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.?There is no question that our nation is currently deeply divided about a great many issues. In our effort to enshrine him, some may have lost sight that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. too addressed a nation that was divided. With all the media focus on the fiftieth anniversary of the Kennedy assassination this past fall, the fiftieth anniversary of another great national tragedy … [Read more...]

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An Unexpected Servant: The Leadership of Pope Francis (Isaiah 49:1-7)

January 13, 2014 by Leave a Comment
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By Lynn HuberPope Francis signaled a new kind of Vatican leadership from the very first acts of his papacy. As the New Year brings reflection over the past year, we have heard much about Pope Francis and the ways he has surprised Catholics and non-Catholics alike.  The suddenness of his predecessor’s resignation this past spring, the fact that he is the first Pope from the Americas, and his apparent commitment to his namesake St. Francis’ concern for the poor and displaced al … [Read more...]

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Baptism, Righteousness, and the War on Poverty: A 2014 Epiphany (Matthew 3:13-17)

January 6, 2014 by Leave a Comment
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By Roger NamFifty years ago, President Lyndon B. Johnson declared a "war on poverty in America."On January 8, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson delivered a landmark State of the Union address, inaugurating the War on Poverty. The speech preceded a variety of legislative actions that addressed the enormous levels of poverty of the 1960s and explicitly linked the crisis to racial and ideological tensions. Regardless of one’s own political leanings, the ideals of fairness and justice e … [Read more...]

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Matthew 2:13 – 23: The Massacre of the Innocents and the Soul of the Warrior

December 23, 2013 by Leave a Comment
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By Coleman BakerSoldiers across millennia have had to take actions that violate basic human morality, from Herod's slaughter of the innocents to soldiers in the field today.As we move into the Sundays following Christmas and begin to anticipate Epiphany, we face the terror of the coming week’s Gospel reading, the Massacre (or Slaughter) of the Innocents. While there are a number of stories in the Bible that are difficult to read/hear, Herod’s murdering the innocent children of Bet … [Read more...]

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#firstcenturyproblems (Matthew 1:18-25)

December 16, 2013 by Leave a Comment
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The Rev. Keith AndersonJoseph's story of concern for his family echoes in the story of Glen, a father struggling to provide for his daughter.With just a few days to go before Christmas, many Americans will be rushing around completing their Christmas preparations: doing their last minute shopping, finalizing travel plans, figuring out how to deal with awkward family dynamics. In many cases, they will be faced with what is popularly known as #firstworldproblems—problems of i … [Read more...]

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Happy Are Those Whose Help Is the God of Jesse (Psalm 146:5-10)

December 9, 2013 by Leave a Comment
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By Lisa Nichols HickmanNewtown's Rev. Matthew Crebbin reflects on the anxiety about the anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting and transforming grief and anger into love and action to make a better world.After learning about Jesse Lewis, a six-year-old who died in the Sandy Hook shooting a year ago this December 14th, I’m thinking about scratching out the name Jacob in Psalm 146 and writing in Jesse.Psalm 146, verse 5 says, “Happy are those whose help is the God … [Read more...]

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