I’m so excited about this tour and really hope to see you on the road! These events are all free and will include a raffle of  random items mentioned in the book (to raise funds for non-profits and charities associated with each of the host parishes)…and of course, for one lucky winner, a ham.       Read more

Our nation has been shaken to the bones by the shooting deaths of 9 faithful clergy and church-goers at Mother Emanuel AME last week.  Many faithful Christians gathered  in their communities over the last 10 days to grieve, mourn, pray and repent.  To aid the communities for whom a published worship resource is helpful in this process, my denomination, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America made available this Service of Repentance and Mourning: http://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/Service_of_Repentance_and_Mourning.pdf Before I go on, I would... Read more

(I suggest clicking above  to listen along) The texts you just heard are amazing and I apologize, but you won’t be hearing a sermon on them today. Come back 3 years from today and maybe you’ll hear a sermon on Job or the calming of the sea – but not today. You already know this, but I just need to say it from this pulpit. I need to say out loud that on Wednesday night, a hate-filled, young white supremacist walked... Read more

(click below to listen along!) (If you don’t see the embedded player, click here to listen) We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; 23and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? 25But... Read more

Jesus was teaching his disciples, saying to them, ‘The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.’ 32But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him. 33 Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, ‘What were you arguing about on the way?’ 34But they were silent, for on the way they had... Read more

(click above to listen along) A week in the life of your preacher. Monday: Freddie Grey, having died as a result of a traumatic spine injury while in police custody, was laid to rest at a service at New Shiloh Baptist Church. Lord, have mercy.  Tuesday: we watch images of another American city go up in flames and outrage. Depending what your view is, either the Police are The Worst, or the Protestors are The Worst.  Wednesday: Slate.com posts an... Read more

click below to listen along! A few years ago when this congregation was only itself a few years old, my father who is the only one in my life who calls me a Shepherd – an old term for a pastor – asked me “so, Nadia, how’s your flock?” to which I said “same as ever. Disobedient. And a little smelly” Once a year in the season of Easter we get these Good Shepherd texts and we chant the 23rd... Read more

A few minutes ago, I (Matthew, Nadia’s husband) attempted to disable further comments to Nadia’s blog post from April 2, , “Do you have questions about the cross?”, which is Nadia’s comments about Tony Jones’ new book “Did God Kill Jesus?”. Unfortunately when I disabled the comments they all disappeared. I absolutely did not intend that those comments would be deleted ~ only that no more comments would be permitted. Please accept my sincere apologies. Unfortunately, it seems that I don’t know... Read more

The following is the sermon delivered by my friend Sara Miles at our big-sister parish in San Francisco, St Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church on Good Friday, 2015 (posted with permission): Behold Your Mother Last night Jesus fed us, and washed our feet, and then we left him in the garden, denying that we knew him. Tonight we gather at the foot of his cross. It’s Good Friday. I’d like to pretend that Good Friday, the murder of God by... Read more

Tony Jones (a figure in the church who, like myself, has both fans and detractors) has written what I believe to be his best book to date: Did God Kill Jesus? Searching for Love in History’s Most Famous Execution. <—Click on the link to read both a sample chapter, and what some folks are saying about this amazing book. Here’s my endorsement: “This important, smart, readable, and ultimately beautiful book allows this generation to re-claim the cross as the place of God’s deepest love... Read more