You would think that after preaching almost four cycles of the Revised Common Lectionary a preacher would have at least one sermon on all the interesting texts that come around regularly. For some reason unknown to me, however, it turns out that I have never written a sermon on the Gospel text assigned for last Sunday, the story of Jesus healing a woman who was bent over, unable to stand up straight, and had been that way for eighteen years.... Read more
In this week’s column I talk about the pain that comes when politics divides us from those we love and makes us forget the deeper common values that keep us bound to each other. Guns have become a hotly contested political issue in our country, one that will ruin a family Thanksgiving meal every year. But whether we hunt on the weekend or have never held a firearm, we should all agree that losing 30,000 people each year to gun... Read more
Luke 12:32-40 “It’s time to quit your job and start living the life you’ve always dreamed of!” I heard someone say that on an advertisement this week and it caught my attention. Why? Well, I’m learning, once you reach a certain stage in life, you start to think more about things you never gave a thought to before: things like bills and college tuition, equity and retirement projections. These thoughts nag, influencing decisions about material possessions so that we’ll feel... Read more
Last week I had the opportunity to meet with a group of millennial social justice leaders who were meeting across the street at Union Theological Seminary. I probably shouldn’t have read their bios before I headed over to their closing dinner, where I’d been asked to “share something hopeful,” because their list of accomplishments and obvious enthusiasm for healing the world was a bit intimidating to me. Especially these days. Because I can clearly see, as can anyone with eyes... Read more
Hosea 1:2-10 For the last few weeks we’ve been talking about what happens with God gets political. We’re doing that because this month we’re being bombarded with political messages here in America: so many things to think about, so many important decisions to make. And some people claim that our faith, our understanding of how God acts in the world, is separate from our politics. Not so. One only needs to turn to the Hebrew text and read the prophets... Read more
Amos 8:1-12 This past week I had the opportunity to visit harambee. Harambee is the morning assembly when everyone gathers to start the day at Freedom School, and each day there’s a different visitor who gets to read to the kids. I was invited to be the reader on Wednesday. So, I stood off to the side in South Hall and watched the kids and staff go through their morning routine. I saw chants and cheers celebrating the unique gifts... Read more
I told this story in my sermon Sunday: I met a new friend the other day, who, upon finding out I was a pastor, asked me a question framed with a story. “What should pastors be saying about this election?,” he started. “I am so frustrated!,” he continued. “After church two Sundays ago I pulled my pastor aside during coffee hour and said I’d been surprised she wasn’t talking about the political situation in our country. I mean, not even... Read more
When God Gets Political: Interrupted Amos 7:1-17 I met a new friend the other day, who, upon finding out I was a pastor, asked me a question framed with a story. “What should pastors be saying about this election?,” he started. “I am so frustrated!,” he continued. “After church two Sundays ago I pulled my pastor aside during coffee hour and said I’d been surprised she wasn’t talking about the political situation in our country. I mean, not even a... Read more
Last week we witnessed an inspiring demonstration of leadership as Democrats in Congress staged a sit-in on the House floor to demand a vote on pending legislation around gun control. U.S. Rep. John Lewis’ (D-Ga.) declared: “Deadly mass shootings are becoming more and more frequent. Mr. Speaker, this is a fact. It is not an opinion. We must remove the blinders. The time for silence and patience is long gone.” If you have not watched his speech, watch it now.... Read more
Happy Pride weekend, New York City! I bring you greetings tonight from our community in which the oldest LGBTQ religious organization in America is vital and thriving. For almost fifty years The Riverside Church has welcomed, affirmed, and celebrated our LGBTQ brothers and sisters, working to create a community so diverse and beautiful that it constantly reflects the love of God for the whole world, the truth that, even in this broken and pain-filled world, it’s love that will always have... Read more
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