Tonight’s service was a Calvary version of a traditional tenebrae service.  In this service the light was extinguished, little by little, as we heard scripture, music, and poetry that told the stories of our faith and made space for reflection.  Our service ended with the Kol Nidre played on the cello, an Aramaic prayer usually played or sung at the opening Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.  At the end of worship the sanctuary was very dark.  We left in silence. During worship, after... Read more

From Palms to Protest Matthew 21:1-11 Think back, if you will, to January 20, 2009.  It was a notable day, as the United States inaugurated the 44th president of the United States and our first black president, Barack Obama.  I think most anywhere in the world with a satellite signal you would know that something big was going on, but friends!  Some of us were here!  In the middle of it all. As you know, Calvary is right here in... Read more

Speaking of Sin: Salvation John 11:1-45 “Are you saved?” A few years ago someone asked me that question…and I didn’t know what to say. That’s what an evangelical childhood plus a seminary education will do to you. I didn’t know how to answer what seemed to the questioner a pretty straightforward query.  That’s because salvation is a word fraught with contradictions and misunderstandings.  But it’s a concept inherent in everything God is doing in our world.  It’s why we’re here... Read more

Speaking of Sin: Penance John 9:1-41 You and I, we don’t know how to talk about sin.  The whole concept makes us uncomfortable. We’ve been making that case every Sunday this Lent, but if you aren’t yet convinced all you needed to do this week was turn on NPR to see the reaction Pope Francis got when he was presiding over mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on Friday.  When it came time in the service to hear confessions, instead of... Read more

Speaking of Sin: Repentance John 4: 5-42 Fred Phelps died this week.  As you may know, Fred was the founding pastor of the Westboro Baptist Church, a small independent church in Topeka, Kansas.  Fred put his church on the map by staging protests at any number of events, waving signs printed with hateful, hurtful theological words.  And folks like Fred are the ones who have caused some of us to surrender our theological language for sin—just throw our hands up... Read more

Speaking of Sin: Sin Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 Welcome to the first Sunday of the season of Lent.  In the liturgical calendar of the church year, Lent is a period of 40 days leading up to the celebration of resurrection, Easter Sunday.  It is characterized in churchy circles by frequent conversation about giving something up or taking on some spiritual practice, and worship involving more than your usual opportunity for confession (and no alleluias). In general, Lent is a time of... Read more