Last week I received several expressions of gratitude for making myself available to impose ashes at two Ash Wednesday services. People said the kindest things, like: “I know you have so very much on your plate. Thank you for taking time out to lead services today.” I found these comments a bit curious, as leading worship is a rather significant part of my job description. So I began to wonder about why people were thanking me. Ash Wednesday is typically... Read more
Matthew 17:1-9 Transfiguration Early in my career I was responsible for planning and leading a women’s retreat. I made up a carefully detailed schedule and lists of preparations that began the very first night with an ice breaker. We went around the room and everyone was asked to describe and demonstrate, if possible, a special talent they have. We were about a quarter of the way around the circle when I suddenly had the panicked realization that not only had... Read more
Just last week I participated in a panel of guests discussing religion and advocacy in the current political climate. This sort of experience is not that unusual for me, especially in these difficult days. What was unusual for me were some of the details of the gathering, details that were definitely out of my usual experience. For example, the evening was held in a very trendy new art gallery in a gentrifying part of Harlem. The walls of the gallery... Read more
Having trouble finding the right words? Here’s last Sunday’s prayer prayed by Riverside’s Minister of Justice, Advocacy, and Change, Rev. Bertram Johnson. “God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou who has brought us thus far on the way; Thou who has by Thy might Led us into the light, Keep us forever in Thy path we pray.”[1] Lord, no one has ever said that living into your teachings would be easy. To walk in your path,... Read more
Matthew 5:38-48 This week the senior staff spent a day and a half in intensive staff development. This is notable, because we rarely have occasion to spend this much time all together in one place, and honestly most of us came into the experience pretty sure it would be a waste of time and definitely sure we had other, more important things to do. What we didn’t know was that only a few hours in, we would receive information that... Read more
The following is a pastoral prayer written and delivered in Sunday worship by my excellent colleague, Rev. Michael Livingston. Michael has a way of capturing the collective yearnings of our hearts in ways that help our community pray together. In these days, when finding the right words for even the most simple conversation is difficult, Michael’s prayer is a masterpiece. Thank you loving God for welcoming us here and now, to this holy place, to this gathering, empowered by your Holy... Read more
Matthew 5:13-20 2017 is bound to be a tough year for folks who are superstitious. Beginning with the month of January, there are two Friday the 13ths in this year. I wouldn’t generally think of myself as superstitious, but when I was talking to a friend this week about choosing her wedding date in October—a Friday—I immediately counseled: well, Friday October 13 is definitely out. Why? Marriage is hard enough as it is; why would you want to start things... Read more
If your church follows the Revised Common Lectionary you will know that in these weeks after the Epiphany we are hearing parts of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus’ famous teachings from the gospel of Matthew, chapters 5-7. Last Sunday in worship, instead of preaching a sermon I had written, I decided to “preach” the entire Sermon on the Mount—two full chapters with no breaks, the words of Jesus. In coffee hour after worship, several people came up to me... Read more
Matthew 25:35-40 My name is Max Wolff. The US turned me away at the border in 1939. I was murdered in Auschwitz. My name is Siegfried Wilmersdörfer. The US turned me away at the border in 1939. I was murdered in Belgium. My name is Regina Blumenstein. The US turned me away at the border in 1939. I was murdered in Auschwitz. My name is Erich Weltmann. The US turned me away at the border in 1939. I... Read more
I ran into someone the other day who had just returned from the women’s march in Washington and she had with her a poster from the march. As she unrolled it to show me she said, “I’m so glad I was there. I’m going to put this poster in a safe place so my granddaughter can have it one day!” I know exactly how she feels. I spent most of Saturday down on the National Mall with about 500,000 other... Read more
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