Posted on On the Table

On the Table– May 13 through 19

“LOVE WINS”It’s a stirring slogan, and a fantastic meme, but is it a Creed?  A Way of life?  A  raison d’être?In this week’s Lectionary Reading, Jesus sure seems to think so, and the newly reinstated Peter is right behind him.  Join us this Sunday, when we’ll interrogate their seemingly simplistic plan for world transformation (or will we be interrogated by them?).  Bring your voice and your perspective(s), and we’ll be the better for it.  Oh, and after our 10:15 gathering, please join the larger church potluck in the Fellowship Hall.  If that ain’t a raison d’être, I don’t know what is! It’s... Read more

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Penultimate Sermon/Discussion at CT

LECTIONARY READINGS:  2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c 5:1 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man and in high favor with his master, because by him the LORD had given victory to Aram. The man, though a mighty warrior, suffered from leprosy. 5:2 Now the Arameans on one of their raids had taken a young girl captive from the land of Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. 5:3 She said to her mistress, “If only my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” 5:7 When the... Read more

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On the Table– October 14 through 20

Well, here I sit, keyboard mocking me.  I’ve procrastinated in every possible way today, because I just don’t want to write this, the final On the Table.  I cannot believe it (Emmaline, I think I’ve joined you in ‘Denial’).   Our final meeting will happen this Sunday at Good Shepherd UMC at 10:15 (or so…).  We’ll be gathering together to thank God for what we’ve been given, and to say goodbye to Common Table, and to look forward to what is next.  We anticipate a small, quiet gathering of friends who have become family, but we don’t mean to keep anyone away,... Read more

Posted on Sermons

Faith is a Verb

LECTIONARY READINGS Lamentations 1:1-6 How lonely sits the city that once was full of people! How like a widow she has become, she that was great among the nations! She that was a princess among the provinces has become a vassal. She weeps bitterly in the night, with tears on her cheeks; among all her lovers she has no one to comfort her; all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they have become her enemies. Judah has gone into exile with suffering and hard servitude; she lives now among the nations, and finds no resting place; her pursuers have... Read more

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On the Table– October 7 through 13

Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when it’s to a church full of people.  People who, individually and collectively, have shaped you and changed you and made you into a much better and more Christlike person.   I know I’m not the only one who feels this way, as our final few gatherings have been somber.  They’ve reminded me of times that I’ve sat next to a bed as family gathered around a loved one to say goodbye and to wait with them for their death:  times of sadness and laughter and stories and memories and thankfulness and most of all,... Read more

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On the Table– September 16 through 22

For the past three days, I’ve been distracted.  As I was packing up the tools on Sunday for work on Monday morning, I noticed an empty spot in one tool bag.  Where was my impact driver?  This question became an obsession.  When I wasn’t driving screws (with my less efficient cordless drill) for several hours on Monday and Tuesday, I was wracking my brain.   Oh.  It’s in another tool bag.  Oh.  It is in the trunk of the car.  I took it on the camping trip.  Oh.  It’s in the shed, near where I installed that bracket.  Oh.  I left it... Read more