Tag: Mary Oliver
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What Is Your Easter Story? – A Sermon On Luke 24:36-48
If I were to ask you to tell the Easter story you could do that, right? I suspect we can all tell that story. We may not be able to describe the details and nuances of each gospel but we can outline the basics of the story. For most of us that’s the basic Easter… Read more
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Instructions For Living An Easter Life – A Sermon On Luke 24:13-35
As I began preparing this sermon one of my first reactions to today’s gospel (Luke 24:13-35) was, “Good for them.” Jesus was “made known to [Cleopas and his companion] in the breaking of the bread.” Good for them. Their hearts burned on the road to Emmaus as Jesus “interpreted to them the things about himself… Read more
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I Don’t Want To Do Lent This Year – An Ash Wednesday Sermon On Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
I’m not sure if this is a confession or just a description of where I am these days but I don’t want to do Lent this year. Do you? Let me explain what I mean by that. We began tonight by praying that we would worthily lament our sins and acknowledge our wretchedness so that… Read more
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Can I Get A Witness? – A Sermon On John 1:6-8, 19-28
When was the last time you could not help but tell about something you saw, heard, or experienced? It was simply more than you could hold or contain and you just couldn’t keep it to yourself. You had to tell about it. Before you answer, let me clarify what I am talking about and what… Read more
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The Perfect Question For Ash Wednesday – An Ash Wednesday Sermon
Ash Wednesday – Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” That’s the last line of Mary Oliver’s poem, “The Summer Day.” I had never thought of my life as wild and precious until I read her question. I love the invitation, freedom, and… Read more
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Life Before Death – An Ash Wednesday Sermon
Maybe Lent and the gospel of Jesus are not primarily about being good, a program for changing from a bad person to a good person, so we can get a future reward. I’ve got nothing against being a good person (whatever that might mean) but I’ve never read where Jesus said, “I came that you… Read more
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The Light In The Valley Of The Shadow Of Death – A Funeral Sermon on Psalm 23
Today we “walk through the valley of the shadow of death” (Psalm 23). Today the familiarity, poetry, and beauty of the 23rd psalm have a different tone. The shadow is dark and the valley is long and deep. I will not mislead you by denying that reality or letting platitudes and sentimentalities echo off the… Read more
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I Don’t Want To Do Lent This Year
As I write this reflection it’s the third week in Epiphany and I’ve been thinking about Lent for a couple of weeks now. I am thinking about Shrove Tuesday; the pancake supper, the palms we will burn, and the ashes we will prepare for the next day’s liturgy. I am thinking about the fragility of… Read more
Interrupting the Silence 