Sermons

Paths intertwining, darkness and light
all is touched by grace, be not afraid.

Light and darkness. Good and evil. Happy and sad. Human nature is
such that we like to sort things into either or categories. We
associate light with happiness and God’s presence. When we know
sadness, we tend to associate this with darkness and a sense of God’s
absence. During the holidays, these dichotomies can feel even more
intense, almost as if someone turned up the contrast on our lives.

I don’t know that I ever told you this, but I’m afraid of the dark. It is one of those things that has haunted me all of my life.

Babysitting… that is the experience that crept into my consciousness as I reflected on the Scripture readings for this morning.

Today we remember Dietrich Bonhoeffer. A great young man for sure. We know he was of great influence in his time and since. We remember he tried to kill Hitler and was executed.

Within our darkest night, you kindle the fire that never dies away… Within our darkest night…
(Sung: Taize setting)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Well here we go again... Lent is here. I wonder what all of you think of when you think of Lent? How bad you’ve been? Am I forgiven, do I forgive enough? Are you any better now than you were a year ago?

Advent proclamations indeed! “Be strong! Do not fear! Here is your God!

Gracious God, take our minds and think through them;
take our hands and work through them;
take our hearts… and break them.
Amen.

In my sermon last Sunday, I quoted from a poem found in the small book '100 Graces: Mealtime Blessings,' selected by Marcia and Jack Kelly and published by Bell Tower in New York.

Preacher:
The Rev. Joseph Tamborini Czolgosz

Preacher:
The Rev. Joseph Czolgosz

Preacher:
The Rev. Joseph Czolgosz

Preacher:
The Rev. Amity Carrubba