Program Good conversation last Sunday. Bonus points to Sarah for saying that transformation starts with hope. I’m always blessed by the wisdom of the gathering. I did want to comment on one part of the conversation. In talking about a larger, cosmic battleground in Luke, we stumbled upon questions of interreligious dialogue. It’s a question that bedevils those who are …
The Great Reversal
Long before I came to Church in the Cliff or went to seminary and was exposed to the liturgical calendar, I received a covert education on it. Living in New Orleans, one is immersed in the flow of that calendar. The already low productivity in the Big Lazy drops even more after Thanksgiving. Holiday parties and ski vacations for those …
The Baptism of Jesus (Program)
A little behind, as always, but here is the program from last Sunday. For our response, we did a remembrance of baptism with the blessing: “May the Holy Spirit work within you.”
The Baptism of Jesus
In the Epiphany, we considered the identity of Jesus. However, we only really considered it through the eyes of others. Every child is born with expectations, but perhaps none more than Jesus. I mean, my dad wanted me to be good at golf, but he didn’t have angels singing to him about it. The reality is that none of us …
Epiphany
Again, catching up, so this was the e-mail that went out last week for Ephiphany: Merry Christmas! Did you think that was over? Not quite. As the lyrical evidence clearly shows, there are twelve of them. They culminate on January 6, this Sunday, in the Epiphany. Technically, the Epiphany is the account the visitation of the Magi provided by Matthew. …
Advent Programs
Got a little behind in the end-of-school/Christmas rush. Ready to get back to my normal level of disorganization. Advent Week 1 Advent Week 2 Advent Week 3 Advent Week 4 Christmas Eve
Advent: Love All
Advent is a time of waiting, no time more so than the final Sunday of Advent when we can finally see the light on the horizon. And no year in my admittedly short memory of Advent seems like so painful a wait, so desperate a time to be on the threshold of a new year. I wonder what will be …
Advent Conspiracy: Worship Fully (in which the author takes issue, as is his way)
This year Church in the Cliff is participating in Advent Conspiracy, which seeks to turn Christmas upside down, to remind us of the meaning of God coming into the world. Advent Conspiracy asks us to reconsider the consumerism of the Christmas season, to avoid the stress of malls, the debt of buying things we can’t afford, and the downright silliness …
Mark: The Beginning Again
It is a pretty well accepted fact among scholars that Mark’s original gospel ended at verse 16:8. Verses 9-20 were added quite a bit later, possibly in an attempt to harmonize it with the other gospel stories. Or perhaps the original ending did not test well with focus groups. Some find it to be a bit of a downer, full …
Mark: The End (Program and Sermon)
Program Sermon Outline (loosely followed) I. Transfiguration a. Elijah, Moses, Jesus b. Making tents c. Beloved Son II. The Way to Jerusalem a. Argument of James and John b. Bartimaeus III. Jerusalem a. Triumphal Entry b. Curse of the fig tree c. Cleansing the temple d. Teaching e. Anointing at Bethany f. Passover g. Betrayal h. Arrest i. Trial j. …