As we gather here on this Palm Sunday, we are reminded of the joyous cries that filled the air on that remarkable day when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a colt. “Hosanna, Hosanna – blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna!” Our scripture text invites us to imagine ourselves […]
There are two things to quickly note about this passage in Matthew 18. First, Peter is still there. Last week, if you were here, we heard Peter rebuke Jesus in Matthew 16. Far from getting kicked out for insubordination, Peter remains in Jesus’ inner circle. Jesus is a patient and persistent teacher, prepared for his […]
A minister colleague in another church was leading a faith formation gathering with young children when one boy in the group produced a bag of crackers and proceeded munching. When the minister realized that the boy had no intention of sharing his crackers with any of the other children, she said something to him. At […]
Today I invite you to join me on a journey. A journey that requires not your feet, but your heart, your mind, and your spirit. I invite you to close your eyes and step back in time, back into the pages of the Gospel of Matthew. Picture this. You are walking along the dusty roads […]
Do you ever wonder about miracles – whether they still happen today? Maybe Jesus was walking on a hidden sandbar, and not on water, some have suggested. Do you wonder why there are not more miracles, or how God decides when to let a miracle happen and when not? When it comes to miracles, I have found […]
This Lent we will be doing a series called “Wandering Hearts,” taken from the lyrics of the traditional gospel song, “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” In this series, we will explore discipleship with Simon, whom Jesus later renamed Peter. Sales people know the feeling. The feeling that comes from making call after call on […]
Let us pray. Loving God, we stand in awe of your glory and your grace. As we dive into your Word today, may our hearts be open and our minds receptive to your message. Amen. As we gather here today, on the Sunday before we move into the Season of Lent, we are reminded of […]
I have a colleague, an Episcopalian minister, who had a chaplain internship at a Connecticut mental health institution when he was in seminary at Yale Divinity School. Part of Campbell’s responsibilities included leading a Sunday chapel service each week along with a volunteer who played the piano for hymns. The small group of residents who […]
Today, we are hearing the story of Jonah in two parts, the first two chapters that Taylor just shared with the children – I hope you were listening closely. And in a moment, I will read what comes next. But before I do that, I want to say a word about the book of Jonah […]
Good morning Church. For those who are newer to the VIP family, my husband, is pastor at Allentown Presbyterian Church, in Allentown, NJ, not to be confused with Allentown, PA. In 2008, 15 years ago, my husband and I sensed a call from God to take one year of an unpaid leave and go serve […]
A new student looks out on a sea of strange faces in the high school cafeteria, wondering where she should sit, which group she should join, how she will be accepted. An older man groans in his sick bed. Retirement from his successful law practice had been difficult enough. But now, he is felled by […]
Merry Christmas! And Happy New Year! It has been just 7 days from when we gathered by candlelight to celebrate the birth of Christ, God’s Son, our Savior. Throughout December, we’ve been making room to welcome Christ into our hearts but honoring all that are hearts are already carrying. Weariness or joy, amazement or hope […]
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