For most of Jerusalem, Sunday arrived like every other Sunday. The sun came up, the merchants went to their stores and began bringing out their baked goods and fresh fruit, fish and fowl, woven goods and exotic spices. The sounds and smells of the shops mingled with the clattering of the hooves of Roman horsesContinue reading “Easter 2022”
Tag Archives: Jesus
Good Friday 2022
I don’t need to try to explain to you what hard times, fear and death are like. We are in the middle of them at the moment. It is tangible, you can almost smell it. We have been fortunate. For most of us here, the danger and the death is out there. Close, lurking, butContinue reading “Good Friday 2022”
Maundy Thursday 2022
I’ve never lived in a war zone. I have lived through category 5 hurricanes. We watched with anxious anticipation as we gathered our most precious belongings, our medications, our computers and phones, our pets. My congregations united to ensure that no one got left behind when we had to evacuate. Those who live alone, thoseContinue reading “Maundy Thursday 2022”
Palm Sunday 2022
From triumph to disaster in a span of 6 days. What happened and why? We began with a simple enough phrase “ After telling a parable to the crowd at Jericho, Jesus went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem” (Luke 19:28) The parable referred to is Luke’s version of the Parable of the Ten Talents. Continue reading “Palm Sunday 2022”
5 Lent 2022
The Gospel of John speaks of “the disciple whom Jesus loved” and we all assume it is John the apostle. Popular literary works and the musical Jesus Christ Superstar would have us believe that Mary of Magdala was Jesus’ most devoted disciple, and she certainly was faithful in her devotion, but for me, I haveContinue reading “5 Lent 2022”
3 Lent 2022
The story of Moses and the nation of Israel under his oversite is an essential part of our spiritual history, our spiritual ancestry. I can only hit the highlights in an effort to illuminate our New Testament readings, but I hope it will make you curious enough to read more on your own. When weContinue reading “3 Lent 2022”
2 Lent 2022
Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 3And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4and endurance produces character,Continue reading “2 Lent 2022”
Lent 1 2022
Tithing, Temptation, and Calling on the Name of the Lord. I usually don’t try to force together three obviously unrelated passages, but all scripture must be read in context of the whole and these just may have more to do with each other than a quick first read might indicate. So, let’s begin with theContinue reading “Lent 1 2022”
Last Epiphany 2022
Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory. When I lived in Tennessee, one of my favorite pastimes was hiking in the mountains. Where the highway went through the town at the bottomContinue reading “Last Epiphany 2022”
7 Epiphany 2022
When we talk about stewardship in the church you can see people’s eyes sort of glaze over. They pat their wallet to make sure it is safe and secure, and they begin to look at their watches to see how quickly they can escape. Today’s gospel is a continuation of Luke’s Sermon on the PlainContinue reading “7 Epiphany 2022”
The Rev. Beverly Patterson 