Harrowing Of Hell

For the Rest of Time

She was sure that he was the man for her. After six years of dating, she knew down to her bones that he was right, that they were good together. But each time she would hint around the marriage question, each time the “m-word” came up, she received the same answer: “I’m just not sure

Trinity Sunday

This Gospel presents the Trinity as a way of understanding God for, with, and in us and of understanding ourselves for, with, and in God as siblings  (1:12-13) who have seen what it means to be children of God in Jesus (1:14)   We are assigned this Gospel today, because it is Trinity Sunday.   Now, I

Good Friday

Good evening. My name is Susan Pitchford, and I work on adult faith formation here at Epiphany.  “Good” Friday? Seriously? People often want to know, why do we call this day “good”? It’s a day of tragedy, of injustice, a day of suffering and darkness and death. What’s so good about that? Well, the short

The Great Absurdity

Today’s Palm Sunday reading always distracts me. There Jesus is with his disciples, and he asks two of them to go to a particular house, and retrieve a colt for him that has never been ridden. He knows the one he wants, even saying to his disciples, “If anyone questions you, tell them the master

Going Down and Being Lifted Up

As many of you know I am a jogger. That is what I call it. My son says I look more like a wounded man struggling to get home; particularly when I’m going uphill. Which is why he has forbidden me from running up Prep Hill, near his school, particularly when students are coming in

Sermon Series #3 on Kingdom of God Intelligence: Trust Versus Control

Two Sundays ago, Kelli Martin, in her sermon, talked about the necessity of facing our life. That theme was picked up at our men’s retreat last weekend by our leader, Dr. Ron David. He formed the retreat around four questions: facing God, facing ourselves, facing our neighbor, and facing the existential threats that seem to

Sermon Series #2 on Kingdom of God Intelligence: Curiosity Versus Dogmatism

Thanksgiving dinner recently gave me cause to wonder at the unnecessary cravings that plague me, particularly around food, particularly on Thanksgiving, particularly around cheesecake, and that weird desire to eat the entire thing after having one piece. It is not a long term, high reward survival activity… But here’s the thing about cravings, they come

Sermon Series #1 on Kingdom of God Intelligence – Christ the King

Good morning. This is the first sermon in a three-part series on uncertainty and ambiguity, and how we manage it with peaceful equanimity. Someone told me recently that they didn’t know what equanimity meant, so, if it is helpful, you can trade out equanimity for ataraxy,or maybe just calm self-assurance. Last time I preached I