March 10, 2013, The Rev Doyt Conn preaching
The Prodigal son is a story about balance and the deep desire to have balance in one’s life. I know what that feels like. Sometimes things seem a little out of balance. I don’t sleep enough, or eat right, or play enough with the dog. All of which may be true, but none of which Paul is taking about when he talks about reconciliation with God.
February 10, 2012, The Rev Doyt Conn preaching
And here is the revelation. It is what Paul is so excited about; it is what he now knows for certain– that we can never fall out of relationship with Christ. It is a lesson that he and we may have to learn over and over again throughout life. It is true, we never fall out with Christ.
October 7, 2012 The Rev Kate Wesch preaching
One cold, wintry day Francis was traveling on foot with Brother Leo, one of his closest friends, to Santa Maria degli Angeli. Knowing that Leo was bothered by the cold and the freezing rain falling on them, Francis said, “Leo, although we may give sight to the blind, cause the deaf to hear, and even raise the dead – these things are not the source of perfect joy.”
August 5, 2012, Charissa Jones preaching
Today we celebrate the transfiguration of Jesus – an account of which we just read from the Gospel of Luke. Do you try to imagine what that would look like? Do you find yourselves, like me, a little jealous of an encounter with something that seems so miraculous? Through the transfiguration, the divinity of Jesus is made undeniably clear to Peter, James, and John. In the midst of their sleepiness they see the changing of Jesus’ face during prayer. The face is both familiar and unfamiliar – recognizable as the man they know so well and yet shining with glory. Even his clothes become dazzlingly white. Jesus allows his followers to see his full divinity with sudden brilliance and clarity.
June 10, 2012, The Rev Doyt Conn preaching
In the movie The Color Purple Shug and her friend Celie are walking through a field of purple cosmos. Shug is saying, “But more than anything God loves admiration.” Celie responds, “so, you’re saying God is vain?” “No, no, not vain,” Shug laughs,“just wanting to share a good thing.” She continues, “I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field and don’t notice it.” Celie responds, “So you’re just saying God wants to be loved like it says in the bible. “Yah, silly,” Shug replies, “everyone wants to be loved.”