Simple stories are important. And the ones that matter most to me are the stories of my family that I carry with me. But I have not always understood this. You see, I, like a lot of American folks, used to think (and if I am honest, still sometimes do) that the big stuff that
Simple Stories
Fishing with Pelagius and Augustine for a Trinitarian God
Today I want to preach about the state of our nation, and while the January 20 inauguration was honorable and majestic, as it should be, I am still troubled by what happened at the US Capitol building on January 6. The memory of signs and symbols asserting that it was a Christian sanctioned movement: a
Our Collective Calling in Jesus
I am Kelli Martin, and I have been a parishioner at Epiphany for over 2 years. A group of us at Epiphany were talking recently about today’s Scripture: we talked about how a child getting lost during the time of Jesus’ childhood would not have been alarming at first. Parents wouldn’t go from 0-100 in
Rules and Regulations
Today’s reading from Galatians got me started thinking about rules and regulations. Paul is talking about the Mosaic laws, the covenant between God and God’s people. My thoughts, however, went immediately to the law in another sense, to the framework of secular rules and regulations in which we currently live our lives. In particular, how
God Loves the Small Things
Something very small is about to take place. Something small, yet personally significant, at least to the parents, Mary and Joseph. A baby is going to be born. Certainly, in their hearts, there is a stirring, there is hope. In their imagination and conversation, they speculate and anticipate. Both have had dreams and visions around
Coming of Age
The season of Advent brings us back to the familiar. The familiar decorations around the house. The familiar music on the radio. For us here in Seattle; the familiar long nights and short days. Maybe even familiar food and holiday drinks appear. And we experience, here in church, very familiar Bible stories. Today we find
Little Second Comings in Everyday Life
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. I am Kelli Martin and I have been a parishioner here at Epiphany for 2 years. Today is the first Sunday of Advent. This is the time when we wait for
Ready at a Moment’s Notice
The apostle Paul has given us such interesting imagery in his first letter to the Thessalonians today. I love the start, it’s as if he is speaking to you and me, right now. He begins, “Now concerning these times and seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need anything written to you.” He is looking
God Will Be God
It has been quite an exciting few days (if you want to call it that). For some of us there is hope, for some of us there is consternation. Indeed, we all have a different view of what the future will hold going forward, even if we claim to be part of the same political