SERMON: Our Daily Bread

Last Sunday, May 12, I had the privilege of doing pulpit supply preaching at Meetinghouse Church in Edina, MN. They are in a sermon series about The Lord’s Prayer, and this week I concentrated on the phrase “give us this day our daily bread.” You can listen to the full service (the music was fantastic)… Read More

LITURGY: a Statement of Faith for Anti-Racism Work

I have been working with my denomination’s anti-racism task force, and have thought that creating a Brief Statement of Faith would be helpful and defining. Here is what I have come up with: A Brief Statement of Faith For Anti-Racist Work   We believe in the inherent dignity and worth of all of God’s creation.… Read More

BLOG: Love Never Ends, A Tribute

This weekend I did the funeral for a man named Mark who had been murdered by a family member. As you can imagine, it was not the typical eulogy. Still, I managed to tell a resurrection story. Here is what I said: I am going to start today by telling you all the things that… Read More

BLOG: Don’t eat hot takis behind a dumpster.

For me, one of the most fun — and most challenging — parts of parenting is the ongoing conversation that happens around teaching my son about sex. Yes, I said fun first. I love having these conversations with him, knowing that all the little conversations feed into a greater development of his self-confidence and identity.… Read More

BLOG: A Midrash on Creation

The following is a midrash on the Genesis 1 Creation story, with the understanding that these verses are clear examples of merisms in the Hebrew language. God… as they hovered over the watery chaos… commands silence from the deep. And on the first day, God called into being lightness to darkness, creating everything from Lightening… Read More

My Plan?

What is My Plan? At the turn of the millennium, January 2000, a friend posted this question to the online community: citing that W.E.B. Dubois identified race as the defining problem of the twentieth century, my friend asked “What is your plan to counter this problem for the next millennium?”  In response to this question,… Read More

BLOG: Where are the Good Samaritans Now?

When we talk about the good Samaritans in today’s world, it is a cliche about a helpful and charitable person. Who are the Good Samaritans? They are the ones who make an effort — sometimes going out of their way — to help others, especially the down trodden or less fortunate. We want to be… Read More

BLOG: You won’t find me at the Foot of the Cross.

Yesterday as I was driving in my car, a new song came on the radio that I had never heard before. And as I listened to the chorus if it, my stomach tightened into a knot. The words repeated over and over …’there is room for more at the foot of the cross… there’s room… Read More

SERMON: Who Will We Become?

On September 21st, I had the privilege of being installed as the next pastor of Waconia Moravian Church in Waconia, MN. It was a beautiful day, and lots of people participated in helping make the service special. As I step into this position, I challenged the congregation to imagine “Who We Might Become?” together. (Sermon… Read More

BLOG: Who am I a Neighbor to?

A Midrash On The Good Samaritan. With a heart that is breaking for the flooding deaths in Texas, the lack of care by our governmental leaders, and the silence of our Christian community, I am considering once again the parable of the Good Samaritan. Religious officials ask Jesus what is the greatest commandment. Jesus responds,… Read More

LITURGY: A Prayer for a Church in Conflict (2)

Holy God, be with us this day. May our wrestlings lead us to redemption, may our wonderings lead us to mercy. Let our empathy surpass our righteousness; let our commitment to covenant overcome our attachment to division. In our efforts to build community, may we let go of our need to stand in judgment. In… Read More