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

Liturgy October 4, 2020

Liturgy Resources for Sunday October 4, 2020 World Communion Sunday RCL: Isaiah 5: 1-7, Psalm 80: 7-15, Philippians 3: 4-14, Matthew 21: 33-46 A CALL TO WORSHIP (for Turbulent Times) One:     As we watch fires rage ALL:      we are reminded you are calling us to Holy Ground. One:     As we watch the torrential rains ALL:     … Read More

SERMON: The Transformation of Love.

In my final sermon for St. John’s United Church of Christ, I build off of the sermon series of God’s Economy, thinking about how the world will change forever post-pandemic, and what will be my final word for the church. Short version: LOVE is the final word. The very definition of love is being transformed… Read More

SERMON: What We Got Wrong — About Dominion

Back in January 2020, I preached a whole sermon series on “What We Got Wrong”… specifially talking about scriptures that have been misinterpreted down through the ages.  Unfortunately, due to technical difficulties, none of the sermons got recorded. But the week that we discussed “what we got wrong” about DOMINATION was one of my most… Read More

Just for Kids… to celebrate TREES.

This week (last full week of July) is always the time that I travel to Storm Lake, Iowa to be a part of this magical, wonderful camp called SYNOD SCHOOL.  My soul is fed by talking theology and doing art with some of the most amazing people I know who gather at this place every… Read More

SERMON: A New Economy of “JUSTICE”

Continuing in the sermon series where we consider God’s Economy and how that might be different that the economy we have moved away from during these pandemic times, this is part 5 in the series where we consider the idea of JUSTICE. What might a new economy based on justice instead of retribution look like?… Read More

POEM: Esau in Midrash for 2020

Imagine if you will, America as a woman, wife in barren pose. Within her there grows, a future. Two nations in one womb. Brothers divided. Birthed together in conflict. The stronger pulled back by the younger’s jealousy. Esau made for the labor of the field, Jacob for the quiet tents. Brute strength plotted against a… Read More

poem: THE INVISIBLE CLOAK

I cloak my son in whiteness create the shield whenever I can equating… mistaking… invisible with invincible somehow believing I can save him from history disguised as destiny. I cloak my son in whiteness it seems the only means I have for safeguarding his protection one more year, or month, or hour until that moment… Read More

SERMON: The Economy of “WE”

As we move through this pandemic and consider what we have done during “The Grand Pause” and I considered what we could so differently as we think about reopening the economy. This next sermon series will be exploring the idea of Kingdom economics … how we can transform our world by following the practices of… Read More

BLOG: The Zumba Effect

When I was training to become a Zumba teacher (yes, I was once an aerobics instructor, don’t laugh) the trainer gave the class advice that has translated into many parts of my life. She said this: “Know, ,that you will need to teach a new routine for 8-10 weeks. That people are not quick learner,… Read More