” he may be a white man, but he sure does have a black heart” Read More
SERMON: When Emptiness is a Promise.
in the empty streets, and in the empty tomb, we find a promise: that love will be unfurled on the world. Read More
Binge Watch My Theology
“Who acts like a neighbor to Spencer?… the one who shows him mercy…” Read More
poem: ASHES
my boots are covered in the ashes of bridges burned and the dust of roads less traveled. wisdom calls to me from sacred pages with the reminder to dust off worn out thoughts and tired feet that have traveled too far on scorched earth. and having shaken the ashes from some misguided sentiment or strange… Read More
SERMON: Be a Doer
“A faith that is pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their times of distress” Read More
SERMON: An Epic Battle
“It is hard to stay in tension – even good tension. But it may just be that the interplay between faith and works, grace and law, covenant and gospel is what keeps our faith active.” 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: Thoughts on Inauguration Day.
I have said many, many times before: one of the most important things I learned in seminary was that during Ancient Biblical times, people did not have an understanding of emotions. And that means that when the Bible says “love” it is not talking about an emotional response. (Thank you, again, Professor Brink.) So when… Read More
BLOG: Victim Status
Whenever a life is lost, there is a victim. Victim status is not debatable. Read More
BLOG: Hindsight is 20/20
(Caveat: if you have lost a loved one this past year — whether to covid or suicide or just old age — this post may not be for you, and may seem callous in the face of deep and abiding grief.) When I remember back to January 2020 — the New Year of a new… Read More
BLOG: Santa is a Sacrament.
“For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son…” Read More
BLOG: Illuminating a Word, Made Flesh.
… what has come into being was life, and the life was the true enlightenment of all people… Read More
Liturgy: Advent 1 – 2020.11.29
The follow liturgy is written to accompany the RCL scripture for November 29, 2020 and can be used/adapted for worship with citation. PowerPoint slides for these prayers can be found HERE Scripture slides with matching theme can be found HER CALL TO WORSHIP (inspired by Isaiah 64: 1-9) One: From ages past, for years… Read More
BLOG: Take One for the Team
This is the moment we have to rise up and teach our kids the greatest lesson team sports has for us… Read More
BLOG: America, It’s Time to Lock the Doors.
When I was in college, I was the president of my sorority. (No one is surprised by this.) So much of what I learned of servant leadership — lessons that carried me well in my professional career — came from being the president of my sorority. Of all the lessons I can recount, this one… Read More
Liturgy Nov. 1
“…our actions leave us a broken people…” Read More
BLOG: Breath is Life.
(POST 1 of “Pleas from a Birth Center Chaplain”) Before we get into a heated debate about abortion or women’s rights, let me first pose a question: Have you considered when life begins? (You would be surprised at how many people try to argue with me and have never considered this question. Put on the… Read More
An Open Letter to Amy Coney Barrett
To the Honorable Judge Barrett: I have watched closely your confirmation hearings. Since we share many similarities — close in age, both living the in Midwest, both educated women with advanced degrees, both white mothers in multiracial families — I began my viewing hopeful. I lost that hope quickly, when I heard you introduce yourself… Read More
BLOG: A good Coon hunt.
When I was a child, my parents were vigilant about teaching me good language, and as a result were adamant about the words I should never, ever use. Of course, there was the N-word. Just as important, the S-word and the W-word… and the R-word too. But there was also another word that was banished… 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
Keep the Mirror.
We break mirrors because They force us to see our flaws. It would be better To break the flaws. – cmk
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: An Economy of CREATION
Creation instead of consumption. This is what we will consider next in our sermon series exploring God’s economy, and how we can build a Kingdom Economy through this great awakening that is happening during these pandemic times. Listen to the sermon here: An Economy of CREATION
