We should not give as if we are keeping score, a score that becomes like an anchor chain. Exodus 33:12-23 12 Moses said to the Lord, ‘See, you have said to me, “Bring up this people”; but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, “I know…

Some of the words of Jesus were used to justify poor treatment, were used to exert power. Are the words true if they are used that way? Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 1 Then God spoke all these words:2 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of…

Psalm 25 1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me. 3 Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are…

Psalm 105:1-6 and 37-45 1 O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples. 2 Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful works. 3 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. 4 Seek the…

“Imagine that our own church, the East Corinth Congregational Church, decided to set up a project called ‘Chicken Pie Wheelies’. Imagine what our logo would look like.” Isaiah 58:1-8 1 Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Announce to my people their rebellion, to the house of Jacob their…

We are not blindly forgiving. We get to name what hurt we have. You are a sentinel of yourself- do not allow the hurts to go unnamed for too long. Ezekiel 33:7-11 7 So you, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you…

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Those words from Paul to the church in Rome fit right in with my decision to share this UCC pastoral letter with you. It addresses an evil, the evil idea of white supremacy. Psalm 26 1 Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked…

When have we done something we were not ready for; something that your brain, your heart, your muscles, your family and friends all said was impossible? You had the means, faith or courage to get it done, to do it. This is what I am calling your walk on water moment, long or short. Psalm…

I love leftovers. I think it is a sin to waste food. At I love leftovers. I think it is a sin to waste food. At my last job, I kept my eyes on the corporate conference rooms when meetings were taking place. I would spread the word about the leftover food, to be sure…

1 Kings 3.5-12 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask what I should give you.” 6 And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of…