Author: Paul
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a Christian hope
When we use the word “hope” today, most of the time we’re wishing something will or won’t happen. I hope I didn’t leave the oven on, I hope I feel better tomorrow, I hope it doesn’t rain this weekend. Or perhaps more seriously, I hope my kids are healthy, I hope I get that job,…
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sidelining sabbath?
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. On the first day, light, and on the second day the sky and the sea. On the third day came the earth and plants, and on the fourth day the sun, the moon, and the stars. On the fifth day fish in the sea and…
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a foundational prayer
Biblical Texts: Psalm 117, Luke 11v1-4 Today’s passage in Luke is so familiar it can easily go by unnoticed. For those of us in church regularly, we say this prayer so often it can become automatic. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s good to know things by heart, but sometimes it pays to slow…
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a harvest offering
Biblical Texts: 1 Timothy 6v6-10, Matthew 6v25-34 YouTube Link Our verses this morning might seem odd choices for a Harvest festival. First, there’s nothing from the Old Testament, where we can find plenty about harvest in general and food in particular. Second, there’s a lot about money. That’s not traditionally been a fun subject to…
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judicious judging
Texts: Exodus 18:13-26; Matthew 7:1-14 Moses chose able men from all Israel and appointed them as heads over the people, as officers over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. And they judged the people at all times… Exodus 18v26 Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgement you make you…
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wonderful news now
Luke 6:20-26; Matthew 5:1-12 Blessed are the poor! Blessed are those who mourn! Blessed are you when people slander you! Blessed, blessed, blessed! We hear this passage, and it’s twin in Matthew, all the time. But it’s not an easy one. We don’t use the word blessed very often, which doesn’t help, but when some…
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solitude for service
Reading: Luke 4v38-44 As with most readings in the churches lectionary, our gospel reading today is not meant to be read simply as one brief story. It’s from Luke’s gospel, and where Luke places it is important. It needs to be read in context. Chapter 4 of Luke begins with Jesus’s temptation in the wilderness,…
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dog’s dinner
Biblical Text: Matthew 15:21-28 If I had a list of passages, that on face value, you could leave out of scripture, then this would be on it. A woman in distress comes to beg Jesus for her daughter’s healing. His response is not just discouraging, it sounds offensive. This does not seem like the Jesus…
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impulsive discipline
Biblical Texts: Matthew 13:44-46, 2 Timothy 1:6. The church today (July 31, 2024) commemorates the life of St. Ignatius, founder of the Jesuit order. Ignatius was born to a wealthy family, and was grievously injured while fighting a war. During his time of recovery, he asked for a book to read. The only book available…
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solus Christus
(Sermon originally preached on 14th July at St. Mary’s in Kidlingon) Biblical Text: Ephesians 1:3-14 May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of our hearts, be acceptable to you, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen. Church is an odd thing isn’t it? All of us could be somewhere else this morning.…