This past week there has been an uprising of people taking to the streets to protest systemic-racism. The chronic weaponization of racism is being confronted and challenged by thousands of protestors in response to the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery who would have turned 26 last month, and Breonna Taylor, who would have turned […]
Pentecost is one of my favorite Sundays in the liturgical calendar. I love the vibrancy of the music, the liturgy and the colorful imagery of mighty wind, tongues of fire, and gentle dove. I love anticipating the new thing God might do with our faith community through the Holy Spirit. Last week, I preached […]
SCRIPTURE Jeremiah 2:7; Job 12:7-12; Psalm 24:1-2; Romans 8:18-23 There is a chorus that sings: “This world is not my home, I’m just passing through. My treasures are laid up – somewhere beyond the blue. I can’t feel at home in this world anymore”. It’s a fun song to sing, but I find a theological […]
Rejoice in the Lord Always, Paul tells the Philippians. Don’t worry about your life, Jesus tells his disciples. If we aren’t supposed to worry about OUR lives, perhaps we can worry about other people’s lives instead? There’s plenty to worry about there. But I don’t think that’s the point. Do not be anxious about anything, Paul […]
Click on link to take you to our virtual service. The Hebrew Scriptures are divided into three major sections: the Torah, the Prophets, and Wisdom books. The Wisdom section includes the Psalms, Job, the Song of Songs, and Ecclesiastes. Fr. Richard Rohr says that Wisdom literature reveals an ability to be patient with […]
There is a quote attributed to Martin Luther that “God writes the gospel not in the Bible alone, but on trees and flowers and clouds and stars.” In the Celtic tradition it is said that God gave us two great books of revelation, the first being nature and the other rugby the scriptures. Wendy Farley, […]
Our theme today comes from the story of the Jesus becoming known to the Disciples on the Road to Emmaus, and their eyes opening to the resurrected Christ in their midst. Click link below for worship service. Charles Schultz wrote a book 30 years ago in 1991: “My Anxieties have Anxieties.” What a perfect […]
John 20:19-21 Join us for the first service at Eastertide! Welcome to our APRIL 19th Worship service from UCUP! Posted by United Church In University Place on Sunday, April 19, 2020 In today’s gospel reading, we see the disciples hiding out in the Upper Room, sheltering in place, uncertain whether it is safe to come […]
Easter Worship Service 4/12/2020 The Gospel of John tells us, Mary came to the tomb while it was still dark. We come to this Easter while it is still dark, figuratively speaking, with hearts ready for daybreak, for renewal in resurrection, in the midst of this pandemic that has gripped the world. In many ways, […]
We are in the fifth week of Lent, and the lectionary brings us this text from the Gospel of John. This story is filled with deep anxiety, despair, grief and a sense of helplessness. We, too, are in the midst of anxious times. As we live into this time of Covid‐19, as we watch what […]