Light of the World

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.’ Then the Pharisees said to him, ‘You are testifying on your own behalf; your testimony is not valid.’ Jesus answered, ‘Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid because I know where I have come from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge by human standards; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgement is valid; for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. In your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is valid. I testify on my own behalf, and the Father who sent me testifies on my behalf.’ Then they said to him, ‘Where is your Father?’ Jesus answered, ‘You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.’ He spoke these words while he was teaching in the treasury of the temple, but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come. John 8:12-20

Today is the anniversary of the consecration of Barbara Clementine Harris. In 1989, I was in my last year of seminary and was asked to be an usher and carry the silver from our seminary to the venue. We carried it on the T in a duffel bag. What a day it was! Despite the fact that we had rehearsed the night before as to what to do if there was an "incident" as there had been many threats on her life, and protests happened outside and during the ceremony, she became the first woman elected and concentrated as a bishop in the world-wide Anglican communion. Being a woman was a real threat but being a black woman was even more of a threat. I spoke with an elderly woman who had traveled with her daughter throughout the night to be there. She told me that her parents had been born into slavery and here she was, witnessing a black woman becoming a bishop. We cried together. Folks who carry the light of the world, like Bishop Harris, change us all for the good. The church came around slowly, but I am a bishop because she was willing to shine her light and let no one put it out. Be light for this world today in her honor, for the sake of the children who come after us.

Wondrous Creator, you sent the light into the world

your child came so that we too might be light now

and carry light into the darkest corners of our world.

We are weighed down with darkness of all kinds

there is too much violence against hard working folks

and no punishment for the cruelest of abusers.

Help us carry your light today as Barbara once did

help us speak truth to unjust systems and powers

and bring light to this world that has lost hope today. Amen.

Writing in the Sand

Then each of them went home, while Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, they said to him, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?’ They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.’ And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, sir.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.’ John 7:53-8:11

I grew up by the ocean and actually love sand. It is part of life for us. Digging, building castles and writing in the sand were daily activities. Sand was everywhere and we took it home in our bathing suits, our shorts, in our towels, in our hair and on our feet. When we would visit my parents in the summer, my daughters would put sand in their pockets when we were leaving to remind them of life at the ocean. The gift of sand is that the water washes everything away a high tide, and we can start over the next day. The religious leaders brought a woman before Jesus who they were planning to stone. Whatever Jesus wrote made them run away and after they left, he forgave her. What a story for our times. As fingers are pointed in high places, let us remember we can focus on other peoples' sin, and not admit to our own darkness. 

Loving Creator, into all life is renewal

you forgive us when we come to you

and you send us on our way with love.

We want life to be easy and s as we please

meanwhile we like to condemn others

and fail to see the wickedness within us.

Lord Jesus, heal us and send us on our way

reminding us that forgiveness means to sin no more 

and help us not to condemn others but to only love. Amen.

More Living Water

On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, “Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.” ’ Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified. When they heard these words, some in the crowd said, ‘This is really the prophet.’ Others said, ‘This is the Messiah.’ But some asked, ‘Surely the Messiah does not come from Galilee, does he? Has not the scripture said that the Messiah is descended from David and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?’ So there was a division in the crowd because of him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. Then the temple police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, ‘Why did you not arrest him?’ The police answered, ‘Never has anyone spoken like this!’ Then the Pharisees replied, ‘Surely you have not been deceived too, have you? Has any one of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, which does not know the law—they are accursed.’ Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before, and who was one of them, asked, ‘Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?’ They replied, ‘Surely you are not also from Galilee, are you? Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee.’ John 7:37-52

“Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water." This is when the real troubles start. Jesus has gone to the temple for the festival and is reminding folks that he is living water and that from the heart of believers will flow living water. Living water from people, poor and wealthy alike. life changing water from simple believers, from unlikely places, from people who speak in other tongues and who are very different from us. This infuriated the chief priest and pharisees, who lit into the temple police. Nicodemus, a believer, came to Jesus' defense. Yet their fear and anxiety was already on high alert. A nobody from Galilee cannot be a prophet let alone the messiah they declared. We also live in a time when nobodies shake up the powers that be. Let us be the nobodies whose hearts flow with streams of living water.

Wondrous Creator, who gives us living water

so that we might be refreshed and made clean

full of your love and healing for the world.

Our planet is on fire with angry, fearful hearts

folks whose shame has been brought to light

and who are afraid of the truth telling nobodies.

Help us have hearts full of living waters

may love and forgiveness flow though us

so all might know of your presence here today. Amen.

Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany - February 8, 2026

Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled underfoot. “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:13-20

This week has been a challenging one. Many times, those in power have used their platforms to spread hate. Unfortunately, this has been true throughout the ages. Jesus knew the cruelty and lawlessness of leadership, both religious and secular. He lived in an occupied country; he was a refugee as a small child and was hated by the religious authorities. He also knew that some of his followers were tempted to do violence and illegal things because of the cruelty of their leaders. Yet he refocused them and called them to be salt and light in times of great evil and darkness, in a society which fostered hate and violence. We are called in this season to be salt and light. Love and compassion in the face of gross cruelty and inhumanity. We have our work cut out for us but let' be brave and let love lead us today.

Gracious Creator, you are salt and light

you bring us out of the deepest darkness

and renew our joy and sweeten our days.

Lord Jesus, fill us with joy again so we might be your salt and light.

The world has turned cruel and angry

people spout hate and act violently

yet you call us to be salt and light.

Lord Jesus, fill us with joy again so we might be your salt and light.

Listen to our cries, oh dear Savior

for we are hopeless in these times.

Lord Jesus, fill us with joy again so we might be your salt and light.

Lift us from the broken sinking ships

and help us to sing songs of love.

Lord Jesus, fill us with joy again so we might be your salt and light.

Put your heart is our hearts, dear Lord

and give us strength to be your light.

Lord Jesus, fill us with joy again so we might be your salt and light.

For you are love incarnate and joy

and you bless us in every season.

Lord Jesus, fill us with joy again so we might be your salt and light. Amen.

In Secret

After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He did not wish to go about in Judea because the Jews were looking for an opportunity to kill him. Now the Jewish festival of Booths was near. So his brothers said to him, ‘Leave here and go to Judea so that your disciples also may see the works you are doing; for no one who wants to be widely known acts in secret. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.’ (For not even his brothers believed in him.) Jesus said to them, ‘My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify against it that its works are evil. Go to the festival yourselves. I am not going to this festival, for my time has not yet fully come.’ After saying this, he remained in Galilee. But after his brothers had gone to the festival, then he also went, not publicly but as it were in secret. The Jews were looking for him at the festival and saying, ‘Where is he?’ And there was considerable complaining about him among the crowds. While some were saying, ‘He is a good man’, others were saying, ‘No, he is deceiving the crowd.’ Yet no one would speak openly about him for fear of the Jews. John 7:1-13

Too many people have to hide these days. Some are hiding in fear because of who they are or who they represent. Some folks legally in this country are hiding for fear of ICE. Throughout history, people have had to hide from the authorities, the government, or even their communities. After removal from our homeland to then Oklahoma territory, our people had to hide who they were. All our traditional ways were outlawed and had to be done in secret. If caught, one could be thrown in jail for many years. Many Native people still hide today and carry their passports when the go out due to their fear of being arrested as "illegal aliens." Jesus was in hiding and went to the festival in secret. It's encouraging to me to imagine Jesus in hiding, in secret with those who are now scared for their lives as he was. He is with us even in the most terrifying and fearful circumstances.

Loving Creator, you bring us into light

when we are fearful and daily terrified

and you dwell with us in our hiding places.

We have come to believe in our own safety

and think our money or our power can save

yet even the most powerful hide from the law.

Help us Lord Jesus, to see you here in hiding

staying with those who are scared and trembling

surrounding the hidden with eternal love and peace. Amen.

Turning Back

When many of his disciples heard it, they said, ‘This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?’ But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, ‘Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But among you there are some who do not believe.’ For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. And he said, ‘For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.’ Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, ‘Do you also wish to go away?’ Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.’ Jesus answered them, ‘Did I not choose you, the twelve? Yet one of you is a devil.’ He was speaking of Judas son of Simon Iscariot, for he, though one of the twelve, was going to betray him. John 6:60-71

There are points in our lives where we make decisions, whether knowingly or not. We walk away, do not respond or pretend not to hear, yet we are making decisions all along. Jesus said hard things to his disciples, and many turned on their heels and fled. Some might have come back but we will never know. A few might have gone for air and come back while others never returned. The life of following Jesus is demanding, and we are called to follow not just when it's easy. These are hard times in which it is hard to choose between following Jesus or taking care and protecting ourselves. We are called to say yes, even in hard times.

Loving Creator, you brought us safely here

loving us in hard times and on glorious days

and you promise to be with us all the way.

We are called to follow you, yet we wander

distracted by the world's woes and our needs

slipping away when things get too hard.

Help us to strap on our boots and follow you

so that love can blossom in these desert times

and you love can be shared in the darkest places. Amen.

Raise Them Up

The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ So Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.’ He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum. John 6:52-59

Those who held with the tradition of the time could not accept that Jesus was something new and saying things that frightened them. They were comfortable and had control of their lives and families. In the face of change, they argued and challenged, just like we do. But could they hear what is meant to say "I will raise them up on the last day?" How did it feel to hear that, when the world had rejected you and refused to help you up? How glorious those words must have felt to the outcast, the broken, the crippled, the poor and those wandering aimlessly. Jesus saw them and cared for them. He lifted them up in life and promised to lift them up in the afterlife. And his promise is for all of us, everyone, even those who question and struggle.

Gracious Creator, you lift up the struggling

you sing a new song of life to the hopeless

and carry those who cannot walk any more.

We are so worn down from the violence

fear and worry seem to invade us all

and we refuse to listen to the cries of others.

Take our hand, dear Savior, and lift us up

so we might stand tall in violent times

and sing new songs of new life to the weary world. Amen.

I Am the Bread of Life

Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, ‘I am the bread that came down from heaven.’ They were saying, ‘Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, “I have come down from heaven”?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Do not complain among yourselves. No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, “And they shall all be taught by God.” Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.’ The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ So Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; John 6:41-54

Bread in some sort is the staple of life. Bread and water. Of course, there are many more foods, glorious vegetables, meat and vegetable proteins as well as milks and cheeses. Life would be terribly boring and limited if all we consumed was bread and water. Whole channels, televisions shows and competitions are all dedicated to food, recipes and creativity in the kitchen. Yet we can be distracted by all the glitz and glamor and fail to see the essential need in all of us. We ache for meaning, we ache to be known and loved. We ache for more than just basic needs; we ache for eternal connection and lasting relationships. Jesus promises if we simply believe, we will be fed and spiritually full. Life be more than basic survival; our lives will have meaning.

Gracious Creator, you call us your children

provide abundantly for all of our needs

and comfort us when we are afraid.

These days we are scared all the time

the daily chores seem more difficult

and we draw away from our neighbors.

You, Lord, are the still the living bread

and we are aching to be fully fed

so we might serve the world without fear again. Amen.

Groundhog Day

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful, for I have taken refuge in you; in the shadow of your wings will I take refuge until this time of trouble has gone by.

I will call upon the Most High God, the God who maintains my cause. 

We will send from heaven and save me; he will confound those who trample upon me; God will send forth his love and his faithfulness.

I lie in the midst of lions that devour the people; their teeth are spears and arrows, their tongue a sharp sword. 

They have laid a net for my feet, and I am bowed low; they have dug a pit before me but have fallen into it themselves. 

Exalt yourself above the heavens, O God, and your glory over all the earth. 

My heart is firmly fixed, O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and make melody.

Wake up, my spirit; awake, lute and harp; I myself will waken the dawn. Psalm 57:1-8

Today is Groundhog Day, a silly, fun moment in the dead of winter. A small town, no big city folks new about, becomes the center of attention for one day. Today is also the feast of the Presentation or Candlemas, when we commemorate Jesus' presentation in the temple forty days after his birth to fulfill Jewish law. There is no law of reason for Groundhogs Day, except maybe to give us hope for a quick end to winter. Phil saw his shadows, so six more weeks of Easter. At this time of year, and with all the trauma in our country, we can feel beaten down and overwhelmed. Yet we can rejoice that Jesus is still working, our Savior is not stopped by weather or chill or silly forecasts. His work and weapon is always love, and it cannot be stopped by act of nature since he is the author of all.

Wondrous Creator, who brings light daily

and turns the world so all may see and know

the blessings and challenges of every season.

The darkness is here in our streets and hearts

fear has taken over where love should be

and we cling to foolish predictions and signs.

Help us burrow into your love and promises

make us know you deeply so we might love

and turn the world your world to light once again. Amen.

Fourth Sunday After the Epiphany February 1, 2026

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Matthew 5:1-12

I just had the honor of attending the funeral of a bishop. It was so moving, and despite the circumstance I came away with deep hope and joy. A life, one person, who by his own joy, blessed so many people. One person, redeemed by God, who transformed communities and individuals by his caring. Jesus preaches what we now call the sermon on the mount, or the beatitudes for all of us.Those of us who are afraid, those who are angry and exhausted, those crying and those screaming in loss and pain. No matter our circumstances, we are blessed, for we are all beloved of God.

Loving Creator, you bless the weak and weary

You bless the hungry and the exhausted

Promising renewing love and mercy.

Bless us Lord Jesus with your mercy, love and peace.

These times have discouraged and hurt us

We cry out where are you, O Lord 

Yet your arms are open wide and you love us eternally.

Bless us Lord Jesus with your mercy, love and peace.

Turn us out from our hiding places, dear Lord

So we might see your face once again.

Bless us Lord Jesus with your mercy, love and peace.

Turn us from our worry so we can be peacemakers

And let the pain we bear help us bring mercy here.

Bless us Lord Jesus with your mercy, love and peace.

 Bless us again today, so we might stand up

And care for our human family here among us.

Bless us Lord Jesus with your mercy, love and peace. Amen.

One Child's Offering

After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming towards him, Jesus said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?’ He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, ‘Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.’ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, ‘There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?’ Jesus said, ‘Make the people sit down.’ Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, ‘Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.’ So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, ‘This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.’ When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself. John 6:1-15

I am often amazed at how church leaders, lay and clergy alike, are always anxious about money. Phillip is very anxious when Jesus asks him where can food be gotten for the people. "There's no money for that!" is the refrain. And yet, one child offers his small lunch, five barley loaves and two fish, something his mother probably sent him with. This offering sets off a miracle of great generosity and abundance. The child didn't offer money, yet what he has became food for all, with leftovers for all to take home. We are in a time of shortages and anxiety, yet there are still things each of us can offer. Our small offerings might make the difference, might encourage miracles of generosity and abundance, might just help change the world.

Gracious Creator, you feed us and fill us

with the goodness of your creation

and bring us home to communities of faith.

We are anxious, Lord, as the church diminishes

we have focused on the ways of the world

and forgotten to seek your miracles

Lift us from our anxiety and fear today

so we might offer what we have to Jesus

and help bring generosity and abundance here.

Nothing On My Own

‘I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge; and my judgement is just, because I seek to do not my own will but the will of him who sent me. ‘If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that his testimony to me is true. You sent messengers to John, and he testified to the truth. Not that I accept such human testimony, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But I have a testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father has given me to complete, the very works that I am doing, testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself testified on my behalf. You have never heard his voice or seen his form, and you do not have his word abiding in you, because you do not believe him whom he has sent. ‘You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf. Yet you refuse to come to me to have life. I do not accept glory from human beings. But I know that you do not have the love of God in you. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; if another comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe when you accept glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the one who alone is God? Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; your accuser is Moses, on whom you have set your hope. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But if you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?’ John 5:30-47

We can do nothing on our own, despite what we think or pretend to believe. A new human cannot survive without round the clock care. And we don't thrive without good, loving care. This photo is of me and my mom, Betty, shortly after arriving home from the hospital. I was a big baby, born on Christmas Eve and the whole family had to wait for Christmas until we got home. Every child changes everything for a family. Folks, we are dependent on one another, and none of us can grow or learn well without the help of others. Even Jesus said he could do nothing on his own. So, today, let us drop the pretense that we are rugged individuals, and live as dependent, interdependent people, who need help and give help and let go of judgement. 

Precious Creator, you made us perfectly dependent

so that we might speak our needs and offer help

as a people committed to holy loving and caring.

We love the fables of pioneers and self-made men

yet there are heaps of people who helped them out

and people who died as they forged their legacy.

Help us, Lord, to be like Jesus today and always

ready to acknowledge our need and ready to help

and when we do recognize we are following you. Amen.

Hear the Voice of God

Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise. The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing; and he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished. Indeed, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomsoever he wishes. The Father judges no one but has given all judgement to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgement, but has passed from death to life. ‘Very truly, I tell you, the hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself; and he has given him authority to execute judgement, because he is the Son of Man. Do not be astonished at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and will come out—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. John 5:19-29

Many of us have been like dead, huddling in our warm comfortable homes, hiding from the world, thinking we are safe and secure while feeling very afraid for some reason. We have been conditioned to be fearful and to hide, focusing on ourselves and perfecting our homes. Seems like every doctor's office shows HGTV, the buying, selling and rehabbing of houses. God's voice, if heard, calls us to the hard intersections of the city, not to comfort but to hurting people and communities, not to selfish and isolating ways. John's Gospel calls us to listen and act, not to pretend we cannot hear for the words are the Gospel, and all scripture are clear - act justly, love mercy and walk humbly - all things spoken from the prophet Micah and reiterated down through the centuries.

Wondrous Creator, you made us in your image

fragile and yet tough, tender and compassionate

and you call us to hear you and rise up today.

They can twist our words and deny our sight

yet we still hear the ancient one calling us

to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you.

Help us to rise up to share your love today

make us fearless in the face of great tyranny

for you walk with those who walk humbly today. Amen.

My Father is Still Working

After this there was a festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes. In these lay many invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, ‘Do you want to be made well?’ The sick man answered him, ‘Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; and while I am making my way, someone else steps down ahead of me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Stand up, take your mat and walk.’ At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk. Now that day was a sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who had been cured, ‘It is the sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your mat.’ But he answered them, ‘The man who made me well said to me, “Take up your mat and walk.” ’ They asked him, ‘Who is the man who said to you, “Take it up and walk”?’ Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had disappeared in the crowd that was there. Later Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, ‘See, you have been made well! Do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.’ The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. Therefore, the Jews started persecuting Jesus, because he was doing such things on the sabbath. But Jesus answered them, ‘My Father is still working, and I also am working.’ For this reason, the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because he was not only breaking the sabbath, but was also calling God his own Father, thereby making himself equal to God. John 5:1-18

The horrors of this weekend in Minneapolis and the denial from our leadership of this violence and cruelty can bring on despair. This seemingly loss of humanity and human dignity does make us all want to give up and try not to care. We can stop believing in the goodness of our fellow humans and become jaded, just committing to take care of ourselves alone. Good people have watched as good people are dying and it breaks our hearts. Jesus came upon a man who had been sick for thirty-eight years, lying by the pool of Beth-zatha, a man who had never had help to get in the healing pool. Noone had helped him and maybe he had just been left there for dead. Yet he did not give up or despair and said yes to Jesus the minute healing was offered. He told the religious leaders, that "my Father is still working, and I also am working." Good news for us on the edge of despair, on the edge of giving up. God's love is still working in the deep darkness of human greed and cruelty, still working to heal and redeem the cold hearts and the deep wounds.

Loving Creator, you turn the world to healing

you turn our world from violence to justice

and you give us your deep hope in dark times.

The pain and sorrows are too much for us

violence is accepted and heroes defamed

yet You are still working today and forever.

Help us to rise us with all the love given

and sing the world into a new just sphere

may your work and our work be always love. Amen.

Enduring

‘See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. Matthew 10:16-22

We have been inundated with snow and there is more to come this afternoon and evening. The temperature was near zero at dawn and clouds are sitting low on the horizon. We are stuck inside but so far, warm and dry. We hang on with hope that our plow will come and dig us out by tomorrow. We have to hang on, forgo and trips and trust. We don't really have to suffer or face the cold. We are fortunate that we are not under siege by ICE, although many cities in Massachusetts and Maine are. Today is the feast of the conversion of Paul, a violent and abusive man who was a critic of Jesus' followers. He had Stephen stoned to death, and many others as well. Despite it all, his heart was turned, he saw the light of God's love and became a great teacher and pastor. May we have hope today that the cruelest ones, those with the greediest and hardest hearts will be turned to the light.

Gracious Creator, source of goodness and love

you wrap us in a blanket of warmth and safety

protecting us as a mother swaddles her child.

We squirm and whine and want our own ways

we are selfish and cruel, greedy and mean

yet you know our hearts are full of deep fear.

Lift us, Lord, from the fears that open us to hate

turn our hearts to the pain and needs of our neighbors

and help us pray that even the cruel ones have a change of heart. Amen.

Third Sunday After the Epiphany - January 25, 2026

Third Sunday After the Epiphany 
January 25, 2026

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. Matthew 4:12-23

Jesus went and settled in Capernaum, in the territory that Isaiah's prophecy promised great light. He moved from his home, his comforts and his familiar settings and went to a strange land, a dark place, not particularly welcoming. It is from there he call his disciples, away from their nets, their comforts and familiar settings. Everything they knew, their boats, their nets, their livelihoods and their families were set aside to follow Jesus, who too set everything familiar aside to serve his calling. Folks, we may not live in the dark territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, but we do live in a land of darkness and abused that seem to overwhelm us all. It is time to leave our comfort zones and follow Jesus into the unfamiliar and scary places where we are being called. Time to drop the familiar nets and follow the one who calls us and promises to be with us on our journey.

Loving Creator, you call us all your children

and call us to follow your Son in this world.

Precious Savior, help us to follow you into your light.

Our world has now become dark and violent

children taken and mothers lose their lives.

Precious Savior, help us to follow you into your light.

The powers of darkness seem to overwhelm us

yet you have promised this land a great light.

Precious Savior, help us to follow you into your light.

Help us to get us and put down our familiar nets

give us the strength to follow Jesus always.

Precious Savior, help us to follow you into your light.

May our discipleship be filled with light and love

so the dark places can shine with your love light again.

Precious Savior, help us to follow you into your light. Amen.

God is Spirit

Jesus said to her, ‘Go, call your husband, and come back.’ The woman answered him, ‘I have no husband.’ Jesus said to her, ‘You are right in saying, “I have no husband”; for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true!’ The woman said to him, ‘Sir, I see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshipped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.’ The woman said to him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming’ (who is called Christ). ‘When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am he, the one who is speaking to you.’ John 4:16-26

As Indigenous people of this continent, we have always understood that God is Spirit and we refer to God as Great Spirit, Creator of all.  Jesus continued to talk with the woman, considered an outsider, an alien and of ill repute. The promises and recognition of the spirit always come from strange, hidden places and unexpected people. Jesus went to the people, the ones who were considered unwashed and unwanted. Many of us were considered unwashed and unwanted, and the federal government once had plans to get rid of us all. And yet many of us embraced the teaching of Jesus and recognize ourselves among the Samaritans of his time. He told this rejected woman that he was the Messiah, long before he spoke that clearly to his disciples. May we be ready to embrace the Spirit wherever we find it and from whom we hear it.

Wondrous Creator, you are Spirit and light

you spread love to all corners of this earth

and speak to every language and culture.

When we assume we are righteous

yet we reject the stranger and the outcast

we are not living in or receiving your spirit.

Come Holy Spirit of the living God and renew us

wipe out all the boundaries and fear we hide behind

and make us your people who love and live your spirit. Amen

Living Water

Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard, ‘Jesus is making and baptizing more disciples than John’— although it was not Jesus himself but his disciples who baptized— he left Judea and started back to Galilee. But he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon. A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink’. (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, ‘How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?’ (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, “Give me a drink”, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.’ The woman said to him, ‘Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?’ Jesus said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.’ The woman said to him, ‘Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.’ John 4:1-15

Water is life, whether standing with the Dakota people protesting the oil pipeline or standing near a baptismal font holding a young child, water is truly life. Our bodies are mostly water, and we can go without food for a long time but not without water. This encounter with the Samaritan woman is an extraordinary moment, early in Jesus' ministry. He crossed so many previously taboo lines - A Samaritan, a woman and sinner. And he offers her the water of life, the living water, eternal life. What scandal! Even his disciples would question his behaviors, yet this encounter resulted in the healing of a large community, previously considered to be the alien, the outsiders, the unwanted. May we seek the living, eternal water as seek and serve the outcasts in our communities.

Gracious Creator, you consider us all your offspring

and call no one an illegal alien, nor an outcast

but draw all of the world to yourself through your son.

We have nasty names for the recent immigrants 

we think no one deserved what we have not worked for

and we live behind gates and divisions creating fear.

Help us to rise above our fears and our prejudices

so we might bring light and life to those in need

and be filled with the living water as we offer your love. Amen.

My Joy Has Been Fulfilled

After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he spent some time there with them and baptized. John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim because water was abundant there; and people kept coming and were being baptized— John, of course, had not yet been thrown into prison. Now a discussion about purification arose between John’s disciples and a Jew. They came to John and said to him, ‘Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing, and all are going to him.’ John answered, ‘No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, “I am not the Messiah, but I have been sent ahead of him.” He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.’ The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony. Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified this, that God is true. He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life but must endure God’s wrath. John 3:22-36

Some days, joy is fleeting, others it is nowhere to be found, yet for John the Baptist, his joy was complete for he had told them to prepare so the Messiah could be known. Each of us has a role in life that points to another, whether it is a teacher, a preacher or a parent. We are called to prepare the way not to be the star of the show. Jesus and John also knew their time was short on earth and they each had a story to tell, so all these years later, we might follow the one who came from heaven and lived as we humans do. We face hard roads and difficult days ahead, yet we can be filled with that joy, a joy which reminds us that we are loved beyond measure and children of the living God.

Steadfast Creator, you have been present in every generation

walking with us, hiding with us and facing up to big bullies

for you are love and joy in spite of every manmade crisis.

We live in a country where innocent people are arrested

for the color of their skin and their country of origin

despite the truth that this country is founded on stolen land.

Give us your joy so we might fight back against cruelty

give us your heart so we might face down our fears

and make love and joy dance in our streets again. Amen.

God So Loved the World

‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. ‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgement, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.’ John 3:16-21

Somedays, it's hard to imagine that God could love the messy, ugly and broken world at present. We seem incapable of righting wrongs, keeping people safe and not taking other peoples' land and homes. 

Yet throughout human history, we have been unjust, unkind and greedy. We will probably always be. And yet still, God so loves the world, in our messy, selfish, cruelty that the Creator sent us Jesus to offer his life for us and to show us the way of love and light. We are not condemned to be our worst selves but rather we are called to follow in Jesus' steps, on the road to justice, equality and inclusion. We are walking a hard road these days, but we are not alone for Christ is with us every step of the way. May we walk the way of love, so the world can see how "God so loves the world."

Gracious Creator, you have loved us forever

the mountain, the oceans, the deserts and winds

and you love every part of your exquisite creation.

We rebel with anger, we act out of greed and fear

and when we fall, we cry out for you to save us

although you have sent Jesus and shown us the way.

Help us to plant our feet on the way of love today

for many are suffering, too many are afraid

and we can carry your love to the darkest places. Amen.

MLK Day 2026

                            Martin Luther King, Jr Day 2026

Jesus said, “I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:27–36

Today is a national holiday celebrating the life and work of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He said yes to God and became the voice of freedom and equality until his life was cut short by someone who hated him and what he spoke of. He spoke of love, despite all of the hate, the racism, the gross miscarriages of justice that is the United States. It was then and is now. Our government decided to hate immigrants and now all people of color are afraid as they might be mistaken for an "illegal" immigrant. I have an Ojibwe friend who was stopped by ICE this past week. These terrors can make us all angry and rise to hating others. Martin reminds us that we need to up our game on love, actively serving and giving to those who need our help as well as protecting those who are most vulnerable. Today, may we do all the love things we can, honoring Martin and Coretta and all the freedom fighters who came before. changing the world for good, bit by bit.

                                A Litany for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Loving Creator, you give us hearts of compassion

so we see those who need our help and respond.

Lord Jesus, let your love and freedom ring as we love our neighbors.

You have given us hands and minds that can change laws

help us to raise our voices so that your love can be heard.

Lord Jesus, let your love and freedom ring as we love our neighbors.

You have given us bodies that can march and serve

Help us stand with the immigrants and the most vulnerable.

Lord Jesus, let your love and freedom ring as we love our neighbors.

You have made us for love, and made us one people

Help us to see everyone as members of one family.

Lord Jesus, let your love and freedom ring as we love our neighbors.

You have put your light within each and every one of us

Help us shine so the road to freedom is always bright.

Lord Jesus, let your love and freedom ring as we love our neighbors.

You lift us up when the burdens become too great

Help us to spread you healing and freedom wherever we are.

Lord Jesus, let your love and freedom ring as we love our neighbors.

Free us from arrogance, pride, and all the sins we have

so we might be free to love as you laid down your life for us all.

Lord Jesus, let your love and freedom ring as we love our neighbors. Amen.

Second Sunday After the Epiphany - January 18, 2026

Second Sunday After the Epiphany

John saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.” The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter). John 1:29-42

Jesus said to them, "come and see." He says to us, "come and see." We live in times when we want to hide our eyes, or we look and see only sadness and destruction. Jesus lived in a time of occupation, a time of tyrants and great bloodshed. John claimed that Jesus was the Lamb of God, and Jesus changed Simon's name to Peter. Lots of big claims and name changes. The truth is that after this moment the disciples and others followed Jesus, saw many miracles and still had questions and doubt. Jesus tells us now to come and see. Come and see the new life, the forgiveness, the servanthood that is happening across our land and the world. Despite the callousness and cruelty, there are people and communities acting out the love of Christ in the darkest places. May we become those who show that love so fully that people say, "come and see."

Gracious Creator, you are with us in all times

when the joy and peace bubble through us

and when the skies darken and no light comes.

Lamb of God, Lord Jesus, make us your disciples today.

The tyrants tell us we are worthless and alien

unwelcome in the land where our people live

and treat us as alien, unwanted and suspicious.

Lamb of God, Lord Jesus, make us your disciples today.

Yet you, Lord Jesus, came among us with love

and miracles changed how the people lived

and change us still when we seek your face.

Lamb of God, Lord Jesus, make us your disciples today.

Give us the strength to open our eyes wide

so your grace might live daily within us.

Lamb of God, Lord Jesus, make us your disciples today.

Give us your love so we might rush to serve

those who are treated as alien and criminals.

Lamb of God, Lord Jesus, make us your disciples today.

Make us your people, O Lord, this day

so we might live your love in this broken world.

Lamb of God, Lord Jesus, make us your disciples today. Amen.

 

Fill the Jars with Water

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ Now standing there were six stone water-jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, ‘Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.’ So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.’ Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they remained there for a few days. John 2:1-12

Jesus' first miracle, which was pushed on him by his mother, has found its way into all sorts of cultural references, jokes, songs and memes. I have often focused on the relationship between Mary and her son, which is truly fascinating in this story. Yet the water jars seem more important today. They were everyday things, part of any household. They became the conduit of miracles and change. We are also empty or half-filled vessels, most of us everyday and ordinary. Like those water jugs, we can contain something miraculous despite our limited human experience. When we are willing to let Jesus call and direct us, we can be filled with more gifts and capacity than we have ever known. In these troubled times, may we be those willing to be refilled and overflowing with the miraculous love of God.

Wondrous Creator, you fill us and use us

to be your miraculous love here on earth

following in the human steps of your Son.

We are half-empty and without direction

as the world turns violent and inhumane

hiding from today's pain and cruelty.

You have called us and you will lead us

so fill us again with the water of life

so we might share your miraculous love today. Amen.

Under the Fig Tree

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.’ Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’ When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said of him, ‘Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!’ Nathanael asked him, ‘Where did you come to know me?’ Jesus answered, ‘I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.’ Nathanael replied, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!’ Jesus answered, ‘Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.’ And he said to him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.’ John 1:43-51

As a child, our fig tree was my hiding place, a canopy of leaves and branches I could climb. I don't know if Nathanael was hiding or sitting in the shade, but I would have sat with him. He was an honest man, someone who spoke from the heart, and wasn't one to fall for fads or trends. A wise one. If we are honest with ourselves, we all seek those familiar hiding places to shelter us from the terrors of the day. We are living in time of terror and the ache to hide is real. Yet, no matter where we hide, we are loved and known. And we are called beyond our hiding places to bring love and light to the world.

Gracious Creator, you shaped hiding places

and homes of safety and support as we grow

so that we might be strong to face these days.

There is terror on our streets and neighborhoods

tyrants have become normal, violence as well

and we humans want to run away and hide.

Help us, dear Lord, to crawl out into the light

carrying your precious love with us as we go

so your creation might thrive and live once more. Amen.

The Lamb of God

The next day he saw Jesus coming towards him and declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.’ And John testified, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.’ The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, ‘Look, here is the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to him, ‘Rabbi’ (which translated means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come and see.’ They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas’ (which is translated Peter). John 1:29-42

In Epiphany, we move rapidly from sweet little baby Jesus in a manger, to the fully grown man living into his identity. There are only a very few mentions of his childhood at all. So, we tend to see his as the vibrant man, calling disciples, and healing people everywhere he goes. It allows us to separate him from his family of origin, his culture and his people. For me, as a parent, the is very disconcerting. I see my very grown and capable daughters living their lives, and I see the little girls they were (and are) at the same time. I wish I could see Jesus through Mary's eyes. The essential being is there from the beginning. Here we find Jesus, walking by his cousin John who calls him the Lamb of God. I so desperately want to know what they called each other as kids, what experiences made them who they are as adults. None of us can really be fully who we are without embracing those experiences that formed and shaped us. May we, like the disciples, run to the one man John points out as the lamb of God. May we bring our whole selves, our past and our becoming to the feet of Jesus.

Wondrous Creator, you bring us into this world

completely vulnerable, wailing for our food

and surround us with those who help us grow.

We try to hide our origins and our vulnerable side

yet there is where you abide deeply with us

and bring your healing to our very hidden places.

O Lamb of God, be near the children in us today

so we might reach for you instead of weapons

and teach your love to a world broken by hate. Amen.

Crying Out in the Wilderness

This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, ‘I am not the Messiah.’ And they asked him, ‘What then? Are you Elijah?’ He said, ‘I am not.’ ‘Are you the prophet?’ He answered, ‘No.’ Then they said to him, ‘Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?’ He said, ‘I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord” ’, as the prophet Isaiah said. Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, ‘Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?’ John answered them, ‘I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.’ This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing. John 1:19-28

I am convinced that we are in a time of crying, a time of voices raised for the life of the world. Some of us will cry out in prayer, others in war cries and yet others with loving reminders that we are not alone. It is not time for silent observing anymore. Nor a time to walk away. Each of us needs to carry a little piece of John the Baptist, willing to proclaim the presence of God, here among us, in the turmoil and the pain. Our Creator draws near, and we are those called to carry the message again, into the wildernesses we face. The wilderness of greed and corruption, of isolation and abuse, the dark places where humanity has been squandered. John came for his time. May we be God's loving witness and presence for our time.

Divine Creator, source of every spark of life

we are your heralds and your children here

give us strong voices to carry your witness.

Mothers die protecting their neighborhoods

thugs roam the streets like ancient soldiers

life seems so unbalanced and dangerous today.

Lord, put your clarion voices within us all

make us heralds of your loving presence here

and help us change the world as we sing for you. Amen.

The True Light

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. (John testified to him and cried out, ‘This was he of whom I said, “He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” ’) From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known. John 1:1-18

We have been overwhelmed by reactions and opinions about Renee Good's murder. And things seem to go from bad to worse. No apologies, no admitting wrong, but instead covering up and covering people with lies and misdirection. There is no true defense for such an act of violence. Only actions filled with light and love, grace upon grace, since others would have cruelty and darkness descend. May we be those who step out, carrying the light we have, and gather as one brilliant, shining, glorious version of the True Light, God's love which came into the world and remains in this world through all of us.

Loving Creator, you sent Jesus among us 

to carry love and light, grace upon grace

so that we might be set alight with your love.

Cruelty and violence try to snub it out

Rulers and tyrant try to scream it away

yet the true light is setting us all free.

There is a rough road ahead in these times

yet You walk with us and call on our ancestors

to help us carry the light of your love into this world. Amen.

First Epiphany - The Baptism of Jesus

First Sunday of Epiphany - The Baptism of Jesus
January 11, 2026

Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:13-17

I have always been fascinated by the relationship of Jesus and John. Jesus comes to John to be baptized but John refuses at first. These were two who knew each other, may have played together as cousins and might have had a decent report. There is a humanity and also there is a natural reluctance at play in this scene. Each has a road they have been called to by God, and each has to choose to follow that road daily. Even the Son of God, even Jesus, has to make the human choices we often struggle with. There was much more dialog at this event, I am very sure. All of have been at these moments, these crossroads in our lives. Yet, Jesus and John say yes together to God. And God thunders with joy when Jesus says yes, and when we say yes. In troubled times, as they were then and they are now, we are called to follow the way of love, to dive deep into the water again and be God's beloved in these times. Thunderous joy awaits us all.

                                                        A Litany for First Epiphany

Loving Creator, you breathe your love in all creation

you set the planets and the clouds in their motion

and you shine your light in our hearts every new day.

Blessed Savior, help us to be your beloved in this broken world.

We feel like we are drowning in these troubled times

when power and money deprive the poor of daily bread

and bring violence to innocent mothers and fathers here.

Blessed Savior, help us to be your beloved in this broken world.

Lift us from this deep shroud of darkness we deeply feel

and raise us up from the salty brine and tangled seaweed

so we might breathe your new light and love right here.

Blessed Savior, help us to be your beloved in this broken world.

We are your beloved, reluctant, weary and terribly torn

you are our ground, our strength and our everything.

Blessed Savior, help us to be your beloved in this broken world.

Lead us from the darkness of our broken hearts

so that we might see your light shining within us.

Blessed Savior, help us to be your beloved in this broken world.

For you are thundering with joy as we say yes

and ready to lead us through to the light of joy again. 

Blessed Savior, help us to be your beloved in this broken world. Amen.