Celebrations are an essential part of being human. We seem to have an innate need to mark pivotal events or moments in our lives. So, we celebrate anniversaries, graduations and birthdays. We erect monuments and memorials. We wear wedding rings. This week, of course, we...
One step outside reminds us that summer is here, and we are graced with opportunities to live life in a different rhythm. If you have little ones, you already know that you are living by a different “clock.” I remember being a little shell-shocked during...
Worship is a funny thing. I spend a lot of my time—meaning, I spend a lot of my life—thinking about, praying about, planning, and executing worship for my church. Along with our church musicians, who are an absolute gift, not to mention a joy to...
Did you ever run away as a kid? How far did you get before a parent or neighbor or sibling discovered your hiding place, or your cache of peanut butter sandwiches and cookies ran out and hunger drove you back to your mother’s well-stocked pantry? ...
There is so, so much that preachers are not taught in seminary. Don’t get me wrong—I loved my seminary experience and I learned a ton—about theology and scripture, preaching and worship, pastoral care and the sacraments. I use my theological education every day, and I...
On Sunday I will begin a new sermon series on the book of Exodus. Exodus tells the story of Moses who is to the Hebrew scriptures (the Old Testament) what Jesus is to the New Testament: the dominating figure, the man whose story must be...
Forty is an important number in the Bible. In the story of Noah, it rained for 40 days and 40 nights. Moses led the Israelites through the wilderness for 40 years. Jesus spent 40 days in the desert being tested and later, he appeared to...
Have you ever had a day that goes nothing at all like you planned? Not a single thing that you thought you were going to accomplish gets done. At bedtime, your “to do” list looks exactly like it did at breakfast. That’s the kind of...
This Sunday is Mother’s Day. I doubt it could have slipped your mind, as the greeting card companies and florists spend a lot of advertising dollars making sure we don’t forget it. But, just in case, consider yourself duly notified. There are a lot of reasons...
As is our custom, the Sunday after Easter is Be the Kingdom Sunday at Calvary. The entire church gathers for worship at the normal time and place, but then disperses in groups to serve our community. We worship that day by being the church, being...