This morning I experienced one of those magical moments of the Christmas season. It was dark and still in my house, no one stirring yet, and I sat on my couch, wrapped in a blanket with mocha in hand, mesmerized by the white lights and...
I have been thinking a lot lately about giving and receiving. It is, obviously, the prime gift-giving season of the year, but I’m not referring to the presents I’m buying or making for family and friends. Instead, I’ve been reflecting on the relationship between giving,...
Last Sunday was the first Sunday in the season of Advent. Advent is pretty much a lost concept in our culture. For the church, it is a season of preparation and anticipation. We spend the weeks leading up to Christmas preparing for and anticipating the...
For the fruit of all creation, thanks be to God. For the gifts to every nation, thanks be to God. For the plowing, sowing, reaping, silent growth while we are sleeping, Future needs in earth’s safekeeping, thanks be to God. In the just reward of labor, God’s will be...
Advent at Calvary Presbyterian Sermon Series: Christmas Parade of Homes by Reverend M. Michelle Fincher First Sunday of Advent, November 29 Christmas Parade of Homes: Celebrating with Mark Second Sunday of Advent, December 6 Christmas Parade of Homes: By the Light of John Third Sunday of Advent, December 13 Service of Lessons...
This Sunday our sermon series on the Ten Commandments draws to a conclusion. We started this series on Labor Day weekend—doesn’t that seem like a long time ago? Now, two and a half months later, summer heat has been replaced by November chill. Leaves which...
Donald Grey Barnhouse was pastor of Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia for 33 years until his death in 1960. He had a vivid metaphor for describing how the Ten Commandments work: “The law of God is like a mirror. Now the purpose of a mirror is...
This coming Sunday is Stewardship Sunday at my church. One of my idiosyncrasies is that I LOVE stewardship season and especially Stewardship Sunday. Really, I get nearly giddy. Perhaps it is partly because right out of college I was a Certified Public Accountant for a...
This week our journey through the Ten Commandments brings us to number seven: “Thou shall not commit adultery.” It needs to be said that “thou shall not” does not leave us any wiggle room. God does not put into stone ten signs that say, “I’m advising...
“Thou shall not murder.” Of all the commandments this one, number six, is probably the one that causes the least amount of controversy. It’s succinct, straightforward, and people almost universally agree with it. At least, we agree with it on the surface, but as we’ve...