Dear friends, What an inspiring Lent and Easter! I am so grateful for the profound sharing in our Lenten Devotional and for the opportunity to travel together through this season. I loved sharing in a post-parade Palm Sunday communion service with our siblings from El Toque del Maestro; it reminds me of what communion is […]
Raised–April 9, 2023–Easter
Jeremiah 31:1-6; Matthew 28:1-10 Rev. Dr. Deborah L. Clark April 9, 2023 “You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains. You raise me up to walk on stormy seas. I am strong when I am on your shoulders; you raise me up to more than I can be.” Throughout Lent, we […]
The Journey Becomes a Parade–April 2, 2023
Matthew 21:1-11 Rev. Dr. Deborah L. Clark April 2, 2023 Calling a special congregational meeting felt like the right thing to do. This was such a big decision—life-changing, church-changing, world-changing. We needed everyone on board. It was less than two months ago that Jesus invited us to travel together, with him, toward […]
On the Way–March 19, 2023
Matthew 25:31-40 Rev. Dr. Deborah L. Clark March 19, 2023 “He’s poor, he’s old, he’s only in the way.” This quirky, old-timey song caught George Marcincavage’s ear back in January, as we gathered to plan music for Lent. He made a connection between the legendary bluegrass musician Charlie Poole’s words and the words of […]
Only with Prayer–March 12, 2023
Mark 9:14-29 Rev. Dr. Debbie Clark March 12, 2023 Thank you, Willie and Laura, for sharing your powerful stories of healing. Thank you, choir, for lifting up the image of God’s healing as a river. The stories and the music draw me into our gospel text in a new way, inviting me to […]
“Guest and Host”–March 5, 2023
Luke 19:1-10 Rev. Dr. Deborah L. Clark March 5, 2023 “Chai kavu, tafadhali?” I asked with great hesitation in my voice. “May I please have strong tea?” In Nairobi that was how I had learned to ask for tea with no milk and no sugar. I had also learned it was […]
Traveling without an umbrella–Feb. 26, 2023
John 15:12-17 Rev. Dr. Deborah L. Clark February 26, 2023 “Shower the people you love with love. Show them the way you feel. Things are gonna be just fine if you only will.” What a beautiful song, composed by a beautiful artist, James Taylor, offered today by our own beautiful musicians. Thank […]
A Prison Conversion–January 15, 2023
Matthew 3:1-17, Matthew 11:1-6 Rev. Dr. Deborah L. Clark January 15, 2023 I don’t know how much longer I will be here—in this prison cell. I’m pretty sure it will be for the rest of my life; that might not be very long. Herod wants to make an example of someone. You’ve […]
Walking with Sheep–Dec. 11, 2022
“Walking with Sheep” Luke 2:8-15 Rev. Dr. Deborah L. Clark December 11, 2022 Have you ever tried walking with sheep? Not just meandering from grassy knoll to grassy knoll, but actually trying to get somewhere? I hadn’t either, not until that night. Let me tell you, it is slow going. I’ll […]
From Fear to Awe
Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38 Rev. Dr. Deborah L. Clark December 4, 2022 It’s 7:30 pm. Jeopardy time. Fran and I settle into the couch, eager to learn the categories—smiling at some, groaning at others. Fran is enthusiastic about history; I’m always pleased when there’s a bible category. In all our years of watching […]