“One Egg at a Time” Isaiah 65:17-25, Luke 24:1-12 Rev. Dr. Deborah L. Clark April 17, 2022 Christ is risen! The tomb is empty! The cross is flowering! Hope is alive! Love is more powerful than hatred and greed, fear and even death! I love that we make bold proclamations on Easter, […]
More Beautiful than Rose
“More Beautiful than Rose” Mark 1:9-11 Rev. Dr. Deborah L. Clark April 3, 2022 A wash cloth. A watering can. A water bottle. An eye dropper. A snorkel mask. In my favorite children’s message about baptism, I use these objects to introduce our young people to the many layers of meaning behind […]
Worship April
In April, we continue our Lenten theme, “Out of the Waters…” and we celebrate Easter! Join us in person and on Zoom on Sunday mornings. Sunday, April 3 at 10:00amReaffirmation of Baptism and Holy CommunionMark 1:9-11, “More Beautiful than Rose,” Rev. Dr. Debbie Clark preachingUsing water that has melted from our “wave” ice sculpture, we will […]
Transformation for All
Dear friends, On the first Sunday in Lent, we welcomed ice sculptor Don Chappelle. As we reflected on water imagery in the creation story, he created an ocean wave from a giant chunk of ice. Each Sunday since then, we have taken part of that sculpture out of the freezer and watched it slowly transform […]
Everflowing Streams
John 4:1-15; Amos 5:21-24 Rev. Dr. Deborah L. Clark March 27, 2022 Jesus is a poet—a creative genius whose vivid imagery challenges us to think and feel more deeply. Throughout the gospel of John he uses metaphors to awaken people around him to a new experience of the holy. Almost always, Jesus’ metaphors lead to […]
The Grace Cycle
Isaiah 55:10-11; Isaiah 58:9-11 Rev. Dr. Deborah L. Clark March 13, 2022 This week I learned about hydrology—the study of the origin, distribution and properties of water on our planet. It is an interdisciplinary science, drawing on meteorology, climatology, geology, biology, ecology, and forestry. I found myself wishing I had paid more attention […]
Out of the Waters
Dear friends, Rain…snow…ocean waves…flowing brooks…still waters…a refreshing drink…. Water is at the center of our lives. We are made up of water. We depend on water. It is no surprise that many of the stories of our faith are about water. This year, our Lenten theme draws upon the centrality of water to our lives […]
“Down Here”
“Down Here” Luke 9:28-43a Selections from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. speech in Memphis, Tennessee, April 3, 1968. (See text at bottom of post) Rev. Dr. Deborah L. Clark February 27, 2022 “You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you?” Such harsh words from […]
Praying for the people of Ukraine
Dear friends, Last night and today, I have watched news of the invasion of Ukraine with horror and terror. I am horrified for the people of Ukraine. I cannot imagine what it would be like to wake up to the sound of bombs. I cannot imagine what it would take to stand firm […]
Happy Anniversaries!
Dear friends, 2022 is a year of anniversaries! Five years ago, on January 1, 2017, Edwards and Grace Churches officially became one congregation. Five years later, we have so much to celebrate. We are stronger together. We bring the riches and gifts of two communities—musical talents, passion for justice, deep friendships, love for God’s creation, […]