Category Archives: Church

Easter 3 B: Ambiguity and the Sense and Sensibility of Faith

Posted on April 12, 2021 by John

The Readings for the Third Sunday of Easter are: First Reading         Acts 3:12–19 Psalm                    Psalm 4 New Testament     1 John 3:1–7 Gospel                   Luke 24:36b–48 Ambiguity drives us to distraction. We want black and white answers to … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Faith, Featured, John's Posts, Pandemic Blog, Reflections on Sunday Readings | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Easter 2 B: Resurrection Oneness

Posted on April 7, 2021 by John

Readings for the Second Sunday of Easter are First Reading         Acts 4:32–35 Psalm                    Psalm 133 New Testament     1 John 1:1–2:2 Gospel                   John 20:19–31 Throughout all my years of ministry if I had a choice of things … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Featured, John's Posts, Pandemic Blog, Reflections on Sunday Readings, Social Political Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Epiphany 3 B: Trust Joe Biden; but Verify!

Posted on January 19, 2021 by John

I write and publish this blog on January 19, 2021. Tomorrow, Joe Biden will be inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States. Thanks be to God! Now, it is our job to trust but verify. We are moved … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Church and Social Movements, Featured, John's Posts, Pandemic Blog, Reflections on Sunday Readings, Social Political Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Epiphany 2 B: “I and We” and the Assault on the Capitol

Posted on January 14, 2021 by John

The Second Reading for this Sunday is 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 Those who stormed our nation’s Capitol on Epiphany, January 6, shouted many slogans: “This is our house!” “Stop the steal!” “Hang Mike Pence!” But they all can be boiled down … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Church and Social Movements, Featured, John's Posts, Pandemic Blog, Reflections on Sunday Readings, Social Political Issues, Spirituality | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Christmas 2 B: Recipe for a Pandemic New Year’s Eve Party

Posted on December 31, 2020 by John

I write this blog post on New Year’s Eve. Battle scarred by this year past you may be tempted to party like there’s no tomorrow. You may want to rip off your mask, hug a room full of strangers, drink … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Featured, John's Posts, Pandemic Blog, Reflections on Sunday Readings, Social Political Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Christmas 1B: Deliverance and Division

Posted on December 24, 2020 by John

The Gospel for the First Sunday After Christmas, or the Feast of the Holy Family, is Luke 2:22-40. Jesus’ parents devoutly bring him to the Temple precincts in Jerusalem to take part in the rituals that the Law of Moses … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Featured, Pandemic Blog, Prayer, Reflections on Sunday Readings, Social Political Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Christmas Eve B: On Them Light Has Shined

Posted on December 23, 2020 by John

The First Reading for Christmas Eve is Isaiah 9:2-7, which starts with this oracle: 2The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. Here … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Connie's Posts, Faith, Farm Diary, Featured, John's Posts, Pandemic Blog, Reflections on Sunday Readings | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Advent 1B Becoming the Answer

Posted on November 25, 2020 by John

Douglas Adams wrote hysterical science fiction, the humor of which sometimes hid gems of insights into the human condition. In his “Hitchhikers Guide to the Universe” series he told the story of how a society built a computer with a … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Church and Social Movements, Featured, John's Posts, Pandemic Blog, Reflections on Sunday Readings | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Christ the King A: Surprises for Evangelicals and for All of Us

Posted on November 17, 2020 by John

Gospel Reading: Matthew 25:31–46 The climax of the church’s year is Christ the King Sunday. Believers remind themselves of ultimate things. To understand our Gospel Lesson we must realize the more things change, the more they stay the same. A … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Church and Social Movements, Featured, John's Posts, Pandemic Blog, Reflections on Sunday Readings | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Online Bible Study

Posted on November 13, 2020 by John

John hosts a weekly online Bible study. We call it NIOBS, for Northern Illinois Online Bible Study, though it doesn’t matter where you are in the world–you can join us by writing John at heatherhopefarm@gmail.com and asking for an invitation … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Upcoming Events | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment