Tag Archives: racism

Starling Feathers

Posted on February 20, 2023 by John

On the tall maple tree on the south side of our house hangs several bird feeders. Every morning I stand at the window and watch the swarming. My eyes search for the downy woodpeckers, the chickadees, and the flashy male … Continue reading →

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Pentecost 17 C: Resolutely Watch for God’s Answer

Posted on September 28, 2022 by John

The readings for the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost are Old Testament & Psalm, Option I Old Testament      Lamentations 1:1–6 Psalm                    Lamentations 3:19–26 or Psalm 137 or Old Testament & Psalm, Option II Old Testament      Habakkuk 1:1–4, 2:1–4 … Continue reading →

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Pentecost 13 C: Beyond Anti-Racism, Beyond Woke

Posted on August 31, 2022 by John

The readings for the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost are Old Testament & Psalm, Option I Old Testament      Jeremiah 18:1–11 Psalm                    Psalm 139:1–6, 13–18 or Old Testament & Psalm, Option II Old Testament      Deuteronomy 30:15–20 Psalm                    Psalm … Continue reading →

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Advent 4C: Baby Jesus and the Revolution

Posted on December 14, 2021 by John

The readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent are Old Testament      Micah 5:2–5a Psalm                    Luke 1:46b–55 or Psalm 80:1–7 New Testament     Hebrews 10:5–10 Gospel                   Luke 1:39–45 (46–55) The only two places in the Bible that tell … Continue reading →

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Pentecost 7B: Repentance is Healthier than Denial

Posted on July 6, 2021 by John

The readings for the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost are: Old Testament      Amos 7:7–15 Psalm                    Psalm 85:8–13 New Testament     Ephesians 1:3–14 Gospel                   Mark 6:14–29 The Old Testament, Psalm, and Gospel Readings all tell us that repentance is … Continue reading →

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Admit It!

Posted on September 5, 2020 by John

You are sure, aren’t you? You know that America is cleansed of its racist past. Now that we have had a black President, and read Oprah’s magazine, we must be color blind. You’ve seen the playing field, and it is … Continue reading →

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Pentecost 11: Prejudice Defiles

Posted on August 11, 2020 by John

The Gospel Reading for this Sunday is Mathew 15:1-28   The plague we are fighting today is not simply Covid-19. It is prejudice—the prejudice that keeps us from listening to people’s cries—the prejudice that fills us with fear, anger and … Continue reading →

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Pentecost 5 Racist? Who me?

Posted on June 30, 2020 by John

The second reading for the Fifth Sunday of Pentecost is Romans 7.15-25a     When I hear people of color today cry out against systemic racism, I want to reply, “I’m not racist.” I want to object that this country … Continue reading →

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Pentecost, the Spirit, and the Murder of George Floyd

Posted on May 26, 2020 by John

This coming Sunday is Pentecost. One possible First Reading is Numbers 11.24-30 which relates the one-time, special, but official outpouring of the Spirit of God on a select group of elders of the Hebrew people. Two men, Eldad and Medad, … Continue reading →

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Advent People during Anxious Times

Posted on December 10, 2014 by John

I returned to the congregation I served as pastor for a dozen years and was refreshed by the community of Christ and a service of Lessons and Carols for Advent.   I was thirsty for Advent. I don’t buy into … Continue reading →

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