Transfiguration Sunday: Mark 9: 2-9 (and Psalm 50: 1-6) “Out of Zion, God Shines Forth” Feb. 19, 2012 I have always had an abiding interest in Scotland, and all things Celtic. Years ago I had the opportunity to visit Scotland. I loved everything about it, but was especially taken by the standing stones that appear [...]
Mark 1 40-45 Religion and Healing Series (part three): All our Grief to Bear Feb 12, 2012, Preached at Zion UCC Arendtsville PA For the last 3 weeks, our scripture passages have been about healing. In fact, we’re not even out of the first chapter of Mark yet, and we’ve been reading about one healing [...]
Mark 1 29-39 (Religion and Health series-part two) 2/5/2012 I have a friend who built a very successful business from which he is now retired. He’s written a book about his experience. One of the points he makes is that being frugal really gave him a competitive edge in business. He relates an interesting anecdote [...]
Mark 1:21-28, message preached on Jan. 29, 2012 at Zion UCC Arendtsville Jesus Speaks the Language of Health Gospel is a word we use a lot, and seldom think about. The word “gospel” can be loosely translated as good news. Wikipedia tells us that the word “Gospel” is derived from Anglo Saxon word “Gódspell” (ca [...]
John 1: 43-51 preached on Jan. 15, 2012 “A Very Short Script: Come and See” In this short and vivid narrative we are confronted with a fundamental truth. It is not enough to believe in Jesus, we must also follow him. And we are faced with another fundamental truth, namely, each disciple who follows Jesus [...]
Mark 1:4-11 Homily Preached at Zion UCC on 1/8/12 We turn the church year calendar to Epiphany. We call this season ordinary time, in the special language of the church year. Epiphany, and Pentecost, that long season of green on the altar, represent ordinary time because they do not contain the high holidays of Christmas [...]
This Christmas I received as a gift the book Organic Prayer by Nancy Roth. This intriguing book on contemplative prayer uses images such as gardening and soil preparation to talk about the spiritual life. The author portrays a form of prayer in which we cultivate the earth around us and the earth in turn cultivates [...]
Isaiah 40: 1-11 December 4, 2011 Preached by Pastor Kim Blocher at Zion UCC Arendtsville PA Comfort, O comfort, my people. In a world where Christmas has been in the stores since Halloween, this magnificent passage from Isaiah can seem like just more holiday background music. The words are so familiar. It’s so…well…comforting! Can it [...]
“Let There be Peace on Earth, and Let it Begin with Me” Several weeks ago we sang that great piece, “Let There be Peace on Earth, and Let it Begin with Me,” and I’ve been thinking about it ever since. We’re coming into the Advent and Christmas season when we will often sing, say, [...]
Matthew 25: 1-13 A Very Long Pregnancy November 6, 2011 Choices bring consequences. That would seem to be the moral of this unsettling parable. Ten bridesmaids each had available to them the same possibilities. All were patiently waiting for the bridegroom. All were dressed for the wedding. All got drowsy and fell asleep. All [...]