Luke 9:51-62

Let the dead bury the dead, and let’s start making room for the living. Everything depends on plowing a furrow ahead, getting ready for the Spirit’s seeds of hope, and anticipating a harvest that our children and grandchildren will reap.

Luke 18:1-8 and 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Today, we hear a parable about a widow who was willing to die on a hill. She sought justice, constantly, persistently, even foolishly, and made her whole life into a song of protest. She made her whole life into prayer – in her words and her deeds. Sometimes, it turns out, there are hills we should die on, where God asks us to make our lives into a prayer—and song—of protest.

Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-25

“The man who tried to be a superhero has come to realize that he’s not a superhero. Worse yet, Moses made himself a martyr by his own hand — trying to be so faithful, so righteous, so perfect, that he inadvertently destroys himself and his neighbors."

Mark 4:35-41 and Romans 4:13, 18-25

Life is fragile. Even when it feels so settled, so unshakeable, so predictable. We’re always in that boat on the Sea of Galilee, waves undulating beneath us, sails blowing about in some fashion.

Philippians 2:1-13

This moral pattern of humility is where the mission and ministry of Christ Jesus is made incarnate. It is not found in political influence, large voices, and big sticks, but Christ is incarnate in our frailty, relentless giving, and quiet, persistent service.

Psalm 78:1-7

The same love of God and fellowship of the Holy Spirit that was in this church one hundred years ago is still here, beckoning us to action. And we are writing our life together as one great liturgy that spans across seasons and pastors and hurts and traumas and arguments.