Readings: 1 Samuel 3: 3b-10, 19; 1 Corinthians 6: 13c-15a, 17-20; John: 1: 35-42 Preacher: Irene Goodwin Christmas is over, the trees have been taken down, lights turned off, and the kids are back to school. Back to the ordinary. In church we are also entering Ordinary Time. As we go through Ordinary Time, we find that it really is not… read more →
Readings: 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12; Romans 8:28-30; Matthew 13:44-52 Preacher: Irene Goodwin When some of us were young our religious training mainly consisted of memorizing answers to questions. One of the questions asked was: “Where is God?” Our answer was, “God is everywhere.” To a young seven-year-old this was quite an intimidating image. A God-like figure hovering about watching all we… read more →
Readings: Genesis 12:1-4; 2 Timothy 1:8b-10; Matthew 17:1-9 Preacher: Irene Goodwin It is the Second Sunday in Lent. Last week we heard how the spirit led Jesus to the desert where he was tempted. If we followed the Gospel, we would have heard how Jesus began to gather disciples. Instead, today we hear the beautiful story of the Transfiguration. We may… read more →
Readings: Isaiah 9:1-6; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14 Preacher: Irene Goodwin The Angels sing, “Peace on earth, good will to all on whom God’s favor rests.” Our Christmas readings are so well known that we hardly consider their impact on our lives. I see the readings for Christmas like a Matryoshka doll (Russian Nesting Doll). Each doll is split in the middle.… read more →
Readings: Habakkuk 1:2-3,2:2-4; 2 Timothy 1:6-8; Luke 17:5-10 Preacher: Irene Goodwin “How long God? I cry for help but you do not listen.” Have you ever felt that? The prophet Habakkuk wrote this sometime in the late seventh to early fifth century BCE. As so many times in history there was turmoil both in Israeli and the world. Yet as bad… read more →
Readings: Acts 14:21-27, Revelations. 21:1-5a, John. 13:31-33a, 34-35Click here to download a PDF of this homily.Preacher: Irene Goodwin We have only several weeks left to the Easter Season. We have celebrated the resurrection of Jesus and have heard the appearance stories. Now the lectionary transports us back to the Farewell Meal. Why? Jesus gathered with his close friends, those who… read more →
Readings: Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6; Matthew 2:1-12 Preacher: Irene Goodwin We have been told that the Magi were of a priestly caste, people of above human intelligence, astrologers or kings. Why would these gentile foreigners journey to find a new King of the Jews? We read that a star in the sky told them something new and important was happening.… read more →
Readings: Job 38:1, 8-11; 2 Corinthians 5:14-17; Mark 4:35-41Click here to download a PDF of this homily.Preacher: Irene Goodwin There is a folk tale about a snake who was on the way to an important conference. The snake came upon a very wide, deep crevice. The snake wondered how he would get to the other side. He noticed a bird… read more →
Readings: Isaiah 25:6-10; Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20; Matthew 11:1-14Click here to download a PDF of this homily.Preacher: Irene Goodwin Mask required! This may be one of the few clothing restrictions we hear of today. Very rarely do we even hear that a tie and coat are required. Occasionally, in a beach town you will read shirt and shoes required. People attend… read more →
Readings: Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18; Luke 18:9-14Click here to download a PDF of this homily. Preacher: Irene Goodwin At the British surrender at Yorktown a drinking song was sung by the soldiers. The words were: “The world turned upside down, the world turned upside down.” Today, we consider the American Revolution as a turning point for the… read more →