Readings: Exodus 19: 2-6a; Romans 5: 6-11; Matthew 9: 36-10: 8 Preacher: Gloria Ulterino Well, folks, we’re back in “Ordinary Time,” according to the Church year. Left behind are the Easter season’s celebrations of Christ’s Passion, death, and Resurrection. And yet, God persists in being very much with us! Indeed, God’s inexpressible, profound love lives on in us at this very… read more →
Readings: Deuteronomy 8:2-3 14b-16a; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; John 6:51-58 Preacher: Deirdre McKiernan Hetzler “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” Whoa! Jesus’ words must have been very provocative for his hearers. The thought of… read more →
Readings: Exodus 34: 4b-6, 8-9; 2 Corinthians 13: 11-13; John 13:16-18 Preacher: Cathy Glisson Just last week we celebrated Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit to live in and among us. As Ordinary Time returns, we transition with several very important solemnities, starting this Sunday with the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. The three readings for this Sunday… read more →
Readings: Acts 2: 1-11; 1 Corinthians 12: 3b-7, 12-13; John 20: 19-23 Preacher: Irene Goodwin This week I talked with a young man from Puerto Rico. He shared with me how difficult life had become after Hurricane Maria and the decision to come to the United States. The wind had caused the complete destruction of his home and community. Wind can… read more →
Readings: Acts 1: 1-11; Ephesians 1: 17-23; Matthew 28: 16-20 Preacher: Sonja Livingston When I was twenty years old, I was arrested for protesting the Gulf War. I’d attended local and national demonstrations and eventually joined a group that sat in at Senator D’Amato’s office in the Federal Building. I was on fire with righteousness in those days, and if I’m… read more →
Readings: Acts 8: 5-8, 14-17; 1 Peter 3: 15-18; John 14: 15-21 Preacher: Ruth Marchetti “My.” It’s such a small word. John’s gospel tells us that Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Notice that Jesus doesn’t say keep the commandments, he says keep my commandments. What’s the difference? Jesus was an observant Jew who honored the… read more →
Readings: Acts 6: 1-7; 1 Peter 2: 4-9; John 14: 1=12 Preacher: Susan Howard As one who has listened to the call of the Shepherd, responded with my whole heart, pursued an active ministry, earned a Masters in Divinity, and practiced 15 years of professional ministry, this week’s passage from Acts 6:1-7 regarding the creation of the Diaconate raises many questions.… read more →
Readings: Acts 2: 14a, 36-41; 1 Peter 2: 20b-25; John 10: 1-10 Preacher: Nancy DeRycke I have always treasured Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel, “I have come that you may have life and have it more abundantly.” But to be honest, this year personally has been a real challenge to those words for me. When my husband Ron fell and hit… read more →
Readings: Acts 2: 14, 22-23; 1 Peter 1: 17-21; Luke 24: 13-35 Preacher: Sr. Joan Sobala Later that night, Jesus would meet the Eleven in the Upper Room. But earlier, he found Cleophas and his companion on the road west out of Jerusalem toward Emmaus. There is every reason to think that his companion was Mary, his wife. She was, after all, one of the women cited as being at the cross of Jesus. (John… read more →
Readings: Acts 2: 42-47; 1 Peter 1: 3-9; John 20: 19-31 Preacher: Gloria Ulterino As I look out my office window, it’s snowing! In April! Here in the Rochester, NY area! While skiers may be happy, I am not! No! I’m eager for spring, for warm weather, flowers, and all that new life can offer, right here and right now. What,… read more →