by the Reverend Nancy Emmel Gunn Pastor Nancy preached this sermon on July 3, 2022. I missed you all last week. But I had a wonderful break. The sun and sky and water are very restorative. Of course, I heard about the Supreme Court’s decision last Friday overturning Roe v. Wade. But I waited until I got home to read the opinion. And as expected, it was troubling. In this first year as your new priest, I have avoided preaching about political matters. That is, in my view as it should be. Unless and until something comes up that causes us to question our government, our society, our way of life in view of Christ’s teaching. Jesus called out political leaders and institutions, but often did so in parables, perhaps to avoid charges of sedition. Of course, I am not gifted in this type of rhetoric, so I will make plain my concerns.
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The Vestry approved the minutes of its May meeting at its June meeting. They're available at the link below:
The vestry approved the minutes for it April meeting. You can download a copy of them at the link below.
The Vestry has approved the minutes for its March, 2022, meeting. They're available at the link below.
by the Reverend Nancy Emmel Gunn Our Gospel today is a story of deep friendship and imminent loss. I love the Mary, Martha and Lazarus stories. It is clear from these passages that Jesus shared an intimate bond with this family. And in this one, Mary, the sister with her head in the clouds, offers Jesus a physical sign of her affection and a warning of things to come.
by the Reverend Nancy Emmel Gunn Editor's note: Nope, you're not seeing things! We thought the text for Pastor Nancy's sermon had gotten lost in the transfer to a new computer, but she found it. How appropriate: it was lost, and then found... We find ourselves this Fourth Sunday of Lent in another parable, the story of the prodigal son. This is the longest and the most well-known of Jesus’ parables. We know this story. But how we interpret it, depends on which side of the fence you are on: the side of the goody two-shoes son, or the bad boy. Some of us are a little of both.
Members of St. John's rolled up their sleeves this weekend to get the buildings and ground ready for Easter. Couldn't make it? We've got pictures... Thanks to everyone that took some time out of their Saturday!
By the Reverend Nancy Emmel Gunn If you are like me, you read and heard today’s Gospel and responded, Huh? What is the message here? That we should all repent or else we die? That fig trees should be given three years max to flourish and then away with them? This passage is rich with visual imagery and meaning but you’ve got to dig: God loves us all, good and bad. God will tend to us, and we will flourish under his care.
The Vestry approved the minutes for its January and February, 2022 meetings. Those minutes are available at the link below.
by the Reverend David Malek Oh Divine, most mighty, most merciful, our sacred stories tell us that you help and save your people. You are the fortress: may there be no more war. You are the harvest: may there be no more hunger. You are the light: may no one die alone or in despair. Oh Divine, most majestic, most motherly, grant us your life. Amen. That prayer is an interfaith call to peace for Ukraine as published by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. I thought it was an appropriate way to begin my sermon today. You see, as I prayed about what to preach this morning, I became aware of how much over the past few weeks I have been feeling increasingly anxious and afraid about so much violence, illness, and loss associated with the pandemic and now the war in Ukraine.
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Editorial contactVarious members of the St. John's congregation contribute to this blog. For editorial suggestions, contact Jeff McIntire-Strasburg at jeff.strasburg1968@gmail.com Archives
March 2024
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