God,  Light My Pathway, and My Mirror “The light shines, and the darkness does not overcome it.” In 2018 Americans spent $16.5 billion on cosmetic surgery. That is a lot of money to look better and feel better about ourselves. Please don’t misunderstand, I’m not saying plastic surgery is wrong. If I had more money, I’d look better than I do now! But the statistic does point to something greater than money and vanity… identity. Dr. Maxwell Maltz was once one of the premier cosmetic surgeons in the United…

Listening with Love, Acting in Mercy Sermon Notes: I feel for Joseph. Not only because he’s often overlooked, but in some ways I understand what it’s like to be Joseph. In 1994 I found a new level of solidarity with Joseph. The children’s director concluded that the pastor’s grandson didn’t need a “speaking” role in that year’s Christmas play. Partly because I was twelve years old, and partly because they dared not risk the potential train wreck of an ill-conceived improvisation.   They decided I would play the role of Joseph. I huffed…

The Third Sunday of Advent: Preparing for 2020 John, Jesus, and Joy: Listening to the right prophet.  I do not wear pink very often (unless I lose a bet, like today…). But, there is one service in the church year where the priest can wear pink vestments.  Rose Sunday, or the Sunday of Joy… Today. I didn’t want to wear pink, so I decided I needed to tactfully “inquire” and see if pink was the tradition.  I asked Kathy Lopez, “Is pink customary for Rose Sunday? I haven’t noticed rose colored…

Preparing for 2020: Taking Out the Trash Last week we leaned into the hope and the anticipation of Advent. The first candle represented hope. Today Advent continues with the longing for peace. Peace… We heard it in the readings from Isaiah, the Psalms, and Romans. Isaiah said, “When the Messiah arrives, he will lead us into peace through love, justice, and righteousness. The Psalm said the coming King would crush the oppressors so the poor would live in peace. The epistle reading even paraphrased Isaiah. Paul said, “Jesus can change the hearts of all people who choose peace…

Preparing for 2020: Living in Hope 1967. The Doors. The lyrics? “Come on baby, light my fire, Try to… set the night… on fire.” I will begin something today that I’ve never done before, in addition to quoting the Doors in a sermon. For Advent, I’m going to preach a sermon series. This congregation has taught me a liberating lesson, it’s okay for priests to be themselves. So, I will listen to my heart this Advent season. The next four Sundays I’m going to preach on the theme of Preparing for 2020.&nbsp…

Following Christ, the Merciful King. They said, “We can’t have him corrupting all these innocent people, so let’s kill him.” Then they arrested him, and they crucified him. That is the reading for the celebration of Christ the King.  The church year seems to culminate with death, instead of the light and hope of Easter. Most good music steadily builds towards a crescendo. Yet the church year does not end with Easter, Pentecost, or the eschaton. It ends with darkness covering the land and Jesus dying the death of a criminal.   I would have…