Tag Archives: God’s will

Believe it or not!

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Proper 8A, 2 July 2023. The Very Rev. Pamela L. Werntz

  • Genesis 22:1-14. The Lord will provide.
  • Romans 6:12-23. Present your members to God as instruments of righteousness.
  • Matthew 10:40-42. And whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.

O God of love, grant us the wisdom, the strength, and the courage to seek always and everywhere after truth, come when it may, and cost what it will.

Our Gospel passage from Matthew is from the conclusion of Jesus’ instructions to his disciples, made apostles (by being sent out). It’s about welcome, about radical hospitality, that is, Biblical hospitality, Torah hospitality. Jesus’ message in Matthew is that impressive religious experiences like exorcisms and miracles are great but, “What counts [more than anything] is the cup of cold water given to a thirsty person,” especially a thirsty person who has no privilege or power to demand it. [1] Jesus was sending folks out to spread the news of God’s love and assuring them that when people welcome them, they are welcoming Jesus, which means that they are welcoming the Holy One. I would love to preach a sermon about welcome this morning. Continue reading →

Depth Perception

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Lent 4A, 19 March 2023. The Very Rev. Pamela L. Werntz

  • 1 Samuel 16:1-13. The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul?”
  • Ephesians 5:8-14.Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.
  • John 9:1-13, 28-38.  So that God’s works might be revealed in him, we must work the works of [the One] who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work.

O God of Love, grant us the strength, the wisdom, and the courage to seek always and everywhere after truth, come when it may, and cost what it will.

Today’s lessons hold special power for me; they were the appointed readings for a pivotal moment in seminary, when I was learning to grapple with difficult Biblical texts (as it turns out, most Biblical texts are difficult if we’re taking them seriously). They were the appointed readings for my first Sunday as your priest, 15 years ago, when I asked our head usher Steve Babcock to pass out red pencils with the bulletins. I’ll get back to that in a moment. Then three years ago, these were the readings on the first Sunday of the pandemic shutdown, when my wife Joy live-streamed the service on Facebook using her phone. And here they are again, in this strange time being called post-pandemic, but certainly not post-COVID. Continue reading →

Intervening to Stop Violence

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Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 8A, June 25, 2017; The Rev. Pamela L. Werntz

Genesis 22:1-14. Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him.
Romans 6:12-23. Present your members to God as instruments of righteousness.
Matthew 10:40-42. And whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones.

O God of Love, grant us the wisdom, the strength and the courage to seek always and everywhere after truth, come when it may, and cost what it will.

Beginning last Sunday, and all through the week, so many people asked me, “what are you doing with The Binding of Isaac?” Seriously.  In emails, in person, on the phone.  And my response has been, “I don’t know! What are YOU doing with The Binding of Isaac?” Oy. So today I’m to start my sermon with a poem – it’s from David Whyte – called “Sometimes.” [1]
Continue reading →