Towson, MD
April 7, 2019
Spring is a very hungry, lean time. As the first flowers start to push through the soil, as blooms start to break out of the seemingly dead trees, as the birds start to show back up, excited, there is so much activity in the spring. But as many of you who try to eat […]
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March 31, 2019
“In her book Men in Dark Times, Hannah Arendt recounts a story in which Pope John XXIII asked one of the Vatican gardeners, “How are things going?” The worker replied, “Badly, badly, Your Eminence,” telling Pope John what he earned and how many family members he had to support. “We’ll have to do something about […]
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March 24, 2019
Last Friday night I walked into a mosque for the second time in my life, and I was scared. My first time in a mosque was in college- I was taking an Islamic Studies class and we attended morning prayers with our professor as part of an immersive experience. I don’t remember much about […]
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March 17, 2019
For me, puberty began in earnest in 1969. Okay, admit it: If a prize was given for the most unexpected sermon opening line, I would be a strong contender for grand prize – don’t you all agree? Anyway, believe it or not, that puberty reference really is a more than appropriate beginning to this morning’s […]
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March 10, 2019
“When you find yourself lost, go back to the last place you knew where you were, what you were doing, and start from there.” It’s advice that has echoed through my mind for years since the first time I heard it. It’s a quote from the book “Blood Done Signed my Name,” by Timothy B. […]
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March 3, 2019
After our welcome signs were the target of a hate crime, motivated by anti-LGBTQ+, Anti-Muslim, and Anti-Immigrant bias, we, as a community, faced a choice; We could quietly take down our signs, maybe replace them, and keep our heads down, or we could engage with our wider community and push for us to be a […]
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February 24, 2019
If ever there was a passage of scripture that sums up the legacy and lessons, the witness to the Life of Dr. Cecile De Sweemer, it is our reading from today. Cecile pushed for justice, through prayer and action, on behalf, not just for herself, but those who needed a passionate advocate. I heard over […]
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February 17, 2019
A few Wednesday’s ago, our Faith of Your Own Book Study topic was the images and understandings of Jesus in Scripture, throughout Church History, and a handful of contemporary theologies. It was the majority of my seminary and religious education distilled into one hour long lecture. After I finished, the room responded with various interpretations […]
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February 10, 2019
“What if we read scripture like a love letter from God?” I was on the Oregon Coast with my pastor and Mentor Rev. Dr. Ken Evers-Hood. We were gathered around a drift wood fire with the high school youth group of the church that raised me. I had been hired to help lead our confirmation […]
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February 3, 2019
It was my first funeral as a Student Pastor, serving with Pastor Beth in South Brunswick, New Jersey. As was her practice, we gathered that cold morning to go over the order of service in her office. Soon, it was time to put on our stoles. Pastoral Stoles are an interesting wardrobe accessory; they come […]
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