God Seeks Us
8 In God is my safety and my honor; * God is my strong rock and my refuge. 9 Put your trust in him always, O people, * pour out your hearts before him, for God is our refuge. (Psalm 62) On this third Sunday after the Epiphany, as we are invited to reflect on […]
To see as Jesus sees
1 Lord, you have searched me out and known me; * you know my sitting down and my rising up; you discern my thoughts from afar. 2 You trace my journeys and my resting-places * and are acquainted with all my ways. 3 Indeed, there is not a word on my lips, * but you, O Lord, […]
God is everywhere
Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. (Isaiah 60:1) A father was home with his children one afternoon. He was reclining on the couch, half sleeping, half watching a football game, when his children came into the room. “Dad, we have a play to put on? Do […]
Greetings favored one
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: * the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. One of the blessings of this time of […]
Just Between Us, Good News!
A sermon preached by Lee Cheek, Licensed Lay Preacher Grace Episcopal Church, Great Barrington, MA, @Crissey Farm Advent 2A, […]
O That You Would Tear Open the Heavens and Come Down
In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, * stir up your strength and come to help us. Restore us, O God of hosts; * show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved. (Isaiah 64:1-3) On Friday, 12 Christians entered the Hart Senate Building in Washington DC. Armed with clergy stoles, symbolizing […]
Taking Risks for the Sake of the Gospel
He was getting ready for this third birthday party. He had watched with excitement the frosting being put on the birthday cake. He had greeted each person as they arrived with a toothy grin and a big hug. But he had not yet seen the pile of birthday presents accumulating from his grandparents and parents […]
Blessed are you
Taste and see that the Lord is good; * happy are they who trust in him! (Psalm 34:8) I have fallen hard for a TV show called This is Us. I love the characters that consist of two parents, three children, and a growing assortment of spouses and grandchildren. They are taking me deeply, but gently, into […]
What belongs to God?
“O mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity; * you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.” (Psalm 99:4) Standing on the steps of the downtown Amherst church he now calls home, Lucio Perez on Thursday afternoon asked the community to provide him strength as he continues to face the possibility that he […]
Christ has made us his own
For us he prayed; for us he taught; for us his daily works he wrought; by words and signs and actions thus still seeking not himself but us. (O love, how deep, how broad how high Hymnal 448) In his book, The Road to Character[1], New York Times columnist, David Brooks begins by asking […]