Pondering – Mother Nancy's Coffee Thoughts

As We are Created

A Sunday reflection for Trinity Sunday. The lectionary readings are here. In my parish, we are reading through the Bible in a year using the reading plan from BibleProject (please, check out their videos, blog, and podcast!). We’ve talked about how our human desire for power and control is the same now as it wasContinue reading “As We are Created”

A Better Question

It’s been awhile since we sat together with a cup of coffee. Can I start us off today with a story? At one of the parish’s I’ve served that had a school, I would go and read to the preschool classes each week. This particular day I was in the three year-old-room and we wereContinue reading “A Better Question”

Love is.

As I have been carefully crafting the outline for what I plan to do with this blog, the very thing that prompted me to start it continues: violent events cutting short the lives of God’s beloved children. People doing their shopping shot by a man whose only motive is hate. Children shot by a manContinue reading “Love is.”

It’s been a while …

It feels like forever since I posted something and in fact it has been a couple of months since I wrote anything beyond my sermon or a Sunday reflection for the weeks I’m not preaching and I haven’t even posted my sermons for the past few weeks. I’m not sure of the reason, except perhapsContinue reading “It’s been a while …”

Grace

A Sunday Reflection for Palm Sunday.The lectionary readings for Palm Sunday are here. This day used to be only Palm Sunday, a celebration of Jesus’ Triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The crowds shout Hosanna and lay palms their coats on the ground before him as they would someone of high official rank and authority. For us,Continue reading “Grace”

War Prayers and Baby Voices

A reflection for Ash Wednesday. This past Sunday, after serving communion and before we wrapped up our worship time, Fr. David prayed a prayer for a time of war. Our parish, as do so many I’m sure, has a personal connection to Ukraine with one of our folks having hosted an exchange student from UkraineContinue reading “War Prayers and Baby Voices”

A Do-Over

A Sunday reflection for the fourth Sunday after the Epiphany.The Lectionary readings are here. We begin this week where we left off last week: with Jesus, having just read from the prophet Isaiah, boldly proclaiming that the prophet’s words have been fulfilled. He is claiming that he’s the one whom God has sent to “preachContinue reading “A Do-Over”

Filled with the Spirit

A Sunday reflection for the third Sunday after the Epiphany.The Lectionary readings for today are here. In his telling of the good news story, Luke tells us that after Jesus’ baptism he is ‘full of the Holy Spirit’ and that being led by the Spirit, Jesus goes into the wilderness to face the temptation ofContinue reading “Filled with the Spirit”

Remembering

When we want to respond in anger, we have the choice to be kind. When we want to respond in hate, we have the choice to be compassionate. When we want to respond violently, we have the choice to love. We can choose to see competitors or beloved children of God walking this amazing journey as our companions. We can with God’s help make it on earth as it is in heaven. Together, let’s choose wisely.

Water & Wine

A Reflection for the second Sunday after the Epiphany.The lectionary readings for today are here. Throughout John’s telling of the good news of God, he uses the word ‘signs’ to label the miraculous things Jesus does. A sign is not the thing itself but points us to what we are looking for. Think of roadContinue reading “Water & Wine”