Occasionally, Sunday mornings at our congregation approach transcendence—as in “beyond here-and-now,” or “burrowing into our souls.” This past Sunday was one of those times. The texts for Pentecost 26 (Cycle C) matched the parable of Lazarus—a rebuke of clueless wealthy folks—with Amos’s condemnation of those whose lifestyle rendered them blind to the plight of people who are poor. That familiarMORE...
Saints’ and angels’ delight
I really like going to church on Sundays. That hasn’t always been true all of my life, but right now Sunday morning worship is one of the high points of any week. This past Sunday, one of the prayers for the day included the phrase, “Whom saints and angels delight to worship.” Referring to God, of course. The word “delight” struck me as important, an idea that I had not considered all thatMORE...
What will happen to worship?
(This entry is part of an ongoing collection of blogs that examine the future of congregations post-COVID19. Each entry forms itself around a question looking for clarity or even answers.) Because of COVID19 cautions in our congregations, the theologies and practices of worship may have changed in substantial ways. To limit exposure to this harmful virus, we’ve shortened liturgies, suspendedMORE...