churchladyla

“Man Oh Man Do We Need Some Love!”

Luke 1:46b-55 December 24, 2023 – 4th Sunday of Advent No math is necessary this morning. We can just say it: when we wake up tomorrow morning, it will be Christmas. Ready or not. I don’t even think another deep breath will help at this point. So let’s jump in! As has been noted, todayContinue reading ““Man Oh Man Do We Need Some Love!””

“Man Oh Man Do We Need Some Joy!”

Psalm 126 December 17, 2023 – 3rd Sunday of Advent Last Sunday I observed that there were only 15 days until Christmas. I’m still no mathematician–although, believe it or not, I was a Math major in college!! Well, until I wasn’t. I ended up graduating with a degree in Spanish, but I was a MathContinue reading ““Man Oh Man Do We Need Some Joy!””

“Man Oh Man Do We Need Some Peace!”

Psalm 85 December 10, 2023 – 2nd Sunday of Advent Last Sunday I observed that there were only 22 days until Christmas. Now, I’m no mathematician, but I do know that that means that today, one week later, there are only 15 days until Christmas. Which–in case anyone needs me to point it out–means onlyContinue reading ““Man Oh Man Do We Need Some Peace!””

“Man Oh Man, Do We Need Some Hope!”

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 December 3, 2023 – 1st Sunday of Advent “Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.” (Psalm 80:3) Ready or not, Christmas is coming. With today being the first Sunday of Advent, the Christmas-countdown has begun. 22 days from now, we will wake up and it willContinue reading ““Man Oh Man, Do We Need Some Hope!””

“How Do We Live Our Lives?”

Matthew 25:31-46 November 26, 2023 “Lord, when was it that we saw you…?” (Matthew 25:37, 44, NRSVUE) I’m going to start with a confession. Years ago–and this is not it! This is just an aside!–I used to like to start my sermons with a funny story, as much as possible a funny story from myContinue reading ““How Do We Live Our Lives?””

“Dedication Sunday: Hop To It!”

Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7 November 12, 2023 – Dedication Sunday Seven years ago, in October of 2016, I preached a sermon at The United Church (of Los Alamos) called “Babylon & Chronic Fatigue: Living in Exile,” in which I drew some parallels between my experience of living with chronic fatigue for, at that point, just overContinue reading ““Dedication Sunday: Hop To It!””

“The Blessed-Are’s…”

Matthew 5:1-12 November 5, 2023 – All Saints Sunday – WRPC So, first things first. Last week, as I began to reflect on these things that we call “The Beatitudes,” it occurred to me that I didn’t really know what that word–beatitude–meant or where it came from! So I looked it up. And I foundContinue reading ““The Blessed-Are’s…””

“Love Your Neighbor As Yourself”

Matthew 22:34-40 October 29, 2023 [Jesus] said to [the Pharisee], “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matthew 22:37-39, NRSV) AContinue reading ““Love Your Neighbor As Yourself””

“By What Authority?”

Matthew 21:23-32 October 1, 2023 My son John, the youngest of my three kids, who is now a senior in high school, came into this world comfortable in his own skin. He came into the world, somehow, knowing who he is and being completely at ease with who he knew himself to be…which has beenContinue reading ““By What Authority?””

“Trying and Failing and Trying Again”

Matthew 18:15-20 September 10, 2023 You may or may not be aware of a column in our local news source, the LA Daily Post, called “All Shall Be Well.” It’s a column that appears every other week, that’s written on a rotating basis by four local clergywomen–retired Lutheran Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, Mother Lynn Finnegan fromContinue reading ““Trying and Failing and Trying Again””