Presbymom

  Genesis 9:8-17   8  Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him:   9  “I now establish my covenant with you   and with your descendants after you   10  and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth.   11  I establish my covenant   with you:   Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.” 12  And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant   I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come:   13  I have set my rainbow   in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14  Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow   appears in the clouds,   15  I will remember my covenant   between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to dest

  Our lectionary gospel skips around a bit this week and begins with – after six days. Six days after what? This section of Mark follows when Peter wisely answers Jesus’ question – ‘Who do you say I am?’ by declaring that Jesus is the messiah. Jesus shared what is to come - his rejection, suffering, crucifixion and resurrection. Peter not liking all of this, rebuked Jesus. Get behind me Satan Jesus replies. Jesus continues to teach what it is to be a disciple – to take up their cross and follow him on the journey. We are in the middle of the gospel of Mark at a turning point and the conclusion of the season of Epiphany moving into Lent. Mark 9:2-9 2  After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John   with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them.   3  His clothes became dazzling white,   whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.   4  And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5  Pet

Dear God, We praise you with thanks, “that you have placed a harmony of lights in the heavens that night is followed by day and the glowing of the moon by the glistening of the sun thanks be to you, O God.” Too many days dawn with a people divided. What causes some to rejoice leads others to fear and regret. That which divides us continues to tear at the seams of the fabric of our nation. We are a Disunited States. The beauty of this nation stretches out before us, across wheat fields and deserts, from the mountains to the prairies, from sea to shining sea. Remind us, O God, that as different as the moon is from the sun, they balance against one another in the skies – shining in turn, moon reflecting the light of the sun, sometimes appearing together, seldom eclipsing one another before quickly moving back into balance. Move us into balance when we feel jumbled and confused, angry with one another, fearful of what the world holds in store. Thank you O God, “that you have placed a harmo

This is not an anniversary I thought I was looking forward to  - it makes me grumpy to give up my packed pews, festive music, and fancy clothes - it will have been a year since we realized that COVID-19 was something we needed to take more seriously and started shutting things down. I remember sitting in the Collin County Courthouse with other faith leaders and gently being warned that this might last even through Easter. Easter my mind screamed! How can we possibly do Easter without being in our churches? Looking back, we have come a very long way. And now, a second Easter is sneaking up on us. An anniversary where we can use what we have learned to reach people. It isn't an expertise I wanted, but when staying connected to the body of Christ depends upon it - you learn. I preached this week on Mark (yes via Facebook) and how for him everything was IMMEDIATELY. We have gotten our lesson in immediacy. You will pay attention to this now shrieked the medical community. And, they were

  The work in the gospel of Mark is just getting started. Here we find Jesus with the first four disciples He called – Simon later called Peter, Andrew, James and John. When studying this scripture this week, I am reminded of the advertisements for writers who need to find synonyms so that they don’t use the same word over and over within a writing. But the problem with that is Mark DID use the same words! The translators have smoothed things over to be more pleasing to our ears, and since I am going to point out corrections anyway – here is my own edited version of the NIV translation.     Mark 1:21-28 21  They went into Capernaum,  and immediately  on the Sabbaths having entered into the synagogue, Jesus was teaching.  22  They were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one having authority, not like the scribes.  23  And immediately  there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit and he cried out,  24  “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you com