God is a verb, not a noun. —R. Buckminster Fuller Let me begin by saying what God is not. God has no preferred pronouns. God is not a he, she, they, or it. God is not a transcendent, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, interventionist, supernatural being who can intercede in history, answer prayers, or perform miracles. There is no observable evidence for any of these claims. The continual presence of war, widespread gun violence, an epidemic of drug overdoses, the existence of massive poverty—all these put a lie to an interventionist, supernatural being acting for the good. It appears that ..read more

Jesus told his disciples this parable: The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning, around 6 o’clock, to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage of one denarius, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and he said to them, “You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.” So, they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others sta ..read more

In 2014, I read an article about a 119-year-old Lutheran church sanctuary in St. Louis that suddenly collapsed. It was a beautiful old Gothic structure that had once been glorious, but had been deteriorating for decades. The story seemed to me to be a parable about how the church is changing in today’s world. Perhaps even a parable about death and resurrection. Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church was founded in 1849 by twelve German immigrants. In 1887, the congregation moved to its current location in the Hyde Park area of North St. Louis. The congregation completed a brick sanctuary in ..read more

O God of peace, be with us now. Stand here beside us; bring hope this day. Transform this world of greed and strife, From domination to your new way. Teach us to make an end to war, An end to bloodshed, an end to hate. May hearts and hands in your new reign End earth’s oppression and liberate. Empower us so we can build A world of justice where all can share. Providing food to all in need With your compassion and loving care. The poor, the lame, the sick, the blind, Are brothers, sisters, the whole world round. You now invite them far and near To your great banquet of love unbound. You send us ..read more

L:           Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. P1:        Saying, the time is fulfilled. P2:       The kingdom of God has come near. P1:       Seek first the kingdom of God. P2:       We pray: Your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. L:           The kingdom may surely come in the future, but it is also in the present. P1:       ..read more

In community we gather, Off’ring blessings on this day. Friends and fam’ly joined together, Raising voices now to pray. May your journey from this moment Be in God’s embracing care – Like a mother, like a father, Giving freely, always there. May your days be filled with wonder, May your nights be safe from fear. May you learn to love each other Ever more from year to year. May you give to one another Gifts of gentleness and grace; Partners in a life together, Hand in hand through time and space. May your light shine in the darkness, May your words be strong and bold. May your love and your com ..read more