Today is the Sunday after the Ascension; and this year we hear Luke tell the story of the risen Lord’s departure from his disciples. The Ascension is probably not the best known of the feast days on the calendar, but it is one that takes on increasing depth and importance the more you think about…

Once a young man mentioned to his pastor that he had a love of poetry but that he noticed poetry was never mentioned at church. “Would it be possible,” he asked the pastor, “to introduce poetry sometime into the service?” The following week the pastor obligingly produced a poem. After explaining to the congregation why…

Growing churches know that people respond best to clearly defined terms of membership. When people come to a church family they want to know what it takes to be a member. What are the standards? What is expected of members? In American culture we have a hard time separating the church’s boundaries from those of…

Many types of gates dot the towns and hillsides, cities and industries all around us. These gates can give us a lot of information, if we pay attention to them and really take notice. Some gates are to keep people (or animals) out, and others are to keep them in. And some are so old…

“Duh” has become a word that indicates that we can’t believe that people don’t get it! Perhaps the hint of ridicule associated with “Duh” means that we shouldn’t use it at vestry meetings! It’s heartening to find that even Jesus’ closest friend and associates didn’t always get it. After the Resurrection some of the disciples…

The disciples were behind locked doors because they were afraid. They were behind locked doors on Easter Day, and a week later, they were still huddled behind locked doors, frightened, hiding, and, at least in Thomas’ case, filled with doubt. They hardly appear to be the beginning a movement that will transform human history. But…