This is Sunday’s sermon, based on Luke 24: 13-35, looks at the encounter between two of Jesus’ followers and a stranger they meet on the way to Emmaus.

The story about the monastery comes from alt.spirit at metro.m3: Alternative Urban Spirituality which is well worth getting your hands on!

Let me know what you think!  Please!!!

I’ve posted the text for this sermon about Mary of Bethany and Judas before but I’ve never recorded it until now.

I often feel that Holy Week is one of the most overlooked parts of the Christian year.  That’s all the more strange because it is at the very heart of our faith.  Today is the day when we remember that Jesus gathered  with his closest friends in an upper room to celebrate the Feast of the Passover.  During the meal Jesus broke bread and shared a cup of wine and in doing so gave the church the sacrament of communion.  Remember me.  Sad that in Holy Week, of all times, we forget.

I’m proud to be a co-host of the Something Beautiful Podcast.

For those of you who don’t know about the podcast our intrepid gang (Thomas, Jonathan and I) interview people who have a story to tell.  Mostly these are people of faith.  Many of them are people who have had interesting experiences of church and of life.  Stories are amazing, mostly because they aren’t opinion but rather a lived experience.

This week we share the first part of Thomas’ conversation with Adele Sakler (aka existential punk).  Adele grew up in a typical Protestant Christian family but in high school and college began to struggle with the issues between her faith and her attraction to other women.  She’s now come to peace with the fact that she’s gay and a follower of The Way and she’s become a bold voice about her faith, her homosexuality as well as her Chronic Lyme Disease.

From her blog:

My name is Adele and “i am thomas, doubter. i am judas, betrayer. i am nicodemus, reluctant in the night. i am st. john of the cross, soul darkened by love. i am a christian. i am not.” i am also “lost, wicked, and depraved but redeemed by the grace and beauty of God.”

i am a traveler who currently resides in Richmond, VA with my partner and love of my life, Katryna, and our two dawgs, Lady Dalmation, and Mushu, our Tibetan Spaniel. i am currently going through long-term treatment for Chronic Lyme Disease, other tick borne diseases, and heavy metal toxicity.

We realize that, like many of our guests, you may not agree with Adele’s theology — she realizes that as well — but we invite you to take the time to listen to Adele’s story and hear her story for yourself.  Take the time to hear her story and view it and her as an entire package, not just shunning her for what you may not agree with.  Then we welcome your thoughts and comments.  Drop us an e-mail or phone call and let us know what you think.

As an aside, Adele turns 40 today (april 2) – so look for her on Twitter and wish her a great one!

This is a sermon preached on Sunday 8 March on Mark 8: 31-38 (Lent 2B).  As always, I’d be glad to hear your thoughts.

So, I’ve been co-hosting the something beautiful podcast for a little while now but my first interview with someone else is this week’s episode!  I spoke with Ron Buford, the man behing the UCC’s Still Speaking campaign while we were both at FURY Assembly a couple of weeks ago.

Ron Buford

Have a listen and let me know what you think!

Tall Skinny Kiwi, Andrew Jones, chats with Jonathan in this week’s episode of the Something Beautiful Podcast.

As you would expect, he raises some challenging issues.  One that struck me was his thoughts about starting new churches.  Go somewhere else and plant a church there.  Don’t plant it in your house.  And don’t let people who are fed up with other churches join.

I loved the idea that people new to church and to faith shouldn’t have to put up with people who have fallen out with their own congregation.

1 Samuel 3:1-10 is one of my favourite passages in the Bible.  I love the story of Eli and Samuel and all its imagery and drama.

Let me know what you think of the sermon.  Thoughts, comment and criticism (constructive preferred) all welcome.