- November 20, 2023From the rising of the sun to its setting …
"From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised" – Psalm 113:3Sunrise photo contributed by Mike Willock - November 15, 2023Fall colors at Second Pres
Photos contributed by Mike Willock. (Good eye, Mike!) - November 10, 2023My Ofrenda
Mike Willock writes: Last week included, after Halloween (October 31), All Saints Day (November 1) and Dia de los Muertos (November 2). Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a holiday in Mexico when families remember the relatives and friends that have gone before. They make an ofrenda (offering table) with pictures of lost relatives and items of food or other things that their relativ … - October 21, 2023Time traveling in a sermon
Mike Willock writes: In a recent sermon, Pastor Travis reflected on a mission trip in South Dakota where he and others built housing on an Indian reservation but never was able to meet the residents to talk with them and learn their stories. During the worship service, my mind traveled back to the late 1950’s and my grandfather’s farm in Celina, TX, a small farming community about 40 mil … - September 27, 2023"You are not you when you are hungry"
During Sunday's sermon, Rev. Travis referenced a classic commercial for Snickers, starring Betty White as a football player, or at least football player who "playing like Betty White." The ad, which is often mentioned as often of the most memorable ever made, ends with the tagline, "You are not you when you are hungry."The point – the astute theological point – t … - September 21, 2023Paying Attention
Mike Willock writes: In a recent worship service, Pastor Travis challenged us to pay attention. He preached on the story of Moses, who first saw and turned aside from tending his sheep to approach the burning bush out of curiosity and then he met God there. In this modern era, with all the dings and screen prompts and calendar reminders competing for attention, we can easily miss or even … - August 18, 2023Three-Word Prayers
Mike Willock writes: A recent Luther Seminary devotional highlighted two three-word prayers from the gospel of Matthew. I have added a third found in the Psalms. The first is in Matthew 14 after feeding the 5,000 when Jesus sent the disciples across the Sea of Galilee and went alone up the mountain to pray. Later that night the boat was caught in a storm and Jesus came to them walking on … - July 26, 2023The Glory of Summer
"To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow" – Audrey HepburnCrape myrtle in full bloom – photo submitted by Mike Willock - May 16, 2023Thoughts on the Kingdom and the "Kin-dom"
Tim Woodcock writes: It has been only been ten days since King Charles III was crowned. As a Brit, people have asked me about it multiple times since then. Do I like Charles? Am I a fan of the royal family? Does the pomp and circumstance of the occasion make me glow with pride? My thoughts and feelings on this are so complex and contradictory that trying to write a coherent response see … - April 11, 2023A Tale of Two Basins
Mike Willock writes: Moving from the Maundy Thursday service in Niccolls Hall to the sanctuary where the Stations of the Cross are displayed, I was struck by two contrasting uses of a basin and water for washing.The basin in the Last Supper was used by Jesus, as described in John 13:“Jesus got up from the table and took off his robes. Picking up a linen towel he tied it around his waist. … - April 7, 2023A Good Friday poem by Ellie Stock: "Relentless is Creation's Via Dolorosa"
RELENTLESS IS CREATION’S VIA DOLOROSA Relentless is Creation’s Via Dolorosa— choosing each millisecond along its ever expanding Tree-of-Life journey— emerging, purging, resurging, fragile resilience ever setting Being’s face toward new Jerusalems: galaxies swirling, atoms whirling, comets hurling, creatures toiling, humans turmoiling and gargoyling. Relentless is Creation’s Via Dolor … - March 30, 2023Signs of Spring + Sunset on Westminster
With an eye out for signs of beauty and hope, these two photos were taken next to church in the past week. Thank you, Mike Willock. - March 14, 2023Sisters
A poem by Ellie Stock in the season for Women's History Month. To Earth's (Our/My) Sisters– Who ~ bravely dance their daily paces, shine extraordinary light on ordinary places, where others faint or fear to tread, where laughter is born and tears are shed. Who ~ steadfast, courageously with bolding care encourage unheard voices to dare, to share– whose own struggling an … - March 14, 2023"Stalked by sadness" – and yet…
Nancy Quigley writes: In these times of wars, horrendous earthquakes, gun violence, political division and mental health challenges, it’s sometimes good to find a word of encouragement. Recently, I read an article written by Peter Baker about Michael Gerson.* It is a good article, describing a complicated person with an eloquent Republican voice, who longed for “compassionate conservatis … - February 10, 2023Not Just Walking with God
A reflection by Mike Willock Micah 6:8 (NRSV) God has told you, O mortal, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God? To begin the Sacred Space for Children part of the worship service on January 29, pastor Travis tried to engage the children with the Micah 6:8 preaching text. He strutted in front o …
