Edina Morningside Community Church

Today’s scripture reading: John 12:12-27 and 19:16-22

Sermon audio:

And so, we find ourselves here, after the parade. Palm fronds litter the floor and the steps in front. No longer held up and waving, but following the facts of gravity and now come down to earth. The excitement has passed some by this point, like it did after that high theatrical moment of spectacle when people lined the highways and byways of Jerusalem with a pointed public purpose. It had been a moment of daring clarity and solidarity: the throngs of Jerusalem come together to cry out “Hosanna—save us!” and praise “the one who comes in the name of the Lord—the king of Israel.” Here came Jesus through their midst, riding on a small donkey, in just the way Scripture foretold that Israel’s messiah would come. For good measure and to hail Jesus’ entry, they waved palm fronds—a symbol of victory throughout the ancient world. Here at last was the one to overthrow oppressive Rome, to restore righteous faith, and to set everything right. Anything seemed possible!

Continue reading “Love Marches On” →

Edina Morningside Community Church

Today’s scripture reading: John 11:1-44

Sermon audio:

As anyone who’s seen my office knows, I am what you might call “organizationally-challenged”. It’s not that I don’t know how to stay organized, but when push comes to shove in my schedule, I prioritize spending time with people or working on a project deadline rather than keeping my office straightened up. I tell myself there will always be time for that later. As a consequence, each week adds another layer of notes and paperwork to the piles on my desk, like sediment on a river bottom. I have every good intention of coming back around to sort them, but the next week brings its own busy-ness and another layer of sediment covers up the previous one. It’s gotten to the point now that I have four large piles on my office desk, starting to crowd out the space I have to actually work! I’m trying yet another strategy to address it, but I’m tempted to just throw a sheet over it when people come in for meetings, to pretend that everything is just fine, “nothing to see here, move along”.

Continue reading “Love Leads Through Death to Life” →

Edina Morningside Community Church

Today’s scripture reading: John 12:1-11

Sermon audio:

As you likely realize, Edina Morningside Community Church is part of a network across the state, the Minnesota Conference of the United Church of Christ. I happen to serve on the Board of Directors for the Conference, which means that every couple months on a Saturday, I meet with other lay and clergy Board members to evaluate ministries, make decisions, and consider possibilities for this statewide movement. Yesterday happened to be a Board meeting day, so I caught a carpool from the Cities to Zion United Church of Christ in Le Seuer. As so often happens, I’m struck by the heart, soul and hard work that the Conference staff brings to their work, and the stories they can tell of our churches. Minnesota Conference Minister Shari Prestemon, who attended our capital campaign celebration last May, also shares her experience of the national United Church of Christ.

Continue reading “Love Offers Extravagant Abundance” →