Fourth Sunday after Pentecost; Proper 8; Ordinary 14; 24 June 2012

The stories of Jesus healing the sick and raising the dead are problematic for those of us who consider ourselves even somewhat sophisticated in our theology. We envision sleek, white-suited charlatans, smacking the gullible on the forehead and calling forth the not inconsiderable power of placebo effect with a shriek of the words, “be healed!”  How gauche. 

Singing the songs you love

In February of this year, Fred Anderson was invited to preach at a worship service offered by the Presbyterian Association of Musicians Northeast Regional Gathering at Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York. He chose as his text Mark 14: 22-26.

Third Sunday after Pentecost; Proper 7; Ordinary 12; 17 June 2012

Did you know that there is actually an area of study called “futurology”? It is also sometimes called “futurism,” and it concerns itself with the examination of the history of technological, social and cultural change, and with the postulating of possible and probable future directions for the human race. It is, in short, the non-fiction version of my favorite genre: science fiction.

How shall we sing the Lord's song?

Just how should we pray the Psalms in corporate worship? It’s a tough question, and one that can generate more than a bit of heat when worship leaders gather. Should they be read or sung? If sung, should preference be given to chant or to metrical settings? And should the Psalm on the Lord’s Day be always placed directly after the First Lesson, or can we move it around a bit?

Second Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 6, Ordinary 11: 10 June 2012

Years ago I said something stupid to a friend. She had told me that she was majoring in trumpet performance, but that she was also planning on getting her teaching credentials, “so that I have something to fall back on.” Desiring above all other things to seem funny, sophisticated and clever, I replied, “Don’t you think that people who have something to fall back on generally do?”