as you scroll, for easier indexing, photos are markers at the start of each preceding year, and audio bars alternate light and dark by year.
sermons after march 2020 are on video here
wabi sabi
3-22-2020. pandemic, week 2. yet we look for what is beautiful around us
dead man talking
3-15-2020. When what we need is right under our feet: a pandemic changes everything.
god, you people
3-8-2020. sucker punched? starting over and finding life where it is elusive.
can't touch this
3-1-2020. naked in a garden with a couple of tree choices.
be attitudes
2-2-2020. in the wake of a Senate vote to truncate the impeachment of a president
a boat and a dad
1-26-2020. leaving family, finding life. Jesus, Frederick Douglass, you?
tradition
12-24-2019. a cocaine bust to celebrate christmas.
non-desperate dream
12-22-2019. the prophets, plus a baby named Wayne. Conclusion, Audre Lorde 1997 Used w/ permission.
Conclusion, Audre Lorde, The Collected Poems of Audre Lorde, ©The Estate of Audre Lorde, 1997. Used with permission.
come what may
12-15-2019. James Baldwin, the night before christmas and the desperation of winter.
roots and stumps
12-8-2019. Isaiah, Martin Carter, Gilligan. Pondering "the tree we feed."
Proem, Martin Carter, University of Hunger: Collected Poems & Selected Prose, ed. Gemma Robinson (Bloodaxe Books, 2006) www.bloodaxebooks.com, was used with permission.
fearing, not fearing
11-24-2019. celebrity crushes, lost voices, impeachment, refugees, and a world that God imagines.
reasonable expectations
11-17-2019. a dog, a wolf, an administration, and the revenge of the bureaucrats. peaceable kindom.
a swing and a miss
11-3-2019. Jobs we need to give up, and who gets communion. a reflection on isaiah and zacchaeus.
church, do you love me?
11-2-2019. Michigan UCC Covenant Association Fall Meeting. A challenge to the church.
dreaming dreams
10-28-2019. Voice therapy, a manifesto, a Pharisee and a tax collector.
seduction
9-29-2019. power, wealth, names and impeachment.
half a loaf
9-8-2019. using the bible however you want. Philemon, Onesimus and Jimmy Aldaoud.
prophets of profits
9-1-2019. humility, a giant mushroom and the voice of ancestors.
promises, promises
8-11-2019. permanence, a climate crisis, and a world at risk.
To what end?
8-4-2019. two gun massacres, a story of bigger barns, and an invitation
You talking to me?
7-28-2019. sodom and gomorrah. it's not what you think.
No, really, that's it?
7-14-2019. danger, a parable, the ho chi minh trail, and the obligation of neighbors.
Is that it?
7-7-2019. salt, light and when to shake off the dust.
the truth of the matter
6-16-2019. born again, whatever that means. And welcome to a new church home.
Boogie Wonderland
6-9-2019. tongues, ears and a new perspective. the breath of god at pentecost.
Missing the point
6-2-2019. the church's half-assed mission. a story from Acts. Easter VII.
Pastor's report
5-19-2019. cutting and pasting scripture, and finding life. Easter V.
Really?
5-12-2019. Easter goes on: can we all raise people from death?
Anastasia
4-21-2019. Easter: a festival of resurrection?
Making a way
4-7-2019. Lent V: really expensive perfume. Does it matter to have a purpose?
The view (from the porch)
3-31-2019. Lent IV: a father had two sons, and what does it means to divide the life?
Legacy Shopping
3-17-2019. Lent II: rubicon: moments that make a life.
So, now I...
3-10-2019. Lent I: anarchy, anyone?
Onward through the fog
3-3-2019. transfiguration: lack of seeing, and a road to certain death. plus cat poetry.
Karma
2-24-2019. Epiphany 7: but what if i need retribution?
It's not about you (but it is)
2-10-2019. Epiphany 5: a crumbling world as we fall into...what? Isaiah, Don Draper, urban renewal.
Demolition means progress
2-3-2019. Epiphany 4: what are we required to tear down before we build?
Today
1-27-2019. Epiphany 3: the work of Jesus, but is it our work, too?
Wine Country
1-20-2019. Epiphany 2: wedding at cana, hair the musical.
Stone Soup
12-23-2018. Advent IV: bethlehem and dinosaurs. odd how god works.
Kat Morgan Memorial
Flint, MI, 12-22-2018. God knows us by name. freedom and welcome.
Root Stew
12-16-2018. Advent III: a Michigan prisoner and getting to the bottom of things.
Snake Oil
12-9-2018. Advent II: fred hampton, alice walker, john the baptist and the fuller brush man.
Figgy pudding
12-2-2018. Advent I. figs, a midwest madonna and poetry of the end of the world.
the other side
11-18-2018. apocalypse? now? gold-plated real estate, and jesus' demo plan
Where hearts lie.
11-4-2018. Tell me again: what does stewardship have to do wth resistance?
What about tomorrow?
10-28-2018. bombs, a synogogue, a kroger: stewardship and resistance.
Widening the Conversation
10-21-2018. Stewardship III. stuff, barns, and who influences our worldview.
world in balance
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 10-14-2018. Stewardship II. what rocks our world.
wilderness road
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 10-7-2018. Stewardship I. abram, sarai, susan collins (kavanaugh III?) a
strategic amputation
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 9-30-2018. If it offends, cut it off. kavanaugh, Pt II but not only that
shelf life of bad behavior
oodside Church, Flint, MI, 9-23-2018. kavanaugh, disciples, what's benign and what isn't.
hearts content
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 9-16-2018. when it is easier not to talk about it.
table scraps
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 9-9-2018. pig noises, name-calling and what's the matter with jesus?
a thin veneer of civility
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 9-2-2018. cal firefighters. john mccain. don't forget to wash your hands
breakfast in america
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 7-22-2018. theology according to supertramp and sakharov.
how are the kids?
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 7-15-2018. the death of john the baptist, and the pawn in the story.
what's my line?
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 7-8-2018. ezekiel, mark and the obligation to speak up.
a gay bible story for the fourth of july
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 7-1-2018. grief for a nation, and can't we relate to that.
not really about the mustard, but you knew that
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 6-17-2018. joyce, kidd, jesus, mark, sabbath and mustard.
house and home
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 6-10-2018. dexter, spade, bourdain, lord of the flies
mixed messages
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 6-3-2018. sabbath, as political as the rest of scripture.
a new and unsettling force
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 5-20-2018. pentecost, a royal wedding, and a national call for something
destiny
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 5-13-2018. was it all meant to be this way? trump too?
terra forma
Alliance of Baptists Annual Gathering, 4-28-2018. earth justice, tied up with so many things
without apology
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 4-22-2018. guests of the earth, learning to imagine.
jesus' way
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 4-8-2018. let's start a country! Jon Stewart and the book of Acts...
a refreshing pairing
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 4-1-2018. new life, and jokes that tell poorly. a new day in a new place
coming down
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 3-30-2018. good friday, the temple, and the death of jesus.
where the road goes
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 3-25-2018. parade, parody, packing. deconsecrating a beloved sanctuary.
self-importance 101
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 3-11-2018. nose job for our faith? it's about perspective....
turning the tables
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 3-4-2018. cleansing the temple, to what end?
a satisfied mind
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 2-18-2018. eye on the ball and the perspective of Chronicles
huddling around the burn barrel
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 2-12-2018. transfiguration, a snow day and where do we go from here?
fish stories
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 1-21-2018. jonah, dixie chicks, and how do we love people we don't love?
skeptics
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 1-14-2018. forward, with fear and hope.
laces And locusts
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 1-7-2018. making up our own jesus.
thick, ordinary and on the move
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 12-24-2017. Can't we just sing a carol and get the hell out of here?
paging john lennon
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 12-10-2017. making up our own jesus.
claymation
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 12-3-2017. faith, fear and where do we go from here.
sheep, goats and god, the chicken
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 11-26-2017. ezekiel and matthew. warning: judgment and language.
oil and water
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 11-12-2017. ten bridesmaids and a reality show.
on frauds and fringes
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 11-5-2017. public faith comes at a price. Execution is closing in.
two things
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 10-29-2017. Two things, one job. Swatting away the religious authorities
bracketology
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 10-22-2017. Rendering to Caesar quickly becomes throwing in with empire.
water. wall.
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 9-17-2017. moses, irma, demille, a significant water crossing.
standing
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 9-10-2017. Ta-Nehisi Coates, the Animals. We gotta get outta this place.
fire. wall.
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 9-3-2017. Fetch 1/5 million people & their stuff, & meet me back here
the day the world blew apart
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 8-27-2017. sea turtles, moon shadows, joseph.(
(a sort of crowd-sourced sermon, but with biblical prodding from fretheim.)
water. fish. happily ever after.
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 8-6-2017. cynicism, naivete, free stuff and an eclipse.
casting about
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 6-25-2017. Isaac/Ishmael, Juneteenth, Eid. Pride. fire ants
Thoughts On A Summer Evening
Willson Park, Flint, MI, 6-23-2017. after a local incident, the things our Muslim friends can't say.
at a vigil hosted by the Flint Islamic Center
great commission, pt II
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 6-18-2017. What's the church for?
kathy debarr memorial
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 6-10-2017. Joy, mischief and the things death can't change
sucking wind
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 6-4-2017. a pentecost sermon not on the story from Acts!
the shelf life of naivete
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 5-21-2017. when we are way too committed to ignorance.
heartburn
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 5-14-2017. walking off the effects of a bitter, sour time.
the edge of metaphor
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 5-7-2017. James Baldwin, big bang, notes about sheep. easter goes on...
sight lines
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 4-16-2017. Carole King, Benjamin Booker, fleas, mason jar. Happy Easter.
party lines
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 4-14-2017. good friday and taking sides.
front lines
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 4-2-2017. Lent 5. a valley of dry bones: DNA and generational PTSD
story lines
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 3-12-2017. old. young. born again.
fault lines
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 3-5-2017. god on god's terms.
ain't no mountain high enough
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 2-26-2017. jesus, moses and the marlboro marine. fire. cloud.
the naked truth
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 2-19-2017. leviticus, matthew, and shifting power.
check, please
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 2-12-2017. decisions take time.
hangry
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 2-5-2017. not to mention salty
shittim to gilgal
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 1-29-2017. banning refugees, butchering beatitudes, making micah puke
the first hundred days
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 1-22-2017. inauguration, golden calves, and what's wrong with galilee
for this
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 1-15-2017. inauguration week, isaiah and springsteen
reasonable doubt
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 12-24-2016. Christmas cannot not be political
tammy z. matiere memorial
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 12-23-2016. in memoriam
Intent
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 12-18-2016. love sunday. so, wile e coyote.
opportunity
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 12-11-2016. Joy Sunday, a word about Denmark, and a little Steely Dan.
motive
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 12-4-2016. hoping against hope, and what moves us
means
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 11-27-2016. making peace, and how we get there.
alfie and omega
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 11-20-2016. reign of christ in the age of trump
apocalypse now
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 11-13-2016. notes on a post-election world
perfect fit
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 11-6-2016. standing rock, sadducees, where do we go from here.
phyllis harrington - a memorial
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 11-1-2016. with a little walt whitman
painfully obvious
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 10-30-2016. zacchaeus, billboards, getting the message
seeing things
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 10-23-2016. what has been lost, what can yet be, and a word from Joel.
preconceived headache
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 10-16-2016. a judge, a widow and people not acting the way they should.
naming rights
Michigan Conference UCC Annual Meeting, 10-14-2016. tattoos on our hearts.
buying babylon
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 10-9-2016. building walls, finding home. plus 10 lepers.
strange waters
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 10-2-2016. a strange land, a holy meal, rivers of babylon, lamentations.
field of dreams
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 9-25-2016. aleppo, charlotte, flint, anathoth.
lost and found
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 9-11-2016. mercury in retrograde.
fits and starts
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 9-4-2016. Santana. Jeremiah. same thing. Change your evil ways, baby.
whose house?
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 8-28-2016. table manners, paralympics, cspan, humility.
unexpected
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 8-7-2016. the rio olympics, plus "who said it?"
hot pursuit
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 7-31-2016. the right conversations can move us along. plus a hair policy
a work in progress
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 7-24-2016. on becoming. escher, alice, einstein, you, me, the world.
#BrightShinyObject
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 7-17-2016. So easily distracted, or "making snacks while the world bleed
hearing what we want to hear
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 7-10-2016. the false comfort & intense damage of false positives.
the cave
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 6-19-2016. elijah, burn-out and how we go on.
karma
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 6-12-2016. orlando, ahab and general fucked-up-edness.
the story of God
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 6-5-2016. the death of muhammad ali and the ways we reduce each other.
transcendent!
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 5-22-2016. poetry and trinity.
fire and rain
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 5-15-2016. Genesis and Acts. leaving home, learning everything again.
where it hurts
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 5-8-2016. paul heals a woman, but lacks follow-through.
into the pool
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 5-1-2016. do you want to be made well?
water.
Festival of Faiths, Edgewood Church, East Lansing, 4-23-2016. i'm having a hard time focusing lately
draw me!
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 4-17-2016. learning to be peter.
you again
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 4-3-2016. doubting thomas, annoying peter, bad penny
pompeii, but groovier
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 3-27-2016. Easter. doughnuts, caves, wrapping our lives around something
selfie stuck
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 3-25-2016. good friday. rethinking the center
heel
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 3-6-2016. lent 4. on circumcision, bread and name-calling
taking liberties
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 2-28-2016. lent 3. isaiah, exile, free stuff
opening for Bernie Sanders
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 2-25-2016. welcome and opening remarks
pinky swear
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 2-21-2016. Abram, covenant, lent 2. plus donald trump and meryl streep.
tracking the red bug
First Congregational Church, Saginaw, MI, 2-19-2016. thoughts on the water emergency
behold the radish
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 2-14-2016. lent 1. identity and rootedness.
and...?
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 2-7-2016. Jesus, some disciples, cheech & chong
break time
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 1-31-2016. tearing it down.
lord jesus, potato head
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 1-24-2016. putting the pieces together.
the good stuff
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 1-17-2016. MLK, Jesus, pizza, water.
a break in the clouds
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 1-10-2016. for baptisms. jesus' and some other peoples'
unswaddled
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 12-24-2015. christmas eve and family photos.
some days
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 12-21-2015. solstice, the longest night.
half axel
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 12-20-2015. Advent 4. and that giant popping sound
ode to joy
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 12-13-2015. Advent 3. joy sunday. if you're into that.
off the grid
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 12-6-2015. Advent 2. plus michigan state.
blushing crow
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 11-22-2015. reign of christ/transgender day of remembrance
upended
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 11-15-2015. paris, starbucks and who do we think we are?
(those "favorite old testament scholars" are Walter Brueggemann and Lawrence Boadt)
the widows' might
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 11-8-2015. the things we do to women
an icky biology metaphor
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 11-1-2015. marrow. the good stuff.
the electronics committee
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 10-25-2015. beloved community
trading places
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 10-18-2015. privilege, more or less
such a time
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 9-27-2015. where defiance can lead
willful
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 9-13-2015. wisdom, wanting to be wanted
both ways
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 9-6-2015. kim davis and a religious life
home again
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 8-30-2015. tender poetry; lurid soap opera. scripture.
bread? or "bread"?
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 8-2-2015. where are the literalists when you need them?
herod webster
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 7-12-2015. dealing with squirrels
get up, stand up.
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 7-5-2015. beyond the patriotic
about Charleston
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 6-21-2015. but not only about charleston
silver bells and cockle shells
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 6-14-2015. my garden, despite the odds
american pharaoh
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 6-7-2015. triple crown, triple threat
...but i've been to oklahoma
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 5-31-2015. Trinity.
drunk and disorderly
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 5-24-2015. Cleveland. Pentecost. (based on Acts 2)
replacing judas
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 5-17-2015. a final word for easter.
urban coyotes
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 4-26-2015. ticketed on venice beach
a tale of two coffee shops
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 4-12-2015. there was this jacket...
resurrection, with skin
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 4-5-2015. a word for easter.
your place or mine?
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 4-3-2015. screw the body count. (a sermon for good friday)
national lampoon
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 3-29-2015. i love a parade
the normal heart
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 3-22-2015. people like that
serpico
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 3-15-2015. unraveling the stories
amistad
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 3-8-2015. more than a temper tantrum
march of the penguins
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 3-1-2015. improbable grace
waterworld
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 2-22-2015. what becomes of memory or imagination?
phoenix this time of year
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 2-18-2015. Ash Wednesday
then what?
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 2-15-2015. Elisha, Peter, you, me.
still standing
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 2-8-2015. some days, all you get is sober
mouthy
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 2-1-2015. god still sends prophets. maybe us.
ghoti
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 1-25-2015. Jonah. Nineveh.
hearing things
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 1-18-2015. The call of Samuel.
bw3
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 1-11-2015.Epiphany, Baptism of Jesus, tailgate, anyone?
e: all of the above
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 12-24-2014
house hunters
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 12-21-2014, based on 2 Samuel 7.
just a guy and some water
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 12-14-2014, based on John 1.
right words
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 12-7-2014, based on Isaiah 40.
crack pot
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 11-30-2014, based on Mark's "little apocalypse" (Mark 13:24-37).
(academic work referenced is Juel's commentary on Mark, Augsburg 1990).
like black friday?
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 11-9-2014, based on the parable of the bridesmaids
part of a dream
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 11-2-2014, the beatitudes for stewardship & all saints
don't go there
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 10-26-2014, based on Deuteronomy 34.
broken earrings
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 10-12-2014, based on Exodus 32 and Matthew 22.
covenant
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 10-5-2014, based on Exodus 20 and Matthew 21.
enough already
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 9-21-2014, based on Exodus 16 and Matthew 20.
on whose side?
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 9-14-2014
on your mark
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 9-7-2014
joe schmoe
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 8-24-2014
daybreak
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 8-3-2014. jacob, jabbok and the day things changed forever
what a fool believes
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 7-27-2014
christianity light
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 7-6-2014. a sermon for july 4.
mojo filter
Woodside Church, Flint, MI, 6-15-2014. father's day.
a political sermon for advent? Nah.
Hudsonville United Church of Christ, Hudsonville, MI, 11-24-2013
last year's clothing and a few things from the pantry
Faith Community United Church of Christ, Louisville, 8-4-2013
george alexander dweezil superman
Lynnhurst United Church of Christ, Louisville, 7-28-2013
naaman, good american
St. John United Church of Christ, Louisville, 7-07-2013
so much we don't know
St. John United Church of Christ, Louisville, 5-26-2013
an annoying mother's day sermon
Immanuel United Church of Christ, Louisville, 5-12-2013
for what it's worth
Chapel Hill United Church of Christ, Louisville, 1-27-2013