John’s baptism is tricky to preach on. On the one hand, he’s a fiery preacher who makes stark the need for transformation in a dark world. On the other hand, he sounds awfully judgmental and ‘works-based’ (especially in Lutheran contexts). Well, if we can contextualise John’s actions and practices to his own time and place without overlaying our own fears…
I had the honour of preaching the Christmas Day message this morning at Trinity Lutheran Church. John happens to be my favourite gospel, for all it’s imagery and poetry. John 1 especially because it takes the human Jesus we see the night before to a cosmic Christ in the bright light of day. This Word was spoken at creation, at…
The more I learn about Mary, the more I love how much of a rebellious world-shaker she is. I left behind the image of a meek, mild, plump middle-age woman sweetly humming a lullaby long ago; but even today I’m constantly surprised at just how daring Mary truly was. The Magnificat is a radically political poem that dares to stand…
I had the honour of preaching my first intern sermon at Trinity Lutheran Church yesterday on Advent 1. The lectionary reading was Luke 21:25-36 — the end of the world. It’s a nice and easy introduction to preaching, right? I shared a fragment of my own story around the End Times and a couple of ways such theology was used…
Where is Jesus now? Awake at 2:30 this morning, I wondered what becomes of the images and metaphors we use in our initial spiritual or religious contexts after we exit them. Where do they go? Who does God then become? How, then, do we connect with the Divine? For those of you who may require some explanation, evangelicals describe a…
Dear Cubbie, Dodger, & Rex, Today I turn 40 years old. To you, that sounds ancient I know. But trust me, once you turn 40 it won’t sound or feel old at all. In many ways, it will feel like life has just only begun. For now, I’m thrilled to be your middle-aged auntie who loves zip-lining down old Welsh…
I walked off the edge. And I jumped. And I was pushed. And I sat teetering on the brink. I don’t know why particularly. I wouldn’t refer to myself as a thrill-seeker (unless, of course, you count mixing four kinds of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream together in preparation for a Lord of the Rings Director’s Cut marathon; but even…
I was able to spend some time on Bardsey Island/Ynys Enlli on the tip of the Llyn Peninsula, Wales. Known as the Island of 20,000 Saints, it is fabled to be one of the resting places of the elusive Holy Grail. Three pilgrimages to this island are equivalent to one pilgrimage to Rome. Apparently I’m one third of the way!…
The day is gray and cloudy outside, but the drizzle has stopped. I’m going through all of my things, packing up again, and preparing for my few days on the fabled Bardsey Island. There won’t be any wifi out there, so I’ll be off-grid for the duration. It’s been a week of steep challenges. On Saturday I went coasteering off…
I walked a portion of the North Wales Coastal Pilgrimage Trail today — Aber Falls. . An old area of Britain, with ruins littering the landscape. Some of these archeological wonders are around 4000 years old, some date back to Roman times, others to the medieval era, and few from around the time of the Enlightenment. These paths have been…