Star Word: Beloved

This weekend in worship, we will be drawing our new star words on Epiphany. You can read more about star words here. This past year’s word has been beloved. It is a lovely word. In truth, it is the sermon I preach again and again and again. We are God’s beloved children. So are the…

Return of the Jews

A sermon preached at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Boise, Idaho December 14, 2019 Ezra 1:1-4, 3:1-4, 10-13 As we’ve learned throughout the fall, the Jews had been carted off to exile in Babylon initially in 586 BCE.  Their temple destroyed by Nebachadnezzer. Their lives upended. But then Persia had become the dominant power in the…

New Hope: A Hope Awakens

A sermon preached at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Boise, Idaho December 1, 2019 Jeremiah 33:14-18 Welcome to Advent! I know some of you think “Advent” is Latin for “why can’t we sing Christmas Carols yet?”, but in fact, adventus means arriving, or something about to begin. It is the beginning of the church year, and…