(This sermon was shared as part of Laity Sunday at First Church on Sunday, May 26, 2019.) Acts 1: 1-11 1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit …
“All will be well, and all will be well, and all manner of thing shall be well…” “Oh God, our help in ages past…” “May the Lord bless you and keep you…” I am grasping, God. Grasping for the right words to say, for the right prayer to pray, for some expression of petition that …
It’s almost dark when we pull up to the retreat center, backlit by sunset, shadowed figures dragging suitcases to rooms and chalets. Kids run off in all directions, mostly away from their exasperated parents. Shouts of “Hey, friend!” echo in the lobby around fireplaces and taxidermied animals. The ladies at the registration table greet us …
She holds out her hands to receive the bread and juice. As I bend down with the cup, I see a small semicolon tattooed on her wrist. Without asking, I know part of her story. My breath catches in my throat as I say what I’ve said to the forty other people who have come …
I stand in the aisle, off to the side, in view of the pulpit so Keith can see that I’m here, ready and waiting. I both do and don’t want to do this. In this exact moment, I mostly don’t. I am terrified. I don’t think my hands have ever shaken this much. I’ve been …
This post originally appeared on Melissa Scott Yoga in the Spring of 2017. My hands are shaking as I get out of the car. My mind is racing with a thousand useless thoughts. Crap, I don’t have any money to feed the meter. Wait, it’s Sunday, I don’t have to. Did I remember to put on …