In this Easter season, when we see death around us, and perhaps wonder when we, too, may leave our caves, we remember the natural fear and trembling that accompanied Jesus's…
Maybe Pilate was coming in by the other road, encouraging Judeans to show their loyalty to the Empire. Maybe he wasn't. Jesus's entry on a colt shows the humility God…
Jesus predicts the sovereign realm of God will come in the lifetimes of the people among him. What if he is preparing all of us for all the upheavals of…
We are reminded by the story that follows Jesus laying out the greatest commandment what power we have to love God will all our hearts. Sometimes, we miss the sacrifice…
We're showing our love by not spreading germs. In Jesus's terms, we're trying to figure out how to tend God's vineyard together. Sometimes, it's easy to forget this work until…
It's important that Jesus's transfiguration comes only after he warns Peter not to be ashamed of his impending death. We are reminded that it is easy to promote Christ when…
Sometimes, leaders say things that are good ideas, but don't necessarily bring us closer to God. Sometimes we have good ideas that don't bring us closer to God. Sometimes we…
John the Baptist's death shows us the lengths to which those in power will go to suppress criticism. The way we tell the story shows how they also often evade…
Jesus's adventures among the Gerasenes warn us that pushing our demons out of sight do not make them any less potent. Only when we exorcise them from ourselves and reconcile…
We are all embodied--we do not exist apart from our bodies, their strengths and their weaknesses. Each of us has a different experience in the world because of our bodies,…
We always have the choice between cruelty and compassion. This week, the 5th circuit chose cruelty. Jesus reminds us, always, that though we cannot control the outcome of our actions,…
In this week's reading, Jesus heals a body, tries to heal society, and heals a spiritual rift. Some readings of this text suggest that our bodily injury is caused by…
In the New Testament portion of our lectionary year, we hear the awkward phrasing and cut-down language of Mark, and ask what goes in-between. Reading through the spaces gives us…
We remember Gerald.
How do we rotate our views so that we do not elevate people with wealth, especially inherited wealth? How do we transform our community into something we would joyfully give…
We practice an open table in Ankeny UCC, meaning, all are welcome to take communion. Why do we do that, when Paul seems to argue that we need to have…
Jesus says we need to welcome God's kingdom like a child. But what is a child in this world full of anxiety? What can we do as a church to…
