Devotions
BASIC BELIEVING: “When I am lifted up…”
Sermon Preached at Redeemer Anglican Church, Bellevue, PA, July 18, 2021 Lessons: Isaiah 52:13-53:1-6; Romans 6:1-11; Luke 24: 36-53 I grew up as an unbeliever and only became a Christian and…
CRITICAL LOVERS AND LOVING CRITICS: A Reflection for Independence Day
NOTE: I preached this meditation on Sunday, July 4, 2021 at my local church in Pittsburgh. It seems appropriate, however, to make available on subsequent Independence Days. SN LESSONS: Psalm…
‘”IF YOU LOVE ME, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS” (John 14:15): A Sermon Series on the Commandment to Love
Preface In the Easter-Pentecost season 2021, I began a series of sermons on the theme of God’s Commandments, beginning in the Old Testament and moving to Jesus’ teaching. These sermons formed…
PRAYING THE SCRIPTURES WITH THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER
Preface I wrote this essay in 1998 for a projected anthology of articles on the Book of Common Prayer. The project never came to fruition. In the meantime, my wife and I served overseas for…
“Devotions”: GEORGE HERBERT: The Country Parson
GEORGE Herbert was born in 1593, the fifth son of a noble father and a saintly mother. George was a noted classical scholar at Trinity College, Cambridge, and aspired to a post in the royal…
“EASTER WINGS”: George Herbert on the Resurrection
On Easter morning, a grieving but credulous Mary Magdalene saw two Angels seated in the tomb, where the body of Jesus had lain (John 20:12). I conclude my meditations with George…
THE SACRIFICE: Jesus’ Passion Narrated by George Herbert
This year we are following the gallant sacrifices which many are making to stem the coronavirus, an enemy to our physical health. Holy Week recalls to us that an earlier and greater sacrifice…
TURNING THE DIAMOND: George Herbert on Prayer, Week 1
Note: the following five meditations on George Herbert’s sonnet “Prayer” were posted serially from March 16-20. I have now compiled then in one edition for “Week…
TURNING THE DIAMOND: George Herbert on Prayer, Week 2
The second week of meditations on George Herbert's gem of a poem on Prayer.
TURNING THE DIAMOND: George Herbert on Prayer, Week 3
Continuing the verse-by-verse exposition of George Herbert’s sonnet “Prayer” assisted by Dennis Lennon, Turning the Diamond: Exploring George Herbert’s Images of Prayer.
FROM THE BOSOM OF THE SON TO THE BOSOM OF THE FATHER: Pondering the Feast Day of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist
This year I participated in the midnight and morning Christmas services at our parish church. I read the Gospel from St. Luke at the first service and heard a sermon on the Gospel from St.…