We begin with a garden. It’s no small matter that the committee who culled, edited, and arranged our anthology of sacred texts started the pages with the story of creation, of growth, of dreams. And in the final pages of our anthology, in the book of Revelation, we receive a vision of a city, equally full of trees and water and life. The tree of life, so often used as a sign of temptation and human brokenness, now becomes a tree of sustenance and unity– a new fruit each month

Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year C, RCL, Acts 11:1-18, Revelation 21:1-6, John 13:31-35 It seems so simple. So easy to do. Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. Jesus continues, “by this, by this example, by your example, everyone will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.” These few words that we hear are so difficult to live out. I pray that it is true, that this group of people can look around the room and say

Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year C, RCL, Acts 9:36-43, Psalm 23, John 10:22-30 We have all been there, wondering why we can’t hear God’s voice wondering why we can’t feel his presence in our lives. I’ve experienced this so strongly that I felt like a child who lost their parent in a department store. You know they must be close by, but you can’t see or hear them, and even when you cry out, you may not get a response. As Deacon Mark spoke about last week, even Mother Theresa w

In today’s Gospel lesson, Jesus appeared again to the disciples, this time at the Sea of Tiberias where a group of them were fishing but had yet to catch anything. There are two phrases here that resonate with me, Jesus showing himself and Jesus saying to Simon Peter, “Follow me.” Reminders to Simon and the other disciples that Jesus is still with them, even after the horrific event of his crucifixion, and their work continues by following Jesus out into the world. What do