Break Through to Beloved

by | Jan 27, 2013 | racism, sermon 2013, social justice, spiritual community, spiritual practice

At two o’clock today, over seven hundred people will gather here at Riverside Church to see the film “The Central Park 5.” This film proclaims release to the captives. It tells the terribly untold story of how in 1989, the City of New York—D.A., police, people, media, mayor, more—convicted five boys of a violent and bloody rape without any evidence except their own deceitfully forced confessions; and how, as grown men, the captives were released and finally exonerated in 2002

Ready the Mind

by | Dec 16, 2012 | Christmas, Newtown, sermon 2012, spiritual practice

It is hard to speak in the aftermath of great harm. In Newtown, Conn., where the dead are not yet buried, songs, silence, embraces, candles— these matter. Lots of words don’t. Politicians are mostly awkward with real speech and real feeling, yet they are given the microphones. Over and over, they stutter the word awful tragedy, as if saying it could soothe the ravening beast. It does not.

The Past Has Passed

by | Dec 9, 2012 | Christmas, sermon 2012, spiritual practice

There are things to do to prepare for Christ. First, see this fact of our nature. Our rooms are all filled up. Every room is booked solid, all day, every day. We tell that there was no room in the inn for Jesus. Hah! When it comes to our stable personalities, there is not room for Christ in our feed trough, not room in the hay croft, not room in the closet or the cupboard or the cup! What’s filling us up? Our thoughts and our judgments.

A World in Tumult

by | Dec 2, 2012 | Christmas, sermon 2012, spiritual practice

A.World.In.Tumult-TIA from The Inward Arc series Texts on Sunday, December 2, 2012 Jeremiah 33: 14-16; Luke 21: 25-36 Jesus says There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. Really? A lot of people awfully excited by the “end of the Mayan calendar” sure think so....