Most Sundays at my church, my Senior Pastor and I break up our clergy roles into the preaching pastor and the praying pastor. This past Sunday, I had the role of praying pastor. Normally I greatly appreciate such a role. Yet there are times when I struggle to find the words not just to preach, but to pray. The past few weeks have been filled with news about the possibility of nuclear war with North Korea; angry tweets and posts; the rally and protest in Charlottesville, Virginia; racism, bigotry, and white supremacy; among non stop news filled with anger, hurt, … Continue reading When Words Fail Us

It was a beautiful, yet somber Saturday here in Indianapolis. I’m sure you noticed the moving tribute for Lt. Aaron Allen yesterday, from the Memorial Service downtown to the long procession of nearly 500 vehicles. The city remembered an officer who gave his life in service. Many people also gathered yesterday afternoon at Plainfield United Methodist Church to remember and celebrate the life of Pastor Bob Walters who was a missionary in the Congo and former Associate here at Meridian Street from 1999 to 2001. He, too, gave his entire life to serve the church around the world. I ask again … Continue reading Sermon “Being the Beloved”

Sermon, “Guided by Love, Driven by the Heart” Do you hear the wedding bells ringing? It’s that time of year! We have had 5 weddings since early June here at Meridian Street, that doesn’t include Pastor Steve’s daughter getting married last Saturday downtown. Love is in the air! We had a wedding yesterday here as well. My anniversary is this week. And I have heard that many of you have celebrated July anniversaries as well. Weddings pull at your heart strings, don’t they? Certainly that’s true for the parents and the occasional bride and rarely the groom, maybe we’ll just … Continue reading Sermon “Guided by Love, Driven by the Heart”

SCRIPTURE READING             Genesis 12: 1-5 12 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great,  and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” 4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. 5 He took his … Continue reading Sermon, “Blessed to be a Blessing”

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 8: 1-11, 32-36 Sermon for July 2nd, 2017, “The Call of Wisdom” I’m climbing into the pulpit again this morning! For me at least, I feel like walking up to this place elevates my call and responsibility to preach, both literally and spiritually. Perhaps it’s the idea of having a specific place to worship together, to offer Holy Communion together, and to offer the sermon in this place where many pastors before me have shared their experience of God and Scripture. As I practiced my sermon from this very place this week, I started to wonder, “Is … Continue reading Sermon “The Call of Wisdom”

SCRIPTURE READING- Jeremiah 29: 1, 10-14 This is the text of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. 10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come … Continue reading Sermon for VBS Sunday, “Hope for the Future”

This is a line from a letter that Saint Francis of Assisi wrote to his Friars in 1225 toward the end of his life. It is from a prayer that ends the letter to his brothers in the faith. The full prayer is: Almighty, eternal, just, and merciful God, give us scoundrels your grace to do for you what we know you want from us, and always to do that which is pleasing to you. May we be inwardly purified, interiorly illumined, and kindled by the fire of the Holy Ghost, so that we are able to follow in the … Continue reading Give Us Scoundrels Your Grace