Rev. Zach

Psalm 146   Luke 4:14-30 Well, friends, once again we find ourselves at the close of a week of unprecedented events and at the beginning of another. Sometimes, among the headlines and memes and conspiracy theories, I like to try to take a step back and think about the way people are responding in our various pools of friends and online acquaintances. Most of us are, of course, somewhat selective of who we communicate with through social media, but there are also those (like me) who just say what they want to anyone and everyone who will listen. Regardless of your level of discretion, you’ve probably noticed that there are some who only use social media for levity, rightly believing that no political, theological or ontological argument has ever been won online.  Then there are those that try to get everyone to their side. Sometimes that’s through a factual argument, and sometimes it’s through sarcasm and ridicule of “the other side.” Sometimes it is through sharing something good or h

The image is from the painting, Baptism of the Lord by Daniel Bonnell. The song is "Glory to God" featuring Jake Spinella and the FPC Chancel Choir. Todays Readings:  Genesis 1:1-5 ; Mark 1:4-11  Wednesday was an interesting day in the life of our nation, in fact, it was an interesting day for the world – given the impact our nation has on others. It was a historic day full of riots and wrangling, run-offs, and run-ins. I’m sure that days like that make good headlines – and I know that I’ve been taught to preach with the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other – but I’m tired of making history. I imagine that you are, too. I imagine that I am not alone in longing for a time when things return to normal, or at least a time when everyone isn’t angry about one thing or another. The trouble is that there are still things to be angry about, and we just can’t seem to get past the fact that there are more ways to solve our problems than to expect that might makes right. In

Matthew 2:1-12 Hey Jake, what’s that song we like to sing around this time of year about the wise men? [Jake plays “We Three Kings”] No, no, no! I mean the one about the fourth wise man! [Jake plays “Rudolph”.] THAT’S IT! [The next portion is sung.] You know Balthasar, Melchior, and Gaspar (or Casper); kings of Arabia (or Ethiopia, we aren’t sure which), Persia, and India….but do you recall, the least famous wise man of all? [Rudolf the red nosed reindeer]           Artaban, one of the Medes from Persia, [had a very shiny nose,]                          had 3 treasures for the Christ Child, [and if you ever saw it]                            but because he missed the meeting, [you would even say it glows.]            he spent one for his travel woes. [All of the other reindeer]                          All of the other wise men [used to laugh and call him names.]      made it and had gifts to spare, [They never let poor Rudolf,]                   but Artaban the fourth wise man [jo