Rev. Zach

Psalm 145:14-21 ; John 20:19-31 Last week we spent a lot of time talking about the resurrection of Jesus and making the claim that we are a people of the resurrection! This week we are going to spend a little time figuring out just what that means, and we’re going to find that we are not alone in our doubts and fears – nor are we alone in our deep faith in the active presence of God. Having said, “doubts,” you might assume that I am talking about Thomas, the darling disciple of everyone who ever wanted some hard evidence of the active presence of God. Well, this is certainly his time to shine. It does feel good to say that even the disciples had a tough time understanding what God was doing through Jesus – and they were there with him – but I think a closer examination will show that this story is not as much about Thomas as we might want it to be. Ultimately, this story is about Jesus. Thomas gets a bad wrap because Jesus shames him for needing to see and blesses those who do not see ...

 Scripture Readings:  1 Peter 1:3-9 , John 20:19-31 Join us for worship: youtube.com/c/fpclafayette I love the way John 20:19-31 ends! It ends with so much mystery and yet so much assurance. “these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.” I imagine that you know at least a few people of faith who embody the phrase, “you may have life in his name.” One of those persons in my life is the Rev Terry Jo Crego. She was the Camp Director of our Presbytery’s camp when I was in seminary, and an early mentor of mine. Terry Jo recently put together a little video I want to share with you that may embody the feeling of disciples hunkering down in fear, and it might even connect with how some of us are feeling during this time of social distancing. [A clip of Terry Jo’s video is incorporated into the worship service posted below video. Click here for the original.] I hope you ...

Psalm 118:14-29     John 20:19-31 The year was 1995. I was freshly divorced and house sitting for a friend of mine while he was away for the summer. He had a late 80’s Mazda Rx7 that he told me to be sure I drove from time to time, but I had to be careful because the speedometer didn’t always work. Well, I got pulled over. By some miracle of chance, the officer believed me that the car was not stolen and that the speedometer was broken. That was probably due to the fact that I was pulled over for going too slow, but I still attributed being let go without a ticket to the prayers that leaped into my heart at the sound of the siren! It was a trying time in my life, and that very night I did what I would never advise anyone do. I got out my Bible. I shook my fist at God and said, “If you love me, prove it!” Then I flipped open the Bible and stuck my finger in it – just like Thomas. Fortunately, I did not land in something like Daniel’s dream of a ram and a goat. I lan...

Acts 2:14a, 22-32 1 Peter 1:3-9 John 20:19-31 The march began with a man shouting into a bullhorn, “What do we want?” The crowd replied, “Evidence based policy!” He goaded them, “When do we want it?” and they replied, “After peer review!” So began the March for Science by a few in our town and thousands in cities across our nation yesterday. It was also Earth Day – the 47th annual Earth Day , in fact. It’s no coincidence that these events overlapped, given the conversations in our nation about the impact of civil society on the world we live in. We, unlike any other organism on the planet, impact the health of the planet and the availability of its resources. We, unlike any other organism on the planet, have been gifted with rational minds and the ability to make decisions as individuals and as communities and nations. That ability, that responsibility, is what was behind the March for Science yesterday and every Earth Day celebration since 1970. Now, I know that some of you hav...

Acts 4:32-35     Psalm 133:1-3     1 John 1:1-2:2     John 20:19-31 Today we have some of the most romantic passages in the lectionary.  I don’t mean that they are all lovey dovey.  I mean they are the stuff of dreams.  They are the kind of passages that draw many of us to think of ideal images of the church in harmony and Jesus returning to calm fears, answer doubts, and give power to those who follow him.  These are certainly good images to hold onto, but there may be more to it than that. For me, theses readings conjure up memories of singing around a campfire.  It usually began with a two-part harmony chorus.  The boys would often start – some faking a low voice until they could make one, or at least hide their awkward squeaks in the group. Walkin’, walkin’, walkin’ in the light  Walkin’, walkin’, walkin’ in the light  Then the girls would come in a little too high before settling into somethin...