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The Ultimate Regift

Mark 13.24-27
1 Corinthians 1.3-9

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Regifting

How many of us would admit to regifting a present? You know, you get a present and then decide it’s not quite for you. The necktie not quite your color, the knick knack doesn’t match the décor of your house, the sweater a little too, what’s the word…ugly, or maybe you’re just all set on socks and underwear this year. And you don’t want to see this gift go to waste so you give it to someone else. The word regifting was popularized a few years ago on the Seinfeld show. Here’s a taste of that episode. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VGbY6sirHM

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Standing at the Crossroads

Luke 5 17-26

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I’m excited for next summer when Elizabeth and I will be leading music for the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio. In preparing for conference, I thought back through the annual conferences I attended or played for through the years. And I always think fondly of my first annual conference in Cleveland, Ohio. 

I was a bit nervous and anxious before that one because not only was it my first time performing at Annual Conference but my first time ever attending. I wanted to do a good job, make a good impression and represent the Elizabethtown congregation well. Since the conference was in Cleveland, Elizabeth and I drove and Pastor Greg traveled with us to save on transportation expenses.

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Not in my backyard, chicken!

Galatians 5.19-23

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In my backyard?

It’s said that polite people never talk about religion or politics. We’re going to talk about both today. It’s also said that all politics are local, so I thought I’d talk about one of the most contentious local issues.

Several weeks ago there was a candidate’s forum for borough council here in Etown. Our very own Paula Knudsen Burke was one of the moderators of that event. I wasn’t there, but from what I hear it was a good event and fairly standard fare. Questions from the moderators were met with level-headed responses. The candidates were polite towards one another across party lines, common sense answers given regarding the common good. Then came an opportunity for those in attendance to ask questions of the candidates. And this is where it got interesting. And this is where I say, God bless local politics...