In the Midst of Chaos
Sabbath Day Thoughts — “In the Midst of Chaos” Matthew 24:1-14 Our world is feeling especially chaotic these days. It’s been a week since the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran. The images have been alarming: Tehran’s Mehrabad airport on fire, plumes of black smoke rising from the city, rescuers digging through…
Truth to Power
Sabbath Day Thoughts — “Truth to Power” Mark 12:1-12 Rachel spoke truth to power. For her senior year at Evergreen State College, Rachel proposed a special independent study. She would travel to Gaza with the International Solidarity Movement. There, she would live in community with Palestinian families, initiate a “sister city” project between Olympia and…
A Hopeful Beginning
Sabbath Day Thoughts — “A Hopeful Beginning” Luke 19:28-40 On Ash Wednesday, more than 300 prominent Christian leaders, including Presbyterians, released “A Call to Christians in a Crisis of Faith and Democracy.” It’s a boldly worded statement that characterizes this moment in history as a time of spiritual crisis in which we must affirm what…
Hidden Glory
Sabbath Day Thoughts — “Hidden Glory” Matthew 17:1-9 Have you seen the glory of Jesus lately? In August 2012, visitors to Belfast City Cemetery were surprised to see an image resembling the face of Jesus on a tree stump. City Council workers had been out earlier in the year to trim trees in the western…
Repair and Restore
Sabbath Day Thoughts — “Repair and Restore” Isaiah 58:1-12 On December 4, 1967, Martin Luther King was in Atlanta for a press conference. Dr. King had come to Georgia to announce his newest initiative in the pursuit of American social justice, The Poor People’s Campaign. In recent years, his activism had taken him north to…
Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness
Sabbath Day Thoughts — “Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness” Matthew 5:1-12 It’s February in Saranac Lake and all thoughts turn to Winter Carnival, our annual celebration of the season. Some of us are already hard at work on the shores of Lake Flower, building a palace that is certain to take our breath away. Others…
Come and See
Sabbath Day Thoughts — “Come and See” John 1:35-42 Let me tell you a story. The news swam up the river, all the way from Bethany beyond the Jordan. A prophet came, striding out of the wilderness, his beard grown long, his hair a tangle of knots. His eyes burned and his voice boomed above…
Be Loved
Sabbath Day Thoughts — “Be Loved” Matthew 3:13-17 Baptism of the Lord Sunday often gets ministers thinking about baptisms they have been involved with over the years. One of my most memorable baptisms was during the height of the pandemic. A local neighbor, who was often down on his luck and suffered from serious mental…
Follow the Star
Sabbath Day Thoughts — “Follow the Star” Rev. Dr. Joann White No characters in the birth story of Jesus have drawn more attention and speculation than the Magi. Conditioned by years of Christmas pageants, carol singing, and Hollywood movies, we can tell you stories about the Wise Ones that are more fantasy than fact. Bible…
Banjo Cheer
Sabbath Day Thoughts — “Banjo Cheer” by John Douglas “Banjo Cheer” by John Douglas “Banjo Cheer” was written by John Douglas. It first appeared in the December 1911 issue of The Cadenza, a string instrument magazine of the time. This reading was shared by Dr. Joann with accompaniment on the banjo by Duane Keith Gould.…
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Joann White 