The Healing Trees
Sabbath Day Thoughts — “The Healing Trees” Ezekiel 47:6b-12 and Revelation 22:1-5 The Fortingall yew is the oldest tree in Scotland, and perhaps all of Europe. At 5,000 years old, the tree was already ancient when the Prophet Ezekiel languished in exile in Babylon and Jesus strode out of Galilee and shook things up in…
Late Comers
Sabbath Day Thoughts — “Late Comers” Matthew 20:1-16 Many years ago, before I went to seminary, I was a young adult living in a diverse urban neighborhood. My daily path to work took me past the local 7-11 convenience store. What I remember most about the 7-11 was the crowd of Hispanic men who hung…
The Economy of Grace
Sabbath Day Thoughts — “The Economy of Grace” Matthew 18:21-35 This week marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of 9/11. In lower Manhattan on Friday, family members read aloud the names of the 2,977 people killed in the attack on the twin towers. In that field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, National Park Service employees rang bells for each…
Truth and Reconciliation
Sabbath Day Thoughts — “Truth and Reconciliation” Matthew 18:15-20 Marty hasn’t spoken to his brothers in decades. It all started Thanksgiving of 1980. The whole family gathered at Marty’s home for dinner. Marty’s wife Lois cooked the most beautiful meal. She made cranberry relish, giblet gravy, and the turkey, roasted to perfection. It’s too bad…
Who Me?
Sabbath Day Thoughts — “Who Me?” Exodus 3:1-12 God knew the suffering of God’s people. A new leader rose to power. He stirred memories of former greatness and fanned the flames of national pride. He promised a better future and denounced the evil of other nations. He saw enemies everywhere. They practiced other faiths, loved…
Church Building
Sabbath Day Thoughts — “Church Building” Matthew 16:13-20 Every church building has a story. Westminster Church in Wilmington, Delaware, where I served many years ago, is a big congregation with humble beginnings. It was launched in 1857 as a Mission Sunday School. Its sole purpose was to share the gospel through Christian Education. The school…
A Bigger Table
Sabbath Day Thoughts — “A Bigger Table” Matthew 15:10-28 Immigration is a fraught subject in our nation. Since January 2025, agents of ICE and Customs and Border Patrol have made 582,040 immigration arrests. Over the same period, we have deported 590,600 people, sending them to either their countries of origin or third-party countries willing to…
From Saranac Lake to Mzuzu — Stories in Celebration of Our 136th Anniversary
Sabbath Day Thoughts — “From Saranac Lake to Mzuzu” Matthew 14:22-33 On Friday evening, July 25, 1890, the First Presbyterian Church of Saranac Lake, New York celebrated an organizing service in a brand-new church building. It was so new, in fact, that there were no windows; and instead of pews, the worshippers were seated on…
Wounded and Blessed
Sabbath Day Thoughts — “Wounded and Blessed” Genesis 32:22-31 We are wounded. Olivia was married for three years when she learned that her husband was having an affair with her best friend. She remembered the joy and promise of her wedding day when she stood at the chancel with her maid of honor on one…
Learning Patience
Sabbath Day Thoughts — “Learning Patience” Genesis 29:15-28 We live in an increasingly impatient world. Researchers have found that we’ll wait four seconds for a website to load before irritation sets in. By ten seconds, we are clicking our way to the next site. 96% of Americans admit to knowingly consuming hot food or drinks…
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