Luke 24:13-35 – NRSV Our eleventh step to a Compassionate Life is Recognition. “We recognize a personal connection with the suffering of others and find a way to focus and act upon our concern.” (Karen Armstrong, 12 Steps to a
12 Steps to a Compassionate Life: Step 10 – Knowledge
Romans 15: 1-2,4-9, 13 NRSV The fact that we are on the 10th step of the 12 steps to a compassionate life not only means that this sermon series is coming to an end, it also reflects the fact that
Step 9: Concern for Everybody
I have found this summer sermon series of 12 Steps to a Compassionate Life(1) by Karen Armstrong to be an interesting challenge as I apply the sense of mindfulness of past chapter’s information to my own life. Now we are
Step 8: How Should We Speak to One Another?
Ephesians 4: 25-27, 29-32, 5:2a Step 8 — How should we speak to one another?1 Don’t you think it’s interesting when the title poses a question? Yes, how should we speak to one another? According to Karen Armstrong: “Kindly, gently,
Step 7: How Little We Know
Job 11:5-9. We start today by taking a few minutes to recap the first six steps of the 12 Steps to a Compassionate Life by Karen Armstrong.1 Can you name them? Step 1: We learn about compassion by understanding its
Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life
Welcome to the beginning of the summer sermon series based on the book by Karen Armstrong1, Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life. The first step is to learn about compassion. There are many definitions of compassion and in my preparation
Living by Faith
2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1. I start this morning with a story by Rachel Naomi Remen from her book Kitchen Table Wisdom. This essay is entitled “At Last”. Just a few words about the author. A medical doctor, Rachel Naomi Remen, found
Three in One
Trinity Sunday. Psalm 29. My mother was a great cook. French Canadian, but she learned so many wonderful Italian dishes, including polenta which she taught me. Our extended family gatherings were legendary and the meals were the centerpiece of each
Fledglings
Pentecost. Acts 2:1-21. Pentecost is certainly an important day in the life of the church, as it is considered to be the birth of the church, so we join Christians everywhere celebrating this event and today, through our reading, just
Stringing Beads
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26; John 17:6-19. If lectionary readings are followed by congregations, then every three years we read the same Scripture lesson on a Sunday. What caught my attention this time around were the words about Peter. Peter stood up