Author: sarainrealife

The first time I heard the term “sermon in view of a call,” I was in a seminary class called Mentoring for Congregational Ministry. I listened to the lecture, of course, knowing in my heart that it didn’t really apply to me.  A sermon in view of a call is a sermon that is preached…

Yesterday’s sermon from Matthew 4:12-23 On a sunny afternoon in early December of 2002, I made my way across my college campus from my dorm to the music department to play 2 piano pieces for a jury of my professors. I got nervous so I made quite a few mistakes; and when I had finished…

I was recently and wisely advised to just take every day as it comes. Andrew has submitted all his PhD applications so all we can do is live our lives every day. Stressing about it will not harken the day of knowing something one way or the other. What can we do today to nourish…

And by the light of that same star, the Magi came from country far. To seek for a king was their intent, and to follow the star wheresoever it went. Last Sunday, we celebrated Epiphany. The epiphany of the Lord is the revelation of God, made flesh in Jesus. In many churches, Epiphany Sunday is…

Last night, AJ and I rang in the new year with our friends Kali and Haley. There was much cheese dip and some kind of cream cloud on a base of chocolate cookie dipped in a chocolate shell from the International Bakery. We played Apples to Apples and the Oregon Trail card game – I…

Today’s sermon from Isaiah 63:7-9 … Have you heard of a thankfulness pumpkin? I learned about them a few years ago. Individuals and families would take a pumpkin and transform it into a rustic and interactive centerpiece for their tables, by writing things they were grateful for, on the pumpkin with a permanent marker during…

… and you shall give him the name Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” I read these words from the angel to Joseph in a dream, in our morning worship before the sermon. When we begin our worship, every Sunday, we light the candles at either end of the altar table, to remind us…

The third verse of my favorite Advent hymn reads: ” Match the present to the promise, Christ will come again. Make this hope your guiding premise, Christ will come again. Pattern all your calculating and the world you are creating to the advent you are waiting, Christ will come again.” Advent is a season of…

Someone recently played a horrible word association game that dissolved into grown men making fun of a sister in Christ and demanding that she “go home,” citing lack of a Biblical evidence for a woman to preach. If you’re unfamiliar with the reference, ask me about it. I won’t dignify the details here. The other…