by Rev Dr. Helen Svoboda-Barber Today's Gospel shows us two different types of communities worshiping God. The first community is the synagogue in Jesus' hometown. This worshiping community is so focused on keeping things in good order and following all the traditions that they are blind to what could be. They knew Jesus as a … Continue reading Two Models of Church | July 4, 2021
Two Invitations from the Bleeding Woman | June 27, 2021
Rev. Dr. Helen Svoboda-Barber Today’s gospel story is a sandwich of two stories. On the outside of the story, the beginning and the end, is the story of Jarius’s daughter and the healing that happened in her life. In the middle is the story of a woman healed after twelve years of disease. Today, I … Continue reading Two Invitations from the Bleeding Woman | June 27, 2021
Nothing Special and the Kingdom of God | June 13, 2021
by the Rev'd Dr. Helen Svoboda-Barber Our Gospel stories today are some of the parables Jesus tells about the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is like a tiny mustard seed, planted in the dirt, that becomes a scrubby, gangly big bush --a home for the birds. That is the Kingdom of God. As … Continue reading Nothing Special and the Kingdom of God | June 13, 2021
In a Crowded House With Jesus | June 6, 2021
Rev. Laura Thornton Today we have this little parable inside a story inside another story in Mark’s gospel. Jesus has been teaching and healing and casting out demons. And very quickly, word spreads and crowds appear wherever he goes. Jesus’ family comes to restrain him, take him home, protect him, they think he has lost … Continue reading In a Crowded House With Jesus | June 6, 2021
The Power of Names | February 28, 2021
by the Rev. Dr. Helen Svoboda-Barber May only God’s Word be spoken and only God’s Word be heard. Both today’s Old Testament reading and our Gospel have name changes in them. So today, let’s talk about the power of names. In Genesis 17, God talks to Abram for the fifth time in scripture, and in … Continue reading The Power of Names | February 28, 2021
Wild Beasts and Angels | February 21, 2021
by Rev. Susan Bennett The first Sunday in Lent is always the temptation of Jesus in the desert. Always. Matthew and Luke go into poetic detail about the powers and the riches and the status that Satan dangles before Jesus in his attempt to derail Jesus’ ministry before it gets started. But not Mark. In … Continue reading Wild Beasts and Angels | February 21, 2021
What is mine? What is for now? | February 7, 2021
by Rev. Dr. Helen Svoboda-Barber Jesus has been having a busy day this first day of his ministry in Mark’s gospel. It began with teaching in the synagogue. Everyone was amazed with his authority as he taught. Then, right there inside the sanctuary, he removed an unclean spirit from a man. And in today’s reading, … Continue reading What is mine? What is for now? | February 7, 2021
Fighting Evil | January 31, 2021
by the Rev. Dr. Helen Svoboda-Barber Today’s gospel tells the story of the first act of ministry Jesus does in the Gospel of Mark. Jesus was baptized, he spent 40 days in the wilderness being tempted by Satan, he gathered a few disciples, and then he goes into the synagogue to teach. While Jesus was … Continue reading Fighting Evil | January 31, 2021
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