Abide in Flame

Psalm 136:1-9, 23-26 | 1 John 4:13-19 | Hebrews 12:29

Jeremy Richards

Our theme for 2021 is simply “Love.” Well, specifically it’s “Re: Love,” which looks better written than it sounds spoken. This theme is broken down into 4 parts, each lasting 3 months, all accompanied by “re” words, because in the suggestions we received from all of you about what you wanted us to focus on in 2021, “re” words kept being used. Remembering, reimagining, renewing…. The prefix “re” is interesting because in a way it breaks down time. “Re” words invite us to revisit what is old, and to reevaluate its application for today as we look forward to tomorrow. I’m reminded of Jesus teaching, “…every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”

When Reality Lags

Jeremiah 31:7-14 | Ephesians 1:3-14

Jeremy Richards

Our reading from Jeremiah this morning proclaims a future home to a down and out, exiled people. There’s scholarly debate about the circumstances surrounding this passage, but most agree that the context is the Babylonian exile.

Whatever the particulars, in the midst of what is a strong candidate for the most doom-and-gloom, no-fun, depressing of the prophetic books (which is saying something!) our passage today comes from a hopeful section of 3 chapters, often called the “Book of Consolation.” While Jeremiah spends most of his time predicting the impending defeat to Babylon and the subsequent exile, he promises – or should we say that God promises – hope.

Is That the Whole Story?

Romans 16:25-27 | Luke 1:26-38

Jeremy Richards

There are some biblical stories that we know by heart. We’ve heard them so many times we could recite them in our sleep. And of those biblical stories that we know so well, none are better known than the Christmas stories. In the Western world at least, many people who don’t even identify as Christian and who have very little first-hand experience with the Church still know the story of the full inn, the baby Jesus born in a manger, the shepherds, the angels, and the wise men from the East.

Who's Doing the Waiting?

Isaiah 40:1-11 | 2 Peter 3:8-15a

Jeremy Richards

Earlier this week, I was sitting in my office, reading over our scriptures for today, and I wasn’t really getting anywhere. I kept running into dead ends. I would get a bit of an idea, but it wouldn’t really take off. So I did what I often do, if the weather allows, when I’m going round and round in my head: I went for a walk in Grant Park.

Demolition and Renovation

1 Corinthians 1:3-9 | Mark 13:24-37

Jeremy Richards

In the Richards’ house, this past week was full of some of the normal Thanksgiving week stuff. There was time off, good food, a trip to the Christmas tree farm, decorating the house for Christmas, all that. There was even a little bit of time with family, though it was all over Zoom and Facetime. But there was something else happening at the Richards’ home this week as well. When we moved in, there was one element of the house that we said we needed to fix as soon as possible. In fact, it was almost a deal-breaker for me when we first toured the house: the largest wall, on the east side of our family room, was covered in cedar shingles. Even the door was covered in them. It looked like it was supposed to be outside...but it was inside, and I hated it. (Some of you have seen this wall, and some of you even liked it!).

Waiting

Amos 5:18-24 | 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 | Matthew 25:1-13

Jeremy Richards

This past Tuesday (and Wednesday and Thursday and Friday), we, as a nation, learned something about waiting in vain. We tasted the disappointment of waiting for election results that didn’t arrive. Of course this isn’t the first time we’ve had to wait for something. Waiting is part of life. We’ve all waited for something that never materialized before. We’ve waited for friends who forgot about our lunch date and never showed up. We’ve waited for buses that never came around the corner. We’ve waited for visitors to arrive at our homes only to get the message that they had car trouble or the roads were bad and they had to get a hotel for the night, but they’ll be there in the morning.

The Spirit and Justice

Micah 3:5-12 | 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 | Matthew 23:1-12

Jeremy Richards

Awhile back, someone I’ve gotten to know a little bit but don’t know well, and who is a Christian but has never been to Grant Park, asked me something like, “Do you think your congregation focuses on the gospel enough, or do you think they care too much about justice and the gospel just kinda gets pushed aside.”