Jim McDonald's blog

This Sunday I will be giving a short reflection on Mark: 10 46-52 where Jesus meets up with Bartimaeus who was a blind beggar.

Mark tells this story in which those who are the professional holy people, those who have most exposure to Jesus and his teaching, and those who have the most money and status, all fall away and are all supplanted by this solitary blind beggar, who alone does exactly what Jesus wants - he "follows him on the way."

What's the difference between All Saints' Sunday and All Souls' Sunday? - two stories that all of us live in and aspire from.

Come join us this Sunday as all three services celebrate those persons who have died and are now dancing in joy, as well as celebrating the Sacrament of Holy Communion. I will be giving a very short reflection on these two stories that we all live between and toward.

This Sunday I am reflecting on Luke 12.

I've often heard in my years of church work that if we just get people's hearts right then the money will follow. But that's really just the opposite of Jesus' teaching. Jesus says to get your wallet right and then hearts will follow. To whom do you want your heart to belong? Then put your money there.

This Sunday I'm focusing on the story of Ruth as it relates to the discussion surrounding immigration.

What Ruth's story shows is that the foreigner who appears to be nothing more than a bundle of trouble turns out to bring vital initiative and energy, and ultimately becomes the harbinger of the nation's hope of renewal.

May be true for us today.

- Pastor Jim

As every parent of a child or teen in our congregation already knows, parenting in the 21st century is a tremendous challenge (as well as a joy) - one of our most life-impacting opportunities (responsibilities?) (relationships?). This Sunday we'll listen to an image about the parent-child relationship from the Old Testament book of Hosea, and reflect on how it might relate to parenting, or other mentoring relationships, today.

Hello! I hope everyone's summer is going well. This Sunday I will be talking about choosing our government and governing our choices.  Happiness and meaning are not things to pursue. If you have ever tried to be happy or have a meaningful conversation, you know that these twins are seldom available to command from ourselves or the situation.

As we walk into Advent with Celebrate the Gift as our theme for this season, I want to walk through some verses from
Isaiah 11. This chapter invites us to watch for newness outside our constricted, frightened logic.

It begins: Out of the stump of Jesse..., Jesse being David’s father. David’s family and dynasty had run out in failure; no king, no future, no royal possibility, only a stump. But, says the poet, the stump will produce a shoot of new life that was not expected.

Have you ever noticed that moment when the lights dim and the stage lighting wakes up, that moment when even the whisperers stop whispering, that moment when the violins have their bows raised as the conductor raises her arms? Sometimes in a moment like that, the only sound is the sound of silence itself. You hold your breath to listen.

You're walking toward the front door, to bring in mail. For a second, you catch a whiff of fragrance from a scented something. It reminds you of a place you have never been and a time you have no words for.

I hope you are enjoying this beautiful September Friday! The trees are getting anxious for fall as the lightness of green turns to reds and yellows. Stepping outside brings an instant lift of joy.

This month, we've been focusing on  the Book of Philippians, sometimes described as "a Letter of Joy."

Come to worship this Sunday, and hear about something Paul calls "humility" in Philippians 2:1-11. Paul also calls it "the mind of Christ."

Every June 1, my wife has the habit of singing June is Bustin’ Out All Over. Not only all over the house, but on the phone to our kids as well. On some of those June mornings, I’d rather she didn’t, but she does and she does all the verses.

March went out like a lion
A whippin up the water in the bay;
Then April cried and stepped aside,
And along came pretty little May!