Delighting in the Human Journey
May 22, 2016 — Nancy Bancroft Readings: John 1: 1-5; John 16:12-15 In Time magazine’s May 2 issue in which they list who they consider to be today’s 100 most influential people, there is a story about Nadia Murad, age 23. The article reads: “Nadia Murad stands in a long, invisible history of fierce, indomitable […]
One in the Spirit
May 15, 2016 — Nancy Bancroft Readings: Genesis 11:1-9; Acts 2:1-13 I think that the Bible is a beautiful and apt symbol for Union Church. As a unity in diversity, the Bible expresses its message in a rich variety of literary forms. The literature of the Bible is an aesthetically beautiful interpretation of divine […]
On Being Church
May 1, 2016 — Nancy Bancroft Readings: Leviticus 26: 9-13; Acts 2:41-47 As you know, we are awaiting the birth of our third grandson. Rachel and Christopher have been preparing their other two boys for Beau’s arrival. Kane was just 2 ½ when Mace was born, so he doesn’t remember the adjustment of not having […]
Do We Really Love Our Earth?
April 24, 2016 — Nancy Bancroft Anniversaries are important. In most cultures people celebrate the anniversary of their birth. It’s a time to be grateful for our lives, and for people who love us to also show that they appreciate us. Wedding anniversaries are also important celebrations. They are opportunities for a couple to show […]
Thoughts on Courage
April 10, 2016 — Nancy Bancroft Scripture Readings: Deut. 31 5-8; John 20:19-20 & Luke 24:37-49 From time to time I like to imagine myself in a gospel story. Doing so often gives me insights that I might not otherwise have. The gospels were written after about one hundred years of passing the stories […]
Show Me
March 27,2016 (10:00 a.m. Service) — Nancy Bancroft Readings: Psalm 96, Mark 16:9-14 May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be found pleasing to you, Oh God. Show Me A long, long time ago I attended college in Missouri. It’s known as the Show Me state, and Missourians are […]
The Rest of the Story
March 27, 2016 (Sunrise Service) — Nancy Bancroft Paul Harvey Aurandt better known as Paul Harvey was a conservative American radio broadcaster for the ABC Radio Networks. Paul Harvey, for any of you who may remember, had a distinctive style. His on-air persona was influenced by sportscaster Bill Stern, who had an emphatic manner […]
When the Cheering Stopped
March 20, 2016—Nancy Bancroft American historian Gene Smith wrote a book in 1964 entitled When the Cheering Stopped. It’s the story of President Woodrow Wilson and the events leading up to and following WWI. When WWI broke out in 1914 Wilson tried until 1916 to keep America out of it. However by mid-1917 when […]
Come Out!
March 13, 2016—Nancy Bancroft The Jesus whom we meet in John’s Gospel often seems to be an intimidating sort. He strides through the pages saying things like, “I am Living Water,” “I am the Bread of the Life,” “I am the light of the world,” and, in today’s Gospel, the dramatic proclamation, “I am […]
The Wonder of Miracles
March 6, 2016—Nancy Bancroft Readings : Isaiah 66: 10-13, MT 17: 1-10 Dictionary.Com defines the word “miracle” as an effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural. As we learn more and more about the laws of nature many events […]