On Forgiveness, Again?
February 24, 2019 — Rev. Paula Norbert Genesis 45:3-11, 15, Luke 6:27-28 Today, we hear the continuation in Luke of the Sermon on the Plain that we began last week, with these challenging words from Jesus, “I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those […]
Yours is the Kingdom of God
February 17, 2019 — Rev. Paula Norbert We hear today the familiar passage from Luke that is often called the Beatitudes. This reflects the beginning of his preaching and it is a summary of some of the important things that he then will live out in his public ministry and repeat in both his […]
Transformational Love
February 10, 2019 — Rev. Paula Norbert In a few days, we will celebrate Valentine’s Day, which is a day when many people give cards or flowers or chocolates to a special loved one….and perhaps to family members or dear friends. I’ve always enjoyed celebrating this day, even when I haven’t been in a special […]
Whoever Said It Would Be Easy?
February 3, 2019 — Rev. Paula Norbert Last week, I spent some time speaking about prophets in our midst as we remembered the legacy of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Today, we find Jesus back in his hometown after he had been speaking in his synagogue to a crowd that had gathered that day. He […]
Prophets In Our Midst
January 27, 2019 — Rev. Paula Norbert We celebrate Martin Luther King today and as a national holiday last Monday in our nation. For all of us who have paid attention to the news in recent years, we know there is still much work to be done in our world to fulfill the dream Rev. […]
Illuminating Presence
January 6, 2019 — Rev. Paula Norbert Happy New Year to everyone! Today, as many of you know, is the Epiphany, January 6th, the date by which we mark the visit of the 3 Wise Men, the Magi to the newborn King, Jesus. This is typically the final story in the birth narratives which are […]
Christmas Eve Message
December 24, 2018 — Rev. Paula Norbert Not so very long ago in the great history of humankind, and yet for us, a very long time indeed, a child was born in a little town called Bethlehem. And we know that he didn’t grow up to be a King or a great leader in terms […]
Reflections on Hope Before Christmas
December 23, 2018 — Rev. Paula Norbert The last verse of Silent Night invites us to raise our voices in alleluia’s to the one who is “King.” This descriptor was more radical for the people of Jesus’ time as it resisted the powers of empire that threatened “the least of these” that Jesus came to serve. […]
Love’s Pure Light
December 16, 2018 — Rev. Paula Norbert “Silent night, holy night, Son of God, love’s pure light, Radiant beams from Thy holy face, With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth” – vs. 3 We gather today on this third Sunday in Advent as we move ever […]
Unexpected Joy
December 9, 2018 — Rev. Paula Norbert As we move through these weeks of Advent this year, we are reflecting on the themes in a different order than we usually find them, but sometimes, I like to take things out of order because it draws our attention to them in a new way. It wakes […]