Proper 17.B.21
Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
The Rev. Melanie McCarley

Debi Thomas grew up in a church where jewelry was not allowed. She writes: “No one in the congregation wore engagement rings or wedding bands. Women and girls weren’t permitted to wear rings, necklaces, bracelets, or earrings. Even play jewelry. It was all banned. Anyone who showed up on a Sunday morning sporting an “ornament”—even first-time visitors ignorant of the prohibition – could be denied Communion.

Proper 16.B.21
1 Kings 8:22-30, 41-43
The Rev. Melanie McCarley

Legend has it that there was once a traveler who journeyed over the globe in search of wisdom and enlightenment. Finally, having come upon a village in France, the traveler heard a great deal of noise, and beheld dust and commotion. It was easy to see that a great building project was underway.
He approached the nearest laborer and asked: “Excuse me, I’m not from this village. May I ask what you are doing?” The laborer replied curtly, “Can’t you see? I’m a stonemason. I’m making bricks.”

Proper 15.B.21
1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14
The Rev. Melanie McCarley

Seventeenth century British historian, James Howell, put it simply, “Some are wise, and some are otherwise.”

Proper 10.B.21
Mark 6:14-29
The Rev. Melanie McCarley

Proper 9.B.21
Psalm 48 (Independence Day)
The Rev. Melanie McCarley

“Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised; in the city of our God is his holy hill. Beautiful and lofty, the joy of all the earth, is the hill of Zion, the very center of the world and the city of the great king.”

Zion is synonymous with City of God. From a biblical standpoint, Zion can refer both to Jerusalem in a temporal sense, as well as Jerusalem as in the Heavenly City of God. It’s an inspiring concept which has found its way into the self-understanding of our nation.

Proper 9.B.21
Psalm 48 (Independence Day)
The Rev. Melanie McCarley

“Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised; in the city of our God is his holy hill. Beautiful and lofty, the joy of all the earth, is the hill of Zion, the very center of the world and the city of the great king.”

Zion is synonymous with City of God. From a biblical standpoint, Zion can refer both to Jerusalem in a temporal sense, as well as Jerusalem as in the Heavenly City of God. It’s an inspiring concept which has found its way into the self-understanding of our nation.

Proper 8.B.21
2 Corinthians 8:7-15
The Rev. Melanie McCarley

Landon Parvin tells a story about a charity organization’s chairperson’s visit to an infamous miser. “Sir,” the fund-raiser told him, “Our records show that despite your wealth, you’ve never even once given to our drive.”