11th Hour Preachers Party: The Gift of Faith Stew?

(fall lightening storm, from the files of mompriest)

It's autumn, my favorite time of year. Fierce evening storms roll through as temperatures plummet. The morning dawns bright and crisp with a distinct chill in the air and frost on the ground. Leaves are turning yellow, orange, and red. And the crock-pot is filled with the makings of an evening stew, parsnips and turnips, potatoes, celery, and onion, bay leaves, peppercorn, and chunks of beef. A fragrant aroma fills the house. Likewise, our readings this week offer us a veritable mix of ingredients. The cries of the city in Lamentations, the horror of Psalms, Habakkuk (worth preaching on just to say Habakkuk), the faith of grandmother's in Timothy, and the ever famous mustard seed: a faith stew if here ever was one. A richer conversation on these readings can be found here.

Still, while there are many directions one might go when pondering a sermon on these texts, it may be helpful to remember this poem from Mary Oliver:

Uses of Sorrow

(In my sleep I dreamed this poem)

Someone I loved once gave me
a box full of darkness.

It took me years to understand
that this, too, was a gift.

(Mary Oliver)

What is the gift you find in these readings? What sign of hope, grace, faith are stirring in your thoughts?

Pull up a chair and grab a mug. Would you like tea or coffee? There's plenty to share here. We'll be around all day and long into the night to keep you company, read your sermon and offer feedback, comments, or ideas, or help you figure out what to say to the kids. It's the preacher's party and we're gonna mix it up!