This sermon was first preached at Kalamazoo First Congregational Church on March 24, 2019. You can listen to the audio here. Text: I Corinthians 13:1-13 When I was in seminary, the church where I did my internship began using the Young Children in Worship curriculum for Sunday School. This is the same curriculum we use…
Category: Lent
Do We Believe It is Good News?
A sermon delivered to the Presbytery of Lake Michigan on March 11, 2017 by the Rev. Sarah Schmidt-Lee Scripture: John 3:1-17 Good morning all! It’s good to be with you today. I’ve had a friend from college visiting with me this week, and it’s been delightful to catch up with her–to find out what has…
Lent Photo-a-Day Challenge
Humility Gardening helps me understand the balance between right action and humility about the results. I don’t get lettuce if I don’t plant seeds and tend them with water and weeding, but even when I do everything “right” I have little control over which seeds germinate, how fast or slowly they grow, whether or not…
Lent Photo-a-Day Challenge
Truth Inner Peace begins with honest self-reflection. I cannot experience peace within myself until I accept the truth about myself. The truth of my wounds; the truth of my beauty; the truth of my flaws; the truth of my limits; the truth of my strength; the truth of my courage.
Lent Photo-a-Day Challenge
For Week 1 of Lent, all of our prompts are connected to the theme of Inner Peace. Beloved Knowing that we are beloved by God may not lead to comfort or security. Like Jesus, our very next steps may lead into the wilderness. What does it mean to you to be beloved? Does it give…
Lent Photo-a-Day Challenge
Known How does Jesus make God known to you? In my experience, it is usually through the love of other people. Here’s the crazy part. It doesn’t seem to matter whether the other people believe in God or not. When I have friends committed to knowing and caring for each other, I experience God there….
Lent Photo-a-Day Challenge
Rejoice It is easy for me to rejoice on warm sunny days. As I ponder what it means to rejoice in the Lord always, I think of my seven-year-old daughter who lost a tooth this morning. Finding joy in the small events of every day is a start. Last night I had an intergenerational prayer…
Lent Photo-a-Day Challenge
Endure What do you see in the world that endures? What lasts a life-time or longer? What does it mean to you that God endures longer than any of these things?
Lent Photo-a-Day Challenge
Mercy On this Ash Wednesday, I am grateful for the waters of Baptism–a tangible reminder of God’s mercy toward me–a mercy that precedes my recognition that I need it.
Vulnerable Love (or, Loving Reality), A Sermon for Palm Sunday, 2013
Barrett and I are beginning to make friends with a couple who are considering moving to Central NY. They’ve been to visit a lot. “Frank” is a musician who comes through the area and plays locally on a pretty regular basis. They know there is a lot they like, and a lot of people they…
Extravagant Love, John 12:1-8 (Sermon for March 17th, 2013)
My husband, Barrett and I were married in December of 2004, and three months later, my grandfather died, unexpectedly. We were in school in Vancouver, and when I got news that my grandfather died, in New Orleans, I was disappointed to find out that my parents assumed I would not make it to his funeral….
Meditation for the Religion Section of my Local Newspaper
Meditation for the Religion Section of my Local Newspaper …and here’s a link to the hymn I reference, if you’re interested…
the beautiful changes... 