Mark 2:1-20January 12, 2020Union University ChurchReverend Laurie DeMott Have you ever posed for a family photo where the person with the camera said, “Smile on the count of three: one… two…” and then snapped the picture before they got to 3? When that happens, most of us shout in protest, “I wasn’t ready! My eyes … More And Immediately
Malachi 1:1 – 2:5Matthew 2:1-12January 5, 2020Union University ChurchReverend Laurie DeMott Tonight is 12th Night, or as we might call it today, “Epiphany Eve.” In years long past, and in many parts of the world today still, Christmas lasts for 12 days and ends with the celebration of the arrival of the Three Kings on … More Gold or Dung?
Matthew 2:1-12December 22, 2019Union University ChurchReverend Laurie DeMott The theme of my Advent series this year is “Christmas Midrash,” and for the last time, midrash means the extra dialogue, story details, and commentary that ancient Jewish rabbis added to scripture in order to help people better understand its meaning. Midrash is valued in Judaism, often … More The Midrash of Christmas: The Three Kings
Isaiah 60:1-6Luke 2:8-12December 15, 2019Union University ChurchReverend Laurie DeMott The theme of my Advent series this year is “Christmas Midrash,” and every week of Advent, my description of what midrash means is going to get shorter because I assume that you will have heard this definition in at least one of the previous weeks. In … More The Midrash of Christmas: It Came at Midnight
Luke 2:1-7December 1, 2019Union University ChurchReverend Laurie DeMott [Introduction to scripture] We are a multi-denominational church which respects the various Christian traditions represented by the members of our church and so today, in honor of those who come from a Catholic, Anglican, or some other high church tradition, I will be preaching a homily instead … More The Midrash of Christmas: The Innkeeper
Luke 2:1-7December 8, 2019Union University ChurchReverend Laurie DeMott For those who weren’t here last week, and for those who were but were asleep, the theme of my Advent series this year is “Christmas Midrash.” In ancient Judaism, rabbis would often expand on scripture by adding commentary, dialogue between characters, or additional details not found in … More The Midrash of Christmas: The Animals in the Stable
excerpts from NehemiahNovember 24, 2019 Union University ChurchReverend Laurie DeMott Background to ScriptureI have been preaching through the Hebrew scriptures — what Christians call the Old Testament — and today is the last of that series before we move into Advent so before we turn to Jesus I want to give you a very quick review … More “Let Us Be Grateful for ….”
Ezra 3:10-13November 17, 2019Union University ChurchReverend Laurie DeMott Background to Scripture:In 597, the Babylonians conquered Judea and over a period of 15 years, deported the Jews into exile in Babylon. (There were three deportations of Jews to Babylon — 597 BCE, 587/586 BCE, and 582/581 BCE.) In 539 BCE, the Persian Emperor Cyrus conquered the … More Road Construction Ahead
The Book of EstherNov 3, 2019Union University ChurchReverend Laurie DeMott Do you know the song “Baby Shark?” If you knew it before this last week, you are either the parent of a three year old or a Washington Nationals fan. Last week was baseball’s World Series which went seven games and was won by the … More Baby Shark
The Smell of Fire Daniel 3I Peter 1:3-7October 27, 2019Union University ChurchReverend Laurie DeMott King Nebuchadnezzar ordered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be thrown into the flaming fiery furnace for their refusal to bow down to his statue. The Bible doesn’t say what kind of furnace this was, but we can assume it was some … More The Smell of Fire
