Author: standrews

Learning to notice what we do not see Pentecost Pastor Mitch Coggin September 25, 2022 Pentecost 21 Last week, I told a story that I want to tell again. Walking to the copy room, I saw a familiar face at the Courtney St. door. He waved and I waved back and I went to the… Continue reading Learning to Notice what we do not see

Alternatives to Fear Pentecost Pastor Mitch Coggin September 18, 2022 Pentecost 20 In his teaching in Luke 16, Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees whom he had characterized as “lovers of money.” The Pharisees considered themselves “keepers of the treasure of God” but, unfortunately, they had lost their vision of who God had called them… Continue reading Alternatives to Fear

Lost and Found – Rejoice! Pentecost Rev Laura Kavanagh September 11, 2022 Pentecost 14 This is a special Sunday because of the pulpit swap and because of the multi-congregational picnic at Esquimalt Gorge Park following the service. I hope this will be a time to deepen, renew and ignite relationships among those who worship at… Continue reading Lost and Found – Rejoice!

Hospitality and Humility Pentecost Pastor Mitch Coggin August 28, 2022 Pentecost 12C I keep finding powerful examples of our scripture lessons in the mystery stories I’ve been reading. The main character Peter, came to the scene I will share, was able to put aside his agenda of self-interest and recognize deep levels of human need.… Continue reading Hospitality and Humility

Becoming Who We Are Called to Be Pentecost Pastor Mitch Coggin August 21, 2022 Pentecost 11 We seem to be here again, Jesus is teaching, this time in the synagogue. What word of hope will we hear for our life in community? Jesus notices a woman who has been crippled for 18 years. Marginalized people… Continue reading  Becoming Who We Are Called to Be

A Sad Tale to Tell Pentecost Pastor Mitch Coggin August 14, 2022 Pentecost 10 When I first read the lectionary passages for today, all I saw was failure. Many important things, however, cannot be said simply and directly. The stories in the Bible use images, metaphor, and poetic language to convey meaning. Such is the… Continue reading A Sad Tale to Tell

Faith and Fear Pentecost Pastor Mitch Coggin August 7, 2022 Pentecost 9C I am afraid of failure. I am afraid of not doing what I say I am going to do. I am afraid of disappointing people. I know that all of us are afraid of a number of things. We are afraid of our… Continue reading Faith and Fear

Three Meditations Pentecost Pastor Mitch Coggin July 31, 2022 Pentecost +8 The Blessing of not having enough Hearing the hymn, “Now Thank We All Our God,” we might not realize that this hymn of thanksgiving was forged during times of tragedy. The author Martin Rinkart was called as a Lutheran pastor in his native Ellenberg,… Continue reading Pentecost Meditations

Prayer Pentecost Pastor Mitch Coggin July 24, 2022 Pentecost 7C Frederick Buechner tells of meeting Agnes Sanford, who wrote books about healing prayer. What stuck with him was the vivid image she presented of Jesus standing in church services all over Christendom with his hands tied behind his back, unable to do any mighty work… Continue reading Prayer