by Stephen Phelps | Apr 20, 2011 | Holy Week, love, relinquishment, sermon 2011
Protestants say of sacraments that there are not the Catholic seven, but rather only two, because 500 years ago, Luther and Calvin found only two commandments on Jesus’ to-do list: baptize, and celebrate a supper “remembering me.” Yet they dismissed from their short list a third command: “You also ought to wash one another’s feet, for I have set you an example, that you do even as I have done unto you.” . . . This is a sacrament of subversion–and John’s gospel tells of no other . . .
by Stephen Phelps | Apr 11, 2011 | criminal justice, justice, mass incarceratiom, race, racism, sermon 2011
Every week or two for many years, I have spent a couple of hours in conversation and reflection with men in the prisons at Attica or Sing Sing. It has been my privilege to learn with men who are keen to think and feel their way through the possibility of changing their lives. In this, the men I know show more inner freedom than the average person on the outside . . .
by Stephen Phelps | Apr 3, 2011 | environment, relinquishment, sermon 2011, stewardship
In the wake of the Gulf oil spill last spring and summer; in the mental aftershock of not knowing the fallout from the nuclear reactors now burning in Japan, how strange to hear the Lord’s command to the human, male and female: “Fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea . . . and over every living thing that moves . . . ”
by Stephen Phelps | Mar 27, 2011 | abortion, interpretation, justice, Lent, sermon 2011, womens rights
In this season of Lent, we desire to see our sin and its consequences. Here we are also in another season, at the conclusion of a month celebrating the history of women. By its very existence, such a celebration refers us to the context which gave rise to it: that the contrivances of men have for so long mismeasured the reality and power of women. But first we must deal with the biblical Letter of Timothy. Women-sit-down-and-shut-up Timothy. Women-make-babies-Timothy. He is still here. . .
by Stephen Phelps | Mar 13, 2011 | Lent, sermon 2011, transformation, trial
When is temptation temptation? Is it when someone plans to sway you to do a thing which would turn you from your path? This is the cartoon we continually conjure about temptation—an evil spirit clad all in red, intending harm. But this is foolishness, or worse, for no one sure where his happiness lies is tempted by persuasions. Is it when we fall from our path, when we know that what we are about to do is not right, but we do it anyway? That is another cartoon diversion from seriousness . . .
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