All Past Reflections

Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost "The Moved Mover" — Reflection by Rev. Brent Gundlah First Reading (Isaiah 56:1,6-9/NRSVUE) Gospel Reading (Matthew 15:21-28/NRSVUE) One of the things I miss about living back East is easy access to Dunkin Donuts. I know there’s a few in...

Rev. Brent Gundlah It’s a blessing to be here with you today, outside the four walls of our usual gathering space. It’s good to get out of our comfort zone every once in a while, to experience things from a different perspective. It is in this same spirit that I chose...

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost"The Kingdom of Heaven" — Rev. Brent Gundlah First Reading (First Kings 3:5-12/NRSVUE)Gospel Reading (Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52/NRSVUE) I’ve always enjoyed being outside and working in the yard during the long days of summer, when...

Eight Sunday after Pentecost"Wheat and Weeds" — Rev. Brent Gundlah First Reading (Genesis 28:10-19a/NRSVUE)Gospel Reading (Matthew 13:24-30,36-43/NRSVUE) About twenty years ago, the company I worked for was going through what a disinterested observer might call...

I enjoy having plants around the house and out in the garden, I think it’s fun to tend to them, but I can’t honestly say that I understand them. A few years ago I decided to try growing orchids. I had four of them — all of the same variety, purchased at the same store...

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost"Burdens" — Rev. Brent GundlahFirst Reading (Zechariah 9:9-12/NRSVUE)Gospel Reading (Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30/NRSVUE) I was a teenager living in a largely secular household in New Jersey during the 1980s, so it’s fair to say I knew...

Five Sunday after PentecostOpen & Affirming! — Rev. Brent Gundlah Later this morning, after worship, we will be voting, as a congregation, to adopt a new Open and Affirming Covenant. This is a big occasion in the life of our church — one that both marks the...

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost“There Ain't No Such Thing as a Free Lunch — Rev. Brent Gundlah First Reading (Genesis 21:8-21/NRSVUE)Gospel Reading (Matthew 10:24-39/NRSVUE) If you came to church today hoping to catch a glimpse of happy Jesus doing nice things like...

Third Sunday after Pentecost“Sending the Twelve” — Rev. Brent Gundlah First Reading (Exodus 19:2-8a/NRSVUE)Gospel Reading (Matthew 9:35-10:8/NRSVUE) There seems to be no shortage of lousy to go around right now; so many people have been negatively impacted by all...

Second Sunday after Pentecost“Rhetorical Questions” — Rev. Brent Gundlah First Reading (Hosea 5:15-6:6/NRSVUE)Gospel Reading (Matthew 9:9-13/NRSVUE) As some of you know, I was out of town late last week officiating my nephew’s wedding. Being asked to do this is...