All Past Reflections

Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost "The Greatest Commandment" — Rev. Brent Gundlah First Reading (Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18/NRSVUE)Gospel Reading (Matthew 22:34-46/NRSVUE) “The doctor had a cancellation for Monday morning at eight. Can you be here?” the receptionist...

When I was a member of Cub Scout Pack 88 way back in elementary school, the end of the program year (which coincided with the end of the school year) was commemorated with a Spring Banquet. On a Friday night in late May, we’d all dress up in our blue and yellow...

"In the Vineyard" — Reflection by Rev. Brent Gundlah First Reading (Isaiah 5:1-7, NRSVUE)Gospel Reading (Matthew 21:33-46, NRSVUE) ‘Tis the season. Not that season (which is still a few months away), the other season — COVID shot season. The new vaccine generally...

Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost "I have a Question" — Reflection by Rev. Brent Gundlah First Reading (Philippians 2:1-13/NRSVUE) Gospel Reading (Matthew 21:23-32/NRSVUE) After spending the past week with the passage from Matthew’s Gospel you just heard, I realized...

Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost "It's Not Fair" — Reflection by Rev. Brent Gundlah First Reading (Jonah 3:10-4:11/NRSVUE) Gospel Reading (Matthew 20:1-16/NRSVUE) Sometimes I stand behind this pulpit on Sunday mornings and wonder how the heck I got here. Though...

Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost "Seventy Times Seven" — Reflection by Rev. Brent Gundlah First Reading (Exodus 15:19-31/NRSVUE) Gospel Reading (Matthew 18:21-35/NRSVUE) I know that it’s tempting to gloss right over those words in the Bible you might not understand...

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost "Getting Along" — Reflection by Rev. Brent Gundlah First Reading (Romans 12:9-21/NRSVUE) Gospel Reading (Matthew 18:15-20/NRSVUE) You know it’s going to be an interesting day when you find out who your new boss is going to be from a...

Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost "Follow Me" — Reflection by Rev. Brent Gundlah First Reading (Romans 12:9-21/NRSVUE) Gospel Reading (Matthew 16:21-28/NRSVUE) We’ve shared a home with our dog Olive for a little more than decade now. She’s a complicated blessing (as a...