Author name: Janet Bauman

Psalm 85 Introduction Partway down the slope of the Mount of Olives, just outside Jerusalem, there is a chapel called Dominus Flevit, which translated, means “the Lord wept.” The chapel is constructed in the shape of a teardrop, marking the location of Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem. This “teardrop chapel” commemorates the story of

Isaiah 52:6-7; Exodus 3:1-6 Introduction When I was a kid growing up on the farm, summers were about bare feet–the freedom and the ease of it–just to run outside without bothering to put on shoes or boots. In spring, we couldn’t wait for that first warm day to leave our shoes behind and walk

1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 27-31 Introduction When I was in highschool I had a good friend who belonged to the local Pentecostal church. I recall one morning, she found me in the hallway before school started, grabbed me by the arm and pulled me into the closest private space she could find–the girl’s changeroom.

John 21:1-14 Introduction: A Feast for the Senses The story we heard this morning is one to experience with all five of our senses. Can you smell that damp, fishy odour of the seashore?  Hear the splash of the oars. Feel the rough rope of the fishing net in your hands. See the

Isaiah 55:1-9; Luke 13:1-9  Maybe you have heard of the 6-word story challenge. Apparently, as the story goes, author Ernest Hemingway was having lunch with some of his writer friends. He bet them that he could write a full story using only 6 words. After his friends put their money down on the table,

Courageous Imagination: Relationships Over Rules Matthew 12:1-14 Introduction In the delightful children’s picture book, “Frog and Toad Together,” by Arnold Lobel, the first chapter is called The List. Before I read this, I need to offer credit to Kevin Peters Unrau, pastor at Hillcrest Mennonite. Years ago he led a worship and reflection