March 2022 – Wicomico Presbyterian Church

Reflections on our First 350 Years

1 Corinthians 3:1-11 It is not known how many Presbyterians there were in this area 350 years ago. What was then all called Somerset County. But we know there were some. There is one name that appears in records from that time – a David Brown. He came here from Glasgow, a self-affirming Presbyterian. His name appears in records dating back to 1670, as he served on several juries and grand juries, as a justice of the peace, a member of the Lower House of Assembly, and a militia officer. Although I cannot give you their names, there is no doubt that David Brown had the company of other Presbyterians in Somerset County. Because there were enough in 1672 to form four worshiping communities alongside the rivers, which were the primary routes of travel back then. It was a ruling of the Somerset County Grand Jury in March of 1672 […]

Worthy of Love and Grace

Luke 15: 1-3, 11b-32 This is a parable we love, love, love. Unless, that is, Jesus is telling it to us. Then it is another matter. You know what I mean? It’s a really nice story in the abstract way. Like saying, “I love people. Only, not that particular one, or that one, or that one either.” It turns out that we mean a very specific and relatively small set of people. The first time I realized how hard this parable is was when I was reading it to an adult Bible study group. I looked up at the faces around me and they said, “I don’t like that one.” They didn’t like it because they had taken it personally (which is good.) They had asked themselves, am I as forgiving as this father? Do I want to be that forgiving? And their answer was no. Parables that talk about […]

Good Medicine

Luke 13: 1-9 About six years ago I bought two houseplants at a supermarket. I took them home, repotted them, and found what I thought would be good a spot for each of them. But they did not do well. They both seemed sickly. I tried different things – a location with more sun, less sun; more water, less water; a different pot. Nothing seemed to help. They didn’t look healthy. But they didn’t die, either. I couldn’t seem to make them thrive, but I wasn’t killing them, either, so I kept doing my best to care for them. After a few years, one of the plants started perking up. For no apparent reason. It started putting out bright new leaves, it grew full and bouncy, like it just decided one day to pull itself out of this funk and show some self-respect. And I am pleased to say, it […]

Out of Control

Luke 13:31-35 Chickens are not really built for flying – at least not much, not anymore. I’ve seen them on occasion make a sort of extended jump into the air, but it’s not as if they can go anywhere. Back when they weren’t as heavy as they are now, they were somewhat better at flying. But they were never very good at it – which makes you wonder why they even have wings. Well, I will tell you this: a chicken’s wings are useful in several ways, but most importantly, a mother hen’s wings can offer protection for her chicks from predators. And most hens will be glad to do it. They will protect their chick, even some other hen’s chicks, and put their own lives on the line when the fox comes prowling around. Chickens are brave and courageous; don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. I love that, in […]

Holy, Ordinary Lives

Luke 4: 1-13 Do you remember the show, The Music Man? It’s about this man, Harold Hill, who travels from town to town in the early 1900’s convincing the townspeople that they need a local band. So he sells them musical instruments and uniforms. And he teaches them what he calls the “Think System.” You don’t need to bother with learning to read music, he tells them. You just think. Think! He has the people convinced that if they think it hard enough they will somehow acquire the skills of playing music. It didn’t work very well, though. Only their mothers and fathers could love hearing them play. And maybe that was enough. This show was written during the 1950’s, but it harkens back to a time in America when things like the think system were hugely popular. It went by a variety of names – mind-cure, positive thinking, self-help, […]

Strength for the Journey

Exodus 34:29-35 Luke 9:28-36 Kim and I have been watching a TV series recently on Netflix, and at the beginning of each episode a narrator tells us everything that has happened up until this point – very briefly, in about a minute. It feels weird. Because when you binge-watch shows on Netflix or Amazon or other streaming services, it feels unnecessary to have a voice telling you everything that happened on your TV screen five minutes ago. The way we read the scriptures in church, though, we could use some of those narrations. Someone to say, “Previously, in the Gospel of Luke…” so we know what happened eight days before. Because that is how this passage from Luke begins: Eight days after he said these things, Jesus took Peter, James, and John up to the mountain to pray. Well, what were those things he said eight days ago? We might decide […]