George Hermanson

Come and See

January 18, 2009
Edwards (Knox) United Church
Second Sunday After Epiphany

1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)
Read the passage: The Message   or   The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) 

John 1:43-51
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The Rev. Dr. George Hermanson

John gives us a great drama in this story. Jesus is in the process of organizing his posse, and after Peter and Andrew, he calls Philip. In response, Philips seeks out his neighbor Nathanael. He says "we have found the one we were looking for." He lays out a list of expectation that were filled, but adds one unexpected quality - Jesus is from Nazareth. In response to this information Nathanael says - Nazareth? - give me a break. Philip says yah, but come and see, test the waters to see if they are good. He has repeated a mantra of Jesus of come and see. It is the experience that confirms the words. It takes a jumping in, not a holding back with a default position. No half hearted and tentative response.

A River Flows Through Us

January 11, 2009
Edwards (Knox) United Church
The Baptism of Jesus

Genesis 1:1-5
Read the passage: The Message   or   The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) 

Mark 1:4-11
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The Rev. Dr. George Hermanson

Liturgy is our way of shifting gears. It's purpose is to ask us to stop in mid stride and ask again where do we want to go? What is it that will inform us for our living? As we know, the Christian New Year began with Advent, a time of preparation for us to welcome the light of wisdom to guide us on our journey. This Sunday we reflect on Baptism as the foundational experience for our ministry in the world. Our texts tell us that baptism began Jesus’ ministry and we are called to live out that symbolism.

Light Breaks In

Year A, B, C, Season of Christmas
Christmas 2
Sunday Between January 2 and January 5
January 2, 2011

January 4, 2009
Edwards (Knox) United Church
Epiphany

John 1:(1-9), 10-18
Read the passage: The Message   or   The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) 

Matthew 2:1-12
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The Rev. Dr. George Hermanson

One of the issues of our time is the power of words to reveal and the power of words to hide. Harold Pinter, who died this Christmas eve, was a playwright who has influenced much of what we see in movies, on stage. “His plays were all about the dangers of speaking, in pubic or in private, and the danger of speaking. His characters use language as evasion, as defense, as weapons, but rarely to communicate what they mean.”¹ He used silence and pauses to speak a truth deeper than the words.

This issue of the use of language comes out in such phrases, "can we trust the words of politicians."  Even those who preach are under question about what they say. Our world is full of images that seek to manipulate our senses. Yet at the same time, we question all that is being said.

Mountain Top Experiences

February 3, 2008
Edwards (Knox) United Church
Transfiguration Sunday

Exodus 24:12-18
Read the passage: The Message   or   The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Matthew 17:1-9
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Faith-provoking historical insights by David Ewart on his blog, Holy Textures, Matthew 17:1-9.

The Rev. Dr. George Hermanson

The birth of a child is one of those mountain top experience.  It is life changing, for nothing remains the same.  And we must come down from that high to the issues that this experience brings.  We have the care and feeding of this child now.  Our family reality is changed. Birth has all sorts of practical implications and we are in it for the long haul.

Light Cannot Be Divided

Year A, Season of Epiphany
Epiphany 3
Sunday Between January 21 and January 27 Inclusive
January 23, 2011

Faith-provoking, historical insights into the lesson by David Ewart, Matthew 4:12-23.

January 27, 2008
Edwards (Knox) United Church
Third After Epiphany

Isaiah 9:1-4
Read the passage: The Message   or   The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

1 Corinthians 1:10-18
Read the passage: The Message   or   The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Matthew 4:12-23
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The Rev. Dr. George Hermanson

[Read 1 Corinthians 1:10-18]

We have all heard that our age is defined as one of pluralism.  It is the idea that there are many different paths to truth.  It relativizes truth; thus an individual’s religious or political allegiance becomes a matter of personal truth.

Come and See

Year A, Season of Epiphany
Epiphany 2
Sunday Between January 14 and January 20 Inclusive
January 16, 2011

Faith-provoking, historical insights into the lesson by David Ewart, John 1:29-42.

January 20, 2008
Edwards (Knox) United Church
Second After Epiphany

Isaiah 49:1-7
Read the passage: The Message   or   The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

John 1:29-42
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The Rev. Dr. George Hermanson

U2 has a great song called “Still haven’t found what I am looking for.”    It seems to me it sums up, and is a response to a Peggy Lee song, “Is that all there is?”.  These songs reflect the perennial existential question of what makes humanity flourish?  We come to the questions  about what is worthy of us at different stages of our life.  Context shapes our question of what is it that we want to define us.

[Note: If you have QuickTime installed as a plugin with your browser, you will see a control and be able to play these songs:
U2 - "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" 
Peggy Lee - "Is That All There Is?"
Or you can download MP3 files here:
U2 - MP3 - Download U2 I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
Peggle Lee - MP3 - Download Peggy Lee Is That All There Is?]

Being Bathed in the Light

Year A, Season of Epiphany
Epiphany 1
Baptism of the Lord
Sunday Between January 7 and January 13 Inclusive
January 9, 2011

Faith-provoking, historical insights into the lesson by David Ewart, Matthew 3:13-17.

January 13, 2008
Edwards (Knox) United Church
Baptism of Jesus Sunday

Isaiah 42:1-9
Read the passage: The Message   or   The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Matthew 3:13-17
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The Rev. Dr. George Hermanson

Did you notice how quickly society moved on from Christmas?  We had boxing day sales and the lights and trees came down.  As the Christmas wrapping paper was sent off to recycling our society turned off the lights.

Yet this church did something so counter.  Our Epiphany symbols remained. Now you might not think this is unusual, but several of my colleagues had to tell their worship committees to leave up the symbols of epiphany.  Like secular society, the celebration of the light of God breaking into history was moved off stage.  And here we kept preparing ourselves for the brilliance of God’s love.  We continued to be bathed in the light.

Joy That Brings Change

Year A, B, C, Season of Epiphany
Epiphany of the Lord
January 6  or  First Sunday in January

Faith-provoking, historical insights into the lesson by David Ewart, Matthew 2:1-12.

January 6, 2008
Edwards (Knox) United Church
Epiphany Sunday

Isaiah 60:1-6
Read the passage: The Message   or   The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Matthew 2:1-12
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The Rev. Dr. George Hermanson

All of us are called upon to make decisions.  This can be a decision that is very personal - about how we are to live in harmony with others.  And those decisions that appear to be personal also have a wider impact on others.  Life style decisions can effect what kind of world we will have.  And life style decisions have an impact our political decisions.