St. Andrew's St. Andrew's

Proper 28, Yr B (2024) The Rev. Karen C. Barfield

“As Jesus came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him,
‘Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!’ 

Jesus, not known for beating around the bush, responds in short:
“All will be thrown down….”

Read More
St. Andrew's St. Andrew's

All Saints Sunday, Yr B (2024) The Rev. Karen C. Barfield

“I saw a new heaven and a new earth,
            for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away….”

“And the one who was seated on the throne said,
           ‘See, I am making all things new….’”

Read More
St. Andrew's St. Andrew's

Proper 24, Yr B (2024) The Rev. Karen C. Barfield

When my children were little,

I would occasionally feel a tug on the hem of my shirt,

                        and when I would turn to look,

      I would see beautiful, big, brown eyes and a smile looking up at me…

Read More
St. Andrew's St. Andrew's

Proper 22, Yr B (2024) The Rev. Karen C. Barfield

Sometimes clergy receive phone calls from out-of-town clergy asking if we will go visit their parishioner in the local hospital.   

A few years ago, I received such a call asking if I could go visit a 13 year-old boy and his mother....

 

Read More
St. Andrew's St. Andrew's

Proper 19, Yr B (2024) The Rev. Karen C. Barfield

“Who do you say that I am?

I remember attending the funeral of a colleague and friend named Deborah.

As we celebrated her life and witness, I heard anew Deborah’s invitation to come and follow Jesus....

Read More
St. Andrew's St. Andrew's

Proper 12, Yr B (2024) The Rev. Karen C. Barfield

Today we hear two miracle stories from the gospel of John.

In John’s gospel Jesus knows exactly who he is: the Son of God…
           but the disciples are still trying to figure things out.
Just like, perhaps, we’re still trying to figure things out….

Read More
St. Andrew's St. Andrew's

Proper 11, Yr B (2024) The Rev. Karen C. Barfield

I don’t have anything earth-shattering to share with you this morning,
            but I do have an invitation for you:
     “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.”

Read More
St. Andrew's St. Andrew's

Proper 9, Yr B (2024) The Rev. Karen C. Barfield

There is a line in today’s Scripture passages that jumped out to me.

These are the words Paul recounts that God said to him:
           “My grace is sufficient for you,
for power is made perfect in weakness….”

Read More
St. Andrew's St. Andrew's

Proper 8, Yr B (2024) The Rev. Karen C. Barfield

As I was reflecting on today’s gospel texts,
          and the story of the hemorrhaging woman, in particular,
       I wondered about the effects of isolation
on the human soul
and the human community….

Read More
St. Andrew's St. Andrew's

Proper 7, Yr B (2024) The Rev. Karen C. Barfield

As a child I was terrified of storms.

There was a huge, old oak tree outside my bedroom,
          and I was afraid a strong wind or lightning
would bring the tree crashing through the roof and onto my head….

Read More