Here is the manuscript of the sermon I preached this past Sunday. I had to fairly radically change it because I had assuemed that all in attendance, would have been participating in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, or know about it. However, we had visitors who had not been involved in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and possibly weren’t aware of such a thing. So, I rewrote the manuscript as I preached. However, I feel that what I wrote needs to be heard and read. So hear it is. Love to hear any and all thoughts and reactions. Church of Jesus Christ, Reconciler: Sermon Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Third Sunday after the Epiphany

Original post by priestlygoth@gmail.com (Larry Kamphausen)

I realized that it might be helpful to know two things to give some further context to the the last two posts, here and here. First, is to understand that I am fairly deeply influenced by Walter Wink and William Stringfellow(specifically his works Imposters of God: Inquiries into Favorite Idols, and An Ethic for Christians and Other Aliens in a Strange Land) around issues of the Powers, Nation States, and Image and Idolatry. Second is that I am currently reading Colossians Remixed: Subverting the Empire, by Brian Walsh and Sylvia Keesmaat. Of course if you are unfamiliar with most or all of these it is probably no help to you, but I encourage you to give them a read if you haven’t.

Original post by priestlygoth@gmail.com (Larry Kamphausen)

I came across this God, Satan, and the Birth of Haiti- Articles- BlackandChristian.com thanks to Jonathan Stegal The author claims to be familiar with preachers who have not only claimed that 200 years ago Haitians made a pact with the devil when they revolted against the French, but that God is the one that cursed the Haitians, because of this pact. According to the author this theory is a fairly common trope. While I was aware that because of Vodou, that there were those Christians who would speak of the stronghold of Satan in Haiti, I had not before come across that God had cursed the Haitians because of this.
There is then a possibility that this is what Robertson was drawing on. Though if so I still think it significant that he said that the Haitians were cursed by one tragedy after another, but [...]

Original post by priestlygoth@gmail.com (Larry Kamphausen)

I admit that I am having difficulty getting my mind around the devastation in Haiti after the earthquake. And my heart and prayers go out to the Haitian people and all effected and all who will be helping in the recovery. I am heartened by the responses from the global community, from relief organizations, and the overall good will that seems to be going out the the people of Haiti. And yet I have questions: not so much about the earth quake, itself but about the the poverty that was already in Haiti.
A 7.0 quake is going to be devastating anywhere, but it does seem that a quake of this magnitude, would be less devastating say in California, where there is money for infrastructure, technology and building design to withstand to some degree quakes etc. This is not the largest earthquake to have happened around the [...]

Original post by priestlygoth@gmail.com (Larry Kamphausen)

Today riding the train I had two encounters with homeless men. Initially as I switched lines, I avoided getting on the same train as a man in overalls and open winter coat who had a stench about him. Others were not so lucky and by the first stop people were coming from that car one in front of the one I got on, some coming through the emergency doors that lead between the trains, others using the main doors. As the train came to knew stations more people left the car in front of the one I was on and came to this one.
while this was happening a second homeless man came through the car asking for money. He did it quietly but insistently not waiting for people to notice but asking each person on the train. Most even when answering or giving [...]

Original post by priestlygoth@gmail.com (Larry Kamphausen)

In the “Thoughts on Time, History and the Self” part 1 and part 2, back in November, I was exploring my own relationship to time, and past events, both of those in my own life time and those that preceded my lifetime. I was also attempting to tease out the ways we currently have a tendency to see changes over time as alienating us and separating us from what and those who have gone before, thus prioritizing change over continuity. Yet Stegal’s post on the commemoration of the fall of the Berlin wall and Germany’s chancellor, Merkel, participating in France’s Armistice Day celebration indicated to me that this focus on change they hides the continuities bound up with the change. This is in part revealed By there being an Armistice Day Celebration that is in itself newsworthy, and that we could interpret Merkel’s actions as significant.
I [...]

Original post by priestlygoth@gmail.com (Larry Kamphausen)

Here is the completed icon of St. Nicholas at last. It was completed by the feast day, Dec. 6th, and it was used in Reconciler’s worship that day.

Original post by priestlygoth@gmail.com (Larry Kamphausen)

I have been confronted with contradictions lately: My own, of the varieties of Christianities demanding I recognize them as true (even if some may not use “truth” to describe their position, and “justice”, “prophetic”, “inclusion”, and “welcome” are the preferred symbols that pretend to not be about “Truth” but are still claims to Truth). I feel the contradictions arise in an attempt to be full. Full of whatever is considered to be good. The contradictions also arise as the Good is defined by what is only present at hand. The contradictions arise then out of simply seeking to be, and yet believing that simply by acting according to our being there (or here) we can transcend whatever we believe to be false, evil or unjust (depending on the linguistic conventions we are comfortable with, though any of those linguistic conventions fails if they attempt to [...]

Original post by priestlygoth@gmail.com (Larry Kamphausen)