Dear Saints in Santa Fe, and other far-off places: Greetings in the name and spirit of Jesus Christ! I thought I heard alleluias. I really did, every Palm Sunday, year after year, this parade of joy and celebration and waving palms, this recognition finally that Jesus is the man, the one that inexplicably defeats Empire for this one shining day on a donkey. It’s like Easter without the eggs, without the cross, without the crucifixion. Less messy and more fun. Who doesn’t like a parade? Yes, it’s time to sing our alleluias!

Dear Saints in Santa Fe, and other far-off places: Greetings in the name and spirit of Jesus Christ! When I get discouraged about church, Christianity, this present day . . . Yes, you can answer this. Don’t wait for me. But while you are thinking and since I posed the question let me tell you how I would answer. I read John Philip Newell books. The latest one, The Great Search, has been the subject of our current Adult Education series that wraps up this Sunday.

Dear Saints in Santa Fe, and other far-off places: Greetings in the name and spirit of Jesus Christ! Coca-Cola tried to bring the world together in 1971 with a commercial. I would be surprised if you don’t remember it.  I preached a sermon on World Communion Sunday in 2013 (remember that?) and when I started to sing the song, the entire choir joined in and scarcely a beat later so did the congregation. I’d like to teach the world to sing.