Dave Buerstetta on striving to do justice and love others while walking humbly with God
Here is a letter I wrote to my city's mayor, the city council, and the Chief of Police. Well, actually to the police commander of the Office of Professional Standards because I couldn't find an email address for the chief. He's on Twitter, but apparently not email. I pledge to continue to strive to be …
I expected this to be a week to have a little extra fun with my sermon. The texts for last week highlighted divisions that occurred in the Christian movement, even in its earliest days. I seem to derive (perverse?) pleasure in dispelling the notion of a golden age for the church. My hope is that …
Yes, indeed. For now at least. Due to the previously-arranged preaching schedule, the previous Sunday was my first opportunity to offer a sermon during our stay-safe-at-home time here in Illinois. So, yes, I spend the first few minutes talking about just how weird that feels. Probably too much time on that. But I strive to …
The short answer?Because I joined 99 other clergy -- two from each state -- in signing an open letter to Congress. That letter ran in Thursday's (October 17th) Washington Post. The more complete answer?I know there are hundreds (at least) of incidents of injustice in our communities, our states, our country, and our world. I …
I know today is Indigenous Peoples Day. But I started to write this last week on International Day of the Girl. Is it ok to celebrate women today too? I think so. It seems like a good time to share a post I wrote this summer for my church blog. As I often proclaim, I …
If that title suggests to you that this sermon might be trying to do too much...well, I probably can't argue with you. It's probably not my best. Still, though, I thought the conclusion was actually pretty good. Poignant, even. I'm not sure my congregation agreed. Maybe it was too on the nose? (If so, just …
Continue reading ‘Time to Go!’: a sermon on Mary’s song, Joseph’s census, & ‘Children, Go’
Our Ruth trilogy comes to an end this week as we look at the last two chapters of this fantastic and, as it turns out, fantastically relevant story. I feel like there is still so much to be said about the book of Ruth. Which, I suppose, is part of what makes it so great -- …
Getting into good trouble by welcoming outsiders is the only faithful response to exclusion. That's my argument in this sermon, continuing the theme of the previous sermon by using John Lewis' beautiful phrase. Writing about my Acts 17 sermon, which took place the week before this one, I admitted I wasn't as bold as I …
Continue reading ‘Good Trouble around Asia Minor’: a sermon on Acts 18
In June, 2008, I had the distinct pleasure of hearing Representative John Lewis speak at a Sojourners conference in D.C. He is, it should go without saying, a real-life hero. A national treasure. An inspiration. Except, I'm ashamed to admit, at the time I didn't really know just how special he was, and thus I …
I am so incredibly impressed with the Parkland, Florida students' response to last week's horrific gun violence at their school. Check that. It is not the response that is incredibly impressive; it is the students. They are immensely impressive. Their responses to the murders around them are a manifestation -- a demonstration -- of the …
All That I Can't Leave Unsaid 