A sermon on Mark 1: 12-13 "Jesus walked that Lonesome Valley – He had to walk it by himself, Oh nobody else, could walk it for him – he had to walk it by himself." I love this song despite its melancholy story – we’ve been in that place of loneliness, knowing that we’re carrying it all by ourselves. For some that’s how this past year has … [Read more...]
Sermons & Musings from Rev. Mary Beene
Rev. Mary Beene served at Windsor Presbyterian Church since from February 2020 through April 2026. She has moved into a vital role serving the Presbyterian Church (USA) nationally. We are excited for her new ministry and mission. Below are some past posts of hers.
Prior to that she founded a spiritual direction practice Openings: Let the Spirit In in Savannah, GA. She continues her work as a spiritual director as well as pastor, and speaks and leads retreats as she can.
In addition to an M.Div from Boston University School of Theology, Rev. Beene has an M.P. A. in Organizational Development from American University in Washington, DC. She is also trained in spiritual direction by The Shalem Institute in Washington, DC and is a Georgia Certified Civil Mediator. Her special interests include the connection between God’s creation and spirituality, creative prayer practices and spiritual writing and autobiography.
She lives in Windsor with her husband, Eric, and son, Isaac.
Appearances
February 23, 2021
A sermon on Mark 9: 2-9 It’s pretty easy to say Jesus is the Messiah, to join the church affirming he’s my Lord and Savior. But there sure are a lot of reasons to wonder if that confession makes any difference outside of our little church world. The Lord and Savior isn’t getting me an appointment for my COVID vaccine. That Messiah sure is … [Read more...]
Proclaiming the Message
February 11, 2021
A sermon from Mark 1: 29-39 The last thing I want to do after I’ve been sick in bed with a fever is stand up and start making breakfast for a dozen hungry men. The last thing I want to when I’m interrupted on my prayer retreat is hit the ministry road again.But sometimes, it seems, we’re called to do the last things we want to do in the service … [Read more...]
It Takes A Whole Village
February 4, 2021
A sermon from Psalm 111 We celebrated Appreciation Sunday at Windsor Presbyterian Church on January 31st, celebrating all the people who have worked so hard in front of and behind the screens to keep us open -- maybe our building has been empty on Sunday morning, but the Spirit is hard at work all through the week. Psalm 111 and 112 lie … [Read more...]
The Time is Fulfilled
January 25, 2021
A sermon based on Mark 1: 14-20 Do you think Simon Peter and Andrew, James and John really just met Jesus for the first time and were ready to leave, immediately, on an adventure of discipleship. That's how we're generally taught this story of their calling in Sunday School, but many scholars believe it more likely that these disciples already … [Read more...]
Marked
January 25, 2021
A sermon based on Mark 1: 4-11 Do you remember your baptism? Do you have a baptism story? Does it end with a dove descending or a voice from the heavens? Mark is in way too much of a hurry to spend time telling a big story about Jesus’ baptism. Matthew and Luke go into far more detail. Even John has more lines to the story, telling it … [Read more...]
Come & See
January 25, 2021
A sermon based on John 1: 43-51 When Philip invites his friend Nathanael to join him and meet this great new preacher, Jesus from Nazareth, Nathanael doesn't have much good to say. It's not just that Nazareth was a small town, hardly worth noticing – though it was that. It’s that for more than 100 years before Jesus is seeking followers, … [Read more...]
Where’s that Star?
January 4, 2021
A sermon based on Matthew 2: 1-12 It always takes me aback to hear that Herod was among the first to recognize the birth of our Savior. There was so much evil darkness in his rule, and yet the light shone even there. It didn’t change his heart, but he also couldn’t un-know what he knew. In their own way, the magi walked in darkness too -- … [Read more...]
Songs
December 30, 2020
A sermon based on Luke 2: 22-32 At Allegheny College's choral concerts the choir always sings the Nunc Dimittis, Simeon's song from the Scripture passage and it was deeply meaningful to me. "Lord, now lettest thy thou servant depart in peace, according to Thy word, for my eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared before the face … [Read more...]
Christmas Eve Fun
December 30, 2020
Windsor Presbyterian Church hosted a zoom birthday party for Jesus on December 24th. See all the fun here. … [Read more...]
