secretary

God Is Still Speaking, No. 929 View in browser January 14, 2024 God Is Still Speaking, No. 929   Vicki Kemper The boy Samuel was serving God under Eli’s direction. One night Samuel was in bed in the house of God. Then God called out, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel answered, “Yes? I’m here.” He ran to … Read more

Listening Each Other Back to Life View in browser January 13, 2024 Listening Each Other Back to Life   Molly Baskette Jesus said, “Let anyone with ears, listen!” – Matthew 11:15 (NRSV)    Sometime in the second half of 2024, the drug known as Ecstasy or MDMA will become legal for prescribers to use in … Read more

What Samuel Said View in browser January 12, 2024 What Samuel Said   Mary Luti Now the Lord came again in the night, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, your servant is listening.” – 1 Samuel 3:10 (NRSV, adapted)   Eli was the priest of the shrine at Shiloh. His two sons … Read more

Yes, You Do View in browser January 11, 2024 Yes, You Do   Chris Mereschuk Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others. – Philippians 2:4 (NRSVUE)   If one member [of the Body of Christ] suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, … Read more

Diving Deep View in browser January 10, 2024 Diving Deep   Donna Schaper God who watches over you will neither slumber nor sleep. – Psalm 121:4 (adapted)   T.S. Eliot wrote that we are “distracted from distraction by distraction.” We daily lose whatever focus we had. We attend the small matters, not the larger ones. … Read more

High Noon View in browser January 9, 2024 High Noon   Martha Spong Paul said, “While I was on my way and approaching Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone about me.” – Acts 22:6 (NRSVUE)     The Book of Acts gives us the story of Paul’s conversion twice, first in the … Read more

Countless Descendants View in browser January 8, 2024 Countless Descendants   Kenneth Samuel   “Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life. I will make a covenant with you, by which I will guarantee to give you countless descendants.” – Genesis 17:1-2 (NLT)   In the deal struck between God and Abraham, Abraham’s end of the … Read more

You Too? View in browser January 7, 2024 You Too?   Vince Amlin The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “…a sword will pierce your own soul too.” – Luke 2:33-35 (NRSV abridged)    Simeon is the most … Read more

Insurrection 2.0 View in browser January 6, 2024 Insurrection 2.0   Molly Baskette Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. – Matthew 2:11b–12 (NRSVA)    It’s been … Read more

“As the Good Book Says…” View in browser January 5, 2024 “As the Good Book Says…”   Matt Laney On entering the house, the magi saw the young child with Mary his mother, and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. … Read more