Marking the Moment View in browser April 6, 2023 Marking the Moment Rachel Hackenberg The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: This month shall mark the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you. – Exodus 12:1-2 (NRSV) The shadows of Lent have almost … Read more
Resting State View in browser April 5, 2023 Resting State Quinn Caldwell So Judas consented and began to look for an opportunity to betray Jesus to them when no crowd was present. – Luke 22:3-6 (NRSV) We’re supposed to think of Judas’ betrayal as a discrete event, one aberrant thing. First Judas was righteous, fully … Read more
Children of Light View in browser April 4, 2023 Children of Light Vicki Kemper Jesus said to them, “The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the [shadows] may not overtake you. . . While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you … Read more
Daily Devotional for Small Group Discussion: Extravagant or Essential? View in browser April 3, 2023 Extravagant or Essential? Kenneth Samuel Then Mary took a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. … Read more
Present for the Presence View in browser April 2, 2023 Present for the Presence Matt Laney “Is the Lord among us or not?” – Exodus 17:7 (NIV) Early in our Covid wilderness, there was a robust online conversation among church leaders about whether or not sacraments could be virtual. Could we really Zoom or Facebook … Read more
What’s in Your Closet View in browser April 1, 2023 What’s in Your Closet Phiwa Langeni Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. – Colossians 3:14 (NRSV) The night before the first day of school was an important one in our household growing up. My siblings and I divvied … Read more
Elementary View in browser March 31, 2023 Elementary Donna Schaper “Shake the dust off your feet.” – Matthew 10:14 (NIV) I was having a tiresome conversation with a rising second grader (my grandson) about the four elements. He told me they were earth, air, fire, and ice. I told him that they were earth, air, … Read more
In Your Hand View in browser March 30, 2023 In Your Hands Talitha Arnold But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hand. – Psalm 31:14-15a (NRSV) Jesus would have known Psalm 31 from his childhood. As a teenager or young adult, he might have … Read more
Revealed by Contrast View in browser March 29, 2023 Revealed by Contrast John Edgerton May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you . . . May God give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed . . . … Read more
Too Soon? View in browser March 28, 2023 Too Soon? Kaji Douša “How often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.” – Matthew 18:21-22 (NRSV) We often talk about Jesus’ mandate to forgive. But we rarely talk about when. Might it … Read more