Lesson of the Flowers View in browser January 17, 2023 Lesson of the Flowers Kaji Douša “The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Living God abides forever.” – 1 Peter 1:24b-25a (NRSV) A flower produces pollen, and something helps it move. If the pollen reaches a receptive flower, it pollinates, … Read more
Daily Devotional for Small Group Discussion: Children, Don’t Grow Weary View in browser January 16, 2023 Children, Don’t Grow Weary Vicki Kemper So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. – Galatians 6:9 (NRSVUE) In 1961, a young Martin … Read more
The Word that Shapes Us View in browser January 15, 2023 The Word that Shapes Us Talitha Arnold Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good. – Romans 12:9 (NRSV) Almost every week for more than thirty-five years of pastoral ministry, I’ve blessed the congregations I’ve served with a … Read more
An Invitation View in browser January 14, 2023 An Invitation Liz Miller When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” – John 1:38-39a (NRSV) Recently I received … Read more
What God Wants and Doesn’t View in browser January 13, 2023 What God Wants and Doesn’t Matt Laney Sacrifice and offering you do not desire, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. – Psalm 40:6 (NRSV) What makes forgiveness real? How do we know it … Read more
Gentle ≠ Weak View in browser January 12, 2023 Gentle ≠ Weak Quinn Caldwell Here is my servant, whom I uphold… He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will … Read more
Home, Another Way View in browser January 11, 2023 Home, Another Way Molly Baskette But being warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they returned home by another way. – Matthew 2:12 (adapted) It is Epiphany, the dreaming season. God sent the Wise Ones a dream that saved more than one … Read more
You Rock! View in browser November 10, 2022 You Rock! Chris Mereschuk Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the Lord. Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug. – Isaiah 51:1 (NRSVUE) Ah, that New Year desire to do more, do … Read more
Daily Devotional for Small Group Discussion: The Cloud View in browser January 10, 2023 The Cloud Phiwa Langeni Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely. – Hebrews 12:1a (NRSVUE) Cloud computing, a.k.a. the cloud, is a … Read more
For I Am Only… View in browser January 8, 2023 For I Am Only… Martha Spong Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.” But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a boy,’ for you shall go to … Read more