This Joy! View in browser April 24, 2022 This Joy! Marilyn Pagan-Banks When they said, “Let’s go to the house of God,” my heart leaped for joy. – Psalm 122:1 (MSG) My grandbabies love to come to church with us. Especially the little ones. Setting up the instruments for worship is a favorite task as … Read more
Ghosts and Ghosting View in browser April 23, 2022 Our apologies: The devotional for April 22nd incorrectly credited Kenneth Samuel as the writer; in fact, the reflection was written by Chris Mereschuk. Ghosts and Ghosting Mary Luti While they were talking, Jesus himself stood among them. They were terrified and thought they were seeing a … Read more
Fighting Words, But No Fight View in browser April 22, 2022 Fighting Words, But No Fight Kenneth Samuel One of the Twelve, Thomas, was absent when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We’ve seen Jesus!” Thomas replied, “I’ll never believe it without putting my finger in the nail marks and my hand into the … Read more
Noisy View in browser April 21, 2022 Noisy Rachel Hackenberg Praise God with trumpet sound, with lute and harp! Praise God with tambourine and dance, with strings and pipe! Praise God with clanging cymbals; praise God with loud clashing cymbals! – Psalm 150:3-5 (NRSV, adapted for inclusive language) I grew up in a quiet church. … Read more
Flip the Script View in browser April 20, 2022 Flip the Script Kaji Douša Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves. – Genesis 3:7 (NRSV) I left my first school with a powerful belief: I was terrible … Read more
Breathe View in browser April 19, 2022 Breathe Martha Spong Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! – Psalm 150:6a (NIV) It was a scary “no news is good news” kind of trip to the hospital. My chest pain was not a heart attack—could have been several other things—stress test was fine. “Now we … Read more
Daily Devotional for Small Group Discussion: Hallelujah is Forever View in browser April 18, 2022 Hallelujah is Forever Vince Amlin God’s anger is but for a moment; God’s favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes in the morning. – Psalm 30:5 (NRSV with inclusive language) The other day, … Read more
Promise of Eternal Life View in browser April 17, 2022 Promise of Eternal Life Donna Schaper Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. – John 20:8-9 (NRSV) A 4-year-old … Read more
To Be Human View in browser April 16, 2022 To Be Human Vince Amlin There came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. So Joseph took the body … Read more
Good Friday View in browser April 15, 2022 Good Friday Kaji Douša “Abba, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, Jesus breathed his last. – Luke 23:46 (NRSV) I once walked into a church that I found viscerally revolting. Not because it didn’t serve God—the church’s heart was clear. But the spirit … Read more