Category: Worship

We are revisiting a few of the devotionals written by your church family during this last week of the church year. Starting Sunday, November 29, as we begin the

We are revisiting a few of the devotionals written by our fellow congregants as we near the end of the liturgical year. Starting Sunday, November 29, the first Sunday of

Wild Gourd Stew . . . And it came about as they were eating of the stew, that they cried out and said, O man of God, there is

We are reprising a few of the favorite devotionals offered over the past several months for these last few issues prior to Advent. Information on subscribing to our Advent

Thankful When? Thankful How? And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. —Colossians 3:15

The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers … 1 Peter 4:7 I have spent the last three

Happy 400-Year Anniversary! Here we are, almost in the middle of November, 2020. We have endured eight months of the pandemic and uncomfortably settled into our “new normal.” And who knows

De Profundis Psalm 130 It is now Friday evening, November 6, 8:30 p.m., and guess what I am doing? Like most of you, I am waiting to find out

As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him…  Titus 3:10 As I write this, televisions

Today in History The year was 1922. The date was November 4. George Herbert, fifth Earl of Carnarvon, owned the concession to dig in the Valley of the Kings,

Holy hatred, Batman Our granddaughter is a feisty young woman – always has been. When she was in middle school, we picked her up every afternoon after dismissal. Sometimes

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those

If you give a mouse a cookie … Our two-year old granddaughter Josephine is visiting us for a couple of weeks. She is at the stage of linguistic development

Getting up in the morning, how do you greet the new day? Sometimes, I’m very drowsy — “Oh, God, it can’t be morning, already!” Then, I tend to drop

Do You Know How to Blush? Several years ago I preached a sermon titled “Whatever Became of Shame?” In the sermon I said that without a sense of shame

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 Egrets fascinate me. Despite their

Imagine that you ask God in to help you fix up your house. At first, everything fits your plans. All the maintenance that you have been putting off for

A Prayer of Repentance I came across this prayer several years ago and was reminded of it recently when a friend posted it on Facebook. It has been attributed

He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor

Take a look at the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 21. Jesus tells a story that points out that we possess not one thing. Everything that we have is on

Reflection Upon Psalm 23 Psalm 23 is perhaps the favorite and most quoted Scripture in the Bible. It is often quoted in times of distress and crisis. The Jewish

“And, I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:18 It was my dad’s birthday last

But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. — 1 Corinthians 12:31 Higher gifts. More excellent way. These sound like comparatives.

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit

… the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings

All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit who apportions to each one individually as he wills. — 1 Corinthians 12:11 If only I had gifts like

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all

You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever

For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a

The Lord bless you from Zion! May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life! May you see your children’s children! Peace be upon Israel! — Psalm 128:5-6 Stewardship is

Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways! You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands, you shall be blessed, and it

The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever. May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace! — Psalm 29:10-11 Peace! That is surely something that is in

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,

Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened,  and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like

For one who has died has been set free from sin. — Romans 6:7 Here we go again, talking about death. Death can be so unsettling for those of

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness

But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by

And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the