ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGAugust 3, 2021Scripture: Colossians 1:9-10For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGAugust 2, 2021Scripture: Colossians 1:7-8This you learned from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, and he has made known to us your love in the Spirit. Prayer for the Week: Let us reflect on these words, specifically how the Colossians learned of the grace of God from Epaphras. Let us also ponder those who have introduced us to
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGAugust 1, 2021Scripture: Colossians 1:5b-6You have heard of this hope before in the word of the truth, the gospel that has come to you. Just as it is bearing fruit and growing in the whole world, so it has been bearing fruit among yourselves from the day you heard it and truly comprehended the grace of God. Thought for the Day: I am going to make a
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGJuly 31, 2021Scripture: Colossians 1:3-5aIn our prayers for you we always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Thought for the Day: During my Sabbatical, I have been making a conscious effort to give
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGJuly 30, 2021Scripture: Colossians 1:1-2Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. Thought for the Day: Paul begins this letter as any letter should start – he greets the recipients. He gets personal. This is helpful for us in
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGJuly 29, 2021Scripture: Exodus 16:26Six days you will gather it. But on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will be nothing to gather. Thought for the Day: The actress, songwriter and author, Jada Pickett Smith, wrote, “When I’m tired, I rest. I say, ‘I can’t be superwoman today.’” How many of us never really give ourselves permission to pause, to say to ourselves, “Maybe I can hang
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGJuly 28, 2021Scripture: Leviticus 25:1-2The LORD said to Moses on Mount Sinai, Speak to the Israelites and say to them: Once you enter the land that I am giving you, the land must celebrate a sabbath rest to the LORD. Thought for the Day: As I am currently on my Sabbatical, I have been pondering some of the passages that reference sabbath rest. The idea of a
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGJuly 27, 2021Guest Writer for Today’s Etching: Rev. Paula GembalaWhen I was a child, I would go to church with my mother and my siblings. I loved to sit and sing the hymns with her and the rest of the congregation. One Sunday when I was around 13, they were singing “Just As I Am.” As I was singing, I felt an urge to go to the
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGJuly 26, 2021Prayer for the Week: As the Psalm suggests – it is right for us to praise you, O God – to lift our voices, no matter the song or the prayer or the proclamation. It is good for us to honor you, yet how often do we fall into the trap of placing ourselves at the center of the universe. It is easy to allow
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGJuly 25, 2021Scripture: Luke 22:40When Jesus reached the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not come into the time of trial.” Thought for the Day: One more day on this relatively obscure passage from Luke. When Jesus invites his disciples to pray that they not come into a time of trial, I believe he is implying the opposite to be true. Yet what exactly