Daily Devotionals

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS April 18, 2025In a college art appreciation class, I saw Rembrandt’s etching, “The Three Crosses” for the first time (https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/359757). I must admit that the class had not been particularly captivating before that moment. However, that particular image not only captured my attention but also left an indelible mark on my mind. I had encountered numerous paintings depicting the crucifixion, yet somehow, they failed to convey the

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS April 17, 2025There are very few things I enjoy as much as sitting down for dinner with friends. The food doesn’t necessarily need to be good, though that’s a nice bonus. At the end of the day, it’s about the people. I’ve also been around a table with some discord where food was served, but there were those who would have rather thrown it than eaten it.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS April 16, 2025Last night, I ventured into our dimly lit chapel, where a few flickering candles guided me on a simple journey. It is not a big Labyrinth, and if you want to move quickly, you could probably finish it in two minutes. I walked it slowly, pausing at each turn with the question, “Where have I felt the nudge of the Spirit to make a slight

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS April 15, 2025Saturday was Passover for our Jewish siblings, and we need to remember that most of the main characters we find in the Gospels were Jewish. That includes Jesus, and I’m certain he had been celebrating Passover all of his life. This week, we will focus our attention on the last Passover Jesus celebrated with his followers before he was crucified. It would have been like

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS April 14, 2025Prayer for the Week (revised from worship): When excuses suddenly appear on our tongues, I implore you, Merciful God, to pause our breath and silence the fear-induced justifications before they are vocalized. When we are fully immersed in the joyful celebrations of our faith, we too often miss where the Gospel message is encouraging us to go. Help us to rise above any fears, so

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS April 13, 2025Today, in worship, we are going to focus on awakening joy in our lives. Among the many parables Jesus shared, I think about the three parables of lostness (the youth focused on one of the parables during Youth Sunday) found in Luke 15. There we read, “Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS April 12, 2025The middle section of Luke’s Gospel comes to a conclusion with the words: “After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem” (19:28). Back in the 9th chapter, we heard how Jesus was setting his face to Jerusalem. Ten chapters later, he now arrives. The side gate into Jerusalem is before Jesus, and he’s about ready for the triumphant entry on

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS April 11, 2025Have you ever been asked for a favor, but you really didn’t know what you were getting yourself into? The disciples were asked to do a simple task, but their actions that day led them into the most significant week of their lives. In Luke 19, we read:When Jesus had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS April 10, 2025I was on a Zoom call Tuesday night with faith leaders talking about how best to protect the most vulnerable. A Buddhist named Teo Drake said something in passing that caught my attention. I may not have written down the quote exactly, but basically this is what he said: “There is no version of the divine that does not love you. There are lies about

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS April 9, 2025The closing hymn in Traditional Worship this past Sunday is a beautiful piece, except it is not. OK… I’m going to express some thoughts that some may not like, and I’m okay with that. You are allowed to disagree, and in the end, you might be right. The hymn is, “What Wondrous Love Is This,” and it begins with this amazing declaration about the wondrous