Scripture: Acts 1:6-7 As a result, those who had gathered together asked Jesus, “Lord, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now?” Jesus replied, “It isn’t for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has set by his own authority…” Thought for the Day: Though I won’t deal with this part of the text for another couple of week, I wanted to lift
Scripture: Acts 1:6 John baptized with water, but in only a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Thought for the Day: This is a part of Sunday’s scripture. In fact, Acts 1:3-8 will be our focus scripture for the next five Sundays. The resurrected Jesus is talking with his disciples about the baptism of the Spirit that is coming soon. Though we don’t celebrate
Scripture: Mark 16:7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, “He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” Thought for the Day: As I shared a few years ago on Easter, the phrase “into Galilee” is more than a geographic place for Mark. The Gospel was written shortly after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem (70AD), and
Scripture: Acts 4:7-9 They had Peter and John brought before them and asked, “By what power or in what name did you do this?” Then Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, answered, “Leaders of the people and elders, are we being examined today because something good was done for a sick person, a good deed that healed him? Thought for the Day: Have you ever been in a
Scripture: Acts 16:23-24 When Paul and Silas had been severely beaten, the authorities threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to secure them with great care. When he received these instructions, he threw them into the innermost cell and secured their feet in stocks. Thought for the Day: At the Sunrise Service on Easter (different sermon than 9am & 11am), I shared a quote from Nadia Bolz-Weber,
Scripture: Romans 6:5 If we were united together in a death like his, we will also be united together in a resurrection like his. Thought for the Day: What does it look like to be united with Jesus in a resurrection like his? For Paul, it is a way of living life, the transformed life. Resurrection comes to us as a free gift, no strings attached. At the
Guest Writer: Susan Logan, Elder Scripture: Mark 16:2-4 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they came to the tomb. They were saying to each other, “Who’s going to roll the stone away from the entrance for us?” When they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away. (And it was a very large stone!) Thought for the Day: What
Scripture: Mark 15:46 Joseph of Arimathea bought a linen cloth, took Jesus down from the cross, wrapped him in the cloth, and laid him in a tomb that had been carved out of rock. He rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb. Thought for the Day: In the previous chapter, a woman poured a jar of expensive perfume over the head of Jesus, and though there
Guest Writer: Rev. Karl Decker Scripture: Mark 15:24-37 They crucified Jesus. They divided up his clothes, drawing lots for them to determine who would take what. It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. The notice of the formal charge against him was written, “The king of the Jews.” They crucified two outlaws with him, one on his right and one on his left. Thought
Guest Writer: Rev. Paula Gembala Scripture: Mark 14:22-23 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take, this is my body.” He took a cup, gave thanks, and they all drank from it. Thought for the Day: Each Sunday as I walk to the table to take communion, I find myself imagining the scene. In my minds eye,