ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGOctober 26, 2021How we pray says a lot about who we are, what we value and how we perceive God. This was true in the days of Jesus as most teachers had a prayer or style of prayer reflective of their unique vision. In the 11th chapter of Luke’s Gospel, the disciples were seeking just such a prayer when they said, “Lord, teach us to pray, as
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGOctober 25, 2021Prayer for the Week:May the stories of Jesus – the stories of his compassion, mercy and kindness – become more and more established within our minds and souls. Good and Grace-filled God, the busyness of life can crowd out so much of what is important, healthy and life-giving. We speak of following Jesus, but it is mystifying when we claim a life of discipleship with
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGOctober 24, 2021Donna and I went to the Renaissance Festival yesterday. It has been something the two of us have enjoyed doing from early in our marriage, though we didn’t go last year because of the pandemic. Yes, we do dress up and enjoy the goofiness of doing so. But both of us are people watchers, and there is a lot to see, a lot to take
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGOctober 23, 2021How often do we have the opportunity to say, “I love you.” How often do we have the chance to reveal love to someone? How often does someone walk away from an interaction with us feeling loved? I went through a period of my life, a sort of spiritual practice, where I asked myself these questions every evening. At first, I felt guilty as there
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGOctober 22, 2021Does love exist apart from the entities that share and receive love? This was a strange thought I had as I was driving back to the church after a meeting yesterday. Some of you are probably thinking that Bruce must have been really bored. That’s probably true, but don’t we talk about love as a force, a power… as if it could stand alone? We
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGOctober 21, 2021I have noticed a heaviness in my life that I can only name as grief. I am heart-sick about the 730,000 deaths from COVID. I mourn the millions of family members who continue to struggle because of these deaths, in part, because they were unable to say “Good-bye” in a way that was healthy. I lament the young children impacted by COVID, including the thousands
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGOctober 20, 2021Those who have chosen to follow Jesus have only one task, and that is to love. The love of God put on display in Jesus, the love we are to use as our model, is not something we choose to emulate only when it is practical or easy. They say consistency is the best teaching tool, and Jesus was consistent when it came to love.
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGOctober 19, 2021This past Sunday, I talked about how loving your neighbor not only begins with loving yourself, but knowing yourself. In fact, it is hard to love yourself if you do not know yourself. In Galatians 5:14, the Apostle Paul echoed the teaching of Jesus when he wrote, “For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGOctober 18, 2021Prayer for the Week:God of All Creation –Source of all goodnessGiver of all Grace.Today, we give thanksFor a sustaining loveFor the breath of lifeFor the sustenance of the earthFor the welcome of your church.Our hearts are filled with gratitudeFor the beauty of creationFor the birds of the airFor the fish in the watersFor the animals upon the land.We give you all praise and honorWe give
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGOctober 17, 2021Many different people have said it many different ways, but let me say it this way: Do not live vicariously the blessings of others while ignoring your own. Today in worship, we will talk about envy. To have envy is to lose all excitement for what we have as we grow in excitement for what is not yet our own. We can still be happy