ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 16, 2019 Scripture: Romans 5:8 But God shows his love for us, because while we were still sinners Christ died for us. Thought for the Day: On this day in 1940, the Nazis closed off the Warsaw Ghetto from all outside contact. I’ve read a great deal of history, and watched plenty of History Specials on the Holocaust, but it remains impossible for me to
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 15, 2019 Scripture: Numbers 6:24-26 The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. Thought for the Day: These words may sound familiar to you. They have been said, and continue to be said, as a benediction in many churches and
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 14, 2019 Mid-Week Prayer: O Prince of Peace, continue to teach me the ways of peace. Assist me as I do what is necessary for my life to resemble the vision of faithfulness, holiness and shalom revealed throughout scripture. Allow for your Spirit of Peace to reside within me so thoroughly that not only am I at peace, but those around me find both their
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 13, 2019 Scripture: Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in faith so that you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Thought for the Day: Yesterday during staff meeting, we discussed this passage from Romans – a discussion that was both lively and fascinating. Individual staff members offered insights that were often very personal
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 12, 2019 Scripture: 2nd Corinthians 9:2 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Thought for the Day: Anne Frank wrote the simple words: No one has ever become poor by giving. In our modern day – money-driven society – we tend to hear those words in terms of giving our resources away. I’m not going
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 11, 2019 Prayer for the Week: We are living complex lives in a complex world while trying to follow the simple example of Jesus who invited us to love everyone. No exceptions! Holy and Magnificent Creator, the world around us is growing more complicated, yet this amplified existence stands in opposition to your values. The poetry of the Genesis 1 story provides both a pattern
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 10, 2019 Scripture: Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. Thought for the Day: As many of you know, this is a portion of my favorite passage in scripture. The word Renewing is how we translate the
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 9, 2019 Guest Writer: Rev. Sheila Gillette, from All Saints’ Sunday… Gracious God, Creator of Heaven and Earth, On this All Saint’s Day of remembrance, we lift up your faithful servants and cloud of witnesses that have gone to be with YOU this past year. O Lord, we thank you for these Saints who modeled lives of love as faithful witnesses of Jesus here on
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 8, 2019 Scripture: Matthew 9:36 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were troubled and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Thought for the Day: Jesus didn’t simply see a crowd, a throng of people, a mob. He saw the people and how troubled they were. Without some spiritual awareness and empathy, the needs and the suffering of humanity
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 7, 2019 Mid-Week Prayer: We complain about our team’s inconsistency or lack of big wins. We grumble when our cable is on the fritz or our internet is running slow. We fuss about the traffic on our way to work or the construction that slows us down. What does it mean to suffer, to know true affliction? Lord of Mercy, Lord of Compassion, awaken us