ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 23, 2020Scripture: Matthew 10:38-39Those who don’t pick up their crosses and follow me aren’t worthy of me. Those who find their lives will lose them, and those who lose their lives because of me will find them. Thought for the Day: These two verses were included in Sunday’s sermon text, but I did not really reference them much. It was a rather meaty section of scripture,
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 22, 2020Prayer for the Week: Merciful God, in a world that can appear complicated and chaotic, we seek your help in finding a place to put our faith to work. We do not wish to feel incapacitated and stuck as we notice the immense difficulties staring back at us. It would be much easier to ignore and walk away, and there are plenty of people choosing
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 21, 2020Scripture: Matthew 10:26-28Jesus said, “”So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 20, 2020Scripture: Matthew 10:16-20“See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 19, 2020Scripture: Psalm 13:1-2How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I bear pain in my soul, and have sorrow in my heart all day long? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? Thought for the Day: Today is Juneteenth, or Jubilee Day. It is the day in which we commemorate
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 18, 2020Scripture: Matthew 10:11-14Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. As you enter the house, greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 17, 2020Scripture: Matthew 10:9-10Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food. Thought for the Day: Had Jesus said this before commissioning you to go beyond your usual community, what would you have been saying to yourself? You might not have said it out loud, but I’m
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 16, 2020Scripture: Matthew 10:5-7These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, “The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Thought for the Day: As I continue to move through this section of Matthew’s Gospel, we
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 15, 2020Prayer for the Week:Some conversations are happening –Some with you, O God who hears the cries of the peopleSome are beginning to occur where they are long overdueSome are occurring as people read a book far outside their own experienceSome are occurring in a faithful and open coffee chat onlineSome are occurring in households were important topics were too easily evadedSome are occurring in the
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 14, 2020Scripture: Matthew 9:37-38Then Jesus said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Thought for the Day: Jesus invited his disciples to pray for the Lord to send out laborers because the harvest was ready. For Matthew, this is an eschatological image, a picture of God’s new