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
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 6, 2019 Scripture: Luke 16:14 The Pharisees, who were money-lovers, heard all this and sneered at Jesus. Thought for the Day: I read those words, and my first reaction is to shake my head and belittle such selfish and misguided people. Yet then I walk into my closet, and I am confronted by a plethora of clothes hanging there that have known very little use.
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 5, 2019 Scripture: Luke 16:20-21 At the rich man’s gate lay a certain poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. Lazarus longed to eat the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Instead, dogs would come and lick his sores. Thought for the Day: The story (parable) of Lazarus is one of the deeply troubling stories found in scripture, unless you are
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 4, 2019 Prayer for the Week Guest Writer: Rev. Hannah Fitch In this season we are called to remember those who have influenced and shaped our faith. For those who taught us bible stories, showed us compassion, loved us when we wondered if we deserved it, we pause to be grateful. For the lives of those who have touched us and instilled in us a