1 John 3:16-20 We know love by this, that Jesus laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Little children, let...

Joel 2:1213 God says: Come back to me with all your heart. Come back to your God who is tender and compassionate, and rich in faithful love. Prayer: God of great goodness, even if we turn our backs on you, you never stop loving us. Open our eyes to the beauty of your...

Matthew 5:1-12 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for...

Hebrews 12:12-17 12Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed. 14Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one...

Psalm 81:1-16 1   Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob. 2   Raise a song, sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp. 3   Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our festal day. 4   For it is a statute for Israel, an...

John 5:1-9 1After this there was a festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes. 3In these lay many invalids — blind, lame, and paralyzed. 5One man was...

John 4:43-54 43When the two days were over, he went from that place to Galilee 44(for Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in the prophet's own country). 45When he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, since they had seen all that he had done...

Jonah 3:1-5, 10 1The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time, saying, 2“Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.” 3So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an...

John 4:27-42 27Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, "What do you want?" or, "Why are you speaking with her?" 28Then the woman left her water jar and went back to the city. She said to the...

Luke 18:15-17   15 People were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them, and when the disciples saw it, they sternly ordered them not to do it.16 But Jesus called for them and said, “Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, for it is to...

Acts 5:1-11 5 But a man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property; 2 with his wife’s knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 “Ananias,” Peter asked, “why has Satan...

1 Samuel 3:1-10 3:1 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD under Eli. The word of the LORD was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. 3:2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; 3:3...

Psalm 139: 13-18 13 For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well. 15     My frame was not hidden from you, when I was...

Psalm 139:1-6 1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me. 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. 3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue,...

Psalm 81:1-16 1   Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob. 2   Raise a song, sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp. 3   Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our festal day. 4   For it is a statute for Israel, an...

Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-13. A Time for Everything   This piece is inspired by the changing seasons, literally and figuratively. We used a mix of craft materials as well as found natural objects to add to an Advent wreath. There are quadrants representing each...

Acts 22:2-16 2 When they heard him addressing them in Hebrew, they became even more quiet. Then he said: 3 “I am a Jew born in Tarsus in Cilicia but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, educated strictly according to our ancestral law, being zealous for...

Genesis 17:1-8 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty[a]; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.” Abram fell facedown, and...

Mark 1:4-11 4 John the Baptist was in the wilderness calling for people to be baptized to show that they were changing their hearts and lives and wanted God to forgive their sins. 5 Everyone in Judea and all the people of Jerusalem went out to the Jordan River and...

Read Matthew 2:1-12.  Epiphanies The stars align A path made clear Love made manifest So hope defeats fear   Liberation is coming Freedom is here God in our midst Brings peace, love, and cheer   Awaken to God’s glory Your gifts will soon appear When you...

Read Luke 6:27-31. It is easy when reading this passage to focus on what is individually being asked of us as followers of Jesus. That we must love our enemies, despite that being life-shatteringly hard. That we must give unconditionally, and in turn not seem to care...

Read James 4:11-17. The Epistle of James is a beautiful piece of literature from the ancient Near East. James borrows from the wisdom literature and prophetic traditions to exhort his audience to live in peace and charity within their community. James flows from one...

Read Proverbs 1:20-33. Years ago, while in seminary, the Rev. Dr. Michael Jenkins told our class that one cannot “be a Christian by one’s self.” I’ve never been much of a note-taker, but I wrote those words down and have carried them in my heart ever since. Whenever I...

Read Proverbs 1:1-7. “For just as eyes, when dimmed with age or weakness or by some other defect, unless aided by spectacles, discern nothing distinctly; so, such is our feebleness, unless Scripture guides us in seeking God, we are immediately confused.” (John Calvin,...

Read Isaiah 61:10-62:3. As much as I love how houseplants brighten my home, I admit: I have no idea what I’m doing. Some of my plants have flourished, growing beautifully regardless of what I do, and yet others, despite all my research and care, wither away. Sometimes...

Read 2 Peter 3:8-13. We always seem to be waiting for something. College acceptance letters, an upcoming break from school, a plane. We know these will come eventually. There are other things, like healing for someone we love, that are less assured, but we trust they...

Read Matthew 12:46-60. Part of the Family In today’s scripture, Jesus invites us to expand our idea of what it means to be family. While addressing a crowd, someone invites Jesus to give his attention to his family, who was waiting nearby. In response, Jesus questions...

Read Jeremiah 31:15-17. Jeremiah 31:15-17 depicts hope amid bitter sorrow and weeping. Perhaps you’ve experienced this kind of bitter sorrow and weeping, or you know a loved one who has. Perhaps you’ve seen this bitter sorrow and weeping on the news or social media....

Read 1 Samuel 2:1-10. Hannah’s story of infertility, hopelessness, and longing is one I unfortunately know too well, as it is my own story. Thankfully, after much struggle and loss, our son was finally born this year. If I learned anything from her journey and mine,...

Read Psalm 148. December 26 begins the strange and stretchy days in between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. You may forget the day of the week. You may forget how many days are left in winter break. You may even forget to “keep awake,” and take that monster nap you’ve...

Read Luke 2:1-20. Like the shepherds keeping watch by night, we’ve spent much of the past year anxiously waiting for morning. When each day asks us to witness fresh violence and catastrophe, it becomes a blessing when night passes without a new tragedy to bear. So,...

Read John 1:1-14. Today’s passage is one that highlights dichotomies, acknowledging heavy realities and reminding us that the love of God shall not be overcome. The way the Word, the Light, is described feels a bit like magic with its eternal presence. But the other...

Read John 7:40-52. In some ways, the winter season has become a time of too much. There’s the stress of finals, pressure to buy the perfect gift, manage finances, hang up all the decorations. Showing the holiday spirit feels less about cheer and connection and more...

Read Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26. I have a penchant for never getting enough sleep. That means I’m always tired. Some days that tiredness really catches up to me, and all I want to do is lie down. But the busyness of life rarely allows for that, so I must find a way to push...

Read Hebrews 1:1-4. In today’s passage, we see that God speaks to us in different ways over time. In the Old Testament, prophets often spoke on God’s behalf. In Advent, we wait with anticipation for a new way of God speaking into our lives. Jesus comes without fanfare...

Read Mark 9:9-13. In Mark’s ninth chapter, Jesus takes disciples Peter, James, and John up to the mountain top, and there he is transfigured before their eyes with the prophets Moses and Elijah appearing before them. They are stunned and bewildered, and their senses...

Read Acts 3:17-4:4. Human Alarm Clocks From the time of our ancestors of the faith to now, prophets can be difficult to listen to. They point out the truth about us, our faith communities and our institutions. Oftentimes they are truth- tellers speaking hard things to...

Read Ephesians 6:10-17. Put on the armor of God — the belt of truth and shield of righteousness, Don’t sling the arrows of hurtful words, of hate, of prejudice, of intolerance. God’s armory does not include guns, or knives, or any instrument of violence and war, But...

Read Luke 1:46b-55. Awaking to Joy Have you ever been jolted out of bed by a weird dream or noise? This happens more times than I would like to admit. Most of the time it’s because the events of the day (corruption, eliminated rights, wars, and scandals) are wearing...

Read Matthew 21:28-32. I have a friend who likes to show love through random $5 Venmo payments to her friends. The words “For Starbucks,” “Buy yourself some flowers,” or “You need ice cream!” often accompany them. She sends them for friends taking a difficult exam,...

Read Philippians 3:12-16. Often, we spend our lives wondering about questions like, “who am I?” and “what am I supposed to be doing with my life?” For some, it becomes a crisis of sleepless nights; for others, it becomes a time of enlivening exploration. Here, Paul...

Read Habakkuk 2:1-5. For many centuries, we humans have built fortresses (or ramparts, or watchtowers, or whatever else your version says) with the anticipation that there is something beyond them that we must keep watch for. As Habakkuk takes his post and keeps watch...

Read Luke 1:5-17. What is it about those angels of the Lord that they strike fear in the hearts of all who see them? The angel Gabriel is often depicted with shining white robes, curly yellow hair, and a comforting smile. But just as Americans have white-washed Jesus,...

Read Acts 11:1-18 I am a storyteller by nature, and a rambling one at that. My stories get interrupted by other stories. In this passage, when interrogated about his inclusion of those deemed unclean, Peter chooses to tell a story. Peter tells them the whole story,...

Read Isaiah 40:1-11. This Isaiah text is one that flows around me during Advent. Just seeing the citation brings the old hymn to mind, and I am sure the text really reads “Comfort, comfort ye my people!” When things are hard, as they’re bound to be, when staying awake...

Read Mark 11:27-33. The problem, as I see it, is one of a very small imagination. I began volunteering at my children’s elementary school and somehow got myself in charge of the costumes for the school play. The dragon had to head butt the hero, thus stabbing her in...

Read Jeremiah 1:4-10. It is both a terrifying and wonderful thing to be known. For someone to see the capital-A-All of us. For another to peer at our insides – the things we cannot change or control. It is through this knowing that we are able to be loved. To pull...

Read 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10.  There’s power in “the work of faith and the labor of love” about which Paul writes, but it’s the words “steadfastness of hope” that are grabbing my attention. I’ve always considered myself a hopeful person, even amid inevitable...

Read Luke 21:34-38. Our reading for today actually marks the end of Jesus’ public ministry in Luke, and it is part of a larger apocalyptic discourse. In the preceding verses, Jesus describes earth- shattering events that will bring forth the promised kingdom of God....

Read Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13. The Psalmist writes, “let me hear what the Lord God says.” God speaks in many ways, through many voices. According to Luke’s Gospel, after Jesus’s birth, it is the shepherds – a lowly profession in biblical times – who go forth, spreading the...

Read Micah 4:1-5. Awaken Me In these days all I see is war: pain, suffering, deepening darkness. All I want to do is crawl back into bed. Hide under the covers. Yet your Word calls to me. Bringing HOPE. I step out in faith once more, making my way to you. In you I...

Psalm 63:1-11 1   O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2   So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. 3   Because your steadfast love...

Matthew 20:17-28 17While Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and said to them on the way, 18“See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will...