Scripture: Matthew 23:1–12 “The greatest among you will be your servant.” (Matthew 23:11) According to the world around us, this is the season for shopping, spending, decorating, feasting, and wearing elaborately decorated sweaters. Parties and pageants, tinsel and trees, Santa…
Read more »Scripture: Psalm 33 “Our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.” (Psalm 33:21–22) Sometimes I question God. How did God,…
Read more »Scripture: Psalm 122 Peace within your walls, and security within your towers. (Psalm 122:7) Look at this passage through indigenous eyes. We walk everywhere—to our own little stores and to our neighbors’ and to far-off destinations. Our churches, built better…
Read more »Scripture: Luke 1:68–79 When I was young, I saw only a few Christian churches. Today, the number has increased dramatically. When I consider the aim of Christ’s coming and the purpose of the church, I imagine a world where people…
Read more »Scripture: Amos 5:18–27 Standing at my office window, I was startled to see the early morning sky fill with roiling storm clouds. Within minutes, torrential rain mixed with hail pelted the glass. Soon a manhole cover on the street below…
Read more »Scripture: Matthew 22:1–14 We all receive invitations throughout the year that request our presence at various functions. The gospel of Jesus Christ is God’s invitation for us to have a relationship with him. This invitation comes with the certainty of…
Read more »Scripture: Matthew 21:33–46 “Peace on earth,” we say in Advent, we say at Christmas, we say upon the birth of the One we call the Prince of Peace. “Peace on earth,” we say as a hope, a prayer, a longing…
Read more »Consider engaging in Morning Prayer Presbyterian Style as a way to prepare during this Advent Season. Thanks to Lynn Shephard, pastor of Afton Presbyterian Church and Guilford Center Presbyterian Church in the Presbytery of Susquehanna Valley for sharing this idea,…
Read more »Scripture: Amos 3:12–4:5 It is easy to get caught up in the spirit of things as we enter Advent. We are called to wait upon the coming of the Lord, and yet we are expected to participate in the merriment…
Read more »Scripture: 1 Peter 4:7–19 “Yet if any of you suffers as a Christian, do not consider it a disgrace, but glorify God because you bear this name.” (1 Peter 4:16) Between 1966 and 1976 China witnessed a Cultural Revolution. Many…
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