In John’s gospel we hear that it was six days before the celebration of the Passover: Passover was a massive celebration in Jerusalem. Josephus, the notable Jewish historian, estimated that over two million people were […]
Officer Tori Matthews of the Southern California Humane Society got an emergency call: a boy’s pet iguana had been scared up a tree by a neighbor’s dog. It then fell from the tree into a […]
It was Samuel’s twelfth birthday and for the first time in his life, he would accompany his father, Lemuel, to the Passover in Jerusalem. Every Jewish male from twelve years on was to make the […]
Let’s start with a story. There was a man, let’s call him Rod, who was a fine woodworker. He made cabinets, shelves, and tables for family, friends, and fellow church members. One day his pastor […]
There’s a refrigerator magnet that summarizes our Isaiah passage today. It says, “Everything will be OK in the end. If it’s not OK, it’s not the end. Today we’re talking about waiting through tough times […]
It’s that time of year again. Winter brings snow and cold, but also a time of quiet. It’s time to prepare our hearts for Lent which begins this year on February 17th with Ash Wednesday. […]
In this week’s scripture lesson Jesus is in Capernaum where he lived for a time after he called his disciples. He is beginning his ministry of teaching. In those days if a person had a […]
Schuyler Rhodes tells the story of his pet parakeet named “Beauty.” Beauty was a bird like most. She spent most of her life in the cage poking at a mirror and whistling while his mom […]
Today’s gospel passage in Mark is entitled “The Baptism of Jesus.”
The Reformed Church recognizes three methods of baptism: sprinkling, pouring and immersion. Other denominations, like the Church of Christ where I was baptized at the […]
Freshness a poem by Joyce Rupp, adapted for our reflection.
A new year is moving in just as winter walks alone and snowflakes and I sit here wondering in the breath of God’s bless and the […]