In worship, we celebrated by hearing the stories of witness. Each of the readings today, including the Psalm, were focused on the commission of witness to the world. The Psalmist assures us that there is nothing that brings joy than to witness. The Acts of the Apostles also reinforces the need to witness to the […]
Alleluia! Christ is Risen! Happy Easter to all from Chuckatuck. In worship, we celebrated with young and old. We heard the stories of Jesus’ resurrection, as told by Luke, and how the women went to the tomb and were surprised. But once they came to their mind they bore the gospel message – that Jesus […]
It was a beautiful and touching service at Oakland Christian United Church of Christ. As has been our practice since before I arrived at St. John’s, we gather as a community for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunrise. We gathered as a community to remember that night where Jesus and his Disciples celebrated the […]
Prayers for God’s grace to you as we begin our Holy Week journey. Please be blessed in your Holy Week journey. In worship, we heard the Passion Gospel from Luke – the choral reading of which is always moving. Coupled with the Passion Gospel was Paul’s request to have the mind of Christ and Isaiah’s […]
We continue to work our way through the reflective portion of Lent, looking for God’s presence in our community and welcoming family and friends alike. In worship today there was some counterpoint between Paul and the gospel. But before we heard their conversation, Hebrew scripture engaged us in the Psalm and Isaiah. We were reminded […]
In worship we heard lessons and offered prayers that highlight our need for reconciliation and for our response when we are made clean (even when that means we pass through judgment). Joshua brings to the forefront the idea that once the journey is complete we will eat the nourishment found in the promise land. And […]
We are reminded, no matter what, that God is still in control and calling us to a deeper relationship. Sometimes, God is in the irony of our humanity and the unplanned occurrences of our life – like slippers in Church. As we worshipped today we were reminded that the life we live, while wholly our […]
While I’m not sure how it conveys in the aural sermon, we were exposed to Abram as he questioned how and when God would make him a mighty nation – since he and Sarai were getting very old. God restated God’s promise to Abram and because Abram trusted God, they formed a covenant relationship. We […]
Lent 2019 is upon us – our annual journey of reflection, listening, and, if necessary, redirecting ourselves to the places God is leading us.The children, and all who are children of God, renew our story and the presence we bring in our community; truth in our past, our present, and our future. Lent is a […]
What a phrase: “The invitation to the observance of a holy Lent.” Sometimes that phrase seems odd but when we remember that something that is holy is something that is set aside for God. As we gathered for worship, both at St. John’s and at Lake Prince Woods retirement center, we were asked to pause […]