Blogs And Devotionals (Page 14)
E-Note May 10, 2024
Dear Peace members and friends, I’m guessing that yesterday was likely a fairly normal day. I know it was for me. We welcomed a group of Peace older adults for lunch. We heard the musical group, Bloomingtone’s sing. There was no rain. The sun shone. That was Thursday. Which is too bad because yesterday was also the 40th day after Easter and a red-letter day on the church calendar—the Ascension of Our Lord. Ascension Day marks the end of the…
E-note May 3, 2024
May 3, 2024 Dear Peace members and friends, A happy May to you all! In spite of the rain, I hope you’re enjoying the green, green, green of creation around us coming to life once again. On Sunday, we continue celebrating the good news of Easter. This season of the church year reminds us that the resurrection of Christ does not only have to do with what happens after we die but, first of all, it has to do with…
E-note April 26, 2024
Dear Peace members and friends, 30 years ago tomorrow, a momentous event happened in Africa and the world. For the first time, black South Africans were able to vote in a national election. Nelson Mandela became the country’s first President and, 2 years later, won the Nobel Peace Prize. What is seldom remembered is that Mandela shared that prize with another South African leader, F. W. de Klerk. For reasons that are still not completely clear, de Klerk (brought up…
E-Note April 19, 2024
Dear Peace members and friends, Coming up this weekend is that annual Sunday of the Easter season that is often called, “Good Shepherd Sunday.” “I am the good shepherd,” Jesus declares in Sunday’s Gospel. And here’s one thing in this reading that becomes clear: Jesus does everything that ultimately matters. 5 times in 8 short verses he says, “I lay down my life”—for us! For you; for me! To confess that Jesus is our shepherd is to also say that…
E-Note April 12, 2024
Dear Peace members and friends, What a joyful Easter Sunday we had two weeks ago! And here’s the thing: the hope of Easter continues to happen. As I write these words, I’m getting ready to celebrate the life of Tom Gilmore’s mother, Joan. I’ll be reminding those who are present that Joan made the lives of people better wherever she was, and sharing with them the hope we have in Christ—“death has been swallowed up in victory.” Yes, Easter continues!…
E-Note April 5, 2024
Dear Peace Members, What a wonderful Holy Week we had at Peace!Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday worship—the Scripture, the music, the gathered people of God—all proclaiming the Good News: “He is risen! He is risen, indeed!” Now the question is: what does it mean for how we live….now! Does the Risen Christ make a difference—not just about death after life but life before death? That’s why the church calendar gives us 50 days to take the Good News…
3/31/2024 Lenten Daily Devotional
Mark 16:1-8 1When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very…
3/30/2024 Lenten Daily Devotional
Psalm 36 1Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in their hearts; there is no fear of God before their eyes. 2For they flatter themselves in their own eyes that their iniquity cannot be found out and hated. 3The words of their mouths are mischief and deceit; they have ceased to act wisely and do good. 4They plot mischief while on their beds; they are set on a way that is not good; they do not reject evil. 5Your steadfast love,…
3/29/2024 Lenten Daily Devotional
Luke 23:32-43 32Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him,…
3/28/2024 Lenten Daily Devotional
Mark 14:12-25 12On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 13So he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, 14and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks, Where is…
E-Note – Lent – March 27, 2024
Dear Peace Members and Friends, Holy Week is not a service. Rather, it is an experience. A collection of worship services to immerse yourself in the climax of the story of God’s determination to redeem God’s people and world. It begins tomorrow, Maundy Thursday, continues on Good Friday, and will come to a peak on Easter Sunday. Here is the worship schedule along with some details: With nightfall, Lent comes to an end and we gather with Christians around…
3/27/2024 Lenten Daily Devotional
John 13:21-32 21After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. 23One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him; 24Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” 26Jesus answered, “It is the one…