Preaching Through the Week

Text: Romans 15:13 Theme: Hope Reflection: How have you responded to the news lately? Have you paid attention to what is going on locally? Nationally? Internationally? This weekend, I have spent more time watching the news and following the news online, than I have in a long time. In most images, I see people with anger, exhaustion, and frustration. I pray for them, and a weary world in which hope seems to be fleeting. As members of the body of Christ, we are called to usher in hope and love, given to us by an unconditional-loving God, to be shared with the world. Today, this hope looks beyond words of "thoughts and prayers," although that is a good initial response. While we cannot pray, by name, for every individual, community, and country that needs prayed for, but we will pray to God for healing for the family and friends of Ahmaud Arbery who was killed while running in Georgia. We will pray to God for healing for the family and friends of George Floyd, who was k

Text: Acts 1:6-11 Theme: Identity Reflection: Who are you? How might you answer that question to a stranger? How might you answer that question to a loved one? In the Acts text for today, we hear of Jesus' final encounter with his disciples before he ascends to heaven. Thursday was Ascension Day; a festival in the season of Easter where we remember that Jesus ascends to the Father, and the Holy Spirit is promised upon Jesus' followers. I find the turning point in this text to be verse 8, where dialogue ends, and the the instruction is given; you  will be   my witnesses...  Jesus makes it quite clear that the work of bringing the good news of Christ does not end, but continues through these disciples. Like the disciples, in order to know who we are becoming, we first ought to know who we are. Which brings us back to the question; who are you? In God's magnificent creation, each living thing is created with a unique identity-- there is NO ONE else like YOU in the

Theme: New Creation Text: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 Reflection: Here in Southern Illinois, we are cruising through spring and anticipating the heat of summer. School is out for summer (yay for teachers, kids, and parents of homeschool kids ). Recently, I have noticed the increasing amount of time our family has spent watching the birds eat at the bird feeder; we sit, watch, scream whisper to "come" without scaring the birds. What is even more stark, is the growth of the trees, the grass, and the container garden plants that are growing. This spring has been like no other spring in my lifetime. We have spent far more time at home than ever before, and our calendar has had fewer appointments than ever before. Our family has slowed down-- in this stillness we have made more meals together, eater dinner as a family every night, and spent time appreciaing the beauty of God's creation. This focus text today is 2 Corinthians 5:17. You, and me, are a part of a new creation--

Text: Acts 2:42-47 Theme: Devotion Thanks be to God, Epiphany is led by a council who continues to see the importance of daily devotions. In a world where there are devotions with many different emphases, written by many different authors, from a variety of faith organizations, the world of daily devotions can be overwhelming. Perhaps the word devotion has been watered down. The daily devotions I follow have been short stories, tied to a brief scripture passage, that focus my attention on what God is doing in the world now. Rather than an act of orientation and dedication, daily devotions can become an item on a checklist. "I did my devotions for the day, what is next?" This Acts passage from the fourth Sunday of Easter begins with early Christians and how they were oriented to their world. We weren't there to observe their "lived out devotion," but it is safe to say that the way these followers of Christ acted were a response to transformation that happ

Text: Isaiah 43:16-19 Theme: Being Made New Have you thought about what the world will look like after Covid-19 has passed? This time of social distancing will end, and with some modifications and changes, we will go back to a "normal" life. However, this new normal, will not be like life before Covid-19. The normal we knew is not the normal we will know. The world in which we live is always changing. Think about the phases of the moon, the growth and blooms of trees and flowers. The wrinkles on your hand. The only thing constant in this world is that there is always change. I am reminded of a quote from Heraclitus: "No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river, and he's not the same man." With all this in mind, whether we feel it or not, we are people of change. -When you were born, the entire earth changed. -When you were baptized, your life, for eternity, changed. -When you come to the rail for Holy Communion, you l