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Devotionals

1-21-26

There are events taking place in our country that require a response by people who say they are following the way of Christ.  It can be difficult to know how to respond to rapidly changing events.  One measure of response is to remember that what is legal is not necessarily moral.  Jesus had a habit of pointing out this truth regularly and it riled people.  In fact, it upset people to the point of wanting to kill him throughout his ministry. 

As United Methodists, we know that we are called to "resist evil, injustice and oppression in whatever form they present themselves".  We are called to love those whom we least want to love which includes actively participating in making life better for all. Another measure of our response to these events is to look at what scripture has to say, and what Jesus said in those scriptures.  In case we have a hard time understanding what being moral looks like or what it means, Jesus told us, through the disciples, what it looks like in Matthew 25:

“Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King (Jesus) will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’

“Then he will turn to the ‘goats,’ the ones on his left, and say, ‘Get out, worthless goats! You’re good for nothing but the fires of hell. And why? Because—

I was hungry and you gave me no meal,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
I was homeless and you gave me no bed,
I was shivering and you gave me no clothes,
Sick and in prison, and you never visited.’

“Then those ‘goats’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn’t help?’

 “He will answer them, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.’

Help us, O Lord, to see you at all times in all places, we pray.

1-14-26

Christmas is over.  The decorations are removed and stored (and thank you to all who helped!).   We are now in the season of Epiphany, a season that corresponds with the ever increasing light of the day.  Just two weeks into this new year, it is clear that light is desperately needed.  In the book of Matthew chapter 5 we are reminded of the purpose of our light, that divine spark within each of us,  "You are the light of the world. A city on top of a hill can’t be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on top of a lampstand, and it shines on all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before people, so they can see the good things you do and praise your Father who is in heaven."
 
When we do "all the good we can, by all the means that we can, in all the way that we can, in all the places we can, to all the people we can, for as long as ever we can", we bring glory to God.  The care and concern we exercise for others is a direct result of God's care and concern for us, a love that God extended first.  In response, therefore, we  offer care and concern  to all people.  God's love for all of creation guides us in the same way the star guided the magi.  We might not know EXACTLY what path our journey will take, but we know when we encounter the Herods of the world we need to alter our path and go a different way otherwise we'll lose the star and the light.
 
If you have not yet received your star with your word for the year, please contact the office or Pastor Allison so you will not be left out!  There are epiphanies that await you this year.
 

Season of Epiphany Message from Bishop Cedric Bridgeforth

Click Here

12-23-25

 

"On the Mystery of the Incarnation" by Denise Levertov

It’s when we face for a moment
the worst our kind can do, and shudder to know
the taint in our own selves, that awe
cracks the mind’s shell and enters the heart:
not to a flower, not to a dolphin,
to no innocent form
but to this creature vainly sure
it and no other is god-like, God
(out of compassion for our ugly
failure to evolve) entrusts,
as guest, as brother,
the Word.
 
12-10-25
 

There are many jarring elements to the story of Christ's birth, elements that we tend to sanitize and sterilize to an extent that the Christmas story loses some of its power.  The story of Mary and her response to the angel, her willingness to say yes, is at times incomprehensible.  It is easy to read the Annunciation as if Mary was overwhelmed by God and had no agency, no choice, to bear Jesus.  Does that resonate for you? 

 

It does not resonate for me.  God is more invitational, more willing to interact.  To overwhelm someone, especially with something as dangerous as giving birth, does not sound like a God who is expressed by lovingkindness, or chesed as it is known in Hebrew. It sounds like a God who has been shaped by a propensity to perceive things with violence. To give Mary no choice sounds unlike God and it also takes the power out of the Magnificat, the response Mary gives when the angel appears and delivers the gestation of good news.

 

One of my favorite songs, The Canticle of the Turning, is based on Mary's Magnificat.  Its lyrics are steeped in a joy that Mary feels at the new thing God is doing.  The lyrics attest to God turning the world aright which requires turning things upside down and upsetting the order of Empire...the first shall be last, etc.  You might like to use these poetic lyrics to pray this week.  You can also listen to the song at this link:Canticle of the Turning .  

1. My soul cries out with a joyful shout
that the God of my heart is great,
And my spirit sings of the wondrous things
that you bring to the ones who wait.
You fixed your sight on your servant’s plight,
and my weakness you did not spurn,
So from east to west shall my name be blest.
Could the world be about to turn?

Refrain
My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,
and the world is about to turn!

2. Though I am small, my God, my all,
you work great things in me,
And your mercy will last from the depths of the past
to the end of the age to be.
Your very name puts the proud to shame,
and to those who would for you yearn,
You will show your might, put the strong to flight,
for the world is about to turn.

3. From the halls of power to the fortress tower,
not a stone will be left on stone.
Let the king beware for your justice tears
ev’ry tyrant from his throne.
The hungry poor shall weep no more,
for the food they can never earn;
There are tables spread, ev’ry mouth be fed,
for the world is about to turn.

4. Though the nations rage from age to age,
we remember who holds us fast:
God’s mercy must deliver us
from the conqueror’s crushing grasp.
This saving word that our forebears heard
is the promise which holds us bound,
‘Til the spear and rod can be crushed by God,
who is turning the world around.