Devotionals

The Danger of Starting Well

By Matthew Mason. This is the third in a series of posts supplementing messages in our preaching series in 1 Samuel this fall. Today we consider 1 Samuel 9-11.   As we saw on Sunday, after Israel rejects God as King, he warns of coming judgment. They long for a king like the nations, but…

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Oh, Those Golden Tumors!

By Aaron Damiani. This is the second in a series of posts on 1 Samuel, supplementing messages in our preaching series this fall. Today we consider 1 Samuel 5:1-7:2. As a church, we are on a chapter-by-chapter journey through the book of 1 Samuel. For those with attentive eyes and ears, 1 Samuel offers up…

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Alleluia! Christ is Risen!

Today’s lesson is John 20:1-10. Rejoice now, heavenly hosts and choirs of angels, And let your trumpets shout Salvation For the victory of our mighty King! Rejoice and sing now, all the earth, Bright with a glorious splendor, For darkness has been vanquished by our eternal King. Rejoice and be glad now, Mother Church, And…

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Waiting

Lenten Devotional Series Day 46.  Today’s meditation is on Matthew 27:57-66. As a people, we are pretty bad at waiting. We would so much rather keep up the feeling of forward motion. Fill every spare moment with something productive or worthwhile. Fight against every delay, even if it means telling tourists where to stand on…

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5 Ways to Stay with Jesus on Good Friday

Lenten Devotional Series Day 45.  Today’s reading is the Passion according to John. As Lent draws to a close, many of us are tempted to ignore or disregard the sufferings of Jesus.  On this Good Friday, let us stay at his side and participate in his suffering so that we may share in his glory…

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Private Devotions During Holy Week

Lenten Devotional Series Day 44.  Today’s reading is the Passion according to Luke. Today we enter into the Triduum, also known as the Three Great Days. These are the most holy, solemn, and serious days of the entire Christian year. More than any other season, now is the time for us to seek the Lord…

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Sleeping it Off

Lenten Devotional Series Day 43.  Today’s meditation is on the Garden of Gethsemane in Mark 13:32-42. Do you know someone who suffers from chronic pain- whether emotional or physical?  If so, how have you responded to them? When we observe suffering in others, our instincts tell us to avoid it.  Why?  We are driven to…

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Remember Your Baptism

Lenten Devotional Series Day 42. Today’s lesson is the second half of Mark’s Passion, Mark 15:1-47. Easter is traditionally an important day for baptisms in the life of the church. What better way to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection than to welcome new shareholders in it? And for those being baptized, it makes great sense for one’s…

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Welcoming the Real Jesus

Lenten Devotional Series Day 40. Today’s meditation is on Jesus’ Triumphal Entry in John 12:12-19. As Jesus entered Jerusalem, John tells us that the crowd met him waving palm branches and singing Psalm 118. Palm Sunday traditions have conditioned us to see this as a Christian worship service. For people in Jesus’ day, however, this was…

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