Lighting the Candle We light a candle with gratitude for the faithful lives that have come before us as followers of Jesus. You know that we love you, Lord. We light a candle with appreciation for the many ways that light and love nurture our journey on the way. You know that we love you,… Continue reading Celebrating 140 years!

Image by Brett Hondow from Pixabay Slow reading The gospel reading this week has some deeply challenging images from Jesus, and they are not easy to make sense of or incorporate into daily living. You can listen to the audio clip below, or you can find all the lectionary readings here. Mark 9:38-50 As you… Continue reading Severing, Salt and Fire

Call to worship Come, let us give thanks to God! We gather together to praise the One who strengthens the weak and hears the prayers of the forgotten. Come, let us give thanks to Christ! We gather together to tell of the One who calls us to serve those who are hungry and alone. Come,… Continue reading An Evolving Faith

https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=57088 The gospel reading for this week offers us a lens to engage with the season of creation theme. As you listen with this theme in mind, what insights arise for you? What catches your attention? Mark 9:30-37 As Jesus continues to try and open the disciples minds to understand God's version of Messiahship -… Continue reading Creation and the welcome of the little ones

GET thee behind me, by Tissot, watercolour. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=56514 Call to worship Lord, where should we go if we did not follow you? You have the words of eternal life. Let us come and follow the one who gives us life, who calls us by name, and delights in our presence, Jesus the Christ. Let us… Continue reading Art and faith

Who do you say I am? Mark 8:27-38 This week's reading from the gospel according to Mark is a pivotal point in his narrative. Up until this point, Jesus has urged everyone to keep silent about his miraculous power and healing presence. Now he asks his disciples directly, "who do you say that I am?"… Continue reading When art tells our story

Photo by Liam Edwards on Unsplash Call to worship Faithful God, come walk with your people for in you alone are our hope and mercy and we put our trust in you. Faithful God, come walk behind us, beside us, before us for you alone are our shelter and direction and we put our trust… Continue reading STanding in the gap

Photo by Olga Andreyanova on Unsplash Stories to journey with The gospel reading this week offers us an interesting conversation and two healing stories. Mark 7:24-37, NRSV I know it's more usual to read a passage once, glean something new from it if possible, and then move on to another passage. There is a lot… Continue reading gone to the dogs

Candle lighting Photo by Jaclyn Moy on Unsplash We light this candle as a people of faith, Remembering that we find belonging in family and in community. May the burning flame remind us that, in this virtual space, as we join together to worship God All are welcome; All are bearers of God’s light; Everyone… Continue reading Who do we think we are?