Readings and Reflections on the 12th Sunday after Pentecost
1 Kings 19:4-8 Psalm 34:1-8 Ephesians 4:25 – 5:2 John 6:35, 41-51 In this reading from 1 Kings, the prophet Elijah is fed and encouraged by the intervention of angels…
Readings and Reflections for the 11th Sunday after Pentecost
Exodus 16:2-4,9-15 Psalm 78:23-29 Ephesians 4:1-16 John 6:24-35 In the reading from Exodus we hear the story of the people of Israel complaining in the wilderness after the escape from…
Readings and Reflections for the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
2 King 4:42-44 Psalm 145:10-19 Ephesians 3:14-21 John 6:1-21 Dear Friends, In 2 Kings we have the story of Elijah who has twenty barley loaves to set before one hundred people. They all ate…
Readings and Reflections for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Jeremiah 23:1-6 Psalm 23 Ephesians 2:11-22 Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 Dear Friends, The prophet Jeremiah condemns the leaders of Israel who have failed to act as proper shepherds to the people. The Lord…
Readings and Reflections for the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
Amos 7:7-15 Psalm 85:8-13 Ephesians 1:3-14 Mark 6:14-29 Dear Friends, Mark 6 contains the unpleasant story of Herod being tricked into beheading John the Baptist. Put simply, this is a reminder…
Readings and Reflections for the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
Ezekiel 2:1-5 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 Mark 6:1-13 God calls the prophet Ezekiel to speak to the people of Israel. They may or may not listen, but they will know that a prophet…
Readings and Reflections for the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
Lamentations3:21-33 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 Mark 5:21-43 Lamentations 3 contains a powerful affirmation of God’s daily love and mercy that never end. When we fail to understand what we are experiencing, or perhaps…
Readings and Reflections for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Job 38:1-11 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 Mark 4:35-41 Dear Friends, Job 38 contains a small portion of God’s reply to the challenge of a suffering man. This “opening statement” from God clearly…
Readings and Reflections for the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Ezekiel 17-22-24 2 Corinthians 5:6-10,14-17 Mark 4:26-34 Dear Friends, When the prophet Ezekiel tells the allegory of the cedar tree, he is speaking to the exiled people of Israel with a message…
Keep Your Kids Healthy, Happy & Outside This Summer
By Connie Winkler Sending them outside to play? Good. Sunlight elevates the mood and is essential for synthesis of vitamin D. But it also can cause sunburn, photo-aging and skin…