In our gospel reading for today, Jesus is rejected by his hometown and he warns the disciples that they may face rejection where they go as well. Imagine what it would be like to learn after the fact that you had turned away God's chosen messengers!… Read the rest “Table Meditation (Gospel) for Proper B9 – 7-Jul-24”
Sometimes the people who are hardest to convince that you're growing up are the ones who have known you since you were little. That's some of the problem Jesus had in our gospel story for today.
He had come back to his home town and the people there expected him to go right on being Mary and Joseph's son, working in the carpenter shop.… Read the rest “Children’s Moment for Proper B9 – 7-Jul-24”
Sometimes Jesus' ministry was very public. He fed over 5000 people in one instance. Sometimes Jesus' ministry was private and personal, like the stories of healing one small girl and one particular woman from our scripture for today.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Proper B8 – 30-Jun-24”
Have you ever really wanted God's help about something, but you didn't know even where to start? [wait for answers]
In our gospel story for today we'll meet two people who had exactly that problem. The first was a man whose daughter was sick to the point of being near death.… Read the rest “Children’s Moment for Proper B8 – 30-Jun-24”
Sometimes we feel like we're "lost in the crowd," but the woman who approached Jesus in the gospel lesson for today wanted to stay unnoticed. She figured just a touch to the hem of his garment would do. … Read the rest “Table Meditation (Gospel) for Proper B8 – 30-Jun-24”
One thing that happens a lot when you're working with God is the surprises when God does something unexpected, especially when that something shows how much power God has. There are times in my own life when God took what I had to give an did something miraculous...… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Proper B7 – 23-Jun-24”
Have you ever been in a really scary storm? I was, once when I was just a bit older than you. We were outside and the dark clouds came up so fast we didn't really know what what going on until the rain started pouring down.… Read the rest “Children’s Moment for Proper B7 – 23-Jun-24”
When the Disciples climbed into that boat, they probably thought they had an idea of who Jesus was. By the end of the day, they knew Jesus in a whole different way. We don't always get our world turned upside down when we come to the Table, but we do have the opportunity to see Jesus and to know him. … Read the rest “Table Meditation (Gospel) for Proper B7 – 23-Jun-24”
Jesus said that the Realm and Rule of God is like a mustard seed. It starts out small, almost insignificant, easy to overlook. As it grows, it becomes something much larger and much more significant.
It starts when we return a bit of God's blessings, whether it's financial resources or some of our time or abilities.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Proper B6 – 16-Jun-24”
How much faith do you think you have? Do you have this much? [hold hands a little apart] Or do you have this much? [hold hands a little wider] Or do you have this much? [hold hands as wide as possible]
In our gospel story for today, Jesus tells us that it doesn't matter.… Read the rest “Children’s Moment for Proper B6 – 16-Jun-24”