Fifth Sunday of Easter

Readings- Proverbs 8: 1-4,22-31; Psalm 8; Romans 5: 1-5; John 16: 12-15 In 1973 I entered Virginia Theological Seminary using a proposed prayerbook that would become the 1979 Book of Common Prayer.  Raised in the Evangelical and Reformed Church, now the United Church of Christ, I had much to learn.  At V.T.S. we had a…

Readings- Amos 7: 7-17; Psalm 82; Colossians 1: 1-14; Luke 10: 25-37 How do we measure up?  Amos envisioned God “setting a plumb line in the midst of [the] people Israel”.  Do you want to live life to the fullest?  Jesus answered that question for an attorney of his own day, and he answers it…

Readings — Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 7:1-7, 10-14; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12 The musician Johnny Nash was born in 1940.  His early years were filled with difficulty until 1972 when the fog of his life cleared.  That was the year he wrote this very popular song — v. 1  I can see clearly now, the rain…

Readings: Isaiah 5:1-7; Psalm 80:1-2,8-18; Hebrews 11:29-12:2; Luke 12:49-56 The Lord God bless you and keep you.The Lord God make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.The Lord God lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. We find this blessing in the Old Testament book of Numbers (6:22-27).  On…

Readings – Revelation 7:9-17; Psalm 34:1-10,22; I John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12 Tuesday is Election Day here in Central Pennsylvania.  I expect all of us will cast votes, maybe some already have through mail in voting.  We will be voting for township officials, county officials, district attorneys, judges.  Not too long ago we called all those…

Readings – Acts 4: 32-35; Psalm 133; I John 1: 1-2:2; John 20: 19-31 I grew up in a family of seven, five children with my mother and father.  We always ate dinner together in our dining room, mother at the end nearest to the kitchen, and father at the opposite end.  After saying our…