Matthew 1:1-17 An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, 4 and Aram the father of Aminadab, and Aminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by [...]

Savannah Burch Romans 13:8-10 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.   Reflection: I like rules – not because I like regulating or being regulated, but because I really hate being in the wrong. Rules [...]

Brittney Ford Matthew 25: 35-40 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, [...]

Rev. Michelle Manuel Luke 1:26-38 NRSV 26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. [...]

Cynthia Wier Matthew 22:36-40 "Master, which is the great commandment in the law?  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Reflection: On a day just before Christmas, I was walking near my house. Everyone had decorated their yards with sparkling strings of lights, bright red bows on trees, a snowman [...]

Ann Pierce Arnett Isaiah 5:42    Thus says God, the Lord,     who created the heavens and stretched them out,     who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it     and spirit to those who walk in it.... Reflection:  It seemed like an ordinary day. I usually walk in the evening just around my block.  It’s a spiritual discipline that I enjoy. I know most of our neighbors and we greet each other if they are out at that time. I know their children and their pets; I appreciate the work they [...]

Rachel Fisher Romans 15:5 (ESV) 5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Reflection: What did you dread most in elementary school? Personally, it was not spelling tests or pop quizzes I despised; contrastly, the bane of my childhood was being forced to do group projects. I always loathed these collaborative assignments because they seemed to inevitably drive a wedge between me and [...]

David Swift John 13:18-22  18 “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned against me.’ 19 “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. 20 Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.” 21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly [...]

Suzi Pitts James 2:8 If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.  It was a typical day at church the morning it happened. Acolytes proceeded the choir and clergy. We sang hymns and prayed. The pews were filled with the lovely church family of all ages, dressed in their Sunday best. Yes, It was beautiful and routine until it wasn’t. The fire alarms screeched out, and the sanctuary was evacuated as the fire engines roared onto campus. Smoke was billowing out of the kitchen. [...]