Rev. Michelle Manuel Matthew 11:28-30 28 “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”The other day a clergy friend sent me a list of the types of fatigue people are experiencing currently; compassion fatigue, Zoom fatigue, crisis fatigue, the list goes on. I bet you could name a type of fatigue [...]

Justin Bair, Associate Director of Worship and Music and co-host of YouTube Show, Methodantics alongside Sid Davis Isaiah 6:1-5 1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. 2 Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. 3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his [...]

Rev. Katie Montgomery Mears Joel 2:12-13 (NRSV) 12 Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; 13 rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing.   Isaiah 58:5-7 (MSG) 5 Do you think this is the kind of fast day I’m after: a day to show off humility? To put on a pious long face and parade around solemnly in black? Do you call that fasting, a [...]

Louise McEvoy, Women’s Ministry Coordinator, Professional Pancake Eater Joel 2:12-13 (NRSV) Yet even now, says the Lord,     return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; 13     rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God,     for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love,     and relents from punishing. Reflection: Starting in December of 2002, American Airlines charged a $50 fee for luggage bags between fifty to seventy pounds. In 2008, Delta Airlines introduced a $50 charge for a second checked bag, regardless of weight. [...]

Suzi Pitts, Director of Communications Proverbs 15:16-17 Better a little with the fear of the Lord     than great wealth with turmoil. Better a small serving of vegetables with love     than a fattened calf with hatred. Reflection: Here we are on the last day of our Daily Habit focused on Proverbs and the eve of starting our Lenten journey. If the weather forecasters are accurate, it’s freezing cold and just might be snowing here in Houston. There are no words. I want to tell you a house story. It was back in the ‘80s in Greenwich, [...]

God of sacrificial love, A friend really challenged me the other day. He was disappointed in something I said in a public setting, and he took it personally. Do you remember how stunned and defensive I was about it? (of course you do….) But as you and I talked about it, I came to understand it, and I was really convicted. It was personal for him. It wasn’t about some “issue.” It made him wonder if I really loved him. I pray today for those who feel unloved. I pray for those who long for a valentine but whose longings are as [...]

Joseph Patty, Associate Director of Student Ministry; Lamenter of the State of Popular Music Proverbs 5:1-9, 18 My son, pay attention to my wisdom,     turn your ear to my words of insight, 2 that you may maintain discretion     and your lips may preserve knowledge. 3 For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey,     and her speech is smoother than oil; 4 but in the end she is bitter as gall,     sharp as a double-edged sword. 5 Her feet go down to death;     her steps lead straight to the grave. 6 She gives no thought to the way of [...]

By Cynthia Wier, member of the Gene Decker Study Class and St. Luke’s since 1975 Proverbs 14: 26 (RSV) In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have refuge. Reflection: The word "fear" usually conjures up images of fright, danger, or something unsettling, an event that tears apart our sense of peace and comfort. I am afraid of heights. I am horrified when cars cut in front of me on the freeway, just barely missing a collision. And I am stressed out when someone I love is ill. The Book of Proverbs presents [...]

Erin Campbell Naman, church member since 2009, member of Children’s Council, member of Lay Leadership Council Proverbs 21:30 (NIV) There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord. Reflection: A few weeks in and 2021 hasn’t turned out much better than her predecessor. We are still in the midst of a global pandemic, we are still divided as a country, people are still struggling from financial difficulties, and relationships are still strained from these divided times. Where is the hope? But then I read these 14 words in Proverbs and am reminded that nothing [...]

Warren Fisher, Genesis Sunday School Co-Leader, Member since 1988 Proverbs 29:11 (NRSV)  A fool gives full vent to anger,     but the wise quietly holds it back.  Proverbs 29:20 (NRSV) Do you see someone who is hasty in speech?     There is more hope for a fool than for anyone like that. Reflection: Anger and hasty speech seem to be everywhere these days. Modern social media, communication technologies, and 24/7 news streams mean that words spoken hastily or in anger (or often both) are instantly disseminated. Such words can do much harm…to the speaker, to the subject, and to the hearer. [...]