Keenen D. Brinson, M.Div Youth Ministries Coordinator – Gethsemane Campus  Exodus 16:1-3, 31-36 (The reader is encouraged to read all of Exodus 16 if possible) 16:1 They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. 2 And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, 3 and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we [...]

Mackenzie Rice, High School Student Matthew 9:9-13 (ESV) As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. And as Jesus reclined at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of [...]

Peggy Roe Matthew 22:1-14 (NRSV)  22 Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: 2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. 4 Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.’ 5 But they made light of it [...]

Robbie McDonough John 21:9-19 (NRSV) 9 When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus [...]

Suzi Pitts Luke 21:1–4 He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts in to the treasury; he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. He said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put all she had to live on." As we read this passage, The Widow's Mite, don't you wonder who the "they" are? I don't know about you, but I don't want to be one of [...]

Mackenzie Rice, High School Student Matthew 21:23-27 ESV And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If [...]

Richard Ethun proud husband of Karen, father of Elizabeth, Angela and Cecilia, member of St Lukes for 30 plus years, GoodWill Sunday School Class teacher, Sinner and Saved by Grace Luke 13:6-9 6 Then he told this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. 7So he said to the gardener, “See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?” 8He replied, “Sir, let [...]

Betty Owens Geary, 34-year member of St. Luke’s and the Gene Decker Study Class, married to Bob Geary Matthew 21:12-13 (NRSV) 12 Then Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who were selling and buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 13 He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’;     but you are making it a den of robbers.” Reflection: One of my favorite authors is J.D. Salinger.  Like most of my generation, I [...]

Martha Hill Jamison Matthew 21: 1-11 (The Message) When they neared Jerusalem, having arrived at Bethphage on Mount Olives, Jesus sent two disciples with these instructions: “Go over to the village across from you. You’ll find a donkey tethered there, her colt with her. Untie her and bring them to me. If anyone asks what you’re doing, say, ‘The Master needs them!’ He will send them with you.”  This is the full story of what was sketched earlier by the prophet: Tell Zion’s daughter, “Look, your king’s on his way,     poised and ready, mounted On a donkey, on a [...]