Rev. Michelle Manuel & Shelby Olive Matthew 5:38-40 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; 40 and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; 41 and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. 42 Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to [...]

Louise McEvoy, Adult Ministries Coordinator, John the B Fan Club Life Member Matthew 3:4-12 4 Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the [...]

Erin Campbell Naman, a church member since 2009, member of Children’s Council, member of Lay Leadership Council Matthew 1:18 (NRSV)  Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way.  When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Matthew 1:22-23 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” Reflection: I have [...]

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 [...]