Louise McEvoy, Adult Ministries Associate, Occasional Outsider Mark 5:2-9 (The Voice) 2-3 When Jesus came ashore there, He was immediately met by a man who was tortured by an evil spirit. This man lived in the cemeteries, and no one could control him—not even those who tried to tie him up or chain him. 4 He had often been bound in chains, but his strength was so great that he could break the chains and tear the irons loose from his feet and hands. No one and nothing could subdue him. 5 Day and night, he lurked among the [...]

Rachel Fisher, Children’s Communications Specialist Isaiah 59:1-4, 16 (NIV) 1 Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. 3 For your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt. Your lips have spoken falsely, and your tongue mutters wicked things. 4 No one calls for justice; no one pleads a case with integrity. They rely on empty arguments, they utter lies; they conceive [...]

Brittney Ford 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; The old has gone, the new is here! Reflection: I’m just going to come out and say it... I didn’t hate 2020. We all had different experiences in 2020- Many suffered immense loss. Others were met with financial hardships. Living life confined to our homes made us feel isolated and frustrated, and virtual school for our kids was a struggle. Wherever we find ourselves today we can look back and find the silver linings to the forced time at home.  I know more [...]

Lavonne Baker I Kings 17:13-16 (NIV) Elijah said to her (the widow) “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ’the jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord gives rain on the land.’” Reflection: How many times in our lives have we [...]

Joseph Patty; Associate Director of Student Ministries; Target Practice for Birds Phil 3:4-11 If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more:5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. 7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing [...]

Rachel Fisher, Children’s Ministries Communications Specialist Lamentations 3:19-24 (NIV) 19 I remember my affliction and my wandering,     the bitterness and the gall. 20 I well remember them,     and my soul is downcast within me. 21 Yet this I call to mind    and therefore I have hope: 22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,     for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning;     great is your faithfulness. 24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;     therefore I will wait for him.” Reflection: Do you ever wish time could be bottled up [...]

Martha Hill Jamison, Member Luke 24: 13-16 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.  Reflection: “I can’t wait until everything gets back to normal.” How many times have I said or heard this phrase since COVID-19 made its presence known?  We have put much of our lives on hold. [Almost] No traveling, [...]

Amy Kelley, Dir. of Program Ministries, Gethsemane Jeremiah 18:1-6 (CEB) 1 Jeremiah received the Lord’s word: 2 Go down to the potter’s house, and I’ll give you instructions about what to do there. 3 So I went down to the potter’s house; he was working on the potter’s wheel. 4 But the piece he was making was flawed while still in his hands, so the potter started on another, as seemed best to him. 5 Then the Lord’s word came to me: 6 House of Israel, can’t I deal with you like this potter, declares the Lord? Like clay [...]

Pat Deckert, Good Will class, Docent, Night Prayer Circle John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.    Psalm 71:23 My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you— I whom you have delivered.  Reflection:   Regardless of how much we love our jobs, who of us has not experienced a season– maybe a day, a week, a year, or more–of discontent whether we are at work in [...]

Charity Autry, Member since 2008, Families in Faith Sunday School Leader, Starting Point Leader, VBS Chair (Children’s Ministry Council) Genesis 33:1-17 (English Standard Version) 3 He (Jacob) himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. 4 But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept.  8  Esau asked, “What’s the meaning of all these flocks and herds I met?””To find favor in your eyes, my lord,” he said. 10  “No, please! Said Jacob. “If I have found [...]