Amy Kelley, Director of Program Ministries, Gethsemane Ephesians 2:4-10 (CEB) 4-5 However, God is rich in mercy. He brought us to life with Christ while we were dead as a result of those things that we did wrong. He did this because of the great love that he has for us. You are saved by God’s grace! 6 And God raised us up and seated us in the heavens with Christ Jesus. 7 God did this to show future generations the greatness of his grace by the goodness that God has shown us in Christ Jesus.8 You are saved [...]

Rev. David Horton Matthew 9:35-38 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’ Reflection: Jesus is for nerds. The Trekkies. The Star Wars rebels. Muggles still waiting on our [...]

Lynzey Guidry, Youth Director–Gethsemane Psalm 139:7-12 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide men and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; [...]

Louise and Robert McEvoy Hosea 3:1-3 The Lord said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.” 2 So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and about a homer and a lethek of barley. 3Then I told her, “You are to live with me many days; you must not be a prostitute or be intimate with any man, and I will behave the same [...]

Joseph Patty - Associate Director of Student Ministries, High School, Curriculum, and Student Leadership Isaiah 6 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.  And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”At the sound of their voices the doorposts [...]

Rev. Michelle Manuel, Associate Director of Adult Ministries & Shelby Olive, Communications Associate Exodus 20:2-3 2 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; 3 you shall have no other gods before me. Reflection: Who is God? What a huge question. When we ask this question and read the Bible with this in mind we come up with a pretty substantial list. God is holy. God is a healer. God is a bringer of salvation. God is a creator. God is just. God is a liberator. [...]

Vicki Keiser, member since 1985, Church Council, Stephen’s Ministry Psalm 55:22 Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. Reflection: In the summer of 2012, I had the opportunity and finally made the commitment to read the entire Bible in 90 days. It was a big lift while working full time and having family commitments, but this paved the way [...]

Linda Burch, Member of St. Luke’s since 1972, Good Will Class Ephesians 4:31-32 (NIV) 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ in God forgave you. Reflection: Stop! Get a pen or pencil. Draw a five-pointed star. Starting at the top, number the points as you move clockwise around the star you have just drawn. My sequence for star drawing is 4-1-3-5-2-4. What is yours?  This exercise appeared in my Facebook feed a few weeks ago. [...]

Ann Pierce Arnett, Diaconal Minister, retired, Member of St. Luke’s since November 1946 John 21:4-14 Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish.  That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” [...]

David Swift, Member since 2009 Galatians 5:22-23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Reflection: One of the most fascinating things when reading the Bible is how simple Jesus’ teachings were. Much like today, the laws of the past were full of regulations that were numerous and open to interpretation yet Jesus came with a very simple message: Love one another.  We live in a complex world filled with mission statements, lists of core values, rules and regulations, talking heads…the list [...]