It’s interesting to imagine Jesus sitting by the well that day, thirsty and without a bucket to draw water. He may have been waiting for a kind stranger to come along, confronting the very real feeling of thirst. When you’re parched, it’s hard to think straight; your mouth feels dry, making it difficult to speak. This aspect of the story is significant: Jesus was thirsty. While we often contemplate Jesus’s divinity—being God incarnate—it's important to remember that he had a

Are you tired? I’m tired. I come to this reflection - and this Lenten season - feeling much like Bilbo Baggins in The Fellowship of the Ring. “I feel thin, sort of stretched… Like butter spread over too much bread.” I’m not feeling stretched because of some fantastical ring, but because of the product of my own choices - what I say ‘yes’ to and what I say ‘no’ to. I say ‘yes’ to too many things, and then I live with the consequences later. It is so easy to get caught up in th

Ephesians 2:14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. Paul begins today’s passage with the imperative “Don’t forget,” or, put another way, remember where you used to be and who you are now. In this time of polarized thinking, we all find ourselves on one side or another of various issues. Jesus tore down these walls thru his death, burial

In a time when our country feels like a house divided against itself, Colossians 1:15–23 offers a grounding truth that cuts through the noise of the news cycle. We are currently surrounded by "thrones, powers, rulers, and authorities"—forces that Paul specifically mentions in verse 16. In our modern context, these are the political machines, the polarized media, and the ideologies that demand we choose a side and treat the "other" as an enemy.

A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you, and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.... It was 2 a.m. as I sat in silence with a distraught friend when she suddenly whispered, “I don’t want God to give me a heart of flesh; my heart of stone keeps me safe.” She had been abused and abandoned in unthinkable ways by those who were supposed to keep her safe. Her heart of stone protected her.

Look at the list of Isaiah’s vision: no more weeping, anguish, no more premature death of babies, elders will live a long life, home ownership, planting of food that you can grow and eat, work satisfaction, blessed children and grandchildren, and God hearing and answering prayers. These are probably things we have not taken the time to reflect on, but now, during this Lenten season, you have the opportunity to reflect.  Now that you have seen Isaiah’s list, what will you add

Life is not always easy. Seasons of discontent come. It is the season I have found myself in. I’m not sure how I got here, but it’s here.

Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.

For many of us, Lent is a season of inward focus and reflection, taking inventory of our souls, our discipleship, and our lives. In a perfect world, setting aside one of our usual daily pleasures would help us be less distracted and better focus on how we are really doing at our core. This is a valuable process that creates opportunities for healing and transformation.  But looking inward can also make us a little too self-absorbed. Psalm 121 offers a helpful perspective on o

“We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.” Romans 3:22 Praise the Lord that we can say ‘Yes and Amen’ to this beautiful truth! This Bible verse helps unlock the entire Gospel and the saving grace of Easter. This is why we observe Lent, why we believe in Jesus Christ as the Sacrificial Lamb, and how we can be made right with our Creator. God made a way for all people to come to Him, to fi

The journey of faith is larger than we could imagine. It goes beyond ourselves. Our faith is personal, but it is also profoundly communal.

“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

The story of Cain and Abel is one I have heard my whole life, and as a mother, it stands out in the raising of two children. As a child, I surely did not read or fully understand the words that are written in the Bible or the full weight of the sin that Cain committed- killing his own brother and then lying to God. As a mother, now when I read verse 10, “And he said, What hast thou done? The voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.” I can feel the anguish

A Reflection for Monday, February 23 by Rev. Kelly Johnston Lectionary reading for 2/23/2025:   Psalm 32; 1 Kings 19:1-8; Hebrews 2:10-18 Selected passage for reflection: 1 Kings 19:1-8  Read 1 Kings 19:1-8 NIV Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one

After Jesus’ baptism, and before the start of his public ministry, Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness.  I believe God sent Jesus into the wilderness to spend time in God’s presence, free from distractions. I believe the wilderness is a place where God chooses to meet with God’s beloveds. In this situation, God wants Jesus to know that he can rely on his Holy Parent for everything he needs. After 40 days of solitude in the desert, Jesus may have felt connected to t

A Reflection on Isaiah 58:1-12 In this passage, the people of Judah were frustrated because it seemed that God was not answering their prayers. They had followed the religious requirements, they had fasted and prayed, but it felt like God didn’t see them. Isaiah’s message to them was that God ‘had’ seen them, and they had fallen short. In verse 2, God says that they had the ‘appearance of a nation that does what is right.’ Israel had a reputation as an obedient people, but G

One day, you are driving your toddler around, navigating traffic and handing out snacks to the seat behind you so they can sit in the passenger seat, somewhat horrified that you get to teach your teenager to drive. Now, I love a good-spirited, sassy teenager, but I don’t love teaching them to drive all that much. How does this sweet toddler go from singing in that sweet baby voice in the car to telling you, “I KNOW, MOM! YOU ARE STRESSING ME OUT,” after they almost kill you w

Jonah 3:1-10 reads like a one-page summary for a much longer document; few details and lots of facts. We don’t need any more detail than we have: “call urgently on God, and God may relent”. As I watch the news and witness the violence and wanton disrespect for human rights occurring across the US and around the world, I feel the need to urgently call out to God for mercy. If there were ever a moment to call on God urgently, this is it. Perhaps it’s always the time. 

A Reflection for Ash Wednesday by Rev. Jessie Lowry Lectionary reading for 2/17/2026: Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 or Isaiah 58:1-12; Psalm 51:1-17, 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 Selected passage for reflection: Psalm  51:1-17 Read Psalm 51: 1-17 New Revised Standard Version Have mercy on me, O God,     according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy     blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,     and cleanse me from my sin.

Happy Mardi Gras to all who celebrate. Whether you plan to eat a Polish Pączki, king cake, or drink something festive, I hope you enjoy. I am pleased to announce the release of a new edition of Prayerful Reflections for Lent . I will be publishing the devotional weekly. The first edition includes reflections for Ash Wednesday through Saturday, February 28th. The second edition (Week 2 and onwards) will be posted each Friday for the following week. Prayerful Reflections for Le