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07 April 2024 - Second Sunday of Easter

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  Theme This week’s readings speak about the life and ministry of the Church of Christ. The aims of the church are to preach the Good News of the resurrection, be united and meet the needs of the most vulnerable. All of this is achievable only by the power of the Holy Spirit working in the lives of believers. In John, the resurrected Jesus meets with the disciples and breathes his Spirit on them. In 1 John, believers are encouraged to walk in the light and fellowship together so they can be purified of their sin. The Psalm celebrates unity amongst God’s people. In Acts, the early church are united and share everything they have with each other. Scripture Readings John 20:19-31 - The disciples are together behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Jesus came and stood amongst them, showed them his hands and side and the disciples were overjoyed. He breathed on them and said, “receive the Holy Spirit” and stressed the importance of forgiving people’s sin
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11 February 2024 - Transfiguration Sunday, Year B

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  Theme Transfiguration Sunday presents us with two incredible (almost unbelievable) stories. In Mark, Jesus is transfigured on the mountain top and communes with two of the great prophets of Israel: Moses and Elijah. In 2 Kings, Elijah is lifted up and passes on his mantle as Israel’s prophet to Elisha. The symbolism of these two stories presented together reminds us of Jesus’ role as God’s Prophet in the world. Furthermore, the position of the transfiguration in Mark’s Gospel, reminds us that Jesus is a different kind of Messiah than what God’s people were expecting. Scripture Readings Mark 9:2-9 - Jesus takes Peter, James and John up a high mountain where he was transfigured before them. His clothes became white and Elijah and Moses appeared and spoke with him. Peter desires to set up three shelters for them. A cloud appeared and covered them and a voice came from the cloud declaring: “This is my Son whom I love, listen to him.” 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 - Unbelievers who are peris
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04 February 2024 - Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

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  Theme This week’s readings speak boldly of the greatness (transcendence), but also the accessibility (imminence), of God. The same God who created the universe and everything in it continues to care for humanity and will provide strength to the weak, healing to the broken, and liberation to the oppressed. In Mark, Jesus continues to heal and drive out demons. In Corinthians, Paul preaches the Gospel so that others can experiences God’s gifts. The Psalmist declares God’s goodness and that God delights in those who fear Him. In Isaiah, God’s glory will be revealed as the weary renew their hope in God and grow strong. Scripture Readings Mark 1:29-39 - After teaching with authority in the temple, Jesus visits Simon and Andrew and heals their mother-in-law. That night, people brought a whole bunch of sick and demon-possessed people to Jesus to heal. Jesus healed many, but never let the demons speak because they knew who he was. Very early the next morning, Jesus went off to a solit
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28 January 2024 - Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

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  Theme There seems to be a dual-theme running through this week’s scripture readings. First, the readings remind the reader of the One True God in the midst of the various gods and idols that are worshipped throughout the world. Second, the readings speak towards Jesus as being the Prophet who speaks for God and offers God’s salvation to all. Scripture Readings Mark 1:21-28 - Jesus taught with authority in the synagogue in Capernaum. A demon-possessed man claims that Jesus is the Holy One of God. Jesus quiets the man and calls out the demon within him. The people are amazed and news spreads quickly about Jesus throughout the region of Galilee. 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 - Addressing food sacrificed to idols, Paul says that having love is more important than having knowledge. The important knowledge to have is that there is one God and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. Paul says that food (or no food) does not bring us near to God. However,
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21 January 2024 - Third Sunday after the Epiphany

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  Theme This week’s readings expand on the theme of calling that we reflected on last week. While last week we read John’s account of Jesus calling the first disciples, this week we read Mark’s record of the same event. In Corinthians, Paul explains the urgency of responding to God’s call. In our Old Testament Reading, we find Jonah receiving his second call to return to Nineveh and proclaim God’s message to them. Scripture Readings Mark 1:14-20 - John the Baptist is arrested and Jesus begins his preaching ministry, proclaiming that “the Kingdom of God is near; repent, and believe in the Good News. Jesus then calls the first disciples in Mark’s Gospel to follow him. He calls Simon and his brother Andrew while fishing, saying that they will now become fishers of men. He then calls James and his brother John, who leave their dad and follow Jesus. 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 - Paul explains the urgency of people to take the Gospel message seriously as he stresses that their world would be endin
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14 January 2024 - Second Sunday after the Epiphany

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  Theme This week’s readings speak to us about how we listen and respond to God’s call. In John, Jesus invites Philip and Nathanael to follow him. Samuel contains one of the most well known passages in Scripture of a person hearing and responding to an audible call from God. In Corinthians and the Psalm, we are reminded that the God who calls us has created us and knows us better than we know ourselves. Scripture Readings John 1:43-51 - Jesus invites Philip to follow him. Philip tells Nathanael who says that nothing good can come from Nazareth. When Jesus sees Nathanael coming, he declares that he is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit. He tells Nathanael that he saw him while he was under the fig tree. Nathanael then declares that Jesus is the Son of God and King of Israel. Jesus says that while Nathanael believes because of this, he was see much greater things than that. He will see heaven open, and the angels of God descending on the Son of Man. 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 - Althoug
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07 January 2024 - Baptism of the Lord

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Theme This week is Baptism of the Lord Sunday where the lectionary invites us to reflect on Jesus’ baptism at the hands of John. The readings this week encourage us to reflect on the role of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers and in the world. In Mark, the Spirit descends on Jesus and assures him of God’s approval. In Acts, we see the disciples are empowered by the Holy Spirit in their own baptism. In the Psalm and in Genesis, we are reminded that God’s Spirit is continuously creating and is present in all of God’s Creation. Scripture Readings Mark 1: 4-11 - John the Baptist appears in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. John was wild and unkempt, but attracted many people to get baptized by him. He declared to prepare the way for one more powerful than him who would baptize with the Holy Spirit. Jesus came and got baptized by John. Jesus saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove, also hearing a voice claim
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