They didn't recognize Jesus until he broke the bread with them. People will not see Jesus in us if we just say the words and even if we regularly attend worship. They'll see Jesus in us in the close-up, personal things that matter to them.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Easter 3a – 19-Apr-26”
Have you ever been somewhere and seen someone you didn't expect to see? [Wait for answers]
You know there's something about them that makes you think you should know who they are, but you can't think of it.… Read the rest “Children’s Moment for Easter 3a – 19-Apr-26”
When we meet at the table, even with Jesus as our host, we're probably not going to see the fire and mist, darkness, and red moon that Peter mentions in Acts. We do, however, hope to see God's Spirit poured out on each of us to show is God's vision for God's people and the world, to give us dreams worth dream, and plans worth following.… Read the rest “Table Meditation (Acts) for Easter 3a – 19-Apr-26”
The disciples that Jesus met on the road to Emmaus didn't recognize him, in spite of his opening the scriptures to them, until he broke the bread with them. It was in the act of communion that they knew him for who he was and the course of their lives changed even as they changed the direction of their travels. … Read the rest “Table Meditation (Gospel) for Easter 3a – 19-Apr-26”
When I was a boy my family spent a lot of time outdoors. One day we even took a ride down a river in a canoe. During the ride, my sister though she saw an animal in the bottom of the river.… Read the rest “Children’s Moment for Easter 2a – 12-Apr-26”
We can say a lot about Thomas (and a lot has already been said), but at least we can say that he wanted to see some evidence of Jesus' presence. In our world today, people often ask for the same thing.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Easter 2a – 12-Apr-26”
In the passage for today from Acts, Peter tells the first converts to Christianity that "the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls." Jesus faced death to break its power for all people.… Read the rest “Table Meditation (Acts) for Easter 2a – 12-Apr-26”
It's not just us at the Table right now. In God's time, all people in all times and in all places are gathered here to remember. So, as the writer of Hebrews puts it, "We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses," from those first disciples who like Thomas actually saw the risen Lord and touched his hands and side, to the martyrs who gave their life in witness to their faith, to the strong leaders who called the people to a witness of unity and simple faith, to us. … Read the rest “Table Meditation (Gospel) for Easter 2a – 12-Apr-26”
We have spent our time recounting and remembering the stories of Jesus presence with his disciples following his death on the cross. Somehow, the sense of that presence was enough to propel them outward into the world to share that love with others.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Easter Sunday – 5-Apr-26”
We say that today is a celebration of Jesus' resurrection, do you know what that means? [Wait for answers]
In today's stories from the gospels we see that Jesus was dead and the disciples were going to visit his body to take care of it, but when they arrived at the place where he was buried, they found that he wasn't dead any more.… Read the rest “Children’s Moment for Easter Sunday – 5-Apr-26”