by Hans Jorgensen | Mar 29, 2024 | Devotions
In our tradition, we make space on Maundy Thursday to remember central parts of our faith story. We hear about the Passover meal in Exodus where we remember God’s deliverance of the people from enslavement. We hear about the communion meal where Jesus promised to be...
by Hans Jorgensen | Mar 15, 2024 | Devotions
How are you doing at this point in our Lenten journey? Some people love the season of Lent. (I am one of those). Others dislike it, find it oppressive or discouraging. How is it for you? Be honest. In another week, we will move into what we call Holy Week. The cross,...
by Hans Jorgensen | Mar 8, 2024 | Devotions
John 3:16 says, “God so loved the world that…” As we go through Lent, it is important for us to keep centering ourselves in that as the reason for God’s activity. It is because God loves the world that Christ comes to share our lot and guide us in teaching. It is...
by Hans Jorgensen | Jan 26, 2024 | Devotions
In Mark 1, it says “Jesus taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”What does it mean for someone to teach as “having authority?” Authority can come from outside sources, which is why our society pays attention to diplomas or resumes where we assess...
by Hans Jorgensen | Jan 21, 2024 | Devotions
In Jonah 3:1, it says, “The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time…”The first time Jonah heard God’s word, he went in the opposite direction of what God asked. I imagine that you can resonate with this. Sometimes we don’t want to go where it seems we are being...
by Hans Jorgensen | Jan 12, 2024 | Devotions
In John 1 this Sunday, we will hear Jesus’ invitation to “Come and see.” When faced with questions from others, Jesus doesn’t try to prove a point so much as invite them to come along and explore for themselves. I keep finding that God does not so much send answers as...
by Liesl Spitz | Dec 22, 2023 | Devotions
“Flesh” is a funny word. It can bring up connotations of food, or medical procedure, or nakedness — all carnal images we don’t necessarily want to go together. Even the word sounds creepy-crawly if you say it enough times! But that’s how God arrives, John tells...
by Liesl Spitz | Dec 14, 2023 | Devotions
“When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream” sings the psalmist, in a little bit of poetry that lights up my imagination (126:1). We were joyful, filled with laughter, shouting praises, the psalmist goes on. But in “those who dream” I...
by Hans Jorgensen | Nov 24, 2023 | Devotions
Kathleen Norris wrote, “Prayer is not asking for what you think you want, but asking to be changed in ways you can’t imagine.” Jesus keeps giving us new ways to imagine ourselves and our world. The 3rd of Jesus’ powerful parables in Matthew 25 (which we’ll hear this...
by Hans Jorgensen | Nov 17, 2023 | Devotions
One of the hardest tasks in life can be to appreciate your own gifts and talents, and sharing them where you are able. Oftentimes we compare ourselves to others, which robs us of the joy of appreciating our own gifts. Comparison can rob us of joy in one of two ways....
