The Progressive Christian Voice

Without a moment of hesitation, Jesus is there for Peter and will not let him perish.

Matthew 14: 13-21 In the midst of the anxiety of not having enough for themselves, or for the crowd, Jesus called the disciples to change their ideas about their own power in the world. Jesus called the disciples to engage with the daunting reality before them, to engage with hope, to engage without the fear of scarcity. With God's help, 'you feed them' with what you have. Jesus encouraged the disciples to draw nearer, to feel hope, to give out of a sense of abundance and in doing so, the miraculous beauty of God's love will become so evident you might even taste it, and watch it pour over the brims of baskets when all are filled.

Mt 13:31-33, 44-52. The parable of the wheat and theweeds is not told for the sake of action, it is told for the sake of honesty - -that God understands our situation, the reality in which we dwell, and God tends to us as we are, with the tenderness and care of a loving and thoughtful Gardner.

Mt 25: 14-31. When Trijicon or any company puts Jesus' sayings on their weapons components intended for human destruction, it is an attempted character assassination of our Lord. When any individual or entity misappropriates the sayings of Jesus to eventuate a murder, it is perpetuating the too-often held perception that evil is right and goodness will not prevail.

Mt 11: 16-19, 28-30. What burdens can we share with Christ? What burdens are we called to bear?

Ps 13: 1-7 and Rev. 21: 1-6. God is the God of patterns and comfort and a God of feelings - both good and bad.FInd those moments where the patterns and emotions intersect - those that are comfortable and those that are uncomfortable. Where do those two things meet? With God and community, we can break out of our patterns and live into a time of great revelation.

Gen 1:-2a and Mt 28:11-20. May we be emboldened by our occasionally circuitous paths as we engage in discernment and good work toward justice for all people knowing that Jesus is with us, always to the end.

JOHN 17:1–11. Each of us will probably have those moments when time freezes. But then, life moves on and you choose how to live into the newness. Maybe sometimes you get to a part of the story that isn’t exactly where you thought you would be. Or maybe you are at a place that just exactly what you wanted. Either way, God is there. God is there when you are “stuck in a moment and can’t get out of it” and God is there when you live into and lean into what comes next. And that is good news.

John 14: 15-21. Take comfort, friends. We have not been orphaned. The Spirit of truth in and amongst us and we are well cared for. We are free from the bonds of self-preservation - the Advocate is with us. Therefore, it’s not just about us. Let’s think about someone else. Let’s think about how we, as a community of faith, can reflect our confidence in the love of God for the world. Let’s think about how we might serve God’s people well – and then, let’s try it.

Acts 7:55–60 and John 14:1–14. Too many people can't let go of it when someone's done them wrong. Each os us has the ability to stop systems of indebtedness that turn friends into enemies. Each of us has the ability to upend systems of injustice as we give over to the power of love and be transformed for life through the cleansing waters of forgiveness.

GENESIS 12: 1?4, JEREMIAH 31:31?34 and JOHN 1:29?34.

John 20: 19-31.

He Is Risen! Western's full Easter worship service, including scripture, children's and adult sermons, hymns, choral music including the Halleliah Chorus with brass and organ accompaniment.

John 20: 1018. When we try to grasp Jesus in a particular way, we might be denying someone else's possiblity of an experience with the Risen Savior in the way she needs a savior today. Together, may the Spirit of our Risen Lord transform each of us into being the image of Christ the world needs today.

Who Is This? Cadwallader