Jenna Lindley Galatians 1:11-24;  NRSV 11 For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; 12 for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it. 14 I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more [...]

Edith Nordloh Galatians 1:1-5 (NRSV) 1 Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—2 and all the brothers and sisters with me, to the churches in Galatia: 3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Reflection: Do you know who you are? Do you [...]

Rev. Michelle Manuel and Shelby Olive Friends, this summer we are traveling with Paul. Many of us have some vacations or downtime planned and we thought that it’s only right that we bring Paul along. Paul, the author of much of the New Testament, traveled quite a bit. He seemed to be constantly on the move (except when he was in prison, and even then his pen was ‘on the move’ writing many of his letters).  A big part of my job is to study the Bible and subsequently I have studied a lot of Paul. For anyone who’s [...]

Rev. Michelle Manuel and Shelby Olive Friends, this summer we are traveling with Paul. Many of us have some vacations or downtime planned and we thought that it’s only right that we bring Paul along. Paul, the author of much of the New Testament, traveled quite a bit. He seemed to be constantly on the move (except when he was in prison, and even then his pen was ‘on the move’ writing many of his letters).  A big part of my job is to study the Bible and subsequently I have studied a lot of Paul. For anyone who’s [...]

Rev. Colin Bagby Leviticus 23:9-14 9 The Lord spoke to Moses: 10 Speak to the people of Israel and say to them: When you enter the land that I am giving you and you reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest. 11 He shall raise the sheaf before the Lord, that you may find acceptance; on the day after the sabbath the priest shall raise it. 12 On the day when you raise the sheaf, you shall offer a lamb a year old, without blemish, as a burnt offering to the Lord. 13 And the grain offering with it shall be [...]

Suzi Pitts Exodus 43:26-34 26 When Joseph came home, they presented to him the gifts they had brought into the house, and they bowed down before him to the ground. 27 He asked them how they were, and then he said, “How is your aged father you told me about? Is he still living?”28 They replied, “Your servant our father is still alive and well.” And they bowed down, prostrating themselves before him.29 As he looked about and saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother’s son, he asked, “Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?” [...]

Rev. Michelle Manuel Matthew 14:13-21 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” 16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give [...]

Shelby Olive 1 Corinthians 11:18-34 For, to begin with, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you; and to some extent I believe it. 19 Indeed, there have to be factions among you, for only so will it become clear who among you are genuine. 20 When you come together, it is not really to eat the Lord’s supper. 21 For when the time comes to eat, each of you goes ahead with your own supper, and one goes hungry and another becomes drunk. 22 What! Do you not have homes to [...]

Keenen D. Brinson, M.Div Youth Ministries Coordinator – Gethsemane Campus  Exodus 16:1-3, 31-36 (The reader is encouraged to read all of Exodus 16 if possible) 16:1 They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. 2 And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, 3 and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we [...]