Rachel Fisher, Children’s Ministries Communications Specialist Revelation 22:13 (NIV) I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Reflection: When asked the question, “What is your favorite type of movie?” I will likely answer with “The sequel.” Not the introduction or the final installment, but the entertainment in between the origin story and grand finale. Most interesting monologue in Hamlet? The opening scene of Act III. Best Star Wars movie? The Empire Strikes Back. Favorite episodes of The Office? Anything in season two. I love the middle. I love the growth [...]

Amy Kelley, Dir. of Program Ministries, Gethsemane Micah 7:7-8 But as for me, I will look to the Lord,     I will wait for the God of my salvation;     my God will hear me. 8 Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy;     when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness,     the Lord will be a light to me. Reflection: Have you ever felt like you were standing in the middle of a hurricane? Frozen, terrified at the chaos and destruction? Or maybe standing in the middle of a kid’s birthday party of 15 as they play, [...]

1 Kings 18:30-39 (NRSV) 30 Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come closer to me"; and all the people came closer to him. First he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been thrown down;  31 Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD came, saying, "Israel shall be your name";  32 with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD. Then he made a trench around the altar, large enough to contain two measures of seed.  33 [...]

Mark 5:36 Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid, just believe.”  Reflection: As the son of a Methodist minister, I was always taught to be optimistic, hopeful, and believe. After all, that’s what our faith teaches. As I was reflecting on the scripture, I thought of a favorite experience when I was younger that I’d like to share. Have any of you ever been on a roller coaster? I love roller coasters, and my favorite was the Texas Cyclone at Astroworld. You would get in the car, strap in, safety bar down, and then you began [...]

When I was asked to tell my story, I reflected back on the story I told some 20 plus years ago during the summer. I was asked to give my faith statement at the 11 o’clock service. While those beginning chapters of my story are still the same, a great deal has changed. I was a young stay-at-home mother with two children. I was raised in a home where we all went to church each Sunday, no questions asked. I attended youth group and church camps. I loved the Lord, but mostly my faith was my parent’s faith. I [...]