22nd Sunday after Pentecost Proper 24 Oct. 20, 2024 Have you ever had a harrowing experience where you were injured or barely escaped death? Let’s say a car accident or a natural disaster like a hurricane? Imagine finally making it home to tell the tale to your loved ones hoping for sympathy and concern only … Continue reading The Cup We Drink From
21st Sunday after PentecostYear B Mark 10:17-31 When you were a child (or maybe an adult!), did you ever climb up a tree or go rock climbing only to find yourself stuck and unable to get back down to safety? I can recall a time when I went river rafting. It was high water season … Continue reading Clinging
19th Sunday after Pentecost Sept. 29, 2024Mark 9:38-50 I come from a family of salt lovers. So much so that I threatened to give my mother and sister a salt lick for Christmas one year so that they could just keep it by their place at the table for whenever they needed it because a … Continue reading We Are Salty!
Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost Proper 19 Sept. 15, 2024 James 3:1-12 When I worked for Compassion International, part of my job was marketing and development. One thing I learned in marketing that I found to be particularly important in all aspects of life was that it took a minimum of five positive experiences to counteract … Continue reading The Power to Change the World: Your Words
SyroPhonecian Woman by Julia Stankova 16th Sunday after Pentecost Sept. 8, 2024 Mark 7:24-37 How many of you have a table in your house that you gather around to talk or eat a meal? Where is that table in your home? Do you have more than one? Gathering around a table is hugely important to … Continue reading Dropping Crumbs
14th Sunday after Pentecost Ephesians 6:10-20 Last Wednesday, we wrapped up the summer bible study on The Chosen series. In the episode we discussed that evening, the disciples are talking amongst themselves about what it was like to follow Jesus. It was still early in Jesus’ ministry yet some of the eagerness of the disciples … Continue reading Strange Armor
You are wearing the fringe of Christ’s garment. Let the words of your mouth and the actions of your heart and hands be a part of healing the brokenness of this world. Continue reading The Fringe
The Gospel of Mark shares a powerful story of political intrigue, cowardice, and prophetic faith. The struggle between King Herod and John the Baptist reveals the contrast between earthly power and divine grace. Despite the rise and fall of empires, the eternal hope and promise of Jesus Christ prevails, offering strength and courage to confront injustice. Continue reading Intrigue, Power, and Grace
4th Sunday After PentecostJun 19, 2024Mark 4:26-34 In the movie Mask (1985), Rocky, whose face is deformed, tries to find a way to describe color to Diane, who is blind. How does one explain what blue is if you’ve never seen it? He comes up with an idea and uses a rock he put in … Continue reading The Color Blue and the Kingdom of God
And the Tale of a Blue and Black Dress 3rd Sunday after Pentecost Jun 9, 2024Mark 3:20-35 About ten years ago, some of you may remember, there was a huge controversy on the internet over the color of a dress. Some saw a blue and black dress and others saw a white and gold dress. … Continue reading Ancient Trolling
Magdalena's Musings 