When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” (John 20:19–21) A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were … Read more

After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had reclined again, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.” (John 13:12–15)  Pilate asked him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went out to the Jews … Read more

The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them;  they brought the donkey and the colt and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd[b] spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David!     Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who … Read more

When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”  When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved.  He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”  (John 11: 32-35) You have turned my mourning into dancing;     you have taken off my sackcloth     and … Read more

“They all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces – twelve baskets full.” (Matthew 14:20)  One of the unexpected privileges of being off on sick leave is the chance to “church‑surf” from the comfort of my couch. In the past few weeks, I’ve tuned into streamed worship from New York City, Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, Smiths Falls, Brockville, and of course, our very own Facebook livestream with all of you. I love this! I love that our virtual congregation each week sits somewhere between 120 and 140 people—more than double what we … Read more

Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.” (John 4: 13-15) It’s feeling a little like Spring these days. The weather is warmer. We morphed from a snow storm to freezing rain and … Read more

“While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!’ When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, ‘Get up and do not be afraid.’ And when they raised their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.” (Matthew 17:5–8) “Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain…” (Exodus 24:17) … Read more

“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled under foot. You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give … Read more

“Hear what the Lord says: Rise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. Hear, you mountains, the case of the Lord, and you enduring foundations of the earth, for the Lord has a case against his people, and he will contend with Israel. … He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:1–2, 8) “When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, … Read more

Jesus bids us shine, then, for all around, Many kinds of darkness in the world abound; Sin and want and sorrow, so we must shine, You in your small corner And I in mine. (From “Jesus Bids Us Shine” Verse 3, by Susan Warner) From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” (Matthew 4:17) This has been a really hard week, hasn’t it, my Bethel friends. It feels like we’ve watched the scaffolding of international norms wobble in public. We’ve watched power posture as if it were policy. We’ve watched leaders treat … Read more