The Shepherd’s Vigil, 3/2/22
“Jesus had fasted for forty days and forty nights” Matthew 4:2 Today is the beginning of the season of Lent. These are the 40 days leading up to Easter that have historically been for the development of our life in Christ. New converts went through intensive training to become full members of the church. People of faith would devote themselves […]
The Shepherd’s Vigil, 2/23/22
We urge you to live a life pleasing to God (which you are) and do more and more. 1 Thessalonians 4:1 I love the encouragement of this epistle to live a life pleasing to God. As many times as I have read this passage it never caught my attention that the encouragement was to do more. […]
The Shepherd’s Vigil, 2/16/22
For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that God has chosen you. 1 Thessalonians 1:4 The letter by Paul written to the community of new believers in Thessalonica is full of encouragement. Followers of Christ are loved and chosen by God for a Holy purpose and empowered […]
The Shepherd’s Vigil, 2/9/22
Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:14 The church is the body of Christ and the clothes it wears is love. What a great image. They say clothes make the person and certainly they express a personality and style. It is clear that the […]
The Shepherd’s Vigil, 2/2/21
“This is the new covenant” Jesus These words of Jesus are part of our liturgy for Holy communion. This Sunday we will celebrate communion in one worship service, all of us united. We are a very diverse church and have been scattered over the last couple of years. We may feel somewhat connected through online […]
The Shepherd’s Vigil, 01/25/22
Let each of you look not at your own interests but to the interests of others. Phil. 2:4 This is a passage about being other centered. All too often when we feel a sense of discomfort all we think about is how can “I feel better”. It all becomes about us and our need for comfort. […]
The Shepherd’s Vigil, 01/19/22
“By grace you have been saved” Ephesians 2:5 There was a time when I was a teenager that my brother and I got caught in one of those south Florida rainstorms that come out of nowhere. We were in a sailboat in Biscayne Bay when a strong gust of wind turned us over into the […]
The Shepherd’s Vigil, 01/12/22
“Live in love, as Christ loved us…” Ephesians 5:2 What does that mean to “live in love”? This chapter in Ephesians goes on to talk about the deep love of family and covenant relationships. It talks about a love that is sacrificial and focused on the other person. It talks about a love that is self-less […]
The Shepherd’s Vigil, 01/05/22
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” Proverbs 27:17 The new year has just started and already I am rearranging my calendar as things are changing. I think we have all heard the phrase, “the only thing that is constant is change”. Even COVID seems to change regularly and give us more to […]
The Shepherd’s Vigil, 12/29/21
So we rebuilt the wall,…for the people had a mind to work. Nehemiah 4:6 The people of God had been in exile, away from the temple and their patterns of worship. Nehemiah was sent back to lead the resettling and the first item of business was to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem and the temple. […]