April 2nd, 2010 – by , Lenten Reflections, current reflection
by Chris Riddle, 2006 EMS graduate serving with Virginia Mennonite Missions in Bari, Italy.
Read: Luke 23: 1-49
Luke 23:23, 49 “But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed…But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.”
Have [...]
March 31st, 2010 – by , Lenten Reflections, current reflection
By Chris Scott, 1995 EMU alum, current seminary student, and pastor at McDowell United Methodist Church
Read: Philippians 2: 5-11
A couple of years ago I went to a church planting conference in San Antonio, Texas. The conference was advertised as a way forward to think about “doing church differently,” whatever that means. It was supposed to [...]
March 29th, 2010 – by , Lenten Reflections, current reflection
By Pat Swartzendruber, EMU volunteer
Read: Isaiah 50: 4 – 9
“Out of the night that covers me, I’m unafraid, I believe. Beyond this place of wrath and tears, beyond the hours that turn to years….9,000 days were set aside; 9,000 days of destiny…” are moving lyrics of Nelson Mandela’s captivity from the movie, Invictus, Clint Eastwood [...]
March 28th, 2010 – by , Lenten Reflections, current scripture
Devotional scriptures for Holy Week: Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, and Luke 23:1-49
Isaiah 50:4-9a
4 The Sovereign LORD has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.
5 The Sovereign LORD has opened my ears, and [...]
March 26th, 2010 – by , Lenten Reflections, current reflection
By Fred Kniss, Provost and 1979 EMU alumnus
Read: Luke 19:28-40
Jesus was a master manipulator of symbols and metaphors. He loved to speak in parables and frequently offered object lessons to his somewhat befuddled followers. It must have been no accident, then, when he chose to enter Jerusalem and accept the mantle of Messiah [...]
March 24th, 2010 – by , Lenten Reflections, current reflection
By Rev. Julie Haushalter, associate campus pastor
Read Luke 19: 28-40
Turn your heart to Jerusalem, to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
What is our role in bringing a new Jerusalem with a kingdom of peace and justice for all?
Jesus comes to us, a poor man, riding a colt. What a witness of the [...]
March 22nd, 2010 – by , Lenten Reflections, current reflection
By Byron Peachey, EMU associate campus pastor
Read: Psalm 118: 1-2, 19-29
“The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone …”
How often today do we study stones around us? What do we know of stones? What kinds are worthy for building, how smoothly can their surface be cut, which are the strongest?
Look now at your hands [...]
March 21st, 2010 – by , Lenten Reflections, current scripture
Devotional scriptures for the sixth week of Lent: Psalm 118: 1-2, 19-29 and Luke 19:28-40
Psalm 118: 1-2, 19-29
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
2 Let Israel say: “His love endures forever.”
19 Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to [...]
March 14th, 2010 – by , Lenten Reflections, current scripture
Devotional scriptures for the fifth week of Lent: Psalm 126, Philippians 3:4b-14 and John 12:1-8
Psalm 126
A song of ascents.
1 When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed.
2 Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD [...]
March 10th, 2010 – by , Lenten Reflections, current reflection
by Jennifer Davis Sensenig, pastor at Community Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg
Read: Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
Prodigal means exceedingly or recklessly wasteful. I’ve been re-reading this familiar parable, with Jesus in the center.
Listen to a story.
God had a Son who left home and went to a distant country, to first century Palestine. There he told stories, and used his [...]