This week's devotion is from Ellen Hoffman based on Psalm 133:1 

 

How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in community.

 

This is one of the shortest psalms but it's message is extremely important and very powerful.  In a world that is divided and unhappy, unity in the church is like a light in the darkness.  We may not always agree on everything at church, but what we have to agree on is working together to make everyone feel welcome and appreciated within our church community.  We welcome everyone to join us in spreading the good news of the gospel of our salvation through our faith in Jesus Christ.  Always remember to love one another, just as Jesus loved (and continues to love) us.  Let our church family shine brightly in the world, sharing His love.

 

Dear Lord, 

Thank you for the gift of unity.  Help us to reach out and invite others to become brothers and sisters in Christ.

In his name, Amen

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Previous week's devotion is from Pastor Zachary Dean

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Normally, our weekly devotions are about a particular scripture passage or centered on a person commemorated in the church calendar. Not today though!

 

Today’s devotional is about you—each of you, and your own saintliness in light of being a beloved, baptized child of God.

 

This week, to begin our council meeting, we gathered around the baptismal font and prayed prayers centered on our own call to serve in our ordinary lives. So, Calvary, I commend one of those prayers to you for your use in your daily living. Always remember that whatever you do, your calling is first and foremost through your identity as a baptized saint of God!

 

God our creator, you have given us work to do and call us to use our talents for the good of all. Guide us in our living, and teach us to walk in the Spirit who made us your children, in the love that made us all siblings, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

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Amen.

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Previous devotion is from Deacon Bob Lewis, based on Luke 9:18-27

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18 Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”19 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.”20 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.”21 Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. 22 And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” 

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23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? 26 Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”

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In this reading we see Jesus asking his disciples who they believe him to be. The disciples tell Him what they have heard the crowds say who He is but He wants the disciples to tell Him who THEY think He is. Peter answers “God’s Messiah”. 

 

Jesus reveals His true identity and tells them that he will suffer and be killed and on the third day “be raised to life”. Jesus then tells the disciples that to be a disciple means to follow Him, to not be ashamed to profess to the world that He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

 

As Christians this is a question we need to ask ourselves daily. Are we willing to take up our crosses and follow Jesus ? Are we willing to put ourselves out there in the situations we sometimes come to in life and follow the path that Jesus wants us to be on? To chance the criticism and being shunned by those who are not believers ? To confess that Jesus is our Lord and Savior even if it means enduring hardships? That’s when we call on the Holy Spirit to empower us to confess that Jesus is Lord and for us to live lives of faith and service.​