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Readings: Psalm 32 Isaiah 8:1-15 2 Thessalonians 3:6-18 Luke 22:31-38 Devotion: A Bridge Of Peace “A Bridge of Peace” is a message from an Israeli to a Palestinian woman (English version of “My Palestinian Sister”) ‘They shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and none shall make them afraid” (Micah,…

Readings: Psalm 31 Isaiah 7:10-25 2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5 Luke 22:14-30 Reflection: In his darkest hour, Jesus gives his disciples a meal to share, reminding them that he is among them as one who serves. It is such a fragile and yet enduring gift. I’m reminded of a poem from Jan Sutch Pickard of the Iona…

Readings: Psalm 37:1-18 Isaiah 7:1-9 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 Luke 22:1-13 Reflection: The readings for today reflect a theme of impending doom and how we should appropriately respond. Is it with fear? No. Whether the threat is invading foreign powers, local enemies, the judgement of the world or the plotting foes of Jesus and their turncoat…

Readings: Psalm 38 Isaiah 6:1-13 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12 John 7:53-8:11 Reflection: Letting go the familiar. Journeying in search of safety What do we do when what is known and familiar threatens us? Where do we go? This is a familiar theme amongst many people my age or older. They would like to stay in their…

Tuesday 9th December Readings: Psalm 26 Isaiah 5: 13-25 1 Thessalonians 5: 12-28 Luke 21: 29-38  Reflection: I guess that it comes as a bit of a surprise to be reminded that part of the message in today’s readings is about Jesus’ second coming. From my early childhood in a Christian home the Advent season…

Readings: Psalm 25 Isaiah 5:8-23 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 Luke 21:20-28 Reflection From my experience, I think that knowing we are expected, will be welcomed and accepted, can be an antidote to fear, can temper apprehension as we journey. When we came to Australia, Ron and I had both had good experiences, travelling and working in…

Readings: Psalm 150 Isaiah 5:1-7 2 Peter 3:11-18 Luke 7:28-35     Focus – Psalm 150: 1 Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament! 2 Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his surpassing greatness! 3 Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! 4 Praise him…

Readings: Psalm 20 Isaiah 4:2-6 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Luke 21:5-19 Reflection: All four readings speak of victory after long struggle – over enemies in battle or persecution or even the oldest enemy of all, death. The battle demands endurance and perseverance, even if the battle is simply the battle of getting out of bed each…

Psalm 16 Isaiah 3:8-15 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 Luke 20:41-21:4   Devotion: Hymn 745 Seek ye first the Kingdom of God Over the last few months I had begun to realise how many possessions I owned and how many I did not need. I am full of gratitude to a loving father God that I have been…

Readings: Psalm 18:1-20 Isaiah 2:12-22 1 Thessalonians 3:1-13 Luke 20:27-40  A reflection on Psalm 18: 1-20 How rich are the Psalms. They evoke so many images of God. In Psalm 18 God is described as a majestic, powerful God, terrifying in God’s glory, a God of justice who expresses anger at injustice and wrongdoing. But…