Scripture Reading — Isaiah 35:1-10; John 20:11-18He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”— John 20:15In Isaiah 35 God gives his people a vision of a fully restored creation. His glory will appear, and a desert will turn into a lush, blossoming garden. A “Way of Holin

Scripture Reading — Luke 24:1-8, 36-48“He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you. . . .”— Luke 24:6I remember walking up to the Grand Canyon in Arizona for the very first time. I thought I knew what to expect since I had heard so much about the Grand Canyon. But then I stepped out of th

Scripture Reading — Luke 23:50-56There was a man named Joseph . . . and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God.— Luke 23:50-51There seems to be a lot of waiting in Scripture. Abraham and Sarah waited for a promised child (Genesis 12-18).The Israelites waited for many years to be freed from sl

Scripture Reading — Luke 23:44-49It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining.— Luke 23:44-45What do you think of when you hear the word “darkness”?Children often think of darkness as scary, and when they grow up most of them

Scripture Reading — Mark 14:12-26“Take it; this is my body.” . . . and . . . “This is my blood of the covenant . . . poured out for many.”— Mark 14:22-24The Jews of Jesus’ day often told stories from their history. And every year at this time they told the ancient story that is referred to in today’

Scripture Reading — John 3:1-21Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”— John 3:3In today’s text Jesus’ words baffled and amazed Nicodemus the Pharisee:• To experience fully what God is doing, you must be born again.• This rebirth, like yo

Scripture Reading — Matthew 21:18-27“If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”— Matthew 21:22God shows his faithfulness by responding to the prayers of his people.In our reading today, a fig tree that does not bear fruit receives judgment from Jesus. The religious leaders ask