Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 29:4-7“Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you. . . . Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”— Jeremiah 29:7Carrots and potatoes and peas—oh, my! Actually many kinds of vegetables show up in this community gar

Scripture Reading — Luke 4:14-21“The Spirit of the Lord . . . has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners. . . .”— Luke 4:18In our city there is a center for forensic mental health. Part of its work involves care for people with mental illness who have been part of the criminal justice system.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 10:40-42“If anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”— Matthew 10:42I’m not sure how widespread the tradition is in your area, but when the 13th of the month f

Scripture Reading — Matthew 5:14-16“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”— Matthew 5:16I was intrigued by a church’s vision statement for 2026: “Empowering believers to embody Christlike values in their workplaces,

Scripture Reading — John 1:14-18No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.— John 1:18One of our latest adventures in the past year has been to invite about 10 people at random to our home for dinner—a mix

Scripture Reading — Matthew 5:3-12“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”— Matthew 5:9J. John, an evangelist and speaker from the United Kingdom, has said there are two reasons why someone is not a Christian. The first is that they have never met a Christian and have

Scripture Reading — Acts 16:11-15“If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.”— Acts 16:15The door of our church can be opened by pressing a “Push to Open” plate, and on Sunday mornings a greeter stands there to welcome people coming in. As they approach, he del