The Blog

Jesus sent his disciples in a boat ahead of him to the other side of the Sea of Galilee while he took some time alone to pray (I’ll write more about that part of the story another time). While Jesus was up on the mountain praying all night, the disciples couldn’t get across the sea because battering waves and strong

God of hope, You help me when life is stormy. Sometimes I am battered and weary. Sometimes I am afraid losing hope. You come to me, just where I am struggling. You remind me that I belong to you, that I am precious. You catch me when I am sinking and keep me safe. You calm the storm and bring

Can you make some time on Thursday afternoons? Come and help feed local families! Volunteers are needed two Thursday afternoons each month to help the Central PA Food Bank and Grace Lutheran’s Anti-Hunger team help provide food to local families in the parking lot at Grace Lutheran Church. Only have a little time? That’s ok! You can come volunteer all

Immediately [Jesus] made the disciples get into a boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land,[a] for the wind

Jesus hears some very bad news. He tries to go away from everyone to a “deserted place.” But the crowds learn where he has gone and they go after him. I feel for Jesus. His healing and preaching is drawing huge crowds and he is constantly sought out by people in need of healing or something else. He is trying

God of abundance, When I struggle, you are with me. You draw close to me, in compassion. You fill my life and the world to overflowing. You comfort me and bring out more than I thought I had. You show me abundance where I could only see a shortage. You transform me and the world with plenty. Amen. abundance |

13 Now when Jesus heard [about the beheading of John the Baptist,] he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. 15 When it was evening, the disciples came

I am traveling much of this month, spending time with family and friends in the Midwest. We are having a wonderful time, and I chose to look at my reflection on this gospel from three years ago – and decided it would be a good one to share again this summer.  -ara  Some concepts are too complex for just one

O God, You are at work transforming us and all creation. You teach me ways of love and caring. You guide me into forgiveness and healing. You call me to compassion and justice. Your intentions for the world contrast with many of the priorities around me. Show me hidden treasures in unexpected places. Show me the potential for growth and

[Jesus] put before [the crowds] another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field;32it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” 33He told them another