John 1:1-5, 10-14

We start Lent with the joy and hope of sticking around, praying that we might catch a better glimpse of that light of God in our midst.

Luke 1:5-23

Zechariah and Elizabeth show us that it is time to let go of old stories that are hurting us, to let go of wounds from a thousand years ago if we can, to listen, and to say “yes” to deliverance.

Matthew 13:1-23

The most important thing might be to start telling a story. To start making meaning from the discouragement and disappointments of our lives, when the world was all wrong. And to do this in a way that tells of God’s love, protection, and providence. We are invited to tell a story about how God’s presence and grace made things alright, even when they were all wrong.

Exodus 5-8

God never, ever, ever drives us out into the wilderness to die. And we have a whole book filled to the brim with stories about the wilderness. Our Bibles are full of stories where people encounter the goodness, holiness, presence of God in real and special ways.

Acts 2:1-21

Even though we may always carry scars, we will always carry the Spirit, too. Even when our lives have moved on–or the news cycle has moved on–it doesn’t mean the Spirit will abandon the past we carry.