​“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostilities.”                Ephesians 2:13-14
 
In today’s reading, Paul is speaking mainly to those who felt like they were outsiders during those times, the Gentiles , people who were “excluded from citizenship in Israel, foreigners to the covenant of the promise”. But now, through Christ’s victory over sin and death, all the peoples are brought together as one. He says that all are fellow citizens under God, members of one household.
 
Let us pray together :   Unifying and Loving God, these are words of great comfort for all of us today, as our land struggles with injustice, anger and upset. Help us , Lord, to seek love not hate, help us to teach our children about compassion to all , not anger and exclusion of some. Your Beloved died on the cross at Calvary to bring us all together as one. Guide us to be The Church you desire us to be.
Through Christ’s Great Name we pray, Amen.
 
Yours in Christ , Rollie

​“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”               Galatians 2:20-21
 
In our reading today, Paul is speaking to the Galatians about how the practice of sacrificial acts and ceremonial displays that The Law scholars taught in those times would not bring justification – we are justified by faith  in Christ, The Son of God. Paul was trying to tell them that, through Christ’s sacrifice , sin is conquered once and for all. He tells them that God’s grace cannot stand on the earthly acts that men do by following or obeying The Law – it is through belief in God and Christ.
 
Shall we pray please ?             Eternal One , Your grace , the good will that You show us all, is a blessing in our lives, and we thank you. Help each of us to be stronger for You, more faithful for You, speak with the courage of conviction about You. Help us each day to gain a deeper and lasting understanding of You, and of Your Blessed Son Jesus, in whose Name we pray.       Amen
 
Yours in Christ  ,  Rollie

​“Jesus replied, “ Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for man did not reveal this to you, but it came from my Father in Heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and upon you I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”                     Matthew 16:17-18
 
In our reading today from the Gospel of Matthew, we read that, after the disciples tell Him what others have said about Him, Jesus questioned them directly, asking “ who do You say I am?” (v. 15b). Peter responds to Him, saying “You are The Christ ( Hebrew Messiah, Greek Anointed One), Son of the Living God.”  (v. 16). No one on earth told Peter this ; quite the contrary, the teachers at the time told people the opposite. This knowledge had to come from God. Peter “got the message” that God imparted and he declared for all of them to hear.
 
Let us pray together :  God of our lives, we thank you speaking to our minds and to our hearts, as you did so faithfully to Peter and the others. Help us to be strong, dedicated disciples for Jesus, the Anointed One, to tell our troubled world that there is hope, there is caring , there is love for all in The good News.      In Jesus’ great name we pray.      Amen.
 
Yours in Christ ,    Rollie

“The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him. Yet the world knew Him not. But, to all who received Him, who believed in His Name, He gave power to become children of God”               John 1:9,10,12
 
Today’s reading from John’s Gospel speaks of The Light coming into the world, and of The Light being in the world. This was the light from God – the light of reason, understanding, compassion and love , the light that shines through the deepest darkness. It is God’s great desire that our eyes be opened to see that light. The reading also speaks of The Forebearer, John The Baptist, who “came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through Him” (v. 7). Christ indeed is The True Light, the light that pierces through the darkness of men’s souls to educate them on the way to salvation.
 
Let us pray :  Holy and Eternal God, we praise You for all You have created, for all the blessings You bring to us each day
Merciful One, help us to see the Light of Jesus clearly and brightly. Guide us to help others so that they can see it as well.
We pray all this in Your Blessed Son’s Name.     Amen.
 
Yours in Christ ,   Rollie

​“ I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him”
Ephesians 1:16-17
 
In today’s reading from Paul’s letter to the residents of Ephesus, he offers prayers for them, prayers of thanksgiving, prayers that God will share wisdom and a deeper understanding to the Ephesians of both Him, as well as the Good News of Jesus’ victory over both death and Satin. He also reminds them that Jesus sits at God’s right hand, and that Our Savior has power and authority over all things, now and into the future.
 
Let us prayer together : Great and Glorious God, we pray to you as your church here in this world. Help us to grow each day in wisdom, insight and knowledge about You and about Jesus. Through Your amazing power, Jesus is King of King and Lord of Lords. Help us, we pray, to spread the Good news that death has now and forever been conquered, through His shed blood and resurrection.
It is in Your Son’s Name we pray.       Amen.
 
Yours in Christ , Rollie

​“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself ; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me”                John 15:4
 
Today’s reading is the rather famous “Vine and Branches” passage from John’s Gospel. It speaks of all of us ( churches and folks in those churches) being the branches, of Jesus being the Vine that the branches are attached to, and God is the Gardener. A key thought here is how this speaks of the desire that Christ has for us to proper, for fruit to be borne, as we spread the Good News of His victory over death. By staying attached to “the vine”, we will be cultivated and nurtured by the gardener, so that we can indeed bear that fruit.
 
Let us prayer together please :
All Knowing God, help us each day to be branches on the vine that are strong, nourished, and fruitful for this important work You desire from us. Help Your church to stay girded up and cling to The Vine as He instructs us.  We pray that we never disappoint, that our direction for this ministry stay straight and true, for You, and only for You.
We pray all of this through Jesus our Redeemer.     Amen.
 
Yours in Christ , Rollie

“ I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”        Galatians 2:20
 
In Paul’s letter to the residents of Galatia, he speaks of the fact that, through Christ’s death and resurrection ( victory over that death) that God’s saving plan is completely accomplished : the sins of wickedness are conquered, once and for all. Paul also tells us that the former person lives no longer, and now ( through Christ’s sacrifice) the new person lives in Christ !  Alleluia!
 
Let us pray together :    Holy and Eternal One, for the warmth and brightness of each day, we thank you. For Your protecting and loving arms wrapped around us, we thank you.
Jesus, Your Beloved, died on the cross at Calvary so that sin could be conquered, once and for all. For that salvation, we thank you. Help us to live lives of deeper love for all around us, sharing this news of great sacrifice and triumph over death.
We pray all this in our Redeemer’s Name.  Amen.
 
Yours in Christ, Rollie

“If anyone acknowledges the Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him, and he lives in God”                1 John 4:15
 
In today’s scripture verse, both a powerful and wonderful statement is made – the acknowledgement that Jesus is the Son of God means that “God lives in him, and he lives in God.”
A little further on in the chapter, the writer states that “whoever lives in love lives in God, and God within him (v. 16). These are words of great comfort to us all !
 
Let’s us be prayer : Mighty God , we thank you for not only being a part of our lives, but we thank you for being part of US. Each day, Your strengthening power of love and guidance dwells within our hearts and our very souls. We pray that You will please continue to be that tower of strength that we can lean on to gird us up through the challenging times we face in our world.
It is through Jesus , Your Son, that we pray.         Amen.
 
Yours in Christ , Rollie

“For we are God’s fellow workers ; you are God’s field, His building”              1 Corinthians 3:9
 
In today’s reading in 1 Corinthians, Paul speaks of all of us being “God’s workers”, that we are His fields and His buildings. This is the relationship that God desires, that we continue to plant seeds and build a growing relationship with Him, and to take the growth He brings to us and share it with the world, so that more can get to know and be close to Him.
 
Let us pray together :
Eternal One, in a world where we see hate and animosity towards others, help us to continue sowing the seeds of caring and compassion. In this world where there are people who want to tear down, help us to be Your builders , creators of a closer world relationship with You.
We are in scary and uncertain times, Lord. We pray that You would bring comfort and solace to those who are frightened, allow Your rain of love to fall on this land that is parched and thirsting for You.
We pray all these things through Jesus, our Savoir.     Amen.