If you are of a certain age, then you well remember singer Carly Simon’s hit song of 1971, “Anticipation.” Its lyric refrain, “Anticipation is making me wait,” even made its way into a years-long series of TV commercials hawking ketchup. The ads used the song to build suspense, showing ketchup slowly dripping from a glassContinue reading “Anticipation”
Author Archives: First Presbyterian Church
Paul and the Ascension
The apostle Paul once was known as “Saul.” Bearing that name, he was a ruthless persecutor of Christians – until the Risen Christ appeared to him. Saul’s encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus changed him into a great teacher of faith – a prolific writer of letters that for centuries have composed aContinue reading “Paul and the Ascension”
A Mother’s Day Litany of Love and Support for All Women
Caring God, thank you for revealing your love in so many magnificent ways, and this day in particular, we pray in gratitude for our mothers and for all the women who have joined with you in the wonder of bringing forth new life. There are times when only a woman’s love can understand our tears,Continue reading “A Mother’s Day Litany of Love and Support for All Women”
Mary Magdeline and Simon Peter
On that first Easter morning, Mary Magdalene felt lost and alone. She had loved Jesus with a holy passion, but now Mary’s deep affection for her beloved felt estranged. Then suddenly her fortunes changed! Outside that Empty Tomb, on that first day of resurrection, she became the first to witness the salvation of the world.Continue reading “Mary Magdeline and Simon Peter”
A Closed Room and Thomas
The Lord’s resurrection was still “breaking news.” The empty tomb remained the talk of the town. And the apostles – filled with anxiety, their fear of human enemies proving far stronger than any hopeful word of an empty tomb – self-sequestered behind hefty doors. Then suddenly into their secretive huddle bursts Jesus to deliver aContinue reading “A Closed Room and Thomas”
Emmaus and Galilee
Mere hours after the first reports of Jesus’s resurrection fuel the rumor mill and stir anxious doubt, two of the Lord’s disciples are traveling by foot the 7-mile trek from Jerusalem to Emmaus. Together they walk purposefully and talk non-stop about all these unbelievable things that reportedly have happened at the tomb: Of a heftyContinue reading “Emmaus and Galilee”
Vision of Angels, Disciples at the Tomb
I am reading to you from the Gospel of Matthew. By the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, listen for God’s Good News – But the angel said to the women, [Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, who together had gone] to see the tomb, “Do not be afraid; I know that you areContinue reading “Vision of Angels, Disciples at the Tomb”
An Earthquake, An Empty Tomb
I’m reading to you from the Gospel of Matthew. Listen for the Word of the Lord to you this day. After the [first] sabbath [following Jesus’s crucifixion], as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; forContinue reading “An Earthquake, An Empty Tomb”
Alive, Unbound, and Loosed
For as many times as we’ve heard the Easter story, the whole event still feels, well, kind of farfetched. Perhaps in your head you hold as fact that the lifeless body of Jesus rose from the grave, but during those dark nights of the soul, your heart nonetheless wonders: Can you trust resurrection? That’s whyContinue reading “Alive, Unbound, and Loosed”
More Than Enough
Awash in bad news about the world around us, we are proclaiming good news – God’s Good News – as our Lenten journey to the Cross moves forward. Here’s what our Sunday Scripture lessons have declared already: God’s good news is so good that it catches us by surprise! And God’s good news is greatContinue reading “More Than Enough”