The Smell of Love
Marilyn Rudy-Froese
She couldn’t get the smell of death out of her nostrils. It seemed to cling to her—her clothes, her hair, her skin. It didn’t matter where she went, or how many times she had bathed, the smell went with her. It didn’t matter that Lazarus was now alive and eating with their friends; he had […]
Two Lost Sons
Dan Schrock
Most of my life I’ve assumed that this parable is about repentance and forgiveness. People get to the theme of repentance and forgiveness partly by focusing on the younger son, often called the prodigal son. People also get to this interpretation from verses 18 and 19. In those verses the starving younger son decides to […]
Clinging to God in the Wilderness
Ben Woodward Breckbill
The sun beats down. The fatigue sets in. The food stores are depleted, and there hasn’t been fresh water for days. The wind howls, as do the jackals that have been trailing at a distance – better them than the king’s army looking for your blood. And the doubt sets in: you know that everything […]
Do Not Fear
Marilyn Rudy-Froese
When the promise is first given, it comes with a call for Abram to step out in faith, to follow God’s call to an unknown land and an unknown future: “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a […]
When Your Mission Is Rejected
Dan Schrock
In the late 1870s, a young man named Vincent van Gogh decided to become a minister in the Dutch Reformed church. At first glance his decision to become a minister made a lot of sense, because his father and several uncles were ministers, which more or less made ministry the family business. Moreover Vincent was […]
Do not Fear; only Believe
Marilyn Rudy-Froese
In what feels like another lifetime, I preached on the story of the hemorrhaging woman. Looking back on what I recall of what I said, I’ve done my share of cringing. I was a summer student pastor, having finished one year of seminary. In a moment of compassionate insight this week for my younger self, […]
Listen! A Sower Went out to Sow
Ben Woodward Breckbill
“Listen! A sower went out to sow.” Today we encounter Jesus as a preacher and teacher. In a list of roles and attributes you assign to Jesus, Does “Teacher” appear? Where on the list? For me, it’s pretty high. Because as I was Growing up in the Mennonite church, I found my church pointing my […]
The Refugee Option
Dan Schrock
Most of us grew up with nativity scenes in our homes. At the center of the scene is a cute baby Jesus, happily lying in a manger. Around him are a proud Mary and Joseph, along with three or four shepherds and maybe some chorusing angels flapping around on the roof of the shed. Of […]
God’s Presence in Our Worship: The Manger is Empty
Marilyn Rudy-Froese
God’s presence in our worship…we continue with our theme of God-with-us this morning, with the boy Jesus in the temple. Each week, we come to worship, expecting, hoping, longing to find God here; wondering perhaps how it is that God is here; wondering if God is here. In our worship, we offer to God all […]
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