This Sunday at Bethany, we celebrate Communion together. I’m especially excited because, with the holiday weekend, we’ll gather in one worship service (10 AM—just a reminder!). And the kids will be with us, too. So as families and as one big family we’ll join in a celebration the church has shared for 2,000 years. In the ancient world, sharing a meal carried deep meaning. To eat with someone was to open your life to them. A meal meant trust, intimacy,…
by Linda Fisher Over the decades of my life, the orphan has always pulled at my heart. Children whose parents were killed in war. A mother without the resources to raise her child. A child removed from home for their own protection. Whether in Disney movies or missionary stories, these accounts always left me in tears. Many tissues required. This past summer, I was struck by another “orphan” passage—though not about orphans at all. Reading Matthew 3:16–17, I was unexpectedly…
One of my favorite childhood memories from church was our all–church picnic. Ours was always held on Memorial Day weekend, right at that sweet spot where school was winding down and summer was just starting to stretch its arms. Pam and I grew up together at Faith Baptist Church in Sellersville, a pretty good–sized congregation with over 500 people, so it was a BIG deal. To accommodate everyone, the annual picnic took place at the local community park. It had…
A devotional by David Ronk As I was reading through the Bible again this year, I came once more to the Exodus and Israel’s journey through the desert. I was reminded of the grumbling over manna. God’s response has always seemed disproportionate to me. Capital punishment—for complaining about manna? (Numbers 11:18-34) I’m sure manna was an excellent product—versatile and miraculously provided. Its supply and daily collection were clearly divine. But let’s be honest: how long would it take before you…