Easter 3/Year A - April 19, 2026

Scriptures: Acts 2:14a,36-41; Psalm 116:1-3, 10-17; 1 Peter 1:17-23; Luke 24:13-35

Reflection by Kit Allgood-Mellema, Worship Leader

19 April 2026, 3rd Sunday of Easter, Yr A

The Apostle Luke really knows how to tell a story – the best kind of story, one that leaves you waiting for more, that begs you to ask questions and look deeper. In today’s gospel, Luke tells a story about a mystery but he leaves the mystery for us to explore. So I began to look at today’s gospel in the spirit of that storytelling expertise.

In today’s reading, there were two disciples on the road. Who were they? One was named Cleopas. Or maybe Clopas. There is debate about his identity. His wife might have Mary who was present with Jesus’ mother Mary at the crucifixion. He might have been the brother of Joseph. His companion’s identity is lost to us, but they must have been good friends, friends who were on what might have been a deserted road going to a village called Emmaus, about 7 miles from Jerusalem. Emmaus means ‘hot springs,’ and there were several hot springs around Jerusalem. The exact location is a mystery.

I guess the walk would have been about 2 ½ hours. But in those fear-filled days, what were they doing out on the road? Why were they not in hiding with the others? Were they going home and planning to hide with their families? They were so engrossed in their grief and sadness, in deep conversation about the events of the past few days, they barely realized there was someone walking alongside them! Fortunately, it was not a Roman soldier who might have arrested them, or someone who meant them harm. When the stranger asked about their discussion, they willingly shared their story about the death of the teacher, the messiah they had been hoping for, the prophet who had died. But, they shared, some of the women of our group claim to have seen his tomb empty earlier in the day. Maybe he had risen and is alive? Maybe there is still hope?

The stranger listened to them, and then they listened to him as he began to tell them the things they should have remembered from the scriptures, the stories they had forgotten in their grief, the stories and lessons of the prophets that were about the teacher they were mourning. And the three continued walking.

As was common hospitality in those days, when they arrived at the village, the two men invited the stranger to come home with them, to stay them and share a meal. The story of the two disciples suddenly recognizing Jesus as he began to bless and share their meal is awesome and startling, as is the image of Jesus suddenly disappearing from their sight. As shocked as they were, they knew this was a story to be shared. The two immediately began a hurried 7-mile journey back to Jerusalem as night was falling. When they arrived and began to tell the others Jesus had appeared to them in the breaking of the bread, they heard that others had seen Jesus too.

This was the last we heard of Cleopas and his companion in the gospels, but these two leave us with a lot of questions. As I thought about some of the mysteries – and clues - Luke gave us, I realized Cleopas and his companion were more than just two people in a short passage of the Bible. These two left us a blueprint for discipleship!

Our faith, our being disciples of Jesus, doesn’t happen in a vacuum, and Cleopas and his companion show us that. Even in their grief and later in their amazement, they were sharing the words that would bring Jesus to the world, the good news, the hard news, the news of love. When a stranger appeared, they openly and honestly shared with him. And then they listened!! They didn’t assume the stranger had nothing to say about Jesus. They listened to the words the stranger offered and they learned from him. They offered companionship and a meal. And when they realized their companion was the risen Christ, they immediately returned to share the story.

Our baptismal covenant could have been written from the story of Cleopas and his companion. Let’s take a look at the covenant - I invite you to turn to page 293 of our prayer book and follow along.

The covenant begins: ‘Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers?’ Cleopas and his friend lived this promise as they walked, shared words of good news, and shared a table, a home, a meal with a ‘stranger.’

And the covenant continues: ‘Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?’ The two disciples did not give in to the snare of fear and grief, or to the idea that they might know everything about Jesus. They allowed their eyes to be opened to the presence and blessings of Jesus.

‘Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?’ In all their actions, Cleopas and his friend showed us what sharing the Good News looks like.

‘Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?’ Greeting strangers and showing hospitality, sharing a meal and a safe refuge are some of the many ways we can show love to our neighbors.

‘Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?’ Not knowing who he was, the disciples treated the stranger on the road as an equal, as someone who deserved to be heard, fed and given sanctuary. They didn’t question his beliefs, his origins, or his intentions. They saw someone like themselves, with needs to be met and a story to tell.

They showed us how to be disciples.

Thanks be to God!

Easter 2/Year A - April 12, 2026

Scriptures: Psalm 16: Acts 2:14a,22-32: Canticle 13, A Song of Praise; 1 Peter 1:3-9; Canticle 18, A Song to the Lamb: John 20:19-31

Reflection by Marianne Gould

“I'll believe it when I see it!” - Walking the trail - Trusting in the Resurrection

Reflection by Marianne Gould

The Apostle Thomas, the primary topic of the Gospel today, is often referred to a Doubting Thomas... as someone less than... someone who is a day late and a dollar short of witnessing the Resurrected Jesus... the Christ. I guess if I had to choose an adjective to go with my name, "Doubting" isn't the worst thing to be known by. The Risen Christ first appeared to Mary Magdalene and the women.

When they told of the resurrection, the disciples did not believe. The Risen Christ appeared to the disciples, later that day, when they were locked away in an upper room. They saw Jesus. They talked with him, they spent time with him. They saw...they believed. Mary Magdalene and the women saw Jesus

resurrected... they believed! The disciples saw Jesus resurrected in the upper

room ... they believed! Thomas did not see the Risen Christ. He only heard about it. It is not surprising that Thomas was doubtful of their story! It seems that even in Jesus' time... seeing was believing.

In verse 25, Thomas said "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe." Thomas could not believe that Jesus was alive, even though that's what his friends were telling him! He hadn't seen it! How could he be sure!

Can you relate to Thomas' predicament? This event happened thousands of years ago, but even in today's world, how can we be sure that what we hear is the truth? Isn't it more likely that we are skeptical of what we hear? We prefer to see it for ourselves and hear it with our own ears... then, and only then... perhaps we can believe. With all the misinformation and disinformation floating around these days on social platforms, it is more than a challenge to separate fact from fiction.

What and Who can we believe ... and what needs to be thrown out and locked away? Is our faith one that blindly believes what we are told...or do we sometimes doubt. .. just like Thomas?

As a part of my study in writing sermons, it has become my practice to read several translations of the text. I don't do this because I do not believe what the text says. I read several texts in order to help me understand what is being said.

Looking through a different perspective may shine a light on the text and help me look deeper into God's word.

One of the translations I used for this text is The First Nation's Version: An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament. l Peter 1: 9 says: "For your trust in him is bringing you to the end of the trail, where your whole being will be set free and made whole." Isn't that a beautiful way of looking at the Resurrection? In thinking about all the beautiful hiking and walking trails in Sitka... stepping forward along these trails with Jesus, we can affirm our faith even when we cannot see. "For your trust in him is bringing you to the end of the trail, where your whole being will be set free and made whole." That translation, especially within all the beauty in Sitka, feels much more meaningful than "for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

The next thing I noticed is that when Thomas was able to be with Jesus, Jesus did not ridicule him, belittle him, laugh at him or chastise him in any way. Jesus merely said, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.''

In the Indigenous Translation of the New Testament John 20: 27 says "Look closely at my hands and touch my scars with your finger. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Then put away your doubts and trust in me."

Hearing Jesus' voice encouraging Thomas to see and feel his wounds is so reaffirming. Jesus is giving Thomas (and us) permission to doubt, to ask questions, to be skeptical. Jesus is not ashamed of his wounds. He shows the signs of the wounds to his disciples, all the external wounds Jesus experienced at the hands of the Roman Empire.

In the book Barking to the Choir, Father Gregory Boyle, who leads an organization for gang members trying to get their lives straight, he tells the story of Sergio. "I wore 3 t-shirts to school to hide my mother's beatings, cuz I was ashamed of my scars....But now I welcome my wounds. I run my fingers over my scars. My wounds are my friends. After all, how can I help others heal if I don't welcome my own wounds?"

We too all have wounds... some that can be seen and some that are hidden in the recesses of our psyche. Thomas' story is a reminder that we are not alone. Jesus had wounds too. The disciples had wounds from this as well. They had run from perceived danger. They had fallen asleep when he prayed. They had disappeared when he needed them... and they had even denied knowing him ... yet he showed no anger. Jesus did not seek retribution for their lack of faith. He did not chastise them for the weakness of their faith. Jesus had already embraced his wounds.

A few Sundays ago, Nancy Jo Bleier in her meditation, gave some beautiful examples of how different cultures embrace their wounds. I spent some time that following week thinking about my own wounds, both those you might see or even those I try to keep hidden. Have I learned to embrace them ... no longer feeling shame or anger? Have I worked through those wounds enough that I can help others to heal? Or do I try to hide them and hope that no one will notice them? Am I willing to be in conversation with the Holy Spirit so that I can help others by sharing my experience, strength and hope?

In verse 22 of the NRSV, Jesus breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit." In the first nation version "He blew his breath on them and said, "You will breathe in and receive the Holy Spirit." Accompanied by the Holy Spirit all the disciples are S EN T out to share their experience, strength and hope. You might be saying to yourself.. .I cannot do that. I am afraid of speaking of Jesus and his resurrection.

Rumi, a 13th century Persian Sufi wrote "Why do you stay in prison when the door is so wide open?" The disciples' experience of being locked in a room out of fear is one that many of us understand. Fear often feels like a prison, and what we are afraid of can truly be a threat to our mental and physical well-being. The resurrection, however, opens the prison door, and the Spirit that Jesus breathed on the disciples enabled them to be sent. The Spirit that Jesus breathed on them that day is the same Spirit that Jesus B R E A T H E S on us today. You are called and sent into the world today to make a difference. "Why do you stay in prison when the door is so wide open?" Amen

Easter/Year A - April 5, 2026

Reflection by Rev. Kathryn Snelling, Deacon

Scriptures: Jeremiah 31:1-6, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24, Acts 10:34-43, Matthew 28:1-10

You would have noticed that for this Easter, we have several choices of scripture readings, even two for the Gospel. I chose this particular telling of the story  from the Gospel of Matthew because I really like the images

Of course it begins in gloom -  Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary are returning to the tomb, the same place where they saw Jesus‘s body being laid to rest, and they fully expect to find it just as they left it. The body of their beloved friend and teacher sealed in the tomb, secured behind a large stone.

But then the sudden turn of events,  the earth shakes and an angel, clothed in dazzling white descends from heaven. 

The soldiers that the Pharisees had sent to guard the tomb fall back and faint from fear.

The Angel rolls the large stone away from the opening of the tomb and sits on it.

That’s an image that I particularly like and perhaps it’s the angel trying to help calm the women but more than that. I think it speaks that that’s the only usefulness for this stone - a perch. For it certainly did not keep Jesus in the tomb, in fact, it didn’t need to be rolled away for Jesus to be out of the tomb he was already gone, but it was open for the women to see and the other disciples and he says, “do not be afraid I know who you’re looking for, he is not here  for he has been raised from the dead, as he said he would -  come and see”.

And then the angel gives them a charge: “Go tell his disciples that Jesus is raised from the dead and he will meet them in Galilee”.

And so they start out. And they are truthful - they still feel fear but also great joy. Joy welling up inside with this wonderful message they have to share.

And then Jesus meets them on their way. With a simple “Greetings”.

They recognize him immediately — run and wrap themselves around his feet.

And he says to them, “Do not be afraid”.  But this is not, “be not afraid of me”,  as they obviously are not.

Rather, do not be afraid, but go and tell MY BROTHERS.

Go, my sisters, and tell my brothers to go to Galilee and there they will see me.

That message really has not changed much in the two thousand plus years since it was first relayed by these women.

We too, are to not be afraid but to go share the good news of Jesus crucified and risen!

The good news of a love so unimaginable, so unfathomable — a love that is offered to all.

I love that he tells them to go to Galilee. The place where their life with Jesus  started.

I think that we, too, are called to go back to the beginning.  Called back together, as we retell the story. But also individually. Back to whatever shore of Galilee where you began your journey with Jesus. And if you have not begun your journey, He will meet you wherever you are on life’s road. As He continues to meet us as we journey through this life and spread His love in the world.

Alleluia. Christ is risen.

The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.

Easter is not a single day, but a way of living.

Every act of kindness, of love , of mercy, is an Easter Moment.

We live as Easter People, living out our promises to love and follow Jesus in His Way of Love.

So I invite you to turn to page 292 in the Book of Common Prayer and together let us renew our Baptismal Vows.

Good Friday/Year A - April 3, 2026

There was no sermon for this service.

Palm Sunday/Year A - March 29, 2026

Reflection by Kit Allgood-Mellema, Worship Leader

Scriptures: Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11: Matthew 26:14-27:66

29 March 2026, Palm Sunday, Yr A

Finally, we are here. Palm Sunday. It’s been a busy week!

Last Sunday we heard the story of Lazarus, who died and was raised to life when Jesus called him out of the tomb. When Jesus beckoned, Lazarus said, Yes! At the end of her reflection on letting light shine through the cracks of brokenness and realizing that God is always with us, Nancy Jo shared a quote from Westina Matthews in Living Well Through Lent: “Let us hold our broken world— and our own brokenness—in compassion, light, and love. For God’s love reigns forever, forgiveness is the key, reconciliation is the goal, and love is always, always, the answer.”

It is only by the chance of moon cycles and calendar dates that we celebrated the Annunciation this last Wednesday, when the angel known as Gabriel visited Mary, a teenager of Nazareth, to let her know she would be pregnant with a child who would be called the Son of the Most High. After questioning the angel, Mary said, Yes!

In Friday’s daily office gospel reading, after Jesus told the twelve gathered disciples what would soon happen to him – his arrest and death - James and John, sons of Zebedee, asked Jesus to grant them honored status beside him in his glory. They didn’t know what they were asking. When Jesus asked if they could do what he was about to do, they immediately said Yes!, still not knowing.

Yesterday, in one of my favorite gospel readings, a blind man named Bar Timaeus cried out to Jesus to restore his sight. As his sight returned, Bar Timaeus said, Yes!, and began to follow Jesus.

This week, in this very special season, we are asked to say yes to following Jesus through his journey into Jerusalem, to the upper room, the garden, the courts of the religious and secular leaders, and along the streets of the city to the place of his death.

In so many ways, on so many levels, this is a difficult, challenging time. I encourage you, as we move through this holiest of times individually and as a community, to give yourself and each other what I like to call ‘Space and Grace.’ Take care of yourselves. Take care of one another. Do what you can, when you can.

As we say yes and work to follow Jesus on this demanding path, the Rev. Suzanne Guthrie writes: ‘In this season, the church encourages her people to grieve and grieve deeply. . . . . In Holy Week the church provides the time to grieve, to break open our hearts of stone, to allow shattering and crumbling and the necessary softening to receive the sacred gifts only grieving confers. Hearts of flesh, perhaps. A new life, represented by deep and universal compassion.’

And so we say yes and we begin. Amen

Fifth Sunday in Lent/Year A - March 22, 2026

Reflection by Nancy Jo Bleier, Worship Leader

Scriptures: Ezekiel 37:1-14; Romans 8:6-11; John 11:1-45; Psalm 130

Reflection 3/22/26 5th Sunday in Lent

Nancy Jo Bleier, Worship Leader

Brokenness

Have you ever broken a dish, a piece of jewelry, a tool or a bone in your body? A relationship with some one you had cared about is broken. Someone close to you has died; someone you have been attached to physically, emotionally and spiritually. Did someone say “don’t cry over spilled milk”? Or “just get over it.” How were you feeling? Alone. Feeling broken; cracked open. Feeling separated from anything familiar including your faith.

Many words have been said and written about being broken. There is music, poems and scripture. I think of country western songs and Leonard Cohen’s song, Anthem. There is Kintsugi the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with urushi lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum. Culturally it treats breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise.

Today’s scripture reminds us that the world Jesus was living in was broken.

The story starts with Lazarus being ill but Jesus stays two days longer before heading back to Judea. The disciples are worried as some people were trying to kill Jesus so they ask why would you go there again? Jesus answers: “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble because they have the light from the Sun. But those who walk at night stumble, because they can not see where to go.” Jesus then tells them that Lazarus is a sleep but has to go on to explain that “Lazarus is dead”. That he has to go back to give them new grounds for believing.

For me this stood out in some of Leonard Cohen’s Anthem words:

“Ring the bells that still can ring

Forget your perfect offering

There is a crack, a crack in everything

That’s how the light in gets in

That’s how the light in gets in

That’s how the light in gets in”

So Jesus and the disciples go to Bethany finding Lazarus is dead and has been for four days. There is much weeping; from friends, and sisters Mary and Martha. Scripture tells us that Jesus began to weep; he was greatly disturbed or another translation said he also was angered. He told them to take him to the tomb. But Martha was upset as she knew the stench will be awful. Jesus says: “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory God?”

The stone in front of the cave was removed. Jesus testified to all who present: “Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me”.

Then he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” Lazarus did come out wrapped in cloth as was the custom of burials; Jesus said “Unbind him and let him go”. This truly was a miracle but one that would have consequences down the road.

Brokenness. Is it being separated from God? What do we need if we are broken or think we are separated from God? How can you and I be unbound to realize that God is with us all the time?

Christine Sine wrote a poem called Stay Close to the Cracks.

Stay close to the cracks,

To the broken places,

where people weep

and cry out in pain.

Stay close to the cracks,

Where God’s tears fall,

and God’s wounds bleed

for love of us.

Stay close to the cracks,

Where the light shines in,

and grass pushes up

through concrete.

Stay close to the cracks,

Where wounds

open doorways

to healing and wholeness

and life.

As Westina Matthews wrote in today’s Living Well Through Lent “Let us hold our broken world— and our own brokenness—in compassion, light, and love. For God’s love reigns forever, forgiveness is the key, reconciliation is the goal, and love is always, always, the answer.” Amen.

Fourth Sunday in Lent/Year A - March 15, 2026

Reflection by Bishop Mark Lattime, Read by Nancy Jo Bleier, Worship Leader

Scriptures: 1 Samuel 16:1-13; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41

https://episcopalak.org/seeing-our-blindness/

“Seeing Our Blindness”

Category: From the BishopMarch 13, 2026

Jesus said: “I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.”  John 9:39.

It’s a miracle!  Jesus gives sight to a man born blind.  Miracle causes quite a stir.

If that reads like a headline, it is because I am imagining the story of Jesus giving sight to the man born blind appearing above the fold in the “Jerusalem Star Tribune” (I think I just aged myself).  This gospel story from John, appointed for this coming Fourth Sunday in Lent, paints quite a picture.  For a story about blindness the description is vivid.  Spit, mud, washing in the pool of Siloam, disbelief, crowds gathering, interrogation, intrigue, even the man’s parents appear on the stage.   So many details color this story.

But are we able to see these details, or, more subtly, are we able to see through them?

The details are important.  This is not a healing miracle–that’s an important detail.  This is not a restoration of sight.  No, this is something entirely new.  The man was born blind–he had never seen.   Jesus didn’t heal him; what Jesus did was to give him sight.

“One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”

His sight, the only sight he has ever had, is through the eyes of Jesus.  It is a sight that has seen no other light than the light of Christ–a whole new way of seeing.

Of course, the people who represent the systems and structures, the authorized way of seeing–the “normal” way of seeing, see this “miracle” in a different way.  Their vision is focused by judgment–their judgment of sin, of right and wrong.  Their vision is distorted by status and judgments based on power and authority.  In their eyes, they see things clearly.  “Surely we are not blind, are we?”   Am I?

What if we could see through your eyes, Lord?

And here is the miracle–the part of the story where the paradox of Jesus’ words becomes clear.  Jesus offers blindness AND sight.  He offers us blindness to the world’s way of seeing, blindness to vision through the darkness of self-serving judgment of others in order to maintain the status quo and uphold the power and authority of the “seeing.”   He calls us to blindness to  this vision–this way of seeing this world,  then offers NEW sight to those who are blind.

Here is the astonishing thing:  Once your eyes are blind to vision focused by human judgment, prejudice, worldly power, and selfish human designs Jesus offers sight  Not the healing or restoration of old ways of seeing and judging, but the gift of a brand new way of seeing.   Jesus offers sight through His eyes: a vision that judges the world through a lens focused by His love, illuminated by the light of His mercy, His justice, His Grace, and His forgiveness.

Once we see our blindness, Jesus gives us sight.

Third Sunday in Lent/Year A - March 8, 2026

Reflection by Kit Allgood-Mellema, Worship Leader

Scriptures: Psalm 95; Exodus 17:1-7; Romans 5:1-11; John 4:5-42

08 March 2026, 3rd Sunday in Lent, Yr A

Have you ever experienced being upside down, like hanging by your knees on a tree branch or gym bars? Or doing a cartwheel or handstand? I was never able to pull off any of those moves successfully, let alone gracefully. The sense of being upside down was too disorienting. The idea that up was down and down was up made me feel unsteady, as if I’d lost my anchor. It wasn’t until I was in my late 40’s, with the help and encouragement of a compassionate yoga instructor, along with a very sturdy wall, that I was able to go into a supported headstand pose and stay upside down for a few moments. It was still disorienting at first, but I gradually became comfortable with the position, and I grew to like the pose. But let’s face it – upside down is exactly that, upside-down!

Several weeks ago, I joined an online Compline Service and Prayer Vigil organized by the Episcopal Office of Public Affairs and Advocacy in response to the increasing violence in Minneapolis. Minnesota Bishop Craig Loya, in his reflection, spoke of a time two thousand years ago when a man called Jesus began to teach a radical new way of life, following a way of love, mercy and justice, a way of seeing everyone as beloved children of God. Together, Bishop Loya told us, Jesus and his followers turned the world upside down.

In today’s gospel reading we heard some examples of Jesus turning the world upside down. On his way to Galilee after meeting with Nicodemus, Jesus had to travel through Samaria, a land long separated from the rest of the Jewish kingdom by political, cultural and religious differences. While resting by himself at midday at Jacob’s well outside the city of Sychar, Jesus spoke to a Samaritan woman, asking her for a drink. This was so far outside the norms that even the woman herself challenged Jesus – she was a Samaritan and a woman, both forbidden contacts. The world was starting to turn upside down! But once that started, there was no stopping either Jesus or the woman, as they began a deep and lengthy conversation about worship and spiritual life, an exchange that led to the woman realizing the man at the well was indeed the Messiah she’d heard of.

And the world continued to turn upside down. When the disciples arrived, they were shocked – you might say they were disoriented – but they did not challenge Jesus. The woman herself did something even more extraordinary – she ran back into the city to share the news and bring all the others, the entire city, to meet the Messiah, and as she spoke, they believed her. The people of Sychar asked Jesus to stay, offering hospitality to one who should have turned away, but Jesus agreed and stayed two days. The people were willing to accept something new, uplifting and exciting, something that fed their souls and showed them what life could be when the world they knew was turned upside down.

John didn’t name the Samaritan woman, and we don’t hear of her again in our gospels. But our sisters and brothers in the Eastern churches continued to turn the world upside down. They embraced this woman as a true apostle and named her – a vital step in recognizing the woman who was one of the first evangelists. Her name became Photini, ‘the enlightened one.’

I don’t know if Jesus would have called what he was doing ‘turning the world upside down,’ but his message of love and justice and mercy, of a life beyond hunger and thirst and need was beginning to spread and create transformation. People were ready and willing for life to change. It was frightening and disorienting, but the vision of that transformed world and Jesus’s words and actions were the support they needed to go on.

All of us at one time or another have had our worlds turned upside down. Maybe it was a time when you met that one special person, or when you landed your dream job, or sold your artwork or patented your invention. Maybe it was a time of loss and sadness – you lost the job or suffered the loss of a loved one or received an unexpected medical diagnosis. Maybe it was an upside-down event that affected a great many people – a natural disaster with impacts felt around the world, a viral pandemic, armed conflict or a human created famine. Many of these are moments that often happen ‘to us,’ brought on by events or happenings outside our control.

But we ourselves can be the source of those upside-down moments, bringing hope, joy and change to others near and far. Let me ask you: if you had the opportunity to ‘turn the world upside down,’ what would it look like? What would it feel like? Where would you begin? How would you begin? What would your anchor be?

I hope you have time in the coming days to ponder these questions. Your upsidedown moment doesn’t have to be big or earth-shattering, and you don’t have to do it alone. Photini – Because we need to use her name! – took a small step by returning to the city and sharing the news, but look at the results! An entire city opening its arms in welcome, the people opening their hearts and minds to the Spirit and the Word. And now think of all the other gospel stories of ordinary people willing to step out and embrace an upside-down world, taking a chance to bring hope and love and support to their families, friends and communities in need.

Here at St. Peter’s, as our congregation navigates our path forward in a world so full of change and upside-down moments that happen with mind boggling speed, maybe it’s time to pause and explore together how we can meaningfully turn the world upside down in the spirit of love, mercy, hope and justice. If that sounds like a task too big to tackle, remember we don’t have to do it alone. We have Jesus, our compassionate teacher and our sturdy wall to guide and support us throughout our own loving actions. We can do it together, with love and compassion and support for each other and the world.

Thanks be to God!

Second Sunday in Lent/Year A - March 1, 2026

Reflection by Kit Allgood-Mellema, Worship Leader

Scriptures: Genesis 12:1-4a; Romans 4:1-5, 13-17; John 3:1-17; Psalm 121

01 March 2026, 2 Lent Yr A

As I pondered today’s gospel, two thoughts came to me. The first thought was that the people around Jesus asked him a lot of questions! There were two types of questions Jesus generally fielded. The first type came from the people with power, influence and connections. When Jesus spoke, those people – the priests, the scholars, those we know as the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Sanhedrin, the high ranking military and government officials of the Roman occupation – heard words of resistance and opposition, and asked questions designed to paint Jesus in a bad light, to humiliate him, trip him up and cause him to give self-incriminating answers.

The other type of questions came from the people who had little or no power. These were the people with no influence or connections. The Roman occupation landed hard on them. They knew what they wanted. They craved freedom, mercy, justice, and the basics of food, water, housing, dignity, a chance to make a living and keep enough of their hard-earned money to survive. When Jesus spoke, they heard a message of love, justice, peace and mercy. They asked the honest questions Jesus could use to help them.

My second thought was that Jesus loved to answer those questions, both the ‘gotcha’ questions and the ‘how do we?’ questions. So it was no surprise that when Nicodemus, the Pharisee. came to Jesus and asked to speak with him, Jesus agreed. He probably understood that Nicodemus came at night, alone, in secret, so he could ask without fear the honest, important questions – how do I . . . ? what do you mean when you say . . . ? how can this be? I can imagine these two, sitting in a secluded garden, or in a deserted place, or on a rooftop, upon a rug with a pitcher of cool water to share, the stars above and quiet streets below. The esteemed Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin, an intelligent and thoughtful person, plying the enigmatic, well-spoken young carpenter from a backwater town with honest questions that few could answer.

Sitting in the dark, Nicodemus asked, and Jesus listened and answered, maybe not with words that Nicodemus expected, but with words that he could take away to ponder and treasure. And I believe when Jesus told Nicodemus that God’s kingdom was there for people who had been born from above, he was offering Nicodemus a radical way to look at the world and the people around him. It was an invitation for Nicodemus to open his eyes and his heart, to look beyond the darkness, to let go of the old and earth-bound ways of envisioning the world. To be born from above was to embrace a new vision, to imagine and bring into being a new life for himself and all who were seeking the kingdom. Jesus was saying, listen, and let my words open your mind, open your heart. Let the Spirit flood you with love and light and strength and purpose, and let the Spirit flow out from you with faith and determination to bring God’s peace and mercy, dignity, hope and justice to all God’s beloved people.

Nicodemus is only mentioned in one gospel – John’s – but he appears two more times, once when he asked his fellow Pharisees a question concerning the law as they argued amongst themselves about the threat Jesus may have presented; and again after Jesus’s body was released to Joseph of Arimathea for burial. Nicodemus joined Joseph in caring for Jesus’s body and placing it in the tomb. This may make you wonder, did Nicodemus continue to ask questions? Did the Spirit continue to grow in him? John certainly must have thought so. Very few people merited more than one brief mention in his gospel.

Pause for a moment and wonder. If you could be like Nicodemus and visit Jesus in a peaceful place without fear or judgement, if you could feel free to ask him any question, what would you ask? What if the answers seemed too easy? Would you shrug them off? What if the answers were too difficult to understand or too hard to hear? Would you give up and walk away? These are questions for you, not me. But Jesus will never tire of our questions, nor will he give up on us when we struggle to embrace and live into the new vision of God’s kingdom.

In this difficult time in our world and our lives, as we struggle with overwhelming events, and in this season of Lent as we learn to let go of the old ways of seeing the world, as we try to let go of practices and ideas that stand between us and a full, fruitful relationship with God, Jesus is always with us to support and guide us, to flood us with the Spirit of love and light and strength and purpose, so we can be the path of the Spirit flowing out into this aching, hungry world that so desperately needs peace, mercy, dignity, hope and justice. Just ask.

Thanks be to God!

First Sunday in Lent/Year A - February 22, 2026

Reflection by Nancy Jo Bleier, Worship Leader

Scriptures: Psalm 32; Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11

Reflection - 2/22/26. First Sunday in Lent. 

Nancy Jo Bleier, Worship Leader

I was recommended a small book by Paul A. Gilbert called Reclaiming your Imagination.  My cousin, David Wright suggested it.  Pastor Paul, who is lead pastor at Grace Fellowship in Buffalo, Wyoming, did a wonderful dedication of this book to my cousin and his wife, Marietta.  To tell you the truth I would have not read this book if David had not suggested it. 

Pastor Paul talks about how as children we have sharp imaginations. As we age others tell us what we are thinking is “just your imagination”.  What if God gave us this “ability to see something in our minds what we cannot see with our physical eyes.”

Imagination can be a desire of the heart or mind. It can be for creativity like making a quilt, planting a garden, cooking a new cookie recipe or building a computer program.

We use it more as adults than we realize.  We use it remembering past times filling in pieces of what we think happened.

When we take communion we call on our imagination to be spirit-led when we hear the words “Let’s make our Holy Communion in the Body and Blood of Christ given to his people and received by faith.”

I like how Pastor Paul says “often, when God wants to show us something - a calling, mission or a direction- God uses our imagination. God might plant a vivid picture, a stirring idea, or a creative vision on our minds.“  He suggests “embracing our imagination is an act of faith”. 

We often want God to do something for us and we wait. If we look closer to Jesus we see a different pattern called: partnership.  Partnership with the disciples to spread the gospel and love one another. Partnership with us to do the same. This requires faith and often stepping into situations that seem impossible or beyond our abilities.  Um…sounds like the situation we are now in with St Peter’s.  It takes deep listening and imagination.

Let’s talk about being tempted as Jesus was in our Gospel from Matthew 4: 1-11.

So have you ever been tempted?  Maybe eating an extra piece chocolate cake? Or tell someone a secret you promised not to reveal?  Or doing something that would have been illegal?

Has your imagination taken you to where Jesus was today? Here he was in the wilderness fasting for forty days and nights. He was famished and being tempted by the devil three times. 

Wow, turning rocks into bread; going up on pinnacle of the temple and throwing himself off so angels can catch him; taking him to high mountains and he could have the all the kingdoms of the world… Jesus told him three times how it was written: ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God’; “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’  And the last ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’ The devil left him and the angels came to serve.

This took a lot of imagination to produce these images.  When we put ourselves into this scene we are using our imaginations. It is powerful and can be life changing.

When we picture the worst case scenario over and over it is worry going in the wrong direction. In today’s scripture we don’t hear Jesus worrying about how he going to make it through the fasting and what if the devil comes visiting. He is going forward saying what Scripture says to do. Worry is faith going the wrong way. We can use the same mental energy to vision, to create and have courage praying with hope and thanksgiving .

So maybe you thought you have lost your imagination. We can think God hasn’t been talking to us.  So when our minds wander maybe like during this service, lighten up and listen deeply.  You might be surprised.

I leave you with a paraphrased prayer by Pastor Paul.

“God, I come before you today asking for the mind of Christ… Help me to adopt His humility, His wisdom, and His love in all my relationships and decisions. Open my heart to Your Spirits guidance, so I can discern Your voice and reflect Your character more clearly. May I be humble in service, bold in faith, and compassionate in all I do… Help me to live each day honoring You in every thought and action. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”