In this special episode during Holy Week, Pastor Doug talks with Bill Palmer and reflects on Jesus' experience within the darkness of the crucifixion. Bill shares candidly about his experience living with a diagnosis of acute leukemia and how he is experiencing God's love and peace in the midst of it.

Message by Doug Bunnell, recorded live April 6, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church of Bellingham. Scripture read by Ann Hinz.

Mercy

Jesus calls us to live lives of mercy, live like the Samaritan.

• Why does the lawyer try to justify himself by asking, "And who is my neighbor?" What might this question tell us about his heart or motives?
• What qualities does the Good Samaritan demonstrate that the priest and Levite fail to show?
• What does the Samaritan’s compassion and care for the wounded man tell us about the kind of love Jesus is calling His followers to embody?
• When Jesus asks, “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” how does the lawyer answer, and why does he not say “Samaritan”?
• What does this passage teach us about loving others beyond our own social, ethnic, or cultural boundaries?
• What are some practical ways you can show mercy and compassion to those around you?
• What does the parable teach about mercy, and why is mercy a central theme in the life and ministry of Jesus?

Luke 10:25-37

25 An expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” 27 He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”

29 But wanting to vindicate himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and took off, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan while traveling came upon him, and when he saw him he was moved with compassion. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, treating them with oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him, and when I come back I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Message by Doug Bunnell, recorded live March 30, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church of Bellingham. Scripture read by Diane Tate.

New Skins for New Wine

• Why do you think Jesus chose Levi (a tax collector) to be one of His disciples?
• Why do the Pharisees and teachers of the law criticize Jesus for eating with tax collectors and sinners?
• How does the idea of Jesus being a "physician" for sinners challenge our understanding of who can come to Jesus?

• How does the imagery of a wedding feast help us understand the nature of Jesus’ ministry and His presence with His followers?

• What does the statement, "No one after drinking old wine wants the new, for they say, 'The old is better,'" reveal about human resistance to change?

• In what ways do you, or might you, identify with the Pharisees’ attitudes toward sinners and outcasts?
• How can you move past this mindset?
• Are there areas of your life that feel like “old wineskins” that might need to be transformed to receive something new from God?

Luke 5:27-39

27 After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax-collection station, and he said to him, “Follow me.” 28 And he got up, left everything, and followed him.

29 Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others reclining at the table with them. 30 The Pharisees and their scribes were complaining to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31 Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician but those who are sick; 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

33 Then they said to him, “John’s disciples, like the disciples of the Pharisees, frequently fast and pray, but your disciples eat and drink.” 34 Jesus said to them, “You cannot make wedding attendants fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you? 35 The days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.” 36 He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and sews it on an old garment; otherwise, not only will one tear the new garment, but the piece from the new will not match the old garment. 37 Similarly, no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins and will spill out, and the skins will be ruined. 38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 39 And no one after drinking old wine desires new wine but says, ‘The old is good.’ ”

Message by Doug Bunnell, recorded live March 23, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church of Bellingham. Scripture read by Jan Dougherty.

A Whiff of Resurrection

Even a whiff of resurrection is enough to change the world, embrace resurrection in all areas of life.

• Why is it significant that the women were going to anoint Jesus' body with spices?
• The angel specifically mentions that Jesus "has been raised." What does this statement communicate about the resurrection?

• What does the instruction to tell "the disciples and Peter" imply about Peter’s current state or position among the disciples?

• What does the resurrection of Jesus mean for you personally? How does it affect your faith and hope?
• The women were the first to receive the message of Jesus’ resurrection. In what ways does God use unexpected or unlikely people to carry out His purposes today?

• Have you ever experienced fear or amazement in your faith journey? How do you navigate those moments?

Mark 16:1-816 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4 When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” 8 So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Message by Doug Bunnell, recorded live March 16, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church of Bellingham. Scripture read by Hunter Berard.How do you love God?

We need ritual to help us remember what is most important.

• Jesus answers that the Sadducees do not know the power of God or scripture and such they end up being wrong. How do we make sure to know these things?

• What do we learn about resurrection in this text?
• What is remarkable about the interaction Jesus has with the next scribe?
• Does this summary of the law help you? How?
• How can we remember these central truths?

Mark 12:29-31

29 Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; 30 you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Message by Doug Bunnell, recorded live March 9, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church of Bellingham. Scripture read by Lynn Schuman.

Help My Lack of Faith

The crux of it all is faith, ask God to help your lack of faith.

• What do you think the argument might have been about?
• What are the reasons that Jesus calls them a faithless generation?
• The father says, if you are able. Do you ever feel that way?
• Jesus says, “If you are able!—All things can be done for the one who has faith.” What does he mean by that?
• The man responds that he does have faith, and asks Jesus to help his unfaith?
• Can we have faith and unfaith at the same time?

Mark 9:14-29

14 When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. 15 When the whole crowd saw him, they were immediately overcome with awe, and they ran forward to greet him. 16 He asked them, ‘What are you arguing about with them?’ 17 Someone from the crowd answered him, ‘Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak; 18 and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so.’ 19 He answered them, ‘You faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me.’ 20 And they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, immediately it threw the boy into convulsions, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked the father, ‘How long has this been happening to him?’ And he said, ‘From childhood. 22 It has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us.’ 23 Jesus said to him, ‘If you are able!—All things can be done for the one who believes.’ 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out, ‘I believe; help my unbelief!’ 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, ‘You spirit that keep this boy from speaking and hearing, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!’ 26 After crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, ‘He is dead.’ 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he was able to stand. 28 When he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’ 29 He said to them, ‘This kind can come out only through prayer.’

This year our theme for Lent is pilgrimage and reflecting on what it means to Walk the Way of Jesus.

In this episode, Pastor Doug reflects on the journey he and Laurie took 8 years ago along the Camino de Santiago in Spain.

FPC Lent activities

Message by Doug Bunnell, recorded live March 2, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church of Bellingham. Scripture read by Hillary Thomsen.

Half Sight, Half Blind, I See, Never Mind

Like Peter we only see with partial understanding.

• What is unique about this healing story?
• In Caesarea Philippi what does Peter “see”?
• In verses 31-33 what does Peter “not see”?
• How is Peter like the man who was healed of his blindness?
• What does it mean that we may only understand partially? In human reality? In divine truth?

Mark 8:27-33

27 Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi, and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” 29 He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” 30 And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes and be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”

Message by Doug Bunnell, recorded live February 23, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church of Bellingham. Scripture read by Laurie Bunnell.

The Cycle of Grace Begins in Acceptance

Jesus begins his ministry in acceptance and moves then into fruitfulness.

 What do you notice in verse 1:1? How does it form the path of what is to come?

• What do you notice about John the Baptizer?
• What are the key elements of Jesus’ baptism?
• What are the elements of what God says to Jesus?
• Can you hear those words said to you?
• The Spirit’s next act is to drive Jesus into the wilderness where he was tempted. How do we receive that hard news?

Mark 1:1-14

1 The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ.

2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,

“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,

who will prepare your way,

3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:

‘Prepare the way of the Lord;

make his paths straight,’ ”

4 so John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And the whole Judean region and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him and were baptized by him in the River Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove upon him. 11 And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

12 And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness forty days, tested by Satan, and he was with the wild beasts, and the angels waited on him.

14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the good news of God.

Message by Rev. Tim Barton, recorded live February 16, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church of Bellingham. Tim is part of our congregation, and a long time pastor from the Portland area. He is also currently participating as a Spiritual Director in Rhythms of Grace. Today's scripture is read by Brad Day.

Matthew 26:14-16 (Judas betrays Jesus) – Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

Matthew 26:36-40 (the disciples slept) – Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter.

Matthew 26:55-56 (The disciples fled) – In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

Matthew 26:73-75 (Peter’s denial) – After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.” Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Matthew 27:50, 55 (the women watched Jesus) – And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

Matthew 28:1, 5-8 (the women proclaimed Jesus) – After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” 8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”