It’s interesting how habits and customs become integrated into our lives without fully understanding why we do them. For example, there was a family who had a favorite meatloaf recipe passed down for many years. Everyone loved it, so they were reluctant to modify the recipe in any way. One of the more peculiar steps was to cut the meatloaf in half before placing it in the oven. One day, at a big family gathering, some of the cooks were preparing the meatloaf for dinner when the great-grandmother, the matriarch of the family, stepped into the kitchen to see how the cooks were doing. She noticed they were cutting the meatloaf before placing into the oven, so she asked them why they were doing that. She gracefully informed them that cutting the meatloaf was unnecessary; she only did that many years earlier when she created the recipe because they had a very small oven at that time.

In our passage today, we see how Peter and the other disciples were carefully following tradition, but they learned that some of the rules they had been dutifully following came from other people rather than God. This mistake can lead to missing the true intention of certain faith practices and can result in damaging relationships rather than healing them. Join us next Sunday as we reflect on the spiritual message Peter and the other disciples received when they were led to share the gospel with people they considered unworthy.

Prayers of the People by Debbie Pallack.

Special music by Sheryl Clifton.

This weekend is Mother’s Day. There are many reasons to celebrate our mothers, and a big one that comes to mind for me is their amazing devotion to their children. Granted, even mothers lose their patience sometimes, but they generally seem to have a unique ability to express an incredible amount of patience and compassion for their children well after others may have reached their limit. Mothers can answer the same question over and over as their child struggles to understand a new idea, and they seem to find joy in watching the process of discovery unfold for their child.

In our passage this week, there is a sense that Jesus’s patience is being tested as he responds to questions from worshipers in the temple. They asked him “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tells us plainly.” Jesus replied, “I have told you and you do not believe.” Jesus showed signs, fulfilled prophecy, and explained who he was many times, but some could not quite “get it.” Join us next Sunday as we reflect on Christ’s response to those who struggled to understand his message and how we might pursue a process of discovery for ourselves.

Prayers of the People by Susan Gleason.

Special music by Barb Jonson.

Prayers of the People by Jim Essinger.

People are often characterized by the consequences of their efforts, or you could say “by the fruits of their labor.” This generally makes sense – benevolent acts stem from people expressing kindness, and destructive acts stem from people expressing enmity. Unfortunately, moments of passion can drive a person to do things that have a lasting impact which fosters a negative impression on others long afterward. The good news is that we can repent and be forgiven by the grace of God. But our neighbors, who aren’t able to perceive our changes the way Christ does, may have difficulty accepting the new version of ourselves.

This week, we will reflect on the conversion of Saul. Saul was a persecutor of the early church who actively sought to punish people who followed the teachings of Jesus. He had a reputation for cruelty that made Christians fearful of him, but Saul experienced Christ in a dramatic way that changed his perspective. Instead of suppressing Christ’s message, he became one of Christianity’s most ardent supporters. Join us this Sunday as we look at Saul’s conversion story and consider how we respond to changes of heart, both in others as well as ourselves.

Special music by the chancel choir.

The Apostle Thomas, also known as “Doubting Thomas,” has been criticized over the centuries for his reluctance to acknowledge the resurrection of Jesus without physical evidence. After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples while they were hiding in a room, but Thomas was not with them at that time. Later, the other disciples reported the event to Thomas, but he wouldn’t believe them – it was too farfetched. But the next week, while Thomas was present in the room with the other disciples, Jesus appeared again, and Jesus gave Thomas the opportunity to test the validity of his resurrection as much as he needed.

Although many have criticized Thomas for demanding proof, most of us can sympathize with his response to the claim that Jesus had been resurrected. This was a highly unusual claim which would be hard to accept without some kind of evidence. Join us this Sunday as we consider Thomas’s response and reflect on our own response to the claim that Christ is risen.