“God encounters us in our historical context, God’s word is revealed to us in our worship and God calls us to serve.” Kristen Emery Saldine

We live in a world that is not certain to be saved. Each of us must choose to participate in the world, to seek its salvation, by promising each other that we will do our level best.

You say you don't see color, that all you see is human. But I've been told the artist mixed me once upon the palette, never to be repeated.

As often happens when the Bible is read in community the Spirit was present and the participants were changed.

This week, using some handwritten notes in my mother’s Bibles as a guide, I want to talk about the value of reading the Bible in some old ways.

"And there was evening, and there was morning. Cock-a-doodle-doo. Guilt for breakfast again.” Jen Wilken (describing Peter who denied Jesus three times)

Jesus calls his community to embrace the range of emotions, the reality of the world’s pain, and the promise of the community to offer healing and hope – all against the backdrop that God is with us, showing us the way.

In the long human story there is recently an unholy alliance of religious and political power which serves to undermine faith, steal property and cost live. Jezebel and Ahab represent that unholy alliance.

After Peter's mother-in-law was healed she ministered to the guests in her home. That ministry may have looked a lot like communion.