Daily & Weekly Devotionals (Page 6)

Daily & Weekly Devotionals (Page 6)

Daily & Weekly Devotionals and reflections by The Rev. Dr. Richard Miles and The Rev. Rob Banse

UPDATED July 2020 – The Rev. Rob Banse will send a weekly devotional on Mondays to share thoughts and reflections on Biblical passages. The Daily Devotionals were suspended after June 26 to allow the staff and lay leaders to focus on the return to in-person gatherings and worship.

March – June 2020: During the COVID-19 shutdown, the Interim Rector The Rev. Dr. Rick Miles (Mon. – Thurs.) and The Rev. Rob Banse (on Fridays beginning April 3) will be creating a daily devotion with their reflections which will be added to this website. Additional resources are included in the links below. The text of weekly sermons and video of virtual worship services are included in the Sermon and Video Archives section of the website.

Friday, May 1, 2020

Good morning, Christ Church! Sheltering in place has certainly given us plenty of time to think. Frankly, being alone with our thoughts over an extended period of time may not always be best for us, especially if it leads to brooding and becoming overwrought.  On the other hand, the freedom to think without the usual busyness of life tugging at us is a real gift. (I recognize that those of you now teaching your children at home may find that…

Thursday, April 30, 2020

Dear Christ Church Family, Wisdom can sometimes sound like platitudes. But, when those “pithy” sayings of our elders are based on a life well-lived, then they are worth paying attention. Such is the case with our Psalmist this day, as he shares with us his life’s collected wisdom. Peace,Rick+ Music for Your Soul from Richard Thibadeau, Music Ministries This Sunday is the Fourth Sunday of Easter – otherwise known as Good Shepherd Sunday. The following link will take you to…

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Dear Christ Church Family, Did you know that, right now, there are people out there trying to determine which hymn is the greatest of all? We might wonder why they would bother except that most of us know the power of a great hymn in speaking to our spiritual lives. They have often become our favorites. Paul had some favorite hymns too, and in our epistle lesson today, he quotes one. Peace,Rick+ Wednesday, April 29, 2020                  RCL Daily Office…

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Dear Christ Church Family, I missed getting this Daily Devotional out yesterday, due to an unusually debilitating migraine. Still, I think the message of Psalm 15 is important enough that it is worth considering even on the wrong day. I have included links to Tuesday’s readings below the message so that you might read those too. Peace,Rick+ Monday, April 27, 2020 (sent Tuesday)        RCL Daily Office Readings, Year 2 AM Psalm 25 PM Psalm 9, 15 Exod. 18:13-27 1 Pet. 5:1-14 Matt.…

Friday, April 24, 2020

Good morning, Christ Church! I have been reading biographies these last several weeks of sheltering in place. Two have been particularly helpful. Erik Larson’s new biography, “The Splendid and the Vile” tells the story of Winston Churchill, his family, and close associates over the course of the Battle of Britain. It is certainly true that the ultimate trajectory of what we are going through right now is unknowable and therefore scary. But can you imagine going to bed every night…

Thursday, April. 23, 2020

Dear Christ Church Family, What is the point of reading the life of a saint? Perhaps the best reason is that when that saint truly lives the way of Love vs. Hate, they leave us an example to follow; an example that can change us. Our Gospel lesson contains Jesus’ most famous commandment, to live the way of love, and our Saint this day is someone who lived it, and by doing so showed others who followed him, that way.…

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Dear Christ Church Family, Are you struggling to grow your spiritual life? If you’re having a tough time with it, the struggle may be the problem itself. In Jesus teaching today, he tells us how to get there. His prescription, though, just might surprise you. It could be way easier than you think. Peace,Rick+ Wednesday, April 22, 2020                  RCL Daily Office Readings, Year 2 AM Psalm 119:1-24 PM Psalm 12, 13, 14 Exod. 15:22-16:10 1 Pet. 2:1-10 John 15:1-11 Saints Days…

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Dear Christ Church Family, What is the difference between a Job and a Calling? In our readings today, both Moses and Jesus tell us, and show us. Hint: it has to do with the ways we change the lives of others. Joy,Rick+ Tuesday, April 21, 2020                        RCL Daily Office Readings, Year 2 AM Psalm 5, 6 PM Psalm 10, 11 Exod. 15:1-21 1 Pet. 1:13-25 John 14:18-31 Saints Days Anselm Exodus: The story of a person whose changed life changed the…

Monday, April 20, 2020

Dear Christ Church Family, As our time of sequestering and social distancing drags on, it is difficult to keep from being discouraged by the loss of all the “normal” simple joys of gathering and being together with those we love. Our very first reading for today, Psalm 1, offers us encouragement this morning. It reminds us that the source of our joy, of life itself, is still with us. We have only to keep drinking it in. Joy,Rick+ Monday, April…

Friday, April 17, 2020

Good Morning, Christ Church! “Surreal” is a word that often comes to my mind in these unusual days. All kinds of ideas and images are mixing together in strange, and in certain instances, irrational ways. For example, the most recent debate about whether or not it is time for some of our citizens to risk their very lives for the sake of “the economy” seems surreal to me, especially as those most vocally in favor of moving in this direction…