Writing

Devotional Reflection, Friday, October 16, 2026 Proper 23, the week of the twentieth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading: 28 Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. 29And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. You will find the full text of today’s Gospel at the

Devotional Reflection, Thursday, October 15, 2026 Proper 23, the week of the twentieth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s Hebrew Scripture reading: 9But God said to Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry about the bush?" And he said, "Yes, angry enough to die." 10Then the LORD said, "You are concerned about the bush, for which you did not labor and which you did not grow; it came into being in a night and perished

Daily Office Devotional, Wednesday, October 14, 2025 Proper 23, the week of the twentieth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s Jonah reading: 17But the LORD provided a large fish to swallow up Jonah; and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. 2:1Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the belly of the fish, 2saying, "I called to the LORD out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the be

Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Proper 23, 5he week of the twentieth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s Jonah reading: 1:1Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai, saying, 2"Go at once to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before me." 3But Jonah set out to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a sh

Devotional Reflection, Monday, October 12, 2026 Proper 23, the week of the twentieth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 7:1Woe is me! For I have become like one who, after the summer fruit has been gathered, after the vintage has been gleaned, finds no cluster to eat; there is no first-ripe fig for which I hunger. . . . 5Put no trust in a friend, have no confidence in a loved one; guard the doors of your mo

Devotional Reflection, Friday, October 9, 2026 Proper 22, the week of the nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection in today’s reading: 4:1In days to come the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised up above the hills. Peoples shall stream to it, 2and many nations shall come and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jaco

Devotional Reflection, Wednesday, October 7, 2026 Proper 22, the week of the nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 2:1Alas for those who devise wickedness and evil deeds on their beds! When the morning dawns, they perform it, because it is in their power. 2They covet fields, and seize them; houses, and take them away; they oppress householder and house, people and their inheritance. 3Therefore thus

Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, October 6, 2026 Proper 22, the week of the nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading: 6And Jesus went with them, but when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, `Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; 7therefore I did not presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and let my servant

Devotional Reflection, Monday, October 5, 2026 Proper 22, the week of the nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 46‘Why do you call me “Lord, Lord,” and do not do what I tell you? 47I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them. 48That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when a flood arose, the river burst agains

Devotional Reflection, Thursday, October 1, 2026 Proper 21, the week of the nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s Hebrew Scripture reading: 6:"Come, let us return to the LORD; for it is he who has torn, and he will heal us; he has struck down, and he will bind us up. 2After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. 3Let us know, let us press on to know the

Devotional Reflection, Wednesday, October 1, 2026 Proper 21, the week of the eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 36He also told them a parable: ‘No one tears a piece from a new garment and sews it on an old garment; otherwise the new will be torn, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 37And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and will b

Devotional Reflection, Monday, September 28, 2026 Proper 21, the week of the eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.’ 11When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him. Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 987) AM Psalm 89:1-18; PM Psalm 89:19-52 Hosea 2:14-23; Acts 20:17-38; Luk

Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, September 29, 2026 Proper 21, the week of the eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 12 Once, when he was in one of the cities, there was a man covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground and begged him, ‘Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.’ 13Then Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, ‘I do choose. Be made clean

Devotional Reflection, Friday, September 26, 2026 Proper 20, the week of the seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading: 33In the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 34‘Let us alone! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.’ 35But Jesus rebuked him, saying,

Devotional, Thursday, September 24, 2026 Proper 20, the week of the seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading: 16When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: 18‘The Spirit of the Lo

Devotional Reflection, Wednesday, September 23, 2026 Proper 20, the week of the eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 4:1Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 2where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. . . . .13When the devil had finished every te

Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, September 22, 2026 Proper 20, the week of the eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key verses for reflection from today’s reading: 15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16John answered all of them by saying, ‘I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong o

Devotional Reflection, Monday, September 21, 2026 Proper 20, the week of the seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading: 7John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our ancestor”; for I tell you, God is able from these ston

Devotional Reflection, Thursday, September 10, 2026 Proper 18, the week of the fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 15:1Then certain individuals came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, ‘Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.’ 2And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were

Devotional Reflection, Wednesday, September 9, 2026 Proper 18, the week of the fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s Acts reading: 19 But Jews came there from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds. Then they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. 20But when the disciples surrounded him, he got up and went into the city. The next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. 21