Writing

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

Devotional Refection, Tuesday, September 10, 2024 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: . . . we bring you good news, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. 16In past generations he allowed all the nations to follow their own ways; 17yet he has not left himself without a witn

Daily Office Devotional, Friday, September 4, 2026 Proper 17, the week of the fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading: 26 One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.. . . . 34They answered him, `You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?' And they drove him out. 35 Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, `Do you believe in the

Devotional Reflection, Thursday, September 3, 2026 Proper 17, the week of the fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading 9:1As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2His disciples asked him, `Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?' 3Jesus answered, `Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him. 4We mus

Devotional Reflection, Wednesday, September 2, 2026 Proper 17, the week of the fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading: 47Whoever is from God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear them is that you are not from God.' 48The Jews answered him, `Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?' 49Jesus answered, `I do not have a demon; but I honor my Father, and you

Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, September 1, 2026 Proper 17, the week of the fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s Epistle reading: 12:1About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. 2He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword. 3After he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. You will find the full text of today’s Acts reading at th

Devotional, Monday, August 31, 2026 Proper 17, the week of the fourteenth teenth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading: 28So Jesus said, `When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own, but I speak these things as the Father instructed me. 29And the one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him.'

Devotional Reflection, Friday, August 28, 2026 Proper 16, the week of the fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 37 On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, 38and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, “Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.”’ 39Now he said thi

Devotional Reflection, Thursday, August 27, 2026 Proper 16, the week of the thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s epistle reading: 30 Cornelius replied, ‘Four days ago at this very hour, at three o’clock, I was praying in my house when suddenly a man in dazzling clothes stood before me. 31He said, “Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32Send therefore to Joppa

Devotional Reflection, Wednesday, August 26, 2026 Proper 16, the week of the fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading: 7:1After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He did not wish to go about in Judea because the Jews were looking for an opportunity to kill him. 2Now the Jewish festival of Booths was near. 3So his brothers said to him, ‘Leave here and go to Judea so that your disciples also may see

Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, August 25, 2027 Proper 16, the week of the thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, ThD. Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading: 60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, ‘This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?’ 61But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, ‘Does this offend you? 62Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was be

Devotional Reflection, Monday, August 24. 2026 Proper 16, the week of the thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D Key phases for reflection from today’s reading: 52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ 53So Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal

Devotional Reflection, Friday, August 21, 2026 Proper 15, the week of the twelfth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 35 Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I wil

Devotional Reflection, Thursday, August 20, 2026 Proper 15, the week of the twelfth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading: 25When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, ‘Rabbi, when did you come here?’ 26Jesus answered them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27Do not work for the food that peris

Devotional Reflection, Monday, August 17, 2026 Proper 15, the week of the twelfth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading: 19Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise. 20The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing; and he will show him greater works than

Devotional Reflection, Friday, August 14,2026 Proper 14, the week of the eleventh Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 17 ‘But as the time drew near for the fulfillment of the promise that God had made to Abraham, our people in Egypt increased and multiplied 18until another king who had not known Joseph ruled over Egypt. You will find the full text of today’s epistle reading at the end of this reflection. Dai

Devotional Reflection, Thursday, August 13, 2026 Proper 14, the week of the eleventh Sunday after Pentecost. The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 39Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me everything I have ever done.’ 40So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. 41And many more believed because of his word. 42They said to t

Devotional Reflection, Wednesday, August 12. 2026 Proper 14, the week of the eleventh Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading: 9The Samaritan woman said to him, ‘How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?’ (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) 10Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, “Give me a drink,” you would have ask

Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, August 11, 2026 Proper 14, week of the eleventh Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading: 29He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled. 30He must increase, but I must decrease.’ You will find the full text of today’s Gospel at the end of t