Each week, a pastor or occasionally a lay member shares thoughts for reflection and prayer. These topics might be seasonal, they might reflect current events, or they might just reveal the writer’s inner thoughts. We hope these Evotionals spur your own spiritual journey. Feel free to contact any member of the pastoral staff for further discussion. If you’re interested in writing an Evotional, contact the church office.
Practicing Grace
By Alicia Reese
We are beginning the last month of Summer and approaching a new program year with still many unknowns, much uncertainty, and painfully aware that it will not be quite the same as in years past. Rather than the usual excitement and energy we are each filled with at the start of a new year, many are feeling the emotional, mental, and physical toll these last several months have taken on them. If you are feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and stressed, know you are not alone. …
Our God is a God of grace, granting us grace not because of anything we have done and I think we should try to be as gracious to ourselves as God would be. Now is the time to practice grace more than ever. Give yourself a break, cut yourself some slack. You are worthy, you are loved for who you are, exactly the way you are. Read the entire Evotional.
Small but Spicy
By John Edgerton
I see church after church that are like mustard seeds, looking to all the world like something too small to matter but with room enough for so many in their shade. I see churches with great big buildings, far bigger than are needed for use only by the church’s own members. And almost to a one, I see that those churches are space-sharing with immigrant congregations, or they are running food pantries that keep hundreds of families fed, or they are holding 12-step groups by the dozen, or they are serving as Sanctuary Churches to stand up against heartless laws.
What would the generations who built these great edifices think of all this? … I think they would say, “My God, if we knew the building was going to be used for all this, we would have built it twice as big.” Read the entire Evotional.
All Things Work Together
By Lydia Mulkey
Just because God is able to work through the worst of circumstances for our good, that does not mean that God wants us to suffer. It does not mean that we should not let ourselves grieve and experience the pain of loss. It does not mean that people of faith are supposed to be happy all the time. It means that as we suffer, grieve, and experience the pain that is mysteriously woven into the human experience, we don’t have to lose hope.
Even when it seems entirely impossible, like, say, in the midst of a pandemic and in the midst of the all evils we are fighting in our society right now, God will fight like you-know-what to figure out a way to work in and through us. God does not want us to hurt, but when we do, God won’t give up on us. Read the entire Evotional.
The Whole Armor of God
By Alicia Reese
In baptism, we promise, or others make promises for us, to resist the devil and stand against evil. Words like “devil” and “evil” seem to be shied away from in modern or progressive church vernacular. … However, I see these baptismal promises as making a commitment to resist and stand against racism and therefore believe it is every Christian’s divine calling to fight for racial justice, work to dismantle systemic racism, and create anti-racist institutions. …
Call it guilt, shame, whatever, but get over it and seek out ways to engage about what you have learned, the questions you have, the processing and reflection you have done. Practice vulnerability and have a conversation with someone, be open to learning from your mistakes — it will not be easy. But then again, our calling, our vocation, our divine calling isn’t usually easy, but it is inescapable. Read the entire Evotional.
Taking Our Temperature
By Ally Vertigan
Getting my temperature taken when I show up to work has become normal. The hospitals where I’m a chaplain have had thermal scanners for a couple months now. …
On one particular day, as the staff-person and I approached each other for this ritual, I closed my eyes while she took my temperature. It was a reflex. It just sort of happened. I felt for a moment like I was receiving a blessing from a Deacon in the chapel after worship. My spirit was transported to a Baptismal remembrance. I could have been closing my eyes as if someone had just served me Communion.
Reflecting on this exchange, I gave thanks to God for the cleverness of the Holy Spirit and how she ushers in new moments of blessing even in the most fraught times. As temperature-taking becomes more prevalent in our public sphere, or as you manage your own symptoms at home, consider this blessing: May God draw each of us toward sacramental love and connection. Read the entire Evotional.
Both Sides?
By John Edgerton
American Christians are divided. On LGBTQ rights, Christians are divided. On the rights of immigrants, Christians are divided. And — remarkably — both sides quote the words of Jesus. Both sides believe that Jesus stands with them. But both sides cannot be correct. …
Whose side is Christ on? How can we know? Jesus’ words are interpreted all sorts of ways. It’s enough to make a disciple want to take Jesus aside and ask: “What’s with all the parables? Why not give it to us straight?”
Jesus’ teachings are riddles and his miracles are mysteries. But he gave us a guide for understanding. Christ teaches us that those whose hearts are calloused have missed the mark. Those whose hearts are tender have a better chance of finding Jesus on their side. Remember that you are a servant of Christ. Let your heart be tender, let your heart break with the brokenhearted and let yourself dream alongside the visionaries. And with your heart wide open, when you take your stand you have some hope that Jesus will be beside you. Read the entire Evotional.
Not Knowing is No Excuse
By Lydia Mulkey
Where do you go when there’s no clear way forward? How dangerous is it to go to a backyard barbecue with the family right now? Will we get sick? What is the right approach to end police brutality? Should I support a particular group and their plan? What is my meaningful contribution to this moment in history? How do I talk to my friends and neighbors when we disagree?
I don’t know how to answer most of these questions for you, let alone for me. I started to feel bad about that, but then I remembered I’m not alone in my indecision, insecurity, and self-doubt. People much smarter than me have struggled to know God’s will.
God is asking us to do the best we can and trust that we will be met with a measure of grace. Read the entire Evotional.
The Great Divide
By Dennis Cobb
You may remember that my husband, Dale Jackson, is the pastor at Riverside Presbyterian Church. Like First United, RPC has had online worship for the last three months. Dale started a sermon series on the prophet Jeremiah last Sunday. Jeremiah (as all prophets) was called to be God’s mouthpiece in the world, typically to the political powers in charge. Jeremiah’s time as prophet spanned the reigns of five different kings. Dale challenged us to be God’s mouthpiece in today’s world, especially as it relates to the work that needs to be done around the issues of police overreach and the sin of systemic racism.
Dale ended his sermon with a video that I’d like to share with you as today’s evotional. I hope you find that it speaks to you as powerfully as it did to me, available at this link. Read the entire Evotional.
Does Anyone Have a Match?
By Alicia Reese
What is happening is more complicated and runs deeper than justified outrage over the death of an innocent black man. George Floyd is the most recent victim of hundreds of years of oppression, violence, racism, and white supremacy so deeply ingrained in the system that is our country, it’s what it was built on. The trauma our siblings of color have known their entire lives is a deep, evil, generational suffering that is the result of the history we wrote and continue to repeat. …
So what if we chose not to play our role? White folks, what if instead of being complicit, we upset the status quo? Educated ourselves? Asked hard questions and faced even more difficult truths? …
We look around and see chaos. We can work with that. God can work with that. Chaos is an agent of change and change must come. Read the entire Evotional.
Grieving Together and Apart
By John Edgerton
Grief can seem a backwards thing. It makes Abraham insist on paying handsomely for what would have been freely given. When the Hittites offer to share in some of Abraham’s grief his response is, “No, this is mine.” Abraham was right to insist on grieving his own way. And the Hittites were right to allow him to do so. They offered what help they could imagine, then they had the grace to take “no” for an answer.
If you are in the grips of grief today, remember the example of Abraham. You can grieve your own way, even if it doesn’t make sense to others, even if it is costly.
And as you encounter other people, know that they are all of them in grief. Our whole nation is swimming in grief. And remember the example of the Hittites. Offer what help you can imagine, then have the grace to take “no” for an answer. Read the entire Evotional.
Reframing
By Lydia Mulkey
How do we reframe what it means to be people of faith? I find myself thinking about how we can’t gather in one place and hear a sea of voices singing the hymns we love. We can’t show up multiple times a week to learn, plan, and work for justice. We can’t lay hands on one another for prayer and anointing.
So what if … What if it’s not the end of gathering, but the beginning of new forms of connection across time and space? What if it’s not a boring lack of programming and classes at church, but an invitation to the foundational values of our faith like contemplation and simplicity? What if it’s not the loss of holy ritual, but an invitation to see all of life as holy ritual?
The changes and losses are hard, but maybe they can also be opportunities. Read the entire Evotional.
In the Midst
By Jane Barker
We are surrounded by things that are familiar. Comforting. Spring has arrived with warm air and beautiful blossoms. Those of us who are fortunate to be in this time with loved ones, locked in the same home, still have the comfort of touch. Those who aren’t have perhaps rebuilt old friendships on Zoom. Our animals still romp and frolic, oblivious to the crisis we live in. The robins still build nests and lay gorgeous blue eggs that will bring us the next season of robins.
I think we have a living metaphor for this unprecedented time in our beloved sanctuary, First United Church. On the outside, we have planted beautiful flowers. The trees are greening and the food pantry has been drawn outside to provide sanctuary and sustenance to folks in need. Easter banners adorn our front entrance. Inside? It is still Lent. The purple ribbon cross remains, hanging silently. Powerfully. Heavy. Locking us into the reality of the suffering and dying. Which is our new C-19 reality. Read the entire Evotional.
The Third Quarter of Isolation
By Alicia Reese
So how are we supposed to cope? It is important to create a structure for your day, to connect with people through the myriad of platforms and technology we have at our fingertips, to grant yourself grace, and to reach out if you do need help or support. …
As difficult as this time has been, in the future I know I will seek out times of solitude. I am thankful for the ways this strange time has forced us to connect in new ways and given the earth a needed break from human damage.
I am excited for the day when I am able to see and hug my loved ones without fear, when we can gather in our places of worship and greet one another with God’s peace, but until then I will look for the gifts of love and hope all around, I will remember that the Spirit unites us no matter where we are, and I will hold you in my prayers. Read the entire Evotional.
A Reflection on Psalm 24
By Sallie Smylie
Verses 7-10 also form the basis of “Lift Up Your Heads, O Mighty Gates,” a favorite hymn written for Advent by Georg Weissel in 1641 (another beautiful hymn composed during the devastating 30 Years’ War, like Martin Rinkart’s “Now Thank We All Our God”). That Psalm 24 is invoked for two liturgical seasons speaks to its versatile message. As Advent text, it symbolizes the coming of Christ, the Savior, who brings hope, grace and love to all who open their hearts and let Christ enter in. As reflected in stanza 3 of Weissel’s hymn:
your grace and love in me reveal.
And as Lenten text, it symbolizes the good news to come of Christ’s triumph over death in the resurrection. Whenever invoked – whether during Easter or Advent or during ordinary time – Psalm 24 brings a message of good news. Selah. Read the entire Evotional.
Stitch a New Garment
By Lydia Mulkey
We are going to make a garment that fits all of humanity and nature. Let’s leave some room around the sides for fresh air, bird songs, and naps in the sun. Let’s make sure to leave the hem long enough for the arts to stream from balconies and newsfeeds, adding meaning and beauty.
Can we leave room for a living wage for all essential workers? And let’s stitch their health care right into this garment, too. Let’s sew a little give into the waist so that there’s enough room for all of our neighbors to have access to fresh fruits and vegetables. We also don’t want to cut it too small for forgiveness to cover yesterday and faith for tomorrow. We should even leave room for a few random acts of kindness written in sidewalk chalk.
Finally, let’s stitch the whole thing together with lots and lots of love, which will bind the whole thing together in perfect harmony. Read the entire Evotional.
Much More
By John Edgerton
After the Boston Marathon bombing, would the traditions of the marathon survive? Would the celebratory spirit of the race continue? The following year, 2014, we had our answer. The race was never the same. It was much more wonderful.
The largest field of runners ever applied. World-class runners (always the toast of the town) shared the spotlight with ordinary people like Carlos Arredondo who had heroically saved people’s lives by rushing into danger. The traditions that were dearest became dearer still.
That is the resurrection power of God — life triumphing over death is glorious beyond compare. Read the entire Evotional.
On Finding Purpose and Meaning
By Alicia Reese
Finding a purpose or searching for meaning will not eliminate the ways in which we are suffering or struggling, but it can help us endure, it can give us hope. We are in the midst of Holy Week, when we remember and we tell the story of the suffering and death of Jesus. The meaning of that suffering is revealed to us on Easter. Easter is a day of celebration, of Good News, and great hope. Are you ready for that? How are you responding to the current situation? Are you in a place where you can search for meaning? Do you see hope? Read the entire Evotional.
God-Breathed
By John Edgerton
Here’s my homework assignment, which you are free to join me in. Read through 20 different Psalms this week. You can either pick 20 at random, or start on one particular Psalm and read 20 in a row. Let the breadth and depth of life experience that is there wash over you. Look for more light to break forth from the word, light that you might not have been able to see before. Read the entire Evotional.
A Love Letter
By Lydia Mulkey
I know you’re stressed. I am, too. So, in lieu of a true “evotional,” I’m writing you a sort of love letter from God and me. We love you. We care about you. We want you to know you’re not alone. … You are so loved, dear ones. Please let us know what you need.
Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Read the entire Evotional.
What I’ve Noticed
By John Edgerton
I have noticed people reaching out wanting to help others; that, at just the moment when it might seem like wisdom to fragment and scatter to the winds. I have noticed that there is something deep inside that desires so much to help one another and to stick together through thick and thin. In short, I have noticed God peeking through the ordinary. What have you noticed? Read the entire Evotional.
The Power of Art
By Tara Dull
My eyes immediately filled with tears. My whole body felt a new connection to that sacred night, the night when Jesus broke bread with friends, asking to be remembered. When Jesus washed feet, showing how to serve. When Jesus gave the most important commandment, “Love one another as I have loved you.” I saw all of Jesus’ beloved followers — men, women, and children — in the room where it happened. Read the entire Evotional.
A 14-year-old’s statement of faith
By Alicia Reese
If you are like me, and your faith journey has been one of twists and turns, questions and doubts, that is OK! Faith is a both/and kind of thing, and God loves us through it all. This is why we are called into community, to a church family, to explore our doubts and questions together, to grow in faith together. You are not alone because church means never having to walk the journey of faith alone. Read the entire Evotional.
Remembering the Stories
By John Edgerton
As we look to the beginning of our spiritual journey through Lent, it’s important to remember this story. Whether for the early church, or the people in bondage in Egypt, being the people of God does not mean that times will be easy. Following God is not a guarantee of smooth sailing. But when things get hard, and times are trying, we can always remember the old stories. Where God is calling us, if we follow, it leads to a better world even though the path is hard. Read the entire Evotional.
Why is There a Hole in My Shoe?
By Lydia Mulkey
Many Christian explanations of our relationship to creation say, “God created all of this for us.” On first read, that sounds lovely, but what if that is why we see ourselves as the recipients of this world rather than participants in it? What if this makes us consumers of the Earth rather than its stewards? What if believing God created this for us is why I have cheap shoes with an expensive hole in them? … Lent is about spiritual growth, and I hope that together we can grow in our relationship with God by growing in our relationship with the Earth. Read the entire Evotional.
Walking in the Dark
By John Edgerton
This Psalm reminds me that when I am (metaphorically) walking around in the dark, I should turn on the lights. That is, I should turn to God. I should open my bible and read, I should get on my knees and pray, I should quiet my talkative mind and just listen. Read the entire Evotional.
Coping with Anxiety
By Alicia Reese
Even if you haven’t been diagnosed with a mental health condition, everyone experiences anxiety sometimes. It’s a natural biological response, healthy even in some regards. But have you ever just felt like it was a little too much? Overwhelming? Exhausting? Finding yourself looking for a finish line that seems to move farther away as you try to approach it? Read the entire Evotional.
Bruised, Broken, Smoldering, Snuffed Out
By John Edgerton
Senator ripped apart for health care vote…Mark Zuckerberg gets destroyed by Senator Durbin…Pelosi blasted… Trump torn to shreds… We’re seeing this so much because it sells. People follow these links and follow where this kind of language leads, deeper into realms of division and violence against the vulnerable. We as Christians follow someone very different. We follow Christ who healed without cost, who resisted renown, who taught in riddles so that those who heard him could work out for themselves the right way to go. Read the entire Evotional.
Kindness – An Overlooked Virtue
By Art Spooner
We are raising a society where our children are less likely to feel concern for people less fortunate than themselves, where our children are less likely to be bothered by seeing unfairness, where our children feel less personal responsibility to take action themselves. The article states, “If our society is fractured today, some of the blame lies with the values parents have elevated.” Read the entire Evotional.
Can I Change My Citizenship?
By Lydia Mulkey
Being a citizen of heaven might sound good on a day when politics has you down, but living as a citizen of heaven here and now takes hard work, prayerful discernment, and perseverance. It means staying engaged enough with your worldly citizenship to inch things toward looking more like heaven. It means praying “thy kingdom come on earth” and living like we mean it. As hard as all of this is, we also rest in knowing that God is the one at work in us and that we never work alone. Read the entire Evotional.
Our Whole Lives (OWL)
By Alicia Reese
We acknowledge that historically, faith communities have done serious harm to individuals and sent negative messages regarding sexuality, gender identity, sexual orientation, and our bodies, and we want to help rewrite that narrative. We want to lift up that we are sacred beings, created in the image and likeness of God, our bodies and our sexuality are not something to be ashamed of, and we do more harm to remain silent about these topics than to educate our communities about them. Read the entire Evotional.
Productivity is to accomplish;
busy-ness is to idle
By Alicia Reese
If like me your Sabbath cannot be on a Sunday, pick another day, find other times to cobble together Sabbath, but keep it, make it holy, sacred time for you. Do a little less so you can accomplish more. Don’t be busy, be productive. You will thank yourself later. Read the entire Evotional.
Aside from that …
By John Edgerton
Christians are supposed to study the Bible deeply in order to gain a deeper relationship with the Word of God. The Word of God, of course, meaning Jesus. If the Bible becomes an object of worship, then we replace the living Christ with dead letters. And without the living Christ, it is possible to wind up with a faith that denigrates the poor, the unorthodox, the outsider, women, sexual minorities, and hungry children. You know, all the people Jesus loved to be around. Read the entire Evotional.
Today on the Church’s Court …
By John Edgerton
Although I read Jesus’ words in the Bible, where I learned to live them was in the church. When I was in conflict with another member, I would have to see them every week. I would pray the Lord’s Prayer with my voice in unison with theirs or else I would have to stand among God’s people silent and alone. I would eat from the same bread of life as they did or else I would have to go hungry for grace. … Right relationship is restored when two imperfect people speak honestly with one another and strive to be their best selves. It probably wouldn’t make for good daytime TV, but it absolutely does make for a good life. Read the entire Evotional.
Spiritual Warfare with Skittles
By Lydia Mulkey
The rules of hospitality in ancient Hebrew culture required that if a stranger appeared at your door, you fed them. Our culture does not have those kinds of rules for hospitality, except on Halloween. It is the ONE AND ONLY day a year when we as a culture mutually agree to practice hospitality. This day is perhaps the most holy holiday we have if by holy we mean demonstrating the character of God. So friends, there is a spiritual war happening and it’s time to choose sides. Read the entire Evotional.
World Communion Sunday
By Alicia Reese
As we prepare to celebrate communion with all our siblings around the world, in churches far and near, similar and different to us, of different time zones and cultures and denominations, we remember that we are all one in the body of Christ: disciples who have all had a call placed on our lives and in this we are the same. Let us hold one another in prayer, hold our hurting world in prayer, remembering that Jesus invites all to the table and calls us to love our neighbors. Read the entire Evotional.
We Remember
By Alicia Reese
Every year on September 11, I relive my memories of that day in 2001 as I’m sure many others do. I pray for the families and friends who lost someone they love and care about. I pray that God continues to comfort them, that they are able to find some peace. I ask God for guidance, courage, strength, and love for our nation and our world. It is a reminder that the most destructive and dividing forces between human beings are hate, intolerance, and fear. Read the entire Evotional.
Better Than a DeLorean
By John Edgerton
God is God and we are not. The end is already written. But far from making our choices meaningless, knowing the end of our story allows us to live knowing that our lives are truly precious. On the last day God will raise you up from the dust, and call you by name, and you will see that not only is your name written in the book of life, but that God has inscribed you on the very palms of Her hands. That is how your story will end. Read the entire Evotional.
Yes, and …
By Deborah Kapp
Jesus was a “yes, and” kind of guy, and he calls us to be the same. He calls us to open ourselves to the inbreaking of the Kingdom of Heaven, however it comes and whatever it looks like. He invites us to welcome that and to give ourselves to it. He says, “Yes, and” to the ministry we offer him. May we respond in kind. Read the entire Evotional.
Blessings for Ordinary Moments
By Lydia Mulkey
It takes intention to make our everyday lives feel holy. It takes practice to put our values at the center of each and every email, grocery store checkout encounter, and traffic jam. Soon we will practice this together. On Sunday we will bless backpacks. The next week, we will bless pets. Together, we will make our lives a little bit holier. Read the entire Evotional.
New Beginnings in the Fall
By Deborah Kapp
The biggest spurt of new life for which I’m readying myself is our new beginning as a congregation. John Edgerton and his family are on their way to Oak Park, and he’ll begin his work at First United on September 3. I’m very excited for him and for the congregation, and I can hardly wait to see the fruit that this church’s ministry will bear as he works in our midst. Read the entire Evotional.
Holding Prayers in Tension
By Alicia Reees
Change is a funny thing depending on your perspective. It can be exciting, like the fact that we will be welcoming a new lead pastor, or that we will be trying new things in the different youth ministry programs. But change can also be difficult to accept or, even worse, disheartening to feel we do not have the power to affect it, like the injustices of the world we live in. Read the entire Evotional.
The People of Central Africa
By Deborah Kapp
Church leaders in these countries ask that we pray for an end to systems and realities that oppress many in their midst, including poverty, hunger, economic exploitation, corruption, political instability and inadequate health care. They invite us to pray for those who work for healing, reconciliation, and human flourishing. Read the entire Evotional.
I Wanted There to be One More
By Lydia Mulkey
Transitioning from fun vacation days back to work, from sacred years in a beloved home to a new one, from a good season of life with a beloved pastor to a new pastor can all leave us saying, “I wanted there to be one more.” In those moments, may we offer ourselves some really good parenting, and remember to be grateful for the fun we’ve had. Read the entire Evotional.
It’s a Team Effort
By Deborah Kapp
I assume that the building will be clean and uncluttered when a program is scheduled. I take it for granted that the bulletin will be printed and available when worship begins. I depend upon a working computer and a well-functioning sound system. … The work I do would be impossible to accomplish without the hard work of others who lay the foundation for all that I do and all that we enjoy as a church. Read the entire Evotional.
Let My People Go!
By Alicia Reese
This week we are to celebrate 243 years of this nation, but how can we do that while there are camps that have been created and designed to strip people of their rights and freedoms, rob them of their dignity, and tear families apart? These, these are our neighbors, immigrants, whom we are called to love as our own. They are our family, they are our people. We must let them go! Read the entire Evotional.
Hidden Treasure
By Deborah Kapp
What if Jesus is not the treasure, but, rather, the one looking for it? What if you and I, and our divine redemption, are the treasure that he seeks? What if this is a reminder that the real beauty of our relationship with God is not that we have to work so hard to find divine treasure and purchase it, but rather that we are the ones sought out, found, and purchased by God in Christ? Read the entire Evotional.
Lulu’s Question
By Deborah Kapp
God would not have given us brains if she didn’t want us to use them. God wouldn’t have given us imaginations if he preferred us simply to adopt somebody else’s ideas. God wouldn’t have given us the capacity to change our minds if she wanted us to find one intellectual or spiritual position and then hold onto it for dear life, come what may. Read the entire Evotional.
Take Care of Your Heart
By Lydia Mulkey
In order to live as God’s people, we must prepare our hearts before we get out into the world. This is a place where we would do well to learn from our more conservative kindred in Christ who begin their days with individual prayer and Bible study. While I cannot recommend their particular prayers or their interpretations of scripture, I can recommend setting an intention for how you want to live in the world. Prayer and scripture done in love are great ways to begin. Read the entire Evotional.
Communication
By Dennis Cobb (on the right, with his husband, Dale Jackson)
In this technological age of instant communication, crafting a thoughtful and intentional message has never been more important. What message do you send with the words you choose, the way you live your life, the stories you tell? Is it God’s message of love and acceptance, of care and support? Read the entire Evotional.
Prepare a Table
By Lydia Mulkey
Oppression can be overt or covert. Overt forms can look like genocide, segregation, or other obvious violence. It’s easy to name an enemy when you can see their weapons. But there are folks who are not comfortable calling anything oppression until it is overt. That is an easy way to minimize or deny the actual harm done. Read the entire Evotional.
Be Still
By Lydia Mulkey
So wherever you are, no matter how much of a human doing you’ve been so far today, no matter how busy you are, no matter how important … just stop. Stop for a moment and rest, stop and play, stop and be. Read the entire Evotional.
Our Theological Heritage
By Deborah Kapp
Our theological heritage is not all bad, but nonetheless people have sometimes used our traditions to justify cruelty and violence. Anti-Semitism and other “isms” in our world are clever at latching onto Christian themes and symbols in ways that further the evil and hatred these “isms” represent. They are skilled in hiding under a veneer of righteousness that masks the vitriol that simmers underneath. Read the entire Evotional.
Feed My Sheep
By Alicia Reese
This past Sunday was youth Sunday. The scripture was John 21:1-19 in which Jesus has been resurrected, appears to the disciples on the beach, helps them catch a bunch of fish, feeds them breakfast, and confronts Peter about denying him three times before Jesus was crucified. I can hardly call the interaction between Jesus and Peter a confrontation. There is no hint of anger, resentment, or even disappointment on Jesus’s part. Read the entire Evotional.
An Apology
By Deborah Kapp
On Palm Sunday I led the prayers of the people, and as I was reading the joys, I came across one that was illegible – in the moment. It was a child’s writing, and I inferred from the writing that the child is someone quite young and is still mastering the art of printing. Read the entire Evotional.
Holy Hell Week
By Alicia Reese
We have spent the last six weeks on a Lenten journey, preparing or, dare I say, conditioning ourselves for Easter. However, when this week arrives, we tend to want to rush too quickly to the empty tomb on Sunday morning. We are so ready to roll that stone away and sing “Alleluia” again that we forget to dwell on or grieve the death of Jesus. … Don’t lose focus. Stay vigilant. And I’ll see you at the empty tomb. Read the entire Evotional.
Three-Minute Retreats
By Deborah Kapp
I am a person who loves the intensity of work and daily life. I relish being busy. I like to be challenged. I enjoy working on a problem or a task. Sometimes I fill my days or weeks with a bit too much, and I find myself rushing from one thing to another, with little time to spare. … I likely need more than three minutes, but it’s a place to start. Read the entire Evotional.
A Generous Spirit
By Steve Pederson
One of the most startling images in the story, even more surprising than her use of expensive perfume, is that Mary dries Jesus’ feet with her hair. This is a shocking gesture, especially in a culture where women do not fully expose their hair in front of any man except their husbands. And it is also a very vulnerable act, an intimate act. Read the entire Evotional.
Ego and Vulnerability
By Alicia Reese
On the first Sunday of Lent, I gave a short sermon that ended up being more about vulnerability than temptation and I came across this saying, “It’s either love and vulnerability OR expectations and ego. When someone chooses vulnerability and lets go of ego, it can literally change the world.” As it happens, this Lenten journey for me has been through a wilderness of vulnerability; I have had to leave my ego behind and it has been changing my world. Read the entire Evotional.
Expectations
By Laurie Jolicoeur (pictured with her friend, Barbara Ballinger)
When there was a gap between my expectations and what actually happened, I suffered. I learned how my expectations could even become a barrier in a relationship. Suffering, I sought a way of being in my mind that would serve me better. Read the entire Evotional.
The Lord’s Prayer
By Deborah Kapp
[When I think about] the words [to The Lord’s Prayer]: wow. The Kingdom. God’s will. Daily bread. Forgiveness. Temptation. Deliverance from evil. There’s a lot there. Every time we utter this prayer, we ask God for some amazing things. Sometimes I am amazed at the radical demands I make as I pray these words. Read the entire Evotional.
Take Nothing With You
By Charlie Morris
I ask myself – why is it so important to forgive? The answer is simple. We forgive not to free the person who sinned against us, but to free ourselves. Forgiveness that’s withheld often turns into anger which does diminish our own spirituality. … Our Lenten theme – Take Nothing with You – is one way we can all engage ourselves more fully in the faith journey. Read the entire Evotional.
A Prayer for Chicago
By Deborah Kapp
Chicago is a rich and complicated city. Look one direction and we see signs of global capitalism and a thriving financial community. Look another direction and we see communities marred with de-industrialization, population flight, disrepair, and violence. Look yet another direction and we see vibrant immigrant communities filled with hope and possibility. Read the entire Evotional.
Living Peacefully
By Deborah Kapp
Peaceful people strive to live honorably, says the psalmist. As the Common English Bible puts it, they “farm faithfulness.” Like a garden that thrives when it is tenderly watered, weeded, fertilized, pruned, and rearranged, so our integrity thrives as we dependably nurture whatever life God has given into our care. Honorable living is a habit that leads to peace. Read the entire Evotional.
Diversity in Spirituality
By Lydia Mulkey
In the diversity of all of Christianity, and in the diversity of this beautiful place we call First United, we are bound to express our spirituality in different ways, and that is great. It truly does take all kinds to make up the kin-dom of God. But, I wonder… have you tried your neighbor’s favorite way to know God lately? If you are a person of action, what would happen in you tried to meet God in poetry on occasion? If you are a person who knows God through word, what if you allowed yourself to have an emotional experience of God…? Read the entire Evotional.
The Beloved Community
By Alicia Reese
First United is a church with lots of values, wonderful values and commitments. We are striving to achieve The Beloved Community and that can feel daunting, overwhelming, and messy at times. But just remember, we share the same values and we need people to be committed to different things. This is where our different gifts come into play and where we can each be a part of making a difference to making The Beloved Community a reality. Read the entire Evotional.
By God’s Grace
By Deborah Kapp, from a sermon by Rowan Williams when he was installed as the Archbishop of Canterbury in early 2003:
“We need to be confident that we are created: that we exist because God has freely called us into life so that God’s joy may be shared. In this confidence, we know that our human task is to answer that call in every moment, shaping our lives as a response to God’s voice.” Read the entire Evotional.
Mental Illness: You are Not Alone
By Alicia Reese
We talked about the different categories of mental health disorders, looked at some of the startling statistics, discussed the language we use to talk about these disorders, learned some of the brain chemistry involved, and used children’s books as a jumping off point to have discussions about the stigmatization around mental health disorders. But more than anything, what I hope the youth took away from our time on the retreat was that each one of them is wonderful, unique, and loved no matter what … Read the entire Evotional.
Mental Illness: A Personal Perspective
By Kelly Pollock
What I learned instead was that my mental illness is a key part of my personality. That while it makes me anxious and self-critical, it also makes me conscientious and organized. That while it causes me to be hyper-focused on my failures, it is also one of the keys to my success. That realization has led me to advocate for the destigmatization of mental illness. Read the entire Evotional.
A Hymn of Thanks Giving
By Sallie Smylie
One of my favorite hymns is Now Thank We All Our God . I love the simple melody and the beautiful harmony. And I love the words. We thank our “bounteous” God who “wondrous things” has done. And we pray with “ever joyful hearts” that God will be near us our whole life long. Read the entire Evotional.
A New Melody
By Deborah Kapp
From a reflection by theologian Howard Thurman:
“Teach me, my Father, that I might learn with the abandonment and enthusiasm of Jesus, the fresh new accent, the untried melody, to meet the need of the untried tomorrow. Thus, may I rejoice with each new day and delight my spirit in each fresh unfolding. I will sing, this day, a new song unto Thee, O God.” Read the entire Evotional.
Go, Tell it on the Mountain!
By Deborah Kapp
Empathy, compassion, trustworthiness, integrity, love, and the actions that embody them carry our faith into the world. As disciples who share Christ’s love in a multitude of ways, we often preach the gospel without words. I believe it gladdens God’s heart when we do. Read the entire Evotional.
Joy to the World
By Lydia Mulkey
Adding our voices to the congregation is not something we do only for our own good. It is a gift we offer to God and to the community. Whether we are singing out of tune or with trained voices, we are doing our part to create something greater. Read the entire Evotional.
Silent Night, Holy Night
By Deborah Kapp
The lyrics of this carol are simple. With brief but vivid images the words draw our attention to the child, the light of the star and the song of the angels, and the mystery of God’s presence made flesh in the baby Jesus. Apart from the opening words evoking a silent night, however, there is little in the lyrics that indicates silence. The quietness of this carol comes instead, I think, from its gentle melody and peaceful tempo. Read the entire Evotional.
Hope and “O Little Town of Bethlehem”
By Alicia Reese
When I was in the Holy Land, the hope that I felt was not at the religious sites I visited, but rather it was in the people I interacted with. It was in witnessing and experiencing how the religious and historical significance of that place informed the lives of the people who live there; how even in the face of violence and hatred and oppression they remained strong in their resolve, they remained hopeful. Read the entire Evotional.
Living Our Faith
By Deborah Kapp
People recently have asked for information about how they can be involved in sharing their faith and resources with folks who need our help. Here are two ministries with online links to how our denominations offer opportunities to give aid to others. Read the entire Evotional.
First United’s Constitution: A Congregational Covenant
By Don and Priscilla Sibley
We choose every year to declare our commitment to the work of this church by making a pledge. Every year, we make a prayerful decision to contribute what we can; most years we are able to increase our pledge. Usually it is a stretch, but it is one that we make willingly because we believe that is how God is leading us. Read the entire Evotional.
Why Do I Support First United?
By Bob Larson
I have more questions than answers about faith as it pertains to my life. However, I admire the causes the First United community is involved in and supports. Over the years, I have gotten involved in a few of the ministries. I still have a lot of questions, but I do know for a fact that this church does a lot of good in the community and I want to be part of that and help contribute to those causes. That is why I am a member of First United and support its ministries; they deserve it. Read the entire Evotional.
Vote!
By Deborah Kapp
One of the things I love most about the theological tradition of which our congregation is a part is its recognition that all of life is an arena in which we can and do practice our faith. We are Christians not just when we’re at church, but also at home, at work, in our leisure time, and in other activities of life. Being engaged in local, regional, and national politics is one of those arenas. Read the entire Evotional.
Praying for Peace
By Deborah Kapp, from a prayer by Elizabeth Tapia
so we may learn to choose the path of righteousness and harmlessness,
and climb the mountain of truth and the ridge of forgiveness.
into instruments of peace and reconciliation,
to bless all creatures with a smile and loving kindness,
to dance the dance of life boldly through the night,
from the depths of my heart, Gracious Spirit,
I dance for you!
So be it.
Read the entire Evotional.
A Commitment to First United’s Mission and Ministry
By Nell and John Lurain
“We have always felt comfortable worshipping, contributing to the Church’s mission, and serving the Oak Park community at First United. Through four senior pastor changes, four interim pastors, innumerable associate pastors, as well as other changes, we have remained committed to First United’s ministry and mission.” Read the entire Evotional.
A Place Where All Are Included
By Steve Pederson
“I have no time for any form of exclusion in the church. I believe anyone is welcome to the Communion table and any person who claims faith in Christ should be welcomed into the full life and ministry of the church. And that is us. That is First United.” Read the entire Evotional.
Slowing Down
By Deborah Kapp
“Slowing down, pondering the meaning of what people are saying or doing, and taking pauses are processes that make space in my life for something other than my own agenda.” Read the entire Evotional.
Overwhelmed? You Are Beloved
By Alicia Reese
“If, like me, you have been feeling overwhelmed, please know that you are not alone. Whether it is the change of the seasons, the transitions in your life, or the state of our world, you are beloved. You never have to walk this journey alone.” Read the entire Evotional.
An Anniversary Hymn
By Deborah Kapp
“This congregation knows, better than most other churches, that the heart of a church is not its building. The heart of a church is the work it does, the faithfulness it exhibits, and the gospel it proclaims. Nonetheless, space matters and we have the privilege of doing much of our ministry in a splendid building that has a rich history of worship, song, and service.” Read the entire Evotional.
Reading Together
By Lydia Mulkey
“When I pray the words of the Psalmist, “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord,” I am praying with the Psalmist and I am praying with every person who has ever prayed those words.” Read the entire Evotional.
Song of Hope (Canto de Esperanza)
By Claudette Zobel
“Every time we sing one of those hymns … I fantasize that the Hulk got hold of the tape and somewhere there’s a chapter of Hell’s Angels that gathers in their clubhouse after a day’s ride to enjoy a few cold beers and sing along to ‘May the God of justice speed us on our way, bringing light and hope to every land and race.’ For me, that hymn is memorable and a reminder that my stereotypes need careful examination.” Read the entire Evotional.
Amazing Grace
By Kevin Crowell
“The power of belief, the Grace of God, the surety of God’s goodness, and the promise of eternity all wrapped up neatly in a single song, with three chords, and five notes! That’s one amazing hymn.” Read the entire Evotional.
Be Thou My Vision
By Kathleen Pederson
“For over 1,800 years, brothers and sisters have cherished and sung [‘Be Thou My Vision’] that so beautifully describes humankind’s universal desire and need to be grounded, to be centered on God’s vision of how she wants us to think, and love, and challenge, and debate, and give, and work, and share, and defend, and live.” Read the entire Evotional.
We Gather Together
By Al Pickard
“A hymn which has become memorable for me is ‘We Gather Together,’ undoubtedly known to many people as a Thanksgiving hymn, maybe the Thanksgiving hymn. What’s probably less known, although the language of the hymn implies it, is that, like others, it’s music born of armed conflict.” Read the entire Evotional.
Under Construction: Delays and Surprises
By Sarah Lineberry
“This is actually the second time I’ve given a reflection at church about how much I hate waiting. Unfortunately, life doesn’t really seem to care about how much I enjoy having a plan. While I certainly don’t enjoy uncertainty, I like to think I’ve grown some in my ability to trust the journey.” Read the entire Evotional.
Under Construction: Tools
By Walter Miller
“Taking stock of our First United tool box, I notice that we use our tools to bind ourselves together in fellowship with each other; to create small and large moments that connect us with each other and connect us with the almighty.” Read the entire Evotional.
Beyond Knowledge
By Lydia Mulkey
“The dictionary defines awe as ‘a feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder.’ To grasp that which is beyond knowledge as our scripture describes, is to experience awe.” Read the entire Evotional.
A Blueprint – a plan, model, or template
By Joanne Despotes
“I really believe that when I allow myself to be open to God, God finds a way to tell me what to do. No burning bush, voices, or special dreams! When I have been most in need of direction, I believe that God has helped me to find my way through the people in my life.” Read the entire Evotional.
The Old Rugged Cross
By Kenneth Honderich
“If our Presbyterian hymnal contained one more page, it would include this hymn, as it was the last to be excluded by the editors of the 1990 revision. It was my mother’s favorite and I played it for her nearly every time I went home. I played it at her funeral.” Read the entire Evotional.
Be Still
By Deborah Kapp
“With this evotional, I invite you to silence and reflection. … And may the peace of God surround you.” Read the entire Evotional.
Upstream & Downstream Solutions – Update from the Youth Mission Trip
By Alicia Reese
“We need to continue our downstream efforts: tutoring, food pantries, PADS, building and rebuilding things, and more. … But what is important is that we remember to continually ask why are these efforts necessary? ” Read the entire Evotional.
Estamos Partidos En Dos | “We are Broken in Two”
by Lydia Mulkey
“I will never forget the day I spent with border patrol agents. I listened with my stomach churning as a border patrol officer told me about a child crossing the border and how they had “seized it.” It. Dehumanization of Latinx people is and has been a core piece of the training for these officers.” Read the entire Evotional.
On Being a Church School Teacher
by John Borrero
“These beautiful early conversations are seeds. Before your adult faith was a tree, it was a sapling that grew from a gentle stem and emerged from the ground out of one of those seeds. Today, this is where those seeds are watered and nurtured. As such, our classroom is a garden, a play space, and a holy place, all in one.” Read the entire Evotional.
On Prayer and Being Anxious
by Alicia Reese
“…I love how we do joys and concerns within our prayers of the people every Sunday. Even if there is a day I am struggling to name what I have to be thankful for, someone in the congregation always reminds me of something.” Read the entire Evotional.
A Memorial Day Prayer
by Deborah Kapp
“Let us … remember loved ones and strangers who have served in the armed forces …, or who are active military personnel. May God bless them with peace.” Read the entire Evotional.
Blessed are the Peacemakers
by Deborah Kapp
“Blessed are the peacemakers,” said Jesus, and “blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness.” Read the entire Evotional.
More Than Meets the Eye
By Lydia Mulkey
“Pentecost reminds us that there is more to God than meets the eye, and that God is often hiding in plain sight among us.” Read the entire Evotional.
On a Lifetime Quest
By Alicia Reese
“We do not give an exam to measure how much knowledge each student attained by being in Quest, so what was the point? Is our goal simply to expand our membership numbers? … Our goal in Quest is not to ensure that each student has the ‘right answers.’ We leaders don’t even have all the answers!” Read the entire Evotional.
Faith and Social Media
By Deborah Kapp
“We are challenged to examine our social media practices in light of our faith values. Are we befriending others on social media in the way Christ befriended us? How might our social media engagements be an opportunity to share with others the love that God showers on us?” Read the entire Evotional.
“It’s the End of the World as We Know It, and I Feel Fine” (R.E.M.)
By Lydia Mulkey
“Lately, it seems the newspaper has read a little bit like a dystopian novel and the 6 o’clock news has looked like an apocalyptic movie. Through it all, I am trying to cling to this: the book of Revelation, and all the apocalyptic literature in our Bible, is intended to offer us hope! Evil does not get the final word… love does. Wherever there is apocalypse, there is hope.” Read the entire Evotional.
Prayers for Those Who Need to be Remembered
By Deborah Kapp
“Those who need to forget the God they do not believe in and meet the God who believes in them … Those whose pain or potential we should not forget to share with God today … Lord, we believe that you hear our prayer and will be faithful to your promise to answer us.” Read the entire Evotional.
Reflections on Martin Luther King Jr.
By Alicia Reese
“Not all of us have the depth of faith that Dr. King did, and that is OK. But if he and the resurrection have taught us anything, it is the importance of hope. Having doubts is natural and disappointment is a reality, but we can never lose hope that the tomb will remain empty and that love has the power to end hate.” Read the entire Evotional.
