Tuesday, May 5, 2020 A lot of us have taken to “comfort eating” during this corona-crisis.  Although I may be getting out to walk more regularly, I’m also still in my house more.  The refrigerator and pantry invite me over for frequent visits, and my clothes are suggesting that I’ve been too accommodating of their…

Scripture: Psalm 10 (click link to read) Friends, where do you see God at work in our world?  When was the last time you were surprised by an appearance God made to you?  In times of crisis, when it feels like enemies (seen an unseen; human and non-human) are closer at hand than the God…

Scripture:  Matthew 10:13-16 (click link for passage) Greetings, friends!  Sorry about the week-long hiatus—my computer had some serious issues, which meant that a few things had to get cancelled for a bit.  It’s an experience that our young people are experiencing first-hand; some are having an easier time with it than others.  For all of them,…

Easter Monday, 13 April 2020 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) Thank you to Lillian Garruba for sending me this wonderful quote from Patrick Overton about faith, to share as part of our Devotional Reflections:             Faith:  When you walk to the edge of…

  Psalm 22:1-2 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?     Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?   O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer;     and by night, but find no rest. Mark 15:33-39 When it was noon, darkness came over…

Maundy Thursday, 9 April 2020 Today’s devotional reflection is provided by the Angel Choir of First Presbyterian Church of Granville, OH.  This is the choir that was going to come and sing the first weekend in June until COVID-19 disrupted everyone’s plans.  As you’ll see in the reflection below, the choir has desperately missed gathering…

Holy Week Wednesday, 8 April 2020 Friends, which of us has not had moments of fear, of panic, of anxiety that made us feel the void of One we can fully trust, whose Presence is a grounding and centering force in life?  During times like the period we’re going through just now, as we’re being…

Romans 8:31-38 What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? 33 Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God…

Monday of Holy Week; 6 April, 2020 Scripture: Isaiah 42:1-9 Here is my servant, whom I uphold,     my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him;     he will bring forth justice to the nations. 2 He will not cry or lift up his voice,     or make it heard in the street;…

Friday, 3 April 2020 Scripture:  “For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1) Dear Friends, I subscribe to several daily reflection resources, each of which has appeal for different reasons.  One of my consistent favorites is Frederick Buechner’s “Quote of the…

Thursday, 2 April, 2020   Scripture:  Psalm 34:1-8 1 I will bless the Lord at all times;     his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;     let the humble hear and be glad. 3 O magnify the Lord with me,     and let us exalt his name together. 4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me,     and…

Wednesday, 1 April 2020 Many thanks for today’s devotional material go to Dee Wagner.  I warmly invite others to share as well!  Please email Rev. Tanya: pastor@hollischurch.org with poems, devotional material, etc., that you’d like to share with our community!   Pandemic  (by Kitty O’Meara) And the people stayed home. And read books, and listened,…

Scripture:  Philippians 4:4-7  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4&version=NRSV Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.  Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.  Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all…

Monday, 30 March 2020 Genesis 2:18-19 18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.” 19 So out of the ground the Lord God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he…

Thursday, 26 March 2020 Devotional Reflection Scripture: (click) Exodus 4:1-17 Last August, Irene and Roger Norian moved to Nashua from Middlebury, VT.  They happened upon our church on a Sunday morning while they were exploring the area.  The façade of the meetinghouse reminded them of their church back in Vermont.  I, for one, am thrilled that…

Wednesday, 25 March 2020 Scripture: (click) Three Lectionary passages   (scroll down to Wednesday, March 25, 2020, and open each/any of the three readings it links you to)   Dear Friends, On Sunday, I suggested that in this time of social distancing when many of us are discovering more time available to us, it’s a prime opportunity…

Tuesday, 24 March 2020 Devotional Reflection Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34 I don’t know about you, but I can be prone to worry.  Especially in times like this one, where just about every social routine has been disrupted, and much of the input I get from outside sources reminds me of how the sky is falling.  One…

Scripture Reading (click): Exodus 16:1-12  Good Monday, friends! It was so good to be together in worship yesterday.  I was once again moved by how faithfully God provides sufficiently for us to be able to meet the needs of each day.  It’s the lesson the Israelites learned in the wilderness when they had grumbled that…

Scripture (click): 1 Corinthians 13:9-13 Today’s Devotional Reflection is provided by Rick Guay, one of our Deacons.  In his capacity as our Home Ministries coordinator (which includes arranges the compiling and delivery of Thanksgiving/ Christmas/ Easter food boxes, among other things), Rick emailed the Deacons with some follow-up information as they continue to make plans…

Friday, 20 March, 2020 Scripture (click): Job 29:1-6 (From Rev. Tanya): My sister has worked in the corporate offices of a major department store for nearly three decades. It was just announced that they will be shuttering all of their doors nationwide until at least 1 April. This past week, 26 of the 28 people…

Scripture: Click Psalm 46 God is our refuge and strength,     a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,     though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; 3 though its waters roar and foam,     though the mountains tremble with its tumult.Selah 4 There is a river whose streams make…

Scripture:  Click Romans 12:1-13 Most of you know that two members of my immediate family spend much of the year living overseas.  My husband, Joel, is a professor in the U.K.  He comes home for roughly 5-6 weeks between Oxford University’s three academic terms, and is home from mid-July until the beginning of October.  Our…

Dear Friends, I know today is St. Patrick’s Day—but rather than pretend I know much about him, I’ll just wish an especially happy day to the Irish.  And, appreciate the fact that the patron saint of Ireland demonstrated the sort of courage that is bestowed on the faithful.  Which isn’t to say that believers don’t…

Dear Friends, My hope is to provide a small daily devotional reflection to encourage and connect us.  I would love it if others who’d like to share their own thoughts and reflections would send them to me  (pastor@hollischurch.org); we can make this a joint project, which could become even more meaningful! Click Psalm 23 These…

Third Sunday in Lent March 15, 2020 Communal Worship in Spirit (if not in place) As you spend time in worship today, use your imagination to feel the spirits that are joining with you in this moment. Fellow members of our congregation are praying these same prayers, and are we are together in spirit even…

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