by Janice MacLean | Feb 26, 2021 | Lectionary & Scripture, Reflections
DENY, TAKE UP, FOLLOW by Hugh Farquhar The Lectionary Gospel Reading for next Sunday is Mark 8:31-38. At some point in time, I jotted down in my notebook these words of sarcasm by the essayist, Wilbur Rees, “I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please, not enough to...
![[1 Thessalonians] To Narrow the Gap](https://i1.wp.com/prayerbench.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/two-trees-in-one-1476473.jpg?resize=1080%2C675&ssl=1)
by Janice MacLean | Feb 24, 2021 | Lectionary & Scripture, Reflections
“Pray without ceasing,” – 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Sitting between “rejoicing always” and “give thanks in all circumstances in this early church Letter,” Paul urges “pray without ceasing.” This is a teaching that has...
by Janice MacLean | Feb 19, 2021 | Lectionary & Scripture, Reflections
I CHOOSE JOY FOR LENT by Hugh Farquhar The Lectionary Gospel Reading (Revised Common Lectionary) for next Sunday, the first in Lent, is Mark 1:9-15 which includes the baptism, temptation, and mission of Jesus. My eyes fixed on verse 15: “Now after John was arrested,...
![[Colossians] When All Things Hold Together](https://i1.wp.com/prayerbench.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/colossians-.jpg?resize=940%2C675&ssl=1)
by Janice MacLean | Feb 17, 2021 | Lectionary & Scripture, Reflections
“Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through...
by Janice MacLean | Feb 10, 2021 | Lectionary & Scripture, Reflections
THE VISION AND THE VALLEY By Hugh Farquhar The Lectionary Gospel Reading for next Sunday is Mark 9:2-9. I make a point of teaching my students at Atlantic School of Theology always to consider the context of a passage of Scripture. It’s important to note what...
![[Philippians] Think About These Things](https://i2.wp.com/prayerbench.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/1.jpg?resize=940%2C675&ssl=1)
by Janice MacLean | Feb 6, 2021 | Lectionary & Scripture, Reflections
“Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” –...
by Janice MacLean | Feb 6, 2021 | Lectionary & Scripture, Reflections
WALK, RUN, SOAR By Hugh Farquhar The Old Testament Reading from the Revised Common Lectionary next Sunday is Isaiah 40:21-31. When my wife Dorothy died in 1994, I needed to choose the Scriptures I wanted to have read at her funeral. As a student of the Scriptures...
![[Ephesians] Soaking Words](https://i0.wp.com/prayerbench.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Soaking-Words.jpg?resize=940%2C675&ssl=1)
by Janice MacLean | Jan 30, 2021 | Lectionary & Scripture, Reflections
“I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that...
by Janice MacLean | Jan 29, 2021 | Lectionary & Scripture, Reflections
YOU CAN’T LEARN IF YOU DON’T PRACTICE By Hugh Farquhar The Psalm Selection in the Revised Common Lectionary for next Sunday is Psalm 111. Verse 10 stands out for me: “Reverence for You, O Holy One, is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all who practice...
![[Galatians] Energies of the Spirit](https://i2.wp.com/prayerbench.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/energy-3-1200107-1920x1440-1.jpg?resize=1080%2C675&ssl=1)
by Janice MacLean | Jan 23, 2021 | Lectionary & Scripture, Reflections
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22 For too long when I imagined the gifts of the spirit, I saw bowls of fruit. An apple labelled Love. A banana stamped with...
![[Philemon] A Common Heart](https://prayerbench.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/heart-1183072-1920x1440-1-45x45.jpg)
![[Titus] Living in the Mercy](https://prayerbench.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/mercy-45x45.jpg)