PEARL STREET UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

“For our sake God made the one who knew no sin to be sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”  —- 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NRSVUE) I am sure this is something you have noticed on your own. We don’t have to look far back in our lives to appreciate that we are not the same people we once were. Even in the span of a few years — sometimes even a few months — our attitudes shift. Ideas we once held tightly loosen their grip. Other convictions deepen and take root.

“All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbor’s work, will become a cause for pride.” Galatians 6:4 (NRSVUE) The Masters wrapped up on Sunday with Rory McIlroy taking the win, finishing at 16‑under par. Watching golfers at that level can be both inspiring and discouraging for the casual hacker. When I played more regularly (though never very often or very well), I often struggled to enjoy the game because I kept comparing myself to players who coul

“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” — 1 Corinthians 3:16 (NRSVUE) Have you ever driven by a house just days after a fire? The roof is draped in blue tarps, the windows boarded with plywood, the yard still littered with the remnants of what once was. Only a short time before, that same house had vitality. It was a home. Children’s toys scattered across the lawn, families coming and going, a television flickering in the windows at du

“I keep the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure.” — Psalm 16:8–9 (NRSVUE) Before the verses of Psalm 16, the ancient Hebrew text begins with a mysterious word — Miktam. We don’t know exactly what it means, but tradition suggests it is a precious, protective prayer, etched upon the heart, to be remembered in moments of vulnerability. And with that in mind, liste

“Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and does not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.” John 5:24 (NRSVUE) I’ve talked about my Grandpa Sam in some of these devotions before. He was a man of few words, but when he spoke, you listened. Not because he was perfect, but because his words carried a kind of lived-in wisdom. Maybe you’ve had someone like that in your own life — someone whose voice helped gr

“After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body.” (John 19:38, NRSVUE) As we left our churches in silence after Good Friday services, today we stand in the solemn stillness of Holy Saturday. What happened in those hours between? That time after the crucifixion and Sunday morning. Scripture

“Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” (John 13:1, NRSVUE) For those who attend a Maundy Thursday service this evening, you’ll likely hear John 13:1–17, 31b–35. The text is familiar: Jesus knows his hour has come, and the reading ends with his commandment, “that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” But notice how John frames the whole night. Right at the start, we hear: “Having loved his own who we

“Just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28, NRSVUE) If you watch police dramas, this is a familiar setting: someone is taken hostage, and suddenly the crime scene is filled with flashing lights, tense negotiators, and a family waiting for the phone to ring. When it does, they try to keep the hostage‑taker talking for at least two minutes — long enough, in TV logic, for the call to be traced. Sometimes the

“May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 15:5–6, NRSVUE) ​We don’t have to look far to see how divided our world has become. It’s in our daily media outlets, our neighborhoods, our families, and God help us, yes, sometimes even within our churches. Harmony isn’t something that comes natural

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, NRSVUE) Over the years, I have heard the expression “God’s will” used in all kinds of moments—after the loss of someone dear, before a difficult surgery, in the middle of a crisis we never saw coming. There are two very different ways this phrase can be understood. One interpretation suggests that whatever misfortune we face

“Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and 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.’” (John 7:38–39, NRSVUE) Have you ever waited for something? Perhaps someone made you a promise that wouldn’t be fulfilled for a while. It’s like the little boy standing on the porch of the farm with his grandfather, looking out over the vast acres of wheat, when he says, “Boy, one day this will all be your

“One thing I asked of the LORD; this I seek: to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4 NRSVUE) Many years ago, on a business trip to Paris, I had the opportunity to visit Notre Dame. My first impression was the cathedral’s sheer enormity, followed quickly by its beauty—the vaulted ceilings, stained glass, sculptures, and art. Standing there, I found myself thinking about the nearly tw

“For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret, but worldly grief produces death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10, NRSVUE) In the Peanuts  comic strip, Charlie Brown would sometimes exclaim, “Good grief!” It was his way of naming that mix of exasperation and resignation — and yet he always kept trying. Even after Lucy snatched the football away for the hundredth time, just as he was ready to kick it, he’d dust himself off and give it another go. Paul

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” (Psalms 56:3, NIV) Over the past several years, national data from the CDC have shown a steady rise in anxiety symptoms among U.S. adults. Between 2019 and 2022, the percentage of adults reporting anxiety symptoms grew to almost 2 out of every 10 people. This increase has touched nearly every demographic group; no community has been untouched. And these numbers don’t exist in isolation. We’re living in a time marked by political tens

“There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God.” — Hebrews 4:9 (NIV) We live in a world that celebrates hustle. Rest becomes something we “get to” only after we’ve pushed ourselves to the edge. Even our vacations can feel like extensions of our to‑do lists. But Hebrews 4 speaks of a different kind of rest—a Sabbath-rest that still remains—a rest rooted not in escape, but in trust. You can close the laptop, silence the phone, and step away from the desk, yet still

“Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7, NRSVUE) Have you ever been outside on a bright, sunny day — the kind with a soft breeze and clear skies — when suddenly everything grows dim? You look up and realize that clouds have slipped in front of the sun. For a moment, you feel that little disappointment, but you know the sun hasn’t gone anywhere. It’s still shining, and soon enough it will break through again. Moments like that remind us how quick

“Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.’” (Ezekiel 37:9, NRSVUE) The last time I preached on this passage, I brought in the spinal column model from my chiropractor. Even though it was a complete skeleton, I asked people to imagine the vertebrae and disks scattered across a valley. That’s the world Ezekiel walks into — no

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11, NRSVUE) Many years ago, I took a Spanish class. I didn’t keep up with it, but a few everyday phrases have stayed with me. One of the first things we learned was how to answer the question ¿Cómo te llamas?  The response was Mi nombre es… —“My name is….” It was a simple way of saying “I am” and offering something true about ourselves. In today’s verse, Jesus does something similar yet inf

“Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord.” — (James 5:13–14, NRSVUE) Each week in our service, we share a time called Praises & Prayers. It’s simple, but it’s become one of the most honest moments of our worship. People name where they’ve seen God at work in the past week.

“And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” — Esther 4:14 (NIV) As a child in Sunday School, we memorized Bible verses and recited them before the entire congregation. If memory serves, after so many, you received a prize, though I couldn’t tell you now what it was. Esther wasn’t one of those passages. But the older I get, the more I appreciate this book — and the more I return to it, the more I recognize God’s real presence woven th