This year our Lenten journey is framed around the theme: Nurtured to Serve.  This theme is pulled from our Palms mission statement: 

"The Palms Oasis is a Community Nurtured by the Grace of Jesus Christ to Serve God's Mission in the World." 

Our devotionals will be a journey through the book of Acts, another community that was nurtured to serve.  We hope that as we reflect on what it means to be a community of nurture and service, we will also imagine what that means for each of us individually.  How are you nurtured and nurturing, served and serving - both within Palms and beyond?  Understanding both sides of those coins is essential.  As I hear it Acts is always about these twin movements: community, but also moving... moving beyond, moving out, being Apostles - which literally means: sent ones. 

"Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven?" 

(Acts 1:11)

These words come from Jesus Ascension into Heaven.  His gathered disciples stand staring at the point where...

Never quite fully prepared, he waits nonetheless with bated breath, kindling anticipation and fear mixed with hope.

(Reflection by Rev. Dr. Tom Walker)

"My life is messy,"she said.

"My life is messier than yours," I said back.

"Well Miss Messier Than Thou, we better change some things because that baby needs to be born and it would be nice if we weren't out wandering in the messiness when he gets here."

(Reflection by Rev. Laurie Furr-Vancini)

I remember a childhood vacation drive from Chicago to Florida and the evil trick was that even when we crossed into Florida we still had 6 hours to go!

 

The border is that time when even the parents have begun to cry, "Are we there yet??"


(Reflection by Rev. Andrew Kukla)

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to  a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the  house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The  Lord is with you." But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what  sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you  have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,  and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most  High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his  ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his  kingdom there will be no end." Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" The angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you,  and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore  the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son  of God. And now, your...

An angel speaks to Zechariah.  The promise seems too impossible.  Unable to trust, he becomes mute.

An angel speaks to Mary.  The promise seems impossible.  Trusting, she sings about God's new world.

How do we respond to the seemingly impossible promises of God?

(Reflection from yesterday's sermon by Rev. Dr. Tom Walker)

"Here am I,"

young, female, poor, scared, curious, reluctant, excited

"the servant of the Lord;"

ready to serve with heart, mind, and body; but not ready at all 

"let it be with me according to your word."

could you please explain the whole process again?

(Reflection by Rev. Katie Day)

 

I sat the children down to make sure they were prepared for Advent...they smiled at each other.  Scott said, "Mom, we are prepared!  We've been watching you!"   "Oh! Great!" I said. Thank goodness that didn't take long, I am running late for the neighborhood Christmas party!

(Reflection by Rev. Carol DiGiusto)

always be kinder than you feel, she said.
that just about sums it up, he replied. 

(Reflection from Rev. Katie Day)

I danced and sang with abandon: "Something in the way God loves me won't let me be....God just keeps on pushing my love over the borderline."

"I've never thought of Madonna as a prophet..." he said. 

"That's what you get for not thinking."

(Reflection by Rev. Laurie Furr-Vancini)