Writing

Devotional Reflection, Thursday, November 13, 2025 Proper 27, the week of the twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading 16:1The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test Jesus they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.  2He answered them, ‘When it is evening, you say, “It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.” 3And in the morning, “It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threat

Devotional Reflection, Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Proper 27, the week of the twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 32Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ‘I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.’ . . . . 34Jesus asked them, ‘How many loaves

Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, November 11, 2025 Proper 27, the week of the twenty second Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 24He answered, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ 25But she came and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.’ 26He answered, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.’ 27She said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that

Devotional Reflection, Monday, November 10, 2025 Proper 27, the week of the twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 18:1After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority; and the earth was made bright with his splendor. 2He called out with a mighty voice, ‘Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!    It has become a dwelling-place of demons, a haunt of every foul spirit,   

Devotional Reflection, Friday, November 7, 2025 Proper 26, the week of the twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 2And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. 3And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb

Devotional Reflection, Thursday, November 6, 2025 Proper 26, the week of the twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 6 Then I saw another angel flying in midheaven, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation and tribe and language and people. 7He said in a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come; and worship him who made

Devotional Reflection, Wednesday, November 5, 2025 Proper 26, the twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: Where then did this man get all this?’ 57And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, ‘Prophets are not without honor except in their own country and in their own house.’ 58And he did not do many deeds of power there, because of their unbelief You will find the full text of today’s Gosp

Devotional Reflection, Monday, November 3, 2025 Proper 26, the week of the twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 40Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, 42and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be w

Devotional Reflection, Friday, October 31, 2025             Proper 25, the week of the twentieth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 24 He put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; 25but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. . . . “Master, did you not sow good

Daily Office Devotional, Thursday, October 30, 2025 Proper 25, the week of the twentieth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 11Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12singing with full voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom

Devotional Reflection, Wednesday, October 29, 2025 Proper 25, the week of the twentieth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 10Then the disciples came and asked him, ‘Why do you speak to them in parables?’ 11He answered, ‘To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. Daily Office Lectionary Readings  ( BCP , 890) AM Psalm 119:49-72; PM Psalm 49, [53]

Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, October 28, 2025    Proper 25, the week of the twentieth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 3And he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘Listen! A sower went out to sow. . . . 8Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. You will find the full text of today’s Gospel reading at the end of this reflection. Daily Off

Devotional Reflection, Monday, October 27, 2025 Proper 25, the week of the twentieth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading: 43‘When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wanders through waterless regions looking for a resting place, but it finds none. 44Then it says, “I will return to my house from which I came.” When it comes, it finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45Then it goes and brin

Daily Office Devotional, Thursday, October 23, 2025 Proper 24, the week of the nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 19He will not wrangle or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. 20He will not break a bruised reed or quench a smoldering wick until he brings justice to victory. 21And in his name the Gentiles will hope.’ You will find the full text of today’s Gospel reading at the

Devotional Reflection, Wednesday, October 22, 2025 Proper 24, the week of the nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 7But if you had known what this means, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice,” you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8For the Son of Man is lord of the sabbath. You will find the full text of today’s Gospel reading at the end of this reflection. Daily Office Lectionary Readings  ( BC

Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, October 21, 2025 Proper 24, the week of the nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins,Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 28‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ You will find the full te

Devotional Reflection, Monday, October 20, 2025 Proper 24, the week of the nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, “He has a demon”; 19the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!” Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.’ You will find the full text of today’s Go

Devotional Reflection, Friday, October 17, 2025 Proper 23, the week of the week after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 2When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples 3and said to him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?’ You will find the full text of today’s Gospel reading at the end of this reflection. Today we celebrate the Feast of Ignatius of Antio

Devotional Reflection, Thursday, October 16, 2025 Proper 23, the week of the eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins,Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading: 34‘Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36and one’s foes will be members of one

Devotional Reflection, Wednesday, October 18, 20113 Proper 23, the week of the eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost    The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 23If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24But if all prophesy, an unbeliever or outsider who enters is reproved by all and called to account by all. 25After the s