Writing

Devotional Reflection, Friday, January 2, 2026 Friday of the First Week after Christmas Day The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading: 9‘There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?’ 10Jesus said, ‘Make the people sit down.’ Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. 11Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks

Daily Devotional, Thursday January 1, 2026 Feast of the Holy Name The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading: an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ You will find the full text of today’s Gosp

Devotional Reflection, Wednesday, December 31, 2025 Eve of the Feast of the Holy Name The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key verses for reflection from today’s Hebrew Scripture reading: 7And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. 9

Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, December 30, 2025 Week of the First Sunday after Christmas The Rev. David W Perkins, Th.D. Key Verses for reflection from today’s Gospel: 49The official said to him, ‘Sir, come down before my little boy dies.’ 50Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your son will live.’ The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started on his way. 51As he was going down, his slaves met him and told him that his child was alive. You will find the full text of toda

Devotional Reflection, Monday, December 29, 2025 The Feast of the Holy Innocents (Transferred from Sunday) The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Daily Office Lectionary Readings AM Psalm 2, 26; Isaiah 49:13-23; Matthew 18:1-14 PM Psalm 19, 126; Isaiah 54:1-13; Mark 10:13-16 Daily Office Gospel, Mark 10:13-16 13 People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. 14But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said

Devotional Reflection, Friday, December 26, 2025 Week of the Fourth Sunday of Advent The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s epistle reading: 59While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he died. You will find the full text of today’s epistle reading at the end of this reflection. The Feast of

Daily Office Devotional, Thursday, December 25, 2025 Christmas Day The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key verses from today’s Gospel reading: 3:31The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all. . . . 35The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands. You will find the full text of today’s Gospel at the end of this reflection. Daily Office Lect

Devotional Reflection, Wednesday December 24, 2025 The Week of the Fourth Sunday in Advent Christmas Eve The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key Verses from today’s Gospel reading: 46  And Mary *  said,‘My soul magnifies the Lord, 47    and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, 48  for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.   Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49  for the Mighty One has done great things for me,   and holy is his name.

Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, December 23, 2025 The week of the fourth Sunday in Advent The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th,D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 34Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’* 35The 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. . . . 34Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, s

Devotional Reflection, Monday, December 22, 2025 The week of the fourth Sunday in Advent The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 11Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. 13But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and

Devotional Reflection, Friday, December 19, 2025 The week of the third Sunday in Advent The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 24Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, “Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; 25so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.” You will find the ful

Devotional Reflection, Thursday, December 18,  2025 The week of the third Sunday in Advent The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D . Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 25:1‘Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; 4but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5As the bridegroom was del

Devotional Reflection, Wednesday, December 17, 2025 The week of the third Sunday in Advent The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection in today’s reading: 8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and inside. Day and night without ceasing they sing, ‘Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come.’ You will find the full text of today’s epistle reading at the end of this reflection. Da

Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, December 16, 2025 The week of the third Sunday in Advent The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 8For thus said the LORD of hosts (after his glory sent me) regarding the nations that plundered you: Truly, one who touches you touches the apple of my eye. You will find the full text of today’s Zechariah reading at the end of this reflection. Daily Office Lectionary Readings , ( BCP , 939) AM Psalm 45; PM

Devotional Reflection, Monday, December 15, 2025 The week of the third Sunday in Advent The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 15‘So when you see the desolating sacrilege standing in the holy place, as was spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand), 16then those in Judea must flee to the mountains; 17the one on the housetop must not go down to take what is in the house; 18the one in the field must not turn back to ge

Devotional Reflection, Friday, December 12, 2025 The week of the second Sunday in Advent The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 37‘Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 38See, your house is left to you, desolate. 39For I tell you, you will not see me agai

Devotional Reflection, Thursday, December 11, 2025 The week of the second Sunday in Advent The Rev. David W. Perkins,Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 25‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean. You will find the full text of today’s Gospel re

Devotional Reflection, Wednesday, December 10, 2025 The week of the second Sunday in Advent The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 2‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; 3therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. . . . 5They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. You will find th

Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, December 9, 2025 The week of the second Sunday of Advent The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 36`Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?' 37He said to him, `"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." 38This is the greatest and first commandment. 39And a second is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 40On these

Devotional Reflection, Monday, December 8, 2025 The week of the second Sunday of Advent The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading: 23 The same day some Sadducees came to him, saying there is no resurrection; and they asked him a question, saying, Other ancient authorities read who say that there is no resurrection 24`Teacher, Moses said, "If a man dies childless, his brother shall marry the widow, and raise up children for his bro