In her song, Mary, the mother of Jesus, praises God for turning the world upside down–or perhaps, turning the world right-side-up! Gather’s annual Advent devotional focuses on the Magnificat song of Mary (see Luke 1:46b-55), as well as parallel topsy-turvy stories of Mary’s ancestors, including Shiphrah and Puah (Exodus 1), Hannah (1 Samuel 1-2), the daughters of Zelophehad (Numbers 27), Hagar at the well (Genesis 16 and/or 21) and Ruth and Hagar. The post December 2023 Advent devotional: “Topsy-turvy” by the Rev. Hannah Hawkinson appeared first on Gather Magazine ..read more

Jesus regularly invokes nature in his teaching, drawing us into deeper relationship with the created world. But it’s not just Jesus inviting us to see creation as teacher and kin. The scriptures themselves help us see the important role of the created world in God’s story and saving work. This four-session Bible study explores how biblical stories of the natural world help us to grow our love for and commitment to God, other people and our beloved earth. January 2024 Weather: Powerful force for change We can’t control the weather, but we can learn from it. Storms, rain, drought and wind shape ..read more

As long as humans have existed, there has been mental illness. By some estimates, as many as 20% of all adults live with a mental health issue. In biblical times, mental illness was often misunderstood and thought to be caused by demonic possession. In modern times, we have learned much more about brain chemistry. Although the stigma around mental illnesses has decreased, we still have a long way to go, and our faith communities can help. Looking particularly at biblical people and passages that relate to living with mental illness, the May 2024 devotional reminds us of Jesus’ compassiona ..read more

A global pandemic, political upheaval, a changing climate… these days, the future is more uncertain than it has ever been. Or is it? For the people of the Bible, life was often shaped by deep uncertainty. Encounters with God sparked awe, confusion or courage, but rarely certainty. Instead, God’s people have always been called to follow God into the unknown, trusting in God’s certain grace and love. This three-session summer Bible study explores God’s invitation to the people of the Bible and to us, to take the holy journey beyond certainty to curiosity, community and compassion, where we find ..read more

The post Fall 2024 TBA appeared first on Gather Magazine ..read more

The post December 2024 TBA appeared first on Gather Magazine ..read more

Physical places often shape our identities, relationships and faith. “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it,” Paul writes. Part of what this means is that faith doesn’t just reside in our thoughts or emotions. Faith resides in our whole bodies, and how our bodies “live and move and have our being” in the sacred places where God encounters us. In this Fall 2023 Gather Bible study, written by an ELCA missionary living in Jerusalem, we’ll explore what holy places mean, not only for the Holy Land of the Bible, but for each of us, wherever we may be. September Holy places: H ..read more

by Julie Seymour— When I see a painting of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on the colt, sometimes it looks to me as if he has indigestion. It’s a strange look for someone who is receiving a parade in his honor. Or maybe it’s not so strange, if we think about the message Jesus has been preaching and the upside-down and backwards expectations people have of him. The crowd is shouting, “Hosanna! Hosanna!” It sounds like it might be happy, but it isn’t. Hosanna doesn’t mean “Hooray” or “Cheers” or anything we imagine yelling in a parade. In both Hebrew and the equivalent Greek, hosanna means “help us ..read more

by Elizabeth Hunter— For me the words “Here and Now” are forever connected with a 30-year-old song by the late Luther Vandross. He won a Grammy for soulfully singing: “Here and now, I promise to love faithfully. …Your love is all I need.” His song is also known as an “earworm,” a catchy, popular tune or saying that gets stuck in your head long after the height of its popularity. For me, God’s kingdom, here and now, has become another earworm. Here and now, so many people focus on fear: fear of dying, fear of living. Bible study author Mark Allan Powell explores our mission now and our future i ..read more

by Elizabeth Hunter— I used to write my favorite funny or encouraging quotes on sticky notes. I’d clip cartoons and inspiring images from newspapers and magazines. Magnets, tape and pins were corralled in a drawer so that I could daily see—and share—food for thought on a refrigerator, wall or bulletin board. Now, a decade or so later, I post, pin and share memes via text messages to friends or social media feeds to, well, anyone. And they return the favor. Memes—like their elder, sticky note cousins—can be relevant, comforting or challenging in the moment. But maybe this is just me—if I’m not ..read more