by Ward Shope Last Wednesday night just before we went to bed, we stepped out onto the porch at the back of the place we were staying. I was awestruck. Looking up into the night sky there were so many stars with the Milky Way haze behind it that we actually could not readily identify...
Category: Ward Shope
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We Miss You
by Ward Shope Last week, I ran across the name of a long-time church member that I probably hadn’t seen or talked to since the pandemic began. Knowing that he lives in a small household where he is a caregiver, and that he lives at some distance to the church, I felt an inner prompting...
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The Mysteries in Grieving
by Ward Shope We, as a church in this last year, have been grieving the loss of those we love. The most public of those deaths have been people that we’ve known corporately. We’ve experienced them as leaders, teachers, examples and personal friends together. But apart from these, many individuals within the church have also...
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Enduring the Weeds
by Ward Shope I grew up on a farm where it took 8 hours to mow the grass on a tractor and then another 3 hours to trim. Needless to say, it didn’t get done in a day – but it was beautiful when it was done for the week. The soil was rich in...
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Graduation – One Step in Series
by Ward Shope Reflections on Philippians 3:4-16 In the next week or two, a number of our high school and college students will graduate from their course of study. For some students, it is a time to recognize a lot of blood, sweat and tears and may be accompanied by various levels of relief. For...
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Two Sons and a Home Group
By Ward Shope Recently our home group gathered outside for a pandemic style meeting. It was a nice evening and we spent some time catching up with one another, laughing at the funny episodes of our weeks, and sharing some of the more serious sides of life. When everyone was there, we began to discuss...
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Covenant Prayer
By Ward Shope In the Presbyterian tradition, we are apt to refer to John Calvin and some of the other early Protestant Reformers as those who shape the way we think about our faith – and rightfully so. The emphasis on God’s gracious gift of Jesus by way of his covenant of grace reminds us...
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Generosity
By Ward Shope 29 So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. I know what you’re thinking. This is a church blog and “generosity” is simply the new codeword for what we used to call “stewardship.” Namely, giving money. I don’t deny that money can...
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The Sacrifice of Love
By Ward Shope For four years, I was starry-eyed for Lois Leaman. I don’t think I ever spoke a word to her as we shared the same classrooms during first through fourth grade. She was shy, and I respected that. And then suddenly, she changed schools and was gone. Valentine’s Days came and went. Finally...
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A Shepherd’s Task: New Life’s Session Retreat
By Ward Shope Most of us can handle a little polite chit-chat. In Philadelphia, the question, “What about those (fill in the sports team)?” can put you on safe ground as long as you are a Philly sports fan. But there also isn’t much relationship being built with a smile and a high five. Maybe...
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“Let Me Be Empty”
By Ward Shope On New Year’s Eve, members of the early Methodist movement would gather together to give thanks to the Lord for the year that was passing and to consider the year ahead of them. As the year turned, they would pray the covenant prayer, reaffirming that all they would do, or not do,...
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Reflections on Luke 2:1-20
By Ward Shope Summoned by the king of the day at the most pregnant moment of history, the mortal parents of the Everlasting One make their taxing journey where no one awaits them to fulfill the expectation of all the ages. While preparing a room for all who trust, He can find no space in...