Thank you to all of the local authors who contributed to the 40 Days of Decrease blog. It has been a wonderful way to introduce SCC's new Blog. Going forward it will be a place of creative spiritual reflections. Your creative gifts, your willingness to open and share your hearts helped us to think, consider, … Continue reading Easter Weekend Reflection →

Silence and Stillness before God (2 minutes) Scripture Reading John 20:11-22 Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in.  She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. “Dear … Continue reading Day 40 – Fasting →

Silence and Stillness before God (2 minutes) Scripture Reading Matthew 28:1-15 Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat … Continue reading Day 39 – Guarding Tombs →

Silence and Stillness before God (2 minutes) Scripture Reading Mark 15:42 - 16:1 This all happened on Friday, the day of preparation, the day before the Sabbath. As evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea took a risk and went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. (Joseph was an honored member of the high council, and … Continue reading Day 38 – Escapism →

Silence and Stillness before God (2 minutes) Scripture Reading Mark 15:33-41 At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. Then at three o’clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought … Continue reading Day 37 – Your Voice →

Silence and Stillness before God (2 minutes) Scripture Reading John 19:38-42 Afterward, Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus’ body. When Pilate gave permission, Joseph came and took the body away. With him came Nicodemus, the man … Continue reading Day 36 – Withholding →

Silence and Stillness before God (2 minutes) Scripture Reading Matthew 27:50-54 Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit. At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men … Continue reading Day 35 – God-as-Job →

Silence and Stillness before God (2 minutes) Scripture Reading Luke 23:32-39 Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him. When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left. Jesus said, “Father, … Continue reading Day 34 – Criticism →

Silence and Stillness before God (2 minutes) Scripture Reading John 19:1-9 Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. The soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they put a purple robe on him. “Hail! King of the Jews!” they mocked, as they slapped him across the face. … Continue reading Day 33 – Willful Sin →

Silence and Stillness (2 Minutes) Scripture Reading  Luke 22:44  He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. Devotional The classic hymn “Nothing But The Blood” asks: what can wash away my sin, what can make me whole again? The … Continue reading Day 32 – Addition →