2026 Reading Plan

Weekly Word: Accept/Welcome

Each Monday we want to highlight a word to give us focus for the week. This week I am looking at verse 24 where Jesus said, “no prophet is welcome in his hometown.” Some other translations say “accepted.”

Accept/welcome – is our weekly word.
Let this word guide you to be open to the Holy Spirit’s work of acceptance and welcoming all week long.

Reflection: 
Wow… tough time for Jesus! His growing fame and reputation for miracles has followed him into Nazareth, his hometown. This is the first sermon recorded for us in the Gospel of Luke, and it is a pokey one. It strikes me as funny that no one in the crowd has a problem with Jesus calling himself the messiah. Everyone seems perfectly ok with him claiming to represent the prophecy from Isaiah. The thing that gets the crowd angry comes from verses v23-27. What is it in these words that angers the crowd so much? In the way I read it, the people of Nazareth want Jesus to perform miracles for them just as he did in other towns. In response to their requests, Jesus references two Old Testament stories where God sent Elijah and Elisha to cities outside of Israel, Sidon and Syria. Jesus in his hometown chooses not to show them preferential treatment with miracles, but more or less says that his miracles are for the outsiders. The crowd does not take kindly to this news. They go so far as to become hostile towards Jesus so much so they want to throw him off a cliff! Crazily, this whole passage takes place in a Synagogue. The crowd is the churched community of Nazareth. Here inside church walls, the crowd becomes angry with Jesus and does not accept him. It scares me to think of the people in our own church walls who we are not accepting. What does it mean to welcome and accept people outside of our normal groups? I have heard it said before that, “the opposite of hostility is hospitality.” What would it look like if Canterbury was dedicated to the work of hospitality?

— Matthew Montgomery

Practice:
Let’s practice some hospitality this week:

Part 1) Invite someone outside of your normal circles to lunch, coffee, to your home, or any invitation to time and conversation. 


Part 2) Next time you come to church, seek out someone you do not know and practice welcoming/accepting them

Questions to ask friends, family, strangers, and yourself:
1. If we were in the crowd at Nazareth, do we think we would’ve welcomed and accepted Jesus’ words?
2. Who are we failing to welcome in church, in our offices, or in our neighborhoods?
3. What is a time someone welcomed and accepted you? How did it change you?

Reflection: 
Are there any people in our lives that we have written off? People who we would never dream that would or even could speak the truth about who Jesus is? In the verses before today’s reading, Jesus has just been run out of Nazareth, his home town. He had been teaching about preaching good news to the poor, releasing prisoners, and rescuing the oppressed. He told them that God often works through those we least expect and even don’t like. And, they didn’t like what Jesus had to say. 
 
He moved on to Capernaum and taught all of the good church going people on the Sabbath. They liked liked his preaching style but still couldn’t quite grasp who he was or what exactly he was about. It took someone no one would expect, much less listen to, to speak the truth about Jesus’s power and identity. Jesus’s reputation began to precede him as more and more people brought relatives and friends who needed to be restored to life. Yet, time and again, it was the ones no one expected who shouted the truth, and time and again, Jesus silenced them. We can’t help but ask why? Why would Jesus not want everyone to hear the Good News about who he was and what he came to do? 
 
There comes a time in each of our lives when we have to be able to say for ourselves what Jesus came to do – to preach good news to the poor, release prisoners, and rescue the oppressed – and speak the truth of who Jesus is – God’s Holy son, the Christ – even if our voice shakes. I hope we can all tune our ears to the voices of those we least expect when we need a reminder. 

– Tori Hastings

Practice:
To further yesterday’s practice of welcoming, call or text someone on your mind. Let them know they are being thought of and prayed for this morning.


Questions to ask friends, family, strangers, and yourself:
1. Who is Jesus showing up to in our community? What would they have to teach us about how God moves?
2. How can we join alongside Jesus’ work to find the least and the lost?
3. When did you feel lost? Who showed up for you?

Reflection:
I love this story for many reasons. Firstly, I love it because this is how discipleship with Jesus began. He met Simon (Peter), James, and John doing their everyday job (fishing), on a normal maybe even disappointing day. Before the day was over, a little time with Jesus was enough to transform their entire lives.

Secondly, I love this story because of what it tells us about discipleship. Thanks to Jesus, Simon (Peter), James, and John went from having an unproductive day into having the best day of their entire fishing career. With a catch this big, they could take time off, they could use the money to improve their livelihoods, they could even dream up a new and better career for themselves. But instead, they give it all up to follow Jesus. They had their biggest day of fishing, and they didn’t get to enjoy any of it. They traded it all to walk with Jesus. 

It makes me wonder… if Jesus had given me the most lucrative day of my career (think lottery winning type day), would I also be willing to leave it all immediately after gaining it? Would I, like the disciples, be able to see the bigger picture that life with Jesus is more compelling than a good day of business?

Wesley Wednesday:
John Wesley had a lot to say about discipleship and how it requires everything. Discipleship cannot just be passive obedience, but it requires sacrifice and the willingness to carry ones cross. Below is a prayer he prayed to center himself on this work.


John Wesley’s Prayer:

I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O gracious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it. 
And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven.
Amen.
– Matthew Montgomery

Practice:
If you are ready to be like the disciples and like John Wesley, pray the prayer above. Take note of the places God takes you.

Questions to ask friends, family, strangers, and yourself:
1. What does following Jesus require us to give up?
2. If Jesus asked us to walk away from winning the lottery, would we be willing to do it?
3. Who is an example in your life of someone who lives like these disciples did?

Reflection: 
“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repent.” What a statement! I wanted to start our devotional thought off today with this response from Jesus to the religious leaders who criticized the company he kept.

In today’s passage, we experience three different very dramatic scenes: Two people desperate to be healed and one man willing to follow. These three people who are part of vastly different communities; a man who probably experienced a lot of solitude, a man who apparently was beloved enough by his friends to lower him through a roof at the chance to be healed, and a person who was deeply involved with the wrong sorts of people. The quality that unifies all of these people in my mind is trust. They seemed to trust that Jesus can work miracles and that being in his presence would transform them.

I wonder if we can find ourselves and our own relationship with Jesus in these stories. Maybe you haven’t experienced a miracle as dramatic as the ones that we read about today, but if you are reading these passages with us this year, you have certainly experienced the love and forgiveness of Jesus in some way. I imagine that experience has made you trust Him. Back to our opening statement from Jesus to the religious leaders, we have recognized our own imperfections and surrendered them to Him.

– Natalie Moon

For the meditation song, Trust in God, copy and paste this URL into your browser:
https://open.spotify.com/track/45h3M5mnqeoCRuNUEKxuNO?si=0fe3714de37343a5

Practice:
REFRESH – I want to invite you to go someplace that reminds you of the trust that you have in God. For me, it will be the youth center at Riverchase UMC. It was the first place my husband and I worked after college and we got to see the youth group grow from about 20 students to several hundred. We didn’t know many people in Birmingham when we moved here and saw God work in our own lives in ways that has made my trust in Him grow. At the time, moving here felt like a step of faith. Is there a place that reminds you a step of faith that you took?

Questions to ask friends, family, strangers, and yourself:
1. Where did your trust in God begin?
2. Was there a moment in particular or did it grow over time?
3. What is one step of faith that you can take this week to help your trust grow?
4. Is there some act of mercy you have been led towards?
5. Is there a volunteer position that speaks to you?

Reflection:
My husband once did a 72 hour fast to reset his dopamine levels and immune system. In our ever increasing health conscious world, we hear medical professionals and health geeks talk about the benefits of all different kinds of fasts – intermittent, gut-reset, fat burning. Name the health goal, and there’s a suggested fast for optimal results. 
 
I have never been very good at fasting despite having health my own health goals. When I get hungry, I get grumpy. That’s never good for anyone! 
 
Fasting was a spiritual practice long before it was a health hack. 
 
The most prominent example of fasting in the Old Testament is outlined in Leviticus when the Israelites are commanded by God to fast on the Day of Atonement as a day of communal repentance and humility. Many Jewish people still communally observe this fast today. Moses fasted from food and water while he was meeting with God on Mt. Sinai receiving God’s instruction for leading God’s people. Hannah sought God in prayer and fasting when she was heartbroken and desperate for a child before the birth of Samuel. Faced with multiple warnings from Jonah, the Ninevites prayed and fasted as an act of repellence for the harm and destruction they had inflicted on so many. They fasted for various reasons but all desired to be closer to God.
 
Fasting, it seems, is a way for us to grow closer to the God we cannot see on a deeper level than we might otherwise be able to. It is a thin place – a way of bridging physical and spiritual realities. It’s no wonder that Jesus was taken aback by the peoples’ comment about Jesus’ disciples not fasting and always eating and drinking. The very God of the universe was walking among them bringing the spiritual realities of God to the physical earth. So, Jesus’ disciples celebrated accordingly! They ate, drank, and reveled in the fullness of heaven coming to earth! It, too, was a thing space.
 
The healthiest people I know are well attuned with balance. There are times when fasting is what provides our bodies and our souls with what it most needs – a physical reset, an intentional focus on God, a removal of distraction. And, there are times when celebrating provides what our bodies and our souls most need – a reveling in the moments when heaven meets earth, however fleeting. I hope we can seek out thin spaces together.

– Tori Hastings

Practice:
Fasting can come in many shapes and forms. Some people fast from food, while others fast from tech, from spending, or even talking. Choose something to fast either for a day, a weekend, or a full week. Like our biblical examples, use fasts to grow closer to God.

Questions to ask friends, family, strangers, and yourself:
Have you ever fasted as a spiritual practice?
What did you gain from it?
And if not, why not?

Weekly Word: CONSOLATION

Every Monday, we will give you a weekly word to focus on. Today’s word is consolation, Greek word: παράκλησις (paraklēsis). This word appears in Luke 2:25 referring to Simeon who waits for the consolation of Israel. It can mean comfort, exhortation, or encouragement.

Reflection: 
Today’s reading is filled with wonder at the immediate awareness by those who were faithful people, knowing who Jesus was to be for the people of Israel. Simeon known for being righteous and devout waited patiently for “consolation of Israel”. As we can see from the word of the week that this word can mean comfort, encouragement, or exhortation. Meeting Jesus, even as a child, made him feel that this was the fulfillment of what had been revealed to him. Then we meet Anna, a prophetess, who has a similar experience when Jesus is in front of her. It speaks to the fulfillment of God’s word in an incredible way. The other thing this passage shows us are faithful people who are waiting patiently for God to comfort them, to encourage them, to exhort them. The Oxford English dictionary defines exhortation as “an address or communication emphatically urging someone to do something.”
What are your hopes in your spiritual life this year? Are you waiting to be comforted? Do you need encouragement to do something that has been on your heart? Are you expecting an emphatic urging to do something or to serve in some way?

— Natalie Moon

Practice:
Luke tells us that Anna prayed night and day. Is there a time of prayer that you can add to your day, both morning and evening? What would that look like? Maybe make it simple and short and pray the Lord’s prayer. Or maybe simply ask God to comfort, encourage, or exhort you.

Questions to ask friends, family, strangers, and yourself:
1. When was the last time you were filled with wonder?
2. How are you with patience? Is that a fruit of the spirit you need to practice?
3. What are your hopes for your spiritual life this year?

Reflection: 
“Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” — Luke 2:49


This passage drops us into a moment of holy disruption. Mary and Joseph have lost Jesus—every parent’s nightmare—and when they finally find Him, He is exactly where He believes He must be: in His Father’s house. Twelve-year-old Jesus is already living with a deep sense of purpose and identity. His choice doesn’t dismiss His parents but reveals a truth Mary and Joseph are still growing into: Jesus belongs fully to God, and that belonging shapes every step He takes. The temple scene invites us to consider the places where God calls us to “be about” the work we were created for. Sometimes purpose emerges through unexpected tension—moments that redirect us toward what matters most.

I, like many of you, have been through seasons when my schedule was too full, my energy too thin, and my purpose too blurry. One afternoon I walked into our beautiful sanctuary—not because I had time, but because I was in need of a place of refuge. I sat in the quiet, and for the first time in a while, I recognized how far I had drifted from simply being present with God. Something in me whispered a similar truth that Jesus voiced: This is where you belong. It wasn’t that I needed to be in the sanctuary constantly, but that I needed to return to the rhythms that re-centered my life. That moment nudged me back toward grounding, clarity, and a renewed sense of being held by God.



– Keith Thompson

Practice:
Spend 5 minutes today in a quiet place where you feel closest to God. Allow your mind to settle, breathe slowly, and simply rest in the truth that you belong to God.


Questions to ask friends, family, strangers, and yourself:
1. Where is your “Father’s house”—the place you feel most aligned with God’s presence?
2. What part of your purpose might God be nudging back into focus this week?
3. Where do you need to pause long enough to listen?

Reflection:
In today’s passage we get a glimpse into the heart of John the Baptist’s ministry. A fiery speaker, he certainly lived his life passionately and singularly for the purpose God called him to. In verse 7 and 8, Luke tells us, “John said to the crowds coming to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” Can you imagine beginning a baptism with these words today? I can’t imagine that going over very well. He goes on to instruct those in attendance on how to live into this baptism. If you have two tunics, give one to someone who has none. Don’t cheat your neighbor. Share food with those who have none.

John was there to prepare the way. To make our paths straight. One thing I have noticed in my own life is that when my morals and convictions are not aligned with the way that I am living my life or prioritizing my days, my path is ANYTHING but straight. John saw that in the community he lived in, that the spiritual practices did not align with the way that people actually lived their lives, and not only was he unafraid to speak out about this, but he did it in a way that you could not confuse his meaning.

I feel like we respond one of two ways when confronted with our sin. We accept it; we already know what it is that we are doing. We know better than anyone else what our flaws are because we have a front row seat for everything we have ever done or thought. But to have it pointed out by someone else. Wow. Either you appreciate it because you needed the nudging to make a change, or you lean in harder and become angry. Here we see two different reactions. The powerful Herod obviously doesn’t appreciate it. Others are drawn toward it. They seek out John and this baptism of repentance.

Wesley Wednesday:
What a coincidence that this passage falls on what we have deemed “Wesley Wednesday”.

This summer a group from Canterbury had the opportunity to travel in the footsteps of John ad Charles Wesley, including a trip to the New Room in Bristol, England. In the words of David Worthington, the Director of the New Room, “While John Wesley’s heart may have been strangely warmed in London, it was set afire in Bristol.” At the time of John Wesley, Bristol was a prosperous and growing port city, notable for its involvement in the slave trade and its coal mining industry. In one dramatic 1788 scene Wesley preached against slavery in Bristol’s slave trade capital, causing angry traders to literally break apart church pews and attack each other during the service. According to Adam Hamilton, this wasn’t just moral posturing – it was dangerous activism in the heart of England’s slavery industry. It was here that Wesley preached to thousands of coal miners who couldn’t afford church pew taxes, watching tears cut through the coal dust on their faces. This moment of radical inclusion for society’s outcasts became the template for Methodist social ministry worldwide.

As we consider the boldness of John Wesley, I want to go back to John the Baptist’s directive: Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

Repentance means to turn and go a different direction.
– Natalie Moon

Practice:
For our practice today, I want to invite you to listen to this song and ask God to ignite that heartwarming fire within your heart.

(Copy and paste this URL into your browser.)
https://open.spotify.com/track/4WMhwQqqa6BkhWshgz9UKf

Questions to ask friends, family, strangers, and yourself:
1. What comes to mind in your own life that you feel God is calling you to turn from?
2. What fruit would that produce in your life?
3. Social justice is at the heart of not only the United Methodist Church but the church as a whole. Spend some time reflecting on what God is you calling you personally to do for others. What “sets you on fire”?

Reflection: 
I know I know… a reading on Jesus’ genealogy may appear boring… but there are some really great parts to this passage. Let’s highlight several big Old Testament names form Jesus’ family tree:


1. David – shepherd turned king, defeated Goliath, and turned Israel into a kingdom
2. Boaz – Cared for and married Ruth – (Read the book of Ruth for more!)
3. Judah – 4th son of Jacob and Leah, his name means praise, and he is born after his mother Leah realizes that God is with her even at her lowest point
4. Abraham – the main figure in Genesis. The first to receive God’s messianic promise, and the Father of all of Israel
5. Adam – the first person on earth, and father of all people everywhere

There are some really great names in here that Jesus could be proud of! However, every single one of these people also had major flaws and made many mistakes. Of those 5 names, some of them were liars, some were murderers, and some seemed completely lost. Despite their faults, God was very present in their lives, and from them all came Jesus. For me, it is fun to see that Jesus came from a complicated past. No one’s family is perfect, but God shows up and does some of God’s best work through complicated people.

Through the genealogy I am convinced of two things:

1) We all have complicated and at times difficult families 

2) God shows up and does good work anyway

One last point…
The gospel of Matthew also includes a genealogy (Matt. Chapter 1). In Matthew’s version, the genealogy goes back to Abraham whereas Luke’s version goes all the way back to Adam. Matthew was written for a Jewish audience, and Luke was written for a Gentile audience. Matthew wants to highlight that Jesus comes from the father of the Jewish faith. Luke wants to highlight that Jesus comes from Adam the father of all of humanity. Jesus is for everyone.

– Matthew Montgomery

Practice:
REFRESH – Re-read today’s passage with a physical picture of your family in your hand. Think about and reflect on all the ways God has shown up in our life through our family. If you want to go further, draw your family tree or write down names as far back as you can remember. Reflect on the ways God has worked through your family.

Questions to ask friends, family, strangers, and yourself:
1. Ask someone about their family of origin.
2. Who in your family impacted you the most in a positive and loving way. How did they live in a way that you want to repeat?

Reflection:
“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit… was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.” — Luke 4:1–2



Devotional:

The wilderness is not a punishment; it is often preparation. Jesus is led there (some translations say “driven there”) by the Spirit, which means the wilderness is not the absence of God but the environment in which Jesus’ identity is clarified and His mission strengthened. Each temptation targets a different version of false identity: performance (“Turn stones into bread”), power (“Take authority over all this”), and protection (“Throw yourself down”). Jesus resists not by extraordinary effort but by remembering what is eternally true. The wilderness strips away illusions so only what is real remains. This passage reminds us that temptation is rarely about the thing itself—it’s about forgetting who we are and whose we are.

I once went through a stretch where I kept trying to prove my worth through productivity. Every unchecked item on my to-do list felt like failure, and every success felt like borrowed oxygen. Eventually, the pressure became its own wilderness—dry, exhausting, lonely. In that space, God gently reminded me that my/our identity does not come from accomplishments but from belonging. Like Jesus, I had to reclaim the truth God has spoken over my life— God’s truth is stronger than fear, insecurity, or performance anxiety. The wilderness didn’t disappear overnight, but the lies started losing their grip. Sometimes God leads us into quiet, uncomfortable places not to expose our weakness but to anchor our identity more deeply in grace.



– Keith Thompson

Practice:
Write down one false identity you tend to believe (e.g., “I’m only valuable when I’m productive”). Then write a scripture or simple truth that counters it. Read it three times today.

Questions to ask friends, family, strangers, and yourself:
1. What “wilderness” are you navigating right now?

2. Which of the temptations—performance, power, or protection—most speaks to your struggles?

3. What truth do you need to reclaim to remember who you are in Christ?

Weekly Word: PREPARE

Every Monday, we will give you a weekly word to focus on. Today’s word is prepare. Our big hope this Spring and for the new year is that we ENCOUNTER God more because we believe it will be transformational for all of us. In order to ENCOUNTER God, maybe it takes a little bit of preparation. Preparation is active and trains us to be receptive. Let each day be an act of preparation for the work God can and will do through us. Every Monday-Friday, we will provide a scripture reading plan with the hope that more time in scripture and more time with God will truly transform us to be more like Jesus.

We believe in a simple formula:
More time with God each day = slowly becoming more like Jesus
Becoming more like Jesus = transformation in our lives and community

Help us make this a reality. Set aside some time each day to prepare for the work of God.

Blessings!
Matthew Montgomery

Scripture: Luke 1: 1-25

Reflection: 
What an introduction to the Gospel of Luke! Before we get to Jesus, Luke sets the scene for us. In many ways, its a callback to the Old Testament. From the beginning, we have a king (Herod), a priest (Zechariah), an angel (Gabriel), and now a new prophet (John the Baptist) all on the stage. Before we get to Jesus’ birth, Luke wants us to learn about John the Baptist. John the Baptist’s calling is laid out for us in verse 17, “make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

In many ways, that is what we most want from our daily reading plan. We want all of us to be prepared and made ready for the work of God. 

If our church-wide goal for 2026 and for this Spring is to become more like Jesus, then maybe we need to follow the example of Luke chapter 1. Before Jesus appears, we, like John the Baptist, need to do a little bit of preparation. For the entirety of this Spring, let each day begin with reading the Bible. Let us dive into the gospel of Luke verse by verse. Let this become our daily habit so that we as a church will be prepared to ENCOUNTER and make ready the way of the Lord.

Practice:
For today’s practice, let it be a short and simple prayer:
“God prepare us (as a church and as individuals) to encounter you daily. Bless our attempts each day and today as begin this journey. Amen.”

Questions to ask friends, family, strangers, and yourself:
1. What can I set aside to look for God today?
2. What kind of preparation helps you feel close to God?
3. How can I make someones day lighter/help others prepare for God as well?

Scripture: Luke 1: 26-45

Reflection: 
In our passage today, the name of Jesus appears for the first time in the Gospel according to Luke. The first person to hear this name was a young girl named Mary. As a female who likes to sing, growing up I was often playing Mary in a Christmas production at church. I remember feeling the weight of the role, not quite understanding the significance of the story, but understanding that this person Jesus would come to change our hearts and our world. Do you remember the first time you heard the name Jesus? If you are like me and grew up in Sunday School, you may not have a specific memory, but remember puppet shows, songs like Jesus Loves Me, and coloring book sheets. Jesus just kept showing up as I got older and joined the youth group, when I went to college and joined Bible studies, on mission trips, and as a parent of my own children. This week marks the beginning of a new year, a blank slate that is full of potential.  I want to invite you to join me in thinking about how Jesus is going to show up in our lives each and every day this year.

Grace,
Natalie Moon

Practice:
Spend some time reading and thinking about the many names of Jesus:
Christ (the Messiah)
Son of God
Son of Man
Savior
Lord of Lords
Lamb of God
The Word
Alpha and Omega
Immanuel (God with us)
Prince of Peace
Wonderful Counselor
Mighty God
Good Shepherd
High Priest
The Bread of Life
The Light of the World
King of the Jews
Rabbi/Teacher
The Way, the Truth, and the Life 

Questions to ask friends, family, strangers, and yourself:
1. As we go on this journey together to become more like Jesus, spend some time thinking about the ways that Jesus has appeared in your life? 
2. Have you experienced his divinity as a shepherd, counselor, or teacher?
3. In what ways would you like to see Jesus appear in your life this coming year?

Scripture: Luke 1: 46-56

Reflection:
Today we hear Mary’s song the Magnificat! Mary, who is likely a young teenager, offers us one of the most beautiful, prophetic, and powerful passages of scripture. Dietrich Bonhoeffer once called her song, “the wildest hymn ever sung.” It starts out fun and full of praise, but the song quickly shifts in tone. Mary asks God to “scatter the proud” to “bring down the powerful from their thrones” and to “send the rich away empty.” Imagine being Mary in this moment. She is surprisingly and impossibly pregnant. Her whole world has been turned upside down and this song is her response. What incredible faith! Mary sings about God’s activity. How God regularly can turn our worlds upside down in the best of ways. She speaks of how the first will be last and the last will be first. Maybe this is why her soul “magnifies the Lord.” When God showed up in her life, her whole world got more complicated. However, isn’t that what our souls want most? To be part of God’s activity in this world? I once heard the preacher Adam Hamilton call this, “the paradox of blessedness.” How it can be so comforting and assuring when God is in our life, and yet also that usually means some discomfort will follow. The discomfort is being a part of God’s plan. God likes to send us to people and places we would never expect to go. God seems to enjoy turning our world’s upside down.

How is it with your soul?

In preparing our reading plan, we have dubbed each Wednesday as “Wesley Wednesday” based on our founder of Methodism John Wesley. We want to throw in a little bit of methodism each week. John Wesley had a lot to say about this song of Marys, but his main focus is on God’s saving grace. How God “lifts up the lowly” and “fills the hungry with good things.” God is on the side of the hurting. 

John Wesley famously asked all people in his life this question: “how is it with your soul?” That question really cuts straight through the small talk. Asking someone “how is it with your soul,” is asking about what is really going on in their lives. Its a bit of a scary question, because we may not be ready to hear the answer. However, what can be more important than checking in on our friends and families souls? 

John Wesley took the time to ask and listen closely to the response. He celebrated with people in good times when they were able to say “my soul magnifies the Lord.” He also sat with listened with anyone whose souls felt heavy. Maybe today this could be a world upside down question. Take a second to ask how it is with your soul, and make space to do the same for someone else. If we as a church all do this today, who knows what God can and will do with us.

Blessings,
Matthew Montgomery

Practice:
God’s work often turns our worlds upside down. In a reminder of that work, let’s do something backwards or in reverse. Instead of normal small talk, keep on a friend or family member with the famous question from John Wesley: How is it with your soul?

Questions to ask friends, family, strangers, and yourself:
1. Mary sang, “my soul magnified the Lord?” What can you do to magnify the Lord in your day?
2. How is it with your own soul?
3. When was a time you experienced the “paradox of blessedness?”

Scripture: Luke 1: 57-80

Reflection: 
John is a name that is translated into “God is Gracious”. If you have had the chance to study the Old Testament, you will discover that names had deep significance in each family. It linked you to the past, to your ancestral land, and to hope for the future. We read in this passage about the shock of those present when Zechariah (a priest) agreed with his wife to pivot from tradition. In a bold and faithful act, he confirmed the name John, God is Gracious. Zechariah could then again SPEAK!

For today’s refresh moment, I have linked one of my all-time favorite worship songs. The lyrics come directly from Psalm 103 (link Psalm 103) in which one of the root words for John’s name appears, “gracious”. I imagine when the people heard John’s name, that maybe they were reminded of this passage (and the MANY passages that mention the graciousness of God). No wonder people marveled at this child and wondered at the potential of his life.

Peace,
Natalie Moon

Practice:
REFRESH – We invite you to read this scripture in a new place to give you a fresh perspective. Maybe think of a place of family significance to you, or even visit the chapel at Canterbury.

Questions to ask friends, family, strangers, and yourself:
1. Why do you think Zechariah was unable to speak during Elizabeth’s pregnancy? Do you ever feel the presence of God in stillness or silence?  What is it about being silent that helps illuminates the mysteries of God?
2. John’s name translated from the Hebrew translates to “God is Gracious”. Have you ever experienced the graciousness and compassion of God?  We invite you to spend some time in prayer while you listen to this song based on Psalm 103: 8.

Scripture: Luke 2: 1-20

Reflection:
In the gospel of Luke, who receives the good news of Christmas first? The shepherds! Matthew and Luke are the only gospels that share the story of Jesus’ birth. In Matthew, the wise men are the first to receive the good news, but in Luke its the shepherds. Luke wants to emphasize that the good news of Jesus’ presence in our lives is for everyone. Jesus is here for all and is with all. The shepherds who were probably not the most religiously educated… provide us with the perfect example of what to do after encountering God. First they listen. Second they look for Jesus. Lastly, they share the good news. Not a bad model for us all to follow! What is God saying to us? Where can we look to find Jesus working? How can we further God’s work by sharing what is happening? Listen. Look. Share.

It is hard to say who are our modern shepherds, but there is something to be said of finding the gospel in unexpected places. The shepherds carried the good news of Jesus to the people of their day. It wasn’t the priests, it wasn’t the pharisees, and it wasn’t from any expected source. Who is carrying the good news of Jesus now? What places is good news coming from that we would never expect?

Faith Inspiration Friday:
Every Friday of each week in our reading plan, we will share of someone from our life who has inspired, encouraged, and taught us how to live like Jesus. When I read Luke 2:1-20 and when I think about someone who is always sharing the good news, I cant help but think of Bill Morgan. He has no idea I am writing this. He is my across the hall neighbor in the office. Every morning, he walks in and checks on my well being. Many mornings, he will share a book, an article, or a movie that he has recently seen. Some mornings, he will say something like, “this book reminded me of you, and I want you to have it.” He is the perfect example of sharing good and important news. It helps stir up good conversation, and I always feel better from having talked with him. If you know Bill, you know he always thinks of others first. He is a great listener, he looks to find Jesus every day, and he shares the good news once he finds it.

Grace,
Matthew Montgomery

Practice:
Lets practice the shepherds (and Bill Morgan’s) example and share some good news. Today, reflect and look back on where God has moved in your life in amazing ways. Then, find someone to share the story of your good news.

Questions to ask friends, family, strangers, and yourself:
1. Who in our lives has shared the good news with us?
2. When was the last time we shared excitement about our faith or about God?
3. Ask someone about the good news in their life.