2026 Reading Plan

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 (click the button below)

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 (click the button below)

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 (click the button below)

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 (click the button below)

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 (click the button below)

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. They shepherds brought the good news of Jesus to the people of Jesus’ 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:
For feast Friday, meet Eustratios the Wonderworker the Eastern Orthodox saint of January 9th. He was a priest and monk who lived in the 9th century. He is a saint because he is credited with many miracles, but even more so because he took care of people everywhere. In everything he was generous. He was generous with his giving, his time, and with everything he owned. In one of his famous stories, Eustratios traveled to Constantinople to beg for money for his monastery that desperately needed it. He received the money he needed to save his monastery, but before he made it back from his trip he had already given it all away to the poor he encountered on the road home. He, like our shepherds in Luke 2, kept his eyes open to listen, look, and share in God’s movement and changed many lives because of it.

Grace,
Matthew Montgomery

Practice:
Lets practice the shepherds 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 with to tell 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.