Recent Devotions from Centreville UMC
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Kindness: Crossing the LineTo kick off our kindness challenge, here's a devotion written by Kim Wu. Often we live life like we’re in and they’re out, and I am uniquely qualified to determine who is who. We act as gatekeepers who say “You get your act together, and then you can join
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A Reflection on Annual ConferenceThe following reflection was written by Kim Wu. It’s been two weeks since the conclusion of the Virginia Annual Conference, and my soul still feels captivated by it. After a season of sadness over churches who chose to disaffiliate and after the recent General Conference, I was looking for some
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DevotionHere's a devotion written by a member of our congregation, Kim Noble: Matthew 18:20 (NRSVUE) For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” Exodus 20:12 (NRSVUE) Honor your father and mother. I planned to visit my parents in Arizona the first week in
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DevotionThe following is a devotion written by Dixie Mayall: For the last six nights, I’ve been sleeping on our family room sofa. When people have commented that I look tired, I tell them about sleeping on the sofa. Of course their next question is “What did Bill do?” What Bill
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Devotion: GRACE MinistriesThe following is a devotion written by Kim Noble: 1 Peter 4:10 Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Many of us, myself included, struggle to discern what gifts we have. God has given each of us
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Our Wandering Wise Men – January 6When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. - Matthew 2:10-11 Today's
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Our Wandering Wise Men – January 5Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar had a vision of the King they sought leaving Bethlehem and making his way to Egypt. They had to hurry if they wanted to visit this King before he left! Today’s Quote: In Matthew, we find that the wise men left their homes, following a star
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Our Wandering Wise Men – January 4The star was getting closer and brighter. Gaspar, Balthasar, and Melchior felt they were getting closer to meeting the King they had been seeking. Today’s Quote: “Look up and raise your heads” (Luke 21:28) Advent creates people, new people. We too are supposed to become new people in Advent. Look
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Our Wandering Wise Men – January 3Our traveling wise men were delighted to meet three feathered creatures on their journey. “Perhaps a bird’s eye view is exactly what we need to help us reach our destination!” exclaimed Balthasar. The men were hoping that the birds would give them a ride and enable them to see over
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Our Wandering Wise Men – January 2Gaspar, Balthasar and Melchior had this strange feeling when they gazed upon the image on the glass ball in front of them. There was something about that image that was eerily familiar to them, but they couldn’t quite put their finger on it… Today’s Quote:The magi signal to us that
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Our Wandering Wise Men – January 1, 2024Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar are wishing for peace in this new year. Today's Quote: In our joy, we think we hear a whisper. At first it is too soft. Then only half heard. We listen carefully as it gathers strength. We hear a sweetness. The word is Peace. It is
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Our Wandering Wise Men – December 31Gaspar, Balthasar and Melchior suddenly realized that it was New Year’s Eve night. They began to frantically ransack their minds for all the lore they had learned about what to do to bring themselves luck for the New Year. “Don’t put up a new calendar until tomorrow!” said Balthasar.
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Our Wandering Wise Men – December 30The wise men’s hearts were still strangely warmed from their earlier discussion with John Wesley, but Gaspar had been chewing on what was discussed and was looking for a loophole. He had heard somewhere that he could stay rich if he could shove his camel through a needle, so he
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Our Wandering Wise Men – December 29Gaspar, Balthasar and Melchior heard bells ringing in the distance and headed in that direction. “This can only mean that Bernie has found the actual shepherds!” said Gaspar sagely. “Why is that?” asked Melchior, who was getting frustrated by their journey. “Because every time a bell rings an angel gets
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Our Wandering Wise Men – December 28Just then, an angel appeared unto them. “BE NOT AFRAID!” the angel said. But Gaspar, Balthasar and Melchior were not afraid. This angel had no wings, and did not strike fear into them somehow. “Thank goodness I found you!” said the angel, whose name was Bernie -”I am the angel
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Our Wandering Wise Men – December 27After the donkey had shared all his gossip about this stable in an inn in Bethlehem, the camels began to move again. But Melchior noticed one animal had been left behind. It was none other than Zebedee the sheep. He was definitely prone to wander, and had gotten himself separated
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Our Wandering Wise Men – December 26The magi were trying to find another inn, but Hezekiah started talking to a donkey from the area and would not move. Stubbornly dug in, the camel wanted to hobnob with this donkey a little longer. The donkey had some juicy gossip about how he and some others had spent
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Our Wandering Wise Men – December 25While our wise men continue to wander the area searching for the newborn King, this was happening in an inn in Bethlehem. Today’s Quote: The Many Disguises of Emmanuel Emmanuel, God-with-us, Long awaited, eagerly anticipated, Delicious dreams of royal robes, A messiah enthroned with elegance. False notions and
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Our Wandering Wise Men – December 24Gaspar, Balthasar and Melchior arrived in Bethlehem and were looking for lodging. They had reservations at one inn, but it had overbooked and didn’t have room for their camels in the stables. They were putting actual guests in the stables! Our traveling trio offered to help build some additional stable
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Our Wandering Wise Men – December 23The wise men finally caved in and asked a wise old “Owl” for help. “Alexa?” they said, “Where is Bethlehem?” The owl hooted in response, but Gaspar, Balthasar, and Melchior could not understand what this curious creature was trying to tell them. (They later learned that this mysterious animal was used
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Our Wandering Wise Men – December 22The darkness didn’t last long because a red glow began to wash over the wise men. It was Santa’s red nosed reindeer! Rudolph was surprised to see them. “I would have thought you three would be in Bethlehem by now!” he said. “Bethlehem?” asked Gaspar. “Yes, where Jesus Christ will
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Our Wandering Wise Men – December 21The three wise men (and Donnie) still had no presents for the baby Jesus, and they were not even sure how far they had wandered. They were lost, had no gifts to offer, and now all around them was darkness. Luckily, Donnie had his trusty telescope. “We can always go
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Our Wandering Wise Men – December 19The magi had to shin down the lampstand on which the Advent wreath rested, only to find a forest of another sort. Balthasar recognized the red and green plants immediately and told his fellows the story of Pepita, a young peasant girl who was too poor to bring a gift
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Our Wandering Wise Men – December 18After about a half a day of traveling through an evergreen forest, the magi began to feel as though they were traveling in circles. As it turned out they were – they had stumbled into the Advent Wreath at Centreville United Methodist Church! They were a little fuzzy on the
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Our Wandering Wise Men – December 17Now that the path had been cleared of obstacles, our travelers were intent on moving speedily along to meet the great King. But then they heard something. It was the sound of children’s voices raised in song - joyous song. Their old friends from the preschool rooms were having a
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