Summer Devotional Booklet: June 30

 

June 30 - How does my community understand or talk about Jesus?

*refer to June 3 for more information on the summer devotional posts

Summer Devotional Booklet: June 29

 

June 29 - Inhale: “Jesus, for your life, death, and resurrection,” Exhale: “I am grateful.”

*refer to June 3 for more information on the summer devotional posts

Summer Devotional Booklet: June 28

June 28 - John 1:1-2;14

In the beginning was the Word

    and the Word was with God

    and the Word was God.

The Word was with God in the beginning…

The Word became flesh

    and made his home among us.

We have seen his glory,

    glory like that of a father’s only son,

        full of grace and truth.

*refer to June 3 for more information on the summer devotional posts

Summer Devotional Booklet: June 27

 

June 27 - What are a few beliefs that I have about the Spirit?

*refer to June 3 for more information on the summer devotional posts

Summer Devotional Booklet: June 26

 

June 26 – BRC - “The spirit of God repeatedly sweeps over humanity leaving us inspired: to seek God's hopes for each of us, to live into God's intention for the entire body, and to answer the call to participate in the fulfillment of God's ever revealing hopes for the world. The Spirit moves around us. The Spirit moves through us. The Spirit moves in spite of us. And when we are open, the Spirit moves us.”

*refer to June 3 for more information on the summer devotional posts

Summer Devotional Booklet: June 25

 

June 25 - Can I recall an instance when the Spirit was clearly active in my life or someone else’s?

*refer to June 3 for more information on the summer devotional posts

Summer Devotional Booklet: June 24

   

June 24 – John 16:12-15

Jesus said, “I have much more to say to you, but you can’t handle it now. However, when the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you in all truth. He won’t speak on his own but will say whatever he hears and will proclaim to you what is to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and proclaim it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine. That’s why I said that the Spirit takes what is mine and will proclaim it to you.

*refer to June 3 for more information on the summer devotional posts

Summer Devotional Booklet: June 23

 

June 23 - What have I been taught about the Spirit?

*refer to June 3 for more information on the summer devotional posts

Summer Devotional Booklet: June 22

 

June 22 - Inhale: “Spirit, sustain me,” Exhale: “Spirit, send me.”

*refer to June 3 for more information on the summer devotional posts

Summer Devotional Booklet: June 21

 

June 21 - Genesis 1:1-3

When God began to create the heavens and the earth— the earth was without shape or form, it was dark over the deep sea, and God’s wind swept over the waters— God said, “Let there be light.” And so light appeared.

*refer to June 3 for more information on the summer devotional posts

Summer Devotional Booklet: June 20

 

June 20 - What are a few ways that I believe God shows up to me?

*refer to June 3 for more information on the summer devotional posts

Summer Devotional Booklet: June 19

June 19 – BRC - “I am grounded in the presence of God. God knows me. God sees me. God loves me. and that is enough. God is with me. God has been with me. God will always be with me. Through and in it all, God is known to my soul, and I am reminded that I am known by God.”

*refer to June 3 for more information on the summer devotional posts

Summer Devotional Booklet: June 18

 

June 18 –Why is it important to remember that God is always with me?

*refer to June 3 for more information on the summer devotional posts.

Summer Devotional Booklet: June 17

June 17 -Romans 8:35-39

Who will separate us from Christ’s love? Will we be separated by trouble, or distress, or harassment, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, We are being put to death all day long for your sake. We are treated like sheep for slaughter. But in all these things we win a sweeping victory through the one who loved us. I’m convinced that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord: not death or life, not angels or rulers, not present things or future things, not powers or height or depth, or any other thing that is created.

*refer to June 3 for more information on the summer devotional posts

Summer Devotional Booklet: June 16

 June 16 - How has God reminded me that I am known and seen by God?

*refer to June 3 for more information on the summer devotional posts

Summer Devotional Booklet: June 15

 June 15 - Inhale: “God is here.” Exhale: “I am here.”

*refer to June 3 for more information on the summer devotional posts

Summer Devotional Booklet: June 14

 

June 14 – Psalm 139:1-12

Lord, you have examined me.
    You know me.
  You know when I sit down and when I stand up.
    Even from far away, you comprehend my plans.
  You study my traveling and resting.
    You are thoroughly familiar with all my ways.
  There isn’t a word on my tongue, Lord,
    that you don’t already know completely.
  You surround me—front and back.
    You put your hand on me.
  That kind of knowledge is too much for me;
    it’s so high above me that I can’t reach it.

  Where could I go to get away from your spirit?
    Where could I go to escape your presence?
  If I went up to heaven, you would be there.
    If I went down to the grave, you would be there too!
  If I could fly on the wings of dawn,
    stopping to rest only on the far side of the ocean—
          even there your hand would guide me;
        even there your strong hand would hold me tight!
  If I said, “The darkness will definitely hide me;
        the light will become night around me,”
      even then the darkness isn’t too dark for you!
        Nighttime would shine bright as day,
        because darkness is the same as light to you!

 *refer to June 3 for more information on the summer devotional posts

Summer Devotional Booklet: June 13

June 13 - What are three beliefs that I have about who God is and what’s important to God?

*refer to June 3 for more information on the summer devotional posts

Summer Devotional Booklet: June 12

June 12 - “I choose to believe that, in life and in death, I belong to God. God stirs my soul.

In the morning, life-giving first breath fills my lungs. God stills my spirit.

In the evening, the calm of the night flows through my body.

God moves me.
The Holy One beckons me forth, through bands of

light, into coves of darkness,
woven into rainbows, and amid the in-between and

unknown—
All the while, with every tender breath,

I am reminded of God’s hoping, yearning, and dreaming that I grow into all I am intended to become.”

*refer to June 3 for more information on the summer devotional posts

Summer Devotional Booklet: June 11

June 11 - Can I remember a time when the presence of God was made known to me?

*refer to June 3 for more information on the summer devotional posts

Summer Devotional Booklet: June 10

June 10 - Romans 14:7-9

We don’t live for ourselves and we don’t die for ourselves. If we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to God. This is why Christ died and lived: so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

*refer to June 3 for more information on the summer devotional posts

Summer Devotional Booklet: June 9

June 9 - Does choosing to believe in God change how I live?

*refer to page 3 for more information on the summer devotional posts

Summer Devotional Booklet: June 8

June 8  - Inhale: “God, are you there?” Exhale: “God, I am open to you.”

   

*refer to June 3 for more information on the summer devotional posts

Summer Devotional Booklet: June 7

June 7 - Joshua 24:14-15

Joshua said “So now, revere the Lord. Serve him honestly and faithfully. Put aside the gods that your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt and serve the Lord. But if it seems wrong in your opinion to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Choose the gods whom your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live. But my family and I will serve the Lord.”

*refer to June 3 for more information on the summer devotional posts

Summer Devotional Booklet: June 6

June 6 – What would it be like to think of myself as a theologian?

 * refer to June 3 for more information on the summer devotional posts

Summer Devotional Booklet: June 5

June 5 - “There is something appealing to me about the discipline of claiming what you believe…what I call a faith montage. Montages are a series of brief moments spliced together to create a whole. They’re a bunch of short clips strung together to create an impression, a summary, a feeling. A good montage succinctly and effectively communicates place, personality, growth, breadth, and movement… In many ways, any faith montage acts as a kind of ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ for faith, an invitation to further exploration and inquiry. Trust your instincts and curiosity to dive deeper when you feel so moved. I hope you feel all the feels, experience some glimpses of common faith, and try on the title of ‘theologian. I hope you unapologetically and unabashedly explore your relationship with and understanding of God.” (BRC 16, 18)

* refer to June 3 for more information on the summer devotional posts

Summer Devotional Booklet: June 4

June 4 – Genesis 3:1-8

The snake was the most intelligent of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say that you shouldn’t eat from any tree in the garden?” The woman said to the snake, “We may eat the fruit of the garden’s trees but not the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden. God said, ‘Don’t eat from it, and don’t touch it, or you will die.’” The snake said to the woman, “You won’t die! God knows that on the day you eat from it, you will see clearly and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” The woman saw that the tree was beautiful with delicious food and that the tree would provide wisdom, so she took some of its fruit and ate it, and also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then they both saw clearly and knew that they were naked. So they sewed fig leaves together and made garments for themselves. During that day’s cool evening breeze, they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden; and the man and his wife hid themselves from the Lord God in the middle of the garden’s trees.*

* refer to June 3 for more information on the summer devotional posts

Summer Devotional Booklet: June 3

We are thankful for the work of Fairmount Presbyterian Church in Cleveland Heights, Ohio in producing this devotional booklet for their Lenten 2024 season. With the blessing of the author, this is a devotional based on Everything Good about God Is True by Rev. Dr. Bruce Reyes-Chow.

In a spirit of collaboration, Fairmount has given us permission to adapt the original devotional for our purposes this summer.  Thank you to Rev. Ryan Wallace and Rev. Lindsay Harren-Lewis and our siblings in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

All Scripture is Common English Bible Translation unless otherwise noted.

Introduction 

This summer, our sermon series is inspired by Rev. Dr. Bruce Reyes-Chow’s new book, Everything Good About God is True:  Choosing Faith. Bruce is a Presbyterian pastor in California. He’s pastored several congregations, written 6 books, and served as the youngest moderator of our national denomination, the Presbyterian Church (USA). Bruce wrote this latest book as a guide for progressive Christians to claim and proclaim “a more complex, nuanced, loving, and just version of the gospel.” 

Increasingly, American Christianity is synonymous with white nationalism, hate, and other expressions of xenophobia. We who call ourselves Christian may be quick to distance ourselves from these versions of Christianity–to criticize and reject expressions of Christian faith that do not square with our understanding of God and the world. But we must do more than reject what we don’t believe. We must claim and proclaim what we do believe. 

So, how do we do it? Bruce writes: “Most churches are competent at presenting the general gist of what things are, how things happen, and even whispers of what they believe. But when it comes to the nitty-gritty, church people like me tend to make far too many assumptions, most notably that faith is passed down through osmosis, obligation, and potlucks. We assume that what we believe is clear, that people understand our beliefs, and what we do makes sense. We think that communicating belief is unnecessary…We end up giving the impression that we don’t really have any foundational beliefs at all, or at least any that we’re willing to share. Sure, we may be generally welcoming, but ultimately folks are left on the outside looking in—not for lack of desire on their part but simply because we, the churchy ones, have forgotten how to articulate our faith. We’ve forgotten that there’s a vocabulary of faith that can guide, accompany, usher all of us into a deeper, more nuanced Christian faith.” 

So, what do you believe? Can you articulate your faith in a way that draws people to an inclusive interpretation of the gospel? During our summer series, we’ll be asking important questions to help you explore, express, and practice what you do believe to be true about God. This isn’t a test of your Christian orthodoxy, but rather an invitation to reflect on your chosen beliefs. In Bruce’s words: “I promise no answers, I offer no destination, and I am not trying to convince anyone of anything…What I do offer is a view of the full landscape of the faith that I am determined to practice every day. I hope that, in doing so, it will help as you practice yours.”

How to use this devotional

In this book, you’ll find a prompt for each day. There are three types of prompts:

Breath Prayers

These prayers–from Everything Good about God Is True–couldn’t be simpler. As you breathe in, silently and slowly repeat the “inhale” words. And then as you breathe out, silently and slowly repeat the “exhale” words. Then repeat again and again. You can do these prayers with your eyes closed, or with your gaze softened and focused on a single spot. You can offer the prayers while sitting down or while walking. You can set aside a particular time each day for the prayer, or you can pull it out during a moment in your day when you feel like you could use a breath from God. However and whenever you pray, try to notice what God is stirring within you.

Scripture Passages

Read each passage at least two or three times. Read them slowly. You can read them silently or aloud. Pause between each reading. Notice what stands out to you. Listen for how God might be speaking to you. Pay attention to how the passage might connect with something happening in your ordinary daily living. You might return to the scripture again later in the day or even later in the week. 

Faith Montage Excerpts

The questions mainly come from Everything Good about God Is True. Set aside a specific time on these days to really reflect on the question. Turn it over in your mind and your heart. Don’t be satisfied with your first reaction to it. Probe deeper. Are there experiences from your life that shape the way you approach the question? How does the question make you feel? You can keep a journal throughout the summer with your responses to these questions or find another way to artistically express your responses. 

June 3  - Inhale: “God, you welcome me,” Exhale: “Whenever I return to you.”