In what ways does our church community currently affirm the dignity of individuals who are marginalized or overlooked in society? How can we improve in this area?
Reflecting on the five actions of Jesus—seeing, speaking with, providing for, calming fears, and calling into community—how well does our congregation embody these practices in our outreach and ministry efforts?
Consider a recent interaction you had with someone seeking support or guidance. Did you fully see and acknowledge their humanity? How might you change your approach in future encounters?
How can we measure the effectiveness of contemporary Christian movements in light of Jesus’ example? Which movements demonstrate genuine care and concern for others, and which objectify or alienate those they aim to serve?
Who in your life might be calling you to see and support them more intentionally? What specific actions can you take to build a loving relationship with them based on the example set by Jesus?
In this Sacred Story, we go treasure hunting with Jesus! But Jesus’ treasure is not gold or diamonds or rubies or silver; the treasure of Jesus is the poor, the lost, the hurting, the sick, and the fearful. Jesus crosses heaven and earth and across land and sea just to find these, his treasure, to bring them the good news of God’s care and love. This story is from the Gospel of Luke 4:14-21.
Sacred Stories with Fr. Derek is a collection of short children’s homilies by the Rev. Derek Larson, TSSF, priest at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Plant City, FL. The homilies are also given live on the last Sunday of the month at our family service at 10:30am.
How has the understanding of my baptism influenced my identity, and in what ways do I recognize myself as “beloved” by God?
Reflecting on the metaphor of the river shaping the canyon, what aspects of my life need God’s transformative love to break down barriers and reveal the beauty within me?
In what ways can I actively allow the love I receive from God to shape my relationships with others, myself, and the world around me?
How do I experience the presence of God’s love in my daily life, and what practices can I adopt to remain mindful of this love?
What are some specific challenges or “hard rocks” within me that I need to surrender to God’s love in order to be shaped more profoundly by it?
In this Sacred Story, Fr. Derek tells us the medieval Christmas story of Barnaby, the Juggler for God, and how everybody has a gift to give.
Sacred Stories with Fr. Derek is a collection of short children’s homilies by the Rev. Derek Larson, TSSF, priest at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Plant City, FL. The homilies are also given live on the last Sunday of the month at our family service at 10:30am.
We awaken in Christ’s body, As Christ awakens our bodies There I look down and my poor hand is Christ, He enters my foot and is infinitely me. I move my hand and wonderfully My hand becomes Christ, Becomes all of Him. I move my foot and at once He appears in a flash of lightning. Do my words seem blasphemous to you? Then open your heart to Him. And let yourself receive the one Who is opening to you so deeply. For if we genuinely love Him, We wake up inside Christ’s body Where all our body all over, Every most hidden part of it, Is realized in joy as Him, And He makes us utterly real. And everything that is hurt, everything That seemed to us dark, harsh, shameful, Maimed, ugly, irreparably damaged Is in Him transformed. And in Him, recognized as whole, as lovely, And radiant in His light, We awaken as the beloved In every last part of our body.
Questions for Further Reflection
In what ways can we embody the message of the Incarnation in our daily lives, particularly in how we treat our own bodies and the bodies of others?
How does the poem by St. Symeon the New Theologian resonate with your own experience of being in your body? What feelings or insights arise as you consider the interconnectedness of Christ and our physical selves?
Thoughts on Faith 