Submitted by Rev. Dr. Diana C. Leaf, Chaplain Give us this day our daily bread. – Matthew 6:11 (NRSV) I’ve prayed the Lord’s Prayer since childhood. When the pandemic started five years ago, the prayer took on a deeper meaning, especially the line about daily bread. When the world shut down, I learned time and […]
Heart Meditations
Submitted by Rev. Dr. Diana C Leaf, Chaplain Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. – Psalm 19:14 (NRSV) This verse, sometimes prayed on its own, comes at the end of a psalm that celebrates God’s awesome power as […]
Multiple Choice
Submitted by Rev. Dr. Diana C. Leaf, Chaplain They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But God called to the man and […]
In the Doorway
Submitted by Rev. Dr. Diana C. Leaf, Chaplain One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So, whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat . . . Elisha called her and she stood in the doorway. “You have gone to all […]
Call and Response
Submitted by Rev. Dr. Diana C. Leaf, Chaplain As Jesus and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many […]
Bad Words
Submitted by Rev. Dr. Diana C. Leaf, Chaplain [Jesus said,] “The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.” – Luke 6:45 (NRSV) During election seasons, it’s common […]
Not Rare at All
Submitted by Rev. Dr. Diana Leaf, Chaplain The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. . . The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. – 1 Samuel 3.1b, 8a (NRSV) When we believe something is lost, we eventually stop looking for it. In the same way, if we […]
Knowing the Nearby God
Submitted by Rev. Dr. Diana Leaf, Chaplain [Paul said], “Athenians, as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ – Acts 17.23 (NRSV) The Apostle Paul trained as a lawyer, but he could have been an investigative […]
Who’s That Knocking?
Submitted by Rev. Dr. Diana C. Leaf, Chaplain As soon as Peter realized he was free from prison, he went to the house of Mary. When he knocked at the outer gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer. On recognizing Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of letting him in, she ran […]
Sent Home
“For this month’s newsletter I am submitting to you the following meditation by Mary Luti, a long time seminary educator and pastor.” –Rev. Dr. Diana Leaf, Chaplain The man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. But Jesus refused, “Go home to your own people, and tell them how much the Lord has done […]