by Crystal Harris | Jan 31, 2022 | blog
January 30, 2022 is designated World Leprosy Day, a day that is recognized annually on the last Sunday of January. This international day is an opportunity “to recognize people who have experienced leprosy, raise awareness of the disease, and call for an end to...
by Crystal Harris | Jan 27, 2022 | blog
Never Forget Growing up, we probably knew a little more about the Holocaust, WWII, and the Dutch Underground than most. Our family friends included many Dutch and Latvian immigrants, all of them had stories. Let me tell you about a very special person in my life and...
by Crystal Harris | May 3, 2021 | blog, Pastoral Prayer
Pastoral Prayer for May 2, 2021 God we are grateful today for all the celebrations of graduation we see and sense around us. For families of college graduates who snap photos with tears of pride in their eyes, for young people who have worked hard and learned and...
by Crystal Harris | Apr 26, 2021 | blog, Pastoral Prayer
Pastoral Prayer for April 25, 2021 (1 John 3:16-24) God of gentleness, stir us, renew us, ignite us. As the choir so beautifully told the wondrous story, sometimes the darkness closes in, sometimes sight is gone and fears take over, and yes this and even this, Jesus...
by Crystal Harris | Apr 19, 2021 | blog, Pastoral Prayer
Pastoral Prayer – RKL Sunday, April 18, 2021 Loving and Ever-present God…..Even as we enjoy the beautiful and fresh colors of spring today…and the inspiration of our worship……we are only too aware of the numbing concerns and clamorous needs that surround us today! ...
by Crystal Harris | Apr 14, 2021 | blog
Blowin’ In The Wind Recently I picked up my guitar again after a long absence. I found an old songbook and started playing some of the songs of my “youth.” One of the songs was a famous song by the epic songwriter and performer, Bob Dylan, titled, “Blowin’ in...
by Crystal Harris | Apr 10, 2021 | blog
Happy National Siblings Day! Today is National Siblings Day. It’s a day to celebrate that special and sometimes torturous bond we have with the other children our parents decided to have. Last year on National Siblings Day, I had two brothers. I am the oldest. I...
by Crystal Harris | Apr 5, 2021 | Uncategorized
Easter April 4, 2021 RKL We rejoice, loving God, that you have raised Jesus Christ from the dead – that indeed new life blossoms where dead hopes we once buried. Easter morning often surprises us and sometimes terrifies us. We often have forgotten to look for your...
by Crystal Harris | Apr 1, 2021 | blog
“Looking Up During Uncertain Times” A Daily Devotional Text: Mark 16:1-8 International Children’s Bible Scripture Reading: Jesus Rises from Death 16 The day after the Sabbath day, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought some sweet-smelling spices...
by Crystal Harris | Mar 27, 2021 | Uncategorized
Passover Text: I know why the caged bird sings, ah me, When his wing is bruised and his bosom sore,— When he beats his bars and he would be free; It is not a carol of joy or glee, But a prayer that he sends from his heart’s deep core, But a plea, that upward to Heaven...
