Join Empowerment Ministry for the third of a 5-part discussion about societal issues, featuring Margaret Lamonds-Moss, Dr. Pam London, Minister Paula Williams, Rev. Tanya Spencer, Pastor Kinzer Pointer, and Elder E. O. Campbell.

Onesimus had run away. Paul was determined to send him back to Philemon. Grace restored Onesimus to his place in the household and restored him to his place in the family as well.

The Jesus we see in this passage seems out of character with the Jesus who loves and heals and cares for the poor. This Jesus announces division instead of peace. Sometimes, the issue that divides us is not the real issue.

This discussion about racism & its solutions is facilitated by Rev. Alicia Dixon-Garrard of Community of Grace of the Southern Tier.

This story is not a critique of kitchen duty. This is what Martha loses sight of. She is pulled in many directions. Martha’s distraction and worry leave no room for the important aspect of hospitality; attention to the guest.

We hear the word “Good” and “Samaritan” together so much we might think that they are one-in-the-same. Yet, Jesus uses a Samaritan to show what loving neighbor really involves.

Jesus did not send the seventy out to prescribe behaviors but to be lived every moment of every day of our lives.

Freedom is a tempting thing. It could easily be used to serve one’s self. The freedom won in Christ is not a license to do whatever we please because freedom from restraint, must be matched by freedom for a particular purpose.

A man lives in grim conditions; among the dead, and recognizes Jesus. He delivers the people from the pigs and they are not fascinated by the sanity of the man, but horrified by the consequences of the salvation Jesus brings.

This discussion about racism, prejudice & bigotry is facilitated by Rev. Alicia Dixon-Garrard of Community of Grace of the Southern Tier.

Jesus' departure is good for the disciples because of the gift of the Spirit. Difficult to imagine, the disciples’ ministry will equal, and exceed, that of Jesus once he departs.

Making room for others can be hard work. We forget that the story isn’t all about us. Too often, those who are perceived as different become the objects of criticism and violence.

This text tells the story of Jesus encountering many unhealthy people lying by the pool of Bethesda in hopes of getting healed. The "invalid" man has gotten so accustomed to his predicament that he had given up any hope of becoming whole.

The love of Jesus is independent of who the other is or our feelings about him or her. The command to love one another is both our preparation for and our participation in his resurrected life here and now.

The Good Shepherd challenges his Sheep to build relationships as they hear the Good News and respond in ways that motivated by trust rather than fear.

The disciples are still on a journey of discovery. They have to recover the habits of discipleship they practiced for three years. The disciples have to grasp who they now are in light of the resurrection.

Believing is not what fills the gap between our faith in Christ and our inability to explain, understand, make sense of and prove our belief in the risen Lord.

Jesus is risen, but what sort of risen Jesus is this? And why is it that those who love him most can see him without recognizing him?

Jesus was willing to leave his head behind and followed his heart. He sacrificed himself and his life, everything he had ever seen and heard, learned, achieved, received, and enjoyed to undergo the death of a Roman cross.

It would be easy to oppose Mary and Judas. That tension reveals that Mary and Judas, the fragrance of life can be neither bought nor sold. Our task is to take the same kind of extravagant hospitality that Mary offered to Jesus.