Joy, Grief, Prayers, “Slum Songs” The Adult Sunday Class continues to meet via email with teacher Mary Ellen Reetz-Pegues delivering or mailing reading material and posting comments and questions over email. Her students are invited to respond through email as well. Below are summaries of some of selected lessons since the last publication of the Echoes. By Mary Ellen Reetz-Pegues The Upper Room reading for February 26, “Joy Amidst Grief,” addresses the grieving of young people, maybe easy for us to dismiss since everyone in our group is past 30.Kristen Phipps speaks of her mother’s death from ALS and the unbearable pain, watching her mother die, and “painfully continuing life without my mom… .” The verses Psalm 139: 7-10 is one of my favorite passages: “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of
Responses to Hope in the Wilderness This year’s devotional, Hope in the Wilderness, was put together with input from members of the congregation. Some submitted photos, pictures they drew, coloring pages, essays and poetry they or someone else wrote, and quotes. Then everyone was invited to join in conversations with friends and family or on Facebook. Below are some of the responses received on Epworth Facebook pages. Responses were sparse and far apart timewise. Clearly we missed the fellowship of in-person Lenten Study. February 19 I decided to color today’s Lenten Devotion. I was praying for people I’ve had the privilege to teach, coach, and train. I recognized the things I learned from those same folks. Who are you nourishing? Or what are you nourishing that will grow and bloom? March 5 Today’s entry has me meditating on change, constancy, time, and perspective. What does this devotion raise in you? My earliest childhood memories include our garden roses and the song of th