PALM SUNDAY MESSAGE JOHN 12: 9-19 TRIUMPH OVER DEATH – Shades of Grace Sermon by Pastor Will Shewey My reading today picks up with a few more details about where we left last weekend’s message, in Bethany, the village of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. As you may recall Jesus had just raised Lazarus from the dead. He had been in the tomb four days, and his body was reeking with…Keep Reading

JOHN 11: 1-45 Pure Love of Jesus – Shades of Grace Sermon by Pastor Will Shewey The word “love” is used only three times to describe Jesus’s feelings for the siblings, Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, but it permeates the entire narrative. Mary and Martha send a message to Jesus to let him know that their shared beloved, Lazarus, is ill to the point of death. Jesus tells his disciples that…Keep Reading

Rev. Nate and Julie Ware Colossians 1:10 Dealing with Darkness Thoughts from Nate and Julie Ware A few minutes ago before the dawning sunrise, the darkness could not have predicted the coming light and joy of the morning. Colossians 1:10 Dealing with Darkness Hope, what a wonder-FULL word! Hope, which the dictionary defines as “the feeling that what is desired is also possible, or that events may turn out for…Keep Reading

Hebrews 12:2 DEVOTION FOR TODAY, March 15, 2026 “Unfinished – Basket Story” She was sitting in a small chair, close to roadside, skin weathered from the sun, making and selling her baskets, as we drove along the streets in one of Italy’s hilltop towns. We couldn’t resist the urge to stop, admire and purchase one of her baskets. You can imagine her surprise when in addition, we wanted the one…Keep Reading

JOHN 4:1-29 Receive Living Water – Shades of Grace Sermon by Pastor Will Shewey 1. Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— 2. although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3. So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. 4. Now he had to go through Samaria. 5. So he came…Keep Reading

Romans 3:23 DEVOTION FOR TODAY, March 3, 2026 “FIXING, HEALING, SAVING” Many times missionaries have to feed people first, to forward their missions. In this Season of Lent, people fast or give up something to bring them closer to their walk with the Lord. Most of us know that we are in a partnership with God and have faith that He is capable of healing and transforming us. But what…Keep Reading

Seeking God Prayers for Healing and Relief While Seeking God’s Relief and Healing through Prayers, both relief and healing are essential in the journey toward spiritual and physical well-being. Knowledge and experience teaches us that God’s resolution is sometimes a journey that reveals what His vision is for us, rather than that of our own. Trusting Him to guide us through, “The Better Way, His Way”. . . God puts…Keep Reading

“I no longer call you servants… Instead, I have called you friends.” John 15:15 A man died in a house fire, and I had his funeral. As we stood by the grave in the family cemetery, I noticed three large dogs walking toward us. I was a little concerned because they were his dogs. Usually when I visited the house he would have to come out and watch them before…Keep Reading

Joel 3:16 Lost in the Forest “The LORD also shall roar out of Zion and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.” Joel 3:16 Lost in the forest, the young one could hear trouble stalking him. How much longer could he go? He was tired, frightened,…Keep Reading

Matthew 4:1-11 Temptation in the Wilderness We have Begun the season of Lent with Ash Wednesday a few days ago. The word Lent comes from the Old English word. It means spring or springtime. Lent designates those 40 days that Jesus was tempted in the wilderness. Jesus began his ministry in this season leading us to Holy Week, and Easter Sunday, which will be a little bit earlier this year…Keep Reading

Rev. Nate and Julie Ware I Corinthians 9:24 Hebrews 12:1 “Running the Race” Running the Race, the Raven still visits. We don’t know all his journeys as we don’t know the details of each others’. But, over the years, he has been faithful, to run the distance, and show us, he is showing up. The Apostle Paul’s writing in I Corinthians 9:24 encourages the ones who run the long distance…Keep Reading

Matthew 17:1-9 Transfigeration – Glory on the Mountaintop Shades of Grace: A United Methodist Congregation A busy Saturday is winding down. Approximately 80 people gathered in God‘s Living Room for our weekly worship service. We had a long list of celebrations and prayer request. Several people had requested to be anointed and prayed for so that’s how we began our time together. Eva has spent the week in a hospital…Keep Reading