SCRIPTURE 2 Thessalonians 3:13 And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good. WORDS OF HOPE I often dismiss my college level classes by telling my students to “go out and do the next right thing.” It used to be that this statement was more about making good choices than actually knowing what was right. The other day, a student, who had heard me say this to the class many times, was the last to leave. They waited around to ask me, “How do I really know what is right?” The current climate of life in our country, amplified by the influence of social media, most certainly has blurred our perception of right and wrong and good and evil. My friends have an older neighbor who fell ill and was hospitalized for several weeks. The neighbor lives alone with two dogs. My friends and other neighbors stepped up to make sure that the dogs were cared for by someone actually taking them into their home. Others maintained the yard and did a much-needed cleaning of the home’s interior so that it was welcoming upon their return. Most people would consider these as acts of care and kindness. Unfortunately, that was not the case in this situation. The recipient of these intended acts of goodness was angry at everything that had been done. “The yard didn’t need to be whacked down to dead twigs. The dogs didn’t need to be groomed. I was going to clean the house when I got home.” My student’s question about how do we really know what is right suddenly became more momentous. As a follower of Christ, I have always believed that Jesus tells us, in Matthew 7:12, exactly what doing good looks like— “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”. Seems simple, but based on my friends’ experience, it’s not. What do we do when what we thought was good and right is not perceived as such? Or, the contrary, when what we see as not right is perceived as good? Paul’s letter to the Romans has an answer for us. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2) As you go about your days, pray for guidance, be an example of peace and love to the world, and go forth and do the next right thing. PRAYER Loving God, guide my words and actions as I greet this new day. Grant me courage and strength to move through my day showing kindness, patience, and love to others and to myself. Teach me to always be a reflection of your goodness. Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Kris Baker Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

SCRIPTURE Joshua 1:9 Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. WORDS OF HOPE Within the Genesis story of Earth' s creation and the unfolding of the human experience, God saw great beauty and expanding potential for our loving relationship with the Holy One. The creative act endowed humanity with freedom of choice. The descendants of Adam and Eve often chose a lifestyle pattern which was compatible with divine hopes while many more ignored the opportunity to walk in the ways of God. Then, from the descendants of the righteous man, Abraham, God chose to demonstrate the Divine's nature and purpose toward humanity. However, even those Israelites often failed to live according to God's desires. It was an era when so many were frightened and dismayed, but the creation was not to be abandoned by God. Creation would be redeemed. And from the family of Jesse, King David's father, would arise One who would restore humankind's relationship with God. Throughout the centuries, we have been given hope and courage by so many hymns that remind us of that truth. "Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming from tenderest stem hath sprung, of Jesse's lineage coming as saints of old have sung. It came a flower bright, amid the cold of winter, when half spent was the night… True human but very God, from sin and death God saves.” -from a 16th-century German hymn. Do you remember this hymn by Bob McGee? "Emmanuel, Emmanuel, his name is called Emmanuel, which means God with us and revealed in us. God continues to offer us this incredible, loving gift of Emmanuel to draw us into close relationship with the Holy One. God in us, God with us and God to act through us. As Thanksgiving approaches, what a joy it is to be grateful for this gift of divine wisdom that empowers us to bless the world. What a fantastic gift which is freely offered to each of us by the loving Creator. A THANKSGIVING SEASON PRAYER Almighty God, we give you thanks that you will sustain and guide us through uncertain periods of life. We can place complete trust in your constant presence and love in our lives. Strengthen us to listen and respond to your voice. And may our confidence in your guidance allow us to comfort and help those around us who experience fear and need. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR  Donald (Luke) Day Order of St Francis and St. Clare

SCRIPTURE 1 Peter 1:3–9 (Inclusive Bible) Blessed be the God and Parent of our Savior Jesus Christ! By divine mercy, we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for us. We are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this we rejoice, even if now for a little while we have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of our faith—more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although we have not seen Jesus, we love them; and even though we do not see them now, we believe and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for we are receiving the outcome of our faith, the salvation of our souls. WORDS OF HOPE Today is World Television Day, and I find myself daydreaming about moments I never actually lived through. I’m too young to have seen The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show, but I can picture it like it happened yesterday: living rooms packed with teenagers, jaws dropped, hearts racing, everyone leaning into that flickering black-and-white screen as if the entire world depended on it. I can almost hear the screams, the squeals, the wild excitement—especially when that first chord of “I Want to Hold Your Hand!” or “Twist and Shout!” hit. And then there’s the other side—the parents, muttering over their dinner, half exasperated, half secretly curious: “Turn that off! That noise is giving me a headache!” Television has always been this magical, slightly ridiculous bridge between generations—a place where wonder, rebellion, and music collide, and grown-ups just don’t get it. Television is a paradox, much like life itself. On the one hand, it connects us in ways nothing else can. It can make distant victories feel like our own—a last-minute touchdown, a jaw-dropping performance, a story that makes us leap from our chairs, fists pumping, hearts soaring. It can bring history into our living rooms, letting us witness suffering, joy, and beautywe might never see otherwise. It can make us feel part of something bigger than ourselves—whether we’re watching alone in pajamas with a mug of something warm (and maybe spilling it, because clumsiness is real), or with family and friends, sharing laughter, commentary, and playful arguments about who’s right. And sometimes it’s as simple as curling up with someone you love and binge-watching a show late at night, finding comfort in stories that make us laugh, cry, and feel just a little less alone. But television can also be heavy. The news—especially lately—can be relentless, a constant drum of fear, outrage, and heartbreak. I’ve felt that weight. I haven’t watched the news since the recent election. I needed a break—not to ignore the world, but to protect my heart and my spirit, to reclaim my ability to love, notice, and be present. I needed to breathe, to reconnect with life in its raw, immediate form. I needed to sit with friends and actually hear their laughter without my mind chasing the next breaking story. I needed to listen to music, write, feel a cat purring in my lap (who sometimes thinks my keyboard is a pillow), and just let my thoughts stretch and breathe. And in doing so, the ordinary became extraordinary. Television, like life, is messy. It can inspire, teach, and unite—but it can also exhaust, distract, and wound. On this World Television Day, I honor both sides. I honor the sparks of wonder that make our hearts race, and I honor the courage it takes to step away, to turn it off, and fully step into life—into conversation, into laughter, into presence, into the little moments that remind us why we’re here. The quiet spaces between broadcasts, headlines, and scrolling feeds—that’s where life happens. That’s where music drifts from a neighbor’s window, where someone smiles at a stranger, where love—messy, patient, radical love—takes root. That’s where hope feels tangible, even in a world that’s loud, chaotic, and sometimes impossible to navigate. And maybe, just maybe, that’s the kind of television we all need more of: the kind that teaches us to live fully, love deeply, and breathe freely, even when the world outside is screaming for our attention. Because life, at its best, doesn’t happen on a screen. It happens in the pauses, in the laughter, in the moments we choose to look up and see the world—really see it—for ourselves. PRAYER Holy One, thank You for the ordinary moments that turn out to be extraordinary—sunlight, laughter, warm drinks, music, and yes, even the glow of the TV. Help me know when to step back, when to rest my mind, and when to open my heart. Teach me to notice You in the stillness, in stories, in faces, and in quiet joy. May I live with love, awareness, and a little humor along the way. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR  Reed Kirkman

SCRIPTURE Isaiah 11:1 A new branch will grow from a stump of a tree; so, a new King will come from the family of Jesse. The spirit of the Lord will rest upon that King. WORDS OF HOPE Faithful followers of Christ are compared to the olive tree because their roots will travel far, often standing alone on rocky hills withstanding weather at its most harsh and Jesus knew this better than anyone! Noah received an olive branch to let him know the flood had ended. Many emblems of the olive branch are used today symbolizing strength and peace. Not that I’m comparing a Gay bar to this topic but in the 70’s when it was fearful and illegal to gather as gay women, we all met at a bar called “The Olive Branch”. It offered peace and solitude for us at times of unrest. Like other folks, we sought a peaceful place where we could freely gather without fear. Similar to our lives, the olive trees begin to mature around 10 years old, start to peak at 50 years and continue to produce an abundance of olives even when they are hundreds of years old. When the trunk becomes large and old, branches are trimmed off, leaving what appears to be a dead stump. But the next year, fresh shoots spring from the old stump, and soon a new and vigorous growth of branches will produce an abundance of olives. Symbolically, just like that tree, our words, actions and lack thereof will continue to bear fruit for endless generations. As Christians, we have Jewish roots, and Jesus is our Jewish Branch. When God broke down the wall separating Jews and Gentiles, it wasn’t an invitation for the Jews to become Gentiles; instead, the Gentiles were invited to join the Jews, Gods people. The olive tree can be a constant reminder that Jesus is our branch. The beautiful olive tree reminds us of God's love and expectation to consider that ALL branches are wholly connected to the Holy source of God. PRAYER Creator God of beginnings and end, embolden us with courage to extend an “Olive Branch” to ALL humankind, reminding us we are ALL created by the same breath of life! In Jesus name, Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Donna Jackson

SCRIPTURE Isaiah 66:14-16 You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice; your bodies[a] shall flourish like the grass, and it shall be known that the power of the Lord is with his servants, and his indignation is against his enemies. For the Lord will come in fire and his chariots in a whirlwind,[b] to vent his anger in fury and his rebuke in flames of fire. For by fire will the Lord execute judgment, and by his sword on all flesh; and those slain by the Lord shall be many. WORDS OF HOPE Sounds like a lot of smiting and slaying, and it’s verses like these that assure me that the Bible is written in many voices by many people. Isaiah was a prophet, at least according to tradition, and his book was written both before and after the Babylonian exile of the Jews, which pretty much confirms that the writings were by different people. Much of the work is angry and wrathful, which is no surprise since the Hebrews were captives in Babylon, so I take a lot of the fire and brimstone as the hyperbole typical of prophets trying to get people to listen. Today, those words sometimes make it hard for me to hear the message, which I believe is a reminder to stay true to our belief in God and be assured that God’s plans will come to pass, just maybe not on our time frame. If anything, he speaks to me of patience, and that is something I can always use. PRAYER God of many names, may we hear the words of the prophets and understand their context as well as their overarching message. As the Prophet Isaiah wrote of the message he received from God, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it. I am making a way in the wilderness. and streams in the wasteland.” Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Hardy Haberman

SCRIPTURE Ephesians 6:10-20 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints, and pray in my behalf, that speech may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. WORDS OF HOPE This passage and Ephesians has always been one for me that has seemed antithetical to the Christian message in many ways. Gearing up for war; gearing up for battle? I know I’ve seen churches who dress children up in cardboard versions of Roman armor labeled in a way that matches this passage. But if I look at it more closely, I begin to realize that we’re not talking about going to battle necessarily. After all, it does say that to strap on the preparation of the gospel of peace implies going forward in a peaceful way. And except for the sword, most of these items are defensive; they protect you from what comes at you. So why would a Christian writer, whether it is Paul or someone else, use this imagery? I think two things need to be considered. First, he’s writing to the Ephesians. Ephesus in Asia minor had always been at a point of battle. Alexander, the Great had stopped here. The Persians had come here. The Greeks had fought here, and finally the Romans had taken control. Lots of armies moving through. So, the imagery of soldiers is one that would resonate with the Ephesians. There may not have been a time in the memory of anyone when soldiers were not around. And the Ephesians were not Jewish. So many of the Jewish images used in other letters, and the gospels would not have the same resonance as this. But immediately following this militaristic description of evangelism, is a call for prayer. Indeed, the military description ends with the Spirit which is described as a sword, which is the word of God. And the call for prayer says to pray at all times in the Spirit. This positioning of ideas is clear. Just as all of the armies that have come through and have brought the sword to bring what they saw as the truth of their system; now Christians use the word of God to bring the truth of salvation. This would reinforce to the Ephesians; how different the new message of Jesus is from the old message of conquest and tyranny. There is one other thing about armor. When someone is wearing armor, or even a uniform, it is obvious to everyone who they are. Not only does it show that they are prepared, protected, and serving their government. The armor of God shows that we are prepared, protected and serving God. And so, the letter writer reminds us that what people know of God is what they see in us. PRAYER Dear God, help us to always show ourselves as followers of your Christ. May we be prepared. May we be protected. May we, and faith, and peace go forward to show others your love and salvation. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Weber Baker Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare.

SCRIPTURES Revelation 7:9 ..after this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.  Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. WORDS OF HOPE The scene is a dimly lit bar & grill and it’s Sunday night around 9:30pm. There’s a small stage in the front corner, a large floor with table seating, a bar area with barstools, and booth seating on the far wall. In the back corner, there’s a table for two, but it’s reserved for someone very special. We showed up way too early, which meant we got to hear the musicians on the stage jam a little before the downbeat. It also meant that from our booth, we could watch people come in. Among the first to arrive were two trans women, who grabbed a table near the bar. Then a middle-aged woman came in and started arranging tables together for a birthday celebration. There were young people whose ID showed they just turned 21 and old people who are probably up past their normal bedtime. Some people were dressed up to perhaps to impress a new friend, and others were in old t-shirts and faded jeans. There were black people, white people, Native American people… persons of every ethnicity, age, economic status, and gender identity. This place is Bunker’s Music Bar & Grill on the North Loop in Minneapolis. And every Sunday night since 1987, a band known as Dr. Mambo’s Combo drops some wicked and unmistakable Minneapolis funk-soul. The band reflects the crowd, members being older and younger, black and white, dressed up and dressed down. Back when he was still alive, a Minneapolis native known as Prince would sit in the back corner and sometimes make his way on stage. The empty table for two in the back corner is still reserved for him. We found ourselves at Bunker’s because the tour guide at Paisley Park, the waitress at another bar, a server at a local restaurant and my niece all said that Dr. Mambo’s Combo was not to be missed. At one point, during a break between sets, Kas motioned to the room and said, “Churches should look like this”. A place where anyone and everyone is welcomed and accepted, where you can shed the identity that the world puts on you and be completely yourself. You’re tied together by rhythm, cadence, and transcendence, so there are no cliques, castes, cabals, or inner circles. Of course, we’ll move over and make room for you. Of course, you can sing along to Steve Wonder or Chaka Khan or Janet Jackson. It was shortly after Kas’ comment that I started imagining a middle eastern man in an outer robe and tunic. He was laughing with the trans women, dancing with the birthday girl, and chiming in to James Brown. I think Jesus loves a good party and adores diversity. I want to be at that party too. PRAYER God of all, In Christ, we are one— no divisions, no barriers, only love. Open our hearts to see each person as beloved, to honor differences and celebrate unity. May we live as one body, guided by Your grace. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Thomas Riggs

SCRIPTURE Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. WORDS OF HOPE Creating Space for Hope There are times on the journey of life when we wonder about this thing called hope. Your 17-year-old son is diagnosed with terminal melanoma. The neighbor next door takes his own life, leaving his spouse to provide and care for their four children ages 3 to 11. At age 62, your position at work is eliminated and there are few prospects for your area of experience. Despair can seem more familiar than hope at times. The writer of Lamentations declares: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for God’s compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore, I will wait for the Lord.’” (Lamentations 3:22-24) When I was at a particularly low place in my life, I recall the words of a friend who said, “You can choose to get bitter or better.” Hope chooses the latter. Hope is more than wishful thinking; it is an intention. We choose—we declare our intent to create space for hope to exist and to thrive. The gifted poet, Emily Dickinson, struggled with depression most of her life and never lived to see her works published. Still, she penned the words, written in the mid 1800’s, that endure still: “Hope” is the thing with feathers - That perches in the soul - And sings the tune without the words - And never stops - at all - PRAYER Holy One, may we leave space—indeed, create space—chiseling it out of rock if necessary, for your precious gift of Hope. Holy Spirit come, dwell with us and make it so! Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Rev. Dr. Gary Kindley Pastoral Psychotherapist DrGK.org

SCRIPTURE Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Colossians 3:12 WORDS OF HOPE The morning Joyce died a dear friend came to the hospital and would stop at nothing before she wrapped me in her arms and held me while I wept. She stayed with me as I walked through the official leaving of her body, grown cold to my touch, and then followed me home to make toast—the only thing I could eat. Then she cleaned out the refrigerator so that there would be room for casserole-comfort. I know intimately the relationship of loss and kindness of which Naomi Shihab Nye speaks in her poem: “Before you know what kindness really is/ you must lose things,/feel the future dissolve in a moment/like salt in a weakened broth./What you held in your hand,/ what you counted and carefully saved,/ all this must go so you know/how desolate the landscape can be/ between the regions of kindness.”* How desolate a landscape indeed. We are sadly seeing in our country right now cruelty and hatred of a magnitude which still shocks and horrifies, sanctioned even at the highest corridors of power. So, this morning on World Kindness Day let us commit ourselves to an ethic of kindness. Recently, I heard a conservative pastor say that you don’t really have to agree on anything to be kind. If we accept the truth in that assertion, kindness can become one of the paths back to each other. Contrarily, looking at the roots of the word “unkind” are telling. “Uncynde” in Old English means “unnatural, not in accord with the regular course of nature.” Therefore, our unkindness is unnatural, not living in accord with our God given nature. In our unkindness we do not see that “no [person] is alien” to us, to paraphrase John Donne’s famous poem.** Kindness begins when I see you, witness your struggle, discomfort, or pain, and something inside of me stirs in the heart—compassion, empathy, desire to alleviate suffering—and moves me to turn that feeling into action. Kindness, then, whether the simplest act of opening a door for someone on a walker, comforting a young person who has been excluded at school, taking meals to our unhoused neighbors, or committing ourselves to the long faithfulness of a critically ill friend’s care, is the resilient spiritual thread that weaves us together in our humanity, helps create kindred out of strangers, brings heaven closer to earth. To return to our poet: “Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,/you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing./You must wake up with sorrow. /You must speak to it till your voice/catches the thread of all sorrows/and you see the size of the cloth.” When we understand the size of the fabric of world sorrow, or as Fr. Richard Rohr calls it, “the tears of things,” it’s as if we cannot do anything other than take kindness with us every day—“like a shadow or a friend” (Nye). PRAYER God whose steadfast loving kindness transforms our hearts, “For as long as space endures/And for as long as living beings remain/Until then may I, too, abide/To dispel the misery of the world.”*** Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Dr. Pat Saxon *A link to Naomi Shihab Nye’s poem https://poets.org/poem/kindness ** John Donne, “No Man is an Island” *** The quoted part of the prayer is the Dalai Lama’s.