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Advent Sonnet 4
by Noah Bartley Agape – From the perspective of Mary the Theotokos An angel came some months ago to bearGood tidings to this lowly virgin’s soul,Announcing to my unhoused womb: ‘Your HeirPrepares His humble home and will extolEternally His throne through holy blood.”Iesous, Yeshua, my firstborn son,Native of Nazareth and Heaven — couldCreator God become…
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Advent Sonnet 3
By Noah Bartley Chara – From the perspective of Elizabeth in Luke 1:39-45 O chosen mother of my Lord and King, Unmatched in blessedness among all men: Rejoice! For he who grows within in me springs, Jumping for joy at his womb-cushioned kin. One leap and that prophetic silence broke! You bear, O Mary, long-awaited…
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Advent Sonnet 2
by Noah Bartley Eirene – From the perspective of Zechariah in Luke 1:67-79 At last my tongue is free to bless my God! Be blessed, for you have given us this child, Uncovering the path that he will trod; New ways no former prophet’s gone, the wild Divine design of Yahweh Adonai. Amid the long-drawn…
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Advent Sonnet 1
by Noah Bartley These beautiful sonnets are our gift to you this season. We hope you’ll read, and find renewed hope. Sonnet 1 Elpis: From the perspective of an intertestament Jew How long, O Lord? How long before you come?Omnipotent and kind one, speak to me!Perhaps the tongue that once spoke hope is dumb,Eternity now…
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Evergreen
by Noah Bartley When fear of future or regret of past severs me from the present; When anxiety wrings my writhing heart of every ounce of peace; When “God’s will” becomes an idol, and I seek his Kingdom second; It is in there — in here — that the Spirit swings wide the door of…
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Transformation, New Math, and a More Perfect Union
Ephesians 2:11–22, taught by Jesse Bankhead. Paul’s words in Ephesians 2 aren’t just theological statements — they are a dramatic narrative meant to reshape how we see ourselves and others in Christ. The passage unfolds in three acts: Act I: Transformation – “Then and Now” (vv. 11–13) Paul begins with a command: “Remember.” Once, Gentiles…
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Memories of MRB (with a little hope, too)
by Rachel Gates We’ve gathered in every possible kind of place over the years. In the beginning, we met on the Southside in space kindly loaned to us by ChatHOP. We would have a potluck every single week after church, slow cookers filled to the brim with whatever we had in our pantries, and somehow…
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Love Came Near
by Jenifer Kelly I often run to the grocery store after Sim goes to sleep. It’s exactly four minutes away. Maya and the dogs watch over our little place while I’m gone. It’s not as busy or as rushed this time of night whichallows for conversation with my grocers. Julie tells me about her health,…
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Notebooks, Rice, the Love of Christ
James 1:27 “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you” (NLT) It was a misty morning in the mountains. Our partners began a day of travel through rough terrain and wilderness. They walked through the…
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A Word of Surrender
Luke 23:44-46 44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had…
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A Word of Completion
John 19:30 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. There’s a moment just before this one, just before Jesus washes his disciple’s feet and eats one last meal with his friends, where John the Evangelist writes, “Jesus knew that…
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A Word of Thirst
John 19:28-29 28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. Jesus…
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A Word of Rejection
Mark 15:33-34 33 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”) I cannot imagine what it must have been like to…
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A Word of Compassion
John 19:26-27 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. The Son of God was born of a Virgin.…
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A Word of Hope
Luke 23:39-43 39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve.…
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A Word of Forgiveness
Luke 23:33-34 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. The 1828 Mirriam…
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Hidden
This week we celebrate the second Sunday of Lent. We are in a penitential season, where we continually consider our need of Him. We remember Him as our rock and redeemer, the one who sees all and is faithful to forgive. In our worship this week we will take time to reflect on His strength…
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Why I’m Glad My Daughter and My “Starving” Son and I Served at the Red Bank Food Pantry
How Do We Apprentice Our Children in the Way of Jesus? This is my prevailing question. I’m young in this parenting journey, and there is so much I have not yet experienced. How do I model and call my children to authentic faith in Jesus? I haven’t done this before! Can I show them how…
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Shabbat
(A short note for our MRB community on January 12th) [3] So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. Genesis 2:3 ===== In light of our choosing not to host service at 3912 tomorrow, here’s a simple encouragement:…
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Do You Remember?
When I was 4 years old, my mom started me in violin lessons. To date, it was the most exciting thing happening in my life. I loved learning to play. At that age I couldn’t read, and so my teacher used the Suzuki method, which is a way to learn music without being able to…
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Where MRB talks a little bit more about all the things
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