Spiritual Sounding Board – This is your place to gather and share in an open format.
-by Kathi
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Scripture is taken from the Book of Common Prayer, Readings for Easter Season, Year 1 and may be found here.
Psalm 115
Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.
Why do the nations say, “Where is their God?” Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell. They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.
All you Israelites, trust in the Lord — he is their help and shield. House of Aaron, trust in the Lord — he is their help and shield. You who fear him, trust in the Lord — he is their help and shield.
The Lord remembers us and will bless us. He will bless his people Israel, he will bless the house of Aaron, he will bless those who fear the Lord — small and great alike.
May the Lord cause you to flourish, both you and your children. May you be blessed by the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
The highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth he has given to mankind. It is not the dead who praise the Lord, those who go down to the place of silence; it is we who extol the Lord, both now and forevermore.
Praise the Lord.
1 Peter 4: 7 – 11
The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
John 21: 15 – 25
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”1Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.
Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
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May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you: wherever he may send you;
may he guide you through the wilderness: protect you from the storm;
may he bring you home rejoicing: at the wonders he has shown you;
may he bring you home rejoicing: once again into our doors.
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Feel free to join the discussion.
You can share your church struggles and concerns.
Let’s also use it as a time to encourage one another spiritually.
What have you found spiritually encouraging lately?
Do you have any special Bible verses to share, any YouTube songs that you have found uplifting?
Spiritual Sounding Board 
Good Morning Kathi! What a beautiful fellowship this morning complete with some wonderful and encouraging Scriptures. Me soul is edified and Praising our LORD for this short life He gave us to live upon this earth. Wendell and Andrew performed a soulful folkish song (I love folk music) that touched me heart, and that beautiful picture you posted make’s me want to hike through the wilderness right about now! What kind of plants are those for I have never seen anything remotely like them?
Appreciate you taking the time, Kathi, in posting this fellowship for Sunday mornings. It’s a good way to begin me day!
Blessings to you and yours!
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Good morning, Katy! Those are fiddleheads (furled fronds) on ferns. I spotted them during a lunch time walk through a nature park. Apparently you can eat fiddleheads. I’ve seen them for sale at the farmer’s market but have never tried them.
Thank you for your kind words. I’m glad there’s another folk music lover here! I’ll keep any eye out for anything new. I hope you have a wonderful day!
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As I moved through my Sunday I’m thinking of Rachel Held Evan’s family and cannot even begin to imagine the heaviness of their loss. May we remember them in the days to come.
“When we refer to ‘the biblical approach to economics’ or the biblical response to politics’ or ‘biblical womanhood,’ we’re using the Bible as a weapon disguised as an adjective.”
– Evolving in Monkey Town: How a Girl Who Knew All the Answers Learned to Ask the Questions
And, to those who were quick to throw labels such as “apostate” and “heretic” and suggest her salvation was not secure within hours of her passing, I offer this by Anne Lammot:
“Certainty is missing the point entirely.” – Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith
And, “You can either practice being right or practice being kind.”
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She and the response of her death by certain individuals has sure been on my mind today, too.
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Indeed. My condolences to everyone who knew Rachel Held Evans and most especially her family.
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