Springfield Presbyterian Church

03/13/2025

I saw a stranger on the road in need of help and care
No clues to their identity, just human flesh laid bare
A thought had fluttered through my mind: “Is this one of my own?”
My tribal mind made me forget that they’re bone of my bone

—from the hymn “I Saw a Stranger” by Rev. Anna Strickland |

03/12/2025

Wildly loving God, every once in a while someone does something so kind, so unreasonably gracious, that it uncoils something in me. It unravels a bit of fear or grief, and leaves me with a glimmer of hope. Show me how to love like that. Show me how to cross the road, care for my neighbor, and love beyond dividing lines. Show me how to be unreasonably hospitable and wildly loving. Amen.

— prayer by Rev. Sarah Speed |

03/11/2025

“Vulnerability appears in manifold ways in one short passage: The Samaritan’s risky mercy. The humanity of the priest and the Levite. Also, the innkeeper’s trust; he takes a small down payment, believing the promise of more. There’s the boldness of the legal expert too; he instigates this whole thing by asking a testing question—and it’s quintessentially Jesus to meet even the self-righteous by staying in conversation. Candor invites us to see ourselves in each of these characters.”

—Rev. Jeff Chu () from his commentary on Luke 10:25-37 |

03/10/2025

When we talk about God, we say
she’ll look you in the eye.
She’ll love you as you are.
She’ll call you by your name.

When we talk about God,
we never have to talk about
which side of the road she might walk down.
Wherever you are,
that’s where she’ll be.

—from “Never Met a Stranger” by Rev. Sarah Speed |

03/09/2025

The parable of the Good Samaritan begins and ends with the question, “Who is my neighbor?” and the answer is surprisingly, “the stranger.” The Samaritan, whose place of worship and customs are different from the lawyer who questions Jesus, is both a stranger and a neighbor to the man who was beaten and left in a ditch. In our world, many of our physical neighbors are strangers to us, and many of our neighbors—those closest to us—feel like strangers in divisive political climates. If we align our intentions and actions, then maybe we need to reconsider who we label as “stranger,” and ask ourselves if we have acted as good neighbors. |

03/08/2025

It’s one thing to speak of faith. It’s another
to press your forehead to the floor,
to cry out in prayer,
to ask the hard questions and still
thank God for the meal.

—from “Both, Please” by Rev. Sarah Speed |

03/07/2025

Create a mantra for yourself this Lenten season. Between now and Easter, what words would you like to repeat? |

03/06/2025

“The relationship between the Jews and Samaritans at the time of Jesus’ ministry was defined by centuries of political upheaval resulting in foundational cultural and religious differences. Instead of centering Jerusalem as their religious and cultural hub, Samaritans built their temple on Mount Gerizim. I think that Jesus’ unwavering focus on Jerusalem was a non-starter for the Samaritans. Perhaps feeling disrespected or even judged, the Samaritans were unable to receive Jesus. Their intention to remain faithful to their religious traditions made it difficult for them to embrace Jesus’ message.”

—from the artist statement for “Toward Jerusalem” by Rev. Lauren Wright Pittman |

03/05/2025

“Are you ready to move toward transformation? Are you ready to listen for good news in seemingly impossible spaces, even as a divided people and planet? Ready to set Lenten intentions, even with this year’s challenges? Ready, even with some good reasons to wait a little longer to begin?”

—Dr. Mindy McGarrah Sharp (.m.sharp) from her commentary on Luke 9:51-62 |

03/04/2025

Our Lenten theme, “Everything In Between,” invites us to navigate the polarities in our lives with more faith, intention, and openness to be transformed. Each weekly sub-theme explores two supposed binaries, like “faith & works” or “rest & growth,” or “grief & hope.” We often consider these ideas to be opposing. However, as we explore these concepts within the scriptures, we find nuance and complexity. We find that these dichotomies are false. We might begin to see a full spectrum instead of black and white. We might find that God is present in between.

And so, this season, we invite you to look beyond black and white binaries and easy answers. We encourage you to take in the art, poetry, and reflections, imagining where God might be meeting us beyond the categories we create. This Lent, we're trusting that God shows up in shades of gray, rainbow hues, and everywhere in between.

01/17/2025

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01/02/2025

Life often unfolds in ways that surprise us, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Have you felt God's presence when your life took an unexpected turn? |