July 23, 2023 | Inés Velásquez-McBryde | 2 Cor. 2:14-17 Christ is sufficient and the Spirit is supreme to make us competent to fulfill our calling. In Christ, we are empowered to be the aroma of Christ and sometimes, well, Jesus smells like a mango empanada.
July 16, 2023 | Inés Velásquez-McBryde | 2 Cor. 3:1-6 The Apostle Paul writes to the Corinthian church a letter of encouragement about their witness. They are letters. Letters of Christ. The Holy Spirit is the ink. Letters that give life and liberation. We can be confident that God is competent to write our […]
June 11, 2023 | Inés Velásquez-McBryde | Acts 16:1-10 The Holy Spirit pulls some stops in Paul, Silas & Timothy’s journey on their way to Philippi. The Spirit actually stops and redirects them 2 times. When we pause and read in between the lines we see the gift of uncertainty that holds space for listening […]
May 7, 2023 | Inés Velásquez-McBryde | Exodus 15:1-13 Miriam leaves the place of slavery in Egypt and the one thing she brings is a tambourine. Jewish tradition teaches that Miriam led the women and people of Israel in song and dance at God’s liberation. She danced on dry land. Her tambourine is a […]
April 23, 2023 | Inés Velásquez-McBryde | Genesis 1:1-3 Pastora Inés dives into an overview of the Ruach Elohim and scans the presence and power of the Spirit within the Old Testament. The same Spirit that hovers over the waters of creation falls upon prophets and prophetesses. She leans into the language we use […]
April 2, 2023 | Inés Velásquez-McBryde | Luke 19:35-40 Triumphal entries were a thing in ancient Rome. Kings would come back from a conquest showing off their spoils of war by marching in a procession in a conquered city. Victors would show off the conquered (enslaved) peoples, conquered kings and queens, and seized property/land. […]
February 19, 2023 | Inés Velásquez-McBryde | Phil. 4:4-7 NRSV Joy is such a wild and elusive word that the Apostle Paul invites us not once, but twice to rejoice! He writes from the prison of his own house arrest in Rome and yet has the audacity to call us to rejoice, to not be […]
January 22, 2023 | Inés Velásquez-McBryde | Matthew 15:21-28 The kingdom of heaven is like a Canaanite mother who crosses the border seeking mercy for her demonized daughter. This immigrant mother exhibits courage as a rhythm to demand justice. She asks for what she needs, believes in the identity & authority of Jesus, stands in […]
January 8, 2023 | Inés Velásquez-McBryde | Matthew 2:9-13 This past Sunday we began a monthlong new series: Rhythms of Justice to explore the rhythms of life that sustain it. We celebrated Epiphany and the way the magi in Matthew 2:9-13 returned home by a different way: they performed an act of civil disobedience by […]
December 4, 2022 | Inés Velásquez-McBryde | Matthew 2:1-10 In the story of the magi, revelation comes to the least expected. A group of ancient Persian astrologers sees the rising of the star that leads them on a journey to Jesus. The star becomes the main witness. They woke up in the night, walked, and […]