Scripture Study

Once a month at the Universalist Recovery Church, we hold a Scripture Study to explore teachings from various religious traditions. These reflections were written for those Sunday gatherings. Although they mostly draw from Christian or Hebrew Scriptures, we also consider Buddhist, mystical, and other teachings.

Cinco de Mayo and World Laughter Day
Cinco de Mayo and Resilience Mexico lost the war, but won the battle. On May 5, 1862, with […]

4 May, 2019 in Scripture Study tagged Cinco de Mayo / Ecclesiastes / Grief / Laughter / Laughter Yoga / World Laughter Day by Barbara Stevens

Woman looking at red flowers, hiding her smile behind her hand - joy that is life and the opposite of evil — Evil, Idolatry, and Life
Paul and Religious Authority Nearly thirty years ago, when I started seminary, I read an article about the […]

6 Apr, 2019 in Scripture Study tagged choose life / Colossians / Evil / Love / Moral Foundation's Theory / Self-Righteousness by Barbara Stevens

Woman screaming wrapped in tape with red letters that read "Fragile" - the shame that is part of our vulnerability and can lead to anger and envy — Letting Go of Envy
Envy Versus Jealousy Most of the authors I’ve read who write about envy start by explaining the difference […]

2 Mar, 2019 in Scripture Study tagged Ecclesiastes 4 / Envy / Healing / Illusion / Shame by Barbara Stevens

Martha and Mary and the “One Thing”
Martha and Mary – the Traditional Rendering You may know the story of Martha and Mary. Jesus arrives […]

2 Feb, 2019 in Scripture Study tagged Gospel of Luke / Martha and Mary / Minfulness / Ministry by Barbara Stevens

Luke, Transformation, and Preparation

Preparing for New Life Her initial preparation took years. At first, she didn’t realize she was preparing for […]

1 Dec, 2018 in Scripture Study tagged choose life / Death / Forgiveness / Perparation / Social Justice / transformation by Barbara Stevens

Love Song to God
God Loves You The pastors of the UCC church I attended in Chicago seemed to have one primary […]

29 Aug, 2018 in Scripture Study tagged God / Love / Mysticism / Poetry / Whirling Dervishes by Amanda Guthrie

Choosing the Good Way

To Travel the Good Way If ever we needed to walk the “good way” that the prophet Jeremiah […]

4 Aug, 2018 in Scripture Study tagged choose life / Justice by Barbara Stevens

Hagar and the Power of Naming

The Power of Naming When he enlisted in the army toward the end of World War II, my […]

30 Jun, 2018 in Scripture Study tagged Being Seen / Compassion / God / Hagar / Naming by Barbara Stevens

Feeling Forsaken and Being Found in Psalm 22
Psalm 22 and Feeling Forsaken Psalm 22 starts with the line Jesus famously spoke as he hung on […]

2 Jun, 2018 in Scripture Study tagged Dark Night / Forgiveness / God / Love / Psalms / relationships by Barbara Stevens

Pentecost and Spirit Guides

The Christian Pentecost According to the Book of Acts, when the disciples gathered to celebrate the Hebrew festival […]

19 May, 2018 in Scripture Study tagged Healing / Pentecost / Recovery / Spirituality by Barbara Stevens

Children making peace signs with their fingers and smiling - showing empathy, the least among you will become great — The Least Will Become Great
The Least Among You When the evangelist Luke writes in Chapter Nine of his gospel that “the least […]

5 May, 2018 in Scripture Study tagged Beloved Community / Cooperation / Gospel of Luke / Humility by Barbara Stevens

hands pressed together in prayer, repentance - reminiscent of preparation during Lent — Lent, Passion, and Repentance
Lent: A Time of Preparation for Easter As Easter approaches, some Christian communities celebrate Lent, a time of […]

3 Mar, 2018 in Scripture Study tagged Anger / Jesus / Justice / Nonviolent Resistance / Repentance by Barbara Stevens