When we are not welcoming guest speakers, the Sunday morning forum studies the Book of Haggai. He is the most specifically dated prophet. His four oracles are all dated the fall of 520 BC. Through Haggai, God encourages the people of Jerusalem to finish rebuilding the temple. We understand spiritual matters and not material things endure. But this is one example of how a physical building project is part of spiritual, cultural, civic renewal. Towns across America are filled with grand old public buildings that held our activities and shaped our identity. Historic churches are among those significant buildings that helped build a culture. As Ashtabula looks toward the future, the reclaiming of some buildings and / or building new ones will be part of our revitalization.

The next scheduled guest speaker at the Sunday forum will be Ohio State Representative Casey Kozlowski. He will appear February 12th, 9:30 a.m., in Messiah's Luther Room. The discussion agenda is open. Coffee is served. Conversation is lively. We thank Mr. Kozlowski and his staff for working Messiah's forum into their busy schedule.

Sermon texts this season after the Epiphany have been from the Second Reading. It has been a brief tour thru the book of First Corinthians. This Sunday, 5 Epiphany - February 5, we heard Paul say he / we have a commission. The Greek word translated commission is the basis of our English word for household or economy. We have this household, this economy to maintain. The sermon took the tack that we maintain the commission / household / economy we have received from God when we are mindful of the weak. When we anticipate and respond to the need of the other we in part fulfill our commission. For Saint Paul that meant not receiving the compensation from Corinth that was rightfully due to him. For us it may mean anticipating what another needs to feel or receive and providing it for the other.

The Daily Lection continues:

February 5 Week of 5 Epiphany

Sunday
Genesis 24:50-67
2 Timothy 2:14-21
Mark 10:13-22

Monday
Genesis 25:19-34
Hebrews 13:1-16
John 7:37-52

Tuesday
Genesis 26:1-6, 12-33
Hebrews 13:17-25
John 7:53--8:11

Wednesday
Genesis 27:1-29
Romans 12:1-8
John 8:12-20

Thursday
Genesis 27:30-45
Romans 12:9-21
John 8:21-32

Friday
Genesis 27:46--28:4, 10-22
Romans 13:1-14
John 8:33-47

Saturday
Genesis 29:1-20
Romans 14:1-23
John 8:47-59

February 12 Week of 6 Epiphany

Sunday
Genesis 29:20-35
1 Timothy 3:14--4:10
Mark 10:23-31

Monday
Genesis 30:1-24
1 John 1:1-10
John 9:1-17

Tuesday
Genesis 31:1-24
1 John 2:1-11
John 9:18-41

Wednesday
Genesis 31:25-50
1 John 2:12-17
John 10:1-18

Thursday
Genesis 32:3-21
1 John 2:18-29
John 10:19-30

Friday
Genesis 32:22--33:17
1 John 3:1-10
John 10:31-42

Saturday
Genesis 35:1-20
1 John 3:11-18
John 11:1-16

February 19 Transfiguration and Following

Sunday
Malachi 4:1-6
2 Corinthians 3:7-18
Luke 9:18-27

Monday
Proverbs 27:1-6, 10-12
Philippians 2:1-13
John 18:15-18, 25-27

Tuesday
Proverbs 30:1-4, 24-33
Philippians 3:1-11
John 18:28-38

February 22 Ash Wednesday
Amos 5:6-15
Hebrews 12:1-14
Luke 18:9-14
Thursday
Habakkuk 3:1-10 (11-15) 16-18
Philippians 3:12-21
John 17:1-8
Friday
Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32

February 26 Week of 1 Lent

Sunday
Daniel 9:3-10
Hebrews 2:10-18
John 12:44-50
Monday
Genesis 37:1-11
1 Corinthians 1:1-19
Mark 1:1-13
Tuesday
Genesis 37:12-24
1 Corinthians 1:20-31
Mark 1:14-28
Wednesday
Genesis 37:25-36
1 Corinthians 2:1-13
Mark 1:29-45
Thursday
Genesis 39:1-23
1 Corinthians 2:14--3:15
Mark 2:1-12
Friday
Genesis 40:1-23
1 Corinthians 3:16-23
Mark 2:13-22
Saturday
Genesis 41:1-13
1 Corinthians 4:1-7
Mark 2:23--3:6

March 4 Week of 2 Lent

Sunday
Genesis 41:14-45
Romans 6:3-14
John 5:19-24
Monday
Genesis 41:46-57
1 Corinthians 4:8-20 (21)
Mark 3:7-19a
Tuesday
Genesis 42:1-17
1 Corinthians 5:1-8
Mark 3:19b-35
Wednesday
Genesis 42:18-28
1 Corinthians 5:9--6:11
Mark 4:1-20
Thursday
Genesis 42:29-38
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Mark 4:21-34
Friday
Genesis 43:1-15
1 Corinthians 7:1-9
Mark 4:35-41
Saturday
Genesis 43:16-34
1 Corinthians 7:10-24
Mark 5:1-20

March 11 Week of 3 Lent

Sunday
Genesis 44:1-17
Romans 8:1-10
John 5:25-29
Monday
Genesis 44:18-34
1 Corinthians 7:25-31
Mark 5:21-43
Tuesday
Genesis 45:1-15
1 Corinthians 7:32-40
Mark 6:1-13
Wednesday
Genesis 45:16-28
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Mark 6:13-29
Thursday
Genesis 46:1-7, 28-34
1 Corinthians 9:1-15
Mark 6:30-46
Friday
Genesis 47:1-26
1 Corinthians 9:16-27
Mark 6:47-56
Saturday
Genesis 47:27--48:7
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Mark 7:1-23

March 18 Week of 4 Lent

Sunday
Genesis 48:8-22
Romans 8:11-25
John 6:27-40
Monday
Genesis 49:1-28
1 Corinthians 10:14--11:1
Mark 7:24-37
Tuesday
Genesis 49:29--50:14
1 Corinthians 11:2-34
Mark 8:1-10
Wednesday
Genesis 50:15-26
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Mark 8:11-26
Thursday
Exodus 1:6-22
1 Corinthians 12:12-26
Mark 8:27--9:1
Friday
Exodus 2:1-22
1 Corinthians 12:27--13:3
Mark 9:2-13
Saturday
Exodus 2:23--3:15
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Mark 9:14-29

March 25 Week of 5 Lent

Sunday
Exodus 3:16--4:12
Romans 12:1-21
John 8:46-59
Monday
Exodus 4:10-20 (21-26) 27-31
1 Corinthians 14:1-19
Mark 9:30-41
Tuesday
Exodus 5:1--6:1
1 Corinthians 14:20-33a, 39-40
Mark 9:42-50
Wednesday
Exodus 7:8-24
2 Corinthians 2:14--3:6
Mark 10:1-16
Thursday
Exodus 7:25--8:19
2 Corinthians 3:7-18
Mark 10:17-31
Friday
Exodus 9:13-35
2 Corinthians 4:1-12
Mark 10:32-45
Saturday
Exodus 10:21--11:8
2 Corinthians 4:13-18
Mark 10:46-52

Holy Week

April 1 Sunday of the Passion
Zechariah 9:9-12
or Zechariah 12:9-11; 13:1, 7-9
1 Timothy 6:12-16
Luke 19:41-48
Monday
Lamentations 1:1-2, 6-12
2 Corinthians 1:1-7
Mark 11:12-25
Tuesday
Lamentations 1:17-22
2 Corinthians 1:8-22
Mark 11:27-33
Wednesday
Lamentations 2:1-9
2 Corinthians 1:23--2:11
Mark 12:1-11
April 5 Maundy Thursday

Lamentations 2:10-18
1 Corinthians 10:14-17; 11:27-32
Mark 14:12-25

April 6 Good Friday
Lamentations 3:1-9, 19-33
1 Peter 1:10-20
John 13:36-38
or John 19:38-42

April 7 Saturday
Lamentations 3:37-58
Hebrews 4:1-16
Romans 8:1-11