You are listening to Grace for All, a daily devotional podcast produced by the people of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee.

This is Scripture Saturday, a time when we pause and reflect on the scriptures we have read throughout the week. If you missed any of our devotionals on these passages, you can find them on our website at 1stChurch.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Now, we invite you to listen and receive Grace. Welcome and thank you for joining us.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Welcome! We have so many questions about the world around us, there is much we do not know about how and why our universe works the way it does.

Today’s scripture reading does make one thing clear about our world…hear these words from the Book of Deuteronomy chapter 10 verse 14.

Everything? That means all the physical things we can see, mountains and oceans, cities and fields, plants and animals. Also things we can’t see…wind, gravity, warmth and cold. It is the same with humans…we can see bodies and hear words, but can not see thoughts and emotions. And yet ALL these things were created by and belong to God. He cares about all these seen and unseen things in our world, none are hidden from him.

These verses help me be mindful about how I treat Gods belongings, the things I can see and those I cannot. To treat the environment, our physical surroundings with care, to treat other people with kindness, to watch my words and emotions. It is easy to feel insignificant in this huge world and these verses help me realize that I am important to God, me just one human being.

Father God, we live in an amazing world you have created for us, full of beauty and wonder. Also sadness and violence. Help us to care for all of your belongings, people and animals, rivers and pastures, everything seen and unseen you have provided. We give you thanks for our community and ask your help to be good caretakers. Amen.

This podcast was written and read by Leslie Ragland.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Psalm 19 is the inspiration for a familiar hymn, “For the Beauty of the Earth.” The lyrics begin:

These words from the hymn are familiar to many of us. They express wonder and awe at God’s creation. We all have sunrise and sunset moments of awe, seasonal moments of awe, and weather moments of awe.

But in these dissonant times, more often I find myself turning inward and seeking messages of certainty and validation through my friends on social media and texts. I forget that we humans are a microcosm in time, and that we exist in a world created by God, a world of oxygen that allows me to breathe in and out, a world of gravity that allows me to move in predictable ways, a world of taste, touch, sight, sound, and smell.

I live in a senior community, and all our residents are blessed to receive a daily email from a neighbor, Bob. Bob is a man of science who seeks beauty in the natural world and photographs it. Over the years he has helped me see anew the glory that is all around: in the snowflakes of winter, tiny flowers in groundcovers, Lenten roses, the first daffodils and crocuses, the swelling buds on trees, the fungi that explode into mushrooms, and yes, even the exquisite beauty of dandelions. Bob sends a photograph and provides both scientific and historical information and makes us see things new.

And recently, our adult Sunday school class enjoyed a presentation on a book titled The Power of AWE.

AWE stands for Attention, Wait, and Expand. The author promises that investing one minute a day in the immediate moment will ‘”overcome burnout and anxiety, ease chronic pain, and bring clarity and purpose.” That’s a large order! But essentially, it’s what my neighbor Bob does when he creates an AWE moment with his emails. I now search daily for the AWE in my world. A friend and I have expanded AWE to AWES by adding the word SHARE. In this way we create community and joy each day.

And in this way, we see again that the earth is the Lord’s and that we must care for God’s gift and work as stewards of God’s creation. When we stop and pay attention to the birds, insects, water, and plants that inhabit this beautiful world, we realize that we must be better stewards of God’s creation.

Dear Lord, who has set your glory throughout the heavens and the earth, open our senses to your glory and create in us a sense of awe. Help us to become true stewards of your creation, not just consumers. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

This devotion was written by Laura Derr and read by Judy Wilson.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at

I remember when I was a little girl studying in school about the Sun, the Moon, the nine planets, and the far away stars. Yes, there were nine planets at that time, including little Pluto. My grandmother used to let me read from her huge family Bible that sat in a prominent place of honor, in her living room.

I loved reading the creation story in Genesis 1 – “In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth…” The story goes on to explain that God created everything in, on, and above the Earth. When he got everything else ready and saw that it was good, he created humankind – male and female – in his own image, and blessed them, turning over the care of all his Earthly creation to humans.

He gave instructions to us to fill the earth and care for it – to tend it. He gave us a Paradise and told us to watch over it, together.

So, of course our Scripture today says – “The Earth is the Lord’s and all who live in it.”

Unfortunately, the filling part of that command has worked out more successfully than the tending part.

Not all the people on the earth look at the Earth with reverence and care. Multitudes look at the Earth as theirs, not God’s own. Multitudes abuse her and her rich treasures. Multitudes fight over her resources and abuse her and deny God’s sovereignty.

God knows that we can’t control other people.

God knows that we even have trouble controlling ourselves!

But, God also knows our hearts and can see our good actions, our efforts to live out his instructions to tend the Earth and to follow His instructions to LOVE one another.

If we Christians all band together in LOVING the Earth and ALL her people, we can make a difference. We can show God and all mankind that we know whose we are and that we live for and in HIM. So, let’s join our hearts and hands and do just that!

Dear Lord, show us the way we should go. Help us to love and forgive, to nurture and tend your Earth and all her inhabitants, just as you commanded us to do.

In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!

This devotion was written and read by Bernice Howard.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Welcome to Grace for All, a daily devotional podcast produced by the people of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee.

Today is a special day that many people around the globe have set aside to honor the place where we live, the earth. For more than a half century, this day as been known as Earth Day.

• For some, this is a day to recognize and preserve our environment.
• For others, however, this day reminds us that the miracle of this planet is God’s creation.

For the next several weeks on the Grace for All podcast, we will emphasize this particular aspect of our faith. Thank you for joining use.

The lines of the old hymn ring loudly in my brain:

Maltbie Babcock, a Presbyterian minister, published this hymn in 1901, and it has become a standard for hymnals of many denominations since then. The words are simple, direct, and clear. This is my father’s world. It is not my world. It is not the world of some power-mad politician. God created this world, and He still owns it.

God gave humans stewardship of the world. By any measure, we have not fulfilled our stewardship responsibilities of caring for this miraculous creation.

What is happening to the world today, environmentally and politically, is troubling. We continue to destroy what we should preserve. We continue to heap curelties onto one another instead of showing love, mercy, and kindness. Evil in its many forms seems to dominate our lives and the whole earth.

Yet, the words of the old hymn return to us:

We can rest ourselves in that thought. This is my Father’s world.

Our Father, remind us daily that this is your world and not ours. Help us to find ways to preserve rather than destroy. Help us to be good stewards of what you have given to us. Amen.

This devotional was written and read by Jim Stovall.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily...

Welcome to Grace for All, a daily devotional podcast produced by the people of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. Our journey through Holy Week ends today with Easter Monday.

During this last week, we have presented a special set of podcasts that have traced the events of Holy Week. Our journey ends today with Easter Monday and the story of a post-resurrection appearance of Christ. Thank you for joining us.

The 24th chapter of the Gospel of Luke describes a mysterious journey on the day of Jesus' resurrection. The story begins in verse 13.

Cleopas and his friend were believers. They saw Jesus's actions, heard his words, and felt firsthand Jesus's love for them and for all the people he encountered. Surely, this was the Messiah. Surely, he was the one who would redeem Israel from Roman oppression. He had to be the one - how could he not be?

But a week after Jesus came to Jerusalem on the back of a donkey to the cheers of the crowd, and three days after they watched Jesus die, they were headed for home, dejected, weary, and heartbroken. Jesus of Nazareth wasn't the Messiah. He was just another false prophet. It was time to get back to the real world and start over.

They discussed the events while they were walking.

They just wanted to get home, but this stranger who joined them would not stop talking. They weren't sure where this guy came from, but he seemed oblivious to the past few days' events. How could he not have heard about all this? Nevertheless, they told the stranger about Jesus, his trial, and his execution.

But rather than just listening, the stranger talked back. He called them foolish and began to tell them about Moses and the prophets, quoting from the Holy Scriptures. Who was this man?

The more the man talked, the more interested they became. He explained to them that all of Israel's history and all the scriptures pointed to a Messiah and that the Messiah had to die just the way Jesus died. They started to understand. Could they be wrong? Was Jesus the Messiah?

Before they knew it, they were home. The stranger turned to the road to continue on his way, but they urged him to come home with them. They wanted to hear more. They asked the stranger to stay for dinner, and he accepted.

The stranger was a very much alive Jesus, and he had given them the best bible lesson in history. He explained to them the truth of the Messiah and showed them that he was the deliverer of not only Israel but the world.

The story ends with the two men "rushing" the seven miles back to Jerusalem and seeking out the eleven apostles to tell them what happened to them.

This scripture passage is an account of one of the many post-resurrection appearances of Jesus. It is fascinating and mysterious, and for me, it raises many questions. The most important question is how this applies to us today.

These two men were headed for home in Emmaus. Emmaus was a retreat from their disappointment and heartbreak. They felt like Jesus had let them down when, in fact, they misunderstood his life and his...

You are listening to Grace for All, a daily devotional podcast written and produced by the people of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee.

Today is Easter Sunday when we celebrate the resurrection of Christ. It is the most important and most joyous day in the Christian calendar, and we are happy that you have joined us today.

The first Easter morning did not start with celebrations of Hallelujah! It began with sadness, followed by fear and confusion. A group of women went to tend to Jesus’ grave, still grieving from the horror of his crucifixion and likely in fear of encountering Roman soldiers at the tomb. On arrival, they found the stone rolled away and an empty tomb…Jesus’ body was gone. If that did not put them into shock, their encounter with an Angel, described as the appearance of lightning and clothes as white as snow must have completely frightened them. Then we hear the Angel speak:

He (Jesus) has risen, just as He said! Come and see for yourself and then go witness to the disciples. In fear and joy, the women delivered the message.

Jesus had risen, just as He said! And having appeared to the disciples, they too were charged to go and be a witness.

In 1739, Charles Wesley penned a hymn that has been sung during Easter services for the last 286 years.

In the last two thousand years since that first Easter, how many times have people encountered the risen Jesus, and having believed gone out to be a witness. I am one of them. On this Easter morning, I join with countless Christians to celebrate the risen Christ, to sing Hallelujah, praises to God. I celebrate the witnesses in my life, my parents and a faith community that led me to a relationship with Christ, accepting Jesus as the Savior who died on a cross for my sins. On this Easter morning and every Easter morning, we celebrate Christ the Lord has risen today.

When we sing our Hallelujahs, we provide a witness to others that Jesus has risen, just as He said. We are Easter people, we witness to the risen Christ who is still with us today. Hallelujah!

This devotion was written and read by Owen Ragland.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is...

Holy Saturday

Welcome to Grace for All, a daily devotional podcast written and produced by the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. Thank you for joining us today. This is Holy Week, a time when Christians everywhere observe the days leading up to the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Christ. This week, we present a special set of podcasts that day by day, trace the activities and words of Jesus during this time. Again, thank you for joining us on this journey.

Holy Saturday, the day between the Crucifixion and the Resurrection, is the day Jesus is in the tomb. Does this “in between” times have anything to tell us? To get at the answer to this question we need to go back to that Saturday and look at what the people who knew Jesus were doing.

The Gospels have different accounts. In Matthew, whose scripture we read, the focus is on the Chief Priest and the Pharisees. They are at Pilate’s house, demanding that a guard be placed at the tomb to prevent the disciples from stealing the body and saying he rose from the dead. In Luke we have the women who had been with him, even at the foot of the cross, preparing spices so they could finish the embalming process once the Sabbath was over. In Mark and John there is silence about this day but later in John we are told that the disciples were in hiding behind locked doors, fearful that the authorities who had put Jesus to death would come for them.

I call all of these “tomb moments.” It is a time of endings and death. A time seemingly void of hope and possibilities. Remember, for these first disciples there was no Easter, just the stark reality that their beloved teacher and friend had been cruelly put to death.

When we pause to reflect, we realize that we all have our tomb moments. These are times of great loss, disappointment and grief. Life, as we know it is no longer a possibility and what is to come is unknown, often unwanted and possibly frightening. This is a time of acute grief.

The first day after a great loss can be almost worse than the day it happened. This day you wake up for the first time knowing a void that will never be filled. Whether that void is due to a death, loss of a job, or the ending of a dream, you know that your life has forever changed and there is no going back.

How do you live during tomb moments? The women highlight one approach in there preparing spices for the embalming. They were focussing on the loss, trying to process it by putting all their mental energy towards funeral preparations. This is a common expression of grief. You know that a new day has dawned but you are not ready to deal with it.

Others, like the male disciples, can be filled with fear about the unknowns ahead. We accept the loss, but it leaves us with a jumble of emotions, from anger at the person we love dying, to fear as to what we are going to do and what our future might look like, to helplessness because it all feels so overwhelming. The Pharisees and Chief Priest give us one more approach, proclaiming that new life is an impossibility. And doing everything in their power to resist moving forward in life.

Yes, we have our tomb moments. We see our actions and feelings mirrored...