The Rev. Drew Myers ’15, Pastor-in-Charge, Center United Methodist Church, Natrona Heights, Pa., and Pastor of Young Adult Ministries, Zion United Methodist Church, Sarver, Pa.

Scripture

Matthew 25:1-13

1 "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a shout, 'Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' 7 Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' 9 But the wise replied, 'No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.' 10 And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. 11 Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' 12 But he replied, 'Truly I tell you, I do not know you.' 13Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour."

Devotional

It is interesting to ponder exactly how routine life has become for many of us because of the importance placed on timing. Nearly everything that we do in our lives is based around how quickly the hands of the clock are moving. The work scheduled is about time, the Sunday morning worship schedule is timed, the class day is timed. Even entertainment, which should be simply “free” time, adheres to the television or movie time schedule. “We now interrupt your previously scheduled program for this announcement: Where is Jesus in this time schedule?” It is pretty tough to “keep watch” for something we do not know the day or hour of, when every minute of our lives is scheduled elsewhere. Perhaps we need to pay more attention to those not-scheduled times in our lives.

Prayer

Eternal God, as we wait for the time of your Son, we ask for peace of our hearts. Help us to embrace those times in our lives when we escape our schedules, and draw closer to you. Let us see your greatness over everything that we do. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

The Rev. Drew Myers ’15, Pastor-in-Charge, Center United Methodist Church, Natrona Heights, Pa., and Pastor of Young Adult Ministries, Zion United Methodist Church, Sarver, Pa.

Scripture

Matthew 25:1-13

1 "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a shout, 'Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' 7 Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' 9 But the wise replied, 'No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.' 10 And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. 11 Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' 12 But he replied, 'Truly I tell you, I do not know you.' 13Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour."

Devotional

It is interesting to ponder exactly how routine life has become for many of us because of the importance placed on timing. Nearly everything that we do in our lives is based around how quickly the hands of the clock are moving. The work scheduled is about time, the Sunday morning worship schedule is timed, the class day is timed. Even entertainment, which should be simply “free” time, adheres to the television or movie time schedule. “We now interrupt your previously scheduled program for this announcement: Where is Jesus in this time schedule?” It is pretty tough to “keep watch” for something we do not know the day or hour of, when every minute of our lives is scheduled elsewhere. Perhaps we need to pay more attention to those not-scheduled times in our lives.

Prayer

Eternal God, as we wait for the time of your Son, we ask for peace of our hearts. Help us to embrace those times in our lives when we escape our schedules, and draw closer to you. Let us see your greatness over everything that we do. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.