Sunday, June 21, 2026
Bible Readings for June 21, 2026
Minute for Mission: Father’s Day
Saturday, June 20, 2026
Minute for Mission: World Refugee Day
Bible Readings for June 22-28, 2026
Prayers for Our Community, Our Nation and Our World
Study, Learn and Grow: Bible Readings for June 20, 2026
Friday, June 19, 2026
Minute for Mission: Juneteenth
Prayer Requests to be shared during Sunday’s service
On Sunday, June 21, Sligo Presbyterian Church will lift to God the needs below.
- Alan McCall
- Antonio Jimenez
- Bade Mohn
- Barb Smith
- Barbara Yarchuk
- Betty Phillips
- Betty Terwint
- Bob Varner
- Brooke
- Butch, Cass's brother
- Cara Maguire Defibaugh
- Carla Hepler
- Cathy Hale
- Corbin
- Dan Wallace
- Denny Myers
- Duane Quinn
- Eddie Conner
- Evelyn Barkafelt
- Fred Summerville
- Gabe
- Gavin Blazosky
- Jan Glatt
- Jane
- Jason
- Jayden Shorts
- Jeb Rapp
- Jeff Raybuck
- Jerry & Tracy Hawks
- Jim Mahle
- Jim Mason
- Joann Klamer
- Joe Amaato
- Joe Rainey
- Karen Defibaugh
- Kaylyn Bashline
- Kirby McCall
- Lana Todd
- Landdon Chalmers
- Len Gaulin
- Levi Jack
- Marcy
- Mary Young
- Mason Martin
- Matt
- Mike Curran
- Nancy Blauser
- Pamela
- Patty Divins
- Penny Selker
- Rev. Bruce & Fab Gander
- Robin Marlow
- Ron & Shelly Haines
- Ron Lerch
- Rowan Pinson
- Rudy
- Ryan Cornecki & Family
- Sam & Carol Mason
- Tadd French
- TJ
- Tyler & Tamlynn
- Van Watkins
- Vickie White Templin
- Wes Summerville
- Zach Schieberl
Bible Readings for June 19, 2026
Thursday, June 18, 2026
The Program and Bulletin for the SPC Worship Service - Sunday, June 21, 2026
On July 4, we'll celebrate our 250th anniversary as a country. And even though we haven’t been perfect, we’ve served as an example of freedom for the rest of the world. But as important as that is, the Bible teaches that true freedom is a spiritual reality found through Jesus Christ that transforms how individuals live, serve, and interact with the world. With that in mind, during the six weeks between Pentecost and Independence Day, we’re exploring six key things the Bible says about our freedom in Christ:
- May 24 - Freedom That’s Empowered
- May 31 - Freedom That’s Liberating
- June 7 - Freedom That’s Enlightened
- June 14 - Freedom That’s Limited
- June 21 - Freedom That’s Active
- June 28 - Freedom That’s Challenging
On Sunday, we'll discuss how our freedom in Christ is active. Below is the bulletin and program for the service. You can stream the service by going to the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. (EDT). You can hear a podcast of the service at the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel or the Sligo Presbyterian Spotify Page.
Bible Readings for June 18, 2026
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Mission Yearbook: Mid council leaders meet to spread hope
Refocusing Faith: A Study of Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians (The Issue - 1 Corinthians 1:10–3:4)
- Session 1 - Paul’s Greeting (1 Corinthians 1:1-9)
- Session 2 - The Issue (1 Corinthians 1:10–3:4)
- Session 3 - Doing the Work We’ve Been Given (1 Corinthians 3:5–4:21)
- Session 4 - Right and Wrong (1 Corinthians 5:1–6:20)
- Session 5 - Marital Distractions (1 Corinthians 7:1-40)
- Session 6 - Food, Freedom and Focus (1 Corinthians 8:1–9:23)
- Session 7 - What’s Most Important (1 Corinthians 9:24–11:1)
- Session 8 - Dealing with Traditions and Customs (1 Corinthians 11:2-34)
- Session 9 - Like a Body (1 Corinthians 12:1-31)
- Session 10 - Love (1 Corinthians 13:1-13)
- Session 11 - Tongues (1 Corinthians 14:1-40)
- Session 12 - Resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-58)
- Session 13 - And in Conclusion (1 Corinthians 16:1-24)
In our second session, we looked at the issue within the Corinthian church (1 Corinthians 1:10–3:4). The discussion and passage are below.
Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you but that you be knit together in the same mind and the same purpose. For it has been made clear to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. What I mean is that each of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else. For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel—and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of the proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews ask for signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to abolish things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. In contrast, God is why you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, in order that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the testimony of God to you with superior speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were made not with persuasive words of wisdom but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.
Yet among the mature we do speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are being destroyed. But we speak God’s wisdom, a hidden mystery, which God decreed before the ages for our glory and which none of the rulers of this age understood, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written,
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the human heart conceived,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—
God has revealed to us through the Spirit, for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For what human knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God’s except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual.
Those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. Those who are spiritual discern all things, and they are themselves subject to no one else’s scrutiny.
“For who has known the mind of the Lord
so as to instruct him?”
But we have the mind of Christ.
And so, brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people but rather as fleshly, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for solid food. Even now you are still not ready, for you are still fleshly. For as long as there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not fleshly and behaving according to human inclinations? For when one says, “I belong to Paul,” and another, “I belong to Apollos,” are you not all too human?
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of the proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews ask for signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to abolish things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. In contrast, God is why you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, in order that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the testimony of God to you with superior speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were made not with persuasive words of wisdom but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.
Yet among the mature we do speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are being destroyed. But we speak God’s wisdom, a hidden mystery, which God decreed before the ages for our glory and which none of the rulers of this age understood, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written,
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the human heart conceived,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—
God has revealed to us through the Spirit, for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For what human knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God’s except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual.
Those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. Those who are spiritual discern all things, and they are themselves subject to no one else’s scrutiny.
“For who has known the mind of the Lord
so as to instruct him?”
But we have the mind of Christ.
And so, brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people but rather as fleshly, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for solid food. Even now you are still not ready, for you are still fleshly. For as long as there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not fleshly and behaving according to human inclinations? For when one says, “I belong to Paul,” and another, “I belong to Apollos,” are you not all too human?
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
Mission Yearbook: Honoring veterans for 250 years of Marine Corps
The Sligo Presbyterian Church Celebration Service - Sunday, June 14, 2026
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- May 24 - Freedom That’s Empowered
- May 31 - Freedom That’s Liberating
- June 7 - Freedom That’s Enlightened
- June 14 - Freedom That’s Limited
- June 21 - Freedom That’s Active
- June 28 - Freedom That’s Challenging
On Sunday, we discussed how our freedom in Christ is limited. Below is a video of the service, a presentation of the sermon, and the bulletin & program for the service. You can stream the service by going to the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. (EDT). You can hear a podcast of the service at the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel or the Sligo Presbyterian Spotify Page.
Sunday's Message (Freedom in Christ: Freedom That’s Limited)
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- May 24 - Freedom That’s Empowered
- May 31 - Freedom That’s Liberating
- June 7 - Freedom That’s Enlightened
- June 14 - Freedom That’s Limited
- June 21 - Freedom That’s Active
- June 28 - Freedom That’s Challenging
On Sunday, we discussed how our freedom in Christ is limited. Below are a YouTube video and the text of the sermon. You can stream the service by going to the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. (EDT). You can hear a podcast of the service at the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel or the Sligo Presbyterian Spotify Page.
Well, here we are, smack dab in the middle of June, and am I the only one who’s thinking: Where has the month gone? I mean, last week, we had Vacation Bible School and next Sunday we’ll be celebrating our parents at a Father’s Day breakfast. And then, in less than two weeks, we’ll be at the Fourth of July, our Semiquincentennial anniversary as a free and independent country.
And as most of y’all know, during the time between Pentecost and the Fourth, we’ve been talking about our freedom in Christ. And to this point we’ve looked at how it’s a freedom that’s empowered by the Holy Spirit and that liberates us from a bondage to sin. And last week, we considered how it’s also a special kind of freedom that’s enlightened – in other words, grounded in something more stable and constant than our own thoughts and opinions, and because of that, God’s freed us to be intentional; therefore, we can know. And God’s freed us to be faithful; therefore, we can understand. And God’s freed us to be practical; therefore, we can apply what we know and understand. Now, to this point, that’s what we’ve covered. And today, we’ll continue our little trip down freedom’s highway by discussing how our freedom in Christ is also limited.
Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will, within the limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not say ‘within the limits of the law,’ because law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual. [Letter to Isaac H. Tiffany, 1819]
And it’s interesting, John Locke, the same English philosopher who wrote about those God-given rights that influenced Jefferson, well, he believed this too. Just listen to what he wrote:
The only way whereby any one divests himself of his natural liberty, and puts on the bonds of civil society, is by agreeing with other men to join and unite into a community, for their comfortable, safe, and peaceable living one amongst another... [The Second Treatise of Government, 1690]
You see, since we have a responsibility to other members of society, we agree to sacrifice some of our rights, our freedom for the common good.
And I’ll tell you, I think this idea of responsibility can also apply to the liberty we’ve been given by God. I mean, even though it may be empowered and liberating and enlightened, our freedom in Christ isn’t absolute. Instead, it has limits, and similar to how it is within human society, I think those limits are defined by four responsibilities that apply to all followers of Jesus, whether they recognize them or not. And let me share with you what they are.
My friends, you were chosen to be free. So don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do anything you want. Use it as an opportunity to serve each other with love. All the Law says can be summed up in the command to love others as much as you love yourself. But if you keep attacking each other like wild animals, you had better watch out or you will destroy yourselves.
If you are guided by the Spirit, you won’t obey your selfish desires. [Galatians 5:13-16, CEV]
Now that’s what he wrote and just think about what it means. Although God has freed us from all kinds of stuff, you know, stuff like the Old Testament Law and slavery to sin and the need to earn our salvation, that doesn’t mean we’re free to run around without really thinking about him at all. In other words, we probably shouldn’t be like this guy I ran into when I first started working in the church. You see, in the beginning, when a couple would come to get married and after they’d asked me how much, I’d say something like this: Well, I don’t like to set a specific amount, because worship services should be free. Of course, I’ll accept any gift y’all might want to give. Now that’s what I used to say, until this one couple came in and asked the question and got me started with the “Well, I don’t like to set a specific amount.” But before I even got to the “of course, I’ll accept any gift,” the guy kind of slapped his thigh, turned to his fiancée and said, “Hot dog, that’s one expense we don’t have to worry about.” After that, I led with the gift part. I’ll tell you, we probably shouldn’t like that guy, because, with God, man, I think we owe him big time. I mean, for setting us free from shame and despair and fear, I think we owe him our thanks and our obedience and our willingness to do what Jesus told all disciples to do: If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross and follow me. [Mark 8:34b] You see, when you get right down to it, first, our freedom in Christ is limited by our responsibility to God.
Not everyone knows these things. In fact, many people have grown up with the belief that idols have life in them. So when they eat meat offered to idols, they are bothered by a weak conscience. But food doesn’t bring us any closer to God. We are no worse off if we don’t eat, and we are no better off if we do.
Don’t cause problems for someone with a weak conscience, just because you have the right to eat anything. You know all this, and so it doesn’t bother you to eat in the temple of an idol. But suppose a person with a weak conscience sees you and decides to eat food that has been offered to idols. Then what you know has destroyed someone Christ died for. When you sin by hurting a follower with a weak conscience, you sin against Christ. So if I hurt one of the Lord’s followers by what I eat, I will never eat meat as long as I live. [1 Corinthians 8:7-13, CEV]
You see, whether we like it or not, we have a responsibility to those around us, our brothers and sisters, men and women for whom Jesus Christ died. As he wrote to the Thessalonians, “This is why you must encourage and help each other, just as you are already doing.” [1 Thessalonians 5:11, CEV] You see, we have a responsibility to build one another up, to encourage our shared faith and to strengthen consciences that are weak. But before that can happen, before we can all be on the same page about just how free we are, well, the strong really need to be sensitive to the weak. They need to show empathy. As he said to the Romans, “Welcome all the Lord’s followers, even those whose faith is weak. Don’t criticize them for having beliefs that are different from yours.” [Romans 14:1, CEV] Our job is to encourage growth and not to win arguments. And let’s get real, growth takes time and effort and sensitivity. You see, second, our freedom in Christ is limited by our responsibility to other believers.
Obey the rulers who have authority over you. Only God can give authority to anyone, and he puts these rulers in their places of power. People who oppose the authorities are opposing what God has done, and they will be punished. Rulers are a threat to evil people, not to good people. There is no need to be afraid of the authorities. Just do right, and they will praise you for it. After all, they are God’s servants, and it is their duty to help you.
You must also pay your taxes. The authorities are God’s servants, and it is their duty to take care of these matters. Pay all that you owe, whether it is taxes and fees or respect and honor. [Romans 13:1-4, 6-7, CEV]
Now before we talk about what that means, I think it’s important to be clear about what Paul isn’t saying. I mean, he was writing about rulers who were a threat to those who are evil and not those who are good. Now I think that’s really important, because I don’t believe he was binding Christians to obey leaders who scare the puddin’ out of good, moral folks while letting the evil sort of slide. If that were the case, every Old Testament prophet who spoke out against cruel and corrupt and godless kings would have been wrong. No, Christians weren’t obligated to blindly obey Hitler or Stalin or Mao. But when leaders are good and honest and compassionate and when governments protect the weak and the abused and the neglected and when nations do what Jesus told them to do, then we have an obligation to obey the laws and to pay our taxes and to pray for our leaders. As a matter of fact, even if we’d prefer doing something else, we might actually be expected to help move secular society closer to values and principles affirmed by Christ. You see, third, I believe the freedom we’ve been given is limited by our responsibility to secular society.
Some of you say, “We can do whatever we want to!” But I tell you not everything may be good or helpful. We should think about others and not about ourselves. However, when you buy meat in the market, go ahead and eat it. Keep your conscience clear by not asking where the meat came from. The Scriptures say, “The earth and everything in it belong to the Lord.” [1 Corinthians 10:23-26, CEV]
Frankly, I love this. In fact, it reminds me of something I’ve learned by spending most of my life in the Presbyterian Church. I sincerely believe Presbyterians can do anything we want; we just can’t enjoy it. Of course, I think we all know that what we choose to do or choose to leave undone, man, they all have consequences. I think Buddhists call it karma. You see, our freedom can really hurt us. And for that reason, before we make big decisions, I think it just makes sense to ask ourselves a few questions, you know, like: How will this decision bring me closer to God? And how will this decision strengthen my Christian brothers and sisters? And how will this decision make the world around me a better place? I’m telling you, before we just stumble ahead, maybe we should be a little more intentional in what we choose to do. Why? Because I believe our freedom in Christ is limited by our responsibility to ourselves.
Of course, in my opinion, it’s not all that surprising that our founding fathers believed that, for our country to work, there really needed to be some limits to the freedom expressed in The Declaration of Independence. I mean, the same men who talked about freedom of speech and religion and assembly also wrote laws against slander and polygamy and mobs. Although real, our freedom as Americans must always be limited. And I’ll tell you, I think the same applies to the freedom we have in Christ. You see, before we just run off and do whatever we want, I think it’s important to consider our responsibility to God and to other Christians right along with our responsibility to secular society and even ourselves. As a matter of fact, as we consider what we’ve been given, personally I believe we probably should be grateful that our freedom in Christ is limited.
The Testimony of Faithful Witnesses: Hannah, the Faithful Supplicant (1 Samuel 1:9-20, 25)
If you’re a longtime reader of the Bible, you’re more than likely familiar with many of these people. Some are examples of faithfulness. Others are cautionary tales against faithlessness. But all were examples of people who furthered God’s plan to give “God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.” [John 3:16, CEV]
During this series, we’re discussing the following witnesses to God’s authority and love:
- June 7: Deborah, the Dutiful Judge (Judges 4:4-10, 14, 21-22)
- June 14: Hannah, the Faithful Supplicant (1 Samuel 1:9-20, 25)
- June 28: Amos, Courageous Prophet (Amos 1:1; 2:11-12; 3:7-8; 7:10-15)
- July 5: The Believing Centurion (Matthew 8:5-13)
- July 12: Simon Peter, Restored Disciple (Mark 8:27-29; Luke 22:31-34; John 18:25-27, 21:15-17)
- July 19: Zacchaeus, Repentant Tax Collector (Luke 19:-11)
- July 26: Mary, Loyal Mother (Luke 2:15-19; John 2:1-5; 19:25-27)
- August 9: Stephen, Unwavering Martyr (Acts 6:7-10; 7:54-60)
- August 16: Saul of Tarsus, Unlikely Disciple (Acts 22:3-15)
- August 23: Timothy, Leader with a Legacy (2 Timothy 1:1-6; 3:14-16)
- August 30: Lydia, Generous Hostess (Acts 16:11-15, 40)
In the second session, we discussed Hannah, Samuel's mother. The discussion and passage are below:
1 Samuel 1:9-20, 25 [New International Version]
As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”
“Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”
Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”
She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.
Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”
When the bull had been sacrificed, they brought the boy to Eli,
Bible Readings for June 16, 2026
Monday, June 15, 2026
Mission Yearbook: Gathering of African leaders offers opportunity to reimagine global partnerships
Study, Learn and Grow: Bible Readings for June 15, 2026
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