Daily Devotions and Podcasts

Prayer: Lord, help me to see You in every part of my day, even in the places I least expect. Open my eyes to Your presence in the ordinary and the extraordinary moments of life. Amen.

The Cathedral of Hope Devotion Ministry began as an answer to Progressive Christians who wanted to start their days with a little insight, observation, or wisdom about the Christian faith from their own point of view. Conservative internet devotions were abundant, but there was not much out there for liberal thinkers. The need was clear.


Being a large church, we had a generous amount of writing talent available and also a large number of congregants with theological training who were not on the pulpit. In the early days of the ministry, most of the writing was done by the clergy, but gradually the majority of the writers emerged from those lay volunteers.


That dynamic is still in place as new authors are always joining in to keep the ideas fresh. It’s a fitting structure for any center of progressive thought. This particular Body of Christ has many voices and each one has a unique and important story to tell.


By Charlie C. Rose July 3, 2025
SCRIPTURE Luke 8.7 For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. WORDS OF HOPE Today’s official bizarre holiday is Superman Day. This is always a fun day for me. My earliest television memories were watching the old 1950s TV show, The Adventures of Superman with George Reeves. I was so young in fact that I didn’t really know what I was watching other than a man and in a funny suit and cape, who would jump out a window and fly, and somehow always be positioned in front of his friends to deflect bullets. But it had a lasting effect. Not only that show, but later it became much more about the character and into adulthood about the metaphor. Superman represents so many things. In a way, it’s a similar retelling of the story of Moses in the Bible, sending an infant son in a basket down the river, or a rocket to another galaxy. Or the parallel of God sending his only begotten son, to save humanity from themselves, interfering in the challenges of their lives only as often as needed. I’ve always been fascinated with the costume of Superman beginning with the TV show. There were lots of various costumes that the actor George Reeves had to wear, both in black and white filming and later in color. George even had a special set of outfits he would wear in public for his promotional appearances. Everywhere he went he had to be Superman and at other times to heighten the drama, he would appear as Clark Kent in his suit, hat, and glasses. Kids cheered enthusiastically for Clark as well, knowing who he really was and that he would make the switch into his more colorful costume later. The obvious parallel, which I believe we can relate to is the one we all share, creating different personalities of ourselves at work, or home, or perhaps in different social situations. This isn’t just about Superman. It’s about us isn’t it? Isn’t it about sometimes living out our lives wanting to be perceived as normal to everybody on the surface yet hiding our true selves? Do you ever do that? Do you want to blend in? Or are you the one who dares to be different in a crowd who may disagree with you? Many of us feel confident in speaking our truth. Others are more comfortable being the one doesn’t make waves. There is no right or wrong answer here because we all have our differences of opinion on how we present ourselves; what we’re willing to say out loud, and what we are not. Jesus knew that there was a time for miracles and a time for meditation, a time for raising the dead and a time for resting from it all. In the comic book stories of Superman, he eventually shares his true self with Lois Lane. Perhaps the real parallel is that the people around us are all more like Lois Lane and can’t be fooled by a pair of glasses. Maybe that secret thing about yourself that you hold dear is not so secret at all. Just remember, the children clapped just as loud for Clark Kent as they did for Superman. PRAYER Creator of all, we sometimes live in a world of duel identities. Help us to be flexible in ways we share our feelings in a diverse society but may the message we share always be centered on your love. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Charlie C. Rose Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

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Words of Hope Podcast

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By Charlie C. Rose July 3, 2025
SCRIPTURE Luke 8.7 For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. WORDS OF HOPE Today’s official bizarre holiday is Superman Day. This is always a fun day for me. My earliest television memories were watching the old 1950s TV show, The Adventures of Superman with George Reeves. I was so young in fact that I didn’t really know what I was watching other than a man and in a funny suit and cape, who would jump out a window and fly, and somehow always be positioned in front of his friends to deflect bullets. But it had a lasting effect. Not only that show, but later it became much more about the character and into adulthood about the metaphor. Superman represents so many things. In a way, it’s a similar retelling of the story of Moses in the Bible, sending an infant son in a basket down the river, or a rocket to another galaxy. Or the parallel of God sending his only begotten son, to save humanity from themselves, interfering in the challenges of their lives only as often as needed. I’ve always been fascinated with the costume of Superman beginning with the TV show. There were lots of various costumes that the actor George Reeves had to wear, both in black and white filming and later in color. George even had a special set of outfits he would wear in public for his promotional appearances. Everywhere he went he had to be Superman and at other times to heighten the drama, he would appear as Clark Kent in his suit, hat, and glasses. Kids cheered enthusiastically for Clark as well, knowing who he really was and that he would make the switch into his more colorful costume later. The obvious parallel, which I believe we can relate to is the one we all share, creating different personalities of ourselves at work, or home, or perhaps in different social situations. This isn’t just about Superman. It’s about us isn’t it? Isn’t it about sometimes living out our lives wanting to be perceived as normal to everybody on the surface yet hiding our true selves? Do you ever do that? Do you want to blend in? Or are you the one who dares to be different in a crowd who may disagree with you? Many of us feel confident in speaking our truth. Others are more comfortable being the one doesn’t make waves. There is no right or wrong answer here because we all have our differences of opinion on how we present ourselves; what we’re willing to say out loud, and what we are not. Jesus knew that there was a time for miracles and a time for meditation, a time for raising the dead and a time for resting from it all. In the comic book stories of Superman, he eventually shares his true self with Lois Lane. Perhaps the real parallel is that the people around us are all more like Lois Lane and can’t be fooled by a pair of glasses. Maybe that secret thing about yourself that you hold dear is not so secret at all. Just remember, the children clapped just as loud for Clark Kent as they did for Superman. PRAYER Creator of all, we sometimes live in a world of duel identities. Help us to be flexible in ways we share our feelings in a diverse society but may the message we share always be centered on your love. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Charlie C. Rose Order of St. Francis and St. Clare
By Dan Peeler July 2, 2025
SCRIPTURE Micah 4:3 God will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. WORDS OF HOPE The Prophet Micah didn’t hold back when he had an important, often urgent, message to deliver. He spent a generous portion of his time condemning the corruption of God’s plan for the Hebrew people, especially by the organized religious leaders in wealthy big cities such as Jerusalem. A small-town boy himself, Micah, I’m sure, took great pleasure in informing them their promised Messiah would one day be born in the unremarkable tiny town of Bethlehem. A contemporary of the preeminent Prophet, Isaiah, Micah is listed among the Minor Prophets, but his impassioned words are some of the most-quoted passages of the Bible. His central message is the condemnation of war. He prophesies that only God can bring about the conclusion to centuries of the senseless devastating conflict that has plagued not just Israel, but all the other nations. He sees a future when the world will “beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.” It is not difficult to understand why Micah was considered a Minor Prophet. In his era, no one was ready to hear these particular words that were spoken by God through the Prophet. There were already quite a few more wars on their agenda. Jesus, the most radical preacher of them all, heard Micah’s message loud and clear. How many of us in our century are finally ready to listen to Jesus? PRAYER Our faith has been kept alive by the eloquence of great women and men you have chosen throughout many centuries to be your messengers. Give us the wisdom to recognize your eternal wisdom today. DEVOTION AUTHOR Dan Peeler Order of St. Francis and St. Clare
By Carole Anne Sarah July 1, 2025
SCRIPTURE Romans 8.26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit intercedes for us through wordless groans. WORDS OF HOPE When We Have No Words There are times when we simply have no words to describe what we feel, and times when we have no words to give the person who is grieving. Sometimes we simply admit our lack and offer hugs or share tears. God knows, and God cares. The scripture in Romans gives us an idea of how we can cope in the midst of our “no words” crisis. This scripture says, even when we do not know what to pray for, the Spirit intercedes for us through wordless groans! It is somewhat of a novel idea in our culture, but common in some others. My Aunt Esther used to regularly spend time in prayer for others. She often relied on “groaning in the spirit” when she was confused about how to pray. Now I too have learned to groan. I have experienced this in praise and worship, when the singers switch from words to pure vocal harmonies. It is powerful and calls to the depths of my soul as I commune with God beyond words. Let us give ourselves up to the many ways of being intimate with God. PRAYER Loving God, may your Holy Spirit speak for me everything that I cannot. Hear my groanings and know even the things I cannot know. I trust you to love me and care for me and those whom I love. DEVOTION AUTHOR Carole Anne Sarah
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