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Jefferson VFW Post 10373, 111 W Broadway Street, Jefferson, TX (2026)

10/15/2026

Daily Devotions
Scripture, Meditation, and Prayer for Every Day
Richard Kew
Thursday, October 15, 2026

Mark 3:1-6
Again Jesus entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. 2 And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3 And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” 4 And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. 5 And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6 The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

Thought for the Day
What good is a man with a withered hand in a culture where, perhaps, more that 75% of work required physical labor? The Greek word for withered suggests that this was the result of an injury or disease, not something he was born with, and some early legends suggest the man had been a stone mason. It was the Sabbath, there were agents sent from Jerusalem to report what they perceived to be misdeeds, yet Jesus didn’t hide or whisper to the man that he would see him later in a quieter, private place, but draws attention to the healing that was about to take place. He essentially then tells his would-be accusers to get their priorities right. He draws attention to the principles of justice and kindness that undergird the Law rather than piffling over, as it were, the punctuation. “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” Of course, the men from Jerusalem held their tongues. They were being legalistic because they wanted to put Jesus in his place, not because they have an ounce of desire to have compassion on a man whose whole life has been called into question by an injury that probably happened as he went about his work and supporting his family.

Obviously, there were representatives of the court of Herod there, these worked hand-in-glove with the Gentile Roman authorities to enable repression of the Jews. They then teamed up with the men from the Sanhedrin to see if they could hatch a plot against Christ. Under normal circumstances Herodians and Pharisees wouldn’t even talk to one another, so clearly this was not about obedience to the Law. For Jesus the most important thing is not correct performance of ritual or use of words, but answering the cry for help from a human in need.

Thanksgiving for the Day
We praise God that his Son is an example of compassion to us.

Intercession for the Day
We pray for people known to us whose lives have been interrupted by bad health or crippling injury.

Collect for the Day
Sanctify, O Lord, those whom you have called to the study and practice of the arts of healing, and to the prevention of disease and pain. Strengthen them by your life-giving Spirit, that by their ministries the health of the community may be promoted and your creation glorified; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(A Prayer for the Medical professions from the Book of Common Prayer)

Readings for the Day
Jonah 3:1-4:11, Psalm 98, Acts 27:27-44, Mark 3:1-6

10/13/2026

Happy 251st birthday to the United States Navy!

Since 1775, generations of sailors have served at sea and around the world, defending America.

Today, we honor the brave men and women who have worn the uniform and those who continue to stand the watch.

10/13/2026

Daily Devotions
Scripture, Meditation, and Prayer for Every Day
Richard Kew
Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Mark 2:19-22
Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, “Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 19 And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day. 21 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. 22 And no one puts new w**e into old w**eskins. If he does, the w**e will burst the skins—and the w**e is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new w**e is for fresh w**eskins.”

Thought for the Day
One of my earliest memories to do with clothes must have been when I was about five, and in post-World War Two Britain we were still living with rationing and clothing shortages. My mother needed to repair a garment of mine and patched it with a piece of woolen cloth that had not been shrunk properly and it pulled away from the place where it had been sewn. In the days before plentiful manmade fabrics this sort of thing happened regularly.

Jesus here uses this example as an illustration of what happens when a new piece of natural cloth is sewn on an older one. He came, as it were, as a new piece of cloth to complete older garment of Judaism, to illustrate how is lifestyle as the Son of God was bound to be radically different from that of any other orthodox rabbinic teacher. He also was fully aware that it was difficult for people’s minds to entertain a fresh take on the truth that God had revealed to them. He backs the cloth illustration up with a parallel story concerning leather w**eskins.

The Lord was giving forewarning here that he came from the Father in the footsteps of Old Testament truth, but the Son’s cleansing perception of the truth was bound to create stresses and strains in the old garment into which it was being sewn. As we ‘sew’ the gospel of Jesus Christ into our lives it will make radical changes. Now into my eighties I am still wrestling with the Good News as Christ works on making changes within me.

Thanksgiving for the Day
We praise God that the Christian journey is always going to make fresh challenges.

Intercession for the Day
Let us pray that we will always be adventurous enough in Christ to allow the changes that he wants to make in our lives.

Collect for the Day
O God, the King eternal, who dividest the day from the night and turnest the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep thy law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done thy will with cheerfulness while it was day, we may, when the night cometh, rejoice to give thee thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(A Prayer for the Renewal of Life from the Book of Common Prayer)

Readings for the Day
Jonah 1:1-11, Psalm 6, Acts 26:24-27:8, Mark 2:19-22

10/12/2026

Daily Devotions
Scripture, Meditation, and Prayer for Every Day
Richard Kew
Monday, October 12, 2026

Mark 2:13-17Jesus went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. 14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

15 And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Thought for the Day
Galilee was in a way the crossroads of the world. Goods, people, and traffic, flowed to the east, to the west as far as the Great Wall of China, north and eventually to Rome, then south into Egypt and North Africa. It was just the sort of place to collect taxes and tolls. Matthew’s responsibility was to gather taxes for the Procurator, Herod Antipas. There have never been many cultures where tax collecting has been popular, especially when the funds are being gathered for selfish rulers while keeping an inconceivable percentage to line their own pockets. Such a man was Matthew (his name is also Levi), an individual who was far from popular. But as he hung around on the edge of groups to which Jesus was speaking there was a spiritual hankering that all the riches in the world could never alleviate. Jesus had become aware of him and been watching, so that when the right moment came, he chatted with him, gauged the moment was right and ask, “Follow me,” as he had asked the fishermen. It marked the end of a lucrative career. A cleansing began in his life, and he started at the bottom in a worthwhile j0b for Jesus that he would never regret.

Thanksgiving for the Day
We thank God that he calls us to be his servants to be his own as followers of Jesus Christ.

Intercession for the Day
There is every reason to believe that in almost every field job markets are beginning to be shake. We pray for those who will find themselves making difficult decisions about work.

Collect for the Day
Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

(The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi)

Readings for the Day
Micah 7:1-7, Psalm 138, Acts 26:1-23, Mark 2:13-17

10/10/2026

Daily Devotions
Scripture, Meditation, and Prayer for Every Day
Richard Kew
Saturday, October 10, 2026

Mark 1:40-45
And a l***r came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” 42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 43 And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, 44 and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” 45 But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.

Thought for the Day
What is happening here is more than physical healing, it is also rescuing a man from being an outcast. The word we translate as leprosy covered at that time every kind of creeping skin disease; diagnostic tools we have today did not exist at that time to distinguish between deadly and incurable skin disease and non-fatal complaints. Whoever was perceived to have any kind of skin complaint was outcast from society until such a time as he or she healed and could be brought home, as it were. However grave this man’s infection he could never go home to his loved ones, had to warn people not to come near him, he was likely to die in loneliness and his body left to rot.

Here we see the caring heart of the Savior. Christ heals him, he tells him then to go and be inspected by the priest, offer an appropriate sacrifice and go back to his life and loved ones. This would have been staggering for those who saw it, and the crowds flocked to find him and seek his help for their ailments. ‘It is a lovely story because the first thing that Jesus does for everyone of us is to say, “Child, God is not angry with you. Come home, don’t be afraid.”’

Thanksgiving for the Day
We praise Christ that in him people can be made whole.

Intercession for the Day
Let us pray for those whose task it is to diagnose and help heal dermatological ailments.

Collect for the Day
Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick, and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(From the Book of Common Prayer for the Poor and Neglected)

Readings for the Day
Micah 5:1-15, Psalm 144, Acts 25:13-27, Mark 1:40-47

10/09/2026

Today, the Jefferson Police Department, in partnership with the Jefferson VFW Post, Jefferson AARP Chapter, and the Criminal Investigator for the District Attorney’s Office serving Marion County, assisted with fingerprinting Head Start and kindergarten students at Jefferson ISD.

Each child’s fingerprints were included in a take-home pamphlet designed to help parents and guardians collect important information about their child. This record can assist in identifying or locating a child should an emergency ever arise.

No participating organization retained copies of the fingerprints. The pamphlets were sent home for parents and guardians to complete and keep in a safe place.

We’re proud to contribute to this effort and grateful to all our partners for helping families take this proactive step toward keeping their children safe.

10/08/2026

Daily Devotions
Scripture, Meditation, and Prayer for Every Day
Richard Kew
Thursday, October 8, 2026

Mark 1:29-34
And immediately Jesus left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

32 That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 34 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

Thought for the Day
Peter, perhaps, could remember these days as a press of people and events, the crush of crowds and the realization that the following months and years would mean more of the same. After synagogue they went home to Peter’s house for the main meal of the sabbath day. The extended family shared the home, and Simon Peter’s mother-in-law was under the weather. These were before the days of ‘take a couple of Tylenol and you will feel fine in the morning.’ A runny nose in the morning could mean fighting for your life in the evening and there were rampant diseases galore to choose from. Whatever the cause, the older woman’s fever was considered dangerous. Having healed a man with spiritual and mental issues in the synagogue, in the private of Peter’s home he took her hand and she rose from the bed restored to health. Perhaps this was also a gift to Peter’s wife whose life was in the process of being turned upside down by her husband’s signing up with Jesus of Nazareth and his great cause. Gone was his regular income from fishing.

News of Jesus’s actions in the synagogue was already spreading life wildfire around the neighborhood and beyond. When the sabbath day was over Peter’s home was inundated by people and Jesus exercised a healing ministry well past dark. The Messiah’s ministry had begun with a bang. By the end of it all they would have been peopled out, drained spiritually and physically – yet this was just the beginning.

Thanksgiving for the Day
We praise the Lord Jesus for his healing hands.

Intercession for the Day
May we constantly come to the Lord Jesus seeking health and wholeness.

Collect for the Day
O heavenly Father, in whom we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray thee so to guide and govern us by thy Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget thee, but may remember that we are ever walking in thy sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(The Collect for Guidance from the Prayer Book service of Morning Prayer)

Readings for the Day
Micah 3:1-8, Psalm 89, Galatians 3:1-5, Mark 1:29-34

10/07/2026

Daily Devotions
Scripture, Meditation, and Prayer for Every Day
Richard Kew
Wednesday, October 7, 2026

Mark 1:21-28
And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. 22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. 23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28 And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

Thought for the Day
As I sat in my chair drinking my early morning tea reading this passage, I found myself imagining a room in a small house in the Jewish quarter of Rome as Peter’s memories of those first days with Jesus were being recorded by Mark. The words are tumbling out of his mouth as he describes their visit to the synagogue in Capernaum together. Jesus is given an opportunity to say a few words, possibly about the nature of the Kingdom of God, God’s reign. A spirit-possessed man recognizing something of the true identity of Jesus of Nazareth causes a disruption, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” The cleansing that followed was extraordinary, and here was Peter talking about it decades later, remembering the incident as if it was yesterday. The news spread like wildfire and from being a newly-minted traveling rabbi and teacher, Jesus becomes the talk of Galilee – whose teachings and healings drew attention to the One he was and claimed to be. His words also announce a theme that runs through Mark’s Gospel, “Be silent…” The time has not yet come for Jesus’s full identity to be revealed that will come in Jerusalem three years hence. Right now we are watching the launch of a remarkable ministry, a remarkable moment in the history of the world.

Thanksgiving for the Day
May we glory in the obedience of Jesus to his enormous vocation.

Intercession for the Day
Let us pray that we might be faithful as we live into the message of Jesus.

Collect for the Day
O God, who hast made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and didst send thy blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after thee and find thee; bring the nations into thy fold; pour out thy Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of thy kingdom; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(A Collect from the Book of Common Prayer)

Readings for the Day
Micah 2:1-13, Psalm 129, Acts 23:23-35, Mark 1:21-28

10/06/2026

Daily Devotions
Scripture, Meditation, and Prayer for Every Day
Richard Kew
Tuesday, October 6, 2026

Mark 1:16-20
Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.

Thought for the Day
There is a sense of urgency in the telling us about the call of these disciples. St. John, one of these fishermen, tells us a great deal more in his gospel about how they had met Jesus down by the Jordan at the time of their baptism by John the Baptist, so this was not an invitation to follow Christ that came out of the blue. Maybe there had been both serious and casual conversations since returning to Galilee, but the time has now come for them to, as it were, ‘to fish or cut bait.’ They were ready to make the move. Simon and Andrew left their boats to follow him immediately, and a little later the Zebedee boys also immediately responded to Jesus calling them to be part of his rabbinic circle.

Jesus has done his spiritual preparation, he has through baptism identified himself with the people of Israel, and now the hard work was to begin. Big turning points in life and especially in the Christian life can catch us by surprise. These men continued doing some fishing, it seems, but that was more out of necessity because their primary activity was being prepared by Jesus to advance the cause of the kingdom of God.

Thanksgiving for the Day
We praise the Lord Jesus that he calls us to be his own and leads us in his way.

Intercession for the Day
Let us pray that we might be attentive to the demands that God Almighty makes on our lives through Jesus.

Collect for the Day
O heavenly Father, in whom we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray thee so to guide and govern us by thy Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget thee, but may remember that we are ever walking in thy sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(The Collect for Guidance from Morning Prayer)

Readings for the Day
Micah 1:1-9, Psalm 117, Acts 23:12-24, Mark 1:16-20

Jefferson VFW Post 10373

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