Blogging toward Sunday

Sunday, April 1, 2012, the Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church Choir presents the cantata, 

"God's Wondrous Love."

In our culture we are blessed by music in so many forms. The genres of music and the ways in which we may access music seem endless. In fact, the number of songs daily downloaded onto listening devices (like I-Pods) is staggering. Needless to say, that was not the case in biblical times. There was no sheet music to use or hymnals (red or blue:) available. Yet, music was important in the religious life of the people. We know this because of the numerous references to music found throughout the Bible. Also, we know this by the "song book" of the Hebrew people: Psalms. The Psalms, or the Psalter, as it is sometimes called, is a collection of prayers and songs written throughout Israel's history. Included are psalms of lament and woe, psalms of thanksgiving, and other songs and prayers.

In light of the cantata that we will be enjoying Palm Sunday, it seems fitting that we prepare our hearts and minds for worship by reflecting on psalms of praise. During the week, take some time to read through Psalms 145 through 150, which are beautiful hymns of praise. Better yet, read them ALOUD, allowing the sound of your voice to rise like incense before God as an offering of your adoration.

Walter C. Sutton has written a lovely prayer that might enhance your time of preparation:

Today, I delight in your works, great Maker of Music. Music is one of your greatest gifts. Thank you, God, for melody, harmony, counterpoint, and syncopation. Music makes me laugh, or cry. It gets me up to dance, or compels me to sit quietly before its majestic passage. Music touches me in ways that words cannot. Thank you, God for music.

Let all God's people say, "Amen!"

As always, I look forward to seeing you in worship Sunday morning, if not before.
Shalom,
Glenda

Blogging toward Sunday

The Lectionary texts for Sunday, March 25th include Jeremiah 31:31-34 and John 12:20-33

Today's meeting of area pastor's for our Lectionary Group time was quite interesting. The truth might just be that we came scratching our heads in confusion and left much the same way. You have noticed, I am sure, that when Jesus is asked a question, particularly in the Gospel of John, the answer is often not quite clear.

Take the story we read today. It goes a bit like this: Some Greeks show up wanting to see Jesus. They approach Philip who doesn't seem to know how to respond. Philip goes to Andrew--I can almost seem them huddled there, heads together and whispering. Still, they don't know what to do about these Greeks. So the two of them go to Jesus. And what does Jesus say? Does he say, "Bring the Greeks to me"? Does he address them at all? At first glance, the answer seems to be, "No." But with a closer look, it may be that all of what Jesus says involve the Greeks who are standing by, especially in light of verse 32 when Jesus claims that "all people" will be drawn to him.

In preparation for worship on Sunday:

1. Read the passages from Jeremiah and John. Do you see any connections? If so, what do you notice?
2. Read John 12:20-33 again. What do you think Jesus means when he says, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified"?
3. Now, back up to the previous section to read John 12:1-19. [Just as an aside, it's always a good thing when you are studying Scripture to look at a particular passage in context. In other words, notice what just happened or what happens next, or what the overall setting is.] Pay particular attention to verse 19. What do the Pharisees fear? 
4. In verse 20, have the Pharisees fears come to fruition? If so, how?

May God bless you this week as you continue the Lenten journey. I look forward to seeing you at the Celtic Worship service Saturday at 5 p.m. and/or Sunday morning worship.

Shalom,
Glenda

Blogging toward Sunday

The Lectionary texts for Sunday, March 18th, include Numbers 21:4-9 and John 3:14-21.

The Old Testament reading from Numbers is quite an intriguing story. You may wish to read it this week and reflect on it a bit before turning to the New Testament reading. In case you need a little extra motivation, the sermon title for Sunday is "Death on a Pole." Yes, you will likely want to read both passages in preparation for worship.

We are in the middle of the Lenten season, and these days just before Easter tend to pass so quickly.  As we journey along, trying to find moments for quiet meditation in the midst of rushing to and fro, isn't it good to be reminded of God's love that is all around us, in the cracks and crevices of all of life. When I feel the urge to slow down, keep time in a different way, I tend to go to the poets. They have a way of putting things differently; often times shining rays of light just where it's most needed. Having said that, I hope you enjoy the following poem taken from A Timbered Choir: The Sabbath Poems 1979-1997 by Wendell Berry.

1992: VIII

I have again come home

through miles of sky

from hours of abstract talk

in the way of modern times

when humans live in their minds

and the world, forgotten, dies

into explanations. Weary

with absence, I return to earth.

"Good to see you back down

on the creek!" Martin Rowanberry

would say if he were here

to say it, as he'll not be again.

I have departed and returned 

too many times to forget

that after all returns

one departure will remain.

I bring the horses down

off the hillside, harness them,

and start the morning's work,

the team quick to the load

along the narrow road.

I am weary with days

of travel, with poor sleep,

with time and error,

with every summer's heat

and blood-drinking flies.

And yet I sink into

the ancient happiness

of slow work in unhastenable

days and years. Horse and cow,

plow and hoe, grass to graze

and hay to mow have brought me

here, and taught me where I am.

I work in absence not yet mine

that will be mine. In time

this place has come to signify

the absence of many, and always

more, who once were here.

Day by day their voices

come to me, as from the air.

I remember them in what I do.

So I am not a modern man.

In my work I would be known

by forebears of a thousand years

if they were here to see it.

So it has been. So be it.

May the Lord pour blessings upon you and those you love this week. I look forward to seeing you in worship on Sunday.

Shalom,

Glenda

Blogging toward Sunday

The Lectionary readings for Sunday include Exodus 20:1-17 and John 2:13-22.

As we journey toward Easter, our gospel reading from John provides a unique perspective of Jesus. This is not Jesus, meek and mild. No this is Jesus, furious, outraged, overcome by emotion. The story of Jesus cleansing the Temple provides a perfect text to meditate upon using the practice of lectio divina. 

Pull up a comfy chair, open your Bible, and have a pen and notebook handy so you can write down your thoughts.  Now, read through the passage. Imagine the scene being played out in the Temple at the time of the Jewish Passover. Sit silently for a couple of minutes.  What do you notice on this first reading. Write down your thoughts.

Now I invite you to read the passage a second time, but this time try to focus on your senses. As you put yourself in the story, what do you see, smell, hear... Sit quietly for a few moments, and then record your experience.

Once more, read the passage, but this time you get to play the part of the money changer. You are sitting at your table, counting coins, stacking up coins, exchanging coins. Now read the passage. What thoughts come to mind? What do you think of Jesus, coming into your place of "business" and turning things upside down? 

Near the end of this chapter of John, Jesus tells the Jewish leaders, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." Here Jesus is speaking of the temple of his body. Because of the sacrifice Jesus makes, no longer will God be "housed" in a man-made structure, as if God ever was! No, now, because of the work of God through Jesus and the Holy Spirit, God is with each baptized believer, forever and always.

Last year my spiritual director gave me a lovely book by John Moses, The Desert: An Anthology for Lent. An entry written by Theophan the Recluse speaks of God's home in each of our hearts:

You seek the Lord? Seek, but only within yourself. He is not far from anyone. 

The Lord is near all those who truly call on Him. 

Find a place in your heart, and speak there with the Lord. 

It is the Lord's reception room. 

Everyone who meets the Lord meets Him there; 

He has fixed no other place for meeting souls.

May God bless you in your comings and goings this week. I look forward to worshiping with you on Sunday.

Shalom,

Glenda

Blogging toward Sunday

The Lectionary readings for March 4, 2012 are Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 and Mark 8:31-38.

In the Old Testament reading, 99 year old Abram gets a visit from God and much, much more. God appears with a covenant in hand: "...this will be my covenant with you: You shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. I will establish my covenant between me and you...an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you..." Then, God has a word for Sarai. She, too, gets a new name and so much more:  "...[Y]ou shall not call her Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her."

God comes calling and in the twinkling of an eye, Abraham and Sarah come away with new names and a new purpose that will set them on a path they could never have imagined. God's like that--always guiding us along new paths, into new territories. Sometimes we go quietly and obediently, but so often that is not the case. So often, let's be honest, we go kicking and screaming.

Thus far, how is your Lenten journey? Now, be honest. Are you going gently along the path of self-reflection and denial or is there a bit of kicking and screaming going on? Today during our pastor's Lectionary group meeting, I felt an urge to kick and scream. Allow me to explain. (I will be quick about it before you make some dreadful assumptions about the pastor:) Part of the process for us during our group time is to meditate on the gospel reading using the ancient practice of lectio divina. We read the passage through three times, and after each reading we sit quietly, listening for the Spirit to speak to us. A time of sharing follows each individual reading. Often we put ourselves in the story during the reading to imagine, "How do I hear this as a passerby?" or something along those lines. The instruction prior to the final reading of Mark 8:31-38 today was as follows: "Listen as one who is walking the path of Jesus on the Lenten journey." 

I listened. Truly, I did. But I couldn't get past verse 31: "Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again." Later in the reading, Jesus tells his disciples and those gathered around, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." Jesus invites us to follow him; follow the path he took. But when I heard verse 31, I wasn't so sure that was a good idea. Everything in me screamed, "But I don't WANT to suffer; I don't WANT to be rejected; I don't WANT to be killed EVEN if I do get to rise in three days."

Oh how readily we see the things of God through the eyes of the world. It's what Peter does. Just a couple of verses before this, Peter proclaims that Jesus is the Messiah. But, here, Jesus speaks plainly about what is to happen and Peter takes him aside to rebuke him. Peter may be able to SAY, "You are the Messiah," but LIVING that truth is a much different thing. What kind of Messiah does Peter have in mind? Surely not one that will suffer and be rejected and die, bringing shame to everyone who follows him by dying on a cross, of all things. Peter sees Jesus in such a limited way. Don't we all? How can we grasp this upside-down Jesus who won't let us journey along our comfy, cozy path? No, Jesus will always call us to a deeper life; a life that may well be dangerous and wholly "other," a life that will surely cost us something.

Here are a few questions/comments to consider as you prepare for worship:

1. The Abraham and Sarah story tells of a covenant made by God. Is committing to follow Jesus in the way Jesus directs a covenant as well? What might the cost be?
2. Consider the words of Martin Luther: "A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing, is worth nothing." 
3. In Jesus' day, the cross was a scandal. When you think of a cross today, how do you imagine it?

I pray that you are finding time each day to reflect on Jesus' path all the way to the cross. With each step you take this Lent, I pray that you will hold this truth in your heart: the journey through Lent leads to our Resurrection Hope! 

I look forward to seeing you in worship on Sunday. 

Shalom,

Glenda

Blogging toward Sunday

Sunday we have the honor of a visiting pastor bringing a good Word into our midst. Scripture passages that will be read are Joshua 4:1-7 and Mark 1:9-15.

Our Lectionary Group of area pastors met again on Tuesday, and using the ancient practice of lectio divina, we read the gospel text for Sunday. We always end our time together with some spiritual practice. This week was quite special for me. As ministers beginning the season of Lent, we talked about our own Lenten intentions, the happenings planned for each of our churches, and then we prayed for one another. How good it is to be a pastor and have the opportunity to pray for other people, leading prayers, etc. But what a joy it is to BE the one being prayed for by another brother or sister in Christ. What a blessing to hear your own name, your own situation, your own church family, being lifted up like incense before the Lord.

Today is Thursday. Ash Wednesday has come and gone. Have you been asked THE question yet? You know, the question, "What have you given up for Lent?" It seems to be the most asked question of the season. But, as we discussed in our Lectionary Group, it's just as important to ask another question: "For what purpose are you giving up or fasting from something?" Although often overlooked, the answer is simple enough. We fast from something (like fasting each Friday or perhaps one meal a day) or give up something (like TV or desserts) not for the sake of "fasting" or "giving up" alone. No, whatever we choose to stop is only for the purpose of having more time to meditate upon Jesus the Christ. Giving up something may help us be more aware of ways in which we indulge ourselves so readily, but the greater good is to "fill up" on the things of Christ.The Cross, Easter morning, is, after all, our destination.

So if "giving up something" is for the purpose of "taking on something," in what ways might you add the things of Christ? How might you focus more on Jesus in the coming weeks? Here are a few suggestions:

1. Take time to ponder our Lenten devotional, From Death to Life, each day.
2. Start a new spiritual practice, like meditating or beginning a prayer journal.
3. Determine to read through one of the gospels during Lent. (Mark is the shortest:)
4. Plan to spend more time in prayer.
5. Plan to spend more time in nature enjoying God's creation.
6. Each day, pray through our church directory.
7. Fast from watching television.
8. Fast each Friday during Lent, recalling Good Friday throughout the day.

Of course, the list is endless. The important thing to remember is that giving up something for Lent is only part of the story. Replacing whatever you choose with increased mindfulness of Jesus' sacrifice for all of humanity, in whatever way you choose, is the even greater purpose.

I look forward to seeing you in worship on Sunday. Come and support our visiting preacher.
Shalom,
Glenda

Blogging toward Sunday

Our Lectionary readings for Transfiguration of the Lord Sunday include 2 Kings 2:1-12 and Mark 9:2-9.

Each Tuesday I have the privilege of meeting with a Lectionary group made up of pastors in the area. What a wonderful time we have breaking bread, sharing stories and then exploring God's Holy Word together. Today we examined Mark 9:2-9. It is the story of Jesus taking Peter, James and John with him to the mountain top. There Jesus talks with Elijah and Moses and there, the inner circle of disciples are terrified by the glory of God. Out of our time of prayerfully reading about the Transfiguration, some excellent questions arose. I hope that you will take ample time this week with the gospel reading and reflect on the following (just as I will be doing as I journey toward the sermon). 

1. Why are Peter, James, and John included on this adventure?
2. What compelled Peter to offer to build three dwellings?
3. Does it seem like Peter interrupts Jesus and then God interrupts Peter?
4. Was this like an old fashioned Homecoming for Jesus, Moses and Elijah?
5. What might they have discussed?
6. For whose benefit was the Transfiguration, really?

Transfiguration of the Lord Sunday is the last Sunday before the beginning of Lent. In the cycle of the church year, this is the high point prior to some very dark days in the life and ministry of Jesus. It might behoove us to stop and consider how this event may have prepared Jesus for the days ahead. And then follow that thought with this one: How will we prepare for our own journey toward Easter and the Risen Savior?

I offer you the following poem for your spiritual enrichment. (From Australian Accents by Bruce Prewer).

Baptized by the Morning
Risen Lord Jesus,
as the rising sun
baptizes trees and shrubs
in rippling light,
let me be baptized
by your resurrection light.

May I
trust in you above all else,
hope in you above all other goals,
seek you in all things,
find you in every situation,
meet you among all people,
know you over everything--

And love you with adoration
beyond
beyond
beyond all telling.


As always, I look forward to seeing you in worship on Sunday.
Shalom,
Glenda