Midweek Musings

week of January 22

2012-01-19T11:42:00.000-05:00

Third Sunday of Epiphany

January 22, 2012

WELCOME

Stories of the call to discipleship continue as the Time after Epiphany plays out the implications of our baptismal calling to show Christ to the world. Jesus begins proclaiming the good news and calling people to repentance right after John the Baptist is arrested for preaching in a similar way. Knowing that John was later executed, we see at the very outset the cost of discipleship. Still, the two sets of fisherman brothers leave everything they have known and worked for all their lives to follow Jesus and fish for people.

ADULT FORUM

Join us between services to hear Christine Wagner, Executive Director of the St Joseph's Neighborhood Center, talk about the lack of insurance among the poor.

OFFICE NOTES

Don’t forget to check the sign up sheet in the Narthex to see when you can help us keep the sidewalks clear for worship services - Thank you!

There’s also a sign-up sheet to help host the coffee and bagels between services on Sunday mornings… It involves making the coffee, setting out the bagels and cream cheese, and cleaning up afterwards. One of the “regulars” would be happy to show you the ropes.

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING

Mark your calendars for our Annual Congregational meeting next Sunday, January 29th at 10 AM, between services in the sanctuary.

YOUNG FAMILIES

Join us tonight from 5:30-7:00 PM - Young Families group will gather for dinner and play games. Please bring a dish to share. We will eat together as families from 5:30- 6:00 and will then have games and fun afterwards.

RECYCLE THOSE CHRISTMAS CARDS

Be green and bring in your Christmas cards. There will be a box in the Narthex to collect them and they will be put to good use in a future craft project.

UPCOMING

Sunday, January 22 Art Lembke Funeral 4 PM

Young Families 5:30 PM

Monday, January 23 BoM Meeting 6 PM

Thursday, January 26 Chime Choir 6 PM

Friday, January 27 FaithGirlz 6:30 PM

Saturday, January 28 Emily Seils Funeral 11 AM

*********************

WORSHIP ASSISTANTS 1/22

Assistant Minister: Margaret Kaminsky

Communion Asst: Jim Krapf

Children’s Moment: Gary Lazenby

Reader: Susan Touhsaent

Acolyte 8:45: David Wilkinson

Acolyte 11:15: Ben Thompson

Host 8:45: Dick Browne

Host 11:15: Ann Patterson

Usher 8:45: Norm Karsten

Usher 11:15: John Tokoli

Asst. Fin. Sec.: Jim Krapf

Counter: Jack Teter

Altar Care: L. Macholz/ T. Klassen

Coffee and bagels: Macholz

Snow Shoveling: Heinig

Musings for the Baptism of Our Lord

2012-01-05T20:52:00.000-05:00

Sunday, January 8, 2012
Baptism of Our Lord

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Judy Lazenby

INTRODUCTION
Our re-creation in baptism is an image of the Genesis creation, where the Spirit/wind moved over the waters. Both Mark's gospel and the story in Acts make clear that it is the Spirit's movement that distinguishes Jesus’ baptism from John's. The Spirit has come upon us as upon Jesus and the Ephesians, calling us God’s beloved children and setting us on Jesus’ mission to re-create the world in the image of God’s vision of justice and peace.

Prayer of the Day (ELW)

Holy God, creator of light and giver of goodness, your voice moves over the waters. Immerse us in your grace, and transform us by your Spirit, that we may follow after your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

First Reading

Genesis 1:1–5

Out of chaos, God brings order. Out of the primeval darkness, God brings light. This familiar story was good news for the Israelites, who experienced much chaos in their history. It remains good news for any person living in the chaos and darkness of despair. God created and continues to create new life.

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, ²the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. ³Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. ⁴And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. ⁵God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

Psalm (ELW)

Psalm 29

The voice of the LORD is upon the waters. (Ps. 29:3)

¹Ascribe to the ^| LORD, you gods,

ascribe to the LORD glo- ^| ry and strength.

²Ascribe to the LORD the glory ^| due God's name;

worship the LORD in the beau- ^| ty of holiness.

³The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; the God of ^| glory thunders;

the LORD is upon the ^| mighty waters.

⁴The voice of the LORD is a pow- ^| erful voice;

the voice of the LORD is a ^| voice of splendor. R

⁵The voice of the LORD breaks the ^| cedar trees;

the LORD breaks the ce- ^| dars of Lebanon;

⁶the LORD makes Lebanon skip ^| like a calf,

and Mount Hermon like a ^| young wild ox.

⁷The voice ^| of the LORD

bursts forth in ^| lightning flashes.

⁸The voice of the LORD ^| shakes the wilderness;

the LORD shakes the wilder- ^| ness of Kadesh. R

⁹The voice of the LORD makes the oak trees writhe

and strips the ^| forests bare.

And in the temple of the LORD all are ^| crying, "Glory!"

¹⁰The LORD sits enthroned a- ^| bove the flood;

the LORD sits enthroned as king for- ^| evermore.

¹¹O LORD, give strength ^| to your people;

give them, O LORD, the bless- ^| ings of peace. R

Second Reading

Acts 19:1–7

In Ephesus, Paul encounters people who had received John’s baptism of repentance but had never heard of the Holy Spirit or of baptism in the name of Jesus. After Paul baptized them, the Holy Spirit came upon them and empowered them with gifts of the Spirit.

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. ²He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?" They replied, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." ³Then he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" They answered, "Into John's baptism." ⁴Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus." ⁵On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied — ⁷altogether there were about twelve of them.

Gospel

Mark 1:4–11

Mark’s gospel reports the story of Jesus’ baptism with some irony: the one on whom the Spirit descends is himself the one who will baptize others with the Holy Spirit.

⁴John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. ⁶Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. ⁸I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
⁹In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. ¹¹And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."

Reflections

This story of Jesus’ baptism is so familiar but yet so different from what we think of baptism in our current experiences. The pastor is rarely dressed in anything other than a white robe and appropriate stole, not camel’s hair and leather belt. Water is poured over the head and wiped away with a small cloth. Mark’s narrative suggests Jesus and John were in the river Jordan and that Jesus was completely under the water. A much more drenching experience!

When I was a small girl I witnessed a baptism more like the one Mark describes. My family was visiting my Aunt and Uncle who lived in rural Virginia, south of Petersburg. A small, muddy stream ran through their property. One afternoon a group of parishioners from a church in nearby Waverly came to their door to ask if they could use the stream for a baptism. The minister and those to be baptized waded down the bank and into the stream, which I was sure was very mucky and snake infested. (I never strayed too far from the house whenever we visited.) It was a very strange sight for this young girl from up North: a man in a suit, four or five people dressed in white robes in the stream and many onlookers standing on the bank. Each person was lowered into the water with the minister on one side and an assistant on the other. Most held their noses, laid back and indeed came up dripping wet.

Yet whether it’s a baptism like we witness here at Atonement or one outdoors in moving water, the one constant is the presence of the Holy Spirit. Being present at a baptism is one of those times for me when the Holy Spirit’s presence is so powerful and inspiring.

Quote

[Martin] Luther did not regard the water in baptism as common water, but as a water which had become, through the Word with its inherent divine power, a gracious water of life, a washing of regeneration. Through this divine efficacy of the Word the sacrament effects regeneration.

LOUIS BERKHOF, Systematic Theology

Prayers

Let us pray for

Those children who need warmth, food, and shelter during this winter season.

Those in need of God’s healing blessings.

Those who work for peace in the world.

Those who give of their time and talents in service to others.

Those who search for meaningful work in this new year.

Midweek Musings for the Name Day of Jesus

2011-12-29T10:25:00.002-05:00

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Mid Week Musings

Reflection by Ken Klassen
Name of Jesus

INTRODUCTION
From the beginning, by virtue of our baptism, we are called Christian. We were "Christ-ened" at the font. Bearing his name, we share the same Father and are invited to address him intimately: Abba! Jesus bears our sins in humble obedience to the will of the Father. Today we pray that the mind of Christ, whose name we bear, would be our own. It is a good way to begin, again, another year.

Name of Jesus
By Jewish law, every baby boy was circumcised and named on the eighth day of life, so on the eighth day of Christmas the church celebrates this event in Jesus' life. The keeping of the covenant as well as Jesus' name are signs of God's salvation given to us through him.

Prayer of the Day (ELW)

Eternal Father, you gave your incarnate Son the holy name of Jesus to be a sign of our salvation. Plant in every heart the love of the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

First Reading

Numbers 6:22–27

God commanded Aaron to say these words, known as the Aaronic benediction, in blessing the people of Israel. We too are marked with God’s name and God’s blessing as we are sent from our assemblies into the world.

²²The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: ²³Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the Israelites: You shall say to them,
²⁴The LORD bless you and keep you;
²⁵the LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
²⁶the LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.
²⁷So they shall put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.

Psalm (ELW)

Psalm 8

How majestic is your name in all the earth! (Ps. 8:1)

¹O ^| LORD our Lord, how majestic is your name in ^| all the earth!—²you whose glory is chanted above the heavens out of the mouths of in- ^| fants and children; you have set up a fortress against your enemies, to silence the foe ^| and avenger.

³When I consider your heavens, the work ^| of your fingers, the moon and the stars you have set ^| in their courses,

⁴what are mere mortals that you should be mind- ^| ful of them, human beings that you should ^| care for them? R

⁵Yet you have made them little less ^| than divine; with glory and hon- ^| or you crown them.

⁶You have made them rule over the works ^| of your hands; you have put all things un- ^| der their feet:

⁷all ^| flocks and cattle, even the wild beasts ^| of the field,

⁸the birds of the air, the fish ^| of the sea, and whatever passes along the paths ^| of the sea.

⁹O ^| LORD our Lord, how majestic is your name in ^| all the earth! R

Second Reading

Galatians 4:4–7

Paul proclaims the ultimate significance of the nativity: Jesus was born the Son of God so that, because of him, we all may be God's children.

⁴But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, ⁵in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. ⁶And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" ⁷So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.

Gospel

Luke 2:15–21

Eight days after his birth, Jesus is circumcised according to Jewish law and given the name announced by the angel before his conception.

¹⁵When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." ¹⁶So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. ¹⁷When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; ¹⁸and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
²¹After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Reflection

I've always been interested in and perhaps mystified by angels. There are many yarns spun about them, outside the Bible and even outside of the Hallmark Channel. While the total angel count is exceedingly numerous, in the Bible only two are significant enough to mention by name, Michael and Gabriel. Angels are messengers used by God. And although they are spirits, power is given them to become visible taking on the semblance of a human form. This is what happens in Luke 1, the angel Gabriel appears to Mary with a message from God. He tells her she will give birth to a son and will name him Jesus. God's message to Mary was not delivered to her in a dream; it was a 1-on-1 encounter. Did Mary know the significance of her encounter with the angel Gabriel? I think she did because in our Gospel reading for this week, Jesus is born and Mary names the infant Jesus. Mary was obedient to God's message. I believe that God sends messages to us today, but most are not as unmistakable as a 1-on-1 meeting with an angel. Regardless, he expects our obedience.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we pray for wisdom and the patience to understand your scriptures. Help us to listen for your voice and obey. We ask that your protecting hand will be on all of those who serve our country and work for peace. Teach us compassion for the sick, the suffering, and those in need.

Musings for Christmas

2011-12-21T13:58:00.001-05:00

Sunday, December 25, 2011
Nativity of Our Lord (II), Christmas Day

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Ann Patterson

INTRODUCTION
On this Christmas morning the people of God gather to celebrate the birth of the Word made flesh, Christ our Lord. Luke recounts the familiar story of shepherds and angels; John’s gospel tells of the Word that dwells among us, full of grace and truth. The meaning of Christmas is made clear: the light shines in the darkness. It is in the liturgy that we encounter the Word made flesh—in the people of God gathered together as the body of Christ, and in the meal around the holy table. We go forth to be bearers of light as we proclaim this good news to all the ends of the earth.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (ELW)

All-powerful and unseen God, the coming of your light into our world has brightened weary hearts with peace. Call us out of darkness, and empower us to proclaim the birth of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

FIRST READING

Isaiah 62:6–12

The prophet invites the people to give God no rest until God reestablishes Jerusalem. In turn, they will receive names full of promise: Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord, a City Not Forsaken.

⁶Upon your walls, O Jerusalem,
I have posted sentinels;
all day and all night
they shall never be silent.
You who remind the LORD,
take no rest,
⁷and give him no rest
until he establishes Jerusalem
and makes it renowned throughout the earth.
⁸The LORD has sworn by his right hand
and by his mighty arm:
I will not again give your grain
to be food for your enemies,
and foreigners shall not drink the wine
for which you have labored;
⁹but those who garner it shall eat it
and praise the LORD,
and those who gather it shall drink it
in my holy courts.
¹⁰Go through, go through the gates,
prepare the way for the people;
build up, build up the highway,
clear it of stones,
lift up an ensign over the peoples.
¹¹The LORD has proclaimed
to the end of the earth:
Say to daughter Zion,
"See, your salvation comes;
his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him."
¹²They shall be called, "The Holy People,
The Redeemed of the LORD";
and you shall be called, "Sought Out,
A City Not Forsaken."

PSALM (ELW)

Psalm 97

Light dawns for the righteous, and joy for the honest of heart. (Ps. 97:11)

¹The LORD reigns; let the ^| earth rejoice;

let the multitude of the ^| isles be glad.

²Clouds and darkness sur- ^| round the LORD,

righteousness and justice are the foundations ^| of God's throne.

³Fire goes be- ^| fore the LORD,

burning up enemies on ^| every side.

⁴Lightnings light ^| up the world;

the earth ^| sees and trembles.

⁵The mountains ^| melt like wax

before the Lord of ^| all the earth.

⁶The heavens declare your righteous- ^| ness, O LORD,

and all the peoples ^| see your glory. R

⁷Confounded be all who worship carved images and delight ^| in false gods!

Bow down before the LORD, ^| all you gods.

⁸Zion hears and is glad, and the cities of Ju- ^| dah rejoice,

because of your judg- ^| ments, O LORD.

⁹For you are the LORD, most high over ^| all the earth;

you are exalted far a- ^| bove all gods.

¹⁰You who love the ^| LORD, hate evil!

God guards the lives of the saints and rescues them

from the hand ^| of the wicked. R

¹¹Light dawns ^| for the righteous,

and joy for the hon- ^| est of heart.

¹²Rejoice in the ^| LORD, you righteous,

and give thanks to God's ^| holy name. R

SECOND READING

Titus 3:4–7

God saves us not because of what we do. Rather, God is a God of mercy and salvation who graciously cleanses us in baptism and renews our lives through the Holy Spirit.

⁴But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, ⁵he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. ⁶This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

GOSPEL

Luke 2:[1–7] 8–20

The world’s deep night is shattered by the light of God’s new day. The glory of God is revealed to poor shepherds, who share the good news with others.

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. ²This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³All went to their own towns to be registered. ⁴Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. ⁵He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. ⁶While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. ⁷And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
⁸In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see — I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: ¹¹to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger."¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
¹⁴"Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"
¹⁵When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." ¹⁶So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. ¹⁷When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; ¹⁸and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Reflection

This weekend Christmas will be here. The day for which we’ve been waiting and preparing is only hours away. On that first Christmas, God became a child and gave us our beginning, a starting point for the Kingdom. On that miraculous night, a savior was born, a savior who would rescue and re-create the whole world.

Christmas is in many ways the beginning, yet it is also an event which through us shines in the present. If Christ is incarnate for us today, our Lord must daily come among us bringing renewal and reconciliation. Our worship and devotions must have the power to change our hearts so that we are witnesses to God’s love.

According to Isaiah, the Kingdom is also about the future. Isaiah admonishes us to take no rest, and give God no rest until Jerusalem is established. We take comfort in knowing that Jesus will one day return to complete his rule. In that regard, God desires our persistent prayers and sincere efforts to remake the world and bring about God’s sovereign rule. There can be no rest until God’s Kingdom is “on earth as it is in heaven.”

. . . the Kingdom of God is in the midst of you (Luke 17:20-21)

QUOTE

What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. Agnes M Pharo

Let us Pray

Let us be thankful for a Kingdom which cannot be shaken and pray

that the homeless find shelter

that the work of our hands reflects the meaning of the Gospel

that Christ be reborn in our hearts

Advent 4

2011-12-15T14:30:00.001-05:00

Sunday, December 18, 2011
Fourth Sunday of Advent

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Brother Christopher

INTRODUCTION
God keeps the promise made to David, to give him an everlasting throne. The angel tells Mary that God will give David's throne to her son Jesus. She is perplexed by Gabriel's greeting and by the news of her coming pregnancy, but she is able still to say, "Count me in." We who know that Jesus is called king only as he is executed still find it a mystery hard to fathom, but with Mary today we hear the news of what God is up to and say, "Count us in."

PRAYER OF THE DAY (ELW)

Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. With your abundant grace and might, free us from the sin that would obstruct your mercy, that willingly we may bear your redeeming love to all the world, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

FIRST READING

2 Samuel 7:1–11, 16

Instead of David building a house (temple) for the Lord, the Lord promises to establish David's house (dynasty) forever. Centuries later, after the Babylonian exile, no king sat on the throne. Even then, however, the people of Israel remembered this promise and continued to hope for a king, the messiah, the Lord's anointed.

Now when the king was settled in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him, ²the king said to the prophet Nathan, "See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent." ³Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that you have in mind; for the LORD is with you."
⁴But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan: ⁵Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the LORD: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? ⁶I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle. ⁷Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?" ⁸Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the LORD of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel; ⁹and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. ¹⁰And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly, ¹¹from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. ¹⁶Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever.

PSALM (ELW)

Luke 1:46b–55

You, Lord, have lifted up the lowly. (Luke 1:52)

^46bMy soul proclaims the greatness ^| of the Lord,

⁴⁷my spirit rejoices in ^| God my Savior,

⁴⁸for you, Lord, have looked with favor on your ^| lowly servant.

From this day all generations will ^| call me blessed;

⁴⁹you, the Almighty, have done great ^| things for me,

and holy ^| is your name.

⁵⁰You have mercy on ^| those who fear you,

from generation to ^| generation. R

⁵¹You have shown strength ^| with your arm;

and scattered the proud in ^| their conceit,

⁵²casting down the mighty ^| from their thrones

and lifting ^| up the lowly.

⁵³You have filled the hungry ^| with good things,

and sent the rich ^| away empty.

⁵⁴You have come to the aid of your ^| servant Israel,

to remember the prom- ^| ise of mercy,

⁵⁵the promise made ^| to our forebears,

to Abraham and his chil- ^| dren forever. R

SECOND READING

Romans 16:25–27

Paul closes his letter to the Romans by praising God because in the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ God has revealed the promised, divine plan of salvation for all humanity. Paul proclaims this gospel of Christ in order to bring about the obedience of faith among all nations.

²⁵Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages ²⁶but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith — ²⁷to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen.

GOSPEL

Luke 1:26–38

In this annunciation, Luke makes clear that God comes with good news for ordinary people (Mary) from littleknown places (Nazareth). This king will not be born to royalty in a palace, but to common folk in a stall. Here Luke highlights the role of the Spirit, a special emphasis in his gospel.

²⁶In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, ²⁷to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. ²⁸And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." ²⁹But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. ³⁰The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. ³²He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. ³³He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." ³⁴Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" ³⁵The angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. ³⁶And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. ³⁷For nothing will be impossible with God." ³⁸Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

Reflection

Behold a great mystery: Mary is the daughter of the Father, the mother of the Son and the spouse of the Holy Spirit.

Christmas is one of the too few times we look at and consider the life and faith of Mary, mother of Our Lord.

Yet our Lutheran tradition, unlike some of the more radical Protestant traditions, has from the very beginning honored Mary for her unique role

in salvation history.

Martin Luther had a deep and tender devotion to Mary. Br. Martin said, “The veneration of Mary is inscribed in the very depths of the human heart.” (Sermon, September 1, 1522).

“[She is the] highest woman and the noblest gem in Christianity after Christ . . . She is nobility, wisdom, and holiness personified. We can never honor her enough. Still honor and praise must be given to her in such a way as to injure neither Christ nor the Scriptures.” (Sermon, Christmas, 1531).

“No woman is like you. You are more than Eve or Sarah, blessed above all nobility, wisdom, and sanctity.” (Sermon, Feast of the Visitation, 1537).

“One should honor Mary as she herself wished and as she expressed it in the Magnificat. She praised God for his deeds. How then can we praise her? The true honor of Mary is the honor of God, the praise of God's grace . . . Mary is nothing for the sake of herself, but for the sake of Christ . . . Mary does not wish that we come to her, but through her to God.” (Explanation of the Magnificat, 1521).

Mary was the first Christian and is the most honored woman in all of Christendom. Her “yes” to the angel Gabriel changed human history forever.

God is still looking for souls like Mary’s who will say yes in word and deed. God is still calling men and women to be “Christ bearers” in and for the world.

Mary’s message is always the same, timeless and perennial. Her words from the wedding at Cana still call to us, “Do whatever he (Jesus) tells you.” (John 2:5)

This Christmas may you be inspired by Mary’s faith, radical trust, humility and pondering spirit.

Intercessions

For all women who serve in the church and in society.

For all mothers and caregivers.

For all deaconesses and members of religious orders.

For all women suffering oppression and degradation.

For mothers who have lost children to death or miscarriage.

For women who are victims of sex trafficking.

For a rediscovery and renewed awareness of women saints, mystics and martyrs.

For women who have made the selfless choice of adoption.

For all those who carry the holy child Jesus in the cradle of their heart.

Quote

“Just as Jesus was born in a humble stable, so Christ today is only born in humble hearts.”

Musings for Advent 3

2011-12-08T13:32:00.000-05:00

Sunday, December 11, 2011
Third Sunday of Advent

Musings by Karen Grover

INTRODUCTION
"Rejoice always," begins the reading from First Thessalonians. Isaiah and the psalmist make clear that God is turning our mourning into laughter and shouts of joy. "All God's children got a robe," go the words of the spiritual. It is not so much a stately, formal, pressed outfit as it is a set of party clothes, clothes that make us feel happy just to put on. We receive that robe in baptism, and in worship we gather for a foretaste of God's party.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Stir up the wills of your faithful people, Lord God, and open our ears to the words of your prophets, that, anointed by your Spirit, we may testify to your light; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

FIRST READING

Isaiah 61:1–4, 8–11

Though the people had returned to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon, they continued to face hardship and oppression. In the language of the jubilee year described in Leviticus 25, the prophet, moved by the spirit of the Lord, announces deliverance for those who are oppressed and comfort for those who mourn.

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
²to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
³to provide for those who mourn in Zion —
to give them a garland instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the LORD, to display his glory.
⁴They shall build up the ancient ruins,
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
⁸For I the LORD love justice,
I hate robbery and wrongdoing;
I will faithfully give them their recompense,
and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
⁹Their descendants shall be known among the nations,
and their offspring among the peoples;
all who see them shall acknowledge
that they are a people whom the LORD has blessed.
¹⁰I will greatly rejoice in the LORD,
my whole being shall exult in my God;
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
¹¹For as the earth brings forth its shoots,
and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,
so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise
to spring up before all the nations.

PSALM (ELW)

Psalm 126

The LORD has done great things for us. (Ps. 126:3)

¹When the LORD restored the for- ^| tunes of Zion,

then were we like ^| those who dream.

²Then was our mouth filled with laughter,

and our tongue with ^| shouts of joy.

Then they said among the nations,

"The LORD has done great ^| things for them."

³The LORD has done great ^| things for us,

and we are ^| glad indeed.

⁴Restore our for- ^| tunes, O LORD,

like the watercourses ^| of the Negeb. R

⁵Those who ^| sowed with tears

will reap with ^| songs of joy.

⁶Those who go out weeping, carry- ^| ing the seed,

will come again with joy, shoulder- ^| ing their sheaves. R

SECOND READING

1 Thessalonians 5:16–24

Paul concludes his letter to the Thessalonians by encouraging them to live lives of continual joy, prayer, and thanksgiving. The closing blessing is grounded in the hope of Christ's coming.

¹⁶Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray without ceasing, ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ¹⁹Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰Do not despise the words of prophets, ²¹but test everything; hold fast to what is good; ²²abstain from every form of evil.
²³May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.

GOSPEL

John 1:6–8, 19–28

John's gospel describes Jesus as the "light of the world." John the Baptist is presented as a witness to Jesus, one who directs attention away from himself to Christ, the true light.

⁶There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. ⁸He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.¹⁹This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" ²⁰He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, "I am not the Messiah." ²¹And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" He answered, "No." ²²Then they said to him, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" ²³He said,
"I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,
'Make straight the way of the Lord,'"
as the prophet Isaiah said.
²⁴Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. ²⁵They asked him, "Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?" ²⁶John answered them, "I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, ²⁷the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal." ²⁸This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

REFLECTION:

In this gospel, John's purpose is to be a witness to Jesus, someone who points to and directs people to Him. When I thought about his role in this gospel, I thought of our youth out in the community working at the Soup Kitchen, ringing the bell at the Salvation Army's red kettle, serving and cleaning up at our Labors of Love lunch, wheeling the residents at St. John's Home to their church service, working on recycling projects, etc. They are out there serving those who need their help. They are out in our community in these various venues "as witnesses to Jesus." They are out there helping those in need, as Jesus instructs us to do--simply witnessing to Jesus.

PRAYERS:

Let us give thanks for:

Our youth in the community as a light to Jesus

Our vibrant Youth and Family Ministry

Our Sunday School teachers who teach our youth

God's unwavering love for us

Our freedom to love God

QUOTE:

"Nobody is so poor that he/she has nothing to give, and nobody is so rich that he/she has nothing to receive" Pope John-Paul II

Musings for Advent 2

2011-12-01T12:46:00.001-05:00

Sunday, December 4, 2011
Second Sunday of Advent

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Joshua Brown

INTRODUCTION
John called people to repent, to clear the decks, to completely reorder their lives so that nothing would get in the way of the Lord's coming. The reading from Isaiah gives the context for this radical call: the assurance of forgiveness that encourages us to repent; the promise that the coming one will be gentle with the little ones. Isaiah calls us all to be heralds with John, to lift up our voices fearlessly and say, "See, your God is coming!" We say it to one another in worship, in order to say it with our lives in a world in need of justice and peace.

John of Damascus, theologian and hymnwriter, died around 749
A monk in an abbey near Jerusalem, John wrote many hymns as well as theological works. One of his works, The Fount of Wisdom, remained influential for centuries.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (ELW)

Stir up our hearts, Lord God, to prepare the way of your only Son. By his coming strengthen us to serve you with purified lives; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

FIRST READING

Isaiah 40:1–11

In grand, flowing, poetic lines, the prophet announces that the exile of God's people in Babylon is over. The Lord will deliver Israel and will care for her as a shepherd cares for his sheep. This word can be trusted, because the only enduring reality in life is the word of the Lord.

Comfort, O comfort my people,
says your God.
²Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her
that she has served her term,
that her penalty is paid,
that she has received from the LORD's hand
double for all her sins.
³A voice cries out:
"In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
⁴Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
⁵Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together,
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
⁶A voice says, "Cry out!"
And I said, "What shall I cry?"
All people are grass,
their constancy is like the flower of the field.
⁷The grass withers, the flower fades,
when the breath of the LORD blows upon it;
surely the people are grass.
⁸The grass withers, the flower fades;
but the word of our God will stand forever.
⁹Get you up to a high mountain,
O Zion, herald of good tidings;
lift up your voice with strength,
O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings,
lift it up, do not fear;
say to the cities of Judah,
"Here is your God!"
¹⁰See, the Lord GOD comes with might,
and his arm rules for him;
his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.
¹¹He will feed his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms,
and carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead the mother sheep.

PSALM (ELW)

Psalm 85:1–2, 8–13

Righteousness shall prepare a pathway for God. (Ps. 85:13)

¹You have been gracious to your ^| land, O LORD;

you have restored the good for- ^| tune of Jacob.

²You have forgiven the iniquity ^| of your people

and blotted out ^| all their sins.

⁸I will listen to what the LORD ^| God is saying;

for you speak peace to your faithful people

and to those who turn their ^| hearts to you.

⁹Truly, your salvation is very near to ^| those who fear you,

that your glory may dwell ^| in our land. R

¹⁰Steadfast love and faithfulness have ^| met together;

righteousness and peace have ^| kissed each other.

¹¹Faithfulness shall spring up ^| from the earth,

and righteousness shall look ^| down from heaven.

¹²The LORD will indeed ^| grant prosperity,

and our land will ^| yield its increase.

¹³Righteousness shall go be- ^| fore the LORD

and shall prepare for ^| God a pathway. R

SECOND READING

2 Peter 3:8–15a

This short letter deals with pressing concerns regarding the final advent of Jesus, especially concerns that could arise over its apparent delay. The author of the letter calls on Christians to anticipate the promised coming of the Lord through conduct dedicated to God.

⁸But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. ⁹The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. ¹⁰But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.
¹¹Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, ¹²waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? ¹³But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.
¹⁴Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; ¹⁵and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation.

GOSPEL

Mark 1:1–8

The Gospel of Mark does not begin with a story of Jesus' birth but with the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord.

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
²As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
"See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way;
³the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
'Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,'"
⁴John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. ⁶Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. ⁸I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

REFLECTION

Reflecting on these lessons for the second Sunday of Advent it occurred to me how much of life we spent waiting. We wait on hold for the next representative, we queue at the store to purchase Black Friday bargains, and we sit impatiently in traffic congestion waiting for the cars in front of us to start moving. Additionally the act of waiting can become a source of anxiety. Waiting for a baby to come but not knowing when, waiting for test results after the latest treatment for a serious ailment, waiting to for a job offer in a difficult economy, waiting for the safe return of a deployed soldier or any number of similar scenarios can trigger the nervousness and fear that accompanies waiting.

As we wait during this Advent season, God offers up a method to ease our waiting anxiety. Prepare says the prophet Isaiah! Prepare declares John the Baptist! If you might have a baby n the next three days, PREPARE, with your bags packed and arrangements for the care your children or pets. If you head to the mall on the day after Thanksgiving, PREPARE, knowing that you will wait in line, that traffic will move slowly and that the trip will require extra time. If you wait for Christ’s coming with new heavens and a new earth, PREPARE! While you wait for these things, strive to be found by Christ at peace with a straight path to your heart. A road cleared of all obstacles that keep us from embracing the love of Christ.

At the beginning of last week each time I sat down to dinner I heard a voice in my head recite a line from Exodus. “This is how you shall eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand” the voice said. My wife had reached the point in pregnancy when the baby could arrive at moment. As I awaited the arrival of our son Elijah I took comfort knowing we had the bags packed and all the arrangements in place. By my preparations I knew that I had my “loins girded,” “my sandals on” and “my staff in hand” so I could remain at peace while we waited.

This Advent listen to what the Lord God is saying; for God speaks peace to God’s faithful people.

Prepare the way of the Lord for the Lord of peace, the Lord of comfort and the Lord of love comes!

Prayers

· For all who wait in expectation, anxiety, or apprehension

· For our brother and sisters who serve in the military

· For strength and perseverance among all those who strive for economic justice

· For all new mothers, new fathers and new siblings

· For those who suffer the pain of mental illness

QUOTE

For it is we who must pray for our daily bread, and if He grants it to us, it is only through our labor, our skill and preparation. -Paracelsus

The important work of moving the world forward does not wait to be done by perfect men. - George Eliot

I grew up with six brothers. That's how I learned to dance - waiting for the bathroom.
- Bob Hope

Musings for Advent 1

2011-11-23T12:45:00.000-05:00

Sunday, November 27, 2011
First Sunday of Advent

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Gary lazenby

INTRODUCTION
Stir up your power, and come! The psalmist's plea in Psalm 80:2 has become familiar to us in the Advent prayers. Isaiah wants God to rip the heavens open. Both cry out for an apparently distant, angry God to show up, to save, to restore. When we hear Jesus describing the coming of the Son of Man with stars falling from heaven, it can sound dire and horrible, not like anything we would ever hope for. But when we really look at the suffering of people God loves, we can share the hope that God would tear open the heavens and come.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (ELW)

Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. By your merciful protection awaken us to the threatening dangers of our sins, and keep us blameless until the coming of your new day, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

FIRST READING

Isaiah 64:1–9

This lament comes from a people who have had their hopes shattered. The visions of a rebuilt Jerusalem and a renewed people of God, spoken of in Isaiah 40–55, have not been realized. Instead, the people experience ruin, conflict, and famine. This lament calls God to account—to be the God who has brought deliverance in the past.

O that you would tear open the heavens and come down,
so that the mountains would quake at your presence —
²as when fire kindles brushwood
and the fire causes water to boil —
to make your name known to your adversaries,
so that the nations might tremble at your presence!
³When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect,
you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.
⁴From ages past no one has heard,
no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides you,
who works for those who wait for him.
⁵You meet those who gladly do right,
those who remember you in your ways.
But you were angry, and we sinned;
because you hid yourself we transgressed.
⁶We have all become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth.
We all fade like a leaf,
and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
⁷There is no one who calls on your name,
or attempts to take hold of you;
for you have hidden your face from us,
and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity.
⁸Yet, O LORD, you are our Father;
we are the clay, and you are our potter;
we are all the work of your hand.
⁹Do not be exceedingly angry, O LORD,
and do not remember iniquity forever.
Now consider, we are all your people.

PSALM (ELW)

Psalm 80:1–7, 17–19

Let your face shine upon us, and we shall be saved. (Ps. 80:7)

¹Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph ^| like a flock;

shine forth, you that are enthroned up- ^| on the cherubim.

²In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, ^| and Manasseh,

stir up your strength and ^| come to help us.

³Restore ^| us, O God;

let your face shine upon us, and we ^| shall be saved.

⁴O LORD ^| God of hosts,

how long will your anger fume when your ^| people pray? R

⁵You have fed them with the ^| bread of tears;

you have given them bowls of ^| tears to drink.

⁶You have made us the derision ^| of our neighbors,

and our enemies laugh ^| us to scorn.

⁷Restore us, O ^| God of hosts;

let your face shine upon us, and we ^| shall be saved.

¹⁷Let your hand be upon the one at ^| your right hand,

the one you have made so strong ^| for yourself. R

¹⁸And so will we never turn a- ^| way from you;

give us life, that we may call up- ^| on your name.

¹⁹Restore us, O LORD ^| God of hosts;

let your face shine upon us, and we ^| shall be saved. R

SECOND READING

1 Corinthians 1:3–9

As the Christians in Corinth await the advent of Jesus, Paul reminds them how the Lord has already enriched them through spiritual gifts and will continue to strengthen them until the coming day of the Lord.

³Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
⁴I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, ⁵for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind —⁶just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you — ⁷so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁸He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

GOSPEL

Mark 13:24–37

In today's reading, Jesus encourages his followers to look forward to the day when he returns in power and glory to end all suffering.

²⁴But in those days, after that suffering,
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light,
²⁵and the stars will be falling from heaven,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
²⁶Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in clouds' with great power and glory. ²⁷Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
²⁸From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. ²⁹So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. ³⁰Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. ³¹Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
³²But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ³³Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. ³⁴It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. ³⁵Therefore, keep awake — for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, ³⁶or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. ³⁷And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake."

Reflection

Have we lost Advent or has our society not heard about it? Advent is such an important season at Atonement, but when we leave and “re-enter” society, we are into the Christmas season!! How much are we into Advent during the week or are we part of the Christmas celebrations – buying, wrapping, decorating, baking??? Advent isn’t really about preparing for Christmas. It is about preparing for the coming of Christ. And, yes, in a few weeks Advent will shift to the coming of Christ in a manger in Bethlehem, but Advent always begins with preparing and waiting for Christ to come again.

A question that I often pose to the students in confirmation is: Would you recognize Christ when he comes again? This question goes unanswered but there is an important outcome from the conversation. We might not know His appearance, but we can be alert to his coming. Waiting. Watching. Will Christ come to you this Advent season? Keep alert.

Pray for:

· Those who do not or cannot see Christ in others.

· Those who keep Advent in their lives during the weeks leading up to

Christmas.

· The impatient ones who have difficulty waiting.

· All to keep alert!

· For the imprisoned who wait.

Quote:

“A prison cell, in which one waits, hopes – and is completely dependent on the fact that the door of freedom has to be opened from the outside, is not a bad picture of Advent.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (German Lutheran Pastor and Theologian) His involvement in a plot to overthrow Adolf Hitler led to his imprisonment and execution.

Musings for Christ the King Sunday

2011-11-17T11:07:00.000-05:00

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Christ the King

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Pastor Macholz

INTRODUCTION

On this final Sunday of the church year our gospel is Jesus' great story of judgment. In the end, the faithful are those who served Christ by ministering to those who are poor, hungry, naked, sick, or estranged. In the first reading God is the shepherd who seeks the lost, weak, and injured and feeds them with justice. We gather this day to celebrate the reign of Christ and his victory over death, yet awaiting the consummation of all things yet to come. Acknowledging Christ as our merciful ruler, we go forth that his reign may be known in our loving words and deeds.

Prayer of the Day

O God of power and might, your Son shows us the way of service, and in him we inherit the riches of your grace. Give us the wisdom to know what is right and the strength to serve the world you have made, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

First Reading Ezekiel 34:11–16, 20–24

Since Israel's kings proved to be bad shepherds, Ezekiel declares that the Lord will assume the role of shepherd in Israel. The Lord will also set over them a shepherd-messiah, "my servant David," who will feed and care for the people.

11For thus says the Lord GOD: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. 12As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. 13I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of the land. 14I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord GOD. 16I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice.

20Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD to them: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21Because you pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide, 22I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged; and I will judge between sheep and sheep.

23I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them; I, the LORD, have spoken.

Psalm 95:1–7a

We are the people of God's pasture and the sheep of God's hand. (Ps. 95:7)

1Come, let us sing | to the LORD;

let us shout for joy to the rock of | our salvation.

2Let us come before God's presence | with thanksgiving

and raise a loud shout to the | LORD with psalms.

3For you, LORD, | are a great God,

and a great ruler a- | bove all gods.

4In your hand are the caverns | of the earth;

the heights of the hills are | also yours. R

5The sea is yours, | for you made it,

and your hands have molded | the dry land.

6Come, let us worship | and bow down,

let us kneel before the | LORD our maker.

7For the LORD | is our God,

and we are the people of God's pasture and the sheep | of God's hand. R

Second Reading Ephesians 1:15–23

In this passage, God is praised for revealing ultimate divine power in raising Jesus from the dead. The resurrected, exalted Christ is Lord both of the church and the entire universe, now and in the age to come.

15I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason 16I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, 18so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, 19and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. 20God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. 22And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Gospel Matthew 25:31–46

Jesus compares himself to a king who moves among his subjects to see how he is treated: what is done for the least of those who belong to his family is truly done for him.

31When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. 34Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' 37Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' 40And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' 41Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' 44Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?' 45Then he will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' 46And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Reflection

We’ve come to the end of another church year somehow, where the time has gone I don’t know but it has. Much has occurred both in the congregation and the world as we find ourselves at a much different place than we did on this day in 2010. For us, however, this is New Year’s Eve as we celebrate Christ the King Sunday.

One of the major festivals of the church year, this day looks backward as well as forward as we reflect on what has been and hope for what might be. Jesus centers us quickly in both directions by asking us what we have done for the least and what we will do in the future for the same population.

I often wonder if the process gets in the way of the people. Do we spend so much time planning and preparing in order to execute those plans accordingly that we miss the mark?

As we move through life do we really see Jesus in others? I know from personal experience as I move through times of volunteering that it’s difficult if not impossible to see Jesus in those who abuse the system, find ways to work beyond the parameters and abuse opportunities. Then I am reminded that I am not called to judge but to offer, offer what has first been given me as well as to look beyond what appears to be and see in others the image of God, face of Jesus, presence of the living Christ.

Unfortunately our prejudices and past experiences stand in the way but Jesus won’t hear any of that; the call is to be with and for the least. Not a bad agenda to set as a community of God’s people in life and in love. Care to join me?

Let us pray

To be Christ’s presence to those in need
To see Christ in others
For those who cannot afford their mortgage payments
This country as we live in these challenging times
All who struggle with day to day life

Quote

“Nobody gets to heaven without a letter of reference from the poor!” Matthew 25:31-46. Rev. James Forbes:

Musings for All Saints Sunday

2011-11-03T10:55:00.001-04:00

All Saints Sunday

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Pastor Macholz

INTRODUCTION

All Saints celebrates the baptized people of God, living and dead, who are the body of Christ. As November heralds the dying of the landscape in many northern regions, the readings and liturgy call us to remember all who have died in Christ and whose baptism is complete. At the Lord's table we gather with the faithful of every time and place, trusting that the promises of God will be fulfilled and that all tears will be wiped away in the new Jerusalem.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (ELW)

Almighty God, you have knit your people together in one communion in the mystical body of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Grant us grace to follow your blessed saints in lives of faith and commitment, and to know the inexpressible joys you have prepared for those who love you, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

FIRST READING Revelation 7:9–17

The book of Revelation is written to seven churches in western Asia Minor during a time of great oppression. Today's reading is a response to the question asked in 6:17: "Who is able to stand?" The writer gives the faithful the assurance of God's protection and a vision of victory.

9After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. 10They cried out in a loud voice, saying,

"Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!"

11And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12singing,

"Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might

be to our God forever and ever! Amen." 13Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?" 14I said to him, "Sir, you are the one that knows." Then he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. 16They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; 17for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

PSALM (ELW) Psalm 34:1–10, 22

Fear the LORD, you saints of the LORD; for those who fear the LORD lack nothing. (Ps. 34:9)

I will bless the LORD | at all times;

the praise of God shall ever be | in my mouth.

2I will glory | in the LORD;

let the lowly hear | and rejoice. R

3Proclaim with me the greatness | of the LORD;

let us exalt God's | name together.

4I sought the LORD, who | answered me

and delivered me from | all my terrors.

5Look upon the LORD | and be radiant,

and let not your faces | be ashamed.

6I called in my affliction, and | the LORD heard me

and saved me from | all my troubles. R

7The angel of the LORD encamps around those who | fear the LORD

and de- | livers them.

8Taste and see that the | LORD is good;

happy are they who take ref- | uge in God!

9Fear the LORD, you saints | of the LORD,

for those who fear the | LORD lack nothing.

10The lions are in want and | suffer hunger,

but those who seek the LORD lack nothing | that is good.

22O LORD, you redeem the life | of your servants,

and those who put their trust in you will | not be punished. R

SECOND READING 1 John 3:1–3

A saint is one who has been set apart by God for God's purposes. God, out of divine love, set us apart to be the children of God. Our holy hope is that we shall see God as God really is.

See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.2Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is.3And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

GOSPEL Matthew 5:1–12

In the beatitudes, Jesus provides a unique description of those who are blessed with God's favor. His teaching is surprising and shocking to those who seek wealth, fame, and control over others.

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

3"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

6"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

7"Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

8"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

10"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11"Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Reflection

2Beloved, we are God's children now. These words from the second lesson ground me and I hope us. They may seem an odd choice for reflection on this All Saints Sunday yet they remind us where our hope lies and whose we are in this life and the life to come.

Luther’s language around who we are certainly focused on us a children of God yet on this Sunday it may be most appropriate to remember his use of the phrase “Simul Ustus Et Peccator”; we are one and the same time saints and sinners, living in the tension of this world and the world to come.

This day we certainly celebrate those who have gone before us in the faith; mentors and heroes who have taught us about Jesus and lived a life that modeled that. I recall in the opening of the eulogy I offered for my mom at her funeral these words, “My dad taught us about Jesus but it was Gloria who brought us to Jesus.” In both of my parents I found models and examples of the faith that stood me well during their life and continue to do so following their death.

I give thanks for them and for all, known and unknown, who heard the call and followed our Lord, not always an easy task as you know. As this day approaches take time to pause and remember those who have been instrumental in your faith journey and then give thanks that they were and are a part of who you are this day. They were saints as are and for that we give thanks for the grace and wonder of God’s incredible love.

For all the saints, who from their labors rest we say and sing, Alleluia! Alleluia!

Let Us Pray

With thanksgiving for those who have been formative in our lives

That we might be formed into Christ’s love and life

That those affected by natural disasters might find the help they need

For children who have no home

For all for whom love is a stranger

Quote

God creates out of nothing. Wonderful you say. Yes, to be sure, but he does what is still more wonderful: he makes saints out of sinners. Soren Kierkegaard

Musings for Reformatio Sunday

2011-10-27T12:40:00.001-04:00

Sunday, October 30, 2011
Reformation Sunday

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Judy Lazenby

INTRODUCTION
On this day we celebrate the heart of our faith: the gospel of Christ—the good news—that makes us free! We pray that the Holy Spirit would continue to unite the church today in its proclamation and witness to the world. In the waters of baptism we are made one body; we pray for the day that all Christians will also be one at the Lord's table.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (ELW)

Almighty God, gracious Lord, we thank you that your Holy Spirit renews the church in every age. Pour out your Holy Spirit on your faithful people. Keep them steadfast in your word, protect and comfort them in times of trial, defend them against all enemies of the gospel, and bestow on the church your saving peace, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

FIRST READING

Jeremiah 31:31–34

The renewed covenant will not be breakable, but like the old covenant it will expect the people to live upright lives. To know the Lord means that one will defend the cause of the poor and needy (Jer. 22:16). The renewed covenant is possible only because the Lord will forgive iniquity and not remember sin. Our hope lies in a God who forgets

³¹The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. ³²It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt — a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the LORD. ³³But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. ³⁴No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, "Know the LORD," for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.

PSALM (ELW)

Psalm 46

The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. (Ps. 46:7)

¹God is our ref- ^| uge and strength,

a very present ^| help in trouble.

²Therefore we will not fear, though the ^| earth be moved,

and though the mountains shake in the depths ^| of the sea;

³though its waters ^| rage and foam,

and though the mountains tremble ^| with its tumult.

⁴There is a river whose streams make glad the cit- ^| y of God,

the holy habitation of ^| the Most High.

⁵God is in the midst of the city; it shall ^| not be shaken;

God shall help it at the ^| break of day.

⁶The nations rage, and the ^| kingdoms shake;

God speaks, and the earth ^| melts away. R

⁷The LORD of ^| hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob ^| is our stronghold.

⁸Come now, regard the works ^| of the LORD,

what desolations God has brought up- ^| on the earth;

⁹behold the one who makes war to cease in ^| all the world;

who breaks the bow, and shatters the spear,

and burns the ^| shields with fire.

¹⁰"Be still, then, and know that ^| I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations;

I will be exalted ^| in the earth."

¹¹The LORD of ^| hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob ^| is our stronghold. R

SECOND READING

Romans 3:19–28

Paul's words stand at the heart of the preaching of Martin Luther and the other Reformation leaders. No human beings make themselves right with God through works of the law. We are brought into a right relationship with God through the divine activity centered in Christ's death. This act is a gift of grace that liberates us from sin and empowers our faith in Jesus Christ.

¹⁹Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.²⁰For "no human being will be justified in his sight" by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
²¹But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, ²²the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, ²³since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; ²⁴they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ²⁵whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; ²⁶it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus.
²⁷Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith. ²⁸For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.

GOSPEL

John 8:31–36

Jesus speaks of truth and freedom as spiritual realities known through his word. He reveals the truth that sets people free from sin.

³¹Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; ³²and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."³³They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, 'You will be made free'?"
³⁴Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. ³⁵The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. ³⁶So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

Reflections

I often think it is amazing how everyone has a different understanding of what is to be free. Certainly as parents we deal with this concept in bringing up children right from the cradle and far into adolencese. Hopefully by the time we send them off to college, they have a healthy understanding of freedom.

The countries and individuals involved in the Arab Spring have varied understandings of freedom. Only the next few years will tell if a working definition of freedom will bring peace to all those who seek it.

Jesus is telling his followers He is the way to true freedom. Being free from sin through Jesus’ presence in our lives is a wonderful gift of grace.

Quote

"If we follow Luther and understand "sin" as self-centeredness, then those who are doing self-centered things become slaves to themselves -- their own wants and desires. Often this is how people may understand freedom -- doing whatever I want to do. But that definition of freedom is actually slavery to one's self. Being set free means having our desires and centeredness turned away from ourselves." Brian P. Stoffregen at CrossMarks

Prayers

Let us pray for

Those who have no freedoms of any sort.

Those who need healing and the blessings of health.

Those children lacking love, food, and shelter.

Our LoL recipients, the residents at the Salvation Army Adult Rehab Center.

Pentecost 19

2011-10-20T13:24:00.001-04:00

Sunday, October 23, 2011
Lectionary 30
Proper 25
Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Ken Klassen

INTRODUCTION
Jesus' summary of the law in today's gospel echoes our first reading from Leviticus. We are called not only to love God with heart, soul, and mind, but also to love our neighbor as ourselves. It is out of such deep care that Paul shares the gospel with the Thessalonian community. In the confession of sins, we acknowledge that we have not loved God, neighbor, and self; yet we gather to hear the word of forgiveness and to be strengthened by word and meal to be signs of God's love and mercy in the world.

James of Jerusalem, martyr, died around 62
One of three early-church leaders named James, this man is identified in the New Testament and by a historian of the time as a brother of Jesus. Scholars are uncertain whether this means a blood brother. He was a leader of the church in Jerusalem.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (ELW)

O Lord God, you are the holy lawgiver, you are the salvation of your people. By your Spirit renew us in your covenant of love, and train us to care tenderly for all our neighbors, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

FIRST READING

Leviticus 19:1–2, 15–18

The holiness code in Leviticus urges people to be holy because God is holy. Holiness is lived out in partiality for and consideration of the poor and the weak. We are to love our neighbors as ourselves. God's people exercise justice and love in their dealings with one another.

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
²Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy. ¹⁵You shall not render an unjust judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great: with justice you shall judge your neighbor. ¹⁶You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not profit by the blood of your neighbor: I am the LORD.
¹⁷You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbor, or you will incur guilt yourself. ¹⁸You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.

PSALM (ELW)

Psalm 1

Their delight is in the law of the LORD. (Ps. 1:2)

¹Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel ^| of the wicked,

nor lingered in the way of sinners,

nor sat in the seats ^| of the scornful!

²Their delight is in the law ^| of the LORD,

and they meditate on God's teaching ^| day and night. R

³They are like trees planted by streams of water,

bearing fruit in due season, with leaves that ^| do not wither;

everything they ^| do shall prosper.

⁴It is not so ^| with the wicked;

they are like chaff which the wind ^| blows away.

⁵Therefore the wicked shall not stand upright when ^| judgment comes,

nor the sinner in the council ^| of the righteous.

⁶For the LORD knows the way ^| of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked shall ^| be destroyed. R

SECOND READING

1 Thessalonians 2:1–8

Paul uses maternal imagery to depict the caring and nurturing relationship he shares with the Thessalonian Christians. When he first came to their city it was not to benefit himself but to share the gospel with them, which was his responsibility as an apostle of Christ.

You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain, ²but though we had already suffered and been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great opposition. ³For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery, ⁴but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts. ⁵As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a pretext for greed; ⁶nor did we seek praise from mortals, whether from you or from others, ⁷though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. ⁸So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.

GOSPEL

Matthew 22:34–46

Put on the spot by the Pharisees, Jesus displays wisdom by summarizing the law of God in just two commandments and by demonstrating the Messiah must be more than the son of David.

³⁴When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, ³⁵and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. ³⁶Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest? ³⁷He said to him, " 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' ³⁸This is the greatest and first commandment. ³⁹And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' ⁴⁰On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
⁴¹Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: ⁴²What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he? They said to him, "The son of David." ⁴³He said to them, "How is it then that David by the Spirit calls him Lord, saying,
⁴⁴'The Lord said to my Lord,
"Sit at my right hand,
until I put your enemies under your feet" '?
⁴⁵If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?" ⁴⁶No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

Reflection

Prior to reading Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis, the verse in this week's Gospel reading, 'love your neighbor as yourself' was a stretch goal in my life. Lewis' viewpoint has been helpful for me and I'd like to share it with you. Here is my paraphrasing of his thoughts on 'love your neighbor as yourself'.

How exactly do I love myself? While I do love myself, I don't always feel affection for myself and I don't always enjoy being with myself. So apparently 'love your neighbor' does not mean 'have affection for him' or 'wanting to be with him'.

Do I think I am a good person? Well I am afraid that sometimes I do and this is the worst possible version of me. But that is not why I love myself. In fact it is the reverse; it is my self-love that makes me think that I am a good person. So loving my neighbor does not mean I must think that they are a good person either. That is an enormous relief; for some people believe that loving your neighbor means thinking that they are not so bad after all - when clearly they are. Go a step further. In my most clear-sighted moments not only do I think myself not a good person, but I know that I am a very mean one. I can look at some of the things I have done with disgust and hate. So apparently I am allowed to loathe some of the things my neighbors do.

Clearly Lewis is casting a dark shadow to emphasize his point. The 'love' that is being called for is not emotion; it is not 'liking' or 'getting along with'. The 'love' Jesus is talking about here is trust, loyalty, enduring devotion. You may actually hate your neighbor, but you will still be loving them in the Biblical sense if you continue to act for their well-being and refuse to cut off your relationship with them.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we pray for wisdom and the patience to understand your scriptures. Help use to make loving our neighbor more than a stretch goal in our lives. Give us tolerance for those who don't meet our expectations. And above all else, help us to listen to your voice.

We ask that your protecting hand will be on all of those who serve our country and work for peace. Teach us compassion for the sick, the suffering, and those in need.

Musings for Pentecost 16

2011-09-29T12:48:00.001-04:00

Sunday, October 2, 2011
Lectionary 27
Proper 22
Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Reflection by Pastor Macholz

INTRODUCTION
In today's gospel reading, Jesus tells a parable of the vineyard, an image of Israel, the prophets' mission, and Christ's death. For Christians, the vineyard also speaks of God's love poured out in the blood of Christ, given to us for the forgiveness of sin. Grafted onto Christ the vine at baptism, we are nourished with wine and bread, that we may share Christ's sufferings and know the power of his resurrection.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (ELW)

Beloved God, from you come all things that are good. Lead us by the inspiration of your Spirit to know those things that are right, and by your merciful guidance, help us to do them, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

FIRST READING

Isaiah 5:1–7

The prophet sings a sad, parable-like love song about the relationship between God and Israel. In this song Israel is compared to a promising vineyard. Despite God's loving care, the vineyard that is Israel has brought forth "wild grapes" of injustice and distress, when fine grapes of justice and righteousness were expected.

Let me sing for my beloved
my love-song concerning his vineyard:
My beloved had a vineyard
on a very fertile hill.
²He dug it and cleared it of stones,
and planted it with choice vines;
he built a watchtower in the midst of it,
and hewed out a wine vat in it;
he expected it to yield grapes,
but it yielded wild grapes.
³And now, inhabitants of Jerusalem
and people of Judah,
judge between me
and my vineyard.
⁴What more was there to do for my vineyard
that I have not done in it?
When I expected it to yield grapes,
why did it yield wild grapes?
⁵And now I will tell you
what I will do to my vineyard.
I will remove its hedge,
and it shall be devoured;
I will break down its wall,
and it shall be trampled down.
⁶I will make it a waste;
it shall not be pruned or hoed,
and it shall be overgrown with briers and thorns;
I will also command the clouds
that they rain no rain upon it.
⁷For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts
is the house of Israel,
and the people of Judah
are his pleasant planting;
he expected justice,
but saw bloodshed;
righteousness,
but heard a cry!

PSALM (ELW)

Psalm 80:7–15

Look down from heaven, O God; behold and tend this vine. (Ps. 80:14, 15)

⁷Restore us, O ^| God of hosts;

let your face shine upon us, and we ^| shall be saved.

⁸You have brought a vine ^| out of Egypt;

you cast out the nations and ^| planted it.

⁹You cleared the ^| ground for it;

it took root and ^| filled the land.

¹⁰The mountains were covered ^| by its shadow

and the towering cedar trees ^| by its boughs. R

¹¹You stretched out its tendrils ^| to the sea

and its branches ^| to the river.

¹²Why have you broken ^| down its wall,

so that all who pass by pluck ^| off its grapes?

¹³The wild boar of the forest has ^| ravaged it,

and the beasts of the field have ^| grazed upon it.

¹⁴Turn now, O ^| God of hosts,

look ^| down from heaven;

¹⁵behold and ^| tend this vine;

preserve what your right ^| hand has planted. R

SECOND READING

Philippians 3:4b–14

Paul reviews some of his supposed credentials, which no longer have any bearing in comparison to the right relationship he has been given through the death of Christ. The power of Christ's resurrection motivates him to press on toward the ultimate goal, eternal life with Christ.

^4bIf anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: ⁵circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; ⁶as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. ⁷Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. ⁸More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ ⁹and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. ¹⁰I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, ¹¹if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. ¹²Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. ¹³Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.

GOSPEL

Matthew 21:33–46

Jesus tells a parable to the religious leaders who are plotting his death, revealing that their plans will, ironically, bring about the fulfillment of scripture.

³³Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country.³⁴When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. ³⁵But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. ³⁶Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. ³⁷Finally he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' ³⁸But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.' ³⁹So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. ⁴⁰Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" ⁴¹They said to him, "He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time."
⁴²Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures:
'The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
this was the Lord's doing,
and it is amazing in our eyes'?
⁴³Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. ⁴⁴The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls." ⁴⁵When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. ⁴⁶They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet.

Reflection

I ran into a friend while at a meeting at a downtown church the other night and asked him how he was doing. “Things are nuts!” he said. He works in the grape/wine industry in the Finger Lakes and suggested that harvest time, which is going on now, keeps him more than busy.

Is it me or has Jesus been talking about vineyards and harvests for a few weeks now, putting forth parables regarding the kingdom; two sons asked to go work, one does and the other doesn’t. Or this week’s where the vineyard is entrusted to tenants who not only did not follow the directions set forth but began to kill the messengers sent to pick up the profits.

How are you doing with your vineyard, the one you’ve been entrusted with these days? I think it a holy coincidence that these lessons appear during this time of the year when our focus moves to stewardship. It asks questions about how we are caring for our vineyards, those things which have been entrusted to us, and how we appropriately offer a return to the One who owns the vineyard. In other words, what are you going with what you’ve received from God’s loving hand? How will you respond?

These are all good questions to ask and answer, especially when they are based in a sense and life style of generosity, extravagant generosity.

I have a simple request and that is this. In these days of October, as part of your daily prayer, have a conversation with God about stewardship and what it means. Pray for a generous, not make that extravagantly generous heart and discover how to trust more fully and wonderfully in God’s promises to care for you. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Let Us Pray

For renewed bi-partisanship among our leaders

For the unemployed

For those who lack health insurance

To be God’s presence each day

For one another

Quote

When we give to God we are just taking our hands off of what belongs to god.

Musings for Pentecost 13

2011-09-08T16:05:00.001-04:00

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Musings by Deb Johnson

INTRODUCTION

In today's second reading Paul questions why we judge one another, since we all stand before the judgment of God. Yet we do sin against one another, and Jesus' challenge that we forgive seventy-seven times reveals God's boundless mercy. When we hear the words of forgiveness in worship and sign ourselves with the cross, we are renewed in baptism to be signs of reconciliation in the world.

Prayer of the Day

O Lord God, merciful judge, you are the inexhaustible fountain of forgiveness. Replace our hearts of stone with hearts that love and adore you, that we may delight in doing your will, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen

First Reading: Genesis 50:15–21

After Jacob's death, the brothers of Joseph begged for forgiveness for the crime they had done against him. You intended to do me harm, Joseph said, but God used this as an opportunity to do good and save many lives.

¹⁵Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph's brothers said, "What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him?" ¹⁶So they approached Joseph, saying, "Your father gave this instruction before he died, ¹⁷'Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.' Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father." Joseph wept when they spoke to him. ¹⁸Then his brothers also wept, fell down before him, and said, "We are here as your slaves." ¹⁹But Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? ²⁰Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. ²¹So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones." In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them.

Psalm 103:[1–7] 8–13

¹Bless the LORD, O my soul,

and all that is within me, bless God's holy name.

²Bless the LORD, O my soul,

and forget not all God's benefits—

³who forgives all your sins

and heals all your diseases;

⁴who redeems your life from the grave

and crowns you with steadfast love and mercy;

⁵who satisfies your desires with good things

so that your youth is renewed like an eagle's.

⁶O LORD, you provide vindication

and justice for all who are oppressed.

⁷You made known your ways to Moses

and your works to the children of Israel.]

⁸LORD, you are full of compassion and mercy,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love;

⁹you will not always accuse us,

nor will you keep your anger forever.

¹⁰You have not dealt with us according to our sins,

nor repaid us according to our iniquities.

¹¹For as the heavens are high above the earth,

so great is your steadfast love for those who fear you.

¹²As far as the east is from the west,

so far have you removed our transgressions from us.

¹³As a father has compassion for his children,

so you have compassion for those who fear you, O LORD.

Second Reading

Romans 14:1–12

This Christian community has significant struggles with diversity. Here Paul helps us understand that despite different practices in worship and personal piety, we do not judge one another. All Christians belong to the Lord Jesus Christ who died for all of us and will judge each of us.

Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions. ²Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. ³Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them. ⁴Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

⁵Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds. ⁶Those who observe the day, observe it in honor of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honor of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honor of the Lord and give thanks to God.

⁷We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. ⁸If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. ⁹For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

¹⁰Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. ¹¹For it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God." ¹²So then, each of us will be accountable to God.

Gospel

Matthew 18:21–35

When Peter asks about the limits of forgiveness, Jesus responds with a parable that suggests human forgiveness should mirror the unlimited mercy of God.

²¹Then Peter came and said to him, "Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?" ²²Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.

²³For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. ²⁴When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; ²⁵and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. ²⁶So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' ²⁷And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. ²⁸But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, 'Pay what you owe.' ²⁹Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' ³⁰But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. ³¹When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. ³²Then his lord summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. ³³Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?' ³⁴And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. ³⁵So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart."

MUSINGS

This is an amazing set of scriptures for this day, the 10^th anniversary of the terror event that shock the world. Scriptures that call us to not judge, to forgive, and to know that today is the Lord’s day.

These three scriptures together can be summarized quite simply: “Judgment is not for us to do, it is for God.” “Forgiveness must be give, over and over and over again.” These are tough. Too often we are quick to judge, others, ourselves, people we know and people we don’t even know. And forgiveness, that too is hard … forgiving others, forgiving ourselves, forgiving people we know and people we don’t know. Imagine the heaviness of judgment and the carrying of anger. They weigh us down and get in the way of caring for God’s world. Think about the model of Jesus showing forgiveness. In Luke it is recorded “Jesus said, ‘Father forgive them”. In the late 1960s I visited Coventry Cathedral in England. There stood the ruins from bombing during WWII. Carved on the altar are the words, “Father forgive” Every Friday there is a service of reconciliation. That is much more than seven times seventy. May God give me strength to forgive and to steer clear of judging.

The third message I take away: Every day is the Lord’s Day. Thanks be to God!

LET US PRAY

For forgiveness of our sins.

For healing of relationships.

For peace in our homes, our communities, the nation and the world.

For children that they may know moments of peace, laughter, reconciliation, and hope

For those who are seeking a caring community.

THE COVENTRY LITANY OF RECONCILIATION
All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
The hatred which divides nation from nation, race from race, class from class, Father forgive.
The covetous desires of people and nations to possess what is not their own, Father forgive.
The greed which exploits the work of human hands and lays waste the earth, Father forgive.
Our envy of the welfare and happiness of others, Father forgive.
Our indifference to the plight of the imprisoned, the homeless, the refugee, Father forgive.
The lust which dishonours the bodies of men, women and children, Father forgive.
The pride which leads us to trust in ourselves and not in God, Father forgive.
Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Musings for Pentecost 11

2011-08-25T14:06:00.001-04:00

Sunday, August 28, 2011
Lectionary 22
Proper 17
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

Musings by Karen Grover

INTRODUCTION
The prophet Jeremiah speaks of the incurable wound of his suffering, yet finds in God's words the delight of his heart. When Peter doesn't grasp Jesus' words about suffering, Jesus tells the disciples they will find their lives in losing them. Such sacrificial love is described by Paul when he urges us to associate with the lowly and not repay evil with evil. In worship we gather as a community that we might offer ourselves for the sake of our suffering world. Today is the commemoration of Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, who died in 430, and Moses the Black, monk and martyr, who died around 400.

Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, died 430
Augustine was one of the greatest theologians of the Western church. A native of North Africa, he recovered from a debauched young adulthood through the influence of his mother, Monica, and Bishop Ambrose of Milan. Besides writing influential theological books, he served as bishop of Hippo, in present-day Algeria.

Moses the Black, monk, martyr, died around 400
Converted from life as a thief and a robber to Christianity, Moses was an Ethiopian who became a desert monk at Skete. His conversion had a great impact in his native country. Wearing a white habit, he said, "God knows I am black within." He was murdered during an attack by Berbers.

Prayer of the Day (ELW)

O God, we thank you for your Son, who chose the path of suffering for the sake of the world. Humble us by his example, point us to the path of obedience, and give us strength to follow your commands, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

First Reading

Jeremiah 15:15–21

Jeremiah's delight in the word of the Lord is contradicted by the heaviness of God's hand upon him and God's seeming unfaithfulness. God's tough love to Jeremiah says that if he repents, he will be allowed to continue in his strenuous ministry. Jeremiah is strengthened by the simple words: "I am with you."

¹⁵O LORD, you know;
remember me and visit me,
and bring down retribution for me on my persecutors.
In your forbearance do not take me away;
know that on your account I suffer insult.
¹⁶Your words were found, and I ate them,
and your words became to me a joy
and the delight of my heart;
for I am called by your name,
O LORD, God of hosts.
¹⁷I did not sit in the company of merrymakers,
nor did I rejoice;
under the weight of your hand I sat alone,
for you had filled me with indignation.
¹⁸Why is my pain unceasing,
my wound incurable,
refusing to be healed?
Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook,
like waters that fail.
¹⁹Therefore thus says the LORD:
If you turn back, I will take you back,
and you shall stand before me.
If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless,
you shall serve as my mouth.
It is they who will turn to you,
not you who will turn to them.
²⁰And I will make you to this people
a fortified wall of bronze;
they will fight against you,
but they shall not prevail over you,
for I am with you
to save you and deliver you,
says the LORD.
²¹I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked,
and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.

Psalm (ELW)

Psalm 26:1–8

Your love is before my eyes; I have walked faithfully with you. (Ps. 26:3)

¹Give judgment for me, O LORD, for I have lived ^| with integrity;

I have trusted in the LORD and ^| have not faltered.

²Test me, O ^| LORD, and try me;

examine my heart ^| and my mind.

³For your steadfast love is be- ^| fore my eyes;

I have walked faithful- ^| ly with you.

⁴I have not sat ^| with the worthless,

nor do I consort with ^| the deceitful. R

⁵I have hated the company of ^| evildoers;

I will not sit down ^| with the wicked.

⁶I will wash my hands in inno- ^| cence, O LORD,

that I may go in procession ^| round your altar,

⁷singing aloud a song ^| of thanksgiving

and recounting all your won- ^| derful deeds.

⁸LORD, I love the house in ^| which you dwell

and the place where your glo- ^| ry abides. R

Second Reading

Romans 12:9–21

Paul presents benchmarks for faithful relationships with Christians and non-Christians. Love is the unflagging standard of our behavior. When we encounter evil, we do not resort to its tactics but seek to overcome it with good. While Christians cannot control the actions and attitudes of others, we seek to live at peace with all people.

⁹Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; ¹⁰love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. ¹¹Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. ¹²Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. ¹³Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
¹⁴Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. ¹⁵Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. ¹⁶Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. ¹⁷Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. ¹⁸If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. ¹⁹Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." ²⁰No, "if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads." ²¹Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Gospel

Matthew 16:21–28

After Peter confesses that Jesus is "the Messiah, the Son of the living God" (16:16), Jesus reveals the ultimate purpose of his ministry. These words prove hard to accept, even for a disciple whom Jesus has called a "rock."

²¹From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. ²²And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you." ²³But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things."
²⁴Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ²⁵For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. ²⁶For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?
²⁷For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. ²⁸Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

Reflections

I tried to put myself in Peter's sandles to understand what he was feeling when Jesus told him what would happen to him in Jerusalem and that he, Peter, was a stumbling block to him. That was a pretty harsh reaction that Jesus had to Peter's rejecting his suffering. My reaction is that that reaction wasn't really necessary. How could Jesus not realize that it would be natural for Peter to have a human reaction? I often think of Jesus in human terms, as Peter did in that moment. But my thoughts go to wondering if he ever had simple conversations with friends other than those conversations that were meant to be teaching moments. All of his conversations seemed to have a purpose to them--of course, a divine purpose. Jesus had a mission to accomplish and nothing could derail him from that mission.

We are called to commit ourselves to Christ's mission in that we are to give of ourselves to those who have very little. We are to serve others, not ourselves. We are to deny benefitting ourselves in favor of benefitting others. In human terms that is difficult to do. In divine terms it is probably very easy to do.

Quote

"One of the secrets of life is to make stepping stones out of stumbling blocks." Jack Penn

Let us pray

Lord, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us. Amen

Musings for Pentecost 10

2011-08-17T13:30:00.000-04:00

Sunday, August 21, 2011
Lectionary 21
Proper 16
Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Judy Lazenby

INTRODUCTION
In Isaiah the people are bid to look to their spiritual ancestors as the rock from which they were hewn. Jesus declares that the church will be built on the rock of Peter's bold confession of faith. God's word of reconciliation and mercy are keys to the church's mission. Paul urges us to not be conformed to this world, but to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, using our individual gifts to build up the body of Christ. From the table we go forth to offer our spiritual worship through word and deed.

Prayer of the Day (ELW)

O God, with all your faithful followers of every age, we praise you, the rock of our life.
Be our strong foundation and form us into the body of your Son, that we may gladly minister to all the world, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

First Reading

Isaiah 51:1–6

Just as God had called Abraham and Sarah and given them many descendants, so now God offers comfort to Zion. God's deliverance will come soon and will never end.

Listen to me, you that pursue righteousness,
you that seek the LORD.
Look to the rock from which you were hewn,
and to the quarry from which you were dug.
²Look to Abraham your father
and to Sarah who bore you;
for he was but one when I called him,
but I blessed him and made him many.
³For the LORD will comfort Zion;
he will comfort all her waste places,
and will make her wilderness like Eden,
her desert like the garden of the LORD;
joy and gladness will be found in her,
thanksgiving and the voice of song.
⁴Listen to me, my people,
and give heed to me, my nation;
for a teaching will go out from me,
and my justice for a light to the peoples.
⁵I will bring near my deliverance swiftly,
my salvation has gone out
and my arms will rule the peoples;
the coastlands wait for me,
and for my arm they hope.
⁶Lift up your eyes to the heavens,
and look at the earth beneath;
for the heavens will vanish like smoke,
the earth will wear out like a garment,
and those who live on it will die like gnats;
but my salvation will be forever,
and my deliverance will never be ended.

Psalm (ELW)

Psalm 138

O LORD, your steadfast love endures forever. (Ps. 138:8)

¹I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with ^| my whole heart;

before the gods I will ^| sing your praise.

²I will bow down toward your holy temple and praise your name,

because of your steadfast ^| love and faithfulness;

for you have glorified your name and your word

a- ^| bove all things.

³When I called, you ^| answered me;

you increased my ^| strength within me.

⁴All the rulers of the earth will praise ^| you, O LORD,

when they have heard the words ^| of your mouth. R

⁵They will sing of the ways ^| of the LORD,

that great is the glory ^| of the LORD.

⁶The LORD is high, yet cares ^| for the lowly,

perceiving the haughty ^| from afar.

⁷Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you ^| keep me safe;

you stretch forth your hand against the fury of my enemies;

your right ^| hand shall save me.

⁸You will make good your pur- ^| pose for me;

O LORD, your steadfast love endures forever;

do not abandon the works ^| of your hands. R

Second Reading

Romans 12:1–8

In response to God's merciful activity, we are to worship by living holistic, God-pleasing lives. Our values and viewpoints are not molded by this age, but are transformed by the Spirit's renewing work. God's grace empowers different forms of service among Christians, but all forms of ministry function to build up the body of Christ.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. ²Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God — what is good and acceptable and perfect.
³For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. ⁴For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, ⁵so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. ⁶We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ⁷ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; ⁸the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.

Gospel

Matthew 16:13–20

At a climactic point in Jesus' ministry, God reveals to Peter that Jesus is "the Messiah, the Son of the living God," and Jesus responds with the promise of a church that will overcome the very gates of Hades.

¹³Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" ¹⁴And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." ¹⁵He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" ¹⁶Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." ¹⁷And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. ¹⁸And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. ¹⁹I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." ²⁰Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Reflections

Some of you know that Gary and I recently returned from a cruse of the Mediterranean. During the evenings and nights the ship sailed to the next port and by day, we did land bus tours arranged by the ship’s excursion staff. Civitavecchia serves as the port for Rome and has for many years. The bus trip, on roads essentially laid out by the Romans, took about ninety minutes. The land tour we selected included a tour of the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica.

Every aspect of the Vatican City is majestic. To say it is built on a rock is an understatement. There is not a tree or bit of grass in sight as you walk around the historic holy sights. Everything in St Peter’s is either marble, mosaic, or stone. There are many statues of St. Peter to be seen. You know it is Peter because in every instance he holds keys. Clearly the Roman Catholic Church has taken this gospel as its inspiration.

What is your faith’s inspiration? What is your rock? What keys do you possess?

Quote

I am a rock,
I am an island.

Simon and Garfunkel: “I Am A Rock” Lyrics

Prayers

Let us pray for:

All those without a rock in their life.
Those reaching out for good health.
Those new born to our world.
Those starting out in their new life together.
For those clinging to their life together.

Musings for August 14

2011-08-09T10:44:00.002-04:00

Sunday, August 14, 2011
Lectionary 20
Proper 15
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Ken Klassen

INTRODUCTION
In Isaiah we hear that God's house shall be a house of prayer for all people and that God will gather the outcasts of Israel. The Canaanite woman in today's gospel is a Gentile, an outsider, who is unflinching in her request that Jesus heal her daughter. As Jesus commends her bold faith, how might our church extend its mission to those on the margins of society? In our gathering around word and meal we receive strength to be signs of comfort, healing, and justice for those in need.

Maximilian Kolbe, died 1941; Kaj Munk, died 1944; martyrs
Father Kolbe was a Franciscan priest arrested by the Nazis and confined in Auschwitz. Kolbe gave generously of his meager resources, and finally volunteered to be starved to death in place of another man. A Danish Lutheran pastor and playwright, Munk strongly denounced the Nazis who occupied Denmark in the Second World War. His sermons and articles helped to show the anti-Christian nature of the movement.

Prayer of the Day (ELW)

God of all peoples, your arms reach out to embrace all those who call upon you.
Teach us as disciples of your Son to love the world with compassion and constancy,
that your name may be known throughout the earth, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

First Reading

Isaiah 56:1, 6–8

The prophet calls upon Israel to do justice in view of God's imminent intervention to save. Righteousness and obedience define who belongs to the Israelite community—not race, nationality, or any other category.

Thus says the LORD:
Maintain justice, and do what is right,
for soon my salvation will come,
and my deliverance be revealed.
⁶And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD,
to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD,
and to be his servants,
all who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it,
and hold fast my covenant —
⁷these I will bring to my holy mountain,
and make them joyful in my house of prayer;
their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
will be accepted on my altar;
for my house shall be called a house of prayer
for all peoples.
⁸Thus says the Lord GOD,
who gathers the outcasts of Israel,
I will gather others to them
besides those already gathered.

Psalm 67

Let all the peoples praise you, O God. (Ps. 67:3)

¹May God be merciful to ^| us and bless us;

may the light of God's face ^| shine upon us.

²Let your way be known ^| upon earth,

your saving health a- ^| mong all nations.

³Let the peoples praise ^| you, O God;

let all the ^| peoples praise you.

⁴Let the nations be glad and ^| sing for joy,

for you judge the peoples with equity

and guide all the na- ^| tions on earth. R

⁵Let the peoples praise ^| you, O God;

let all the ^| peoples praise you.

⁶The earth has brought ^| forth its increase;

God, our own ^| God, has blessed us.

⁷May God ^| give us blessing,

and may all the ends of the earth ^| stand in awe. R

Second reading Romans 11:1–2a, 29–32

God has not rejected Israel. Rather, the call and gifts of God are irrevocable, so that while all have been disobedient, God has mercy upon all.

I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. ²God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. ²⁹for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. ³⁰Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, ³¹so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. ³²For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.

Gospel

Matthew 15:[10–20] 21–28

Jesus teaches his disciples that true purity is a matter of the heart rather than outward religious observances. Almost immediately, this teaching is tested when a woman considered to be pagan and unclean approaches him for help.

¹⁰Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, "Listen and understand: ¹¹it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles." ¹²Then the disciples approached and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?" ¹³He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. ¹⁴Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit." ¹⁵But Peter said to him, "Explain this parable to us." ¹⁶Then he said, "Are you also still without understanding? ¹⁷Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? ¹⁸But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. ¹⁹For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. ²⁰These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile."
²¹Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. ²²Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon." ²³But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, "Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us." ²⁴He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." ²⁵But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." ²⁶He answered, "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." ²⁷She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." ²⁸Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed instantly.

Reflection

My brother sent me the address of a YouTube video and asked me what I thought of it. It is by a fellow named Carl Medearis and is titled, "How to read the Bible". I've never heard of the guy, but he makes some compelling points that I've applied to this week's gospel reading. I share it with you so that you can see and hear my source material for this reflection. http://www.youtube.com/carlmedearis#p/a/u/1/ldKn_gBx1yk

Carl says that reading the Bible is more of a conversation with God than a constitution (a rule book on how to live) from God. His summary is "try reading the scriptures again … think of it as a conversation between you and God. Imagine yourself sitting down and having God speak to you."

So as I re-read verses 17 to 20 of this week's gospel, I see that these verses can be thought of as rules on how to live. It says literally that it's not what enters the mouth that defiles us, but rather what comes out of it. God has my attention; let's talk. So watching violence on TV or the movies does not defile us, but rather it is the acting out of this violence in our lives that defiles us. (pause) Were going to have a long and perhaps heated discussion on whether or not watching violence makes people violent or whether violent people already have an inner craving for violence that leads to the behavior of watching such things on TV or the movies. As my conversation with God continues, I yield that outcomes are important. But the more we view violent behavior, the more we think that it is an acceptable course of action. So does violence only occur if a person has an inner craving for violence? I'm not sure because I haven't yet finished my conversation with God.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we pray for wisdom and patience to understand your scriptures. Help us to separate the metaphor from the literal. Help us to listen to your voice. We ask that your protecting hand will be on all of those who serve our country and work for peace. Teach us compassion for the sick, the suffering, and those in need.

Musings for Pentecost 8

2011-08-03T12:45:00.001-04:00

Sunday, August 7, 2011
Lectionary 19
Proper 14
Eighth Sunday after Pentecost

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Ann Patterson

INTRODUCTION
Elijah finds the presence of God not in earthquake, wind, or fire, but in the sound of sheer silence. When the disciples face a great storm on the sea, they cry out with fear. Jesus says: "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid." Amid the storms of life, we gather to seek the calm presence of Christ that soothes our fears. In comforting words of scripture and in the refreshing bread and cup of the eucharist, God grants us peace and sends us forth to be a sign of God's presence to others.

Prayer of the Day (ELW)

O God our defender, storms rage around and within us and cause us to be afraid. Rescue your people from despair, deliver your sons and daughters from fear, and preserve us in the faith of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

First Reading

1 Kings 19:9–18

On Mount Horeb, where God had appeared to Moses with typical signs of God's presence—earthquake, wind, and fire—Elijah now experienced God in "sheer silence." God assured Elijah that he is not the only faithful believer. Seven thousand Israelites are still loyal. God instructed Elijah to anoint two men as kings and to anoint Elisha as his own successor.

⁹At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there.
Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" ¹⁰He answered, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away."
¹¹He said, "Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; ¹²and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. ¹³When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" ¹⁴He answered, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away." ¹⁵Then the LORD said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram. ¹⁶Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. ¹⁷Whoever escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall kill; and whoever escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall kill. ¹⁸Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him."

Psalm (ELW)

Psalm 85:8–13

I will listen to what the LORD God is saying. (Ps. 85:8)

⁸I will listen to what the LORD ^| God is saying;

for you speak peace to your faithful people

and to those who turn their ^| hearts to you.

⁹Truly, your salvation is very near to ^| those who fear you,

that your glory may dwell ^| in our land. R

¹⁰Steadfast love and faithfulness have ^| met together;

righteousness and peace have ^| kissed each other.

¹¹Faithfulness shall spring up ^| from the earth,

and righteousness shall look ^| down from heaven.

¹²The LORD will indeed ^| grant prosperity,

and our land will ^| yield its increase.

¹³Righteousness shall go be- ^| fore the LORD

and shall prepare for ^| God a pathway. R

Second Reading

Romans 10:5–15

A right relationship with God is not something we achieve by heroic efforts. It is a gift received in the proclamation whose content is Jesus Christ. This proclaimed word creates our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence Christian proclamation is an indispensable component of God's saving actions.

⁵Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that "the person who does these things will live by them." ⁶But the righteousness that comes from faith says, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) ⁷or 'Who will descend into the abyss?' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). ⁸But what does it say?
"The word is near you,
on your lips and in your heart"
(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); ⁹because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. ¹¹The scripture says, "No one who believes in him will be put to shame." ¹²For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. ¹³For, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
¹⁴But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? ¹⁵And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

Gospel

Matthew 14:22–33

Matthew's gospel typically portrays Jesus' disciples as people of "little faith" who fail despite their best intentions. In this story, Matthew shows how Jesus comes to the disciples when they are in trouble and sustains them in their time of fear and doubt.

²²Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. ²³And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, ²⁴but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. ²⁵And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. ²⁶But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear. ²⁷But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid."
²⁸Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." ²⁹He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. ³⁰But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" ³¹Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" ³²When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. ³³And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

REFLECTION

1 Kings 19:9–18

Elijah was a great prophet, one strong enough in faith to confront King Ahab and Queen Jezebel on Mount Carmel. In this week's lesson, however, Queen Jezebel's threats have made him forget God's power at Carmel. He has run away. He has fled to the wilderness to escape the Queen's assassins. Eventually the weary, frightened prophet takes shelter in a cave at Horeb.

That's where God found him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Elijah was quick to justify himself and blame others: "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away." Elijah felt deeply about his failure to keep the Israelites from worshipping Baal - deeply enough to abandon his ministry.

God responded with a show of the wonders often found in scripture. First there was strong wind, then an earthquake, and then fire. But these displays of God's power were just a reminder. It was in silence that God attempted once more to awaken Elijah to the truth. Knowing God is all about listening to that small voice that speaks when the wind has died, and the earth has stopped quaking, and the flames have turned to embers. “What are you doing here, Elijah?” "Why aren't you doing what I've asked of you?"

Elijah could be us. Overwhelmed, depressed, and unwilling to trust God, we, too, run away from life's struggles. At such times, our hope is in seeking and listening to God.

QUOTE

You can hear the footsteps of God when silence reigns in the mind. ~Sri Sathya Sai Baba

PRAYER

Let us listen during the silences and pray for

· those on the margins: the imprisoned, the poor, and the sick

· those who live their lives in shadows

· those who are diminished by bigotry, violence, or injustice