Easter Monday - 2016

What sort of images do you surround yourself with? How do they speak to you? Are they images with "history" (my parent /grandparent always had this, so-and-so gene this to me)? When you choose art, can you articulate what is behind your choice?

Art is amazing in that it often speaks to us on an unconscious level. Something about a certain piece touches us on a deep level. I never tire of looking at such pieces.

Having realized this about myself, when visiting I have often asked people about the art around their homes. So, I asked done such question about a piece of art hanging on Fr. Ken's wall (it wasn't this image, but did present three figures walking). I remember Ken chuckling and proclaiming, "It's the walk to Emmaus. Isn't that what the faith is all about?"

As Resurrection people, perhaps that does sum it all up, Fr. Ken.

May we be surprised at finding Christ in our midst, and may our eyes be open to recognizing the Risen One.

Blessed be,
Joel

 

He is Risen! Easter - 2016

Happy Easter!

Christ is Risen!
He is Risen indeed! 

A number of years ago, I developed a Lesson and Hymn service that would parallel a Christmas Eve service of Lessons and Carols. For the Easter service, I have organized the readings from the earliest to the latest - as far as scholarship agrees (if such a thing is possible).

Enjoy. May the wonders of Easter Resurrection bless you this day, and always. 

Joel

An Easter Service of Readings and Hymns

Invitation to Worship

L: Alleluia! Praise be to God! Christ has risen indeed.

P: We bring our joyful alleluias to this place today!

L: The tomb is empty, and new life hovers in this dawn.

P: We praise God for the mystery and the excitement of new life present in this day!

Hymn                    “Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise” #312

Opening Prayer: 

This is the day, Lord God, that you have made! Raising Christ from the dead, and raising us with Christ, you have fashioned for yourself a new people, washed in the flood of baptism, sealed with the gift of the Spirit, invited to the banquet of the Lamb! In the beauty of this Easter morning, set our minds on the new life to which you have called us; place on our lips the words of witness for which you have anointed us. We ask this through our risen Savior, Christ the Lord. Amen.

EASTER ACCOUNTS – “ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK…”

(Note that these accounts are arranged in probable chronological order.)

The First Account: ~70 CE

Words at the Tomb........................................................................................... Mark 16:1-8a

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

HYMN: Christ is Alive (v. 1-3)...................................................................................................................... #318

The First Account, Amended

Continuation ............................................................................................... Mark 16:8b-20

And all that had been commanded them they told briefly to those around Peter. And afterward Jesus himself sent out through them, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation

Now after he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went out and told those who had been with him, while they were still mourning and weeping. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.

After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.

Later he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were sitting at the table; and he upbraided them for their lack of faith and stubbornness, because they had not believed those who saw him after had had been risen. And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of god. Andy they went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it.

HYMN: Christ is Alive (vs 4-5)...................................................................................................................... #318

Another Account: ~80-95 CE

Words at the Tomb...................................................................................... Matthew 28:1-10

After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go Quickly and tell his disciples, ‘for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him,” This is my message for you.” So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

HYMN: Easter People, Raise Your Voices.............................................................................................................. #304

Another Account: ~85 CE

At the Tomb................................................................................................... Luke 24:1-12

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came tot eh tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third ay rise again.” They the remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother o James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

HYMN: Christ the Lord is Risen Today (vs.  1-2)..................................................................................................................... # 302

Two More Accounts: ~ 85 CE

Walking on the Road.......................................................................................... Luke 24:13-35

Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded u. They were in the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them all the things about himself in all the scriptures.

As they came near the village to which thy were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how the had been made known to them in the braking of the bread.”

HYMN: On the Day of Resurrection............................................................................................................... #309

Yet Another Account: ~85 CE

While they were talking................................................................................ Luke 24: 36-53

While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

HYMN: Christ the Lord is Risen Today (vs.  3-4)..................................................................................................................... # 302

Another Account: ~80-90 CE

In the Garden  .................................................................................................... John 20:1-18

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have take the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together; but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings laying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings laying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not laying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes.

            But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” she turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

HYMN: In the Garden (v. 1) ..................................................................................... # 314

Another Account: ~80-90 CE

Evening of the First Day ................................................................................. John 20:19-23

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

HYMN: Christ the Lord is Risen Today (vs. 3-4) .................................................... # 302

Silent Reflection (or Your Account 2012) 

HYMN: He Lives .............................................................................................................. # 310

Benediction:

Hear the Good News – The tomb is empty – Christ has been Raised from the dead. Alleluia, Alleluia.

Go in Peace and Celebration to share the Good News that has happened to us this day!

Go in Peace and with the Spirit as you Love and Serve the Risen Lord.

Amen.

Good Friday Service of Tenebrae - Holy Week, 2016

This service of Tenebrae is usually done as darkness falls (in the evening) or after it is dark. Candles are lit, and then extinguished as each reading is read. You will need seven candles. People depart in the dark - and by tradition, there is no benediction until the Easter morning service.
May you continue to be blessed by God's movement in your lives over these Holy Days.

Joel

CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER 

      (I have often started with a Lord's Supper communion service for those interested prior to the service starting.)

PRELUDE

CALL TO WORSHIP/INVOCATION

O God, by the example of your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, you taught us the greatness of true humility, and call us to watch with him in his passion. Give us grace to serve one another in all lowliness, and to enter into the fellowship of his suffering; in his name and for his suffering; in his name and for his sake. Amen.

                                                                        W. E. Orchard, England, 20^th Cent. Alt.

HYMN: O Love Divine, What Hast Thou Done.................................................................... # 287

TENEBRAE – THE SERVICE OF SHADOWS

Introduction

The Darkness of Misunderstanding

Words in the Temple....................................................................................... Mark 11:15-18

Then they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves; and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. He was teaching and saying, “Is it not written,

‘My house shall be called a house of prayer

for all the nations’?

But you have made it a den of robbers.”

And when the chief priests and the scribes heard it, they kept looking for a way to kill him; for they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was spellbound by his teaching.

HYMN: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence (vs 1, 2 & 4)........................................ #626

The Darkness of Betrayal

Words in the Upper Room........................................................................ Matthew 26:20-28

When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; and while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?” He answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that one not to have been born.” Judas, who betrayed him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” He replied, “You have said so.”

While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

CHOIR: Adoramus Te Christe

The Darkness of Temptation

Words in the Garden............................................................................... Matthew 26:36-46

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. Then he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.” And going a little further, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.” Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trail; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again he went away for the second time and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See my betrayer is at hand.”

HYMN: Go to Dark Gethsemane (vs 1 & 2)......................................................... #290

The Darkness of Injustice

Words of the Trail...................................................................................... Mark 14:55-64

Now the Chief priests and the whole council were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death; but they found none. For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony did not agree. Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying, “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’” But even on this point their testimony did not agree. Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?” But he was silent and did not answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” Jesus said, “I am; and

‘you will see the Son of Man

seated at the right hand of the Power,’

and ‘coming with the clouds of heaven.’”

Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses? You have heard his blasphemy! What is your decision?” All of them condemned him as deserving death.

HYMN: Ah, Holy Jesus (vs 1 & 2)........................................................................... # 289

The Darkness of Denial

Words of the Courtyard................................................................................ Mark 14:66-72

While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she started at him and said, “You also were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.”  But he denied it, saying, “I do not know or understand what you are talking about.” And he went out into the forecourt. Then the cock crowed. And the servant-girl, on seeing him, began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” But again he denied it. Then after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them; for  you are a Galilean.” But he began to curse, and he swore an oath, “I do not know this man you are talking about.” At that moment the cock crowed for the second time. Then Peter remembered that Jesus had said to him, “Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

HYMN: What Wondrous Love Is This (vs 1, 2 & 3)........................................... #292

The Darkness of Rejection

Words Before Pilate.................................................................................. Luke 23:13-24

Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. I will therefore have him flogged and release him.”

Then they all shouted out together, “Away with this fellow! Release Baraabas for us!” (This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.) Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again; but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him.” But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted.

CHOIR: WHEN JESUS WEPT

The Darkness of Crucifixion

Words on the Cross.................................................................................... Luke 23:33-46

When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “he saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”

One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned to justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last.

 

CHOIR & CONGREGATION: Were You There................................................... #288

Maundy Thursday - Holy Week, 2016

Tonight celebrates the Passover Meal at which Jesus also "initiates" the Lord's Supper / Communion / Eucharist (according to Matthew, Mark and Luke) and at which Jesus washes his disciples' feet (according to  John). Below is a service that comes from the United Methodist Book of Worship. May it be a moving event for you.

For a reflection upon Holy Week in general, and Maundy Thursday in particular, here is a past post in which my reflection includes the scriptures and some historical context from Saving Paradise (Rita Nakashima Brock and Rebecca Ann Parker. Beacon Press. 2008).

Blessing on this Maundy Thursday.
Joel

       (Hymn numbers refer to the United Methodist Hymnal)

A Maundy Thursday Service

Greeting:

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you

And also with you.

Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Christ has prepared a Feast of Love.

Hymn What Wondrous Love Is This ....................................... #292

Opening Prayer

O God; by the example of your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, you taught us the greatness of true humility, and call us to watch with him in his passion. Give us grace to serve one another in all lowliness, and to enter into the fellowship of his suffering; in his name and for his suffering; in his name and for his sake. Amen.

(W.E. Ochard, England, 20^th Cent. Alt)

Confession and Pardon

My sisters and brothers, Christ shows us his love by becoming a humble servant. Let us draw near to God and confess our sin in the truth of God’s Spirit.

Most merciful God, we your Church confess that often our spirit has not been that of Christ. Where we have failed to love one another as he loves us, where we have pledged loyalty to him with our lips and then betrayed, deserted, or denied him, forgive us, we pray; and by our Spirit make us faithful in every time of trail; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Who is in a position to condemn? Only Christ. But Christ suffered and died for us, was raised form the dad and ascended into heaven for us, and continues to interceded for us. Believe the good news: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!

In the name of Jesus Christ you are forgiven!

Glory to God. Amen.

Scripture Lessons:

Exodus 12:1-14 ; Psalm 116 ; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 ; John 13:1-17; 31b-35

Prayers and the Lord’s Prayer / Our Father

Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be your name,

Your kingdom come

Your will be done,

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins

As we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trail,

And deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours.

Now and for ever. Amen.

Communion / Eucharist / Love Feast

(Now is the time to celebrate the Eucharist. If you don’t have a clergy person present, one could celebrate a Love Feast instead.)

Hymn  Jesu, Jesu  .......................................................   # 432

Footwashing

(The first person comes forward and washes the feet of the next person, who turns and washes the feet of the next person, the last person will wash the feet of the first.)

Stripping the Church (or alter area on your boat, if you so desire)

Benediction

Go in peace. May Jesus Christ, who for our sake became obedient unto death, even death on a cross, keep you and strengthen you this night and for ever. Amen.

Depart in Silence

A Pondering for Holy Week

As we enter Holy Week, how do we let the mystery of the Incarnation shape us?
It wasn't that long ago (liturgical calendar speaking) that we were all celebrating the Incarnation at Christmas. How do we keep incarnationally focused during this week? What does the incarnation shape us into, shape our priorities, or relationships with others and the world around us?

Ilia Delio writes:

An incarnational bias is evident today in our globalized culture. The "problem" of immigrants, welfare recipients, incarcerated, mentally ill, . . . disabled, and all who are marginalized by mainstream society, is a problem of the incarnation. When we reject our relatedness to the poor, the weak, the simple, and the unlovable we define the family of creation over and against God. In place of God we decide who is worthy of our attention and who can be rejected. Because of our deep fears, we spend time, attention, and money on preserving our boundaries of privacy and increasing our knowledge and power. We hermetically seal ourselves off from the undesired "other," the stranger, and in doing so, we seal ourselves off from God. By rejecting God in the neighbor, we reject the love that can heal us.
Until we come to accept created reality with all its limits and pains as the living presence of God, Christianity has nothing to offer to the world. It is sound bites of empty promises. When we lose the priority of God's love in weak, fragile humanity, we lose the Christ, the foundation on which we stand as Christians.
Compassion continues the Incarnation by allowing the Word of God to take root within us, to be enfleshed in us. The Incarnation is not finished; it is not yet complete for it is to be completed in us. [1]

As we enter this Holy Week, may we continue to be shaped by the God who comes walking alongside us.

Blessed be,
Joel

************
Reference:
[1] Ilia Delio, Compassion: Living in the Spirit of St. Francis, (Franciscan Media: 2011), 61.

Living Gently in this World - Lent 2016

My wife and I made a decision quite some time ago to live gently in the world. For us this had been a ... why am I hesitant to use the word "calling"? ... vocation (is this the right word, even?). In essence, as we reflected more and more upon our faith and the ways in which we felt God calling us forth we felt this was the inevitable direction. In some ways, perhaps like all "conversions" that stick, it was a slow process that neither one of us can point to a time that it began. We attempted to live this way prior to our moving aboard, and moving aboard has provided opportunities to enact this in certain ways that will no doubt shape the way we will live our lives no matter where we are. In that regard, or isn't something that happened die to living upon the water.

In essence, it comes down to our attempts to put into practice a real sense that the world is full of God's grace and abundance; that God is full of love and wants compassion between all creatures; and striving to fully appreciate (as Paul says) that we live and move and have our very being in God, and that nothing can separate us from this love.

This doesn't mean this is always easy. We still have moments when we are become short, curt or angry with one another (seldom with others). Usually we manage to be gentle with one another, and even ourselves. Perhaps that's the hardest part: being gentle with our very own self. We all make mistakes. Sometimes these are from ignorance; sometimes from impulsive knee jerk reactions; sometimes ... We try to apologize and move forward into more have and love and gentleness.

If this world of ours is full of God's glory, if this world of ours God's first Book, it makes sense to us to travel gently upon it, to attempt to leave it better than we found it, so that we can share it and pass it on to others.

How does your faith call you to live?

Blessed be
Joel

Happy Pi Day - 3.14... 2016

Happy Pi Day!

The Math Geeks of the World have got to love this day - the rest of us, well, we love another excuse to eat PIE!

There are some great recipes out there. Why not bake a home/boat-made pie and share it with a friend?

For those of you who have young ones around (or who are young at heart) here is a reference to a great book about reconciliation and friendship: Enemy Pie. The link will bring you to the web-site the author (Derek Munson) has set-up with all sorts of resources. Not to ruin the story, but a new kid moves down the street who becomes Enemy Number 1! Dad has a secret plan to get even - but it involves spending a whole day with Enemy Number 1. Part of the recipe turns Enemy Number 1 into Number 1 Friend. Its a great book.

For those of you who like building things (and I, at any rate, always seem to have an ongoing on-board project nearing completion) there is a great book I've just finished reading: By Hand & Eye (the link brings you to Lost Art Press, the publisher). The authors (George Walker and Jim Tomlin) examine how the artisans used to use simple rules of proportion (1:2; 3:5; 4:5) to bring "perfection" to their work: all with a straight edge and a pair of dividers.

And if all that has you feeling sleepy, apparently, that is OK, too. I just heard on the radio that today also happens to be ... Nap Day.

Blessed Be,

Joel

An Article You Might Want to Check Out

I've followed Bee, Mick and Toots (their cat) off and on by reading their blog (Not All Who Wander ... Are Lost) add they've sailed their gaff-ketch Hannah through the Eastern Seaboard of the US and Canada (plus a jaunt back over to Engulfed and home, etc, etc. ) Addictive stuff, their blog.
I was delighted to see a photo of them in Cruising World recently, then discovered this article written by Mick that explains their philosophy. (Not sure how long this article is "free to read," so might want to look quickly).

Finally, finally…In the 15 years we have been doing this, we have spent somewhere between US$200,000 and US$240,000: that’s boat, sails, engines, living expenses, visas, booze, the lot.

$200,000 to $240,000 in 15 years = $13,333.33 to $16,000 a year: for everything.
Makes me curious what my entire 15 year expenses have been?
Hmmm. ...

Blessed be,
Joel

It's Friday Already?

How did that happen?

Have you had one of those weeks, too? Don't know about yours, but mine has been full of good stuff: great meaningful conversions with people, the normal rythem of the week, etc. Then there have been the extras: a big wind storm and checking on friends boats and a meeting and ... . All in all, nothing really out of the ordinary. Just enough to keep me busy and having accomplished very little I thought I was going to accomplish on Monday morning.
But I'm reminded ministry (and life) happen in the interruptions.
Dare we find God there, too?
Blessed be,
Joel

Reading Scripture on Super Tuesday

On this Super Tuesday, when multiple states (in the USA) seek to nominate a presidential candidate for the two main political parties, and when all the world watches with bated breath, Christian scripture gets quoted to "prove" that certain candidates are or are not of a certain religious persuasion, and so one should/shouldn't vote for them. Knowing, as I believe St. Absolom said, "you can find two quotes of Scripture and two saints to support any view," how do we read scripture?
My take on reading scripture is heavily influenced by my own Christian tradition (the United Methodist Church). John Wesley has been credited with developing a way to read and think critically: use scripture, what the tradition has said, your own experience and reason. As such, the tradition becomes a living tradition. On top of that, what does Jesus stress in his own use of Scripture? What passages does Jesus play down or even ignore?
Consequently, I thought it might be good to share a reflection from Richard Rohr on reading scripture. You'll find it below. (Have you signed up for his daily meditations? I find them food for the soul).
In the mean time, I continue to remind myself that we are called to be compassionate people who care for one another, for on caring for one another, we surprise ourselves in caring for the Christ.
Blessed be,
Joel

Three Steps Forward, Two Steps Backward

Monday, February 22, 2016

Life itself is always three steps forward and two steps backward. We get the point and then we lose or doubt it. In that, the biblical text mirrors our own human consciousness and journey. Our job is to see where the three steps forward texts are heading (invariably toward mercy, simplicity, inclusion, nonviolence, and trust) and to spot the two steps backward texts (which are usually about vengeance, exclusion, a rather petty and insecure god, law over grace, incidentals over substance, and technique over actual relationship).

 

The Bible is an anthology of many books. It is a record of people's experience of God's self-revelation. It is an account of our very human experience of the divine intrusion into history. The book did not fall from heaven in a pretty package. It was written by people trying to listen for and to God. I believe that the Spirit was guiding the listening and writing process. We must also know that humans always see "through a glass darkly . . .  and all knowledge is imperfect" (1 Corinthians 13:12Prayer and patience surrounding such human words will keep us humble and searching for the true Living Word, which is exactly how the Spirit always teaches (1 Corinthians 2:10,13). This is what it means to know something "contemplatively."

 

We must trust that there is a development of the human capacity for divine wisdom and human response inside the Bible. We must be honest and recognize that things like polygamy, slavery, genocide, torture, racism, sexism, stoning, and mutilation of sinners--things that are often fully accepted in the ancient text--become more intolerable as the text matures. God does not change, so much as we do. If believers cannot begin to be honest about this, we are going to lose most future generations to any sincere or faith-filled reading of the Bible. Far too many have already thrown the Bible out when they really did not need to. But they had no good teachers to guide them.

 

Woven throughout these developing ideas are what I call "the Great Themes of Scripture." (This was the title of my very first recordings in 1973.) I try to mine these timeless, essential themes from the text. My approach is almost so simple, it is hard to teach. It is what I call the "Jesus hermeneutic." (Hermeneutic is a method of interpretation.) My approach is, quite simply, to interpret and use the Bible the way that Jesus did.

 

When we get to the Risen Jesus, there is nothing to be afraid of in God. Jesus' very breath is identified with forgiveness and the Divine Shalom (see John 20:20-23). If the Risen Jesus is the full and trustworthy unveiling of the nature of God, then we live in a safe and love-filled universe. It is not that God has changed, or that the Hebrew God is a different God than the God of Jesus; it is that we are growing up as we move through the texts and deepen our experience. Stay with the text and with your inner life with God, and your capacity for God will increase and deepen.

 

Just as the Bible takes us through many stages of consciousness and history, it takes us individually a long time to move beyond our need to be dualistic, judgmental, accusatory, fearful, blaming, egocentric, and earning--and to see as Jesus sees. The Bible itself is a "text in travail," according to Rene Girard's fine insight. It mirrors and charts our own human travail. It will offer both the mature and the immature responses to almost everything. In time, you will almost naturally recognize the difference between the text moving forward toward the mercy, humility, and inclusivity of Jesus and when the text is regressing into arrogance, exclusion, and legalism. Even a child can see the difference, but an angry or power-hungry person will not. They will favor the regressive and violent passage every time.

Gateway to Silence

Astonish me with your love.

References:

Adapted from Richard Rohr, Things Hidden: Scripture as Spirituality (Franciscan Media: 2008), 12-13;

and Richard Rohr and Joseph Martos, The Great Themes of Scripture: Old Testament, (Franciscan Media: 1988), 1.