Feb. 28, 2015 PROMISE

What is a promise? I asked my nine year old granddaughter Jenna that very question. She replied, “It’s when you say you are going to do something.”  How many times have you made a promise?  

Reflecting on this word, I think of all the promises I have made in my life. I’d like to say that I have kept all of them, but know that there have been times, for one reason or another; I have broken some of them. We promise or vow when we get married that we will “love, honor and cherish” our husband/wife “in sickness and in health, till death we do part”. We are all looking forward to the promise of spring after this long, cold winter.  Promises aren’t things most of us take lightly. The other side of a promise is the belief that the promise will be kept.

I read somewhere that God made over three hundred promises in the Bible. We all know that He promised Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and slavery. He also promised Noah to never flood the earth again and the bow in the sky is a reminder of that promise. In John 3:16 reads that “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, yet shall they live.” (John 11:25-26) “Come to me all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28-29) St. Paul writes: “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God-not by works….For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has prepared in advance.” (Ephesians 2: 8-10) NIV

As I reflect on the word “promise” this Lenten season, I believe with my entire heart and soul that I too will be raised to see the face of God. Not through only “good works” but because of my faith through grace that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior!  Just as God has kept His promises throughout the Bible, so too He will keep the promise of eternal life to all who accept His son as Lord.

Shared by Kathie Ruhs

Feb. 27, 2015 WITNESS

Witness is one of those words we think of with a straightforward definition.  A WITNESS simply tells what he/she has seen.  Sadly, it is most often associated with a crime of some sort as well as varying degrees of fear in the re-telling.  But, what if I were to tell you that there was a different side to WITNESS.  The aforementioned meaning remains intact, so to speak, and the association becomes positive instead of negative.

As believers in Jesus, in Acts 1:8, we are instructed by Jesus Himself:

          “… you will be My witnesses… even to the ends of the earth.”

Now, obviously, we can’t attest to what Jesus did in the Bible except through faith.  However, we most definitely can give an “eye witness” account of what Jesus has done in OUR lives as well as those of our families and loved ones.  God gifts us with opportunities daily, if not hourly, to share how we are able to have joy in a seemingly joyless situation or peace or hope.  Those we share with may choose to not believe what we say, but that doesn’t make it any less true.  And, what’s funny is how many times those same people will come to us when they hit a rough patch.  So, obeying Jesus’ command, even if somewhat nerve-wracking, is beneficial to all involved.

I have a challenge for you during this Lent season, and after if you so choose.  Just as the Israelites built altars to attest to God’s continued faithfulness (no, you’re not building altars), I’d like you to keep a WITNESS JOURNAL. 

Now, before you panic, I don’t mean for you to log the people to whom you witness.  I would like you to write down each day how many times you “WINESS” God loving on you or your loved ones, so to speak.  Jot down the seemingly inconsequential (i.e. great parking spot, short line at the store, cashier using a coupon you didn’t have with you, etc…) to the big (i.e. new job, raise, health issues, etc…). What I hope we’ll notice as our “WITNESS ACCOUNT JOURNAL” gets fuller is that we see more of God’s faithfulness around us.  Not that it wasn’t there before, we just hadn’t intentionally “WITNESSED” it.  And, not that it’s all “walk in the park stuff” either because in the book of James, we are told there WILL be times of trial.  The key, however, is KNOWING we are not alone in those trials.  We can stand firm on our WITNESS accounts as well as those of others.  All of which Speak of God’s unconditional love and continued faithfulness.

Dear God-

I pray as we keep these WITNESS JOURNALS, we truly “see” how very much you love each and every one of us.  As we begin to truly “see” Your hand at work, I pray it “opens our eyes” to reveal the many other examples of Your faithfulness. 

Thank You Father for every single one of them, from those of long ago to those of today and to those yet to come.

Then I ask Oh God, embolden us to be the WITNESSES Your Son, Jesus, called us to be.  May we NEVER cower from sharing Your unconditional love, mercy and grace.

In Jesus’ Holy and Precious Name, we pray,

AMEN.

Shared by Debbie Lyons

Feb. 26, 2015 DEATH

The Apprentice

                                                            

The smithy apprentice was assigned the job of making nails.

He would heat the coals to white hot, constantly pumping the billows all along, and then thrust an iron bar into the coals. When the iron was glowing red he would pull out the rod and hammer the iron into the shape of a nail, usually four sided, then with the peen hammer he would hammer the tip into needle point sharpness. As he worked he imagined what his nails would be used for.  He thought, “My nails are so perfect they could hold the finest furniture together, or the timber beams for the frame of a new home.”

Day in and day out he worked the fires, the iron, and the hammers making perfect nails.

Once he thought for sure his nails would be selected for the new ship being built in the shipyard, but it was not to be.

The blacksmith came into the workshop and told the apprentice that he needed some nails for a special project.  The apprentice was excited and followed the smithy to see where his nails would be finally used. 

It was a long walk, uphill most of the way, and there were lots of people around.  As he pushed through the crowd he saw a large timber cross with a man lying on top.  A Roman Guard took nails from the smithy and began to drive the nails into the man’s hands and feet.  The apprentice asked who it was and someone told him it is Jesus of Nazareth.

The apprentice dropped to his knees and cried out,” My nails were made to build things up, not tear them down.”

With each blow of the hammer the nails were drenched in blood.  The apprentice wept and wondered how his nails could have fallen into such misuse.  Just then a heavy hand was placed on his shoulder and he heard, “Do not despair; your nails have helped to build something that will live forever.”  When he turned to look, there was no one there

Shared by Jim Macris, member of St. Timothy’s, North Greenbush, NY

                                      (where Pastor Jen grew up)

Feb. 25, 2015 LISTEN

“That's why I speak to them in parables, because they look but don't see, and they listen but don't hear or understand.”  Matthew 13:13

“Listen” is an interesting word.  On the surface, it describes a voluntary action involving the ability to process sound.  Figuratively, it can also describe an action involving ones’ thoughts and/or feelings (I.e. listen to your conscious; listen to your heart).  However, the word “listen” alone does not give an indication of comprehension or understanding by the listener. 

Do we really comprehend and understand the words we are listening to?  

How often do we ask someone to repeat something because we listened, but did not understand what they said?  

It’s easy to let our minds wander when listening to someone speak about something that does not interest us or that we have heard before.  How often have we heard the phrase “Listen to me…”, or were asked “Are you listening…?”

Throughout the Bible, listening, understanding, and acting upon the Word of the Lord is a constant struggle.  In the Old Testament, the Israelites constantly turned their backs to God by listening to, but not following, His Word.  Yet they called to Him and received help whenever they needed it because God listened to and acted upon the Israelites prayers. 

In the New Testament, during His relatively short ministry, Jesus states many times that the people of Israel listen or hear without hearing.   How frustrating it must have been for Jesus to have this incredible message for everyone, which was simply dismissed by many that listened to Him.  Wouldn’t it have been very easy for Jesus to just give up on those who were not listening to Him?  

But, Jesus never gave up.  And, as He lived through the periods we now call Lent and Holy Week, Jesus listened as the crowds turned against Him and demanded His death.  Yet, even while near death on the cross, Jesus asked God’s forgiveness for those that did not listen to Him.

As He has done since the beginning, God listens to us through prayer.  He will provide help, comfort and guidance as long as we are open to listening and hearing His answers.   As we go through Lent and Easter, I pray that the Holy Spirit opens all of our hearts and minds so that we are able to listen and understand the message of God’s Word.  

Shared by Arnold Schuff

Feb. 24, 2015 KINGDOM

During Lent devotionals (using the daily devotionals in "Feasting on the Word") I was ask to meditate on the phrase "kingdom of God" (kin-dom of God) in terms of lived experience because often it's more of an abstract phrase with which we don't remember our lived experiences of it in terms of how it tastes, feels, looks, sounds, incarnated, etc. This image reminds me of the words we share as part of our Great Thanksgiving, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again."  and it reminds me salvation as that which has already happened, is in the process of happening, and that will happen very soon. We experience the presence of God and so kin-dom of heaven is a relational/interconnectedness/communal experiences with God and all of creation as part of salvation. One can taste, see, feel, know,smell, hear...experience the kin-dom of God in concrete/incarnational ways and that is good news on this journey. 

 

Shared by Rev. Wongee Joh

Holmes United Methodist Church & 

First United Methodist Church Brewster

Feb. 23, 2015 TRANSGRESSION

Trespass...sin...debt...

These are the words that come to mind more quickly than "transgression".  It is not a word that we use very often in our daily conversations; its one of those "church words" that pops up from time to time in reference to our sinfulness, as we speak of our transgressions.

The American Heritage Dictionary defines "transgress" as "to go beyond or over (a limit); to act in violation of (a law or commandment); to step across"

I find that most of the sins which I admit and confess to are not those of written laws, but rather of a more personal nature.  My sins tend to affect others even more than myself.

In this sense, I am stepping over the bounds of a relationship; putting myself over and against someone else.  The greatest part of sIn is the "I" when I become I-focused and neglect my relationship with God and with those around me.

Where have you stepped over the line or gone beyond the boundary of relationships around you?

What comes to mind when you hear the word "transgression"?


Shared by Pastor Jen

Feb. 22, 2015 FORGIVENESS

Matthew 6:12 ¹²   

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. (NSRV)

Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. (MSG)

We pray for forgiveness every time we repeat the prayer Jesus taught us.  When we ask for forgiveness we add our own commitment to forgive others.  In the ELW edition of Luther’s Small Catechism, we read:  

We ask in this prayer that our heavenly Father would not regard our sins nor deny those petitions on their account, for we are worthy of nothing for which we ask, nor have we earned it.  Instead we ask that God would give us all things by grace, for we daily sin much and indeed deserve only punishment.  So, on the other hand, we, too, truly want to forgive heartily and to do good gladly to those who sin against us.

Forgiveness is a gift from God that I too gladly want to share with others. 

During this Lenten season, I vow to pay that gift forward… ever mindful that the forgiveness I share is but a miniscule example of the forgiveness I have received. 

Today pray the words of ELW Hymn # 605; Forgive Our Sins, As We Forgive

Shared by Pastor Elaine Berg

                      Pastor Jen’s mom, Dean of Foothills Conference in Upstate NY Synod

Feb. 21, 2015 SEED

I was in a store the other day and not only was all the Valentine candy replaced by Easter goodies, but packets of seeds, spring bulbs and even mulch have begun to take up space.

           

We are all ready to plant seeds as we wait longingly for warmer weather.  We calculate the number of days until the snow will be melted and we might begin to see the grass grow green.  Even those of us with a lack of a green thumb, wish that we could dig in the warm earth – but then we look at our windows and shiver amidst even the sunniest days.

           

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven…. a time to plant and a time to pluck up what was planted.  (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2)

           

Now is not the time for planting.  Today is a fallow time when the earth is at rest, waiting for the change of the seasons.

           

As I reflect on today’s word – SEED – while there are things that we can do in terms of preparing the soil and providing water for its growth – there is just as much time waiting.  We wait until it is the right time to plant our seeds and then once they are planted, we wait for them to sprout and grow.

           

In a world that is focused on immediacy, to wait is a new four-letter world.  We don’t like to wait.  We see it as a waste of our precious time.

           

Lent can be a time of waiting as well.  It is less about what we can accomplish in these 40 days and more about….

            “those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31a)

May this SEED be a symbol of our call to wait, to trust and rely upon the Lord that our strength may be renewed for that time of planting and reaping.

Shared by Pastor Jen

Feb. 20, 2015 SIGN

 “The Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and testing Jesus, they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven.” – Matthew 16:1

When my oldest daughter Cherilyn had received her learner’s permit from the DMV, I would regularly take her out driving.   One evening, she approached a “Yield” sign and drove right through it, nearly getting into an accident with a car to which she should have yielded the right of way.  When I asked her if she had seen the “Yield” sign, her response was that she did see the sign but did not know what it meant. 

Our lives are full of signs.   Many are easily recognizable and eagerly awaited, like the first signs of spring.  Other signs and their meanings are not so easily recognized, such as the animals all quickly moving to higher ground just prior to Tsunami that struck South Asia in 2004. 

During Jesus’ ministry He provided many public signs that He was truly God’s Son, through His miracles and teaching.  Yet, the religious leaders of that time failed, or even refused to recognize the meaning of Jesus’ signs.  Time and time again, they would ask Jesus to give them an explicit sign that demonstrated the truth of His ministry.  Jesus never gave them an explicit sign.  Rather, He would question their ability to recognize some signs, such as weather’s relation to the color of the sky, but not recognize other obvious signs (Matthew 16: 2-4).   He also directed them back to the Old Testament, referring to the “sign of Jonah” (Matthew 12: 38-45) which was yet another sign to the Pharisees that predicted both His rising from death in three days and the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD.

Just as is shown throughout the Bible, God continues to communicate to us through signs. Through signs, He gives us answers, guidance and comfort.  Unlike my daughter and the “Yield” sign, we need to open our hearts through this Lenten season and beyond, to recognize and understand God’s signs to us.

Arnold Schuff

Feb. 19, 2015 PROCLAIM

Shared by Larry Hudson, Liberal Baptist, religious pragmatist

                                    Friend of Pastor Jen & Michael from Maryland

Feb. 18, 2015 (Ash Wednesday) DUST

What better word to start off the Lenten season than with the word, “dust.” Dust is a great biblical word, one that has many connotations in the ancient world.

We read in the Bible, for example, that dust is a central element in stories where inordinate grief and angst are expressed (consider Job). Characters in such metaphorical accounts can, from time-to-time, be seen as literally wearing “sackcloth and ashes” (akin to pouring dirt over their heads to signify their mourning and sense of loss). You can imagine what those times and places must have felt like - as if the very bottom of their lives had fallen out. Overwhelming feelings. Where may you have felt similar angst in your own life? 

Of course, we also know that there are Bible stories where dust has more positive connotations. We see throughout Genesis use of the terms earth and dust. From Scripture’s very start God takes stardust (“a formless void”) and from it fashions the whole world. And then from this earth come things of the earth – plants and creatures of various kinds.

In Genesis 1:26, wherein we are introduced to “Adam” and “Eve,” whose names in Hebrew mean respectively, “red” and “earth,” we see that they (and we) are given a vocation of being co-creators with God – a job that comes with much responsible use of wisdom. But their good stewardship is not a given, as we soon learn.

Interestingly, Genesis 2 offers us a bit different creation account. Here we read how God forms humankind from mere dust – a dust that makes up soil that cries out for a tiller. Do you know any tillers of soil out there? And so it is that God gives humankind a vocation of tilling soil and earning our keep by the sweat of our brow.

I could go on about other ways Scripture speaks of dust, of its healing properties, or about how we are in fact one day going to return to the very state of dust from which we once came, but what is the sum or point of all this dust in light of Lent?

In Genesis 1:3 God is said to have looked over all that was made and then declared it to be, “very good.” I think that what God declares “good” we would be well advised to also consider as sacred. I think we ought take our divine vocation seriously and consider it soberly.

To what extent are we being -or not being- good stewards of all resources at our personal disposal – and again, how about as a church? And let us also ask whether we consider not only our own lives as “sacred” but, just as importantly, the lives of all others – family, friends, strangers, and even so-called enemies?  Aren’t we to consider their lives as equally sacred?

The Lenten season is one of prayer, contemplation, repentance, self-denial, and seeking to love the things that God loves. “Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, and dust to dust.” I think we must look with humility to all of the vast dust that is out there, admittedly some dust more like our own dust than others, and ask, “Lord, what are we that you are mindful of us?”  Amen. 

Shared by Michael Boyd 

2015 Lenten Devotions overview

For this year's Lenten devotions, we have used a different word a day as a jumping off place.  A different person will share their written and/or visual reflections on that particular word.

Many of our participants are from our congregation, but I have also invited others from my circle of family, friends and colleauges to join in these reflections.  I will briefly indicate my own relationship with that person and where they currently live so that you can get a sense of how we are a part of a much larger Church than our particular congregation.

You are invited to share your own reflections in the comments as we enter into this Lenten journey together.