Easter devotions: April 20, 2014

April 20, 2014                         Acts 10:34-43

Resurrection of Our Lord          or Jeremiah 31:1-6

Easter Day                               Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24

                                                Colossians 3:1-4

  or Acts 10:34-43

                                                Matthew 28:1-10

  or John 20:1-18

Christ is Risen Indeed!

Though I am writing this as there is still much snow on the ground, I am hopeful for spring.  Though the official date of spring has past and we are not sure of the exact day when spring will finally show herself, I am hopeful that she will indeed appear.  I base this hope on past experiences and the promise of the barren trees.

Spring is that visual sign of the resurrection for us.  We tell the story of the empty tomb each year.  We hear the doubts and exclamations of Mary, Peter and Thomas.  We look towards the promise of the resurrection on the dead as we proclaim in our creeds.  We know the words, we share the story, but we experience its reality each spring.

The resurrection is a promise.  Not just for tomorrow or on the last day, but is it a promise as each new day dawns.  In proclaiming our belief in the resurrection of the dead, we are pointing not just to the gravestones, but to those places, situations and relationships that are broken, that may seem dead or hopeless. We look at life with hope and promise because of Christ’s resurrection.  In the face of the impossible, we see that in God’s hand, through Christ’s death and resurrection, all is truly possible.

We are assured of this because of the witness of those who first proclaimed it from the empty tomb.  We trust in this promise because we have seen and experienced the power of the resurrection in our world today – from the spring time flowers, the transformed life of Nelson Mandala (prisoner to president), from the death of a loved one that enables another to live through organ donation, from an estranged child and parent, reunited.  These are the signs of the resurrection today – that Christ continues to resurrect the world.  This is not just a past event or a promised future, but the present hope and reality of Christ.

Prayer: With our whole body and soul, we pray that we may reflect Christ’s resurrection power that is at work around us.  Lord, in your mercy; hear our prayer.  Amen.

Pastor Jennifer Boyd

Lenten devotions: April 19, 2014 (Holy Saturday)

April 19, 2014                         Romans 6:3-11

Resurrection of Our Lord        John 20:1-18

Vigil of Easter            

Reflecting on today’s reading, I am reminded of Baptism through which we are transformed. We die to sin and receive new life in Christ, as if we had died and were reborn. We now live in the Spirit and are no longer slaves to sin. Adam’s sin brought death to mankind. Through His death on the cross, Jesus brought forgiveness, reconciliation with God, and the promise of eternal life. How great is God’s love for us!  

Let our prayer be John 3:16

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life.”

Joan Bradley

Lenten devotions: April 18, 2014 (Good Friday)

April 18, 2014                         Isaiah 52:13—53:12

Good Friday                             Psalm 22

                                                Hebrews 10:16-25

  or Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9

                                                John 18:1—19:42

A day of sadness when Jesus was crucified but not for us who know the outcome is the beginning of our forgiveness. He died for our sins and He was resurrected on Easter.  What a glorious thought!  We remember this day with solemn events but look forward to a future with God.  I can remember as a child not being able to do anything that would be considered "fun" on Good Friday.  We went to church in the evening but had to be quiet from noon to three in observance of the hours of crucifixion.  A powerful remembrance of this day was attending the Passion Play in Oberammagau, Germany in 2000.  This play, performed every ten years, tells the entire passion story in words and music.  All the actors are members of the town and when Jesus is nailed to the cross you can feel the agony in the audience.  How this is done is a mystery but I remember it sure felt real; It was a moving experience and one that I relive many times in my mind. Just think, Jesus did this all for me - what a love.

Father we give You thanks for the sacrifice of Your Son on this day thousands of years ago.  We ask that You help us to always remember the true meaning of love and forgiveness that has been given to us especially on this very holy day.  This we ask in Jesus' name.  Amen.

Dorothy Kafalas

Lenten devotions: April 17, 2014 (Maundy Thursday)

April 17, 2014             Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19

Maundy Thursday       1 Corinthians 11:23-26

                                    John 13:1-17, 31b-35

                                   

Bonaventure (1221-1274)

The Tree of Life

Among all the memorable events of Christ’s life, the most worthy of remembrance is that last banquet, the most sacred supper. Here not only the Paschal lamb was presented to be eaten but also the immaculate Lamb, who takes away the sins of the world… In this banquet the marvelous sweetness of Christ’s goodness shone forth when He dined at the same table and on the same plates with those poor disciples and the traitor Judas. The marvelous example of His humility shone forth when, girt with a towel, the King of Glory diligently washed the feet of the fishermen and even of His betrayer. The marvelous richness of His generosity was manifest when He gave to the whole Church and the world, His most sacred body and His true blood as food and drink so that what was soon to be a sacrifice pleasing to God and the priceless price of our redemption would be our viaticum (provisions for a journey) and sustenance. Finally the marvelous outpouring of His love shone forth when loving His own to the end. He strengthened them in goodness with a gentle exhortation, especially forewarning Peter to be firm in faith and offering to John His breast as a pleasant and sacred place of rest.

O how marvelous are all these things, how full of sweetness, but only for that soul who, having been called to so distinguished a banquet runs with all the ardor of its spirit so that it may cry out with David:

                As the stag longs for the springs of water,

        So my soul longs for You, O God.

Lenten devotions: April 16, 2014

April 16, 2014                         Isaiah 50:4-9a

Wednesday in Holy Week       Psalm 70

                                                Hebrews 12:1-3

                                                John 13:21-32

Thomas a Kempis is best-known for his imitation of Christ. We are all simultaneously saints and sinners. As such we find salvation through God’s grace and forgiveness. I connect immediately to the prophet’s statement that the Lord has given us the tongue of a teacher. Our great model is the precious Savior who is our brother as well as our teacher. When I began as a public school teacher I found it a tremendous culture shock. University teaching was far different. There was no conflict, no day-to-day backbiting, nor obstacles between you and the disseminating of information. In the public arena, many positioned themselves against me almost at once. Experiencing despair, I relied heavily on my relation to Christ and prized His guidance and support. Within a relatively short time, friendships turned into spiritual support. I encountered the great cloud of witnesses Paul speaks of who ministered unto me and held me up in my spiritual crises. Two sisters from the Adventist Church were, and are, great allies and their prayerful support during my illness was a tremendous comfort. The Lord our God is always at hand, even in our darkest hours and even when the betrayer clouds our vision of the prize, the Holy Spirit is there to guide and uplift us, delivering us from the darkness.

Dear Lord, Jesus, thank you for being my teacher, my guide, and my comfort in times of trouble.

Franklyn Commisso

Lenten devotions: April 15, 2014

April 15, 2014                         Isaiah 49:1-7

Tuesday in Holy Week             Psalm 71:1-14

                                                1 Corinthians 1:18-31

                                                John 12:20-36

The lessons from 1^st Corinthians and John struck a very strong chord with me.  1^st Corinthians discusses the wisdom of man versus the wisdom of God, and states that no man, regardless of how wise they are, can begin to understand God’s wisdom.  John’s lesson ends with that fact that if you do not walk in God’s light, you will be walking in darkness without knowing where you are headed.

In 2001, within a little over a month’s time, I lost two members of my family.  Both of these losses occurred through terrible circumstances.  For many years, I tried to understand God’s reasons and wisdom behind the loss of my family members.  At one point, I even fell away from God because I could not understand why he let these things occur.  However, over time I began to realize, as John says, that I was walking in darkness, not knowing where I was going.  I came to understand that I will never understand God’s reasons, and that I would be lost in the darkness if I continued down the path I was on.  I realized that I must always walk in God’s light, no matter what the circumstances are.

God – Please give me the strength to accept what I cannot understand and allow me to always walk in your light regardless of the circumstances.

Arnold Schuff

Lenten devotions: April 13, 2014

April 14, 2014                         Isaiah 42:1-9

Monday in Holy Week             Psalm 36:5-11

                                                Hebrews 9:11-15

                                                John 12:1-11

Thomas Merton (1915-1968)

Thoughts In Solitude

What is it that has made me evil and hateful to myself? It is my own folly, my own darkness, which have divided me, by sin, against the light which God has placed in my soul to be the reflection of His goodness and the witness of His mercy.

Shall I drive evil out of my soul by wrestling with my own darkness? This is not what God has planned for me. It is sufficient to turn away from my darkness to His light. I do not have to run away from myself; it is sufficient that I find myself, not as I have made myself, by my own stupidity, but as He has make me in His wisdom and remade me in His infinite mercy. For it is His will that my body and soul should be the Temple of his Holy Spirit, that my life should reflect the radiance of His love and my whole being repose in His peace. Then will I truly know Him, since I am in Him and He is truly in me.