REMEBRANCE OF THE MILLENNIUM
I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME THOUGHTS WITH YOU
ABOUT THE MILLENNIUM
WHICH WE CELEBRATED IN 1999
FIRST
THE WORD ITSELF
COMES FROM THE LATIN MILLE
WHICH MEANS ONE THOUSAND
AND ANNUS, WHICH MEANS YEAR
SO MILLENNIUM IS A THOUSAND YEARS.
THE THOUGHT OF MILLENNIUM
IS FOUND IN REVELATION, CHAPTER 20
IN WHICH JOHN WRITES.
"AND I SAW THE SOULS
OF THOSE WHO HAD NOT WORSHIPED THE BEAST
OR HIS STATUE,
NOR ACCEPTED HIS MARK ON THEIR FOREHEAD
OR THEIR HANDS
THEY CAME TO LIFE AGAIN,
AND THEY REIGNED WITH CHRIST
FOR A THOUSAND YEARS".
THE WORD CALENDAR
COMES FROM THE LATIN CALENDARIUM
WHICH MEANS A MONEYLENDERS ACCOUNT BOOK
THE LATIN WORD FOR THE FIRST OF THE MONTH
IS CALENDS
SO ON THE FIRST OF THE MONTH
(THE CALENDS)
YOUR DEBT WAS DUE TO THE MONEY LENDER
WHO KEPT HIS RECORDS OF YOUR PAYMENT
IN AN ACCOUNT BOOK
CALLED THE CALENDARIUM
A CALENDAR
IS A DEVICE FOR MEASURING TIME
BY DAY, WEEK, MONTH, YEAR, CENTURY
AND TEN CENTURIES IS A MILLENNIUM.
TO THE CHINESE WE ARE LIVING IN THE YEAR 4396
TO THE JEWS WE ARE LIVING IN YEAR 5760
TO THE MOSLEMS WE ARE LIVING IN THE YEAR 1377
AND TO THE CHRISTIAN WORLD WE ARE LIVING IN THE YEAR 1999
SO TO MUCH OF THE WORLD
IF IT WASN'T FOR THE Y2K COMPUTER PROBLEM
THERE WOULD BE NO MILLENNIUM PROBLEM.
AND FOR CHRISTIANS
IT IS NOT THE MILLENNIUM.
BECAUSE CHRIST WAS NOT BORN ON DEC 25
YEAR ONE AD, 2000 YEARS AGO
HE WAS BORN
MOST SCHOLARS BELIEVE
IN THE YEAR 6 BC
IN THE SPRING OR THE FALL
WHY DO WE SAY SPRING OR FALL.
BECAUSE THE BIBLE TELL US
THE SHEPHERDS WERE IN THE FIELDS ABIDING
AND IN PALESTINE
THAT MEANT SPRING OR FALL
IN THE WINTER IT WAS TOO COLD TO LIVE OUTDOORS
IN THE SUMMER THE GRASS WAS GREEN
CLOSE TO THEIR HOME
AND THEY DID NOT HAVE TO PASTURE THEIR FLOCKS
AWAY FROM THE VILLAGE
SO WHAT WILL HAPPEN
NEXT NEW YEARS EVE
MOST LIKELY NOTHING
DICK CLARK WILL HOST THE TIME SQUARE PARTY.
WE WILL ALL COUNT DOWN THE LAST TEN SECONDS,
BLOW HORNS,
KISS OUR LOVED ONES,
MAKE RESOLUTIONS
AND WONDER
WHAT DOES GOD REQUIRE OF ME
AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD,
WHAT DOES HE REQUIRE OF A PEOPLE
WHO CANNOT EVEN GET HIS SON'S BIRTHDAY CORRECT
WHAT GOD REQUIRES OF US
IS TO REMEMBER
THAT BEFORE TIME BEGAN
WHEN ALL THAT EXISTED
WAS ONLY ETERNAL GOD
THAT, THAT SAME GOD
LOVED US BEFORE HE CREATED US,
LOVED US KNOWING WE WOULD FAIL HIM,
LOVED US KNOWING WE WOULD SLAY HIS SON
LOVED US KNOWING HIS SON'S DEATH
WOULD AVENGE OUR GUILT
ALL HE ASKS IS OUR LOVE
THIS IS THE DEBT HE DEMANDS OF US
THIS IS THE DEBT
HE WILL MARK
IN HIS MONEY LENDERS BOOK
HIS CALENDARIUM
AND IN RETURN FOR THIS DEBT
THAT WE OWE HIM
HE WILL BE OUR FATHER
LONG AFTER TIME IS ENDED
HE WILL BE OUR SAVIOR
LONG AFTER TIME IS ENDED
HE WILL BE OUR COMFORTER
LONG AFTER TIME IS ENDED
FOR AS PAUL SAYS IN CORINTHIANS
NOW IS THE ACCEPTABLE TIME
NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION
OR AS IN THE PSALMS
THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE
LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT
SO THE MILLENNIUM
SHOULD NOT BE
A TIME OF FEAR FOR US
FOR THE GOD WHO LOVED US
BEFORE TIME BEGAN,
WHO LOVES US NOW
AS DAYS BECOME WEEKS
AS WEEKS BECOME MONTHS
AS MONTHS BECOME YEARS
AS YEARS BECOME CENTURIES,
AND AS CENTURIES BECOME MILLENNIUMS
THIS GOD
THROUGH ALL THE CIRCLE OF ETERNITY
PAST THE POINT WHERE TIME SHALL CEASE
WILL LOVE US STILL
SO WE SHOULD EMBRACE GOD'S LOVE
NOT WITH FEAR
THAT GOD IS COMING TO PUNISH US
AT THE START OR END OF A MILLENNIUM
BUT RATHER WE SHOULD RECEIVE GOD'S LOVE
AS A FAVORED CHILD
WHO KNOWS THAT GOD’S HEART
AND CAPACITY FOR LOVE
IS GREATER THAN HIS OR HER ABILITY
TO COMPREHEND IT
SO ON Y2K
COMPUTERS MAY CRASH
BUT GOD'S LOVE
AND GOD'S WORD
WILL GO ON
AS IF IT NEVER HAPPENED
f. a. vollmer
Monday, November 13, 2006
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
WHEN I AM AN OLD WOMAN I SHALL WEAR PURPLE
WARNINGWhen I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go
and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy
and summer gloves
And satin sandals,
and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops
and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick the flowers in other people's gardens
But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked
and surprised
When suddenly I am old,
and start to wear purple.
With a red hat which doesn't go
and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy
and summer gloves
And satin sandals,
and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops
and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick the flowers in other people's gardens
But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked
and surprised
When suddenly I am old,
and start to wear purple.
ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED IN KINDERGARDEN
All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarden
Most of what I really need to know
about how to live,
what to do,
and how to be,
I learned in kindergarten.
Wisdom
was not at the top
of the graduate school mountain,
but there in the sandbox at nursery school.
These are things I learned:
Share everything.
Play fair.
Don't hit people.
Put things back where you found them.
Clean up your own mess.
Don't take things that aren't yours.
Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
Wash your hands before you eat.
Flush.
Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
Live a balanced life.
Learn some and draw and paint and sing and play and work every day some.
Take a nap every afternoon.
When you go out into the world, watch for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.
Be aware of wonder.
Most of what I really need to know
about how to live,
what to do,
and how to be,
I learned in kindergarten.
Wisdom
was not at the top
of the graduate school mountain,
but there in the sandbox at nursery school.
These are things I learned:
Share everything.
Play fair.
Don't hit people.
Put things back where you found them.
Clean up your own mess.
Don't take things that aren't yours.
Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
Wash your hands before you eat.
Flush.
Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
Live a balanced life.
Learn some and draw and paint and sing and play and work every day some.
Take a nap every afternoon.
When you go out into the world, watch for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.
Be aware of wonder.
THE EASTER SERMON OF JOHN CHRYSOSTOM
The Easter Sermon of John Chrysostom
Pastor of Constantinople (~400 AD)IS THERE ANYONE WHO IS A DEVOUT LOVER OF GOD?LET THEM ENJOY THIS BEAUTIFUL BRIGHT FESTIVAL!IS THERE ANYONE WHO IS A GRATEFUL SERVANT?LET THEM REJOICE AND ENTER INTO THE JOY OF THEIR LORD!ARE THERE ANY WEARY WITH FASTING? LET THEM NOW RECEIVE THEIR WAGES!IF ANY HAVE TOILED FROM THE FIRST HOUR, LET THEM RECEIVE THEIR DUE REWARD;IF ANY HAVE COME AFTER THE THIRD HOUR, LET HIM WITH GRATITUDE JOIN IN THE FEAST!AND HE THAT ARRIVED AFTER THE SIXTH HOUR, LET HIM NOT DOUBT; FOR HE TOO SHALL SUSTAIN NO LOSS.AND IF ANY DELAYED UNTIL THE NINTH HOUR, LET HIM NOT HESITATE; BUT LET HIM COME TOO.AND HE WHO ARRIVED ONLY AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR, LET HIM NOT BE AFRAID BY REASON OF HIS DELAY.FOR THE LORD IS GRACIOUS AND RECEIVES THE LAST EVEN AS THE FIRST.HE GIVES REST TO HIM THAT COMES AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR, AS WELL AS TO HIM THAT TOILED FROM THE FIRST.TO THIS ONE HE GIVES, AND UPON ANOTHER HE BESTOWS.HE ACCEPTS THE WORKS AS HE GREETS THE ENDEAVOR.THE DEED HE HONORS AND THE INTENTION HE COMMENDS.LET US ALL ENTER INTO THE JOY OF THE LORD! FIRST AND LAST ALIKE RECEIVE YOUR REWARD; RICH AND POOR, REJOICE TOGETHER!SOBER AND SLOTHFUL, CELEBRATE THE DAY!YOU THAT HAVE KEPT THE FAST, AND YOU THAT HAVE NOT, REJOICE TODAY FOR THE TABLE IS RICHLY LADEN!FEAST ROYALLY ON IT, THE CALF IS A FATTED ONE.LET NO ONE GO AWAY HUNGRY. PARTAKE, ALL, OF THE CUP OF FAITH.ENJOY ALL THE RICHES OF HIS GOODNESS!LET NO ONE GRIEVE AT HIS POVERTY, FOR THE UNIVERSAL KINGDOM HAS BEEN REVEALED.LET NO ONE MOURN THAT HE HAS FALLEN AGAIN AND AGAIN; FOR FORGIVENESS HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE.LET NO ONE FEAR DEATH, FOR THE DEATH OF OUR SAVIOR HAS SET US FREE.HE HAS DESTROYED IT BY ENDURING IT.HE DESTROYED HELL WHEN HE DESCENDED INTO IT.HE PUT IT INTO AN UPROAR EVEN AS IT TASTED OF HIS FLESH.ISAIAH FORETOLD THIS WHEN HE SAID,"YOU, O HELL, HAVE BEEN TROUBLED BY ENCOUNTERING HIM BELOW."HELL WAS IN AN UPROAR BECAUSE IT WAS DONE AWAY WITH.IT WAS IN AN UPROAR BECAUSE IT IS MOCKED.IT WAS IN AN UPROAR, FOR IT IS DESTROYED.IT IS IN AN UPROAR, FOR IT IS ANNIHILATED.IT IS IN AN UPROAR, FOR IT IS NOW MADE CAPTIVE.HELL TOOK A BODY, AND DISCOVERED GOD. IT TOOK EARTH, AND ENCOUNTERED HEAVEN.IT TOOK WHAT IT SAW, AND WAS OVERCOME BY WHAT IT DID NOT SEE.O DEATH, WHERE IS THY STING?O HELL, WHERE IS THY VICTORY?CHRIST IS RISEN, AND YOU, O DEATH, ARE ANNIHILATED!CHRIST IS RISEN, AND THE EVIL ONES ARE CAST DOWN!CHRIST IS RISEN, AND THE ANGELS REJOICE!CHRIST IS RISEN, AND LIFE IS LIBERATED!CHRIST IS RISEN, AND THE TOMB IS EMPTIED OF ITS DEAD;FOR CHRIST HAVING RISEN FROM THE DEAD,IS BECOME THE FIRST-FRUITS OF THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP.TO HIM BE GLORY AND POWER FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN!
Pastor of Constantinople (~400 AD)IS THERE ANYONE WHO IS A DEVOUT LOVER OF GOD?LET THEM ENJOY THIS BEAUTIFUL BRIGHT FESTIVAL!IS THERE ANYONE WHO IS A GRATEFUL SERVANT?LET THEM REJOICE AND ENTER INTO THE JOY OF THEIR LORD!ARE THERE ANY WEARY WITH FASTING? LET THEM NOW RECEIVE THEIR WAGES!IF ANY HAVE TOILED FROM THE FIRST HOUR, LET THEM RECEIVE THEIR DUE REWARD;IF ANY HAVE COME AFTER THE THIRD HOUR, LET HIM WITH GRATITUDE JOIN IN THE FEAST!AND HE THAT ARRIVED AFTER THE SIXTH HOUR, LET HIM NOT DOUBT; FOR HE TOO SHALL SUSTAIN NO LOSS.AND IF ANY DELAYED UNTIL THE NINTH HOUR, LET HIM NOT HESITATE; BUT LET HIM COME TOO.AND HE WHO ARRIVED ONLY AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR, LET HIM NOT BE AFRAID BY REASON OF HIS DELAY.FOR THE LORD IS GRACIOUS AND RECEIVES THE LAST EVEN AS THE FIRST.HE GIVES REST TO HIM THAT COMES AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR, AS WELL AS TO HIM THAT TOILED FROM THE FIRST.TO THIS ONE HE GIVES, AND UPON ANOTHER HE BESTOWS.HE ACCEPTS THE WORKS AS HE GREETS THE ENDEAVOR.THE DEED HE HONORS AND THE INTENTION HE COMMENDS.LET US ALL ENTER INTO THE JOY OF THE LORD! FIRST AND LAST ALIKE RECEIVE YOUR REWARD; RICH AND POOR, REJOICE TOGETHER!SOBER AND SLOTHFUL, CELEBRATE THE DAY!YOU THAT HAVE KEPT THE FAST, AND YOU THAT HAVE NOT, REJOICE TODAY FOR THE TABLE IS RICHLY LADEN!FEAST ROYALLY ON IT, THE CALF IS A FATTED ONE.LET NO ONE GO AWAY HUNGRY. PARTAKE, ALL, OF THE CUP OF FAITH.ENJOY ALL THE RICHES OF HIS GOODNESS!LET NO ONE GRIEVE AT HIS POVERTY, FOR THE UNIVERSAL KINGDOM HAS BEEN REVEALED.LET NO ONE MOURN THAT HE HAS FALLEN AGAIN AND AGAIN; FOR FORGIVENESS HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE.LET NO ONE FEAR DEATH, FOR THE DEATH OF OUR SAVIOR HAS SET US FREE.HE HAS DESTROYED IT BY ENDURING IT.HE DESTROYED HELL WHEN HE DESCENDED INTO IT.HE PUT IT INTO AN UPROAR EVEN AS IT TASTED OF HIS FLESH.ISAIAH FORETOLD THIS WHEN HE SAID,"YOU, O HELL, HAVE BEEN TROUBLED BY ENCOUNTERING HIM BELOW."HELL WAS IN AN UPROAR BECAUSE IT WAS DONE AWAY WITH.IT WAS IN AN UPROAR BECAUSE IT IS MOCKED.IT WAS IN AN UPROAR, FOR IT IS DESTROYED.IT IS IN AN UPROAR, FOR IT IS ANNIHILATED.IT IS IN AN UPROAR, FOR IT IS NOW MADE CAPTIVE.HELL TOOK A BODY, AND DISCOVERED GOD. IT TOOK EARTH, AND ENCOUNTERED HEAVEN.IT TOOK WHAT IT SAW, AND WAS OVERCOME BY WHAT IT DID NOT SEE.O DEATH, WHERE IS THY STING?O HELL, WHERE IS THY VICTORY?CHRIST IS RISEN, AND YOU, O DEATH, ARE ANNIHILATED!CHRIST IS RISEN, AND THE EVIL ONES ARE CAST DOWN!CHRIST IS RISEN, AND THE ANGELS REJOICE!CHRIST IS RISEN, AND LIFE IS LIBERATED!CHRIST IS RISEN, AND THE TOMB IS EMPTIED OF ITS DEAD;FOR CHRIST HAVING RISEN FROM THE DEAD,IS BECOME THE FIRST-FRUITS OF THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP.TO HIM BE GLORY AND POWER FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN!
SERMON - THINGS I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT
THINGS I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT
I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU NOW,
THINGS ABOUT WHICH I KNOW ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
IN SCRIPTURE STUDY WE ARE TOLD
THAT ANYTHING WHICH WAS ORDINARY IN LIFE
LIKE EATING, DRINKING, WALKING, SLEEPING
WERE NOT MENTIONED
ONLY WHATEVER WAS CONSIDERED
BY THE SCRIPTURE WRITERS
AS EXTRAORDINARY WERE MENTIONED.
LET ME TELL YOU OF THINGS
I FEEL FROM THE HEART
ABOUT THOSE SOME THINGS I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT.
FIRST MY HEART TELLS ME
THAT THE FIRST PERSON JESUS SAW
AFTER HIS RESURRECTION
WAS HIS MOTHER.
I SAY THIS
NOT FROM MY HEAD
BUT FROM MY HEART,
FROM OUT OF MY OWN EXPERIENCE.
I CALLED MY MOTHER
WHEN SHE WAS ALIVE
WEEKLY,
NOT SO MUCH TO ASK HOW SHE WAS,
BUT TO TELL HER
THAT I WAS WELL.
SHE WORRIED ABOUT OUR WEATHER,
THE SNOW, THE STORMS,
WERE WE WARM, WAS I HAPPY.
NO MATTER
THAT SHE HER SELF
WAS SICK,
SHE WANTED TO KNOW
THAT HER SON WAS SAFE.
SO I CALLED HER AND
TOLD HER
THAT I WAS MUCH LOVED
BY MY WIFE
AND BY THE MEMBERS
OF THE CHURCH TO WHICH I BELONGED.
AND MY MOTHER RESTED EASY.
HER SON WAS SAFE.
MY HEART SAYS,
JESUS SAW HIS MOTHER
TO TELL HER HE WAS WELL.
SECOND MY HEART TELLS ME
WHAT JESUS SAID TO PETER
WHEN THEY FIRST MET AFTER THE RESURRECTION.
IN MY HEART THE CONVERSATION GOES LIKE THIS.
FORGIVE ME LORD.
PETER, FEED MY LAMBS.
I AM TRULY SORRY LORD.
PETER, FEED MY SHEEP.
HOW CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME LORD.
PETER I LOVE YOU.
I HAVE SHARED WITH YOU THOUGHTS
ABOUT WHICH I KNOW NOTHING.
I DO NOT KNOW WHEN JESUS MET HIS MOTHER,
OR WHAT JESUS SAID TO PETER.
BUT THIS I DO KNOW.
THAT THERE ARE THREE THINGS I AM SURE OF.
THEY ARE.
THAT JESUS LOVED HIS MOTHER.
THAT JESUS LOVED PETER,
BEFORE, DURING AND EVER AFTER HIS BETRAYAL.
AND THAT JESUS LOVES US,
NO MATTER WHAT SHAPE
OUR JOURNEY HAS
TAKEN TO THIS MOMENT.
NO MATTER WHAT SHAPE
OUR JOURNEY WILL TAKE
AS WE GO ON.
JESUS HAS, DOES AND ALWAYS WILL LOVE US.
FINALLY I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU
SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT THOMAS.
POOR THOMAS,
NO MATTER HOW LONG HE WOULD LIVE
OR HOW MUCH HE WOULD ACCOMPLISH
HE WOULD BE KNOWN AS DOUBTING THOMAS.
MY HEART SAYS
I WOULD HAVE LIKED
TO HAVE BEEN LIKE MARY MAGDALENE
WHO LOVED JESUS WITHOUT QUESTION,
WHO RAN FROM THE TOMB
WITH SUCH EXCITEMENT
THE MEN THOUGHT HER HYSTERICAL.
I WOULD HAVE
LIKED TO HAVE BEEN LIKE MARY.
BUT MY ENGINEERS HEAD
SAYS I WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE THOMAS.
MY HEAD SAYS,
IT MUST BE PROVEN IN THE LAB,
IN THE WIND TUNNEL,
BY TEST FLYING THE AIRPLANE.
IT IS THE WAY OF MEN TO MEASURE.
THE BOOKKEEPER ADDS HIS NUMBERS,
THE SHOPPER FIGURES COST,
THE STOREKEEPER ADS PROFIT,
THE LAWYER ASSESSES LOSS,
THE MOTHER COUNTS THE MEALS,
THE TRAVELER WONDERS HOW FAR.
WE MEASURE THINGS AS MEN.
EVEN ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL POEMS
IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE SPEAKS OF LOVE THIS WAY.
HOW DO I LOVE THEE? LET ME COUNT THE WAYS.
I LOVE THEE TO THE DEPTH AND BREADTH AND HEIGHT
MY SOUL CAN REACH WHEN FEELING OUT OF SIGHT
FOR THE ENDS OF BEING AND IDEAL GRACE.
MEN MEASURE.
PERHAPS IT'S BECAUSE,
BY SIN, DEATH
CAME INTO THE WORLD.
AND THE DAYS OF OUR LIFE ARE LIMITED.
SO WE MEASURE
EVERYTHING AGAINST THE FINAL NIGHTFALL.
I WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE THOMAS.
AND JESUS SAYS,
THAT'S ALL RIGHT
I LIKE YOU, JUST THE WAY YOU ARE.
I WOULD HAVE YOU BETTER,
BUT I LOVE YOU,
JUST THE WAY YOU ARE.
I WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE THOMAS,
I WOULD HAVE LIKED
TO HAVE BEEN
LIKE MARY MAGDALENE
WHO LOVED JESUS PASSIONATELY,
WITHOUT QUESTIONS.
BUT LISTEN, TO WHAT HE SAYS TO HER,
IN HIS HASTE, TO BE WITH US.
HE SAYS TO HER
DO NOT CLING TO ME,
BUT GO TELL MY DISCIPLES,
I AM COMING".
HE WAS EAGER
TO BE WITH THE ONES
WHO NEEDED HIS LOVE,
THE EMPTY, BROKEN, HURTING PEOPLE.
MARY KNEW SHE WAS LOVED,
THE OTHERS STILL WERE IN DARKNESS.
HE HAD TO BE WITH THEM.
WITH PETER WHO BETRAYED HIM
WITH THOMAS WHO DOUBTED HIM
WITH ALL THOSE WHO HAD RUN AWAY.
GOD ALWAYS SEEMS TO PICK
BROKEN PEOPLE FOR HIS WORK.
HE PICKED MOSES WHO STUTTERED
DAVID AN ADULTERER AND MURDERER
JACOB WHO STOLE AND CHEATED
NOAH WHO DRANK AND GOT DRUNK
GOD'S ALMOST PEOPLE.
HE SAYS,
WITH YOU I WANT TO BE.
MY ALMOST PEOPLE.
WHY GOD,
WOULD YOU WANT TO BE WITH US.
WE ARE BETRAYERS, DOUBTERS, IMPERFECT,
ALMOST PEOPLE.
WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO BE WITH US.
BECAUSE I LOVE YOU, HE SAYS.
IN THE LANGUAGE OF CHILDREN WE SAY,
HOW MUCH DO YOU LOVE US GOD.
IN THE LANGUAGE OF CHILDREN
HE REPLIES, THIS MUCH. (EXTEND ARMS)
I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU NOW,
THINGS ABOUT WHICH I KNOW ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
IN SCRIPTURE STUDY WE ARE TOLD
THAT ANYTHING WHICH WAS ORDINARY IN LIFE
LIKE EATING, DRINKING, WALKING, SLEEPING
WERE NOT MENTIONED
ONLY WHATEVER WAS CONSIDERED
BY THE SCRIPTURE WRITERS
AS EXTRAORDINARY WERE MENTIONED.
LET ME TELL YOU OF THINGS
I FEEL FROM THE HEART
ABOUT THOSE SOME THINGS I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT.
FIRST MY HEART TELLS ME
THAT THE FIRST PERSON JESUS SAW
AFTER HIS RESURRECTION
WAS HIS MOTHER.
I SAY THIS
NOT FROM MY HEAD
BUT FROM MY HEART,
FROM OUT OF MY OWN EXPERIENCE.
I CALLED MY MOTHER
WHEN SHE WAS ALIVE
WEEKLY,
NOT SO MUCH TO ASK HOW SHE WAS,
BUT TO TELL HER
THAT I WAS WELL.
SHE WORRIED ABOUT OUR WEATHER,
THE SNOW, THE STORMS,
WERE WE WARM, WAS I HAPPY.
NO MATTER
THAT SHE HER SELF
WAS SICK,
SHE WANTED TO KNOW
THAT HER SON WAS SAFE.
SO I CALLED HER AND
TOLD HER
THAT I WAS MUCH LOVED
BY MY WIFE
AND BY THE MEMBERS
OF THE CHURCH TO WHICH I BELONGED.
AND MY MOTHER RESTED EASY.
HER SON WAS SAFE.
MY HEART SAYS,
JESUS SAW HIS MOTHER
TO TELL HER HE WAS WELL.
SECOND MY HEART TELLS ME
WHAT JESUS SAID TO PETER
WHEN THEY FIRST MET AFTER THE RESURRECTION.
IN MY HEART THE CONVERSATION GOES LIKE THIS.
FORGIVE ME LORD.
PETER, FEED MY LAMBS.
I AM TRULY SORRY LORD.
PETER, FEED MY SHEEP.
HOW CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME LORD.
PETER I LOVE YOU.
I HAVE SHARED WITH YOU THOUGHTS
ABOUT WHICH I KNOW NOTHING.
I DO NOT KNOW WHEN JESUS MET HIS MOTHER,
OR WHAT JESUS SAID TO PETER.
BUT THIS I DO KNOW.
THAT THERE ARE THREE THINGS I AM SURE OF.
THEY ARE.
THAT JESUS LOVED HIS MOTHER.
THAT JESUS LOVED PETER,
BEFORE, DURING AND EVER AFTER HIS BETRAYAL.
AND THAT JESUS LOVES US,
NO MATTER WHAT SHAPE
OUR JOURNEY HAS
TAKEN TO THIS MOMENT.
NO MATTER WHAT SHAPE
OUR JOURNEY WILL TAKE
AS WE GO ON.
JESUS HAS, DOES AND ALWAYS WILL LOVE US.
FINALLY I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU
SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT THOMAS.
POOR THOMAS,
NO MATTER HOW LONG HE WOULD LIVE
OR HOW MUCH HE WOULD ACCOMPLISH
HE WOULD BE KNOWN AS DOUBTING THOMAS.
MY HEART SAYS
I WOULD HAVE LIKED
TO HAVE BEEN LIKE MARY MAGDALENE
WHO LOVED JESUS WITHOUT QUESTION,
WHO RAN FROM THE TOMB
WITH SUCH EXCITEMENT
THE MEN THOUGHT HER HYSTERICAL.
I WOULD HAVE
LIKED TO HAVE BEEN LIKE MARY.
BUT MY ENGINEERS HEAD
SAYS I WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE THOMAS.
MY HEAD SAYS,
IT MUST BE PROVEN IN THE LAB,
IN THE WIND TUNNEL,
BY TEST FLYING THE AIRPLANE.
IT IS THE WAY OF MEN TO MEASURE.
THE BOOKKEEPER ADDS HIS NUMBERS,
THE SHOPPER FIGURES COST,
THE STOREKEEPER ADS PROFIT,
THE LAWYER ASSESSES LOSS,
THE MOTHER COUNTS THE MEALS,
THE TRAVELER WONDERS HOW FAR.
WE MEASURE THINGS AS MEN.
EVEN ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL POEMS
IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE SPEAKS OF LOVE THIS WAY.
HOW DO I LOVE THEE? LET ME COUNT THE WAYS.
I LOVE THEE TO THE DEPTH AND BREADTH AND HEIGHT
MY SOUL CAN REACH WHEN FEELING OUT OF SIGHT
FOR THE ENDS OF BEING AND IDEAL GRACE.
MEN MEASURE.
PERHAPS IT'S BECAUSE,
BY SIN, DEATH
CAME INTO THE WORLD.
AND THE DAYS OF OUR LIFE ARE LIMITED.
SO WE MEASURE
EVERYTHING AGAINST THE FINAL NIGHTFALL.
I WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE THOMAS.
AND JESUS SAYS,
THAT'S ALL RIGHT
I LIKE YOU, JUST THE WAY YOU ARE.
I WOULD HAVE YOU BETTER,
BUT I LOVE YOU,
JUST THE WAY YOU ARE.
I WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE THOMAS,
I WOULD HAVE LIKED
TO HAVE BEEN
LIKE MARY MAGDALENE
WHO LOVED JESUS PASSIONATELY,
WITHOUT QUESTIONS.
BUT LISTEN, TO WHAT HE SAYS TO HER,
IN HIS HASTE, TO BE WITH US.
HE SAYS TO HER
DO NOT CLING TO ME,
BUT GO TELL MY DISCIPLES,
I AM COMING".
HE WAS EAGER
TO BE WITH THE ONES
WHO NEEDED HIS LOVE,
THE EMPTY, BROKEN, HURTING PEOPLE.
MARY KNEW SHE WAS LOVED,
THE OTHERS STILL WERE IN DARKNESS.
HE HAD TO BE WITH THEM.
WITH PETER WHO BETRAYED HIM
WITH THOMAS WHO DOUBTED HIM
WITH ALL THOSE WHO HAD RUN AWAY.
GOD ALWAYS SEEMS TO PICK
BROKEN PEOPLE FOR HIS WORK.
HE PICKED MOSES WHO STUTTERED
DAVID AN ADULTERER AND MURDERER
JACOB WHO STOLE AND CHEATED
NOAH WHO DRANK AND GOT DRUNK
GOD'S ALMOST PEOPLE.
HE SAYS,
WITH YOU I WANT TO BE.
MY ALMOST PEOPLE.
WHY GOD,
WOULD YOU WANT TO BE WITH US.
WE ARE BETRAYERS, DOUBTERS, IMPERFECT,
ALMOST PEOPLE.
WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO BE WITH US.
BECAUSE I LOVE YOU, HE SAYS.
IN THE LANGUAGE OF CHILDREN WE SAY,
HOW MUCH DO YOU LOVE US GOD.
IN THE LANGUAGE OF CHILDREN
HE REPLIES, THIS MUCH. (EXTEND ARMS)
PRAYERS
Christ has no body now
on earth but yours; no hands
but yours; no feet but yours.
Yours are the eyes through
which He is to go about doing
good; yours are the hands with
which He is to bless people now."
St. Teresa of Avila
.................................................................
A Prayer In Old Age
Lord, you know better than I know myself that I am growing older, and will some day be old. Keep me from getting talkative, and particularly from the fatal habit of thinking that I must say something on every subject and on every occasion.
\Release me from craving to straighten out everybody's affairs.
Keep my mind from the recital of endless details—give me wings to come to the point.
I ask for grace enough to listen to the tales of others' pains. But seal my lips on my own aches and pains—they are increasing, and my love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by. Help me to endure them with patience.
I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a lessening cocksureness when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally it is possible that I may be mistaken.
Keep me reasonably sweet. I do not want to be a saint—some of them are so hard to live with—but a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil.
Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places, and talents in unexpected people. And give me, 0 Lord, the grace to tell them so.
Make me thoughtful—but not moody: helpful, but not bossy.
With my vast store of wisdom it seems a pity not to use it all, but you know Lord, that I want a few friends at the end.
Amen.
17th century nun
on earth but yours; no hands
but yours; no feet but yours.
Yours are the eyes through
which He is to go about doing
good; yours are the hands with
which He is to bless people now."
St. Teresa of Avila
.................................................................
Down In The River To Pray
Traditional
Refrain 1:As I went down in the river to pray, studin' about that good ol' way,and who shall wear the Stary Crown; good Lord - show me the way.
Traditional
Refrain 1:As I went down in the river to pray, studin' about that good ol' way,and who shall wear the Stary Crown; good Lord - show me the way.
O sisters, let's go down. Let'go down. Come on down.O sisters, let's go down, down in the river to pray.
Refrain 2:As I went down in the river to pray, studin' about that good ol' way,and who shall wear the Robe and Crown; good Lord - show me the way.
O brothers, let's go down. Let's go down. Come on down.Come on brothers, let's go down, down in the river to pray.
Refrain 1:As I went down in the river to pray, studin' about that good ol' way,and who shall wear the Stary Crown; good Lord - show me the way.
O fathers, let's go down. Let's go down. Come on down.O fathers, let's go down, down in the river to pray.
Refrain 1:As I went down in the river to pray, studin' about that good ol' way,and who shall wear the Stary Crown; good Lord - show me the way.
O mothers, let's go down. Come on down. Don't ya wanna go down?Come on mothers, let's go down, down in the river to pray.
Refrain 1:As I went down in the river to pray, studin' about that good ol' way,and who shall wear the Stary Crown; good Lord - show me the way.
O sinners, let's go down. Let's go down. Come on down.O sinners, let's go down, down in the river to pray.
Refrain 1:As I went down in the river to pray, studin' about that good ol' way,and who shall wear the Stary Crown; good Lord - show me the way.
..........................................................................................................................
EVENING PRAYER
OPENING MEDITATION
COME
COME TO THE RESTING PLACE
COME TO THE GARDEN
LEAVE ALL TROUBLES OUTSIDE
NO ONE WILL STEAL THEM
COME TO THE GARDEN
REST
BE AT PEACE
BE AT PEACE
COME TO THE GARDEN
AND SEE GOD’S FACE
PSALM 129
KEEP US SAFE, LORD, WHILE WE ARE AWAKE, AND GUARD US WHILE WE SLEEP, SO THAT WE MAY WATCH WITH CHRIST AND REST IN PEACE.
AMEN, ALLELUIA.
OUT OF THE DEPTHS
I HAVE CRIED TO YOU,OH LORD:
LORD, HEAR MY VOICE.LET YOUR EARS BE ATTENTIVE
TO THE SOUND OF MY PLEADING.
KEEP US SAFE, LORD, WHILE WE ARE AWAKE, AND GUARD US WHILE WE SLEEP, SO THAT WE MAY WATCH WITH CHRIST AND REST IN PEACE.
AMEN, ALLELUIA
IF YOU TAKE NOTICE OF OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, LORD –
LORD, WHO WOULD BE LEFT?BUT WITH YOU IS FORGIVENESS,
AND FOR THIS WE REVERE YOU.
KEEP US SAFE, LORD, WHILE WE ARE AWAKE, AND GUARD US WHILE WE SLEEP, SO THAT WE MAY WATCH WITH CHRIST AND REST IN PEACE.
AMEN, ALLELUIA
I RELY ON YOU, LORD,
MY SPIRIT RELIES ON YOUR PROMISE;MY SOUL HOPES IN THE LORD,
MORE THAN THE WATCHMAN WAITING FOR DAYBREAK.
KEEP US SAFE, LORD, WHILE WE ARE AWAKE, AND GUARD US WHILE WE SLEEP, SO THAT WE MAY WATCH WITH CHRIST AND REST IN PEACE.
AMEN, ALLELUIAMORE THAN THE WATCHMAN
WAITS FOR DAYBREAK,
LET ISRAEL HOPE IN THE LORD:
KEEP US SAFE, LORD, WHILE WE ARE AWAKE, AND GUARD US WHILE WE SLEEP, SO THAT WE MAY WATCH WITH CHRIST AND REST IN PEACE.
AMEN, ALLELUIA
FOR WITH THE LORD
THERE IS KINDNESS
AND ABUNDANT REDEMPTION.HE HIMSELF WILL REDEEM ISRAEL
FROM ALL ITS TRANSGRESSIONS.
KEEP US SAFE, LORD, WHILE WE ARE AWAKE, AND GUARD US WHILE WE SLEEP, SO THAT WE MAY WATCH WITH CHRIST AND REST IN PEACE.
AMEN, ALLELUIAGLORY BE TO THE FATHER
AND TO THE SON
AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, AS IT WAS IN THE BEGINNING,
IS NOW, AND EVER SHALL BE, WORLD WITHOUT END. AMEN.
KEEP US SAFE, LORD, WHILE WE ARE AWAKE, AND GUARD US WHILE WE SLEEP, SO THAT WE MAY WATCH WITH CHRIST AND REST IN PEACE.
AMEN, ALLELUIA
SONG - SANCTUARY
ALMIGHTY AND EVERLASTING GOD,
YOU HATE NOTHING
YOU HAVE MADE
AND FORGIVE THE SINS
OF ALL WHO ARE PENITENT:
CREATE
AND MAKE IN US
NEW AND CONTRITE HEARTS,
THAT WE,
WORTHILY LAMENTING OUR SINS
AND ACKNOWLEDGING OUR WRETCHEDNESS,
MAY OBTAIN OF YOU,
THE GOD OF ALL MERCY, PERFECT REMISSION
AND FORGIVENESS;
THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD,
WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU
AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, ONE GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER.
AMEN.
MEDITATION
WHEN YOU WASH YOUR FACE TONIGHT
REMEMBER YOUR BAPTISM
SLEEP WELL
KNOWING YOU ARE FORGIVEN
(SPRINKLE WITH WATER)
A READING - EZECHIEL 34
THIS IS WHAT THE SOVEREIGN LORD SAYS:
I MYSELF WILL SEARCH FOR MY SHEEP
AND LOOK AFTER THEM. 12
AS A SHEPHERD LOOKS AFTER HIS SCATTERED FLOCK
WHEN HE IS WITH THEM,
SO WILL I LOOK AFTER MY SHEEP.
I WILL RESCUE THEM FROM ALL THE PLACES
WHERE THEY WERE SCATTERED
ON A DAY OF CLOUDS AND DARKNESS. 13
I WILL BRING THEM OUT FROM THE NATIONS
AND GATHER THEM FROM THE COUNTRIES,
AND I WILL BRING THEM INTO THEIR OWN LAND.
I WILL PASTURE THEM ON THE MOUNTAINS OF ISRAEL,
IN THE RAVINES
AND IN ALL THE SETTLEMENTS IN THE LAND. 14
I WILL TEND THEM IN A GOOD PASTURE,
AND THE MOUNTAIN HEIGHTS OF ISRAEL
WILL BE THEIR GRAZING LAND.
THERE THEY WILL LIE DOWN IN GOOD GRAZING LAND,
AND THERE THEY WILL FEED IN A RICH PASTURE
ON THE MOUNTAINS OF ISRAEL. 15
I MYSELF WILL TEND MY SHEEP
AND HAVE THEM LIE DOWN, DECLARES THE SOVEREIGN LORD . 16
I WILL SEARCH FOR THE LOST
AND BRING BACK THE STRAYS.
I WILL BIND UP THE INJURED
AND STRENGTHEN THE WEAK,
BUT THE SLEEK AND THE STRONG
I WILL DESTROY.
I WILL SHEPHERD THE FLOCK WITH JUSTICE.
SONG
LORDS PRAYER
WHEN YOU PRAY…
WHEN YOU PRAY
SAY
OUR FATHER
MOTHER
KEEPER OF THE DAWN
GATE OPENER FOR THE SUN
HE WHO WALKS BEFORE THE DAY BEGINS
HE WHO WATCHES THROUGH THE NIGHT
HE WHO DWELLS IN OUR HOME
FATHER
MOTHER
EVER THERE
TO WHOM OR WHAT
CAN WE GIVE GLORY
CAN ANYTHING WE DO
ADD TO YOU
YOU ARE SELF CONTAINED
WITHIN YOURSELF
BUT IN A SPECIAL WAY
YOU ARE INCOMPLETE
WITHOUT US
SO TO YOUR COMPLETENESS
WE ADD OUR LOVE
AND WE SING
HOLY HOLY HOLY
IS YOUR NAME
SHOW YOUR POWER
AND ESTABLISH YOUR KINGDOM
SHOW YOUR POWER
AND ESTABLISH YOUR WILL
BUT IT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE
FOR IT HAS BEEN WRITTEN ON OUR HEARTS
THE MEANS TO ESTABLISH YOUR KINGDOM
THE MEANS TO ESTABLISH YOUR WILL
ON EARTH
AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
GIVE US TODAY
FOOD FOR TODAY
MINDFUL OF OTHER'S NEEDS
MINDFUL THAT EVERYMAN
IS OUR BROTHER
MINDFUL THAT FOOD STORED
MAY NOT LAST
MINDFUL THAT WE SHOULD SHARE OUR SURPLUS
THAT WE SHOULD TRUST YOU FOR TOMORROW
GIVE US TODAY
OUR DAILY BREAD
DO NOT PUT US TO THE TEST
FOR OFTEN WE HAVE FAILED THE TEST
LIKE MOSES WE TAP THE ROCK TWICE
UNLIKE MOSES WE TAPPED IT MORE THAN TWICE
WHEN WE REMEMBERED TO TAP IT AT ALL
UNLIKE JOB
WE OFTEN CURSE
AND QUESTION
LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION
BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL
BUT ALSO WHERE WE FIND EVIL
LET US RESIST IT
FOLLOWING THE DICTATES
WRITTEN ON OUR HEARTS
TO ALL THE ABOVE
WE SAY AMEN
LET US PRAY THE PRAYER THAT JESUS TAUGHT US
OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME.
THY KINGDOM COME.
THY WILL BE DONE IN EARTH, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD.
AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS,
AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS.
AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION,
BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL.
FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM,
AND THE POWER,
AND THE GLORY, FOR EVER. AMEN.
SONG - NOW THE DAY IS OVER
LET US PRAY.
LORD OUR GOD,
WE ARE TIRED BY THE WORK OF THE DAY.
REFRESH US WITH PEACEFUL SLEEP
AND, FOREVER RENEWED
BY THE HELP YOU GIVE,
LET US ALWAYS BE DEDICATED TO YOU
IN BODY AND MIND.THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD, AMEN.
MAY THE ALMIGHTY LORD GRANT US A QUIET NIGHT
AND A PERFECT END.
AMEN
"KEEP WATCH, DEAR LORD,
WITH THOSE WHO WORK,
OR WATCH, OR WEEP THIS NIGHT,
AND GIVE YOUR ANGELS
CHARGE OVER THOSE WHO SLEEP.
TEND THE SICK, LORD CHRIST;
GIVE REST TO THE WEARY,
BLESS THE DYING,
SOOTHE THE SUFFERING,
PITY THE AFFLICTED,
SHIELD THE JOYOUS;
AND ALL FOR YOUR LOVE'S SAKE. AMEN."
THE ALMIGHTY AND MERCIFUL LORD
THE FATHER
THE SON
AND THE HOLY SPIRIT
BLESS US AND KEEP US
AMEN
........................................................................................................................................
OPENING MEDITATION
COME
COME TO THE RESTING PLACE
COME TO THE GARDEN
LEAVE ALL TROUBLES OUTSIDE
NO ONE WILL STEAL THEM
COME TO THE GARDEN
REST
BE AT PEACE
BE AT PEACE
COME TO THE GARDEN
AND SEE GOD’S FACE
PSALM 129
KEEP US SAFE, LORD, WHILE WE ARE AWAKE, AND GUARD US WHILE WE SLEEP, SO THAT WE MAY WATCH WITH CHRIST AND REST IN PEACE.
AMEN, ALLELUIA.
OUT OF THE DEPTHS
I HAVE CRIED TO YOU,OH LORD:
LORD, HEAR MY VOICE.LET YOUR EARS BE ATTENTIVE
TO THE SOUND OF MY PLEADING.
KEEP US SAFE, LORD, WHILE WE ARE AWAKE, AND GUARD US WHILE WE SLEEP, SO THAT WE MAY WATCH WITH CHRIST AND REST IN PEACE.
AMEN, ALLELUIA
IF YOU TAKE NOTICE OF OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, LORD –
LORD, WHO WOULD BE LEFT?BUT WITH YOU IS FORGIVENESS,
AND FOR THIS WE REVERE YOU.
KEEP US SAFE, LORD, WHILE WE ARE AWAKE, AND GUARD US WHILE WE SLEEP, SO THAT WE MAY WATCH WITH CHRIST AND REST IN PEACE.
AMEN, ALLELUIA
I RELY ON YOU, LORD,
MY SPIRIT RELIES ON YOUR PROMISE;MY SOUL HOPES IN THE LORD,
MORE THAN THE WATCHMAN WAITING FOR DAYBREAK.
KEEP US SAFE, LORD, WHILE WE ARE AWAKE, AND GUARD US WHILE WE SLEEP, SO THAT WE MAY WATCH WITH CHRIST AND REST IN PEACE.
AMEN, ALLELUIAMORE THAN THE WATCHMAN
WAITS FOR DAYBREAK,
LET ISRAEL HOPE IN THE LORD:
KEEP US SAFE, LORD, WHILE WE ARE AWAKE, AND GUARD US WHILE WE SLEEP, SO THAT WE MAY WATCH WITH CHRIST AND REST IN PEACE.
AMEN, ALLELUIA
FOR WITH THE LORD
THERE IS KINDNESS
AND ABUNDANT REDEMPTION.HE HIMSELF WILL REDEEM ISRAEL
FROM ALL ITS TRANSGRESSIONS.
KEEP US SAFE, LORD, WHILE WE ARE AWAKE, AND GUARD US WHILE WE SLEEP, SO THAT WE MAY WATCH WITH CHRIST AND REST IN PEACE.
AMEN, ALLELUIAGLORY BE TO THE FATHER
AND TO THE SON
AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, AS IT WAS IN THE BEGINNING,
IS NOW, AND EVER SHALL BE, WORLD WITHOUT END. AMEN.
KEEP US SAFE, LORD, WHILE WE ARE AWAKE, AND GUARD US WHILE WE SLEEP, SO THAT WE MAY WATCH WITH CHRIST AND REST IN PEACE.
AMEN, ALLELUIA
SONG - SANCTUARY
ALMIGHTY AND EVERLASTING GOD,
YOU HATE NOTHING
YOU HAVE MADE
AND FORGIVE THE SINS
OF ALL WHO ARE PENITENT:
CREATE
AND MAKE IN US
NEW AND CONTRITE HEARTS,
THAT WE,
WORTHILY LAMENTING OUR SINS
AND ACKNOWLEDGING OUR WRETCHEDNESS,
MAY OBTAIN OF YOU,
THE GOD OF ALL MERCY, PERFECT REMISSION
AND FORGIVENESS;
THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD,
WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU
AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, ONE GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER.
AMEN.
MEDITATION
WHEN YOU WASH YOUR FACE TONIGHT
REMEMBER YOUR BAPTISM
SLEEP WELL
KNOWING YOU ARE FORGIVEN
(SPRINKLE WITH WATER)
A READING - EZECHIEL 34
THIS IS WHAT THE SOVEREIGN LORD SAYS:
I MYSELF WILL SEARCH FOR MY SHEEP
AND LOOK AFTER THEM. 12
AS A SHEPHERD LOOKS AFTER HIS SCATTERED FLOCK
WHEN HE IS WITH THEM,
SO WILL I LOOK AFTER MY SHEEP.
I WILL RESCUE THEM FROM ALL THE PLACES
WHERE THEY WERE SCATTERED
ON A DAY OF CLOUDS AND DARKNESS. 13
I WILL BRING THEM OUT FROM THE NATIONS
AND GATHER THEM FROM THE COUNTRIES,
AND I WILL BRING THEM INTO THEIR OWN LAND.
I WILL PASTURE THEM ON THE MOUNTAINS OF ISRAEL,
IN THE RAVINES
AND IN ALL THE SETTLEMENTS IN THE LAND. 14
I WILL TEND THEM IN A GOOD PASTURE,
AND THE MOUNTAIN HEIGHTS OF ISRAEL
WILL BE THEIR GRAZING LAND.
THERE THEY WILL LIE DOWN IN GOOD GRAZING LAND,
AND THERE THEY WILL FEED IN A RICH PASTURE
ON THE MOUNTAINS OF ISRAEL. 15
I MYSELF WILL TEND MY SHEEP
AND HAVE THEM LIE DOWN, DECLARES THE SOVEREIGN LORD . 16
I WILL SEARCH FOR THE LOST
AND BRING BACK THE STRAYS.
I WILL BIND UP THE INJURED
AND STRENGTHEN THE WEAK,
BUT THE SLEEK AND THE STRONG
I WILL DESTROY.
I WILL SHEPHERD THE FLOCK WITH JUSTICE.
SONG
LORDS PRAYER
WHEN YOU PRAY…
WHEN YOU PRAY
SAY
OUR FATHER
MOTHER
KEEPER OF THE DAWN
GATE OPENER FOR THE SUN
HE WHO WALKS BEFORE THE DAY BEGINS
HE WHO WATCHES THROUGH THE NIGHT
HE WHO DWELLS IN OUR HOME
FATHER
MOTHER
EVER THERE
TO WHOM OR WHAT
CAN WE GIVE GLORY
CAN ANYTHING WE DO
ADD TO YOU
YOU ARE SELF CONTAINED
WITHIN YOURSELF
BUT IN A SPECIAL WAY
YOU ARE INCOMPLETE
WITHOUT US
SO TO YOUR COMPLETENESS
WE ADD OUR LOVE
AND WE SING
HOLY HOLY HOLY
IS YOUR NAME
SHOW YOUR POWER
AND ESTABLISH YOUR KINGDOM
SHOW YOUR POWER
AND ESTABLISH YOUR WILL
BUT IT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE
FOR IT HAS BEEN WRITTEN ON OUR HEARTS
THE MEANS TO ESTABLISH YOUR KINGDOM
THE MEANS TO ESTABLISH YOUR WILL
ON EARTH
AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
GIVE US TODAY
FOOD FOR TODAY
MINDFUL OF OTHER'S NEEDS
MINDFUL THAT EVERYMAN
IS OUR BROTHER
MINDFUL THAT FOOD STORED
MAY NOT LAST
MINDFUL THAT WE SHOULD SHARE OUR SURPLUS
THAT WE SHOULD TRUST YOU FOR TOMORROW
GIVE US TODAY
OUR DAILY BREAD
DO NOT PUT US TO THE TEST
FOR OFTEN WE HAVE FAILED THE TEST
LIKE MOSES WE TAP THE ROCK TWICE
UNLIKE MOSES WE TAPPED IT MORE THAN TWICE
WHEN WE REMEMBERED TO TAP IT AT ALL
UNLIKE JOB
WE OFTEN CURSE
AND QUESTION
LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION
BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL
BUT ALSO WHERE WE FIND EVIL
LET US RESIST IT
FOLLOWING THE DICTATES
WRITTEN ON OUR HEARTS
TO ALL THE ABOVE
WE SAY AMEN
LET US PRAY THE PRAYER THAT JESUS TAUGHT US
OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME.
THY KINGDOM COME.
THY WILL BE DONE IN EARTH, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD.
AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS,
AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS.
AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION,
BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL.
FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM,
AND THE POWER,
AND THE GLORY, FOR EVER. AMEN.
SONG - NOW THE DAY IS OVER
LET US PRAY.
LORD OUR GOD,
WE ARE TIRED BY THE WORK OF THE DAY.
REFRESH US WITH PEACEFUL SLEEP
AND, FOREVER RENEWED
BY THE HELP YOU GIVE,
LET US ALWAYS BE DEDICATED TO YOU
IN BODY AND MIND.THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD, AMEN.
MAY THE ALMIGHTY LORD GRANT US A QUIET NIGHT
AND A PERFECT END.
AMEN
"KEEP WATCH, DEAR LORD,
WITH THOSE WHO WORK,
OR WATCH, OR WEEP THIS NIGHT,
AND GIVE YOUR ANGELS
CHARGE OVER THOSE WHO SLEEP.
TEND THE SICK, LORD CHRIST;
GIVE REST TO THE WEARY,
BLESS THE DYING,
SOOTHE THE SUFFERING,
PITY THE AFFLICTED,
SHIELD THE JOYOUS;
AND ALL FOR YOUR LOVE'S SAKE. AMEN."
THE ALMIGHTY AND MERCIFUL LORD
THE FATHER
THE SON
AND THE HOLY SPIRIT
BLESS US AND KEEP US
AMEN
........................................................................................................................................
Reading IV: Eivind Josef Berggrav (1884 - 1959)
Prayer in times of great need has its difficulties. It is especially difficult when one is writhing in agony. It seems impossible to pray. At the most one can protest, and more easily accuse God. I dare, in the name of Jesus Christ, to say: Yes, do it! Accuse God face to face if it is impossible for you to approach him in any other way. Do you think that God is unable to bear it? I go so far as to say that I believe He will understand you.... Speak out to God, break through all false ideas of piety, and come to God Himself.... All that matters is that you go straight away to God.... Personal need, family need, national need—if it becomesa prayer, even though only a cry to begin with, even though only a momentary sigh—if only it is directed towards God, it will give deliverance. Need which becomes bitterness creates a canker. Need which becomes a prayer creates life. The pain does not disappear. But the rose springs from just the same root as the thorns. This is confirmed by God’s word: “God makes good just what you thought bad.” Salvation springs from exactly that which seemed bad. It cannot happen if we simply clench our fists or engage in chance speculations. It happens, on the contrary, whenwe know our clear need for God.
“A Little While,” a sermon preached in Kristiansand Cathedral, Nov.
1941, about eighteen months after the Nazi occupation of Norway
Prayer in times of great need has its difficulties. It is especially difficult when one is writhing in agony. It seems impossible to pray. At the most one can protest, and more easily accuse God. I dare, in the name of Jesus Christ, to say: Yes, do it! Accuse God face to face if it is impossible for you to approach him in any other way. Do you think that God is unable to bear it? I go so far as to say that I believe He will understand you.... Speak out to God, break through all false ideas of piety, and come to God Himself.... All that matters is that you go straight away to God.... Personal need, family need, national need—if it becomesa prayer, even though only a cry to begin with, even though only a momentary sigh—if only it is directed towards God, it will give deliverance. Need which becomes bitterness creates a canker. Need which becomes a prayer creates life. The pain does not disappear. But the rose springs from just the same root as the thorns. This is confirmed by God’s word: “God makes good just what you thought bad.” Salvation springs from exactly that which seemed bad. It cannot happen if we simply clench our fists or engage in chance speculations. It happens, on the contrary, whenwe know our clear need for God.
“A Little While,” a sermon preached in Kristiansand Cathedral, Nov.
1941, about eighteen months after the Nazi occupation of Norway
...........................................................................................................
A Prayer In Old Age
Lord, you know better than I know myself that I am growing older, and will some day be old. Keep me from getting talkative, and particularly from the fatal habit of thinking that I must say something on every subject and on every occasion.
\Release me from craving to straighten out everybody's affairs.
Keep my mind from the recital of endless details—give me wings to come to the point.
I ask for grace enough to listen to the tales of others' pains. But seal my lips on my own aches and pains—they are increasing, and my love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by. Help me to endure them with patience.
I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a lessening cocksureness when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally it is possible that I may be mistaken.
Keep me reasonably sweet. I do not want to be a saint—some of them are so hard to live with—but a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil.
Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places, and talents in unexpected people. And give me, 0 Lord, the grace to tell them so.
Make me thoughtful—but not moody: helpful, but not bossy.
With my vast store of wisdom it seems a pity not to use it all, but you know Lord, that I want a few friends at the end.
Amen.
17th century nun
REFLECTIONS
Poem: “Blessings” by Ronald Wallace from Long for This World: New and Selected Poems. Copyright University of Pittsburgh Press. Reprinted with permission.
Blessings
occur.
Some days I find myself
putting my foot in
the same stream twice;
leading a horse to water
and making him drink.
I have a clue.
I can see the forest
for the trees.
All around me people
are making silk purses
out of sows’ ears,
getting blood from turnips,
building Rome in a day.
There’s a business
like show business.
there’s something new
under the sun.
Some days misery
no longer loves company;
it puts itself out of its.
There’s rest for the weary.
There’s turning back.
There are guarantees.
I can be serious.
I can mean that.
You can quite put your finger on it.
Blessings
occur.
Some days I find myself
putting my foot in
the same stream twice;
leading a horse to water
and making him drink.
I have a clue.
I can see the forest
for the trees.
All around me people
are making silk purses
out of sows’ ears,
getting blood from turnips,
building Rome in a day.
There’s a business
like show business.
there’s something new
under the sun.
Some days misery
no longer loves company;
it puts itself out of its.
There’s rest for the weary.
There’s turning back.
There are guarantees.
I can be serious.
I can mean that.
You can quite put your finger on it.
............................................................................................
Quotations from Frederick Buechner’s The Faces of Jesus - A Life story,
Paraclete Press, July 2005, ISDN 1-55725-455-9
In his own way, Paul would have perhaps understood either view, Paul as the only one who ever dared speak of the foolishness of God, of the crucifixion itself as folly, of the folly of his own preaching. If the world is sane, then Jesus is mad as a hatter and the Last supper is the Mad Tea Party. The world says, Mind your own business, and Jesus says, There is not such thing as your own business. The world says, Follow the wisest course and be a success, and Jesus says, Follow me and be crucified. The world says, Drive carefully---the life you save may be your own—and Jesus says, Whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. The world says, Law ands order, and Jesus says, Love. The world says, get and Jesus says, give. In terms of the world’s sanity, Jesus is crazy as a coot, and anybody who thinks he can follow him without being a little crazy too is laboring less under a cross than under a delusion.
“We are fools for Christ’s sake,” Paul says, faith says---the faith that ultimately the foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of men, the lunacy of Jesus saner than the grim sanity of the world. Through the eyes of faith too, the Last Supper, though on one level a tragic farewell and failure---farce even---is also, at its deepest level, the foreshadowing of great hope and the bodying forth of deep mystery. Frail, falliable, foolish as he knows the disciples to be, Jesus feeds them with himself. The bread is his flesh, the wine his blood, and they are all of them including Judas to eat and drink him down. They are to take his life into themselves and come alive with it, to be his hands and feet in a world where he no longer has hands and feet, to feed his lambs. “Do this in remembrance of me,” Paul quotes him as saying. In eating and the bread and drinking the wine, they are to remember him, Jesus tells them, and so remember him not merely in the sense of letting their minds drift back to him in the dim past but in the sense of recalling him to the immediate present. They are to remember him the way when we remember people we love who have died, our hearts kindle to the living reality of their presence.
In its fullest sense, remembering is far more than a long backward glance, and in its fullest sense the symbol of bread and wine is far more than symbol.
As Albert Schweitzer wrote at the end of The Quest for the Histortical Jesus, “He comes to us as One unknown, without a name, as of old, by the lakeside. He comes to those men who knew him not. He speaks to us the same words: “Follow thou me!” and sets us to the tasks which He has us to fulfill for our time. He commands, and to those who obey Him, whether they be wise or simple, He will reveal Himself in their toils, the conflicts, the sufferings, which they shall pass through in His Fellowship, and, as an ineffable mystery, they shall learn in their own experience Who He is.”
Thus for Jesus the only distinction among people that ultimately matters seems to be not whether they are churchgoers or non-churchgoers, Catholics or Protestants, Muslims or Jews, but do they or do they not love---love not in the sense of an emotion so much as in the sense of an act of will, the loving act of willing another’s good even, if need arise, at the expense of their own. “Hell is the suffering of being unable to love,” said old Father Zossima or, as John puts it in his first epistle, “He who does not love abides in death.”
For Paul the Resurrection was no metaphor; it was the power of God. And when he spoke of Jesus as raised from the dead, he meant Jesus alive and at large in the world not as some shimmering ideal of human goodness but as the very power of life itself. If the life that was in Jesus died on the cross; if the love that was in him came to an end when his heart stopped beating; if the truth that he spoke was no more if no less timeless than the great truths of any time; if all that he had in him to give to world was a little glimmer of light to make bearable the inexorable approach of endless night---then all was despair.
Glory be to thee, Father
Glory be to thee, Word. Glory be to thee, Grace. Amen
Glory be to thy glory. Amen
I would be saved, and I would save. Amen
I would be loosed, and I would loose. Amen
I would be wounded, and I would wound. Amen
I would be born, and I would bear. Amen
I would eat, and would be eaten. Amen
I would hear, and I would be heard. Amen
Grace danceth, I would pipe. Dance ye all. Amen
I would mourn, Lament ye all. Amen
Whoso danceth not, knoweth not what cometh to pass. Amen
I would flee, and I would stay. Amen
I would adorn, and I would be adorned. Amen
I would be united, and I would unite. Amen
A house I have not, and I have houses. Amen
A lamp am I to thee that beholdest me. Amen
A mirror am I to thee that perceivest me. Amen
A door am I to thee that knowest at me. Amen
A way am I to thee a wayfarer. Amen
THUS, MY BELOVED,
HAVING DANCED WITH US,
THE LORD WENT FORTH.
Paraclete Press, July 2005, ISDN 1-55725-455-9
In his own way, Paul would have perhaps understood either view, Paul as the only one who ever dared speak of the foolishness of God, of the crucifixion itself as folly, of the folly of his own preaching. If the world is sane, then Jesus is mad as a hatter and the Last supper is the Mad Tea Party. The world says, Mind your own business, and Jesus says, There is not such thing as your own business. The world says, Follow the wisest course and be a success, and Jesus says, Follow me and be crucified. The world says, Drive carefully---the life you save may be your own—and Jesus says, Whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. The world says, Law ands order, and Jesus says, Love. The world says, get and Jesus says, give. In terms of the world’s sanity, Jesus is crazy as a coot, and anybody who thinks he can follow him without being a little crazy too is laboring less under a cross than under a delusion.
“We are fools for Christ’s sake,” Paul says, faith says---the faith that ultimately the foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of men, the lunacy of Jesus saner than the grim sanity of the world. Through the eyes of faith too, the Last Supper, though on one level a tragic farewell and failure---farce even---is also, at its deepest level, the foreshadowing of great hope and the bodying forth of deep mystery. Frail, falliable, foolish as he knows the disciples to be, Jesus feeds them with himself. The bread is his flesh, the wine his blood, and they are all of them including Judas to eat and drink him down. They are to take his life into themselves and come alive with it, to be his hands and feet in a world where he no longer has hands and feet, to feed his lambs. “Do this in remembrance of me,” Paul quotes him as saying. In eating and the bread and drinking the wine, they are to remember him, Jesus tells them, and so remember him not merely in the sense of letting their minds drift back to him in the dim past but in the sense of recalling him to the immediate present. They are to remember him the way when we remember people we love who have died, our hearts kindle to the living reality of their presence.
In its fullest sense, remembering is far more than a long backward glance, and in its fullest sense the symbol of bread and wine is far more than symbol.
As Albert Schweitzer wrote at the end of The Quest for the Histortical Jesus, “He comes to us as One unknown, without a name, as of old, by the lakeside. He comes to those men who knew him not. He speaks to us the same words: “Follow thou me!” and sets us to the tasks which He has us to fulfill for our time. He commands, and to those who obey Him, whether they be wise or simple, He will reveal Himself in their toils, the conflicts, the sufferings, which they shall pass through in His Fellowship, and, as an ineffable mystery, they shall learn in their own experience Who He is.”
Thus for Jesus the only distinction among people that ultimately matters seems to be not whether they are churchgoers or non-churchgoers, Catholics or Protestants, Muslims or Jews, but do they or do they not love---love not in the sense of an emotion so much as in the sense of an act of will, the loving act of willing another’s good even, if need arise, at the expense of their own. “Hell is the suffering of being unable to love,” said old Father Zossima or, as John puts it in his first epistle, “He who does not love abides in death.”
For Paul the Resurrection was no metaphor; it was the power of God. And when he spoke of Jesus as raised from the dead, he meant Jesus alive and at large in the world not as some shimmering ideal of human goodness but as the very power of life itself. If the life that was in Jesus died on the cross; if the love that was in him came to an end when his heart stopped beating; if the truth that he spoke was no more if no less timeless than the great truths of any time; if all that he had in him to give to world was a little glimmer of light to make bearable the inexorable approach of endless night---then all was despair.
Glory be to thee, Father
Glory be to thee, Word. Glory be to thee, Grace. Amen
Glory be to thy glory. Amen
I would be saved, and I would save. Amen
I would be loosed, and I would loose. Amen
I would be wounded, and I would wound. Amen
I would be born, and I would bear. Amen
I would eat, and would be eaten. Amen
I would hear, and I would be heard. Amen
Grace danceth, I would pipe. Dance ye all. Amen
I would mourn, Lament ye all. Amen
Whoso danceth not, knoweth not what cometh to pass. Amen
I would flee, and I would stay. Amen
I would adorn, and I would be adorned. Amen
I would be united, and I would unite. Amen
A house I have not, and I have houses. Amen
A lamp am I to thee that beholdest me. Amen
A mirror am I to thee that perceivest me. Amen
A door am I to thee that knowest at me. Amen
A way am I to thee a wayfarer. Amen
THUS, MY BELOVED,
HAVING DANCED WITH US,
THE LORD WENT FORTH.
.........................................................................................................
More people have been slaughtered in the name of religion than for any other single reason. That, my friends, that is true perversion.
Harvey Milk
Harvey Milk
..........................................................................................................
Voice of the Day: Charles Summers
The story goes that a North American missionary went out one day to preach in a barrio of a Brazilian city. Taking John 3:16 as his text, he stood on the corner proclaiming the love of God for all people. A crowd gathered. One man in the crowd interrupted the missionary, 'You are wrong, Senor, God doesn't love us. But the preacher was adamant. Oh, yes. God does love you. God gives all good things, including the Christ, for you. The Brazilian, waving his arms at the squalor surrounding him, replied angrily, Then somebody has been messing with the love of God! If God gave the earth for all people to share and enjoy, someone has been messing with God's plans.
The story goes that a North American missionary went out one day to preach in a barrio of a Brazilian city. Taking John 3:16 as his text, he stood on the corner proclaiming the love of God for all people. A crowd gathered. One man in the crowd interrupted the missionary, 'You are wrong, Senor, God doesn't love us. But the preacher was adamant. Oh, yes. God does love you. God gives all good things, including the Christ, for you. The Brazilian, waving his arms at the squalor surrounding him, replied angrily, Then somebody has been messing with the love of God! If God gave the earth for all people to share and enjoy, someone has been messing with God's plans.
THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
TODAY
IS THE THIRD SUNDAY
AFTER THE EPIPHANY.
EPIPHANY IS A GREEK WORD,
WHICH AT ITS ROOT
MEANS TO SHOW.
EPIPHANY IS ALSO
THAT TIME IN THE CHURCH YEAR
FROM CHRISTMAS
TO BEGINNING OF LENT.
AS IT APPLIES TO THE LIFE OF JESUS
IT TREATS OF THOSE EVENTS
WHEN CHRIST
WAS BEGINNING TO SHOW
HIS KINGSHIP
AND HIS DIVINITY.
ON JANUARY SIXTH
WE HAD THE FEAST
OF THE EPIPHANY ITSELF
WHEN THE WISEMEN
FOLLOWING A STAR
CAME TO SEE HIM.
ON JANUARY SEVENTH
WE HAD THE BAPTISM OF JESUS
WHEN GOD THE FATHER
DECLARED
THAT JESUS WAS HIS SON.
ON JANUARY FOURTEENTH
WE HAD THE WEDDING AT CANA
WHERE JESUS TURNED WATER INTO WINE.
AND TODAY WE REMEMBER
WHEN JESUS
PREACHED FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN HIS HOMETOWN NAZARETH.
LET ME TELL YOU A STORY.
MOST OF IT IS TRUE.
THE REST IS A PARABLE.
JESUS TOLD PARABLES.
THEY WERE
AND ARE
STORIES TO TEACH A LESSON.
JESUS
FILLED WITH THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT
WAS PREACHING IN GALILEE.
GOING FROM VILLAGE TO VILLAGE.
AND THE PEOPLE FELT HOPE
AND JOY
IN HIS MESSAGE
BUT THE RULERS OF THE SYNAGOGUE
AND THE WEALTHY AND IMPORTANT
FELT THREATENED
HE WAS NOW IN NAZARETH
AND HE AND HIS MOTHER
WERE WALKING TO THE SYNAGOGUE.
AT THE DOOR THEY PARTED.
MARY WENT TO SIT WITH THE WOMEN
BECAUSE THE SYNAGOGUE WAS SEGREGATED.
AT THE CENTER OF THE SYNAGOGUE SAT
ALL THE IMPORTANT MEN OF THE VILLAGE.
AROUND THEM SAT
THE OTHER MEN OF THE VILLAGE.
THE WOMEN WERE IGNORED
THEY WERE NOT IMPORTANT.
IN FACT THE JEWISH LEADERS SAID
THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER
FOR THE BIBLE TO BE BURNED
RATHER THAN BE TAUGHT TO A WOMAN.
THIS WAS THE WORLD JESUS LIVED IN
AND HE DID NOT LIKE IT.
HE ALSO DID NOT LIKE THE PRAYER
THAT JEWISH MEN SAID DAILY.
THEY SAID
BLESSED BE GOD
THAT HE HAS NOT MADE ME
A GENTILE.
BLESSED BE GOD
THAT HE HAS NOT MADE ME
A WOMAN.
BLESSED BE GOD
THAT HE HAS NOT MADE ME
A SLAVE.
THIS ALSO BOTHERED JESUS.
IT WAS NOT THE WORLD
THAT HE
OR HIS FATHER WANTED.
LATER PAUL
IN GALATIANS
WOULD ANSWER THAT PRAYER
WITH A NEW ONE
THAT REFLECTED WHAT JESUS THOUGHT
WHEN HE WROTE
AS MANY OF YOU
AS WERE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST
HAVE CLOTHED YOURSELVES
WITH CHRIST.
THEREFORE
THERE IS NO LONGER
JEW OR GREEK,
THERE IS NO LONGER
SLAVE OR FREE,
THERE IS NO LONGER
MALE AND FEMALE;
FOR ALL OF YOU
ARE ONE IN CHRIST JESUS.
BUT THAT PRAYER WAS WRITTEN
AFTER JESUS HAD LIVED AND DIED.
BUT TODAY IN OUR STORY
JESUS IS BEGINNING HIS JOURNEY.
AS HE LOOKS AT THE ASSEMBLY
HE IS SADDENED
THAT THEY HAVE WANDERED
SO FAR FROM HIS FATHER'S DREAM.
HE OPENS THE SCRIPTURES
AND READING FROM ISAIAH
HE DECLARES IN A STRONG VOICE
THE NEW/OLD VISION OF THE FATHER
FOR HIS PEOPLE.
TODAY HE SAYS
THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME.
HE HAS APPOINTED ME.
HE HAS APPOINTED ME
TO BRING GOOD NEWS
TO THE POOR.
HE HAS APPOINTED ME
TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO CAPTIVES
HE HAS APPOINTED ME
TO TELL THE BLIND
THAT THEY SHALL SEE.
TO TELL THE DOWNTRODDEN
THEIR BURDEN IS LIFTED
AND TO TELL
ALL PEOPLE
THAT THE TIME FOR GOD'S BLESSINGS
IS NOW.
JESUS CLOSES THE BOOK.
LOOKS AT ALL THE IMPORTANT PEOPLE,
LOOKS AT ALL THE NOT SO IMPORTANT PEOPLE
LOOKS AT HIS MOTHER
AND ALL THE OTHER WOMEN
WHO DID NOT COUNT
AND SAYS
TODAY
THIS SCRIPTURE HAS BEEN FULFILLED
IN YOUR HEARING
MEANING THAT THE TIME FOR CHANGE
WAS NOW
AND FOR THAT REASON
JESUS WAS PREACHING.
I HOPE MY SERMON
IS BETTER RECEIVED
THAN JESUS' WAS
BECAUSE WHEN JESUS WAS FINISHED
HE WAS CHASED OUT OF TOWN.
BUT THAT'S NEXT WEEK SERMON
SO TUNE IN.
BUT THE RICH MEN AND THE IMPORTANT MEN
AND THE LEADERS OF THE SYNAGOGUE
THOUGHT
WHY WORRY ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE WITHOUT.
ABOUT THOSE WHO COUNT FOR NOTHING.
THE OTHER MEN WONDERED
WHY THE FUSS,
LIFE IS GOING ON OK FOR ME.
IT TOOK PAUL
AGAIN IN TODAY'S LESSON
TO PUT WORDS TO JESUS' DREAM
WHEN HE WRITES IN CORINTHIANS.
THAT THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
IS LIKE A BODY,
MANY PARTS
ONE BODY.
AND THAT THAT
BODY IS THE BODY OF CHRIST.
AS PAUL WRITES
FOR IN ONE SPIRIT
WE WERE ALL BAPTIZED
INTO ONE BODY.
NO MORE JEW OR GREEK,
SLAVE OR FREE
BUT ONE BODY.
AND IN THAT BODY
IF ONE PART SUFFERS
THE WHOLE BODY SUFFERS.
JUST AS IF
ONE PART OF THE BODY IS HONORED
THE WHOLE BODY IS HONORED.
WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR NEIGHBOR.
THIS IS JESUS' DREAM
THAT WE CARE FOR OUR NEIGHBOR
AS IF HE WERE CHRIST.
THAT WE CARE FOR OUR NEIGHBOR
BECAUSE HE IS ONE WITH US
IN CHRIST'S BODY.
SO JESUS LOOKING AT THE WORLD
THROUGH OUR EYES
AND SEEING
THAT IT IS NOT THE WORLD
THAT HIS FATHER
OR HE WANTS.
ASKS US TO SAY WITH HIM
AS HE SAID IN NAZARETH ON THAT DAY.
THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON US.
HE HAS APPOINTED US.
HE HAS APPOINTED US
TO BRING GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR.
HE HAS APPOINTED US
TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY
TO CAPTIVES
HE HAS APPOINTED US
TO TELL THE BLIND
THAT THEY SHALL SEE.
TO TELL THE DOWNTRODDEN
THEIR BURDEN IS LIFTED
TO TELL ALL PEOPLE
THAT THE TIME
FOR GOD'S BLESSINGS
IS NOW. SO I ASK YOU
(PUT IN NAME)
WILL YOU HELP JESUS
TO MAKE THE WORLD
THE WAY HE WANTS IT
RESPONSE
I WILL AND I ASK GOD TO HELP ME.
TODAY
IS THE THIRD SUNDAY
AFTER THE EPIPHANY.
EPIPHANY IS A GREEK WORD,
WHICH AT ITS ROOT
MEANS TO SHOW.
EPIPHANY IS ALSO
THAT TIME IN THE CHURCH YEAR
FROM CHRISTMAS
TO BEGINNING OF LENT.
AS IT APPLIES TO THE LIFE OF JESUS
IT TREATS OF THOSE EVENTS
WHEN CHRIST
WAS BEGINNING TO SHOW
HIS KINGSHIP
AND HIS DIVINITY.
ON JANUARY SIXTH
WE HAD THE FEAST
OF THE EPIPHANY ITSELF
WHEN THE WISEMEN
FOLLOWING A STAR
CAME TO SEE HIM.
ON JANUARY SEVENTH
WE HAD THE BAPTISM OF JESUS
WHEN GOD THE FATHER
DECLARED
THAT JESUS WAS HIS SON.
ON JANUARY FOURTEENTH
WE HAD THE WEDDING AT CANA
WHERE JESUS TURNED WATER INTO WINE.
AND TODAY WE REMEMBER
WHEN JESUS
PREACHED FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN HIS HOMETOWN NAZARETH.
LET ME TELL YOU A STORY.
MOST OF IT IS TRUE.
THE REST IS A PARABLE.
JESUS TOLD PARABLES.
THEY WERE
AND ARE
STORIES TO TEACH A LESSON.
JESUS
FILLED WITH THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT
WAS PREACHING IN GALILEE.
GOING FROM VILLAGE TO VILLAGE.
AND THE PEOPLE FELT HOPE
AND JOY
IN HIS MESSAGE
BUT THE RULERS OF THE SYNAGOGUE
AND THE WEALTHY AND IMPORTANT
FELT THREATENED
HE WAS NOW IN NAZARETH
AND HE AND HIS MOTHER
WERE WALKING TO THE SYNAGOGUE.
AT THE DOOR THEY PARTED.
MARY WENT TO SIT WITH THE WOMEN
BECAUSE THE SYNAGOGUE WAS SEGREGATED.
AT THE CENTER OF THE SYNAGOGUE SAT
ALL THE IMPORTANT MEN OF THE VILLAGE.
AROUND THEM SAT
THE OTHER MEN OF THE VILLAGE.
THE WOMEN WERE IGNORED
THEY WERE NOT IMPORTANT.
IN FACT THE JEWISH LEADERS SAID
THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER
FOR THE BIBLE TO BE BURNED
RATHER THAN BE TAUGHT TO A WOMAN.
THIS WAS THE WORLD JESUS LIVED IN
AND HE DID NOT LIKE IT.
HE ALSO DID NOT LIKE THE PRAYER
THAT JEWISH MEN SAID DAILY.
THEY SAID
BLESSED BE GOD
THAT HE HAS NOT MADE ME
A GENTILE.
BLESSED BE GOD
THAT HE HAS NOT MADE ME
A WOMAN.
BLESSED BE GOD
THAT HE HAS NOT MADE ME
A SLAVE.
THIS ALSO BOTHERED JESUS.
IT WAS NOT THE WORLD
THAT HE
OR HIS FATHER WANTED.
LATER PAUL
IN GALATIANS
WOULD ANSWER THAT PRAYER
WITH A NEW ONE
THAT REFLECTED WHAT JESUS THOUGHT
WHEN HE WROTE
AS MANY OF YOU
AS WERE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST
HAVE CLOTHED YOURSELVES
WITH CHRIST.
THEREFORE
THERE IS NO LONGER
JEW OR GREEK,
THERE IS NO LONGER
SLAVE OR FREE,
THERE IS NO LONGER
MALE AND FEMALE;
FOR ALL OF YOU
ARE ONE IN CHRIST JESUS.
BUT THAT PRAYER WAS WRITTEN
AFTER JESUS HAD LIVED AND DIED.
BUT TODAY IN OUR STORY
JESUS IS BEGINNING HIS JOURNEY.
AS HE LOOKS AT THE ASSEMBLY
HE IS SADDENED
THAT THEY HAVE WANDERED
SO FAR FROM HIS FATHER'S DREAM.
HE OPENS THE SCRIPTURES
AND READING FROM ISAIAH
HE DECLARES IN A STRONG VOICE
THE NEW/OLD VISION OF THE FATHER
FOR HIS PEOPLE.
TODAY HE SAYS
THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME.
HE HAS APPOINTED ME.
HE HAS APPOINTED ME
TO BRING GOOD NEWS
TO THE POOR.
HE HAS APPOINTED ME
TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO CAPTIVES
HE HAS APPOINTED ME
TO TELL THE BLIND
THAT THEY SHALL SEE.
TO TELL THE DOWNTRODDEN
THEIR BURDEN IS LIFTED
AND TO TELL
ALL PEOPLE
THAT THE TIME FOR GOD'S BLESSINGS
IS NOW.
JESUS CLOSES THE BOOK.
LOOKS AT ALL THE IMPORTANT PEOPLE,
LOOKS AT ALL THE NOT SO IMPORTANT PEOPLE
LOOKS AT HIS MOTHER
AND ALL THE OTHER WOMEN
WHO DID NOT COUNT
AND SAYS
TODAY
THIS SCRIPTURE HAS BEEN FULFILLED
IN YOUR HEARING
MEANING THAT THE TIME FOR CHANGE
WAS NOW
AND FOR THAT REASON
JESUS WAS PREACHING.
I HOPE MY SERMON
IS BETTER RECEIVED
THAN JESUS' WAS
BECAUSE WHEN JESUS WAS FINISHED
HE WAS CHASED OUT OF TOWN.
BUT THAT'S NEXT WEEK SERMON
SO TUNE IN.
BUT THE RICH MEN AND THE IMPORTANT MEN
AND THE LEADERS OF THE SYNAGOGUE
THOUGHT
WHY WORRY ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE WITHOUT.
ABOUT THOSE WHO COUNT FOR NOTHING.
THE OTHER MEN WONDERED
WHY THE FUSS,
LIFE IS GOING ON OK FOR ME.
IT TOOK PAUL
AGAIN IN TODAY'S LESSON
TO PUT WORDS TO JESUS' DREAM
WHEN HE WRITES IN CORINTHIANS.
THAT THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
IS LIKE A BODY,
MANY PARTS
ONE BODY.
AND THAT THAT
BODY IS THE BODY OF CHRIST.
AS PAUL WRITES
FOR IN ONE SPIRIT
WE WERE ALL BAPTIZED
INTO ONE BODY.
NO MORE JEW OR GREEK,
SLAVE OR FREE
BUT ONE BODY.
AND IN THAT BODY
IF ONE PART SUFFERS
THE WHOLE BODY SUFFERS.
JUST AS IF
ONE PART OF THE BODY IS HONORED
THE WHOLE BODY IS HONORED.
WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR NEIGHBOR.
THIS IS JESUS' DREAM
THAT WE CARE FOR OUR NEIGHBOR
AS IF HE WERE CHRIST.
THAT WE CARE FOR OUR NEIGHBOR
BECAUSE HE IS ONE WITH US
IN CHRIST'S BODY.
SO JESUS LOOKING AT THE WORLD
THROUGH OUR EYES
AND SEEING
THAT IT IS NOT THE WORLD
THAT HIS FATHER
OR HE WANTS.
ASKS US TO SAY WITH HIM
AS HE SAID IN NAZARETH ON THAT DAY.
THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON US.
HE HAS APPOINTED US.
HE HAS APPOINTED US
TO BRING GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR.
HE HAS APPOINTED US
TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY
TO CAPTIVES
HE HAS APPOINTED US
TO TELL THE BLIND
THAT THEY SHALL SEE.
TO TELL THE DOWNTRODDEN
THEIR BURDEN IS LIFTED
TO TELL ALL PEOPLE
THAT THE TIME
FOR GOD'S BLESSINGS
IS NOW. SO I ASK YOU
(PUT IN NAME)
WILL YOU HELP JESUS
TO MAKE THE WORLD
THE WAY HE WANTS IT
RESPONSE
I WILL AND I ASK GOD TO HELP ME.
SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT - SERIES A
SECOND LENT
SERIES A
LET ME START BY TELLING YOU A FEW STORIES
THE WORD CALENDAR
COMES FROM THE LATIN WORD CALENDS
WHICH MEANS THE FIRST OF THE MONTH
SO A CALENDAR
IS A DEVICE
THAT HELPS PEOPLE
FIND THE FIRST OF THE MONTH
THE WORD CALENDS
ALSO MEANS
THE COIN PURSE OF THE MONEY LENDER
WHO WOULD COME BY
ON THE FIRST OF THE MONTH
WITH HIS PURSE OPEN
TO RECEIVE THE PAYMENTS DUE HIM
DURING THE ADVENT SEASON
THAT PRECEDED THE MILLENIUM
I WAS ASKED TO PREACH
ON THE MILLENIUM
THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF FEAR
IN THE COMMUNITY
ONE FEAR WAS THAT THE COMPUTERS WOULD FAIL
THE OTHER WAS A STRONG UNDERCURRENT
THAT GOD HAD PICKED THE YEAR 2000
AS A TIME TO COME
TO COLLECT OUR DEBT TO HIM
THAT HE WOULD COME WITH HIS OPEN PURSE
LIKE A MONEY LENDER DEMANDING PAYMENT
AND BECAUSE WE WERE IMPOVERISHED
AND COULDN'T PAY
WE WOULD BE PUNISHED
NOT A NEW IDEA
OUR FOUNDER
MARTIN LUTHER
LABORED MUCH OF HIS LIFE
UNDER THE IDEA
THAT TRY AS HE MIGHT
HE COULD NOT PLEASE GOD
AND AS A RESULT
AN ANGRY
MEAN SPIRITED GOD
WOULD PUNISH HIM
IN TODAY'S GOSPEL
NICODEMUS
COMES AT NIGHT
TO MEET WITH JESUS
HE WAS AN IMPORTANT RICH MAN
A LEADER IN THE COMMUNITY
HE CAME AT NIGHT
HIS COMING AT NIGHT
DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN
HE WAS AFRAID TO BE SEEN
WITH JESUS
A JEWISH PROVERB OF THE TIMES
SAID
IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK TO A MAN DEEPLY
COME TO HIS HOUSE WHEN THE CHILDREN
WERE ASLEEP
AS THOSE OF US WHO ARE
OR WERE PARENTS KNOW
THAT USUALLY MEANS
LATE AT NIGHT
SO NICODEMUS
CAME TO JESUS AT NIGHT
WHO WAS THIS NICODEMUS
A PHARISEE
A LEADER OF THE PEOPLE
AN OBSERVER OF ALL THE LAWS
THAT MUST BE OBEYED
TO PLEASE GOD
JUDAISM HAD DISINTEGRATED
INTO A SERIES OF MAN MADE LAWS
CREATED BY A PROCESS CALLED PILPUL
WHICH WAS A STUDY OF THE LAW
TO DISCOVER ALL ITS SHADES AND MEANINGS
AND THE ONES WHO PROMOTED THIS STUDY
WERE THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES
SOME EXAMPLES
YOU COULDN'T WORK ON THE SABBATH
SO A MAN WITH A WOODEN LEG
COULD NOT WALK ON THE SABBATH
BECAUSE THE LEG WAS A BURDEN
AND THEREFORE WALKING WAS WORK
IF YOU WERE HURT
YOU COULD BANDAGE THE WOUND
BUT YOU COULDN'T PUT MEDICINE ON THE WOUND
BECAUSE THAT WAS WORK
ALSO IF A GENTILE WOMAN WAS HAVING A BABY
YOU COULDN'T HELP HER
BECAUSE SHE WAS NOT ONE OF THE CHOSEN PEOPLE
TO WHOM THE LAW HAD BEEN GIVEN
THE SCRIBES AND THE PHARISEES
WERE CONSTANTLY STUDYING THE LAW
ADDING SOME REQUIREMENTS
TO DAILY LIVING
OR FORBIDDING
SOME ACTIONS
IN DAILY LIVING
YOU REMEMBER THAT JESUS WAS ACCUSED
OF BAD CONDUCT
WHEN HE HEALED PEOPLE ON THE SABBATH DAY
BECAUSE HEALING WAS WORK
THEY OPPRESSED THE PEOPLE SO MUCH
WITH THESE LAWS
THAT JESUS CRIED OUT
YOU MAKE UP HEAVY BURDENS
FOR MEN TO CARRY
BUT DO NOTHING
TO HELP THEM CARRY
THEIR BURDENS
OR AGAIN JESUS CRIED OUT
THE LAW EXISTS FOR THE PEOPLE
NOT THE PEOPLE FOR THE LAW
SO NICODEMUS
A GOOD MAN
BURDENED DOWN
HE COULD NOT KEEP
OR FOUND IT DIFFICULT
COMES IN THE NIGHT
TO FIND THE LIGHT
WHO COMES IN THE NIGHT
TO HAVE HIS BURDEN LIGHTENED
AND JESUS SAYS TO HIM
JESUS SAYS TO HIM
BE BORN AGAIN
HOW MANY TIMES
HAVE WE SAID
IN OUR OWN LIFE
I AM TIRED OF THE WAY THINGS ARE
I AM GOING TO TRY TO CHANGE MY LIFE
I WILL BE REBORN
BUT HOW WE SAY
WITH NICODEMUS
HOW CAN WE BE REBORN
AND JESUS SAYS
BY THE WATER AND THE SPIRIT
OF YOUR OWN BAPTISM
BY THAT BAPTISM
YOU HAVE RECEIVED REBIRTH
YOU HAVE BEEN REBORN
BUT
HAVING BEEN GIVEN SUCH A GIFT
WE FEEL UNWORTHY
WE CANNOT MEASURE UP TO THE MARK
WE CANNOT FILL THE MONEY LENDER'S
PURSE
UNWORTHY OF THE GIFT OF REBIRTH
WE FEEL THAT WE WILL BE CRUSHED
BY ITS WEIGHT
BY ITS OBLIGATIONS
BUT JESUS SAYS
MY FATHER SO LOVED THE WORLD
HE SENT ME
HE SENT ME
TO SAVE IT
AND ANYONE WHO BELIEVES IN ME
BELIEVES IN THE FATHER
AND WILL RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE
BUT THE GIFT IS TOO GREAT
TOO GREAT FOR US
WHO ARE TOO SMALL
HOW CAN WE EVER REPAY YOU
BELIEVE IN ME
IS ALL I ASK
BELIEVE
AND LET YOUR LIFE FLOW
FROM THAT BELIEF
BELIEVE IN ME
BUT WE SHALL STUMBLE
BELIEVE IN ME
BUT WE ARE WEAK
BELIEVE IN ME
BUT WE ARE UNWORTHY
BELIEVE IN ME
BUT WE ARE SINNERS
I HAVE FORGIVEN YOU
SO WHEN THE TEMPTER COMES
AS COME HE WILL
TO MAKE YOU DOUBT
YOUR BELIEFS
TO MAKE YOU FEEL
UNLOVED AND UNWANTED BY GOD
TELL THE TEMPTER
WITH HIS OPEN PURSE
TELL THE TEMPTER
MY DEBT HAS BEEN PAID
MY DEBT HAS BEEN PAID BY JESUS
WHO DID NOT PAY
THE GREAT PRICE HE PAID
SO THAT LATER HE COULD DESTROY ME
AS YOU ARE TRYING TO DESTROY ME
TELL THE TEMPTER
WHEN HE COMES
TELL THE MONEY LENDER
WITH HIS OPEN PURSE
CLOSE YOUR PURSE
AND MARK MY BILL
PAID IN FULL BY JESUS
SERIES A
LET ME START BY TELLING YOU A FEW STORIES
THE WORD CALENDAR
COMES FROM THE LATIN WORD CALENDS
WHICH MEANS THE FIRST OF THE MONTH
SO A CALENDAR
IS A DEVICE
THAT HELPS PEOPLE
FIND THE FIRST OF THE MONTH
THE WORD CALENDS
ALSO MEANS
THE COIN PURSE OF THE MONEY LENDER
WHO WOULD COME BY
ON THE FIRST OF THE MONTH
WITH HIS PURSE OPEN
TO RECEIVE THE PAYMENTS DUE HIM
DURING THE ADVENT SEASON
THAT PRECEDED THE MILLENIUM
I WAS ASKED TO PREACH
ON THE MILLENIUM
THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF FEAR
IN THE COMMUNITY
ONE FEAR WAS THAT THE COMPUTERS WOULD FAIL
THE OTHER WAS A STRONG UNDERCURRENT
THAT GOD HAD PICKED THE YEAR 2000
AS A TIME TO COME
TO COLLECT OUR DEBT TO HIM
THAT HE WOULD COME WITH HIS OPEN PURSE
LIKE A MONEY LENDER DEMANDING PAYMENT
AND BECAUSE WE WERE IMPOVERISHED
AND COULDN'T PAY
WE WOULD BE PUNISHED
NOT A NEW IDEA
OUR FOUNDER
MARTIN LUTHER
LABORED MUCH OF HIS LIFE
UNDER THE IDEA
THAT TRY AS HE MIGHT
HE COULD NOT PLEASE GOD
AND AS A RESULT
AN ANGRY
MEAN SPIRITED GOD
WOULD PUNISH HIM
IN TODAY'S GOSPEL
NICODEMUS
COMES AT NIGHT
TO MEET WITH JESUS
HE WAS AN IMPORTANT RICH MAN
A LEADER IN THE COMMUNITY
HE CAME AT NIGHT
HIS COMING AT NIGHT
DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN
HE WAS AFRAID TO BE SEEN
WITH JESUS
A JEWISH PROVERB OF THE TIMES
SAID
IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK TO A MAN DEEPLY
COME TO HIS HOUSE WHEN THE CHILDREN
WERE ASLEEP
AS THOSE OF US WHO ARE
OR WERE PARENTS KNOW
THAT USUALLY MEANS
LATE AT NIGHT
SO NICODEMUS
CAME TO JESUS AT NIGHT
WHO WAS THIS NICODEMUS
A PHARISEE
A LEADER OF THE PEOPLE
AN OBSERVER OF ALL THE LAWS
THAT MUST BE OBEYED
TO PLEASE GOD
JUDAISM HAD DISINTEGRATED
INTO A SERIES OF MAN MADE LAWS
CREATED BY A PROCESS CALLED PILPUL
WHICH WAS A STUDY OF THE LAW
TO DISCOVER ALL ITS SHADES AND MEANINGS
AND THE ONES WHO PROMOTED THIS STUDY
WERE THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES
SOME EXAMPLES
YOU COULDN'T WORK ON THE SABBATH
SO A MAN WITH A WOODEN LEG
COULD NOT WALK ON THE SABBATH
BECAUSE THE LEG WAS A BURDEN
AND THEREFORE WALKING WAS WORK
IF YOU WERE HURT
YOU COULD BANDAGE THE WOUND
BUT YOU COULDN'T PUT MEDICINE ON THE WOUND
BECAUSE THAT WAS WORK
ALSO IF A GENTILE WOMAN WAS HAVING A BABY
YOU COULDN'T HELP HER
BECAUSE SHE WAS NOT ONE OF THE CHOSEN PEOPLE
TO WHOM THE LAW HAD BEEN GIVEN
THE SCRIBES AND THE PHARISEES
WERE CONSTANTLY STUDYING THE LAW
ADDING SOME REQUIREMENTS
TO DAILY LIVING
OR FORBIDDING
SOME ACTIONS
IN DAILY LIVING
YOU REMEMBER THAT JESUS WAS ACCUSED
OF BAD CONDUCT
WHEN HE HEALED PEOPLE ON THE SABBATH DAY
BECAUSE HEALING WAS WORK
THEY OPPRESSED THE PEOPLE SO MUCH
WITH THESE LAWS
THAT JESUS CRIED OUT
YOU MAKE UP HEAVY BURDENS
FOR MEN TO CARRY
BUT DO NOTHING
TO HELP THEM CARRY
THEIR BURDENS
OR AGAIN JESUS CRIED OUT
THE LAW EXISTS FOR THE PEOPLE
NOT THE PEOPLE FOR THE LAW
SO NICODEMUS
A GOOD MAN
BURDENED DOWN
HE COULD NOT KEEP
OR FOUND IT DIFFICULT
COMES IN THE NIGHT
TO FIND THE LIGHT
WHO COMES IN THE NIGHT
TO HAVE HIS BURDEN LIGHTENED
AND JESUS SAYS TO HIM
JESUS SAYS TO HIM
BE BORN AGAIN
HOW MANY TIMES
HAVE WE SAID
IN OUR OWN LIFE
I AM TIRED OF THE WAY THINGS ARE
I AM GOING TO TRY TO CHANGE MY LIFE
I WILL BE REBORN
BUT HOW WE SAY
WITH NICODEMUS
HOW CAN WE BE REBORN
AND JESUS SAYS
BY THE WATER AND THE SPIRIT
OF YOUR OWN BAPTISM
BY THAT BAPTISM
YOU HAVE RECEIVED REBIRTH
YOU HAVE BEEN REBORN
BUT
HAVING BEEN GIVEN SUCH A GIFT
WE FEEL UNWORTHY
WE CANNOT MEASURE UP TO THE MARK
WE CANNOT FILL THE MONEY LENDER'S
PURSE
UNWORTHY OF THE GIFT OF REBIRTH
WE FEEL THAT WE WILL BE CRUSHED
BY ITS WEIGHT
BY ITS OBLIGATIONS
BUT JESUS SAYS
MY FATHER SO LOVED THE WORLD
HE SENT ME
HE SENT ME
TO SAVE IT
AND ANYONE WHO BELIEVES IN ME
BELIEVES IN THE FATHER
AND WILL RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE
BUT THE GIFT IS TOO GREAT
TOO GREAT FOR US
WHO ARE TOO SMALL
HOW CAN WE EVER REPAY YOU
BELIEVE IN ME
IS ALL I ASK
BELIEVE
AND LET YOUR LIFE FLOW
FROM THAT BELIEF
BELIEVE IN ME
BUT WE SHALL STUMBLE
BELIEVE IN ME
BUT WE ARE WEAK
BELIEVE IN ME
BUT WE ARE UNWORTHY
BELIEVE IN ME
BUT WE ARE SINNERS
I HAVE FORGIVEN YOU
SO WHEN THE TEMPTER COMES
AS COME HE WILL
TO MAKE YOU DOUBT
YOUR BELIEFS
TO MAKE YOU FEEL
UNLOVED AND UNWANTED BY GOD
TELL THE TEMPTER
WITH HIS OPEN PURSE
TELL THE TEMPTER
MY DEBT HAS BEEN PAID
MY DEBT HAS BEEN PAID BY JESUS
WHO DID NOT PAY
THE GREAT PRICE HE PAID
SO THAT LATER HE COULD DESTROY ME
AS YOU ARE TRYING TO DESTROY ME
TELL THE TEMPTER
WHEN HE COMES
TELL THE MONEY LENDER
WITH HIS OPEN PURSE
CLOSE YOUR PURSE
AND MARK MY BILL
PAID IN FULL BY JESUS
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
SERMON - FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
THE BAPTISM OF JESUS
LET US BEGIN AS WE BEGIN ALL THINGS
IN THE NAME OF GOD THE FATHER
WHO CREATED US,
IN THE NAME OF GOD THE SON
WHO REDEEMED US,
IN THE NAME OF GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
WHO INSPIRES US.
LET US BEGIN IN THE NAME OF GOD,
MOTHER OF US ALL.
THIS IS THE FIRST SUNDAY OF EPIPHANY.
EPIPHANY
WHICH IS THAT TIME OF THE CHURCH YEAR
BETWEEN CHRISTMAS
AND THE BEGINNING OF LENT.
THE WORD EPIPHANY MEANS
TO SHOW.
THE CHURCH USES THIS SEASON
TO COMMEMORATE
THE TIME WHEN JESUS
WAS BEGINNING HIS PUBLIC MINISTRY.
WAS BEGINNING
TO SHOW THE WORLD
WHO HE WAS.
SO LAST WEEK
WE HAD THE FEAST OF EPIPHANY ITSELF
WHEN THE WISEMAN CAME.
MEN DRAWN BY A STAR
HERALDING THE BIRTH OF A KING.
THAT KING BEING JESUS.
THIS SUNDAY WE HAVE
THE BAPTISM OF JESUS
DURING WHICH GOD THE FATHER
SPEAKS FROM HEAVEN
DECLARING
THAT JESUS WAS HIS SON.
THE BAPTISM JESUS RECEIVED
WAS NOT THE SAME AS THAT BAPTISM
WE RECEIVED
WHEN MOST OF US WERE CHILDREN
BAPTISM WAS RESERVED IN THE JEWISH FAITH
FOR THOSE
NOT BORN JEWS
THOSE SINFUL PEOPLE
NOT BORN A JEW
THE JEW BELIEVED
THAT BEING A SON OF ABRAHAM
HE WAS ASSURED OF GOD'S SALVATION
AS LONG AS HE FOLLOWED THE LAW
HE WAS ASSURED OF GOD'S SALVATION
THERE FOR HE HAD NO NEED FOR RITUAL CLEANING
BUT THERE WAS A MOVEMENT IN JUDEA
IN JESUS TIME
THAT THE NATION HAD LOST THEIR PRIVILEGED STATUS
THE NATION HAD BEEN CONQUERED BY ROME
THE PEOPLE
WERE DESPERATELY WAITING
FOR THE MESSIAH
TO FREE THE LAND
THEY FELT THAT GOD WAS ANGRY WITH THEM
ANGRY WITH THEM BECAUSE OF THEIR LIFESTYLE
THEY FELT
THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR A CHANGE
THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR A CLEANSING
THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR REPENTING
SO THERE WENT OUT INTO THE LAND
THOSE CALLING FOR CHANGE
SOME WERE CALLING FOR POLITICAL CHANGE
OTHERS LIKE JOHN THE BAPTIST AND THE ESSENES
WERE CALLING FOR MORAL CHANGE
AND THE SYMBOL OF THAT CHANGE
WAS THE WHOLE BODY PLUNGING
OF A PERSON INTO A LAKE OR RIVER
BUT THE CANDIDATE HAD FIRST TO STATE
HE WAS SORRY FOR HIS SINS
AND WOULD TRY TO AMEND HIS LIFE
AND JOHN'S MESSAGE OF REPENT
AND CHANGE YOUR LIFE
WAS BEARING FRUIT
MANY WERE FLOCKING TO JOHN
FOR REPENTANCE AND BAPTISM
UNDERLYING THIS MOVEMENT
WAS THE THOUGHT
THAT IF THEY CHANGED THEIR LIVES
THE MESSIAH WOULD COME
BUT THEY WANTED A POLITICAL MESSIAH
WHAT THEY WOULD GET
WAS A SERVANT
THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SURPRISED
BECAUSE GOD HAD DESCRIBED THAT SERVANT
IN ISAIAH
OUR FIRST READING TODAY
LET ME REFRESH YOUR MEMORY
THE LORD'S SERVANT
THE LORD SAYS,
"HERE IS MY SERVANT,
WHOM I STRENGTHEN -
THE ONE I HAVE CHOSEN,
WITH WHOM I AM PLEASED.
I HAVE FILLED HIM WITH MY SPIRIT,
AND HE WILL BRING JUSTICE TO EVERY NATION.
HE WILL NOT SHOUT OR RAISE HIS VOICE
OR MAKE LOUD SPEECHES IN THE STREETS.
HE WILL NOT BREAK OFF A BENT REED
NOR PUT OUT A FLICKERING LAMP.
HE WILL BRING LASTING JUSTICE TO ALL.
HE WILL NOT LOSE HOPE OR COURAGE;
HE WILL ESTABLISH JUSTICE ON THE EARTH.
DISTANT LANDS EAGERLY WAIT FOR HIS TEACHING."
AND NOW
THE LORD GOD SAYS TO HIS SERVANT,
I, THE LORD, HAVE CALLED YOU
AND GIVEN YOU POWER
TO SEE THAT JUSTICE
IS DONE ON EARTH.
THROUGH YOU
I WILL MAKE A COVENANT
WITH ALL PEOPLES;
THROUGH YOU
I WILL BRING LIGHT
TO THE NATIONS.
YOU WILL OPEN THE EYES
OF THE BLIND
AND SET FREE THOSE
WHO SIT IN DARK PRISONS.
THE THINGS I PREDICTED
HAVE NOW COME TRUE.
NOW I WILL TELL YOU
OF NEW THINGS
EVEN BEFORE
THEY BEGIN TO HAPPEN."
THIS SERVANT
THIS GOD MADE MAN
WHO DID NOT CONSIDER EQUALITY WITH GOD
SOMETHING TO BE GRASPED,
TO BE CLUNG TO
BUT RATHER
EMPTIED HIMSELF OUT
TOOK ON THE FORM OF A SLAVE
A SERVANT
TO SAVE US FROM OUR SINS
THIS GOD MAN WAS BORN IN A STABLE
WAS HUNGRY AT HIS MOTHER'S BREAST
WAS SENT TO SCHOOL
LEARNED TO TIE HIS SANDALS
WAS TRAINED TO BE A CARPENTER
TOOK CARE OF HIS MOTHER
STUDIED THE SCRIPTURES
LOOKED OUT AT THE WORLD
AND KNEW IT WAS NOT THE WAY IT SHOULD BE
SO HERE HE WAS
STANDING
LOOKING AT THE RIVER JORDAN
WHERE JOHN HIS COUSIN
WAS BAPTIZING
KNEW HE HAD TO MAKE A DECISION
KNEW HE HAD TO DECIDE
WHAT HE SHOULD DO WITH HIS LIFE
KNEW THAT IF STARTED PREACHING
THE WAY JOHN WAS PREACHING
THEY WOULD EVENTUALLY KILL HIM
BUT HE HAD HEARD
THE CALL OF HIS FATHER
TO MISSION
LIKE A BUGLE SOUNDING SOFTLY
IN THE DISTANCE
AND LIKE ALL MEN
BECAUSE HE WAS MAN
HE STRUGGLED WITH HIS DECISION
TRYING TO DETERMINE
HIS FATHER'S CALL
TRYING TO DETERMINE HOW TO BECOME THE PERSON PAUL WOULD DESCRIBE IN OUR SECOND READING
HE DID NOT NEED BAPTISM
THERE WAS NO SIN IN HIM
WHAT WAS IN HIM
WAS A DESIRE
A NEED
TO SHARE HUMANITY'S PLIGHT
TO BE WITH SINNERS
WHERE THEY WERE
AND WHERE THEY WERE
WAS WITH JOHN ENTERING THE WATER
SO HE JOINED THE LINE
BUT HIS COUSIN JOHN
FELT HE WAS UNWORTHY
BUT JESUS SAID
LET IT BE DONE
SO JOHN PLUNGED HIM INTO THE RIVER
AND HE CAME UP
GASPING FOR AIR
LIKE A NEWBORN BABY
LIKE A REBORN BABY
LIKE ALL THOSE IN LINE WITH HIM
AND FROM HEAVEN CAME A VOICE
THE VOICE OF A FATHER
PROUD OF HIS SON
FOR MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE
AND THE VOICE SAYS
THIS IS MY BELOVED SON
IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED
AND JESUS LOOKING AT ALL GATHERED AT THE RIVER
AND LOOKING DOWN THE LONG RIVER OF HISTORY
COMES TO THIS ROOM WHERE WE ARE GATHERED
AND SAYS
TO EACH ONE OF US INDIVIDUALLY
YOU
YOU ARE MY BELOVED BROTHERS
YOU ARE MY BELOVED SISTERS
IN YOU I AM WELL PLEASED
THE BAPTISM OF JESUS
LET US BEGIN AS WE BEGIN ALL THINGS
IN THE NAME OF GOD THE FATHER
WHO CREATED US,
IN THE NAME OF GOD THE SON
WHO REDEEMED US,
IN THE NAME OF GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
WHO INSPIRES US.
LET US BEGIN IN THE NAME OF GOD,
MOTHER OF US ALL.
THIS IS THE FIRST SUNDAY OF EPIPHANY.
EPIPHANY
WHICH IS THAT TIME OF THE CHURCH YEAR
BETWEEN CHRISTMAS
AND THE BEGINNING OF LENT.
THE WORD EPIPHANY MEANS
TO SHOW.
THE CHURCH USES THIS SEASON
TO COMMEMORATE
THE TIME WHEN JESUS
WAS BEGINNING HIS PUBLIC MINISTRY.
WAS BEGINNING
TO SHOW THE WORLD
WHO HE WAS.
SO LAST WEEK
WE HAD THE FEAST OF EPIPHANY ITSELF
WHEN THE WISEMAN CAME.
MEN DRAWN BY A STAR
HERALDING THE BIRTH OF A KING.
THAT KING BEING JESUS.
THIS SUNDAY WE HAVE
THE BAPTISM OF JESUS
DURING WHICH GOD THE FATHER
SPEAKS FROM HEAVEN
DECLARING
THAT JESUS WAS HIS SON.
THE BAPTISM JESUS RECEIVED
WAS NOT THE SAME AS THAT BAPTISM
WE RECEIVED
WHEN MOST OF US WERE CHILDREN
BAPTISM WAS RESERVED IN THE JEWISH FAITH
FOR THOSE
NOT BORN JEWS
THOSE SINFUL PEOPLE
NOT BORN A JEW
THE JEW BELIEVED
THAT BEING A SON OF ABRAHAM
HE WAS ASSURED OF GOD'S SALVATION
AS LONG AS HE FOLLOWED THE LAW
HE WAS ASSURED OF GOD'S SALVATION
THERE FOR HE HAD NO NEED FOR RITUAL CLEANING
BUT THERE WAS A MOVEMENT IN JUDEA
IN JESUS TIME
THAT THE NATION HAD LOST THEIR PRIVILEGED STATUS
THE NATION HAD BEEN CONQUERED BY ROME
THE PEOPLE
WERE DESPERATELY WAITING
FOR THE MESSIAH
TO FREE THE LAND
THEY FELT THAT GOD WAS ANGRY WITH THEM
ANGRY WITH THEM BECAUSE OF THEIR LIFESTYLE
THEY FELT
THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR A CHANGE
THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR A CLEANSING
THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR REPENTING
SO THERE WENT OUT INTO THE LAND
THOSE CALLING FOR CHANGE
SOME WERE CALLING FOR POLITICAL CHANGE
OTHERS LIKE JOHN THE BAPTIST AND THE ESSENES
WERE CALLING FOR MORAL CHANGE
AND THE SYMBOL OF THAT CHANGE
WAS THE WHOLE BODY PLUNGING
OF A PERSON INTO A LAKE OR RIVER
BUT THE CANDIDATE HAD FIRST TO STATE
HE WAS SORRY FOR HIS SINS
AND WOULD TRY TO AMEND HIS LIFE
AND JOHN'S MESSAGE OF REPENT
AND CHANGE YOUR LIFE
WAS BEARING FRUIT
MANY WERE FLOCKING TO JOHN
FOR REPENTANCE AND BAPTISM
UNDERLYING THIS MOVEMENT
WAS THE THOUGHT
THAT IF THEY CHANGED THEIR LIVES
THE MESSIAH WOULD COME
BUT THEY WANTED A POLITICAL MESSIAH
WHAT THEY WOULD GET
WAS A SERVANT
THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SURPRISED
BECAUSE GOD HAD DESCRIBED THAT SERVANT
IN ISAIAH
OUR FIRST READING TODAY
LET ME REFRESH YOUR MEMORY
THE LORD'S SERVANT
THE LORD SAYS,
"HERE IS MY SERVANT,
WHOM I STRENGTHEN -
THE ONE I HAVE CHOSEN,
WITH WHOM I AM PLEASED.
I HAVE FILLED HIM WITH MY SPIRIT,
AND HE WILL BRING JUSTICE TO EVERY NATION.
HE WILL NOT SHOUT OR RAISE HIS VOICE
OR MAKE LOUD SPEECHES IN THE STREETS.
HE WILL NOT BREAK OFF A BENT REED
NOR PUT OUT A FLICKERING LAMP.
HE WILL BRING LASTING JUSTICE TO ALL.
HE WILL NOT LOSE HOPE OR COURAGE;
HE WILL ESTABLISH JUSTICE ON THE EARTH.
DISTANT LANDS EAGERLY WAIT FOR HIS TEACHING."
AND NOW
THE LORD GOD SAYS TO HIS SERVANT,
I, THE LORD, HAVE CALLED YOU
AND GIVEN YOU POWER
TO SEE THAT JUSTICE
IS DONE ON EARTH.
THROUGH YOU
I WILL MAKE A COVENANT
WITH ALL PEOPLES;
THROUGH YOU
I WILL BRING LIGHT
TO THE NATIONS.
YOU WILL OPEN THE EYES
OF THE BLIND
AND SET FREE THOSE
WHO SIT IN DARK PRISONS.
THE THINGS I PREDICTED
HAVE NOW COME TRUE.
NOW I WILL TELL YOU
OF NEW THINGS
EVEN BEFORE
THEY BEGIN TO HAPPEN."
THIS SERVANT
THIS GOD MADE MAN
WHO DID NOT CONSIDER EQUALITY WITH GOD
SOMETHING TO BE GRASPED,
TO BE CLUNG TO
BUT RATHER
EMPTIED HIMSELF OUT
TOOK ON THE FORM OF A SLAVE
A SERVANT
TO SAVE US FROM OUR SINS
THIS GOD MAN WAS BORN IN A STABLE
WAS HUNGRY AT HIS MOTHER'S BREAST
WAS SENT TO SCHOOL
LEARNED TO TIE HIS SANDALS
WAS TRAINED TO BE A CARPENTER
TOOK CARE OF HIS MOTHER
STUDIED THE SCRIPTURES
LOOKED OUT AT THE WORLD
AND KNEW IT WAS NOT THE WAY IT SHOULD BE
SO HERE HE WAS
STANDING
LOOKING AT THE RIVER JORDAN
WHERE JOHN HIS COUSIN
WAS BAPTIZING
KNEW HE HAD TO MAKE A DECISION
KNEW HE HAD TO DECIDE
WHAT HE SHOULD DO WITH HIS LIFE
KNEW THAT IF STARTED PREACHING
THE WAY JOHN WAS PREACHING
THEY WOULD EVENTUALLY KILL HIM
BUT HE HAD HEARD
THE CALL OF HIS FATHER
TO MISSION
LIKE A BUGLE SOUNDING SOFTLY
IN THE DISTANCE
AND LIKE ALL MEN
BECAUSE HE WAS MAN
HE STRUGGLED WITH HIS DECISION
TRYING TO DETERMINE
HIS FATHER'S CALL
TRYING TO DETERMINE HOW TO BECOME THE PERSON PAUL WOULD DESCRIBE IN OUR SECOND READING
HE DID NOT NEED BAPTISM
THERE WAS NO SIN IN HIM
WHAT WAS IN HIM
WAS A DESIRE
A NEED
TO SHARE HUMANITY'S PLIGHT
TO BE WITH SINNERS
WHERE THEY WERE
AND WHERE THEY WERE
WAS WITH JOHN ENTERING THE WATER
SO HE JOINED THE LINE
BUT HIS COUSIN JOHN
FELT HE WAS UNWORTHY
BUT JESUS SAID
LET IT BE DONE
SO JOHN PLUNGED HIM INTO THE RIVER
AND HE CAME UP
GASPING FOR AIR
LIKE A NEWBORN BABY
LIKE A REBORN BABY
LIKE ALL THOSE IN LINE WITH HIM
AND FROM HEAVEN CAME A VOICE
THE VOICE OF A FATHER
PROUD OF HIS SON
FOR MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE
AND THE VOICE SAYS
THIS IS MY BELOVED SON
IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED
AND JESUS LOOKING AT ALL GATHERED AT THE RIVER
AND LOOKING DOWN THE LONG RIVER OF HISTORY
COMES TO THIS ROOM WHERE WE ARE GATHERED
AND SAYS
TO EACH ONE OF US INDIVIDUALLY
YOU
YOU ARE MY BELOVED BROTHERS
YOU ARE MY BELOVED SISTERS
IN YOU I AM WELL PLEASED
Monday, October 23, 2006
SONGS FOR A FRIEND
THE PRIEST
TO STAND DAILY AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD
AND CALL DOWN FIRE
AND BY AN ALCHEMY
PERFORM A MIRACLE IN MY HANDS
LONG PUT TO REST UNWORTHINESS AS FACTUAL
SUMMONED LIKE MOSES ARGUING THAT AARON WAS BETTER
BUT AARON WASN'T CALLED
SUMMONED TO SERVE AND IN THAT WORD TO FIND MY CROSS
TOO EASY TO TAKE MY MAGIC POWERS
AND CLAIM THAT ALL EXISTS FOR ME
SO EASY
BUT TO LISTEN TO THE THRICE TOLD TALE OF THE OLD
OR ANOINT INCURABLE CANCER WITH HEALING OIL
TO COUNSEL THE ANGRY HURT OR LONELY
TO GIVE ADVICE BETTER THAN MYSELF
TO GIVE
TO KNOW THE NEED FOR TRANSFORMATION
NOT CHANGE NOT REALLY
BUT THAT THE BREAD SHOULD GIVE GOOD HEALTH
AND WINE REFRESHMENT
THAT I MIGHT BE WHAT THEY SAY I AM
THAT I MIGHT BE
THAT I MIGHT STAND AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD
TAKING ALL THEIR CARES TO THE TESTING POINT
AND CALL DOWN FIRE IN MY HANDS
AND GIVE MY BODY/BLOOD FOR SACRIFICE
GARGOYLE HOWLING IN THE WIND
SPEWING WATER AND WITH EYE DISTENDED
SCOWLING
WHAT AGONY OF ARTIST DRONE THE CHISEL
WHAT INJUSTICE BORNE WITHOUT HOPE OF REMEDY
HOW MANY MEN ARE GARGOYLE MADE
BY FORCES OUT OF THEIR CONTROL
BY WAR BY RACE BY POVERTY
CONTINUAL NOISE IN A CROWDED ROOM
CHISELS CARVING PAIN
PRECARIOUSLY PERCHED THE GARGOYLE SITS
IN THE RAIN SPEWING PAIN
AND WITH EYE DISTENDED
SEARCHES FOR THE SUN
THE BIRDS
IT WASN'T THAT HE DIDN'T LIKE CHRISTMAS
HE ENJOYED THE HOLIDAY FUN
ALL THE BRIGHT COLORS AND SUDDEN GOOD WILL
AND THE CHILDREN'S HAPPY SUSPENSE
BUT HE COULDN'T BELIEVE IN CHRISTMAS
IN THE INCARNATION I MEAN
GOD LIVING A MAN-LIFE LIKE HIS? WHAT FOR?
IT JUST DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO HIM
HE SAT BY THE FIRE
WARM IN HIS HOME
ON CHRISTMAS EVE ALONE
THE FAMILY GONE OFF TO MIDNIGHT MASS
HE HEARD A THUMP AT THE WINDOW
AND THEN ANOTHER
SOME MISCHIEF BOY OUT FOR FUN HE THOUGHT
HE WENT TO THE WINDOW TO CHASE HIM WITH A GLANCE
BUT FOUND NO BOY
BUT A SPARROW FLOCK
LURED BY THE LIGHT AND SIGHT OF WARMTH
HAD TRIED TO COME THROUGH HIS WINDOW
THEY HUDDLED NOW IN THE SNOW
WITH NO PLACE TO GO
AND HE FELT COMPASSION FOR THEM
HE PUT ON HIS BOOTS AND JACKET AND SCARF
AND OUT HE WENT TO OPEN THE GARAGE
TO GIVE THEM SHELTER
BUT THEY WOULD NOT COME
SO HE TURNED ON THE LIGHT
BUT THEY WOULD NOT COME
HE WENT AND GOT BREAD
AND THREW IT MANNA LIKE UPON THE SNOW
A PATH TO FOLLOW
BUT THEY WOULD NOT COME
HE TRIED TO HERD THEM IN
SHOUTING AND WAVING HIS ARMS
BUT THEY WOULD NOT COME
I'M SCARING THEM HE THOUGHT
I'M SO BIG COMPARED TO THEM
AND DIFFERENT
IF BUT FOR A MOMENT I COULD BE A SPARROW
I COULD LEAD THEM THROUGH THE DOOR
I COULD LEAD THEM THROUGH.....THE DOOR
SURF BIRD
THE SEA CAME IN THE LITTLE BIRD RAN
AND FOLLOWED THE SEA BACK OUT
THEN RAN FROM THE SEA AND FOLLOWED IT OUT
DANCING THE DAY IN TIME TO THE SEA
PLAYING FOR FOOD
I WONDER IF IT FEARS THE SEA
LIKE I DO GOD
PLAYING THE EDGES OF HIS LOVE
OR MY LOVE REALLY AS IT EBBS AND FLOWS
RUNNING WHEN THE WAVE COMES STRONG
SEABIRDS ON DELICATE FEET
RUNNING FROM THE WATER
SOMEDAY HOPEFULLY UNAWARE
THE SEA WILL OVERWHELM ME
SWEEPING ME OUT TO THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA
TO BE ONE WITH THE MOTION THE SURGE OF THE SEA
TO BE THE SEA
TO PLAY WITH THE BIRDS AT THE WATER'S EDGE
TO FEED THEM
AND CALL THEM TO THE DANCE
DELAWARE BAY
IT WAS LOW TIDE WHEN WE GOT THERE
BAYSIDE IN THE MID OF WINTER
AFTER A THAW
STRANDED ON THE SHORE LIKE WHALES
THE PILES OF ICE
OR MOVING OUT TO SEA
MOANING AS THEY RUBBED EACH OTHER
GROANING AS THEY HIT A PIER OR BREAKWATER
BUT IT WAS THE ICE ON SHORE
THAT HELD OUR EYE
MELTING NOW IN THE SUN
SENDING BACK THEIR RICHNESS TO THE SEA
OCCASIONALLY THEIR WEIGHT WOULD BREAK THEM
OR WE WOULD WISHING WINTER AWAY
IT BECAME A GAME WE'D PLAY WISHING WINTER AWAY
BREAKING THE ICE AND CHANTING
OUT YOU GO ICE AND SNOW
A KIND OF FRENZY SEIZED US
BUT THE ICE ENDURED
IT DID NOT RUN BEFORE OUR CHANT
IN THE SPRING WE SHALL RETURN
WONDERING WHERE THE ICE HAS GONE
OR KNOWING RATHER IN THE MIND
THAT SUN AND HEAT HAVE DONE THE TRICK
BUT IN THAT DEEPER DARKER PART OF MIND
TO KNOW THAT CHILL AND COLD ARE NOT JUST WINTER THINGS
THAT TOO OFTEN THERE IS WINTER IN OUR SOUL
AWESOME SHAPES OF ICE THAT OVERWHELM US
COULD WE BUT CHANT THE SPELL AND WISH THEM GONE
BUT COME YOU NOW AND HOLD MY HAND
AND DRIVE FROM ME THE WINTER'S CHILL
I AM AN ICE CHOKED STREAM WANTING TO RUN FREE
I WANT TO BE NOT ICE FROZEN ON THE SHORE
BUT WATER RUNNING WITH THE WIND
COME NOW MY LOVE AND SET ME FREE
COULD WE BUT REMEMBER SPRINGTIME DAYS
WHEN WINTER WINDS PILE ICE UPON OUR SHORE
GIVE ME YOUR HAND
I AM COLD
AND NEED WARMTH
TREE
THERE IS A TREE IN THE SAHARA
IN THE MIDST OF THE SAND
AN ACACIA TREE IN THE MIDST OF THE SAND
BY A POOL THAT WELLS UP FROM A HIDDEN STREAM
THAT ONE DAY MIGHT HAVE RUN ON GROUND
HOW IT GOT THERE NO ONE KNOWS
PERHAPS A BIRD OR WIND
OR ANY ONE OF NATURE’S THOUSAND WAYS OF LIFE
BY CHOICE IT DID NOT WANT TO LIVE IN SUCH A LONELY PLACE
BY CHOICE IT DOES NOT SCATTER SEED
TO HAVE IT KILLED BY SAND AND SUN
BY CHOICE IT WILL NOT WITHER OR DESPAIR
BUT THRIVE AS BEST IT CAN
A WITNESS IN A BARREN LAND
BUY CHOICE IT TAKES THE CHALLENGE OF THE DAY
THE AIR NOT RENT BY MIGHT HAVE BEENS
BY CHOICE IT SOMETIMES WATCHES STARS
AND KNOWS THE LONELINESS OF SPACE
BY CHOICE IT WILLS TO LIVE NOT DIE AWAY
DISEASED BY DISCONTENT AND GRIEF
BY CHOICE IT TAKES THE PROMISE OF THE MORNING
AND TRIES TO MAKE IT LAST THE DAY
In the Eastern Church, the death of Mary, Jesus' mothers is traditionally celebrated on august 15. The feast is called the dormition or falling asleep of Mary.
OLD WOMAN
HOW WARM THE SUN SHE THOUGHT
NODDING NAPPING IN HER CHAIR
KNITTING UNATTENDED IN HER LAP
HOW WARM THE SUN
THE CHILDREN ALL HAD GONE
LAUGHING AND LEAPING
THE COOKIES ALL EATEN
BYE BYE AUNTIE
THEY ALL CALLED HER AUNTIE
AWAY THEY WENT LEAPING
EXCEPT ONE LITTLE URCHIN
WITH KNEE OUT IN TROUSER
AND NOSE ON SLEEVE WIPING
HAD LINGERED BEHIND
SHYLY
FOOT DRAGGING
HEAD DOWN
FACE BLUSHING
HE SLOWLY APPROACHED HER
AWKWARDLY KISSED HER
BELLOWED I LOVE YOU
SCURRIED AWAY
HEART ACHING SHE REACHED OUT
HER ARMS GRASPING NOTHING
SO QUICKLY HE RAN
OH JOSEPH OH JESUS HOW MUCH DO I MISS YOU
HOW LONG YOU'VE BEEN GONE
THE OLD WOMAN SAT NODDING
HER HEART WOUNDS REOPENED
SAT NODDING
AND NAPPING
AND YEARNING FOR HOME
SAT NODDING THEN SLEEPING
THEN GOD CALLED HER HOME
STARS
HE LIKED TO WATCH THE STARS
THEIR SENSE OF ORDER AND HIS FILIAL PRIDE
BOTH GAVE HIM WARMTH
HE LIKED THE LEGENDS THAT MEN TOLD
ABOUT THESE LANTERNS IN THE SKY
HE LIKED THE WAY THEY LED A SHIP
OR CARAVAN TO FIND A HOME
HE SOMETIMES THOUGHT HE HEARD THE SOUND OF SILVER BELLS
WHEN THE WIND WAS IN THE TREES
AND NIGHT CLOUDS CAME SCUDDING ACROSS THE MOON
WHEN WILD DOGS BARKED
AND SHEEP BELLS RANG CLEARLY IN THE DARK
HE THOUGHT HE HEARD THE STARS SING
PERHAPS THAT'S WHY HIS FATHER MADE THE SKY GO DARK BEFORE HE DIED
AND THE ANGELS WILL SING
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Saturday, October 21, 2006
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