Tuesday January 7, 2014

Deuteronomy 8:1-3

Remember. 

After years of wilderness wandering the people of Israel stand at the edge of the Jordan River about to enter the promised land. 

But first, they are encouraged to remember

Remember how God led you, and fed you with bread from heaven,
as you wandered in the wilderness. 

Remember how you learned that "one does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God".

Whether you feel like you are wandering in the wilderness, or are living in the promised land, or are journeying somewhere in between, what is your sense of how God is leading you and caring for you?

Sara Miles, in her book, Take this Bread:  A Radical Conversion, remembers the day she wandered into a church and was astonishingly transformed when she "ate a piece of bread and took a sip of wine."  In what ways is the Eucharist bread from heaven for you?

- Marilyn Malton

Monday, January 6, 2014

Monday, January 6, 2014

St. Matthew 12: 14 - 21

            One of the realities of the Gospel story of the ministry of Jesus

is that not all who heard his preaching and teaching welcomed his message

or his ministry.

            After years had passed by, the Gospel writers looked to prophetic proclamations to

provide a framework for people to examine Jesus' words and actions. In the moment, however,

as people witnessed the ministry of Jesus,  they found it difficult to value and appreciate

his words, because they found their own life patterns were under scrutiny.

            In our own day and age, the ministry of Jesus causes us to examine and reflect

on our own life priorities. Like those who listened and watched Jesus, we may find

our own lives placed under a self imposed scrutiny. We need to remember that in some

parts of our global village, to be a follower of Jesus, today,  is to be placed in a position of

extreme danger.

            The Baptismal Covenant upon which we are called to build our lives,  

reminds us of the opportunity to repent and return to the Lord. This is not a one time only

event. In the words of the Book of Common Prayer, we need to always be mindful of, "...the

message of pardon and absolution contained in the Gospel of our Saviour, and the need

which all Christians continually have, of a renewal of their repentance and faith." ( BCP p. 612)

            As the new year of 2014 unfolds before us, we have the opportunity to

respond anew to the call to follow Jesus and to be renewed in our faith.  

-Canon Christopher Pratt

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Sunday January 5 – Romans 15:7-13

On this first Sunday of the new year – 2014 – we may still be thinking about, or even formulating New Year’s resolutions. Today’s reading from the Letter of Paul to the Christians in Rome offers a strong possibility for resolution-making: “Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you.” 

Paul seems to have spent most, if not all, of his ministry welcoming those outside of any faith structure, as well as trying to convince Christian leaders in other places that this was what was good and right.  He had no small number of run-ins with other disciples – James and Peter especially – over whether those who did not practice the Jewish traditions of their day could be welcomed into this new and rapidly growing group of followers of Jesus.  And, in the end, Paul’s concept of Christianity won out.  All were welcomed, without distinction.

How do we practice hospitality in our homes, with our friends and acquaintances, at work, in our life as Christians?  How do we practice hospitality in church?  I suppose that one could compile a list of rules, or suggestions for hospitality, but the act of welcoming is best when it is spontaneous.  We might feel that we don’t have the gifts needed to welcome others, or we may worry about saying the “wrong thing”.  But the warm smile, or simple word of greeting and welcome to the stranger sitting near us, the simple invitation to join others for refreshment and conversation after the service, these gestures go a long way to making the other feel welcomed and included.  And that’s what we are all about!

“Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”

-Rev'd Paul Kett

Saturday, January 4, 2014 "From Blindness to Belief"

Saturday, January 4, 2014
From Blindness to Belief
John 9:1-12, 35-38

An encounter with Jesus (Yeshua which means "salvation" in Hebrew) results in miracles of healing for a man blind from birth. 

Suffering takes many forms and is complex. The man without sight sat and begged. He caught Jesus' attention. In His infinite wisdom, Jesus used this scenario as a teaching moment. "Rabbi" asked the disciples "who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" (v. 2). Jesus, in this instance, dismissed any "cause-effect" relationship (Peterson, The Message, p. 207). 

Anointed by Jesus and obedient to His command to "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (v. 7), the man returned with his vision restored. And later when he declared "Lord, I believe" (v.38) his miracle was twofold. The once blind man was physically and spiritually liberated from darkness into the light of the world.

Did the man have help making it into the pool of Siloam, scripture doesn't indicate. Although not born blind, it wasn't until my spiritual eyes were opened that I was able to confess "Lord, I believe." To those who mentored me in my spiritual journey, I am truly grateful.

Physical and spiritual miracles of healing are expressions of God's love and grace.

To God be the glory!

-Brenda Morrison

Friday, January 3, 2014

Friday, January 3, 2014

Ephesians 4:17-32

‘Organized religion’ is a stumbling block to many, even those sympathetic to the teachings of Jesus. Here we have writings from a community going through the growing pains that come with development and organization.

In verse 28 we have mention of thieves making up part of the group of Christians, called to a new life marked by honesty. It is significant that the early Christian movement was marked by diversity and acceptance. I am encouraged when I see worshipping communities that are comprised of people of various backgrounds, classes, ages, and even theological perspectives. We should not be coming together, or measuring our success, based on simply being buddies. The church isn’t a social club. We are the Body of Christ and our mission - God’s mission - is far more meaningful and important than being polite and friendly to people who are just like us. 

As a churchwarden and now as a seminary student I have witnessed and been part of lots of debates, disagreements, and arguments. That which is a fundamental aspect of one’s faith, spirituality, or practice can be completely off another person’s radar. Conflict is inevitable. Disagreements can quickly get worse and worse in a church context, where it can be very tempting for opposing parties to each think that God is on their ‘side.’ 

Coming together to worship, in spite of our differences, is a witness to the transforming power of God in the world. When we have conflicts with others in the church we should rise above the temptation to one-up the other, attack, or leave the community in frustration. Instead, let us return with greater urgency to one another and to the table of Our Lord. 

-Matthew Kieswetter

Thursday January 2, 2014

The First Letter of John 2:22-29

John writes with passion and love for his "little children".  He does not want the people in the churches to whom he is writing to be deceived or led astray.  It seems that some people who were part of the Christian communities left those churches and were teaching something different about being a follower of Jesus.  How are John's readers to discern what are true or false teachings?  John seems to say that the best way is by paying attention to what someone says about who Jesus is.

In this season of Christmas we hear many claims about who Jesus is.  What stands out to you?  That Jesus became one of us and lived among us?  That Jesus shows us what God is like?   That God chose to enter the world as a poor and vulnerable infant?  Or something else?

A major theme in John's Gospel and Letters is of "abiding" or "remaining".  John writes of Jesus and God and the Spirit abiding in one another.  According to John to be a disciple or follower of Jesus is primarily about abiding or remaining with Jesus and participating in the intimate, dynamic relationship of the Trinity.  What does it mean for you to live in God's presence and abide in Jesus?

-Marilyn Malton

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Psalm 148

Having just finished Late Nights on Air, by Elizabeth Hay, I am struck by the barrenness and wildness of the world. Her novel evokes the remoteness of the north, breaking apart the illusion that our world is entirely civilized. Instead, she calls to attention that we do not know what lies beyond the edges of our maps, and even the spaces contained within those lines are mostly unknown.

As I read Psalm 148 I felt this same wildness evoked in the natural imagery. In my mind, God has bound the wildness of the elements in creation; God has rendered them good, has made them to be more than a primordial force. Their praise in the psalm celebrates the triumph of God’s creation, but at the same time there is a tension between their joy and the mystery of what lies beyond the limits that God has imposed.

Does the unknown make the world greater or lesser? And how does that change how we perceive God? 

-Josh Zentner-Barrett