Lectionary Readings for Sunday, May 5, 2013

Hello Everyone,
Grace and Peace to you in Jesus Christ,

First, GEUMC’ers, our semi-annual ditch clean out is happening on Thursday, May 2, at 9:00 AM. We will meet at the parking lot next to the post office where we will get our vests and bags. The more people that can help the quicker the work will get done.

Second, PUC’ers, we too need to clean our ditches on Highway 71. We didn’t have a successful clean up in 2012 and a lot of garbage has accumulated so I am praying for success this year. With that in mind, I am scheduling Wednesday, May 22 at 6:00 PM as our Ditch Cleaning Day. If you can be there please reply and let me know. Again, the more people that can help, the quicker the work will get done.

This coming Sunday is Communion at both churches and is a good time to invite someone (a former church attendee, a friend, a neighbor, a co-worker, etc.) to join you in worship.

Our readings this week are:

Acts 16:9-15 – After a week with Peter we now turn our attention to Paul. Paul and his troupe is in Asia (modern day Turkey) and they have tried to go to Bithynia but were stopped by the Holy Spirit (no explanation is given). While in Troas Paul has a vision of a man asking him to go to Macedonia (northern Greece) so they go across to Philippi. In verse 11 the third person narration turns to first person. Was the writer, Luke, part of Paul’s troupe? On the Sabbath, they go “down to the river to pray” and they meet and witness to a woman named Lydia. She believes and her entire household is baptized. This is really an amazing story. In those days, the faith of the male head of household determined the faith of all in the household. (See Acts 10 and the Centurion Cornelius). For a woman to lead her family in faith is truly the work of God’s Spirit and show us how God works to change our perceptions of what is acceptable. Does the Spirit ever stop you from doing something and nudge you to do something else?

Psalm 67 – The psalmist calls upon God’s blessing for all and calls on all peoples and nations to praise God for all that God has done.

Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5 – John the Seer is taken to a high mountain to look upon the New Jerusalem that has come to earth. Verses 11-21 are John’s description of the city with its size, shape, and construction materials. There are two things that John does not see: a temple (verse 21:22) and a sun (verses 21:23 and 22:5). God is the temple and God is the Light with the Lamb as the lamp to spread the Light. The gates of the city will never be shut and people will bring the honor and glory of the nations into the city. John also says that nothing unclean will enter the city, only those written in the book of life. However, since the books were opened in chapter 20 and all were judged by their works (note: not faith) and since God made all thing new earlier in chapter 21, there should not be anyone or anything unclean remaining. The verses in chapter 22 describe the river of the water of life and the tree of life (Genesis 3:22-24) whose leaves heal the nations and John states that nothing accursed will ever be found in this new life. What do you think John’s vision might have meant to people who were suffering persecution?

John 14:23-29 – This is a small excerpt from Jesus’ long discourse with his disciples which starts at 14:1 and goes to 16:33. Our verses pick up on the theme of the new commandment Jesus gave at 13:34-35 in last week’s Gospel. When we love Jesus we will keep his word and God’s love will be in us. Verse 24 is a little head scratcher: if we do not love Jesus we will not keep his words but the word we hear is from God. Huh? Jesus also says he will send the Advocate (Helper or Counselor), the Holy Spirit. The word “Advocate” (Paraklete in Greek) implies a lawyer for the defense. This is appropriate since the word “Satan” (hasatan in Hebrew) means accuser. This Advocate will teach us new things and remind us of Jesus’ teaching. The Holy Spirit is God’s defender against the accuser of this world. The final promise Jesus gives in this passage is the promise of Peace. This Peace is not the peace that comes at the end of a gun and threatens extreme violence but a Peace arising from love, grace and forgiveness. A Peace that absorbs the violence of the world and returns only love. How has God’s Peace filled your life? How has the Advocate taught you and defended you?

OR John 5:1-9 – I am not sure why the lectionary offers this alternate reading. In this short episode, Jesus heals a crippled man who had lived (or been brought there everyday by family) at the pool called “Bethzatha” (or Bethesda or Bethsaida). This healing happens on the Sabbath.

“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us. May God continue to bless us; let all the ends of the earth revere him!” (Psalm 67:1, 7)

Peace in Christ,
Pastor Gary Taylor

Readings for Sunday, April 28, 2013

Grace and Peace to You in Jesus Christ,

I am writing this week’s email while on retreat. I am at ARC Retreat Center near Staunchfield (pop 200?) and north of Cambridge. The center is in a beautiful forest of white pines. The road and driveway were so sloppy I was glad to have my 4x4 pickup to get in. We are a group of four pastors, one of whom has been a friend for at least 20 years and the other two I expect will be friends into the far future. This has been a very uplifting and renewing experience.

Our readings continue in Acts, Revelation, and John.

Acts 11:1-18 – This reading is basically a retelling of the story of Peter and Cornelius in Acts 10. Cornelius has a vision telling him to send someone to get Peter. Peter has a vision telling him to slaughter the ritually unclean animals which he refuses to do. This happens three time in the vision and three times the voice of God tells him, “What God has declared clean you must not declare unclean.” Peter then goes to Cornelius, a Roman Centurion (a gentile) to preach the Good News telling Cornelius’ family that he, Peter, should call no person defiled or unclean. Everyone believes and Peter has the entire household baptized. In our reading, the church council in Jerusalem has called Peter to account for his actions and so he retells the story. He recounts how the Holy Spirit came upon the family and then says, “Whom am I to hinder God’s work?” Who do we declare “unclean”? Hispanic immigrants? Welfare recipients? Single mothers using government assistance? How do we hinder God’s work?

Psalm 148 – A Psalm of Praise. Notice whom the psalmist call on to Praise the Lord: everything and every animal and every person. All of God’s creation is called to praise the Lord. Have you given Praise to God today?

Revelation 21:1-6 – I use this reading in funerals quite often and they bring a word of Hope to hurting, mourning family. They can also give hope to a hurting world. In the midst of pain comes a resurrected life. The old passes away and the new descends. God is not just something “out there” but God pitches his tent with his creation. The things that bring us the most fear – chaos (symbolized by the turbulent seas), death, mourning, and pain –will be gone. All things are made new. Life comes through the eternal waters that flows from God.

John 13:31-35 – Jesus and the disciples are meeting in a room for dinner just before Passover begin. Jesus washes the disciples feet and then asks them to do the same for others. He then declares that one of the disciples who is there sharing in the meal will betray him. Judas leaves and Jesus declares that he, Jesus, has been glorified and if he is glorified then God is glorified. Jesus then gives the disciples one commandment: Love one another! That is how people will know that we follow Jesus. Because we love one another and we love the other. How do you share your love, God’s love with others? How about the other who is unlovable? How about our enemies?

May God Love and Grace envelope you and move you to share that love with other!

Peace in Christ,
Pastor Gary

Readings for April 21, 2013 with a Prayer for the Victims of Violence

Grace and Peace to you in Jesus Christ,
My Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

I have been listening to extensive coverage of the Boston Marathon Bombing on NPR. If you haven’t already, we should pause a moment to say a prayer for the families that lost loved ones, and for the injured and their families in their healing. Did you also know that yesterday a bomb exploded in Iraq and killed 55 and injured hundreds? We are shocked at bombings and mass shootings in our own country but we barely notice the violence that happens in other countries, especially the so called third world countries. So let us pray for all victims of violence:

Oh Lord, most loving God: we know that you grieve the loss of lives and the pain of those injured in Boston yesterday. We give you thanks that your Holy Spirit, your presence that brings healing and comfort, is intimately involved with all of those lives at this time. We pray for all victims, those in Boston and the thousands of victims around the world, that suffer the effects of violence each day. We pray that those who feel the need to perpetuate violence may respond to your Holy Spirit and have a change of heart and mind. We ask that your comforting Spirit to be with those that mourn and heal those that are injured. We thank you Lord for your Son Jesus who shows us that the way of eternal life is without inflicting violence on other but to absorb the violence of others and reflect back your love. We pray with Jesus on the cross when he said, “Forgive them (and us) Father because they do not know what they are doing.” We pray this in the name of our risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Our readings this week are:

Acts 9:36-43 – Not all the disciples were men although if you randomly open the New Testament it would seem that they were all men. Our story this week is about a disciple named Tabitha (Dorcas) who also happened to be female. She became ill and died. Peter was fetched from a nearby town. Peter goes to the room where the body is lain, ushers out all the mourners, prays for a while, and then tells her to get up. Have we raised anyone from the dead lately?

Psalm 23 – I think the lectionary committee puts this in the cycle 9 times, or about 3 times a year. There is a small connection with the Gospel Lesson. Maybe also with the Acts lesson, because if anyone has been through the valley of the shadow of death it was Tabitha. There is also an overt connection with our Revelation reading.

Revelation 7:9-17 – Another worship scene in heaven with all the usual characters: a great multitude from all the nations, angels, elders, and the four living creatures. However, in this scene there are some new worshipers who are robed in white. These are the martyrs who have died (come through the great ordeal). They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and the Lamb with be their Shepherd. What visions of the Lamb that was Slaughtered have we had?

John 10:22-30 – The Lamb that takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29) has said, “I AM the Good Shepherd” (John 10:11). He is being challenged once again by the Jewish authorities while visiting the temple. “Are you or are you not the Messiah?” Jesus states that people who hear his voice and believe in him are his sheep and they can never be taken from him. Then in verse 30 Jesus says, “The Father and I are one.” Place yourself in the mind of the authorities. The man Jesus has just declared to be equal to God. What is your reaction? How do you feel about this? What do you want to do? (In the voice of a TV announcer) Now read verses 31-39 for the exciting conclusion of “Jesus in the Temple”.

Christ is Risen! Pass it On!

Peace in Christ,
Pastor Gary Taylor