Good Friday Reflections 2019

7 Words From the Cross

Word #1 Luke 23:33-35

Reflection:

Our first word, sometimes called the word of forgiveness. AS Jesus is hung on the cross, as he is being mocked and the soldiers divide up his few possessions as they would the spoils of war, he offers a word (a prayer?) of forgiveness for those who have abused and murdered him. “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing”.

But they do know what they are doing, don’t they? Depends how you look at it. Because we sometimes think we know what we are doing when something else is happening too. The leaders and the soldiers know that they are trying to keep the Roman Peace by disposing of a troublemaker. Jesus suggests that unknowingly they are doing something else. For centuries that thing they are being forgiven for, because they don’t know they are doing it, is the murder of the Messiah, the execution of the Son of God.

Forgiveness is a big part of how we are brought back to be at-one with God and with each other. Sometimes that forgiveness is when we know what we did. Sometimes it is when we don’t know how we screwed up. At the time of his death Jesus continues to remind us of the power of forgiveness. He continues to model what it means to forgive when it is not easy. When do we need to hear the words “forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” and know that we are a part of ‘them’? When do we help put people on crosses, when do we mock those who have been offered up?

Prayer:

God of grace and mercy. Today we remember that we all fall short of who we could be. Today we remember that we all need to forgive and to be forgiven. Open our hearts to your grace. Open our hearts to your mercy. Help us admit our failings, help us hear when we didn’t know what we were doing. We pray in the name of Jesus, who shows us that we are forgiven. Amen.

A Candle is Extinguished

Word #2 Luke 23:39-43

Reflection:

A 2nd word, one of salvation. Following close on the word of forgiveness comes the promise of paradise. Crucified beside Jesus are two “criminals”, maybe common thieves but likely brigands or rebels. One of them joins with the crowd, the other has mercy in his heart. Maybe this speaks to why they got themselves where they are? Was the first in it for himself while the 2^nd had loftier ideals?

At any rate the honesty of repentance, of naming the truth seems to be a part of salvation. Can we only truly embrace the Kingdom of God when we are willing to acknowledge who and where we are? Only then can we open ourselves to the grace and mercy of God, only then can we, as they say, throw ourselves on the mercy of the court.

The Kingdom of God is among us, Jesus said. The Kingdom of God is open to us. But we have to open ourselves first.

Prayer:

Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom. We echo the ancient words. We throw ourselves on God’s mercy as we open our hearts to the reality of God’s Reign. Or we want to at least. God help us to be that vulnerable and honest. In a world where we are told that anything goes to get what we want, help us know when that is wrong. Help us be able to accept our consequences. And then help us know that we are welcome in the Kingdom after all. Amen.

A Candle is Extinguished

Word #3 John 19:25-27

Reflection:

What is life without relationship? Our relationships are, hopefully, the places where we find support and comfort. We all need people who will care for us, we all need family. Sometimes family is by birth, sometimes it is by choice. In this 3^rd word, sometimes called the word of relationship, we are reminded of the importance of family.

This word also reminds us to always watch out for those we love. I suspect many of us would become a little bit self-absorbed were we hanging on that cross. But Jesus sees people in pain, people in need of love and acts on it. Maybe Jesus’ mother and the Beloved Disciple would have made that connection on their own. Maybe not. Jesus leaves nothing up to chance.

When do we need someone to step in as adoptive family and ease our pain? When do we need to adopt someone? Jesus calls us to care for and love each other. Whose pain can we share in our world today? Where can we build relationship?

Prayer:

God who loves us as a parent, we give thanks for the loving healthy relationships in our lives. Help us know when we need to open our hearts and welcome another in. Help us know when we need to allow ourselves to be welcomed in. God who calls us to live in relationship, may we be ready ad willing to share the joy and sorrow, the triumph and defeat of life with the people around us. Help us God to treat as family, everyone whose lie we share. Amen.

A Candle is Extinguished

Word #4 Mark 15:33-35

Reflection:

Have you ever felt totally alone? It is not a pleasant feeling. And in the end it doesn’t really matter if you are really as alone as you feel, being told that you are not alone may do nothing to change the feeling. Sometimes emotion trumps logic.

Over the centuries people have struggled with this word of abandonment. Surely Jesus could not have really felt abandoned by God, even at this hour of despair! Surely Jesus always knew himself help in God’s love! Surely Jesus, being God, could not possibly be abandoned by God!

At the same time Christian theology has always held that Jesus is fully divine AND fully human (even if Christian theology has never been able to make that statement make logical sense). To be human is to know those times when you feel alone. Jesus has seen most of his friends run away, as he had predicted. Jesus has been tried and convicted. Jesus is dying an agonizing death Feeling abandoned by everyone, even God, makes sense to me.

“We are not alone, we live in God’s world...in life in death, in life beyond death God is with us. We are not alone” Our United Church Creed reminds us of a great truth. But there are still times when God’s people feel abandoned. Looking at the world there are lots of times when it makes more sense that God has gone away, than to say God is still there and yet all this horror still exists. WE can tell our selves that all of creation is in God ad that God is always with us but have trouble seeing the evidence this is true. And emotion can trump logic, heart can trump brain. Do we have the courage to name the depth of feeling that comes with being abandoned?

Prayer:

God in whom we live and move and have our being, there are days. Days when we feel alone, lost, left behind. On those days move in our souls, stir the fire of hope in our bellies, remind us of the great truth—that we are never alone. Even when the world does terrible things, even when we can not hear your voice, we trust that you would never truly abandon us. It just feels that way, and we need you to know it. Amen.

A Candle is Extinguished

Word #5 John 19:28-29

Reflection:

Words 4 and 5 have moved us into the agony of the cross. First that word of emotional distress. Now this word of physical distress. John tells us that Jesus says this to fulfil Scripture. I tend to think that after a few hours in the Palestinian sun Jesus likely was thirsty (part of that fully human thing).

On a metaphorical level I think Jesus has been thirsty for a long time. Furthermore I think Jesus wants us to be thirsty too. Thirsty for the wine of justice, thirsty for the water of righteousness. Sadly I think that too often we settle for sour wine. Too often we think sour wine is all we have to give.

Every year I spend some of my time around Good Friday considering the crosses in our world. Whenever we accept those crosses as “the way things need to be” I think we settle for sour wine, a fluid that does not really satisfy at all. Maybe we should demand the good wine, the fresh water that heals and satisfies, maybe we should look to see what we have to offer to those who hunger and thirst for justice, peace, righteousness – for the Kingdom. In John Jesus begins his ministry in the town of Cana at a wedding where the wine has run out. At that point his mother pushes him to do something about it and solve the thirst problem. Now it is Jesus who is thirsty. What will we do? What will we offer?

Prayer:

God who first moved over the waters of creation called forth life, we thirst for the water of life. We pray both that you will slake our thirst and, at the same time keep us thirsting for the good wine, for the fresh water. In a world where “good enough” is often seen as the standard push us to work for the better. In a world where so many hunger and thirst push us to work to see them fed in body and in soul, as we live into the Kingdom of abundant love. Amen.

A Candle is Extinguished

Word #6 John 19:30-34

Reflection:

Counter-intuitively this penultimate word is called a word of Triumph. Triumph, as Jesus says it is finished and gives up his spirit. Does that make sense? Then again this day of a dark ad terrible story is called Good Friday, which also seems a bit counter-intuitive.

Where is the triumphant note in the last breath of Jesus? Some suggest that a better translation is in fact “it is competed” or “it is accomplished”. Do those other verbs say something different? They are all verbs of ending, but the latter two may lead us to that note of triumph.

‘Finished” could just mean an end, but ‘completed’ or ‘accomplished’ suggest work that has been done. There is a strong theological tradition that the work which is completed is the sacrificial death for the forgiveness of sins. This is certainly a possible reading of Scripture. I also think a reading is that the work of Jesus’ life is now finished/completed/accomplished. Jesus has done what ho could to proclaim and bring on the Kingdom of God. The next steps are not his. They may be God’s, they may be those Jesus taught and led, but he has done his part.

Still the only triumph I find in this part of the story, especially if I put myself in the context of not knowing the “rest of the story”, is the triumph of the powers and principalities. The powers that actively work against the Reign of God have won. They have stopped the revolution. “It is Finished” could also be “well we tried, but now we’re toast...”. I wonder what those standing on that hillside understood it to mean?

Prayer:

God of beginnings and endings, what is finished today? You call us to resist the powers and principalities but so often they seem stronger, better organized, better supported. So often they draw us in and we give in to the easier path they offer. What is accomplished on this day? As we move forward as people of faith help us to see the possibility of victory and not give in to defeat. Help us play our part in the growing of the Kingdom that Jesus proclaimed. Amen.

A Candle is Extinguished

Word #7 Luke 23:44-46

Reflection:

Our final word. Luke’s version of the dying words of Christ. Tradition seems to view it as the counter to word 4. The abandonment expressed in Eloi Eloi Lama Sabacthani is now reversed as Jesus dies with words of trust that God is present “”into your hands I commend my spirit”. If Jesus was abandoned by God they are now reunited.

Is it a sign of hope?

Is it a sign of surrender?

Is it a sign of trust?

Is it all 3?

On this Good Friday we have listened as Jesus dies on the cross. We have heard his words as shared by the Gospel writers. Now we come to the end. Just as Jesus was confident in the loving presence of God throughout the story to this point he dies in that same confidence. I see hope and trust there. Where God is present there is hope – even if it is really hard to see. As it stands now the sinfulness of the world seems to have won. All those things that work against God’s Reign are powerful. That is as true today as it was in the 1^st century. It is dangerous to upset the system, to challenge the “way things are”. But sometimes tat is were God leads us. May we have the confidence and trust of Jesus when we challenge the powers, when we are consumed with passion for the kingdom. God is in that activity.

Prayer:

God of the cross, God present at the end, God who awakes passion in us, we come to the end of today’s story. It brings us sorrow. It makes us wonder what it was all worth. But still you are here. Still you are here. Keep us filled with passion for the Kingdom when the way is hard. Keep us looking toward Jesus when our confidence fails. Give us the courage to risk a cross of our own, and we we have given it our all may we still have trust in you ad your Reign. We pray in the name of the one who hangs on the cross. Jesus of Nazareth. Amen

THE CHRIST CANDLE IS PUT OUT

Looking Ahead to April 14, 2019 -- Palm Sunday

This Sunday we start the final journey to Cross and Tomb as we remember the story of Jesus heading into Jerusalem.

The Scripture reading for this week is Luke 19:28-48

The Sermon title is And So It Begins

Early Thoughts: Holy Week is a week of contrasts. We go from the high excitement of the entry to the city to the darkness and despair of a cross on a hill to the promise shining with the Dawn of a new week and a new age.

And it all begins this Sunday.

When we read the story we see the hints of the shadow that is to come. Luke makes it clear that there are some in the crowd who are less than impressed with this display.[In their book The Last Week Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan suggest that this was not a spontaneous celebration but a carefully planned piece of street theater.] There is a threat in this display. The objectors know it and Jesus knows it.  When you are proclaiming a new way of being in the world there is a very strong chance that the "power and principalities" will strike back.

Then of course Jesus makes it plain that he is striking out against the way things are happening when the first thing he does after entering the city is cause trouble.

A new age is nigh.  The world is being reborn and renewed. That is never a safe or smooth or easy process.

So it begins....
--Gord

Looking Forward to March 30, 2018 -- Good Friday (10:00 am)

As we move through Holy Week we pause to remember the whole story. It may be tempting to jump from the joy of a Palm Parade to the joy of an empty tomb but that is not the story (Personally I think it also robs the Easter story of some of its power). Instead we follow the cycle from triumph to defeat to waiting for possible triumph. On Friday we sink to the depths of defeat. With the close of the Friday service we enter the time of vigil and waiting. In fact there is a tradition that the Good Friday service does not actually end. Instead it goes into recess, ending only after the first service of Easter.

This year we will read the Good Friday Scripture as told in John's Gospel (John 18:1-19:42).

Early Thoughts: What leaps out from the story this year? After all, we read one version of it every year.

One of the classical understandings of the cross is that Jesus dies in our place. Given that in chapter 11, after Jesus raised Lazarus, the comment is made that it is better that one man should die than the nation be destroyed it would appear that John's Gospel might support such a reading.  Though of course Caiaphas was referring to the quashing of a rabble-rousing revolutionary before he led the nation against Rome, not a theological point about sin and forgiveness. But at the same time John is unique in that by his account Jesus says "it is finished" and gives up his life at approximately the same time that the Passover lambs are being killed before roasting for the Seder meal that evening. So obviously John sees some symbolism here along the lines of Jesus dying on our behalf.

What might that mean? What might it mean that the Word-Made-Flesh, that God-With-Us chooses to give up his life? That would seem to be a primary theological question on Good Friday. What does it say about the kingship and power language so evident in the trial by Pilate? How does that tie in to Pilate and Jesus' exchange about truth? What does it say about teh leadership who are so willing to sacrifice Jesus to protect "the nation"?
--Gord

Looking Ahead to March 29, 2018 -- Maundy Thursday

The worship on Maundy Thursday invites us to remember Jesus' last meal with his friends.  So naturally we have our worship within a meal.  Our combined potluck/worship begins at 6:00 in the West basement.  Please use the north west door when you arrive.

During our gathering we will hear these Scripture Readings:

• John 13:3-17, 34-35
• 1 Corinthians 11:20-26

Early Thoughts: We call the Thursday before Good Friday Maundy.  Why? The title comes from the Latin word maundatum which means commandment. And that is because one of the traditional passages for that night is from John 13 where Jesus says "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another", a commandment given just after Jesus has modeled servant-leadership in the washing of the disciple's feet.

What does it mean to be known by the fact that we love one another?
What does it mean to be given that commandment the night before Jesus is arrested, tried, and convicted?

In the other three Gospels the Last Supper is set as a Passover Seder [in John's Gospel it is not as John has Jesus die about the time that the Passover lambs were being killed and prepped for roasting to become the main course for the Seder --symbolic much there John?]. In those accounts we get another commandment. We are commanded that we are to eat and drink and remember, that we break the bread and pass the cup in remembrance of Jesus.

How does the communal meal (which from reading Paul's words in 1 Corinthians we can tell has been a hallmark of Christian worship from the very beginning) tie in to the commandment to love?
--Gord

Looking Ahead to March 25, 2018 -- Palm Sunday

The Scripture for this week is John 12:12-36

The Sermon title is This Hour

Early Thoughts: Is this a royal procession? Is the the opening of a coronation festival?

Or is it the beginning of something much more somber? 

Which hour is this that Jesus refers to? The celebration or the tragedy? Possibly both?

AS John tells his story of Jesus this triumphant entry into the city immediately follows the raising of Lazarus. Which is important for two reasons. One is that the raising of Lazarus has greatly raised Jesus' status and so the crowds around him have grown larger. The other is that in response to the incident in Bethany the leadership in Jerusalem have made a fateful (and fatal) determination. For the good of the nation this Jesus must die. As readers we are aware of these machinations, while the excited crowds are less aware.

So today is indeed both comedy and tragedy. Both masks are being worn. We join in the celebrations and the glory.  With the Greeks watching we ask to know more. But also we see the gathering clouds on the horizon.

As the clouds grow thicker and heavier over the week, can we remain as children of the light?
--Gord

Looking Ahead to Holy Week-- Maundy Thursday (April 13) and Good Friday (April 14)

Thursday
Traditionally folks gather on the Thursday before Easter to remember key elements of the Passion story. We remember the stories of what happened the night before Jesus was executed. Here at St. Paul's it is our practice to gather for a potluck supper during which we have our worship service. This year's service will be at 6:00 in the West (or Small) Basement. Please use the Northwest door of the church if you are attending.

From the Gospel of John (which does not have a "Last Supper" story) we remember the story of Jesus kneeling down and washing the disciples feet as a model of servant leadership. Within the Roman Catholic church there is a tradition that the Pope re-enacts this every year, often with a group of prelates [although the current Pope has been known to go to a prison and wash the feet of women or Muslims]. In this same section of John's Gospel Jesus gives his disciples a New Commandment "that you love one another as I have loved you". It is from this that the name Maundy Thursday comes as the Latin for Commandment is maundatum.

From the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke -- this year we will be reading from Luke) the key piece that we remember is the Last Supper, the Passover meal that Jesus shares with his friends and at which he institutes the Eucharist/Communion meal.

The Scripture Readings we will share this year are:

• John 13:3-17, 34-35 Luke 22:24-27 (following which we will wash each other's hands)
• Luke 22:1-23, 1 Corinthians 11:20-26

Early Thoughts: Eat and remember, drink and remember.

From the beginning of the Jesus movement gathering at table has had a special place. On numerous occasions in the Gospels the people mutter how Jesus is acting inappropriately by eating with tax collectors and sinners and people of ill-repute. And after Easter, after they experienced Resurrection, the followers of Jesus continued to put gathering at table at the center of how they worshiped. Paul's words to the Corinthians make it plain how central the Lord's Supper (or Communion or Eucharist) was to the life of Christian faith -- and that the Corinthians weren't quite getting it right.

So it is that we continue to gather at the table to break the bread and share the cup. We continue to find it important to eat together as a fellowship. Because we believe that when we do this, we meet God.

Let us break bread together,  let us drink wine [or some other liquid] together, let us praise God together...


Friday
On Friday there is a lot of story. Some places tell the story from arrest to trial to crucifixion to burial. Some only tell the last part of the story. This year we will be in the latter group.

There are other traditional Scripture passages to read on Good Friday. One is Psalm 22, a piece of poetry that the early church appears to have used as a resource as they told the story of Jesus' execution. Another is from Isaiah, one of the "Servant Songs". While there is a great deal of debate as to who the Suffering Servant in Isaiah was originally meant to be (the Messiah? the Israelites?) the Christian church has largely understood (or re-understood) it to refer to Christ.

The readings we will hear this Friday are:

• Psalm 22: 1-22 (VU p.744)
• Isaiah 53:1-9
• Luke 23:33-38, 44-49

This year we are doing something a little bit different for Good Friday. Instead of telling the story and reflecting on why [if?] Jesus needed to be killed the service will take the form of a funeral for Jesus of Nazareth.

Looking Ahead to April 9, 2017 -- Palm Sunday, Stewardship 3

The Scripture readings this week are:

• Luke 19:29-40 
• Matthew 5:13-16

The Sermon title is Called to Shine, Called to Season, Called to Praise

Early Thoughts: A parade! Do we stand and watch and wait or do we join in?

Is the Palm Sunday story a stewardship text?  Not usually. But it might be.

As Luke tells the story, Jesus tells those who oppose him, those who want the mob to calm down (either to avoid arousing the ire of the Roman soldiers or simply because they disagree with the mob) that if the crowd were silent the stones themselves would cry out. Sometimes [often?] the presence of God in the world is so overpowering that we simply HAVE to respond.

SO how do we respond?

WE often talk about Palm Sunday as the story of a parade. But I think it is more the story of a carnival (Marcus Borg and John Crossan describe it as carefully orchestrated street theatre). A Parade is often a more passive event for many.  It goes by while the crowd stands and watches. Palm Sunday is a time when everybody is getting involved, indeed it is this level of participation that seems to raise the eyebrows of some of the powerful.

When God is evident in our midst the call is to respond, to get involved, not only to watch in awe and wonder.

Is God in our midst? How will we respond?
--Gord

Looking Ahead to March 25, 2016 -- Good Friday

The Scripture for this service will be:

• Mark 15:1-39
• Mark 15:40-47

The Meditation is titled The King Enthroned

Early Thoughts: Is this a coronation? Or is it a parody of a coronation?

"King of the Jews".  That is the accusation brought before Pilate. This is the crime for which Jesus is executed--for claiming to be a king not authorized by Rome.

Is this his coronation?

Maybe.

Given that the Kingdom of which Jesus speaks is not like the Kingdoms of the earth, given that in this Kingdom the last will be first and the first last, given that you enter the Kingdom by denying yourself and following the one who hangs on the cross then maybe this is a throne.

SO as we gather beside the throne do we jeer and ridicule like the crowds do? Or are we alert to what is really happening, like the centurion is? Or do we watch and wait from a distance, trying to decide what to do next?

--Gord

Looking Forward to March 24, 2016 -- Maundy Thursday

This Thursday we will have a combined potluck-worship service at 6:00 in the Small/West Basement.  Communion will be included as a part of this service.

The Scripture Readings we will hear are:

• John 13:3-17, 34-35
• Exodus 12:1-14
• Mark 14:22-42

There will be two Reflections, one after the Exodus passage and one after the Mark passage.

Early Thoughts: A meal of memory.  Or rather 2 meals of memory form our scripture reflection.

First we have the central meal of Jewish faith. The meal of freedom. The meal that reminds people of what God has done but also that God is still working for freedom and liberation.

Then we have another meal.  A meal that launches from the meal of liberation but takes on a whole new life and understanding without losing all of the old.  From that meal we head deeper into the story. The clouds grow darker and the tone more somber.

AS we prepare for the darkest part of our faith story, can we watch and wait and pray?
--Gord

Looking Forward to March 20, 2016 -- Palm Sunday

Our service this week will begin with the annual Palm Parade.  Gather in the Narthex if you want to be a part of the parade

The Scripture Readings this week are:

• Mark 11:1-11
• Mark 14:1-9

The Sermon title is Counting the Cost

Early Thoughts: A parade and a rather strange story about costly perfume. Is this how we start on the road to the cross?

Yes.  At least in part.

We come in triumph but suddenly we hear about a plot and betrayal. Then we watch as Jesus' feet are anointed in preparation for his burial. And we are challenged to consider the cost.

What are the costs of following Jesus? What are the costs of sharing his passion? When sharing his passion leads to a conflict of what the best use of resources are how do we respond?

A large part of me sides with the crowd in this story.  It seems like a terrible waste to use all this expensive ointment in such a way. But sometimes we make other choices.  Tomorrow we can go back to supporting the least among us (Jesus never says this is a bad idea) but today we choose to celebrate the one who is among us, if only for a short period of time.

Because we know that the feet of doom are coming. The plot is underway. But the Kingdom is also coming. That plot has yet to reach its conclusion--even 2000 years later.

What are the costs? What are we willing to pay?
--Gord

Looking Forward to April 3, 2015 -- Good Friday

The Scripture reading today is Matthew 27:27-61

The Sermon title is Death that Shakes Reality

Early Thoughts: Why do we tell this story every year?

Well in part because if we don't then the core story of Christian faith--the story we will tell on Sunday--makes absolutely no sense. How can there be resurrection with no death?

And in part we tell the story because we believe that there is something different about this execution. Because that is what it is.  An execution. But unlike many executions it is one that shakes the world. Quite literally as Matthew tells it.

Of course much of that earth-shaking power is seen in retrospect, with eyes that know "the rest of the story".  But those who were present that day did not know the rest of the story. Jesus had, as the gospels tell us, predicted that his death would not be the end but did they really believe that?

So this is a death that rocked their world.  They believed great things were about to happen. Instead this happened. Reality shakes us up sometimes.

Then there is the centurion. This death rocked his world too. He saw things totally differently.

What ripples shake us in our comfortable (metaphorically not physically) pews as we read this story again this year?
--Gord

Looking Forward to April 2, 2015 -- Maundy Thursday

This service is a potluck supper with worship intertwined through the meal, culminating with a celebration of Communion.

We will have 2 Scripture readings with a brief meditation following each.

First we will have Exodus 12:1-14 with the meditation Freedom.

Early Thoughts: Matthew Mark and Luke agree that the last supper Jesus share with his friends is the Passover meal (in John's Gospel Jesus dies on the day of Passover, about the time the Passover Lamb is being slain).  And so the life and death of Jesus become tied directly to FREEDOM (which, as Mel Gibson's William Wallace tells us, they can not take away even if they take our lives)

Passover is the meal of liberation and freedom.  Passover reminds us that God works actively to free God's people from slavery.  What does Jesus set us free from?  What enslaves us?

The other passage is Matthew 26:17-30 with the meditation Bread for the Journey.

Early Thoughts:   It is a meal at the center of our faith tradition. From the beginning Christians have broken bread together.  It is the meal which nourishes us in heart and soul and body.  Not because of the food, or not solely because of the food (in the early church it appears to have always been part of a full meal). But also because we declare our faith that when we break the bread together Christ is revealed and present in our midst. Christ present in the loaf and cup renews our soul. The Spirit moving through our gathered community revitalizes us.

And so this meal does prepare us for the next stage of the journey.

Looking Forward to April 13, 2014 -- Palm Sunday, Lord's Prayer Series Concludes.

The Scripture reading this week is Matthew 21:1-11

We will also use (as a way of reflecting on our faith story) a video clip from Jesus Christ Superstar 2000).

The sermon title is Lord, Teach Us to Pray: The Kingdom, The Power, The Glory 

Early Thoughts: It is Palm Sunday.  The day we celebrate the triumphal entry.  We join the crowds proclaiming the coming of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory.....

Or maybe not so much.

What kind of king do we celebrate with our Palm parade?  Given what follows, where is the power and the glory?

In our video clip Jesus suggests we misunderstand what power and glory is.  I note that none of the Gospel accounts of the entry tell us what Jesus thinks of the display. in their book The Last Week  John Crossan and Marcus Borg suggest that the triumphal entry is a deliberately staged piece of political street theater.  If so it is likely along the lines of satire...

If the Kingdom and the power and the glory are wholly different than we expect, maybe we need to think about what we are praying for.  And maybe (just maybe) that will help us reconsider how to be the church in a post-Christendom era????
--Gord

Looking Forward to March 29, 2013 -- Good Friday

Our Good Friday worship will be at 10:00 AM

The Scripture Readings that morning will be:
Psalm 22:1-18
Luke 22:24-23:56

The long Luke reading will be broken up with sung verses of Were You There?

The Meditation title is The End

Early Thoughts:  What must they have thought?  As they watched him led away, as they watched him hung on the cross, as they watched him laid in the tomb.  What thought would have come to their mind?

One of the Gospel accounts has Jesus; last words as "It is Finished".  I am thinking that must be a good way to sum up what his friends and followers felt on that day.

It is done.  We had such great hopes but now they are gone.  We thought the world was going to be changed but now our hope is dashed.

It is finished?

Looking Forward to March 28, 2013 -- Maundy Thursday

For Maundy Thursday this year we are having a Potluck Supper Worship at 5:30 in the West (Small) Basement.

The Scripture Readings that evening will be:

• John 13:1-17, 34-35
• Luke 22:14-23

There will also be a Passover Story called Miriam's Cup read.

 After the John passage is read folk will be invited to wash each other's hands as we prepare to eat together.


After the Luke passage is read there will be a short meditation on the Last Supper as we prepare to share communion.

Please Join us as we break bread together.

Looking Forward to March 24, 2013 -- Palm Sunday

The Scripture Readings this week are:

• Luke 19:28-40
• Luke 22:47-66; 23:13-24

The Sermon title is Mob Politics 

Early Thoughts: Over and over again we have seen the power of the mob.  Mobs can change the world.  Sometimes for the better.  Sometimes for the worse.

This week we hear about two different mobs.   One on the roadside shouting words of praise.  Another gathering to shout words of scorn and condemnation.

Mobs are interesting things.  In the midst of a mob people will do and say (again for better or worse) things they may not do or say on their own.  A mob can pull us along with it.  A mob can make leaders think something is more supported than it actually is.  A mob can drive events forward.

This week we hear about a mob that gathers to share hope and joy.  They gather to celebrate the coming of one who they believe to be The One.  Why are they there?  Were they just in the right place at the right time or did someone invite them?  How many of them are caught up in the emotion of the event, blinded in the joy of the moment to the realities of the world in which they live?  Can this mob transform the world?

This week we hear of a mob that gathers to deal with a troublemaker,  They gather to witness the arrest and trial and to ensure that the "proper" decision gets made.  Why are they there?  Did they join in of their own accord or were they stirred up by an another?  Were they afraid of this man?  Were they angry with him?  How many of them were just caught up in the emotion around them?  Were they joining in lest they be the next on trial?  Can this mob stop things from changing?

Mobs are interesting things.  Mob politics is a dangerous game to play.  What is the mob story this week?
--Gord

Looking FOrward to April 6, 2012 -- Good Friday

Our Good Friday Service will be held at 10:00
The Scripture Readings for this year are:

• Mark 14:26-15:41
• Psalm 22 (VU p.744 Part One)
• Mark 15:42-47

The Meditation title is The Crosses of the World

Early Thoughts: A couple of weeks ago an unarmed young man heading home from the convenience store was followed and shot by the local neighbourhood watch captain because he looked "suspicious".  And as the story unfolds it appears that the real reason he appeared suspicious was not his wardrobe, or his activity, but the colour of his skin.  And once again the cross comes in to view.

What are the crosses in the world today?  Where are people unjustly tried and convicted and punished for being true to who they are, or merely for being who they are?

That is part of what Good Friday calls us to remember.  On Good Friday we not only remember the story, but we need to acknowledge that the powers and the principalities still rule the world.  WE need to ask ourselves where we stand when it comes to the crosses in the world today. 

This year I invite you to come and share in those thoughts...
--Gord

Looking Ahead to April 5, 2012 -- Maundy Thursday

This is a combined meal/worship service (potluck) starting at 5:30 in the small basement.  Our worship will be interspersed with the meal.  There will be 3 little reflections:

#1
Scripture Reading:  John 12:1-8
Reflection title: A Waste of Ointment? -- I'll be honest, I tend to read this story and agree with Judas.  It does seem terribly wasteful.  But is there something deeper there?????

#2

Scripture Reading:  Exodus12:1-14

Reflection Title: The Meal of Liberation -- Since the beginning, Christians have linked Easter to the Passover festival.  And that festival was about being set free from bondage.  Truly revolutionary!

#3

Scripture Reading: Mark14:12-26

Reflection Title: Our Meal of Faith -- "On the night before he was betrayed...." a phrase that often shows up in our communion prayers.  When we break the bread and share the cup we are, among other things, remembering this night and this meal. 

Looking Forward to April 1, 2012 -- Palm Sunday

The Scripture Readings this week are:

• Mark 11:1-11
• 1 Corinthians 1: 18-25
• Isaiah 50:4-9a

The Sermon Title is A Fool's Errand

Early Thoughts: 60 years ago the world watched as Queen Elizabeth II was crowned. This Sunday we talk about another coronation procession, one that seems turned upside down.

The imagery and language used in Palm Sunday liturgy makes it sound like Jesus is heading for a coronation.  "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord"  "Here comes your King, riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey" .  And quite possibly some of the people along the roadside truly expected that it was the road to a coronation, or at least a revolution.

But we who know the rest of the story can see different.  If Jesus understood that he was heading to glory in the same way those crying Hosanna understood it then he was on a fool's errand.  OR maybe it was the foolish hopes of those around him that are the topic of the sermon title?

To be a fool is to be willing to turn the world and its understandings upside down.  It isn't just about playing tricks on each other.  This year, on April Fool's day, come and celebrate a coronation procession turned upside down, in honour of the one who calls us to be fools.
--Gord

Looking Forward to April 22 -- Good Friday

The Scripture Readings for Friday are:

• Psalm 22:1-18
• Matthew 26:31-27:66

The Sermon title is The World Says NO!

Early Thoughts: Why did Jesus die? (for one look at this question see this article) Why do we tell this story? What is the value in remembering the torture and death of another human?

These are the sort of questions that come to many minds this week each year.  And yet it is my contention that we HAVE to tell this part of the story if Easter is going to mean anything.  Resurrection faith only makes sense if we acknowledge the power of death in the first place.

Jesus of Nazareth offered a different vision of how the world could be.  Jesus offered a choice between loyalty to the old ways or embracing God's ways.  Jesus challenged the powerful in their bad choices and their failure to care for all of God's people.  And in response the powers of his world said a loud NO to Jesus.  And so they had him killed.

But that is not the only reason we tell the story.  It is not just a set-up for Sunday.  We tell the story because, in many ways, it is still happening.  The world is still being offered a choice of "how then shall we live?".  And all too often the world continues to say NO.  Crucifixions still happen (metaphorically speaking).  And we forget that at our peril.

Come Friday morning to hear again the story.  But come also to allow ourselves to be challenged about what COULD be.  Come and be challenged about whether we are part of the world saying NO or if we are willing to chance the cross.  Dark and depressing the story becomes.  Dark the path that leads, eventually, to light.  But the dark is part of our story.  It is part of who we are.  And so we need to acknoweldge it.
--Gord