Why Come to Church Tonight (Ash Wednesday) and this Sunday, February 26

Meditation Text: “Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God… [Mark 1:14)”

Happy Ash Wednesday.

Biblical scholar Walter Brueggemann believes that even though the majority of people in the United States say they are Christian, many are implicit atheists. He reflects that the “prevalant American predilection for an “irrelevant transcendence” and “cozy immanence” are “pet gods of our culture,” which circumscribe God. God cannot be contained in human thought.

Yet, God is close to us and all creation, even living within our deepest selves! That’s the good news of God, which Jesus preached.

Traditionally Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fasting from meat; with a simpler diet during the day, we are reminded of those who have little and suffer from poverty. It is they who need our help. It is they of which we want to be mindful enough to actually help during Lent. Tonight, our service at Ascension is at 7:00 p.m, with sermon, Holy Communion, and imposition of ashes.

I hope that you are able to take today to reflect on the meaning of Lent, your own life’s pilgrimage to more deeply knowing and loving God and God’s good news of healing, justice, and eternal love.

Why Come to Church this Sunday? February 12, 2012 To learn how to come alive to our truest power!

Christ Healing a Leper   REMBRANDT 1957-60

Why Come to Church this Sunday? February 12, 2012

Meditation text: “Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand…” (Mark 1:41)

"It is at that knife-edge of uncertainty where we come alive to our truest power."  -- Joanna Macy

The Bible shows Jesus as a loving change agent; he wants to right wrongs and heal people.

But change is difficult for humans, and we don’t like living on the “knife-edge of uncertainty.”

Sunday’s scripture text (2 Kings 5:1-14) includes the delicious story of a role reversal by a man of power (Syrian general) who is healed of leprosy through a change in attitude toward humility; he is helped by “little people,” especially a captive slave girl.

But Western culture encourages us to be self-reliant, and to see individual pursuit of happiness as our greatest goal. Are those goals truly pointing to abundant life?

Come to church this Sunday to see if this question about abundant life leads to possible answers about what brings deep happiness and meaning. Hint: Christians through the ages have said that abundant life comes through reliance upon others and the Source of Love.

See you in church!

Pr. Nancy

 

Why Come to Church This Sunday? February 5, 2012

Meditation text: He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them. (Mark 1:31)

The story in the Gospel of Mark about the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law (1:29-39), is one of many healing stories. Jesus was known all around the Galilee area as a healer and teacher. The story tells us that Peter had a wife (wouldn’t it be wonderful to know from scripture the names of the disciples’ wives, because surely they supported the disciples’ ministries, and did Peter’s wife?).

Supporting one another’s ministries in service to each other and the world is the role of the church, based in the ministry of Jesus. We strengthen one another in worship together, in care during times of joy and sorrow, in discernment, and in love.

Join us in worship this Sunday.  

Pr. Nancy

Why come to church this Sunday? January 29, 2012 To learn about healing and love

Why come to church this Sunday, January 29, 2012?

to go where love leads and to serve where love calls

 These are the purposes of the New England synod; let’s make them our own at Ascension!

Where we will be called by love we don’t know. But neither did Jesus. Life kept happening to him, and he responded. Isn’t that the same for us?

The Gospel text for this Sunday (Mark 1:21-28) is an exorcism; Jesus’ power prevails against death and disease. Today, we think of psychological or emotional illness as the equivalent of demon possession and are grateful for all healers, including ourselves. God is not neutral about wanting abundant life for all humanity and God’s good creation! Even though we still struggle against all that diminishes life, the Power of Love and Life is ultimately the strongest truth.

Where are you called to love and serve? Come and understand yourself and the world more deeply and find encouragement to love. Come to church this Sunday! We welcome you.

 

Are you more loving or judging? Find out by coming to church this Sunday; January 22, 2012

Jonah and the Whale, Phillip Ratner, 1998. The Safad Bible, Israel Bible Museum.

Weekly meditation texts:

“And Jesus said, Follow me.” (Mark 1:17) or ‘Satisfy all our thirst with your living water, Jesus Christ.” …(Thanksgiving at the Font, V, Evangelical Lutheran Worship, p. 71

Sometimes we confuse moral judgments, important as they may be, with love, grace, and compassion. Growing spiritually really means that we judge less and love more.

The sermon title this week is: “What Jonah didn’t understand about water: Or How Jonah came to his senses to see how judgment is worthless without love.”

I got a lot out of reading the very short, four chapter book of Jonah this week. It's funny and very serious. It leads to questions like: how are you self-righteous? Where in your life do you need God’s love and grace?

During the childrens’ sermon, we’ll place the peace pinwheels we made last week into a “flower” box to decorate the church through Epiphany, reminding us of the hopes for peace.

See you Sunday!
Blessings, Pr. Nancy

Why Come to Church Martin Luther King Sunday?

Why Come to Church this Sunday?

Weekly Meditation Text: “Lord you have searched me out; O Lord, you have known me.”

To consider how God’s love compels us to create the beloved community! The church is to exemplify a beloved community, based in intimate “knowing” of ourselves and others, mutual respect, and compassion. And we have few better mentors than The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He is one of the great lovers, described in James Fowler’s stages of faith, as a person of universalizing faith.  (http://www.exploring-spiritual-development.com/JamesFowlersStages.html). Come to a beloved community, to help one another grow in insight, justice, and radical love. Sunday school class will design pinwheels for peace, to which the adult parishioners will contribute. Rachel Stampul will update us on her ministry to create the next generation of peacemakers.

Blessings, Pr. Nancy

Why come to chuch this Sunday? January 8, 2012 The Baptism of Our Lord

Quote for the week: You are my beloved!

Do you feel beloved? Because of our baptisms, we are children of God, beloved by God.

“For in Christ Jesus, you are all children of God through faith.”

This Sunday celebrates the baptism of Jesus. Even though he was baptized as an adult, and we have just celebrated his birth, we celebrate this ancient feast on this day. Why? Because we as Christians are born again in baptism and in daily life as Christians.

Why come to church this Sunday? To feel and experience God’s love through the beloved community of the church. What a great way to start the new year!

Faithfully, Pr. Nancy