Monday Morning Church

Lent, Monday Morning Church No Responses »
Mar 022009

Happy Monday Morning

It was different for me to log on to my computer this morning and hear from my friends about how much snow they are getting all up and down the East Coast.  I sat back in my chair and told them that here in Baldwinsville I did not see one flake fall from the sky.  The “Snow Capital” of the world did not get any snow!!

I think I am fully prepared for snow from Thanksgiving to Easter.  I tell myself that I do not have the right to complain about the snow between these times.  If it snows before Thanksgiving or after Easter you might hear a complaint from me.

I want to say thank you again to everyone who participated in the celebration/service last Saturday. It was a memorable evening and I am so glad that I was able to celebrate with everyone.  Just the idea of putting something together like that and have the reception that we did means alot to me and my family.

Psalm 22
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night, but find no rest.  Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.  In you our ancestors trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them.  To you they cried, and were saved; in you they trusted, and were not put to shame.  But I am a worm, and not human; scorned by others, and despised by the people.  All who see me mock at me; they make mouths at me, they shake their heads;  “Commit your cause to the Lord; let him deliver— let him rescue the one in whom he delights!”

9I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:  You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him; stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!  For he did not despise or abhor the affliction of the afflicted; he did not hide his face from me, but heard when I cried to him.  From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will pay before those who fear him.  The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord. May your hearts live forever! All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord; and all the families of the nations shall worship before him.

28For dominion belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.  To him, indeed, shall all who sleep in the earth bow down; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, and I shall live for him.  Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord, and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn, saying that he has done it.

Pastor’s Reflection

Pain

When I read this psalm all I can think about is pain.  I imagine Jesus hanging on the cross as these words come from his mouth.  I feel what he is feeling and it is hard to imagine.  Then I ask myself what does real pain feel like?

Too many of us have experienced true pain….emotional pain in the loss of a parent or child, physical pain from an injury….sometimes our pain is too much to bear alone.  Well the end of the psalm talks about two things that can take away our pain.  The first being the community that is gathered together.  If you are experiencing pain one of the best places to go is a gathering of a community, a community where people have experienced the same kinds of pain that you are feeling.(That is easier said than done)

The second place you can turn to is to God.  God is the one who can take away all our pain.  When it might not feel like it in the midst of our pain God resides, God is in the places we least expect to see God.  Times when we feel like we are further from God, God is there.

When I think of true pain I remember the 1997 Blockbuster Titanic.  I think of the storyline between Rose and Jack and what they went through.  Then I imagine them holding hands after the ship sank and Rose saying Goodbye to Jack after she realized he was gone.

It is so hard to say goodbye — To know that there is someone that we love that we will never see again.  But my hope is that through the love of the Christian community we can gather together and support one another through our tough times and celebrate with one another when times are good!

Prayer

Oh Lord, you know our hearts, you know what we long for and why we hurt.  We ask your presence be upon all who are hurt, all who mourn and all who need your comfort and grace.  Be with those people and strengthen them to reach out to you and their brothers and sisters in Christ.  Enable those who they reach out to, to give them strength and hope and love.  In Jesus Name  Amen.

Posted by papajoemc at 3:14 pm

Monday "Morning" Church

Lent No Responses »
Feb 242009

I have started a weekly email for the people of my church.  About 45 people have signed up to recieve it.  I think it is a great way to bring Sunday morning into the everyday lives of the people who come to the church on 370.  I have gotten positive feedback on it so far and I would like to also share it here!

Ahhh what a busy week in the life of the church.  Busy in a good way!!

As we approach Lent I am reminded about how wonderful of a season this is….many times I think that Lent is such as downer — there is talk about sacrifice and we always have to “give up” stuff we like.  It can really bring someone down!!

But then I start to think about Lent as a time of self reflection – a time of self renewal and when I think of things in those terms I really have a different view of Lent and a different appreciation for the forty day journey.

As you start your Lenten journey I challenge you to push yourself this year, if you are someone who gives up something as you walk with Jesus in the wilderness really think about what you are doing and why – take the time to pray, take the time to listen to God’s Word in your life.  I love the idea of silence during Lent, silence to reflect as we renew ourselves.

During the season of Lent my reflections for the emails will be related to the Psalms and something else in current day life.  The first Psalm is number 25

Psalm 25

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.  O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me.  Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.  Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.  Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.  Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.  Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O Lord!  Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.  He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.

Pastor’s Reflection

When I read this psalm words and music from the band Creed flow through my head.  Here they are

HIGHER

When dreaming I’m guided through another world  — Time and time again-  –At sunrise I fight to stay asleep— Cause I don’t want to
leave the comfort of this place— Cause there’s a hunger, a longing to escape — From the life I live when I’m awake  — So let’s go there
Let’s make our escape — Come on, let’s go there — Let’s ask can we stay ?

Can you take me higher ?
To the place where blind men see
Can you take me higher ?
To the place with golden streets

Although I would like our world to change — It helps me to appreciate — Those nights and those dreams — But, my friend, — I’d sacrifice all those nights — If I could make the Earth — and my dreams the same— The only difference is  — To let love replace all our hate — So let’s go there — Let’s make our escape — Come on, let’s go there  — Let’s ask can we stay ?

Up high I feel like  — I’m alive for the very first time — Up high I’m strong  — enough to take these dreams —And make them mine

Can you take me higher lord?  can you lift me up to the sky — too many times are we here on Earth trying to get “higher”  if that means more money, more time, or even to separate ourselves from reality by drinking or drugs — there are too many people looking to escape.  But instead of escaping to the one who can lift us up and who brings us in we look for other places to escape.

Prayer

Oh Lord, as we put our trust in you may we be lifted to new levels.  Watch over us Lord as we begin our Lenten journey.  Be with us and let us know of your presence in our lives in all that we do.  Help us to connect with you in ways we have never imagined before.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen

Posted by papajoemc at 2:00 pm Tagged with: , , , ,
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