Palm Sunday

April 14 - Palm Sunday

“I wonder what was at work in the mind of Jesus of Nazareth as he jogged along on the back of that faithful donkey. 


Perhaps his mind was far away to the scenes of his childhood, feeling the sawdust between his toes in his father’s shop. He may have been remembering the high holy days in the synagogue with his whole body quickened by the echo of the ram’s horn. 


Or perhaps he was thinking of his mother, how deeply he loved her and how he wished that there had not been laid upon him this Great Necessity that sent him out on to the open road to proclaim the Truth, leaving her side forever.


It may be that he lived all over again that high moment on the Sabbath when he was handed the scroll and he unrolled it to the great passage from Isaiah, ‘The spirit of the Lord is upon me to preach good news to the poor.’ 


I wonder what was moving through the mind of the Master as he jogged along on the back of that faithful donkey.”


Palm Sunday April 11th, 1976 St John The Divine
(Written by Howard Thurman - He was installed as the Honorary Cannon at St John on this day)

The Liturgy of the Palms


4 Lent Year C Sermon

Lent 4C 2019-03-31

(written by Kit Allgood-Mellema)

Today’s gospel reading is one of a series of parables found in Luke, beginning in chapter 13 and

continuing through chapter 16. What is a parable? It’s a short and simple story used to illustrate

a truth. A parable’s meaning may not be stated, but it is intended to be fairly obvious. We often

aren’t told the end result – remember last week’s parable of the fig tree? Did it produce fruit

the following year? I think of a parable as a piece of paper with only a few lines and shapes

drawn on it; as I listen, I’m given a box of colored pencils and invited to connect the lines and

shapes, add the color and complete the picture.

The parable we heard today is one of the best-known, called the Prodigal Son. First let me say

that, given the chance, I’d re-name this parable. I’ll share it with you in a bit. Jesus told this

parable in response to Pharisees grumbling about him eating with sinners. The story is about a

man who had two sons. Here’s where I started to connect some of the lines and shapes, and

take a different look at the story. I guessed this man was fairly wealthy, with land, livestock,

servants, and enough money to give his sons. This was a family, so I included a mother, a

woman who was wise and adept at taking care of a busy household. She and her husband were

deeply in love with each other, a relationship that was the foundation of the family life. They

both loved and cherished their sons.

The two sons were very different – the older son was always serious, introverted and quiet,

intelligent, loyal to his family and hardworking; the younger was smart, quick, happy-go-lucky

and outgoing, easily distracted. He played pranks on his brother, who tolerated his antics as he

kept an eye on him. As different as the boys were, there was true affection between them.

No one was surprised when younger brother came to his father asking for his inheritance. That

night, father and mother quietly agreed it was risky to give it to him, but they reminded

themselves they loved the young man and had raised him well, and so it was done. A few days

later, the boy left after embracing his mother and kissing his father, while his older brother

watched from the fields, nodding and waving as the boy strode away.

And so the waiting began. The entire household felt the change. As days turned into weeks,

occasionally a traveler would stop by with cautious news – I saw your boy a few weeks ago. He

looks all right and sends his best. Older brother would shake his head and turn away as the

parents exchanged glances. Mother spent hours in prayer; father had many sleepless nights as

he struggled between anger and worry. Weeks turned into months, and the news dwindled

until one day a traveler, in answer to father’s questions, reluctantly admitted he had seen

younger son, poor, starving and ill, working as a swineherd, an unthinkable job for a Jew. That

night, while mother tearfully prayed and reminded the distraught father they loved their son

and had raised him well, the older son sat aside, nursing his anger at the grief his brother had

brought on the family, and aching inside at the loss of his friend.

Time moved on. There was no further word. Everyone felt the weight of the days. Mother held

the household together, and spent time with older brother. Older brother immersed himself in

work while father went through his days, sometimes supervising in the fields, but usually sitting

under the tree and staring absent-mindedly in the distance. On one of those days, he saw a

traveler approach, and began to call to mother to prepare a place for a guest, when he took

another look. He pulled himself up, and while the whole household stared in amazement,

father broke into a run toward the road, returning in a few moments with tears streaming

down his face and his arms wrapped around a thin, dirty, barely clothed young man, hardly

recognizable as the younger son. After he had composed himself, father and mother helped the

servants wash and clothe their son while a feast was prepared. In his exhausted state, the boy

was confused by the welcome; he had expected to be punished and sent away. But his father

had brushed away his confession, and here he was in the arms of his loving family.

During the feast, mother slipped out, looking for older brother. But father had already found

him and was listening quietly to his son as he poured out his anger, fears and grief. Father

lovingly embraced him, and looking at him with compassion, reminded older son that his love

for him had only grown deeper over the time they had been together. He begged him to join

the celebration, reminding him this was ‘his brother’ whom he had always loved.

We don’t know the end of the parable, but I believe over time, the entire family reconciled as

they began life together anew. What else could they do? That was their foundation, it was what

they were raised with and knew deep in their hearts.

I think that’s what Jesus was saying to the Pharisees and to us with this story: your foundation

is love. That’s what you see me doing right now – loving the ones who need it most. That’s

what you’ve been raised on, and it’s always been there for you to see and share. No matter

what you do, how far away you stray, or how long you wander, God is waiting to shower you

with extravagant love, whether you are angry or lost or afraid, whether or not you think you are

worth it. God will always have arms of love stretched out, showing us how we are to embrace

all our lost and wounded sisters and brothers in love.

What would I call this parable? The Parable of Our Loving Family. Like us, this was indeed a

family grounded in love.

Thanks be to God.

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32


Pray together

March 18

This memory came up today on my facebook feed from last year.

My husband and I welcomed Omar into our family last year when we hosted him as an Exchange student.

He is from Cairo, Egypt. He is faithful and passionate about his Muslim religion practices and prayer life.

This photo was from a presentation he gave at St Peter's about his religious beliefs and prayer practices. (I can’t figure out how to post the photo here)

Those of us in attendance that day, were blessed beyond measure, to spend time that afternoon, listening and asking questions.

I am reminded of an elder (at St Peter's) words of invitation to The Lord's Prayer at the St Simeon and St Anna Morning Prayer Service every Friday:

"Shall we pray together?"

International Women's Day

Prayer for International Women's Day

(By: Education for Justice)

Women are a reflection of the glory of God. Today we honor the women of all times and all places:

Women of courage.
Women of hope.

Women suffering
Women mourning.
Women living fully.
Women experiencing joy.
Women delighting in life.

Women knowing the interconnectedness of the human family.
Women honoring the sacredness of the relational, the affective.

Women quietly tending the garden of human flourishing. 
Women boldly leading the transformation of unjust global structures.

Women seeking Wisdom. 
Women sharing Wisdom.

Women receiving Love.
Women giving Love.

Women: life-giving.
Women: the image of God.

Loving God, we celebrate your faithfulness and love. On this day we commit ourselves to the promotion of the full humanity of all women everywhere. We know that whatever denies, diminishes, or distorts the full humanity of women is not of God.

Help us to be faithful to your call to love.
Amen.

SERMON - LAST EPIPHANY - MARCH 3

Last Epiphany Year C

March 3, 2019

Exodus 34:29-35; Psalm 99;

2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2; Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a)

 

Sequence hymn (LEVS 115) -10am service

Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me. Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me. Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me. Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me. Amen

When we turned the page to begin a new year on the church calendar on the first Sunday of Advent, we were invited to embark on a journey this year… to explore the ways the people of St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church are being called to live into our baptismal promises, by following in the Way of Jesus: The Way of Love, in our church, in our community, and in our world. I have been referring to a resource called, The Way of Love: Practices for a Jesus-Centered Life, a framework of spiritual practices commended for use, by our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry.

We began our year-long journey of being introduced to the various practices, during the seasons of Advent & Christmas, with exploring the practice of Turn… Turning towards Jesus… Pausing, listening and choosing to follow Jesus…in walking the Way of Love…

The 2nd practice we have explored throughout the season of Epiphany has been the practice of Learn. We were invited to Reflect on Scripture each day, especially on Jesus’ life and teachings.

In this season of Epiphany, there were a variety of ways that people gathered here at St Peter’s to learn more about the scriptures, especially on Jesus’ life and teachings. On Mondays, scripture reflection time was held…a time for people to gather and discuss the upcoming Sunday scriptures. On Tuesday evenings, a group has been gathering to learn about Episcopal Beliefs and practices, in relationship to Jesus’ life and teachings. On Wednesday evenings, people have gathered for a Taize Service…a quiet, contemplative way of listening to the scriptures and teachings of Jesus’ life. On Thursdays, a group has gathered (and perhaps many of you at home) to read the entire book of Romans throughout Epiphany.

 On Fridays, those gathered for the St Simeon & St Anna Morning Prayer Service, read scriptures, and pray for the church, and especially for the young people and the children.

I know of many of you who explore the scriptures daily, through your own daily practices.

And of course here on Sundays, we are engaged in learning about Jesus’ life through our scripture readings, music, and prayer, and our time together.

The children gather for Sunday school a couple of Sundays a month to explore the scriptures and the teachings of Jesus.

So… what have we learned about Jesus’ life and teachings in this season of Epiphany?

(At the 10am service….I’m going to ask the children gathered this morning…to walk with me around the church as we look back on our journey throughout the season of Epiphany…they will follow along with a matching book that has weekly coloring page to match the picture/lessons learned with the picture on the wall)

On Sunday, Jan 6 – Epiphany Sunday…we heard the story of the three wise men following a star, following a light that led them to the place where Jesus, the Messiah, the Light of the World, had been born. We came face to face with the glorious light of God revealed to us, in Jesus, in the birth of a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.

On Jan 13, the 1st Sunday after the Epiphany, we learned about Jesus’ baptism in the River Jordan… and about when He was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." We renewed our own baptismal covenants on that day, marking a new beginning of our life in Christ, a life striving to Walk in the Way of Love, that Christ has taught us and shown us.

On Jan 20, the 2nd Sunday after the Epiphany, Deacon Kathryn shared a sermon about the Miracle of the Water into Wine scripture that was part of the Wedding Banquet story in the gospel of John that day…she highlighted the servants, those who were asked to help, and how they responded when they were told to “do whatever Jesus asks”.

ON Jan 27, the 3rd Sunday after the Epiphany, the day of our Annual Meeting, we explored the 1st  Corinthians scripture about how the church functions as the Body of the Christ...here in the church, in the community and in the world…we explored the ways, all of us, equipped with our diverse gifts, are called to share in building up the body of Christ…by following Jesus in Walking the Way of Love…We listened to the scriptures that told us about Jesus teaching in the synagogue, and how he read from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah that spoke to what His mission was..The children at Sunday school that day created a beautiful book of prayers (from the BCP) for healing and support…a book to give to those who may be homebound or ill…

On Feb 4th, the 4th Sunday after the Epiphany…we continued with our reading of 1st Corinthians…exploring the words: But strive for the greater gifts… And I will show you a still more excellent way….

What is that more excellent way? The Way of Love…that Jesus has shown us…The Way of love that has the power to lift people up, when reality, life, will sometimes pull us down. (Michael Curry)

On Feb 10, the 5th Sunday after the Epiphany, we explored the scriptures in which Jesus calls his disciples to go fishing….fishing for people…to go out there to proclaim the good news, by sharing our own authentic faith story, with one another…from the place in our hearts, from where we have heard God’s voice and his call to us – that voice that speaks to each of us – wherever we are…

On Feb 17, the 6th Sunday after the Epiphany, we listened to the words of Jesus, as he began his sermon on the plain….teaching us, all of those who were listening…about blessings and woes…reminding us…that Blessings and Woes….are a part of all of our lives…sometimes we are hungry, sometimes we feel well fed…sometimes we laugh…sometimes we weep and cry… sometimes, it feels as if the world is against us…or on other days, we feel like the world is on our side…The good news that was summarized that Sunday, was that we are loved and blessed as we are.

On Feb 24, the 7th Sunday after Epiphany ...just last weekend… we heard more of Jesus’ teachings about the kingdom of heaven, about the family of God,  from his sermon on the plain…they were very difficult teachings about loving our enemies, and forgiveness… Difficult, hard, uncomfortable…yes…but the good news I shared was that they need not keep us from striving to understand the live-giving ways of God, made known to us, through the love and witness of Jesus Christ.

 For this love is the greatest gift given to us... In Sunday school that day, the children learned other lessons about the kingdom of heaven…

one of which was the lesson about the Kingdom of heaven being like a precious pearl… And learned that in searching and finding the kingdom of heaven is a treasure worth more than anything anybody can imagine.

And finally, today is our last Sunday of the Epiphany Season, in which we have been focused on the practice of Learn…we have been reflecting on scriptures each week, that have helped us get to know more about who Jesus is, and how and why that matters to us, and to our lives now.

Our final lesson in the season of Epiphany, found in our gospel reading today, speaks about the Transfiguration.  The scriptures tell us that: Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah"--not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!"

From Weaving God’s Promises:

We call this {story} the transfiguration of Jesus, as if Jesus has been changed and suddenly becomes God. But this gospel is written from the disciples’ point of view. Jesus is not transformed. The change is not a change in Jesus. The change is in his disciples. They are now ready to see him as he is, in his glory.

Jesus is thus transformed, not by becoming who he is but by showing to his disciples who he in fact is and always was. They just hadn’t seen him before. Jesus has opened their eyes.

As we come to the end of this journey of learning about Jesus’ life and teachings, throughout Epiphany:

How have your eyes been opened?

How have the scriptures in this season helped you to see Jesus as He is and has always been?

 

And now what? What’s next?

A new beginning… a new season in the church year is about to begin…the season of Lent…

And, now…it is up to each one of us…to carry with us, within us, this glorious light of Jesus that we have seen, and all that we have come to learn and understand about Jesus throughout the season of Epiphany, into our next season of the church year which begins this week, on Ash Wednesday…

And I have a gift for everyone…to take home…to mark the days in our next journey together…our journey through the season of Lent…

This “Join the Journey Through Lent 2019 poster” has daily suggestions, questions, scripture and prayer prompts to reflect on in our season of Lent. You can color on it, read it alone or together, as a family…hang it on a wall in your home somewhere…But, use it…use it as a way to pray during this holy season of Lent…

Use it as a way to learn more about Jesus…in yet another season of His life and ours…

 

Closing Prayer/Hymn: Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus (#97/Maranatha Praise Book)

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace. Amen.

 

 

Rev Julie Platson

St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church

Sitka, Alaska

 

 

 

 

List of some Lent 2019 Resources

 

·        Living Well Through Lent 2019: Practicing Forgiveness with all your heart, soul, strength and mind - https://www.livingcompass.org/lent

 

·        Lent Madness – have fun while learning about the saints

https://www.lentmadness.org/

·        Lenten Meditations 2019 (Episcopal Relief & Development)

        https://www.episcopalrelief.org/church-in-action/church-campaigns/lent

·        d365 - Devotionals 365 days a year - https://d365.org/

·        United Thank Offering Lenten Calendar

https://www.episcopalchurch.org/files/documents/uto_2019_lenten_calendar.pdf

 

·        Life Transformed: The Way of Love in Lent https://www.episcopalchurch.org/life-transformed

·        Church Next: Walk in Love, a 5-Course Curriculum with Scott Gunn and Melody Shobe

https://churchnextblog.wordpress.com/

 

FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN

·        Building Faith - https://www.buildfaith.org/

·        Grow Christians - http://www.growchristians.org/

·        Lent in a Box

https://familyministrytools.org/2018/11/09/coming-in-mid-january/

BOOKS

·        A Resurrection Shaped Life: Dying and Rising on Planet Earth by Jake Owensby

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1DP0ud5lU4

 

·        Living the Way of Love: A 40-Day Devotional, by Bea Sullivan

https://www.churchpublishing.org/livingthewayoflove

LENT 2019 at St Peter's by the Sea Episcopal Church

Lent/Easter 2019

St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church

611 Lincoln St   Sitka, AK

747-3977; stpetersbytheseak@gmail.com

stpeters-sitka.org

 

·        Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper -  March 5 (5:30pm-7pm)

·        Ash Wednesday Services – March 6 @ Noon and 5:30pm

·        Sunday Services: 8am and 10am

·        Sunday March 17 – one service @ 10am - Special choir guests - The Meistersingers

·        Sunday school – March 10 & 24

·      Special Family Night - March 31 – 5pm

·        Mondays: Scripture Reflections @ 11am

·        Tuesdays: Walk in Love: Inquirer’s/Newcomer’s Forum @ 6:30pm

·        Wednesday Night Prayer Service (New Zealand prayer Book) @ 5:30pm
The service will be a quiet, contemplative service using prayers, scriptures, and reflections from a Lenten Devotional (Living Well Through Lent 2019: Practicing Forgiveness with all Your Heart, Soul, Strength and Mind)

·        Thursday Book Group – Begins March 7 @ Noon

A Resurrection Shaped Life: Dying and Rising on Planet Earth (by Jake Owensby)

·        Lent Quiet Day Retreat – March 16 (10am-1pm)

·      Holy Week Services:

*April 14 – Palm Sunday – One service at 10am

*April 18 (Maundy Thursday) – Holy Communion Service at 6pm

*April 19 (Good Friday) – Service at Noon

*April 20 (Holy Saturday) – Service at 9am

  • April 21 - Easter Day Service  - One service at 10am

 

6 Epiphany Sermon - Feb 17 2019

6 Epiphany Year C

Feb 17 2019

10am service

Jeremiah 17:5-10 (NIV); Psalm 1

1 Corinthians 11: 23-26 (NIV); Luke 6:17-26 (NIV)

 

Opening Prayer: God of blessings and woes, bless us this day with lives filled with love, caring, generosity, and deep, abiding hope. We pray that your kingdom will dwell among all people, and that we may be instruments of your love and your grace. Open our hearts with the joy of healing a world filled with brokenness and pain. In the name of the one who taught us the ways of light and love, be in our worship and in our very lives. Amen.  (from the Abingdon Worship Annual 2019)

The last several weeks, we have focused on our invitation to follow Jesus, in walking the Way of Love…we have explored the idea that all of us have unique gifts, and ways that God uses each one of us, throughout our entire lives, to spread his love and compassion and care with others we meet….to build up the body of Christ, through loving God, one another, and all of creation…

Today’s gospel reading in Luke follows the part in the story, when the scribes and Pharisees were angry about Jesus’ teaching and healing on the Sabbath day…and they were discussing what to do with him…

Then, the scriptures tell us: that Jesus went out to the mountain to pray; and he spent the night in prayer to God. 13 And when day came, he called his disciples and chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles: 14 Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, and James, and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, 15 and Matthew, and Thomas, and James son of Alphaeus, and Simon, who was called the Zealot, 16 and Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Today’s gospel continues with Jesus, coming down from the mountain with his newly called apostles, to stand on a level place, to speak to the large crowd of disciples and other people who came from many places, to hear what Jesus had to say, and to be healed of their diseases.  We sometimes refer to this passage today as the beginning of Jesus’ sermon on the plain. We have also heard today’s particular passages referred to as the “beatitudes.”…meaning blessed…

He begins his sermon, with words about being blessed:

Jesus, looking at his disciples, says: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.

And then, as Jesus often does, he gives us another example using opposites, an upside down, topsy-turvy look at what he is trying to help us see…and perhaps, break open our hearts a bit more to make room for a new way of looking at the world around us…as we consider his teaching from a different angle…from the angle of “woe”…a place of sorrow or distress..

 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.

Blessings and Woes….a part of all of our lives…sometimes we are hungry, sometimes we feel well fed…sometimes we laugh…sometimes we weep and cry… sometimes, it feels as if the world is against us…or on other days, we feel like the world is on our side…

The kingdom of God, the family of God, that Jesus is talking about in his statements about blessing and woes speaks to us, about our life and relationship to one another in this family. He points out to his listeners…that yes…sometimes,  in this family, there are people who are hungry, that are in need…and that those of us, who may not be experiencing hunger presently…are called to be mindful of the neighbor who is hungry, and reach out by sharing as we are called…And at times, there are those among us, who are grieving, while others are celebrating and laughing…and remembering how very quickly our roles in supporting another person in grief, will certainly be switched around in a split second…

At other times, we are called to be mindful, that there are people among us who are being excluded, for a variety of reasons…not just because we are trying to spread the good news of God’s love for ALL his people… on account of the Son of man..

They may be excluded because they are struggling with addiction…. Others face judgment, and ridicule for staying in an abusive relationship…yet others may be unemployed, struggling to get work and provide for their families, and unfairly labeled lazy…There are others who may be oppressed and discriminated against on the basis of their race, culture, religious views, personal identity or lifestyle…

There are people among us, who may feel excluded from receiving the love and blessings of God, as they strive to live into the person that God has created them to be…this may be all of us, at different times throughout our lives…

God’s love is for all people…which means, all of us,  should be taking a look at our own words and actions, in relationship to our neighbors around us…are there ways we are unintentionally excluding others…are there ways we can share more with others…are there ways in which we can listen more deeply to the needs of others… are there times we can learn to be more patient with another when we don’t understand the choices they are making…are there ways that we can get out of the way, with our expectations of another, and just love them and bless them, as we have been loved and blessed by God, and allow them to grow and flourish into the child of God, that God created him or her to be?

For me, that’s an important take away from Jesus’ sermon on the plain today… are there ways that I can get out of the way, with my expectations of another, and just love them and bless them, as I have been loved and blessed by God, and allow them to grow and flourish into the child of God, that God created him or her to be?

I don’t think Jesus’ purpose was to tell us who is in and who is out. I don’t think he was telling us that we have to behave a certain way, in order to be blessed. And I don’t think he is telling us, that that is our purpose or mission in life either…to judge others in that way…

The good news I am hearing today, is that we are loved and blessed as we are. We are being called, right from the place we find ourselves in now, to trust in the Lord’s blessing…be like a tree planted by water, sending out its’ roots by the stream… be sowers of God’s love and blessing. ..be people who plant seeds of hope in other’s lives…be encouraged and uplift others with the Good News that God’s love and blessings are for all people.  Be loved and blessed. Be who you are.

Invite kids up/Read story: Be Who You Are, by Todd Parr

After the story:

*Tell the kids that knowing we are loved and blessed can make us happy…truly happy!

So, let’s sing a song about celebrating being happy:

If You’re happy and you know it:

Clap your hands

Stomp your feet

Shout Amen!

 

Rev Julie Platson

St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church

Sitka, Alaska