Tuesday in Holy Week

April 16 - Tuesday in Holy Week

The Collect: O God, by the passion of your blessed Son you made an instrument of shameful death to be for us the means of life: Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ, that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Gospel : John 12:20-36

Among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." 

Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 

Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 

Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. 

Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.

"Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say-- `Father, save me from this hour'? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name." 

Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him." 

Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. 

And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. 

The crowd answered him, "We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?" 

Jesus said to them, "The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. 

If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light."

After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid from them.

A Prayer for Holy Week

 by Kimberly Knowle-Zeller

 

The darkness is giving way to the light,

but not quite yet.  

This week brings us to the threshold

of something new;

something beautiful, hopeful, and life-giving.

A glimpse into what will be.

But we’re not there yet.

 

First, we must wait.

And listen.

We are called to be attentive and present.

Open to walking in the story once again.

For this Holy Week is our story, too.

And it’s beckoning to us: Come and See.

 

Guide us to the table, to feast on bread and wine,

to sit in your presence, to reflect on betrayals and love.

To see where we’ve fallen short,

and where we’ve grasped your grace.

Humble us to offer our hands to a neighbor,

to wash their feet,

and to have ours washed as well.

May we see the needs and cares of our neighbors,

opening our hearts to feel deeply,

and our arms to open wide.

May our table have no boundaries,

and all be fed and welcomed.

 

Guide us to the cross,

to sit in the darkness,

to cry out in pain.

Let us not shield our hearts from the brokenness.

Train our eyes to see in the dark.

On that Friday, that we call good,

help us to see the love laid out for the world,

on the cross, never to be surpassed.

 

Guide us to wait.

To cry and wail and wonder.

To question what happened.

To seek solace in the company of others.

To keep watch for any signs of hope.

 

Guide us, Lord, for we know

darkness is giving way to the light.

Forever and always.

Amen.

 

Monday in Holy Week

April 15

Monday in Holy Week

Collect: Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  

Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?" (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me." When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus.      John 12:1-11

I was sad one day and went for a walk; 

I sat in a field. 

A rabbit noticed my condition and 

came near. 

It often does not take more than that to help at times — 

to just be close to creatures who 

are so full of knowing, 

so full of love 

that they don't 

— chat, 

they just gaze with 

their 

marvelous understanding.

St. John of the Cross

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