Lenten Reflection - April 5, 2015 Easter

Indeed they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection.
Luke 20:36

This passage is a response from Jesus to the Sadducees, who believed that there was no resurrection from the dead and that there were no angels or spirits. The Pharisees believed in the resurrection from the dead and in angels and spirits.

The Sadducees declared they could not believe in the resurrection because there was no information about it and no proof of it, in the Books of the law, which Moses was held to have written.

So far no Rabbi had been able to meet them on that ground, but Jesus did. He pointed out that Moses himself had heard God say, "I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. (Exodus 3:1-6) and that it was impossible that God should be the God of the dead. Therefore Abraham and Isaac and Jacob are still alive in the life to come.

For us, Jesus is living proof that the dead "cannot die anymore". We are "children of the resurrection". Alleluia!

Bill Ticknor+

Lenten Reflection - April 4, 2015 Holy Saturday

He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
1 Peter 2:24

Through love, humility and duty to God the Father, Christ accepted the unacceptable – first to be burdened with ugly, hateful sin, then to be punished, and then to die for those sins.

It must have been so painful for one so pure, with a soul unsullied and a mind focused on love and goodness, to experience the evil thoughts we all have, let alone imagine the most evil deeds that permeate mankind. Christ, like an innocent lamb, not only had to take on the sins of the wolfish heart, but he also was punished as if those sins were, indeed his own.

As a light from heaven, Christ submitted to being sullied and darkened. Prayerfully, but dutifully he drank our cup of fleshly poison. But, while his flesh was broken, the light of God was not. With his rising, the pure light shone as a beacon – calling each of us to slip from our sin, and rise in love. With his sacrifice, the sinful bonds that tied each of us to evil, and to hell, was carried away, and the door to live everlasting was opened.

It is up to us, however – to walk through that gate, into life everlasting. What a curiosity that this is often a very difficult task for us mortals to accomplish.

Joanne Howl

Lenten Reflection - April 3, 2015 Good Friday

There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them.
John 19:18

These are probably the most sorrowful words to be encountered in the Bible. The mental picture they paint is ingrained in every Christian, and probably most people in the entire world. The agony of crucifixion is an unbearable weight that most of us avoid thinking about. But every year we are reminded of a man without sin, betrayed by a friend, condemned by the mob, brutally beaten and ultimately nailed to a cross. There's nothing good about this. Every aspect of this screams "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Today, for as long as we can bear it, let us carry the weight of that cross by remembering that Christ died for us, willingly, unselfishly, and in love with those same people who condemned him. Then let us consider the other two hanging on either side. Today let them be me and you. Let us wholly embrace the love being poured out for us by inwardly accepting the words taught us in Galations 2:19-20, I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. Today, more than any other day, let us live for Christ in thought, word and deed. Let us love our neighbor. Let us open our hearts and ask God to forgive us. Let us be made new.

Earl Buffaloe

Lenten Reflection - April 2, 2015 Maundy Thursday

For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.
Colossians 1:20

"... in him the fullness of God was pleased to dwell..."

Through the human person of Jesus, God was able to show us God's love, to show us how to love. In I John 4:19, we read "We love because he first loved us." Now, what can that mean? James Mackey, in "Jesus, the Man and the Myth" writes that we humans need to "first feel the grace of some human presence, feel forgiven, accepted, served [before we can] then feel all life and existence as grace, and then feel inspired to be gracious to others. [Most of us] can only sense ourselves and our world valued and cherished by God when we feel valued and cherished by others." So it is through Jesus' love for us that we can come to know, appreciate, be "reconciled to" the immense love God has for us. Jesus was willing to die on the cross for this love. In Jesus' death, we can know God suffers. We can know God walks with us in our suffering, weeps with us in our times of trouble. In Jesus' death we can know God understands what we go through. And in Jesus' resurrection, God tells us that God is always with us, that life with God begins right now, and is infinite and never-ending. Amen to that!

Patti Sachs

Lenten Reflection - April 1, 2015

"... looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God."
Hebrews 12:2

The biggest message I draw from the story of Jesus and his passion is that God wants us to love one another in the way that Jesus loved us: with total selflessness. Jesus demonstrated his selfless love for people by dying for them in a brutal and painful way, while enduring the shame that those same people held him in. We are to look to Jesus as an example of how to love one another, and also find in him the comfort that our God loves us more than we can imagine.

This passage made me ask this of myself: "When is the last time I disregarded my own interests and did something purely for the sake of someone else?" I wasn't entirely pleased when I found the answer. When I step back I realize my life is full of transactions; trading one thing for another. But God tells us that sometimes we need to get over our own wants and give without taking.

Bryan Howl

Lenten Reflection - March 31, 2015

For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
1 Corinthians 1:17

Although some choose to give many gifts to the church, every Christian has a particular calling that Christ has chosen for him or her. In Paul's case, he knows that Christ has called him to the ministry of preaching over any tasks, such as baptism, that he may have performed for the church in its infancy. Once accepting his call.to be a preacher, he adapts that call to his particular rhetorical style, using gifts that Christ has specifically provided for him.

Do we always hear the call? Or, if we are aware of what we have been called to do, do we follow through? Do we question whether our gifts are sufficient for the task? When is the right time to begin that ministry?

For many years, I felt that St. James' must minister to the spiritual needs of ill or homebound parishioners, and that this was not the exclusive job of the clergy. Discerning in EfM that this was my calling, I contacted those in charge of providing food to the sick and offered to also bring communion. No response. So, I waited.

Finally, Deacon Bob McCoy started the Eucharistic visitor ministry. I volunteered and eventually was asked to lead the program, using my talents and those of a cadre of volunteers. I can honestly say that I've never had a better or more satisfying job. And I know, at least for now, that this is the job that Christ wants me to perform.

May each of us hear his or her call and be empowered to follow through.

Charlie Wolf

Lenten Reflection - March 30, 2015

Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews."
John 19:19

All four Gospels agree that the official charges against Jesus were his supposed claim to be "King of the Jews" – which made him a potential threat. There are many ironies here.

First, "king" is a title Jesus refused, probably because it was so open to misunderstanding.
Second, from our Christian perspective, the charge is correct. We honor "Christ the King," even through he is not the kind of King Pilate had in mind.
Third, they are executing Jesus to put an end to his supposed "kingship" and Jesus becomes a king precisely through his death and resurrection.
Fourth, two other criminals accompanied Jesus on the cross - his "royal attendants" of the king. Jesus was use to this kind of company. He came for the "lowlifes"….which is to say that he came for us sinners.

~Now that's my kind of king!

Lent is a time of conversion. From Ash Wednesday when ashes are placed on my forehead with the words, "Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel". It ends Easter Day when we reach into the baptismal water and renew our "YES" to Gods invitation to "come, follow me". Take a moral inventory of your life and celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation during Lent. May God who begins this good work in me, sustain me along the way and bring it to completion.

Patty Coleman

Lenten Reflection - March 29, 2015 Palm Sunday

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness, and being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross.
Philippians 2:5-8

On this day, and in the week ahead, we remember the events that lead to the death of Jesus of Nazareth, and look forward to the resurrection of Jesus the Christ.

What is not explicitly highlighted during this week, but is implicit in the events themselves, is the very essence of Jesus' nature, and what helps us make sense of the events of his Passion. The Christ Hymn gives us an explicit understanding of the essence and nature of Jesus and the "why" of his actions.

When I read this hymn, the awesomeness of God is so clear; the self-emptying (kenosis) of God, so that God could be in human form to feel our pain and suffering. The humility of Jesus, to make the choice to die on the wood of a cross, in order that we might know God's unbounded love for us, when he could have saved himself and revealed his power. Christ gives us the example of perfect obedience to God's will.

In the verses immediately preceding the Christ Hymn, Paul exhorts us to "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus." To be a community "in Christ" we must strive to be Christ-like, and there is no clearer statement of how to do this than this hymn.

The Reverend Dawn A. Campbell

Lenten Reflection - March 28, 2015

For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
I Corinthians 1:18

The Bible teaches us that all people sin against God; and all would be punished had God not loved us and sent His only son to die on a cross as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Also, if we believe in Jesus, live a life that loves Jesus and obey His commandments, we will receive eternal life.

Paul's message was the good news of Jesus Christ. Many of the Jews thought this to be foolishness because they awaited a military Messiah. Instead from Paul they received a humble carpenter who was put to death by crucifixion, a horrible death reserved for the worst offenders.

To many of the Gentiles the cross seemed illogical. That the Messiah would come as a crucified Jew seemed too absurd to be believed. However, a new philosopher would have been welcomed, especially by the Greeks.

Jews demanded signs and Greeks sought wisdom. Paul preached Christ crucified, but Jesus did not stay dead. His resurrection demonstrated His power over death. This sounds simple but many refuse to accept it. However, those who take Christ as their Savior are the wisest of all because they will live with Him forever.

Therefore, the Cross is not foolishness or weakness. Instead, it is a powerful gift from God that shows His love for His children.

Tom White

Lenten Reflection - March 27, 2015

"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree – in order that in Christ Jesus the blessings of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."
Galatians 3:13

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul reminded the early Christians that Christ has removed the curse of the Law (that is, death) through His death on the cross according to scripture. He also reminded them that God promised Abraham that his people are God's people and that Christ bestowed this blessing upon the Gentiles through his death and resurrection. He reproached them saying that they who had begun in spirit had now put their faith in self.

This and related verses in Galatians prove that we are God's people and highlight the wonderful gift Jesus brought to each of us. I never thought much about this verse before and as I reflected on it I know I am blessed by God's promise through Christ. What a gift for us all to accept Christ as our redeemer and live our faith. Many times I think I can rely on myself rather than the Spirit and can use Paul's reminder in my daily life.

John Ransom

Lenten Reflection - March 26, 2015

In the same way the chief priests also, along with scribes and elders, were mocking him saying, ‘…He trusts in God, let god deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, ‘I am God's son." The bandits who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way.
Matthew 27:41.43

As with so many passages from the bible, it is important to read the surrounding passages to understand the meaning of an individual passage. In the proceeding passages, Matthew tells us of the crowd and their presence before Pontius Pilate, and Pilate realizing the he could not prevail against the crowd. The crowd wanted Jesus crucified and Barabbas released unto them.

In the group's mockery, the Priests, Scribes and Elders… wanted to show the gathered crowd that if Jesus ‘ claims of Himself as the worker of miracles, the Messiah –King, Son of God – were true, He would save Himself. Their thoughts may have been, if this man is God's Son, would God really abandon Jesus to die on the cross?

To truly understand an individual and their situation, we must ‘walk in their shoes.' Jesus could not forgive our sins, unless these sins were laid on Him. Our Lord carries our grief, our sorrows, and our transgressions because He was willing to die on the cross.

The Priests, Scribes and Elders felt that if Jesus could not help Himself then the crowd would see that Jesus was not the Messiah. The crowd would turn away from His teachings once He was gone.

Many times we want to ‘see ‘ and touch the miracle like the Priests, etc. wanted to see Jesus help Himself;, when in fact, we need to remember our faith and know that the miracle has occurred. In the end it really is all a matter of faith!

Cathy Stasny

Lenten Reflection - March 25, 2015

He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wound you have been healed.
1 Peter 2:24

The Atrium III children have said it simply and beautifully:

"He sacrificed so we were forgiven, that we would be able to live right and by his wounds, we are healed."

Brandon Dorsey, Jacob Dorsey, Caitlin Miller, Leah Perkins, Megan Perry, Ella Riddle, Beth Tyson and Alex Wolf

Lenten Reflection - March 24, 2015

In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him saying,"…He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, ‘I am God's son." The bandits who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way.
Matthew 27:41,43

I find it is helpful to read the verses before and after the assigned scripture. There is so much to learn from it. Quite honestly, those that were considered important at that time, were superficial, judgmental of Jesus and saw him as a threat. They were afraid of him, of what he could do. They did not understand that while he could perform miracles for the people, he would only do God's will in regards to himself.

He could have saved himself as he was fully divine, yet he would take no wine as it would dull the pain he was to endure, he would not take himself down from the cross because it was he who was paying our debt, for our sins. He was crucified like a common criminal yet he states, "I am God's Son." What faith He showed to those around him on that day and to us in present time.

I, a mere human am faced with holding onto my faith each and every day. I look to Jesus to keep me strong in that faith.

Sharon McGlaughlin

Lenten Reflection - March 23, 2015

In the same way the chief priests also, along with scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him."
Matthew 27:41-42

Jealousy is a terrible emotion and universally felt by each of us at one time or another to our great discomfort. The chief priests and the scribes were not only jealous of Jesus and of his followers but were also fearful of them. "Let him come down now---‘an empty boast.'" He had already performed miraculous deeds that had not caught their attention and hence their admiration and devotion. This was not in God's plan. Would we have acted differently? I'd like to think so.

When I was in grade school there was a rather different girl in my class. She was what you might call pathetic: nothing at all attractive or appealing, I described her to my no nonsense live-at-home with us grandmother and you probably will not be surprised by the next step. I had to invite her home for lunch! I really didn't need that anyway, I did and she accepted. I didn't need that either. My classmates were amused and offered practical suggestions such as "Be sure to sterilize the dishes afterwards." I don't remember anything wonderful coming from that experience but the teacher did realize that Roselyn was the object of ridicule and the principal came in and gave us the B talk. I don't remember but I'd like to think we were all kinder afterwards. I'd also like to think I would not have mocked Jesus hanging on the cross if I'd been there.

Caroline York Chisum

Lenten Reflection - March 22, 2015 The Fifth Sunday of Lent

But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins."
Acts 5:30-31

The first thing this little passage from Acts teaches us is how dangerous it is to quote scripture out of context! How many times have we heard radio and TV preachers thunder: "The BIBLE says….." and then go on to make their point? Should obeying the law of God encourage us to not pay our taxes? How about an eye for an eye or stoning adulterers, or blaming the Jewish people for Christ's crucifixion? Taken in context, however, these verses are an inspired response by Peter to the high priest who had forbidden the apostles to preach the risen Christ to the people and had only been guilty of being anti-establishment and full of enthusiasm at having been miraculously freed from prison. Taking the passage by itself, however, does cause us to think. It justifies those who worked against Nazi and Soviet dictators and who fight the evil regimes of our own time. It may even confirm a conscientious objector who refuses to go to war. This passage shows that we have to study the WHOLE Word of God in order to realize His Will for us so that we can share the wild joy of the apostles over the risen Christ.

Michael Ryan

Lenten Reflection - March 21, 2015

... whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.
Matthew 10:38-39

In this passage Jesus is trying to say that you must give up everything, even your life, to follow Jesus. You must give up everything in your life on earth, so that you may have eternal life in heaven. If you give up your social life, personal life, etc., and focus on Jesus Christ then you shall lose life here on earth. But by giving this up you will earn something so much more valuable, eternal life with Jesus in heaven. So give up all you have, take up your cross, and die with Jesus. Die with him on earth so you may be with him in heaven.

Parker Wolf

Lenten Reflection - March 20, 2015

Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:27

This passage reminds me of a book I read recently called "Kisses from Katie" by Katie J. Davis. Katie is a young woman who gave up many things including the comfort of living in an upper middle-class suburb of Nashville, being with her family and friends, going to college and the love of her life for living in poverty in Uganda ministering to the sick, teaching children and feeding the poor. By the age of 22 she is the adoptive mother of 14 young girls. She felt God's voice calling her and was willing to take up her cross and surrender to Him. In her book, she discusses the difficulty of the choices she had to make and the things that she had to give up but chose to "value His plan, His calling and His love over everything else." She does not believe that everyone should drop everything and go far away from everything familiar but she does believe that every day we have a choice to either stay in our comfort zone or be willing to take a risk and do something to help someone else, put a smile on someone's face and make a difference in someone else's life.

Commitment to Christ means bearing our cross daily. It means giving up our hopes, dreams and desires, our possessions and following His plan. Only then can we be called His disciple. The reward will be certainly greater than the cost.

Cindy Carrier

Lenten Reflection - March 19, 2015

... but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are 'called',  both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
1 Corinthians 1:23

In Paul's letter to the Corinthians he tells them that it is God himself who called them to share in the life of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. He encouraged his followers to join together and have faith in the power and wisdom of God.  That encouragement fell on 'deaf ears' to most of the Jews and Gentiles.

In todays' world, and with a better understanding of God's teachings, I have learned over time no matter the possible outcome of life's cruel or great events, putting my trust in His word is what brings peace and strength.

To give up my own control  and turn it over to God.  What a challenge - what a leap of faith!

Nancy McClunin

Lenten Reflection - March 18, 2015

A third time he said to them, "Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him." But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed.
Luke 23:22-23

Jesus had been brought to Pontius Pilate, the Roman-appointed governor of Judea. by the council of elders of the people, saying that Jesus had been subverting the nation.  Pilate said that he had nothing against this man.  When he found out that Jesus was a Galilean, he decided to send him to Herod who had jurisdiction over him.  Herod happened to be in Jerusalem for the Passover, and had wanted to see Jesus.  After Jesus would do no miracles for him, he had Jesus dressed in a fancy robe and sent him back to Pilate.

Pilate said he could find no wrong in him.  Therefore he wanted to have him scourged and released.  Because this was the Passover time of the year, one of the criminals to be crucified could be let go.  The crowd demanded that it not be Jesus, but a criminal known as Barabbas.

Even when Jesus had been mocked and beaten, he had the confidence that he would be set down at the right hand of God and that his triumph was sure.  He never for a moment believed that men in the end would defeat the purposes of God.

There are still those who, have come to the conclusion that Jesus does not matter.  To the Christian, so far from being of no importance, Jesus is the most important person in the universe.

Priscilla Hardesty

Lenten Reflection - March 17, 2015

For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world.
1 John 5:3-4

As the Level 2 Atrium reflected on this passage, we looked at the Bibles in our class and saw the heading on this section was "Victory Over the World". It is just after a section called, "God is Love", which reminds us about the commandment to love God and love each other.  The children felt that our passage reflects both, in that if you love God you will obey his commandments and that is done, in part, by loving each other.  You can show your love for God by doing what he tells you to do. This passage says his commandments are "not burdensome", while our translation similarly said "His commandments are not hard to follow".  We thought unfortunately that the commandment to show love and do the right thing is actually NOT always easy to do. Society makes it hard to follow God's commandments sometimes. Then after we talked about it, we said it should be easy if we choose to make it easy. We can make it easier when we learn more about how to follow God's commandments by reading the Bible and praying. It is more important to do what God says than to think things like money and status are more important. The children said sometimes you have to go against what your friends say or think in order to follow God. The promise that God's love will conquer the world should encourage us. We thought that it is pretty amazing that we can be part of this when we show God's love to each other. No matter whether you are a child or an adult, you have the special chance to show God's love in the world, so let's all do our best.

Level II Atrium