A Worship Magazine
Easley Presbyterian Church
Easley, SC
March 2017
Vol. 3 Issue 2
A common thread that joins us together with Christ and with each other.
The Season of Lent Lent is a time of anticipating the passion of Jesus Christ. It consists of forty days before Easter (beginning on Ash Wednesday, but not counting Sundays — which are celebrations of the resurrection and considered a “little” Easter.) The number forty symbolizes a time of testing — Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness, the Israelites spent forty years in the wilderness before entering the Promised Land, and Moses spent forty days on the mountain before receiving the Ten Commandments. Lent is a time of reflection, repentance, preparation, and confession. All of the preparation of Lent is climaxed in Holy week.
onized, and propagated the New Testament also observed Lent, believing it to be a commandment from the apostles. Because Sunday is the day of the Resurrection, we skip over Sundays when we calculate the length of Lent. Therefore, in the Western Church, Lent always begins on Ash Wednesday, the seventh Wednesday before Easter.
“Christ in the Wilderness” Ivan Kramskoy, 1872
Lent is a season of soulsearching and repentance. It is a season for reflection and taking stock. Lent originated in the very earliest days of the Church as a preparatory time for Easter, when the faithful rededicated themselves and when converts were instructed in the faith and prepared for baptism. By observing the forty days of Lent, the individual Christian imitates Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for forty days. All churches that have a continuous history extending before AD 1500 observe Lent. The ancient church that wrote, collected, can-
The Colors of Lent: Purple, Red, and Black The color purple is a royal color, representing the Kingship of Christ. It is also a color of repentance and a symbol of the Passion of Christ.
Red represents the atoning blood of Christ. It is sometimes used during Holy Week, or on Maundy Thursday. Black represents death and mourning. It is used for Good Friday. If black is not used, then the sanctuary should be bare and no color used. Symbols and Themes of Lent The major symbol of Lent is the cross. Images of the wilderness or Christian discipline are also appropriate.
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Sunday, March 5 First Sunday of Lent “Be Watchful” Matthew 24– 25:13
As Jesus came out of the temple and was going away, his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. Then he asked them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.” When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Jesus answered them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah!’ and they will lead many “Wise and Foolish Virgins” Scots’ Church, Melbourne, Australia astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in variall these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, ous places: all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs. but my words will not pass away. “Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah name. Then many will fall away, and they will betray one another were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving many astray. And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be saved. And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding end will come. meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Keep awake “So when you see the desolating sacrilege standing in the holy therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is complace, as was spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader undering. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in stand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains; the one on what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed the housetop must not go down to take what is in the house; the one awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore in the field must not turn back to get a coat. Woe to those who are you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray pected hour. that your flight may not be in winter or on a sabbath. For at that “Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom his master has put time there will be great suffering, such as has not been from the in charge of his household, to give the other slaves their allowance beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if of food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved; but for will find at work when he arrives. Truly I tell you, he will put that the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Then if anyone one in charge of all his possessions. But if that wicked slave says to says to you, ‘Look! Here is the Messiah!’ or ‘There he is!’—do not himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and he begins to beat his fellow believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and slaves, and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that slave produce great signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, even the will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that elect. Take note, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, he does not know. He will cut him in pieces and put him with the ‘Look! He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look! hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as the lightning 25 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridescomes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the maids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of coming of the Son of Man. Wherever the corpse is, there the vulthem were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their tures will gather. lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil “Immediately after the suffering of those days the sun will be dark- with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them beened, and the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from came drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken. Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see ‘the Son of wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But Man coming on the clouds of heaven’ with power and great glothe wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; ry. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heav- while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were en to the other. ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the you.’ Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until hour.
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Hymn Meditation: “Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days”
(click title to listen)
At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, He was “led by the Spirit into the wilderness.” We have an idealized vision of the wilderness as a place of beauty and recreation because we were raised on Walt Disney nature films and the Discovery Channel. Modern minds often juxtapose the purity of the wilderness with the corruption of civilization. So when we read that the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness we might assume it was to enjoy the tranquility of the natural world. To the ancient mind, however, the wilderness was associated with very different qualities. Throughout the Scriptures the wilderness is seen as the “Temptation in the Wilderness” by Briton Reviere, 1889 realm of chaos—the domain where the order, beauty, and abundance of God’s kingdom is utterly absent and where the forces aligned against God and His people roam. It is a place of banishment, not refreshment. So when the earliest Christians read that Jesus was led by God’s Spirit into the wilderness it would have shocked them. Why would God lead His Son into such an evil place? We soon discover that He is led there to be tested. He is confronted by the enemy and tempted to abandon His Father and Lord, who throughout these forty days His call, but He does not succumb. Having gone through the wil- For us did fast and pray, derness and overcome it, Jesus is ready to begin his public work. Teach us with you to mourn our sins And close by you to stay. Sometimes life with God means being led into a wilderness—a season or place where we cannot see the order, beauty, and As you with Satan did contend abundance of His kingdom. We want to believe that God will And did the victory win. only lead us along smooth, easy paths, but He is more interested O give us strength to persevere, in making us useful than comfortable. If you find yourself in a wil- In you to conquer sin. derness today, do not be afraid. Do not assume that God has And through these days of penitence abandoned you. Do not assume He has not led you there. And And through this Passiontide, do not catastrophize your circumstances. Instead, learn to give Yes, evermore, in life and death, thanks even for this trial because God’s Spirit is with you, and He O Lord, with us abide. intends to use this wilderness for your good and for His glory. — Abide with us, till when this life Skye Jathoni Of suffering shall be past, An Easter of unending joy O my God, We may attain at last. since You are with me, and I must now, in obedience to Your — Claudia Hernaman, 1873 commands, apply my mind to these outward things, I beseech You to grant me the grace to continue in Your presence; and to this end prosper me with Your assistance, receive all my work, and possess all my affections. Amen. —Brother Lawrence
Anthem Meditation: “Give Me Jesus” (click title to listen)
What an amazing testimony we have in Philippians 1:21, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." The apostle Paul is in prison, in Rome, awaiting possible sentence of death himself. And he writes in the immediate context these words, "For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death." In Philippians 1:21, Paul gives his life mission statement: "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
4 We all have a mission statement, whether we have actually written it or not. The way we live can become our mission statement. It could be to live comfortably, to earn as much money as possible, or something else self-centered. If we I heard my mother say, have a mission stateI heard my mother say, ment similar to that of I heard my mother say, Paul's, we put ourGive me Jesus. selves in a win-win Give me Jesus, give me Jesus, situation. Living for You may have all this world, Christ, relating with Give me Jesus Him and obeying Him Dark midnight was my cry, is living for the highest Dark midnight was my cry, earthly purpose imDark midnight was my cry, aginable. Give me Jesus. If we are truly to say Give me Jesus, give me Jesus, “to live is Christ” we You may have all this world, must also learn to live Give me Jesus AS Christ. We are called to be the Oh, when I come to die, hands and feet of Christ. There is a contemporary song by “Casting Oh, when I come to die, Crowns” that speaks to this Oh, when I come to die, Give me Jesus. But if we are the body/Why aren't His arms reaching/Why aren't His hands healing Give me Jesus, give me Jesus, Why aren't His words teaching/And if we are the body/Why aren't You may have all this world, His feet going Give me Jesus. — Traditional Spiritual Why is His love not showing them there is a way. There is a way.
In life — give me Jesus. In death — give me Jesus. In joy and sorrow and everything in between — give me Jesus. To live is Christ.
Hymn Meditation: “My Lord! What a Morning” (click title to listen) Spirituals, including today's hymn, voice slavery's cruelty and hope for deliverance. They often contain double meanings, such as "mourning" over oppression and Christ's My Lord, what a morning; new "morning." Does "wake the nations underground" refer to revealMy Lord, what a morning; ing the Underground Railroad, to Americans challenging racism or to Oh, my Lord, what a morning, future judgment? Does this spiritual signify the Civil War Union Army's when the stars begin to fall. bugles and fallen Confederate flags' stars? You will hear the trumpet sound, Despite uncertain double meanings, spirituals' themes of sorrow to wake the nations underground, and hope address our painful schisms. Sociologist W. E. B. Du Bois looking to my God's right hand, wrote, "Through all the sorrow of the Sorrow Songs there breathes a when the stars begin to fall. hope--a faith in the ultimate justice of things... Sometimes it is faith in life, sometimes a faith in death, sometimes assurance of boundless jus- You will hear the sinner cry, to wake the nations underground, tice in some fair world beyond. But whichever it is, the meaning is allooking to my God's right hand, ways clear: that sometime, somewhere, men will judge men by their souls and not by their skins. Is such hope justified?" (Souls of Black Folk, when the stars begin to fall. 1988) You will hear the Christian shout, to wake the nations underground, looking to my God's right hand, Ever-present God, hallelujah! We are grateful you both suffer with us and bring us hope. Forgive us when we unfairly judge each other. Em- when the stars begin to fall. — Traditional Spiritual power us to seek justice for all of your children. Amen.
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Hymn Meditation: “Keep your Lamps Trimmed and Burning” (click title to listen)
As an expression of religious devotion, “Keep your lamps trimmed and burning” refers to the biblical parable found in the book of Matthew, Chapter 25, verses 1-13. In this passage, Jesus tells the story of the wise and foolish virgins. The virgins had been told that the bridegroom (Christ) would be coming, so they fetched their Lamps, trimmed and lit the wick, and set them burning at the appointed place; however, the bridegroom didn’t arrive at the appointed time and the foolish only brought enough oil for one night. The foolish returned from buying more oil only to find that they had missed the bridegroom while they were away. Jesus then tells the disciples to be ready beKeep your lamps trimmed and burning, cause the day and hour of his return is unknown. For an AfriKeep your lamps trimmed and burning, can-American slave, the parable may hold a double deliverKeep your lamps trimmed and burning, ance – faith that slavery will be abolished and that freedom awaited them in heaven. For the time is drawing nigh. Sisters, don’t grow weary, Although there is little historical evidence to support this brothers, don’t grow weary idea, Spirituals such as “Keep Your Lamps!” may have been Children, don’t grow weary, used by the Underground Railroad to conceal secret codes or For the time is drawing nigh. messages. In this context, a slave has to maintain vigilance and watch for a conductor (a person in the Underground RailIt’s our faith makes us happy; It’s our faith makes us happy; road, who moves people to new locations). “Children, don’t It’s our faith makes us happy; get weary ‘til your work is done,” could refer to the arduous For the time is drawing nigh. work involved in abolishing slavery, or towards the long journey and frequent stops at safe-houses that a runaway slave We are climbing Jacob’s ladder; would endure while traveling to a free state. “Christian jourWe are climbing Jacob’s ladder; We are climbing Jacob’s ladder; ney soon be over,” might be a reference to heaven, or to the For the time is drawing nigh. sentiment that even death would be a welcome deliverance from slavery. Every round goes higher, higher; For this chorister, the heartbeat-like drumming in Andre Every round goes higher, higher; Thomas’ arrangement, conjures deep emotion - yearning, Every round goes higher, higher; fear, flight, vigilance,…as if a child were hiding in a dark For the time is drawing nigh. — Traditional Spiritual space then forced out into an open run with bare feet slapping hard ground. And within that vigilance lays a deep weariness that history, language, and culture might be lost, without the insistent beat of the Conga drums. — Debbie Roberts, Master Chorus, Issaquah, Washington
Call to Prayer: “Guide My Feet” listen)
(click title to
Guide my feet, Lord, while I run this race For I don’t want to run this race in vain.
—Traditional Spiritual
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty.” ( 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 ). “Why oh why did I ever want to run this race?” my husband muttered at about the 10-mile mark in the Honolulu marathon. He was hot, his feet hurt, and people all around him were dropping out of the race. The thing that kept him going was the thought of the “prize” – his wife and kids waiting for
6 him at the finish line, not to mention his life-long goal of running a marathon. Keeping his eye on the prize is what motivated him to complete the race. The physical discipline my husband exercised in order to finish a marathon had value. His health improved because of it. But compared to the importance of running the spiritual race God has set before us, finishing a marathon is of very little value. Both physical and spiritual exercise make you feel better. But no matter how much you enjoy the exercise, there are going to be some days you just don’t feel like doing it. What should you do when that happens? Do it anyway! Of course, there are times when you’ll legitimately have issues that may make it difficult for you to do your normal spiritual routine. You may be sick, or may have company, or may be traveling or perhaps you overslept. One thing I’ve found helpful is to have a “minimum daily requirement” that I can do on even the hardest days. What about you? Do you have a daily routine for staying in the Word of God and prayer? If not, start one! Set a minimum goal that you know you can do no matter what. Pick something you enjoy, and do it daily, even when you don’t feel like it. Nothing else we do in life matters as much as running the race the Lord has set before us because nothing else lasts for eternity. Father, we pray that You will help us to run the race set before us with diligence. Give us the strength we need to be disciplined. We thank You that You are there to help us run the race successfully. Amen. —Rebecca Livermore, Healthy Living, 2006
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday emphasizes a dual encounter: we confront our own mortality and confess our sin before God within the community of faith. The form and content of the service focus on the dual themes of sin and death in the light of God’s redeeming love in Jesus Christ. The use of ashes as a sign of mortality and repentance has a long history in Jewish and Christian worship, and the Imposition of Ashes can be a powerful nonverbal and experiential way of participating in the call to repentance and reconciliation. This practice is the historic focus of Ash Wednesday observance and gave the day its name. It is traditional to save the palm branches from the previous Passion/Palm Sunday service and burn them ahead of time to produce the ashes for this service.
Sunday’s palms are Wednesday’s ashes As another Lent begins; Thus we kneel before our maker In contrition for our sins. We have marred baptismal pledges, In rebellion gone astray; Now, returning, seek forgiveness; Grant us pardon, God, this day! We have failed to love our neighbors, Their offences to forgive, Have not listened to their troubles, Nor have cared just how they live, We are jealous, proud, impatient, Loving over-much our things; May the yielding of our failings Be our Lenten offerings. We are hasty to judge others, Blind to proof of human need; And our lack of understanding Demonstrates our inner greed; We have wasted earth’s resources; Want and suffering we’ve ignored; Come and cleanse us, then restore us; Make new hearts within us, Lord! —Rae E. Whitney, 1991
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“Out of the Wilderness” by Greg Olsen, contemporary artist
Him – a mission that will culminate on the cross. We know little or nothing of what transpired during most of those forty days but we can assume that it served as a spiritual refiner’s fire. Perhaps during this very personal time Jesus came to know Himself more deeply. The vision of the role he would play on this earth may have become increasingly clear. It seems He knew more than ever before, who He was and why He was here. Our own “wilderness” experiences have the potential to do the same for each of us. — Greg Olsen, artist Mr. Olsen has chosen to paint the scene of Jesus leaving the wilderness. He uses the contrasting colors of golden yellow and lavender to present a shadowy landscape at dusk. The brush strokes radiate from Jesus, drawing your attention to his face. The misty edges also help draw your attention to the clarity of the face of Christ. Jesus is a bit gaunt and haggard from his trials in the wilderness, but there is a resolute peace to those darkened eyes. The setting sun touches his staff, becoming a lantern, directing his newly defined path of ministry and sacrifice. It’s halo becomes a glimpse of glory in the surrounding shadows. — Robert Norris
Greg Olsen was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho and grew up in the nearby farming community of Iona. He is the oldest of five children. After high school Greg attended Utah State University where he studied art. While attending school he met his wife, Sydnie Cazier. They have six children and are enjoying their new role as grandparents. Greg likes being close to his family. He paints in his studio, 37 steps from the back door of their home. From an early age I have always been fascinated by paintings that create mood, emotion and atmosphere; especially those paintings that lift me and transport me to some far off place. These are the elements I strive to create in my paintings. My paintings in many ways record what is most important to me: my feelings and experiences with family and friends along with the spiritual aspects of my life. My hope is that in these images you will find something familiar, something which will resonate and remind you of what is important in your own life.” Jesus resolutely emerges from the wilderness following His forty day fast. Having overcome the ap- Click Here to see a time lapsed video of the petites of the flesh and the temptations of the adartist painting this piece. versary, He now sets His sights on the mission before
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Sunday, March 12 Second Sunday of Lent: “Parables Talents” but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for this worthless slave, throw “For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he and gnashing of teeth.’ gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the according to his ability. Then he went away. The one angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his who had received the five talents went off at once and glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the he will separate people one from another as a shepherd same way, the one who had the two talents made two separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the more talents. But the one who had received the one talsheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the ent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that master’s money. After a long time the master of those are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hunone who had regry and you gave me ceived the five talfood, I was thirsty and ents came forward, you gave me something bringing five more to drink, I was a talents, saying, stranger and you wel‘Master, you handed comed me, I was naked over to me five taland you gave me clothents; see, I have ing, I was sick and you made five more taltook care of me, I was ents.’ His master in prison and you visitsaid to him, ‘Well ed me.’ Then the rightdone, good and trusteous will answer him, worthy slave; you ‘Lord, when was it that have been trustworwe saw you hungry and thy in a few things, I gave you food, or will put you in thirsty and gave you charge of many something to things; enter into the drink? And when was it joy of your masthat we saw you a ter.’ And the one stranger and welcomed with the two talents you, or naked and gave also came forward, you clothing? And saying, ‘Master, you when was it that we “Unfaithful Servant” Willem Drost, 1655 saw you sick or in prishanded over to me two talents; see, I on and visited have made two more talents.’ His master said to him, you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been just as you did it to one of the least of these who are trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of members of my family, you did it to me.’ Then he will many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ Then say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, dethe one who had received the one talent also came forpart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil ward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you what is yours.’ But his master replied, ‘You wicked and did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and care of you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell on my return I would have received what was my own you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into the one with the ten talents. For to all those who have, eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” more will be given, and they will have an abundance;
Matthew 25:14– 46
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Hymn Meditation: “Fairest Lord Jesus” (click title to listen)
“For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature, created by Him and for Him.” Colossians 1:16 O thou of God to earth come down, This lovely hymn extolling the beauty of and virtues of Thee will I cherish, thee will I honor, Christ leads us to the praise and worship of our Thou, my soul’s glory, joy, and crown. “beautiful Savior.” The vivid comparisons of all the Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands, enjoyable sights of nature with Jesus, who is the very Robed in the blooming garb of spring. source and essence of all beauty, fill us with awe. Then Jesus is fairer; Jesus is purer, we are reminded that our Savior outshines all creations Who makes the woeful heart to sing. of God, including the hosts of angels. How worthy he is Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight, of the deepest “glory and honor, praise adoration now And all the twinkling, starry host, and forevermore!” Jesus shines brighter; Jesus shines purer, The earliest publication of this German text is from Than all the angels heaven can boast. 1677. A colorful story of this hymn being sung by the Beautiful Savior, ruler of the nations, 12th century crusaders on there way to the Holy Land Son of God and Son of Man! has been spread throughout Europe, but there is no Glory and honor, praise, adoration, real evidence of this tale. The tune was made popular Now and forevermore be thine! — from Munster Gesanguch, 1677 in 1862, when Franz Liszt included the folk tune in his oratorio about John the Baptist’s mother, The Legend of St. Elizabeth. (Note the tune name given in our hymnal is ST. ELIZABETH.) Regardless of the origin of the text, Christians for centuries have been blessed with this worshipful and joyful text, which focuses our view on the fair Son of God who reveals to us the glory of the Father
Anthem Meditation: “I Been in De Storm” (click title to listen)
This African-American spiritual offers religious testimony along with lightly veiled notes of protest. It sees life as a long storm through which one travels yearning for a little time to oneself (always in short supply to the slaves)--time for the peace of prayer and reflection upon deliverance into a just and quiescent, comforting realm of God. Such "escapist" songs offered slaves the consoling promise of a better world from which escape was a powerful motive. When you read through the Psalms, you can really get a sense of honesty with God. The prayers are earnest and heartfelt, whether they are songs of praise or songs of lament. You soon learn that it’s OK to be honest with God — after all, He already knows how we feel. The spirituals are often written in the form of a Lament similar to the Psalms of Lament. In these Psalms, we hear the strong, emotional words of sufferers. These are words written by real people, in very difficult situations.
10 These Godly sufferers know that God will not be angry with their honesty, for even when they scream at God, it is a scream of faith. They were written for singing. They were intended for public worship in the temple, in Israel, and for us. They are not, merely, poems, but are Oh, let me tell you, brother, lyrics. They contain musical conventions, peculiar to How I cam long, music and worship during ancient time. Written in the Oh, gimme little time to pray; language of the human spirit, they reflect the feelings With a hung down head and a achin’ heart, Oh, gimme little time to pray. of a person at a certain time, or the utterances of the soul. They are not cool, reasoned prose, but rather, Now when I get to heaven, I’ll take my seat, deeply emotional works, which use wrenching lanOh, gimme little time to pray, guage, dramatic exaggeration, and figurative speech. Ana cast my crown at my Jesus feet, Individual Psalms, were written for different purposes. Oh, gimme little time to pray; Some began as works of private devotion, while others I been in de storm so long, were designed for the purpose of public worship. UltiI been in de storm so long, children, mately, they became the treasures of all the people, I been in de storm so long, in temple worship, for no matter what subject the Oh, gimme little time to pray. — Traditional Spiritual Psalms addressed, they always lead the people to the worship of the Living God. Written in the language of response, the Psalms record, in powerful, poetic language, one individual's response to God. From a desperate cry, to an ecstatic shout of joy, each Psalm is a response to God, in the middle of a particular situation. This Spiritual brings to my mind a Contemporary Christian song that I like called “Sometimes He Calms the Storm.” This song is a reference to Christ calming both the storm on the lake in Galilee as well as calming the storm of inner turmoil in His children.
I been in de storm so long, I been in de storm so long, children, I been in de storm so long, Oh, gimme little time to pray.
Sometimes He calms the storm With a whispered "Peace be still" He can settle any sea But it doesn't mean He will Sometimes He holds us close And lets the wind and waves go wild Sometimes He calms the storm And other times He calms His child
Hymn Meditation: “God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending” (click title to listen)
Churches that grow in giving know that generosity increases with participation in ministry and community, and so they work to deepen the core ministries of worship, small group learning, and mission. They know that many churches do not have enough money because they don’t provide sufficient ministry and mission. Rather than becoming obsessed with income, survival, and maintenance, they continually return their focus to changing lives, reaching out to new people, and offering significant mission. Bt growing in ministry, giving increases. Congregations that practice Extravagant Generosity address the challenge of growing in giving to long-term members as well as to adults who are new to the faith. They also teach, model, and cultivate generosity among children and youth. Sunday school classes, after-school children’s ministries, Vacation Bible School, and youth ministries all offer opportunities to give individually and to work together in
11 groups to achieve a ministry goal that is significant, tangible, and compelling. Rather than collecting offerings in a perfunctory way, children’s and youth leaders explain, teach, and connect the action of giving to the work of God. Children and youth are taught about responsible earning, spending, saving, and giving. Congregations equip parents with ideas, suggestions, and practices that foster generosity for children and youth of all ages. The spiritual maturity that comes from growth in giving and the extraordinary engagement that results from tithing bring clarity of purpose and greater integrity to all the church’s ministries. The practice of Extravagant Generosity is the fruit of maturation in Christ., the result of God’s sanctifying grace that molds our hearts and changes our values and behaviors. Extravagant Generosity supports the other four practices, helping the church fulfill its ministry to make disciples of Jesus Christ in robust and fruitful ways, opening the message of God’s love in Christ to more people now and for generations to come.
God, whose giving knows no ending, From the rich and endless store, Nature’s wonder, Jesus’ wisdom, Costly cross, grave’s shattered door; Gifted by you, we turn to you, Offering up ourselves in praise; Thankful song shall rise forever, Gracious donor of our days. Skills and time are ours for pressing, Toward the goals of Christ, your Son: All at peace in health and freedom, Races joined, the church made one. Now direct our daily labor, Lest we strive for self alone. Born with talents, make us servants Fit to answer at your throne.
Treasure, too, you have entrusted, Gain through powers your grace conferred: Ours to use for home and kindred, And to spread the gospel word. Open wide our hands in sharing, —From “Five Practices of Fruitful As we heed Christ’s ageless call, Congregations”, chapter 5 Healing, teaching, and reclaiming, by Robert Schnase Serving you by loving all. — Robert L. Edwards, 1961
Hymn Meditation: “In the Cross of Christ I Glory” (click title to listen) “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to In the cross of Christ I glory, towering o'er the wrecks of time; the world.” all the light of sacred story Galatians 6:14 gathers round its head sublime. The cross has been the most significant symbol of the When the woes of life o'er take me, Christian faith throughout hopes deceive, and fears annoy, church history. It is said that as never shall the cross forsake me. Lo! it glows with peace and joy. many as 400 different forms and designs of it have been used. Regardless of the design, the When the sun of bliss is beaming symbol of the cross should always remind us of the price that was light and love upon my way, paid by the eternal God for man’s redemption. “In the Cross of from the cross the radiance streaming Christ I Glory” is generally considered one of the finest hymns on adds more luster to the day. the subject. This hymn was written by John Bowring, one of the most remarkable men of his day as well as one of the greatest linguists who ever lived. It is said that he could converse in over 100 different languages before his death. John Bowring visited Macao, on the South Chinese Coast. There he was impressed by the sight of a bronze cross towering over the ruins of a once great cathedral. This cathedral, originally built by Portuguese colonists, had been destroyed by a typhoon. Only one crumbling wall survived — the wall toped by the massive bronze
Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure, by the cross are sanctified; peace is there that knows no measure, joys that through all time abide. In the cross of Christ I glory, towering o'er the wrecks of time; all the light of sacred story gathers round its head sublime.
— John Bowring
12 cross. This scene greatly impressed Mr. Bowring, and eventually inspired him to write this text. “In the cross of Christ I glory, Towering o’er the wrecks of time; All the light of sacred story Gathers round its head sublime.” This week, determine to allow the glory of Christ’s cross to be evident in all that you do.
“The Parable of the Talents” Willem De Poorter Willem De Poorter was a Dutch painter, born in 1608, who lived and worked in Haarlem. There is debate about whether or not he was a pupil of Rembrandt, but he was definitely inspired by and influenced by the great Dutch master. Willem, like Rembrandt painted shadow and light in a very theatrical way. There seems to be a spotlight shining on the paintings focal point. Everything else is in shadows. In his interpretation of “The Parable of the Talents”, the master has returned from his journey — with luggage and scrolls in the foreground (and beneath the stairs), waiting to be put away. He has called for his servants to give a reckoning on how they have used the money entrusted to them. The first servant is in the spot light, presenting his talents back to the master — the ruler’s five coins along with the additional five he earned with it. The scribe, sitting beside the master, holds his tablet, making notes of the transaction. He is leaning in, looking a bit surprised at the servants investments. In the shadowy background, you will see two additional figures waiting on the stairs. The first is leaning over the railing to see and hear how the master responds to the first servant. The farthest figure in the shadows looks particularly nervous, knowing that he hid his money away to protect it rather than using it wisely for the master.
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Sunday, March 19 Third Sunday of Lent “Anointing Jesus’ Feet” Matthew 5:13-16
When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.” Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and they conspired to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. But they said, “Not during the festival, or there may be a riot among the people.” Now while Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table. But when the disciples saw it, they were angry and said, “Why this waste? For this ointment could have been sold for a large sum, and the money given to the poor.” But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? She has performed a good service for me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. By pouring this ointment on my body she has prepared me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.” Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I betray him to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.
Hymn Meditation: “Jesus the Very Thought of Thee” (click title to listen) “These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 When Bernard (c1090-1150), a sickly youth in Dijon, France, was unable to fulfill military service, he became a monk. So successful was he that he eventually founded the famous monastery in nearby Clairvaux; in time almost 170 other monasteries sprang up from Bernard’s leadership. He became the most powerful preacher of his era, and is remembered as a pious man, a deeply contemplative mystic, the “honey-tongued doctor”. Martin Luther called Bernard “the best monk that ever lived, whom I admire beyond all the rest put together.” For 800 years, his words have been read and sung, and his good work has continued. “You wish me to tell you why and how God should be loved. My answer is that God himself is the reason He is to be loved.”
Jesus, the very thought of thee with sweetness fills the breast; but sweeter far thy face to see, and in thy presence rest. O hope of every contrite heart, O joy of all the meek, to those who fall, how kind thou art! How good to those who seek! But what to those who find? Ah, this nor tongue nor pen can show; the love of Jesus, what it is, none but his loved ones know. Jesus, our only joy be thou, as thou our prize wilt be; Jesus, be thou our glory now, and through eternity. — Bernard of Clairvaux, 12th century
14 Several well-known hymns are attributed to St. Bernard: “Jesus the Very Thought of Thee”, and “O Sacred Head Now Wounded” are two that are regularly sung by churches throughout the world.
— Robert J. Morgan, “Then Sings My Soul”
Anthem Meditation: “Heavy” (click title to listen)
This new anthem by Russell Nagy is written in the style of a traditional Spiritual. “Brother, sister, have you seen him, Seen how he’s hangin’ on that tree? Seen how he won’t come down for freedom, Down from the tree of glory? How is this tree of suffering and burden also a tree of glory?
Sin was heavy, O so heavy, Lonesome heavy upon that tree. Growin’ heavy, O so heavy, All the day He died for me.
How is the image of the cross both a symbol of repentance and a symbol of victory, mercy and salvation?
Brother, sister, have you seen Him, We call it "Good Friday," Seen how He’s hangin’ on that tree? but no one standing there Seen how He won’t come down for freedom, that day would have called Down from the tree of glory? that Friday "good." The best man that history ever knew Load was heavy, O so heavy, was nailed to a Roman Loathsome heavy upon that tree. cross and murdered. For His Growin’ heavy, O so heavy All the day He died for me. enemies it was a victory of sorts; for the soldiers it was Time was heavy, O so heavy, simply another day's work; Tiresome heavy upon that tree. for His followers it was the death of their brightest hopes and greatI was heavy, O so heavy, est dreams. But no one would have called that Friday "good." All the day He died for me. When He died for you and me. We need a theological interpretation of disaster, one that recog---Joel Nagy nizes that God acts in such events as captivities, defeats, and crucifixions. The Bible can be interpreted as a string of God's triumphs disguised as disasters." Face each day with trust in Jesus Christ. God's greatest victories often come disguised as defeats. —Haddon W. Robinson,
Hymn Meditation: “O Sacred Head Now Wounded” (click title to listen) “And when they had plaited a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, ’Hail, King of the Jews!’ And they spit upon him, and took the rred, and smote him on the head.” Matt. 27:29-30 It is difficult to join our fellow believers each Lenten sason in the singing of this passion hymn without being moved almost to tears. For more than 800 years these worshipful lines from the heart of a devoted medieval monk have portrayed for parishioners a memorable view of the suffering Savior. “O Sacred Head” was part of the final portion of a lengthy poem that addressed the various parts of Christ’s body as he suffered on the cross. The seven sections of the poem considered his feet, knees, hands, side, breast, heart, and head. The stanzas of the hymn were translated into German in
15 the 17th century and from German into English in the 19th century. God has preserved this exceptional hymn, which has led Christians throughout the centuries to more ardent worship of his Son. This melody by Hans L. Hassler was used as the theme for Bach’s St. Matthew’s Passion, and is known as the PASSION CHORALE. It has been adopted as one of the most moving hymns for Holy week ever since Bach Passion premiered in 1729. Detail from “Christ and the Rich Young Ruler” Heinrich Hoffman, 1889
O sacred Head, now wounded, With grief and shame weighed down, Now scornfully surrounded With thorns, thine only crown: How pale thou art with anguish, With sore abuse and scorn! How does that visage languish Which once was bright as morn! What thou, my Lord, has suffered Was all for sinners' gain; Mine, mine was the transgression, But thine the deadly pain. Lo, here I fall, my Savior! 'Tis I deserve thy place; Look on me with thy favor, Vouchsafe to me thy grace.
What language shall I borrow To thank thee, dearest friend, For this thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end? — Kenneth W. Osbeck, “Amazing Grace O make me thine forever; And should I fainting be, Lord, let me never, never Outlive my love for thee.
Hymn Meditation: “What Wondrous Love Is This” (click title to listen)
—German Chorale
'Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 This beloved hymn, with its plaintive modal What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul, sound, is one of the best known of our What wondrous love is this, O my soul! authentic American folk hymns. Like all true What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss folk music, the origins of this text and music To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul, remain unknown. It is simply the product of To bear the dreadful curse for my soul. devout people who, when reflecting seriously What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul, on the sacrificial gift of God’s Son, respond What wondrous love is this, O my soul! spontaneously with amazed adoration for the What wondrous love is this, that caused the lord of life “wondrous love.” One typical folk hymn To lay aside his crown for my soul, for my soul, characteristic found in these words is the To lay aside his crown for my soul. repetition of key phrases such as “o my soul” To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing, and I’ll sing on.” Since folk music is generally To God and to the Lamb, I will sing. learned aurally without the assistance of the To God and to the Lamb who is the great I AM, printed page or music notation, such While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing, repetition was an effective learning tool. The While millions join the theme I will sing. hymn fist appeared in 1835 in a collection And when from death I'm free, I'll sing on, I'll sing on, titled William Walker’s Southern Harmony. And when from death I'm free, I'll sing on. These simply stated words with their And when from death I'm free I'll sing and joyful be, appealing music have since ministered to And through eternity I'll sing on, I'll sing on, people everywhere, extolling the profound And through eternity I'll sing on. — USA Folk Hymn truth of Christ’s love for each of us. Reflect again on the wondrous love of Christ in your behalf.
Meditation: “Pie Jesu” Agnus Dei is the Latin phrase for “Lamb of God.” It is a title for Jesus that is used in the gospel of John. in fact, Jesus is introduced by the proclamation of John the Baptist: “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” (John 1:29). John the Baptist cries out a second time when he see Jesus: “Behold the Lamb of God.” (John 1:36). When Andrew heard this, he immediately left and followed Jesus. He went to his brother, Peter, and told him what he had seen and heard. Christ is the Pascal Lamb (Passover Lamb) offered in thanksgiving Pie Jesu for the Israelites Quitolis pecata mundi release from Dona eis requiem. slavery in Egypt, Merciful Jesus, who takes away the and as an offering for forgiveness of sins. The Lamb of God willingly laid down his life for our forgiveness. The lamb of God is a sins of the world, grant them rest. title of Redemption and Salvation. Agnus Dei The Agnus Dei is often used in Christian art to symbolize the Quitolis pecata mundi suffering servant. It is also paralleled by the “Vicit Agnus”, the Dona eis requiem. Victorious Lamb who was raised from the dead and bears a O Lamb of God, who takes away the banner of victory over sin and death. The Victorious Lamb of sins of the world, grant them rest. ---Latin Mass God is seen in the book of Revelations. “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come… Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!... To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power for ever and ever!” —RN
A Tale of Two Marys The story of Martha and Mary of Bethany contains three different episodes:
1 Martha and Mary are visited by Jesus (Luke 10:38-42) Martha and Mary offered hospitality to their friend Jesus, a respected but somewhat controversial Jewish rabbi. Mary sat and listened to him as he talked, but Martha objected to the fact that she was left with all the work. Jesus told Martha not to worry about small things, but to concentrate on what was important. 2 Martha and Mary ask for Jesus’ help (John 11:1-44) Their brother Lazarus was dangerously ill, and in desperation Martha and Mary sent for Jesus. He delayed coming, and in the mean-
time Lazarus died. When Jesus arrived, both Martha and Mary were angry and reproached him for not coming sooner. But Martha also made an extraordinary statement of her faith in Jesus. He went to the tomb, prayed, and called to Lazarus. Lazarus came out, alive, from the tomb. 3 Mary of Bethany anoint Jesus (John 12:1-8) Martha, Mary and Lazarus gave a dinner for Jesus. During the dinner, Mary anointed Jesus with expensive perfume. Judas objected to her extravagance, but Jesus defended her action. Martha and Mary are introduced as two sisters who offered hospitality to Jesus and the people traveling with him. They had a brother, Lazarus, who appeared in a story in John’s gospel. The three young people were friends of Jesus. They behaved with him in a natural way, speaking openly about what they
16 thought. Jesus, who was quite capable of into Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. This overwhelming people with his presence, was was the week before his death. All his friends informal and easy in their knew that Jesus was in grave danger. They did not company. want him to go anywhere We know little about the near Jerusalem (see John background of Martha, Mary 11:8 and 11:16). The house and Lazarus. They may have at Bethany was a safe been orphans who had the place, a refuge. management of their own lives, since there is no mention Martha, Mary and Lazaof their parents. Moreover the rus gave a dinner for Jesus eldest of the three, Martha, and the people who were appeared to be in control of with him. It was the custom when guests arrived for dinthe household. ner to give them a refreshThey seemed to be affluing foot bath. Then they ent. They had a house large either sat at a table, or lay enough to accommodate propped up on couches many people, as their hospisurrounding a central food tality to Jesus and his group of table friends shows. They appeared “Christ in the House of Martha and Mary” to have no occupation. Mary The story of the dinner, Jan Vermeer van Delft, 1654 could afford to buy a very as told by John, is set on a Sunday evening, when members of the early expensive perfume called nard. Christian communities met to share a eucharisNone of the three appeared to have a tic celebration. This was no accident. John, spouse. This was unusual in Jewish society, writing circa 100CE, used several levels of where people were usually married before the meaning in the story. At the first level, Martha age of 20. This may mean that they were quite ‘served’ at the meal. But on a second level of young, perhaps still in their teens, or that they meaning Martha was acting as a deacon at a were on the edge of society, and not aceucharistic celebration. The word ‘served’ in ceptable in some way. In any case, they seem Greek was diakonein; it was the term used for to have been young, comparatively well-off, deacons in the early Christian church. This independent, and intelligent. word was used in both The first story about them stories about Martha occurs in Luke’s gospel. and Mary, in Luke’s Jesus visited their house. and John’s gospels. Martha prepared food for During the meal, the guests; Mary sat and Mary took a container listened to Jesus. of oil or nard (oil exThe two women had tracted from a balsam complementary personalitree), broke it, and ties. Martha was a doer, a anointed Jesus’ feet capable young woman with the expensive perwho organized and ran a fume. Then she wiped fairly large household. Mary his feet with her hair. was a thinker, interested in Anointing with oil has ideas. always had deep reliMartha objected to the gious significance. It is fact that she had to work performed at the corowhile Mary sat and listened. “Christ in the House of Martha and Mary” nation of a monarch. Peter Paul Rubens, 1928 Jesus said that Mary had In the Jewish world, it made the better choice. was a symbolic action which announced that In the last year of his ministry, Jesus again visthe person anointed was especially favored by ited his friends at Bethany, just prior to going
17 God. In the Old Testament, prophets anointed future kings, for example, Samuel anointed the future King David. When Mary anointed Jesus, she may have been anointing him as a king, the Messiah - Mark’s gospel hinted at this when it said that what she had done would always be remembered (Mark 14:3-0). Judas, a close friend of Jesus, objected to the waste of money. He reasoned that the money should be given to people in need - and of course he had a point. Judas was particularly aware of the value of money because he was the organizer of the group who traveled with Jesus, in charge of the money that they carried with them. But Jesus defended Mary’s apparent extravagance. He knew he was in great danger, and that the path he meant to take might end in a terrible death. He had many enemies who would bring him down if they could. Mary also knew the danger that Jesus was in, and that he faced an ominous future. She offered her gift as a comfort and a reassurance to him. She believed he was the Messiah, and the nard was her anointing oil. There are four accounts of Jesus being anointed by a woman — one in each of the four gospels. This is the only one where the woman is named. Mary Magdalene is often named as the sinful woman who anointed Jesus, but this woman is never named. Mary appears in the next story and speculation has tarnished her reputation. In art, Mary Magdalene is often portrayed as penitent and reflective, often reading scripture. The symbol of the alabaster box, containing the costly ointment is usually sitting beside her. The town of Magdala was quite close to Nazareth and Cana, and Jesus probably visited the region a number of times. At some point in her life, Mary met Jesus, and he cured
her of a severe illness. We do not know what the illness was, or whether the cure happened in one moment or over a period of time. In any event, she became the leader of a group of women who traveled with Jesus, and who supported him financially. All four accounts of the crucifixion and death of Jesus say that women were at the scene, and Mary Magdalene was prominent among these women. She had been close to Jesus during his life. She stayed close to him as he faced death. According to Jewish law, ointments and spices could not “The Magdalene Reading” Ambrosius Benson, 1525 be bought or sold on the Sabbath. Jesus’ death had been sudden, unexpected. The women did not have the necessary burial spices. So they waited until the Sabbath was over, bought the spices, and went to the tomb. The women intended to wash and anoint the body of Jesus. This was a traditional task of Jewish women, as they prepared the bodies of family members for burial. It was a last, gentle service given to the body of the person they loved. But when they got to the tomb, they found it empty of Jesus’ body. At this moment Mary had a profound revelation where she 'saw' and 'heard' Jesus. She understood in a way that is not easily explained that Jesus was no longer dead, but alive. She experienced what the gospels call an ‘angel’, a message “Mary Magdalene Reading” Rogier Van der Weyden, 1445 from God that gave her an unshakeable conviction Mary saw and heard Jesus. She was the first witness of the Resurrection. She was convinced that he was alive, although she was too distraught to recognize him immediately. She did not call him by his own personal name of 'Jesus', she used the word she had always used as his name, 'rabbouni', teacher. ( From womeninthebible.net)
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Sunday, March 26 Fourth Sunday of Lent “Last Supper/Prayer in the Garden” Matthew 26:17-46
On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal. When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; and while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?” He answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.” Judas, who betrayed him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” He replied, “You have said so.” While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, “You will all become deserters because of me this night; for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” Peter said to him, “Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you.” Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to him, “Even though I
must die with you, I will not deny you.” And so said all the disciples. Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. Then he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.” And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.” Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? 41 Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial;[e] the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again he went away for the second time and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.
19 Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heaven, to earth come down; fix in us thy humble dwelling; all thy faithful mercies crown! Jesus thou art all compassion, pure, unbounded love thou art; visit us with thy salvation; enter every trembling heart.
Hymn Meditation: “Love Divine” (click title to listen)
“His divine power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.” 2 Peter 1:3 After their marriage, Charles and Sally Wesley set up housekeeping in Bristol, England, heading up the Methodist activities there. Later they moved to London so Charles could work Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit more closely with his brother, John. All the while, however, he into every troubled breast! was writing hymns. There aren’t many stories behind specific Let us all in thee inherit; let us find that second rest. hymn, because Charles was constantly writing hymns. He didTake away our bent to sinning; n’t need special events to inspire him, he just continually Alpha and Omega be; wrote. He had within him a treasury of poetry. He constantly end of faith, as its beginning, experienced the emotions of a true poet, his mind instinctively set our hearts at liberty. invested words with harmony, and hymn after hymn flowed Come, Almighty to deliver, from his pen. let us all thy life receive; Henry Moore, one of his friends, described Charles like this: suddenly return and never, nevermore thy temples leave. “Even when he was nearly eighty, he rode around on a little Thee we would be always blessing, gray horse. He wore winter clothes even in the height of sumserve thee as thy hosts above, mer. He kept a card in his pocket so he could jot down any pray and praise thee without ceasing, thought that struck him. On these cards, he would often comglory in thy perfect love. pose a hymn in short hand. Not infrequently he had come to Finish, then, thy new creation; our house crying, ‘Pen and ink! Pen and ink!’ These being suppure and spotless let us be. plied he wrote the hymn he had been composing in his Let us see thy great salvation head.” perfectly restored in thee; changed from glory into glory, How many till in heaven we take our place, hymns did till we cast our crowns before thee, Wesley comlost in wonder, love, and praise. No — Charles Wesley pose? one has been able to count them all. Experts put the number between three and six thousand. “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” is certainly a favorite of many. It continues to enrich and inspire.
Anthem Meditation: “Mercy” (click
title to listen)
“Hesed” is one of my favorite words. I first learned the word in my Old Testament class back in seminary. It is a Hebrew word often used in the Psalms. It is not easy to define, but its meaning is clear. In fact, a whole new word was created just to translate “hesed” into English — Lovingkindness. If you come across that word in scripture it is “hesed”. Sometimes it is also translated as mercy or faithful mercies. It is God’s unending , faithful
20 I dare not lift my guilty eyes. I hide my lips in trembling shame. And in the darkness of my soul, I shrink from your rekindling flame. Kyrie eleison, kyrie eleison, Have mercy. In mercy cover me with grace And blot out my iniquity. Renew my heart and wash me clean; Grant with your pardon, purity. In equal measure of your love, You promise mercy, Tender compassion to the one, Who seeks your face, A broken heart, a fainting soul, A contrite spirit, Together cry for your forgiveness and your grace. Against you only have I sinned. My deeds are evil in your sight, Of your forgiveness let me sing, And in my singing take delight.
mercy and love, and grace, lavishly bestowed on his children. I love that this extraordinary expression of grace is not easily defined, or easily explained, but once you’ve experienced it, it is simply understood. So many times in my life I have felt that powerful and gentle embrace of the Father’s forgiving arms, now I have a word for it — Hesed. When the adulterous woman was brought before Jesus for condemnation, she looked into his eyes and saw it — Hesed. When the prodigal returned to a robe, a ring, a calf, and the arms of his father — Hesed. When God’s time was right, he chose to show the world how deep his love really is, how wide his mercies really are, and he raised a cross for an enduring image of grace — Hesed! The writer of Lamentations new that every morning God gives new mercies because every morning we are in need of that mercy — Hesed. Before I knew the word, I know what it meant; I had felt it, I had seen it. How can a little word mean so much? I don’t know, but I am grateful for it. “Hesed” is definitely one of my favorite words. -- Robert Norris
Kyrie eleison, kyrie eleison, Have mercy. Have mercy.
—Susan Bentall Boersma, 2015
Hymn Meditation: “Go to Dark Gethsemane” (click title to listen)
21 Liz Lemon Swindle began her painting career in first grade. Her first exhibitions were on the refrigerator, encouraged by her father. In the early 1980s she tutored under renowned wildlife artist, Nancy Glazier. In 1992, Liz began painting a subject matter she had long desired to approach: her faith. Her paintings are now held in corporate and private collections around the world and have been published in countless magazines and books. Liz and her husband Jon have five children and thirteen grandchildren. When I started this painting, I believed that Gethsemane was about the suffering of Christ. About the agony so intense that He trembled because of pain and bled from every pore. By the time I finished, I saw that the miracle of Gethsemane went beyond the suffering. The miracle was the love that brought Him there. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only beGo to dark Gethsemane, gotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, All who feel the tempter’s power; but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the Your Redeemer’s conflict see; world to condemn the world; but that the world through him Watch with him one bitter hour; might be saved.” (John 3:16-17) Turn not from his griefs away; Learn from Jesus Christ to pray. Jesus praying in Gethsemane is a common theme in the art Follow to the judgement hall; world. We are all quite familiar with the many pictures and View the Lord of life arraigned; stained glass windows of Jesus kneeling at a stone with his O the wormwood and the gall! face radiant and gazing into heaven with firm resolve to follow O the pangs his soul sustained! God’s will — “Not my will, but Thine be done.” Some even porShun not suffering, shame, or loss; tray an angel holding out a cup which Jesus reaches for to Learn from him to bear the cross. “take the cup” which he longs to have taken from him. This Calvary’s mournful mountain climb; may not be completely inaccurate after the decision has There, adoring at his feet, been made, but Mrs. Swindle paints the scene during the Mark a miracle of time, struggle and the agonizing prayer as Christ grapples with the God’s own sacrifice complete; knowledge of what is about to happen to him. “It is finished!” hear him cry; He could have run away. He could have kept his mouth shut Learn from Jesus Christ to die. or even denied the accusations that were coming. He could Early hasten to the tomb have avoided all the trouble to begin with, but his great, great Where they laid his breathless clay: love — the same love that bound him to the cross— held him All is solitude and gloom. in the garden to pray for another way to accomplish this Who has taken him away? dreadful task. Christ is risen! He meets our eyes. Mark tells us that Jesus “threw himself on the ground and Savior, teach us so to rise. — James Montgomery, 1820 prayed.” That is depicted in this powerful piece of art. You can feel the painful emotional prayer. You can see him clawing at the ground — the very creation formed by his own hands. He is surrounded by dark twisted shapes of olive trees. The ground is covered by red and white blooms — tears and sweat and blood that have fallen to the ground. The choices he made were not simple or easy. The painful, agonizing struggle makes the decision so much more meaningful and powerful and makes that grace even more amazing.
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Hymn Meditation: “I Want Jesus to Walk with Me” (click title to listen) “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; I want Jesus to walk with me; we are spiritual beings having a human experience.” I want Jesus to walk with me; Pierre Teilhard de Chardin’s quote has been one of my All along my pilgrim journey, favorites for a long time. It is impossible to imagine the Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me. strife, tribulations, and suffering that so many individuals In my trials, Lord, walk with me; and families experienced having to submit to the In my trials, Lord, walk with me; wretched experience of slavery. But every history book When my heart is almost breaking, and hymn recounts the undying hope that was so fervent Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me. and strong. When I’m in trouble, Lord, walk with me; The spiritual we reflect on today is no different. That When I’m in trouble, Lord, walk with me; hope takes the form of faith in God and knowing that When my head is bowed in sorrow, everything our sisters and brothers had to suffer through Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me. here on earth was only temporary. Their faith in Jesus to — Traditional Spiritual walk beside them, lift them up, carry them, give them grace and peace in their hearts—that kept their souls alive during a very dark time. We are constantly on a pilgrimage, whether we admit to it or not, until we find ourselves united with Christ. We may not be traveling to Jerusalem, Mecca, or Lourdes, but our hearts and our minds are always set on this faith-filled journey as we try to decipher what earthly matters truly warrant our time and energy. Though our daily human concerns may be nothing in comparison to the dark experiences like slavery, famine, war, and violence that are still very present today, we know that as Christ’s pilgrims our hearts can rest easy in God and peaceful in prayer. Prayer Dear God, guide me as your faithful pilgrim. Let me unload my momentary worries and burdens into your hands as you walk with me and carry me closer to you. Amen. —Jackie Lorens, Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago, IL
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The Season of Lent: Palms and Ashes The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday. Ashes serve as a dual symbol for both sin and death. There are numerous Old Testament references of the use of ashes to signify repentance. The pastor’s declaration: “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return” calls us toward humility. Paul reminds us that all of our greatest achievements are ‘filthy rags.” So too, the greatest and the least of us are “dust and to dust we shall return.” In Genesis, the Creating God formed Adam from the dust of the earth. The psalmist calls to this same Creator asking God to “Create in me a clean heart.” (Ps 51:10) The HOPE of the ashes is found in this “re-creation.” God takes our ashes of sin and humility, breathes His life into them and we become “new creatures.”(2 Cor 5:17) Palm Sunday comes toward the end of Lent. It is a celebration of Christ’s entry into Jerusalem. However, all too quickly the shouts of “Hosanna” are transformed into “Crucify Him!” To signify this transformation, this year’s palm branches, with their shouts of “Hosanna”, are burned and become next years’ ashes of repentance and humility.
Purple Purple is the seasonal color for Lent. The color purple should remind us of Christ’s kingship and sovereignty. He is worthy of all praise. Even the angels in heaven hide their faces in the presence of a holy God (Isaiah 6). Christ deserved a purple robe, but received purple bruises. He deserved a golden crown, but received a cruel crown of thorns. He deserved shouts of “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,” but received shouts
of “Crucify Him!” This King who deserved gold, frankincense, and myrrh, received a cross, a whip, and a spear. The color purple should remind us that Christ did not receive wha He deserved. It should also remind us that we as Christians also do not receive what we deserve. What do we deserve? In Christ, what have we received? Praise be to God!
O Word of Life, Now Called the Cross O Word of Life, now called the cross, thou ever upright, ever raised on high, eternally above! O Cross, most skillfully devised instrument of salvation, given to us by the Highest! O Cross, invincible trophy of Christ's conquest of his foes! O Cross, life-giving tree, with its roots planted in earth, and its fruits treasured up in heaven! O Cross, most venerable sweetness and sweet name! O Cross most worshipful, who brings the unworthy to God! O Name of the cross, hidden mystery! O ineffable grace that is expressed in the nave of the cross! O nature of man that cannot be separated from God! O love ineffable, inseparable, that cannot be declared by unclean lips! We will declare Thee for what thou art; we will not keep silence on the mystery of the cross which was always in the world. And thou, O Cross, wilt be unto us no mere cross of wood to slay the body of earthly matter but the cross of light that lifts man from things of earth to the matchless wonders of eternity. Amen.