Ever-Present

EVER-PRESENT A preaching guide for lent 2016

EVER-PRESENT

By Jennifer Holz

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

—Psalm 46:1

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s I think about the arc of my story, the life that God has called me to, there are many times that I can recall the tangible presence of God along my path. But there are also times marked by a sense of absence, an uncertainty about God’s nearness. And when the question, “Where is God?,” becomes the leading question of the heart, the psalms provide a remarkable language and a spoken comfort for such a search. The Book of Psalms declares that our God is an ever-present God. Dr. James L. Mays writes that the Book of Psalms has a three-fold identity.1 • The psalms are the liturgy of ancient Israel. Each one contains a story and a context.

• The psalms are also Scripture, the very Word of God. • The psalms are an important part of our liturgy today as well. They are meant to be spoken out loud by a congregation on the journey of faith.

The psalms shape our hearts. They help us to praise the Lord, to lament our losses and to put our trust once again in God Almighty.

During the season of Lent for 2016, our congregation will be steeped in the psalms.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (February 10 this year) and ends with Easter Sunday. It is a time of reflection, confession and preparation for the greatest event known to humankind, the resurrection of Jesus.

Lent lasts for 40 days (not including Sundays, which are days of praise and celebration) mirroring the 40 days of fasting by Jesus, the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness by the Israelites and the 40 days Noah and his family spent on the ark.

As we make our way through the songbook of Israel, we find ourselves in particular psalms where the writer is crying out for the Lord to answer.

From a cry for refuge to a call for forgiveness to a simple exclamation of fear, the psalmist discovers an ever-present God. Each Psalm we look at will also be linked to the life of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew as Jesus ponders the needs and desires of those around Him. You can prepare for our series by reflecting on these questions: • In this time in your life, what do your cries to the Lord sound like?

• Where do you feel struggle and pain?

• How are you being stretched to trust in the Lord with all your heart right now?

Athanasius writes this about the Book of Psalms: “It is my view that in the words of this book the whole human life, its basic spiritual conduct and as well its occasional movements and thoughts, is comprehended and contained. Nothing to be found in human life is omitted.”

(Ad Marcellinum)2 Our journey to the cross embraces all of our heartaches and longings. We bring everything to the Lord. For our God is an Ever-Present help in trouble.

Jennifer Holz is the Senior Associate Executive Pastor at First Pres.

Mays, James L. Psalms, (John Knox Press, 2006), p. ix.

Ibid., p. 1

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Journey to the Cross

elcome to the 2016 Journey to the Cross. The following Scriptures are taken from the daily lectionary* and are read and prayed by God’s people around the world. Our hope is that our church community will grow in oneness of vision and mission by reading, pondering and reflecting on Scripture together. We will use these three questions as a meditation each day of our journey: (1) W hat is God saying to you through these scriptures?

(2) What do these passages mean for us as a church community?

(3) How is the Holy Spirit calling you to respond?

There is power in reflection. Make some space each day to listen for the Holy Spirit, to think deeply and to prepare your heart.

May God shape us by His Word and prepare us anew for the celebration of Easter!

Let’s do this together.

Day 1: Wednesday, Feb 10th • Morning Psalms 5; 147:1-11 • First Reading Amos 5:6-15 • Second Reading Hebrews 12:1-14 • Gospel Reading Luke 18:9-14 • Evening Psalms 27; 51

Day 6: Tuesday, February 16th • Morning Psalms 34; 146 • First Reading Genesis 37:12-24 • Second Reading 1 Corinthians 1:20-31 • Gospel Reading Mark 1:14-28 • Evening Psalms 25; 91

Day 2: Thursday, Feb 11th • Morning Psalms 27; 147:12-20 •F irst Reading Habakuk 3:1-10 (11-15) 16-18 • Second Reading Philippians 3:12-21 • Gospel Reading John 17:1-8 • Evening Psalms 126; 102

Day 7: Wednesday, February 17th • Morning Psalms 5; 147:1-11 • First Reading Genesis 37:25-36 • Second Reading 1 Corinthians 2:1-13 • Gospel Reading Mark 1:29-45 • Evening Psalms 27; 51

Day 3: Friday, February 12th • Morning Psalms 22; 148 • First Reading Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32 • Second Reading Philippians 4:1-9 • Gospel Reading John 17:9-19 • Evening Psalms 105; 130 Day 4: Saturday, February 13th • Morning Psalms 43; 149 • First Reading Ezekiel 39:21-29 • Second Reading Philippians 4:10-20 • Gospel Reading John 17:20-26 • Evening Psalms 31; 143 Day 5: Monday, February 15th • Morning Psalms 119:73-80; 145 • First Reading Genesis 37:1-11 • Second Reading 1 Corinthians 1:1-19 • Gospel Reading Mark 1:1-13 • Evening Psalms 121; 6

Day 8: Thursday, February 18th • Morning Psalms 27; 147:12-20 • First Reading Genesis 39:1-23 • Second Reading 1 Corinthians 2:14-3:15 • Gospel Reading Mark 2:1-12 • Evening Psalms 126; 102 Day 9: Friday, February 19th • Morning Psalms 22; 148 • First Reading Genesis 40:1-23 • Second Reading 1 Corinthians 3:16-23 • Gospel Reading Mark 2:13-22 • Evening Psalms 105; 130 Day 10: Saturday, February 20th • Morning Psalms 43; 149 • First Reading Genesis 41:1-13 • Second Reading 1 Corinthians 4:1-7 • Gospel Reading Mark 2:23-3:6 • Evening Psalms 31; 143

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Day 11: Monday, February 22nd • Morning Psalms 119:73-80; 145 • First Reading Genesis 41:46-57 • Second Reading 1 Corinthians 4:8-20 (21) • Gospel Reading Mark 3:7-19a • Evening Psalms 121; 6 Day 12: Tuesday, February 23rd • Morning Psalms 34; 146 • First Reading Genesis 42:1-17 • Second Reading 1 Corinthians 5:1-8 • Gospel Reading Mark 3:19b-35 • Evening Psalms 25; 91 Day 13: Wednesday, February 24th • Morning Psalms 5; 147:1-11 • First Reading Genesis 42:18-28 • Second Reading 1 Corinthians 5:9-6:11 • Gospel Reading Mark 4:1-20 • Evening Psalms 27; 51 Day 14: Thursday, February 25th • Morning Psalms 27; 147:12-20 • First Reading Genesis 42:29-38 • Second Reading 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 • Gospel Reading Mark 4:21-34 • Evening Psalms 126; 102 Day 15: Friday, February 26th • Morning Psalms 22; 148 • First Reading Genesis 43:1-15 • Second Reading 1 Corinthians 7:1-9 • Gospel Reading Mark 4:35-41 • Evening Psalms 105; 130 Day 16: Saturday, February 27th • Morning Psalms 43; 149 • First Reading Genesis 43:16-34 • Second Reading 1 Corinthians 7:10-24 • Gospel Reading Mark 5:1-20 • Evening Psalms 31; 143 Day 17: Monday, February 29th • Morning Psalms 119:73-80; 145 • First Reading Genesis 44:18-34 • Second Reading 1 Corinthians 7:25-31 • Gospel Reading Mark 5:21-43 • Evening Psalms 121; 6 Day 18: Tuesday, March 1st • Morning Psalms 34; 146 • First Reading Genesis 45:1-15 • Second Reading 1 Corinthians 7:32-40 • Gospel Reading Mark 6:1-13 • Evening Psalms 25; 91 Day 19: Wednesday, March 2nd • Morning Psalms 5; 147:1-11 4 | www.first-pres.org 2/16

• First Reading Genesis 45:16-28 • Second Reading 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 • Gospel Reading Mark 6:13-29 • Evening Psalms 27; 51

Day 20: Thursday, March 3rd • Morning Psalms 27; 147:12-20 • First Reading Genesis 46:1-7, 28-34 • Second Reading 1 Corinthians 9:1-15 • Gospel Reading Mark 6:30-46 • Evening Psalms 126; 102 Day 21: Friday, March 4th • Morning Psalms 22; 148 • First Reading Genesis 47:1-26 • Second Reading 1 Corinthians 9:16-27 • Gospel Reading Mark 6:47-56 • Evening Psalms 105; 130 Day 22: Saturday, March 5th • Morning Psalms 43; 149 • First Reading Genesis 47:27-48:7 • Second Reading 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 • Gospel Reading Mark 7:1-23 • Evening Psalms 31; 143 Day 23: Monday, March 7th • Morning Psalms 119:73-80; 145 • First Reading Genesis 49:1-28 • Second Reading 1 Corinthians 10:1411:1 • Gospel Reading Mark 7:24-37 • Evening Psalms 121; 6 Day 24: Tuesday, March 8th • Morning Psalms 34; 146 • First Reading Genesis 49:29-50:14 • Second Reading 1 Corinthians 11:2-34 • Gospel Reading Mark 8:1-10 • Evening Psalms 25; 91 Day 25: Wednesday, March 9th • Morning Psalms 5; 147:1-11 • First Reading Genesis 50:15-26 • Second Reading 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 • Gospel Reading Mark 8:11-26 • Evening Psalms 27; 51 Day 26: Thursday, March 10th • Morning Psalms 27; 147:12-20 • First Reading Exodus 1:6-22 • Second Reading 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 • Gospel Reading Mark 8:27-9:1 • Evening Psalms 126; 102 Day 27: Friday, March 11th • Morning Psalms 22; 148 • First Reading Exodus 2:1-22

• Second Reading 1 Corinthians 12:2713:3 • Gospel Reading Mark 9:2-13 • Evening Psalms 105; 130

• First Reading Lamentation 1:1-2, 6-12 • Second Reading 2 Corinthians 1:1-7 • Gospel Reading Mark 11:12-25 • Evening Psalms 121; 6

Day 28: Saturday, March 12th • Morning Psalms 43; 149 • First Reading Exodus 2:23-3:15 • Second Reading 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 • Gospel Reading Mark 9:14-29 • Evening Psalms 31; 143

Day 36: Tuesday, March 22nd • Morning Psalms 34; 146 • First Reading Lamentations 1:17-22 • Second Reading 2 Corinthians 1:8-22 • Gospel Reading Mark 11:27-33 • Evening Psalms 25; 91

Day 29: Monday, March 14th • Morning Psalms 119:73-80; 145 • First Reading Exodus 4:10-20 (21-26) 27-31 • Second Reading 1 Corinthians 14:1-19 • Gospel Reading Mark 9:30-41 • Evening Psalms 121; 6

Day 37: Wednesday, March 23rd • Morning Psalms 5; 147:1-11 • First Reading Lamentations 2:1-9 • Second Reading 2 Corinthians 1:23-2:11 • Gospel Reading Mark 12:1-11 • Evening Psalms 27; 51

Day 30: Tuesday, March 15th • MorningPsalms 34; 146 • First Reading Exodus 5:1-6:1 • Second Reading 1 Corinthians 14:20-33a, 39-40 • Gospel Reading Mark 9:42-50 • Evening Psalms 25; 91 Day 31: Wednesday, March 16th • Morning Psalms 5; 147:1-11 • First Reading Exodus 7:8-24 • Second Reading 2 Corinthians 2:14-3:6 • Gospel Reading Mark 10:1-16 • Evening Psalms 27; 51 Day 32: Thursday, March 17th • Morning Psalms 27; 147:12-20 • First Reading Exodus 7:25-8:19 • Second Reading 2 Corinthians 3:7-18 • Gospel Reading Mark 10:17-31 • Evening Psalms 126; 102 Day 33: Friday, March 18th • Morning Psalms 22; 148 • First Reading Exodus 9:13-35 • Second Reading 2 Corinthians 4:1-12 • Gospel Reading Mark 10:32-45 • Evening Psalms 105; 130 Day 34: Saturday, March 19th • Morning Psalms 43; 149 • First Reading Exodus 10:21-11:8 • Second Reading 2 Corinthians 4:13-18 • Gospel Reading Mark 10:46-52 • Evening Psalms 31; 143

Day 38: Thursday, March 24th • Morning Psalms 27; 147:12-20 • First Reading Lamentations 2:10-18 • Second Reading 1 Corinthians 10:14-17; 11:27-32 • Gospel Reading Mark 14:12-25 • Evening Psalms 126; 102 Day 39: Friday, March 25th • Morning Psalms 22; 148 • First Reading Lamentations 3:1-9, 19-33 • Second Reading 1 Peter 1:10-20 • Gospel Reading John 13:36-38 • Evening Psalms 105; 130 Day 40: Saturday, March 26th • Morning Psalms 43; 149 • First Reading Lamentations 3:37-58 • Second Reading Hebrews 4:1-16 • Gospel Reading Romans 8:1-11 • Evening Psalms 31; 143

* The Daily Lectionary is arranged in a two-year cycle and provides for reading twice through the New Testament and once through the Old Testament during the cycle. It is based on the Liturgical calendar. Users may read all the lessons in one sitting, or may distribute the readings throughout the day as a part of the practice of daily prayer.

Day 35: Monday, March 21st • Morning Psalms 119:73-80; 145 2/16 | www.first-pres.org | 5

GIVE back the

BLESSING Impacting live What is Give Back The Blessing? Give Back The Blessing is the name for our special mission-focused offering on Palm Sunday — previously known as One Great Hour of Sharing. The purpose of the offering is to give back — to channel the blessings we have received to our mission partners. We have been blessed to be a blessing to others. This year Give Back the Blessing has a $70,000 goal to help with building projects to combat homelessness in our city by Springs Rescue Mission, Catholic Charities, Faith Promise and others, as well as helping our partner church in Kalimpong, India, with the construction of its Child Development Center Expansion.

Why Homeless Housing? As a church we’re committed to meeting needs in our city. The greatest need is resources for our homeless population. On any given winter night, our city has around 1,100 people living in emergency shelters — or under no roof at all — and

an additional thousand neighbors in permanent supportive housing or homeless prevention programs.

There is hope! We are observing a dramatic move of the Spirit as churches, nonprofits and the city are working together to find creative solutions to provide comprehensive pathways out of homelessness for everyone in Colorado Springs. Springs Rescue Mission is working on plans for the development of a multi-agency campus designed to increase beds-year round, expand its dining facility and provide a Day Center. The proposed Day Center, the focus of Give Back The Blessing this year, will provide case management, health and mental support, access to computers for job searches, laundry and shower facilities, among other services.

Why Kalimpong? The Child Development Center run by our partner church, the Presbyterian Free Church of Kalimpong, is vital to its community. It has become an important

Artist's rendering of Springs Rescue Mission's expanded facility.

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es at home and abroad can help provide for those in need in Colorado Springs and those in need half a world away. We can bless those combatting homelessness in our home town as well as those trying to provide a safe space for children to gather, grow and encounter Jesus in Kalimpong, India.

place of serving the Lord and the community.

When the Napal earthquake struck in 2015, the facility in Kalimpong was damaged. Without needed renovations and repairs, those served by the center will be put at risk. In addition, the facility is already at capacity and needs more space to serve the community.

Through our gifts, a new kitchen will be built on the ground floor, two classrooms will be added to the first floor and the second floor will offer a place for recreation, relaxation and community. The project will improve sanitation, allow space for classes offering the Global Curriculum of Compassion International and will allow the center to better meet the needs of the community.

Why Should We Give? Our vision as a church is to Prepare All Generations to Impact Lives For Christ. Part of that call is to live our purpose, given by God, to make a difference in our own city and in cities around the world. These projects do that. We

How Do We Give? Be on the lookout for a letter in March that will detail more on these projects as well as a special giving envelope. Pray about what God is calling you to give and bring the envelope to place in the offering on Sunday, March 20.

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a d d r e ss

S ER V ICE

RE Q UE S TED

Non Profit Org. U. S. Postage PAID Colo. Spgs. CO Permit No. 419

Featuring the Sanctuary Choir, the Colorado Springs Children’s Chorale, and soloists Steven Taylor and Vonda Barnhart, accompanied by full orchestra.

Tickets $10 on sale at Congregational Support.

Sunday, March 13 • 4:00 p.m. • Sanctuary

John Rutter’s