Good afternoon friends,
I want to remind you of some great Holy Week worship opportunities. First up, Thursday starting at 6 will have a potluck supper at Laurelton (335 Helendale Rd) followed by worship remembering Jesus' last supper with his disciples. Friday we will take part in the ecumenical Good Friday Solidarity Cross Walk starting at 9 am at Pentecostal Miracle Deliverance Church, 923 Portland Avenue Rochester. At noon we'll have a simple Good Friday service at Calvary St. Andrews (68 Ashland St.). Sunday we'll have a sunrise service at Durand Eastman (Lakeshore Blvd. Parking area B) at 6 am, then worship with both church choirs at 9 (Laurelton) and 11 (Calvary). It's going to be a full week with the lows of the cross and the high of resurrection all represented.
Our story of Christ's last supper continues. There's this beautiful weaving together of sorrow and love, that reflects life itself.
God bless,
Sam
John 13:21-38
21After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.”22The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. 23One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him; 24Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” 26Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot.27After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “Do quickly what you are going to do.” 28Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival”; or, that he should give something to the poor. 30So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.
31When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once.33Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ 34I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
36Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now; but you will follow afterward.” 37Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Very truly, I tell you, before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times.
Showing posts with label sorrow. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sorrow. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Friday, October 29, 2010
voicing our sorrow
Good morning friends,
The Psalms are a great part of the Bible for expressing human emotions: the good, the bad and the ugly. We've heard the psalmist praise God with joy and talk about the comfort of following God. Today we hear the psalmist cry out in lament for the trouble s/he is facing. Many of the Psalms raise similar issues: arrogant or wicked people oppress the psalmist, illness is a constant sorrow, the psalmist looks for comfort in God and is still waiting. Some Psalms are full of anger against God for allowing such terrible things to happen. Most of the time these laments have a foundation in hope and trust in God, but sometimes the grief is too much to see that far ahead. The great thing about psalms of lament is that when we find ourselves full of sorrow or anger these words let us express our feelings honestly. God can handle our grief and anger. God can handle our hurt. And ultimately God will bring us through trouble to a new dawn of joy.
God bless,
Sam
Psalm 119:81-88
81My soul languishes for your salvation; I hope in your word.
82My eyes fail with watching for your promise; I ask, “When will you comfort me?”
83For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, yet I have not forgotten your statutes.
84How long must your servant endure? When will you judge those who persecute me?
85The arrogant have dug pitfalls for me; they flout your law.
86All your commandments are enduring; I am persecuted without cause; help me!
87They have almost made an end of me on earth; but I have not forsaken your precepts.
88In your steadfast love spare my life, so that I may keep the decrees of your mouth.
The Psalms are a great part of the Bible for expressing human emotions: the good, the bad and the ugly. We've heard the psalmist praise God with joy and talk about the comfort of following God. Today we hear the psalmist cry out in lament for the trouble s/he is facing. Many of the Psalms raise similar issues: arrogant or wicked people oppress the psalmist, illness is a constant sorrow, the psalmist looks for comfort in God and is still waiting. Some Psalms are full of anger against God for allowing such terrible things to happen. Most of the time these laments have a foundation in hope and trust in God, but sometimes the grief is too much to see that far ahead. The great thing about psalms of lament is that when we find ourselves full of sorrow or anger these words let us express our feelings honestly. God can handle our grief and anger. God can handle our hurt. And ultimately God will bring us through trouble to a new dawn of joy.
God bless,
Sam
Psalm 119:81-88
81My soul languishes for your salvation; I hope in your word.
82My eyes fail with watching for your promise; I ask, “When will you comfort me?”
83For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, yet I have not forgotten your statutes.
84How long must your servant endure? When will you judge those who persecute me?
85The arrogant have dug pitfalls for me; they flout your law.
86All your commandments are enduring; I am persecuted without cause; help me!
87They have almost made an end of me on earth; but I have not forsaken your precepts.
88In your steadfast love spare my life, so that I may keep the decrees of your mouth.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
cires of pain
Good morning friends,
This is a shocking reading because Jeremiah laments even his birth because of the hardships of his ministry. This language is echoed almost exactly by Job in the early chapters of that great book. Again, we can take comfort that even our hardest complaint and our ugliest cries are not too much for God. We serve a God who comes close to us when we are most in pain.
God bless,
Sam
Jeremiah 20:14-18
14Cursed be the day on which I was born! The day when my mother bore me, let it not be blessed! 15Cursed be the man who brought the news to my father, saying, “A child is born to you, a son,” making him very glad. 16Let that man be like the cities that the Lord overthrew without pity; let him hear a cry in the morning and an alarm at noon, 17because he did not kill me in the womb; so my mother would have been my grave, and her womb forever great. 18Why did I come forth from the womb to see toil and sorrow, and spend my days in shame?
This is a shocking reading because Jeremiah laments even his birth because of the hardships of his ministry. This language is echoed almost exactly by Job in the early chapters of that great book. Again, we can take comfort that even our hardest complaint and our ugliest cries are not too much for God. We serve a God who comes close to us when we are most in pain.
God bless,
Sam
Jeremiah 20:14-18
14Cursed be the day on which I was born! The day when my mother bore me, let it not be blessed! 15Cursed be the man who brought the news to my father, saying, “A child is born to you, a son,” making him very glad. 16Let that man be like the cities that the Lord overthrew without pity; let him hear a cry in the morning and an alarm at noon, 17because he did not kill me in the womb; so my mother would have been my grave, and her womb forever great. 18Why did I come forth from the womb to see toil and sorrow, and spend my days in shame?
Thursday, September 9, 2010
anguish and ministry
Good morning all,
This is a tricky reading because the speaker changes several times. Sometimes it seems the voice is Jeremiah's, other times God's. The words of judgment are not new, but here we see a special glimpse of the pain Jeremiah's ministry caused him. He was often taunted for being the bearer of so much bad news. Here we see that bringing this news was a torment for him even more than for his hearers. We also see that he not only heard the word of the Lord to proclaim but could imagine or even see the disaster to come and had to cope with the fear and pain of conquest even before the time. I certainly don't envy Jeremiah's ministry, but I admire his faithfulness. I pray that we would be able to discern God's word and share it as well.
God bless,
Sam
Jeremiah 4:11-21
11At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem: A hot wind comes from me out of the bare heights in the desert toward my poor people, not to winnow or cleanse— 12a wind too strong for that. Now it is I who speak in judgment against them. 13Look! He comes up like clouds, his chariots like the whirlwind; his horses are swifter than eagles— woe to us, for we are ruined! 14O Jerusalem, wash your heart clean of wickedness so that you may be saved. How long shall your evil schemes lodge within you?
15For a voice declares from Dan and proclaims disaster from Mount Ephraim. 16Tell the nations, “Here they are!” Proclaim against Jerusalem, “Besiegers come from a distant land; they shout against the cities of Judah. 17They have closed in around her like watchers of a field, because she has rebelled against me, says the Lord. 18Your ways and your doings have brought this upon you. This is your doom; how bitter it is! It has reached your very heart.”
19My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain! Oh, the walls of my heart! My heart is beating wildly; I cannot keep silent; for I hear the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war. 20Disaster overtakes disaster, the whole land is laid waste. Suddenly my tents are destroyed, my curtains in a moment.
This is a tricky reading because the speaker changes several times. Sometimes it seems the voice is Jeremiah's, other times God's. The words of judgment are not new, but here we see a special glimpse of the pain Jeremiah's ministry caused him. He was often taunted for being the bearer of so much bad news. Here we see that bringing this news was a torment for him even more than for his hearers. We also see that he not only heard the word of the Lord to proclaim but could imagine or even see the disaster to come and had to cope with the fear and pain of conquest even before the time. I certainly don't envy Jeremiah's ministry, but I admire his faithfulness. I pray that we would be able to discern God's word and share it as well.
God bless,
Sam
Jeremiah 4:11-21
11At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem: A hot wind comes from me out of the bare heights in the desert toward my poor people, not to winnow or cleanse— 12a wind too strong for that. Now it is I who speak in judgment against them. 13Look! He comes up like clouds, his chariots like the whirlwind; his horses are swifter than eagles— woe to us, for we are ruined! 14O Jerusalem, wash your heart clean of wickedness so that you may be saved. How long shall your evil schemes lodge within you?
15For a voice declares from Dan and proclaims disaster from Mount Ephraim. 16Tell the nations, “Here they are!” Proclaim against Jerusalem, “Besiegers come from a distant land; they shout against the cities of Judah. 17They have closed in around her like watchers of a field, because she has rebelled against me, says the Lord. 18Your ways and your doings have brought this upon you. This is your doom; how bitter it is! It has reached your very heart.”
19My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain! Oh, the walls of my heart! My heart is beating wildly; I cannot keep silent; for I hear the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war. 20Disaster overtakes disaster, the whole land is laid waste. Suddenly my tents are destroyed, my curtains in a moment.
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