Lent April 10, 2009 Lenten Daily Devotional Good Friday John 19    The passion and death of Jesus When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat on the judge's bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. He said to the Jews, "Here is your King!" They cried out, "Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!" Pilate asked them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but the emperor." Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but, 'This man said, I am King of the Jews.' " Pilate answered, "What I have written I have written." When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said to one another, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it." This was to fulfill what the scripture says, "They divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots." And that is what the soldiers did. Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Here is your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), "I am thirsty." A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the wine, he said, "It is finished." Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the sabbath, especially because that sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. (He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth.) These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, "None of his bones shall be broken." And again another passage of scripture says, "They will look on the one whom they have pierced." After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. GOOD FRIDAY TENEBRAE SERVICE   COVENANT MORAVIAN FELLOWSHIP HALL 7:00 PM April 9, 2009 Lenten Daily Devotional Thursday April 9, 2009      Maundy Thursday        1 Corinthians 11:23-26 Proclaim the Lord's death For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Memories.  We all have memories.  Good ones. Bad ones.  Short ones.  Long ones.  Happy ones. Sad ones.  Common to everyone here is that we all have memories. Thousands of memories.  Memories give us our sense of history, identity, roots, belonging, our sense of self, of who were are. We all have family memories. Quickly, in your mind, think of a memory or memories with your family.  ...... In a moment, your mind is flooded with images.  A kitchen table. The family room.  A vacation.  A mother. A father. A brother. A sister. A grandpa.  A grandma.  Flashes of memories.  A vacation. Memories.  I hope we also have many memories of Christ....at church, the Bible, the manger, the temple, in pain, the parables, on the road to Jerusalem. It was the last night of Jesus’ life and the disciples would never forget the memories of those events.  The foot washing.  The wine.  The bread.  The words:  “This is my body.  This is my blood shed for the forgiveness of your sins.  Do this is remembrance of me.” Christians are people who remember Jesus Christ, and those memories are alive, breathing, pulsating with life, and those millions of memories of Christ give us our sense of history, identify, roots, belonging, the very sense of our inner selves. May your memories of Christ today give you a sense of being a beloved member of the family of God.    Tuesday April 7, 2009  Tuesday in Holy Week Isaiah 49:1-4       The servant brings salvation to earth's ends Listen to me, O coastlands, pay attention, you peoples from far away! The Lord called me before I was born, while I was in my mother's womb he named me. He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me away. And he said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified." But I said, "I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my cause is with the Lord, and my reward with my God." Do you ever feel like you have labored in vain?  I mean have you ever felt like all the work that you do day by day for your family, your church or your community is all for nothing?   Do you have nagging questions of doubt -- wondering "Where God Is?". In these verses above from Isaiah, the prophet is speaking to God's people (Isarel) who are in captivity in Babylon.  They are wondering if God cares about them anymore.  These verses are a part of the second of the Servant songs in Isaiah.  And in them the suffering servant comes to terms with God's mission for his life.  In it is mirrored the mission of Jesus the Messiah. In Isaiah's words, the Lord speaks to the church today.  We are reminded of our place in God's sight...our task in the world.  During this Holy Week may we also hear words of remembrance---knowing that God has claimed us in baptism to be God's servants in the world.  PLEASE PRAY FOR THE MANY VICTIMS OF THE EARTHQUAKE IN ITALY.     Friday, April 3, 2009        Passage Philippians 2:12-16 (from THE MESSAGE)    Rejoicing Together        12 -13What I'm getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you've done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I'm separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God's energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.    14 -16Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I'll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You'll be living proof that I didn't go to all this work for nothing. FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR LIZ CALLAHAN Sunday, April 5th - Andrews Mortuary - Valley Chapel on College Road     Visitation 1-3:00 pm  Funeral service 3:00 pm Our Water of Life church family will be providing the meal for family and friends following the funeral service at the Callahan home off River Road. Cathy Pare will be coordinating this meal. We need folks to provide casseroles, vegetables, salads, desserts. Please call Cathy at home at 799-5833 and let her know if and how you can help.  As you all know, Liz was a passionate person who embraced life, her work, her family and her church.  She was also a person of deep faith. I pray that as we move through these days of loss that we will all find comfort in the good news of Christ's promise resurrection for Liz and for us.     Thursday, April 2, 2009        Confessing Jesus as Lord If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death - even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.       Philippians 2:1-11 Within our Lent and Holy Week readings is the theme of confessing Jesus as Lord.  In our confessing Jesus as Lord in the present moment we live in anticipation of what the future holds for the world. As many of you heard, yesterday we lost a dear saint in our church, Liz Callahan. It was a shock to her family, her work, her friends and her church family.  In my visiting with family members and friends the conversations of faith and belief certainly were present.  In one conversation, a family member coming to terms with his deep grief said but where is she really, how do we know?  My answer was, we know because she believed...she confessed Jesus as Lord, she lived the life of faith and because of Jesus' death on the cross we join her confession of faith and cling to that hope of the future. May you find a time to confess Jesus as Lord today. In Christ's Peace,  Pastor Rachel   Memories.  We all have memories.  Good ones. Bad ones.  Short ones.  Long ones.  Happy ones. Sad ones.  Common to everyone here is that we all have memories. Thousands of memories.  Memories give us our sense of history, identity, roots, belonging, our sense of self, of who were are. We all have family memories. Quickly, in your mind, think of a memory or memories with your family.  ...... In a moment, your mind is flooded with images.  A kitchen table. The family room.  A vacation.  A mother. A father. A brother. A sister. A grandpa.  A grandma.  Flashes of memories.  A vacation. Memories.  I hope we also have many memories of Christ....at church, the Bible, the manger, the temple, in pain, the parables, on the road to Jerusalem. It was the last night of Jesus’ life and the disciples would never forget the memories of those events.  The foot washing.  The wine.  The bread.  The words:  “This is my body.  This is my blood shed for the forgiveness of your sins.  Do this is remembrance of me.” Christians are people who remember Jesus Christ, and those memories are alive, breathing, pulsating with life, and those millions of memories of Christ give us our sense of history, identify, roots, belonging, the very sense of our inner selves. May your memories of Christ today give you a sense of being a beloved member of the family of God. 26 March 31, 2009 Lenten Daily Devotional Tuesday, March 31, 2009      Isaiah 44:1-8     God gives life to the people But now hear, O Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen!  Thus says the Lord who made you, who formed you in the womb and will help you: Do not fear, O Jacob my servant, Jeshurun whom I have chosen. For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my spirit upon your descendants, and my blessing on your offspring. They shall spring up like a green tamarisk, like willows by flowing streams. This one will say, "I am the Lord's," another will be called by the name of Jacob, yet another will write on the hand, "The Lord's," and adopt the name of Israel. I have just returned from six days in Chicago where I attended the Spring meeting of the ELCA Church Council and accompanying committees that I serve on.  In his report to the Council, ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson reflected upon the uncertain state of these times that we are living in and encouraged us all to think about how even in uncertain times we must live with confidence.  He said, "In anxious times, we must name our fears but not become our fears."  Likewise we are called to think beyond just being in a survival mode which causes us more often to turn invward.  Instead, we are called to walk through these sometimes shadowed valleys knowing full well we have God's confident promise and presence leading us to brighter and blessed days. I think that this is also what the prophet Isaiah was proclaiming in the verses above (and below).  God continues to pour out God's Spirit upon God's people.   And God also continues to call us to be witnesses of God's promises.  Who is God calling you to witness to this day or this week?  As we have "Invite A Friend" Sunday celebrated this week on Palm Sunday, who might you invite to worship.  Pray for that individual.  Be a witness.  Be confident that God is with you. Do not fear, but believe. In Christ's Love and Peace,  Pastor Rachel Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. Who is like me? Let them proclaim it, let them declare and set it forth before me. Who has announced from of old the things to come? Let them tell us what is yet to be. Do not fear, or be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? You are my witnesses! Is there any god besides me? There is no other rock; I know not one. March 24, 2009 Lenten Daily Devotional Monday, March 24, 2009  "The Lord's Timing"    Isaiah 55:10-11 - For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My Word be that goes out from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. Children often grow impatient at how long things take. My children who have enjoyed the few days of warm weather we have been blessed with are eager to see Spring really take root and for flip-flop and shorts' days to remain constant.  And they are also impatiently counting the days to Spring Break.! The prophet Isaiah was talking to impatient children also. They were the children of Israel--God's children. At that time, the Babylonians had taken them into captivity. They lost their homes and the temple where they worshiped. Forsaking God, they trusted in alliances with other nations. God sent Isaiah to warn them of their sinful idolatry, but they didn't repent. Even so, afterwards God gave Isaiah a message of hope for them. Isaiah proclaimed the compassionate Lord would gather them back to their homeland. They were overjoyed to hear this, but soon again many wondered if God's Word would actually be fulfilled. Like impatient children, the complaints started. God answered them in the verse above. God told them just as the water sent takes time to nourish the earth to make it sprout, so also God's Word will nourish them and in due time return to God fruitful. God's Word of promise will come to pass. Israel eventually did return from its captivity, and ultimately the promise was fulfilled in our Lord Jesus Christ. As Christians, we, too, are impatient children. We wonder why God has not answered our prayer or why a loved one must suffer illness. We ask anxiously, "How long Lord until you return?" Yet, God has been faithful in giving His Son Jesus Christ, who suffered the cross for our sins and will return to resurrect our bodies to reign with God forever. Whenever we become impatient, God answers us with the promise that God's "Word made flesh" will accomplish all that God intends for it. In Christ's Peace and Patient Love,  Pastor Rachel March 23, 2009 Lenten Daily Devotional Monday, March 23, 2009    "Come to the Light" 16 ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 19And this is the judgement, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. 20For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. 21But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.’*   (New Revised Standard Version) Most of us know John 3:16 by heart. We find it on bumper stickers, t-shirts, everywhere. This message seems so simple. But the message continues. And, actually, it is talking about us. What about verse 19? Why is the gate of grace widely opened, but not everyone enters? Why do people run from the light into darkness?  The verse speaks about people doing what is true and coming to the light but I believe there are lots of people out there in the world in pain...living in darkness because they have not felt the warmth of God's love and light.  They may be afraid of being "exposed" as the message text below states. They have not heard the story of God's love....of God giving God's Son for the world. They do not know the joy and security of the light. I invite you this week to come to the light yourself.  I also encourage you to pray for someone you know who is living in darkness.  Pray that they may be drawn to God's light Jesus Christ.  ANd then maybe you could begin a conversation with them about being a part of a community of faith where they can be affirmed and feel the glow of Christ's light. God's Peace,  Pastor Rachel   19 -21"This is the crisis we're in: God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God. Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won't come near it, fearing a painful exposure. But anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work it is."   (The Message) March 20, 2009 Lenten Daily Devotional Friday, March 20, 2009    "You get what you need" Ephesians 1:3-6  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In our household, lyrics from that old and familiar Rolling Stones song-- You Can't Always Get What You Want" are often crooned-- most of the time by my teenage son, Jacob, in taunting his 10 year old sister.  Okay all you boomers, I know you remember the chorus: You can't always get what you want ... But if you try sometimes you just might find       You get what you need, ah yes... This relates to the above words from Ephesians---In this world, we don't always get what we want, but in the heavenly realms, there is no spiritual blessing that God does not give us. Since this world will be destroyed and the heavenly realms last forever, we sure get the best end of the deal.  And most important for us is even when we may feel down and out, depressed, not getting what we want....we can remember: Before the world was even created, God knew us, and chose us to be one of God's people. God planned that you would join God's family through adoption, and through the grace and blood of Jesus Christ. Now that is something for us to really sing about!  May you experience today the grace and love of Jesus! God's Peace,    Pastor Rachel PLEASE REMEMBER IN PRAYER OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL CONFIRMATION YOUTH ON RETREAT AT CAMP AGAPE THIS WEEKEND.   See you in church! March 19, 2009 Lenten Daily Devotional How lovely is God's dwelling place Psalm 84 verses 1-2 How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. The whole Psalm is a reflection on the Christian life and the dwelling place of God.  Read these first two verses again and then stop and just meditate on them. Remember those times when you just pondered God and felt as though you would burst with joy and peace. The Psalmist in verse 2 said, "My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God." Prayer is conversation with Someone we love and with whom we want to stay close. It is communication with our heavenly Father. Notice how the writer of Psalm 84 longed to be near to God: "My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God" (v.2). When we pray, we are enriched by the growing bond that develops between us and the Lord. Prayer can be complex. We talk about the power of prayer being as my son Jacob says, "ginormous".  What is really enormous is the power of God that comes to us through prayer.  And we must not miss the great truth that when we as God's children draw near to Him in prayer He draws near to us (James. 4:8). That's all the motivation we need to make every day a day of prayer.  Come dwell in the house of the Lord!   God's Peace, Pastor Rachel LENTEN SOUP AND SANDWICH AND SERVICE  - TONIGHT, COVENANT MORAVIAN 6:00 PM Psalm 84 How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise. Selah Happy are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. As they go through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; the God of gods will be seen in Zion. O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed. For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than live in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; he bestows favor and honor. No good thing does the Lord withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, happy is everyone who trusts in you. March 17, 2009 Lenten Daily Devotional St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 2009 St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and his life is celebrated on the anniversary of the date of his death March 17, AD 461.  In the hallway entering my house, I have a calligraphed print done by one of my seminary professors that has a part of St. Patrick's prayer from The Shield of St. Patrick.  I find these words to be a source of strength and inspiration for me.  I hope you will to: Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger. I bind unto myself the name, The strong name of the Trinity; By invocation of the same. The Three in One, and One in Three, Of whom all nature hath creation, Eternal Father, Spirit, Word: Praise to the Lord of my salvation, salvation is of Christ the Lord. I'd also like to share a few of my other favorite Irish sayings and blessings: "May you be in Heaven a half hour before the Devil knows you're dead!" "May those who love us, love us And those who don't love us, May God turn their hearts And if he can't turn their hearts, May he turn their ankles So we will know them by their limping!" "Dance as if no one were watching, Sing as if no one were listening, And live every day as if it were your last." May the roads rise to meet you, May the wind be at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rain fall soft upon your fields, And, until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand. HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!   God's Peace and Love,   Pastor Rachel March 16, 2009 Lenten Daily Devotional "A Perfect Garment"   -  March 16, 2009 Romans 12:2 - Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.     My daughter and I have been trying to work on a scarf she wanted to make on her kids knitting machine she got for her birthday.  Now her mother is not very handy in the "knitting or crocheting" world, and has even been invited by our crochet club leader to try another craft where I might be more gifted. Thus the "easy-to-operate" knitting machine was purchased.  However, to no avail, we have been threading and re-threading the yarn and reading, and re-reading the easy to follow directions.  Still no scarf. It appears we will need more guidance from a higher authority on knitting! Much of our lives we spend putting things together, following instructions or life's guidelines and rules, trying to come up with what we want.  And often the supposedly easy project turns out to be more than we expected.  Whether it be a knitted scarf, or the right job, or the perfect relationship or trying to be a good disciple.  We want things to fit together in good order.  And it would be helpful if we had easy-to-follow directions for life's projects and journey. In Lent, we are given instructions. The project is not always popular or easy, but it is a call to reflect upon our relationship with Christ, to look inward to our own lives and to repent of ways that draw us into the world, conforming to others and away from God. The pattern God gives to us is a garment of grace. Over these 40 days we are invited to draw closer to God, to worship our Lord Jesus Christ as He stitches together a new garment that covers all of our sin. It is stitched together by His life and washed in His redeeming blood and made complete by His resurrection. We are halfway through Lent, may we spend the rest of the journey to the cross focusing on instructions from God...being transformed by the love of Christ discerning what is good and perfect and knowing that God can, will and has pulled it all together for us! In God's Peace,  Pastor Rachel   March 12, 2009 Lenten Daily Devotional 1 Peter 2:9-10                 You are God's own people But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. How does is feel to be chosen? Chosen to be on a team... Chosen for a special award... Chosen to be a part of another's life... The word "chosen" has synonyms of preferred and special.  When we are chosen for a purpose, generally the corresponding emotion is one that brings forth good feelings. We feel special.  For those of you who lived through the 70's, think of Steve Martin's character in the movie, The Jerk.  Recall how special "Navin" felt when he saw his name in the new phone book. And how excited he was.  He was somebody! These verses today from the New Testament letter of 1st Peter convey to the followers of Christ that God has chosen them to form a spcial nation.  Jesus is their king. They belong to God, because Jesus has bought them at the price of his death (1:18-19). God wants Christians to tell other people about him. Then those other people may become Christians too. God's Own People.  What a blessing!  Today we also are called to hear this good news.  WE ARE CHOSEN! May we take delight in this news.  Because of Christ our names are written in the eternal book of God in heaven.  And we are given the purpose of proclaiming God's mighty acts to others. May we live in the light of Christ today.  In Christ,  Pastor Rachel   ‘Darkness’ describes the time when people do not know about God. It also refers to *Satan and his works. People who come into God’s ‘wonderful light’ understand about God, because they know Jesus. Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world’ (John 8:12). March 11, 2009 Lenten Daily Devotional Psalm 105:1-11 O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples. Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful works. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually. Every day God places people in our paths to tell about or to share in God's love.  Sometimes it is people that are "seeking the Lord"; other times it is people who have known the Lord all of their lives. I have had both such examples in the last few days. On Sunday, I took my daughter to meet a friend from school at the bowling alley with her family.  Now on the way there Faith told me that I was not to talk to her friend's dad about the Christian religion because he believed in Buddha. Okay. Well, from the moment I met her friend's dad, HE wanted to talk about religion. He shared with me that his grandfather had been a Methodist pastor, that his dad believed he should get a degree in religion and then we talked about what God really wants from "church goers" is for us to love one another.  And yes, we talked about other religions and the fact that he has tried the Buddhist way.  Following my two hours in his company, I believe this man is truly a seeker of God. Yesterday, as I was waiting for a delivery at Staples office store, I had the pleasure of having a conversation with another seeker of God--- a retired Baptist minister.  He started the conversatoin with his question to me, "Did you pray for this wonderful day?"  We then had delightful conversation about God's mighty work in the world, and our need to continue to give thanks to God.  This faithful servant was certainly "Singing praises to God and telling of God's wonderful works. Seize the opportunity this week to seek God and tell others of God's love! God's Peace, Pastor Rachel March 10, 2009 Lenten Daily Devotional Genesis 22:1-9     God asks Abraham to sacrifice Isaac After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you." So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; he cut the wood for the burnt offering, and set out and went to the place in the distance that God had shown him. Ok...you have got to be kidding, right?  As we heard yesterday, after 25 years of waiting, God fulfills the promise to Sarah and Abraham, and they have a son, Isaac.  Now here we are several years later....Isaac is a young boy, and now God--to test Abraham--asks him to take Isaac and offer him as a burnt offering to God!?  So, on this side of the story we know that God was testing Abraham, but what could Abraham have been thinking? Again, I am amazed at Abraham's trust and faithfulness to God.  He was obedient to God's request. Obedient??  Now there's a word that doesn't receive a lot of attention these days.  I was walking with a neighbor of mine the other day, and she was talking about how she felt God directing her to do something and she was being more like Jonah and not listening to God...really going in the opposite direction.  However, as the days went on and she prayed and listened for God, she said she finally realized she could not run from God.  And she finally said to God, "Ok, I will be obedient." In Eugene Peterson's The MESSAGE translation of the Bible, the response from Abraham as God calls to test him is:   "I'm Listening." And then he was obedient to God's direction. I pray that we all would follow the example of Abraham this Lent, may we LISTEN WELL to what God's is speaking to us through prayer, through the Bible, through other people....and may we be obedient. God's Peace, Pastor Rachel March 9, 2009 Lenten Daily Devotional A PROMISE FULFILLED         God gives Abraham and Sarah a son GENESIS 21:1-7  The Lord dealt with Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as he had promised. Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the time of which God had spoken to him. Abraham gave the name Isaac to his son whom Sarah bore him. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Now Sarah said, "God has brought laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me." And she said, "Who would ever have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age." Laughter!  Joy!  What a great response from Sarah as she bore her son Isaac.  Twenty-five years after God's initial promise to Abram (before the name change), Sarah and Abraham see the blessing of a child.  Abraham was faithful to the call.  God delivered God's promise.  I wonder if Abraham knew it would take 25 years?  Today, let us remember the joy of living in relationship with a faithful God. Be patient as God works wonders in your lfie.  Celebrate God's promises and blessing to you and your family.  Laugh out loud and know that God is Good! In Christ's Peace, Pastor Rachel March 6, 2009 Lenten Daily Devotional What does the Lord require? Deuteronomy 10:12-22 12So now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you? Only to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13and to keep the commandments of the LORD your God and his decrees that I am commanding you today, for your own well-being. Dear Friends: Requirements and expectations from God.  Hmmm.  Why do we resist so when God gives us so much?  The above verses from the book of Deuteronomy seem so simple...  All God really wants is for us to fear or honor... To walk in His ways, To Love and To Serve with our hearts and souls.  Again, it seems like such a simple request... Unfortunately, the world and "worldly ways" are constantly calling us away from God.  Instead of honoring God on Sundays by showing up for worship, we sleep in or take a "mental health" day, because we deserve it.  Instead of setting aside daily time to pray with our children, our spouse or just alone, we fill that time "surfing the net" or watching mindless TV.  Instead of serving our neighbors in need, we find it easier to serve ourselves by going to the mall or treating ourselves to lunch out.  Again, we deserve it...  It is for our well-being.  So what does God deserve?  The one who gave his very Son on a cross to die for us, what does he really want from us? He wants our hearts....As we sing often in Lent, may we all reflect upon "creating clean hearts and renewing a right spirit for God."  May we think again about our baptism that calls us into relationship daily with Jesus.  I'd say GOD DESERVES IT. In Christ's Peace and Love,  Pastor Rachel March 5, 2009 Lenten Daily Devotional Romans 3:21-22, v. 28      Righteousness through faith But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift. .. v. 28 For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law. Dear Friends: Even though these verses above are among the key verses that helped Luther to truly understand and preach what is the Lutheran theology of grace, it is still so hard for many to hear and believe... WE HOLD THAT A PERSON IS JUSTIFIED BY FAITH.  As the saying goes, that means there is nothing we can DO to make God love us more, and there is nothing we can DO to make God love us less.  ALL have sinned, not some, but ALL.  Grace is truly a gift given to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  A gift with no strings attached.  What we do in response to that gift is purely out of love and gratitude not out of duty or obligation. It is like that often told story of the long-time, righteous churchgoer who dies and arrives at the pearly gates to be met by St. Peter ready to give an entrance exam. St. Peter explains that 1000 points is needed to gain entrance. The man begins by recounting his service to the church while on earth. St. Peter gives him 80 points for weekly worship attendance, 100 points for serving as Sunday School superintendent for over 20 years, 60 points for his tithing over the years, and 80 points for singing in the choir.  As the man listened, he began getting worried, and he said to St. Peter, "Well you know at this rate, the only way I'm going to get into heaven is by the grace of God!"  To this St. Peter quickly moved aside and said, "You are so right that is worth 1000 points....WELCOME TO HEAVEN!" Take a few moments today and thank God for the gift of Grace! In Christ,   Pastor Rachel Romans 3:21-31       Full Text   "Righteousness through faith" But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one; and he will justify the circumcised on the ground of faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law. Archives February 2009 March 2009 April 2009