Wednesday Night Meals 9/8/2010 05:00PM-06:30PM Location: Faith Hall
Join us any Wednesday for supper between 5:00-6:30pm. Meal menus in website announcements.
The season of Lent is one of the holiest times of the church calendar. Lent is the period of prayer and fasting in preparation for Easter, the celebration of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In Western Christianity, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and concludes on Holy Saturday. The six Sundays in Lent are not counted among the 40 days of Lent because each Sunday represents a "mini-Easter", a celebration of Jesus's victory over sin and death.
One of the reasons that the early church decided on 40 days was to mirror Christ's fasting in the desert before beginning his public ministry. Also, the number 40 in the Scriptures is associated with a time of sorrow or affliction before eventual joy. It was the period when flood waters covered the earth before Noah and his family reached dry land (Genesis 8:6); Moses was on the mountain 40 days and 40 nights when he wrote down the words of the Covenant (Exodus 24:18); and Elijah walked through the desert for 40 days until he reached the cave where he heard the ‘still small voice’ of God (I Kings 19:8). The 40 days of Lent are a time of reflecting on the sorrow of Christ’s passion as preparation for the joy of Easter.
In order to enrich our times of reflection and meditation during the Lenten season, the Immanuel Connections Committee assembled a series of devotionals, written by Immanuel members, for Lent 2010. For those who didn't receive the paper copy of the devotional in the mail or simply like to read things online, you will be able to come to this page every Monday through Saturday during Lent for 40 days of reflection and inspiration. The latest entry will always be at the top, but you'll always be able to go through all previous days' reflections as well. Enjoy!
Reflection: This passage reminds us that although Joseph of Arimathea was a member of the Jewish high council, it was never the less very brave of him to go to Pilot and ask for Jesus’ body. Not only brave, but very caring. The women of Galilee, certainly not as prominent as Joseph, were also very caring. They did what they could do. Small, simple, yes, but they did it. They brought spices and perfumes as today we would bring flowers to our graves. Joseph and the women took the opportunity to show respect. Instead of worrying about what they couldn’t do, Joseph and the women just did what they could for Jesus. What small thing can you do this Easter weekend for Jesus? How can you show your love for Jesus?
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we praise you for the living Christ and like all followers of Jesus; we know He is with us. We ask that you help each one of us find your presence in our lives in the coming days. In Christ’s Love we pray. Amen.
Reflection: Do you ever wonder what it would have been like to be alive when Jesus walked the earth? To have actually heard the sound of his voice as he taught the multitudes? To have been part of that ragtag group following him from one place to another? To perhaps have felt the healing touch of his hands? Only to have watched it all end on that horrible day when “darkness came over the whole land?”
As we Christians of the 21st century prepare ourselves during the season of Lent to commemorate Holy Week and the events leading to the crucifixion, we do so in the light of Easter. We know “the rest of the story.” Those early disciples and other followers did not. How desolate they must have felt. Their hopes and dreams were dashed. However they had understood the message and message of the man they had followed, they must have been devastated. Just imagine the anguish.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they pierced him in the side?
Were you there when they pierced him in the side?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they pierced him in the side?
Prayer: Lord God, we thank you for the “rest of the story.” We know we serve a risen Savior. Amen.
Reflection: When I first looked at this passage, I was unsure what Jesus meant when He said: "I will not eat of it again until it finds fulfillment in the Kingdom of God." How could a meal be fulfilled in Heaven?
Then, as I thought about it, I remembered this meal was the Last Supper, where Jesus broke the bread and poured the wine, representing His Body and Blood. In order for the Last Supper to be fulfilled, Jesus had to die on the cross, for without his death we would not have forgiveness for our sins.
The disciples were no doubt equally confused at this time. Perhaps they finally understood when the Lord appeared to them later. Do we fully understand what Jesus did for us? He who was without sin, became sin, that we may be saved. And all we need to do is believe.
Prayer: Precious Lord, thank you for your death, which resulted in our salvation. May we always be mindful of your sacrifice. Amen.
Reflection: For followers of Christ, the measures of success have nothing to do with social status or wealth, but rather how clearly their lives reflect the humble and obedient nature demonstrated to us by Jesus. Before Jesus came to earth to live as a man, his rightful place was in heaven, since he was God in every nature. He could have selfishly held onto this position, but instead, he voluntarily relinquished his right to live in heaven as Almighty God. He clothed himself in human flesh and adopted the nature of a servant who was the model of humble obedience all the way through the pain and humiliation of the cross. By grace, his sacrificial death became an undeserved payment for the sins of all mankind and his resurrection completed God’s victory over death.
Followers of Jesus who have begun to appreciate and accept the amazing depth of his sacrifice are instructed to humbly imitate Christ’s actions and to serve him by serving others. “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant” (Matthew 20: 26).
Many of us have jobs or duties that might be said to serve other people, but just doing a job can be an empty (even if useful) activity. If we can remember to strive for the attitude of Christ, our work will suddenly realize new meaning as we notice and utilize opportunities, both large and small, for service in Jesus’ name.
Prayer: Dearest Lord Jesus, we can scarcely understand or appreciate the depth of your sacrifice for us. We pray that our understanding might grow as we strive toward an attitude of humble and obedient service after your example and in your Holy Name. Amen.
Reflection: The last year has been a difficult time for the Immanuel family. So many have been struggling with job loss, with illness and with the loss of loved ones. It has also been a hard year for my own family. My younger brother has cancer. It was discovered that his wife’s employer had been embezzling funds for years so there was a fear that the office where she worked would be closed. And that would have meant, among other things, a loss of health insurance. Our son-in-law has health issues, which may result in a very risky surgery. And his sister’s pregnancy developed serious complications and she nearly lost the baby. My mother’s health has failed and she now requires care, a hard blow for a very independent lady. Last summer my husband was diagnosed with glaucoma.
There were times when I cried out to God in anger and in frustration. The words from the Psalmist often expressed my feelings better than any of my own. Verse 10 from Psalm 31 summed it up: "My troubles are using up my strength, and my bones are getting weaker." And verse 12: "I am like a piece of a broken pot." (NCV)
But as I read on, I found the words in verses 14-16: “You are my God.” “My life is in your hands.” These are powerful words, words of great comfort: knowing we have a God whose love is unfailing, a God who cares for us, supports us and gives us strength as we face whatever life has in store for us.
Prayer: Lord God, we praise you and thank you for your steadfast love. Please help us to always remember that you are indeed God of the universe and to keep in mind Jesus’ words: "The things impossible for people are possible for God." (NCV) Amen.
Reflection: Have mercy on me, God, as I am unable to do as I have been able to do in the past. My body is not as strong as it was in my youth. My strength and body grow weak with age. The weaknesses sometimes comes from the aging in my body and other times comes from the sorrow and grief my soul goes through.
There are times I go to do something and find it is not as easy as it use to be. My body is aging. Yep, I know that is hard to believe but I am over half a century old.
There are times my soul and heart can’t take as much as it used to. Things said hurt more than they use to.
This verse also gives me the inspiration that God won’t leave me along side of the road. He will still use me in his work. He knows I am not as strong as in my youth, but he can use me just as much in the stage of life I am in right now.
When we are honest with God and admit where we are, he will use us and be beside us.
Prayer: Father God, from the day we were born, we begin to die. All things we see will touch our heart and soul. All things we do will affect our physical body. Together we grow and are able to walk the road you ask us to walk. It will not be easy and will not get easier as we grow older. But you will follow us and guide us and protect us all the way. Amen.
Reflection: This seems to be one of those verses when you should read the ones before and after in order to know what is really meant.
When I read this verse only, it says to me Jesus is saying ‘you are concentrating on every day things that will be with you always, but missing out on the once in a lifetime events.’
How many times have we looked back and thought ‘if I had only known, I would have done this differently’. How many times do we look back and see what we thought was so important to do at that precise time did not have to be done at that time after all. We say we wish we had more time: God gave us the time for what He chose for us to do and still time left over to do what we want.
God is not saying the poor among us is not important. He is saying there will always be time to help them. That is something we do daily. God is saying ‘smell the roses and see the once in a lifetime event that takes your breath away.’ Those are the things He gives us and wants to share with us.
Prayer: Father God, how many times have we overlooked beauty and peace and contentment when we were ‘busy doing our Father’s work’? How many times have you touched our hearts and cheek and asked us to sit with you beside a gentle brook and hear the sounds of nature? How many times have we missed being close to you because WE thought we should be doing something else? Yes the poor shall always be among us, but we can still be called to enjoy the simple everyday moments that take our breath away and make us say ‘How can someone see this and not believe in God?’ Thank you for sharing your love, your nature, and your peace with us. Help us to take time out to see what you have created and put here for us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Brenda H. Bolen
Reflection: Let us get the proper perspective of our scripture. The Gospel of John has two divisions. This portion focuses on Jesus’ eternal life of devotion. It is like a coach calling his team into a huddle and expressing confidence. Up to this point in our scripture, the emphasis is on Jesus’ public ministry. Now John records the glorification of Jesus’ life. From this point we see Jesus speaking of his glorification.
Love is the approach of Christianity and the strongest form. William Barclay calls it “Love Extravagance.”
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we give you praise for your son who faced all adversity with love. Amen.
Reflection: Our work on earth with Christ Jesus is never done. We must constantly look toward opportunities to serve God’s kingdom. We cannot rest on what we have done in the past. God calls us to new opportunities every day.
As a young man, I was baptized in the Disciples of Christ church by immersion. I remember it was Easter Sunday. My mother had told me that when I rose from the water, I should feel like a new person. At that time, I did not immediately sense a difference in my life. However, I did feel that I had a whole life ahead which could be shared with God in his service.
Prayer: Dear God, please help us to look for new opportunities to serve you and your Kingdom. Let our work not be done to simply accumulate good deeds. Let us instead know that our work is never done. The reward for eternal life, as promised by Jesus Christ, is a constant promise for all Christians who serve the Lord. Amen.
Reflection: Paul was in prison when he wrote the letter to the Philippians. He had lost everything, including his freedom. But he still managed to be joyful and encourage others. Why? Because the one thing that couldn’t be taken from him was his faith in God as experienced through Jesus Christ.
It is relatively easy to get caught up in the quest for bigger, better, and more in our culture. We are bombarded with advertising and pressure from family and friends to constantly be searching for the next best thing that will increase our happiness. But as Christians, we already have the one thing we truly need to be happy - our faith.
It seems like lately, I’ve been focused on the “what’s next” of my life. At the encouragement of family, I’m making plans - what piece of furniture would I like to own, where would I like to live when I leave my apartment. It’s fun to plan how I would arrange furniture, where I’d like to live, where I’d like to travel to, but sometimes that puts my focus on the wrong things in life. I am grateful for the blessings I have in life. But I’ve learned that it’s not the possessions or my standing in society that I lean on in times of strife. In the times of both struggle and heartache, and abundant joy I know the truth - my Redeemer lives. Nothing else matters. That is what we learn from Paul.
Prayer: Eternal Lord, thank you for all the blessings we have received. Help us to know that it is you who gives us joy, not our possessions. Free us for joyful obedience. Amen.
Reflection: When I opened my Message Bible to read this psalm, I found the following notes by Eugene Peterson, the translator of this Bible. His words resonated with me, so I am sharing them with you.
It’s clear in Psalm 126 that the one who wrote the psalm and those who sang it were no strangers to the dark side of things. They carried the painful memory of exile in their bones and the scars of oppression on their backs. They knew the parched deserts of the heart and the windswept nights of weeping.
A common strategy for achieving joy is a change of scenery. Eliminate the things that hurt. Get rid of the pain by numbing the nerve endings. Get rid of the insecurity by eliminating the risks. Get rid of disappointment by depersonalizing your relationships. Then try to lighten the boredom of such a life by buying joy in the form of vacations and entertainment.
There isn’t a hint of that in Psalm 126.
Those who went off with heavy hearts came home laughing, with armloads of blessings. There’s plenty of suffering in life for everyone. The joy comes because God knows how to wipe away the tears and create the smile of new life. This joy isn’t dependent on our good luck in escaping hardship. It isn’t dependent on our good health and our avoidance of pain. Christian joy is actually in the midst of pain, suffering, loneliness, and misfortune.
From Conversations: The Message Bible With Its Translator, Eugene H. Peterson.
Prayer: Lord God, we thank you for the promise of joy, for the promise that you are always with us. Amen.
Reflection: This says to me that no matter what blessings or sorrows we have had in our past, God doesn’t want us to stay there. He has given us a way through the wilderness (Jesus) and the water that quenches our thirst (Jesus). He wants us to grow closer to him and greater in our faith. We all have things in our past that we may not want to let go of that prevent us from growing. It is certainly easier and maybe more comfortable to stay where we are. Things in our past can provide us with an excuse and attract the attention or sympathy of others. We have to let go of the past in order to go forward and experience the Way and the Water. If you have been a victim of circumstance or medical illness in the past, like my having had cancer, we must not stay there and let it define us, but learn from it and go out to help others.
Prayer: Lord, make me not rest on my laurels or hide in my sorrows, but to seek you and all the experiences and opportunities you have waiting for me. Thank you for giving me your son, the way and the water, to be with me always. Amen.
Scripture:Luke 15: 31-32 >>
Reflection: When the father welcomed his son back home so readily he showed his true love for his child. He was eager to celebrate his son's return, much more so than the brother. The father explained to the brother that it was a gift to have his brother come home. That is what parents do. That was his job.
I am a stay-at-home mom. My life revolves around my children. I am their teacher, chauffeur, chef, and personal assistant. I volunteer at their schools, not just because I enjoy it, but because I want them to know how important they are to me. Many of my volunteer activities are for them or to spend more time with them. I have spent my “time off' at soccer and baseball games, gymnastics and swimming lessons, concerts, and plays. I celebrate their successes and mourn their losses. I am a parent. That is my job.
As parents, we want the best for our children. When they are younger, we want them to be respectful, well-behaved children. As they grow older, we also want them to be successful, responsible citizens. We hope they will be good stewards to the church, community, and the earth. Or course, we always want them to be happy and healthy.
I am still working on the first phase of this process. My current concerns are whether the boys are being polite, working hard in school, and learning life lessons for the future. If the future doesn't turn out as I have hoped for them, will I still love my children? Yes, because I am a parent and that is my job.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for our children. Help us to celebrate them and shower them with our love. Help our children to grow and feel confident in that love. Amen.
Reflection: Although we don't read about the older brother of the prodigal son in this passage, he is the one I often identified with, growing up. Like him, I was the obedient first-born, who studied diligently, saved judiciously and generally followed my parents' direction and advice. Meanwhile, my younger brother was the popular, fun-seeking risk-taker, who'd squander his allowance and bend the rules--without getting caught.
As an adult, however, I realize what a "prodigal daughter" I have been, in terms of my spiritual and personal life--ignoring the guidance of my heavenly Father to follow my own selfish interests. How much pain I've caused God (and others) through my actions each and every day! So, how comforting it is to know that God doesn't "keep score," but rather welcomes me back with open arms when I finally recognize my shortcomings and unworthiness--time after time. In our consumer-driven culture, I guess you could say God offers the most generous Return Policy anywhere!
Prayer: God, We give thanks for your unending love, which celebrates our return each time we find our way back to you! Help us to be equally forgiving of those who forsake us. Amen.
Reflection: God loves us. He sent his Son to die on the cross to pay for our sins. So what's our end of this bargain? Trust God, believe in Jesus. Is that enough? Well, no.
God will love us no matter what we do, but to return God's love, we have to show it to other people: become "ambassadors of Christ." We have to let other people know that salvation is there for them, as well.
That's a tough responsibility. Although writing a check for earthquake relief and doling out plates of food at the local homeless shelter are certainly things Jesus asked us to do, they're not altogether what Paul is asking of us in this passage. He's asking us something that's a little tough for me to do: Take God's message of reconciliation to others so they can be right with God, too.
When it comes to my faith, it's a lot easier for me to communicate through works than it is through words. But if folks don't know why I'm acting, they don't get the whole picture: God loves us so much that he sent his Son to die for our sins. Pretty powerful message. Now we need to show our appreciation and love by sharing it.
Prayer: Lord, I love you. Thank you for loving me no matter what and give me new courage to be your ambassador, inviting others to come back to you. Amen.
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