It has been a joyous Easter season. Our Palm Sunday was wonderful with the telling of the Holy Week Story by way of a play called “The Stones of Passion.” More than 9 people participated. Thank you, Linda for directing this drama. We also recorded and put out a Good Friday “Tenebrae” service. It included the last seven words of Christ that he spoke while dying on the cross. Thank you, Carla, Mary, Linda, and Bob, for putting this together.
Blessings,
Pastor Karel
Session/Deacons Planning
Our session and deacons are meeting together each month to coordinate the leadership of the church. We continue to listen to the will of God for our church and have many projects we are working on. Stay tuned as we roll them out. We continue to be focused on “Play on the Word,” “Online Amens,” and continuing our work as a Matthew 25 Church. This means we work towards Eradicating systemic poverty, Building congregational vitality, and Dismantling structural racism.
On my computer I have a Dutch Proverb that scrolls by that says, “God’s Mills Grind Slowly but surely” As we move into the summer, the season of “ordinary time” in the Church Year, we need to remember that a lot can get accomplished in God’s time, there is a time for the reenergizing days of summer.
Blessings,
Pastor Karel
There are many songs that tell a story of faith. One obvious one is “Amazing Grace,” which tells the story of a slave trader being overwhelmed with a forgiving grace. There are many hymns that express an important part of a person’s faith. Like you, I have several.
“Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;” I first remember this song sung as a prayer before the evening meal at my house. When we sang this my father would break into harmony. When I sing this song, I am filled with thanksgiving as I remember my family and our shared meals together. This song comes to my mind when I am particularly grateful and when I need to be reminded of God’s faithful blessings.
When my mentor and favorite professor died during the last year of seminary, I was asked to say the prayer before the meal. I started to sing Praise God from whom all blessings flow, people joined in singing, many in harmony. It was such a holy moment, we were all singing and praising God for David Scotchmer’s life. It truly is a community song of thanksgiving.
“Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore” is a favorite hymn of mine. There are many important themes that connect to my life. First, the Lord came to the place where I worked and called out my name. I decided to answer that call and go into the ministry. I had gone through a difficult time when I was divorced, my work had moved me to another city, an hour’s drive from my children. I did own very little.
Second, I find the life of Jesus very compelling. Jesus had “no money nor weapons” and changed the world. Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Mandela, and many others have preached and lived out this way of changing the world.
Third. I had the opportunity to be in Nogales, Mexico. I stayed with an old woman and her family. Her house was made pieces of cardboard, wood, and tin. There was only one bed and it was offered to me.
During my stay in Nogales, I visited one of several house churches. The experience of the Spirits presence in their worship is seared into my memory, the kids sitting on the stairs, the people sitting in a circle, the older folks in chairs, the others on the floor, a small keyboard was played by a young guy wearing a poncho. They sang with joy, the visiting pastor read from scripture, shared his thoughts and offered prayed.
Lastly “through my tiredness, may others find resting” I have come to understand the truth and wisdom about these words. I first was introduced to this concept by Henri Nouwen who wrote a book called “The Wounded Healer”. That out of your wounds you can help others. At its simplest a person can help others who have cancer when they have gone through cancer as well.
- You have come up to the lakeshore,
Looking neither for wise nor wealthy.
You only wanted that I should follow.
Refrain:
O Lord, with Your eyes You have searched me,
And, while smiling, have called out my name.
Now my boat’s left on the shoreline behind me,
Now with You I will seek other seas. - You know that I own so little,
In my boat there’s no money nor weapons,
You’ll only find there my nets and labor.
(Refrain) - You need the caring of my hands.
Through my tiredness, may others find resting.
You need a love that just goes on loving.
(Refrain) - You, who have fished other oceans,
Ever longed for by souls that are waiting,
My dear and good friend, as thus You call me.
(Refrain)
Text and English translation © 1979, 1987, 1989 Cesáreo Gabaráin (Published by OCP)
Hymns are stories that connect with our lives, and express what we believe, what has happened to us. Many wonderful stories are in our hymnbook. Did you know “Silent Night” was written after the organ broke on Christmas Eve? It was written for Guitar and was sung that Christmas Eve. “Now Thank We All Our God” was written as the Thirty Year War was coming to a close in 1637. Disease had ravaged the community, and Pastor Martin Rinkart buried 4000 of the 8000 people who died that year.
Is there a song that expresses a part of your faith journey? Is there a hymn that connects to an important part of your life? Please let us know which one it is. We would like to sing it in Church.
Please let me know which hymns are your favorites so we can sing them this summer.