Lenten RRReflectionsReflections 2220142014014014
Spiritual Insight through songs, books, quotes, or movies 2
REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE DUST…
"Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return."
These are the words that confront and confound us on Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. They remind us of our mortality, our futility, and our limits. It is within these mortal limits that our lives unfold, flower, fall, and decay. it is within our mortal limits, as well, that we are carried by God through the experiences of life -- experiences which allow us to become the spirituality mature creatures God intends us to be -- awake, aware, compassionate, responsive -- grateful for the gift of life in spite of the risks of life.
The stories, thoughts, and prayers revealed through these pages represent the multiple unfolding of some of God's people -- their experiences and awareness, their hopes and dreams, their trials and tribulations -- their faithfulness along the way. Each devotion is a unique perspective on the essential truth of life: God is faithful; we are not alone.
These devotions are gifts offered by the people and friends of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Overland Park, Kansas -- one small church in the vastness of the world. One small house of God in which God's people seek to live authentic lives of faith and hope and trust -- in spite of the risks, in spite of the limits.
It is hoped that these pages console and inspire you. It is hoped you will find in these honest devotions reflections of your own story, a bit of your own experience, a measure of your own faithfulness along the way.
It is hoped that these devotions will lead you beyond the limits of life, to the ultimate promise of the limitless God -- Death is not the final word; the final word is Life. It is hoped that you will join with us on Easter before the empty tomb as we stand together and shout:
Alleluia! He is risen! The Lord is risen, indeed! Alleluia!
The Rev. John Campbell Submitted by Jan Warner with Episcopal Priest permission from John Campbell Written in 2000 for "The Tomb is Empty" -- Karnes City, Texas
3 Wednesday, March 5
It is 3:30 in the morning as I am editing this and our daughter is lying beside me in a hospital bed. I am generally a pretty private person and have been reluctant to share with the world what is going on with us this week. But when my loving husband posted a prayer request on Facebook the impact was overwhelming. So many prayers from all around the world!
I think about all of the people who have offered to help with food, rides, etc. I think about the school mom who took on all of the responsibility of doing the baby shower for Asher’s teacher because I couldn't be counted on this week to accomplish anything. I think about poor Meribeth who is going to get this document and have much editing to do herself because, as I said, it is 3:30 in the morning and I am a little fuzzy!
I have let myself be surrounded by the love and support of friends and let me tell you, prayer works. All this afternoon a song from my youth has crept into my brain and I kind of wasn’t even aware of it. It has been running like background noise to my day and I wasn’t even cognizant of it until I woke up to start editing this. We used to listen to it at youth events when I was a kid and I don’t know if I’ve really heard it since. So, to start off our Lenten Reflections written by members of our loving community, I offer the lyrics of James Taylor:
You've Got a Friend
When you're down and troubled and you need a helping hand and nothing, whoa, nothing is going right. Close your eyes and think of me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest nights.
You just call out my name, and you know where ever I am I'll come running to see you again. Winter, spring, summer, or fall, all you have to do is call and I'll be there, yeah, yeah, you've got a friend.
If the sky above you should turn dark and full of clouds and that old north wind should begin to blow, keep your head together and call my name out loud. Soon I will be knocking upon your door.
You just call out my name, and you know where ever I am I'll come running to see you again. Winter, spring, summer, or fall, all you have to do is call and I'll be there.
4 Hey, ain't it good to know that you've got a friend? People can be so cold. They'll hurt you and desert you. Well, they'll take your soul if you let them, oh yeah, but don't you let them.
You just call out my name, and you know where ever I am I'll come running to see you again. Winter, spring, summer, or fall, all you have to do is call, Lord, I'll be there, yeah, yeah, you've got a friend. You've got a friend. Ain't it good to know you've got a friend. Ain't it good to know you've got a friend. Oh, yeah, yeah, you've got a friend.
Thursday, March 6
Hold Tight to the Sounds of the Music of Living…
I was raised in a 'no-touch' family. I always knew my parents loved me, but we just never expressed our love with a hug or a kiss or an "I love you." And I felt very uncomfortable showing that affection to anyone else on a casual basis…
1971. I was 31 years old. A few days before Thanksgiving, my husband and I went deer hunting on a ranch near Sonora -- the little town in West Texas in which I had grown up and where my parents still lived… We were visiting a friend, Billy Galbreath, who had worked for my father when I was born.
My father drove the 40 some-odd miles to see us while we were there. He sat out in the car about half the time listening to the Texas vs. Texas A&M game on the radio. When the game was over and it was time to leave, I said, "Good bye, E.B." (My father's name was 'E.B.' -- short for Edward Burette) Our friend with the ranch was incensed. He said, "Is that all he gets?" And speaking to me, he said, "You get over there and hug him." So I reluctantly went over and gave my Dad half a hug. Billy said, "You go back and give him a big hug and tell him you love him." So, not wishing to make a scene, I did just that.
That was the last time I ever saw my Daddy. He died Thanksgiving Day at the age of 56. That hug has become very important in my memory. God's grace works in mysterious ways.
5 I remember the song by Bill and Gloria Gaither: We Have This Moment . Following is part of the words:
Hold them near while they' re here For we have this moment to hold in our hands Oh, don't wait for tomorrow To touch as it slips through our fingers like sand… to look back and wish for today… Yesterdays gone and tomorrow may never come, But we have this moment today…
Jan Warner
Friday, March 7
Have you ever had a song stuck in your head? For the last couple of years I have had my car radio tune to K-Love, a Christian radio station. I can feel God's presence listening to Christian music about the Lord's amazing grace and love while I'm behind the wheel! The other amazing gift I have received from listening to Christian music is in the morning when I am slowly waking up in that half dream sleep singing a Christian song in my head! It's like the song got stuck in my heart! Currently the song that I blast in my car and occasionally I awake singing is the song by Phil Wickam This is Amazing Grace .
This is Amazing Grace
[Verse 1:] Who breaks the power of sin and darkness Whose love is mighty and so much stronger The King of Glory, the King above all kings
Who shakes the whole earth with holy thunder Who leaves us breathless in awe and wonder The King of Glory, the King above all kings
[Chorus:] This is amazing grace - This is unfailing love That You would take my place - That You would bear my cross You would lay down Your life - That I would be set free Jesus, I sing for All that You've done for me
6 [Verse 2:] Who brings our chaos back into order Who makes the orphan a son and daughter The King of Glory, the King above all kings
Who rules the nations with truth and justice Shines like the sun in all of its brilliance The King of Glory, the King above all kings
[Bridge:] Worthy is the Lamb who was slain Worthy is the King who conquered the grave Worthy is the Lamb who was slain Worthy is the King who conquered the grave
Saturday, March 8
I had met a coworker in August and learned that she was killed tragically in a car accident a week later. I did not know her personally but struggled with her passing as I couldn't understand how a mother of three children could be taken from us so quickly. That evening, on the radio Sissy's Song was playing and my daughter said "mommy that song said Jesus". So, I listened more carefully and it was the perfect song at the perfect time to help explain and help understand that she's in a better place. Alan Jackson wrote the song after his sister passed.
Sissy's Song
Why did she have to go So young I just don't know why Things happen half the time Without reason without rhyme Lovely, sweet young woman Daughter, wife and mother Makes no sense to me I just have to believe
7 (Chorus) She flew up to Heaven on the wings of angels By the clouds and stars and passed where no one sees And she walks with Jesus and her loved ones waiting And I know she's smiling saying Don't worry 'bout me
Loved ones she left behind Just trying to survive And understand the why Feeling so lost inside Anger shot straight at God Then asking for His love Empty with disbelief Just hoping that maybe (Chorus)
It's hard to say goodbye Her picture in my mind They'll always be of times I'll cherish And I won't cry 'cause (Chorus)
One Thousand Generations - The Healing Scriptures. This album plays beautiful piano music and short healing scriptures are spoken softly in the background. I listened to this music while I was praying for my niece to recover from cancer. I still enjoy this music.
YouTube Video: Ronald Reagan Tribute -- Bel Air Presbyterian Church - I loved Ronald Reagan! This 7-minute video summarizes some of his speeches and how he was a man of faith. I got chills listening to this a few months ago, especially the last quote: “Within the covers of that single book {The Bible} are all the answers to all the problems that face us today if we’d only read and believe.” Ronald Reagan
I travel a lot in my car and I often listen to many audiobooks through Audible.com app. Here are a few of my favorite spiritual books:
The Bible Experience audiobook is a great way to “listen” to the bible. I have listened to most of the New Testament. I enjoy listening to the gospels during Lent season.
Killing Jesus: A History by Bill O’Reilly, Martin Dugard - It took me awhile to get into this book as it details a lot of background history, but the second half of the book was better and tells the story of Jesus’s last few days on earth.
8 Rediscover Lent by Matthew Kelly - I love many of his other self-development books too!
Proof of Heaven by Eben Alexander - This book moved me because it was written by a neurosurgeon who details his afterlife experiences both in the underworld and heaven.
Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo - This story is fascinating and gives you hope and inspiration.
Sunday, March 9
Throughout my life music has always spoken to me & moved me, many times to tears. I have always truly loved singers & songwriters that could write songs that speak to many people yet feel as if they were written just for me. One of those singer/songwriters is Steven Curtis Chapman, a contemporary Christian singer. I was lucky enough to get "turned on" to his music about 18 years ago when our daughter was in youth group and I chaperoned a youth group to a Winter Jam at Kemper Arena that included Michael W. Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman, among others. It was a night of really great music, even for a "MOM". I have been hooked on Steven Curtis Chapman ever since.
On his newest CD, The Glorious Unfolding, he has a song titled "TOGETHER". It is written for his wife of nearly 30 years to show his love for her and his Faith in God even after the death of their young daughter a few years ago. I feel as though the song works for Richard & me or any couple that has lasted for many years of marriage. Richard & I are celebrating our 35th anniversary this February, and though we have Loved each other and worked at our marriage through those years, it is the words about "God's mercy and His grace" in this song that really ring true…
TOGETHER - Steven Curtis Chapman Here we stand, here we are - With all our wounds and battle scars - From all the storms and all the wars we've weathered - Together
We had no way of knowing when - We started way back there and then - How the road would twist and turn and bend - We just knew we belonged - Together
And if it wasn't for God's mercy and His grace - There's no way we would be standing in this place - But because He has been faithful - Every step along the way - Here we are - Together
We've climbed up mountains higher than - Were ever in our hopes and plans - We've held onto each other's hands - Watched miracles unfold - Together
And we've crawled on our hands and knees - Through valleys cold and dark and deep -
9 Sometimes not even sure if we could make it out alive - Together
And if it wasn't for God's mercy and His grace - There's no way we would be standing in this place - But because He has been faithful - Every step along the way - Here we are - Together
Monday, March 10
A SONG FROM MY CHILDHOOD
I come to the garden alone - While the dew is still on the roses And the voice I hear falling on my ear The Son of God discloses
Refrain: And He walks with me, and He talks with me, and he tells me I am His own And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.
He speaks, and the sound of His voice, Is so sweet the birds hush their singing, And the melody that he gave to me Within my heart is ringing.
Refrain
This song has such a special meaning for me. I was lucky enough to grow up in a family with wonderful Christian values and, as a bonus, this family proclaimed the Episcopal Church as its spiritual home! I had two sisters who were 10 and 5 years older than me so we didn’t have a lot in common - in fact, they thought I was a pest most of the time!
We didn’t take a lot of family vacations, but when we did, we would travel by car. During those trips we would harmonize this song with my mom and older sister singing soprano, my other sister and I singing alto and my dad singing bass. I think the act of singing this together meant more to me at that time than the words. However, as I became an adult and would hear this song being sung I became aware of the words and experienced a whole new level of appreciation for it and its message.
And he walks with me and he talks with me, And he tells me I am his own …
How blessed I am to know His constant presence and to be considered His own. Amen.
10 Tuesday, March 11
When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have always been murderers and tyrants, and for a time they appear invincible. But in the end they always fall. Always.
Gandhi
This quote from Gandhi has always spoken to me. It has helped me deal with difficult situations no matter if they are events in the world or in my personal life. Gandhi reminds us to stay on the path of truth and love and we will win. I may not be there to see it but I have to believe if I stay on the path of truth and love I will succeed and be a better person for it.
Wednesday, March 12
As much as I talk it is hard to believe that I am really a fan of brevity. I have a whole journal filled with short pieces from all kinds of places—some songs, poetry, paragraphs or even sentences from lectures or books. Among them:
This little poem was given to me by a dedicated volunteer who did so much for others:
Lord, give me eyes that I may see Lest as some others will, Another person’s Calvary And think it just a hill
A friend’s grandmother used to say this to her children: Child, those prayers needs legs! (I try hard to remember that one.)
I think this is by Patrick Overton:
When we come to the edge of the light we know… And are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, Either God will provide something solid to stand on Or we will be taught to fly.
From one of my favorite authors, Madeleine L’Engle:
When you gossip about someone else, you are taking God’s name in vain for people are God with skin on. God promised to make us free not independent.
11 And lastly from a hymn I heard somewhere and wrote it on a little scrap of paper:
Healer of our every ill, Light of each tomorrow, Give us peace beyond our fear, And hope beyond tomorrow. Well, really last and a really favorite by Robert Lowry:
My life flows on in endless song, Above Earth’s lamentation, I hear the real though far off song, That hails a new creation. Through all the tumult and the strife, I hear that music ringing; It sounds an echo in my soul. How can I keep from singing?
Thursday, March 13
Will You?
As a child I would sit with my two brothers and my sister on a long bench at the first Baptist Church. Sometimes my dad would be with us, but mostly mom would keep an eye on us from the choir loft. I think I was a little bit “self-taught” in reading by following the words in the hymnal. I wanted to join in the singing and I enjoyed it at an early age. After all, that’s what the big folks did!
Since those days I’ve been a member of several churches, as well as several different denominations of churches. Music is interdenominational and I still love it. I’ve learned that singing is a way to worship God, and it doesn’t matter if I have a good voice or not.
I have fallen in love with a song called: “The Summons.” The song was written by John Bell, a minister of the Church of Scotland. Gar has given our congregation the gift of this song by introducing us to it. We generally sing it when we gather together at our yearly meeting. Look at the words of “The Summons.” They further explain what we at STA have chosen to be our mission statement: “Come, Grow, Serve, Make A Difference.” Come! Grow! Serve! In imperative (command) sentences the subject is understood to be “you.” “You” translates to be each of us.
12 The Summons - 9/17/2007
Will you come and follow me if I but call your name? Will you go where you don't know and never be the same? Will you let my love be shown? Will you let my name be known, will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?
Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name? Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same? Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare? Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?
Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name? Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same? Will you kiss the leper clean and do such as this unseen, and admit to what I mean in you and you in me?
Will you love the "you" you hide if I but call your name? Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same? Will you use the faith you've found to reshape the world around, through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?
Lord your summons echoes true when you but call my name. Let me turn and follow you and never be the same. In Your company I'll go where Your love and footsteps show. Thus I'll move and live and grow in you and you in me.
I would like to challenge each of us, including myself, to look at the words of this song., “Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?” Are we willing to do the little things? Are we willing to be used by God? Are we willing to come, grow, serve…make a difference?”
13 Friday, March 14
One summer evening in the mid-1970’s, my mother and I attended a showing of Jesus Christ Superstar at her local theatre in Monore, LA. Although she didn’t say much about the movie, I think she was somewhat taken aback.
I, on the other hand, found it to be a small step in my faith journey. The movie showed me a very human Jesus whose life as portrayed touched me in a way I’d not previously experienced. Two scenes remain vivid for me nearly 40 years later. The cave scene showed me the constant pressure Jesus faced and the lack of any private time. The swimming pool satire revealed the contempt of the Roman rulers. Obviously, the Easter message triumphs over those scenes, but they are the ones that gave me the sense of divine humanity.
Saturday, March 15
Singing "Hallelujah”
Only recently did I become familiar with the Leonard Cohen song, "Hallelujah". Not sure where I have been for the last twenty years, but I never remember having heard the song until some contestant on one of the "American Idol" like shows sang it last year. Whoever it was, on whatever show, did a very dramatic version of the song it became one of those "brain worm" things that runs around your head and won't leave -- you know, like some jingle for toothpaste, or some cola product.
Finally, I couldn't take it anymore and I opened my browser and went to the source of all knowledge. You know the place, it starts with a "G". From there I went to the place where you can get video of everything that starts with a "Y" and looked up different singers putting slightly different spins on the same tune.
The lyrics have a lot of Biblical imagery, but it is not what you would call sacred music. . . yet there it has given me a fuller, more accessible understanding of the word "Hallelujah". The word comes from the Hebrew and literally means, "Praise the Lord". There (evidently) can be all sorts of subtleties attached to it as to whether it is like "I praise you God for all you have done!" or that it is an directive for the people to "Praise the Lord" because He said to. Today, most of us take to be something like "Isn't that great! Praise God!" I mean, KU just be Texas, "Hallelujah!"
14 But the first verse Cohen's lent me an insight about our relationship to God:
I heard there was a secret cord That David played, and it pleased the Lord. But you don't really care for music, do ya? It goes like this, The fourth, the fifth The minor fall, the major lift The baffled king composing Hallelujah.
Most of us can identify with David. He is not only a major character in the Bible, he is among the most human. David is you and me. He has good days and bad days. He gets depressed. He does stupid things. He has big family problems. He does things to get what he wants that certainly God would not approve of. But through it all he continues to turn back to God and ask for forgiveness.
I love that line "The baffled kind composing Hallelujah." He knows what God wants, but he struggles with his humanness. Still, even if we, like David, don't truly understand what we need to do and are baffled by how life is turning out, we praise God even if we don't know why because there is this need for relationship with the Creator deep inside us all. "Hallelujah!"
The last verse strikes me as just as poignant"
"I did my best, it wasn't much. I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch. I told the truth, I didn't come to fool you. And even thought it all went wrong, I'll stand before the Lord of Song With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah."
Jesus loves us, cares for us, walks with us, forgives us even if we don't understand. So even in our brokenness we can stand before Him and be redeemed. Hallelujah!
15 Sunday, March 16
A film that has brought a strong meaning to me is "Gravity." In addition to being an edge-of- your-seat action film, it is ultimately the story of the main character's spiritual rebirth. It tells the story of a woman who is literally adrift until she acknowledges God and finds personal strength in prayer. I think about the message from that film every day.
Monday, March 17
Appropriate for this day is the Irish ballad melody, Slane , with Irish verses written around 700. While the tune is beautiful on harp, whistle, recorder, flute, or any other acoustic instrument, the words definitely make the heart sing too!
Words: Irish, ca. 700; versified Mary Elizabeth Byrne (1880-1931); tr. Eleanor H. Hull (1860-1935), alt. Music: Slane , Irish ballad melody; adapt. The Church Hymnary , 1927; harm. David Evans (1874-1948)
16 Tuesday, March 18
Music has always been a big part of my spiritual life, letting me feel and think simultaneously, allowing me to cry, laugh, shout, or simmer, depending on what I'm listening to. The rock band U2 has been a big catalyst of that emotional/intellectual need for me, for the past 30 years (that sounds like such a long time, but it doesn't feel like it!). I turn to their music quite often, almost as a soundtrack to my life, but when I need to feel closer to God I choose a particular song, Magnificent. It might be hard to tell from the lyrics alone, but this is almost a modern version of an old-fashioned hymn; guitars rather than organs, but the end result is the same, bringing my feelings and thoughts back to the essential.
I was born I was born to sing for you I didn't have a choice but to lift you up And sing whatever song you wanted me to I give you back my voice From the womb my first cry, it was a joyful noise...
Only love, only love can leave such a mark But only love, only love can heal such a scar
Justified till we die, you and I will magnify The Magnificent. Magnificent.
U2, Magnificent, No Line on the Horizon (2009)
Wednesday, March 19
Years ago I was taking a Bible study class. The class was comprised of about 300 men who met every Monday night. The whole course took five years to complete.
At one of the sessions we had a guest lecturer. I don’t remember his name. He was introduced as one of the leading Bible scholars of our time. He was probably in his late seventies. Before he began our regular leader asked him what was the most important or life changing thing he had learned from his lifetime of Bible study. The elderly scholar replied, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”
Our leader then asked us all to stand and we sang that song. There was not a dry eye in the church.
17
Thursday, March 20
"Certain thoughts are prayers. There are moments when, whatever the posture of the body, the soul is on it's knees." — Les Miserables
"Before him he saw two roads, both equally straight; but he did see two; and that terrified him-- he who had never in his life known anything but one straight line. And, bitter anguish, these two roads were contradictory." — Victor Hugo (Les Misérables )
"And remember, the truth that once was spoken: To love another person is to see the face of God." — Victor Hugo (Les Misérables )
Friday, March 22212111
Daughters I know a girl She puts the color inside of my world But she's just like a maze Where all of the walls all continually change And I've done all I can To stand on her steps with my heart in my hands Now I'm starting to see Maybe it's got nothing to do with me
Fathers, be good to your daughters Daughters will love like you do Girls become lovers who turn into mothers So mothers, be good to your daughters too
18 Oh, you see that skin? It's the same she's been standing in Since the day she saw him walking away Now she's left Cleaning up the mess he made
So fathers, be good to your daughters Daughters will love like you do Girls become lovers who turn into mothers So mothers, be good to your daughters too
Boys, you can break You'll find out how much they can take Boys will be strong And boys soldier on But boys would be gone without the warmth from A womans good, good heart
On behalf of every man
Saturday, March 222222
“A person's a person, no matter how small.” ― Dr. Seuss, Horton Hears a Who!
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It's not.” ― Dr. Seuss, The Lorax
Sunday, March 22232333
The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return. - from Moulin Rouge
19 Monday, MaMarchrch 22242444
No More Drama
So tired, tired of this drama No more, no more I wanna be free I'm so tired, so tired
Broken heart again Another lesson learn Better know your friends Or else you will get burned Gotta count on me Cause I can guarantee That I'll be fine
No more pain (no more pain) No more pain (no more pain) No drama (no more drama in my life) No one's gonna make me hurt again
Why'd I play the fool Go through ups and downs Knowing all the time You wouldn't be around Or maybe I like the stress Cause I was young and restless But that was long ago I don't wanna cry no more
No more pain (no more pain) No more game (no more game messin with my mind) No drama (no more drama in my life) Nooone's gonna make me hurt again No more tears (no more tears, I'm tired of cryin everynight) No more fears (no more fears, I really don't wanna cry) No drama (no more drama in my life) I don't ever wanna hurt again Wanna speak my mind, wanna speak my mind 20
Uh, it feel so good When you let go Of all the drama in your life Now you're free from all the pain Free from all the game Free from all the stress So find your happiness I don't know Only God knows where the story ends for me But I know where the story begins It's up to us to choose Whether we win or loose And I choose to win
No more pain (no more pain) No more game (tired of your playin' game with my mind) No drama (no more drama in my life) No more, no more, No more, no more No more tears (no more tears, no more cryin every night) No more fears (no more waking be up in the morning) No drama, no more in my life
No more drama, no more drama No more drama, no more drama NO MORE DRAMA NO MORE DRAMA NO MORE DRAMA NO MORE DRAMA NO MORE DRAMA No more drama in my life So tired, tired of this drama
21 Tuesday, March 22252555
Ordinary Love The sea wants to kiss the golden shore The sunlight warms your skin All the beauty that's been lost before Wants to find us again
I can't fight you anymore It's you I'm fighting for The sea throws rocks together But time leaves us polished stones
We can't fall any further If we can't feel ordinary love And we cannot reach any higher If we can't deal with ordinary love
Birds fly high in the summer sky And rest on the breeze The same wind will take care of you and I We'll build our house in the trees
Your heart is on my sleeve Did you put it there with a magic marker? For years I would believe That the world couldn't wash it away
'Cause we can't fall any further If we can't feel ordinary love And we cannot reach any higher If we can't deal with ordinary love
Are we tough enough For ordinary love
We can't fall any further If we can't feel ordinary love And we cannot reach any higher If we can't deal with ordinary love
22 We can't fall any further If we can't feel ordinary love And we cannot reach any higher If we can't deal with ordinary love
Wednesday, March 22262666
"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it." — Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird )
"I think there's just one kind of folks. Folks." — Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird )
"Sometimes the Bible in the hand of one man is worse than a whisky bottle in the hand of (another)... There are just some kind of men who - who're so busy worrying about the next world they've never learned to live in this one, and you can look down the street and see the results." — Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird )
"Atticus said to Jem one day, "I’d rather you shot at tin cans in the backyard, but I know you’ll go after birds. Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird." That was the only time I ever heard Atticus say it was a sin to do something, and I asked Miss Maudie about it. "Your father’s right," she said. "Mockingbirds don’t do one thing except make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corn cribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird." — Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird )
23 ThursdayThursday,,,, March 22272777
Unconditionally Oh no, did I get too close? Oh, did I almost see what's really on the inside? All your insecurities All the dirty laundry Never made me blink one time
Unconditional, unconditionally I will love you unconditionally There is no fear now Let go and just be free I will love you unconditionally
Come just as you are to me Don't need apologies Know that you are worthy I'll take your bad days with your good Walk through the storm I would I do it all because I love you, I love you
Unconditional, unconditionally I will love you unconditionally There is no fear now Let go and just be free I will love you unconditionally
So open up your heart and just let it begin Open up your heart and just let it begin Open up your heart and just let it begin Open up your heart
Acceptance is the key to be To be truly free Will you do the same for me?
Unconditional, unconditionally I will love you unconditionally And there is no fear now
24 Let go and just be free 'Cause I will love you unconditionally (oh yeah) I will love you (unconditionally) I will love you I will love you unconditionally
Friday, March 22282888
"The Desert: An Anthology for Lent" by John Moses is a journey through Lent by way of quotes from famous (and not so) monks, desert fathers and mothers, and other writers. It's crafted in a way that allows you time to prepare for the journey into Lent, and to test you while you are there. The book is divided into seven main sections:
The Call of the Desert Solitude Testing Self-Emptying Encounter Transfiguration The Divine Mystery
Each day of Lent has roughly two pages of quotes to ponder, words to rest in and absorb. One of my favorite ones is in the very first section by an un-named monk:
"The desert is both fascinating and terrifying. It is the great, lonely void, and human beings instinctively dread being brought face to face with themselves."
The image of the desert with its absence of "noise of the world" and its aloneness really gets me in a great frame of mind as Lent begins. Terrifying? Yes. Lonely? Sometimes. Fascinating? Absolutely.
By taking time to come face to face with ourselves and by changing up the pace of our lives we are bound to learn something, about ourselves, about each other, about God. Who can resist such an opportunity?
25 Saturday, March 22292999
The first one is the Footprints in the Sand poem/story/prayer. There really isn't any commentary for this story, however this is a short read that has helped me through a lot. It is posted by the bedroom door as a little reminder as I set out for my day.
The Footprints Prayer
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there were one set of footprints. This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could only see one set of footprints. So I said to the Lord, "You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?" The Lord replied, "The times when you have seen only one set of footprints, is when I carried you." - Mary Stevenson
The second one would have to be Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory . Some people may say this is a stretch, but if they go back and re-watch it with a Christian mindset I am almost positive they will see it too. Wonka can create almost anything he dreams of. He saved the Ompaloompas from a country where they were treated badly. He treats his guests to many mysterious happenings (sadly there were no burning bushes). Thinking this way, we could relate Wonka to God or Jesus.
The themes in this movie are closely related to things God wants Jesus to teach us. Materialism and excess are plainly stated in the movie itself, however; watching it with our Christian mindset we see some new things. Wonka knew from the beginning which child was going to live up to his expectations, which child was going to follow him. He did what he could to help that child see a new light...and when this child took a wrong turn and ended up on the ceiling, Wonka helped him get is head back on the right path.
In the end Charlie chose a life of honesty and led a better, happier life then when he walked through the doors to the chocolate factory. Just as a child of God will live a better, happier life. Even though Charlie took a few wrong turns, Wonka welcomed him with open arms because he asked for forgiveness (unlike the others).
Wonka was always there for Charlie. It took some searching on Charlie's behalf, but Wonka was always there to hear what Charlie had to say. Just like God is always there for us...even when we take a wrong turn and end up on the ceiling.
26 Sunday, March 33303000
Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
I have climbed highest mountain, I have run through the fields Only to be with you, Only to be with you
I have run, I have crawled I have scaled these city walls - These city walls, Only to be with you
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
I have kissed honey lips, Felt the healing in her fingertips It burned like fire, This burning desire
I have spoke with the tongue of angels, I have held the hand of a devil It was warm in the night, I was cold as a stone
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
I believe in the kingdom come, Then all the colors will bleed into one Bleed into one. Well yes I'm still running
You broke the bonds and you, Loosed the chains Carried the cross Of my shame, Of my shame You know I believed it
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for But I still haven't found what I'm looking for But I still haven't found what I'm looking for But I still haven't found what I'm looking for...
27 Monday, March 331111
Firework Do you ever feel like a plastic bag Drifting through the wind, wanting to start again? Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin Like a house of cards, one blow from caving in?
Do you ever feel already buried deep six feet under? Screams but no one seems to hear a thing Do you know that there's still a chance for you 'Cause there's a spark in you?
You just gotta ignite the light and let it shine Just own the night like the 4th of July
'Cause, baby, you're a firework Come on, show 'em what you're worth Make 'em go, "Aah, aah, aah" As you shoot across the sky-y-y
Baby, you're a firework Come on, let your colours burst Make 'em go, "Aah, aah, aah" You're gonna leave 'em all in awe, awe, awe
You don't have to feel like a wasted space You're original, cannot be replaced If you only knew what the future holds After a hurricane comes a rainbow
Maybe a reason why all the doors are closed So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road Like a lightning bolt, your heart will glow And when it's time you'll know
You just gotta ignite the light and let it shine Just own the night like the 4th of July
28 'Cause, baby, you're a firework Come on, show 'em what you're worth Make 'em go, "Aah, aah, aah" As you shoot across the sky-y-y
Baby, you're a firework Come on, let your colours burst Make 'em go, "Aah, aah, aah" You're gonna leave 'em all in awe, awe, awe
Boom, boom, boom Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon It's always been inside of you, you, you And now it's time to let it through-ough-ough
'Cause, baby, you're a firework Come on, show 'em what you're worth Make 'em go, "Aah, aah, aah" As you shoot across the sky-y-y
Baby, you're a firework Come on, let your colours burst Make 'em go, "Aah, aah, aah" You're gonna leave 'em all in awe, awe, awe
Boom, boom, boom Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon Boom, boom, boom Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
Tuesday, April 111
"The old man smiled. 'I shall not die of a cold, my son. I shall die of having lived." — Willa Cather (Death Comes for the Archbishop )
"[Miracles] . . . seem to me to rest not so much upon faces or voices or healing power coming suddenly near us from afar off, but upon our perceptions being made fine, so that for a moment our eyes can see and our ears hear what is there about us always." — Willa Cather (Death Comes for the Archbishop )
29 Wednesday, ApriAprill 2l 2
Demons When the days are cold and the cards all fold And the saints we see are all made of gold
When your dreams all fail and the ones we hail Are the worst of all, and the blood’s run stale
I wanna hide the truth, I wanna shelter you But with the beast inside there’s nowhere we can hide
No matter what we breed, we still are made of greed This is my kingdom come. This is my kingdom come
When you feel my heat, Look into my eyes It’s where my demons hide. It’s where my demons hide Don’t get too close, it’s dark inside It’s where my demons hide. It’s where my demons hide
At the curtain’s call, it's the last of all When the lights fade out, all the sinners crawl
So they dug your grave and the masquerade will come calling out At the mess you've made
Don't wanna let you down, but I am hell bound Though this is all for you, don't wanna hide the truth
No matter what we breed, we still are made of greed This is my kingdom come. This is my kingdom come
When you feel my heat, Look into my eyes It’s where my demons hide. It’s where my demons hide Don’t get too close, it’s dark inside It’s where my demons hide. It’s where my demons hide
They say it's what you make, I say it's up to fate It's woven in my soul, I need to let you go
30 Your eyes, they shine so bright, I wanna save that light I can't escape this now unless you show me how
When you feel my heat, Look into my eyes It’s where my demons hide. It’s where my demons hide Don’t get too close, i t’s dark inside It’s where my demons hide. It’s where my demons hide
Thursday, April 3
When I began attending the Episcopal church, I was hearing hymn melodies that I’d never heard before in the Methodist and Presbyterian church. I thought the melody lines and harmonies were so moving and comforting that I bought the Service Music and Hymnal 1982 accompaniment books. At various points in my life, including the 40 days of Lent, I will sit at my piano and play and sing favorite hymns from these sacred collections, sometimes until 1:00 in the morning! When another great hymn is heard in church services, I’ll immediately go home and turn down the page. Hymn tunes are memories; they cause one to reflect, and I love to share them with friends. Here are just a few first lines from some of my faves:
#420
#557
#653
#665
31 Friday, April 4
I have never given very deep thought to a philosophy of life, though I have a few ideas that I think are useful to me. One is that you do whatever comes your way as well as you can, another, is that you think as little as possible about yourself and as much as possible about other people and things that are interesting. The third is that you get more joy out of giving joy to others and you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt's thoughts and words helped the people of our country during difficult times in our history. She continues to speak to us today. I have kept this quote where I can see it. If I get feeling sorry for myself this quote gets me back in line.
Saturday, April 555
In Your Eyes love I get so lost, sometimes days pass and this emptiness fills my heart when I want to run away I drive off in my car but whichever way I go I come back to the place you are
all my instincts, they return and the grand facade, so soon will burn without a noise, without my pride I reach out from the inside
in your eyes, the light the heat in your eyes I am complete in your eyes I see the doorway to a thousand churches in your eyes the resolution of all the fruitless searches in your eyes I see the light and the heat in your eyes oh, I want to be that complete I want to touch the light the heat I see in your eyes
32 love, I don't like to see so much pain so much wasted and this moment keeps slipping away I get so tired of working so hard for our survival I look to the time with you to keep me awake and alive
and all my instincts, they return and the grand facade, so soon will burn without a noise, without my pride I reach out from the inside
in your eyes, the light the heat in your eyes I am complete in your eyes I see the doorway to a thousand churches in your eyes, the resolution of all the fruitless searches in your eyes I see the light and the heat in your eyes, oh, I want to be that complete I want to touch the light, the heat I see in your eyes in your eyes in your eyes, in your eyes in your eyes, in your eyes in your eyes
Sunday, April 666
We saw a wonderful movie courtesy of Netflix called "The Odd life of Timothy Green" starring Jennifer Garner. The setting is a small factory town in New England, which has a pencil factory, which is struggling to stay open. A married couple has tried to have a child with no luck. They dream up a desirable child's characteristics and place the papers on a box in their garden. During a storm that night they find a ten-year-old boy, covered with dirt in their house. After washing him up they discover he has green leaves growing out of his shins. And they are not removable. He is a magical boy and assists the town in redoing the pencil business by making them out of leaves! A chemical process he directs.
As time proceeds, his leaves start dropping off, and at the last he disappears after giving everyone some great hope for the future. The couple repeats this story to the adoption agency and the last scene is a ten-year-old Asian girl being brought to them for adoption. Need some tissues here but for joy.
33 Monday, April 7
I really don’t know if it really even has a “Lenten” theme, but I love it because it’s really funny, and it makes me think about the role of choice and human will in faith.
The God Who Loves You from Practical God s by Carl Dennis
It must be troubling for the god who loves you To ponder how much happier you’d be today Had you been able to glimpse your many futures. It must be painful for him to watch you on Friday evenings Driving home from the office, content with your week— Three fine houses sold to deserving families— Knowing as he does exactly what would have happened Had you gone to your second choice for college, Knowing the roommate you’d have been allotted Whose ardent opinions on painting and music Would have kindled in you a lifelong passion. A life thirty points above the life you’re living On any scale of satisfaction. And every point A thorn in the side of the god who loves you. You don’t want that, a large-souled man like you Who tries to withhold from your wife the day’s disappointments So she can save her empathy for the children. And would you want this god to compare your wife With the woman you were destined to meet on the other campus? It hurts you to think of him ranking the conversation You’d have enjoyed over there higher in insight Than the conversation you’re used to. And think how this loving god would feel Knowing that the man next in line for your wife Would have pleased her more than you ever will Even on your best days, when you really try. Can you sleep at night believing a god like that Is pacing his cloudy bedroom, harassed by alternatives You’re spared by ignorance? The difference between what is And what could have been will remain alive for him Even after you cease existing, after you catch a chill 34 Running out in the snow for the morning paper, Losing eleven years that the god who loves you Will feel compelled to imagine scene by scene Unless you come to the rescue by imagining him No wiser than you are, no god at all, only a friend No closer than the actual friend you made at college, The one you haven’t written in months. Sit down tonight And write him about the life you can talk about With a claim to authority, the life you’ve witnessed, Which for all you know is the life you’ve chosen.
Tuesday, April 8
In EFM (Education for Ministry), we are taught how to do theological reflections, and how to compare and contrast traditional stories and metaphors with cultural ones, which then lead us to implications for our own ministries through response and practice. Our class has found the movie, Shawshank Redemption , to fit well as a cultural reference for many of our theological reflections. The cycle of Creation > Sin > Judgment > Repentance > Redemption can be found in that movie.
Theological reflection basically means knowing God and knowing about God through experience. We all have different experiences, but we can often find common threads in our experiences when we look at what we have read in the Bible, what we know has happened in history (including the history of the church), and what we hear and see what our culture tells us through books, movies, songs, etc.
Alanis Morissette’s song, What if God Was One of Us , used in the television series, Joan of Arcadia, is a song that I often use in my own reflections. What if God was here with us right now – on the bus with us, as a co-worker – what would we do differently? Would we do anything differently? Are we living the life we were created to live as if God were right next to us? In other words, does our behavior match up with our beliefs?
I love learning how to think theologically and having my life more connected to God. But nothing beats the close connection I feel when we sing songs like Indescribable , by Chris Tomlin.
From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea Creation’s revealing Your majesty From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring
35 Every creature unique in the song that it sings All exclaiming
Indescribable, uncontainable You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name. You are amazing God. All powerful, untamable, Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim You are amazing God.
Wednesday, April 9
There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that he wrote for his teenage daughter Shohanna who is dealing with insecurities as most teens and many adults do. When I first heard this song I fell in love with the way he said just the things I wished I could've said to our daughter during her teen years. Last weekend Richard & I went to see Steven Curtis Chapman in concert on Valentine's Day (The BEST Valentine's Day Yet) and in the concert Steven reminded the audience that we all deal with our own insecurities - I know I sure do - and that he wanted us all to hear the song for ourselves as a Child of God. The song is titled "Only One And Only You" and is a wonderful reminder that God made us in His image and that He Loves us just the way we are so we should love ourselves as God does. Only One and Only You by Steven Curtis Chapman I caught you looking in the window at your reflection and - I could see you were unimpressed - I watch you whither like a willow at what you think are imperfections – When you compare you to all the rest And I wish I could find a way to make you see you the way I do - So I wrote this song for you - You're better than a Beethoven symphony - And Mona Lisa wishes she could be a masterpiece like you. More than any Michelangelo - When I look at you I know - There's no other masterpiece like you - You are the only one and only you. There is music in your laughter the world has never heard before – You came and brought a melody. The way you say it, the way you see it - when you're sad and glad and so much more – All these gifts only you can bring Still I know that right now everything that you feel says it's just not true – So I'll keep reminding you that wonderfully, carefully woven together by God's own hand.
36 You're better than a Beethoven symphony - And Mona Lisa wishes she could be a masterpiece like you. More than any Michelangelo - When I look at you I know - There's no other masterpiece like you - You are the only one and only you – You are the only one and only you.
Thursday, April 10
My much-loved Mom died quite unexpectedly just 12 weeks after being diagnosed with cancer. My Dad, having had serious cardio respiratory issues most of his life, had prepared “us kids” for his death at what he believed would be an early age. Although he was known as a pillar of faith in our family and the community he somehow forgot he was not in charge and got caught off guard by Mom’s untimely death.
When we viewed the body of our Mom at the mortuary the first time after her death he said, “I never imagined myself here with you kids looking into the casket. I spent lots time preparing Mom and you how to go on living without me and now I have no idea what I am going to do or how to go on without her.”
After praying silently for several minutes he asked us to join hands. His voice was strong and steady as he began to sing this song written by Bill Gaither in the early 1970’s…
How sweet to hold a newborn baby, And feel the pride and joy he gives; But greater still the calm assurance: This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, Because He lives, all fear is gone; Because I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living, Just because He lives!
Dad took the lead and planned the celebration of life for the woman who held our family together through the years, always putting God and her faith first with Dad and “the kids” running a close second. Dad told us he was going to do everything he could to take care of himself so if it be God’s will, we would not have to go through this pain again right away.
We were given 5 additional years with Dad and they were good. I developed a stronger relationship with him, we appreciated each other more and truly enjoyed our times together in a way that would not have been possible had Dad’s will not God’s been done. 37
My faith grew stronger as I watched him live without the love of his life. I knew he had turned everything over to God in order to keep moving forward because he continued to hum the tune and sing these words…
And then one day, I'll cross the river, I'll fight life's final war with pain; And then, as death gives way to vict'ry, I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He lives!
Less than four years later I realized the gift Dad had given me by his example as I went through the motions and watched the love of MY life die. The faith I had seen in action helped me get through the dark times and continue to live. I played the recording of the soloist at Mom’s service singing Because He Lives many times during the weeks and months I walked the mourner’s path and let the memory of Dad singing the song to us help keep my faith strong. “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done.”
Friday, April 11
Music has always spoken to me, sometimes just the music and often the lyrics. Amazing Grace makes me cry and uplifts me at the same time. In the past few years I have held on to the lyrics of You Lift Me Up .
When I am down and, and oh my soul so weary When trouble comes and my heart burdened be Then, I am still and wait here in the silence Until you come and sit a while with me
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas I am strong, when I am on your when I am on your shoulders You raise me up....to more than I can be
I retreat to my special nature place and silently wait for the Beloved to "come and sit a while with me."
This song takes me to a safe place as I "walk on stormy seas.” The last line is like an anchor and wings for me. I truly believe that God raises me up to more than I can be on my own.
38 Saturday, April 112222
This makes me think of God because he gave Jesus the courage, power, and strength to overcome all the bad people. So, God will give us strength to overcome all our bad people!
Overcomer
Staring at a stop sign Watching people drive by T Mac on the radio Got so much on your mind Nothing's really going right Looking for a ray of hope
Whatever it is you may be going through I know He's not gonna let it get the best of you
You're an overcomer Stay in the fight ‘til the final round You're not going under ‘Cause God is holding you right now You might be down for a moment Feeling like it's hopeless That's when He reminds You That you're an overcomer You're an overcomer
Everybody's been down Hit the bottom, hit the ground Oh, you're not alone Just take a breath, don't forget Hang on to His promises He wants You to know
The same Man, the Great I am The one who overcame death Is living inside of You So just hold tight, fix your eyes On the one who holds your life There's nothing He can't do He's telling You 39 SSSundaySundayunday,, April 113333
7 1/2 years ago Fr Gar Demo and his family accepted the call to come to St. Thomas. Along with them came the Marty Haugen song All Are Welcome which includes the following lyrics:
Let us build a house where love can dwell And all can safely live A place where saints and children tell How hearts learn to forgive .
Where all God's children dare to seek To dream God's reign anew. Here the cross shall stand as witness And a symbol of God's grace Here as one we claim the faith of Jesus (We built) A banquet hall on holy ground Where peace and justice meet
All are welcome. All are welcome. All are welcome in this place
We have used this song to kick off our Annual Meetings, to start our capital campaign, dedicate our new building, celebrate the ordination of new clergy and just when we need reminded we are all God's children and we are all welcome at the Lord's table.
When all are truly welcome there are NO exceptions. All ages, with various intellectual and/or physical abilities/differences, every level of income, each and every individual, those who come often and those who do not and those living with mental and/or physical illnesses. Skin color, sexual orientation, gender, ability to see and/or hear, autism, Downs Syndrome, former religious background (or lack of ) ...... insignificant unless there is an accommodation we can make to make your experience more pleasant...all are welcome! Really welcome and it feels great to be a part of such an amazing spiritual community!
Today our altar party consisted of 3 youth, our Rector, our assisting priest and a 30 year-old with Down Syndrome who proudly served as Lay Eucharistic Minister. As they recessed after the service, the LEM (who was without his mentor for only the first or second time) had a smile on his face that sent the love of Jesus directly to the depths of my being. It was most definitely "the love of God through Jesus being revealed in time and space"....and that "love of Christ shall end divisions"....it IS ending them...one weekend at a time!
40 MondayMonday,, April 114444
I have grown up loving church hymns. I will go to a church service and look over the bulletin for the songs that are being sung that day. When I see songs that I recognize and I love, something within me gets excited. In many cases it’s the tune of the songs that makes me feels so good. I can leave a church service feeling more uplifted from the music that is sung that day than anything else.
Some of my favorites are: What a Friend We Have in Jesus, Be Thou My Vision, It Is Well with My Soul and The Church’s One Foundation . I also enjoy what is maybe known more as campfire songs: Kum Ba Yah, It Only Takes a Spark, I’ll Fly Away and They’ll Know We Are Christians .
For me, church hymns are a big part of the church service.
TuesdayTuesday,, April 115555
We Sing with the Angels
I hate to admit this but I find a lot of the liturgical music that goes with our services rather dull and sometime in comprehensible to a person like myself with little music background. To paraphrase Justice John Paul Stevens, I don't know what good music is, but I know it when I hear it. Or to state it more succinctly, "I know what I like." What I like may, or may not, be to everyone's taste but music is like that, isn't it. We all have our favorites.
At St. Thomas we do a lot of different "Glorias" over the course of the year. We use this version points; it's high notes and those that may be a little off key - so to speak. I'm also sure that the Glorias that I like may not be those that appeal to other people in the parish. After all music is a matter of taste and education. Often with more education, we come to appreciate things that we couldn't understand before we were taught why they are the way they are. I love the "Gloria" by Peter Jones. It is the one that begins with the Cantor singing, "Glory to God, glory in the highest. Peace to his people, peace on earth." Then everyone repeating the line. The cantor then sings, the next line alone and everyone responds with "Glory to God, glory in the highest. Peace to his people, peace on earth."
The piece then bounces back and forth between the choir and the congregation with the congregation signing different short refrains such as simply, "Glory in the highest." and "Have mercy upon us." Until we all finish with the opening refrain of "Glory to God, glory in the highest. Peace to his people, peace on earth."
41 To me there is something Holy and uplifting about this "Gloria" that none of the others touch. When the single voice begins praising God and is suddenly joined by everyone, it is like we are proclaiming what God asks of us. He leads and we respond. I am filled with the thought of how wondrous it would be if the whole world were signing and filling the earth with the sound of God's wish for us all.
I think the first Christmas must have sounded out a "Gloria" that was very much like this for as it says in Luke chapter two:
"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angle of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them. . .
"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men.'"
When we use the Peter Jones "Gloria", that scene comes alive for me and I am reminded that we "are but little lower than the angels" and when I join in the refrain, I am lifting my voice in praise with theirs.
WednesWednesday,day, April 116666
Annie's Song You fill up my senses Like a night in a forest Like the mountains in springtime Like a walk in the rain Like a storm in the desert Like a sleepy blue ocean You fill up my senses Come fill me again
Come let me love you Let me give my life to you Let me drown in your laughter Let me die in your arms Let me lay down beside you Let me always be with you Come let me love you Come love me again 42
You fill up my senses Like a night in a forest Like the mountains in springtime Like a walk in the rain Like a storm in the desert Like a sleepy blue ocean You fill up my senses Come fill me again
ThursThursday,day, April 117777
Deep Peace … Deep Peace … Deep Peace …
I find great comfort in the Deep Peace prayer. It has a way of centering my being to begin the glorious project of creating a shawl to comfort another human being. I begin to create the cloth that will embrace someone in comfort and prayer. To know that my shawl will bring some comfort and peace to another is wonder beyond words.
Before I start to stitch the shawl and during the growth of the shawl through its completion I begin each start or pick up of the shawl with prayer. I ask Jesus to bring peace and love to each stitch, to take away all negative thoughts and envelope me and the yarn in good and positive thoughts, to pray for the person who will receive my humble creation that it will bring comfort and peace, healing and positive thoughts to help them through this time in their lives.
Sometimes I receive a yarn that others have found difficulty with, and there is a lot of prayer before beginning to release the negativity from the yarn and to help it to create a peace- loving comforting prayer shawl. Sometimes, I think these special yarns upon completion in to a prayer shawl have a special mission, but then, I also believe that each shawl we create is special and each shawl has a special mission. Our shawls are given to embrace the recipient in our prayers for good health and little to no pain, to make any suffering minimal, to bring peace and comfort, to know the person who created this shawl puts a tremendous amount of love and prayer in to the creation of a prayer shawl.
At the close of our Prayer Shawl meeting we close with the Deep Peace prayer. It is very special to our group. At the Peace during the service, it is often that shawl members will greet one another with “Deep Peace”. It is often that I end my own time stitching of a shawl with “Deep Peace”. It brings comfort … love … hope … Deep Peace…
43 Deep Peace of the running wave to you Deep Peace of the flowing air to you Deep Peace of the quiet earth to you Deep Peace of the shining stars to you Deep peace of the shades of night to you Moon and stars always giving Light to you. Deep Peace, Deep Peace, Deep Peace.
FriFriFriday,Fri day, April 118888
On Sunday, February 24, 2013, I spent most of the day with my parents at their home in Topeka. My dad was in the final stages of his battle with brain cancer, and I was making as many day trips “home” as possible to be with him. This time was different from the start and I had a very uncomfortable feeling the entire day. His favorite chair was gone, replaced by a hospital bed that Hospice had moved in a few days before. He slept almost all day, and in the few moments he didn’t, he asked how I was doing, how my sons were doing and would we be okay. My mom & I made the decision that it was time for me to make arrangements to come stay for a while. We agreed that I would go home to Olathe for 2 days to make arrangements at work and at my house (because I was likely to be snowed in anyway by the impending snowstorm), and I would return on Wednesday around noon. I said good-bye to my dad, kissed him on the cheek and he woke up to hear me say “I love you.” I left, got into my car, turned on the radio, and as I backed out of the driveway, this is the song that came on:
Worn – Tenth Avenue North I’m Tired I’m worn - My heart is heavy From the work it takes to keep on breathing I’ve made mistakes. I’ve let my hope fail My soul feels crushed by the weight of this world
And I know that you can give me rest, So I cry out with all that I have left
Let me see redemption win. Let me know the struggle ends. That you can mend a heart that’s frail and torn I wanna know a song can rise from the ashes of a broken life And all that’s dead inside can be reborn, cause I’m worn
I know I need to lift my eyes up, but I'm too weak Life just won’t let up, and I know that you can give me rest So I cry out with all that I have left
44 Let me see redemption win, let me know the struggle ends That you can mend a heart that’s frail and torn I wanna know a song can rise from the ashes of a broken life And all that’s dead inside can be reborn, Cause I’m worn
My prayers are wearing thin - Yeah, I’m worn Even before the day begins - Yeah, I’m worn I’ve lost my will to fight - I’m worn So, heaven come and flood my eyes (Refrain)
Let me see redemption win, let me know the struggle ends That you can mend a heart that’s frail and torn I wanna know a song can rise from the ashes of a broken life And all that’s dead inside can be reborn, cause all that’s dead inside will be reborn
Though I’m worn - Yeah I’m worn
Normally, I like to pick up the notes and sing along when a new, great song comes on the radio. I hadn’t heard this one before, and even though the melody was easy enough, I didn’t sing. I cried. I cried harder than I’ve ever cried before or since. It was the worst, best, hardest, most wonderful song I’ve ever heard in my life. In the 3 or so minutes of that song, I knew I had just said goodbye to my daddy for the last time, and it hurt like nothing has ever hurt before. At the same time, though, it was like a gift from above, because for the first time in 16 months of watching him struggle, I felt like I understood where his heart was at and what he might be feeling. He was so tired, he was upset over what had happened to him at such a young age in his life when he would be missing out on so much by leaving, but he was still a man of faith just as he always had been. I knew this, and I knew in that moment, that he was ready to see redemption win, to see that his struggles would end and that he would be reborn into the eternal life with his heavenly father as promised through the waters of his baptism…and it did. At about 8:00 in the morning on Wednesday, February 27, as I was getting ready to drive back to Topeka with most of the roads having been cleared of the snow, my mom called on the phone to say he was gone. I still can’t listen to that song without crying…and smiling at the same time because his struggle did end, I know he was reborn, and someday I will see him again.
45 Saturday, April 119999
The Holy City
I saw the Holy City Beside the tide less sea. The light of God was on its streets, The gates were open wide, And all who would might enter, And no one was denied.
Jerusalem! Jerusalem! Lift up your gates and sing, Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna to your King!
Coming up the hill on a 55-passenger motor coach with traveling companions from Episcopal parishes, Presbyterian congregations and the Temple Israel Jewish synagogue ….I turned my head to look out the window at the panoramic view of Old Jerusalem and the Temple Mount as the hymn “The Holy City” was coming through the bus sound system. It was a moment I have relived over and over. I can replay it on demand and take myself back to that moment when Jesus’ life as a human being on this Earth really came to life for me.
My feet seemed to skim the ground and my knees were weak as we broke bread together on the Mount of Olives and received a special Jewish blessing reserved for new and exciting experiences.
I stood in old Jerusalem Beside the temple there. I heard the children singing, And ever as they sang Methought the voice of angels From heaven in answer rang
We began the trek down from the Mt of Olives into the Garden of Gethsemane. At the same time a local resident was ahead of us leading his donkey. We walked through the garden and saw the 2000-year-old olive trees and I thought, “I walked today where Jesus walked”. I was, and I am, so grateful for the gift of Jesus in my life and the closeness I felt to Him as I made that journey into Jerusalem.
46 Our thanks to the following aauthorsuthors for their contributionscontributions this year:
Linda Manuel Lisa Schmidt Virginia Shields Jamison Ferren Sue Elliott Barb McCall Tom Palmer Beth Anderson Suzi Bowden Leslie Byrnes Jack Swafford Sally Morris Steve Revare Diann Weddle Brian Gordon Jenny Palmer Jen Prettejohn Linda Bemis Bill Kidder Kelly Demo Carson Ferren Diana Diaz Judy Dutra Riley Demo John McNown Rosemary Abbott Martha Sharp Meribeth Risebig
LENT 2014 at ST. THOMAS
Sunday Morning Adult Formation March 9 – April 13 9:50 am in Parish Hall 2
“Unabashedly Episcopalian: Spreading the Good News of the Episcopal Church.” This four- week class will meet Sundays between services, March 9 - March 30, using the book of the same name written by the Rt. Rev. Andrew C. Doyle, Bishop of the Diocese of Texas. The book is a fun, insightful journey through the Baptismal Covenant. Using both personal stories and fascinating bits of history, Bishop Doyle helps those new to the faith and those of us who are “cradle Episcopalians” to take pride in our church and celebrate what it has to offer the world. Whether you attend the class or not you are encouraged to purchase the book which is available in the church office for $11 each.
Adult Confirmation Classes will begin on March 9 and meet each Sunday through the month – 9:50 am. This class is specifically for those wishing to join the Episcopal Church through the sacrament of Confirmation , or if you are already confirmed in a Christian tradition, through the rite of Reception. For information about this class, please speak with Fr. Gar Demo who will be leading it. Confirmations and Receptions will take place on April 6 when Bishop Dean Wolfe visits the parish.
Wednesday Evening Lenten Classes March 12, 19, 26 from 7-8:30 pm Parish Hall The Rev. Kevin Schmidt will be leading the Wednesday evening programs entitled “The wisdom of Job for a world full of doubts.”
47 Lenten Potluck/Programs March 9, 30 and April 6 - 5-7 pm
Each evening will start with a potluck dinner.
March 9: Learn about labyrinths, walk a labyrinth, plus make labyrinth garden stones to take home. A giant labyrinth will be set up in our parish hall from March 8-13. All are welcome to walk the labyrinth while the church is open—weekdays from 9am-4pm. Instruction and walking prayers will be offered.
March 30: Exploring the Six Themes of Lent—Self-examination, Repentance, Prayer, Fasting, Self- denial, and Reading and Meditating on God’s holy Word.
April 6: Outreach Night to include packing books for Comanche School, preparing bags of beans and rice for St. Paul’s Food Pantry and care kits for Heart to Heart, and making cards for those in our parish who are ill.
All Ages Outreach Day March 29, 8 am – 2 pm
We’ll travel to St. Paul’s in Kansas City, KS to work on various projects for the Food Pantry—for all ages!
HOLY WEEK SERVICES
Maundy Thursday – April 17, 7 pm
Good Friday – April 18 Stations of the Cross – Noon Solemn Good Friday Liturgy – 7:00 pm
Easter Vigil – April 19 – 7:00 pm Baptisms will take place at this service. Please contact Fr. Gar if you are interested in baptism.
Easter Sunday – Services at 6:00, 8:45 and 10:45 am
St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church 12251 Antioch Road Overland Park, KS 66213 913-451-0512 www.stthomasop.org 48