Reflections by members of our Parish Family
\"I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy word.\" Book of Common Prayer Front Cover Art by Suzanne Lund
Lent 2020 Dear Friends, Lent is the gift of time to slow down and reflect on who we are as people of God who follow Jesus. Much of the year, we focus on following Jesus as he teaches the people, heals the sick, feeds the hungry, calms the waters, and confronts evil. During Lent, we follow Jesus into the wilderness where he fasted, faced temptation, and had nothing to rely on but the Spirit who led him there. As individuals, we practice Lent in a variety of ways, from giving up things that we rely on for security rather than God to taking on practices that deepen our relationship with God. Yet, while we walk through Lent as individuals in some ways, in other ways we travel together. We slow down together and work to deepen our relationship with God together. This Lenten Reflection Booklet is one of the ways we journey together through this holy season. With a reflection for each day written by a fellow parishioner, we hear a bit of each other’s story and reflect on Lent through the eyes of each other. Together, we learn more deeply what it means to be people of God who follow Jesus. This booklet is a treasure of reflections offered from the heart of each person who wrote. My deep thanks to each of you, to Heather Swift who has once again edited this book, to Eileen Gaston for proof reading it, and to Kathy Garber who is the production manager. A blessed Lent to each of you, Charlotte+
February 26, 2020 ~ Ash Wednesday Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 or Isaiah 58:1-12; 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 Psalm 103 / Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 Jane Harrison
February 27, 2020 ~ Thursday after Ash Wednesday Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with your most gracious favor, and further us with your continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in you, we may glorify your holy Name, and finally, by your mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Deuteronomy 30:15–20 Psalm 1 / The Gospel: Luke 9:18–25 That proclamation given by Jesus to his disciples is, on first view, a little overwhelming and frankly scary. At first, it sounds like, as a Christian we would need to deal with a lot of suffering and pain bearing a \"cross.\" Looking closer, the challenge is to follow the example of Jesus through both joyful and painful places in our lives. The main message is to look away from ourselves and focus on caring for others. Our culture seems to encourage the opposite - that we should look toward opportunism and self-protection. Perhaps commitment to \"take up our cross\" really means to focus on the welfare of others, whatever that might entail. Kathie Balcerzak
February 28, 2020 ~ Friday after Ash Wednesday Support us, O Lord, with your gracious favor through the fast we have begun; that as we observe it by bodily self-denial, so we may fulfill it with inner sincerity of heart; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Isaiah 58:1–9a Psalm 51:1-10 / Gospel: Matthew 9:10–17 I recently started a book group with a few other mothers. We are reading through Risen Motherhood, which connects the Gospel of Christ to the chaos and joy of motherhood. One week, our discussion centered around the Gospel and traditions. We were reminded to check our heart attitudes in carrying out traditions. Are we doing them for our own glory or for God’s? This same idea is expressed in today’s readings. Isaiah is calling the people of Israel back to the true heart of their traditions and religious observances. Rather than their traditions and sacrifices being done to remind them of the grace of God and drawing them closer to God, they had begun to use them to celebrate their own efforts and accomplishments. Isaiah is reminding them that fasting for fasting’s sake and tradition for tradition’s sake is not the point. God wants Israel (and us) to be reminded through these actions of what God has done and calls them to. God calls us to the work of justice, righteousness, and grace. Our traditions remind us of the ways God has provided for us. We are called to use those reminders to motivate and prompt us to provide for others. Sarah Bhatia
February 29, 2020 ~ Saturday after Ash Wednesday Almighty and everlasting God, mercifully look upon our infirmities, and in all our dangers and necessities stretch forth your right hand to help and defend us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Isaiah 58:9b–14 Psalm 86:1–11 / The Gospel: Luke 5:27–32 I really like the connection between today’s readings and the Psalm, especially in context with Lent. Isaiah begins with a call to stop our sin and offensiveness. Words of encouragement of how God will help us and provide for us are then offered as the psalm wraps up with a series of “if” statements…all meaning that we need to take some actions or go about things a specific way before we can fully “delight in the Lord”. I love the psalm as it lays out a series of petitions and statements that can help build our faith, strength, and connection with God as opposed to requesting specific outcomes in our lives. I have found this to be very important, especially over the last couple of years. We cannot predict or control the outcomes in our lives, but can try to build stronger faith and character in God, and be better equipped to weather storms, avoid sin, and see the beauty, strength, and promise in God. The gospel reading really resonates with me, and not just because it is short and straight forward! It is so reassuring to know that the focus of Jesus was on sinners and repentance. While we all might have some righteous moments in our lives, we are all sinners, so that means Jesus came for all of us! And here we are in Lent with the opportunity to focus on our sins, repentance, and forgiveness. Steve Greer
March 1, 2020 ~ First Sunday in Lent Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Romans 5:12-19 Psalm 32 / Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11 In today’s gospel (Matthew 4:1-11), Christ is tempted three times by the devil. The second time, Jesus responds, “Again, it is written. ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” How tempting it is to do so! If God is so powerful, why can’t God . . . ? We all have ways to finish this question. The words here echo those in the book of Job. Job’s friends do not, any more than Job, understand why he, a loyal man of God, should suffer so. We cannot help but ask “why?” and sometimes we may well want to say something like “I’ll be a good Christian, God, if only you will do such-and-such.” Save a child’s life, deliver us from evil, prevent a flat on the turnpike: whatever. If we do test God, however, God will inevitably fail such a test. Why? I think the point of this gospel is that testing God is the wrong way to show our faith. One of my long-favored theological observations is that God is not theological fire insurance. To think that God is such is to have a very simplistic notion of our relationship with God. I think our test is to have faith in God through it all, good times and bad, to understand that God is not a magician or an insurance company. Rather, God is with us for the long haul in a very fallen world. The test is not God’s but ours. This Lent, as part of our meditation and preparation, let us ask ourselves how we reject the worldly treasures that the devil offers Jesus in this gospel but embrace the many gifts that God’s presence in our lives brings each day. Thomas Dukes
March 2, 2020 ~ Monday in the 1st week of Lent Almighty and everlasting God, mercifully increase in us your gifts of holy discipline, in almsgiving, prayer, and fasting; that our lives may be directed to the fulfilling of your most gracious will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Leviticus 19:1–2,11–18 Psalm 19:7–14 / The Gospel: Matthew 25:31–46 Today we are assigned two well-known lessons. The Old Testament reading, from Leviticus, gives us “The Lord spoke to Moses, saying...” And then we have the familiar (and some less familiar) “you shall nots ...” fourteen of them, in a relatively short passage! Yes, there’s “You shall not steal,” but also “You shall not deal falsely.” That second one sounds like “white collar crime” to me, proving that the Old Testament rings true in the 21st century. The New Testament lesson, from Matthew, is the parable about separating the sheep from the goats. Jesus tells the crowd: “For I was hungry and you gave me food...I was sick and you took care of me...I was in prison and you visited me.” The criteria for judgment (and separating those heaven-bound sheep) is “Truly, I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” So there you have it - the “shall nots” and the marching orders. The words of Confession call us to repent “what we have done and what we have left undone.” Lent provides the opportunity to consider both kinds of sins, in our personal lives and within our society. Eileen Gaston
March 3, 2020 ~ Tuesday in the 1st week of Lent Grant to your people, Lord, grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil, and with pure hearts and minds to follow you, the only true God; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Isaiah 55:6–11 Psalm 34:15-22 / Gospel: Matthew 6:7–15 I believe that the economy of words is a good thing, so when Jesus tells us not to heap up empty phrases thinking that we will be heard because of our many words, I am delighted. However, digging into the few words Jesus gives us to use when we pray, I move from delighted to challenged. “Your kingdom come.” Am I supposed to do something about that? “Your will be done.” How do I know what that is? “Give us this day our daily bread.” Isn’t meal planning a good discipline? “Forgive us our debts/sins/trespasses as we forgive those who sin/trespass against us.” Am I supposed to forgive the way I hope God forgives me? All of a sudden, Jesus’ few words have an ocean wave of implications for how I go about my life. On first glance, Jesus’ words call us to a passive faith, letting God do all the heavy lifting, bringing about the Kingdom, showing God’s will, and giving us daily bread. On a deeper look, however, Jesus’ words call us to action, bringing the Kingdom alive in our midst, forgiving, discerning God’s will through Scripture, prayer, and community, and making sure that all have their daily bread. Jesus’ words are few but challenging! The Rev. Charlotte Collins Reed
March 4, 2020 ~ Wednesday in the 1st week of Lent Bless us, O God, in this holy season, in which our hearts seek your help and healing; and so purify us by your discipline that we may grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Jonah 3:1–10 Psalm 51:11–18 / The Gospel: Luke 11:29–32 Jonah was not your typical prophet. The primary focus of most of the other prophetic books was on Israel and Judah. The majority of the prophets had minimal success in urging the people to observe Israel’s covenant obligations to God. The Book of Jonah tells the story of a prophet sent to the Assyrians in Nineveh. The people in Nineveh were notoriously brutal. Jonah firmly believed that the only way God could save Israel was to bring judgment on Nineveh. Jonah did not want to give the people of Nineveh a chance at redemption. He wanted justice served against a city that had been wicked for many generations. The second time the Lord spoke to Jonah, he obeyed and went to Nineveh. Nineveh was a large city, and it took three days to walk from one end of the city to the other. Perhaps the reference to the size of the city related to the number of days that Jonah spent in the belly of the fish. Jonah’s words of impending doom had a tremendous effect on the people of Nineveh. They fasted, covered themselves with sackcloth and prayed to be saved. When God witnessed this remarkable outpouring of repentance, He changed His mind and did not inflict the calamity that He said He would bring upon the people of Nineveh. God permitted the sovereignty of the divine heart to overrule the requirements of divine justice much to the dismay of Jonah. Ann Kirk
March 5, 2020 ~ Thursday in the 1st week of Lent Strengthen us, O Lord, by your grace, that in your might we may overcome all spiritual enemies, and with pure hearts serve you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Esther (Apocrypha) 14:1–6,12–14 Psalm 138 / Gospel: Matthew 7:7–12 Matthew 7:12 In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets. We all know this as The Golden Rule. If you google it, you will find many interpretations, and much controversy. Gee, I didn’t know it was that complicated. Harry J. Gensler is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Scranton. He says he became a Golden Rule junkie in 1968. He has done many things involving the Golden Rule, including a Masters thesis, Doctoral Dissertation, talks, and papers. A writer of 13 books, he wrote the last one totally on the Golden Rule. Ethics and the Golden Rule is rather expensive ($36 paperback or Kindle, $88 hard cover), but I did locate a copy in the Cleveland library system. It has not arrived yet, but I watched a video talk he gave. He says the heart of the Golden Rule is switching places. What you do to someone else you imagine it being done to you. He says the problem is with the wording, so he has rephrased it. “Treat others only as you consent to being treated in the same situation.” I’m intrigued and waiting to pick up the book. Cindy Hartman
March 6, 2020 ~ Friday in the 1st week of Lent Lord Christ, our eternal Redeemer, grant us such fellowship in your sufferings, that, filled with your Holy Spirit, we may subdue the flesh to the spirit, and the spirit to you, and at the last attain to the glory of your resurrection; who lives and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Ezekiel 18:21–28 Psalm 130 / The Gospel: Matthew 5:20–26 The small house on the corner lot is completely renovated, inside and out. Beautiful, it is completely enclosed with all windows covered by treatments that hide the interiors. No one can see inside the little house. It is quite difficult to see out of the house. Ezekiel speaks about insiders and outsiders, the righteous and the wicked. The people inside the house protect their privacy and their possessions. The people wonder about them and what kind of people they are. Snobs, thieves, good, bad, righteous, wicked describe the convictions of the strangers within and outside the house about the unknown other. Prejudices are built out of ignorance not experience. Ezekiel says that people will be judged not by the sins of their fathers and mothers but by their individual actions. The Lord is fair. Surely, these assumptions of the neighborhood strangers are unfair but they are not harmful. But, I say to you, whoever judges his neighbor without evidence is guilty of injustice. Even if the strangers never commit an illegal or immoral act against the other, it is as though they have. Jesus exhorts us to think beyond the narrow confines of the law. Open the doors and windows of your house. Truly, I tell you you will never be saved until you know your neighbor.\" Janet Daniels
March 7, 2020 ~ Saturday in the 1st week of Lent O God, by your Word you marvelously carry out the work of reconciliation: Grant that in our Lenten fast we may be devoted to you with all our hearts, and united with one another in prayer and holy love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Deuteronomy 26:16–19 Psalm 119:1–8 / Gospel: Matthew 5:43–48 My action-oriented tendencies have served me well here on earth. But what might be a strength in my workplace makes it easy to slip into the idea that faith can be transactional. The readings for today contain a call-and- response pattern: 1. What the Lord has done 2. What we should do in return. Even the Collect has this rhythm: God’s To-Do: “carry out the work of reconciliation” Our To-Do: devote our hearts to him While I appreciate the actionable nature of these passages, the kicker sets in at the end of Matthew: “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (5:48). Ouch. How do I reconcile this holy “to-do” list, this ask for perfection, when I know that with my sinful nature it is unachievable? There are a few ways you can cross an ocean: 1. In a rowboat, rowing and rowing until your arms give out 2. In a raft, lying back and floating, hoping you’ll arrive at the other side 3. In a sailboat, constantly repositioning the sail, knowing the wind is really what pushes you across By completing these “to-dos”, we are not rowing. Our actions don’t get us across the ocean. Instead, by devoting our actions to God, we are positioning the sail so that it can catch wind. We are saying, “Thank you, God, for this sailboat. We can’t get across the sea without you. Reveal yourself in our lives today.” Our faith is not transactional. Our actions don’t save us. God does. But how can we, with our actions, position our sails so that he can work through our lives? Annie Greer Hodges
March 8, 2020 ~ Second Sunday in Lent O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Genesis 12:1-4a; Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 Psalm 121 / The Gospel: John 3:1-17 \"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.\" Avie
March 9, 2020 ~ Monday in the 2nd week of Lent Let your Spirit, O Lord, come into the midst of us to wash us with the pure water of repentance, and prepare us to be always a living sacrifice to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Daniel 9:3–10, Hebrews 3:1-6 Psalm 79:1–9 / Gospel: Luke 6:27-38 Ella
March 10, 2020 ~ Tuesday in the 2nd week of Lent O God, you willed to redeem us from all iniquity by your Son: Deliver us when we are tempted to regard sin without abhorrence, and let the virtue of his passion come between us and our mortal enemy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Isaiah 1:2–4,16–20 Psalm 50:7–15,22–24 / The Gospel: Matthew 23:1–12 When I was in graduate school in the 1980’s, I took a course on Rabbinic Judaism. I remember very little about the course, but I do remember my surprise at the beauty of Pharisaic Judaism. My previous “knowledge” was based on passages such as today’s gospel, where the scribes and Pharisees are portrayed as hypocrites. What I found in the course was a faith that seeks to make all of life holy, from sacred worship, to the mundane tasks of household chores. Rather than a burden, following the laws of scripture was an act of devotion, of gratitude to the God who brought the people out of Egypt and has sustained them ever since. While Jesus is telling us that our actions should match our words, and we should neither place heavy burdens on others nor seek places of honor for ourselves, I also think we need to be very careful about sweeping generalizations. Perhaps part of our Lenten discipline, part of our learning to do good, seeking justice and rescuing the oppressed, is to avoid generalizations about groups of people, whether Pharisees, people of other faiths, nationalities, or skin color, gender orientation, or economic status. Perhaps Lent calls us to listen to the stories of others and see the beauty of their lives. The Rev. Charlotte Collins Reed
March 11, 2020 ~ Wednesday in the 2nd week of Lent O God, you so loved the world that you gave your only- begotten Son to reconcile earth with heaven: Grant that we, loving you above all things, may love our friends in you, and our enemies for your sake; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Jeremiah 18:1–11,18–20 Psalm 31:9–16 / Gospel: Matthew 20:17–28 Who is the mother of the sons of Zebedee? The woman at the well? The woman who is healed of many years of bleeding by touching the cloak of Jesus? Who are these nameless women whose faith has given them the courage to not only speak to Jesus but to ask for his favor? In a world where women have no power, Jesus creates a space for them. He befriends them, listens to them, heals them. The mother of the sons of Zebedee may go a little too far in asking that her sons be placed at the high table, to Jesus’ right and left. But her worldview is one in which there are rulers and there are servants. What mother would not hope, in such a world, that her children would rule? Of course, Jesus has another take on this. To be great you must serve! The first among you must be your slave! We do not hear what the mother of the sons of Zebedee thinks of Jesus’ response, but Matthew tells us that she is one of the three women who witness the crucifixion. Her request was not granted, but I imagine her hurt being healed when Jesus smiled at her and called her by her name. Pam Zuhl
March 12, 2020 ~ Thursday in the 2nd week of Lent O Lord, strong and mighty, Lord of hosts and King of glory: Cleanse our hearts from sin, keep our hands pure, and turn our minds from what is passing away; so that at the last we may stand in your holy place and receive your blessing; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Jeremiah 17:5–10 Psalm 1 / The Gospel: Luke 16:19–31 As I read today’s Gospel, I wondered whether I could be the “rich man” described in Jesus’ parable. No, I haven’t ignored a hungry man begging at my door. I live in an area that’s remote from that kind of need. But out of sight, out of mind. Scripture (Moses, the prophets, and Jesus, the one who rose from the dead) reminds me that the need is not far from me, and that I need to “act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with my God.” I need to find ways to put myself in places where I am with people in need, where I can have a meal with them, or help look after their children, or shuttle them to school, or work with their parents to help make a better, safer life for those children. Christ Church offers a number of ways for us to respond to those in need around us: OpenM, Family Promise, Hudson Food Pantry, Knitting for Peace, Giving Tree and Habitat for Humanity. These are but a few of many ministries around us that respond to need in our community. If you have found others that work for you, I would love to hear about them. Len Harrison
March 13, 2020 ~ Friday in the 2nd week of Lent Grant, O Lord, that as your Son Jesus Christ prayed for his enemies on the cross, so we may have grace to forgive those who wrongfully or scornfully use us, that we ourselves may be able to receive your forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Genesis 37:3–4,12–28 Psalm 105:16–22 / Gospel: Matthew 21:33–43 It's Not Over! Have you ever had people turn their back on you? People you called friends, and maybe even your own family members. Maybe you've had co- workers who plotted and schemed to get you out of the way so they could grab that promotion that you were sure to get. In life, we will encounter people who do not have our best interest at heart, but oh, what a joy to know that even when our enemies come upon us, God has our back. He certainly had Joseph's. Not only did God keep His brothers from killing him, but He put him in a high ranking position that served as a benefit for his family and the Israelites during a famine. His brothers counted him out but God had other plans. Isn't it reassuring that when things in our life look like they are at the end for us, and there's no coming back from it, God has the final say? Isn't it good to know that God is there with us through every phase of hardship, disappointment, and pain? So, don't quit, don't give up, because it's not over until God says so! Robin Woodberry
March 14, 2020 ~ Saturday in the 2nd week of Lent Grant, most merciful Lord, to your faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve you with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Micah 7:14–15,18–20 Psalm 103:1–4(5–8)9–12 / The Gospel: Luke 15:11–32 In the readings for today, the prophet and psalmist marvel at the nature of God and his relationship with his people. They enumerate God’s attributes and characteristics and convey the scope of God’s compassion and mercy. In the reading from Luke, Jesus tells the story of a loving father who opens his arms and embraces his wayward son. The fullness of the father’s welcome challenges his elder son. We don’t know what the elder son does after his initial bout of anger and jealousy. Does he drop his bitterness and return with the father to celebrate his brother’s return? Or does he go off in a huff and separate himself from his father? It’s interesting to ponder what kind of relationship he had with his father while his brother was away? Were they close? Was he concerned for his brother? I think these readings give us a window into relationships. Relationships are reciprocal and active. What kind of relationship do we have with God? We are all prodigal sons and daughters. We separate ourselves from God when we rely on ourselves alone, when we squander our inheritance, and when we judge ourselves and others. The prophet and psalmist remind us that we are in regular need of forgiveness. We may not feel deserving of forgiveness, but the father’s love embraces us regardless. Let us extend love’s embrace to God and to one another. Linda Irving
March 15, 2020 ~ Third Sunday in Lent Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Exodus 17:1-7; Romans 5:1-11 Psalm 95 / Gospel: John 4:5-42 Today is my 80th Birthday, “Food for thought”. A friend of mine says she is “never hungry and often forgets to eat”. It is not true for me. I get hungry/thirsty on a regular basis and it’s hard to imagine otherwise. “Sir, you have no bucket and the well is deep,\" the woman says. “Where do you get that living water?” He answers, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, [but] The water that I give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” We seek the food and water we know; Jesus offers sustenance for the soul, spiritual food for Life beyond life. It is this food that is offered here every Sunday, “the Body of Christ, the Bread of Heaven. The Blood of Christ, the Cup of Salvation.” The ministries carried out by the people thus fed here and others around the world are evidence that Christ’s promise of “living water” can and does gush up even in us. Then remarkably, we find that as we reach out in love to others, we, in turn, are deeply blessed. I am so grateful for this life and I am convinced of Christ’s journey with me every step of the way. Gretchen Green, Deacon
March 16, 2020 ~ Monday in the 3rd week of Lent O God, who from the family of your servant David raised up Joseph to be the guardian of your incarnate Son and the spouse of his virgin mother: Give us grace to imitate his uprightness of life and his obedience to your commands; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 2 Kings 5:1–15b Psalm 42:1–7 / The Gospel: Luke 4:23–30 Pride. It seems to me that sin can basically be boiled down to pride. The thought that we know better than God or we deserve something other than what has been given to us or even feelings of unworthiness that keep us closed off to the grace of God—which seems opposite, but when you really think about it, this is a type of pride to believe that we are beyond the reach of God. Pride is at the heart of the readings for today. Naaman feels slighted by Elisha. He believes that he is so important that Elisha should have personally come out and greeted him and done some magic to heal him. He is above the lowliness of washing in the river. His homeland rivers are above those of Israel in his mind. Similarly, the people of Jesus’ hometown think Jesus owes them miracles. However, Jesus reminds them that often God uses what is considered lowly to show God’s glory, such as foreigners, widows, and servants. This Lenten season, let us ask God to forgive our pride and humble our hearts so we can experience God’s grace and goodness anew. Sarah Bhatia
March 17, 2020 ~ Tuesday in the 3rd week of Lent O Lord, we beseech you mercifully to hear us; and grant that we, to whom you have given a fervent desire to pray, may, by your mighty aid, be defended and comforted in all dangers and adversities; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Song of the Three Young Men 2–4,11–20a Psalm 25:3-10 / Gospel: Matthew 18:21–35 Forgiveness is something I truly have trouble with. When someone hurts my feelings by something they have said or done, I have a hard time letting go. Of course, I want to forgive them because it is what Jesus would want me to do. I say to myself that I forgive them, but the larger transgressions continue to eat at me. I know it is not healthy mentally and, fortunately, with time it lessens. Reflecting on a few, I think the actions that lingered are the ones that I didn’t address by letting the other person know that they had hurt me. I’m sure miscommunication causes many hurt feelings and I wonder if mine would have resolved sooner if I had shared my feelings with them. Another technique is to put myself in their shoes and see if there is an underlying cause to their behavior. When I can find that, I can more readily let it go and continue our relationship where we left off. We don’t have to forgive and forget it, but forgive, tuck it away under happier memories, and move on. I realize I have been looking at this from one side and am embarrassed to think that I could be the one to have caused someone else pain. I hope that they would let me know and grant me forgiveness as well. I have much progress to make to be at peace with forgiveness. Heather Swift
March 18, 2020 ~ Wednesday in the 3rd week of Lent Give ear to our prayers, O Lord, and direct the way of your servants in safety under your protection, that, amid all the changes of our earthly pilgrimage, we may be guarded by your mighty aid; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Deuteronomy 4:1–2,5–9 Psalm 78:1–6 / The Gospel: Matthew 5:17–19 Are We There Yet? A familiar question, for sure, when, as a young child, we traveled for what seemed to be insufferably long periods of time to arrive at a vacation destination. As an adult “are we there yet?” still pops up as a feeling during tedious chores or while recovering from a surgical procedure or an illness. In the Collect for today we ask God to “direct... the way of your servants in safety, that amid all the changes of our earthly pilgrimage… we may be guarded by your mighty aid.” It seems that this asking of God, then, is to be there until we are “there”. We saw this in today’s reading when Moses instructed the Israelites to “give heed to the statutes… so that you may enter and occupy the land that the Lord the God of your ancestors is giving you.” Moses, then, encouraged the Israelites to know that God was there with them until they arrived “there.” I think it is natural to become smug when we arrive “there”, whatever “there” means on this earth. Yet it is instructional to learn that, in Matthew, Jesus informs us that our ultimate destination – the eternal “there” -- is way beyond any there we can imagine. The Psalmist today emphasizes that, while we are waiting, we are to “recount to generations to come the praiseworthy deeds and the power of the Lord.” While we wait to “get there”, we can, then, by action and words, offer the message of God’s gift to us to “the generations to come”, just as someone has done the same for us, while that someone waited –in faith- to “get there.” Fran Sweeney
March 19, 2020 ~ The Feast of Saint Joseph Keep watch over your Church, O Lord, with your unfailing love; and, since it is grounded in human weakness and cannot maintain itself without your aid, protect it from all danger, and keep it in the way of salvation; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 2 Samuel 7:4,8-16; Romans 4:13-18 Psalm 89:1-29 or 89:1-4, 26-29 / Gospel: Luke 2:41-52 “And Mary Pondered These Things in Her Heart” I think it is great sport among parents to ponder what their child might grow up to be. A great big child, “He’ll probably be a football player.” As a three year old, he creates a recognizable drawing and we speculate he’ll be an artist. I remember our son, as a toddler, loved the hubcaps on cars. I suggested to a neighbor that maybe he would grow up to design cars. The neighbor suggested he might grow up to steal hubcaps or cars. Mary had so much to ponder. An angel at Jesus’ conception. Angels and a bright star at his birth, and wise men coming to worship, and then Jesus discussing the scriptures with the holy men in the temple at age 12. His future seemed, in retrospect, so certain. Except he was the first and only of his kind. And, everyone had different ideas of how a Savior would come and what a Savior would be like. Certainly we never would have guessed he would be tortured and die on a cross, to save us all. I ponder in my heart, about his second coming how it will be and how he will look and when it will happen. We have waited a long time. But, He had also been a long time coming and people wondered how it would happen, and how he would look. Do you ponder the second coming? There is no reason it might not happen in our lifetime. Sue Addison King
March 20, 2020 ~ Friday in the 3rd week of Lent Grant us, O Lord our Strength, a true love of your holy Name; so that, trusting in your grace, we may fear no earthly evil, nor fix our hearts on earthly goods, but may rejoice in your full salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Hosea 14:1–9 Psalm 81:8–14 / The Gospel: Mark 12:28–34 According to Franciscan priest Fr. Monk Richard Rohr in his book titled Wondrous Encounters “Our First Reading is the conclusion of the writings of the prophet Hosea. He taught an intimate, time-tried, and tender relationship with Yahweh, after experiencing God’s own faithfulness to him. He was building on the cycles of give and take, faithfulness and unfaithfulness of his prostitute wife, Gomer—whom God told him to marry! His wife became the image of the soul before God. Think about that for a while. Just knowing Hosea’s biography will allow you to read the text with new sympathy and impact. “I will always heal your disloyalty. I will love you freely with all my heart,” says Yahweh, and that is how Hosea has come to love Gomer. We are not sure which came first, God’s faithful love for Hosea or Hosea’s forgiving love for Gomer.“ “Jesus is putting together what he sees as the summit and the summary of his own Jewish teaching.” … Jesus replies to the scribe’s question, but “Jesus gives him two commandments yet treats them as one!” … “Hosea’s love of Gomer and love of God are one and the same love. God’s love of Gomer and of Hosea are one and the same love. If it is really Love, it is always One.” There is also a prayer on his blog at https://blog.franciscanmedia.org/franciscan-spirit/lent-with-richard-rohr- the-two-loves-are-not-separate Maryanne Buchanan
March 21, 2020 ~ Saturday in the 3rd week of Lent Pour your grace into our hearts, O Lord, that we who have known the incarnation of your Son Jesus Christ, announced by an angel to the Virgin Mary, may by his cross and passion be brought to the glory of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Hosea 6:1–6 Psalm 51:15–20 / Gospel: Luke 18:9–14 I originally reached for this date because it’s my husband’s birthday. What a nice way to celebrate and to honor him, I thought. Then I actually read the readings. Psalm 51:15-20 is also known by its Latin text, ‘Miserere mei, Deus’ or ‘Deliver me, Lord’. There is a setting of this text that may be the most sublime piece of music ever written – and that is not a phrase this musician throws around lightly! If you are in any doubt, explore this amazing performance of Grogorio Allegri’s Miserere by The Choir of Clare College, Cambridge (https://youtu.be/IA88AS6Wy_4). This particular setting, written sometime around 1630, was intended to be performed only by the Choir of the Sistine Chapel during Tenebrae Services during Holy Week. The music was forbidden to be shared or written down. The story goes that a 14 year old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart heard a performance during his trip to Italy and was so moved that he immediately transcribed the piece and that’s how it left the confines of the Sistine Chapel where so few could hear it! There is something about this story that resonates with the last line of Luke’s Gospel reading for today, “all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.\" I imagine the young Mozart writing out this piece, not seeking to show off, but wanting to share its beauty – humbling himself in the presence of Allegri’s glorious music. Midge Karam
March 22, 2020 ~ Fourth Sunday in Lent Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. 1 Samuel 16:1-13; Ephesians 5:8-14 Psalm 23 / The Gospel: John 9:1-41 Calvin & Marcie Harvey
March 23, 2020 ~ Monday in the 4th week of Lent O Lord our God, in your holy Sacraments you have given us a foretaste of the good things of your kingdom: Direct us, we pray, in the way that leads to eternal life, that we may come to appear before you in that place of light where you dwell for ever with your saints; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Isaiah 65:17–25 Psalm 30:1–6,11–13 / Gospel: John 4:43–54 Today’s Psalm is attributed to David for the dedication of a new house (sometimes temple), but it just as easily describes the family in the Gospel. John informs us of a royal official who heard that Jesus was traveling in his country. The man’s son was gravely ill. He begged Jesus to come, heal the child. Jesus says, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” Then, “Go; your son will live.” A wonder is performed, believed by the man, and verified the next day. If only for everyone to witness so directly. Similarly, the Psalm can be read as a song of praise & thanksgiving for healing. (1) I will exalt you, O Lord, because you have lifted me up … (2) … I cried out to you … (3) You brought me up, O Lord, from the dead; … (6) Weeping may spend the night, but joy comes in the morning.” I read verse 6 as a recipe of healing & a foreshadowing of Easter. Weep; grieve; process your situation, your emotions – a new day will come, light & good will break the dawn. We will start again fresh with a blank slate. Marcie Harvey
March 24, 2020 ~ Tuesday in the 4th week of Lent O God, with you is the well of life, and in your light we see light: Quench our thirst with living water, and flood our darkened minds with heavenly light; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Ezekiel 47:1–9,12 Psalm 46:1-8 / The Gospel: John 5:1-18 Like the paralytic, I was once healed on the Sabbath. On a Sunday a few years ago, severe stomach pains led me to the ER where I was processed, tested and loaded into an ambulance by skilled healthcare professionals. Within 24 hours, my inflamed appendix was removed, and I was whole again. My Sabbath day healing was not as miraculous as that of the man by the Sheep Gate, but to me, it was just as wonderful. One of the Ten Commandments tells us to remember the Sabbath Day and to keep it holy. And yet Jesus tells the Jewish leaders who have challenged him for his actions, “My Father is still working, and I also am working.” Perhaps keeping the Sabbath Day holy has less to do with resting and more to do with taking part in God’s work in the world, just as we are called to do on the other six days of the week. Healing is holy work, requiring both skill and faithfulness. Come and see for yourself. Join us on the first Thursday each month at 9:30 AM in the chapel as we practice our faith and pray for healing for ourselves and others. Pam Zuhl
March 25, 2020 ~ The Feast of the Annunciation O Lord our God, you sustained your ancient people in the wilderness with bread from heaven: Feed now your pilgrim flock with the food that endures to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Isaiah 7:10-14, Hebrews 10:4-10 Psalm 45 or Psalm 40:5-11 or Canticles 3 or 15 / Gospel: Luke 1:26-38 A Little More Like Mary Standing [with modifications if sitting], hands over heart center, say Let it be with me according to your word. Let it be with me according to your word. Let it be with me according to your word. Standing upright, shoulders back, arms at side, palms forward in welcome Let it be with me according to your word. Bowing head, relaxing spine, arms and hands as if supporting a full womb Let it be with me according to your word. Head up, tall, scooping from the heart center, with cupped hands offering Let it be with me according to your word. Standing tall, arms and torso stretched in a cruciform pose Let it be with me according to your word. Palms up, arms lifted, as if witnessing ascension Let it be with me according to your word. Kneeling, feet to knees on the floor, then forehead, and elbows to palms Let it be with me according to your word. Let it be with me according to your word. Let it be with me according to your word. Don Collins Reed
March 26, 2020 ~ Thursday in the 4th week of Lent Almighty and most merciful God, drive from us all weakness of body, mind, and spirit; that, being restored to wholeness, we may with free hearts become what you intend us to be and accomplish what you want us to do; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Exodus 32:7–14 Psalm 106:6–7,19–23 / The Gospel: John 5:30–47 In the passage from Exodus God is angry since the Israelites have not acted as he commanded. They have violated the commandment that binds them to the Lord ... \"You shall have no other gods before me.\" The Lord proclaims harsh punishment and seems unusually unmerciful as he threatens his people. Is this the God we know? Moses realizes who the Israelites truly are and refuses to give up. He reminds God the Egyptians could say ... you brought them out to kill them in the mountains when you brought them out of Egypt to freedom. Has God forgotten his promise that the land they will inherit forever? Then miraculously God \"changed his mind \"which translated from the Hebrew means \"be sorry or repent.\" God sticks with us through thick and thin as illustrated by the change in his plan. God knows we humans can cause grief and suffering but the power of our relationship goes beyond all human frailties. However if we get lost along the way, but come back, God's heart rejoices. Sallie and Jim Bear
March 27, 2020 ~ Friday in the 4th week of Lent O God, you have given us the Good News of your abounding love in your Son Jesus Christ: So fill our hearts with thankfulness that we may rejoice to proclaim the good tidings we have received; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Wisdom 2:1a,12–24 Psalm 34:15–22 / Gospel: John 7:1–2,10,25–30 “What Do We Do?” This is Lent and we’re called to reflection and renewal. This is not necessarily a time of joy, and we’re looking inward and forward. But these are troublesome readings; They raise some questions I have to ask myself: Am I proclaiming the good tidings I have received from the God of the universe? How am I taking the Gospel to my family, friends, and neighbors in Hudson? Am I pushing back against the establishment “culture” and standing out as a warrior for Christ? The Wisdom writer tells us what we can expect from the opposition—and it isn’t pleasant. So if we’re not under attack from the unrighteous, maybe we’re not being Christ-like. In fact, perhaps we’re so irrelevant that the unrighteous do not even challenge us. I am wondering if I really think Christ makes a difference. Or is He just a worship obligation limited to Sunday morning? There is a school of Christian thought that if we just live the “good” life— this will bring people flocking to us and to our church. That doesn’t seem to be the case. So perhaps we’re called to oppose evil in the world around us and somehow reach out with prayers, words, and deeds to all of God’s “children” around us. Being poor goes way beyond dollars. Should we care? Is this even important? Jesus thinks so. He even says, “Look at what I have done—Follow Me.” Larry King
March 28, 2020 ~ Saturday in the 4th week of Lent Mercifully hear our prayers, O Lord, and spare all those who confess their sins to you; that those whose consciences are accused by sin may by your merciful pardon be absolved; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Jeremiah 11:18–20 Psalm 7:6–11 / The Gospel: John 7:37–52 Surely, nothing great comes out of ______! We continually stereotype people because of where they come from. I personally struggle with seeing specific parts of town and immediately having preconceived notions about the people living in that town. In John, Jesus is judged because he comes from Galilee. Scripture told the people exactly where Jesus would come from so surely he can’t come from Galilee. However, he did! When do we put on our blinders? There are wonderful people in every land because God is there and where God dwells good dwells. Behind every beaten up house in a run-down neighborhood, there is a family struggling to feed their children. Behind every robbery, there is a soup kitchen feeding the hungry. Good happens in all places, even if society tells us good only happens in the larger, more developed cities. Some people have no choice where they live, whether that be because of an illness or financial constraints. Jesus loves us, no matter where we come from. Let us be reminded to be more like Jesus this Lenten season: seeing the good in all of God’s creation. Mario Buchanan
March 29, 2020 ~ Palm Sunday Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Ezekiel 37:1-14 Psalm 130 / Gospel: John 11:1-45 The gospel today is the well-known story of how Jesus raised Lazarus, brother of Mary and Martha, from the dead. While this story may offer a lot of hope to faith healers, I prefer to think that it has more importance than that. Note that the story makes a point of how long Lazarus has been dead (four days), and Martha reminds Jesus, who asks to go to the tomb, that the stench will be pretty bad. Martha also says that she knows Lazarus will rise on the last day of judgment, but Jesus reminds her that “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She does. But this is also a story about Jesus’s faith. After the stone has been rolled away from Lazarus’s grave, Jesus says, “Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe you sent me.” Jesus then cries with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” And he does. So, this is a story about faith: Martha’s and Mary’s faith, Jesus’s faith in the Father, and the witnessing community’s newly found faith: “Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.” We are called to know that the length of time after death did not and does not matter. (I believe we are told in Revelation that the body will be resurrected and glorified, if that matters.) We are called to have faith in resurrection and eternal life. And, I believe, we are called to honor that faith by serving God’s people and world, with gladness and joy, in all the ways that we can. This Lent, let us remember these important lessons. Thomas Dukes
March 30, 2020 ~ Monday in the 5th week of Lent Be gracious to your people, we entreat you, O Lord, that they, repenting day by day of the things that displease you, may be more and more filled with love of you and of your commandments; and, being supported by your grace in this life, may come to the full enjoyment of eternal life in your everlasting kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Susanna [1–9,15–29,34–40],41-62 Psalm 23 / The Gospel: John 8:1–11 or John 8:12–20 I like stories of strong women of faith. The story of Susannah in the Bible is one of my favorites. Not only do I agree with her, but I am also a woman named Susannah. Two Elders would come to her husband Joakim in the morning and try cases brought to them. They lusted after Susannah. One afternoon after the people had left, Susannah took a turn in the garden and decided she wanted to bathe there. The scoundrel elders were hiding and came out and told her to lay with them or be put to death. She refused and went to trial. The elders lied about a young man coming to lay with Susannah in the garden. Of course, they were believed, and Susannah was going to be put to death. She with her strong faith cried out to the Lord that He knew they were lying, and she had done none of the wicked things charged against her. The Lord heard her and sent a young man named Daniel to testify on her behalf. Daniel righted the situation, the assembly blessed God who saves those who hope in Him, and the elders were put to death. Susannah’s faith and strength of character saved her. The Lord was her shepherd as in the 23rd Psalm also appointed for today. If Jesus had been around, he might have said, “He who is without sin cast the first stone,” from the Gospel of John appointed for this day as well. Susannah is one of my heroes. Susannah Spearman
March 31, 2020 ~ Tuesday in the 5th week of Lent Almighty God, through the incarnate Word you have caused us to be born anew of an imperishable and eternal seed: Look with compassion upon those who are being prepared for Holy Baptism, and grant that they may be built as living stones into a spiritual temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Numbers 21:4–9 Psalm 102:15–22 / Gospel: John 8:21–30 “When He Put It In These Terms. Many People Decided to Believe.” Thinking of family and friends who do not believe, wouldn’t we love to put “it in these terms” and then they would decide to believe? That they would have an Ah Ha moment. At Laurel Lake we have a check in system that’s lets security know we are awake in the morning and the response is. “Thank you. Have a blessed day.” I love it. I have a friend who objects because he doesn’t believe there is anyone out there who can give him a blessed day. In today’s Gospel, Jesus is sounding a little impatient that people are not understanding what he says, about who He says He is. He tells them they are missing who God is in their lives. And I think this is what is happening to anyone who objects to being wished a blessed day. And anyone else who is not recognizing how involved God is in their lives. I recently read a book of fiction that has a fantasy about God and Jesus when they created the world and how they worked very hard to put so many things in the world to give us pleasure. There are a huge variety of plants, trees, animals, landscapes. water recreation. colors, foods and people. It is hard for me to imagine how anyone cannot recognize God in all this. I keep a book of thanksgivings and record 3 a day and it really can open my eyes to daily blessings. Try it. Sue Addison King
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