On Easter Morning

We are here, Father, because you consented to come with us, and with our consent, you will accompany us when we depart from this place. We rejoice on this Easter Sunday morning that death could get no hold on the One you sent to show us the way, and we trust his promise that death holds no lasting threat when we, like him, commit our spirits to your care.

Give us, then, we pray, a faith bold enough to trust you, a hope stronger than the darkest night we can know, and a love profound enough for us to love each other as you love us all. As we celebrate today the end of Christ’s death, lead us to the abundant life his resurrection has prepared.

There are those, Father, who lately entered the deepest grief this troublous life can offer. You know them better than we, for you called their names when you gave them birth; and you grieve with them in their awful pain. Let a renewed awareness of your Holy Presence bring comfort to their sorrow, strength to their despair, and healing to their emptiness. O thou Healer of Broken Things, let our hearts be broken with theirs till joy returns, and in new joy, let us sing and dance with them in the unending love you have shared with us all.

We have seen through the Christ that love redeems those who receive it and vindicates those who give it, and as we receive such redemption from you, may we be the channels through which you offer it to others. Give love to us, Lord, and receive it from us, as we love you through our love for your people.

Let the Power of Resurrection invade your universal Church, so that we as the Body of Christ may find courage without fear, trust without reservation, the freedom which comes with Truth, and a Way that knows no turning back. Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord - Amen.

Written by Joe Reeves

Tombs, Pits, and Caves

Isaiah 55:8-9

We live our lives in many seasons:  times of joy and celebration; times of hard work, successes, and failures; times of peace and growth; … and times of cave-dwelling – seasons of slogging knee-deep through the miry pits, surrounded by questions, darkness, and despair.  We don’t understand; but then, we’re not supposed to.  After all, God’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours. 

I have friends who have faced some terrifically sad and daunting situations over the past few years: among them, the loss of a child, a spouse, or a parent; the break-up of a long-term marriage; serious financial decisions and difficulties; and frightening pain and life-threatening or debilitating illnesses. 

Several years ago a former minister preached a sermon on the good things that have happened in caves.  Since it was an Easter sermon, I couldn’t imagine where he was going with this idea; however, I’ve never forgotten the gist of the sermon.  He cited the stories of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead; of Daniel in the lion’s den; and of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace.   He ended the sermon with the reminder that Jesus was buried in a tomb but overcame the tomb and death with His resurrection.  What magnificent images!

When circumstances make cave-dwellers of us, the Enemy laughs and rejoices because of our struggles with our faith. We have trouble trusting God and leaning on Philippians 4:13: “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.”

If you’re in a cave or life deals you a hand that puts you there, place your focus on Jeremiah 29:11, where God tells us, ”For I know the plans I have for you,” … “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

If you’re unable to leave the “cave” by yourself, I pray that somewhere in your community of faith during this Lenten season, there is a “cave-blaster” who will show up and help you discover your way back to the Light.

Written by Glenda Self

Good Friday

“By now it was noon.  The whole earth became dark, the darkness lasting three hours—a total blackout.  The Temple curtain split right down the middle.  Jesus called out loudly, ‘Father, I place my life in your hands!’  Then he breathed his last.”

(Luke 23:44-46 from The Message)

My senior year at Duke Divinity School, I had the opportunity to participate in the leadership of the Holy Week services at Duke Chapel.  As our final act of worship on Maundy Thursday, we stripped the altar of all ornaments, candles, and vestments.  As the process began, I found my eyes welling with tears.  As the process continued, I wept openly.  Just as Jesus was stripped and humiliated by the soldiers, we stripped the altar of all the signs of his life to symbolize His purposeful redemptive suffering and death for us.  We extinguished the candles and removed them from the sanctuary.  We removed the offerings.  We removed the Bible.  We removed the communion vessels.  We removed the paraments.  Finally, a black shroud was placed over the cross.  There was no benediction or postlude.  We left the sanctuary in silence.

I was haunted all day Friday by the image of the black shroud covering the cross.  It was a struggle to function on that “Good” Friday as I reflected on Jesus’ suffering and death.  I thought about those first followers of Jesus and what this day must have been like for them.  

Unlike those first followers, we know that this is not the end of the story.  It is tempting to skip over the darkness of Good Friday in order to move to the light, but we need this day to stop and to remember.  In the words of the Afro-American spiritual, “Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they crucified my Lord?   Oh!  Sometimes it causes me to tremble tremble tremble . . . Were you there when they crucified my Lord?” (UMH 288)

PRAYER: Gracious loving God, we know that Good Friday is necessary in order to have Easter.  We know that we have to go into the depths of brokenness in order to receive the abundant gift of Resurrection life.  But it is hard and we need your help.  Even as the shroud hangs over the cross, be with us and give us strength, comfort, and courage.  Through Christ we pray, Amen.

Written by Stacey Watkins-Griffith

Maundy Thursday

John 13

Hospitality is one of the main themes that runs throughout the Bible.  Genuine Hospitality is a sure sign of God’s love.  This is re-iterated over and over as we are encouraged to welcome the stranger among our midst. 

But what does it mean to be truly hospitable?  True hospitality means showing the person or group you are with that they are the most important person or group that you could be with at that moment.

Hospitality is not about having the perfect guest room at the ready or having enough food on hand to feed a small army.  Hospitality has to do with making someone feel like they matter.  It is often saying, “we don’t have enough, but come anyway...we will make room for you!”

Hospitality is not necessarily something you can plan for.  It is seizing the moment and recognizing the importance of the NOW.  Many faiths around the world recognize the sacred nature of being present—Buddhists refer to this a Zen state of mind, but the concept is present in Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity as well.  Practicing presence is a vital part of connecting with God and others. 

Jesus demonstrates the art of hospitality throughout his ministry.  He is seen welcoming those whom others would dismiss, he is seen visiting the homes of individuals that others would not be caught dead with, and he is seen feeding a crowd with only two loaves and five fish.  Now, today, we read of his last supper.  The time in most of our own lives when we would be the least hospitable—staring down the tunnel of darkness and death.

Yet, here we see Jesus, once again, being present in the moment. Present with his friends (and his betrayers).  Even in this moment, he does not lose sight of the importance of Hospitality.  He serves the men and women present with him in a way that says to them... “This is exactly where I want to be.  You are the most important thing happening right now!”

We must carry this most important gift with us, and freely give it every chance we get!

Written by Keely DeBoever

Worry

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

“Bombing in Syria,” “Famine in Ethiopia,” “Earthquake in California,” “Genocide in Rwanda,” “Shooting in Missouri…”  The lead stories on network television can be so discouraging.  It’s easy to wonder “What else will go wrong?” worrying about where the next calamity will be.   Often, I feel anxious, afraid, or angry after watching the news.  It seems like there is so little good news.

But, there is “Good News.”  Jesus tells us not to worry.  If we look to him, and not the TV, we find hope, peace, safety, shelter, and love.  Reading and saying Psalm 23 out loud relieves my anxiety, fear, and anger.

Of course, we cannot ignore these tragedies.  We are called upon to help those who are less fortunate and those who are suffering or in crisis.  Yet, armed with the Good News, not only are we lifted up, but we are empowered to lift up others who are in trouble or in need.  And working together, we glorify God.

PRAYER: God, please grant me peace of mind and calm my troubled heart.  Give me strength and clarity to find my purpose and the path that you have created for me.  Help me share my struggles so that others may be lifted up and know your peace and love as well.  Amen.

Written by Mike Ribadaneyra