Saturday, March 31 - Holy Saturday

I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES

My Redeemer, the one who redeems me – Lives! Because He lives, I shall live evermore. My Redeemer lives and is doing His work. What is His work? Redeeming me and all who live. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Redeemer!

The Lord redeems the life of His servants; none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned. (Psalm 34:22)

How can I keep from singing this hymn of praise.

Because He Lives 
God sent his son 
They called him Jesus 
He came to love
Heal and forgive 
He lived and died 
To buy my pardon 
An empty grave 
Is there to prove 
My Savior 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

Bill and Gloria Gaither (1971) 


Kaye White 

Friday, March 30 - Good Friday

Luke 23:44-46 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, He breathed His last.

During my school age years we were never in school on Good Friday so you could attend church services from 12-3. I never gave much thought to the significance of this time period as it related to the crucifixion, but I do know that it was always cold, cloudy and very dismal on that day.

Upon doing some research, it seems that several scientific phenomenon may have occurred during this period when Jesus was crucified. First, “the sun stopped shining” may insinuate that the darkness was the result of an eclipse and secondly, the tearing of the temple curtain may have been from an earthquake. I find that often before our storms here on the OBX, there is calm and darkness before “all hell breaks loose.” This shows us that at the time of our storms much like the crucifixion of Jesus - the presence of God can always be felt.


Tom Secules (1937-2017) 

Thursday, March 29 - Maundy Thursday

A DEVOTION FOR MAUNDY THURSDAY

John 13:6-9 [Jesus] came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!”

Knowing that this would be his last meal with his friends before he was to be handed over to death, Jesus “loved them to the end.” That’s the way John’s gospel clues us in on what is about to happen. Jesus, taking the role of a servant, kneels before his disciples to wash their feet. The One they have called “Lord” and “Teacher” lovingly takes care of the feet of the ones who have walked so many miles with him.

Peter objects, as if to say: “Lord, it should be the other way around. I should be washing your feet!” Not so many years before, John the Baptizer felt that he should have been presenting himself to Jesus for baptism.

Like bookends, Jesus’ actions of humility stand at the start and the close of his ministry. The water that marked its recipient as God’s own now becomes the sign that binds a community together in mutual love. Jesus knows he can’t physically remain with his friends, so he bids them to care for each another, as he has done for them. In the sign of loving one another, Jesus will be made known through them. (John 13:35)

As followers of Jesus, water is a foundational sign of our faith. The basin and towel of Maundy Thursday recall for us the basin and towel of baptism. We who were redeemed and reconciled to God in the water of baptism are sent as co-workers with the Risen Christ to make redemption and reconciliation known in the world.

Pastor Keith Dey 
Emmanuel Lutheran Church 
Southern Shores, NC 

Wednesday, March 28

God promised Moses that He would accomplish four redemptive acts: He would bring out the Israelites from their suffering in Egypt, rescue them from slavery, redeem them from their oppression with His outstretched arm, and take them as His own nation.

These four promises are called the Four Expressions of Redemption, and are traditionally commemorated during the Passover Seder with four cups of wine.

For each of these acts of deliverance written in Exodus 6:6–7, God used the following Hebrew words: Hotzeiti, I will bring out; Hitzalti, will rescue; Ga’alti, I will redeem; and Lakachti, I will take.

God also made a fifth expression of redemption. He promised he would bring His people back into their own land.

“And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD.” (Exodus 6:8)

Two thousand years ago, when the Jewish People lived in the Promised Land, this fifth expression may have been commemorated during the Seder with a fifth cup of wine.

Although God has been rescuing the Jewish people from their exile and bringing them back into the Land, the fifth cup is often considered to represent a complete Redemption through the Messiah. This fifth cup at the Passover Seder, therefore, is called the Cup of Elijah, which is left untouched for the Prophet Elijah, who is expected to return to earth to herald the coming of the Messiah and His Messianic reign.

Even today, there are those whose bondage is so cruel and whose spirit so broken that they cannot hear those who preach the Good News of Yeshua (Jesus). Sometimes they must watch us walk in the power of God, seeing signs and wonders before they will listen and believe.

Sometimes, we must faithfully sow seeds, patiently waiting as God grows them.

"I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow." (1 Corinthians 3:6)

This whole account of God’s redemption of Israel from Egypt has a spiritual parallel in our salvation from the kingdom of darkness, ruled by Satan (literally, the Adversary) and our place in the Kingdom of Light, ruled by the LORD.

We are delivered from Satan through faith in Yeshua, the Passover Lamb, not simply to walk away and “do our own thing,” but to follow Jesus in our everyday lives. As it was for the Israelites, the purpose of our freedom is to serve the living God.

“For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13-14)

Perry White

Based on a daily email from Messianic Bible 
news@biblesforisrael.com 

Tuesday, March 27

Luke 12:5-7 “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

“Sparrow”

“Surely, I am not special”
An easy thought to conjure after they branded you,
left a mark,
poured sand you still carry in your arms, and chest, and throat, 
then left
carelessly, and easily,
tiring, anchoring, and shattering you.
Foolish to think they would have wanted you,
impossible to think that you’ll fly again.

I promise that your time is coming - His course is set. 
Rest your wearied heart
Build strength from the sand
You are not forgotten, or lost.
His breath will lift your wings, 
and you will be with Him, 
whole and home.


Lauren White 
Senior, Gettysburg College 
Gettysburg, PA 
Perry and Kaye White’s granddaughter 

Monday, March 26

Psalm 46: 1-4 and 11 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore. we will not fear, though the earth be moved, and though the mountains be toppled into the depths of the sea; Though its waters rage and foam, and though the mountains tremble at its tumult. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. ....Be still, then, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth.
You may wish to read the entire Psalm.

I grew up on the coast of Virginia, Hurricane Alley, and am well-acquainted with the awesome, sometimes terrifying, power of the ocean. The imagery of mountains falling into the heart of the sea is unfathomable to most of us in North American, and certainly in Virginia, but it could happen. That which we think of as terra firma could indeed be shaken to its core and fall away into the ocean.

Unfortunately, in our day-to-day lives, this happens figuratively all too often: a marriage falls apart; one loses the security of one’s job, one’s home, or one’s belongings; one loses loved ones and friends to tragedy or illness, or we may find our own health and well-being in jeopardy. The earth really feels as if it gives way beneath our feet.

Yet what the psalm wants us to grasp is the unshakeable truth that “The Lord Almighty is with us.” There is nothing, not even the mountains falling into the heart of the sea or the earth giving way, which can alter the fact that God is with us. With God all things are possible.

When temporal “stability” seems threatened, we are quite literally “stopped in our tracks.” This would be the perfect time to “Be still, and know that I am God.” Once so centered, we become aware that God is indeed with us, and we need not be afraid.

Jennifer Beckett (1965-2017)

This reading was written by Jennifer on March 26, 2017, when she was in treatment for cancer. It was read at her Memorial Service on December 16, 2017. We celebrate her life by including it here. 

Sunday, March 25 - Palm Sunday

If our world has a need for one thing above all things it would be RECONCILIATION! Our nation is deeply divided into “camps” of people with their feet firmly planted in concrete! We’re told that the threat of nuclear war with our “enemy,” North Korea is immanent! Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners are marked by awkward periods of silence or outbursts of anger when the conversation even edges toward politics. We’re “bubbled into” our own little kingdoms of personal opinions! Churches are far from spared!

But, as is always the case Scripture is not silent about the subject of reconciliation! The Bible insists on afflicting the comfortable as well as comforting the afflicted!

Moving from the macro to the micro, for some time I’ve been struggling about a deep, wide wall between me and a relative with whom communication has screeched to an uncomfortable halt. Recently, instead of self-righteously propping up my wall of defenses and self-justifications, I asked God for help. Within moments the Spirit pointed me once again to Jesus’ powerful words beginning in Matthew 5:21:

”I’m telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother ‘idiot’ and you might just find yourself into court. Thoughtlessly yell ‘stupid’ at a sister, and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill. This is how I want you to conduct yourselves in these matters. If you enter your place of worship, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right, then and only then come back and make things right with God.” (The Message)

Precisely the opposite of my mindset! Take care of the log in my eye, and let God deal with the speck in the other person’s eye!

Jesus’ command gives us pause to wonder for a moment what might happen in US, and in our relationships with others if we were to walk the walk, and call a halt to merely talking the talk! The Macro reconciliation problems are way bigger than we can handle. Thank God, God can! But, the burden is on us when it comes to the myriad of relationships in our own backyard!

Prayer: Give us your peace, Lord Christ, as we seek to let you burst the bubble of ego and self-justification that walls us off from others! May we do what you command us to do! AMEN


The Rev. Craig Peel 
Retired Minister 
Presbyterian Church USA 

Saturday, March 24

IN CHRYSALIS

Don’t tell me I’ll have wings tomorrow. 
Don’t tell me I’ll have wings and I can fly. 
Don’t tell me that I’ll rise tomorrow.
It’s hard enough to know I had to die.
It’s hard enough to keep from asking “Why.”

Don’t tell me that my eyes will open.
I’ve seen enough to last through time.
Don’t tell me I’ll be light, unshackled.
The shackles of this life were bread and wine. 
The feeling of the life I knew was fine.

Don’t fill my head with lovely fancies.
I may have hoped, but hope is blind.
I meant it when I said “It’s finished.”
You hope, but never know. So never mind. 
I wonder if the choice was ever mine.

I’ve heard this blood will change to ichor, 
This flesh, this mind, this too shall pass. 
But - hanging on a tree forever;
The hours in this tomb go slow so fast. 
All wound and sealed, alone at last.

This flesh of mine will turn to nurture,
Will join the earth, to feed, to mend.
I’ve eaten full my share, and deeply,
With love and pain enough up to the end.
I’ve known a long, long time that it would end.

Coda: Don’t tell me that I'll rise tomorrow- 
Don’t tell me that I’ll rise-
tell me that I’ll rise-
that I’ll rise-
I’ll rise
Alleluia-Alleluia

The song of a caterpillar in chrysalis who supposes that he’s dead He’s heard myths about “butterflies,” but it’s already taken all his strength and courage to accept dying. And having been a caterpillar was already plenty.

The Rev. Nick Hodsdon 
United Church of Christ 

Friday, March 23

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Jesus is God incarnate who came not only to redeem the world but also to signify that he is close to humanity and not a remote god. Most ancients worshipped gods in the form of statues of people or animals or combinations thereof with human attributes. The Jews did not; their great temple and the Holy of Holies had no statue. Even so, they attributed human characteristics to their God; He could be angry, vengeful, merciful, and even “came and stood before” Samuel.

In a recent late evening TV conversation, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Director of New York’s Hayden Planetarium commented that the Big Bang emanated from an infinitesimally small bit of matter. To me, as a layman, that means that the universe was created from virtually nothing. And this universe of unfathomable size keeps expanding in ever greater speeds into the unknown. And the fact of creation continues as new stars are born and eventually die in supernovas and black holes.

Did God create this universe, or did the universe create God? Is God merely the composite of the immutable laws of mathematics, physics and chemistry, and life was created by the chance mixture of chemicals in a warm sea? Or does He transcend such with mind, memory and purpose and all we are and know was by His hand? Is there, perhaps, an infinite number of universes over which God presides and at a point in the infinity of time He caused our particular Big Bang so that in the long evolution of time, and on our very small “island home” at least, our particular breeds of creatures would develop?

God has given us humans wits, the capacity to grow in wisdom and knowledge. In the long span of time, only yesterday we saw God in the thunder and lightning we did not understand; he was Our God – the next door tribes had their own gods. As we came to understand the nature of the world in which we live, our perception of God evolved. And as our scientists penetrate the mysteries of the micro world and the universe in which we exist, God seems to be even more remote and unreachable. Is the seat of God even within our universe or somewhere on the other side of our Big Bang? We will in our lifetimes never know.

However you may seek, like the ancient doctors of the Church, to understand His nature and relationship to God, it was Jesus who brought to us an understanding of a loving God who is always with us.


Dick Calhoun 

Thursday, March 22

1 John 4:16 God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

This is my all-time favorite verse from the Bible. It was recited on a weekly basis by a priest at the church I went to in Pennsylvania prior to moving here to the Outer Banks in February, 1997. So, I was a bit younger than I am now! I remember the first time I heard it. I liked it so much that my ears were struggling to hear clearly and my brain working in overdrive to try to remember the exact words, as quickly as possible.

My faith as a young child did not teach of a loving God (if it did, I didn’t get that impression), so this was a very huge and new concept to me. This verse just sounds and feels so right. To me, the words of this verse say that if you do good things for others, love one another, help one another, console one another, be there for one another, then you are living in love and have God within your heart and soul.  My mom used to always say, “Do as God would do.” As a child, I would think, ”How am I supposed to know what God would do,” or “I am a kid and I don’t know him?”

It is amazing how growing up and experiencing life and its challenges will help you to get to know God if you choose to. I think that the world today really needs love, and maybe if we recited this verse every day or even once a week, it would remind us what my mom used to say. I would just add: “If you love, God is with and within you. You live within Him by acting on that love towards others because actions speak louder than words.”


Sandy Briggman 

Wednesday, March 21

RECONCILIATION

2 Corinthians 5:18-21
“Making the first move. Walking across the bridge.“

Paul understood resurrected life in Christ to be a new creation, reconciled life with God. The new life in Christ was not simply a single personal event, but ongoing participation in the creative work of God. For Paul, this ongoing engagement in God’s new creation included interaction in history and nature as well as what’s personal. In this context, we reflect on reconciliation.

“All this is from God who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.”

How we become reconciled to God is a model for how we pursue reconciliation within our own lives and practice the ‘diakonia,’ the ministry of bringing together what is broken.

Who makes the first move? God has first moved toward us
through the happening in history of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection and invites us to participate in dynamic, new reality. We have to ‘walk across the bridge’ and be open to the process. Looking for and accepting God’s loving presence in our daily life, our community and the world around lifts us into new life.

Following Christ and participating in God’s endeavor of bringing all things together, we also make the first move and take the initiative to mend broken relationships and situations whether personal or within the community and beyond. That takes down to earth focus to find a path forward and determination to make a breakthrough! Persuading the other party to make a positive response is the challenge! That is where we intensely invoke divine inspiration, and it is amazing how God opens a way!

Finally, reconciliation must have a color - sun burst yellow?


Lilias Morrison 

Tuesday, March 20

IT’S A GOD THING

Recently I was buying some take out grilled chicken for dinner. The man in front of me ordered a $3.98 fish dinner. The lady serving him put four big fish on a plate, added a big cup of green beans, and cup of rice. His plate overflowed. So jokingly, I said,“you just won the jackpot; that’s the biggest plate I’ve ever seen.” His response was that this happens to him all the time. He added that several years earlier He almost died and when He recovered he began to pray each morning, asking God to take over his day and guide him through it. He claimed every day has moments like this and it all turns out well.

So how do I, do you, respond to those similar moments of unexpected abundance, of synchronicity, of coincidence; of a surrendered life? My wife Blair and I label them, “It’s a God thing!”

Thursday during the Grayson blizzard I was motivated to make a stew for dinner out of the various remnants in the refrigerator, rather than eat them separately as small leftovers. Going to the store was out of the question with 10 inches of snow. The stew turned out well, and in time for dinner, but it was huge. How would we ever eat all this food?

My son David, his wife Toni and our grandson Dylan, had been skiing at Snowshoe. On their way home in the snow in their four-wheel drive Jeep, they called to inform us that the power was out at their Virginia Beach house and could they come to our house? We all enjoyed a grand meal. That was a God thing.

Watch for, “It’s a God thing.”

Jim Bickford 

Monday, March 19

RECONCILIATION

We all know of past opportunities for reconciliation: the aftermath of World War II, apartheid in South Africa, abuse of young men and women by “The Church.” As our political environment changes, there will be opportunities for reconciliation with a wide variety of disenfranchised people: immigrants, people of color, the LGTBQ community to name a few.

But, what about our personal opportunities for reconciliation? Jesus tells us to first take our differences to the person, and if that doesn’t do the trick to engage others (Matthew 18). Easier said than done. Our egos get in the way: “I’m right, why should I be the one to reconcile?” Our fears get in the way: “If I don’t say anything, then I won’t take the chance of rocking the boat even more.” Our busyness gets in the way: “I’ll do that as soon as I check my emails, Facebook and Twitter.”

Father Tom’s reflection on the Second Sunday in Advent (December 10, 2017) quoted Jeremiah 6:14 “They have treated the wound of my people carelessly, saying, 'Peace, Peace, there is no peace’ when there is no peace.” Tom goes on to say this is mainly a call for a continuation of a status quo where we all pretend to get along and ignore conflict.

Lent is a time that we can reconsider our personal differences with others and begin to move away from the status quo towards reconciliation - if nothing more than rejecting our ego for a moment and trying to become a larger part of Creation. Small steps can make a big difference.


Gary Kimmel

From my friend, Joanna Seibert’s blog - 12/24/17
As I meet with people in spiritual direction I cannot help but imagine how they are unwrapping that gift of the Christ child in themselves. 

Sunday, March 18 - Fifth Sunday in Lent

RECONCILIATION

There are many definitions, but one I like is “The Restoration of Friendly Relations.” There are three levels: One is towards God; One is towards Self; One is towards others. These are exemplified in
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (ESV).

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

By nature we are alienated from God and from each other. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23. It is also this sin that causes discontent within ourselves, that feeling that something is wrong. Since we are fallen human beings in a fallen world, only God can take the step that brings us back into harmony with Him—and He has! See Galatians 4:4-7, “In the fullness of time God sent His Son...”

Jesus Christ came into our world and our existence to take upon Himself this fallen world with all its sin, degradation and ugliness. As a child of God, I can rejoice that my old self is gone and a new self has been raised from the waters of Baptism and by faith “I may be His own, live under Him in His Kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting blessedness and righteousness,” so says Martin Luther. (Explanation to the third article of the Creed.)


Rev. Dr. Ralph Heller 
Sharon Lutheran Church ELCA 
Greensboro, NC 
Perry and Kaye White’s brother-in-law 

Saturday, March 17

Philippians 4:9 Those things which ye have both learned and received, and heard and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Paul writes to express thankfulness and although the epistle to the Philippians is brief, only 4 chapters, he reveals sweeping emotions felt for a God he worships and for the early church, those fragile Christians. Particularly poignant is Chapter 1, verse 3, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.” What a gentle and loving thing to say.

The moment we decide to care for someone, we wish to spare them harm and, if possible, to help avoid grief. That’s very natural and in his writing Paul warns of “dogs and evil workers.” It is both beneficial and wise to steer clear of trouble. Prudence will save us from solving many problems because we can all choose not to get involved in the first place.

Paul has asked the Philippians to think about what they have learned. He subtly points out the difference between hearing something and receiving it in the heart. I’ve heard a lot of things I won’t allow into my heart. No matter what the media says, fake news is not a product of the 2016 election, it’s nothing new at all. In fact, it’s been around for eons. Paul asks in different ways that the believers use good judgment, specifically to, “let your moderation be known unto all men.”

It is quite literally impossible to think on two things at the same time, so they are instructed to focus on that which is good, pure, and honest and to “think on these things.” This is a life changing instruction, endlessly uplifting, for anyone who practices it. So, while the book of Philippians is brief, it is good to read and reread often - especially in times of despair. We can’t always avoid problems and 4:7 contains a great comfort - Paul writes one of the most well-known and inspired phrases in the whole work of the Bible. “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Let’s think on these good things and receive it into our hearts.


Christ liveth in me, Vickie Schreffler 

Friday, March 16

RECONCILIATION

2 Corinthians 6: 17-20 Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.

I believe we come into the world broken and imperfect. I believe I have spent eighty years searching for wholeness. As a human being, I do not expect perfection for myself, but I do believe that I can find wholeness. Rejection – been there and done that! Redemption – a concept difficult to define and understand! Reconciliation - where the pedal meets the metal!

It would appear to me that the Creator has given me the ministry of reconciliation, which has many facets. I am reconciling myself to a world I don't fully understand. I am reconciling myself to my family, in spite of their rejection. I am reconciling myself to nature, to better understand the universe within which I exist. I am reconciling my spirit to be more in line with the Creator’s image. And how does this all play out in my life?

First, I had to wake up! I had to be aware of myself in relation to the world and to the people whose life I touch. I had to be aware of myself – my true self, not the one I, without thought, project to the world. I had to be open to new truths and new possibilities (otherwise, I might as well be dead!) I ask myself, 'What is really important?' I have come to the conclusion, at this point, that what is important is, HOW I live my life NOW! I cannot keep looking at my past mistakes. I cannot speculate on what is ahead. I need to focus on the present moment and live into that sense of mindfulness.

My dream work has enabled me to see a vision of what wholeness looks like for me. I am on my journey, trying to walk with my eyes wide open. I am far from perfect, but at least I am awake. That's got to count for something!

My prayer is that the wind of the spirit, the vital energy of the cosmos, will blow through me to give me the wisdom of reconciliation.


Pat Wilson 

Thursday, March 15

RECONCILIATION

The Ash Wednesday liturgy in the Book of Common Prayer is highlighted by an Exhortation (page 264, an address conveying urgent advice or recommendation) which encourages us to prepare for Easter in a “season of penitence and fasting.” It goes on to say that if we have been separated from God, it is a time when we can be “reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to the fellowship of the Church.” Thus, the exhortation continues, we are all challenged to receive “the message of pardon and absolution” and are reminded of the need which all Christians continually have, to renew our repentance and faith.

In the First Letter of John we are encouraged to strengthen our fellowship with God. One of the major components of that fellowship is the ongoing process of reconciliation called for in the Lenten Exhortation and described so well in these brief verses from that letter.

I John 1:8 & 9: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and there is no truth in us. But if we confess our sins to God, God will keep his promise and do what is right, he will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

So the Lenten task of reconciliation is not just God’s job but ours. We are asked “to observe a holy Lent, by self–examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting and self-denial; and by reading and meditation on God’s holy Word,” hence, this effort by our All Saints community to share our own sense of the disciplines of Lent.

Hopefully, these brief meditations will be a means of sharing our common faith, and as we are strengthened in our personal relationship with God, so will our All Saints’ family become a stronger fellowship in Christ.


The Rev. David Feyrer 
Retired Episcopal Priest 

Wednesday, March 14

RECONCILIATION

Genesis 27:11 “And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man.”

I imagine you are probably wondering where is the reconciliation in that passage which is the beginning of a deception between twins who came from the same womb but who were totally different.

In 1962, when I was a teenager thinking about being a Priest, my parents came back from New York City where they had seen a satirical review from England called, “Beyond the Fringe.” They brought me back a cast recording and I played it almost wearing it out and laughing heartily. One skit was by Alan Bennett playing a clueless Anglican Cleric preaching an aimless sermon with pointless anecdotes on that above passage. It was a stitch and it was the beginning of my turning against the idea of Holy Orders. I never wanted to be such a fool and here was my worst nightmare. I memorized and did the skit at after play cast parties, making fun of clergy aspirations as a way of divorcing myself from my call of which I feared and suspected I was inadequate.

My reconciliation came about eighteen years later in 1980 when I decided to accept God's continuing call; I embraced the twin of myself which I had so distanced from myself. I risked being mocked and derided, seen as a “fool for Christ” as Paul spoke to the Corinthians, the butt of the joke, from the “wise of the world.” There comes a time in our lives when we don't need to waste energy and precious time trying to impress others. God gave us each a life which we are to live faithfully as the one created by a loving God.


Father Tom Wilson+ 

Tuesday, March 13

REDEMPTION LOST, REDEMPTION FOUND

So, there he lies within the ground 
Eternity’s silence the only sound.

If brief resurrection he was allowed
Of redeemable things he’d likely think now.

Of countless choices borne of fear and hate 
Of a crooked path never quite made straight.

But since he’s denied the chance to change 
Irredeemable things are all that remains.

So here I stand pondering his fate 
Knowing for him it is too late.

Too late for sorry, too late to forgive 
Only up here do those things live.

And then I think, but not for me
Each breath gives choice, He’s helped me see.

Each day’s opportunity while still above ground 
Is redemption lost, or redemption found.


Jeff Edwards 

THE MISSING R: REPENTANCE 

Read Luke 23:32-43

The word used most consistently for repentance in the New Testament is the Greek word metanoia. Metanoia can be defined as “a transformative change of heart; a spiritual conversion.” It means not just a shift in one’s views or opinions, but a fundamental change in direction. Repentance means adopting a new mind-set; going beyond our ordinary ways of thinking, perceiving, and responding to life. Repentance involves turning ourselves in a new direction; away from ego and toward God, and acknowledging that we need only what He can give.

PRAYER

O God, your love truly will not let us go. Help us to seek, and receive with gratitude your costly forgiveness in Christ. Then, humbled and strengthened by your love, help us to seek forgiveness from those whom we have wounded or offended, knowing that our sins against one another are sins against you. We thank you that your love redeems and transforms us. Amen

Kaye White 

Monday, March 12

REDEMPTION

I Corinthians 6:20 For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Redemption implies being freed from slavery. Do you ever think of yourself as a slave? To money? To greed – wanting to have everything your neighbor or friend has? To physical satisfaction – sex or gluttony? I doubt that we want to think of ourselves as slaves. But it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that we have already been freed from sin and slavery because of the price that was paid by Jesus on the cross.

How does that translate into everyday life? Does giving to others by supporting our wonderful church family and the many local organizations that provide care for our less fortunate make up for or overcome the desire for wealth? Can we live minimally rather than being consumed by accumulating things? Recently, I saw a book advertised about cleaning out before you die so that your relatives don’t have to do it for you! And this cleaning can (and should) take place at any time in your life – you don’t have to wait until you’re 80. It makes all those things we’ve accumulated have less value for us. Do we develop relationships that involve commitment, both physical and spiritual? And are we able to avoid overdoing it, especially in eating and drinking, so that our focus can be on the spiritual side of life that provides balance and purpose?

I challenge you during Lent to accept the redemption that frees you from slavery to whatever temptations you struggle with. By the grace of this redemption, may you feel more free to live fully into life with God in Christ.


Carole Kimmel 

Sunday, March 11 - The Fourth Sunday in Lent

REJECTION, REDEMPTION AND RECONCILIATION

Today’s liturgy may include Psalm 122: “I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord....” We have been heading that way since Ash Wednesday, and by golly, we are about halfway there - so let us take a little break from the purple of Lent and wear rose!

Laetare Sunday is the fourth Sunday of the season of Lent in the Western Christian liturgical calendar. Traditionally, this Sunday has been a day of celebration, within the austere period of Lent. Its name comes from the first few words of the old Latin entrance for the liturgy of the day. "Laetare Jerusalem" ("Rejoice, O Jerusalem"), Latin from Isaiah 66:10.

The Sunday is a day of hope because Easter at last is within sight. 
How does this relate to the themes of “Rejection, Redemption and Reconciliation?”

The joyful theme provides some lifting of the penitential emphases of Lent - the Key of our Redemption. Jesus is risen! Alleluia!

Rejection is another matter - the entire Liturgy of Lent emphasizes how his people rejected Jesus - the Jewish body, descendants of Father Abraham - and Isaiah clearly tells these folks to be alert that the Savior is coming. Am I rejecting Jesus’ coming? Do I appreciate what that means?

Reconciliation is the third theme - and this is the call to Peace - to be reconciled to one another as we await the coming of the Christ.

Lent is time set aside when we try to see God in our lives. Lent is a time when we try to step away from our worldly concerns and give some time and attention to what is going on in our souls. To strengthen our faith and our belief we need, along with the blind man in today’s readings, ask: “Lord that I might see” and then expect a miracle, the miracle of seeing the Light of the World in our darkened days.

We have been trying to concentrate on stepping away from worldly concerns for several weeks now, and the fathers and mothers of our church’s leadership have wisely anticipated a need to step back - to put things in perspective - thus we have the “rejoice” liturgy.

Psalm 122 allows me to rejoice as we say: “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”


Charles A. Strauss, 
Roman Catholic Church of the Incarnation 
Charlottesville, Virginia

Saturday, March 10

One of the many lessons in my life that I have had to painfully learn, time and time again, is that the person most negatively affected by my unwillingness to forgive someone... is me. When the pain becomes great enough; when the suffering becomes unbearable; when I become so miserable that no one wants to be around me; only then am I willing to accept a situation for what it is. Only then am I willing to begin the process of forgiveness towards another.

Genuine forgiveness must always begin within me. I must become willing to accept things for being “the way that they are.” All things occur in God’s world by His design. There are MANY things that happen in our world that I find unacceptable. The tragedies that have affected our church family recently and over the past 6-7 years are difficult to process; to accept. Many situations in the world today are unbearably sad, horrific, evil, unjust and downright tough to comprehend. We live in chaotic times. We do not live in a peaceful world today. So, when I think about what is going on around us and I look to others for hope, I ask myself, “what would God have me do right now?” When I ask Him...when I pray for guidance, the message is always the same. He says, “John, just do the next right thing.” Just DO the next right thing.

Deep down within me, within my soul; that soul of mine that God gave me the day I was conceived, I KNOW what the next right thing is to do. I can hear Him – loud and clear – that doggone “voice” is always consistent, never wavering. He says to me, “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” He says, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Why, then, do I find it so difficult to follow such simple instructions? I am only human. God made me so. I make mistakes and hold grudges. Yet, He is forever with me, beside me, quietly urging me to remember that true forgiveness must always begin with me.


John Lenhart All Saints’ Family in China 

Friday, March 9

LOVE HAIKU

Galatians 5:4 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Jesus teaches his flock 
Before you can love others, 
You must love yourself.

If you don’t feel love
In your own heart, you can’t give 
Love that you don’t have.

Marcia Brooks 

Thursday, March 8

Corinthians 13: 12 Then I shall know even as I am known.

The Weaver

My life is but a weaving 
Between my Lord and me,
I cannot choose the colors 
He worketh steadily.
Oft times He weaveth sorrow 
And I in foolish pride 
Forget He sees the upper 
And I, the underside.
Not till the loom is silent 
And the shuttles cease to fly 
Shall God unroll the canvas 
And explain the reason why. 
The dark threads are as needful 
In the Weaver’s skillful hand 
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned.

B.M. FRANKLIN (1882-1965)


Submitted by: Ruthie Charlton 

Wednesday, March 7

In the past year, a movement started by stopping. Women from all walks of life, women of all colors and creeds halted in their tracks. In moments of silent surrender these women removed their shrouds of shame and refused the narratives of their pasts. These women embraced the smoldering embers of dreams deferred and allowed that heat to rise up. They harnessed the power from their anger to seek healing instead of retribution. They pushed aside their disappointments from their guilt studded memories and began walking a path toward redemption. These women gathered broken pieces, no longer fearing their jagged edges and started shaking their heads one by one saying, “No more. Time’s up.”

I have always loved The Beatitudes, and while these verses are probably not associated with Lent, I cannot help hearing them in the background. When I think about the women who have allowed their stories to take center stage I think how they were the poor in spirit, they were mourning losses of opportunity or integrity, they were meek, they were hungering and thirsting for righteousness. And now after having wrestled their rejection they have resolved to reclaim what is rightfully theirs; respect, the new R.

To me, Lent is a time to take ownership of one’s life, its highs and its lows. It is a time to commune with the here and now. It is a time to make a promise to ourselves and to God to live fully with humility and deep, abiding love. I am grateful for these women. Their strength will lead to the writing of many new chapters. I look forward not in the shadow of these women but in their light. May we rise from the ashes this Lenten season and walk united. #metoo


Dawn Kiousis 

Tuesday, March 6

A REDEMPTION STORY

During much of my youth, I found a strong argument against the existence of God in the difficulty of understanding Life. An algebraic equation, a sentence diagram, a chemical reaction, Latin conjugations and declensions - these I could wrap my mind around without too much trouble. But I was more interested in understanding the Bigger Questions of Life, the how and why of intangible things, that didn’t fade away after exam periods were over. And I wondered, since my merely mortal schoolteachers worked hard to help me grasp academic concepts, why God seemed not to offer at least as much assistance with more important aspects of Life.

The question was intensified when, as a parent, I put conscious effort into teaching my children how to navigate each day and, eventually, life on their own. We are programmed early to view God as a parent figure - so why the lack of clear direction? And there was no avoiding the clichéd stumbling block - why would a loving God allow such evil and heartbreak in the world? The usual explanations did nothing for me, and I threw in the towel when the book about “Bad Things Happening to Good People” convinced me firmly of the exact opposite of its intent.

So for many years I coasted along, largely rejecting any possibility of God. And wow, this felt like freedom! No more agonizing over things that defied logic. I saw people of faith suffer tragedies, but I was doing just fine, thank you. Surely those believers were just wishful thinkers - or worse, maybe non-thinkers. When they told stories of how God acted in their lives, I smiled indulgently, hopefully kindly, and found another place to be as quickly as possible.

And then, ever so occasionally, without any effort, intention, or even permission on my part, elements of such a Story started popping up for me. Moments of joy, beauty, and love weaseled their way into my neat little life. At first I played a determined game of whack-a-mole with them. I would not be one of those weird, misguided people! God would not get away with this!

But wait. Am I acknowledging God could be the source of these blessings? I had to fight off this crazy thought and keep my life under control!

In this I failed, a beautiful failure. Can I explain any part of it, or even adequately describe it? No. Does that matter? Not any more. How did this happen? No clue. It doesn’t mean my mind is disengaged. But many aspects of Life are better understood by gently embracing with heart and soul, not clutching with mind alone. All dimensions of myself can be involved. It’s a different kind of freedom, and feels like a fuller experience of Life. I am an official weirdo!

I’m thankful for the Grace and Love I’ve seen, and the more of it I see, the more of it I see. It’s boundless, and there are potential blessings in even the worst of times. I’m thankful for and unafraid of what I’ve yet to learn. I’m thankful this default pessimist can feel Hope and Joy. I’m especially thankful for the dear people who share and shape the road with me, for they overflow my heart with blessings. Thanks be to God!

Leckie Conners 

Monday, March 5

REDEMPTION

Matthew 26:36,38 Then Jesus brought them to an olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go on ahead to pray.” He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and watch with me.”

Jesus was alone, half kneeling, half laying on a large boulder. He looked so tired, overwhelmed by what was to come. Several feet away in a small grove of trees lay his friends; sleep having won out over their anxious prayers and whispers.

The Basilica of the Agony, also known as The Church of All Nations, was darkened, lit only by candles. The vigil had begun. A priest, barely perceptible, entered and knelt at the altar. Every twenty minutes or so he would read from the scriptures the story of Christ’s suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane. The night grew long as he knelt, read and prayed.

My eyes were fixed on the beautiful mosaic image of Christ on that rock. The night he prayed so hard his sweat turned to drops of blood. The Trappist monk, Thomas Merton, says that spiritual transformation depends on personal identification with the crucified and risen Savior, which is only possible because the Savior first identified completely with the rest of humanity. God became human. In a popular song of the 1990’s, Joan Osborne sings, “What if God was one of us... just a stranger on the bus, trying to make his way home?” Well, God was one of us, with prayers and fears so fierce that his tears became drops of blood. Fears, tears and blood - all for us, all because of us.

Crucifers appeared, and with the priest, led the congregated people out into the night. A single note from an iron gong mixed with the smoke of incense as the people - people just like Jesus crying on that rock - processed around the olive trees on rocky ground. Another dark night in the garden of Gethsemane, on the Mount of Olives, outside the gates of Jerusalem.


Brooks Sutton