Tuesday 30 April 2013

Tuesday - Watch in Hope for the LORD

Prayer:  Grant, O Lord, that as we are baptized into the death of thy blessed Son our saviour Jesus Christ, so by continual mortifying our corrupt affections we may be buried with him; and that through the grave, and gate of death, we may pass to our joyful resurrection; for his merits, who died, and was buried, and rose again for us, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.     #655 Oxford Book of Prayers.

Read  St. Luke  12:  49 – 53

These are some weighty verses and like us,  the disciples must have been scratching their heads and saying to Jesus, “Huh?  What are you talking about?”

Jesus was looking into the future and knew that his time on earth was nearly completed.  Jesus’ mission could not be accomplished except by his death.   Baptism is what Jesus says his death will be--  “I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how I am constrained until it is accomplished!”  (St Luke 12:50 Revised Standard Version, 1946).   In Baptism,  we remember that when the water of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is poured over the person,  they are made new.  The blessing of the water is a visible sign to the congregation that the baptized person is now a new person in Christ Jesus.  The baptized person leaves their old life behind and becomes a new person in God the Father,  Jesus the Son,  and the Holy Spirit.     Water cleanses.  Fire cleanses.  
 But Jesus then says something odd to the disciples.  Jesus says that he did not come to give peace on earth but rather to bring about division within families and generations.  Huh?   This understanding of division comes directly out of the Prophet Micah 7:6.  Here the division is brought about because no one remembers the love of God.  The Prophet then says.... “But as for me,  I watch in hope for the LORD  I wait for God my Saviour;  my God will hear me” (Micah 7:6  NIV  Zondervan 1983).

Jesus is on the journey to Jerusalem  knowing that death was a huge probability.  Jesus heads to Jerusalem knowing that it was the will of God.  If death was waiting for him in Jerusalem,  then it was God’s will.  

“But as for me,  I watch in hope for the LORD.  I wait for God my Saviour; my God will hear me”.  These are comforting words of hope.  God always provides hope and love.  No matter what we do or say each day,  God continues to shower down upon us His love and His hope.   Alleluia!

Prayer:  In You,  O Lord,   we live out our days.  In You,  O Lord,  we live in Your hope so that when the evening shadows appear we may rest and abide in Your love and Your care and know that You are Our God.   Creator,  Sustainer, and Redeemer.  Amen.

Monday 29 April 2013

Monday - Grunt work of Faith

Prayer:  O God,  Our Loving Creator,  we give You thanks and praise for Your goodness to us in all time and in all places.  You have been our shield and our defender.  Help us to be open to Your call to be Your people so that those who do not know You may find rest and love in You.  Amen.

Read  St. Luke  12:  40 - 48

Jesus then continues to instruct the disciples on a thief who comes and robs a house.  If the owner had known he would be robbed,  he would not have been out late at night and would have kept his house safe and locked.      Jesus continues to instruct the disciples that they are not to be slovenly and careless about the Word of God – they are not to be slovenly and careless about sharing the Word of God.

Peter then asks if what Jesus is saying is for just them or everyone.  

The instruction is for everyone but especially the disciples as they are the one’s listening to Jesus.   The disciples are not to be like slovenly servants who decide the Master is not coming home and then throw parties in his Master’s  house only to have the Master come home and find his servants drunk and having destroyed his house.     

As Christians we must continue loving God with our whole hearts and working to bring the love and justice of God into this world.  We can not be like the slovenly servants and begin to forget God --  we must continue each and everyday to live as God would have us live so that others can see the Good News.  

Yes this is hard work praying each day,  reading scripture each day,  meditating each day,  and then sharing the Good News with our friends and family each day.   Over the many years of serving congregations,   Minister’s  often hear the words from congregational members that say, “This is taking up my time!  I thought just coming to worship and giving my offering would be enough!”     Indeed.   While prayer and meditation and reading scripture and serving others does take time,  that is not why we are Christians.  We are Christians in order to share in  the glorious love of God and then share this glorious love of  Christ with others.  How can we not?   Out of our love for God,  we worship,  pray,  read scripture,  meditate,  forgive,  and share this great love.
This is what it means to have faith!

Prayer:  Revive us O Lord and fill us with Your love when we feel burdened down with life.  Revive us o Lord and fill us with Your peace when we are weary.   Revive us O Lord and fill us with Your renewed enthusiasm.  We give You our thanks and praise.  Amen.

Sunday 28 April 2013

Sunday in prayer

Open to us, Lord,  the doors of Your Church.  Make wide open the doors of Your Church and hear our prayers and have mercy upon our souls.  Open to us, Lord,  the voice of Your Church.  We will sing Your praise all the day long.   Open to us Lord,  the wisdom of Your Church.  We will pursue the study of Your word all day long.  Open to us Lord,  the fountain of Your living water so that we thirst for Your Word in the sermons.  Open to us Lord,  the peace which passes all understanding so that we can share Your Church with this world and the next.  Amen.

Saturday 27 April 2013

Saturday- the Holy Spirit

Prayer;  Holy God,  Holy Mighty,  Holy Saviour of the world,  with great delight we give  You our love.  Holy God,  Holy Mighty,  Holy Saviour of the world,  we ask for Your presence of peace. Holy Spirit,  You are light and life itself,  a living fountain of knowledge and wisdom.  Cleanse our sins so that we may shine the light and love of God the Father,  and Jesus Christ His only son,  and the Holy Spirit to those we meet this day and in the next.   This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Each of the Saturday’s  in Easter Season we will reflect upon the Apostles Creed.   The Apostles Creed was written over decades  as Christians gathered together and decided to put in writing what they believed.  This was not an easy task.  It took decades to write and re-write.  Yet the Christians did not stop because they got discouraged.  The Christians kept going because they knew how important it is for all Christians to be able to state what they believe.   

Repeat several times the Apostles Creed.  Read through it slowly. 
  
I believe in God the Father Almighty,  Maker of heaven and earth
And in Jesus Christ His Only Son our Lord
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost
Born of the Virgin Mary
Suffered under Pontius Pilate
Was crucified, dead, and buried
He descended into hell
The third day He rose again from the dead
He ascended into heaven
And sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty
From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead
I believe in the Holy Ghost
The holy catholic Church
The Communion of Saints
The Forgiveness of Sins
The Resurrection of the body
And the Life everlasting.
Amen.

Reflection:  What does it mean to believe in the Holy Spirit?     The holy catholic Church does not mean the Roman Catholic Church but all Churches in this world.  So if we believe in a Church of the world, then why do we have so many denominations?   Are you comforted knowing that the communion of saints – those who have died and are in heaven,  are praying for you each and every day?
What three things has God promised us that is written here in the Apostles Creed?

Sit in silence for a few moments.   Let what you have read today wash over your thoughts and your mind.

Prayer:  Thank You God that You are our Creator and Redeemer and Sustainer.  All day long and through the silent hours of the night,  You guard and keep us.  We thank You that through the sacrifice of Jesus,  we have the forgiveness of sins – the resurrection of the body – and life everlasting!  Thank You!  Amen.

Friday 26 April 2013

Friday - Emergency Disaster Plan

Prayer:   Might God of All Creation,  You created us anew in Christ Jesus. We dedicate ourselves now to You.  We give You our thoughts and our bodies so that we can be the light bearers of Christ Jesus.  Help us to keep our thoughts focussed upon You this day.  This we ask in the Holy Name of Jesus.  Amen.

Read  St. Luke 12:  35 – 38

Jesus instructs the disciples (and us!) that we are to be like house servants waiting for their master to come back from his honeymoon.   The house servants stay awake and ready to open the door when the master arrives and knocks on the door.   This is an instruction by Jesus for us to “stay awake”... for us to be ready when God comes back.    And what will happen to those who “stay awake” and serve God continually?  God will serve a wondrous meal--  God will take care of those who have served Him all their lives.

What does Jesus mean for us to “stay awake”?   It means serving God all of our lives from doing the smallest things like changing the hymn numbers in Church each Sunday to helping the poor and sick and lost in the community and world.  

With Manitoba wondering this spring if we will end up with a  High Water Event – flood,   the province has created handbooks on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness.   The handbooks state that we need to be ready with enough food and water to last us if the power goes out and stores have to close.   The handbook states that we need extra petroleum for our cars in case we need to make a quick getaway.  We need to know where the water shut off valve is in our house.  We also need to know what we want to take out of the house with us if we have to make a quick getaway.   These are all great preparatory questions.    As Christians,  we also need to explore and then answer these questions.    Jesus has instructed the disciples time and again that knowing and reading the Bible is the ‘food’ God gives to us.   How well do you know the Scriptures?   Do you read the Bible each and every day?   Knowing the Scriptures so well that we can bring up comforting passages when we get into an Emergency situation is exactly what we must do.     As Christians,  our “petroleum”  is prayer – this is what keeps us going in all situations.    Are you able to pray at anytime for anyone in any situation?   As Christians,  our “water shut off valve” is forgiveness – without forgiving others we become inwardly cranky, angry  and disheartened.      Are you able to forgive others even in the most trying of situations?  As Christians,   our  “treasures” is worship – gathering together to worship God.  Are you able to worship with others even in the most trying of situations?
How will you “stay awake” and prepare as a Christian this day?

Prayer:  Even through the silent watches of the night O Lord,  make us ever alert to Your presence.   Even through the silent watches of the day O Lord,  make us ever filled with Your love.  Amen.

Thursday 25 April 2013

Wednesday and Thursday - treasure

Wednesday  April 24
Prayer:  Great God,  it is only in You that we dwell in safety.  It is only in You that we find our rest.  It is only in You that we live and move and have our being.  Amen.

Read  St. Luke  12:  27 – 31

Consider how the lilies grow.  They do not labour or spin, yet not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these.  Jesus continues on to say how much more will God cloth us.  Do not worry about what you eat or drink…. do not worry about it.    
Jesus continues to tell the disciples to seek God’s kingdom and these thing will be given to them as well.   Now,  Jesus does not say that God will pay for the mortgage of Church and home.   God will not pay for the new car.  God will not give each Church a million dollars.

Rather Jesus instructs the disciples to seek God.  To truly seek God through prayer,  studying the scriptures,  meditating upon God’s word, and  asking forgiveness.   And only then will we truly see the splendours that God has provided on this earth.

Today,  take these few verses from St. Luke and think about them.   Let the words roll around in your mind all day.   Think of these verses as food --  eat them and chew on them.  All day long think about these verses.  It is only by thinking and meditating on the Scriptures  that  we will be changed into what God would have us be.

Prayer: Heavenly Father,  You created the lilies and they neither toil nor spin.  Yet there is none with greater splendour than these lilies.  Heavenly Father,  as You care for and nurture these very lilies,  remind us that You care for us with a greater love.  You care for us with greater patience when we slide away from You.   Thank You O Lord that in all things,  You are with us and by our side.  Amen.

Thursday  April 25
Prayer:  Almighty God,  help us this day O Lord to bring Your treasures of Heaven to those who need them this day on earth.  May we always remember the needs of others.  May we always walk in Your path of righteousness so that others may see Your goodness.  May we always speak in Your voice of love and peace so that others may hear Your Words of sustaining life.  This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Read  St. Luke  12:  32 – 34

Treasure.  What person does not like treasure.    When we walk along the sidewalk and finding some money,  we think we have found great treasure.      Treasure.    Pirates buried their treasure so no one else could find it.   What is your treasure?  Do you have any treasure “buried”  or hidden away in your house?      Do you have a treasure hanging on your wall?

The treasure that Jesus speaks of is not the material treasures of earth but the treasures of heaven.   And how do we find the treasures of heaven?  By giving to the poor,  by caring for those who can not care for themselves,  and by loving those who can not love. 

Henri Nouwen wrote a book entitled, “The Return of the Prodigal Son: A story of Homecoming”    After a deeply draining time,  Nouwen comes home from a lecture and mission tour and is struck by a poster of  Rembrandt’s painting of the “Return of the Prodigal Son” he sees on his friend’s wall.    Reflecting upon the painting leads Nouwen to a greater understanding of not only his life’s work but also where his treasure is.      Nouwen tells one story of wanting to see the original painting – which is in the Hermitage in Russia.    He is allowed to sit on the big red velvet upholstered chair and just look at the painting.  But the sun gets into his eyes and he can not clearly see the painting.   So he moves the chair.  The guard has forty fits that Nouwen moved the chair.   The Art Curator comes out of his office,  sees the problem and goes off to find another red velvet chair.    Nouwen says he was embarrassed to be sitting in another red velvet chair as there were three others in the room.  But these chairs apparently could not be moved.

How is our life like the red velvet chairs that can not be moved nor changed?    How much is our life a hidden treasure of material things?   How can  we change our lives so that our treasure is seeking God  and coming home to know the love and life of God.

Prayer:  Great God,  may we seek You today in our hearts.  May we seek You today in our minds.  May we seek You today in our souls.  May the love of Christ come upon us so that others will know of Your name and graciousness.  Amen.

Tuesday 23 April 2013

Tuesday - Calling by God to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament

Prayer:   Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.  As it was in the beginning,  is now and ever shall be,  world without end.  Amen.

Read  St. Luke  12: 22 – 26

Do not worry about your life.  Do not worry about what you will eat.  Do not worry about your body.  Do not worry about what you will wear.  Life is more than food and the body more than clothes.  

Jesus tells his disciples to meditate upon the ravens.    They are free and unfettered.  They do not have a job description and they live in the love of God.   You,  Jesus says to the disciples,  count for much more than the ravens.

This is exactly the understanding of the Call of Ministers.   During Financial Meetings,  we put a price tag on the Minister – the stipend.  But in actual fact, the gift of being a Minister is not a job nor a career but a Calling by God.
William Willamon in his book, “Pastor:  The Theology and Practice of Ordained Ministry” Abingdon Press,  2002  states:   “…… ministry is not a profession.  It is a vocation.  One could not pay Pastors for what is routinely expected of them. One must be Called in order to do it.  Although Pastors may struggle with exactly what it means to be called by God to lead a church, they must have some sense that they are in ministry because God wants them to be. Time and again, amidst the challenges of the pastoral ministry, this divine, more – than- subjective authorization is a  major means of pastoral perseverance.   To know that our ministry is first and finally validated not by our feelings, or even by the judgements of the bishop, but by God;  this is great grace.   To assert that, in our ministry, we are representatives of something more significant than the denomination, that we are accountable to God;  this is empowerment.  To believe that we are in ministry as God’s idea, rather than our own sense of occupational advancement;  this is the submission, the yoking that is the source of true freedom.”
 Ministry is a Calling by God.  Ministry also means putting one’s life in God’s hands and not worrying about one’s life… not worrying about what one will eat… not worrying about one’s body… not worrying about what one will wear.  Life in God is more than food.  Life in God is true freedom and delight.         

Prayer:  Now may the God of peace and of all understanding keep us from falling and ever keep us in the palm of His hand.  Amen.

Monday 22 April 2013

Monday - finances

Prayer:  O give thanks to the Risen Lord,  for He is good.  For His mercy endures forever.  Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,  He who brought us out of the shadow of death into the light of day.  Allelulia!

Read St. Luke 12: 13 – 21

From the crowd,  a man asks Jesus to tell his brother to divide the inheritance between the man and his brother.   In  Judaism it is natural for a man to bring a legal case to a religious leader. 

Jesus declines to act as judge or arbiter between the two brothers.  Instead Jesus says to the man and the  crowd to watch out and be on their guard for greed.   Jesus continues to say that a man’s life  is not defined but the number of material possessions in his care.  

Jesus then illustrates his teachings by telling a story of the greedy farmer.   The farmer built bigger barns to hold more of the harvest.   The farmer gathers all his material possession and says to himself, “Self, you’ve done well!  You’ve got it made and can now retire.  Take it easy and have the time of your life”.  (The Message,  St Luke 12: 19  Zondervan, 2005).    But God says to the greedy farmer that this very night his life will be demanded – and who will end up with the greedy farmer’s  possessions.

The parable sends us thinking that we must fill our lives with living in God’s path.  If we fill our lives with nothing but material possessions,  this will not lead us to God.    

How do we balance this parable to today where we save our pennies for our retirement?  We have money in RRSPs and GICs and RIFs so that we have enough money to live out our days in the style to which we have become accustomed.   Remember that in the time of Jesus there was no retirement….  when the father and mother got too old to care of themselves,  the sons and their wives would care for the seniors.    

But the question remains for us today to think about… how much money do we need in order to live out our days in comparison to taking our extra monies and helping those in this world who have no food nor clothes nor shelter.    Something to think about.

Prayer:  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,  who according to His abundant mercy has brought us into a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  Great God,  we know that  our inheritance is eternal life and will never fade away.   Blessed Trinity,  world without end.  Amen.

Sunday 21 April 2013

Sunday

Open to us, Lord,  the doors of Your Church.  Make wide open the doors of Your Church and hear our prayers and have mercy upon our souls.  Open to us, Lord,  the voice of Your Church.  We will sing Your praise all the day long.   Open to us Lord,  the wisdom of Your Church.  We will pursue the study of Your word all day long.  Open to us Lord,  the fountain of Your living water so that we thirst for Your Word in the sermons.  Open to us Lord,  the peace which passes all understanding so that we can share Your Church with this world and the next.  Amen.

Saturday 20 April 2013

Saturday

Prayer;  Holy God,  Holy Mighty,  Holy Saviour of the world,  with great delight we give  You our love.  Holy God,  Holy Mighty,  Holy Saviour of the world,  we ask for Your presence of peace. Holy Spirit,  You are light and life itself,  a living fountain of knowledge and wisdom.  Cleanse our sins so that we may shine the light and love of God the Father,  and Jesus Christ His only son,  and the Holy Spirit to those we meet this day and in the next.   This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Each of the Saturday’s  in Easter we will reflect upon the Apostles Creed.   The Apostles Creed was written over decades  as Christians gathered together and decided to put in writing what they believed.  This was not an easy task.  It took decades to write and re-write.  Yet the Christians did not stop because they got discouraged.  The Christians kept going because they knew how important it is for all Christians to be able to state what they believe.   

Repeat several times the Apostles Creed:  
I believe in God the Father Almighty,  Maker of heaven and earth
And in Jesus Christ His Only Son our Lord
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost
Born of the Virgin Mary
Suffered under Pontius Pilate
Was crucified, dead, and buried
He descended into hell
The third day He rose again from the dead
He ascended into heaven
And sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty
From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead
I believe in the Holy Ghost
The holy catholic Church
The Communion of Saints
The Forgiveness of Sins
The Resurrection of the body
And the Life everlasting.
Amen.

Reflection:  What does it mean to believe in a Savour who sits with God the Father Almighty?  Will Jesus come again?  When Jesus comes again,  what will he do?   The quick is an old term meaning “the living”.    Why,  do you think,  Jesus would also judge the dead?   

Sit in silence for a few moments.   Let what you have read today wash over your thoughts and your mind.

Prayer:  Thank You God that You are our Creator and Redeemer.  You take what we view as hopeless and destitute and make it into a great hope with renewed life.  Renew our lives today O Lord with Your hope and Your great love.  Amen.

Friday 19 April 2013

Friday - Hyprocracy

Prayer:  Divine Healer, You know what is in our hearts.  You know what is in our minds and souls before we even get a glimpse of our own thoughts.  Help keep our hearts pure and centred upon You this day.  This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Read  St. Luke  12:  1 – 12

While the crowd grows in numbers,  Jesus turns to the disciples and provides them with some teaching.  Jesus teaches that some of the Pharisees are hypocrites.  They are phony.  Jesus tells the disciples that hypocrites live one way in public and another way in private.  One day soon their phony ways will be found out.
Jesus is telling the disciples that they must be the same in public as they are in private.  They must live their faith so that others can see what they believe.  Their actions must be glorifying God.   Their words must glorify God. 

So how do we today know when someone is a hypocrite?  When someone states they are a Christian but in fact,  they are not Christian.    Usually we don’t know  until we’ve been with the person for a while and listened to their words and have witnessed  their actions.   Now,  all of us fall at some time act in non-Christian ways  but usually on the whole  we maintain the love of God within our family and Church and community.

What does it mean to be a hypocrite or phony in preaching?    What happens when Minister’s  preach sermons and call these sermons their own but in fact are taking directly word for word from a commentary.  Is that hypocritical and phony?  Call me cranky but  in my humble opinion it certain is hypocritical and phony.  Universities call this plagiarism.    Sure the occasional time a Minister has one too many funerals or weddings or visitations and run out of time for meditation and prayer over the weekly scripture and tend to lean heavily on the Scholars commentary on the Scriptures.   But when a Minister takes the words directly  from a commentary week after week with only a teeny tiny bit of original work  – that is hypocrisy and phony preaching.  It is the calling of a Minister of Word and Sacrament to struggle and wrestle with the Scripture each and every week.    It is the calling of a Minister after having wrestled with the Scripture to share the Good News with the congregation – to find something new and joyous to share with the congregation about  the Word of God.    

Jesus tells the disciples that the Holy Spirit will teach them what they should say if others say that they are not of God.    The Holy Spirit helps us discern what is of God and what is not of God.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit,  help us discern what is of God and what is not of God this day.  May we always come before You with a righteous attitude and joyous heart.  Amen. 

Thursday 18 April 2013

Thursday - key to knowledge

Prayer:    Holy God and lover of all,  as we study Your Words this day,  help us to unlock our minds so that Your Word may live in our hearts and minds richly.  Amen.

Read  St. Luke  11: 52 – 54
Jesus says a woe to the Experts in the Law that they have taken away the key to knowledge from all peoples and made living life in God impossible.   In fact,  Jesus says,  the Experts themselves have kept themselves away from living life in God.

At that Jesus leaves.    Can you imagine the silence that must have reigned for a few minutes?  Then the Pharisees and Experts of the Law begin to anxiously talk amongst themselves of what Jesus had said to them.  They did not like what they heard and they oppose Jesus and try to trap him at every meeting.

Yikes.   This is so sad.  The very people,  the Pharisees and Experts of the Law,  who were to unlock the  Scriptures and the law so that everyone could find their way to God,  have instead locked up the Scriptures and the Law so tightly that no one can gain knowledge.     Then in their anger,  they decide to trap Jesus.  Yikes.

This is called holding a grudge.  What happens when we hold onto grudges?   We become angry and can not forgive.    What happens when we live in anger and can not forgive?   Life becomes difficult and we look only at ourselves and forget God and helping others to see the light of Christ.

Do Churches hold grudges?   Not the physical building but the people inside?  Yes.  Think back to the last time you heard the words, “I remember when this Church was filled to overflowing with people.”   While that might not seem like a grudge,  it  actually is as we are angry that the Church is not filled with people anymore.     When we become angry we loose sight of God.  While it is wonderful to look back at what was,  it is equally as important to say, “I remember when this Church was filled to overflowing with people.  I wonder what new way God is using us to bring joy and justice into this community?”

Remember this day to pray for those who lead the Church in following God…. the ministers,  the elders, the Sunday School Teachers,  the Youth Leaders,  the Music Director,  the Choir,  the Sound system people.   Remember this day to pray for those who lead the Church  for the community to come and live the Good News of Christ… the Board of Managers, Treasurer,  the Caretakers,  the lawnmowers and snowshovellers,  the landscapers, and   those who count offering.

Prayer:   Great God,  we come on bended knee asking to be forgiven for only looking into the past with Your Church.   Guide our eyes so that we can turn around and see Your present Church and future Church and Your glory.   Be with those who minister and feed us this day.  May they always know that they are loved and granted Your peace.  This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Wednesday 17 April 2013

Wednesday - returning to God

Prayer:    Grant, O Lord,  that we return to Your love.  Help us,  O Lord to return to Your peace.   Sustain us,  O Lord, that we may always be bearers of Your love.  This we ask in Your Name.  Amen.

Read  St. Luke 11: 47 – 51

These are a couple of tough verses to dig.   Jesus is telling the experts of the law and the Pharisees that their fathers  killed the prophets as they did not want to hear the Word of God.    Jesus continues to say that the experts of the law and the Pharisees built tombs for the very prophets that their fore-fathers killed.    The Experts and the Pharisees “honour” the prophets but would never want to hear their words—nor admit that the words of the prophets apply to them.

Remember that a prophet is one sent by God to turn people around so that they repent and come home to God.    No one wants to hear the words of a prophet as the words mean we aren’t living according to the love of God.

Are there prophets today?     A prophet reminds the people to turn around and live in the love of God.   While we don’t have prophets today as John the Baptist was the last prophet as God sent Jesus to forgive us our sins,  there are people who remind us to return to God or lighten the path to God.      In your community can you think of any people who remind us to return to God?    In the world can you think of any people who remind us to return to God?

During Lent in Brandon MB,  the Brandon Ministerial has an ecumenical Lenten Worship and Lunch.   The Lenten Worship is held at St. Matthew’s  Anglican Church and the Sermons are preached  by various Ministers from Brandon.  It is delightful to come together with so many people from various denominations.   Not only is it awesome to worship together in so many worship styles but it also formulates what we believe.    It is a delight to hear preachers preaching from their own traditions and know that we all share the same Good News.   

Prayer:   Return O Lord,  and deliver our souls.  Save us for the sake of Your love.  Amen.

Tuesday 16 April 2013

Tuesday - the Book of Forms

Prayer:  Great God,  You teach us that where charity and love are,  there You are.  May the love of Christ gather us as one.  Let us rejoice and be glad in the living Christ so that with purity of heart we can love one another with Your fullness of love and charity.  Amen.

Read  St. Luke  11: 45 – 46
Now one of the experts in the law who is reclining at table with  Jesus asked, “Teacher,  when you say these things, you insult us also”  (St Luke 11: 45  NIV  Zondervan, 1983).   Jesus replies  that the experts of the law are loading people down with burdens they can hardly carry while they do not lift a finger to help them carry their burdens.    The experts of the law,  like the Pharisees,   were  living by the letter of the law and going to the extremes with the law… and expecting everyone else to live under the burdens of all these laws.    Laws which make religion  a burden is not a living breathing religion of  our God.   The laws were and are to remind the people that they are the People of God.

Okay,  before you throw out the Presbyterian Book of Forms and yell, “hurrah.  Good bye Book of Forms forever”,  remember that  laws and rules and regulations actually free up a person or Church to come and worship God with love and joy.

The Presbyterian Book of Forms state that the focus of having a bunch of rules and regulations was “To take away all occasion of tyranny,” our Lord wills that office-bearers in his Church “should rule with mutual consent of brethren (sic), and equality of power, every one according to his function.” (2 Bk. of Dis. II, 4)
It is a fundamental principle of Presbyterian polity that every member of a court has a right to take part in, and is responsible for, the whole business of the court.”

Where did our Book of Forms appear from you ask.  It was in 1875 when the Four Presbyterian Church denominations in Canada decided that they only needed one Presbyterian Denomination in Canada….. (Book of Forms Historical and Confessional Basis)    The Presbyterian Church in Canada is in historical continuity with the Church of Scotland, reformed in 1560. The four churches re-united in 1875 had their origin in presbyteries and synods constituted under the appointment of that church, of one or other of the branches of the Secession Church in Scotland.
1.1 These were: the Presbytery of Truro, constituted by appointment of the Associate Synod (Burgher), 1786; the Presbytery of Pictou, constituted by appointment of the General Associate Synod (Anti-burgher), 1795; the Presbytery of the Canadas, constituted by appointment of the Associate Synod (Burgher), 1818; the Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Canada in connection with the Church of Scotland, 1831; the Synod of Nova Scotia in connection with the Church of Scotland, 1833; the Presbytery of New Brunswick in connection with the Church of Scotland, 1833; and the Missionary Presbytery of the Canadas in connection with the Associate Synod of the Secession Church in Scotland, 1834.
2. By the Basis of Union, 1875, The Presbyterian Church in Canada receives the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the Word of God and the only infallible rule of faith and manners. It also receives as its principal subordinate standard, the Westminster Confession of Faith, approved by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland of 1647. The government and worship of The Presbyterian Church in Canada are in accordance with the recognized principles and practice of Presbyterian Churches as laid down generally in “The Form of Presbyterial Church Government” and in “The Directory for the Public Worship of God.” (Declaratory Act: A&P 2001, p. 239, 41)
3. The “principles and practice of Presbyterian Churches” are set forth particularly in the Second Book of Discipline, 1578, and acknowledge: that Christ Jesus, our Lord, as the Head of his Church, has appointed its constitution, laws, ordinances and offices; that its government and discipline are to be administered according to his will as revealed in Holy Scripture, by officers chosen for their fitness, and duly set apart to their office; that these officers meet for deliberation and united action in sessions, presbyteries, synods, and General Assemblies, and in such order that the organic unity of the church is maintained in a hierarchy of courts (in contra-distinction to a hierarchy of persons); the authority of which courts is ministerial and declarative, announcing what Christ has revealed, and applying his law according to his direction. (Opening pages of the Book of Forms.  Presbyterian Church in Canada, 2012)

Laws and rules and regulations are needed so that we know how we are governed.  The problem with the experts of the law and Pharisees is they were going overboard. They were taking the 613 laws and creating hundred more laws to fulfil the 613 laws.  The same with ourselves as well,  if we focus upon the Book of Forms and forget the Bible,  we are in the same boat as the experts of the law.

Prayer:    Everlasting God,  when we gather together let us not be divided in spirit. Let the peace of Christ  flow through us so that we can unite the divided Church.  Let the love of Christ flow through us so that we can put an end to discord and strife.  This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Monday 15 April 2013

Monday - unclean communities

Prayer:  O God,  from whom all holy desires,  all good counsels, and all just works do proceed.  Give to Your servants that peace which the world can not give.  That both our hearts may be set to obey Your commandments, and also that by You we do not fear our enemies.  This we ask in the name of Jesus.  Amen.   #599 Oxford Book of Prayer.

Read  St. Luke 11: 44

“Woe to you because you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without knowing it.”  (St Luke 11: 44  NIV   Zondervan 1983).     

George Bradford Caird  in his commentary on St Luke states that “Contact with death made a man ceremonially unclean (Numbers 19:16), and graves were frequently whitened to warn all comers of the risk of defilement.  Jesus calls the Pharisees unmarked graves, because their reputation for holiness concealed from men the insidious quality of their influence.”   (Caird,   The Pelican New Testament Commentaries:  Saint Luke.  Pelican, 1981). 

Wow!  Insidious quality of their influence.  Wow!  That seems so harsh doesn’t it.  But the Pharisees were drifting away from their love of God and replacing that love with laws on top of laws which were harming not only themselves but also those in their community.   It had become a situation of Pharisees saying, “I am better than you” and by their attitude and focus on laws,  were creating communities that were becoming unclean. 

The reference to ceremonial uncleanliness in Numbers 19: 14 – 16 is important to read.  Washing with water cleaned the unclean person.   Water is a visual sign of taking dirt off and making one’s hands clean.    Water is used in baptism as a visual sign that the person being baptized is changed from the old self to the new self living in Jesus Christ.  

Today we are told that each time we go to the bathroom or prepare meals,  we must wash our hands with soap and water.   Today as you wash your hands with soap and water,  remember that water is a visual sign of God’s love cleansing you.

Prayer:   Almighty God,  pour upon us the new waters of Your Living Word.  Grant that this same new water  may stir our hearts to the love of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Sunday 14 April 2013

Easter Sunday 3

While we are still under snow,  there is the beginnings of dirt and gravel showing in our driveway.  It is amazing the way the birds and snow hares can find food in this mess of mud.   Yet they do find food.  How much more does our God provide food for our souls than God provides food for the bodies of the birds and snow hares.   Blessed be our God this day.



Open to us, Lord,  the doors of Your Church.  Make wide open the doors of Your Church and hear our prayers and have mercy upon our souls.  Open to us, Lord,  the voice of Your Church.  We will sing Your praise all the day long.   Open to us Lord,  the wisdom of Your Church.  We will pursue the study of Your word all day long.  Open to us Lord,  the fountain of Your living water so that we thirst for Your Word in the sermons.  Open to us Lord,  the peace which passes all understanding so that we can share Your Church with this world and the next.  Amen.

Saturday 13 April 2013

Saturday Easter Week 2

Prayer;  Holy God,  Holy Mighty,  Holy Saviour of the world,  with great delight we give  You our love.  Holy God,  Holy Mighty,  Holy Saviour of the world,  we ask for Your presence of peace. Holy Spirit,  You are light and life itself,  a living fountain of knowledge and wisdom.  Cleanse our sins so that we may shine the light and love of God the Father,  and Jesus Christ His only son,  and the Holy Spirit to those we meet this day and in the next.   This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Each of the Saturday’s  in Easter we will reflect upon the Apostles Creed.   The Apostles Creed was written over decades  as Christians gathered together and decided to put in writing what they believed.  This was not an easy task.  It took decades to write and re-write.  Yet the Christian writers did not stop because they got discouraged.  The Christian writers kept going because they knew how important it is for all Christians to be able to state what they believe.   

Reflection:  We have just been through the Season of Lent and Easter.  This is the nutshell of Christianity.  Christ died for our sins.  What does the word “forgiveness” mean to you?

Repeat several times the Apostles Creed:  
I believe in God the Father Almighty,  Maker of heaven and earth
And in Jesus Christ His Only Son our Lord
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost
Born of the Virgin Mary
Suffered under Pontius Pilate
Was crucified, dead, and buried
He descended into hell
The third day He rose again from the dead
He ascended into heaven
And sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty
From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead
I believe in the Holy Ghost
The holy catholic Church
The Communion of Saints
The Forgiveness of Sins
The Resurrection of the body
And the Life everlasting.
Amen.

Reflection:  What does it mean to believe in Christ who was crucified, dead, and buried?  After he was buried where did he go?    After the third day Christ rose from the head and went where?

Sit in silence for a few moments.   Let what you have read today wash over your thoughts and your mind.

Prayer:  Thank You God that You are our Creator and Redeemer.  You take what we view as hopeless and destitute and make it into a great hope with renewed life.  Renew our lives today O Lord with Your hope and Your great love.  Amen

Friday 12 April 2013

Friday - piety and humility

Prayer:  Lord,  we pray for the power to be gentle;  the strength to be forgiving; the patience to be understanding; and the endurance to accept the consequences of holding to what we believe to be right.  May we put our trust in the power of good to overcome evil and the power of love to overcome hatred.  We pray for the vision to see and the faith to believe in a world seemingly bound by violence.  We pray for a new world where fear shall no longer lead men to commit injustice, nor selfishness make them bring suffering to others.  Help us to devote our whole life and thought and energy to the task of making peace,  praying always for the inspiration and the power to fulfil the destiny for which we and all in this world prayer.  Amen.   #227  Oxford Book of Prayer

Read St. Luke  11:  43

Woe to you Pharisees for you love the best seats in the synagogue and the huge greetings in the marketplaces.  Jesus is stating here that the Pharisees have forgotten their piety and their humility.  The Pharisees should not be saving the best seats in the synagogue for themselves.  The Pharisees should not be seeking out huge greetings in the marketplaces for themselves. 

What is piety and humility?   Piety is a special gift given by the Holy Spirit.   One’s soul is filled with the longing for loving God with their whole being.    Can one see piety in others?   Sometimes but piety is not a visual gift.  Piety is in our hearts.  Jean Calvin strongly stated that piety was something we had to work on daily through prayer and reading of the Bible and asking for forgiveness.

Humility  is a life long journey in getting rid of our old selves and seeking the love of God.   Humility is not easy at all.  In fact both piety and humility are down right difficult to do but something for us to strive toward so that we grow in our love of God.   Piety and Humility always put God first and ourselves last.    

So how can we know if we,  or others, are filled with piety and humility?   The outward signs are the fruits of the Holy Spirit that St Paul mentions in Galatians 5: 22 --  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.   

Prayer:  Divine Healer,  may we live with the inward and the outward signs of Your Holy Spirit. Grant us love,  joy,  peace, patience,  kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control so that You can use us to renew the hearts of the faithful and those who still live in unbelief to Your glory and goodness.  Amen.