Monday - 95th Anniversary of Vimy

Today is the 95th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge.    I ponder what it would be like to Celebrate  Easter in the Trenches or in Churches and then prepared for the "big push"  the next day.   How does one Celebrate the Glorious Resurrection one day and go forth in battle the very next day? 
Today our weather is very similar to that at the Battle of Vimy.... cold,  snowy,  driving wind,  muddy.   Most soldiers were fed soup,  hard biscuits, and rum to fortify them for the battle.   We have a copy of a painting of the Battle of Vimy by Richard Jack in our Museum.  The copy portrays  Gunners working the guns.... and they are all shirtless.  In the freezing rain and snow,  they are overheating from the hard work of loading and unloading the guns.   
Today we meditate on the men and women who died at the Battle of Vimy Ridge,  the gift of freedom,  the gift of the Glorious Resurrection, Christ's  instructions to the Disciples,  and the great gift of God's  love for all.
Alleluia!  Christ is risen!

Retreat in Your day......
Prayer:    The day of resurrection – earth tell it our abroad, the Passover of gladness, the Passover of God!  From death to life eternal, from earth until the sky, our Christ hath brought us over with hymns of victory.  Our hearts be pure from evil, that we may see aright the Lord in rays eternal of resurrection light, and, listening to his accents, may hear, so calm and plain, his own “All Hail!” and, hearing, may raise the victor strain.  Now let the heavens be joyful; let earth its song begin; let the round world keep triumph, and all that is therein; invisible and visible, their notes together blend, for Christ the Lord hath risen, our joy that hath no end.  Amen   (Hymn 249 Words:  Greek, John of Damascus, translation by John Mason Neale 1818-1866  Public Domain).

Read  St. Matthew 28: 16-20
Jesus and the Disciples meet in Galilee on the mountain.  Jesus tells the Disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit AND teaching them to obey everything Jesus had commended.  This is one of very few places that mentions the Trinity in the Bible… the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  
Jesus gives the Disciples very specific tasks:
1.  tell everyone of Jesus
2.  baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
3.  teach them the ways of Jesus
We too are given these three tasks of telling everyone about Jesus,  of baptizing,  and teaching about Jesus.  How will you implement these three tasks into your life this day?
In the centre of a quilted wallhanging in the Sanctuary of Sherwood Park Presbyterian Church, is  this portion of scripture  quilted in thread.   The quilted wallhanging is LARGE and contains scenes of Jesus’ life done in cross-stitch.   Many women of the congregation worked on this project.  When it came time to unveil the quilted wallhanging,  the congregation said, “But where is the scripture?”    Because the thread was the same colour as the fabric,  the words are extremely difficult to read.  In fact one almost needs to stand back with a Bible in one hand and a high powered light in the other hand to shine on the central panel where the scripture is sewn.  But isn’t this the way of scripture?  It should be written upon our hearts so that we already know the words!  It is our very lives that brings the Good News to the nations.  Alleluia!  Christ is Risen!

Prayer:   Alleluia!  Christ is Risen!   Almighty God,  who through Your only begotten Son,  we have eternal life.  Renew us in body, mind, and soul so that our whole lives may be devoted to sharing Your Good News with all nations.   Make us ready to do Your will in everything we do or say this day.  This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Many Blessings!