Glorious Resurrection - Easter Sunday

Christ is Risen!  Christ is Risen Indeed!

Devotional......
Prayer:  Christ the Lord is risen today,  all creation join to say.  Raise your joys and triumphs high; sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply.  Love’s redeeming work is done, fought the fight, the battle won; lo! Our sun’s eclipse is o’er.  Lo! He sets in blood no more.  Vain the stone, the watch, the seal.  Christ hath burst the gates of hell.  Death in vain forbids him rise.  Christ hath opened paradise.  Lives again our glorious King.  Where O Death is now thy sting?  Once he died our souls to save; where thy victory O grave?  Soar we now where Christ hath led, following our exalted Head; made like him, like him we rise; ours the cross, the grave, the skies.  Hail! The Lord of earth and heaven!  Praise to thee by both be given; every knee to thee shall bow, risen Christ triumphant now!  Hallelujah!  (Hymn 247 Words:  Charles Wesley 1707-1788  public domain).

Read:  St. Matthew 28: 1 – 10
Hallelujah!  Rejoice!  Christ our Saviour is Risen!!!   Mary Magdalene and the other Mary go to see the tomb of Jesus to continue their time of mourning when,  booom!  They are thoroughly shaken by  an earthquake.   An Angel of the Lord appears, rolls back the tomb stone and says to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.  He is not here, he has risen,  just as he said!”   The Angel of the Lord invites the women to see the empty tomb and instructs them to go and tell the Disciples.  
On the way to tell the Disciples,  Jesus appears to the women and says, “Hail”   This  Greek greeting   means “rejoice”.   Then Jesus tells them not to be afraid… to go and tell the Disciples to go to Galilee and wait for him there.     
Hallelujah!  Rejoice!    The Resurrection is why we are Christians.  

Prayer:  Alleluia, Christ is risen!  Alleluia!  Truly Christ is risen!  The stone containing our sins and burdens has been rolled away O Lord.  Christ is risen!  We shall proclaim what Christ has done!  Alleluia!

Many blessings!

Holy Saturday

Holy Saturday.   The day of waiting and keeping watch. 


Prayer:  We come into Your presence this day O Lord,  knowing that our Redeemer was buried and rose again from the dead.  O Christ we adore You.   O Saviour Christ,  enable us to share in Your Passion at our times of testing.  O Christ, we adore You.  O Lord of Life,  like the seed of wheat fallen into the ground, You have borne the fruit of the life of God.  May we die to sin and live for God.  O Christ, we adore You.  O Christ,  the new Adam,  You descended into the kingdom of the dead to set the good free from captivity.  May Your voice be heard by all who have died in sin, that they may life.  O Christ, we adore You.  O Christ,  Son of the Living God, through  baptism we have been buried with You in death; make us partners in Your resurrection,  that we may walk in newness of life this every day. O Christ,  we adore You.   This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.   (Taize,  “Praise in all our Days”)

Read:  St. Matthew 27: 61 - 66

A time of waiting.   Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting across from the tomb.  Waiting.  And watching.  And weeping.   It was customary to watch over the tomb of a loved one.   Meanwhile,  the Chief Priests and Pharisees go to Pilate and ask that a guard be put at the tomb of Jesus as they remember Jesus saying that after three days he would rise again.   Pilate gives the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day.

So,  what happened to Jesus during Friday’s  Crucifixion and Easter Sunday Morning?  The Apostles’ Creed tells us that Jesus descended into the dead and rose again on Sunday Morning.   The Eastern Orthodox Church has an Icon of this time called the “Harrowing of Hell”.   The Icon pictures Christ dressed in Red (so you know he is Holy), standing on the opened tombs of Adam and Eve.  Adam and Eve are coming up out of their tomb to eternal life.  Surrounding everyone in this Icon are Kings and Prophets of the Old Testament.

And we too wait through this Saturday to the glorious Resurrection of Sunday.  

Prayer:  Holy God,  it is Your will that we should be baptized into the death of Your Son our Saviour.  Give us true repentance that we may pass with Him through the grave and gate of death, and be reborn to new life in joy,  through Him who died,  was buried, and who rose for us,  Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen  (Taize,  “Praise in all our Days”) 

Good Friday

A huge thank you to the Museum Volunteers and Seniors for Seniors for the Thursday  Seniors Luncheon Presentation on the Battle of Vimy Ridge.   An awesome time.

Last evening,  First Baptist Church celebrated their very first Tennabrae Worship.   It was a great time of worship and brought the stories of Jesus alive.   One little gal started to bawl when she heard the story of Jesus' crucifixion but I was so impressed with her Mom.   Her Mom took the time to explain to her that Jesus died for our sins... yes it hurt Jesus  but Jesus took our hurts upon him and gave us Eternal Life.  While we are sad when we hear this story,  we need to remember that Jesus did this for each one of us and we need to give Jesus our thanks and praise.   Wow!     Good Mom!!!  

Today is the celebration of Good Friday -- the crucifixion of Jesus.    Like the wee gal from last night we know that this is an extremely sad day as we read the Gospel Stories of the crucifixion of Jesus, BUT  it is more a time of joy knowing the Glorious Resurrection at Easter.    Take time today and if nothing else read the story of the Crucifixion and remember the Glorious Resurrection in three days.  

From Friday Morning to Saturday,  
Read  St. Matthew 27: 1 – 66
Prayer:     Lamb of God,  You take away the sin of the world,  have mercy upon us.  Lamb of God,  You take away the sins from my heart,  have mercy upon me.  Lamb of God,  You take away the sin of the world,  grant us Your peace.   As we live out our life in Your name today,  help us to ask ourselves “What have I done for Christ?”    “What am I doing for Christ today?”  What ought I to do for You today”?    Lamb of God,  You take away the sin of the world,  grant us Your love.   Amen

Friday April 6  Good Friday
Prayer:  Alone You once went forth, O Lord,  in sacrifice to die.  Does not Your sorrow touch the hearts of people passing by?  Our sins,  not Yours, You bore then, Lord, make us Your sorrow feel, till through our pity and our shame love answers love’s appeal.  This was earth’s darkest hour, but You did light and life restore;  then let us give all praise to You who live forevermore.  Grant us with You to suffer, Lord, that as we share this hour, Your cross may bring us to Your joy and resurrection power.     Amen.    (Hymn 232 Peter Abelard 1079-1142, translation copyright Church Pension Fund)

Read:   St. Matthew  27:  32 - 61

Good Friday worship is always difficult.  It is a time of extreme sadness.    Readers who read the Gospel often get choked up reading the horror of Christ’s death.  Such sadness and pain.   But!  We are a people of the Resurrection!  We know that through the death of Jesus,  we are given Eternal Life.   There is hope!     There is love!  There is life!   When we attend Good Friday Worship,  we need to attend as the God’s  Easter People.  A people (and congregation) filled with hope and love and renewal of enthusiasm. 
This reading from St. Matthew is the fulfillment of the Old Testament.  The Messiah has come to bring forgiveness of sins and new life. 
At the ninth hour,  Jesus cries out from the cross, “My God, my God,  why have you forsaken me?”   This comes from Psalm 22 and while it sounds like the end and a cry of desperation,  in fact it is the question that the Psalms says to God at a time of despair and then out of that despair,  the Psalmist comes to realize that God is the God of all.    Those who were around Jesus and heard him say these words would know exactly what Jesus meant.  This was not a time of death and loss but the beginning of love and life.

Read Psalm 22.

Prayer:   Redeeming God,  from You comes my praise.  All the ends of the earth will remember and return to the LORD.  All the families of the nations will bow down before You,  for dominion belongs to You.   Almighty and Eternal God,  You raise us up and save us through the Passion of Your Son.  As we celebrate this wonder, finish in us the work You have begun, and plant new zeal in our hearts through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord.  Amen.   (portions of Psalm 22 and Taize “Praise in all our Days”)

Many blessings!

Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday.    A time of reflection upon the commandment to Love One Another.   A time of reflection of the Lord's Supper.     

Today is also our last Vimy Powerpoint Presentation before the Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge on 9 April.      We are presenting at the Brandon Seniors for Seniors Luncheon.   This group of Seniors  (all 50 to 80 of them) meet each Thursday for a meal and some sort of presentation.  What a wonderful way to fellowship together over a meal AND then learn something!    Wow!  That is impressive!!!


Devotional.....
Prayer:  Great God,  Your love has called us here, as we, by love for love were made.  Your living likeness still we bear, though marred, dishonoured, disobeyed.  We come, with all our heart and mind, your call to bear, your love to find.   We come with self inflicted pains of broken trust and chosen wrong, half-free, half-bound by inner chains, by social forces swept along, by powers and systems close confined yet seeking hope for humankind.   Great God,  in Christ you call our name and then receive us as your own, not through some merit, right or claim, but by your gracious love alone.  We strain to glimpse your mercy seat and find you kneeling at our feet.   Then take the towel, and break the bread, and humble us, and call us friends.  Suffer and serve till all are fed, and show how grandly love intends to work till all creation sings, to fill all worlds, to crown all things.   Great God, in Christ You set us free, Your life to live, Your joy to share. Give us Your Spirit’s liberty to turn from guilt and dull despair and to offer all that faith can do,  while love is making all things new.     Amen.    
 (Brian A. Wren 1936 -  Copyright 1977, 1995 by Hope Publishing Co)

Read:  St. Matthew  26:  17 – 29

The Disciples ask Jesus where they will prepare for the Passover.  Jesus says to go into the city and say to the man “the Teacher says my time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at Your house with my Disciples.”  We do not know who were the unknown friends of Jesus, BUT we do know that they showed great hospitality by opening their home to Jesus and the Disciples.  
Together Jesus and the Disciples sat down to celebrate the Passover.   Today,  we call this celebration “The Lord’s Supper”.     As the Disciples were eating,  Jesus takes bread,  gives thanks,  breaks the bread, hands it to the Disciples saying, “Take and eat.  This is my body”.     Then Jesus takes the cup,  gives thanks,  offers it to the Disciples saying, “Drink from it, all of you.  This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.  I tell you,  I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom”.
Do you think the Disciples sat in amazement at what Jesus had just said?  It certainly was not the liturgy of the Passover meal.     Do you think the Disciples were cluing in that something big would be happening shortly? 
The words that Jesus said during the sharing of the meal,  we use in our Lord’s Supper.  We celebrate the Lord’s Supper to remind us of the great love of God. 
Holy Thursday is called Maundy Thursday.  Maundy is from the Latin mandatum, the first word of the phrase "Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos" ("A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another; as I have loved you"), the statement by Jesus in the Gospel of John 13:34 by which Jesus explained to the Disciples the significance of his action of washing their feet.

Prayer:  Great God,  You have given us a new commandment.  The commandment is that we are to love one another as You have loved us.  By our love for others,  You will know that we are Your disciples.  Help us to have love for one another.   Help us to seek out love for one another. Help us to be love for one another.  All in Your glorious name’s sake.  Amen.  (Hymn 225 Words:  John 13: 34 – 35)

Many blessings!

Holy Week Wednesday

Holy Week.   We live out our lives as normal during Holy Week but as we get closer and closer to Maundy Thursday and Good Friday we know that Easter is soon.   For those who are not Christian,  this week means stocking up on groceries because the stores will be closed on Friday,  Sunday,  and possibly Monday.     Being prepared.   This is what the Season of Lent has been all about.... preparing ourselves for the Glorious Resurrection.... looking inwardly at our lives and wanting to make ourselves the best we can for God.  
For myself this means praying many prayers of Forgiveness.   
 I get extremely impatient with Minister's  preaching bad sermons because they spend no time in reading and meditation and prayer on the weekly Scriptures ... and then wrote their sermon late Saturday night.  I get saddened with Sessions that have no vision to let the community know way in advance of Holy Week Worship times.   This is our Holy Week!   Let everyone know about it in the community!  
A friend of mine from Sherwood Park frequently says to me, "But Lorna,  perhaps these people are all that they can be because they are not listening to God!  You are trying to push them into being something they are not."   Too true.   My impatience leads me to being cranky and negative.  Time for Prayers of Forgiveness,  meditating upon God's Word,  eating chocolate,  doing Tai Chi, being with the Museum Volunteers,  and quilting helps to alleviate my crankiness.  Hosanna and thanks that we can come to God with our prayers of Forgivenss!  
    
Devotional.....
Prayer:  We come to ask Your forgiveness O Lord,  and we seek forgiveness from each other.  Sometimes we build up walls instead of bridges to peace, and we ask Your forgiveness,  O Lord.  Sometimes we hurt by what we do to others.  Sometimes we hurt with words that are untrue.  Sometimes we cause others pain by what we fail to do, and we ask Your forgiveness, O Lord.   For the times when we’ve been rude and selfish,  for the times when we have been unkind, and for the times we refused to help our friends in need, we ask Your forgiveness O Lord.    Amen.    
(Words:  Carey Landry  1944 - .  Copyright by Carey Laundry and North American Liturgy Resources, 1986 All Rights Reserved.  Used for Educational purposes.)  

Read  St. Matthew 26:  14 – 16

Judas goes to the Chief Priests and asks them what they would give to him if he delivers Jesus.   WHAT?    Why would Judas do something like this?  Why would he go against his friend and teacher?   We never know why Judas betrays Jesus.  It could have been Judas’ understanding of Messiah was different than what Jesus was declaring as Messiah.  Perhaps Judas understood Jesus to be  a political saviour and lead a revolt against Rome.   This was not the Messiah Jesus taught the Disciples that he would become.  
Thirty pieces of silver comes from the prophet Zechariah 11: 12.  Thirty pieces of silver was the payment for the rejected shepherd.  A small sum that was only a token gesture of repayment. Zechariah the Prophet is bring up the image of thirty pieces of silver from Exodus 21: 32.  This is the price of silver paid to a master whose slave is gored by an ox. Judas did not betray Jesus because he needed the money.   Yet,  for a very small insignificant sum,  Judas begins on the road of deception and betrayal of Jesus. 
Sometimes small lies and small deceptions grow into life sized sins.   Today,  take time to say Prayers of Forgiveness.   Through Jesus’ death and resurrection,  we are already forgiven.  Yet,  it is only through looking at our lives and asking for forgiveness can we receive a true cleansing and become new again. 

Prayer of Forgiveness:    In order for each of us to be able to say “thank you God”, we need to forgive ourselves and others.   The Forgiveness Prayer exercise today is an easy one but a thorough exercise.

Fold a piece of paper in half lengthwise.   On the left hand side  write the name of the person and  what they have done to you.  Add anyone you can think of on this list…. From the driver who didn’t stop to let you cross the road to the sister that forgot your birthday.

The more we forgive the more healing can be done. 

When you are done writing the names on the left hand side of your paper, start writing on the right hand side this phrase

 Dear _________, I do forgive you for _____________ and I set you free.  Through the love and forgiveness of God,  I do forgive myself for feeling hurt/ angry/  violated and I know that God will set my free.

Wait until you feel different in anyway when you think about that person.  Then go to the next name on your list.  Sometimes the list is a few names and sometimes the list is pages long.   But remember,  the more we forgive the more of God’s love we share. 

End your  Forgiveness Prayer exercise with this  prayer: 

God of all Graciousness,  I thank you that I can come to You with heavy burdens and You take all my burdens  from me.  Thank You Great God that You have taken my sorrows and anger and replace them with Your forgiveness and love.   Lamb of God,  You take away the sins of the world,  grant me Your peace.     In Jesus’ Name I pray.   Amen.

Many blessings!

From Wednesday to Thursday Night, read  St. Matthew 26: 1 - 75  
Pray:   Lamb of God,  You take away the sin of the world,  have mercy upon us.  Lamb of God,  You take away the sins from my heart,  have mercy upon me.  Lamb of God,  You take away the sin of the world, forgive us our sins.  Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world,   grant us Your peace.   As we live out our life in Your name today,  help us to ask ourselves “What have I done for Christ?”    “What am I doing for Christ today?”  What ought I to do for You today”?    Lamb of God,  You take away the sin of the world,  grant us Your love and peace.   Amen 

Tuesday - Holy Week

Museum Tuesday.   Today at the Museum is clean up day from our fantastic Vimy Night Fundraiser.  The WW1  Battle of Vimy Ridge  was fought from 9 April 1917 to 12 April 1917 (and beyond).   The Canadians as a Corps launched the battle on Easter Monday 9 April 1917.  Historians frequently call this Canada's  Defining Moment.    Ninety five years later,  we come upon Easter Monday  9 April 2012.    As we journey with Christ this day,  think and pray for all the lives that were lost and changed because of WW1.   What a sacrifice.   And Christ is the ultimate sacrifice for us.   

Prayer:   Come, ye disconsolate, where’er ye languish;  come to the mercy seat; fervently kneel; here bring your wounded hearts’ here tell your anguish: earth has no sorrows that heaven cannot heal.  Joy of the desolate, light of the straying, hope of the penitent, fadeless and pure!  Here speaks the comforter, tenderly saying, earth has no sorrows that heaven can not cure.   Here see the bread of life;  see waters flowing forth from the throne of God, pure from above:  come to the feast of love; come ever knowing earth has no sorrows but heaven can remove.  Amen.                                           (Thomas Hastings  1784 – 1872  Public Domain).

Read St. Matthew 26: 6 – 13

This portion of the Gospel is in sharp contrast to yesterday’s reading.   Yesterday,  the High Priest and Elders were plotting against Jesus.   Today Jesus and the disciples  are “at table” sharing a meal together at the home of Simon the leper.   We don’t know who  Simon the leper was other than his name and designation.  Even though Simon was designated Simon the leper,  he was more than likely Simon the Cured Leper.  To eat with a leper would have made Jesus and the disciples unclean.  To eat at the home of a cured leper would keep Jesus and the disciples clean in the eyes of the Torah – especially during this time of the Passover. 
Then an unnamed woman comes along and pours some very expensive ointment over Jesus’ head.  Who is this woman?  We don’t know as the Gospel does not say but we do know she was not a slave nor a servant as it is made very clear that it was A WOMAN.   
The Disciples are indignant. Pouring expensive ointment over Jesus’ head.   What a waste of resources and finances that could have been used to help the poor. 
But Jesus says to the Disciples (and us today!)  five important things:                                
1.  Why do you trouble the woman.     No matter the gift,  when someone wants to give something in the name of Jesus,  don’t say their gift is too small or could be used for something else!  Let the person give their gift to Jesus.                                                                                        
 2.   For she has done a beautiful thing to Jesus.       What “beautiful thing” have you done for Jesus?                                                           
3.  For you always have the poor with you but you will not always have Me.                    
4.  In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial.
5.  Truly,  I say to you,  wherever this Gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.     What memory will the world have of you being a follower of Christ?      Ask yourself three questions:   What have I done for Christ,  What am I doing for Christ today,  and what ought I to do for Christ today.

Prayer:    Lamb of God,  You take away the sin of the world,  have mercy upon us.  Lamb of God,  You take away the sins from my heart,  have mercy upon me.  Lamb of God,  You take away the sin of the world,  grant us Your peace.   As we live out our life in Your name today,  help us to ask ourselves “What have I done for Christ?”    “What am I doing for Christ today?”  What ought I to do for You today”?    Lamb of God,  You take away the sin of the world,  grant us Your grace.   Amen.

Many blessings.

Monday -Holy Week - Lent 6

Sunday aaah Sunday.  The day of retreating in God's  word.   I was doubly blessed to get our favourite wise Taxi Driver.    This gentleman always thanks us for blessing him.    His understanding of life is that if he gets to pick up his passengers from a Holy Place that means that the person coming out of the Holy Place will bring that holiness with them and by sitting in his taxi cab,  will bless him.    Ya know,   isn't this the way we should be sharing the Good News?    We had a unique discussion about Jesus and Good Friday and what does a Holy Day have to do with stores closing.     While this taxi driver thinks that his Church passengers bless him,  in reality  he is a blessing to us!
And so the time of Holy Week begins.   A time of meditation upon the journey of Jesus to the cross and beyond the cross to the Resurrection.

Devotional Retreat....
Prayer:  Lord Jesus, who through forty days for us did fast and pray, teach us with You to mourn our sins, and at Your side to stay.  As You with Satan did contend, and did the victory win, oh give us strength to persevere, in You to conquer sin.  As thirst and hunger once You bore, so teach us, gracious Lord, to die to self, and daily live by Your most holy word.  And through these days of penitence, and through the Passion tide, now, evermore, in life and death, Lord Christ, with us abide.  Abide with us, that so, this life of suffering overpast, an Easter of unending joy we may attain at last.  Amen.             (Claudia Frances Hernaman 1838-1898  Words: Public Domain)

Read Matthew 26: 1 -5

This is the season of the Church year called “Holy Week”.   Along with Jesus and the Disciples,  we too journey up to Jerusalem for the Passover.   During Holy Week,  we will be reading portions of the Gospel According to St. Matthew that tell us the steps of Jesus and the Disciples from the Hosannas of Palm Sunday to the Last Meal to the  Crucifixion to the Glorious Resurrection.
Jesus turns to the disciples and says that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.  Their friend,  their teacher,  their companion will be crucified.   What do you think the Disciples thought as they heard Jesus saying he would be delivered up?  Perhaps sad and sorrowful,  perhaps shocked,  perhaps astounded.  We don’t know what the Disciples thought as their reactions are not recorded in the Gospel According to St. Matthew.  But put yourself in the Disciples shoes (or sandals).  What would you think?   Or do?  Or say to Jesus?
Then the Chief Priests and Elders gathered in the palace of the High Priest Caiaphas.   During the Exodus,  the High Priest were appointed by God  (Exodus 28: 1 – 2).  The succession of the High Priest was through the sons (Exodus 29: 1 – 9).    The High Priest  was easily identifiable as he wore specific vestments. The High Priest performed the religious rites, managed the Temple Priests,  controlled the Temple treasury, and was responsible for the Spiritual Development of God’s chosen people.  In order to do all these taskings,  the High Priest also had to spend much time in prayer.    During Jesus’ time,  the High Priests were often appointed by the Roman Government and acted as a liason between Roman Government and Jewish people.   Oh oh.   Can you see the problem here when a High Priest is appointed by a Government instead of being ordained by God?  Yup,  big problem.    What happens when a High Priest is appointed by a Government instead of by ordained by God?  What happens to their prayers?  What happens to their ability to listen to God?
As you close in prayer today,  take each sentence of this prayer and pray it slowly.  Meditation upon the ideas and the words.   Do not rush these Holy Week prayers. 

Prayer:   Great God,  we come before You today saying, “Here we are Lord.  We are listening”.      Almighty God,  help us to live out this Holy Week  in thought, word, and deed.    We read today in Your Holy Scriptures of the plot against Jesus.   Did the High Priest really know what would happen?  Did the Elders of the People really know what would happen by their actions?   As we read the journey of Jesus to the Cross and Resurrection this week,  help us to walk with Jesus on his journey.  Reassure us yet again that Jesus walks with us on our journey of life. Make us mindful of our actions.    Redeeming God,  we pray by the passion of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to help us in all our trials and to be the strength for our weaknesses.   Lamb of God,  You take away the sins of the world,  receive our prayers.   Lamb of God,  You take away the sin of the world,  grant us peace.    Great God,  we know that You love us and give us eternal life and joyful hope.  Comfort our hearts and strengthen them in every good word and work so that this Holy Week we may share the Life and Good News of Jesus Christ our Lord.     Amen.

Many blessings!