Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb …
Going to the tomb, what do people expect? A Sufi sheikh from Lebanon told a story, recently, of a road being built in Syria – and the engineers’ planned route mean they would have to demolish the tomb of a saint, centuries old. So they opened it – and reported the smell of roses. The road was re-routed. This is the story that he told us.
When the Russian saints died, the expectation went, their bodies would not decay – they would not be corrupt. So, in the novel The Brothers Karamazov, when the saintly Father Zossima dies, the people are scandalized: for after four days there is a stink.
When Jesus went to Bethany, to the home of his friends, he arrived after Lazarus died. When he went to the tomb, they warned him: they knew what to expect, a stink. But he called, “Come out!” Out Lazarus came, tottering, still wrapped and banded for the tomb.
What did Mary expect, coming to the tomb, early in the morning, while it was still dark, on that first day of the week?
Thursday at supper they had expected that in the morning Jesus would show himself at last, had they not? For the festival was at hand, Passover, when the true king of God’s people, their redeemer, their liberator, their savior, could show himself. The people would be vindicated, when the Anointed One was revealed.
Friday morning those hopes, those expectations, had been crushed in bitter humiliation. He was crucified. Then all became dark and grim and silent. They expected – the end of the world.
Now, on the first day of the week, what could she expect? What was left but to mourn?
And yet – Jesus overturns all expectations. There is no smell – no roses, no corruption – and the grave clothes are neatly folded, their use forgotten. There is no body lying there.
Something beyond expectation has come to be.
All relationships are altered by his reality; everything is changed by his presence.
Mary! He calls. The good shepherd knows his sheep, and they know his voice.
Rabbouni! She replies. Master!
Their relationship is changing, even as they speak. For the mission of Jesus on the earth is over, completed – God has been glorified in him – and the glorified Christ now must go to his Father.
Not to his father only: he goes to ‘my Father and your Father, my God and your God’.
All relationships have changed. We are now one in Christ, and in Christ one body.
As Jesus prayed, so it has come to be: as he and the Father are one, so are his disciples one, with him, and with each other. So he says ‘my Father and your Father’.
He greets Mary as sister – and he greets her as messenger: Go! Bear the glad tidings.
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
Christ’s messengers go forth and begin to make disciples of all nations.
Peter preaches to the household of Cornelius, a Roman officer. He brings the good news to these Gentiles. There is one God for all, one gospel for all, and peace with God for all, through faith in Christ.
Fear God and do what is right, he tells the gathering. All are justified before God by grace through faith. Jesus is Lord. Reconciliation and restoration to right relationship with the ruler of the universe can now be possible.
Every one who puts their trust in Christ receives this reconciliation, peace with God, forgiveness of sins, and rightness before God, the maker of all, and his son Jesus, the one Lord and judge of all.
Christ’s death and resurrection we celebrate - as those who ate and drank with him in the sacred meal, the witnesses to his resurrection.
We receive light and life, and communion with God, in Christ.
Paul passes on to the Christians at Corinth the good news which he has received: Christ died for our sins, in accordance with the Scriptures, and was buried; Christ was raised, on the third day, in accordance with the Scriptures, and he has appeared to one and to many: to Cephas, to the Twelve, to more than 500; to James, to the Apostles, and to himself.
Christ has died for our sins. Christ has risen from the dead. Christ will come again.
And in him our lives are made whole and right. We receive from him light and life.
This is the good news, the gospel, ‘which is NOW bringing YOU salvation.’
This is the good news, and we bear the glad tidings to the world.
Alleluia! Christ is risen - and everything has changed.
Acts 10: 34-43
Psalm 118: 1-2, 14-24
1 Corinthians 15: 1-11
John 20: 1-18
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Sunday, April 12, 2009
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
HOLY WEEK AND EASTER 2009
Christ has to be risen for each one of us. For the belief that Christ rose on the third day is based more on encountering Christ in experience than the discovery of the empty tomb. We have to be prepared for an encounter with the risen Lord. He will then lead us in the triumph of the resurrection wherever we are. And every day will become a celebration of his feat of victory. We are an Easter People and Alleluia is our song.—John Sentamu, Archbishop of York
It has been a long road from Ash Wednesday to Good Friday; the work is accomplished. Jesus from the Cross has himself said the words: “It is accomplished.” God’s gift of himself in the Person of His Son, the Beloved, his life and his death brought forth for our salvation, is completed in the one perfect offering of himself, in the integrity of his being, on the Cross.
But that is not the end of the story. It is only the beginning, of the one great story (as C. S. Lewis called it). That is the story of the glory of God and of God’s people becoming one in Christ.
And the new chapter of the story, the unexpected chapter, comes when the Sabbath is over, on the first day of the week.
It is just after sunrise. The streets are quiet. Nothing stirs. Then a knock on a door and a silent figure slips out to join another, and another joins them. They make their way out of town to the tombs, bringing with them the aromatic oils and spices for the anointing of the dead. They arrive at the tomb of the Beloved. One last duty.
“What are you doing here?” a strange question, from a strange figure, arrests them. “Why are you looking for the living among the dead? See! He is not here – he has risen! And he goes before you into Galilee. Go! And tell the others.”
It takes awhile for the news to gather them, but the disciples, the followers of Jesus, find their way again to an upper room, this time to await – what? The knock on the door? The soldiers come to take them away? But one appears among them, greeting them, “Shalom! Peace – the peace of God – be with you!”
And soon they were joined by a crowd, and spoke to them in the languages the people would understand, of the good news, the wonderful deeds, of the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Savior, come to bring the peace of God to the whole world. The song of praise began.
Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunder-peals, crying out,
‘Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord
and of his Messiah,
and he will reign for ever and ever.’
On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, ‘King of kings and Lord of lords’.
(Revelation 19:6, 11:15, 19:16)
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
* * * * *
Inspirations from Dr John Sentamu (Archbishop of York), C. S. Lewis ("The Last Battle"), Rev Paul Pfotenhauer, Dr Hugh Stevenson, and G. W. F. Handel.
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It has been a long road from Ash Wednesday to Good Friday; the work is accomplished. Jesus from the Cross has himself said the words: “It is accomplished.” God’s gift of himself in the Person of His Son, the Beloved, his life and his death brought forth for our salvation, is completed in the one perfect offering of himself, in the integrity of his being, on the Cross.
But that is not the end of the story. It is only the beginning, of the one great story (as C. S. Lewis called it). That is the story of the glory of God and of God’s people becoming one in Christ.
And the new chapter of the story, the unexpected chapter, comes when the Sabbath is over, on the first day of the week.
It is just after sunrise. The streets are quiet. Nothing stirs. Then a knock on a door and a silent figure slips out to join another, and another joins them. They make their way out of town to the tombs, bringing with them the aromatic oils and spices for the anointing of the dead. They arrive at the tomb of the Beloved. One last duty.
“What are you doing here?” a strange question, from a strange figure, arrests them. “Why are you looking for the living among the dead? See! He is not here – he has risen! And he goes before you into Galilee. Go! And tell the others.”
It takes awhile for the news to gather them, but the disciples, the followers of Jesus, find their way again to an upper room, this time to await – what? The knock on the door? The soldiers come to take them away? But one appears among them, greeting them, “Shalom! Peace – the peace of God – be with you!”
And soon they were joined by a crowd, and spoke to them in the languages the people would understand, of the good news, the wonderful deeds, of the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Savior, come to bring the peace of God to the whole world. The song of praise began.
Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunder-peals, crying out,
‘Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord
and of his Messiah,
and he will reign for ever and ever.’
On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, ‘King of kings and Lord of lords’.
(Revelation 19:6, 11:15, 19:16)
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
* * * * *
Inspirations from Dr John Sentamu (Archbishop of York), C. S. Lewis ("The Last Battle"), Rev Paul Pfotenhauer, Dr Hugh Stevenson, and G. W. F. Handel.
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eucharistic ministry
We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3)
Serving in the liturgy (Gk., leitourgia, ‘the work of the people’) can involve something that looks simple – but has deep meaning. Once while hitchhiking home from a community college class, I had an encounter that stayed in my mind. A fellow student picked me up, an older guy from my class. He said he used to be a nuclear warhead mechanic – but retired. “It’s time for somebody else to play god.”
At the holy Table, we work with elements much more powerful: the sacrament of Christ’s body and blood, in the gifts of bread and wine at the Eucharist. We, who serve at the altar, clergy, acolytes, and Eucharistic ministers, take in our hands the offerings of the people, as they are transformed by the Spirit of God into the presence of the Lord. We offer them: “The body of Christ, the bread of heaven; the blood of Christ, the cup of salvation.”
For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
What we have in our hands is Life itself. As we take part in the thanksgiving, we bring into the present the great event of Christ – his life, his death, resurrection, and ascension, and we proclaim that self-offering, until his coming again.
In ourselves we are not worthy; it is in the very sacrament we take in, that we are made worthy. What we are doing at the altar is holy. It is the transformation of bread and wine, and of ourselves, into offerings giving glory to God – and transforming the world.
Take Jesus in – and live. Take Jesus in – and have grace enough to share in abundance. Take Jesus in – and proclaim the good news.
Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)
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Serving in the liturgy (Gk., leitourgia, ‘the work of the people’) can involve something that looks simple – but has deep meaning. Once while hitchhiking home from a community college class, I had an encounter that stayed in my mind. A fellow student picked me up, an older guy from my class. He said he used to be a nuclear warhead mechanic – but retired. “It’s time for somebody else to play god.”
At the holy Table, we work with elements much more powerful: the sacrament of Christ’s body and blood, in the gifts of bread and wine at the Eucharist. We, who serve at the altar, clergy, acolytes, and Eucharistic ministers, take in our hands the offerings of the people, as they are transformed by the Spirit of God into the presence of the Lord. We offer them: “The body of Christ, the bread of heaven; the blood of Christ, the cup of salvation.”
For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
What we have in our hands is Life itself. As we take part in the thanksgiving, we bring into the present the great event of Christ – his life, his death, resurrection, and ascension, and we proclaim that self-offering, until his coming again.
In ourselves we are not worthy; it is in the very sacrament we take in, that we are made worthy. What we are doing at the altar is holy. It is the transformation of bread and wine, and of ourselves, into offerings giving glory to God – and transforming the world.
Take Jesus in – and live. Take Jesus in – and have grace enough to share in abundance. Take Jesus in – and proclaim the good news.
Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)
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Sunday, February 8, 2009
Celebration of the life of Noel King
We will be joining in the celebration of the life of Noel King on Sunday 22 February 2009 at 2pm in First Congregational Church, 900 High Street, Santa Cruz, California
As posted at http://nqking.wordpress.com:
Latin phrases have not fallen effortlessly from my lips despite a lifetime of patient teaching by example from Noel King. In fact the phrase “Dominus illuminatio mea” I once rendered God illumines my aunt…. which I’m sure she does.
He also gently pointed out the origins deep in time of the phrase, ‘my mercy always takes place over my wrath’.
Mercy and goodness follow us all the days of our lives, as they surely chased us when Dr King was in the room.
He was my great teacher from the moment I wandered into the Baobab Room in Winter quarter 1974 to a ‘pro-seminar’ on the Gospel of John. When I called on him in office hours some time later the students were stacked up like waiting airliners so he sent me down the hall to make some tea. There I found another friend, Bilal, who had been sent on a similar errand. We knew our teacher would be along - he had left one of his many pairs of Sikh-style leather slipper-sandals on the floor of the faculty common room… occasionally I would retrieve same from class rooms and return them down the hall to his office… many warm memories from that day on - including his ‘family interview’ with she who was to become my bride. … and greeting the gloaming with him: hence the evening prayers appended below.
See you at the Celebration, God willing, in this world or the next.
Psalm 27 Dominus illuminatio mea
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom then shall I fear? *
the LORD is the strength of my life;
of whom then shall I be afraid?
5 One thing have I asked of the LORD;
one thing I seek; *
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days
of my life;
6 To behold the fair beauty of the LORD *
and to seek him in his temple.
Let my prayer be set forth in your sight as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Psalm 141:2
If I say, “Surely the darkness will cover me, and the light around me turn to night,” darkness is not dark to you, O Lord; the night is as bright as the day; darkness and light to you are both alike. Psalm 139:10,11
O gracious light,
pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven,
O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!
Now as we come to the setting of the sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices,
O Son of God, O Giver of Life,
and to be glorified through all the worlds.
Then follows
V. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit;
R. For you have redeemed me, O Lord, O God of truth.
V. Keep us, O Lord, as the apple of your eye;
R. Hide us under the shadow of your wings.
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As posted at http://nqking.wordpress.com:
Latin phrases have not fallen effortlessly from my lips despite a lifetime of patient teaching by example from Noel King. In fact the phrase “Dominus illuminatio mea” I once rendered God illumines my aunt…. which I’m sure she does.
He also gently pointed out the origins deep in time of the phrase, ‘my mercy always takes place over my wrath’.
Mercy and goodness follow us all the days of our lives, as they surely chased us when Dr King was in the room.
He was my great teacher from the moment I wandered into the Baobab Room in Winter quarter 1974 to a ‘pro-seminar’ on the Gospel of John. When I called on him in office hours some time later the students were stacked up like waiting airliners so he sent me down the hall to make some tea. There I found another friend, Bilal, who had been sent on a similar errand. We knew our teacher would be along - he had left one of his many pairs of Sikh-style leather slipper-sandals on the floor of the faculty common room… occasionally I would retrieve same from class rooms and return them down the hall to his office… many warm memories from that day on - including his ‘family interview’ with she who was to become my bride. … and greeting the gloaming with him: hence the evening prayers appended below.
See you at the Celebration, God willing, in this world or the next.
Psalm 27 Dominus illuminatio mea
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom then shall I fear? *
the LORD is the strength of my life;
of whom then shall I be afraid?
5 One thing have I asked of the LORD;
one thing I seek; *
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days
of my life;
6 To behold the fair beauty of the LORD *
and to seek him in his temple.
Let my prayer be set forth in your sight as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Psalm 141:2
If I say, “Surely the darkness will cover me, and the light around me turn to night,” darkness is not dark to you, O Lord; the night is as bright as the day; darkness and light to you are both alike. Psalm 139:10,11
O gracious light,
pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven,
O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!
Now as we come to the setting of the sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices,
O Son of God, O Giver of Life,
and to be glorified through all the worlds.
Then follows
V. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit;
R. For you have redeemed me, O Lord, O God of truth.
V. Keep us, O Lord, as the apple of your eye;
R. Hide us under the shadow of your wings.
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Saturday, February 7, 2009
a prayer after communion - from Iona
A prayer after Communion:
Lord Jesus Christ,
you have put your life into our hands;
now we put our lives into yours.
Take us, renew us, and remake us.
What we have been is past;
what we shall be,
through you,
still awaits us.
Lead us onward.
Take us with you. Amen.
--from the Iona Community, A Wee Worship Book (Wild Goose Publications)
www.iona.org.uk
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Lord Jesus Christ,
you have put your life into our hands;
now we put our lives into yours.
Take us, renew us, and remake us.
What we have been is past;
what we shall be,
through you,
still awaits us.
Lead us onward.
Take us with you. Amen.
--from the Iona Community, A Wee Worship Book (Wild Goose Publications)
www.iona.org.uk
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BROKEN
Lyrics of "Broken" (Henri Nouwen/Tara Ward):
You are broken, I am broken, everyone is broken
You are broken, I am broken, intimately broken
Stay, there is peace beyond anguish
life beyond death, love beyond fear
and we all have to suffer to enter our glory.
Bless, bless and do not curse.
Pull brokenness far from the shadow of curse
put it under the light of the blessing.
Praise, praise to you Lord
for I never realized
broken glass could shine so brightly.
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Listen - http://www.belovedschurch.org/hope/broken.php
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You are broken, I am broken, everyone is broken
You are broken, I am broken, intimately broken
Stay, there is peace beyond anguish
life beyond death, love beyond fear
and we all have to suffer to enter our glory.
Bless, bless and do not curse.
Pull brokenness far from the shadow of curse
put it under the light of the blessing.
Praise, praise to you Lord
for I never realized
broken glass could shine so brightly.
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Listen - http://www.belovedschurch.org/hope/broken.php
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Sunday, February 1, 2009
invitation to the observance of a holy Lent
'For all that has been, thanks. For all that will be, yes.' - Daj Hammarskjold
The sun is out, the beach glistens, buds appear on trees: the days grower longer, the nights shorter, but it is still winter.
Advent, not long past, was a season of anticipation, expectation, and preparation, quiet yet joyous, not unlike the last month before a birth, as the solstice, and the Son of God, approach.
By Easter the earth will have a taken a quarter-turn in its yearly revolution around the Sun. Lent is the run-up to this turning. The days before the holiest of weeks are filled with another season of preparation, this one more somber, yet one of adventure and exploration - of the heart.
The revelations of Epiphany, the continuing set of showings-forth of the glory of God, from the pageant of the day of the three kings to the last Sunday of the season with its three figures - Moses, Elijah, and Jesus - on the mountain of Transfiguration, give way to a quiet time, marked by the ashes of mortality, as we prepare for the life beyond life.
The false spring of Palm Sunday, the rumbling greatness of Holy Week, the compelling story of the Passion narrative, the gemütlichkeit and scandal of Maundy Thursday, the shock of Good Friday's news, and the dawning of a brave new world on Easter morning, are all ahead of us.
(Gemütlichkeit, the Wikipedia assures us, connotes the notion of belonging, social acceptance, cheerfulness, the absence of anything hectic and the opportunity to spend quality time. A bit premature? There is more to come, my friends, after the dishes are taken away.)
In the meantime, the time between hope and promise fulfilled, the time between God showing forth in episodes of emergent grandeur and the astonishing dawn of the Resurrection, we call each other and ourselves into a communal season of - looking forward, looking within, of an adventure of the soul.
You may find encouragement in the idea of a solitary discipline, reading the Bible and praying every day. You may find moments of peace at a retreat or a quiet day. You may have a moment, only, to call a friend, and remember and renew an old acquaintance.
There are many ways to explore the meaning of this time of year, many ways to adventure in the souls' realm of yearning and delight, many ways to prepare for Christ. You are invited to take the path that leads your soul to him; you are invited to join us, as companions on the way. - Fr. John
Gospel Grapevine 2009 February
From the Rector's Desk
The sun is out, the beach glistens, buds appear on trees: the days grower longer, the nights shorter, but it is still winter.
Advent, not long past, was a season of anticipation, expectation, and preparation, quiet yet joyous, not unlike the last month before a birth, as the solstice, and the Son of God, approach.
By Easter the earth will have a taken a quarter-turn in its yearly revolution around the Sun. Lent is the run-up to this turning. The days before the holiest of weeks are filled with another season of preparation, this one more somber, yet one of adventure and exploration - of the heart.
The revelations of Epiphany, the continuing set of showings-forth of the glory of God, from the pageant of the day of the three kings to the last Sunday of the season with its three figures - Moses, Elijah, and Jesus - on the mountain of Transfiguration, give way to a quiet time, marked by the ashes of mortality, as we prepare for the life beyond life.
The false spring of Palm Sunday, the rumbling greatness of Holy Week, the compelling story of the Passion narrative, the gemütlichkeit and scandal of Maundy Thursday, the shock of Good Friday's news, and the dawning of a brave new world on Easter morning, are all ahead of us.
(Gemütlichkeit, the Wikipedia assures us, connotes the notion of belonging, social acceptance, cheerfulness, the absence of anything hectic and the opportunity to spend quality time. A bit premature? There is more to come, my friends, after the dishes are taken away.)
In the meantime, the time between hope and promise fulfilled, the time between God showing forth in episodes of emergent grandeur and the astonishing dawn of the Resurrection, we call each other and ourselves into a communal season of - looking forward, looking within, of an adventure of the soul.
You may find encouragement in the idea of a solitary discipline, reading the Bible and praying every day. You may find moments of peace at a retreat or a quiet day. You may have a moment, only, to call a friend, and remember and renew an old acquaintance.
There are many ways to explore the meaning of this time of year, many ways to adventure in the souls' realm of yearning and delight, many ways to prepare for Christ. You are invited to take the path that leads your soul to him; you are invited to join us, as companions on the way. - Fr. John
Gospel Grapevine 2009 February
From the Rector's Desk
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