Devotional 11-1-13

St. Ambrose, archbishop of Milan, was one of the most influential church figures in the 4th century. He was a strong advocate of faithful church doctrine and worked hard to repel heresies that arose. His hymn which follows has been translated with several variations though it is a beautifully reflective poem that contemplates the presence of God in the arrival of the dawn. I've kept his hymn handy for morning prayer. I cobbled together some text from varying sources into a hymn which we will use to open our "All Saints Sunday" service of worship this week. May I offer the thought that you read this as a prayer. And come sing it with us on Sunday!

Dawn Sprinkles All the East with Light

Dawn sprinkles all the east with light
Day o’er the earth is gli-ding bright;
Morn’s shi-ning rays their course be-gin;
Fare-well to dark-ness and to sin.

May phan-toms of the night, we pray,
And trace of guilt be cleansed away.
What-e-ver weighs u-pon the heart
Let it with dark-ness now de-part.

Then, when that fi-nal morn ar-rives,
With hum-ble faith we hope our lives
May see, il-lu-mined by new sight,
What we now sing by ear-ly light:

Praise God from whom all bles-sings flow,
Praise God, all crea-tures here be-low.
Praise God a-bove ye heav’n-ly host.
Praise Fa-ther, Son, and Ho-ly Ghost.

“Aurora Jam Spargit Polum”
St. Ambrose, 4th c.
Text ed. jwl 2013
Tune:  Tallis’ Canon; Thomas Tallis 1505-1585

Rev. Jack Lipphardt

Devotional 10-25-13

"FEAR knocked at my door but when FAITH answered it there was nobody there."

A friend of mine who experienced a devastating tragedy in the loss of his wife and daughter in an automobile accident shared this with me a few weeks ago. It has helped me and I hope it will do the same for you.

Fear is a strong word that can cover anxiety, worry, panic, apprehension, agitation, disquiet, dread. I had no idea there were so many definitions of fear until I checked the dictionary. We have all experienced one or another type of fear some time in our lives. Maybe a big fear like a health issue or losing a job or perhaps a more every day event like having to step outside our comfort zone. However big or small we can always send FAITH to answer the door.

When FEAR coming knocking on your door, send FAITH to answer it.

2 Timothy 1:7   For God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

What a wonderful promise!

Jean Dean

Devotional 10-18-13

I’m pretty sure I speak for most parents in saying the birth of a child is in many ways the most intense experience of love.  When baby Devon was born six years ago, there was no doubt that we loved her.   Instead of the usual quick tests and then time in our arms, Devon had extensive evaluations and treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit.  The attached wires and tubes made it nearly impossible to hold her, so we didn’t do much of it in her first few days.  We went to see her quite a bit, but it seemed like every visit was another opportunity for the hospital staff to tell us about something else that was wrong with her.  I found myself reluctant to hold her.   I didn’t realize that I was protecting myself in the event that we might lose her.  For many reasons, though, this bonding issue resolved itself in a very short period of time.

I look back at all the relationships I have had throughout my life to this point.  I certainly don’t like some of the things I did or said, but I would never say I regret having met any of those people.  I am glad to have had an experience with every single one of them, including those with whom things did not end well.  A few that come to mind are a college roommate, a church acquaintance, and a middle school student.  In all cases, there are memories that still make me smile.

As I did at first with infant Devon, we all spend so much of our energy trying to protect ourselves from pain, but we are also avoiding some of the most fulfilling relationships.   There are people we see every day, but one reason or another will keep us from going just that extra inch to reach out to them. I am confident that when I make a connection with someone, I’m sometimes the one who most needs the relationship or the one for whom God has put the opportunity in place.  Why not choose just one this year?  Take the time to listen to what God wants for you and how He wants to use a new friendship.  My prayer is that we all take full advantage of the love that He provides everyday through one another, and that He strengthens the Church through us.

Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins.  Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. (1 Peter 4:8-10)

Natalie Wray

Devotional 10-13-13

Keep It Simple

I have recently been reading the book of Matthew. It struck me how much emphasis Jesus put on the intent of the law rather than the technicalities. He preached heartfelt obedience over legalistic observance. When questioned by the Sadducees about the greatest commandment, “Jesus replied, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the laws and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40 NIV) How simple! And yet over 600 laws and rules had been put in place to govern everyday life. Jesus called the Pharisees and the Sadducees hypocrites because they held others to standards they couldn’t meet themselves.

We still do this today. A few years ago I was talking to a gentleman about church. He told me he attended his wife’s church but was not allowed to join because he smoked! There was also a rule about not drinking alcohol. He thought that was okay ((he didn’t drink), but that the ‘no smoking’ rule was going a little far. I know this is an extreme example. Unfortunately it is this attitude that has made being a Christian synonymous with being a judgmental hypocrite. We all admit we are sinners. Where did we get the idea that someone else’s sin was worse than our sins? Where did we get the idea that we had the right to make that judgment? These attitudes certainly didn’t come from Jesus. Jesus was the epitome of loving acceptance and called the Sadducees and Pharisees on their hypocrisy many times. As Christians we need to hold ourselves to higher standards--not others!

Jesus kept it simple: Love God with all your heart, mind, and soul and your neighbor as yourself. Do this and everything else falls into place.

Margaret Williams

Devotional 10-4-13

THE MUSTARD SEED

The mustard seed has a long history and religious importance in Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Buddhism. The tiny size, 3mm in diameter, has been significant and referenced in the texts of these major religions.  Today, mustard seed is popular due to its distinct flavors and added health benefits.
                                                                                                        L.H. Lee, e-how contributor

When I was a young girl about ten years old, I received an unusual gift from my grandmother for my birthday.  It was a beautiful necklace, and hanging from the end of it was an encased oval glass piece with a tiny seed inside. Do I pretend to know what it is, or do I ask Grandmother? Though I didn’t know it at the time, Grandmother (not Grammy, Grandma, Nana, Mimi, etc. but Grandmother!) had been an activist in the Women’s Temperance Union, was a staunch Methodist, and had whispered secretly to me on occasion that I was her favorite grandchild! So rather than pretending I knew, I thought it was best to ask her what this mysterious little seed inside this beautiful bobbled necklace might be.

“It’s a mustard seed,” she said. “Wear it when you need to do something you don’t think you can do, and you may be surprised to see what happens.”

I didn’t quite understand her explanation, but I wore the necklace every day for the longest time.  I’m not sure what happened to it.  But over time I think I began to understand the significance of the mustard seed.

We learn about that significance in a parable of Jesus to his disciples in the New Testament.  In the Gospel of Luke 17:5-10, the disciples seem to be looking for an easy way to increase their faith by going directly to Jesus.  They simply say, “increase our faith!” and expect it. After all, Jesus can do anything! But Jesus indicates to them that they don’t need more faith.  They just need to believe in the faith already given them by God.

Jesus is using the tiny mustard seed as an example that little becomes much when it comes from God. “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”  Jesus explains in this verse from Luke  that even the tiniest bit of faith--God-given, true and free of doubt--will be there as your journey through your discipleship.

We have seen the truth of this lesson as we look at the growth of Christianity from the time of the apostles through today. Personally, for the apostles then and Christians worldwide now, we sometimes struggle as our faith is challenged. We worry that our faith will not see us through. But we need not worry. We need only to remember that little is much when it comes from God. Even the smallest bit of faith will work for us when it is true faith from God.

“If you have faith the size of a mustard seed…nothing will be impossible unto you.”
The Book of Matthew
 
Diane Feaganes