Devotional 11-19-20

 KEEP SINGING

 "Teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to God." Colossians 3:16 ((NRSV)

 When Pastor Glenn's letter arrived inviting me and many others to share a memory, story or devotional for the homecoming celebration in late September, I knew that I wanted  to participate. l have warm memories of meeting many of you at the Homecoming celebration in 2018. The question was where to begin.

 The Upper Room writing for August 3rd immediately caught my eyes for several reasons and I have borrowed both the title and scripture passage from that day. August 3, 2020 marked the 150th anniversary of my grandfather Darlington’s birth at Graefenburg, Kentucky. Among the gifts he had for ministry included a beautiful, strong tenor voice, and he used it effectively over many years. Those who attended an Annual Conference in which he presided said the morning worship was the highlight, both the meditation and the singing which he always led.

 We United Methodist are a people who love to sing. Music is a part of our collective DNA. Others may chant the liturgy, but we sing our faith. Our heritage goes back to John and Charles Wesley. John was the preacher "in whom the world was his parish" and brother Charles, the prolific writer of countless hymns which enrich our worship to this day. His hymns include among many “Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing" (my grandfather's favorite), "Love divine, all love's excelling" (my favorite) and a beloved Christmas carol, "Hark! The herald angels sing." We are also blessed with a contemporary supplement to our hymnal with tunes and texts which resonate in an up to date manner.

 There are many facets of the Covid 19 pandemic which have surely altered our lifestyle and worship is certainly one. The comment I hear most frequently is: “I miss being in worship with my friends." Even when this is possible, health experts remind us to maintain social distancing, one from another, and refrain from singing in a col1ective setting. Many churches, including my home church, have worked at providing worship via Facebook and YouTube for which I am grateful. When the hymns are played and the text appears on the screen of my computer, I sing at home! So in this challenging time in our lives, may we keep a song in our hearts, words of praise on our lips and in a place and space where it is safe to do so,  “keep singing'' our faith in Jesus Christ, our Redeemer and Savior.

Sue D. Woods 

Devotional 11-11-17

Acts  7: 51-60    Galatians  1: 11-17

Earlier this spring when I looked at the Lectionary passages provided to me for the devotional ministry, I read among others the verses in Acts referenced above.  It is the story of events that led to the stoning of Stephen.  At the time I thought there might be a devotional here but I could not see it.  It was a scene difficult to contemplate, let alone write about and certainly not bedtime reading.  Over the summer I felt a prodding to revisit the passage and read on in the next chapter of the Acts of the Apostles.

As you may recall, Stephen was an apostle who witnessed to his faith in Jesus Christ.  His words put him in direct conflict with the hierarchy of the Jewish leaders.  He was considered out of the mainstream, dangerous, and he was quickly put to death.  His last words were: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”  His death marked the beginning of a time of persecution of Christians.

There was a young Jewish man named Saul present at Stephen’s execution who approved of the stoning.  Years later following his conversion and name change to Paul, he wrote in a letter to the church of Galatia:  “You may have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.   I advanced in Judaism beyond many Jews of my age for I was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors.”  Paul also wrote in this same letter:  “I want you to know that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man nor was I taught it; rather I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.”   So a question arises for us:  How might we experience a revelation from Christ?  Certainly there are countless ways but several thoughts come to mind.

Looking Back:  This is not to imply that we live in the past but rather to suggest that there are times when we are so close to a situation that any revelation eludes us.  This was certainly true of the disciples who did not grasp all that Jesus was telling them.  It was later, in light of the resurrection, they began to remember, understand and see with clarity what He had said.  Reflection can be illuminating to us as well.   This summer I enjoyed an organized tour of several National Parks which concluded near the home of a friend whom I had not seen in years.  I knew that she had multiple health issues but on the afternoon of our visit she was dressed, seated and awaiting my arrival.  She talked about the death of her sister and I listened and then shared some thoughts.   Later when her husband joined us, I said:  “I have just seen the majestic Yellowstone Park.  Take me back to the summer you met there years ago.”  It was a happy time in their lives and the expression of their voices reflected it.  Upon returning home I learned that she died one week after our visit.  Had I realized that her death was imminent? No, but in looking back I could see some signs that I had over looked.  I could also see that events which enabled our visit to occur were not by mere happenstance.

Looking from Another Perspective:  Sometimes we become so entrenched in our view of things that it helps to look from another angle.  Recently our pastor had a fine sermon in which she spoke about “looking through different lenses.”  What might it be like to walk in someone else’s shoes? To whom do we identify in a story and how would the same story feel from another point of view?  We might find a revelation or nugget of truth from a different perspective. 

Looking to Scripture: The study of scripture with others can be beneficial in discerning God’s word. Daily devotions make a difference in our spiritual journey as well.  One helpful thing for me is to read a chapter of the Bible rather than just the verses provided in a daily devotional.  The context of what comes before and what follows can provide an insight.  Perhaps few have experienced the intense revelation that Paul did but God seeks to be in communion with each of us.  Did Paul ever reflect on the scene of Stephen’s death?  While he probably did not dwell on it, certainly Paul knew that Christ who had chosen him and called him to proclaim the Gospel was the Lord and Savior to whom Stephen gave witness and offered forgiveness years before.

Prayer:
Open my eyes that I might see glimpses of truth Thou has for me.
Place in my hands the wonderful key that shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for Thee; Ready my God Thy will to see,
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine.    Amen.

Sue Woods

Devotional 5-12-17

“Hear  Our  Prayer”

Psalm 31, verses 1-5,
Verses 15 and 16:  “My times are in Thy hands: deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.   Let thy face shine upon thy servant; save me in thy steadfast love.”

A vivid childhood memory is that of observing my grandmother pack boxes to be shipped to Poland. Years before, at the conclusion of the First World War, the Methodist Episcopal Church, South sent several persons to Europe to determine where the Church might establish a presence to relieve some of the suffering inflicted from the War.  Poland was one of the countries.  Now, years later my grandmother received a letter from a person she knew writing on behalf of the Methodists remaining in Warsaw.  Life was difficult due to hardships imposed by the Communist regime.  They were in dire need of medicines and warm clothing. Could she help? There were challenges in mailing packages to Poland as boxes were frequently opened, searched and inspectors kept what they wanted for themselves.  This did not deter my grandmother.  Friends from church donated clothing requested. Whenever a new garment was given, she was off to the scrub board in the basement to fray the fabric just enough to make it unappealing to inspectors. A physician in the church donated medications normally dispensed by prescriptions only.  I watched as she skillfully sewed medications, one pill at a time, into the lining of a man’s overcoat or another prescription into the hem of a heavy wool skirt.  Some might say that she was ahead of the times in shipping pills into a country undetected!  She later learned that while not all boxes arrived completely intact, many did.  Certainly those who received the contents felt not only blessed but that a prayer had been answered.

A lectionary reading for this week is selected verses from Psalm 31 including the verses quoted above. It is a psalm attributed to David.   The psalmist prayed to God to save him from the hands of his adversaries.   While we do not know a lot about those persecuting him, it is clear that the psalmist placed his trust and reliance upon the steadfast love of the Lord.  He prayed to God to deliver him.  I was reminded when reading this passage how many times throughout history God has worked through ordinary persons to answer the prayers of another.   What was true in the past is also true now:  a card or call to a person whose prayer is to be remembered; time or resources to fill backpacks with food for children whose unspoken prayer is for something to eat over the weekend; personal contacts with someone who has rarely gone to church but wonders what it would be like to meet others in a setting of fellowship and acceptance. 

There is another dimension to the psalmist prayer.  He knew that his times were in God’s hands.  He asked for a blessing that God’s face might shine upon him and redeem him yet he also inclined his spirit to God’s safe keeping.  The psalmist opened his heart to God and so can we.

Gracious God, nudge us and use us in answering the prayers of others and when as the psalmist, we incline our spirits and needs to Thy loving care, Lord in Thy mercy, Hear our prayer.  Amen.

 (This devotion is dedicated to the loving memory of Virginia Bourne Darlington.)

Sue D. Woods

Devotional 10-30-15

 MY FRIENDS

 “ No longer do I call  you  servants, for the servant does not know what his

Master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all I have heard from my 

Father I have made known to you.”  John 15: 15

A trip in September to see a Cincinnati Reds baseball game with friends from church brought back a memory of long ago.  As a youngster I loved watching major league baseball, particularly with my dad, and I knew uniform numbers and statistics for many players. One summer we went to Cincinnati to see the St. Louis Cardinals and spent the night prior to the game at a downtown hotel.  While at the registration desk I spotted four men dressed in business attire chatting in the lobby.  I said to my dad: “I believe that is Stan Musial in the group.” He replied: “You are right; it is.” “Will you go over with me to ask for his autograph?”  “No, he replied, but I will wait right here while you go.”

For those who have no idea of whom I am writing, Stan Musial was an outstanding player during the 1950 ties and 1960 ties whose entire career was with the Cardinals.   Know as “Stan the Man,” he was well liked and respected, an exemplary person both on and off the field,   So, I approached him.  “Mr. Musial, may I interrupt to ask you to sign my autograph book?”  He replied: “I would be glad to do that but first, let me introduce you to my friends.”  One was another player for St. Louis whom I would have recognized had I seen his uniform number.  The other two were umpires in town, I assume, to officiate.

While umpires are essential to the game of baseball, they are probably the most unappreciated, frequently criticized or ignored persons on the field.  Their work demands impartiality as they make critical calls in split second decisions.   Their schedules require frequent travel.  Beneath the protective gear, these persons were probably like any others who appreciated respect and casual camaraderie.  It seemed an unlikely group, yet without hesitation he said: “First, let me introduce you to my friends.”

In our scripture passage, we encounter Jesus with his disciples, another unlikely group of ordinary people from various walks in life, yet each chosen for a purpose. They have been with Jesus for some time now, listening to his teachings, witnessing healings and discovering who He is.  Jesus knows that his time on earth is drawing to a close and there is much to impart to them.  “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. You are my friends if you do what I command.”  What follows are the words above.  Jesus tells the disciples that they are not servants who have no idea what the master is about, but friends with whom He has shared all that He has heard from the Father. The disciples have been chosen for a purpose: to bear fruit by witnessing God’s love to others.                                                                                                                                  

We are called to do likewise.  This can seem intimidating, so how do we go about it?  Certainly and importantly by the example of the life we live but also, I believe, in small intentional decisions we make along the way.   Several weeks ago a couple from a Sunday School class invited friends to a class dinner in a home.  I enjoyed meeting these persons for the first time, hearing a little of their story and sharing a little of mine.  As I observed them mingling with others, words from long ago echoed in my mind.  “First, let me introduce you to my friends.”

Prayer:  Loving God, you call us to be witnesses to your love. Empower us now to do just that.  In the name of Christ, we pray.  Amen.  

Sue Darlington Woods

Devotional 10-28-11

“Precious in the Sight of the Lord…”
Psalm 116 Verse 15

Have you ever had the experience of participating in the responsive Psalter reading during worship and wondering a short time later just what you read? I have. Perhaps my mind was distracted by other thoughts or concentrating more on which verse was for the leader and which for the congregation, the pulpit or lectionary side of the church. Members of the choir can find themselves multi-tasking, reading and opening music for an anthem which immediately follows. Yet, thankfully, there are times when the words of the Psalm leap off the page and speak to us as if they were directed just for us. Such was the case for me several months ago.

The setting was Mother’s Day Sunday and the reading was Psalm 116. Since my mother had died just six weeks before, the feelings of loss were still quite fresh. I contemplated staying at home that Sunday but because of responsibilities, I decided to attend worship and “stay detached.” The Psalm speaks of God’s mercy in hearing our voice, our prayers and supplications. The particular focus of this devotional, however, is simply on verse 15. “Precious in the Sight of the Lord” the verse begins and then takes an unexpected turn. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” (The New Revised Standard Version says “the death of his faithful ones.”) What comforting and reassuring thoughts those were to me. Since that Sunday I have pondered this verse a great deal.

Surely God’s ultimate will for us is wholeness, health and well being. Surely God loves all his creation equally with no partiality or favoritism. Still, the passage states that the death of his faithful ones is precious to God: those who have known the Lord, loved the Lord, served the Lord, meditated on his word and tried to walk in his ways. These words certainly described my mother but many others persons, too.

It seems that as a church family we have gathered far too many times this year to celebrate the lives of deceased members and mourn our losses together, sometimes under very difficult circumstances. As All Saints Sunday approaches, we are reminded once again of those who have gone on before us. If we have not encountered a very personal loss this year, we have in past years or will in years to come. Perhaps if we are able to shift our focus slightly from our personal feelings to God’s perspective, precious is the death of his saints, then we can rejoice in their triumphal homecoming.

Prayer: Lord God, one of Thy saints from long ago said that “our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee.” We offer thanks for those dear to us who are now in Thy presence. May we pattern our lives after their example that we, too, may someday join them in a place prepared for us. In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen.

Sue Darlington Woods