Friday, May 29, 2015

Trinity 1+1+1=1


There are three magnificent readings set for this Sunday and a glorious Psalm to set the tone for worship:

Prayers for Trinity Sunday


The first prayer is from A Barclay Prayer Book and the second is Patrick's Breastplate Prayer

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Trinity ... Unity

This is one of the few Sundays in the Christian year when all 4 of the lectionary readings are meant to compliment each other. So in Isaiah, in the action of the paired wings of the seraphim we see an image of Trinity. One pair covers the face (Father), another the feet (Son), and with the third they fly (Holy Spirit). In John we the Trinitarian nature of our salvation: God the Father loved us and sent the Son; we are drawn to and believe into the Son; and we are born anew of and by the work of the Holy Spirit. In Romans we see that as children of God, we are led by the Spirit of God, calling out to the Father, and being made joint-heirs with Christ the Son. As for the Psalm, in a polytheistic world, this temple song proclaimed that YHWH rules over all other gods in the heavens and on earth.
I think my focus is going to be that the unity in the Trinity ought to be manifested in unity in the church.
Here are the readings:

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Pentecost

   
I came across this prayer for Pentecost in an old Barclay Prayer Book. Written so many years ago but still as fresh and meaningful as ever, these prayers invite us to experience the wellspring of spirituality that nourished this timeless theologian's creativity. 

Friday, May 15, 2015

The Road to Blessing

 It had to be a time of "anxious waiting" for the eleven disciples gathered in the upper room after all they had been through and as they awaited Jesus' promise of the Holy Spirit.
We’ve all experienced times of "anxious waiting" … perhaps even going through such a time now. The best thing to do is what the disciples did those days. They gathered with their community of faith and "constantly devoted themselves to prayer" (v. 14). In times of anxious waiting, it is important to surround ourselves with the faith community and pray—pray for the presence and grace of God as we walk through those trying moments of our lives.
During this time of “anxious waiting”, God moves and God speaks and God calls. They still really aren’t sure what exactly they are waiting for, but they are sensitive to the promptings of God, and so Peter senses the need to replace Judas. But he senses this as he reads the Psalms … he quotes a few

The Psalm 1 Person

I preached on the Ascension on Ascension Day, so this Sunday I am using the readings set for the seventh Sunday of Easter. If you want the readings for Ascension Sunday, they are the same as the readings for Ascension Day. The Acts reading for this Sunday has the disciples choosing a replacement for Judas, but I am drawn to the Psalm for this Sunday, which at first glance is so either/or, but which is perhaps better interpreted as a "positive picture of the joys and pitfalls of our lifetime journeys" (Walter Bouzard). 

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Ascension Day Prayer and Readings

Ascension language is enthronement language. Jesus ascending into heaven means that Jesus is now enthroned in heaven. Notice how many times Jesus tells the disciples (us) to stop focusing on earthly kingdoms and glory and to focus instead on the Spirit-empowered mission (and the coming of the same Spirit) that lay before them (us) — to be witnesses in all the world. When the angels "interrupt" their wondering gaze, they also redirect the disciples to continue in this mission by waiting for the coming of the Spirit in Jerusalem.
Here are the readings for Ascension Day and a Prayer for Asscension Day

Friday, May 1, 2015

Fruit or Firewood

 John 15:1-8
As you read through the book of John, you will encounter 7 different conversations in which Jesus makes very specific, far reaching, and some might say, outrageous statements about Himself. Jesus does not just claim to know these things, or explain these things.  He blatantly claims that He
is these things.  If true, the implications, and impact are tremendous.  The implications reach deep into our real, daily lives.  The impact involves life-changing transformation with everlasting consequence.