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Daily Lectionary Readings for Year B
Well, we have come to the end of 2020. This has been a year like no other. We have experienced compounded suffering. But as we look back, we can also see the grace. God has been present. I have witnessed that grace through the love that you have shared with one another, the beauty of birds singing in the garden, the creativity of teachers and patience of parents, the resiliency of children and youth, the bravery of health professionals and front line workers, the determination to learn about anti-racism and to change the world for the better, the new ways to do old things, the sunrises, the sunsets... What better way to end the year than with Scripture? The Psalm calls out a song of praise. Praise God from the heavens! Praise God from the heights! Praise God, all the angels! Praise God, sun and moon and stars and sky. Praise God, earth and sea, fire and hail, snow and frost, mountains, hills, cattle, and all creatures. Praise God, all the people. Princes and rulers, men and women, young and old alike. Praise God! As you think about 2021 and the resolutions you have for your life, consider Solomon's dream. In his dream, God said, "Ask what I should give you." Solomon pondered - a new suit? a pile of money? power? His response, "an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil." Seek wisdom and understanding this year. And remember, when you are discouraged, when you wonder if it matters to love your neighbor even when that is hard, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” Keep following the light. It is quite a journey full of mystery and wonder. I look forward to following that light with you into a new year. Eternal Light, shine into our hearts. Eternal Goodness, deliver us from evil. Eternal Power, be our support. Eternal Wisdom, scatter the darkness of our ignorance. Eternal Pity, have mercy upon us. That with all our heart and mind and soul and strength we may seek your face and be brought by your infinite mercy to your holy presence; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (ALCUIN OF YORK, ENGLAND, 8TH CENT.) Peace, Dean
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Daily Lectionary Readings for Year B
The Gospel from our readings this morning could cause us to raise our eyebrows. Someone says to Jesus, "Your mother and brothers are here!" Jesus replies, "Who are my mother and brothers?" And, pointing at his disciples, Jesus says, "Here are my mother and my brothers." Yikes. I wish the Gospel writer would have continued with what Mary did next. But, perhaps this is not so much of an insult to Jesus' birth family as it is a recognition that shared faith makes us family. We often feel that at Wesley Park. I have noticed that some abbreviate the church not as WPUMC but as WPF. Wesley Park Family. When you go through life together, it makes you closer. Births and struggles, illnesses and celebrations, all make us feel like kin, even if we didn't grow up in the same house. One of the many unique parts of being a member of a church is when we allow others to know us. When we trust each other to be vulnerable because we share the love of Christ, we are no longer anonymous strangers. We are sisters and brothers. Some of you have been sharing your experiences with Dolores Sanford. Ron and Dolores came to Wesley Park and shared their light and faith. You walked by their side throughout Ron's cancer, and were there for Dolores when Ron died last December. You have called, and received calls from Dolores throughout this year, even when she wasn't feeling very well. You were her family, her brothers and sisters. She was your sister in Christ. When Dolores died on Christmas morning, we shared that kind of grief of a community of faith rejoicing in the home-going of a follower of Christ, and grieving the loss of a sister and a friend. I am glad that Jesus had friends who were like family. He knew what we know, that love is a powerful force that cannot be restricted by birthplace or blood. We are one family in Christ. I will attach the obituary for Dolores's funeral. But, let me make a few comments. All that I have just said about friendship, family, and faith make the love at the time of death so powerful. If these were normal circumstances, I would strongly encourage you to come to the funeral to share, grieve, and rejoice together. For some of us, it feels like the best way we can honor the one who has died. But these are not normal circumstances. The funeral will be at Dolores's son-in-law's church, which is large with a capacity of over 500 but with a restricted number of 100 people allowed to gather. Pews are roped off. Social distancing is required. Masks are mandatory. With the virus in the air and spreading even faster, please know you do not need to attend the funeral to honor Dolores. When the vaccine has been distributed and it is safe for us to gather together again, we will have a memorial service at the church. We will have a time for us to give God thanks for Jackie Price, Earl Morrow, Dolores, and others. We will give God thanks for our sisters and our brothers. For now, I would encourage you to be as safe as you can be. Prayers of thanksgiving from wherever you are would be a great gift and recognition of the special place Dolores has in your heart. WPF, do all you can in these days to call one another and stay connected. Trust that you are loved. Share your life. Share your hurts and your hopes. Give God thanks and praise for being welcomed and loved into this family of faith. https://legcy.co/3ptwLFP Peace, Dean Daily Lectionary Readings for Year B
Do you have a Creche in your home? A Creche is the nativity scene, with Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, the Shepherds, animals, and the Magi. Sometimes these are passed down through the generations. Always they hold a creative mystery for children of all ages to explore. What did the animals sound like? Where were the shepherds tending their flock by night? How might it have felt for the Holy Family to be visited by the Magi? If you have a Creche, spend some time with it today. Move the pieces around. Tell the story through their perspectives. We read today the horrific conclusion to this part of the story. Herod, enraged, orders the killing of all children under two years old as a desperate attempt to hold onto his power. Perhaps you can still feel and hear the weeping in Ramah. This is the beautiful, and cruel, world God entered through Jesus Christ. All of these characters are part of this story. The faithfulness and violence continues today. Maybe some time with the figurines can give us greater insight into the depth of God's love for the world. If you have a Creche, could you take a picture of it and email it to me? I would love to see it and perhaps even incorporate it into next Sunday's worship service. Peace, Dean
I have been working diligently on the worship services for this week. Suffice it to say, this whole year has been difficult. When it was clear that we could not gather safely together for Christmas Eve, it hit hard. How could we celebrate Christmas without gathering in the sanctuary with excitement in our eyes to witness the story of Christ's birth? How could we miss the singing, the candles, the shadows, the love? For some, the 11 pm Christmas Eve service is the moment to take a deep breath, the exact perfect ending to Advent and beginning of Christmas morning.
While it will not be the same, we will worship on Christmas Eve. The music team has offered up their hearts with absolutely incredible music. The conference has shared resources. Many of you have passed the light so that we can sing and shine together. We will worship on Christmas Eve.
Peace, Dean Daily Lectionary Readings for Year B
During the last few weeks of our online worship, we have caught a glimpse of the Wesley Park sanctuary. Locked away at home, secluded and cut off from our daily life so that we can protect the lives of our community, the sight of the sanctuary was like seeing a slice of heaven. Our spiritual home is familiar. It reminds us of the faces who once were strangers but now have become friends. Seeing the sanctuary again can have a prayer-like power, to bring us into an ongoing conversation with God. We can experience peace as we remember the comfort of the pews, feel the music fill to the rafters, catch the shadows and the sunlight through the windows, recall the stories and sermons and moments that made us think, or weep, or whisper "Amen." The sanctuary can also be filled with mystery. When the lights of the Christmas tree, and the candles in the hands of the young and old shine, our place of worship is filled with wonder. God is still speaking to us, after all these years. Jesus "is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word." God is present. Jesus speaks. The Spirit sustains us. The holy sanctuary reminds us of all these things. It's no wonder David and all the people celebrated when they carried the ark of the covenant. "David and all the house of Israel were dancing before the Lord with all their might, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals." That seems about right. Now, we are the people who dream dreams as we catch sight of a sacred space. God will help us find our way home again. In the meantime, be kind. Wash your hands. Practice social distancing. Wear a mask over your mouth and nose. Pray for others. Call someone and talk about what it feels like to see the sanctuary again. Peace, Dean Daily Lectionary Readings for Year B
Elijah is a revered prophet in our faith. Elijah chose to follow Yahweh, the God of Abraham and Sarah, over the gods of Baal. Elijah was faithful, he spoke truth to power, and in a touching scene passed on his blessing to the younger prophet Elisha to carry on the work. Then, as the two were walking along together, a chariot of fire swept down from heaven and carried Elijah off. He is one of the few in the Bible who did not die but ascended into heaven. And so, Elijah is a powerful symbol of hope for the coming of a new day. The faithful waited with anticipation for Elijah to return and help us all return to Yahweh. A chair is set out for Elijah at the Passover meal. Elijah was one who met Jesus on the mountain during his transfiguration. Many thought that John the Baptist was Elijah as he baptized by the Jordan River, calling all to repent and prepare for the Messiah. Jesus seems to concur in today's Gospel lesson, or at the very least grieve over the way the world treats God's prophets. When you read about Elijah, it's a good reminder to reflect on your readiness. Are you prepared for Christmas? Not so much do you have all your presents bought and wrapped. But moreso, are you ready for love to come and upset the balance of power in the world? Are you caring for the poor and oppressed and doing what you can to alleviate suffering? Are you mindful of the God, or the gods, you are worshiping? Are you spending time in prayer, study, confession, and repentance, alert and awake to the coming of Christ? Christmas is in nine days. Today might be a good day to reflect on your preparations. Peace, Dean Daily Lectionary Readings for Year B
On a recent day I prepared to head out for a walk in the park. I always prefer to be overdressed rather than underdressed when it comes to the weather. It was chilly on this particular day. Not freezing, and not snowy. We haven't had that kind of winter-like weather yet. But, it was cold. I got on my boots. I put on my fleece-lined jacket. I dug out my gloves. I slipped on my hat. And, I looped my face mask over each ear. I completed the outfit with a pair of sunglasses. I only needed to add the belt of truth around my waist and the breastplate of righteousness and I would have felt like I had been wearing the whole armor of God. With a 12.6% positivity rate in our area, 12 new deaths, and the ICU's filling up quickly, our masks are essential parts of our armor these days. The vaccine will take time to distribute and take effect. A mask worn properly over the nose and mouth can do much to protect you and others from the virus. In March and April masks were a novelty. In the first weeks, I might have mistakenly tried to wear a child-sized mask over my very adult-sized nose. Now, you probably have masks that match your outfits. Wearing a mask is physically important. But wearing a mask is also spiritually essential. A mask reminds us that we are all vulnerable, that we are all connected, and that we all matter. Wearing our "armor" values life and the ways we share our living. What kinds of precautions do you take to guard against the elements? What protects you from the things in this world that can do you harm? As you head out in the days to come, think about the Armor of God. You are loved by God. So is your neighbor. Give thanks for the ways God seeks to protect us and connect us. Peace, Dean Daily Lectionary Readings for Year B
The readings this morning form us as a people. They express the hope of a community brought together by God's grace and forgiveness, with hearts ready to dream, a vision for a brighter tomorrow, and strength in Christ to endure the suffering of this age. I believe it makes a difference to be joined together in community. We share each other's pain and celebrate one another's joys. We are not alone in this world. The baptism we share in Christ connects us and can be a constant reminder of God's constant presence in our lives. The Wesley Park UMC Advent Calendar invites us to "Give joyfully today to a ministry or person in need." Here are some opportunities to give through UMC Giving. Consider giving this week toward the Black College Fund and celebrate how we are all connected in Christ. Peace, Dean Daily Lectionary Readings for Year B
I usually get up at 6 am to get ready for the day. At 6:30 am some smart technology in my house automatically turns on all my lights. I open up my computer just after 7 to check email, read the news, and read the lectionary texts. Not often, but sometimes, I turn on the radio. I tried something different this morning. Lights off. No computer. No electronics. No radio. Just time in the early morning to be present. Quiet time. It felt holy, as if I was joined by the Spirit and God was speaking in the darkness. I wonder if this was how Zechariah felt when he drew the lot to enter into the sanctuary to offer incense? No one was there but him, but perhaps he knew he was not alone. There would be no better time to let God know his prayers. But when the angel appeared and sat down beside him, Zechariah was overwhelmed and filled with fear. God knew his prayer, and the child in Zechariah and Elizabeth prayers would prepare the way for another child of God. Have you ever walked into the empty sanctuary and sensed God's presence? Have you ever turned off all the lights and sounds in your house and felt as though an angel was sitting beside you? Today might be a good day to prepare to enter into a holy place of your choosing and find sanctuary. Be attentive to the presence of God. Peace, Dean |
REv. Dean N. PrentissI am blessed to be the Pastor at Wesley Park UMC. Find Daily Lectionary Readings Here. Archives
February 2021
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