Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A
One of my personal devotional sources is Disciplines, from The Upper Room. This morning I would like to share the writing of Claire K. McKeever-Burgett as she reflects on Psalm 100. As we struggle during this pandemic we can pray the Kaddish, together. In fact, as we remain apart to protect one another, we are even more aware how together we are as we pray and sing and walk with God. You are not alone today. You are joined by a community connected by love, hope, and faith. I recently heard Rabbi David Horowitz describe the Kaddish, an ancient prayer recited regularly in Jewish worship services and originally known as the Mourner's Prayer, as a prayer for those who proclaim, “In my hurt, I am willing to praise God." When he said these words, I saw in my mind's eye all those throughout the ages who, amid their oppression, abuse, exile, discrimination, and pain, stand and stumble to say, “In my hurt, I am willing to praise God." If we need further evidence that these people and these prayers exist, we need to look no further than Psalm 100. A song of thanksgiving and praise to the Shepherd who leads and guides, rescues and restores, Psalm 100 testifies to God‘s great love for God‘s people. Psalm 100 is a communal hymn that offers straightforward instruction for the congregation: make a joyful noise; be glad; give thanks; know that the Lord is God; know that the Lord is good. Amid all sorrow, heartache, grief, and pain, gather with the community and praise God. Though straightforward, these instructions are not easy for those who know the pains this life can bring. Therefore, when singing this Psalm and praying this prayer, we never stand or sing alone. The Mourner's Prayer or Kaddish is communal, meant to be recited in the presence of a person's community of faith, just as this song is meant to be sung with all people who know of God‘s goodness and love. Holy God, we come into your presence with singing. We will make a joyful noise as a witness to your goodness and love. Amen.
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Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A There is a good reason why people often have mixed feelings about politicians. There is much to respect and admire when a politician works for the common good, uses power to lift up the lowly, and guides others toward a hopeful future. There is much to regret when a politician manipulates others, uses power for self-interests, and is outwardly civil but behind the scenes is ruthless. This struggle we have with politicians and people in power is not new. Not by a long shot. Today, we read about it in the dramatic story of Esther. The Book of Esther is also a yearly Jewish celebration called Purim, next celebrated in February of 2021. We can learn a lot about the visceral retelling of the story, the cheering for Esther, the booing of Haman (Boo!), and the twists and turns that save God's people once again. Here is one of my favorite Bible sites online. Read the Scripture and watch the video to get a better understanding of what is happening in the Book of Esther. (By the way, I send out a Bible study from this site every Saturday to those who want to receive it. Let me know if you are interested in being added to the list.) Of course, it's always a good thing to call someone and talk together about some of the things that come to mind as you study. Be safe. Wear a mask. Wash your hands. Practice social distancing. Pray for others. Be kind. Peace, Dean Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A
This morning we read the origin story of Moses from Exodus 2. Moses was a beautiful baby born into a dangerous world, hidden away to protect him from being abused, taken, or killed. His mother's mama-bear instincts took over. She would do anything to guard over her precious child - hide him, comfort him, quiet him so that those who were seeking to do him harm could not find him. How many refugee and migrant mothers are doing the same this very morning? How many mothers are worried their child's cry or chatter will alert a guard or a soldier who might take that baby from her arms, never to be seen again? There is a desperate and relentless drive to be a shield against those who are more powerful. Can you imagine? His mother prayed and determined the only way to save her baby was to let him go. She brought the best basket she could find, coated it so that it would be waterproof, lined it with blankets, tears, and words of assurance. She kissed her baby and placed him in the basket and released him to float down the river with his sister Miriam keeping a close eye on his journey. Her hopes were that he would end up in the arms of someone who would protect him. Her prayers were that he would come to know that she did all this because she loved him. When the daughter of the Pharaoh found him, her prayers were answered. He would be protected. He would know his mother's love. And, he would have a name. Moses, which means, "I drew him out of the water." What does your name mean? What is your origin story? Who watched over and protected you from harm? Call someone and share together about the lengths some would go to protect their child from the dangers of this world. Pray for mothers and their precious, vulnerable children. Peace, Dean The Wesley Park UMC Church Conference was last Thursday, November 12. It was unusual, in that for the first time the Church Conference was online. The SPRC and the Guidance Team met with the District Superintendent by Zoom to complete some of the official business of the church. Things went well. We are getting used to these kinds of virtual meetings. One of the opportunities that accompany each Church Conference is for the pastor to submit a report on what has happened over the course of the year. I share that report with you now, with love and appreciation.
Pastor Report for 2020 Rev. Dean N. Prentiss 2020 After sending out the monthly newsletter we began to get some calls. Some birthdays and anniversaries were not included in the list. When Sara went into our database to look she found all the information was there, but one setting was off when printing the report. My reaction? “That is so 2020.” What a year this has been. January, February, March… 2020 started normally. The counters came to count the offering every Monday. The Tuesday Guys did their work around the church every Tuesday. The Women’s Prayer Group met in the Cornerstone Room every Wednesday. The Praise Team and Chancel Choir rehearsed every Thursday. Restoration Community Church rehearsed and studied every Friday and Saturday. And, we gathered for worship in the sanctuary every Sunday. Restoration Community Church worship followed from 1-5:30 pm. A new Children’s Sunday School was off and running every Sunday morning. The Youth Group met Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. The Food Truck brought hundreds of people together the first Thursday of the month. Add to that Square Dancing on Wednesdays and Saturdays, Senior Exercise on Mondays and Wednesdays, the Scottish Society the first Wednesday, and the Acts Council with RCC the first Monday… just a day-in-the-life of Wesley Park United Methodist Church. I should have known we were in for a different kind of year on January 5. On that first Sunday, the Wesley Park UMC Staff went to “The Great Escape” for an Epiphany Celebration. This is a place that locks you in a room, which is filled with clues that lead to your escape. It takes teamwork and calm thinking, and some luck. Our mission was to unlock the last clue before a nuclear blast destroys all of earth. We missed it by about 30 seconds. Sorry. :( Covid-19… On Wednesday, March 11, it was clear this was not going to be a normal year. Covid-19 was dangerous, and it was spreading. We learned it was not safe to be in close proximity to one another. We learned how deadly this virus could be, and that it could be spread by singing or by being inside with a large group of people. And that you could be carrying it without any symptoms, and could give it to people who were vulnerable. We realized quickly that we were all vulnerable. As the reality set in that we needed to take some action, we decided we needed to be cautious. We would only have an online worship that Sunday. That was 246 days ago. We have had 35 online worship services, about 175 pieces of music recorded in home studios and beautifully and miraculously put together into one harmony. These services have been viewed over 94,000 times. The world and the church would never be the same again. We were now in the time of the pandemic. The Joshua Task Force… It was clear that we needed a group to help guide us through the pandemic. We needed people to know the dangers, set the policies, and oversee the steps we were taking as a church. We called this group the Joshua Task Force, named after the one who led God’s people finally into the Promised Land. The group met online and with social distance in person week after week. They studied the reports from the CDC, the Michigan Conference, and all helpful sources. They developed policies that we would follow if we were to come back to worship together again. The Kent County Positivity Rate would need to be under 5%. All groups and meetings associated with the church would need to check in with the Task Force so we knew who was meeting when. People were required to maintain six feet distance, masks required, hand washing stations, registrations for worship to aid contact tracing if necessary, limited seating, a disinfecting team working before, during, and after worship, gatekeepers at the door, nothing passed hand to hand, shortened services, radio transmitted to the parking lot for those who wanted to attend but not be at risk, etc. The services were uploaded to the Wyoming Cable Access television station. People were calling those who did not have internet and setting their phones by the computer speakers so they could listen to worship. Cards and calls went out to try to stay connected. We were able to begin in-person worship in August. The congregation followed every policy and request. People just wanted to worship and see each other again. Those who needed to stay away could connect to worship online. We also established a phone number that people could call anytime to listen to the worship service. We continued in-person worship and online worship through October 11. We even had a parking lot communion service on World Communion Sunday. La Nueva Esperanza UMC joined us. Some Changes… Due to the virus, Wesley Park made the difficult decision to postpone indefinitely all in person ministries. We let the West Michigan Feeding America Food Truck know that we could no longer host the first Thursday of the month. They have found other locations to serve and feed those who came to Wesley Park. We also decided we could not host Family Promise families until it was safe to do so. These are foundational ministries that exemplified the ways we have lived out our faith. We continue to support these and other local ministries financially each month. We trust that God will open new doors for us to walk through in due time. Thank you for your beautiful expressions of faith and ministry these many years. 65 Years… In the midst of this unprecedented challenge, Wesley Park celebrated its 65th birthday. Cut out of the woods on the corner of 32nd and Michael, Wesley Park would be the first church plant of Grand Rapids Metro Ministries. We look back at the amazing people who have been part of this generous congregation. We feel blessed to call Wesley Park our Spiritual Home. We continue to be shaped into the likeness of Christ in our neighborhood. We give God thanks for each portion of this journey. The joys, and the sorrows. All of it has made us who we are today, and who God is calling us to be in the year ahead. Wesley Park has deep roots, planted in good soil, nurtured by love and grace. The challenges of 2020 cannot be denied. We are praying our way through each day and prepared for whatever we have to do to keep each other safe and loved. To God be the glory. Forever and ever. Amen. Today is Veterans Day. During our Wesley Park Wednesday Check Ins on Zoom we talk about whatever comes up. Often, the conversation includes experiences during military service. Today, we remember those persons who have served and came home to tell their story. This might be a good time to ask someone of their experience serving their country. You can find my Dad's story here, along with thousands of others, at the Library of Congress Veterans History Project. And, we remember those who died in service. Included in this message is the song, "Remembrance" from The United Methodist Discipleship Ministry site. Here is the background. British Methodist pastor and hymn writer Andrew Pratt has composed this remarkable text for Veterans Day (USA) and Remembrance Day (British Commonwealth nations). Veterans/Remembrance Day, also known as Poppy Day or Armistice Day, is observed each year on November 11 to commemorate the end of World War I on that date in 1918 and to remember the members of the armed forces who died in the line of duty. The "crimson poppies" in the opening line recall the red poppies that bloomed all across the worst World War I battlefields in Flanders and that grew in abundance over the graves of fallen soldiers, made so famous in the 1915 poem "In Flanders Field" by Canadian physician and Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae. The Rev. Pratt chose the title "Remembrance" over the customary opening line of text as title. The poignant and provocative text recalls the death that is at the heart of war, our human longing for peace even as we wage war, and ponders the causes of war: greed, race, pride, wealth, nationhood and creed. The final stanza concludes in a profound and exquisite act of remembrance of those who died in their service, whom even heaven remembers with "a loud amen." Let us pray and work for peace, and an end to war everywhere. And, with hearts filled with love, let us honor all Veterans on this day. Peace, Dean
Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A
Nehemiah 8:1-12 Do you remember someone reading you a bedtime story? The words, their voice, the rhythm, the feel of someone reading to you is a great gift. The shared time is more valuable than gold itself. And, the way the story forms in the mind is the epitome of creativity. Both the one who is telling the story, and the one receiving, are imagining faces and accents and scenery that all fill in the story and makes the spoken word three dimensional. Ezra stood on a wooden stage and read to the people. Few had the education to read. Reading was limited to priests and scribes whom the people relied upon to receive the written word. As Ezra read, the people's hands rose in the air, tears fell from their faces. They shouted, "Amen, Amen." In our day, worship is one of the few places we can go where someone reads to us. Worship ignites our imagination and calls from us a response. The liturgist reading the scripture, Jane Ellen blessing the children, Adrianne, Dave, and Sarah filling the room with music, the sermon, the prayers, the Spirit are all replications of this moment in Nehemiah when Ezra read the Word to the people. Just thinking about this makes me miss Edna, shouting, "Amen, brother!" Worship is a beautiful gift. Sometimes it brings tears of joy and appreciation to our eyes. Make sure you continue to worship. At 10 am each Sunday we gather together as one body. You can find the link to that livestream on our website. And, we have all of our worship services, songs, and Children's Blessings at https://vimeo.com/showcase/wesleypark. Just choose one and click "Start Watching." Invite others to watch along with you and talk about the ways you are experiencing God, and give thanks. Today might be a good day to ask someone to read to you. Find a bedtime story or a book that you love, and let the words that fill the air, your heart, and your mind, be a good gift to you. Amen, sister. Amen, brother. Peace, Dean Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A
I find myself struggling this morning with the lectionary. The Psalm recounts God's faithfulness and the people's failures, missteps, and redemption. The Hebrew Bible lesson tells of the death of Joshua and Eleazor, the son of Aaron. And, the reading from 1 Corinthians talks about tongues and prophecies. All of it is helpful and meaningful but I have to confess, it's not exactly what I was looking for this morning. What I wanted to find in the November 9, Year A Lectionary Readings were some words of inspiration to help us in the aftermath of a national election. People are so passionate, and the country is so divided, I had hoped that God would help us find our way. How can we support those who are hurting right now? Is there a way for us to trust one another and our institutions? Can we build on all the things we hold in common and move forward as a nation? Faith is like this sometimes. We turn to scripture to try to find what we hope it will say. We pray to God with the hope of a particular answer. But we find that God speaks what God speaks, when God speaks. If we are patient, God will meet us and guide us, help us and inspire us. That's the moment this morning when I lifted my eyes from the text and gazed through the window to find a beautiful sunrise. The low clouds were painted red and orange and yellow and fuchsia (I looked it up, and yes, fuchsia was in the sky this morning, too). Looking at the beauty of the sunrise, I had an overwhelming feeling of peace. The words, "Love will prevail, no matter what" repeated in my heart. Maybe God's words were written in the morning sky. I don't exactly know how we will come together again as a nation and a community. Kindness, compassion, empathy, and patience might be keys. And in the end, God's love will prevail, no matter what. So, be good to one another. Pray for your friends and any you might consider to be your enemies. Study God's Word in your Bible, and study God's Word in the sky. And trust in the One who has the power to save us from our sins and carry us all to a higher place. Peace, Dean Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A
Netilat Yadayim, the ritual of Jewish hand washing. Netilat Yadayim is a time to pause and give thanks to God before eating. This hand washing wasn't meant to kill a virus but to keep gratitude alive. Three pours of water over each hand. Slow down. Reflect. Remember. Rejoice. "Blessed are you, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, who has sanctified us with your commandments and commanded us regarding hand washing." The Elders must have been shocked when the followers of Jesus skipped this ritual and went right into eating their food. What about Netilat Yadayim? Wouldn't God be offended if we didn't take a moment to give thanks? Would we be doing something wrong if we didn't do everything the way it was always done? Jesus knew the laws, commandments, and rituals of the faith. What are some reasons you might imagine Jesus allowed his disciples to skip the blessing, the Netilat Yadayim? What are some traditions today that Jesus might break and cause us to wonder what is happening? Lots of questions and room for reflection. Take some time to give someone a call and share your thoughts together. Peace, Dean PS: Wash your hands. |
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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