I know that I have sent this quote from John Wesley out in early October. It bears repeating today.
“October 6, 1774 I met those of our society who had votes in the ensuing election, and advised them 1. To vote, without fee or reward, for the person they judged most worthy 2. To speak no evil of the person they voted against, and 3. To take care their spirits were not sharpened against those that voted on the other side.”Let us be loving and prayerful. Peace, Dean
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Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A
Joshua 4:1-24 I read today that the Kent District Library next to Wesley Park will be closed until November 9. An employee working at the Wyoming and Kelloggsville KDL's has been diagnosed with Covid-19. It takes time to clean and disinfect to make the library space safe from this contagious virus. The prayers are accelerating for people who have been infected or in contact and are now in quarantine. Nancy Spalenka asks for prayers today for her daughter Joy. A few people at her work have the coronavirus and they are praying it doesn't pass to more people, and to their homes and families and into the community. I ask your prayers for my friends Rebecca and Jeff. When we decided to postpone in-person worship last month, the positivity rate was 5.5%. As of Saturday, that had increased to 9.4%. We will see when the Kent County Health Department posts their data for the weekend after 3:30 today what the numbers are now. All this to say that we are not through this pandemic yet. And the experts say the worst of it ahead of us. So, we will continue to wander this wilderness because it is not yet safe to enter the promised land. God knows our cries and our complaints and will supply our needs. We will reach out and connect with one another with calls and cards and prayers. I just had the overwhelming feeling of opening up an avalanche of cards for my 50th birthday. I miss you all so much. But as I read each card I felt a love and connection that increased my joy in this faith in Christ that we share. Thank you for being so kind, thoughtful, funny, and faithful! I will never forget it. In this time ahead, how can kids and grandkids, neighbors and friends, help us worship together? How can those who do not have computers be adopted by a family that does and spend an hour in worship together? How can we pray, study, and even grieve together in this wandering time? Advent is coming soon. What can we do in the season of Advent that will honor this season of waiting and preparing? I know it is difficult, but some day when it is safe God will part the waters and we will cross over to the place we have been yearning to be. Can you imagine the joy of finding ourselves safe and together again? I can understand why God told Joshua to send 12 people to the center of the river and take from there 12 stones. The river stones would be placed on dry land and act as a reminder to all who will follow what God's people endured, and how God saved them once again. What are the stories you will tell to the generations that follow us of the ways that God was with us in this wilderness? Peace, Dean
Dear friends,
I am thankful for the prayer-filled leadership of Bishop David Bard. Let us encourage one another to continue to do the work of Christ in the world and to be patient and faithful as we head into the week of the election. Bishop David Bard: This week our nation will engage in one of the fundamental practices in our political democracy, voting. It is not the only important practice that keeps a democracy healthy and vibrant, but it is a critical practice. As the late congressman John Lewis once wrote: “The vote is precious. It is almost sacred. It is the most powerful non-violent tool we have in a democracy.” Like many of you, I have already cast my ballot, and trust ballots that were mailed or dropped off will be safely and accurately counted. I encourage you if you’ve not already done so, to vote. When you vote, let the moral principles of our Christian faith inform your discernment. In saying this, I understand that though we share a common faith in Jesus Christ and the same Scriptures, we may draw different conclusions about how best to express our faith in our political choices. I want to say simply and clearly, vote. Given this election’s contentiousness and the swirl of statements about the voting process itself, many of them half-truths if they even rise to that level of credibility. It is important to acknowledge the likelihood that final election results may not be known on election day. In a society that has come to expect quick responses, or at least annoyingly soothing music while all representatives are currently assisting other customers, we are not very skilled at waiting. ” … no matter the election results, we ought to expect neither the imminent arrival of the kingdom of God nor the apocalypse.” I want to encourage patience with our election process. I also want to remind us that no matter the election results, we ought to expect neither the imminent arrival of the kingdom of God nor the apocalypse. The long work of justice, compassion, peacemaking, reconciliation, and love may be enhanced by those we elect or made more difficult, but know this, that long work to which we are committed by faith in Jesus Christ as Lord will continue. In 1963, in the midst of an earlier intense struggle for civil rights for African-Americans, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel sent a telegram to then-President John F. Kennedy, which ended with these words: “the hour calls for high moral grandeur and spiritual audacity.” So, too, does this hour. Let us pray. God of change and glory, God of time and space, as we face the future, give to us your grace, grace that we embody as patience as we wait for election results — letting your love cast out our fear, grace that we embody as hope – trusting your on-going redemptive presence in our world, grace that we embody as determined courage to continue your work of justice, compassion, peacemaking, reconciliation, and love. Indeed, this hour calls for moral grandeur and spiritual audacity. It calls for people deeply formed by your grace and love. Empower us to be such people. No matter the results of an election, your work in the world continues, and we want to be part of it. In the name and Spirit of Jesus. Amen. Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A
There is a thread that ties the readings together this morning. Follow the whole law. It's not enough to follow the aspects of the law that are easy and ignore the more difficult parts. It's not sufficient to pick and choose the commandments that are most convenient. That's like getting pulled over for running a stop sign and arguing that you were at least driving the speed limit. Of course, we often put on our lawyer hats when we think about the laws. We argue that cheating on our taxes is not actually stealing if we don't get caught. We wrestle with the scope of murder as we weigh the costs and benefits of war. We might even stretch the concept of honoring father and mother when they tell us to go to bed during the World Series game but we stay up to watch the end. Justified? We like to argue that the law has wiggle room. But Jesus takes it one step further. Not only are we to follow the law, but our hearts must be committed to the love of God. What might pull us away from God? Where might our allegiance be divided? Jesus was not as much concerned with what you can get away with if you stretch the law. He recognized that the purpose of the law was to keep us in relationship with God and one another. If money or jealousy or racism or pride or anything else pulls us away from God and neighbor, we are not following the whole law. So, take some time to think about your focus and commitments. What is bringing you closer to God? How are you building up the Kingdom of Heaven on earth? What is pulling you away from God? What is causing you to turn you back on God and others? We are not alone as we struggle with this. Call someone and talk together about these tensions. Help one another and hold each other accountable to loving in full and not in part. Peace, Dean Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A
James 2:14-26 Faith without works is dead. It's not enough to simply say we have faith in Christ. That faith calls us to action. In what ways are you not only believing, but also living out your faith? Today is my birthday. Yes, I turned 50 years old today. Where does the time go? In these years, I have witnessed the incredible works of the people of faith. I have been blessed to see you at work in the world. Upwards of two million pounds of food distributed over the years from the Food Truck. Compassionate care for people who are struggling. Love extended to those who are lonely. Mentoring, tutoring, teaching, worshiping, visiting, encouraging, comforting, advocating, feeding, helping, building, cleaning, sharing, loving. You have been filled with grace during the hard times. You have provided a home and community for Will. You have given generously out of your abundance, knowing that God will do more with your gifts than you could ever imagine. I guess my birthday reflection this morning is to keep working, keep loving, keep trusting. Over the years, we will be able to do different things in different ways. But we will always be able to do something. Never underestimate the impact your acts of love in the name of Jesus will have on the world. God will take what we do and will make it a blessing. Thank you for blessing me. Thank you for being a blessing in the world. Peace, Dean Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A
The lection from Numbers is short and to the point. It is an announcement of Aaron's death on Mount Hor at the age of 123. I decided to look up other obituaries and spend this morning reading about life, accomplishments, grief, and hope summarized in a few paragraphs. Here are some you might find interesting and meaningful.
Stay safe. Stay loving. Wear a mask. Pray for each other. Maintain social distancing. Do good. Peace, Dean Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A The Word of God is for the people of God, all the people of God. The texts for today include the opening verses to Numbers 13. Spies are sent to Canaan to check out the land, the defenses, and the prospects for this journey through the wilderness to finally come to an end. The spies are sent to be the first to observe the Promised Land. They found the land to be flowing with milk and honey, and reported the strength of its defenses causing great doubt and complaint by the people. God would bring them into the promised land, but only after 40 more years and the passing of a generation. I invite you to experience this story in a way that many experience the Word of God, through sign language. Here is the video. Open up your Bible to Numbers 13 and 14 and follow along. There is no sound. Find a way to share with someone how it felt to experience the Word in this way today. Peace, Dean Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A Psalm 63 Are you feeling it these days? The tension and anxiety, the conflict and confrontation, the isolation and division... Despite the heightened sense of upheaval regarding the pandemic, politics, race relations, finances, family, etc. we have a way forward. We can turn to the Psalms, which name the pain and reach out a hand, trusting in God's faithfulness. "you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy." Prayer can help us find our way. Find a quiet place. Close your eyes. Open your heart. And let all your fears, doubts, hopes, and worries pour forth. God will gather it all up. And as you sit in the stillness, God will speak to you in a way that you can understand. Rethink Church, a program of The United Methodist Church Discipleship Ministries, offers up this Prayer for Civility in a Divisive World. May this add to your conversation with God today. A Prayer for Civility in a Divisive World Everywhere we turn these days we see and hear the reminders... of a world divided on so many issues. Social media is full of heated debates and angry words. God, help us remember that we are made in Your image. Guide our words towards civility and wisdom in discourse and discussion. Teach us as people of faith, to model love for our neighbors in all conversations, whether public or private. You have called us to be salt and light to our nation and to the world. Empower us to be peacemakers with our words. Amen. 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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