Reflections
Reflections:
Stories of Renewal & Hope—2021 Lenten Devotional SeriesReflection:A new year offers renewed commitment for our relationship with God. This is aperfect time to reflect on how God has renewed our faith and plopped hopedown into the middle of our difficulties. And not only has the year gone byproduced difficulties to all of us, but life in general can be difficult.In the book to the Romans, the Apostle Paul says, “ but we also glory in oursufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance,character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, becauseGod’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who hasbeen given to us” (Romans 5). Our difficulties in life, relationships, and faithmove us through to hope, if we stay close to God and allow the Holy Spirit towork in our lives.These devotions are stories of how the writers were intentional about faith goalswhich motivated them to keep going; stories of stumbling and finding their wayback to faith; and how in giving and doing for others they found hope andoffered hope through the light of Christ.We are so thankful for each of these writers who are connected to ourcongregation in a variety of ways and from a variety of places throughout theearth. Each of us has the ability to inspire another by our own experiences ofGod. We pray that these experiences will inspire you to a deeper walk withChrist this Lenten season.Blessings,Kim La Rue, EditorAdult Ministries, Powell UMC251
Easter Sunday - April 4When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, andSalome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on thefirst day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had beensaying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to thetomb?” When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, hadalready been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressedin a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said tothem, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tellhis disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will seehim, just as he told you.” So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror andamazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.Mark 16:1-8 (NRSV)The Gospel of Mark ends with these words, “So they went out and fled fromthe tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing toanyone, for they were afraid.” In the early centuries of the church, more wasadded to the gospel because it was felt this ending was too open ended and toonegative. But, I’ve always thought Mark got it right. When we face our greatestthreat, the loss of everything we know and trust, which is what death brings tous, fear is what’s left. The power of Easter meets us there and waits for ourresponse.Recently, we lost my dad, George, to death following a long struggle withParkinson’s Disease. My dad was a faithful pastor. He had a resonant, baritonevoice, about which folks often made comments. Some even said, “WhenGeorge Brown speaks it sounds like God is talking.” Dad would smile. Hewasn’t “God talking” but I do think God spoke through him, and the voice ofGod speaks through many experiences in our lives, especially when we needassurance that the resurrection is true.One of the last times I was with my dad, my mom and I decided to singhymns. He wasn’t awake but I’d like to think he was aware. Later on, Iwondered how we were able to sing when sadness and loss were so near. God’svoice made it possible, which speaks to us through hymns, scripture, worship,our shared mission, and our caring for others. Death makes us fearful. Italways does. But God is always speaking so our stories will continue with hopeand faith.The Season of LentLent is the season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on AshWednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. The season of Lent is a preparationfor celebrating Easter. Easter is the first Sunday, after the first full moon, afterthe vernal equinox. For this reason, Easter is never the same date two years ina row.Lent is a time for penance by all Christians. The First Sunday describes Jesus’temptation by Satan; and the Sixth Sunday (Passion/Palm Sunday), Christ’striumphal entry into Jerusalem and his subsequent suffering and death.Because Sundays are always little Easters, the penitential spirit of Lent shouldbe tempered with joyful expectation of the Resurrection.Ash Wednesday emphasizes a dual encounter: we confront our own mortalityand confess our sin before God within the community of faith. The use ofashes as a sign of mortality and repentance has a long history in Jewish andChristian worship, and the Imposition of Ashes can be a powerful nonverbaland experiential way of participating in the call to repentance andreconciliation.Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday and continues through the great threedays from sunset on Holy Thursday through sunset Easter day. This is theclimax of Lent and the whole Christian year, and a bridge into the Easterseason. These days proclaim the mystery of Jesus Christ’s passion, death andresurrection. During these days, the community journeys with Jesus from theupper room, to the cross, to the tomb, and to the garden.Pastor Larry BrownPrayer: Holy God, may we hear your voice calling us to hopefulness and lifeon this Easter Day. Amen.503
Ash Wednesday - February 17Saturday - April 3“[Elijah’] went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under asolitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: “It is enough; now, O LORD, takeaway my life.1 Kings 19:4 (NRSV)“At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?”which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”Mark 15:34 (NRSV)So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. Allwho came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. Iam the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out andfind pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they mayhave life, and have it abundantly.John 10:7-10 (NRSV)It’s January 8, 2021, after midnight. I’m lying in a hospital bed. My back isaching, my legs are in compression hose, I can’t find my call button and I’mwearing a heart monitor which I think has me chained to the wall. I’mmiserable. I’m sinking into depression and wondering how I can end all this.I’m alone. I’m abandoned. I feel like death is the answer!The door opens and a shaft of light beams across the room. A nurse asks how Iam. “I’m miserable and want to die!” As we continue to talk, she takes thecompressors off my legs, she assures me that my heart monitor is not attached tothe wall, she puts the call button into my hand and says she’ll get me some painmedication. I feel better.God didn’t abandon Elijah or Jesus, and God didn’t abandon me either.Actually, I was given an opportunity to gain a bit of empathy for persons caughtin depression and show how important light is and how interacting with a helpfulcaring person can be healing.Overcoming real depression is not simple, but it can be helped when the darkdebilitating isolation it drags people into is exposed to God’s light and to caringpersons who have the experience and wisdom to provide real help.Dave WoodyardPrayer: Loving God, for those experiencing depression, I pray that they may beguided to your light and to caring experienced persons who can give them hopethrough care-filled listening and helpful actions. Amen.4I just finished an amazing full-course meal in theology, scripture, and history inconnection with Jesus’ crucifixion: The Day the Revolution Began by N.T. Wright.While reading, I was reminded of what C.S. Lewis said: “Any theories we build up asto how Christ’s death did all this are, in my view, quite secondary: mere plans ordiagrams to be left alone if they do not help us, and, even if they do help us, not to beconfused with the thing itself.” 1A theological understanding of this event alone can’tfully provide meaning. It is experiencing, acknowledging, and accepting theCrucifixion, followed by the Resurrection, that truly changes us.I’m 42 years old, and I imagined I would be married with kids, have all the trappings ofa lucrative career, and live in a nice house in a nice neighborhood. My family and Iwould spend quality time with my parents, extended family, and friends.Instead, I’m single, live far away from family, and have bought a house in the Hilltoparea of Columbus, one of the rougher parts of the city. Prostitutes regularly work onmy street. I see people living in violence, filth and strung out on drugs. I indulge in mypassion for firearms at a shooting range, unlike some of my fellow residents whodischarge their firearms into the air on celebratory occasions or sadly, at each other.Nevertheless, there are some awesome people and places to visit in the Hilltop.My life has been forever changed because of the Crucifixion. Moving to the Hilltopwas a calling, and I feel like this is where I’ve always belonged. I’m surrounded byfamily all over the greater Columbus area, spanning from my parents’ generation to thekids I thought I would have. I have a great job that allows me creativity and flexibility todo the things that are important to me.Life is not what I imagined it would be - it is so much more! I’m living in abundanceand thank God every day! Jesus says that he is the gate through which we are offeredabundant life. I can’t tell you precisely how this works, but I know that acknowledging,accepting, and living through Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection is the way.Matt Utt1Mere Christianity by C.S. LewisPrayer: God, please help us to recognize the abundance that you offer us throughJesus’ death and resurrection. For those who may have difficulty seeing yourabundance or have yet to see it, I pray that their experience of the Crucifixion andResurrection this year will transform their lives. Amen.49
Good Friday - April 2Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to hisdisciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took with him Peter and thetwo sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. Then he said to them, “Iam deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.” And goinga little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it ispossible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.” Then hecame to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “So, could younot stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray that you may not come intothe time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again he wentaway for the second time and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drinkit, your will be done.” Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes wereheavy. So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, sayingthe same words. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you stillsleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man isbetrayed into the hands of sinners.Matthew 26:36-45 (NRSV)I remember going on a first date with my husband, Josh, and telling him that I wasafraid of death. If you think that it is not the best topic to talk about on a first date, Iwould agree. But the fact that I was telling Josh about one of my deepest fears, told mea lot about him. I am so thankful that I married him. Yes, I am a pastor and sincewhen I was a teenager and had a mind-blowing realization that I was going to die someday, once in a while the anxiety about death tightens my chest and clouds my mind.But last spring something freeing happened to me. I was participating in a webcastbased on a book by a theologian, N.T. Wright, called “Surprised by Hope.” Oneparticular night I decided to sit outside. There was something about sitting outside inthe brisk air of early spring evening listening to the words of beauty and hope of N.T.Wright, listening to Larry, the lively discussion of the participants, and looking at thecreation waking up from winter slumber into a new season of life. The trees started tobud, the grass was getting greener and the air was full of promise of warmer weather,blooming flowers, and countless hours spent outside. In that moment, like neverbefore in my life, I trusted God. I trusted God with my whole life. More importantly, Itrusted God even with my death. For the first time, there was such air of freedom andhope that filled my lungs to the full. I knew that death had no grip on me, that Jesushad conquered it and I did not have to worry and get anxious about that anymore. Icaught a glimpse of the freedom that only Christ can give to us, as he went through theagony and fear and imminence of death himself, while he prayed in Gethsemane forGod to take this cup from him.Pastor Katya BrodbeckPrayer: Holy God, we pray on this Holy Friday, that your suffering and dying on thecross may not be something that we hear and read about. May it touch our ownsuffering and fears. May it leave a trace on our hearts so deep, that it becomes for us away to life, freedom, and love. In the name of the one who conquered death, we pray.Amen.48Thursday - February 18Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and mysalvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.Psalm 62:5-6 (NIV)The first few months of 2009 were very challenging and stressful for the Haigoodfamily. My dear husband Harry was experiencing some health issues and he wasin and out of the hospital numerous times and then transferred to a rehab facilityto regain his strength. He was there for a few weeks when he was transportedback to the hospital. His condition continued to deteriorate to the point that thedecision was made for hospice care. That’s where the real challenge began. Thehospital wanted to move him to another facility. The family wanted to keep himin the hospital where he was receiving excellent care and because I knew he waswell cared for I could sleep at night and start another day with him renewed andrefreshed. His daughter and I visited several facilities in the area but noneseemed right for Harry so his son and I began the arduous task of trying to keephim in the hospital. We were met with resistance from the administrative staff.We were in his room one morning discussing the situation when a younginfectious disease doctor who had treated Harry came in and said he had heardthe hospital wanted to move him. He asked me, “What do you want to do”? Isaid I wanted to keep him in the hospital and he said “Then you fight for that!”And so we did and were able to keep him there until he passed on July 2nd to goto his forever home.Harry was a man of great faith but I knew he was counting on me to make theright decisions for him. I had prayed many times and had asked God for his helpand his guidance. He was in control. He sent that wonderful doctor to us whogave us the hope we were looking for and for that I will be forever grateful.Janet HaigoodPrayer: Dear Lord, I trust you with my life. And I know that if I seek you and askyou for your help your ears are always open to my pleas. No matter mycircumstances, I know that you are always with me and will never leave me.Thank you for your steadfast love. Amen.5
Friday - February 19Holy Thursday - April 1But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.They will soar high on wings like eagles.They will run and not grow weary.They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 (NLT)“Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave theninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?Luke 15:4 (NRSV)He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurtbecause he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord,you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.John 21:17 (NRSV)If your path has not crossed with the Ohio poet Barbara Fant, I highlyencourage seeking her out. This powerful word slammer and artistic being hasbeen sharing her gift with Columbus for years now. She has provided hopeand healing for our community. Barbara has been weaving together her loveof poetry with her passion for God for her whole lifetime. What a gift for us! Ireceived healing myself through her and a simple writing activity she asked meto attempt. I'd like to share it with you today and then encourage you to findnew strength through participating yourself.Name the thing that has helped you survive 2020. Write a letter to yourselffrom that item in 5-7 minutes. Can you guess who my letter is from below?Dear child,Just like you I am created anew each and everyday.Just like you I am ever changing, ever growing, and moving through seasons.There is much to discover and rejoice in.Time is needed.Slow down.Breathe.Engage with me.I long to connect with you.to gather you up and to bless you.Come. Come away.Pause to Listen.Open your eyes. Open your heart.There is more to discover and learn.Thank you for seeing me.For noticing what I have to offer.Just like you I am created anew each and everyday.I was sitting in the back of church when the minister announced plans for ayoung adult retreat the next weekend. I like to think this was the third time he’dmentioned it (John’s passage). There was just something different this time theway he said, “all are welcome, even if you’ve never participated before”. Thesmall voice told me that going to this retreat might not answer my prayers, but Ididn’t know that it wouldn’t. That was the first step toward numerous smallchurch groups ever since. You take turns listening and talking, accepting andencouraging, feeding and sometimes being fed. That retreat also was the firsttime I opened up in public about the tragic loss of my dad in a farming accidentwhen I was just 19. I still think back on how hard it was on the farm and howhard was his loss. For example, when I was 13, we lost dozens of sheep topredators—neighbors’ dogs. I always say that sheep are too gregarious to get lost,as in Luke’s parable; they get separated before they get lost. Every night,regardless of the weather, my brothers and I rounded them up for their ownsafety. They knew they would be fed physically, but they would just circle andcircle, maddeningly until one would go through the opening, and then they allfollowed. Isn’t our instinct to circle in our lives until someone leads us to wherewe should be in our spiritual barn, safe from the wolves in dog’s clothing (worldlydraws)? On that Sunday in 1988, I let myself be welcomed even though I wasscared because I had never participated in a group before. Every so often when Ineed spiritual feeding, I think back to that first welcoming retreat and amreminded that I’m not alone in the flock, yet others might feel like they are. TheGood Shepherd knows what it is like to be the Lamb and welcomes all 100% ofus. In return, He only asks us to welcome others through the gate one at a time.Jeff FirkinsAnonymousPrayer: Father God, thank you for words, for art, and for your creation allaround us! You are an amazing God. When the days are hard, the strugglesreal and the worries high Lord may we turn to you again and again. May wenot give up but seek your face and your strength anew. Open my eyes and myheart. May I seek you today and everyday. Amen and Amen.6Prayer: Dear God, thank you for Your Son’s teachings, culminating in Hissacrifice and resurrection to reach all 100 of us. Please help us to be fed withyour lovingkindness so that the
Reflection: 50 Easter Sunday - April 4 . February 17 “[Elijah’] went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a . attending church again. In 2015, God’s nudges sent me to a devotional group where His love was shown to me, a small group where He provided fellowship
cycle b (mark) The following reflections on the Cycle B readings of the Liturgy of the Word are designed to stimulate your own thoughts and reflections on God’s message to us as Christian stewards. Your reflections and thoughts, as well as the reflections presented here, can then be the basis
Reflections on the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary The following are prayerful reflections on the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary. The reflections are taken from The Passion Suffered by the Heart of Jesus: Prayerful Reflections on the Stations of the Cross. Each mystery reflection
Path of Peace Daily Reflections . A Season of Peace, 2018 . Path of Peace Daily Reflections . Welcome to the 2018 Path of Peace daily reflections. This year’s theme returns to a text that the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program has used for a number of years t
Reflections from TNH2 - Consumer Guidelines - Page 1 of 5 Reflections An online Quilt-Along based on blocks from The New Hexagon 2: 52 More Blocks to English Paper Piece Consumer GUIDELINES 81.5" x 94.5" This quilt is all about Reflections! To me reflecting upon something, means thinking
How an Accelerated Reader Quiz is Written 27 Reflections on Reading: Alex Wheatle 28 Section Five: Most Read Non-Fiction Books 29-30 Reflections on Reading: Holly Bourne 31 Section Six: Developmental Trends in Fiction/Non-fiction Reading 32 School Spotlight: The Telford Park School and Telford Langley School, England 33 Section Seven: Voting for Favourite Books 34-36 Reflections on Reading .
(This resource was written when Archdeacon Pollesel was Stewardship Education Coordinator, Diocese of Ontario) What follows is a series of reflections which are based on the Revised Common Lectionary. The purpose of the reflections is to encourage the individuals reading them to think about holistic stewardship. Advent 1 Matthew 24:36-44
PArt fOur: stewArDshiP reflectiOns On the liturgy Of the wOrD cycle A (mAtthew) The following reflections on the Cycle A readings of the Liturgy of the Word are designed to stimulate your own thoughts and reflections on God’s message to us as Christian stewards.
Weekly Stewardship Scripture Reflections Lectionary Cycle C - 1 - Weekly Stewardship Scripture Reflections 2018-2019 Cycle C Liturgical Year December 2, 2018 – November 24, 2019 December 2, 2019 - First Sunday of Advent “Be on guard,” Jesus warns in today’s Gospel, “lest your spirits become bloated with indulgence.”
