Frontpage, Jan. 31, 2021

Fourth Epiphany, Year B Jan 28, 2018 – a rainy and fog covered day

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Jan. 31 – Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany – Parish Meeting

Jan. 31 – 11:00am, Morning Prayer – Join here at 10:30am for gathering – service starts at 11am Meeting ID 869 9926 3545
Passcode: 889278

Jan. 31 – 7:00pm, Compline – Join here at 6:30am for gathering – service starts at 7pm Meeting ID: 878 7167 9302
Passcode: 729195

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Feb. 3 – 10:00am – Ecumenical Bible Study through Zoom Meeting ID: 837 2389 1841 Passcode: 067156

Feb. 4 – 7:00pm, Sacred Ground Book Group – Join here at 6:30am for gathering – Book Group starts at 7pm Meeting ID: 869 0445 9075 Passcode: 715981

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Feb. 7 – Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

Feb. 7 – 11:00am Morning Prayer – Join here at 10:30am for gathering – service starts at 11am Meeting ID 834 7356 6532 Password 748475

Feb. 7 – 7:00pm, Compline – Join here at 6:30am for gathering – service starts at 7pm Meeting ID 834 7356 6532 Password 748475

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Parish Meeting Reports

Click here to review the reports

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Presentation of Jesus in the Temple and Candlemas, Feb. 2

“Today is a day of purification, renewal, and hope.”

The Presentation of our Lord commemorates when Mary and Joseph brought the infant Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem where he was greeted by Simeon and Anna. By the Law every first born male was to be consecrated to the Lord.” This happened 40 days after his birth at Christmas.

It is a feast day though it does not often fall on a Sunday. Candlemas occurs at a period between the December solstice and the March equinox, so many people traditionally marked that time of the year as winter’s “halfway point” while waiting for the spring.

Candlemas is actually a very old feast, celebrated by both the churches of the East and the West, and in some places it is on this day that the creche is finally removed from the church.  The passage from The words in this scripture are often part of Compline

According to some sources, Christians began Candlemas in Jerusalem as early as the fourth century and the lighting of candles began in the fifth century. Other sources say that Candlemas was observed by blessing candles since the 11th century. An early writing dating back to around 380 CE mentioned that a feast of the Presentation occurred in a church in Jerusalem. It was observed on February 14. The feast was observed on February 2 in regions where Christ’s birth was celebrated on December 25.  It is also Groundhog Day in the United States and Canada on February 2.

Candles are blessed on this day (hence the name “Candlemas”). It was the day of the year when all the candles, that were used in the church during the coming year, were brought into church and a blessing was said over them – so it was the Festival Day (or ‘mass’) of the Candles. Candles were important in those days not only because there was no electric lights. Some people thought they gave protection against plague and illness and famine. For Christians, they were (and still are) a reminder of something even more important. Before Jesus came to earth, it was as if everyone was ‘in the dark’.

Pieces of these candles are considered of great efficacy in sickness, or otherwise. When a person is dying, a piece is put in his hand lighted, and thus he passes away in the belief that it may light him to Paradise.

Read more about Candlemas…

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Epiphany 5, Year B Lectionary Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021

I.Theme – Committed Christian Ministry

 “Jesus the Healer”- Daniel Bonnell

The lectionary readings are here  or individually:

Old Testament – Isaiah 40:21-31
Psalm – Psalm 147:1-12, 21c Page 804, BCP
Epistle –1 Corinthians 9:16-23
Gospel – Mark 1:29-39

Mark – Jesus demonstrates both personal ministry to individual (fever) and group (demons). The passage revolves healing and preaching, solitude and prayer.

Isaiah describes God’s majesty, power and compassion

Corinthians – Paul explains how he willinglty lays down his privileges as Christian to reach people with God’s message of Good news

Commentary by Rev. Mindi Welton-Mitchell:

The prophet Isaiah, speaking to a people in exile about the promise of return, reminds the people that their God is the Creator of the earth, the same God who has been with them since the beginning of time, and God will never abandon them. The refrain, “Have you not known? Have you not heard?” is repeated in this passage rhetorically to remind the people that this is what their Scriptures have told them, what the songs they sing are all about, what the stories they tell their children all mean: God is the Creator, and that those who wait upon God, who don’t give up, will be renewed and restored by God: “They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (vs 31).

Psalm 147 echoes this call found in Isaiah to remember that God is always with us. It is God who carries us in our darkest hour and difficult trials; it is God who is the Creator of heaven and earth. We must remember, rely, and trust in God to be there when we face challenges and struggles, for God’s steadfast love remains forever for those who have hope in God.

The passage from Mark’s Gospel continues to share the details of the beginning of Jesus’ ministry: Jesus visits Peter’s mother-in-law, and after taking her by the hand, her fever leaves her and she begins to serve him. Then afterwards, many people are brought to him who are sick and who have demons. Jesus gets up the next morning while it is still dark and goes off to a deserted place to pray. And when the disciples find him and tell him, “Everyone is searching for you,” Jesus tells them it is time to go off to other neighboring towns. And that is how Jesus’ message is spread throughout Galilee. Jesus doesn’t stay just in one place, but goes out to the people. Jesus brings healing and hope, but Jesus, fully human and fully divine, also takes time away from others to pray. Even Jesus needed time and space for renewal.

Paul proclaims in 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 that his role is to proclaim the Gospel for the sake of Jesus Christ, not for his own gain. Paul works for God, not for any earthly boss. Paul by his example shows that humility is the way to leading others to Christ, not one’s own personal gain–Paul becomes more Jewish to those who are Jewish, to the weak he becomes weak–he becomes all things to all people, as Christ laid down his life for us, so Paul shows by example how we ought to live and lay down our ego, lay down our very lives, so that others might hear the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

In the busy-ness of the world we live in it is easy to just go, go, go. We fill up our lives with day-to-day tasks and duties; we fill up our time with Facebook and internet shopping and other things. At times we feel overwhelmed and our lives feel like they are out of control, and we may wonder where is God? Where is God when our boss tells us we need to pull more hours this week. Where is God when our children are failing a class and we don’t have enough time to work with them on their homework? Where is God when a loved one becomes ill and there are mountains of paperwork to fill out and insurance forms to navigate?

Have you not known? Have you not heard? God is always with you. Sometimes, we need to remember to slow down and find that quiet space to feel God’s presence again. Jesus certainly knew this by leaving in the early morning before the sun was up, and sought God’s presence in prayer.

Paul also lived a busy life, but Paul remembers that his boss ultimately is Jesus. Paul devotes his life to live for others so that they might come to know Christ. Paul declares that he does not do this for his own gain, but for Christ–so there is no earthly reward to be concerned about, but instead Paul lives his life to share the Good News.

In the busy world we live in today, we need to remember both that God is always with us, and sometimes we need to slow down and wait for God’s presence; and we also need to focus our lives on living for Christ rather than living for earthly rewards and success.

Read more about the Lectionary…

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Healing of Peter’s Mother-in-law in Mark’s Gospel – 2 Views

“Freedom For”

By David Lose, president of Luther Seminary, Philadelphia

“Christ Healing the Mother of Simon Peter”- John Bridges

Jesus frees us not only from things that seek to oppress us, but also for a life of purpose, meaning, and good works. (Yes, good works, not those things that we do in the vain hope of justifying ourselves before God or others, but rather those things that we do as a response to the Gospel to serve our neighbor stemming from a sense of joy, love, and freedom.)

Quoting Sarah Henrich on healing Peter’s Mother in Law in Mark’s Gospel:

‘It is very important to see that healing is about restoration to community and restoration of a calling, a role as well as restoration to life. For life without community and calling is bleak indeed.’

Which makes me wonder. What did the man from whom the unclean spirit was cast out a week ago do after his healing? What did all the people Jesus heals in this week’s story do once they are freed from the various ailments of mind, body, and spirit that had captivated them? Some, I imagine, were simply so grateful to be made well – so grateful, that is, that they had been freed from something debilitating or destructive – that they returned as quickly as possible to their old lives and routines and relationships. But some, I’m willing to bet, including Simon’s mother-in-law, recognize that they weren’t only freed from something, they were also freed for something, for lives of purpose and meaning and service and generosity and more.

Frederick Buechner: “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”

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“The Church’s First Deacon”

By Suzanne Guthrie, “Edge of Enclosure”

Peter’s mother-in-law is lifted up, as in the Resurrection we celebrate in Easter. And she begins to serve – just as the apostles are sent out, as we celebrate in Pentecost. She is the church’s first deacon. She announces the Gospel by her action. Healed, transformed, and readily at service she slips into her role as easily as if her life-time had prepared her for it. Which it had, of course. She serves, like Jesus himself. For the son of man came not to be served but to serve. (Mark 10:45) She receives the Light into her home, she is raised up by the Light, the Light shines through her as she ministers to others.

And, say witnesses, the place designated as her home in Capernaum is to this day the site of many healings.

Simon’s house, run by his mother-in-law, becomes a household of God, a church, a gathering of those in need of healing and forgiveness. But even Jesus must refresh his relationship with Divine Love through the embrace of solitude in order to continue his mission of love.

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God Went to Beauty School – Cynthia Rylant

He went there to learn how
to give a good perm
and ended up just crazy
about nails
so He opened up His own shop.
“Nails by Jim” He called it.
He was afraid to call it
Nails by God.
He was sure people would
think He was being
disrespectful and using
His own name in vain
and nobody would tip.
He got into nails, of course,
because He’d always loved
hands––
hands were some of the best
things
He’d ever done
anonlined this way He could just
hold one in His
and admire those delicate
bones just above the knuckle
delicate as birds’ wings,
and after He’d done that
awhile,
He could paint all the nails
any color He wanted,
then say,
“Beautiful,”
and mean it.

-Cynthia Rylant (born June 6, 1954) is an American author. She has written more than 100 children’s books in English and Spanish. She has worked as a children’s librarian in Akron, part time English instructor at Marshal University in WV,Univ of Akron 1983-1984, and Northeast Ohio Universities College of Medicine from 1991. She is the winner of the Newbery Honor and Newbery Medal for children’s books.

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