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Various Holy Week links

Holy Week between Palm Sunday and Easter is the most sacred time of year. It’s remembering Jesus’ triumph, suffering and resurrection. Ultimately it’s about ours. From our Baptism liturgy- “We thank you, Father, for the water of Baptism. In it we are buried with Christ in his death. By it we share in his resurrection. Through it we are reborn by the Holy Spirit.” Every Sunday is an Easter.

From early times, Christians have observed the week before Easter as a time of special prayer and devotion. As the pilgrim Egeria recorded in the late fourth century, numerous pilgrims to the holy city of Jerusalem followed the path of Jesus in his last days. They formed processions, worshipped where Christ suffered and died, and venerated sacred sites and relics. From this beginning evolved the practices we observe today on Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.

Complete introduction

 

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Sunday, April 5 , 2020– Palm Sunday

Giotto di Bonde, Entry into Jerusalem (1304-06), Fresco, Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

2020

Zoom Church 10:00am (gathering 9:30am)

Palm Sunday Branches and Flowers, 2020

Bulletin 2020

Service Readings 2020

Passion Narrative PowerPoint

Prayers of the People, April 5, 2020

Sermon, April 5, 2020

Photo Gallery Flashback to Palm Sunday 2017

2019

Service Review 2019 

Sermon 2019 

Photos 2019

Videos 2019

Palm Sunday is the hinge between Lent and Holy Week. Here is a page that uncovers the meaning of the day

Bishop Curry sets the scene

Entry into Jerusalem. Marjorie George, Episcopal Diocese of West Texas

Palm Sunday in scripture

Jesus, at the Mount of Olives, sends two disciples to secure a donkey and a colt; makes his “triumphal entry” into Jerusalem; weeps over Jerusalem

The Trek from the Mount of Olives
Luke 19:28-40
Matthew 21:1-11
Mark 11:1-10
John 12:12-15

Some Greeks seek Jesus  John 12:20-36

Jesus enters the temple area, then returns to Bethany
Mark 11:11
Matthew 21:17

Commentaries

Video Introduction to Palm Sunday

Holy Week Timeline – Palm Sunday

What happened on Palm Sunday ?

The Problem of Palm Sunday

Progression of Faith Blog – Palm Sunday

Holy Week Visual Timeline

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Special -Remembering the Belfry construction,  2012 – Jim Heimbach’s photos. Easter week is a time of remembrance. In that spirit it is appropriate to present these pictures to celebrate this achievement.

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Monday, April 6 – The Temple

Jesus Cleansing the Temple

On Monday morning Jesus and the Twelve leave Bethany to return to Jerusalem, and along the way Jesus curses the fig tree

Fig Tree is cursed –

Mark 11:12-14

Matthew 21:18-19

Jesus enters Jerusalem and clears the temple

Temple Protest –
Mark 11:15-19

Matthew 21:12-13

Luke 19:45-46
John 2:13-17

In the evening Jesus and the Twelve leave Jerusalem (returning to Bethany )
Mark 11:19

Focus on Holy Week – Art of Holy Week

Commentaries

Video Introduction, Monday

Holy Week timeline, Monday

Holy Week Timeline- Monday and Tuesday

What happened on Monday of Holy Week?


No turning back (Monday)

Progression of Faith Blog – Monday

Brothers of St. John the Evangelist- Praying Monday in Holy Week

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Tuesday, April 7, 2020 – The End Times

Titus Destroying Jerusalem (Wilhelm von Kaulbach)

Jesus’ disciples see the withered fig tree on their return to Jerusalem from Bethany. As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots.

Fig Tree part 2 –
Mark 11:20-25,

Matthew 21:20-22

Jesus engages in conflict with the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem

There are 4 confrontations :

1. Jesus Authority challenged (Matthew 21:23

2. Parable of the troublesome tenant (Matthew 21:33)

3  Paying taxes to Caesar (Matthew 22:15)

4. The Greatest commandment (Matthew 22:23)

Matthew 21:23-23:39

Luke 20:1—21:4

Mark 12:1-44

The Disciples marvel at the Temple; Jesus delivers the Olivet Discourse on their return to Bethany from Jerusalem about the Temple and end times.




Prophecy about the Temple – Mark 13:1-2

Prophecy about the Future –


Mark 13:3-37,


Mathew 24:3-25:46,


Matthew 26:1-2


Matthew 24:1-25:46

Luke 21:5-36

John 12:20–38

Today, Judas was working on the details of the betrayal of Christ and was paid 30 pieces of silver.
Matthew 26:14-16

Commentaries

Video Introduction, Tuesday
Holy Week Timeline- Tuesday

Holy Week Timeline- Monday and Tuesday

The Four Traps on Tuesday

What Happened on Tuesday of Holy Week ?

Progression of Faith Blog – Tuesday

Brothers of St. John the Evangelist- Praying Tuesday in Holy Week

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Wednesday, April 8, 2020 – The Plot and the Perfume 

 

Zoom Bible Study for this Wednesday (gather 9:30am, starts 10:00am)

Jesus continues his daily teaching in the Temple

Luke 21:37-38

With Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread approaching, the chief priests, elders, and scribes plot to kill Jesus

Plot to Kill Jesus


Mark 14:1-2

Matthew 26:3-5

Luke 22:1-2

The anointing at Bethany – Mark 14:3-9

Satan enters Judas, who seeks out the Jewish authorities in order to betray Jesus for a price

Judas goes to meet with chief priests –
Mark 14:10-11

Matthew 26:14-16

Luke 22:3-6

Commentaries

Video Introduction to Wednesday

Holy Week Timeline- Wednesday

Holy Week Visual Timeline- Wednesday, Thursday

Spy Wednesday

What Happened on Wednesday of Holy Week ?
Brothers of SSJE comment on betrayal

Progression of Faith Blog – Wednesday

Brothers of St. John the Evangelist – Praying Wednesday of Holy Week

2020
Tenebrae at Trinity Church Wall Street, 6pm

2018
Tenebrae, 2018 as sung by Trinity Wall Street

2019

Tenebrae This service introduces the events of Holy Week and provides an opportunity to meditate on those events through the words of the Psalms. The most conspicuous feature of the service is the gradual distinguishing of candles until only a single candle, considered a symbol of our Lord, remains.

Background to Tenebrae

Bulletin 2019

Service Readings for Wednesday

Photos 2019 

Description 2019 

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Thursday, April 9, 2020 – The Arrest

 

Jesus instructs  Peter and John to secure a large upper room in a house in Jerusalem and to prepare for the Passover meal

Preparations for the Meal – Mark 14:12-16
Matthew 26:17-19
Luke 22:7-13

In the evening Jesus eats the Passover meal with the Twelve, tells them of the coming betrayal, and institutes the Lord’s Supper

The Last Supper –

Mark 14:17-31,

John 13.1-17.26, 
Matthew 26:20-29,
Luke 22:14-30

After supper Jesus washes the disciples’ feet, interacts with them, and delivers the Upper Room Discourse

John 13:1-17:26

Jesus foretells Peter’s denials

Matthew 26:31-35

Mark 14:27-31


Luke 22:31-34

Jesus and the disciples go to Gethsemane, where he struggles in prayer and they struggle to stay awake late into the night

Gethsemane, the arrest –
Matthew 26:47-56

Gethsemane, the arrest –

Luke 22:47-53

Gethsemane, the arrest –
Mark 14:32-52

Progression of Faith Blog – Thursday

Passion Gallery – Thursday

Focus on Leonardo DaVinci’s Last Supper

Commentaries

Video Introduction to Thursday

Holy Week Timeline- Thursday

Greatest Prayer in the World

What Happened on Thursday of Holy Week ?

Progression of Faith Blog – Thursday

Gethsemane (poem) – Mary Oliver

Brothers of St. John the Evangelist – Praying Maundy Thursday

2020

Washington Cathedral, 7pm

2019

Maundy Thursday 7pm  At this service, we focus on the institution of Holy Eucharist, given to us by Jesus at the Last Supper, the gift of love in the sacrament of Christ’s Body and Blood. We also focus on the law of love, the demonstration of self-giving which is symbolized in the washing of feet. This service is the beginning of the celebration of the Passion and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Bulletin 2019


Photos 2019
Description 2019 

Service Readings

Sermon 2019 

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Friday, April 10, 2020 – The Execution

Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested by the authorities (perhaps after midnight, early Friday morning)

Matthew 26:47-56

Mark 14:43-52

Luke 22:47-53

John 18:2-12

Jewish trial, phase 1: Jesus has a hearing before Annas (former high priest and Caiaphas’s father-in-law)

Interrogation by Annas –
John 18:12-15,

John 18:19-24

Jewish trial, phase 2: Jesus stands trial before Caiaphas and part of the Sanhedrin

Night Trial –

Mark 14:53-65

Matthew 26:57-68

Peter denies Jesus

Peter in the Courtyard –

Mark 14:66-72

Matthew 26:69-75

Luke 22:55-62


John 18:15-18, 25-27

Perhaps after sunrise, phase 3 of Jesus’ Jewish trial: final consultation before the full Sanhedrin; sent to Pilate

Morning Council Meeting –
Mark 15:1,

Luke 22:66-23.1 


Matthew 27:1-2

Phase 1 of Jesus’ Roman trial: first appearance before Pontius Pilate; sent to Herod Antipas

First hearing before Pilate –

Luke 23.1-7  ,

Mark 15:2-5 ,

Matthew 27:11-14

Phase 2 of Jesus’ Roman trial: appears before Herod Antipas; sent back to Pontius Pilate

Interrogation by Antipas – Luke 23.8-12

Judas hangs himself – The Death of Judas  – Mathew 27:3-5

Phase 3 of Jesus’ Roman trial: Jesus’ second appearance before Pilate; condemned to die

Second hearing before Pilate –
Luke 23.13-23  


Mark 15:6-15

Matthew 27:15-26,
John 18:28-19:16

The flogging – Mark 15:16-20

Jesus is crucified (from approximately 9 AM until Noon). The crucifixion –
Mark 15:16-32  ,


Matthew 27:27-54  


Luke 23:26-49.


John 19:16-37

Darkness at noon – Mark 15:33
“It is Finished” –

Mark 15:34-47 

Joseph of Arimathea –


Mark 15:42-47,

John 19:38-42

Progression of Faith Blog – Friday

Passion Gallery – Friday

Focus on the Music of Good Friday – St. Matthew’s  Passion, St. John’s Passion

Focus on the Art of Holy Week

Commentaries

Video introduction to Friday

Holy Week Timeline-  Friday

Holy Week Visual Timeline-Friday

It is Finished

What Happened on Friday of Holy Week ?

Progression of Faith Blog – Friday

Society of St. John the Evangelist – Praying Good Friday

2020

Zoom Church 7pm, Good Friday

Good Friday bulletin, 2020


Service Readings

Good Friday powerpoint

Sermon

Description 2020 

2019

Good Friday, 7pm.  This service is a time of prayer and reflection as we meditate on Christ’s passion and death. At this service, we will hear the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. A large cross will be brought into the church and we will have time to meditate on Christ’s passion and death during the Veneration of the Cross.

Mary Peterman’s Stations of the Cross

Bulletin 2019

Photos 2019 

Description 2019 


Service Readings

Sermon 2019

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Saturday, April 11, 2020 – The Silence

The Women prepare for annointing Jesus

After the crucifixion on Friday, the focus shifts to Jesus’ tomb and the women prepare to anoint his body

It is a day of waiting. Jesus is in Joseph of Arimathea’s family tomb which was typical of the time and cut into rock. This was a tomb for the wealthy based on the work that had been done to create it. It was forecast by Isaiah but well above Jesus station in life.

The earliest Biblical Gospel, Mark, says nothing about Saturday of Holy Week. There are some other references elsewhere about a mythological type of spiritual journey by Jesus into hell and releasing of the saint’s spirits (from 1 Peter 3) but that might refer to the ascension. Nothing historical is mentioned anywhere. The disciples are laying low probably fearful that the same thing might happen to them as did Jesus.

Luke notes that the women returned home “and prepared spices and ointments. On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment” (Luke 23:56). The preparing of the body would have been the main activity and typical of burial customs of the time.

Pilate Posts Guard – Matthew 27:62-66

Women prepare for Anointing – Mark 16:1

Commentaries

Video introduction to Saturday

Holy Week Timeline-  Saturday

Holy Week Visual Timeline- Sat/Sun

Let His Blood Be On Us

What Happened on Saturday of Holy Week ?

12 things you need to know about Holy Saturday
Progression of Faith Blog – Saturday

Passion Gallery 3 – Saturday


“Holy Saturday – the Forgotten Day – David Lose

Great Vigil of Easter Service, 7:30pm, Trinity Wall Street

The Great Vigil of Easter, when observed, is the first service of Easter. It is celebrated at a convenient time between sunset on Holy Saturday and sunrise on Easter Morning and is the climax of three days of Triduum (Thursday, Tenebrae, Friday, Saturday. Followers of Jesus began celebrating his Resurrection with the Easter Vigil service very early on. By 215 CE, we already have descriptions of services and liturgical prayers that the early Church was using.  It was revived by our current prayer book.

The service normally consists of four parts:

1. The Service of Light. The service begins after sundown with people gathering outside in the dark. A new fire is kindled  then blessed. Then the new Paschal Candle is blessed and lit.  Once the Paschal Candle is lit, its flame is shared with all who light their taper candles from its flame. Then a candlelight procession is lead into the darkened church, stopping periodically to declare “The Light of Christ,” to which all respond “Thanks be to God!”   The very ancient Exsultet is chanted by the deacon or other minister.

2. The Ministry of the Word.  Then, in the candlelit darkness, lessons are read. There as a few as 4 and as many as 9 or even 12 in some services.

3. Baptism or the Renewal of Baptism.  After the lessons, any candidates for Baptism are presented by their sponsors. In the midst of the gathered faithful, they take their baptismal vows and then the whole assembly renews their Baptismal Covenant with them.

4. The Ministry of the Sacrament.  Then there is a loud noise in the darkness, reminiscent of the sound of the stone being rolled away from the entry to Jesus’ tomb, and everyone blows noisemakers or rings bells joyously as we celebrate the moment of Resurrection. All the lights are turned on and the candles at the altar are lit. Then the Gospel reading, telling the story of the first Easter morning, is told, followed by a  homily. The first Eucharist of Easter is presented.

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April 12, 2020 – Easter, the Resurrection  

Some women arrive at Jesus’ tomb near dawn, probably with Mary Magdalene arriving first.

Matthew 28:1,
Luke 24:1 ,
John 20:1

Mary and the other women, instead of finding Jesus’ body, are met by two young men who are angels; one of them announces Jesus’ resurrection.

Matthew 28:2-7, 
Mark 16:4-7 ,
Luke 24:2-7 ,

The women, fearful and joyful, leave the garden—at first unwilling to say anything to anyone about this but then changing their mind and going to tell the Eleven.

Mark 16:1-8,
Matthew 28:8

Mary Magdalene likely rushes ahead and tells Peter and John before the other women arrive.

John 20:2

Mary Magdalene has an encounter with Jesus in the garden.

John 20:11-18

The other women, still en route to tell the disciples, are met by Jesus, who confirms their decision to tell the Eleven and promises to meet them in Galilee.

Matthew 28:9-10

The women arrive and tell the disciples that Jesus is risen.  Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion

Luke 24:8-11

Peter and John rush to the tomb (based on Mary Magdalene’s report) and discover it empty.

John 20:3-10 , 


Luke 24:12

That afternoon Jesus appears to Cleopas and a friend on the road to Emmaus; later Jesus appears to Peter

Luke 24:13-35

That evening Jesus appears to the Ten (minus Thomas) in a house (with locked doors) in Jerusalem. The Upper Room.

Luke 24:36-43,


John 20:19-23

Commentaries

Video introduction to Sunday

Holy Week Timeline- Easter Sunday

What Happened on Easter Sunday of Holy Week ?

Have You Found What You’re Looking For?

Progression of Faith Blog – Easter Sunday

Society of St. John the Evangelist – Praying Easter Sunday

Easter Voices, Year A 

2020

Zoom Church, gather at 9:30am, Service at 10am

Bulletin, April 12

Powerpoint and videos

Easter Gifts.

Sermon

2019

Easter, 6:30am Sunrise Service, 11am Service St. Peter’s (10:45 lighting of the Paschal Candle)

Bulletin 2019 

Service Readings 2019

Photos 2019


Sunrise Service Photos 2019


Sermon

Description

Holy Week Geography   

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March 15, 2020 Lent 3

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The Week Ahead…

March 18, 10:00-12pm – Ecumenical Bible Study

March 18, 3:00-5:00pm – Village Harvest

Johnny will arrive with the food around 10:45AM. If you are able and feel safe doing so, please come and help unload the truck. We are going to have a drive through distribution and pack bags ahead of time. Those who are helping to pack the bags for the distribution should be prepared to start distributing food at 2PM so that people can come and go without a wait.

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March 22 – 10am – Genesis  Judah’s Sexual Ethics: Genesis 38:1-30 –online only

Adult Christian Ed in Lent online –
Signs of Life

This week – “food”

The COVID 19 virus has cancelled regular events on Sun. March 22. We will be back with online options before March 22

March 22 – 11am – Holy Eucharist, Fourth Sunday in Lent

March 22 – 11am – Holy Eucharist, Fourth Sunday in Lent – Servers and Readings

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Lent – Links

• • We have a dedicated Lenten part of the website Lent at St. Peter’s Includes the background of Lent, the Lenten calendar with readings, resources, etc.
  • Lenten Calendar. As Lent begins on Feb. 26, start of practice of reading the Daily Office which is on the Calendar
  • Adult Christian Ed on Sundays in Lent at St. Peter’s – Genesis and Previous Sessions

 

• Adult Christian Ed in Lent online –Signs of Life

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Spring has arrived!

March’s temperatures have been relatively mild with plenty of sun to see the cherries, daffodils, croakus and other appear.

Here’s a gallery of some of the delights.

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From Lent 3, March 15 – Scripture in song – Peter, Paul and Mary’s – “Jesus Met A Woman at the Well”  

One of the first albums I had growing up was Peter, Paul and Mary in Concert, their first recorded concert. On that piece of vinyl was the song “Jesus Met a Woman at the Well.” The story from John  was popularized within a whole new generation. These lyrics conclude that Jesus is “the prophet” because he knew everything the woman at the well had ever done.

Dad was not a “folkie” but he took us to see them in performance at the Mosque in Richmond in 1966.  A great show to this day!

Hear the song in concert.

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The essence of the Samaritan woman at the well  

This is a scripture of compassion and giving.

The key is that Jesus sees her, really sees her pain – she’s had five husbands before and then he reveals himself to her. She is living an unfocused life without husband and she is looking for direction and help.

He provides a direction with life giving words and his messianic identity. This is part of the living water. What Jesus is driving at is the divine life that is never exhausted even as it is given, since it is, in its essence, nothing other than giving. Jesus is uniting the tribes of Israel to “worship the Father in spirit and truth.”

“Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty.” By leaving her water jar there she takes on a new more purposeful life.

Daniel Goldeman looked into compassion in a TED talk –“Why aren’t we more compassionate?”

He explains “And this is, I think, the predicament of our lives: that we don’t take every opportunity to help because our focus is in the wrong direction.”

What is the wrong direction ? Here is the TED talk for his answer

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Another Look at the Gospel – “Rebuilding the World with Everyday Wisdom” 

We can go further and look at Jesus’ example beyond the woman in simply doing what’s needed to be done.

Pschologist Barry Schwarz in a Ted Talk laments the loss of Wisdom. He argues powerfully that rules often fail us, incentives often backfire, and practical, everyday wisdom will help rebuild our world.   Here is the Ted Talk

“Practical wisdom,” Aristotle told us, “is the combination of moral will and moral skill.”

A wise person knows when and how to make the exception to every rule, as the janitors knew when to ignore the job duties in the service of other objectives. A wise person knows how to improvise, as Luke did when he re-washed the floor.

Real-world problems are often ambiguous and ill-defined and the context is always changing. A wise person is like a jazz musician — using the notes on the page, but dancing around them, inventing combinations that are appropriate for the situation and the people at hand. A wise person knows how to use these moral skills in the service of the right aims.

To serve other people, not to manipulate other people. And finally, perhaps most important, a wise person is made, not born. Wisdom depends on experience, and not just any experience. You need the time to get to know the people that you’re serving. You need permission to be allowed to improvise, try new things, occasionally to fail and to learn from your failures. And you need to be mentored by wise teachers.”

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St. Patrick, Saint, March 17

St. Patrick, apostle of Ireland, was born in England, circa 386. Surprisingly, he was not raised with a strong emphasis on religion.

When St. Patrick was 16 years old, he was captured by Irish pirates and brought to Ireland where he was sold into slavery. His job was to tend sheep. He came to view his enslavement of six years as God’s test of his faith, during which he became deeply devoted to Christianity through constant prayer. In a vision, he saw the children of Pagan Ireland reaching out their hands to him, which only increased his determination to free the Irish from Druidism by converting them to Christianity.

The idea of escaping enslavement came to St. Patrick in a dream, where a voice promised him he would find his way home to England. Eager to see the dream materialize, St. Patrick convinced some sailors to let him board their ship. After three days of sailing, he and the crew abandoned the ship in France and wandered, lost, for 28 days—covering 200 miles of territory in the process. At last, St. Patrick was reunited with his family in England.

Now a free man, he went to France where he studied and entered the priesthood. He never lost sight of his vision: he was determined to convert Ireland to Christianity. In 431, St. Patrick was Consecrated Bishop of the Irish, and went to Ireland to spread “The Good News” to the Pagans there. Patrick made his headquarters at Armagh in the North, where he built a school, and had the protection of the local monarch. From this base he made extensive missionary journeys, with considerable success. To say that he single-handedly turned Ireland from a pagan to a Christian country is an exaggeration, but is not far from the truth.

Continue reading about St. Patrick

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Art for the 4th Week in Lent, Year A

Commentary is by Daniella Zsupan-Jerome.

We enter into this fourth Sunday of Lent with the words of Samuel I telling us that, “not as man sees does God see.” At Mass, we then hear the story of Christ healing the blind man at the pool of Siloam. El Greco painted two versions of this story; here we explore his first rendition. Christ Healing the Blind tells the story but also reveals El Greco’s blossoming artistic vision. In this early painting, we observe El Greco learning to see with the eyes of an artist as he depicts perspective and the movement of bodies from all angles. Just as the blind man learns to see, El Greco is gaining his unique vision here.

Christ Healing the Blind presents two main groups of people: Christ healing the blind man on the left, and the Pharisees clustered on the right, suspicious and protesting. Front and center are the blind beggar’s meager possessions and a sniffing dog—perhaps his only loyal companion. Further back, two figures complete the circle, engaged in a pose of compassion and healing—God’s mercy juxtaposed with the confrontation below. Placing Christ and the Pharisees on the left and right is a point of irony: the Pharisees, who are assured of their right vision, are in fact blind to the truth unfolding before them, while Christ reveals the truth on the left. Behind the Pharisees a sky of swirling clouds reinforces their disarray, but Christ’s healing act takes place in front of a firm visual backdrop of stable architectural elements. Behind Christ, El Greco leads our eye to a vanishing point with a long row of arches, hinting that the sight Christ grants to the blind beggar is long-ranging and far. In contrast, the cluster of Pharisees obscures their own horizon, as their near-sighted vision lands on one another.

Finally, the four men gathered on the left seem unaware of what is going on. Here, El Greco inserts another kind of blindness: oblivion to grace unfolding before their very eyes. Their mild presence is perhaps more challenging than that of the Pharisees, who are lacking vision but not awareness.

This story invites us to open wider our eyes of faith and become aware of the merciful, healing grace all around us.

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Lectionary, Lent 4, Year A, March 22, 2020

I.Theme –   The emphasis this week is on the themes of light, vision and insight. Samuel is given insight to anoint a shepherd boy to be king. Paul urges the church to be people of light. In the Gospel a blind  man is given sight to see Jesus the Messiah.

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“The Miracle of Christ Healing the Blind” – El Greco (1560) . The man in the foreground with his wife may be the blind man’s parents

The lectionary readings are here  or individually:

Old Testament – 1 Samuel 16:1-13
Psalm – Psalm 23
Epistle –Ephesians 5:8-14
Gospel – John 9:1-41

In the Old Testament , The problem was, who shall succeed King Saul who was rejected by Yahweh The Lord sends Samuel to Jesse’s home where there were eight sons. One of them Yahweh wants as the new king. One by one seven sons are passed by. David is called home from caring for his father’s sheep. At once Samuel is given insight that David is God’s choice. Here is a case similar to the Gospel’s account of Jesus’ giving the healed man the insight that he was the Messiah

Psalm 23 is the Psalm of the Day. It harmonizes with the miracle’s account of Jesus’ compassion for a blind person. He becomes one of Jesus sheep.  Like the sheep, the blind man hears Jesus’ voice. Like the shepherd, Jesus finds the blind man when he has been cast out (9:35). Jesus provides for the man born blind much more than sight–he provides for him what he, as the good shepherd, gives all of his sheep–the protection of his fold (10:16), the blessing of needed pasture (10:9), and the gift of abundant life (10:10).

In Ephesians, the Epistle reacing,  Christians are people of the light according to Paul. Before accepting Christ they lived in the darkness of sin. Christians are to shun the works of darkness and to live in the light of goodness and truth. In the Gospel miracle account Jesus, the light of the world, brings light to a blind man both physically and spiritually.

 The Gospel account is one of not one but two miracles and is the story of the “Man Born Blind.” The first miracle is told in the first seven verses. The rest of the chapter deals with human reactions to the miracle: the healed man, his parents, the Pharisees and Jesus. The second miracle is the insight the healed man was given enabling him to confess Jesus as the Son of man, Messiah. The chapter begins and ends with blindness. At the beginning a man was physically blind. At the end, the Pharisees were spiritually blind because of their sin. The healed man experienced a double miracle: sight and insight.

Confronted by the blindness of the world, a blindness encapsulated in the man born blind, Jesus said to his disciples, “we must work the works of him who sent me while it is day.”  This scripture can be seen as a call to us to practice evangelism, providing light to others.   It is there, through faith, that they will find life eternal.

Read more..

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March 8, 2020 Lent 2

Videos, March 8, 2020

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The Week Ahead…

March 9 – 4pm – Vestry

March 11 – 10:00-12pm – Ecumenical Bible Study

March 11 – 5pm – 6:30pm – Village Dinner

The COVID-19 virus has cancelled events on Sat. March 14 and 15

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March 14 – 9am – 2pm – Vestry Retreat at St. Peter’s

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March 15 – Genesis Christian Ed. Online Return to Bethel: Genesis 35:1-29.

March 15 – Online Learning during Lent – “Signs of Life -Why Worship Matters”. Online

This week – “water”

March 15 – 11am – Holy Eucharist, Third Sunday in Lent

March 15 – 11am – Holy Eucharist, Third Sunday in Lent – Servers and Readings

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The Church Building is closed on Sunday, March 15 – but the Church is not closed! It does not have walls! Our work continues:

Come back at 11am on Sunday and enjoy an inspiring service with Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, live at the National Cathedral

Some Curry links –

1. Royal Wedding sermon

2. Our Michael Curry biography page

3. The Crazy Christian” sermon

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Lent – Links

• • We have a dedicated Lenten part of the website Lent at St. Peter’s Includes the background of Lent, the Lenten calendar with readings, resources, etc.
  • Lenten Calendar. As Lent begins on Feb. 26, start of practice of reading the Daily Office which is on the Calendar
  • Adult Christian Ed on Sundays in Lent at St. Peter’s – Genesis and Previous Sessions

 

• Adult Christian Ed in Lent online –
  Signs of Life

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Nicodemus in Art

The First appearance of Nicodemus is in the scripture this week in Lent with the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus. Nicodemus has been depicted in art since the 1600’s to our times.

See the images

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Spring in the first week of March

March certainly did not come in like a lion. Maybe not as a lamb with some windy days Friday and Saturday which brought the wind chill down. Still, temperatures were relatively mild with plenty of sun to see the cherries, daffodils, croakus and other appear.

Here’s a gallery of some of the delights.

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Art for the 3rd Week in Lent, Year A

Commentary is by Daniella Zsupan-Jerome.

Byzantine icons are portals to the divine presence. The depictions are heavenly—the gold backgrounds speak of divine truth. The serene, symmetrical faces invite us into the order of Heaven. Here is a peace that surpasses all understanding. We slow down before the icon and encounter the divine presence.

“In this icon of the woman at the well, we see the encounter of Christ with the Samaritan woman, who in the Orthodox tradition has a name: St. Photini, the illuminated or enlightened one. She meets Jesus while he is seated by the well. She approaches with her vessel to get water. Their hands indicate for us that they are engaged in conversation. On Christ’s right hand, his third finger bends in, a subtle sign of his divine nature. The two mountains behind them recall their words, reflecting that they come from two different backgrounds.

“Central to the icon are two architectural elements—the well, and the walled city in the distance.

“The well has a peculiar shape; it’s low and shaped like a cross and is suggestive of a baptismal font. It invites us to enter into the death of Christ so as to rise with him in the Resurrection—the very essence of the Paschal Mystery. We are beckoned to the font to seek the living water that delivers us from death to eternal life.

Read more…

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Lectionary, Lent 3, Year A, March 15, 2020

I.Theme –   Water provides life in a physical sense and in a spiritual sense (affirmation, love, hope) as well as a pathway to the divine.

 “Christ and the Samaritan Woman”  –  Stefano Erardi (1630-1716)

The woman`s reaction of surprise is expressed by her hand placed against her chest as though in disbelief, while Christ points out a finger, not in accusation, but to communicate his innocent request for some water, with an expression of humility and compassion for the woman.

The lectionary readings are here  or individually:

Old Testament – Exodus 17:1-7
Psalm – Psalm 95
Epistle –Romans 5:1-11
Gospel – John 4:5-42

This lectionary readings this week address water both as a commodity and in a symbolic sense.

The people under Moses had escaped from Egypt where they had become slaves in providing the economic base for Egyptian power. But the desert to which they had come in their bid to secure freedom – trusting that God through Moses would lead them to new life – was an inhospitable place. It was arid, dusty, hot – and seemed to be endless. As a group they railed against Moses. Maybe Egypt had deprived them of dignity, but at least they had had food and water. A crisis in leadership was emerging.

There is a subtheme in obeying God. Moses did what he was told, struck the rock at Horeb and there was water. He had in the past trusted in God and not been let down. He trusted that this trust would once again not be misplaced – and the water flowed.

The Gospel pits Jesus with the Samaritan woman in drawing water. S. Michael Houdmann contrast this passage with the Nicodemus a week ago. “While Nicodemus needed to see himself as a sinner in order to understand grace, the Samaritan woman, who knew she was a sinner, needed to see herself as a person of worth and value…”Jesus’ ministering to those outcasts of the Jewish society (the Samaritans), reveals that all people are valuable to God and that Jesus desires that we demonstrate love to everyone.”

Water is more than life giving but is life transforming. She had had a difficult life with five husbands and is considered an outcast. In trusting her he uplifts her and gives her back her self-esteem. He accepts her with his conversation  about this “living water.” Well water is necessary for life and is temporary. Living water is necessary for eternal life and is everlasting. This is the water of revelation, love and spirit. This water is giving is life affirming and life enhancing. In the end she is doing more than the disciples in bring the word of Christ to the many.  The Samaritans flock to hear Jesus.

The Epistle doesn’t mention water directly. Paul goes into the benefits of justification by faith, including peace, hope and reconciliation with God. Howver, God’s love is poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit like water – evident in baptism into His death and rising. . We were restored to God’s favor by Christ’s death and be given eternal life (“saved”) by the risen Christ.

The Psalm is a shout toward the power of God echoed from the Epistle – as a great god above all other creator of worlds, shepherd sustaining them. There is a reference to Exodus and the conditions of lack of water with the disobedience of the people. Failure to adhere to God’s ways will have dire consequences, as it did for the Israelites during their “forty years.” In the end he sustains them physically.

Read more..

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“Blessing at the Well”, a poem for Lent 3

Jan Richardson is an artist, author , United Methodist minister, and director of The Wellspring Studio, LLC.

Her website is Painted Prayerbook  She combines her art, poems and scriptural references in a wonderful review of church seasons and individual Gospel passages.

This poem is for Lent 3 – -the woman at the well. Richardson writes that “the encounter between Jesus and the unnamed woman offers something of an icon of the Lenten season and the invitation it extends to us. If we give ourselves to a daily practice, if we keep taking our vessel to the source even when we feel uninspired or the well seems empty or the journey is boring, if we walk with an openness to what might be waiting for us in the repetition and rhythm of our routines, we may suddenly find ourselves swimming in the grace and love of God that goes deeper than we ever imagined.”

Blessing of the Well

If you stand
at the edge
of this blessing
and call down
into it,

you will hear
your words
return to you.

If you lean in
and listen close,
you will hear
this blessing
give the story
of your life
back to you.

Quiet your voice
quiet your judgment
quiet the way
you always tell
your story
to yourself.

Quiet all these
and you will hear
the whole of it
and the hollows of it:
the spaces
in the telling,
the gaps
where you hesitate
to go.

Sit at the rim
of this blessing.
Press your ear
to its lip,
its sides,
its curves
that were carved out
long ago
by those whose thirst
drove them deep,
those who dug
into the layers
with only their hands
and hope.

Rest yourself
beside this blessing
and you will
begin to hear
the sound of water
entering the gaps.

Still yourself
and you will feel it
rising up within you,
filling every hollow,
springing forth
anew

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March 1, 2020 Lent 1

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The Week Ahead…

March 4 – 10:00-12pm – Ecumenical Bible Study

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March 8 – 10am – Genesis  A Blended Family: Genesis 30:1-24

Links: 1. Genesis schedule. 2. Genesis previous sessions

March 8 – Online Learning during Lent – “Signs of Life -Why Worship Matters”.

This week – “light”

March 8 – 11am – Holy Eucharist, Second Sunday in Lent – Servers and Readings

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Lent Began Feb. 26

Lent is a 40 day Christian festival beginning Ash Wednesday and concluding on Easter (Sundays are not counted).  The 40 day fast of Jesus in the wilderness was responsible for the number 40 being chosen .  It was said by Athanasius in 339 AD to be celebrated the world over.

The word “Lent” comes from the old Anglo-Saxon word lengten, which means “springtime,” named so for the time of the year in which it occurs.   The five Lenten Sundays are followed by the Sunday of the Passion, Palm Sunday, which begins Holy Week, when we relive the events of Jesus Christ’s suffering and death.

What we now call Lent was originally a period of fasting and study for catechumens who were to be baptized on the Saturday before Easter.  The purpose of this extended fast was to practice self-denial and humility. This was to prepare oneself for receiving God’s grace and forgiveness in baptism, given on Easter Saturday or Easter Sunday.

Lent is:

• A time for looking at the things we do that are wrong or that tempt us, asking God’s and other people’s forgiveness;
• A time for giving up things that keep us from being loving people;
• A time for doing extra things that will help us grow closer to God;
• A time to be more aware of what it means to love as God loves us;
• A time to ask God to help us to be more loving, remembering
that God is always ready to strengthen us.
• A time to let go of our normal routine, try a new spiritual practice, to step out of our box, to reflect on ourselves, to reflect on a relationship with God. It can be a very creative time. At a later time these practices may help us endure trying of challenging times. Lent gives us a chance to practice facing our fears, journeying in the wilderness, confronting the dangers and difficulties we find there, and reaching out for Jesus’ hand the entire trip.

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Lent – Getting Started

• We have a dedicated Lenten part of the website Lent at St. Peter’s Includes the background of Lent, the Lenten calendar with readings, resources, etc.
• Lenten Calendar. As Lent begins on Feb. 26, start the practice of reading the Daily Office which is on the Calendar
• Adult Christian Ed on Sundays in Lent at St. Peter’s – Genesis
• Adult Christian Ed in Lent online –
  Signs of Life

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The Lenten Gospel Readings- the Path Ahead

Lent has five Sunday plus Palm Sunday.

Except for Lent 1, all of the Gospel readings come from the Gospel of John, specifically the second part Book of Signs (Jn 1.19-12.50).  Palm Sunday has its own readings.

The second Sunday through the fifth has Jesus confronting various characters – a educated Pharisee, a Samaritan Women, a blind man and a man recently deceased.  These texts from John are about revelation–the revelation of who Jesus is, the one sent by God, the begotten God, whose offer of life is in his presence and not necessarily delayed until his death.

The key is in the dialogues that the characters try to understand Jesus from their own backgrounds. Is he who he says he is ? How does he challenge Jewis teachings in the past ?

Along the way, it deals with man’s constant temptations and limits vs. Jesus as the source of light and eternal life.  Jesus does make himself known in a significant way.  It shows the power and glory of Christ and how humans confront it .

Are they going to find themselves within Christ ?  Ultimately, how are we finding our way through Christ ? Will we recognize him? Will we witness for him? Will we see him and worship him? Will we come when we hear him call our names? Will we move as these stories show from darkness to light, from insecurity to testimony, from blindness to sight, from death to life?  Here are the Sundays:

First Sunday of Lent: The Temptation of Jesus, following upon the account of Jesus’ own baptism, is a vivid reminder that our baptismal life is similar to Christ’s life: we will be subject to trial and temptation.

Second Sunday of Lent: The Story of Nicodemus , the Pharisee never understood the significance of Christ beyond the miracles despite his education. To stand accepted before God requires a conversion of one’s whole being. It requires being born from above, washed new by the Spirit of God.

Third Sunday of Lent: In the story of The Samaritan Woman the gradual enlightenment of the woman by Jesus is a pattern of baptismal grace that steadily purifies and enlightens us.

Fourth Sunday of Lent: The Man Born Blind shows the power of God offered to cure a helpless blind man. God’s power is no less evident in the sacrament of baptism.

Fifth Sunday of Lent: Raising of Lazarus is a powerful reminder that Christ is the “resurrection and the life” and those who believe in him will have eternal life.

Indeed the continual revelation of Jesus becomes a reason why the authorities conclude he is a dangerous man that needs to be dealt with in Holy Week.

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Voices of Lent

1.  Desmond Tutu   from In God’s Hands

And humans were given dominion over all creation. That is why we were created to be God’s viceroys, to be God’s stand ins. We should love, we should bear rule over the rest of creation as God would. We are meant to be caring in how we deal with the rest of God’s creation. God wants everything to flourish. It gives us a huge responsibility – that we should not ravish and waste the natural resources which God places at our disposal for our wellbeing.

 2. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry

Lenten Message

Clarence Jorden of the Koinonia Movement many years ago wrote this:
Jesus founded the most revolutionary movement in human history, a movement built on the unconditional love of God for the world, and the mandate to those who follow to live that love.

The season of Lent is upon us. It is a season of making a renewed commitment to participate and be a part of the movement of Jesus in this world. You can see some of that in the Gospel lesson for the first Sunday of Lent where Luke says that after the Baptism of Jesus he went into the wilderness, there to be tempted of Satan.

After the Baptism. Baptism is the sacrament of commitment to the Jesus Movement. It is to be washed, if you will, in the love and the reality of God, and to emerge from that great washing as one whose life is dedicated to living that love in the world.

In this season of Lent, we take some time to focus on what that means for our lives, whether it is as simple as giving up chocolate candy or as profound as taking on a commitment to serve the poor or to serve others in some new way. Whatever it is, let that something be something that helps you participate in the movement of God’s love in this world following in the footsteps of Jesus.

And the truth is, the fact that Jesus was baptized and began that movement in the world and immediately found himself tempted by the devil is an ever-present reminder that this movement is not without struggle. It is not easy. The truth is, this movement is difficult. It’s hard work. It’s work of following Jesus to the cross. And it’s work of following Jesus through the cross to the Resurrection. To new life. And new possibility. That is our calling. That is the work of the movement. To help this world move from what is often the nightmare of the world itself into the dream that God intends.

So I pray that this Lent, as they used to say many years ago, might be the first day of the rest of your life. It might be a new day for this world.

Read more voices…

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Art for the 2nd Week in Lent, Year A

From James Tissot’s famous Bible illustration series, the Interview between Jesus and Nicodemus strives to depict with careful attention to period detail the scene from John’s Gospel in which Nicodemus seeks out Jesus at night to learn more from him about his teaching.

Tissot researched his Bible series by traveling to the Holy Land, and the details in clothing, furnishings, and domestic life all help transport the viewer into the world of the Bible, or at least the Middle East at the turn of the 20th century. Even more compelling than the setting, though, is the intimacy between the figures of Jesus and Nicodemus. The image communicates the hospitality, warmth, and friendship that are available to us no matter who we are or when we arrive at Christ’s door.

Read more…

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Lectionary, Lent 2, Year A, March 8, 2020

I.Theme –   Signs and promises, signs requested, signs given, and signs difficult to discern. 

 “Christ Instructing Nicodemus” – Jacob Jordaens (1593-1678)

The lectionary readings are here  or individually:

Old Testament – Genesis 12:1-4a
Psalm – Psalm 121
Epistle –Romans 4:1-5, 13-17
Gospel – John 3:1-17

Today’s readings are all about signs and promises, signs requested, signs given, and signs difficult to discern.  Lent is a time to ask God to help us to be more loving, remembering that God is always ready to strengthen us.    The thrust this week is to believe and be reborn.

Abram is covenanted by God; he is given the promise of a being a leader of a great nation, when he was beyond the years of having children. Abram trusted God to chart a path for him into the unknown, leaving his people and country and venturing into a new life.

In contrast, Nicodemus, certainly better educated, never understood the significance of Christ beyond the miracles.  Nicodemus comes to Jesus looking for a sign – and when he is given it, he cannot understand it.

The issue is how you can be reborn at his age.  The meaning of being “born from above” begins their discussion. The first is ‘anew, again’ on the physical level, which is what Nicodemus understands; the second is ‘from above’ spatially, which is what Jesus seems to intend. Jesus contrasts the realm of the Spirit, which is eternal and heavenly, with the realm of the flesh, which is earthly, weak and mortal (but not necessarily sinful).

Nicodemus never understood that Jesus’ teachings were for more than the Jews and that he would have to abandon his older understandings. His knowledge was a barrier trying to understand. God ultimately gave us his Son for stengthening us and the community.

Paul discusses Abraham’s ‘wages’ which he says are a gift when the promise comes true.  Paul explains how Abraham’s faith, revealed in his willingness to believe and act on God’s promises, makes him right with God.

Who is driving your car ? You or God ?

Read more..

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Another Look at Nicodemus 

From a sermon in March 2011…

“Nic was a big guy in many ways.  He was tall, and even though he had put on a little weight in middle age, he still had a certain youthfulness and confidence that other men envied.  Nic was a big guy at work too, having successfully risen to the top of his profession, known as a leader, not only in the local company, but also at the corporate level.  People listened when Nic spoke.  They paid attention, sought his guidance.

“Nic drove a large black Escalade. He loved the way the Escalade roared to life when he turned the key in the ignition, the way he sat up high above the rest of the traffic, barely having to press the accelerator to gun past anyone in his way and to get to his destination in record time.The Escalade suited Nic, summed up who he was, really.Big, bold, in charge.”

Read more of the 2011 sermon

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Yet another look at Nicodemus.. getting back up again and being constantly reborn 

Source:  South West Presbytery Lenten Block Party

“In most cases we become experts at doing things we’ve never done before by using the skills we have and working with them. We learn more by doing. In the cycle of reflecting, acting and reflecting we are being constantly reborn, born anew.

“Skateboarder Rodney Mullen in Ted Talks looks at the process of constant reformation from the perspective of skateboarding, which not only taught him about the sport but gave him an approach to life, a language that can inspire others to break through to their new birth.

“In skateboarding, like life, there are challenges, there are obstacles. Mullen observes, ‘In order to achieve success you are going to have to push through.”

“Pushing through is not one heroic act, it is made up of many little steps that we chain together until we ‘get it’ and which we keep performing until they become natural, unthinking, automatic.

“Can you think of examples in your life where you have had to break through? Challenges which you overcame by chaining together smaller steps (for example, learning to ride a bike, play an instrument, or a particular game)? What were the challenges along the way? What did it take to get to where you wanted to be?”

Two quotes to share – “The biggest obstacle to creativity is breaking throught the barrier of disbelief, especially when no one else is doing it.”

“Getting up again is what shapes and forms the engine.”

What is TED ? TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is a global set of conferences owned by the private non-profit Sapling Foundation. The slogan – “ideas worth spreading.”

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February 23, 2020

Feb 23, 2020 – Last Epiphany

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The Week Ahead…

Feb. 25 – 5:00pm-6:30pm – Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper

On the night before Lent during medieval times, families used up all the fat to prepare for the strict fasting of Lent. These ingredients were made into pancakes. Annually we revive this practice on the night before Lent begin.

Feb. 26 – 10:00-12pm – Ecumenical Bible Study

Feb. 26 – 7pm – Ash Wednesday, imposition of ashes. Story and Photos

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent and is 40 days before Good Friday. Our foreheads are marked with the sign of a cross, symbolizing we belong to Jesus Christ, who died on the cross.

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March 1 – 10am – Genesis

Links

1. Genesis Sunday schedule
<br style=”font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt;”>2. Genesis Sunday sessions. Links to the Powerpoints and notes from previous Sunday

We will complete last week’s topic Genesis 18:15-Genesis 23 and then move to the Courtship of Rebekah: Genesis 24:10-67

March 1 – Online Learning during Lent – “Signs of Life -Why Worship Matters”. Online.

Examining 5 symbols of worship through “Signs of Life” – March 1 considers Light. Here’s an introduction.

March 1 – 11am – Holy Eucharist, First Sunday in Lent

March 1 – 12am – First Sunday Potluck in the Parish House

March 1- First Sunday of Lent Readings and Servers.

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Lent Begins Feb. 26

Lent is a 40 day Christian festival beginning Ash Wednesday and concluding on Easter (Sundays are not counted).  The 40 day fast of Jesus in the wilderness was responsible for the number 40 being chosen .  It was said by Athanasius in 339 AD to be celebrated the world over.

The word “Lent” comes from the old Anglo-Saxon word lengten, which means “springtime,” named so for the time of the year in which it occurs.   The five Lenten Sundays are followed by the Sunday of the Passion, Palm Sunday, which begins Holy Week, when we relive the events of Jesus Christ’s suffering and death.

What we now call Lent was originally a period of fasting and study for catechumens who were to be baptized on the Saturday before Easter.  The purpose of this extended fast was to practice self-denial and humility. This was to prepare oneself for receiving God’s grace and forgiveness in baptism, given on Easter Saturday or Easter Sunday.

Lent is:

• A time for looking at the things we do that are wrong or that tempt us, asking God’s and other people’s forgiveness;
• A time for giving up things that keep us from being loving people;
• A time for doing extra things that will help us grow closer to God;
• A time to be more aware of what it means to love as God loves us;
• A time to ask God to help us to be more loving, remembering
that God is always ready to strengthen us.
• A time to let go of our normal routine, try a new spiritual practice, to step out of our box, to reflect on ourselves, to reflect on a relationship with God. It can be a very creative time. At a later time these practices may help us endure trying of challenging times. Lent gives us a chance to practice facing our fears, journeying in the wilderness, confronting the dangers and difficulties we find there, and reaching out for Jesus’ hand the entire trip.

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Lent – Getting Started

• We have a dedicated Lenten part of the website Lent at St. Peter’s Includes the background of Lent, the Lenten calendar with readings, resources, etc. It begins on Shrove Tuesday, Feb. 25.
• Lenten Calendar. As Lent begins on Feb. 26, start of practice of reading the Daily Office which is on the Calendar. (The first session of the calendar actually begins with Shrove Tuesday on Feb. 25). Each day has the Daily Office, Forward Movement, Daily Meditation, and Living Well in Lent passages as well as Episcopal saints reconized for the day.
• Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, Feb. 25, 5pm-6:30pm. All about Shrove Tuesday.
• Lent begins Wednesday, Feb. 26. The Ash Wednesday service with the imposition of ashes and Holy Eucharist is at 7PM. 3 important points about Ash Wednesday
• Adult Christian Ed on Sundays in Lent at St. Peter’s – Genesis
• Adult Christian Ed in Lent online – Signs of Life. Here’s an introduction.
• Lenten Quiet Day, Feb. 27. The Rt. Rev. David C. Jones will lead the program on Wednesday, Feb. 27th at Roslyn Conference and Retreat Center. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. and the meditations at 10 a.m. The day will end at approximately 2:30 p.m. Cost for the day is $35 and includes lunch. The sign-up sheet is in the Parish House.

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Voices of Lent

1.  Desmond Tutu   from In God’s Hands

And humans were given dominion over all creation. That is why we were created to be God’s viceroys, to be God’s stand ins. We should love, we should bear rule over the rest of creation as God would. We are meant to be caring in how we deal with the rest of God’s creation. God wants everything to flourish. It gives us a huge responsibility – that we should not ravish and waste the natural resources which God places at our disposal for our wellbeing.

 2. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry

Lenten Message

Clarence Jorden of the Koinonia Movement many years ago wrote this:
Jesus founded the most revolutionary movement in human history, a movement built on the unconditional love of God for the world, and the mandate to those who follow to live that love.

The season of Lent is upon us. It is a season of making a renewed commitment to participate and be a part of the movement of Jesus in this world. You can see some of that in the Gospel lesson for the first Sunday of Lent where Luke says that after the Baptism of Jesus he went into the wilderness, there to be tempted of Satan.

After the Baptism. Baptism is the sacrament of commitment to the Jesus Movement. It is to be washed, if you will, in the love and the reality of God, and to emerge from that great washing as one whose life is dedicated to living that love in the world.

In this season of Lent, we take some time to focus on what that means for our lives, whether it is as simple as giving up chocolate candy or as profound as taking on a commitment to serve the poor or to serve others in some new way. Whatever it is, let that something be something that helps you participate in the movement of God’s love in this world following in the footsteps of Jesus.

And the truth is, the fact that Jesus was baptized and began that movement in the world and immediately found himself tempted by the devil is an ever-present reminder that this movement is not without struggle. It is not easy. The truth is, this movement is difficult. It’s hard work. It’s work of following Jesus to the cross. And it’s work of following Jesus through the cross to the Resurrection. To new life. And new possibility. That is our calling. That is the work of the movement. To help this world move from what is often the nightmare of the world itself into the dream that God intends.

So I pray that this Lent, as they used to say many years ago, might be the first day of the rest of your life. It might be a new day for this world.

Read more voices…

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Conversation about Ash Wednesday

Two priests from All Saints Episcopal Church in Frederick Maryland discuss the Ash Wednesday experience. (click the picture)

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Art for Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent

Art expresses the key themes of the season – conflict between secular and religious, the forces of temptation and selfishness affecting all of us, the importance of retreat, repentance, and conversion in this season. We have three pieces of art thanks to the Loyola press

1. Pieter Brueghel the Elder, “The Fight Between Carnival and Lent,” 1559

Sometimes when the spiritual and the secular clash, we can see the hand of God at work. In Pieter Brueghel’s The Fight Between Carnival and Lent, there is a clash of contrasts happening in this 16th-century Dutch village. Near the center of the hustle and bustle a curious pair is ready to spar: “Carnival,” represented by a well-endowed man riding a barrel, wears a meat-pie hat and is ready for action with a spear loaded with roasted pork. “Lent” faces him, personified by a clear-eyed but gaunt woman on a spare cart, wearing a beehive and holding out two fish on a peel. She is surrounded by loaves, pretzels, and a basket of mussels.

See for two more pieces of Ash Wednesday art

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Art for the 1st Week in Lent, Year A

This Sunday’s first reading from Genesis invites us back to the beginning—to the creation of man and woman, and their original fall, succumbing to the temptation of the serpent. Ivan Kramskoi’s Christ in the Desert returns Jesus to this same beginning to face his own temptations before heading out to engage in public ministry.

Christ is seated in a rocky, arid landscape. Seated in the dust from which we came, Christ is battling. His battle is intensely psychological. As the devil tempts him with thoughts of worldly satisfaction, power, and an easier way out, he recalls the original temptation, the one Adam and Eve could not resist. This time around, Christ knows what is at stake—the gravity of the difference between Paradise gained or lost is visible on his face.

Read more…

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Lectionary, Lent 1, Year A, March 1, 2020

I.Theme –   Dealing with Sin and Temptation

Duccio di Buoninsegna – “Temptation of Christ on the Mountain” (1308-11)

The lectionary readings are here  or individually:

Old Testament – Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7
Psalm – Psalm 32
Epistle –Romans 5:12-19
Gospel – Matthew 4:1-11

One key word this week is “Sin” and it fits in well with Lent. We remember Jesus 40 day fast and resulting temptation by the devil. The 40 days fits in with the period designated for Lent.  Lent is 6 days of fasting over 7 weeks with the period at Ash Wednesday.  Lent is a special time of prayer, penance, sacrifice and good works in preparation of the celebration of Easter.

As we begin Lent, let’s start at the very beginning and consider why we need to go on this trip in the first place.

What does it mean to be human ? From the Genesis story of Adam and Eve’s fall from grace, through Paul’s exploration of how Jesus functions as a “second Adam,” to Matthew’s portrayal of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, these readings cut to the chase of what it is to be human.

The other key word this week is “temptation.”  As  Brian Stoffregen writes  “ Wherever it comes, the tempter/tester does not have the power to make someone do something. Temptation is not coercion. The serpent in the garden didn’t make Eve and Adam eat the apple. The devil in our text can’t make Jesus turn stones into bread. “To tempt” means to try and convince someone to do something. It means enticing someone to want to do something. Tempters can’t make someone do something bad, but try to make the temptee want to do something bad. They don’t take away the will. Rather, they try to change one’s will.”

“The way [the devil] seeks to change our wills is by lying, by stretching the truth. Generally, [the devil] entices us not to do great evil acts, but to good things for the wrong reasons. It could be argued that none of Jesus’ temptations were to do anything grossly evil, but to do good things for the wrong reasons or at the wrong time.”

In essence we need a relationship with God living not by our own whims but by God’s limits.  We are also tempted to be self-succient in Genesis by eating of the tree of knowledge as Jesus is tempted to be self sufficient in turning stone into bread, cheating death and controlling the whole world. We are insufficient, We are not complete in and of ourselves, that lack is a permanent part of our condition.

There is more to it as David Lose maintains. “Rather, to be human is to accept that we are, finally, created for relationship with God and with each other. Perhaps the goal of the life of faith isn’t to escape limitation but to discover God amid our needs and learn, with Paul, that God’s grace is sufficient for us.”

Lose continues, “Perhaps faith, that is, doesn’t do away with the hardships that are part and parcel of this life, but rather gives us the courage to stand amid them, not simply surviving but actually flourishing in and through Jesus, the one who was tempted as we are and thereby knows our struggles first hand. This same Jesus now invites us to find both hope and courage in the God who named not only him, but all of us, beloved children so that we, also, might discover who we are be recalling whose we are.”

Read more..

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February 16, 2020

St. Peter’s in 2014 with snow on the roof.

Pictures and text from the Epiphany 6, Feb. 16, 2020

Videos from Eiphany 6 Feb. 16, 2020

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The Week Ahead…

Feb. 19, 10:00-12:00pm – Ecumenical Bible Study

Feb. 19, 3:00-5:00pm – Village Harvest

Help needed: 9:30ish, help needed to unload the truck. Many hands make light work. 1PM, help needed to set up. 3-5PM help needed for the distribution itself. Help the shoppers gather what they need. You can still bring cleaning supplies on the day since these are not available at the Food Bank. Thank you for your contributions of both food and time. Everyone can share in making this important St Peter’s ministry happen.

Feb. 21, Spanish Bible Study, 6pm-8pm in the Parish House.

The theme word this month is “peace.”

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Feb. 23, 9am, Holy Eucharist, Rite I

Feb. 23, 10am, Christian Ed – Genesis

Feb. 23, 11am, Morning Prayer, Rite II – Last Sunday after the Epiphany

Feb. 23 – Last Sunday after the Epiphany Readings and Servers.

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The Souper Bowl collection on Feb. 2, 2020 raised $130 for the Village Harvest and collected 50 cans for Caroline Social Services. This was less than the previous two years $210(2019), $175(2018) but slightly over $125 in 2017.

We have been involved in the program since 2012 and we have collected $1.4K during that time.

Thanks to all who contributed and helped with this year’s collection!

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Epiphany Christian Ed on Genesis continues on Feb. 23, 10am

 

Genesis is foundational to the whole Bible, and to every human life. Genesis tells us who God is, who we are, how things went wrong, and the plan that God has put in place to return the earth to the way it was meant to be.

In Genesis, God’s purposes for the heavens and earth are distorted by sin spreading through all the earth. We saw this on Jan 19 with the deception of the snake and explusion of Adam and Eve from the garden. Here are the notes.

Even after Adam and Eve sin and are punished, the promise is given that the offspring of the woman will defeat the serpent and restore the earth. The focus is on one man: Abraham. Through him and his family God would bring blessing to all nations.

This promise is traced throughout the book in its genealogies, which provide the backbone of the entire book. Key divisions are traced by “These are the generations of,” tracing out the stories of key figures, starting with “the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 2:4–4:26), and going on to Adam (Gen. 5:1–6:8), Noah (Gen. 6:9–9:29), the sons of Noah (Gen. 10:1–11:19), Shem (Gen. 11:10–26), Terah (Gen. 11:27–25:11), Ishmael (Gen. 25:12–18), Isaac (Gen. 25:19–35:29), Esau (Gen. 36:1–37:1), and Jacob (Gen. 37:2–50:26). An amazing story, it is the longest book in the Bible.

Join us at 10am in the Parish House during Sundays in Epiphany as this pivotal book. Next week on Feb. 23 is
“A Blended Family”, Genesis 30:1-24.

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From Epiphany to the Transfiguration

At the beginning of February, we are about halfway between the beginning of Epiphany and on that of Lent

Epiphany is about 2 revelations – Christ to the world through the wise men as well as revelation of Christ to us through baptism. On the first Sunday after the Epiphany, we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord. His baptism is seen as the primary baptism, the one on which all baptisms follow, the recognition that his followers belong to God as “Christ’s own forever.”

During the three to eight weeks after the Epiphany, we learn in the gospel lectionary readings about Jesus’ miracles of healing and his teachings. This is a continuation of the theme of the revelation of Christ to his followers. “Come Follow Me”. Jesus has not only arrived but through him the kingdom of God as one who fulfills and extends God’s teachings through the Sermon of the Mount. The last Sunday in Epiphany, the transfiguration can be seen as the bridge between Epiphany and Lent.

At the beginning of the Epiphany season, at the Baptism of Jesus, the liturgical color was white. In the Gospel reading in Matthew at his baptism said, “And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” In the Transfiguration which we will celebrate on Feb. 26, the 8th Sunday after Epiphany, the Gospel of Matthew records, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” The liturgical color once again is white.

Transfiguration serves as the culmination, the climax, of Jesus manifesting his glory and his identity as the Son of God. From this point on, Jesus sets out to Jerusalem, to suffer, die and be resurrected. We will see this story during Lent beginning March 1. This same glory he will return to, once he has completed the saving mission for which he came. Coming full circle, we will one day be in life with Christ as “Christ’s own forever.”

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 Lectionary, Feb. 26 , Last Epiphany

I.Theme –   The Promise : God’s Glory and its revelation in the Transfiguration 

“Transfiguration (detail) ” – Raphael (1516-1520)

The lectionary readings are here  or individually:

Exodus 24:12-18

Psalm 2 Page 586, BCP

Psalm 99 Page 728, BCP

2 Peter 1:16-21

Matthew 17:1-9

God’s glory is explored in two mountain top scenes in the Old Testament and Gospel stories during the last Sunday in Epiphany, a week before the beginning of Lent.  The example of the transfiguration is itself transformed into hope for a future king  and that God’s purpose will prevail.  The promise.

The psalms talk about kingship and particularly the ideal future king. There is praise of God as King who has helped people in need, given them just laws and punished and forgiven them where appropriate

1st Peter, the New Testament reading, looks  and forward to Christ coming again in all his glory. The emphasis is on the future – Here the transfiguration becomes a sign of hope for the future that God’s purpose will prevail and be fulfilled… through God’s goodness in Christ.

The Gospel story is an appropriate conclusion to Epiphany. We began this season with Jesus Baptism and conclude with the Transfiguration.    In both cases, God (“voice”)   proclaims “This is my Son, the Beloved…”.  In both points the heavens and the earth intersect. As he has just predicted his own suffering and death (Mt 17:21-23), now God previews his post-resurrection glory.  Also, Matthew 16:28 had just reported Jesus’ role as judge to come, who would judge all according to their performance, a theme also in the context of the baptism in Matthew

This story is reccounted in not only Matthew but also in Mark and Luke. Only Matthew includes “in whom I am well-pleased,” which exactly repeats the words at Jesus’ baptism (3:17). This connection wouldn’t have been made by the disciples, since they weren’t present at the baptism, but it is a connection the readers to make. Why is God pleased with Jesus? At his baptism, it may come from Jesus desire “to fulfill all righteousness” (3:15). At the transfiguration, the “righteousness” is more clearly defined by Jesus’ first passion prediction. Doing what God requires (righteousness) is more important than Jesus’ own life.

In the Transfiguration, Peter, James and John witness Jesus’ clothes and garment shining like the sun.  An argument can be made that this is also Peter’s transformation.  David Lose writes “On the mountain Peter’s transformation begins…”  “Peter’s transfiguration begins — when he fails, falls, and is lifted up again and realizes that above and beyond everything else, he is called to listen to Jesus.”  That is much like us.

Read more from the lectionary

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Raphael’s Transfiguration – story of a painting

Raphael (1483-1520) was a master painter of the Renaissance. Raphael considered the Transfiguration to be his greatest masterpiece though he died before he could finish it at age 37. A student finished it.

In his final delirium he asked to see his painting for the last time. His friends brought it to him, and placed it on the bed in which he died on Good Friday, 1520.

Giorgio Vasari, the sixteenth century Italian painter, writer, historian said of the painting that is was “…the most famous, the most beautiful and most divine…”

Cardinal Giulio de’Medici (who later became Pope Clement VII), commissioned Raphael to paint Transfiguration for the city of Narbonne, in France. The painting was kept personally by the Pope after Raphael’s untimely death, until he donated it to the church of San Pietro in Rome.

The painting is now housed in the Vatican Museum and is large – 15 feet, 1.5 inches by 9 feet, 1.5 inches. Raphael preferred painting on canvas, but this painting was done with oil paints on wood as chosen mediums.

The “Transfiguration” was ahead of its time, just as Raphael’s death came too soon. The dramatic tension within these figures, and the liberal use of light to dark was characteristic of the next age – the Baroque.

On the most obvious level, the painting can be interpreted as the split between the flaws of men, depicted in the lower half, and the redemptive power of Christ, in the upper half of the painting.

Two scenes from the Gospel of Matthew are depicted in Raphael’s Transfiguration. One the transfiguration itself, Christ reaching to the heavens symbolic of a future resurrected stage and an epileptic boy falling to the ground in a seizure, lies there as if dead and then ‘rises’ up again.

The only link between the two parts of the picture is made by the epileptic boy, who is the only person in the lower half of the picture whose face is turned to the transfigured Christ in the upper part of the painting

• At the top, it is Mathew 17:1-9. Christ has climbed Mount Tabor with the Apostles, and there he is transfigured—appearing in his glorified body, flanked by Moses (representing the Law) and Elijah (representing the Prophets).

We see the transfigured Christ floating aloft, bathed in a blue/white aura of light and clouds. To his left and right are the figures of the prophets, Moses and Elijah. White and blue colors are used symbolically to signify spiritual colors.

Read more about this painting

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February 9, 2020

“…let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:16

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The Week Ahead…

Feb. 9, 4:00pm – Vestry.

Feb. 12, 10:00-12:00pm – Ecumenical Bible Study.

Feb. 12, 5:00-6:30pm – Village Dinner.

Feb. 14, 7:00am – ECM at Horne’s.

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Feb. 16, 10am, Christian Ed – Genesis

Feb. 16, 11am, Holy Eucharist, Rite II – Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany.

Feb. 16 – Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany Readings and Servers

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Epiphany Christian Ed on Genesis continues on Feb. 16, 10am

Genesis is foundational to the whole Bible, and to every human life. Genesis tells us who God is, who we are, how things went wrong, and the plan that God has put in place to return the earth to the way it was meant to be.

In Genesis, God’s purposes for the heavens and earth are distorted by sin spreading through all the earth. We saw this on Jan 19 with the deception of the snake and explusion of Adam and Eve from the garden. Here are the notes.

Even after Adam and Eve sin and are punished, the promise is given that the offspring of the woman will defeat the serpent and restore the earth. The focus is on one man: Abraham. Through him and his family God would bring blessing to all nations.

This promise is traced throughout the book in its genealogies, which provide the backbone of the entire book. Key divisions are traced by “These are the generations of,” tracing out the stories of key figures, starting with “the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 2:4–4:26), and going on to Adam (Gen. 5:1–6:8), Noah (Gen. 6:9–9:29), the sons of Noah (Gen. 10:1–11:19), Shem (Gen. 11:10–26), Terah (Gen. 11:27–25:11), Ishmael (Gen. 25:12–18), Isaac (Gen. 25:19–35:29), Esau (Gen. 36:1–37:1), and Jacob (Gen. 37:2–50:26). An amazing story, it is the longest book in the Bible.

Join us at 10am in the Parish House during Sundays in Epiphany as this pivotal book. Next week on Feb. 16 is The Courtship of Rebekah: Genesis 24:10-67

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 What’s Happening with the Nursery ?

In 1965, Rector Fall reconstructed the old outdoor kitchen behind the Rectory and converted it into a one-room structure with wood-stove piped into the chimney. This became the art studio of Mrs. Fall and is now our nursery building. Originally there was a shed there.

The first of upgrades – a new roof during the week of Dec. 16, 2019. The work on the roof was donated. It was expected that the outside would be renovated. However, the outside was in worse shape than expected.

On February 5, 2020 the walls of the building had to be torn down due to old termite damage that had dangerously weakened the wooden walls. The back wall had completely rotted away.

The new roof has been saved and the Vestry will determine next steps in the repair.

See the story with slides and a video.

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 Absalom Jones, Feb. 13

“Greater love has no man…” John 15:13

Religious denominations often accept members from other denominations that have been affected with adversities through policy decisions, change of beliefs or disagreements in relationships. Imagine coming to a new church after achieving success another denomination.

That’s what happened to Absalom Jones (b 1746), whose day we celebrate on Feb. 13, the day he died in 1818. Jones became not only the first trained black minister in any denomination but the first black minister ordained into the Episcopal Church and the first to create a Black religious organization in Philadelphia

Absalom Jones was born enslaved to Abraham Wynkoop a wealthy Anglican planter in 1746 in Delaware. He was working in the fields when Abraham recognized that he was an intelligent child and ordered that he be trained to work in the house.

He wrote later. .” I was small, when my master took me from the field to wait and attend on him in the house; and being very fond of learning, I was careful to save the pennies that were given to me by the ladies and gentlemen from time to time. I soon bought myself a primer, and begged to be taught by any body that I found able and willing to give me the least instruction. Soon after this, I was able to purchase a spelling book; for as my money increased, I supplied myself with books, among others, a Testament. For, fondness for books, gave me little or no time for the amusements that took up the leisure hours of my companions.By this course I became singular, and escaped many evils, and also saved my money.”

Read more about Absalom Jones

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St. Peter’s Lent Page

St. Peter’s Lent page

The background of Lent, Lent online calendar, Christian Ed on Sundays and also online, lectionary, Holy Week and beyond

Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on Feb. 26.

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 Lectionary, Feb. 16, Epiphany 6

I.Theme –   The joy and blessings of obedience Also, is the idea of building a new community through new behaviors (culminating in Matt 5: 37)

 

The lectionary readings are here  or individually: 

1A. Old Testament 1 Ecclesiasticus 15:15-20

1B. Old Testament 2 Deuteronomy 30:15-20

2.  Psalm– Psalm 119:1-8 Page 763, BCP

3.  Epistle – 1 1 Corinthians 3:1-9

4.  Gospel – Matthew 5:21-37  

The Old Testament and Gospel readings are linked around the older community in Deuteronomy (The setting is the plains of Moab, as the Israelites prepare to cross the Jordan into the Promised Land) and the new community in Matthew (Jesus at the Sermon on the Mount).  How do we get along in community ? The focus is the calling and teaching of disciples of Jesus. (Paul in Corinthians is centered on a related idea – being or becoming healthy as the body of Christ.)

Deuteronomy

In the four verses immediately preceding 30:15–20, Moses assures the people that the commandments of the LORD are neither too hard nor too remote. 
 
 Just prior to our text, Moses announces wonderful blessings for an obedient Israel and blood-curdling curses for an apostate Israel (chapter 28). These benedictions and maledictions are followed by a prediction of eventual exile (29:18–29) and return (30:1–10) . 

Having assured the people that what God commands they can do, Moses launches into his final call for a decision.

The choice is stark. "If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I am commanding you today…then you shall live and become numerous
But if your heart turns away and you do not hear… I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess."  Moses use of the word "today" is the hope for a new beginning.    

Like Matthew there is the emphasis on the creation of a new community. There is the need for a break with the past. However,  in the following chapter, it becomes very clear that both Moses and God know that the people will fail miserably. 

Psalm

The first section of the ‘long Psalm’ is an acrostic based on alpeh, the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Like the other 21 sections of the Psalm, it consists of eight double lines. The longest acrostic Psalm, it is therefore constructed with great skill, which no translation can really convey. The choice of vocabulary is also rich, expressing different terms for what we very flatly call ‘law’. Although the Jewish celebration of ‘rejoicing in the law (simchat torah) was a later development in Judaism, the psalm expresses similar sentiments. As a Psalm extolling the torah, it has similarities to Psalms 1 and 19:7-11. These eight verses are a suitable general introduction to the rest of the Psalm.

1 Corinthians 3: 1-9 

Following on from the situation reported to him by ‘Chloe’s people’ (1:11), after a  passage dealing with ‘the message of the cross (1:18-2:16), Paul returns to the theme of factions in the church at Corinth. The intervening section emphasizes the cross as God’s wisdom. This stands in sharp contrast to the rivalry exhibited by the groups in the church. The metaphor of ‘growth’ is developed both in the imagery of the ‘child’, and also of the ‘field’. Paul’s favorite dichotomy of flesh and spirit is also brought to the fore. Nevertheless, the Corinthian believers are still Paul’s ‘brothers and sisters’, and fellow workers. Despite their shortcomings, although he does reprimand them he does not disown them. The fact that only Paul and Apollos are mentioned here (and not Cephas nor Christ, as in 1:12) probably reflects the history of the congregation’s founding and leadership by these two apostles. Paul might have taken some of the glory for this, but he refuses to do so. 

Matthew 5: 21-37 

The first four of the six ‘antitheses’ of the Sermon on the Mount are included in this reading (the final two are in next week’s reading). The quotations from ‘those of ancient times’ include aspects of both torah and tradition (halakah). The time-honored description of this section as ‘antitheses’ may be misleading, for although in part Jesus cuts across the interpretation of the law, he does not contradict or discard torah itself. Jesus’ own interpretation intensifies and internalises the force of the commands. 

Jesus also broadens the impact of torah/halakah, i.e. murder becomes an issue of anger and unforgiveness; adultery is broadened to include lust and stumbling-blocks in general; divorce and adultery are linked; and the making of vows is illustrated by specific examples and by the simplicity of Jesus’ teaching. 

The explanatory expansion of these commands by Jesus may also be understood as the root cause of the specific sin, eg anger or unforgiveness in the heart can lead to physical murder. 

Read more about this week’s lectionary…

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February 2, 2020

Pictures and text from the Presentation, Feb. 2, 2020

Videos from the Presentation Feb. 2, 2020

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The Week Ahead…

Feb. 5, 10:00-12:00pm – Ecumenical Bible Study

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Feb. 9, 10am, Christian Ed – Genesis

Feb. 9, 11am, Holy Eucharist, Rite II – Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

Feb. 9 – Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany Readings and Servers

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Epiphany Christian Ed on Genesis continues on Feb. 9, 10am

Genesis is foundational to the whole Bible, and to every human life. Genesis tells us who God is, who we are, how things went wrong, and the plan that God has put in place to return the earth to the way it was meant to be.

In Genesis, God’s purposes for the heavens and earth are distorted by sin spreading through all the earth. We saw this on Jan 19 with the deception of the snake and explusion of Adam and Eve from the garden. Here are the notes.

Even after Adam and Eve sin and are punished, the promise is given that the offspring of the woman will defeat the serpent and restore the earth. The focus is on one man: Abraham. Through him and his family God would bring blessing to all nations.

This promise is traced throughout the book in its genealogies, which provide the backbone of the entire book. Key divisions are traced by “These are the generations of,” tracing out the stories of key figures, starting with “the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 2:4–4:26), and going on to Adam (Gen. 5:1–6:8), Noah (Gen. 6:9–9:29), the sons of Noah (Gen. 10:1–11:19), Shem (Gen. 11:10–26), Terah (Gen. 11:27–25:11), Ishmael (Gen. 25:12–18), Isaac (Gen. 25:19–35:29), Esau (Gen. 36:1–37:1), and Jacob (Gen. 37:2–50:26). An amazing story, it is the longest book in the Bible.

Join us at 10am in the Parish House during Sundays in Epiphany as this pivotal book. Next week on Feb. 9 is Hagar Mother of Many Nations Genesis 16:1-14

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Taking God’s Light into the World

The Season after Epiphany is all about light. Jesus, the light of the world, continues to be revealed through scripture, son and our worship together. We, the disciples of Jesus, have the privilege of carrying the light that Jesus brings to our lives out into the world, not just during Epiphany, but year round.

In December, as part of sharing the Light, the Vestry sends money to various organizations. St Jude’s Hospital cares for children with cancer. Boy Scout Troop #304 is Tucker Fisher’s scout troop, and Chris Fisher is the scout master—the troop has several boys who lack financial resources, so our donation will help this scout troop thrive. Healthy Harvest Food Bank provides the food that we distribute for the Village Harvest each month. Virginia Theological Seminary trains people for ministry and is in the process of updating its buildings as well as its offerings, which have been broadened to include many offerings for lay people as well as those in the ordination process. Hunters for the Hungry processes the deer that are harvested each year and the meat is then donated to those in need. Our donation helps with the processing of the meat. Our donation to The Diocese of Virginia will help with diocesan outreach projects.

CERV helps with emergency financial needs of people at Caroline County. CERV thanked us with this note.
“Dear Members of St Peter’s Episcopal Church, Thank you so much for your very generous donation to CERVE. Your kindness is very much appreciated—by us at CERVE and especially by those in need. Your donation so $250 will help those in need, which is great when the weather is so cold. Thank you and may you have a very Merry Christmas. Gloria Bolecek”

Caroline Recovery, located in Bowling Green, VA, works with people in recovery from drug and alcohol addictions. They thanked St Peter’s with the following note.
“Dear Rev Hicks, We at Caroline Recovery Center are so very grateful for your donation of $250. This money will help families and individuals regain their lives and find meaning and purpose. Please feel free to come and visit us to see how we help people. Please let your congregation know we are grateful for the support of St Peter’s. Sincerely, Leslie Phillips, PRS, Laney Salton, PRS and Program Director, Don Majewski, PRS Executive director

The Vestry also gave a donation to the Endowment Fund in honor of Ben Hicks, and a donation to the Village Harvest in honor of me, and Ben and I are very grateful for these donations that will benefit the church and our outreach ministries.

In thanksgiving for Carey Connors’ first semester with us, the Vestry provided her with a gift. Here’s the note she sent for all of us.

Dear Catherine and the Community of St Peter’s,
Thank you so much for the lovely Christmas gift. It was incredibly generous and a wonderful surprise. As you might imagine, every penny is counted while in seminary and I will put it to good use. I am likewise so grateful for your friendship, kindness and generous support. You are truly God’s witness in my process of the goodness which awaits me in community. Peace and thanks, Carey

At the end of the year the congregation supported these causes
• ECM Thanksgiving – $510.00
• UTO – $882.70 (this is total for Spring and Fall)
• Giving Tuesday – $497.25

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 Lectionary, Feb. 9, Epiphany 5

I.Theme –   How should we act in relationship to others? Actions speak louder than words.

 

The Sermon of the Mount Part 2 – "Salt and Light".  Stained glass is entitled "Light for Others" and from St. Mary’s church, Melton Mowbray, England

The lectionary readings are here  or individually: 

1.  Old Testament- Isaiah 58:1-9a, (9b-12)

2.  Psalm- Psalm 112:1-9, (10) Page 755, BCP

3.  Epistle – 1 Corinthians 2:1-12, (13-16)

4.  Gospel – Matthew 5:13-20 

Isaiah -In today’s verses, God redefines the role of fasting and looks at our role with each other. An expression of humility, fasting offers the people an opportunity to do for others what God has already done for them. We need to make a difference for those who live with oppression or poverty or bereavement. The way to serve God is not in pious proclamation but in subversive affirmation.

The Psalmist also affirms that the blessed are those whose everyday actions in sharing their riches proclaims their faith and honours the God whom they serve. 

Paul in Corinthians asks his listeners to consider his actions, actions rooted in the ancient wisdom of God, a wisdom that he demonstrated before naming. It was important that the folk to whom Paul ministered saw the power of God’s Spirit in Paul’s life before he proclaimed that Spirit.

Jesus after his initial preaching on the Sermon on the Mount exhorts his followers to consider the impact of their everyday living as people of faith on the communities they inhabit and in which they are called to serve and witness.

Following on from the Beatitudes, this further teaching of Jesus seems to root his teaching in a context with which the religious authorities of the day would more easily identify and which it would not be as easy for them to distance themselves.

Here we see Jesus, not abolishing the ancient laws that had become a burden for many people but giving them a makeover so that ordinary people could grasp the essence of love that underpins all of God’s law and teaching. 

Read more about this week’s lectionary…

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ECW Quiet Day Feb 27 – Reserve your spot!

Lent doesn’t begin until Feb. 26 but reserve your spot now at the ECW Quiet Day., Thurs, Feb. 27, 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM, Roslyn , 8727 River Road Richmond. The cost for the day is $35 and includes lunch. Checks should be made out to ECW Diocese of Virginia and mailed to Mary Holly Bigelow, 7613 Hollins Road, Richmond 23229

Registration Form

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January 26, 2020

Pictures and text from Epiphany 3, Jan. 26, 2020

Videos from Epiphany 3, Jan 26, 2020

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The Week Ahead…

Jan. 29, 10:00-12:00pm – Ecumenical Bible Study

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Feb. 2, 10am, Christian Ed – Genesis

We will be looking at “Hagar Mother of Many Nations”, Genesis 16:1-14

Feb. 2, 11am, Holy Eucharist, Rite II – The Presentation of our Lord and Candlemas

Feb. 2, Souperbowl collection

Feb. 2, 12am, Coffee Hour Potluck

Feb. 2 – The Presentation of our Lord Readings and Servers

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Epiphany Christian Ed on Genesis continues on Feb. 2, 10am

Genesis is foundational to the whole Bible, and to every human life. Genesis tells us who God is, who we are, how things went wrong, and the plan that God has put in place to return the earth to the way it was meant to be.

In Genesis, God’s purposes for the heavens and earth are distorted by sin spreading through all the earth. We saw this on Jan 19 with the deception of the snake and explusion of Adam and Eve from the garden. Here are the notes.

Even after Adam and Eve sin and are punished, the promise is given that the offspring of the woman will defeat the serpent and restore the earth. The focus is on one man: Abraham. Through him and his family God would bring blessing to all nations.

This promise is traced throughout the book in its genealogies, which provide the backbone of the entire book. Key divisions are traced by “These are the generations of,” tracing out the stories of key figures, starting with “the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 2:4–4:26), and going on to Adam (Gen. 5:1–6:8), Noah (Gen. 6:9–9:29), the sons of Noah (Gen. 10:1–11:19), Shem (Gen. 11:10–26), Terah (Gen. 11:27–25:11), Ishmael (Gen. 25:12–18), Isaac (Gen. 25:19–35:29), Esau (Gen. 36:1–37:1), and Jacob (Gen. 37:2–50:26). An amazing story, it is the longest book in the Bible.

Join us at 10am in the Parish House during Sundays in Epiphany as this pivotal book. Next week on Feb. 2 is God’s promise to Noah.

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Celebrating the Souper Bowl, Feb 2

Souper Bowl of Caring” is an annual fundraising drive organized in partnership with the NFL. It focuses attention on the issues of hunger and poverty in our community and throughout the world. 149 million will tune into the big game but there are 50 million facing hunger. We would like to “change the game” from hunger to abundance. Over 30 years over $150 million in food and funds have been collected. In 2019 alone, $9.6 million was collected.

It began 30 years ago with a simple prayer : “Lord as we enjoy the Super Bowl, help us to be mindful of those without a bowl of soup to eat.” Souper Bowl evolved into a separate non-profit.. Hunger and poverty have a negative impact on individuals and the communities they live, yet there is joy in serving and giving to those in need. There is online video” about the program –

St. Peter’s began participating in 2012 so this is our 9th year. The money and food we collect stays local and benefits Caroline County since the proceeds will go to our Village Harvest Food ministry.

The Souper Bowl collection on Feb. 3, 2019 was a success attracting $210 compared to $175 and $125 for the previous two collections. We have been involved in the program since 2012 and we have collected $1.3K during that time.

On Sunday Feb 2, 2020, please make a separate donation at the offertory (with “Souperbowl” in the memo line) and/ or bring in some food for this worthy cause. The youth will also be collecting dollars in our pail outside at the conclusion of the service

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Feb 2 – The Presentation and Candlemas

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

 

Bring a candle on Sunday to be blessed in mass as we celebrate the festive Candlemas.  

 

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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Lectionary Epiphany 4 – The Presentation in Temple"

I.Theme –  The Temple as the place of God’s revelation

 

"Presentation of Jesus in the Temple"  (detail) – Rembrandt (1631)

The lectionary readings are here  or individually: 

1.  Old Testament – Malachi 3:1-4

2.  Psalm- Psalm 84 OR Psalm 24:7-10

3.  Epistle – Hebrews 2:14-18

4.  Gospel – Luke 2:22-40 

The readings focus on the Temple as the place of God’s revelation. When Jesus is brought to the Temple, he becomes the living revelation of God.

Luke 2:22-40. Luke shows Mary and Joseph observing the requirements of the Torah by presenting their firstborn to the Lord and then ransoming him back. Within this scene, Luke paints a meeting between Jesus and two representatives of Israel: Simeon, who is “righteous and devout,” and Anna, a “prophetess.” (Luke frequently presents women in leadership positions where his audience would normally expect a man.) 

Malachi 3:1-4. In Jewish thought, the Temple was God’s footstool on earth, the point at which the divine touched creation. In apocalyptic thought, it was the place where the final judgment would take place. That is Malachi’s vision: God will appear seated in the Temple, “refining and purifying,” so that the people might offer pure sacrifice. 

Psalm 24. This song was sung by pilgrims as they reached the Temple. Standing outside, they called on the gates to lift up. From inside the Temple, voices sang back a question of faith: "Who is the king of glory?" The answer, given in faith, allowed access to the Temple.

Hebrews 2:14-18. An excerpt from an extended reflection on why Jesus had to be human—he had to be one of the “children” in need of redemption that he might “expiate the sins of the people.” 

Read more about this week’s lectionary…

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Story of a painting- Rembrandt’s "Presentation of Jesus in the Temple"

Rembrandt returned to this subject, "Presentation of Jesus in the Temple" at least 5 times from 1627 to 1654, two paintings, three etchings.

The subject is the biblical story of Simeon. Jesus was still an infant when Joseph and Mary took him to the temple to be presented to God. There they were approached by Simeon, a devout old man who recognised the child as the Saviour and praised him to God.

The most famous of these works was in 1631 when he was about 25 and still living in Leiden. Later that year he moved to Amsterdam. This painting is the high point of Rembrandt’s Leiden years: it represents the sum total of his artistic abilities at that

Most of his paintings are in very dark tones out of which his figures seem to appear to the foreground. Rembrandt was the master of dark and light and most of his pictures are made in this style of struggle between dark and light, night and day, sorrow and joy.

The key to the picture is how carefully and delicate the figures are painted, even those in the darkest part of the painting. The beautiful contrast, between the light on the central group and the soft dimness of the remoter parts of the cathedral, illustrates a style of work for which Rembrandt was very famous.

Our eyes are drawn to the very emotional Simeon, eyes aglow. As with the priest, his figures are often elongated in this period. The pictures is framed by the two figures behind Mary and Joseph in dark contrasting with Mary’s blue and Simeon’s shimmering robe.

Read more about the painting…

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January 19, 2020

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The Week Ahead…

Jan. 22, 10:00-12:00pm – Ecumenical Bible Study

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Jan. 26, 9am, Holy Eucharist, Rite I

Jan. 26, 10am, Christian Ed – Genesis. We consider Noah

Jan. 26, 11am, Morning Prayer

Jan. 26 – The Third Sunday after the Epiphany Readings and Servers

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Treasures under St. Peter’s

Dave and Arthur Duke made a presentation of some of their metal detecting finds at St. Peter’s as part of the Parish Meeting, Jan. 19, 2020. Their finds include a buttons, a fork, coins including one from the British American ambulance corps during World War II, and Scottish Kilt pin and US Cartridge Box place which Dave said was the best object they had found. Dave has plans to put them into a display cabinet at St. Peter’s.

Watch the video

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Congregational Meeting, 2020 reports

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Epiphany –  Jan 6 until Lent  begins Feb. 26, 2020

Adoration of the Magi – Bartholomäus Zeitblom (c. 1450 – c. 1519)

The English word “Epiphany” comes from the Greek word epiphaneia, which means “appearing” or “revealing.” Epiphany focuses on God’s self-revelation in Christ.  

Epiphany celebrates the twelfth day of Christmas, the coming of the Magi to give homage to God’s Beloved Child. 

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The Epiphany celebration remembers the three miracles that manifest the divinity of Christ. The celebration originated in the Eastern Church in AD 361, beginning as a commemoration of the birth of Christ. Later, additional meanings were added – the visit of the three Magi, Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River with the voice from heaven that identifies Jesus as God’s son, and his first miracle at the wedding in Cana. These three events are central to the definition of Epiphany, and its meaning is drawn from these occurrences.

More about Epiphany

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Epiphany Christian Ed on Genesis continues on Jan 26, 10am

Genesis is foundational to the whole Bible, and to every human life. Genesis tells us who God is, who we are, how things went wrong, and the plan that God has put in place to return the earth to the way it was meant to be.

In Genesis, God’s purposes for the heavens and earth are distorted by sin spreading through all the earth. We saw this on Jan 19 with the deception of the snake and explusion of Adam and Eve from the garden. Here are the notes.

Even after Adam and Eve sin and are punished, the promise is given that the offspring of the woman will defeat the serpent and restore the earth. The focus is on one man: Abraham. Through him and his family God would bring blessing to all nations.

This promise is traced throughout the book in its genealogies, which provide the backbone of the entire book. Key divisions are traced by “These are the generations of,” tracing out the stories of key figures, starting with “the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 2:4–4:26), and going on to Adam (Gen. 5:1–6:8), Noah (Gen. 6:9–9:29), the sons of Noah (Gen. 10:1–11:19), Shem (Gen. 11:10–26), Terah (Gen. 11:27–25:11), Ishmael (Gen. 25:12–18), Isaac (Gen. 25:19–35:29), Esau (Gen. 36:1–37:1), and Jacob (Gen. 37:2–50:26). An amazing story, it is the longest book in the Bible.

Join us at 10am in the Parish House during Sundays in Epiphany as this pivotal book. Next week on Jan 26 our subject is Noah.

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Lectionary Epiphany 3, Jan 26, Year A

I.Theme –   Call to service with a call for unity

 

The Calling of the Apostles Peter and Andrew" – Duccio de Buoninsegna (1308-1311)

The lectionary readings are here  or individually: 

1. Isaiah 9:1-4- Isaiah

2.  Psalm- Psalm 27:1, 5-13 Page 617

3.  Epistle – 1 Corinthians 1:10-18

4.  Gospel – Matthew 4:12-23 

Isaiah provides the foretelling of Christ even at a time of defect.

The Gospel answers the question of the character of this ministry and what got it started. 

John the Baptist’s  death was the spark that caused the ministry to begin. It was necessary to emphasize in this beginning that Jesus’ ministry is aligned with God’s purpose as it is revealed in the Scriptures.   

When the news comes to him about John’s arrest, he makes a different choice,  by withdrawing to Galilee, where he calls his first disciples, preaches the Sermon on the Mount, begins his ministry of healing, and teaches what it means to be the Messiah who is "God with us." 

Unlike the Gospel of John, Matthew does not identify Jesus as the light of the world. Nonetheless, the prophecy from Isaiah makes clear that Jesus’ return to Galilee will be the occasion for those who sit in darkness to see "a great light" (Matthew 4:16-17). No doubt Jesus’ ministry of teaching and healing is the basis for that light.

Jesus calls people as they are, from where they are, being who they are.  At the same time, however, as the gospel narrative proceeds, readers learn that it is the followers of Jesus who bear his light in the world by their own (collective) way of life. In the sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells the people, "You (plural) are the light of the world,. . . Let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16). Jesus’ proclamation that the realm (kingdom) of heaven has come near is the first flicker of a light that will grow and burn among his followers until they are able to "proclaim  

Those first disciples, for their part, might have preferred to keep their jobs, to remain with their families, to stay with the life that they knew. When they see Jesus and hear his words to them, they make a different choice, however; they take a risk, step out in faith, leave behind that which is comfortable and secure. They choose to follow Jesus. 

Paul 25 years after Christ wants the message of Christ to come through despite division in Corinth. Christ name was synonomous with the Church. There was some fragmentation. The Corinthians were putting certain leaders into a place that really belonged only to God. In that sense they were becoming ‘cult figures’. Jesus role needs to be restored. 

Read more about the lectionary…

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Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Jan 18-25, 2020

Theme for 2020:
"Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power;"
They showed us unusual kindness…(Acts 28:2)

At least once a year, Christians are reminded of Jesus’ prayer for his disciples that “they may be one so that the world may believe” (see John 17.21). Hearts are touched and Christians come together to pray for their unity. Congregations and parishes all over the world exchange preachers or arrange special ecumenical celebrations and prayer services. The event that touches off this special experience is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

Traditionally the week of prayer is celebrated between 18-25 January, between the feasts of St Peter and St Paul.

The readings are here. The website link is here

"The materials for the 2020 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity have been prepared by the Christian churches in Malta and Gozo (Christians Together in Malta). On 10th February many Christians in Malta celebrate the Feast of the Shipwreck of St Paul, marking and giving thanks for the arrival of Christian faith on these islands. The reading from the Acts of the Apostles used for the feast is the text chosen for this year’s Week of Prayer. The story begins with Paul being taken to Rome as a prisoner (Acts 27:1ff). Paul is in chains, but even in what turns out to be a perilous journey, the mission of God continues through him. This narrative is a classic drama of humanity confronted by the terrifying power of the elements. The passengers on the boat are at the mercy of the forces of the seas beneath them and the powerful tempest that rages about them. These forces take them into unknown territory, where they are lost and without hope.

"Today many people are facing the same terrors on the same seas. The very same places named in the reading (27:1, 28:1) also feature in the stories of modern-day migrants. In other parts of the world many others are making equally dangerous journeys by land and sea to escape natural disasters, warfare and poverty. Their lives, too, are at the mercy of immense and coldly indifferent forces – not only natural, but political, economic and human. This human indifference takes various forms: the indifference of those who sell places on unseaworthy vessels to desperate people; the indifference of the decision not to send out rescue boats; and the indifference of turning migrant ships away. This names only a few instances. As Christians together facing these crises of migration this story challenges us: do we collude with the cold forces of indifference, or do we show “unusual kindness” and become witnesses of God’s loving providence to all people?

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Conversion of Paul, January 25

On January 25 we remember how Saul (or Paul) of Tarsus, formerly a persecutor of the early Christian Church, was led by God’s grace to become one of its chief spokesmen. Here are two art works that depict the event :

“The Conversion on the Way to Damascus; ” (1601)   “ The Conversion of St. Paul ” Nicolas-Bernard Lepicie, 1767

 "and suddenly a light from heaven shined round about him. And falling on the ground, he heard a voice saying to him: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? Who said: Who art thou, Lord? And he: I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. " Acts 9: 3-5

Italian painter Caravaggio painted the one on the left in 1601 for the Cerasi Chapel of the church of Santa Maria del Popolo, in Rome. The painting depicts the moment recounted in Chapter 9 of Acts of the Apostles when Saul, soon to be the apostle Paul, fell on the road to Damascus.

Caravaggio is close to the Bible. The horse is there and, to hold him, a groom, but the drama is internalized within the mind of Saul. There is no heavenly apparition. He lies on the ground stunned, his eyes closed as if dazzled by the light.

Caravaggio’s style featured a dark background with usually one point of breaking light. Paul is flung off of his horse and is seen on his back on the ground. Although Paul reflects the most light out of all the characters, the attention is given to him in a strange way. Because Paul is on the ground, he is much smaller than the horse, which is also at the center of the painting but he is pictured closer to the viewer.

The second painting constrast with Caravaggio in the use of color and light. This one has some of the most vibrant colors.  Heaven’s light is shown coming dynamically from left to right.  The painting is like the key frame in a movie on the conversion.  At the time Lepicie was a professor at the  Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture in Paris.

From Christian Courier

"Exactly when Paul began his bloody mission of savagery against the church of Christ is unknown with any degree of precision. The fear of him was significant, and those beyond the borders of Palestine trembled at the mention of the name of this “wolf” who stalked “the fold of the Lamb” (Acts 9:13,26; cf. 26:11).

"Saul of Tarsus first appears in the biblical record as a witness to the stoning of Stephen, the first martyr to the cause of Christ—even “consenting” to his death (Acts 7:58; 9:1). Henceforth his persecution of Christians, as portrayed in the book of Acts via his own testimony, was relentless—though he thought sincerely he was doing Jehovah’s will (23:1; 26:9). Pursuing the saints even unto foreign cities (26:11), he beat, imprisoned, and had them put to death (22:19). Later he would write that “beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and made havoc of it” (Galatians 1:13). The horrible memories of these vicious attacks would linger with the sensitive apostle for the balance of his earthly days (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:9; Ephesians 3:8; 1 Timothy 1:15).

"That frenzied ambition to exterminate Christianity from the face of the earth was to radically change, however. And the record of how that occurred is as amazing as it is inspiring.

The Conversion

"According to Luke’s historical record (Acts 9:1ff), Saul, armed with arrest warrants for those of the Christian Way, departed from Jerusalem en route to ancient Damascus, some 140 miles to the north. As he drew near that city, a light brighter than the noonday sun suddenly engulfed him. A voice inquired: “Saul, Saul, why do you continue to persecute me?” The double use of his name suggests a reproof (cf. Matthew 23:37; Luke 10:41; 22:31). Saul responded: “Who are you, Lord?” The title “Lord” was employed at this point as a mere term of respect, for he knew not who had addressed him.

"The voice was identified as Jesus of Nazareth! The stunned persecutor was instructed to enter Damascus where he would be informed as to what he “must do.” Blinded as a consequence of this miraculous vision in which Christ actually appeared to him (9:17; 1 Corinthians 15:8), Saul was led into the city.

"For three agonizing days he fasted and prayed. Finally, Ananias, a messenger selected by God, arrived. He restored Saul’s sight and commanded him to “arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name” (Acts 22:16). After certain days passed, the former persecutor began to proclaim among his fellow Jews that Jesus “is the Son of God” (see Acts 9:19-22)."

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