Sunday, May 18, 2014, Easter 5 (full size gallery)
We had 40 in church today for Easter 5 with another wonderful day of sunshine and some cooler temperatures. Sally O’Brien was our guest speaker in announcements and after lunch. Catherine’s sermon dealt with the importance of foundation. Sallie’s key idea is to know your strengths and what you do well (your foundation) and build from there
Outside we had a new calico cat that was very friendly and yes wanted to get in the church. This is the third very friendly cat we have had over two months. The blooms were all gone on the flowers except for the peony. The day lilies should be around in early June.
Godly Play was about the parable of the mustard seed. "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field; which indeed is smaller than all seeds. But when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches." The children took turns distributing the seeds to a tree tree that Amy spread out on the floor.
Jim Anderson was recognized for the work done on the handicapped railing. We also had three birthdays
The luncheon was superb – at least 5 or 6 quiche with braided bread, chocolate cookies and brownies for dessert. Three different teas. Cookie, Betty and Eunice went all out. Certainly one of the best luncheons.
Sally talked for an your after lunch and another hour to the Vestry and others who were interested. Notes from her talk are here.
This Sunday was about choice and the challenge of making choices for the future.
The Sermon mentioned choices in decision we will make. "In today’s epistle, Peter tells the people in the early church, God has chosen us and called us to proclaim God’s mighty acts. How we are to proclaim God’s mighty acts as this church we will consider right after lunch with the help Sally O’Brien, who is from the Episcopal Church Building Fund.
"The foundation, the bedrock of these dwelling places that Jesus tells the disciples about is God’s merciful love for each and every one of us and our faith in that unfailing love.
"We are God’s chosen people, who have Jesus Christ as our foundation and cornerstone, and God answers the prayers that we pray in Jesus’ name. So today, let’s begin the encouraging process of discerning together, with thanksgiving for all the gifts that God has given us. Let’s discern what things God is asking this church to do in the world to glorify God in the name of Jesus Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit."
John 14:1-14 begins with metaphor to a house – In God’s realm there are many dwelling places; Jesus as the Christ prepares a place for us – a future and a hope we can rely on – that enables us to experience eternal life in the here and now. We can face persecution, aging, and death because of our faith in God’s everlasting love. The trials we face now are part of a larger adventure of growing with God.
The passage becomes complicated by the words “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except by me.” Perhaps, Jesus is saying, “I am providing a way. It’s not up to you to decide who’s in and who’s out. Look at my life and you will see the heart of God. You will see God’s love for the lost and broken. Don’t place a wall where I have placed a bridge. Don’t decide the scope of salvation, and exclude those I love.” God’s way addresses us in many ways – just as there are many mansions – and we would do well to be generous rather than stingy about the scope of salvation.
Then, Jesus describes his own unitive experience with God. Just look at Jesus and you will see the heart of God: God is in me, and I am in God.The unity of God and Jesus is a unity of vision and aim, an alignment of spirit that releases divine energies in our world.
The passage concludes with the promise that we can align ourselves with God, and then do greater things than we can imagine. What could these greater things be? Given the vision of Jesus’ life presented in the gospels, we could do greater acts of hospitality, spiritual nurture, and healing. We have powers we can’t imagine that can be released when we align ourselves with Christ’s way, letting Christ be the center of our experiences and letting God’s vision guide us moment by moment.
We are always on holy ground. We all can be mystics in our own unique ways, seeing deeply into the universe, and we can have powers to heal and embrace through our relationship with God, individually and as congregations.