Sunday, April 1, 2012
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Cedars Church of Christ 2-26-12
I took advantage of a good friends bring a friend to church day. It was about an hour away in Wilmington Delaware, but it was well worth the journey. I was introduced to a few people upon entering; some just came up and welcomed me. The look of the church gave me a good feeling inside. The outside of the church having a siding of wood that reminded me of the old country churches back in the day. Sitting at atop of the hill, it stands as a beacon to those that journey inside.
The chapel itself is just so natural. The wooden ceiling of the church is a design all on its own, along with the wooden pews. They seemed to have a shine to them, almost like they were new. If you can imagine a soft wood to sit upon this would be it. The atmosphere was warm and cozy on this windy day and I observed families and friends gathering in and all around me.
We began by singing songs. I love to hear the voices as they rise and lower. How the men sing really deep and low as the women sing crisp soprano notes. The music leader, his hands and arms intermingled with his voice leading us in song so beautifully.
The minister talks of the Great Event. The night our savior came and how we marvel at that. They bring the Golden ciborium’s up to the front to prepare for the Lord’s Supper we will share with one another later in the service. They inform us to fill out the prayer requests. The minister tells us to look to the East, the star in the sky is getting closer and closer over Bethlehem. He talks about the birth of the King, and what if Christmas was in February.
We sing some more songs to praise God and he mentions John 1:1-14. We sing a few more songs and he then shows us a very heart inspiring film called Birth of a King. This film made me quiver and tremble a little. It makes you see Mary’s strength in a whole different light. The minister reiterated the words to the song that went along with the video. “I will hold you in the beginning; you will hold me in the end.” Stories have been told of Jesus wrapped in swaddling cloth and Mary looking vibrant, but this film sort of shows the deep dedication Mary had for her Lord to follow what he told her to do, and the life she had to leave behind to birth give to the savior. The minister, Brad Carman, goes into details about the birth of Jesus, and how Christmas has become surrounded around pageantry instead of truth. He mentions if we have ever been to the Middle East where Jesus was born, that the barn was more like a cave. Bethlehem was Joseph’s hometown, why didn’t family give him a place to stay? There was no room for “Them” because of Mary and her immaculate conception she and Joseph were not welcome. He also said that Mary couldn’t have been riding a donkey, because only wealthy people had donkeys in Canaan. Mary had walked to Bethlehem, pregnant and alone only with her companion Joseph. Could it be that the birth of Jesus is not quite as we have told it? He emphasizes that we must be honest with ourselves when comparing our sentiment of retelling the birth of our king. Retelling stories so many times reminds me of the game whisper down the lane. He goes on to provide examples of why he feels the way he does. He told us that the time of year was more like September or October versus the 12-25 that we celebrate each year. He advised that all the Sheppard’s were out tending their sheep in the fields. This explains why the manger was empty and not full of livestock. Like I mentioned earlier the barn was probably more like a cave, and instead of swaddling blanket, Mary had wrapped Jesus in strips of cloth. The reason Jesus was born where he was born was because there was a census being taken and Jospeh returned home. Though Mary and him were not welcomed by family. This makes me really look at all those stories I grew up hearing. It sounds like such a struggle and a burden, and even after Jesus was born he was shunned. Both Joseph and Mary had no explanation regarding her conception. Both of them were alone in this world with only one another to lean upon. Because Mary had the unexplained pregnancy and because Joseph was associated with her, they both were shunned. The Magi that gathered around after the birth of Jesus probably didn’t show up until after many months, due to tending to their flocks. The three kings of orient probably were not kings at all. They were probably astrologers. The astrologers were from Iran which brought gifts to a family who had nothing and no one else supporting them. He mentioned the fact that after Mary conceived she went to stay with Elizabeth in the hill country of Judea. He said he remembers a time when someone would accidently pregnant they would be sent away and when they came back there would be no signs of the baby. I couldn’t even imagine what it would be like to be with child, to know that God’s son was residing himself in my womb. That I carried him around, knowing I should feel proud, yet lost all relations, all life as I had known it. What a hardship Mary must have endured. Thinking that once the child is born that he will be the savior, only to have people just mark him and not have anything to do with him. Denying him all the time as the messiah as the savior. He goes on to say that being born of the Holy Spirit is the power of the Testament of two simple people who risk everything to honor God. The birth of Jesus is also a powerful testimony to the love of God for us and the trust he places in us.
The birth of Jesus was recognized, but it was feared. God’s plan included everybody that all roads lead to Jesus. This story compels us to ask: “Do I have room for Jesus to be born in me?” The more church services I attend, the more I am learning about the bible and those who wrote the words and how everyone has been touched one or another by the words and the story surrounding this child that was born a savior.
A member of the church had been having some very tough times within his life. The minister shared his story with us and shared with us his shame and his loss, and how he has recently given himself to Jesus. Members of the congregation came up to this man, held him prayed with him and for him. This made tears well up in my eyes. To have such courage to ask for the help, to ask for Jesus to come into your life, to be welcomed within this community that during the service this time was for this one man. My heart prayed for this man, that he receive the healing that he needs. I have had moments where I too felt like I have lost everything, but never is everything lost. It’s like when you shut off a TV, there is still that little speck of white light that lingers. Even in true darkness there will still be a light. Even though this man has fallen on hard times, he has the support of his whole congregation to lift him up, to pray for him and to be there if he so needs someone to help get his life in order and in that process the path of recovery can begin.
The Golden ciborium’s were passed around. One held the Body of Christ and we broke of it shared it and ate of it in remembrance of him. The other was filled with many tiny transparent cups holding grape juice symbolizing the Blood that Christ had shed for us. Many blessings and we pray for them, and they handed out another ciboriums in which we could share our abundance with the church and it was our turn to give back to God.
After the final prayer, I went to visit my friend in the nursery. I had never seen such a beautiful nursery in a church before. It was like stepping into a small version of Heaven for little kids. In it there sat my friend in a comfortable rocking chair. She could watch the whole service through a window, and there were speakers set up in there so that she could listen to the service. The great added feature was the room was soundproofed. Those in the pews couldn’t hear in and those within could still feel they were a part of this holy day. Being a mother, this was just a blessed room that any parent looking for a good congregation should visit.
Cedar’s Church of Christ is an inspiring place, and a congregation that has made me think and ponder on more stories of the bible that have been retold many times causing a ripple of the whisper down the lane game. My son and I have begun reading “The Story” in hopes of finding our own mysteries within the bible. Thank you Cedars, your community was welcoming and very inspiring!
Things to Reflect On:
Cedars Church of Christ
Here I Am To Worship
God is Good All the Time
All Hail King Jesus
I worship you, Almightly God
Highest Place
John 1:1-14
Jesus-Name above all Names
Birth of a King
Be Born in Me
The Story
Mark 14:14
Luke 22:11
Luke 2:4-7
Luke 2:15-20
Matthew 2:1-11
Luke 2:8-14
Why Did My Savior Come to Earth
Sunday, February 19, 2012
WellSprings 2-19-12
Spiritual Friendship-How to Save a Life
I was supposed to do a Jewish Sabbath on Friday, but life didn’t see this in the cards. I have a tendency to prepare myself for different services, to review and learn a little more about the congregation before attending. Since life happened on Friday and I missed the Sabbath, and since I had no church researched I thought I would take this opportunity to re-connect once again at WellSprings. The last time I had visited was the first of the year, and Ken wasn’t speaking at this one. Plus, after life happening on Friday, I thought it be best to surround myself with familiarity and friends and a chance to hear Ken speak.
The music is always that which makes me want to sing out loud. One of the first songs was “Help” by the Beatles. I find with the services that the songs are always well chosen for the sermon. The next song was “Bridge Over Troubled Water”, which always makes my heart cry. One of my fondest memories of this song is that of my friend singing at karaoke and me being his muse sitting next to him. I lost my friend a few years ago to a massive heart attack. At his funeral this song was on a continuous loop over and over and over again. I recalled the last time I saw him, he was always singing this song. This song and many others will safeguard his memory in my heart forever. We then sang “Energy”, which is one of those songs that could quite possibly get stuck in your head.
We then light the chalice and say the opening prayer together. Ken had commented that songs are not just to be sung, but they are to be lived. The energy seemed to be low keyed until Ken asked for a re-do of our good morning. Ken has a way of beginning at point A of a story and rounding it out in a way that is clever, entertaining and insightful. He was talking about his drive to the church on Sunday mornings and how he sets his car on cruise control. He can be going the desired speed for that of a highway driver, and then come upon a car who is going half his speed and he finds himself stepping on the brakes. He compares this to how we should do this in our own lives, sort of like taking inventory and slowing down and just being in the here and now. He then asks us to show our hospitality to those that are around us. It’s such a buzz when this happens. People are hugging and shaking hands, and there is such a sense of camaraderie within this church.
We then sit down and focus on the quote by Thict Naht Hahn, “If we want to enter heaven on earth it begins with one conscious step and one conscious breath.” Really, this is the God honest truth. I am finding a deeper sense of calm just going within myself, instead of always searching outside myself for some sort of mellow maker. If I take a deep breath and I take a conscious step, I find myself truly being within this life. We take our moments of silence, where I take this time to silence myself, my worries and my angst from the week that has just ended. We share our abundance with the church, and we sing a song once more before the sermon begins. It’s called “Swimming to the Other Side.” Some of us tend to think of Sperm swimming toward the egg of life when singing this song. In a way, when listening to the song you can almost imagine life emerging.
Ken’s talk this Sunday was on Spiritual Friendship and how to save a life. Again, he begins with a glimpse of his life and has a way of connecting it to all facets of her life, his life and my life. Ken is a die hard New York fan. He talks about the NY Giants big win at the super bowl, he talks about the NY Yankees and their wins. He then talks about the NY Nicks and their losses and how we as Philadelphia fans can sympathize with him. He talked about Jeremy Lin and Arne Duncan and the conversation that took place between the two of them. Ken stated that America is a lonely culture. How the majority of us Americans are hyper competitive and hyper comparative. He goes on to say that we all have utilized social networks. These networks are only glimpses of who we truly are. It shows but a tiny little fragment of who we really are. Renee Brown does these talks on Ted Talks about courage and vulnerability and shame. Ken advises to really check these out. Facebook is a way, amongst other social gatherings, in which people can make connections and see that the things they thought only happened to them also happen to others. That we are not alone in this world and someone out there always has it worse, and someone out there always has it better. Then he said it, the phrase that has been on my mind since he said it. “To whom can we show our shame?”
Quite honestly there are not many people I show my shame to. They may hear my oh woe is me tales, but my shame is something that can be hidden so deep down inside only those that are truly close to me are witness to it. The shame that makes me cry, makes all the guilt I have carried come pouring out, flooding from my eyes. At times, yes, I know that a majority of my shame is self induced, but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. He talked of the song Amazing Grace, and the lyrics to the song. Being lost then found, blind but now I see. He shared a story about his friend, a friend that was lost and was at his end. Ken talked to him until he was safe; he acted as a true friend would. Loneliness and shame has hit every one of us at some point. Making us feel so utterly alone, so totally lost. Though sometimes I think we take for granted that which is in our life. We feel it will always be there, and that if a friend or family member was this way we feel that they should come to us. We try to help each other, and those we love. Sometimes though, no matter how much love and support you give to someone, in the end this person may succeed in taking their own life. Listening to Ken about his eventual loss of his friend to suicide, makes me recall my uncle. My uncle was like my big brother. Whenever I had a problem, I could talk to him, share anything with him. You could say that I could dump all my shame on him, and not feel ashamed of myself. My uncle was never a model citizen, but nonetheless he was my uncle and one of the closest men in my life. He spent many years in prison, and when he was released somehow he always found his way back to imprisonment. He would call me, with loaded gun in hand and tell me he just couldn’t take it anymore. That he wanted to be with his mother, and that this life was not for him. I spent many hours talking with him, reiterating the fact that no matter who he thought he was, I loved him. One February though, he never called… and in listening to Ken talk, as much as it still hurts that he is gone; I know it is what he wanted. There was nothing I could have done, and there was no reason to carry the guilt of his death around with me.
Ken reminds us that none of us are superman; we can only truly control ourselves. He then shared a quote by Ram Dass, “we’re all just walking each other home.”
In the end, WellSprings is where I go to be embraced, encouraged and supported by friends. It is a place where I can show a little bit of my shame and not be judged by it. We ended with Mick Jagger’s “Shine a Light.” This pretty much sums it up for this week.
Things to Reflect On:
WellSprings Congregation
WellSprings Podcast of this service
Help-The Beatles
Bridge Over Troubled Water-Simon and Garfunkel
Energy
Swimming to the Other Side
Jeremy Lin and Arne Duncan
Amazing Grace
Superman
Ram Dass
Shine a Light
Brené Brown on TED Talks
http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability.html
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