Good and Faithful Servant

The last several months we have struggled with my Mom's health, and last week she went to be with Jesus. As her daughter I thought of all the things she did for me and what I would miss about her the most. When we met with the pastor of the Broken Bow Berean Bible church he said what would you like me to preach about during the service? My sisters and I all said Salvation. 

My Mom lived in a town of about 4,000 people and everyone knew her; she was vibrant, outgoing, kind, and never knew a stranger. But what we want her to be remembered for is her love for Jesus and being a faithful servant. She became a Christian at a young age, but as she matured and especially when she retired we saw incredible changes in the way she served her community, church, and her family. She had always been involved but once she had time she made it her #1 priority. The verse says "you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things". 

Every day God is working in our lives to help us become the best disciple that we will allow Him to make us. We all need to volunteer a little more, help with VBS, work at the Food Pantry, the list could go on and on. God has created us to serve him, and by being servants we are able to touch others so they can see the Face of Jesus!

Becky Rankin (reprinted from 2018)

Keeping it Real

Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Selah Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”—and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah Psalm 32:1-5

The commentary in The CEB Study Bible points out that David’s penitential prayer in Psalm 32 clarifies “that true happiness derives not from being sinless but rather from being forgiven” and “the psalmist’s problems result not from divine wrath but rather from the failure to confess sin, and perhaps from the energy expended in pretending to be perfect.” What a poignant reminder for us in the age of social media. The pressures created by hyper-competitive work or school environments are daunting, to say the least, and functioning in a culture that celebrates image above substance creates its own set of adversities. Indeed, it is exhausting—and mentally unhealthy—to maintain a deceitful image of perfection. As taxing as this deception is online, how much more so is it to struggle in a vain effort to withhold our most intimate failings and wrongdoings from God?

 

Prayer:

Creator God,

“This morning

and all mornings,

as we face the day

daunted by expectations

others place upon us,

weighed down by burdens,

unsure of outcomes,

opposed,

alone,

afraid,

remind us that you faced all this and more,

that we might loose

the chains that bind us,

rise above and beyond

the troubles of this world,

and know peace

in your embrace.”*

Amen

*© John Birch, 2016, www.faithandworship.com 

Barry and Alinda Stelk (reprinted from 2018)

Words from Hebrews

Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 

Animals

But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. Job 12:7-10

My daughter was enchanted by animals from a very early age, and was curious to get to know them and communicate with them. I tried to free myself of my inner fears of some animals and insects, and encourage her comfortable familiarity with the wild. She was the zoo visitor who would always gladly let a snake have its way with her, or let bugs crawl all over her. 

She loved being on Zoo Crew, especially when she was able to help with the Critter Encounter area. She brought her pet rats to 4H Pet Pals meetings and loved being at the animal exhibits at all the local fairs. She participated in domestic rat rescue programs, and helped find homes for rats used in the Nebraska Wesleyan University behavioral psychology courses. 

She did not enjoy ideal health growing up, so she earned a GED rather than complete high school classes; then she took veterinary technician courses online.  Our vet allowed her to observe and assist with procedures and surgeries, including those on her own animals. 

This spring, a year and a half after a life-giving 4th liver transplant, she helped her husband open up his own veterinary clinic (he is a vet) in South Korea. They serve both Koreans and English-speaking pet caretakers who need detailed communication. Because there is no specific training for veterinary nurses in Korea, she has ample qualifications as an assistant because of her experience and her general knowledge of human medical treatment (as an observant and informed patient). Her husband considers her to be his head nurse as well as assistant and office manager. Her blog and word-of-mouth have publicized their clinic as specializing in "exotic animals" such as hamsters and rats, so they have many tiny patients.

I get the news every few days of some interesting patient, including the dog that escaped and led them on a several-blocks-long chase through their downtown area.  She and her husband spend many long hours day and night at their clinic, making use of a pull-out bed there. Currently, they have three stray kittens they are treating, who will be offered to good homes eventually; one of them was separated too early from his mother and is having to be hand-fed and taught all the basics of elimination and hygiene. These are the things my daughter handles with ease.  

This is all born of a tremendous love for all the things animals teach us about living in God's world, about companionship, about loyalty and love, and about taking care of one another. Every day I am grateful for the people who helped my daughter to be well, or to feel better when she wasn't; but I am also grateful for the animals who shared their lives with her and cared for her. The cat she was especially close to used to sit with her in bed and have what we called "the laying-on of paws".  

There is a beautiful Benjamin Britten vocal piece with lyrics from a poem by Christopher Smart, and I hope you will be able to base your prayer on a few of those words:

For I will consider my cat Jeoffry.

For he is the servant of the Living God, duly and daily serving him...

For in his morning orisons he loves the sun and the sun loves him...

For every house is incomplete without him, and a blessing is lacking in the spirit...

For I perceived God's light about him both wax and fire...

For God has blessed him in the variety of his movements...

For he can tread to all the measures upon the music.

Amen.

Mollie Manner (reprinted from 2018)

Easter Matters

Now after he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.  She went out and told those who had been with him, while they were mourning and weeping.  But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.  After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country.  And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them. Mark 16:9-13

We have just celebrated Easter Sunday. It was a grand and glorious day! The sanctuary of our church was filled with worshippers. The atmosphere was enthusiastic for the event. The music and message of the Word emphasized and led us through our worship.  We again heard the account of the resurrection.  We celebrated with joy that it is real.  Hallelujah!  Christ has risen!

However, it was a troubling event for the first disciples. It seemed impossible for them to imagine. Things, like a resurrection, just don't happen. Even after the resurrection as Jesus was walking with two of His followers, they were so focused on the crucifixion and events of Jesus' death that they didn't recognize who was walking with them. Even Mary Magdalene failed to recognize Jesus when He was standing right in front of her. It took a while for all of them to accept what had happened as truth - Jesus Christ, their Master had risen from the dead. He was alive.

What kind of effect will all of this have on us?  A writer of religious studies has summarized the value of Easter in this way:

     Easter says that Jesus' death and resurrection matter

     to us because -

           it makes sense out of living

           it gives purpose to our life

           it means our life has a future

           it means death is not the end of life

           it means you will live forever

           it means that God offers all of this because of

           His grace in Christ Jesus. 

The events of study and review of Holy Week with the Easter Sunday good news will continue to build our faith so as to reach our Christian goal!

BELIEVE that Christ is risen. Easter is TRUE.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for the strength of faith that we have gained as we worshipped and studied the events of Holy Week. Now we pray that you will guide and direct us so that our Christian faith will continue to help us grow closer to You and the ultimate goal You have for us. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen

Lauren Holcombe (reprinted from 2018)

Easter Sunday

"Don't be alarmed," he said, "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him." Mark 16:6 

Good Friday

When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "it is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30 

Dandelions for Dinner

Everyone shall eat roast lamb that night, with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Exodus 12:8 TLB

Each spring when the grass turns green and those pesky little yellow flowers appear in my lawn once again, I am reminded of my mother and of the dandelion greens she served for dinner when I was growing up. However, as a student of the plants of the Bible, I am also reminded that dandelions symbolize the suffering of our Lord Jesus Christ.

There is perhaps no meal in all history more worthy of remembering than the Passover meal Jesus ate with His disciples during the week we now call Holy Week. Exodus 12:8, quoted above, describes the foods which are to make up the Passover celebration. It was the custom of the ancient Hebrews to eat five bitter herbs with their unleavened bread and lamb. Many herbs have been mentioned, but most botanists believe the five herbs to have been lettuce, endive, chicory, mint, and dandelion. Today we would probably refer to them as salad.

I no longer eat dandelions for dinner, but each spring as they appear in my lawn, I feel a sense of wonder that they were likely among the bitter herbs Jesus ate with His paschal lamb during Passover almost 2,000 years ago. When dandelions dot our landscape, they serve as a gentle reminder that our Lord Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. He became our Paschal Lamb, the Lamb Who takes away the sin of the world.

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, we are so saddened when we think of that Last Supper and of Jesus' suffering and death on the cross, but we are eternally grateful that He came to save us from our sin. In His holy name we pray. Amen.

Judy Welch (originally shared on the Presbyterian Church of Canada devotional page, shared here in 2025)

A Decision to Face the Cross and Beyond to Resurrection

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Matthew 26: 36-45   

I saw a program on TV that I have thought of in light of Jesus’ Passion. This particular program is “Babylon 5” on which a group of monks from a monastic order came through the Station. These brothers were followers of “The Teacher,” (a clear reference to Jesus). There was a crew member on “Babylon 5” whose family was murdered and the crew member felt that one of the monks was the murderer.  The brother had been sentenced, re-programmed to forget the crime, and part of his sentence was to serve as a brother who followed “the teacher”.  As time went by, the crew member was able to bring some of the brother’s memory back and recall the horror of the crime.

The interesting thing is that the commander of Babylon 5 spoke to the brother who was struggling what to do with the memory and be faithful to “The Teacher.”  He recalled that “The Teacher was in a garden praying what to do about a life-or-death decision he had to make: stay and teach or leave. The brother monk had a decision too - to leave or stay and face up to his crime and seek forgiveness. The crew member and brother monk meet at which the crew member beats the brother leaving him for dead. The commander finds the dying brother, whose last breath is, “Like the Teacher, I stayed.” He acted in faith to the teachings of “The Teacher.”

Interestingly, the crew member who had murdered the brother was sentenced to be a brother and follower of the Teacher himself. The commander was upset, but the Abbot challenged him saying that “The Teacher” was forgiving and gave everyone a second chance.

We are called upon now to make a decision of faith. Can we make the decision to stay because Jesus stayed?  May the example of Jesus be our example to dare to live as the Teacher lived for us to face the Cross and beyond to the Resurrection.  Amen 

Prayer: O God, we thank You for Jesus, who stayed and prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane that Your Will be done even as the Cross looms ahead. May we have the courage of faith to live with a faith the encounters the cost of the Cross, but which brings us to a renewal of faith, life and resurrection in Jesus’ name. Amen

Rev. Dr. John J Duling

Words from Psalm 62

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him. Psalm 62:5 

The Perfect Gift

Make no mistake, my friends. All good giving, every perfect gift, comes from above, from the Father of the lights of heaven. With him there is no variation, no playing of passing shadows. James 1:17-18 (NEB)

Seeking the warmest, brightest sunlight, I moved my small bulb garden from window to window. As I looked out each window, I began to realize that this little basket of bulbs had been the perfect Christmas gift. The bright flowers would soon bring life back into a room that was left feeling empty and dark after the dismantling of the holiday lights and decorations.

Slowly, the sprouts turned into leaves that pushed their way up through the thick black soil. One morning, a daffodil opened in full bloom. Over the next few days, three more daffodils, four purple crocuses, and a very fragrant white hyacinth bloomed. With each bloom came the feeling of new life.

Observing this blooming process, I felt a kinship with those bulbs. When the circumstances of life bury us in a thick, black darkness, we, too, seek the warmest, brightest light. As we seek, we find our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We find the perfect gift from "the Father of the lights of heaven." As He leads us through the darkness, we, too, begin to bloom again.

Prayer: Father, we are grateful for all Your gifts, but we are especially thankful that You sent the Light of the world. You sent the perfect gift, Your Son, Jesus the Christ, in Whose precious name we pray. Amen.

Judy Welch (originally shared in 2006 on the PresbyCan Daily Devotional page)

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King

 

After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”

Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”

They replied, “The Lord needs it.”

They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.

When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”[b]

“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.” Luke 19:28-44

Sanctuary in the Kitchen

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27

Since we are studying the book Meeting Jesus at the Table during this Lenten season, I was reading The Just Kitchen: Invitations to Sustainability, Cooking, Connection, and Celebration (Weston/Woofenden), wondering how it may echo some of the themes of our sermon series. While not necessarily fitting into one particular chapter of Meeting Jesus at the Table, an essay stood out to me: The Kitchen as Sanctuary and Studio.

The authors share how Bruce Reyes-Chow (whose books we have also studied here at Eastridge!) uses his kitchen as a “place to unwind.” This is likely to ring true with those of us who enjoy cooking and baking, while the opposite may be true for those who struggle with these endeavors.

Bruce goes on to say: “there’s something about having a kitchen that’s yours, that is a place you can control, when you’re weighed down by the weight of the world and everything seems so uncontrollable.” In other words, start baking a cake and you’ll take your mind off the worries of the day. You may find peace. Baking, in particular, may lend itself to the “controllable”, as it typically requires strict adherence to the recipe for best results. In the kitchen, Bruce isn’t worried about what others think: he “just gets to create something.” What freedom and power in that! Have you ever considered that when you are whipping up spaghetti and garlic bread for supper?

To me, cooking and baking are like other things: practice makes perfect. Do enough of anything, and it starts to become easier, more manageable, even fun. I like how cooking allows me to experiment with ingredients (I’m a stickler for using what I have on hand and using up leftovers); while baking, as noted above, requires a bit more rigidity with measurements and ingredients.

Where else can we find peace and sanctuary? I think of nature, prayer, fellowship with others, worship. Other places and situations may come to your mind as you contemplate peace and tranquility, and the presence of God. The more we head there when we crave God’s restfulness (wherever “there” may be for you!), the more we can experience that peace. Again: practice makes perfect!

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to find sanctuary in You. Show me ways to find peace, restfulness, and your calming presence in my life, whether it’s heading out on a nature walk, or spending time in a quiet place in prayer. Help me to turn to you when I need the peace that only you can give. Amen.

Donna Gustafson

The Gift of Spring and Easter

One morning, while away, I woke around noon. When your hostess works, and others slumber, it is easy to also rest the day away.

My cup at my late breakfast featured love and one passage caught my eye. “Love comforts like sunshine after rain”. For some weird reason, I felt love surround me and so virtually I began walking the home-made path behind my daughter’s home. Beautiful cedars, small pines, tall bluestem grass and visions of flowers to come filled my mind. I slowly came back to finish my breakfast, but it was easy to check the bird feeder from the table. No bird was there but I knew it was too early for their afternoon feeding.

On my way to dress for the day, I found myself in awe of what a beautiful world God has made for us. But what a greater gift he has given us. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son…whomever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life."

March has come and I am home again. North winds blow and snow covers the ground but we turn to each other for the outpouring of love, then April and the cross will loom on the horizon.

We will hold our loved ones in our hands, maybe visit foreign lands, begin again to enjoy companionship of old and new friends and relatives. But we will remember the promise of everlasting life as we once again watch the world return to green and flowers and trees begin to grow welcoming the warmth. Christ The Lord is Risen.

Carolyn Olsen

Words from Proverbs

One who pays attention to the word will find good, and blessed is one who trusts in the Lord. Proverbs 16:20 

Reap What You Sow, Sow What You Reap

Do not be fooled: You cannot cheat God. People harvest only what they plant. If they plant to satisfy their sinful selves, their sinful selves will bring them ruin. But if they plant to please the Spirit, they will receive eternal life from the Spirit. We must not become tired of doing good. We will receive our harvest of eternal life at the right time if we do not give up. Galatians 6:7-9

The Eastridge Chancel Choir sang a beautiful piece a few weeks ago based on this passage. The text touched me deeply: “You will sow what you reap, reap what you sow. What you plant in the kingdom will surely grow. And what you grow with love will surely bloom and the fruit of the spirit will come back to you. Do not tire from doing good and never give up when your road gets rough. For one day soon a great reward you’ll see from the good you’ve done when the harvest comes. You will reap what you sow, sow what you reap will surely keep until the day you’ll hear the words, He’ll say, “well done, my child, well done. My child, come taste the joy of heaven’s reward!”

The Message bible tells it this way: “Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the need of others-ignoring God!-harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life. So, let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.”

It is easy to go through life without much intention. We might do things for others but only because it’s expected or what we “should” do. But is our heart in it? Is it done with conditions of what we might get out of it? Do we hope for some attention or accolades? Do we share our gifts freely or are we tired of give, give, giving without return? Are we willing to get involved and invested or stand on the sidelines, making excuses, and hoping someone else will do something? Or is it offered from a place of humbleness, joy, and love?

Merging the song and the Message passage together: what we grow IN LOVE in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in us, it will surely bloom and the fruit of the Spirit will come back to us. IN LOVE seems to be the ticket! Pray about “becoming love to the world”! Mother Teresa said, “Not all of us can do great things but we can do small things with great love”. Love is action. Love with intention. Do not tire from doing good. Our reward may not be of the earthly kind. What we plant IN LOVE, every chance we get, God will see to it the harvest will come and is used for good. Then, we will come to taste the joy of heaven’s reward!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we want to live with more intention and love. Help us to live from a place a of gratitude for all you are in our lives and respond with love. Encourage us when we tire of doing good. May you work through us as we plant IN LOVE. Amen

Diane Worrell Eaton (reprinted from 2022)

Welcome Spring!

Some scripture to ponder on this first day of spring! 

“Sing out your thanks to the Lord; sing praises to our God with a harp. He fills the sky with clouds, sends rain to the earth, and makes the grass grow on the hills.” Psalm 147:7-8 (NLT)

“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19 (NLT)

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (CSB)

“The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” Lamentations 3:22-23 (NLT)

Photos, from top:

a cottontail, roadside

a meadowlark singing

a cardinal against new redbud blossoms

a Canada goose sailing through a willow tree reflection

a newborn bison calf frolicking

a male shoveler duck enjoying pond vegetation

a migrating palm warbler

a frog sporting a spider on its left eye (look closely!)

(photos shared by Donna Gustafson, click on each to view larger)

Trust God through the Tough Times

Yes, though I walk through the deep, sunless valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me… Psalm 23:4 AMPC

When walking through such sunless valleys, which we all do at times during our life spans, it is human for us to experience fear, dread, despair, hopelessness, worry, pain. Psychologically speaking, it is probably somewhat healthy to acknowledge and accept those feelings without letting us be consumed by them.

It is by our Faith in God that we can trust during those difficult periods of our life, that He will ALWAYS be with us during such times. God will not always rescue us from rough patches, but He will always be with us. We must trust this, read His word, and listen for direction and guidance from Him. 

Because He is with us, we can go through trials and hardships with stability, and positive attitudes. We can trust Him completely. 

One of my favorite quotes has for years been: “Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass. It is about learning to dance in the rain.”  If we put our Trust in God, we can find moments of goodness and joy in the scariest of times, knowing that there is hope.

Prayer: Father God, author of Love and Hope, help us to turn to you in faith during the toughest of times and in doing so, have positive expectations. Let us praise you and be thankful for your love and guidance in the toughest of times.

Connie Barry (reprinted from 2023)

I Hate War

Hymn: "Jesus is calling, calling, "O sinner come home!" by Will Thompson (1880).

"...and you say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Nevertheless, wisdom is vindicated by all her children." Luke 7:33

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Luke 7:44-50 

I hate war. Don't get me wrong, I am grateful for many amazing people like my grandfather who fought in WWII against great evil. I have had many friends in the military who have risked their lives for our country. But war itself I hate.

No one truly wins in war. Innocent people suffer. The "least of these", like the children of the world, in the words of our Lord, suffer. I hate "hate." Reading of people calling for trans people to be erased or not to exist seems like it can only be motivated by hate or fear. I hate seeing children separated by family no matter the cause. I hate seeing billionaires get richer and richer and so many getting poorer. I hate seeing people get sicker who can't afford the medicine or procedures or health care they need.

I love Jesus. Jesus who ate and drank with all those others called "sinners." Jesus who said "let the little children come unto me."

Jesus who says "O sinner come home!" Jesus, God among us, who says "Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you; bless those who curse you; pray for those who mistreat you..." I know many friends who feel their "enemies" are sometimes even other people who call themselves Christians. Others who say they are sinners or "not truly Christian enough" because they march for peace, or stand up for LGBTQ siblings, or say to them "you aren't right with God." I also love the Jesus who died on a cross, killed by an evil Roman government that delighted in torturing people it executed.  The greatest act of self-sacrificial love ever shown on the cross for us. "Therefore, siblings, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way which he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean. (Hebrew 10:19-22). This love is the supreme example of the opposite of so much I see and hear about in the world today.  This love that doesn't "insist on its own way but rejoiceth in the truth."

One of my favorite books is "The Crucifixion: Understanding the Death of Jesus" by Rev. Fleming Rutledge, one of the first women who was ordained an episcopal priest. It reminds me of what true love is in light of so much hate in our world. It reminds me of little ways I can be the love of my Savior when I feel powerless.  She says so beautifully on page 275 - "Even in this old world ruled by Sin and Death, who would want to live a life of utter selfishness? To show any sort of care for others at all, some sort of sacrifice is necessary every day - to be magnanimous instead of vindictive, to stand back and let someone else share the limelight, to absorb the anger of a teenager in order to show firm guidance, to be patient with a parent who has Alzheimer's, to refrain from undermining a colleague, to give away money one would like to spend on luxuries, to give up smoking, to bear with those who can't give up smoking - all such things, large and small, require sacrifice. What would life be without it?"

I think she summarizes an important truth I need to carry with me each day ending her chapter "the question of Justice" saying, on page 143: "God in Christ on the cross has become one with those who are despised and outcast in the world. No other method of execution that the world has ever known could have established this so conclusively." Going on in her summary, "...in our world, something is terribly wrong and must be put right. If, when we see an injustice, our blood does not boil at some point, we have not yet understood the depths of God. It depends, though, on what outrages us. To be outraged on behalf of oneself or one's own group alone is to be human, but it is not to participate in Christ. to be outraged and to take action on behalf of the voiceless and oppressed, however, is to do the work of God." (Wm. B. Eeerdmans Publishing, 2015).

Prayer: May I continue to love as Christ loves, to participate with Christ on behalf of the oppressed, and continue to do the work of God as best as he enables me to do so! (Even when it seems hopeless!) May it be so, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, world without end, Amen.

Brent Shaw

Hope Found in a Folded Cloth

So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) Then the disciples went back to where they were staying. John 20:3-10

As we approach Easter, it is good to re-read the Gospel descriptions of the events of “Holy Week.”  The culmination of the week is the crucifixion of Jesus; a brutal, drawn-out torture of a man whose crime was teaching and demonstrating God’s love for us. But wait, that’s not the end of the story! Once the lightning ends, the thunder quiets, and the rabbling crowd shuffles off, the sun rises on the new day.

Mary Magdalene, Jesus’ friend, hurries to the tomb early the next morning. To her disbelief, His body is gone; rushing to find someone to confirm her fear that the body was taken, she finds Simon Peter and John coming her way. They race to the tomb, finding it just as Mary Magdalene had described. But it didn’t appear to be the scene of a crime because the cloth that had laid across the Savior’s face had been removed and folded nearby. It was a symbolic act. Instead of being tossed aside by a graverobber, the careful placement of the napkin seemed to have been a message. 

It was a Jewish custom that when the master of the house was finished with his meal, he carefully folded his cloth and placed it on the table. Was the folded fabric a message that Christ had finished his task on earth and was moving on to his heavenly role? Perhaps the meaning of the removal of the cloth covering His eyes was to remind His followers that their eyes had been opened to the message of salvation and His teachings should be carried abroad. 

Considering the multiple potential meanings of the folded napkin, it nonetheless indicates that Jesus’ resurrection was a deliberate act of God, not a chaotic or accidental event. The careful arrangement of the cloth reflects divine purpose and authority over death. It provides tangible evidence that Jesus had risen bodily, not merely spiritually, reinforcing the reality of the resurrection. Regardless of the precise symbolism, the folded cloth can be interpreted as a symbol of hope. Just as a folded napkin after a meal signifies completion, the folded head cloth signifies that Jesus’ death was finished and His resurrection marks a new beginning for believers.

Carol McClain

Gold Medals

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints. Ephesians 1:15-18  

The world watches hopefully as their athletes go for the gold medals at the Olympics. This got me thinking about who the Gold Medal winners would be in our religious history. There are many recorded in the Bible and during the reformation. There are people involved in the Civil Rights Movement and Mother Theresa who dedicated her life to service to the outcasts. But Jesus taught us that the woman who washed his feet also deserved the gold medal. Likewise, I think about the Lincoln woman who has crocheted 5,000 pairs of mittens for the hands of cold children. I was in awe of the dedication of the chaplains in our Lincoln hospitals who stayed with the dying during the COVID epidemic when their families were not allowed to visit. Then there's the people in our own congregation. The person who reminds us regularly of our commitment to support missions, the people who prepare the communion sacraments before worship, the dedicated choir members who practice weekly and ring and sing to praise God, the elders who commit their time and talents to guide our church when it's easy and when it's hard, the Bible study leaders who share their faith openly, and the people who mentor our youth in learning about Christ and the church. There are the people who regularly pray for others and the caregivers who care for the loved one with dementia or other illnesses and those who serve at the Gathering Place, plus the Trustees who volunteer to do jobs around the church that no one knows about. Our pastors and other church staff give of themselves for the benefit of our church and its members. There are the volunteers who help with the food pantry and the gardeners who plant the flower and vegetable gardens beside the church. There are so many gold medal winners, I can't count them all.

My family history would also include 2 gold medalists. My great grandfather, Jens Guy Kirkegaard - a lay minister, and his brother, Reverend Martin Luther Kirkegaard, who both lived in the sandhills of Nebraska in the 1890s. They were immigrants from Denmark. Jens was a farmer and he and his wife had 13 children, ten who survived into adulthood. Jens would visit small pioneer communities and talk about the importance of a Christian community and starting a church in their town. He would begin with visiting individuals and gathering interested persons and when he had at least 12, his brother Martin, an evangelical Lutheran minister and a circuit rider, would come and officially make them a church. Together they started at least 6 churches, one of which has survived to this day. These churches offered Christian fellowship to isolated people with church services, women's and children's programs, and mentoring in farming for beginning farmers in the midst of a financial depression and a drought in the sandhills. Jens was able to baptize babies (especially those who were dying), marry couples (especially those who needed to get married in a hurry), celebrate communion, conduct funerals, and preach at worship services. He was very sincere in feeling that these services to his neighbors were some of the most gratifying times of his life. Martin as a circuit rider (by then he rode trains instead of on horseback) and had a huge pioneering territory that he covered with about 30 churches. He visited each church every 3-6 months. He baptized, married couples, served communion and preached at worship services. Later in his life, he was a professor of religion at Blair College in Nebraska. He and his wife had 6 children, losing two children to "the plague" in the 1890s. I can only imagine their lives as missionaries to so many people that were starting new lives in the barren desert of the sandhills. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the multitudes of gold medalists who played a historical part in contributing to our Christian churches today. Thank you that they made commitments to serve all people, rich and poor, young and old, well established in communities and new immigrants. Thank you for your message of love through all times, the alpha and the omega. Amen.

Nancy Hall

Blessings

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 2 Peter 1:3 ESV

I love reading the Peanuts cartoons. Recently I read one where Lucy was talking to Charlie Brown and she says, “I hate this year! Everyone said things would be better, but they’re not! I don’t think this is a New Year at all. I think we’ve been stuck with a Used Year!” 

Yes, at times it seems like it hasn’t gotten better, sometimes it feels worse. It feels like we are stuck in a turn around and we just keep going in circles. But maybe it’s us, not the year, that is stuck. Maybe we need to stop looking at what is wrong with the year and start looking at what is good about the year. 

I have written about it many times but we really do need to start counting our blessings, each and every one of them. First one we need to count is that we wake up each morning. Maybe it is cloudy or raining or even snowing but we WOKE up!  Then count the blessings of a warm house, food on the table, clothes and the family that surrounds us. Doesn’t have to be immediate family or even blood-related family. The family is those individuals who are there for you and care about you.  

Be thankful that God sent us only Son who lived, died and rose again for us; so that we may be saved from our sins and be granted a future with our Father in Heaven.  

Lori Hood (reprinted from 2022)

Words from the book of Job

He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end. Job 26:10 

The Body of Christ

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. Acts 20:28

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 1 Corinthians 12:12-14

My daughter-in-law gave me a five-minute journal for Christmas one year, and at the top of each day is a new quote to appreciate. An example: “When we create peace, harmony, and balance in our minds, we’ll find it in our lives” ~ Louise Hay

Several church members came in to help me move tables and chairs recently, a large task that would have taken me at least an hour and took us only 20 minutes. Time, energy, and effort was the gift, not money. Our church, like most, depends on both volunteerism and financial contributions. I think of the church and the members of its community, how we all have a role to play. Might this create peace, harmony, and balance in the church as well? With grace, it can work that way!

Scripture bears this out:

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. Romans 12:4-5

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to seek our part as the body of Christ, looking for ways we can serve you in the larger community of Christ as well as our own church community. Help us to appreciate what others have to offer as well. Amen.

Donna Gustafson

Words from First Corinthians

I planted the seed...but God has been making it grow. 1 Corinthians 3:6 

Words from Matthew 6

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Matthew 6:28-29

Potluck Suppers

For I was hungry and you fed me; I was thirsty and you gave me water; I was a stranger and you invited me into your homes; naked and you clothed me; sick and in prison, and you visited me. Then these righteous ones will reply, "Sir, when did we see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you anything to drink? Or a stranger, and help you? Or naked, and clothe you? When did we ever see you sick, or in prison, and visit you?"  And I, the King, will tell them, "When you did it to these my brothers, you were doing it to me." Matthew 25:35-40

In my home church during Lent, we gathered together every Wednesday night for fellowship with a potluck supper and then a time of worship. My daughter and I laugh about the wonderful church ladies' food at these potlucks. They included Mrs. W's Chinese casserole, Mrs. P's meatloaf, Mrs. K's Watergate salad, Mrs. P's green Jello salad with cottage cheese and pineapple, Mrs. H's homemade rolls, and Mrs. L's scalloped potatoes. There was an abundance of meat dishes, creamy vegetables, and fruited muffins, and of course desserts of cookies, cakes, and pies. Many people filled their plates twice and there were always leftovers. The worship service was always a thoughtful time leading up to Easter. Our pastors took turns preaching in the different Presbyterian churches in our community.

Thinking about this, I remembered that our church had a sign outside inviting the community to attend these gatherings, and one family did. They lived in a small run-down house within a block of the church. I remember they had 5 children all under the age of eleven. They were pretty ragged-looking, clothes wrinkled, shoes very worn. The oldest daughter was a year younger than me and they went to my elementary school. They would come to the potluck with a small bowl of Jello salad and would stand at the front of the line for the meal. After they ate they would leave without attending the worship service. I don't remember anybody greeting them warmly, sitting beside them during the meal, or inviting them to join in worship. The church ladies gossiped that all they came for was the food.

Now as I look back at this, I realize they really just came for the food. Their large family was poor and this meal was a blessing in providing a free meal to hungry people. There were no food pantries in my town, no places that regularly served free meals except maybe the mission, and no food trucks that gave away free fruits and vegetables in poor neighborhoods. We did not ask their names or do a follow-up welcoming visit with cookies. Our church just seemed unaware of the poverty of our neighbors, the lost opportunities to interact with them, and the poor hospitality that was shown to them. We were too busy being involved in the lives of our congregation to look around outside.

Thankfully, our eyes have been opened to recognize the needs of our community. May we never return to turning an empty eye to those in need of our food, our fellowship, and our caring.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for reminding us to remember the least of these amongst us. Help us share our bounty and our love with others. Help us be brave in welcoming the community into our midst. Thank you for opening our eyes. Amen

Nancy Hall (reprinted from earlier this year, in consideration of our current Lent sermon series "Meeting Jesus at the Table")

Saying Grace

For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with Thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer. 1 Timothy 4:4-5

And there you shall eat before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your households, in all that you undertake, in which the Lord your God has blessed you. Deuteronomy 12:7

My daughter's in-laws include me in their family celebrations, and this year we had not one but two Thanksgiving feasts. It was delightful to share food with others, since most of my meals are spent with my cats by my side. My daughter's father-in-law always has a prayer at the ready, and I enjoyed two different graces from him this year.  It made our time together even more special. 

When I was little, my family did not say grace except at holiday meals. I never understood grace, or many other prayers for that matter. We were taught to be grateful for our food, and for our mother's valiant efforts to make it something a child might actually want to eat.  I figured we should be blessing her, as well as congratulating ourselves for taking the three required bites of each item. But I was careful to wait for grace to be said when I was visiting other people for meals, since I realized it had meaning for them.  

It is so easy to clink glasses with someone before drinking, especially when celebrating something. It should feel just that easy to thank the source of all our nourishment in body and spirit. I like to think of different ways of expressing gratitude now. I recently watched a cooking show where the chef demonstrated how to turn humble vegetables and grains into special dishes by cooking them thoughtfully. It made so much sense, because we often take for granted the foods most easily available to us regardless of season or finances. I like to think of being creative and resourceful with simple ingredients. Sometimes I will come home late from work, and all I really want is a hot potato to nibble on. It completely satisfies a need. 

I am a vegetarian, and after I stopped eating meat a few years ago I realized I had always wanted to be a vegetarian. It is fun to explore new foods, but limiting the diet is also gratifying. My friend who is trying to cut out sugar has discovered she feels better and has more energy. I am trying to make some substitutions in that area, but I am not ready to give up all sugar. 

We spent a fair amount of time in the car when my kids were growing up. Quite often we would end up having Car Picnics because we didn't have time to go home for meals. 

I like to think that those meals brought a little of home to our car, and the conversation was freer because we weren't facing each other. 

Wherever and whatever I eat, I now understand the reason for stopping to give thanks for everything that brings food to my body. It is a way of beginning again. Our food is a gift, and the work that provides it is a gift. I love that there are many ways to be mindful of that gratefulness.  

We can ask that our food fuel us to do God's work; we can remember someone missing from us who used to pour that cup of tea for us; we can bless an old family recipe that reminds us of the people who used to share it with us; we can ask for others to enjoy the same privilege of being fed; we can ask for the food to nourish and heal us and others who aren't well; we can ask that the meal bring us together as family; and we can ask that the transforming power of Communion be present in our meal.  

This a grace from jesuitresource.org: May this food restore our strength, giving new energy to tired limbs, new thoughts to weary minds. May this drink restore our souls, giving new vision to dry spirits, new warmth to cold hearts. And once refreshed, may we give new pleasure to you, who gives us all. Amen.

Mollie Manner (reprinted from 2018, sharing again in consideration of our current Lent sermon series, "Meeting Jesus at the Table")