8 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 10 Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.
1 Peter 4:8-10 When my husband and I first walked into Grace Lutheran Church in 2012 with our two-year-old twins, we were hopeful that we might have finally found the right place of worship for us. I grew up attending a United Methodist church and Ryan a Catholic one. We “church hopped” through college and our early married years, but it never felt right. I considered converting to Catholicism, but that wasn’t right either. As we got busier with our careers and then with the arrival of our twins, finding the right church for us got put on the back burner. We walked into Grace on a sunny winter day with nervous smiles and silent prayers that our girls could get though the service without making a scene. As soon as we entered the narthex, I felt something. It was overwhelming and I couldn’t immediately place it. We shuffled in and were warmly and genuinely greeted by many. The service was meaningful and just as we’d hoped, it felt right. I pondered on the overwhelming feeling I had that day and quickly realized what it was. It was love. It was not only the love of Jesus, but the collective love of the pastors and of a congregation that I had never experienced before. It was pure, easy and inspiring. Gather. Feed. Send. - Is really the verses from 1 Peter, chapter 4 in a nutshell, isn’t it? Gather, as we all know, has been difficult. The creative use of technology and Return to Worship team’s safety protocols has given everyone an option to gather. We’re fed by promises, guidance and love and then are inspired to be sent to serve one another with our gifts. We truly are “The One Body of Christ.” Kristin Knowles
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Finding Common Ground
How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity! Psalm 133:1 Read that verse again. When I first read it, I thought what are you thinking, psalmist? Live together in unity? Good and pleasant? Mister, you are looking through rose-colored glasses! How can we live in unity when today we are so polarized? I thought about that verse when I took one of my daily walks through our neighborhood. I think I stumbled upon an answer. One of our neighbors had a big sign on the fence bordering their sidewalk. It said: “Make a difference. Find common ground with those you disagree.” I used to teach my nursing students Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. In essence this theory says that all human beings have the same basic needs. They range from needs as necessary as food and water to higher level needs like love and esteem. If we take that to heart and realize this person on the other side of an issue is basically no different than us, can’t we see that as our common ground? Find common ground. Easier said than done, but I think it is possible. What does it involve? Seeing this person you disagree with as a human being with the same basic needs as you. Listening to his or her side of an issue. Sharing your opinion in a kind, non-forceful way. Maybe nothing will be accomplished except being able to share opposite sides. Maybe neither side will be swayed, but at least both parties will have shown respect to each other. Perhaps that is what the psalmist had in mind – mutual respect. I’m not saying it is going to be easy, but perhaps it is worth giving a try. Jesus did it and he would want us to do it. Who knows? Maybe this acknowledgement of common ground will lead to further discussions and a friendship. Isn’t it said that nothing is impossible with God? Prayer: Dear Jesus, I know you want me to love others. Please help me open my heart to those who disagree with me. Help me spread your love to all of your children. Amen Lois Lynn John 17:17-19
These words are an intimate prayer by Jesus, knowing his earthly ministry will conclude. In tenderness and devotion he prays for us who cannot seclude ourselves from the world as though we are in a protective cocoon. Not even a pandemic can do this, even though we have very much felt separated in so many ways. This prayer is the basis for one of my very favorite choral pieces. Not a vaunted cantata, or requiem, not Handel’s Messiah, but a poignant and tender piece by composer Nancy Galbraith entitled, “In Unity and Love.” This music was a favorite of the Gettysburg Seminary community, sung often at graduation. Imagine if you will, hearing the loving notes of this prayer enveloping you as you are about to be sent out into the world to serve Jesus. Sent as the sanctified, or as we may more readily understand it, sent as those dedicated to God. Jesus will go on in verse 22 to pray for those dedicated and sent- you and I. That we may be one, as Jesus and the Father are one, so that the world may know that God loves them. In unity and in love. Cause them all to be one. One days that have had challenges over the last almost 11 years, I have played this music, remembered singing it for others, and hearing it sung for myself. Inevitably I’m drawn close to the power of this prayer, that it continues to be Jesus’ prayer, still a living word. The world was just as conflicted and challenging then as now. I hope you will be able to sit with the words of Philip Melanchthon’s prayer from 1553 based upon this passage when the world seemed to be tearing apart then too. See the timelessness of unity in Christ as hope and truth. O Lord, Jesus Christ, sone of the living God, crucified for us and resurrected, who prayed on earth for us, and prays even now to the eternal Father, saying, “Father, sanctify them in truth. Cause them all to be one, as thou and I art one in love. O Christ we beseech thee, to assist us with this prayer. Gather together and forever keep us in this church. According to thy lovingkindness, shield us. To hear the seminary choir sing, visit YouTube and search “In Unity and Love” by Nancy Galbraith. Rev. Carolyn Hetrick Colossians 3:12-16
12 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13 Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. (emphasis mine) This is one of my favorite scripture passages. As we journey in the one body to which we were called, we are then called to embrace and live out the virtues which Jesus embraced: compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, and especially love. The clothing metaphor that St. Paul uses in his letter to the Colossians is so great. As with our other daily preparations, we can also prepare for each day by intentionally taking a minute or two to remember these and asking God to help us to absorb and commit them to our hearts and minds and souls. I would add one more. Taking from the fruit of the spirit (Gal. 5:22-23), I would add gentleness. In the living of this scripture, we draw closer to Christ and to one another, despite circumstances which may strive to separate us. Dear Heavenly Father – We pray that you will help us embrace St. Paul’s guidance, live it, and pray it forward. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Carolyn Fishburn Acts 2:46-47: 46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
This passage brings to mind the Super Wednesday gatherings we had before the pandemic hit. This was a special community within the walls of our church that welcomed Grace members and visitors alike. I say “special” because it provided all with a fellowship opportunity that showed our one body, with so many parts giving us relationship possibilities. For some visitors, an invitation to Super Wednesday became their first time of coming to Grace Church. For those who would be hesitant to walk into a new church on Sunday morning, an invitation of “Join us for supper on Wednesday” is informal and less intimidating. With four worship services on Sunday, Super Wednesday is the one time when we would see many of our friends. We would see new faces that became familiar faces, as we experienced the coming together of our church family. Sure, we miss it, but the memories are still there, and hope is still there that it will return, no matter what form it takes. Anticipation of its return is what keeps us going. Think about Super Wednesday itself as a part of our One Body, as new members are received through our other activities and programs, which are body parts as well. The Lord helps us recognize the opportunities provided by our community at Grace Church. Tom Horn With Covid's declining worship attendance, a recent article stated that the pandemic has raised a serious question - what is the point of going to church anyway? Just light up the computer or turn on the radio. Our Lutheran tradition may provide one obvious answer – Communion. Communion is one important aspect of Christian worship that YouTube can't replicate. But there are other considerations. Our efforts to show up can encourage and uphold our church leaders. That presence supports the work of our pastors and worship leaders to study, plan and prepare OUR worship services.
Gathered worship is one significant aspect of being part of the church. When I choose not to attend, I feel that something is missing. Something happens when we are physically together in worship that teaches us how to love each other, by guiding us into the biblical story together and planting that story into our everyday life and actions. No, I don’t walk out of church every Sunday with a full belly, but that doesn’t mean it is pointless to go. I believe that in many (some tiny) ways, over time, I am better able to lead a more Christian life. And worshiping with a church family can lead to a network of caring and sharing relationships. Hopefully my smile and my wave from six feet away and my voice raised in praise (off key and behind my pandemic mask) are meaningful to others. Maybe this is what being the image of God means. We can represent our unseen God to one another in shared worship. And back to that old hymn, maybe this is the best reason.... we gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing. Together, Together, We are many, Different faces, God's great diversity, different races, yet we are one in Christ. yet we are one in Christ Together, Together, Butchers, bakers, Fathers, mothers, website makers, Sisters, brothers, bankers, tailors, Single, married, teachers, sailors, broken, carried, yet we are one in Christ. yet we are one in Christ A worship family torn apart, mars God's image, breaks God's heart, We pray to God for the day to be, when gathered together singing sweet harmony. Thanks be to God. Herm Harrington Galatians 6:10
“So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all especially for those of the family of faith.” Have you grown up in a family where everyone was near to each other? Or has your family been scattered across the country? Is your family the kind that everyone gathers and stays in touch often? Or is your family not so much like that? Are there parts of your family it is hard to want to be around? However, you have experienced this, one of the ways we refer to our congregation is the Grace Family. For those whose biological family may be small or distant, many have found “family” in the body of Christ we call the Grace Family, One of the hardest things to hold onto during the last two years has been a sense of being that family. We have at times all felt like the distant relatives. If you have not yet told Jesus how hard this has been on your heart, know that you can take that lament to God. If you pray to God for your hurts and ask for transformation, you might be surprised. If you have felt it has been hard to talk to God, you are not alone. Let’s face it, these past two years have been hard work in so many ways. Maybe so much so we cannot imagine thinking about a Bible passage that tells us to work for anything. And yet…What if when you see someone who looks weary, sad or angry (which is a lot of folks), instead of finding them frustrating, ask God, “I wonder what they are working on today?” Ponder it. This simple question can soften our hearts to compassion and to prayer. “Lord, help me to see with others with your heart.” If we don’t have any idea what someone is facing, God knows. Another faithful prayer is, “Lord you know. Grant them what they most need. Grant me your heart for them.” These simple acts of love really are an opportunity to work for the good of all including our own weary hearts. They remind us we are all a part of God’s family. Rev. Carolyn Hetrick “All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer” Acts 1:14a
It has become an important habit for students to share prayer requests when they gather for Evening Prayer with Lutheran Student Community at Pasquerilla Spiritual Center on Thursday nights. Each week, before worship begins, we take time to chat and check in a little with each other, catching up on the news of the week and welcoming new people. Just before worship begins, we ask around the circle what we should pray about. As students share the things they want to pray about, the joys and concerns on their minds, our community hears each other and is knit together. Sometimes the things people want to pray about make us laugh. Things like, weather-related requests (thank you for a rare sunny day or please bring snow soon) or funny experiences. Often, several people will ask for prayers about upcoming exams or group projects or interviews. Prayers are requested for sick friends, upcoming birthdays or travel, and incredibly stressful weeks. In a community where loved ones are often far away, prayers for the struggles of family members or distant friends are especially poignant. Prayers often reflect the rhythms of the semester, especially during mid-terms and when finals loom close. We often pray about issues on campus, in the nation, or the wider world. Talking together before worship about sorrows, celebrations, fears, struggles, and joys brings us together in a unique and important way Asking for prayers is not always easy. I am certain that many students who have shared prayer requests through the years had never before asked anyone to pray for anything. Yet, when they showed up on a Thursday evening, the community invited and welcomed them to share what was on their mind and offered to lift it to God in thanks or to seek help. The respect and sincerity students offer and experience gathering prayers (even when we are laughing) matters so much. Prayer is a vital part of the life of faith. Lent invites us to look more deeply at the role of prayer in our lives following Jesus. Though prayer is often an individual activity, there is something transformative about praying together and lifting up the things we’ve asked each other to pray about. Alicia Anderson Campus Minister, Lutheran Campus Ministry at Penn State Philippians 2:1-4
If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, 2 make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. This has been an unprecedented year. We have heard this said in the news, from others and from ourselves. It is true, these past two years have been unlike any others. But I have not been alone. I have never felt alone, or abandoned by my friends, family and especially my church family. We have not been alone. I am amazed at how well we as a group of believers have come together to find innovated ways to continue to worship together, even if it has been from your car in the parking lot. It even seems okay to actually enjoy watching a worship service in our pajamas at home or having Sunday School on Zoom. Who would ever guess this was to be the way of life in our church, work, or home? I must thank and recognize the pastors and the team of staff members and volunteers who have put their heads together to come up with many innovated ideas, even when sometimes we have had to take a few steps backwards to move forward. There has been compassion for the grieving, even when it wasn’t appropriate to come together to mourn. But we did mourn. There has been joy in celebrating the seasons of the church and milestones of our youth, albeit in different ways. Christ has always been with us. The Holy Spirit has always been guiding our ways. Never before have I noticed such an increase in the number of folks who have had losses, illnesses, disruptions, and even fear. Personally, I have encountered more illnesses and deaths than I care to count. As a Stephen Ministry leader, I have had to come to terms with the fact that our ministry has suffered too, and we have not been able to do our jobs as we would have liked to. We have lost two loving, caring leaders/ministers in 2021, and we have watched other ministers become the ones who are receiving care. It has been hard. But we have not been alone. Through prayers, calls, and cards, we have held each other up throughout this difficult time. I pray daily for those who are in need and pray in the near future we can give to them the one-on-one in person caring relationships that the program has been trained to do. In the meantime, I feel blessed every day that the LOVE of Christ is with us all. As in the scripture of Philippians 2:2 …make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. And in verse 3, I strive to be more like this: Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Brenda Palmgren Hebrews 10:24-25
24 And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Two seriously ill men shared the same room in the hospital. One of them was lying in the bed near the only window in their room and was allowed to spend some time sitting up in his bed. The other man was forced to spend all his days flat on his back. When they talked, the man by the window described in details all he saw outside the window. Amazing views of a park with a beautiful lake. Children delightfully played among ducks and swans. Couples walked arm in arm among colorful flowers. When the man by the window was thoroughly describing all that was happening outside the window, his roommate would close his eyes and imaging all the beautiful scenes of life that were told to him. He looked forward to these moments each day. When the roommate was no longer there, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse agreed and kindly made the switch. The man slowly and painfully propped himself up on one elbow and took the first look at the world outside. He was stunned. The window faced a blank wall. When the nurse came to visit him the next time, he told her about beautiful things outside the window that his roommate described him. And was stunned to hear the nurse reply that his roommate had been a blind man. She said, “Probably he just tried to encourage you.” “Have you ever met someone who is an encourager? The kind of person who sees the good in you, and the good you can offer to the world? One of the blessings of being people in a community of faith is to be able to encourage one another, especially to encourage our children, youth and young adults. In the formative parts of your life, can you think of encouragers perhaps in the church you grew up in? Or perhaps someone who encouraged you in a life of faith when you were seeking or had doubts? Thank you Lord for encouragers you give us. Help us to care for each other. Amen. Rev. Carolyn Hetrick The Importance of Community
“For where two or three are gathered in my name, I'm there with them." (Matt. 18:20, CEB) After two years of having to live with COVID, I think all of us have learned a lot about ourselves. For example, I’m naturally an introvert. I prefer to listen and observe rather than speak or be the center of attention. I always assumed those inclinations would make me perfectly suited for the kinds of isolation and solitude that’ve marked so much of the COVID era. To my surprise, however, I discovered instead how much I depend on community and on the presence of others. This self-realization became especially clear to me when I recently had to spend a couple weeks at home with a work-related back injury. I expected to be excited about the time to catch up on rest. But instead, I felt so lonely, isolated, and depressed without my co-workers and the people I care for at the nursing home. I started to question my self-worth and importance, and couldn’t wait to get back to work, because being alone just amplified all of those false messages that to some degree float around in all of our brains. As my family cared for me and my co-workers reached out with phone calls and texts, I was reminded how all my communities still cared about me and included me even when I had to be away for a while. I felt valued and loved, and those joyful feelings were magnified even more when I was finally able to get back to work. It felt especially good to be able again to love and care for those who had loved and cared for me. COVID has robbed us all of so many things, but perhaps one gift it has offered to me at least is a deeper realization of how important community is to me. Community isn’t perfect; we all sometimes rub each other the wrong way. But I won’t take it for granted ever again, whether it comes to work, family, or the ability to gather together as a church congregation. I’ve learned that we all need other people just as much as I need sunshine. Prayer: Dear God, thank you for the many people who surround me and love me. Help me to always appreciate them and love them back. Amen. Linda Schul 1 Corinthians 12: 24-27 …God has put the body together…25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (NRSV)
This familiar Bible passage correlates perfectly to music making in church — especially singing in a choir, where individuals are tasked to understand a text communally and work together to create a unified approach to the music. Choral music is a great way to experience oneness. We are called to ponder anew what each song means and — typically with the help of a leader — to reach a common understanding of what we are communicating. As we sing, we must become skilled listeners; otherwise, we cannot produce a harmonious sound. Choral musicians are asked not to stand out or compete to be heard. Rather, singers listen to their neighbors, building bridges between each vocalist’s unique qualities (like hands and feet!) and creating a collective aural pool so listeners cannot tell where one voice ends and another begins. It takes time to learn how to function collaboratively. When we figure it out – which doesn’t always happen – it transforms hearts of those who create the music and those who listen. When a director asks for short notes, everyone must interpret “short” identically. If the alto line is deemed most important, sopranos must retreat with a common dynamic that ushers altos into the foreground. In unaccompanied music, “moving with your neighbors” requires sensing when they are ready to move on and anticipating each breath your neighbor takes. Whether we communicate pain, sadness, or joy together, when we build deep community, we sing God’s praise as one. In unity, we find new freedom! Developing “oneness” requires constant practice until new habits are formed. Singers do not surrender their uniqueness; instead, they discover a middle ground so they can create a collective and pleasing sound. All we need is imagination, commitment, discipline, and listening ears…and God gave us everything we need. Practice makes the master! Prayer: Lord, Help us see the value in “the other” in everything we do, and to work together joyfully in your service. Amen. Laurel Sanders Wednesday, March 9, 2022 - The Body of Christ compared to the Human Body
As I thought of ways the Body of Christ is like the human body, I thought of “many parts, many gifts”. But this being Lent and a time of reflection of our attitudes and behaviors I thought about comparing the body’s diseases with the Body of Christ - the body being the church, while Christ is perfect, as humans we make mistakes. As a nurse, I saw that there are so many things that can go wrong in our biological bodies, and it is a miracle that any of us survives being born let alone living as long as we do! The one part of the body that comes to mind, especially with what we have been dealing with the past 2 years with COVID and vaccines is the immune system. The immune system is meant to protect us from foreign substances that can cause harm and even death. It starts with the skin, the protective layer that is meant to keep out germs that can eat at our inner tissues. It involves the spleen, the White Blood Cells, antibodies, immunoglobulins, and T-cells. When we get symptoms of illness, it is very often our immune system fighting off the perpetrator that threatens our lives! BUT! In many cases, the immune system can also cause diseases that prevent us from living a life of quality and makes us vulnerable to more diseases! Sometimes treating a cancer can harm the immune system. Conversely, sometimes the immune system can destroy a part of the body, weakening it, as in arthritis, or Lupus. In the same way, the good intentions of the boundaries of our doctrine or beliefs that are meant to prevent a “cancer of sin" in our midst can also harm our church and its members. How many times have we heard stories of someone leaving the church because of some interpretation of the Bible, a doctrine or definition, or sin or disagreement? The system that is supposed to protect the church can unintentionally offend a member and send them reeling and doubting and leaving our faith! A gift of that person could have strengthened the body but instead it lost a part of it! How hard is it to bring that person back into our arms, to support them in their needs, to encourage them to trust in God, to indulge in the communion of hope! I could go on and on with analogies but let me leave you with this idea: Let us pray for guidance and be careful with the boundaries we set to keep the body of Christ safe. Let us pray for discernment and trust. Let us use our gifts from God wisely and for healing. May God have mercy on our church as we strive to live out the mission His Son has started! Philippians 2:1-4 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, 2 make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Phyllis L. Verderame Luke 22:19-20
19Then Jesus took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ 20And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. During the pandemic there were many stories about families rediscovering the family dinner. The practice of sitting down to dinner all together without a place to run to was a wonderful notion. This return to a family centering time is a gift and one that I hope will be continued into the future. When we teach Holy Communion Instruction for our elementary families, we relate the act of gathering for communion to that same family dinner. In communion, we not only join with those in the sanctuary, but we gather with those taking communion in all other congregations as well as those who have ever and will ever be at the communion table. Jesus gathers us to himself and gathers us with our grandparents past and everyone in the future to the greatest family dining table of all time. So, the next time you take communion, give thanks to God for gathering us at God’s table with all of our siblings in Christ. Let us eat together. Peter Horn Revealed Together
“Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (Isaiah 40:5, NRSV) It’s clear that our society no longer encourages togetherness or unity. The gift of interdependence has been overcome by the idol of independence. In part this is a philosophical and moral choice we’ve made as a people. But other, less-intentional factors have also contributed to our growing self-isolation. Take entertainment as one small example. When I was a boy, we only had a handful of TV networks that, to some extent, we all experienced and watched together. The same was true of music. Before the advent of satellite radio and digital music, one had to endure a handful of unfamiliar songs to get to the one we loved. It forced us to broaden our tastes, patiently endure, and for a few minutes at least, set ourselves aside. Our ability to self-isolate has become even easier during the pandemic. What at times has been a public health necessity may, in the future, become our preferred “new normal.” And so, it will be incumbent upon the Church to continue to teach God’s truth that life lived together, in intentional community, is not an option but a necessity. We have had glimpses of that over the past two years. Breaks in the COVID cycles have given us joyful moments of renewed togetherness. When those breaks become permanent again, will we continue to embrace our togetherness? Or quickly retreat to our bunkers? I certainly prize my “alone time” as much as the next person, but I’ve generally experienced our Lord’s presence more intensely when that experience has been shared with others – be it in a crowded church sanctuary or with a small cohort of family gathered at the hospital bedside of a dying relative. Likewise, I greatly value silence. Our world is too full of empty words. But even silence is something I’ve experienced more powerfully and profoundly when I’ve shared it with others. Our Quaker friends speak of “holding the silence” for one another as one of the greatest gifts we can bestow. I think they are right. And so, as Lent unfolds and this devotional booklet reminds you of the many blessings of unity and oneness you’ve experienced in community, please do not simply revel in those memories. Let’s resolve to seek out more opportunities for holy community, trusting that it is not just our custom as Christians, but our need. Indeed, our Lord’s glory will be revealed to us in a most special way as we seek it together. Prayer: Gracious Lord, help me to more intentionally seek community and unity with others, trusting that in our togetherness, you will be revealed in a very special and profound way. Amen. Rev. Scott E. Schul Psalm 149: 1, 3-4
1 Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of the faithful. 3 Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre. 4 For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with victory. Almost as long as humans have existed, music has been a part of life together, and especially for us in church. Some people say that music is how they pray, or that music is how they understand God’s word best, be it classical music, favorite hymns, VBS or camp songs. There is even a song that is designed to help people memorize the books of the Bible in order. The psalm is talking specifically about songs of praise. For those of you familiar with March Madness in basketball, you know that the brackets work their way down to the Sweet 16, Elite Eight, Final Four and the championship. What are your favorite hymns or songs associated with worshipping God? If you had to name an Elite Eight, or Final Four, which ones most help you praise God? Spend some time considering why those are the ones that speak to you Thank God for the gift of music. Remember that even if you do not believe you are a musical person, The Lord takes pleasure in all God’s people, and especially when we gather to praise God together. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every member one of another. Romans 12:4-5
Paul explains that we Christians are all members of the body of Christ. However, we are all not alike in talents and abilities, having different gifts according to what God has given us. Each of must use their talents to glorify God and show the world his goodness. We complement one another, so the work becomes the body of Christ. Together we accomplish much more than each individual can. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 1Corinthians 12: 12. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 1Corinthians 12:27. Each member is important to the function of the whole body and no less important than another member. Sometimes we feel unworthy or not talented, but this is untrue. All parts are indeed necessary to the body of Christ. We must use are abilities to help others so the body of Christ will shine a light into the world. What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1Corinthians 6:19-20. This is a hard thing to keep in mind. Many have trouble living up this standard. This where prayer and admissions of sins brings us back to the fold. May the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, o Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14. Praise be to God! Bob Byers Tuesday, April 13th, 2021, is a day that will go down in the history of the church. Many may be wondering why that day is so special. This was the day Grace’s council voted to install video equipment in the sanctuary. The next few months were spent waiting for equipment to arrive as supply chain issues slowed everything down. It wasn’t until August that everything was installed, and training could begin. Between mid-August and mid-September, when we went live for the first time, I spent many hours wondering how streaming church would go, and how we could make the at home audience feel like they were with us in the sanctuary. Much of this time was spent learning everything I could about the cameras and sound board and building slide decks to use during the service. The one constant in all of that was there always seemed to be an organist there practicing for the upcoming Sunday. Listening to the hymns and other pieces of music being played on the organ helped me realize in this time of separation how many people hadn’t heard or even seen the organ being played in real time in a very long time.
Fast forward to September 19th, 2021, and we were ready to go live for the first time. We had put so much faith in the technology that the service would be pushed out to our website, Facebook and YouTube, I can still distinctly remember briskly walking up to the front of the church right before the service was set to begin to alert Pastor Hetrick that everything worked, and we were officially live! Streaming has been such a huge success that people from around the country tune in each week just to watch our service. I can only imagine the smiles on their faces when the music starts, and they can hear the organ being played and feel as if they are sitting in a pew in the sanctuary. As Matthew 18:20 states, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” Regardless of where or how you worship, I hope you always find the service meaningful in your own special way. Remember that God is always with you and that he loves you unconditionally. Dear God, please hold everyone in your tender embrace wherever we gather for worship each week. Amen. Alyson Hoegg Most of us join clubs, groups and professional societies, because we want to be in contact with those with similar interests. The best and the most important membership a Christian must have is, in the one Body Of Christ, which is the church (Ephesians 1: 22 - 23); it is not individual church buildings, but the entire group of believers in Christ. The requirements for being a member of this body is to have faith and trust in Jesus Christ. All the members of the body of Christ must believe that there is one body, one spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism and one God (Ephesians 4: 4 - 6). Jesus Christ alone is the Head of His Church (Ephesians 1:22, Colossians 1:18). He built the church and will continue to grow and preserve it until His second coming.
The bible tells us that the following are the responsibilities of these members: Glorifying God, Bearing fruit for Christ, Working together to make the body of Christ a great example and a witness to the non-believers, Loving and Forgiving one another, Being in harmony with one another, Having identity and unity in Christ, Not neglecting to meet together and Encouraging and Taking care of one another. All these may not be easy to achieve. For example, being in harmony with each other and having identity and unity in Christ may be difficult for some. But there should not be any divisions among the members; all the members must be united in the same mind and the same judgment (1 Corinthians 1:10). These responsibilities are the objectives of the body of Christ. These help us to achieve one mission commanded by our Lord Jesus Christ: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you " (Matthew 28:18-19). The members of the body of Christ have different gifts and hence perform different functions to achieve these objectives and the mission, just like the many organs of a human body (Romans 12:4-5). As stated in Hymn # 576, “We all are one in mission; we all are one in call, our varied gifts united by Christ, the Lord of all. A single great commission compels us from above to plan and work together that all may know Christ’s Love”. Jey Chandra When I first pondered this year’s theme of “Bright Spots”, I thought to myself there are so many, how could I choose just one?
Choose…hmmm….I am not going to choose just one bright spot, but give thanks that in Christ I get to choose to see the bright spots every day. These past few months have helped me appreciate the choice I have each morning to wake up and accept the love and grace that the Lord has to offer no matter what is happening in the world. And armed with that love and grace, I can choose to make and see as many bright spots as I want. With some struggle and practice, I learned to welcome obstacles and changes brought on by the pandemic as a challenge, a learning experience, a way to get creative. So often it is asked “Why does God let bad things happen?” The answer is not why he allows bad things, the answer is that he gives us the love and grace to endure the bad things. May you continue to live in God’s grace and love during these difficult times. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” John 15:12 Michelle Thal |
Authors:The people of Grace share their favorite bible stories for the 2023 Lenten Devotional: I Love to Tell the Story. Each day's devotional will be automatically posted so come back daily after 7 am for a new reflection. |