Wednesday Words for March 6, 2013
from Pastor Carrie Smith
Thought for the Day:
“For most of my life I have struggled to find God, to know God, to love God. I have tried hard to follow the guidelines of the spiritual life—pray always, work for others, read the Scriptures—and to avoid the many temptations to dissipate myself. I have failed many times but always tried again, even when I was close to despair.
Now I wonder whether I have sufficiently realized that during all this time God has been trying to find me, to know me, and to love me. The question is not “How am I to find God?” but “How am I to let myself be found by him?” The question is not “How am I to know God?” but “How am I to let myself be known by God?” And, finally, the question is not “How am I to love God?” but “How am I to let myself be loved by God?” God is looking into the distance for me, trying to find me, and longing to bring me home.”
― Henri J.M. Nouwen, The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming
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In our prayers: Linnea Becker (now home); Fred Becker (procedure yesterday); Bruce Johnson; Gerda Kristensen (soon entering rehab); John Therrien (back in the hospital); Gwen Therrien (suffering with a cold!); Carol Stupar (making progress in rehab); Darlene Shaeffer (foot surgery this week); Evelyn Bunt, Bob Bunt’s mother (nearing the end of her life).
Tonight at Bethany: Soup Supper is at 6 pm, and worship is at 7 pm. Take some time out during this busy (and snowy!) week for fellowship, food, and contemplative worship.
Sunday at Bethany: It is already the 4th Sunday in Lent! This week will be a feast of hymns that are old favorites (at least, they are old favorites in my book!): “What Wondrous Love is This”, “Come Thou Font of Ev’ry Blessing”, “Amazing Grace”, “Softly and Tenderly” and then, a special favorite: “My Life Flows on in Endless Song”. The Bell Canto Choir will be blessing us with music at both the 9 am and 10:45 am worship services.
Our Gospel lesson is also a real favorite—the story of the Prodigal Son from Luke chapter 15.
The Art of Forgiveness: Images of the Prodigal Son
Luther Seminary is the home of a remarkable collection of artwork based on the Prodigal Son parable. Jerry Evenrud, a lifelong arts enthusiast, donated this collection to the seminary in 2007. Go to this link to see the images (you may have to click “search” to see the images) Prodigal Song Art Collection
What’s with the cocoon? No, it’s not Mothra. And Jesus is not in there, mutating! The Visual Liturgical Arts Team fashioned this chancel art to visually represent the transformation that happens to each of us during the Lenten season. The “ruffles” behind the cocoon represent the tomb. Over the next few weeks, watch as this image changes and draws us closer to Easter and New Life!
Are you interested in being a part of this art team? You can contact Judy Hollister at judy-hollister@sbcglobal.net
Holy Communion Education: During the month of March, children ages preschool through 5th grade are learning about Holy Communion. For some children, this will end in celebrating their First Communion during Holy Week. For others who are already receiving communion, this is a time for increasing their understanding. Still others will learn this year and several more years before they and their families discern they are ready.
Why the diversity? Simply put, Lutherans are diverse in their understanding and practice of Holy Communion. As our church grows and welcomes members from other Lutheran churches as well as other Christian traditions, we invite families to make these decisions for themselves. You can read what the ELCA says about this here: When should children receive Holy Communion?
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The Texts This Week: 4th Sunday in Lent
Joshua 5:9-12
9The Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away from you the disgrace of Egypt.” And so that place is called Gilgal to this day. 10While the Israelites were camped in Gilgal they kept the passover in the evening on the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho. 11On the day after the passover, on that very day, they ate the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. 12The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate the crops of the land of Canaan that year.
Psalm 32 (Message Version)
Count yourself lucky, how happy you must be—
you get a fresh start, your slate’s wiped clean.
Count yourself lucky—
God holds nothing against you and you’re holding nothing back from him.
When I kept it all inside, my bones turned to powder,
my words became daylong groans.
The pressure never let up; all the juices of my life dried up.
Then I let it all out; I said, “I’ll make a clean breast of my failures to God.”
Suddenly the pressure was gone—
my guilt dissolved, my sin disappeared.
These things add up. Every one of us needs to pray;
when all hell breaks loose and the dam bursts we’ll be on high ground, untouched.
God’s my island hideaway,
keeps danger far from the shore, throws garlands of hosannas around my neck.
Let me give you some good advice;
I’m looking you in the eye and giving it to you straight:
“Don’t be ornery like a horse or mule that needs bit and bridle to stay on track.”
God-defiers are always in trouble;
God-affirmers find themselves loved every time they turn around.
Celebrate God.
Sing together—everyone!
All you honest hearts, raise the roof!
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
16From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. 17So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; 19that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. 20So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Luke 15:1-32
15Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3So he told them this parable: …
“There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. 13A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 14When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ 20So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate. 25“Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. 27He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ 28Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 29But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ 31Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”
Peace,
+Pastor Carrie Smith
carrie.smith@bethanylc.com
