Seeing the Face of Christ in Worship--Thursday, March 8, 2012

1 Corinthians 10:14-17

¹⁴Therefore, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols. ¹⁵I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. ¹⁶The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? ¹⁷Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.

Some years back, our family took a hiking vacation in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.  We stayed at the rustic Joe Dodge Lodge in Pinkham Notch, run by the Appalachian Mountain Club.  Accommodations were basic yet wonderful; the food was hearty, and of the variety that “sticks to your ribs.”  Mealtime was a highlight, not only because we worked up an appetite from all the outdoor activity, but also, because we sat at long tables with the other guests and ate “family style.”  Food was served in large dishes which we passed around and shared…and as we shared food, we shared conversation, laughter, and warm friendship.  All this—with people we had only just met.

When we gather around the communion table, whether kneeling to receive a wafer and small cup, or coming forward to dip a wafer into wine—I am reminded that we are all one family.  Like sharing food from a common serving dish, we share the powerful, mystical presence of Christ with each other…and we become one, with each other, and with Christ.  Like at Joe Dodge Lodge, we come from different places and go our different ways after we leave, but we are nevertheless united in Christ, the one bread who makes us one body in him.

Pastor Katie

For reflection:

What are some of the meals you have enjoyed, where you were reminded of your special connection with others around the table?

What are your thoughts and emotions as you approach the communion table in worship?

How can sharing communion with others break down barriers?

Seeing the Face of Christ in Worship--Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Psalm 148:1-7

Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights!
²Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host!
³Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars!
⁴Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!
⁵Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created.
⁶He established them forever and ever; he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.
⁷Praise the LORD from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps,

Praise is expressing to God our appreciation and understanding of his worth.  It’s is saying thank you for each aspect of his divine nature.  Our inward attitude becomes outward expression.  When we praise God, we help ourselves by expanding our awareness of who his is.  In each psalm you read, look for an attribute or characteristic of God for which we can thank him.

In victory, Barak and Deborah sang praises to God.  Songs of praise focus our attention on God and give us an outlet for spiritual celebration, and remind us of God’s faithfulness and character.  We are grateful to God for Pat when we can realize the benefits—his Music Inside/Out concert is a celebration of praise to CTK. 

Psalm 149:3-5 also states: Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars!  Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!  Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created.  Although the Bible invites us to praise God, we often aren’t sure how to go about it.  By singing, dancing, or playing musical instruments, God enjoys his people.  We should enjoy praising him at CTK.

Robert Carter

For reflection:

How do you express praise to God?

What inner transformation occurs when you immerse yourself in praising God?

When praying, how can beginning with adoration and praise, inform our perspective in the rest of our prayer?

Seeing the Face of Christ in Our Families--Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Ephesians 4:14-16

¹⁴We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people's trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. ¹⁵But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, ¹⁶from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body's growth in building itself up in love.

My son, daughter-in-law and now grandson, come to CTK occasionally and it is always a great joy for me when they do. My daughter in law is Roman Catholic, her Dad attends mass every day. For as long as I can remember, she has stayed seated when my son and others in the row come forward for communion.

Last Sunday, she came to the communion rail. I do not know if she took communion, and I really should not or need to know. What I sensed, was that my daughter in law has seen that CTK practices open communion, and felt comfortable enough in our church environment, to come forward. For me, that was an example of Christ's ministry in our midst.

Karen Olmsted

For reflection:

When have you seen the love of Christ break down barriers?

In what ways are you growing in Christ this Lenten season?

What demands does the passage of Ephesians place on you…and in what ways does it reassure you?

Seeing the Face of Christ in Our Families--Monday, March 5, 2012

Hebrews 12:1-2

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, ²looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

The message to my heart is that we must strive to find peace. We should break free of all that prevents feeling the peace of knowing Christ. As I reflect upon seeing Christ in the face of family, I would like to share a personal experience of what I call a God sign. My sister had a Christmas cactus which is a plant that blooms in December only. Her plant had never bloomed. My mother passed away in September a few years ago and the plant bloomed that week. It did not bloom again until our dad died two years later in July. My sister and I knew our parents were with the Lord.

Debbie Witherspoon

For reflection:

Who are the people that are part of your “great cloud of witnesses,” and why?

When have you experienced a “God sign,” and what was the significance of that sign for you?

How does the example of Jesus factor into your own ability to persevere and/or endure a challenging situation?

Seeing the Face of Christ in Our Families--Sunday, March 4, 2012

Proverbs 3:1-6

My child, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; ²for length of days and years of life and abundant welfare they will give you. ³Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. ⁴So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and of people. ⁵Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. ⁶In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

After reading and reflecting on my assigned passage from scripture (Proverbs 3: 1-6) and the thematic perspective of "Seeing the Face of Christ in our Families," three thoughts came to mind:

1.) If God loves us as a parent loves a child, then we have nothing to fear. The frustration, disappointment, and occasional anger I may temporarily feel as a result of my children's actions or behavior is quickly overwhelmed by my love for them. If this is how God loves us, then we can anticipate wonderful things in store for us in heaven.

2.) The law explicated in the Old Testament combined with the model put forth by Jesus life and teachings described in the New Testament are a roadmap to joy, not a proscribed restriction on our behavior. We need to follow the map, and open our ears, hearts and minds to mid-course corrections provided by God through the Holy Spirit. Our job as parents is to help teach our kids to read the map and have the wisdom, courage, and humility to stop and ask God for directions when they lose their way.

3.) If Christ comes to us as a child, may we recognize his face in our children and respond accordingly. This applies to our spouses, other family members, friends, and strangers as well.

Scott Simmons

For reflection:

Who was formative in your life, helping you to learn what it means to follow God’s commandments?

How can following the commandments be a source of freedom?

What would need to change, in order for you to trust God more fully?

Seeing the Face of Christ in Our Families--Saturday, March 3, 2012

Ephesians 6:1-4

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  Honor your father and mother – this is the first commandment with a promise: so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.  And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

            As has probably been the case for hundreds of years, adults comment on the matter of children obeying their parents and the conflict that often surrounds it.  We parents either think our children are pretty obedient or we bemoan our offspring’s waywardness.  Often parents talk together and compare their children to other children. Perhaps we should look at how we as adults are obedient to God.  We should be examples for our children.  Do we obey with gladness or do we mutter excuses about not complying with God’s commandments?  We should look at His commandments as guidelines that make our lives more fulfilling and less stressful.  Our children can then see, through our examples, the need to follow our directions.

Carolyn and Jim Behrens

For reflection:

What does it mean to be an obedient child of God?

What are some of the primary lessons you wish to teach the next generation, and how effectively do you feel children are learning those lessons? 

Where do you fall short in your example for others?

Seeing the Face of Christ in Our Families--Friday, March 2, 2012

Ruth 1:16-18

¹⁶But Ruth said, "Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge, your people shall be my people, and your God my God. ¹⁷Where you die, I will die —  there will I be buried. May the LORD do thus and so to me, and more as well, if even death parts me from you!" ¹⁸When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.

I don’t know who picks these verses, but I am stumped.  Perhaps Ruth’s steadfast determination to follow Naomi is an example of how we need to be committed to following Jesus, his teachings and the example he provided for how God wants us to relate to each other and to God.  Seeing the face of Christ in family is shown here by Ruth’s commitment to leave her own people and homeland, to follow her mother-in-law.  It reminds one of the famous quote of Bob Marley, “my home is in my head”.  Ruth was willing to leave her physical home to be with Naomi, while for us, our home is in the Lord. 

Phil Carroll

For reflection:

When have you shown loyalty to someone in your family, even though it involved personal cost?

What is your definition of “home?”

What is the impact on your family—however you define it—when members sacrifice for each other?