Seeing the Face of Christ in Our Congregational Life-Thursday, March 15

James 1:22-25

²²But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. ²³For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; ²⁴for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. ²⁵But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act — they will be blessed in their doing.

I feel very blessed and privileged each Sunday morning when my Husband, Don, so lovingly pulls me up the steps to the Choir Loft in my wheelchair, and places me in my spot where I sing with our magnificent Senior Choir. It’s my very own time that I get to quietly reflect before the service begins.

As I look out, it fills me with joy to see familiar faces sitting in their usual places, as well as new faces…perhaps new members, or some paying a visit. I also remember those faithful, and dedicated Saints from the past who once filled the same pews in their day, filled the offering plates, and gave of their time and talents, so that this place would be here for us today, and for the generations who will be here after we are gone. Many have now passed into their eternal life, and there are some who are now homebound, or cared for in nursing homes. We are babies, children, teens, young adults, middle agers and elderly.

Whatever the case, and whenever the time, the Glory is ALL for Him. Their Lord, my Lord, our Lord…the Three in One. God the Father of ALL creation, Jesus, His Son, our Savior, and the ever present Holy Spirit...Emmanuel…Christ with us, in Heaven, and on Earth.  Crown Him with Many Crowns! Always and Forever…Amen

Don & Louise Greenleaf

For reflection:

In which ministries do you feel called to participate at Christ The King?

In what ways do your activities at Christ The King connect you to people in the past, and people yet to be born?

When you are a “doer in the word” as James states, what are the images “in the mirror” that stay with you after you have engaged in some activity or ministry?  In other words, what are the long lasting impacts of your efforts…on you, and on the people you have served?

Seeing the Face of Christ in Our Congregational Life-Wednesday, March 14

Philippians 1:3-6

³I thank my God every time I remember you, ⁴constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, ⁵because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. ⁶I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.

For years, as a Sunday School teacher, I had the privilege to see The Holy Spirit at work as a child grew in faith.  This was very humbling for me. As a science teacher in my secular life, I taught concepts based on provable fact. Faith is so abstract, so hard to explain and I always felt so ill equipped for the task of laying the foundation for a child’s walk with Christ. Yet, again and again so many of the children grasped these first seeds of faith with such conviction and enthusiasm that it can only be explained as Christ shining through!

Now that I am “older” (as my retina specialist recently pointed out) I have joined the Care Team.  Again, this is doing something I feel unprepared for and not totally comfortable with. As I have visited people in or just out of the hospital, or someone who is no longer able to leave their home anymore I am amazed at the joy expressed upon being able to receive news about life at Christ the King. The grace and patience with which I have seen extreme illness and infirmity handled can only be the sure and certain knowledge of Christ shining through their lives.

For me, the surest way to see Christ in our congregational life is to get involved in the ministries of our congregation. Stretching outside of my comfort zone has truly enriched my faith and helped me to grow.

Janine Armstrong

For reflection:

How do you express gratitude to God through your participation in congregational ministries?

In what ways have you been an instrument for passing the faith to another?

Describe an incident in which you felt you were a vessel of God’s grace and compassion.

Seeing the Face of Christ in Worship--Tuesday March 13th

Romans 8:26-28

²⁶Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. ²⁷And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. ²⁸We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

Often when discussing things of a spiritual nature, words to express our understandings are hard to find, especially ones that encompass the true sentiments of what we are trying to communicate.  Often when a person is describing their faith or a faith experience I will hear, “Pastor, I just cannot put it into words”, yet the powerful nature of their encounter of God still comes across clearly.  Prayer is a two way conversation between God and us that often is beyond words, “but that the very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.”  Worship is also a participatory relationship between God and us.  Through prayer, song, lessons, silence, offerings, forgiveness, confession, sacraments, and a number of other ways to participate in the active relationship we encounter with God.  Living into this knowledge of God’s activity in our daily lives, daily prayers, daily worship, helps us embody the “togetherness;” “oneness” we share with God in faith.  In the encounter of God, the acknowledgement of God’s presence with us, we can conclude with Paul, all the ways God is working for good with and through us. 

~ Pastor Kent

For reflection:

How is your week made different by participating in worship on Sunday morning?

What is it like to “rest in God,” and remain silent as you pray?

In which component of the worship service do you tend to have the most pronounced experience of God’s presence?

Seeing the Face of Christ in Worship--Monday, March 12, 2012

Job 40:10

Deck yourself with majesty and dignity; clothe yourself with glory and splendor.

This is from The Daily Word produced by Unity Church, in a devotion from January 18th 2012.  It touched me and I hope it will touch others.  

--Melissa Albury-Fernandez

The title is The Christ Light Illuminates the Splendor of my Being

"The sun's rays catch the icy branch of a tree and suddenly the very ordinary becomes a thing of splendor.  In the same way, the Christ Light shines and illuminates the splendor of my being.

 I am a spiritual being in human expression.  My spiritual nature radiates through my humanity to reveal the beauty of the gifts I have to share.  I am loving and wise, compassionate and generous.  I am divine love expressing.

 Caught in the rays of the Christ Light, simple acts and words become a part of Spirit's transformative power.  Nothing is so ordinary that it will not become a thing of splendor when the Christ Light shines through it. "

For reflection:

How can our simple acts and words become aspects of worship?

“I am a spiritual being in human expression.”  How does God use you to bring glory to God’s name?

When were you last “awed” by a vision of beauty?  What was that vision, and what did it stir within you?

Seeing the Face of Christ in Worship--Sunday, March 11, 2012

Psalm 84

How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! ²My soul longs, indeed it faints
for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.
³Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.
⁴Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise.
⁵Happy are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
⁶As they go through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. ⁷They go from strength to strength; the God of gods will be seen in Zion. ⁸O Lord GOD of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob!
⁹Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed. ¹⁰For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than live in the tents of wickedness. ¹¹For the Lord GOD is a sun and shield; he bestows favor and honor. No good thing does the LORD withhold from those who walk uprightly.
¹²O LORD of hosts, happy is everyone who trusts in you.

I have a confession. When I received the task to write a devotional, I was not happy. I thought, “Don’t they know how busy I am? Don’t they know I’m trying to write my dissertation? When will I find the time for this?” etc. etc.  But then it dawned on me that there was probably a reason I was given this task and this specific bible passage. So when I finally took the time to sit down, read the passage and reflect on it, I couldn’t help but chuckle. What a wake-up call! Reading the passage reminded me of how it feels when God is at the center of my life. When I consistently spend time with Him, I feel great joy every day, in every aspect of my day, much like the author of this passage.

            Through my reflection on this passage, I’ve realized that I have let life get in the way of my relationship with God. In my busyness, I’ve neglected to spend time with Him. I’ve tried to control everything, rather than just resting back and realizing that God is in control. “Happy are those whose strength is in you…” Yes, I need to again put God at the center of my life. I am certain that once I do, life will once again seem less chaotic, less busy, despite the circumstances - “O Lord of hosts, happy is everyone who trusts in you.”

Christine Mounger

For reflection:

How does your “life gotten in the way” of your relationship with God?

If you were to draw a diagram of your life, what would be at the center?  What would be at the periphery?

What would need to change in order to get your priorities better in proper alignment?

Seeing the Face of Christ in Worship--Saturday, March 10, 2012

Colossians 3:1-4     

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ²Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, ³for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

Psalm  47:1    

Shout unto God with the voice of triumph.   Shout unto God with the voice of singing.

What would the worship service be without music?

Surely there would be something lacking, a missing link, if you will,

to the spoken word.

 We are fortunate to be steeped in a rich musical heritage in the Lutheran

Church.  Just think of all the forms of music that takes place on Sunday

morning.  The prelude, hymns, anthems, Kyrie, offertory response,

communion music, the postlude, and much more.  All of this to enhance the

worship service.  Sometimes very quiet, sometimes quite stirring...but

always to the glory of God.

 I'm sure you will see and hear this during Holy Week.

The "Requiem" that the choir is preparing for Good Friday,

will surely be quite moving.

I'm certain that the face of God will be revealed through our

sacred music.

                                "Soli Deo Gloria"

Vivian Seidel

 For reflection:

How does music add to your experience of worship?

Which hymns transport you to a significant event, or person, or memory?

How do you give God, “glory?”

Seeing the Face of Christ in Worship--Friday, March 9, 2012

Psalm 95:1-7

O come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
²Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! ³For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
⁴In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also.
⁵The sea is his, for he made it, and the dry land, which his hands have formed.
⁶O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!
⁷For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.
O that today you would listen to his voice!

  

Somehow I most always reflect upon these words when I need comfort for something that has negatively impacted me…usually something sad, bad or makes me mad! But the reality is that I should look to the Lord all the time.  He has provided everything I need to live well.  And He provides for all that look for Him.  (And sometimes He is there even when we aren’t looking)  I love the “Footprints” story where there are only two feet. It was the Lord carrying me even when I wasn’t looking.  He carried me most recently as I have had to consider purchasing long term health care and what that really means…that is that I have to consider the number of birthdays I have left!  And am I REALLY prepared; what does God have in mind for me?

So this Psalm reminds me that God is always there, for everyone, forever.

Bethany Sands

For reflection:

When are the moments when you are most aware that God walks with you?

How does your activity of praise to God, impact your present…and your thoughts about the future?

Challenge yourself to set aside 10 minutes a day to engage in unadulterated praise.  It could be in your car; over a cup of coffee at your desk; while walking your dog, etc…set aside the pressing issues of the moment to immerse yourself in thanksgiving over the gifts of God.