2020 Blest Beings Devotional Booklet › ... › 2020_blest_beings_devotional_booklet.pdf · 2020-06-03 · 2020 WUMC SUMMER SERIES DEVOTIONAL BOOKLET BLEST BEING: walking with the

2020 WUMC SUMMER SERIES DEVOTIONAL BOOKLET

BLEST BEING: walking with the ancestors of our faith through Celtic Christian practices

“I will bless the Lord at all times;

God’s praise will always be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1

Iona, Scotland

i

SYNOPSIS:

The tradition of blessing prayers has endured through centuries among the people called “Celts.” These blessings reveal a sense of the holy in every moment, in every thing, in every person. This is a way of living – of observing and celebrating, blessing and being blessed by the ordinary acts and encounters of life. Walking with Abraham, Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachel, we will incorporate practices of Celtic Spirituality as we tour (virtually, most likely) Ireland, Wales and Scotland.

Inspired by a series created by Marcia McFee and the Worship Design Studio.

STRUCTURE OF THE WORSHIP SERVICE

ORDINARY ACTS AND ENCOUNTERS OF LIFE

OBSERVING (ENTRANCE) – seeing what is taking place around us (being in the moment) for the unknown that is being revealed in the moment.

CELEBRATING (SINGING AND PRAISING GOD) – giving praise for what has, is, and will be revealed to the one who provides

BLESSING (READING AND PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD AND TESTIMONY) – Blessing God, those around us, and even those whom we do not know but seek God’s favor.

BEING BLESSED (RESPONDING TO THE WORD) – Being blessed is a reality as one who walks with God. It is not what we have, or what we get, or what we will experience; it is our ability to realize who we are because of who God is.

BEING A BLESSING (SENDING FORTH INTO THE WORLD) – Sense of giving back, returning to others, so that God’s blessing can go forth through us.

ii

Introducing Westminster UMC Worship Series for the Summer

BLEST BEING:

WALKING WITH THE ANCESTORS OF OUR FAITH THROUGH

CELTIC CHRISTIAN PRACTICES

“I will bless the Lord at all times; God’s praise will always be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1

Often times, we can look back over life and realize how wonderful God was to us. This series brings home the reality that it is not just in the past that God has blessed us but how God is constantly blessing us in every moment of every day no matter how wonderful or ordinary those moments. Our series is called “Blest Being” which moves us into every moment as a moment of blessing from God. It is an active reality of “BE‐ing”, of being in the moment, of experiencing every moment as blest. Notice not bless‐ed, we are dropping any possibility of languishing in the past, each moment is blest from our rising from bed, the laying back down, and through the night, a blest existence in God’s care. Each week begins with a focus for the week. Lectionary texts are provided and then our Westminster Staff have prepared devotions based on some of the other lectionary reading(s) for each week.

Welcome to our summer series, “Blest Being.” May God bless you and may you bless God of being with you.

Peace, PM

iii

SCRIPTURE

Our Scriptures for the “Blest Being” series come from the Revised Common Lectionary. We will be traveling with the matriarchs and patriarchs of our faith traditions in readings that complement our series, well.

CELTIC PRACTICES

Celtic Christian spirituality refers to a set of practices and beliefs in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales that developed in the early fifth century during the development of the monastic tradition. Many of these practices have roots in desert spirituality; Celtic monks considered the teachings of the desert mothers and fathers to be essential wisdom.

Celtic pre‐Christian culture, dating back to 500 B.C.E., permeated the land and these beliefs also strongly influenced Celtic spiritual practices. As a result, much of Celtic Christianity can be characterized by a strongly incarnational theology: The natural world, in particular, reveals the sacramentality of all creation. Matter is infused with the divine presence and offers glimpses of the world behind the surface of things. This spirituality celebrates the human imagination, cultivating creativity through various art forms such as manuscript illumination and vibrant metalwork.

Source: https://www.uscatholic.org/articles/201905/12‐celtic‐spiritual‐practices‐celebrate‐god‐our‐world‐31727 Author: Christine Valters Paintner

IN DAILY LIFE

Opportunities to take worship into the days of the week and celebrate the word made flesh in us by embodying Celtic Spirituality practices into our daily life.

1

Sunday, June 7, 2020 –

Through the Day: Celebrating God’s Presence from the very first moment

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 1.1‐2.4 & Psalm 113

From the very first moments of creation, God’s declaration was that it was Good! The Psalmist, celebrates, “Praise the Lord! You who serve the Lord—praise! Praise the Lord’s name! Let the Lord’s name be blessed from now until forever from now! From sunrise to sunset, let the Lord’s name be praised! The Lord is high over all the nations; God’s glory is higher than the skies! ‐ Psalm 113 “From the rising of the sun” and all throughout our every 24 hours, God is with us. What if we saw our waking, the rituals of our getting up and getting out, the rhythms of our work, play and rest, as rife with blessing? We are introduced this week to an ancient spirituality where the spirit of Christ resides all around us.

CELTIC PRACTICE: ENCIRCLING PRAYER

In the Celtic monastic tradition, a lorica is a type of prayer seeking protection, invoking the power of God to safeguard against darker forces. You are probably familiar with the lorica prayer above, attributed to St. Patrick. The biblical inspiration may come from Ephesians 6:14, which refers to putting on the breastplate of righteousness.

This practice is rooted in the precarious sense people often have of our own existence. Travelers especially faced dangers at night from thieves or wild animals with only fire and prayer as protection. Christ with me, Christ before me Christ behind me, Christ in me Christ beneath me, Christ above me Christ on my right, Christ on my left Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down Christ when I arise, Christ to shield me. —Prayer excerpt attributed to St. Patrick

IN DAILY LIFE – These breastplate prayers name the presence of Christ in all directions as a shield against harm and a reminder of God’s loving presence. You can extend this circle beyond yourself to include your family, your community, your country, and the earth.

COMMUNION – see Appendix A on page iv at the end of the document.

2

Tuesday, June 9, 2020 VERSE/THEME Psalm 8:1, Lord, Our Lord, How Majestic is Your Name in All the Earth!

REFLECTION Please: be twelve years old again. In Confirmation Class. Your mother made you! Many can “relate.” You have a dorky pastor. Me! We’re on a field trip. To a planetarium. The program’s been especially designed for you and your class.

You lean back in your chair, the lights go out. You hear this deep voice direct you to look up. For half an hour you see the sky as never before. That voice narrates as stars dance, planets whirl, asteroids ascend and descend. Black holes begin to look Holy when you get to spy the spectacles they hide. This can’t be church stuff, it’s way too cool.

At the end, in the dark, that voice asks a question. “Just how big is your God? At least this big? And just how big are you?”

Long ago, on his back, looking up, Shepherd David saw and sang, “When I look at your heavens, your handiwork, I see how big you are. And marvel at how big I am to you.”

CLOSING PRAYER Lord, help me see your face and know my place. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY How big is MY God. How big am I… to God?

NAME/ROLE Ken Humbert, Minister of Visitation

3

Thursday, June 11, 2020

VERSE/THEME

Matthew 28:16‐20, Jesus is with us.

And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.

REFLECTION

Lots of times when we read this scripture we go right to the evangelism portion; Go Therefore and make Disciples of all Nations, and that is so true, but we can NOT forget verse 18, that all authority was given to the risen Christ. In knowing this, we can go out into the world and share the good news that Jesus is our savior.

CLOSING PRAYER

Gracious Lord, we give you so much thanks for sending us your son to save us. We know we are given the HUGE task of sharing this news to all the world, and we ask you to be by our side as we undertake the Great Commission. Amen

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

We Serve a Risen Savior; He is in the world today.

NAME/ROLE

Jacki Stranathan, Director of Christian Education

4

Sunday, June 14, 2020

New Beginnings: Celebrating Holy Solutions

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 18:1‐15, 21:1‐7

How often do we write‐off God’s ability to bring about a new reality in what appears to be a dead end (impasse)? If God could bring new life from Sarah’s womb, how much more can God bring about a new reality from what we believe is a dead‐end? The promises God made to Abram and Sarai while they were in their ancestral lands is coming true and they were entering “metaphorically,” stepping from one threshold to a new one. Where there seemed to be no possibility of a new beginning, God has proven otherwise.

CELTIC PRACTICE: Thresholds

Thresholds are the spaces between when we move from one time to another, as in the threshold of dawn to day or dusk to dark; from one space to another, as in times of pilgrimage or in moving from secular to sacred space; and from one awareness to another, as in times when old structures start to fall away and we begin to envision something new.

The Celtic peoples had a love of edges and boundary places, most likely as the result of living on an island, but they also held a keen sense of the Otherworld as a place just beneath the veil of this one.

IN DAILY LIFE

Become aware each time you cross a threshold. This might be across a doorway, in moving from one activity to another, or the thresholds of the day, especially at dawn and dusk. Pause at each of these and offer a short prayer of gratitude.

5

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

VERSE/THEME

Romans 5: 1, Faith

REFLECTION

Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

‘Have a computer? You know this. Click one of the above four icons and words align as you choose. Beginnings and endings appear as directed. It’s called margin alignment or justification. It’s also a way to understand ourselves Biblically. We begin aligned with God, but live ragged. Sin sours our end. OR, we begin ragged (original sin) but end God‐aligned (through the cross). OR, we just live self‐centered, ragged start to end (sin wins all ‘round). OR… wait for it… we are justified by faith that God made us aright from the start, has both the will and the way (Christ) to see us through, first to last, despite our wandering, and we arrive as we were made to, aligned and in love with God through Jesus Christ. Which do you choose?

Paul says, let’s go with “justified by faith.” What would that mean for us? Says Paul, it means we end up with character, hope un‐disappointed, and assurance that, “while we were sinners, Christ died for us.”

CLOSING PRAYER

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine. I have a foretaste of glory divine. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Through Christ, will I trust God from start to end?

NAME/ROLE

Ken Humbert, Minister of Visitation

6


Heart Prayers: Blessing the nations

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 21:8‐21 & Psalm 103:1‐18

In this reading, Hagar is sent away because of the jealousy of Abraham’s wife Sarah. God promises to both Abraham and Hagar that out of her son a great nation will arise. It is out of this tradition that the Muslim faith claims connection with Judaism and Christianity as a third leg of the Abrahamic faith. Later, Israel would be called to be a blessing to the nations and we, as part of this faith tradition, should reconcile our hearts with a God whose family is greater than our understanding.

CELTIC PRACTICE: Hospitality

The heart of Celtic spirituality is hospitality. Indeed, from even before the coming of Christianity, the Celts recognized hospitality as a core value of their civilization. If we want to live in a world of hospitality, we begin by opening our own doors (and hearts). Hospitality does not erase religious (or any other) differences. But within the gracious gesture of hospitality, our tribal identities cease to become the defining factor of who we are. Rather than focusing on how different we are from one another, Celtic practices choose to place attention instead on our kinship and on what we share with open hearts, then our differences are reduced to the simple ways in which we embody diversity and distinctiveness—lovely qualities, after all, for they have their roots in nature.

IN DAILY LIFE

Despite social distancing requirements, be hospitable toward yourself as you seek ways to cultivate hospitality in your world. We all can find small ways to offer grace to others. Drive a little less aggressively. Invite the neighbors over for dinner (if possible). Take time to comfort an upset coworker, visit a lonely relative, maybe take to them to church.

7

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

VERSE/THEME

Matthew 10:24‐39, Harsh Words? From Jesus?

REFLECTION

In this section of Matthew, Jesus is preparing his disciples for the persecution they are likely to experience because they have decided to follow Him. After all, students are seen as being like their teacher. His words come across as harsh and threatening; because of the disciples’ beliefs they will be called evil, receive death threats, and experience disruptions in relationships with family and friends. And if that’s not enough, Jesus adds to these predictions that in the end, if the disciples really expect Jesus to consider them worthy of his care and protection, they will have to put Jesus first and endure the difficulties.

Jesus then explains it’s not really this bleak. If we just don’t fuss and cling to what the world offers, we are free to follow Christ to the fullest. For that, Jesus promises to acknowledge us before God and we can claim eternal life.

CLOSING PRAYER

Gracious God, we thank you for your love and care. During those times we find ourselves being judged harshly by others because of our belief in you, give us the strength to persevere for your sake, and to proclaim the good news from the rooftops. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. ‐ Jesus

NAME/ROLE

Kyler Brengle, Director of Music Ministries

8


Deep faith: Celebrating God’s Unexpected Provisions

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 22:1‐14

Abraham’s faith is often lifted up as a deep faith. He left his homeland with his wife and together they wandered until they arrived at the land promised them and the promise of progeny. When they did have a son and God puts Abraham’s faith to the test, he trusted God to provide a way out of his not having to sacrifice his son. Jesus said we are all given a measure of faith but even a small amount can move mountains. Not by our might or provision but by being open to God’s intervention to provide.

CELTIC PRACTICE: Wandering

In the Celtic monastic tradition, wandering was a powerful practice inspired by the biblical story of Abraham. There is a unique term for this wandering: peregrinatio pro Christo, or the call to wander for the love of Christ. It differs from pilgrimage and is a phrase without a precise English definition. The wandering saints set forth without destination, often in a small boat with no oars or rudder, called a coracle, and trusted themselves to the currents of divine love.

They surrendered themselves completely to the wind and ocean and let themselves be carried to what they called the place of their resurrection, the place where they would live and work, die and be buried, and where their remains would await their resurrection on the Last Day.

IN DAILY LIFE

Each evening reflect on the pasting of the day and notice the signs of the divine presence. Where have you felt nudges to move forward? How have you been invited to surrender into trust? Where have you turned away from these? In what ways did you resist or ignore the holy impulses?

9

Wednesday, July 1, 2020

VERSE/THEME Matthew 10:40‐42, Welcoming Jesus

“He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.”

REFLECTION

Jesus shared this text near the end of his ministry. He wants us to share hospitality to all we meet. A growing church is a friendly and hospitable church where the congregation welcomes anyone who enters. This time of COVID 19 runs counter to that in my opinion. But, it is necessary. We must wear masks to stop spreading the virus so instead of seeing our welcoming smiles when we open in July, folks must see the welcome through our eyes.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer said it very well in his book, The Cost of Discipleship: "The bearers of Jesus' word receive a final word of promise for their work. They are now Christ's fellow workers, and will be like him in all things. Thus they are to meet those to whom they are sent as if they were Christ himself. When they are welcomed into a house, Christ enters with them. They are bearers of his presence. They bring with them the most precious gift in the world, the gift of Jesus Christ."

CLOSING PRAYER

Gracious Lord, we thank you for your words that speak to us to always be hospitable and to be welcoming even with the smallest gestures. Thank you as Disciples we can recognize the hospitality of God in us, it is because we have been a faithful representation of Jesus Christ to them.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

It is my fervent prayer and deepest hope that we would grow as a congregation where there are no strangers – only friends that we have not met.

NAME/ROLE Jacki Stranathan, Director of Christian Education

10

Sunday, July 5, 2020

Celebrating the Resurrection

This Sunday we are stepping out of our Summer series for a very special

celebration ... This is our delayed Easter Celebration at our Center &

Main Facility. As we have discovered these many months, the church is

not a place we go, the church is who we are, where we are. Our church

didn't close during these months, it actually multiplied our worship sites

into the home of our members and friends. As we return, we remind

ourselves that just as the resurrection of Jesus changed the reality of his

disciples, our resurrected worship at Center and Main will be changed

and the manner in which we come or continue to stream or watch will

be different as well.

PRAYER FOCUS – Those called to lead worship.


11


VERSE

Luke 9:62, Jesus answered, "Anyone who starts plowing and keeps looking back isn't worth a thing to God's kingdom.

THEME

No Turning Back

REFLECTION

At the writing of this devotion guide, our plan was to return to live in person worship at our Center & Main facility on July 5th. The COVID‐19 pandemic caused us to a pivot to a new reality where we redefined our understanding of church and community. We discovered we could still worship while apart from one another and yet feel connected, all the same. Now that we are coming back we may want to return to what once was, but I do not believe we can ever regain that reality nor should we strive for it. Jesus calls us to look forward, not backward, and seek to live into his kingdom and answer his call.

PRAYER

Lord help us appreciate our past while striving for the future you desire for us. Amen.

PRAYER FOCUS

Our Church Leaders as they lead us into God's kingdom.

NAME/ROLE

Pastor Malcolm

12


Opportunities: Blessings of Our Birthright

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 25:19‐34 & Romans 8:15b‐18

A birthright has to do with position and inheritance. The firstborn son inherits the leadership of the family upon the father’s death and a double share of the inheritance. Esau acts impulsively, while Jacob decisively, some might say, takes advantage of the opportunity to “steal away” his brother’s birthright for a bowl of soup. We have a birthright as followers of Jesus as detailed in Romans 8:15b‐18 ‐ not to be treated impulsively, dare we sell it away. Continued reading of Romans 8 leads us to understand that while we are heirs there are also challenges and potential suffering, even for heirs to God’s kingdom.

CELTIC PRACTICE: Blessing each moment

In the Celtic tradition, one of the practices that aids in loving attention to daily life is blessing. Blessings are prayers celebrating the ordinary tasks of the day. There is a beautiful book of Scottish blessings called the Carmina Gadelica, collected by Andrew Carmichael in the 19th century in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides. It is filled with blessings of the day’s unfolding. Blessing is an act of acknowledging the gifts and graces already present and offering gratitude to God for them. All the mundane activities of the day are opportunities to witness grace at work.

IN DAILY LIFE

We can begin to see the everyday things of our lives as openings into the depths of the world. The steam rising from my coffee, the bird singing from a tree branch outside my window, the doorbell announcing a friend’s arrival, the meal that nourishes my body for service; all bring me closer to God’s grace. Consider writing a blessing of gratitude for each of the ordinary things that sustain you during the day.

13

Tuesday, July 14, 2020

VERSE/THEME

Matthew 13:1‐9,18‐23, The Word is scattered and sown

REFLECTION

I have always loved this parable for different reasons through my life. During the recent stay at home time, I have attended numerous webinars and the thing that has jumped out to me is the importance of parents. In relation to this parable, parents are 90% of the work that forms good organic soil, that is ready for the seeds that Sunday School, Church, and living will sow in their lives. What can we do as parents for our children, or for ourselves to make sure that our lives are ready to receive the Gifts that God has for us? To ensure that we are able to nurture and grow into the persons we are meant to be?

CLOSING PRAYER

Dear Abba Father, please help us look at our lives and discern what we should begin or end; to till the soil of our lives into rich soil ready to receive your most wonderful gifts, so that we, our families, our children can do the good works that God has prepared for us to do. Thank you for all the persons you put in our life to help us become richer in our faith. Guide us in all we do, in all ways, in all our days. Amen.

SONG FOR THE DAY

All Good Gifts from the musical Godspell

NAME/ROLE

Stephany Erin Seargeant, Co‐Director of Youth Ministry

14

Thursday, July 16, 2020

VERSE/THEME

Psalm 119:105, Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

REFLECTION

Right away you begin humming the Michael W. Smith tune found in our United Methodist Hymnal (UMH)#601. This was an early collaboration between Michael and singer, Amy Grant (1984). It gained immediate popularity, as you can tell by its inclusion in our 1989 UMH.

The words speak. They speak aggressively. In this time of uncertainty, this passage lays out where we are, and where we can hope to be. Take a moment; read it. Psalm 119:105‐112. (when I am afraid, think I’ve lost my way…) It’s all right there!

READ IT AGAIN! (He is near)

SAY IT ALOUD! (He is here)

SING IT! (Jesus hold my hand)

SHOUT IT! (He is right beside me)

CLOSING PRAYER

O Lord, Your Word is our light. Let your light bring us peace, comfort, guidance and direction each and every day. O Lord, hear our prayer. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Lord Jesus, be my guide.

NAME/ROLE

Peggy Brengle, SPC, Organist/Accompanist

15


The Struggling Times: Facing Illness, Loss, and Grief

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 28:10‐19a & Psalm 31

We continue our story line with Jacob who has now not only stolen his brother’s birthright but also his Father’s blessing from Esau. He has been sent away by his mother for his own safety. He comes to a place where he has a dream and vision that God will be with him as he moves forward. In you, O Lord, I seek refuge; do not let me ever be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me. Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily. Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me. ‐ Psalm 31

Too often we consider “blessings” to be just those things that feel “good” to us.

CELTIC PRACTICE

The Celtic tradition extends blessing to especially times of loss. What blessing might we find in those circumstances – not in spite of those circumstances but perhaps because of them? Blessing does not deny sorrow but deepens and moves us through it.

IN DAILY LIFE

Each day, pause and consider ways in which there is both death and life all around us. In order for a caterpillar to emerge as a butterfly it must emerge from its chrysalis unaided. In the midst of the struggles of daily existence, reflect upon how God is bringing about a new reality into which we may thrive and grow from the crisis of this moment in time.

16


VERSE/THEME

Romans 8:12‐25, Suffer of this present age doesn’t compare with the glory to come.

REFLECTION

Wow – talk about your timely scripture, huh? “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” We are reminded – you’re not alone! God knows what’s up and He knows what’s in you. He searches our hearts and, when we don’t know how to pray, we’re covered! “…the Spirit intercedes. He knows the mind of the Spirit.” Take heart, have hope – from labor comes reward; have faith and hope in things unseen,.

CLOSING PRAYER

Thank you, Lord, for calling us justified. We have faith and trust that those you justify, you will glorify. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Romans 8:31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Indeed! Praise be to God!

NAME/ROLE

Sherri Haines, Administrative Assistant

17


God Is In: God’s Presence.

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 32:22‐31 & Psalm 148

Jacob spent more than twenty years away from his homeland and decides to return despite not knowing how his brother Esau would receive him. Sending forth all his livestock, servants, and family before him, he is alone and in the night wrestles with God. That night he is named Israel for he has striven with God and has prevailed.

Psalm 148 One of the ways we notice the blessings of our lives is to simply delight in the “small things.” Everyday objects from our coffee cups to our pets and everyday activities like washing dishes or taking off our shoes can become occasions of blessing. Moving through our day with the mantra “Bless to me my ____ “ is a Celtic practice that slows us down and hones us in on the beauty of the gifts of life.

CELTIC PRACTICE: Landscape as theophany

The Celtic imagination considers sacred places to be “thin,” or places where the veil between the worlds, meaning heaven and earth, seem especially near to each other. Ninth‐century Irish theologian John Scotus Eriugena taught that there are two books of revelation: the book of the scriptures and the book of creation. Both are required to know the fullness of the divine presence.

Just as God can speak through the words of the scriptures, so can we hear the voice of the divine in the elements and in creatures. The landscape can become a theophany, or place of divine manifestation. The Celtic monks sought out places in the wilderness to receive this gift of revelation.

IN DAILY LIFE

Make a commitment in the coming days to spend time in nature and be present to it as a place of revelation. Bring the prayers of your heart and ask God for signs and symbols to guide you on the way. Consider making a pilgrimage to a landscape that feels especially sacred to you, whether desert, mountain, sea, river, or plains.

18

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

VERSE/THEME

Matthew 13:31‐33,44‐52, Faith of a mustard seed

REFLECTION

These verses from Matthew are full of loud, extravagant parables. The kingdom of heaven is like the unimaginable progression of a mustard seed to a great tree; yeast to leavened bread; hidden treasure; pearls; overfilled nets of every kind of fish. Jesus adds a warning in equally descriptive language, telling of the separation of the evil from the righteous, whereby the evil are thrown into the furnace of fire with weeping and gnashing of teeth. Wow – the pendulum swings from magnificent awesomeness to terrifying doom. Then Jesus brings it home and quietly hands it to us, noting that everyone trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old. WE have the training, WE have the power, WE have a calling to make disciples AND to grow in our own faith.

CLOSING PRAYER

Dear Lord, when I feel small and insignificant, remind me of the mustard seed’s legacy; remind me of my power and my duty as a child of God.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

A little mustard seed can grow a great tree; so, too, can our faith grow and provide sustenance for those in need. Plant the seed; be the tree.

NAME/ROLE

Sherri Haines, Administrative Assistant

19

Thursday, July 30, 2020

VERSE/THEME Psalm 105:1‐11 (NIV), Heir to an inheritance

REFLECTION As a young child going into CCD (Catholic Sunday School) on an icy Wednesday evening a car slid on the ice and hit one of the two cars that I was walking between. The cars hit together but, miraculously, I stepped out from between them with just seconds to spare. It was only God walking beside me that kept me from being crushed between those two cars. When I look back at that day I feel like the Psalmist and praise God with my whole heart for saving my life and keeping me from major, life‐long injuries. God was not finished with me as that young girl, and he is not finished with me, now. I still have things to do for Him before my final reward.

I have kept that thought with me through all of the many trials and tribulations in my life. Some have been minor and some have been great, but God has been by my side through it all. Sometimes it is harder to sing praises to Him and I have to dig deep and remember that God deserves praises and my devotion EVERY day no matter my circumstances just because He is my creator. Other days the praises flow like water. Like the Psalmist, I will continue to praise Him, speak with Him and teach the young students in my care all about His love.

CLOSING PRAYER Lord, This earth is but our time to share Your praises, Your sacrifice, and Your joys with others. No matter what You allow to occur in our lives You do while standing right beside us to lend a hand, a shoulder to lean on or to fully carry us through. You never claimed that this journey on Earth would be easy; You only promised to be with us all every step of the way. What a wonderful promise! Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY God will remain with us every step of every day but our inheritance is in Heaven, not here.

NAME/ROLE Michelle Olson Nursery Coordinator, MOPS Kids, Preschool Assistant Teacher

20

Sunday, August 2, 2020

Seasons: Journeying through the Year (Ecc. 3:1‐15) (out of Lectionary)

There’s a season for everything and a time for every matter under the heavens… Moreover, this is the gift of God: that all people should eat, drink, and enjoy the results of their hard work. I know that whatever God does will last forever; it’s impossible to add to it or take away from it. – Ecclesiastes 3:1‐18

God made the moon for the seasons, and the sun too, which knows when to set. You bring on the darkness and it is night, when every forest animal prowls. The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God. When the sun rises, they gather together and lie down in their dens. Then people go off to their work, to do their work until evening. – Psalm 104

The cycle of a year brings with it many kinds of journeys. Peaks and valleys are part of life. Repetitive cycles of nature, family, and community traditions mark the journey with anticipation and memory. As we approach the close of our series, we reflect on how blessing shows up in a myriad of ways over time and we contemplate the importance of the rhythms of life.

CELTIC PRACTICE

The change of seasons was an overarching template for Celtic practices. In pre‐Christian tradition there are significant feasts aligned with the equinoxes and solstices. And then there are cross‐quarter days midway between these as part of the harvest cycle. Monastic prayers of The Liturgy of the Hours also respected these sacred rhythms of nature’s seasonal changes.

IN DAILY LIFE

Make time for contemplative walks outside in your neighborhood. Instead of trying to get somewhere specific, simply pay attention to the world around you and how God might be speaking to you. Pay particular attention to the signs of the season—what flowers might be in bloom, whether the trees have their leaves, and the height of the sun in the sky. Ask yourself what season your own soul is in right now.


21

Wednesday, August 5, 2020

VERSE/THEME

Matthew 14:13‐21, Jesus withdraws to a deserted place.

REFLECTION

Have you ever grieved the loss of a friend or family member? Jesus had just heard the news that his friend John had been killed. He was heartbroken. Jesus knew what his heart needed…time with God. He withdrew to a quiet place and spent time at the feet of his father. God doesn’t promise that life will be easy. In fact, he says “in this life you will have trouble.” Although God can’t always prevent pain, he shows us how to face life’s difficulties through his word. Jesus models to the crowd that watches him grieve, how important it is to spend time with God when our heart hurts. He is modeling that for us, too. It’s easy to forget God’s promises if we forget about God when things get tough. Turn to his word, lean on him, and he will heal our hearts.

CLOSING PRAYER

God, thank you for showing us how to grieve. Sometimes life doesn’t always turn out the way we had planned. Help us to remember that we can turn to you in our times of struggle and you will help us through. Help us to stay connected to you and trust your will for our life. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Today choose to trust God when life gets difficult and lean on him for comfort.

YOUR NAME AND ROLE ON STAFF.

Tracy Hulsman, Preschool Director Lyndsay Harrison, Preschool Assistant Director

22

Sunday, August 9, 2020

Passages: Special Moments

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 24:34‐38, 42‐49, 58‐67 & Psalm 42:1‐8

Abraham send out his servant to find a wife for his son, Isaac. The servant creates a reality that seems almost insurmountable (a woman who will offer him and his camels water from a well) for one such woman to be found and yet Rebekah does this, and agrees to marry Isaac. With the marriage a new generation (story line) begins as Isaac mourns his mother’s death.

CELTIC PRACTICE: A Soul Friend

Seeking a soul friend; in Wesleyan terms a covenant partner. St Brigid is often quoted as saying, “Go Forth and eat nothing until you find a soul friend, for anyone without a soul friend is like a body without a head” Everyone was expected to have a spiritual mentor and companion on the soul’s journey. This person who they would confide their inner struggles, and who they would turn to help them find their path.

IN DAILY LIFE

Spend some time seeking out a soul friend. You may already have one in your life: a spiritual director, a wise guide, someone you can turn to when things feel challenging and to whom you entrust the secret desires of your heart.

23

Wednesday, August 12, 2020

VERSE/THEME

Matthew 11:25‐30, Seeing the Yoke in a New Way

REFLECTION

Many of us are familiar with Jesus’ words in this passage, “Come to me all you that are weary, and I will give you rest.” But, in this recent reading, I was repeatedly drawn to the words that preceded that text, “I praise you Father, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.”

How many times have we thought we knew the answers because of doing or experiencing something before in a certain way? We’ve all said, “Been there, done that,” “I’ve always done it that way,” or “In my experience…,” only to find later that the facts or circumstances were not as we assumed them to be. Our own personal biases and experiences have resulted in closing off our hearts and minds to hearing or learning something new, or doing things in a new and maybe even better way.

Imagine experiencing each new day with an open heart and mind like that of a child ‐ It would be like finding Jesus all over again in new places, things, and the people we meet. How exciting!!!

CLOSING PRAYER

Lord, help us to see things as through the eyes of a child, to put aside old filters and find you over, and over again, in all that we do!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Would we be as weary if we approached each new day with the heart of a child and found Jesus again, and again?

NAME/ROLE

Belinda G. Norton, Financial Secretary

iv

Appendix A.

COMMUNION WHILE WE ARE SEPARATED AND AT HOME

(Please prepare bread and juice prior to the service and have a sufficient amount for all who will be joining you in worship this morning.)

INVITATION

Pastor: Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him and seek to grow into his likeness.

Let us draw near with faith, make our humble confession, and prepare to receive this Holy Sacrament.

CONFESSION AND PARDON

Holy and merciful God, in your presence we confess our sin, shortcomings, our wandering ways and forgetting your love. Have mercy on us, O Lord. Forgive us and help us to live in your light and walk in your way for the sake of Jesus Christ our Savior.

Pastor: Hear the good news:

Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. The old life is gone; a new life begins. Know you are forgiven and be at peace.

TAKING THE BREAD AND CUP | THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

Pastor: Lift up your heart(s) and give thanks to the Lord our God. Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, you made us in your image, to love and to be loved. When we turned away, and our love failed, your love remained steadfast. By the suffering, death, and resurrection of your only Son Jesus Christ you delivered us from slavery to sin and death and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.

On the night in which Jesus gave himself up for us he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (continued on next page)

v

When the supper was over he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said: “Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us. Pour out your Holy Spirit on us, and on these gifts of bread and wine.

Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood.

By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet. Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father, now and for ever. Amen.

BREAKING AND RECEIVING THE BREAD TOGETHER IN OUR HOMES

The Bread of Life: Amen The cup of Salvation: Amen

PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO RECEIVING THE SACRAMENT

Most bountiful God, we give you thanks for the world you have created, for the gift of life, and for giving yourself to us in Jesus Christ, whose holy life, suffering and death, and glorious resurrection have delivered us from slavery to sin and death. We thank you that in the power of your Holy Spirit you have fed us in this Sacrament, united us with Christ, and given us a foretaste of your heavenly banquet. We are your children, and yours is the glory, now and for ever; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

BLESSING

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord be kind and gracious too you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. Amen.

vi

Skilleg Island, Ireland

Our Summer Series,

“Blest Being,”

reminds us that despite the challenges of our time we are blest and

encouraged to live in the present as those who are blessed by God.

Documents

2020 Blest Beings Devotional Booklet › ... › 2020_blest_beings_devotional_booklet.pdf · 2020-06-03 · 2020 WUMC SUMMER SERIES DEVOTIONAL BOOKLET BLEST BEING: walking with the