This blog began as documentation of my journey into formal ministry. Now that I have received a call it will continue to function as a place for me to address concerns, celebrations and anything else that might catch my fancy. Please remember to "Be A Blessing To Someone Today"! God Bless, Roy
Last Thursday Night's sermon considered Luke's version of Jesus' Ascension and final instructions to the Disciples. It's not a long sermon (none of the Thursday Night sermons are) so please, take a listen. One of the points that I made had to do with doubts. Here some of those gathered... even with Jesus there before them... some doubted. At times we ourselves will doubt certain aspects or occurrences within our chosen Faith... we should not beat ourselves up over these passing moments, for even the Disciples on that day had some momentary doubts. Ultimately though, I believe the stories of the Gospels should provide us with the encouragement that we need to pursue this Religion of ours. But, they also provide us with the support that we need in our moments of weakness... for they too at times doubted. Be a blessing to someone today! In His Glory, Roy
Luke 24:36-53 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Jesus Appears to His Disciples 36 While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”[a] 37 They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.[b] 41 While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate in their presence. 44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah[c] is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses[d] of these things. 49 And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” The Ascension of Jesus 50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven.[e] 52 And they worshiped him, and[f] returned to Jerusalem with great joy; 53 and they were continually in the temple blessing God.[g] Footnotes: a) Luke 24:36 Other ancient authorities lack and said to them, “Peace be with you.” b) Luke 24:40 Other ancient authorities lack verse 40 c) Luke 24:46 Or the Christ d) Luke 24:48 Or nations. Beginning from Jerusalem 48 you are witnesses e) Luke 24:51 Other ancient authorities lack and was carried up into heaven f) Luke 24:52 Other ancient authorities lack worshiped him, and g) Luke 24:53 Other ancient authorities add Amen
We had a wonderful service for Easter Sunday, actually 'services' as the Sunrise Service went very well also, the weather cooperated and the rain missed us (though it was sprinkling slightly intermittently during the service). Our organist Kathryn had to leave town suddenly for a family emergency and we were lucky enough that Sylvia Streufert was able to play for us during our 10 am Service. Sylvia did a fantastic job, especially considering she was pressed into service so near to the actual service. Kathy Brandt played her trumpet with Sylvia's accompaniment to start the service and we all very much enjoyed her playing. I've included below the sermon from the service. This year I preached over Luke 24:1-12 which is Luke's version of the chain of events on that first Easter morning. During the sermon, I discuss the cross and the differences between the 'empty cross' and the 'crucifix', I have long confessed a fondness for crucifixes and at times I do think we Protestants would be well served to contemplate the symbolism of the crucifix. The primary focus though was about the meaning and impact upon our faith of the 'empty tomb'. I shared with the congregation the only witness (that I am aware of) to the actual 'resurrection' and that comes to us for the noncanonical source 'The Gospel of Peter'. There is great meaning and import to this telling of the main event of Easter morning. Please take a listen to the sermon, and I hope it has some meaning or message for you. Be a blessing to someone today! In His Grace, Roy
Luke 24:1-12 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) The Resurrection of Jesus 24 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in, they did not find the body.[a] 4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. 5 The women[b] were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men[c] said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.[d] 6 Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” 8 Then they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.[e] Footnotes: a) Luke 24:3 Other ancient authorities add of the Lord Jesus b) Luke 24:5 Gk They c) Luke 24:5 Gk but they d) Luke 24:5 Other ancient authorities lack He is not here, but has risen e) Luke 24:12 Other ancient authorities lack verse 12 The Gospel of Peter – 9:34-42 (translated by NT Wright) 9. 34. Early in the morning, when the Sabbath dawned, there came a crowd from Jerusalem and the country round about to see the sealed sepulchre. 35. Now in the night in which the Lord's day dawned, when the soldiers were keeping guard, two by two in each watch, there was a loud voice in heaven, (36) and they saw the heavens open and two men come down from there in a great brightness and draw near to the sepulchre. 37. That stone which had been laid against the entrance to the sepulchre started of itself to roll and move sidewards, and the sepulchre was opened and both young men entered. 10. 38. When those soldiers saw this, they awakened the centurion and the elders, for they also were there to mount guard. 39. And while they were narrating what they had seen, they saw three men come out from the sepulchre, two of them supporting the other and a cross following them (40) and the heads of the two reaching to heaven, but that of him who was being led reached beyond the heavens. 41. And they heard a voice out of the heavens crying, ‘Have you preached to those who sleep?’, 42. and from the cross, there was heard the answer, ‘Yes.’ The Gospel of Peter – 9:39-42 (alternate translation by NT Wright) 39 And while they were narrating what they had seen, they saw three men come out from the sepulchre, two of them raising up the one, and the crucified one following them (40) and the heads of the two reaching to heaven, but that of him who was being led out by the hand by them reaching beyond the heavens. 41. And they heard a voice out of the heavens crying, ‘Have you preached to those who sleep?’, 42. and from the crucified one there was heard the answer, ‘Yes.’ 1 Peter 3:8-20 Revised Standard Version (RSV) Suffering for Doing Right 8 Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love of the brethren, a tender heart and a humble mind. 9 Do not return evil for evil or reviling for reviling; but on the contrary bless, for to this you have been called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For “He that would love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile; 11 let him turn away from evil and do right; let him seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those that do evil.”
13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is right? 14 But even if you do suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence; 16 and keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are abused, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing right, if that should be God’s will, than for doing wrong. 18 For Christ also died[a] for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit; 19 in which he went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. Luke 9:21-22 21 – Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. 22 And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” Luke 9:43-45 43 – While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples, 44 “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.” 45 But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it. Luke 18:31-33 31 – Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. 32 He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; 33 they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.”
This past Sunday was as we all should know, 'Palm Sunday', and of course one is nearly entirely obligated to preach over the 'Triumphant Entry' of Christ into Jerusalem. Those gathered that day fully expect and are ready to hear once again the story of Christ parading into the Holy City in full confrontation of the powers that would be... and thus I chose not to disappoint. However, my sermon concerning Jesus riding in on a young colt took a turn that I suspect few of those gathered had ever heard or even were aware of. My sermon focused upon the last verse of the chosen text, verse 40: 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out. "The stones would shout out"... I suspect that most of us 'modern day' Christians hear this verse and believe that what Jesus is getting at is that he has the power to make inanimate objects come to life and that they would then proclaim him to be the Messiah. But, I'm fairly certain that this is not at all what Jesus meant nor how a first century Jew would have understood this verse. One of our biggest weaknesses in being so far removed from the scriptures both culturally and geographically is that we don't know and thus miss much of the subtleties and complexities of Scripture. In this story, Jesus has just entered or is just about to enter Jerusalem, he has come down the Mount of Olives and passed by what was already in his time the oldest and largest cemetery in the area of Jerusalem. At the time of Jesus, this cemetery had already been in use for over 1,000 years (it's still in use today) and was therefore ancient. It's also the place where those Jews that believed in the resurrection of the dead believed that the general resurrection would begin. These stones were placed as a witness to these faithful souls buried there... these souls that hoped... believed... that they would be witness to the very beginning of the coming of the Messiah. These are the stones that Jesus is invoking as a witness to his coming into Jerusalem. Below please find the verses over which I preached and the supporting verses that I had prepared for the sermon. I didn't end up using all of them, I tend to have verses ready and then see where the spirit leads me in my sermon. They are provided for your use and or contemplation. There is also a link to information about the cemetery by the Mount of Olives for your information as well. Please take a few moments and give the sermon a listen, thank you for swinging through this little blog and as always... Be a blessing to someone today! In His Glory & Grace, Roy
Luke 19:28-40 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem 28 After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’” 32 So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 They said, “The Lord needs it.” 35 Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!”
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.” Jewish Cemetery - Mount of Olives
Luke 19:11-27 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) The Parable of the Ten Pounds 11 As they were listening to this, he went on to tell a parable, because he was near Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. 12 So he said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to get royal power for himself and then return. 13 He summoned ten of his slaves, and gave them ten pounds,[a] and said to them, ‘Do business with these until I come back.’ 14 But the citizens of his country hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to rule over us.’ 15 When he returned, having received royal power, he ordered these slaves, to whom he had given the money, to be summoned so that he might find out what they had gained by trading. 16 The first came forward and said, ‘Lord, your pound has made ten more pounds.’ 17 He said to him, ‘Well done, good slave! Because you have been trustworthy in a very small thing, take charge of ten cities.’ 18 Then the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your pound has made five pounds.’ 19 He said to him, ‘And you, rule over five cities.’ 20 Then the other came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your pound. I wrapped it up in a piece of cloth, 21 for I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man; you take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 He said to him, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked slave! You knew, did you, that I was a harsh man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then did you not put my money into the bank? Then when I returned, I could have collected it with interest.’ 24 He said to the bystanders, ‘Take the pound from him and give it to the one who has ten pounds.’ 25 (And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten pounds!’) 26 ‘I tell you, to all those who have, more will be given; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 27 But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and slaughter them in my presence.’” Genesis 31:44-51 Revised Standard Version (RSV) 44 Come now, let us make a covenant, you and I; and let it be a witness between you and me.” 45 So Jacob took a stone, and set it up as a pillar. 46 And Jacob said to his kinsmen, “Gather stones,” and they took stones, and made a heap; and they ate there by the heap. 47 Laban called it Je′gar-sahadu′tha:[a] but Jacob called it Galeed. (heap & witness) 48 Laban said, “This heap is a witness between you and me today.” Therefore he named it Galeed, 49 and the pillar[c] Mizpah,[d] for he said, “The Lord watch between you and me, when we are absent one from the other. 50 If you ill-treat my daughters, or if you take wives besides my daughters, although no man is with us, remember, God is witness between you and me.” 51 Then Laban said to Jacob, “See this heap and the pillar, which I have set between you and me. Matthew 27:52-53 New King James Version (NKJV) 52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 1 Peter 2:1-6 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) The Living Stone and a Chosen People 2 Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, and all guile, insincerity, envy, and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. 4 Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and 5 like living stones, let yourselves be built[a]into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in scripture: “See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious; and whoever believes in him[b] will not be put to shame.” Luke 19:41-48 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem 41 As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it, 42 saying, “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 Indeed, the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up ramparts around you and surround you, and hem you in on every side. 44 They will crush you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave within you one stone upon another; because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.”[a] Jesus Cleanses the Temple 45 Then he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling things there; 46 and he said, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer’; but you have made it a den of robbers.” 47 Every day he was teaching in the temple. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people kept looking for a way to kill him; 48 but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were spellbound by what they heard. Zechariah 9:9 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) The Coming Ruler of God’s People 9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Last Thursday night we were once again in the book (letter) called Philippians, in Chapter 2 and verses 1 through 13 to be exact. Philippians is often called Paul's 'letter of joy'. Paul here lays out four things which we need to strive for in order to be of the 'same mind' as Christ. 1. Willing to Sacrifice 2. Willing to Serve 3. Willing to Submit 4. Willing to Suffer All four of these blend together, of course, but Paul lays these out in verses six through eight. Today in our self-centered world of Instagram and Twitter, each of us feels that we are the most important thing in God's Creation. Or... have we evolved to this state because we're convinced that we simply don't matter and thus are trying desperately to over-compensate? I don't explore that avenue but it's one worth considering... perhaps another sermon on another day. Paul implores us to be united and of the same mind as Christ. It saddens me to think what Paul (and Christ of course) would think of the broken and shattered mess we've made of the body of Christ. We can do better... sad to say though that it is, in my opinion, those who profess to be striving for unity that are busy breaking the Body and subverting the will of God... but, that too is another sermon for another day... Be a blessing to someone today! In Christ, Roy
Philippians 2:1-13 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Imitating Christ’s Humility 2 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. 5 Let the same mind be in you that was[a] in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 8 he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Shining as Lights in the World 12 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Footnotes:
Last Sunday's sermon was a warning against being a 'rationalizing Judas'. All too often, we allow our egos to get in the way of doing God's will, and often the weapon we use to counter God's will is to 'rationalize'. Judas argument that 'this money could have been given to the poor' sounds valid... it sounds good... but, it stands counter to the message that God gives us through Mary's sacrifice. Mary gives up much more than the cost of the perfume, listen to the sermon and see what she gives up to display her faith and love for Christ. Be a blessing to someone today! In His Grace, Roy
John 12:1-11 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Mary Anoints Jesus 12 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 2 There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. 3 Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them[a] with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii[b] and the money given to the poor?” 6 (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it[c] so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. 8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” The Plot to Kill Lazarus 9 When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus. Footnotes: a) John 12:3 Gk his feet b) John 12:5 Three hundred denarii would be nearly a year’s wages for a laborer c) John 12:7 Gk lacks She bought it
Order of Service – Funeral for Joyce Hook - 4/9/19 Prelude: Entrance: All Please Rise Call to Worship: Psalm 95:1-7 New International Version (NIV) 1 Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. 3 For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. 4 In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. 5 The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. 6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; 7 for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Please be seated. Greeting: We have come together within the strengthening fellowship of friends and family: to praise God for the life of Jacklyn Joyce Hook; to share our grief with God and with one another; to reaffirm our faith in God's unfailing goodness; to hear again God's promise of resurrection; and to commend Joyce to God's everlasting care. Hymn: “The Old Rugged Cross”No. 548 Opening Prayer: Father of all mercies and God of all consolation, you pursue us with untiring love and dispel the shadow of death with the bright dawn of life. Give courage to this family in their loss and sorrow. Be their refuge and strength, O Lord, reassure them of your continuing love and lift them from the depths of grief into the peace and light of your presence. Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, by dying has destroyed our death, and by rising, restored our life. Your Holy Spirit, our comforter, speaks for us in groans too deep for words. Come alongside your people, remind them of your eternal presence and give them your comfort and strength. Amen A Reading from the Old Testament: Psalm 91 Assurance of God’s Protection 1 You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, 2 will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.” 3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence; 4 he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. 5 You will not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day, 6 or the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or the destruction that wastes at noonday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only look with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. 9 Because you have made the Lord your refuge, the Most High your dwelling place, 10 no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. 12 On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot. 14 Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name. 15 When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. 16 With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation. A Reading from the New Testament: Revelation 21. 1-7 RSV The New Heaven and the New Earth 21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband; 3 and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people,[a] and God himself will be with them;[b] 4 he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.” 5 And he who sat upon the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Also, he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty, I will give from the fountain of the water of life without payment. 7 He who conquers shall have this heritage, and I will be his God and he shall be my son. Hymn: Amazing GraceNo. 546 Message: Pastor Roy Karlen – Woodlawn Christian Church On the morning of April 6th, 2019, Jacklyn Joyce Hook left behind this world and entered into the Kingdom of our Lord and Savior. Joyce as she was known to everyone, was born and thereby blessed the lives of her father and mother Howard & Geraldine Burns on July 20, 1948. For many years she spent her summers here in Lake City, staying with her Grandfather & Grandmother Nelson. Joyce had a trying childhood with her mother passing away when she was a senior in High School. She graduated from Audubon High School in 1966 and studied Cosmetology at Stewart College in Des Moines. Joyce worked for Marlys Davis in Audubon as a hair stylist before moving to Lake View and working there as a stylist for Sandy Gross. Years later Joyce worked in Lake City doing stylist work with Lena Knight and also being a stylist at Shady Oaks Retirement Center. Joyce also did hair for Lampe Funeral Home for a number of years. During the time that she worked in Lake View, she met and then married in 1974 Ronnie Hook. Ronnie was a farmer and nine years her senior. Initially, the couple lived over the Bar in Lake View but soon they moved to Auburn. After Ronnie passed in 2002, Joyce moved once more and lived the remainder of her life in Lake City. Joyce was a constant and depended upon volunteer for the Capri Theater here in Lake City for fifteen years. The Capri will long miss her contributions, working the ticket counter, folding popcorn boxes, and just pitching in. She also worked as a volunteer for Hospice and made many pillows, blankets, and afghans. In fact, her family found two large bags filled with pillows that she had ready to give to the Hospice program, these pillows will be passed along to Unity Point Hospice as Joyce's final contribution to their ministry. When I asked Joyce's siblings for words to describe Joyce they said stubborn, quiet, and generous. She was always willing to help. They talked about how much Joyce enjoyed needlework, especially x-stitch, earlier I read the 91st Psalm, Keith Lampe has a x-stitch that Joyce made for him with one of the verses from that Psalm. They told me how much she enjoyed buying jewelry and that she was always watching the 'Jewelry Channel'... I never knew there was even such a thing. She liked music and listened to Conway Twitty, the Booth Brothers, and especially the group 'Higher Power'. Joyce loved to see them perform and the family tried to get 'Higher Power' to come and sing for Joyce's funeral and the group was sad to tell them that they were already committed today. Joyce was an avid reader, enjoying mysteries, and all types of books, she was at the local library twice a week to get a new book. Joyce would rather read than sleep and would often read into the wee hours of the morning. Joyce very much enjoyed cooking and made great divinity, pickled beets, and sour cream raisin pie. The family talked about how great the horseradish was that she made but that she hadn't made any after Ronnie passed away. She was the family 'Historian' working on genealogy and compiling stories about the family. She knew everyone's names, ages, and birthdays. She enjoyed playing cards and board games, she also enjoyed watching old westerns. Often when her Aunt Clarice O'Toole would have to be away from home she would go and sit with her Uncle Don. She enjoyed watching westerns with Don and she and Don had a lot of good visits. It seems Don was one person that could get Joyce to open up and not be so quiet. Don is a wonderful soul to visit with and they enjoyed each other's conversations. Years ago Don was one of the very few people Joyce's father Howard had ever talked to about what he endured in the War. As the family 'Historian', I am sure Joyce wanted to hear those stories passed on to her by her Uncle. In visiting with Don, Clarice, and Kathy yesterday, Don stated simply “I liked her”... and that summed it all up pretty well indeed. Joyce loved her family and visited all of her siblings, even traveling to Idaho to see her sister. She had friends in Lake View that she would go and meet for lunch every Monday without fail. Joyce loved going to Church and she was a member for many years of First Baptist Church here in Lake City and when the Baptist and the Disciples merged, she came here to Woodlawn and became part of our family. Even before she moved to Lake City, she would often attend Church with her Grandmother Nora Nelson at First Baptist Church. As I said Joyce loved her family and in her final days, her family rallied to her bedside to be with her. Her siblings sat with her for long, long hours. Other family members came to visit as well... Kathy told me that her son Eric and his family visited Joyce several times and that her daughter Laura had the last clear conversation with Joyce last Monday night. Laura came in and Joyce greeted her in a clear state of mind. In hindsight, it was the calm before the storm but Laura was always very close to Joyce and it was a great blessing that they were able to have a final conversation. Psalm 92:1-5 New Century Version (NCV) 1 It is good to praise you, Lord, to sing praises to God Most High. 2 It is good to tell of your love in the morning and of your loyalty at night. 3 It is good to praise you with the ten-stringed lyre and with the soft-sounding harp. 4 Lord, you have made me happy by what you have done; I will sing for joy about what your hands have done. 5 Lord, you have done such great things! How deep are your thoughts! On April 6th, our friend and loved one Joyce Hook, was born into the Kingdom of Heaven and looked not only into the faces of all of her loved ones that have gone on before her but into the very face of God the Father. Praise be to God... thank you, dear Lord, for giving us Joyce to know and to love on this earthly journey. Though we shall always miss her, we know that she is now with you in a place far, far beyond all of our imagining. Today Joyce walks those beautiful streets of Heaven and feels the unending love of her Creator all about her. Forgive us Lord as we mourn her passing and prepare our hearts for that day when we are all reunited together in Your Kingdom. Praise be to God. Hymn: “I'll Fly Away” - See Insert Closing Prayer: The family wishes for you all to join them in further celebration of Joyce's life and a time of shared remembrances and closure, by gathering with them for lunch in the Church's fellowship hall immediately following this service. After the lunch, those that wish to accompany the family to the interment at Oak-lawn Cemetery near Auburn are welcomed to do so. Let us please pray: God of life, and light, and hope... with Your whole Church in heaven... and on earth... we bring to You our thanks, we offer to You our praise... for all that You have done for humankind through Jesus who is the Christ. You sent Him, Your Son... to live and die for us. You showed Your plan for the world and proved that Your love has no limit, and on that first Easter when You raised Jesus from the dead You promised that all humankind might share His resurrection life. For the hope of our faith, for the good news of Your Kingdom, and for all those whom You have welcomed into Your loving presence, we thank You, gracious God... But especially now, we thank You for the life of Joyce whom we loved. We thank You for all the ways in which Joyce became special and precious to each of us who knew her; for the values and standards she set by her example and her life; for her sense of what was good and right and decent; for her warmth and humor and sense of family; for every life that she enriched and all that she invested of herself in our lives; for the faith by which she lived and in which she died. We thank you for the glorious treasury of memories that are ours to keep, to hold on to and to enjoy... for a life fulfilled, and for all that Joyce reflected of Your goodness and love. And now though we mourn... we also are glad... for we celebrate today that Joyce has found peace and will neither suffer nor mourn again... she has laid her burden down before You and is with You... safe, happy, whole, and welcomed by those for whom she once mourned. Help us to hold on to what we should... and to let go of what we must. Help us not to cling to the past constantly brooding for what might have been, but rather to take forward what she gave us for the rest of our lives’ journey. Help us to trust and to know that Joyce will never be far from us till that day when we all stand together in Your presence. O God, our Strength, and our Redeemer, Giver of life, and Conqueror of death, we open our hearts to You just as we are. We celebrate Your gift of life freely given but are grieved by a sense of loss in the face of death. The love which binds us to one another leaves us aching as ties are broken. Accept our tears as emblems of devotion, and transform them into waters of life to nourish us in the days ahead. We trust You. We love You. We know in Christ that Your love is everlasting. Nothing can separate any of us from Your abiding care. With You is eternal life. With confidence, we now entrust Joyce to Your unfailing love and overflowing goodness. Through the power that raised Christ from the dead to live eternally with You, lift up this, Your servant, to life fulfilled beyond our imagining. We give You but Your own, enfold her in Your everlasting arms, hold her for she is Your child. Now strengthen us, through the gift of Your Spirit, to face into the future with confidence that You stand with us. Grant that the changes of life may leave us stronger as we journey through life. Reassured of Your abiding presence, help us to knit more firmly the ties that bind us one to another. Renewed by Your love, help us to love in ever larger circles so as to embrace Your people everywhere till at last we are all united eternally through Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Benediction: Postlude:
Committal Service Selfishly, we as mortals wish to hold on to Joyce. It brings great pain to let her go. Living in the resurrection hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the trust of a loving God and in the promise of eternal life, we now commit her body to its place of rest. We will continue to mourn Joyce, but now her smile and laughter will warm the kingdom of God. We will continue to love Joyce, but God will now take care of her. We will continue to carry Joyce in our thoughts, but she will be kept safe in God's hands. Receive her in the arms of your mercy, O God, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of all your saints. Ecclesiastes 3 New International Version (NIV) A Time for Everything 3 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, 6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, 8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. 9 What do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. Hear these words from Jesus, taken from the 14th Chapter of John's Gospel: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house, there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, Would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, So that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going. I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while, the world will no longer see me, But you will see me; Because I live, you also will live. I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in my name, Will teach you everything, And remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” (John 14:1 – 4, 18 – 19, 25 – 27) Believing in the Resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, we know that now is the time for us to entrust Joyce to the care of Almighty God and we ask Our Father to open the doors to his mansion and lead Joyce to the room made ready just for her. As we now commit her body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, we commend her spirit to its new home. Rest eternal grant her, and let light perpetual shine upon her. God has blessed and enriched our lives in giving us Joyce to know and love here on this earth. Though our time together was not nearly enough, in committing her body to the earth, we give over to God the care of her spirit, and we acknowledge that we will one day reunite with her in God's Kingdom. The Lord bless her and keep her; the Lord make his face shine upon her and be gracious to her; the Lord look upon her with favor and give her peace. Let us now pray together the prayer that our Lord Jesus Christ taught us to pray... Our Father... This concludes our graveside service. May the Lord bless you and keep you, may His strong arms encircle you and uphold you in your hour of grief. God's peace and strength to you all. Amen
This past Thursday night we doubled over a bit of scripture that we discussed back a few weeks. We were once again in the letter to the Church in Philippi and to be exact Philippians 3:1-21. There really are two things that I hit upon in the sermon and that was first of all that all Ministers find themselves preaching a similar message over and over again. Somedays this feels not only tedious to those in the pews but, it is just as redundant for us standing in the Pulpit. Here though in these first few verses of the third chapter, Paul not only tells us to constantly rejoice in the Lord but that covering the same message(s) is actually necessary as a 'safeguard'. We, humans, have a notoriously short memory to go along with our easily interrupted attention spans... thus, repetition is vital. Even those of us in the lectern need to be reminded far too often of what we have gained in Christ and that as Paul tells us here everything else is rubbish. The second point was a point that I really needed to hear myself last week... and that was to press on. It would be really great if we could ever feel that this faith 'run' of ours (Paul uses references to athletics here) could ever be completed... but as long as we draw breath we are called to 'press' onwards. We get extremely tired when we are working to do God's work and it seems so many are working against us... even those who claim to follow Christ often seem to be doing their best to hog-tie or hamstring our efforts. This occurs in large and small ways and often the small ways are the most wearing...
I hope this blog post finds you all well and blessed, and remember... To be a blessing to someone today! In His Grace, Roy
Philippians 3:1-21 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) 3 Finally, my brothers and sisters,[a] rejoice[b] in the Lord. To write the same things to you is not troublesome to me, and for you it is a safeguard. 2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh![c] 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God[d] and boast in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh— 4 even though I, too, have reason for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. 8 More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ,[e] the righteousness from God based on faith. 10 I want to know Christ[f] and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, 11 if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Pressing toward the Goal 12 Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal;[g] but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Beloved,[h] I do not consider that I have made it my own;[i] but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly[j] call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you. 16 Only let us hold fast to what we have attained. 17 Brothers and sisters,[k] join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. 18 For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. 19 Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship[l] is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform the body of our humiliation[m] that it may be conformed to the body of his glory,[n] by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself. Footnotes: a) Philippians 3:1 Gk my brothers b) Philippians 3:1 Or farewell c) Philippians 3:2 Gk the mutilation d) Philippians 3:3 Other ancient authorities read worship God in spirit e) Philippians 3:9 Or through the faith of Christ f) Philippians 3:10 Gk him g) Philippians 3:12 Or have already been made perfect h) Philippians 3:13 Gk Brothers i) Philippians 3:13 Other ancient authorities read my own yet j) Philippians 3:14 Gk upward k) Philippians 3:17 Gk Brothers l) Philippians 3:20 Or commonwealth m) Philippians 3:21 Or our humble bodies n) Philippians 3:21 Or his glorious body
This past Sunday the Lectionary brought us to the Parable of the Prodigal Son. For quite a long time now this has been my favorite Parable, in probably my favorite Chapter, in my favorite Gospel. I have come to believe that it is impossible to really grasp the enormity of God's grace and desire for reconciliation apart from the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Please take a listen to the sermon and feel free to comment below. Be a blessing to someone today! In His Grace, Roy
Luke 15:1-32 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) The Parable of the Lost Sheep 15 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 So he told them this parable: 4 “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. The Parable of the Lost Coin 8 “Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The Parable of the Prodigal and His Brother 11 Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The 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. 13 A 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. 14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16 He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17 But 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! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ 20 So 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. 21 Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But 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. 23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for 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. 26 He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. 27 He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ 28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 29 But 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. 30 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ 31 Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But 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.’”
