March Newsletter Article & More Reflections

I've attached below my Newsletter Article for the March Newsletter.  We've had a very interesting last couple of months with our weather and I'm certain we are all praying that it will just stop SNOWING... and being COLD!  As we look at the week ahead it doesn't look like we're going to have any warm weather at all and there appears to again be a chance for snow and ice by weeks end.

But just as we know that spring is right around the corner, we know that this week, this Wednesday, the Lenten season kicks off and the hope, grace, and resurrection of our Lord is right around the corner.  Praise be to God!

Be a blessing to someone today!

In His Grace,
Roy

Pastor's Ponderings

If you aren't getting tired of winter yet, well... you're definitely in the minority here in the Midwest. It has been a winter to remember thus far with far too much snow and cold for most of our liking. We've had a number of cancellations of the Thursday night service, Sunday night service, and unfortunately Sunday morning as well. As I type this it's still snowing outside and hopefully, it will stop sometime this afternoon so we can clean the walks again as far as total snowfall, this one looks to be one of our largest of the season. Plus, they're predicting more snow for the weekend... you've gotta love the Midwest in winter. I know we've thanked Clyde before for his efforts on snow removal but we sure better keep lifting him up because he's a very vital part of our ability to function here after each snow storm. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Clyde!

The Concert Committee has set the date for the Concert as July 27th starting at 5:30 pm and plans are under-work to make this our best year yet. There will be a few changes and we're bouncing around some new ideas. At this writing we have booked two acts already, the 'Headliner' will be Jill Miller who performed for us last year as our second act. This year she will bring her entire band and will put on a great show. Everyone loved her last year when she performed an acoustic set and we're excited to hear her with her full band! Our second act will be Lisa Larsen a/k/a as 'High Heel', Lisa has been performing for nearly 30 years and is mostly known in the secular scene but she's recently taken on a more Christian focused performance. She will be bringing an unknown number of band members with her as she told me she has several friends and family members in the industry that want to come with her just to do our Concert. Lisa has a great deal of energy and I think you're all going to love her, she has a great testimony about her faith and she promised to share it with us all. Lisa has a wonderful voice and in fact, I had barely gotten the video of her singing started when Kathy Holm exclaimed: “she's good, hire her!” If Kathy says she's good well that says it all in my opinion! As I type this we're still working on booking an opening act but, I don't think you'll be disappointed with the opening act either. Please start telling everyone to make plans to come to this year's “Son Celebration” on July 27th right here at Woodlawn!

As I've been working on this article, I have received notice that Roxy Crandall has fallen again and unfortunately, she has now broken both bones in her lower leg. To make matters worse, this is the opposite leg from the bone she broke earlier in the year. Scott and Roxy are as I type headed to Des Moines where Roxy will be having surgery. As you all know this will take a long time for her to heal and we need to make/keep Roxy as a regular part of our daily prayers.

Tomorrow will be our February Soup Supper and I want to thank Kim Anderson for all her hard work on this event. I also want to thank all those who've pitched in and helped with all the other aspects of this important fundraiser. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. Hopefully, the weather won't be a hindrance and we will have had a great turnout.
March 6th begins the 'Lent' season for us in 2019 and that evening we will have our Annual Ash Wednesday Service at 7 pm. We're getting a late start on the Easter Season this year but that's okay, maybe that will ensure that we'll have better weather for the Cross Raising and the Easter Egg Hunt... maybe, it will even be warm enough to have Sunrise Service out by the Cross this year! Please pray for that! Make plans to come and kick off the Lent season by attending the Ash Wednesday Service.

Lent begins, of course, the most Holy time of our Christian year and there can be no better time to implement a new practice of prayer or a daily time for Bible reading or reading a devotional. Think about adding something new to your daily faith journey!

As always... be a blessing to someone today!


In Christ, Pastor Roy

The Woman at the Well, sermon given March 19th, 2017

The Gospel selection from the Lectionary this last Sunday was the story of the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well.  This encounter with Christ is a story that nearly all Christians are well acquainted with.  But, there's an aspect of the story that likely isn't the way you've ever considered it before.

Jesus reveals to the woman His knowledge that she's been married to five husbands and that the man she is with now is not her husband.  This aspect of her life is often pointed out as to why she is at the well in the heat of the day.  In my sermon, however, I point to another meaning or rather message from the "five husbands".  The Assyrians conquered the Northern Kingdom which would then become known as Samaria and relocated a portion of the population.  They then brought in five different groups from different regions, cultures, and religions.  The area known as Samaria, therefore, had five different religions besides the Samaritan religion.  These five religions are represented by the five husbands and the one not married is the Hebrew religion.  The Samaritans worshiped the first five books of the Torah, that section known as the Pentateuch.  Because the Samaritans had not embraced the whole of the Torah, Jesus refers to this as not being married.  The point is that Christ, the one often called the "bridegroom" is here offering the Samaritan woman as a symbol of all Samaria, a new chance to realize the fullness of God.  

In the sermon, I elaborate upon the division between the Jews and the Samaritans, and it is an incredible witness of grace that here a Jewish Rabbi extends to Samaria the gift of salvation and that here this woman of Samaria accepts this gift. Both sides had plenty of reasons to despise the other, if nothing else it's a testimony to the incredible and profound grace that God has for us all.  

The sermon is linked below, it's a bit longer than most of my sermons, but I think it's a pretty fair sermon and worth a listen. I can say that Gail even told me it was a good sermon, and she almost never tells me that! LOL  

Please take the time and give it a listen.  God bless!

Be a blessing to someone today!

In His Love and Care,

Roy

John 4:5-42  New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

5 So he came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon.

7 A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.)[a] 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?” 13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.”

16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come back.” 17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true!” 19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you[b] say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem.” 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I am he,[c] the one who is speaking to you.”

27 Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you want?” or, “Why are you speaking with her?” 28 Then the woman left her water jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, 29 “Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah,[d] can he?” 30 They left the city and were on their way to him.

31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, “Rabbi, eat something.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33 So the disciples said to one another, “Surely no one has brought him something to eat?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. 35 Do you not say, ‘Four months more, then comes the harvest’? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. 36 The reaper is already receiving[e] wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. 37 For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”

39 Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I have ever done.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his word. 42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world.”

Footnotes:

a) John 4:9 Other ancient authorities lack this sentence

b) John 4:20 The Greek word for you here and in verses 21 and 22 is plural

c) John 4:26 Gk I am

d) John 4:29 Or the Christ

e) John 4:36 Or 35 . . . the fields are already ripe for harvesting. The reaper is receiving

Sermon March 5th, 2017 "The Temptation"

Photo by Christian Begeman, find his work at
https://www.facebook.com/prairiesanctuaries/

This past Sunday the Lectionary Scripture from the Gospel was Matthew 4:1-11.  Which is the very well known story of the 'Temptation of Christ in the Wilderness'.  This story is found in all three Synoptic Gospels, though the story in Mark is much, much condensed from what we have in Matthew or Luke. It would appear that Mark had one source for this story and that Matthew and Luke had an additional source (most likely the enigmatic 'Q' source), available to them in the construction of their Gospels.

I did of course address in the sermon the 'temptation' portion of the scripture, though I will confess a temptation towards eliminating that aspect entirely. The part of the story that we tend to gloss over is the 40 days of preparation and fasting prior to the temptation.  This timeline of '40' whether it be days or years pops up throughout scripture.

- Noah and his family endured 40 days and nights on the ark before God made a covenant with them.
- Moses fasted on Mt. Sinai for 40 days and nights as he inscribed the words of God's the words of God's covenant for the Israelite's.
- Elijah fasted in the desert for 40 days and nights before receiving a new commission from God.
- 40 is the number of years the Israelite's wandered in the wilderness in preparation for their arrival in the promised land.
- (This is only a partial list, there are more of course)

And 40 is the number of days (not counting Sundays) of Lent that we are to spend in preparation for Easter Sunday and the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus.

All too often, we humans want to fill-fill-fill... for us, being busy and going constantly is a sign of the importance of the work we are doing, and this contributes directly to our own sense of self-worth.  But the 40 days of fasting in the wilderness that Christ performed (and which is the example we are intended to follow during this Lenten season), was a time of emptying and not a time of filling.  It was a time of reflection and prayer, a time of pouring out what He had been up until that time, in order to be completely filled with the Spirit that had come down to Him at the baptism by John.

Let us try and spend as much time as we can during this Lenten observance emptying ourselves... letting go of what we would be, in order to take in and become... what He would have us be.

Be a blessing to someone today!

In His grace, glory and care,
Roy

Matthew 4:1-11  New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The Temptation of Jesus
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. 3 The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,

‘One does not live by bread alone,
    but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written,

‘He will command his angels concerning you,’
    and ‘On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’”
7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; 9 and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written,

‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’”

11 Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

Photo by Christian Begeman, see more of his amazing work at:
https://www.facebook.com/prairiesanctuaries/

The 3rd Sunday of Lent, 2016 - Woodlawn Christian Church, Lake City, IA

Last Sunday the Scripture that I selected to preach over from the Lectionary was Isaiah Chapter 55.  The 55th Chapter of Isaiah is believed to have been written during the last years of the Exile Period in Babylon. The Persians have come in and conquered Babylon and Cyrus the Great has told the Israelites that they are free to return to Israel.  Here in Chapter 55 we find God using the Prophet to call His people back home.

The Israelites didn't return immediately and they didn't all in fact return at all.  Many (perhaps even most) of them remained behind in Babylon.  We have to wonder why in the world they would have decided to remain in exile when they were free to go back home.  Well, we need to realize that they had been in Babylon for nearly sixty years at this point.  By far the majority of the Israeli people living in exile at the time Cryus gave permission for them to return to Jerusalem had been born in Babylon and had never seen Israel. Most likely, a great many of them were even the second generation born in exile.  The people had adopted a culture while in exile and their religion had been vastly influenced by the Zoroastrian religion, the Judaism that came home from Babylon wasn't the same Judaism that went into exile.

So, some of these people no doubt were hesitant to go home, their whole world, their whole understanding of life is there in Babylon.  Certainly, they had been told stories for their entire life about 'back home', but to them it was an idyllic story.  It's one thing to dream of going to ones homeland, it's another to suddenly be able to go, especially when going means tearing up everything you've ever known in your lifetime.

To return to Israel or not, was no doubt for many of these people a traumatic decision, a horribly difficult decision.  In light of this, God calls to his prophet that wrote these words in the second portion of Isaiah, these wonderful words of calling, words of reassurance and comfort.

If you've ever strayed from the church, perhaps then you can understand these peoples hesitation.  It's much easier to stay where we 'know' and where we are 'known'.  We can't completely grasp this entire uprooting of our lives for most of us who come back to belief still live in our same communities and still retain our same friends, but we do have to turn our backs on certain aspects of our lives.  Many of these activities have become routine and comfortable, but if we're going to come home, we have to abandon these involvements.

For us believers, we can see a parallel with the Prophet in that we are called to be God's voice here on earth, His voice calling to his lost children to return home.  There's an old saying that "your life might be the only Bible that some people will ever read", well we have to know that all of us will at sometime or another be called upon to be God's voice calling to one of His lost children.

Let us ever be alert for this calling, when God calls to us to speak on His behalf and invite His lost back home.  In this time of the most holy season of Christianity, this time coming up to Easter, what better time is there for us to invite someone who has never been to church, or who may have wandered away from God, to come to church and worship with us.

Bringing someone home to church is certainly being a blessing to them.

Be a blessing to someone today! (Invite them to church!)

In His Joy, Love & Grace,

Roy 

Isaiah 55 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

An Invitation to Abundant Life

55:1 Ho, everyone who thirsts,

    come to the waters;

and you that have no money,

    come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

    without money and without price.

2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,

    and your labor for that which does not satisfy?

Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,

    and delight yourselves in rich food.

3 Incline your ear, and come to me;

    listen, so that you may live.

I will make with you an everlasting covenant,

    my steadfast, sure love for David.

4 See, I made him a witness to the peoples,

    a leader and commander for the peoples.

5 See, you shall call nations that you do not know,

    and nations that do not know you shall run to you,

because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel,

    for he has glorified you.

6 Seek the Lord while he may be found,

    call upon him while he is near;

7 let the wicked forsake their way,

    and the unrighteous their thoughts;

let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them,

    and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

    nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

    so are my ways higher than your ways

    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,

    and do not return there until they have watered the earth,

making it bring forth and sprout,

    giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;

    it shall not return to me empty,

but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,

    and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

12 For you shall go out in joy,

    and be led back in peace;

the mountains and the hills before you

    shall burst into song,

    and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;

    instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;

and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial,

    for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

2nd Sunday of Lent - February 21, 2016

This past Sunday (Feb 21st) I chose to use the passages from Genesis as dictated by the Lectionary.  (I plan to use the Lectionary throughout the Lenten season)  The sermon focused on Abram's faith (it isn't as rock solid as Paul would like us to believe), the covenant, and the theophany (manifestation of God) that we see in this bit of scripture.

I thought it was a pretty fair sermon and it's not terribly long so give it a listen.  The very beginning of the sermon was missed but it was just a bit of history about Genesis and scholarly thinking about the text.  The ending prayer is separate as my videographer stopped the recording when I ended the sermon and had to restart when I started the prayer.

I pray this brief post finds you all well and blessed!

In His Grace & Love,

Roy

Genesis 15  New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

God’s Covenant with Abram

15 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2 But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”[a] 3 And Abram said, “You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.” 4 But the word of the Lord came to him, “This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.” 5 He brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” 6 And he believed the Lord; and the Lord[b] reckoned it to him as righteousness.

7 Then he said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess.” 8 But he said, “O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?” 9 He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 He brought him all these and cut them in two, laying each half over against the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. 11 And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.

12 As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a deep and terrifying darkness descended upon him. 13 Then the Lord[c] said to Abram, “Know this for certain, that your offspring shall be aliens in a land that is not theirs, and shall be slaves there, and they shall be oppressed for four hundred years; 14 but I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. 15 As for yourself, you shall go to your ancestors in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. 16 And they shall come back here in the fourth generation; for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”

17 When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, 19 the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”

The First Sunday of Lent - February 14, 2016

This past Sunday was the First Sunday of Lent for 2016.  Unfortunately, the video didn't turn out well at all so I've decided to not upload the video to YouTube, nor use it on the blog.  So instead, I'll just touch a bit on what I felt were the highlights of the sermon.

First, here is the scripture that we explored on Sunday.

Luke 4:1-13 New Revised Standard Version
The Temptation of Jesus
4:1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” 4 Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’”

5 Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 Jesus answered him, “It is written,

‘Worship the Lord your God,
    and serve only him.’”
9 Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written,

‘He will command his angels concerning you,
    to protect you,’
11 and

‘On their hands they will bear you up,
    so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’”
12 Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 13 When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.

The first temptation that Christ is subjected to in the story from Luke is to turn stone to bread in order to feed his bodily needs.  The irony here is of course that Christ is so very, very well known for his feeding miracles and table fellowship; why now is he so reluctant to perform a miracle to feed himself?

In the Gospel of Matthew in the Fourth Chapter we find Christ elaborating upon his statement about bread.  In Luke he states only that 'man does not live by bread alone', but in Matthew he adds 'but on every word that comes from the mouth of God'.  Christ is not in the wilderness to perform some physical cleansing, rather he is in the wilderness for spiritual reasons.  His focus during this time is not on feeding himself physically with bread, but rather to grow from a closer relationship with his God enhanced by the focus that is acquired through the discipline of fasting.

The thing we need to bear in mind is that none of these three temptations are actually out of line.  The first is a feeding issue, again Christ is very well known (and we need to emulate him as best we can) for his feeding miracles and table fellowship; it's a simple fact that it's nearly impossible to talk to someone about spiritual needs until you've addressed their physical needs and often emotional needs as well.  The temptation of turning the stones to bread is that he is in the process of fasting to prepare himself for his upcoming ministry. To turn the stones to bread would be an entirely self serving act and he is preparing to set off on an entirely selfless ministry for God. Now is not the time for feeding miracles, now is the time for self reflection, prayer, fasting and spiritual growth.  That is why in Matthew's Gospel Christ goes on to state 'but on every word that comes from the mouth of God', alone in the wilderness he has bigger things afoot than his simply earthly needs, this is simply not the time nor the place for feeding miracles.

The second temptation is the gifting of all creation to Christ if he bows down and worships Satan.  The irony here is that Satan cannot offer Christ what is not already to be his once he has descended from the cross.  Here again, we see an element of timing.  In all good time God will hand to Christ His Kingdom here on earth, a Kingdom that I personally believe is here and now and not something to come on some later date.  But, here Satan tries to offer a shortcut, an easy way out, Jesus is having nothing to do with it, he knows that all good comes in God's time and in God's timing.  We simply cannot rush God's time schedule, no matter how impatient or selfish we may be.

The third temptation is offered by Satan in the form of a quote from the 91st Psalm, to which Jesus quickly points out this misuse of scripture.  To throw himself from the Temple in the hope that Angels would attend to him would be a public display of his Messiah-ship ahead of the God determined time schedule.  Once again, we have a element of timing.  Jesus understands the temptation to strike out on our own and to try and short cut the things that need to be accomplished, to try and avoid the lessons that need to be learned along the way.  All things, in God's time and not our own.  Soon enough, the world will recognize Jesus as the Christ, but not here at this juncture in the wilderness.

One of the things that springs to mind upon reflection upon Jesus and his time alone in the wilderness is why does he the son of God need to spend time in spiritual preparation, prayer and fasting?  Shouldn't he be ready and rearing to go?  Well, the answer to this is that we need to remember that Jesus was fully human.  In order to be fully human, he had to be in the position of needing to learn.  He simply couldn't be in a state of 'all knowing' or he wouldn't be human, and we know that he wasn't in this state of 'all knowing', when he remarks that 'only the Father knows' when asked about the timing of the end times.  Another place where we see Christ's need for learning and spiritual growth is found in the book of Hebrews.  

Here we read:  Hebrews 4:14-16 New International Version (NIV)

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

He can empathize with all our weaknesses because he has experienced them in a fully human capacity.  Christ understands what we endure because he has learned what it is like to be human. A being that is 'all powerful' cannot understand what it is like to be a weak and pitiful human being without having walked in that being's sandals so to say.

Thankfully, we worship a God who saw fit to come to earth and experience first hand what it was like to be imperfect and flawed just as we are.  A God whose grace extends to all because He knows intimately just how much we need (though undeservingly) His grace and mercy (not to mention love).

One final thought, whereas Jesus wrestled with Satan in the wilderness, we need to bear in mind that all too often the Satan we combat is our own selfish and impatient human nature.  We can learn much that we can apply to our own lives if we look at the Satan in this Gospel story as being our selfish human condition.  Certainly, this aspect of our nature fills this role of Satan very, very well.  I am often fond of reminding others that if we want to see Satan, all we need to do is look in the mirror... if you're honest you'll see him lurking there. I'm thoroughly convinced that it's this 'adversary' in the mirror that we need to be the most concerned about on a day by day basis.  Never, ever give into the temptation that the vision in the mirror holds forth... all good comes from God and in God's perfect timing.

Remember to be a blessing to someone today!

In His Mercy & Grace!
Roy

Woodlawn Christian Church, Lake City, Iowa

Ash Wednesday Service at Woodlawn Christian Church Feb 10, 2016

Well, Wednesday night we had our 'Ash Wednesday' service like so many others all across the globe.  This was I believe the third year that Woodlawn Christian has had an Ash Wednesday service.  With the last two conducted by Interim Ministers, and this one being the first time that a settled Pastor had conducted the service.  Like many other protestant churches, it hasn't long been a part of our history here in Lake City.  I was asked if we were going to have a service and I gave it a great deal of consideration and ultimately, felt guided to have this service.  In hindsight I am very grateful for the direction towards conducting the service.  I felt that it was very meaningful to all that attended and honestly, we had a better turn out than I expected.

I've included the entire script of the service below.  My goal was to script a 30 minute service and we ended up at almost 30 minutes on the nose, running only seconds past the half hour mark.  It marked (a small pun) the first time I've conducted an Ash Wednesday service and I was very well pleased with what I was able to craft.  Hopefully, next year we'll come up with a program that is equally well received.

Be a blessing to someone today!

In His constant and unending Grace & Love,
Roy

Ash Wednesday Service February 10, 2016 at Woodlawn Christian Church

Welcome and announcements:

Call to Worship:
Even now, the Holy One says, return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
rend your hearts and not your clothing.
Return to the Lord, your God, who is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love,
and relents from punishing.

Hymn:  Lord Who Throughout These Forty Days           No. 180 All

Prayer:
Almighty and everlasting God,
you hate nothing that you have made
and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent.
Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that,
lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness,
we may receive from you, the God of all mercy,
perfect forgiveness and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Statement of Purpose:
Friends in Christ, we begin today a forty-day journey toward Easter.
We enter the Lenten season to prepare ourselves to welcome
the risen Christ with lives renewed by the breath of his spirit.
We assume a discipline of self-examination,
confession, and penitence.
We dedicate ourselves to meditate upon the scriptures
and to converse with God in prayer.
We seek to be more faithful disciples of Christ
whose lives are shaped by the one
whom we confess to be Lord and Savior of the world.
To this end let us worship God.

Hymn:  Gather Us In                 No. 284 All

First Scripture Reading:  Isaiah 58: 1-12
Isaiah 58:1-12  New International Version (NIV)

1 “Shout it aloud, do not hold back.
    Raise your voice like a trumpet.
Declare to my people their rebellion
    and to the descendants of Jacob their sins.
2 For day after day they seek me out;
    they seem eager to know my ways,
as if they were a nation that does what is right
    and has not forsaken the commands of its God.
They ask me for just decisions
    and seem eager for God to come near them.
3 ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say,
    ‘and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled ourselves,
    and you have not noticed?’
“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please
    and exploit all your workers.
4 Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,
    and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
    and expect your voice to be heard on high.
5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
    only a day for people to humble themselves?
Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed
    and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
    a day acceptable to the Lord?
6 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
    and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
    and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
    and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
    and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
    and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness[a] will go before you,
    and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
9 Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
    you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
    with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
    and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
    and your night will become like the noonday.
11 The Lord will guide you always;
    he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
    and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
    like a spring whose waters never fail.
12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
    and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
    Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

Second Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:20 – 6:10
2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10 New International Version (NIV)

Chapter 5:
20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Chapter 6;
1 As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For he says,

“In the time of my favor I heard you,
    and in the day of salvation I helped you.”
I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

Sermon:  What is Ash Wednesday
What is Ash Wednesday? For most of my life,  along, with I believe most Protestant Christians in America, I didn’t give Ash Wednesday a second thought.  It was a day when you'd notice the Catholics, the Episcopalians and maybe a few other 'high church' protestants having a smudged cross upon their foreheads.  It wasn't a day that we ever went to Church.

But then, in 2004, something happened and Ash Wednesday gained attention in American Protestant consciousness. Why? Because on that day Mel Gibson released what was to become his epic blockbuster, “The Passion of the Christ”.  Suddenly, “Ash Wednesday” appeared on the radar screen of all types of Christians, not just Catholics and other “high church” Protestants, as all types of Christians awaited the release of “The Passion of the Christ”.  Since 2004, many who never wondered about Ash Wednesday have been asking: What is Ash Wednesday? How do we observe it? Why should we observe it?

Ash Wednesday is a Christian Holy Day, it is not commanded by Scripture but rather is simply a Christian Tradition.  In this regard it is just like Easter and Christmas, neither of which is commanded by Scripture either.  

Nevertheless, it has been honored by Christians for well over a thousand years, falling at the beginning of Lent, a six-week season of preparation for Easter.   Lent totals 46 days in all with 40 days dedicated to fasting as Christ did in the wilderness and 6 Sundays which are not fasting days as they are as always a symbol of the resurrection. Ash Wednesday's origins are tied to its history and the time of year during which it occurs. It follows the season of Epiphany, which culminates with Shrove Tuesday, also known as Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday. The solemn proceedings that occur on Ash Wednesday bring the focus back to the sacrifice of Christ and the mission of the Church. The observance most likely comes from the biblical Day of Atonement. In Leviticus 16, the Lord establishes an annual day of repentance for the Israelites as a lasting ordinance for all their generations. Since the blood of Jesus represents atonement, the heart of Ash Wednesday is a humbling of oneself often through fasting and prayer.  Though not many Protestants go the route of actual fasting, I have known more and more that give something up for Lent.  Generally, this is something that has perhaps taken on too important of a role in their lives, or something that they particularly enjoy such as chocolate or even coffee.  This 'sacrifice' is meant to serve to focus their attention on the sacrifice committed and the love that our Savior has for each of us.

In the earliest centuries, Christians who had been stuck in persistent sin had ashes sprinkled on their bodies as a sign of repentance, even as Job repented “in dust and ashes” (Job 42:6). Around the tenth century, believers began to signify their need for repentance by having ashes placed on their foreheads in the shape of a cross.

Today, celebrations of Ash Wednesday vary among churches that recognize this holiday. More and more Protestant churches hold some sort of Ash Wednesday services; such as we here at Woodlawn Christian are doing today.  Ashes are placed on the foreheads of worshipers as a reminder of our mortality and sinfulness. The person imposing the ashes often quotes what God said to Adam after he had sinned: “You are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Gen 3:19). This is the bad news of our sinfulness that prepares us to receive the good news of forgiveness in Christ.

As I stated earlier, there is no Biblical commandment that requires us to observe Ash Wednesday.  The theological core of Ash Wednesday is, however, shaped by a biblical theology of creation, sin, mortality, death, grace, and salvation. It also enacts biblical injunctions to “weep with those who weep” and to “confess your sins to one another.”

Ash Wednesday worship services are the chance for us all to openly acknowledge our frailty and sinfulness. In a world that often expects us to be perfect, Ash Wednesday gives us an opportunity to freely confess our imperfections. We can let down our pretenses and be truly honest with each other about who we are.  All here bear the mark of sin, we all stand guilty before our God. We all are mortal and will someday experience bodily death. 

The denial of death . . . it’s all around us. When people die, they are often alone, sequestered in hospitals far away from the sad eyes of friends and family. If someone happens to die at home, the corpse is quickly sent away from the grieving relatives. In polite society, one doesn’t talk much about death. Death and grieving are uncomfortable topics for us today.

Of course our own fears concerning our own demise match our cultural squeamishness about death. We don’t want to think about our own mortality, and we do many things to pretend that its not approaching. We dye our graying hair. We cover our age spots with make up. We get cosmetic surgery to preserve the image of youth. Rarely do we seriously think about our own death.

Ash Wednesday is a day to stare death in the face, to acknowledge our mortality. All of us will die. Christians who observe this holiday get ashes “imposed” on their foreheads, while a minister says, “You are dust, and to dust you shall return” In other words, “You are going to die. And here are some ashes to remind you, just in case you’ve forgotten.”

What gives us such freedom to think about death? Are we Christians morose? Do we have some peculiar fascination with dying? I don’t think so. Rather, what allows us to stare death in the face is the assurance of life, real life, eternal life. When we know our lives are safe in the hands of God, and that this physical life is just the beginning of eternity, then we’re free to be honest about what lies ahead for us. We can face death without fear or pretending, because we know the One who defeated death.

And so it is for Christians on Ash Wednesday. We can face death. We can admit our own mortality. We can talk openly about the limits of this life. Why? Because we know that through Christ we have entered into life eternal, the fullness of life that will not end when our bodies give out.

The emotional result of Ash Wednesday observance isn’t depression or gloom, but gratitude and new energy for living. When we realize how desperately we need God, and how God is faithful far beyond our desperation, we can’t help but offering our lives to him in fresh gratitude. And when we recognize that life doesn’t go on forever, then we find new passion to delight in the gifts of each and every day, and to take none of them for granted.

How grateful I am for the grace of God that allows us to stare death in the face so we can live with greater passion and delight! And how thankful I am for a day that allows me to think about death so I can cherish life even more!

The Sign of the Ashes:
From ancient times Christians have on this day
searched their hearts and sought to be cleansed from sin.
They have sought reconciliation with God and with one another.
They have received ashes marked on their foreheads
as a sign of sin's disfigurement and of their own mortality.

Prayer over the Ashes:
Almighty God, you have created us out of the dust of the earth,
may these ashes be to us a sign of our mortality and penitence,
so that we may remember that only by your gracious gift
are we given everlasting life;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen

Imposition of Ashes:  (congregation will proceed up the center aisle and exit  down the outer aisles)

Act of Penitence and Reconciliation:
In fear, but also in hope, we come together with ashes on our heads.
People turn to each other for food and strength only to be shoved away.  
Each day we sin against God, yet pretend that we are good.  Let us take forty 
days to look hard at our so called goodness and see what it covers up.  
Then, we will join together in taking up the cross of living in the world as it is, working to be Christ's hands and feet in this world.  Join me in prayer by responding to each spoken petition with the words; “Hear our Prayers, O God.”  
Let us pray:

Leader: That as Disciples of Christ we might start using our hands, feet, money, time, and energy for the good of the poor, let us pray to the God of mercy.
People: Hear our prayers, O God.
Leader: That citizens everywhere may realize that care for their neighbor consists of more than the mere giving of money, let us pray to the God of mercy.
People: Hear our prayers, O God.
Leader: For the needy, that they may not have to remain despondent and alone, let us pray to the God of mercy.
People: Hear our prayers, O God.
Leader: For all of us here that we may be honest enough to admit what we are
selfish about, and what we can do to remedy our lack of love, let us pray to the God of mercy.
People: Hear our prayers, O God.
Leader: For those who share Christ's charity towards sinners, let us pray to the God of mercy.
People: Hear our prayers, O God.
Leader: Merciful God, the ashes are our pledge to take up the cross of life.  We came from the earth and we will go back to it.  In the meantime, beginning these forty days, we will try to live here and make it a better home for everybody.  Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.

The Declaration of God's Mercy:
Hear the good news of God's reconciling love toward all, and believe;
Through Christ God chose to reconcile the whole universe, making peace
through the shedding of Christ's blood upon the cross – to reconcile all things, whether on earth or in heaven, through Christ alone.

Passing of the Peace:

Hymn:   Amazing Grace   No. 546  All

Benediction:
May the Lord bless you and keep you;
may He let his face shine down upon you, and grant you all His peace.
Amen.

Parting Hymn: God Be With You Til We Meet Again  No. 434  v. 1