Ministry

Praying Through Lent in an almost Post-Pandemic Season

Lent 4

This week we reflect on words from Numbers 21: 4-9

4 From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way. 5 The people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food.” 6 Then the Lord sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord to take away the serpents from us.” So, Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.” 9 So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.

Dr. Elizabeth quotes:

“By this time in Lent, the romance of reflective contemplation is definitely over!  To make it to the end is going to take a bit of grit and grind, and a heaping dose of self-honesty”. 

Dr. Elizabeth continues “Do I really want to be the more “Gospel-centered” disciple of Jesus that promised God I’d try to be, back when the ashes were marked on my forehead?  Is the price too high?  Is the effort worth it to the world – let alone me? Does it make a difference in the grand scheme of things, or is it so much spiritual self-indulgence?”

“There is a paradox in the Christian journey that means we have to heft the weight of a cross, and travel further than the point of exhaustion before we discover that the burden is as light as grace, and the journey has brought us to a place of healing.” 


Prayer

Covenant keeper God,
We don’t want to see the fall out of our fearful small-heartedness.
We’d rather keep hidden from our eyes all the poisonous ways we inflict venom, our privilege, our sense of superiority, our selfishness, upon too much of the rest of the world.
Today you’re going to ask us to take a good look at our own folly.
You’re going to make us hold it up against the clear blue sky, like a snake on a stick.
But not to convict or condemn us, or shame us, but to heal us.
Amen

 
In peace, I share this fear and this healing journey with you.

Pastor Beryl, DLM

Praying Through Lent in a Pandemic Season, 3

This week, we continue with thoughts on Micha 6: 8 paraphrased:

“What does our God require of us? To seek justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God.”

Dr. Elizabeth focuses this week on faith and the public economy:

“The life of a Christian is to be lived in the public, and that includes the political sphere, especially since our economy has largely been taken over by an oligarchy of wealth that skews all social relationships and that readily leaves behind those it judges to be dispensable.  And yet, there are still many who hold to a (thoroughly non-biblical) conviction that faith or piety is private.  What does a pastoral preacher have to do to help the privately pious claim for themselves the courage of the social gospel?”

Prayer:

God of freedom and justice,
the call to live your dream keeps getting us into political hot water;
Are you sure you want us to kick up a fuss when justice is denied to those deemed to be dispensable?
Oh, never mind.  We know the answer.
“Yes” you say.
So, then, help us, please,
with the gift of courage to put our mouths and bodies
where your heart is.

Amen

 

In peace, I share both this question ands this journey with you.

Pastor Beryl, DLM

Praying Through Lent in a Pandemic Season, 2

[This year, as part of my own Lenten Journey, I am following the writings of Dr. Elisabeth R. Jones, the Minister at Cedar Park United Church in Pointe Claire.  For each day of Lent 2021, during the time we were observing stricter Covid-19 rules, Dr. Elisabeth chose a daily reading, followed by a prayerful reflection.

This Lenten Season, 2022, restrictions are easing but reflection continues to be a part of our Lenten devotions. Each Friday, I will share with you the reading Dr. Elisabeth chose and the prayer she offered for deeper consideration. I sincerely hope you will enjoy them as much as I am.]

This week, we continue with thoughts on Genesis 15.

Dr. Elizabeth asked the question:

Despite the fact that things appear to be returning to a more normal state (for the moment) - “How many times, in the past two and a half years, have we heard the call from public health officials, premiers, leaders, to ‘hang on’, to ‘wait’ and to keep on with the privations and restrictions that will ultimately lead the world back to fulness of life and health?  Aren’t we getting a bit tired, a bit cynical?”

Right on cue comes this wonderful story of Abraham calling God out on the truth of God’s promise! (It’s in Genesis 15: 3) God says “hey Abe, one day you will father an entire nation, trust me!” and Abraham responds, bluntly, “I don’t believe you!”

Thank you, Abraham, for saying what so many feel, and don’t dare to say.

God’s response was to paint the sky with stars so numberless, so bright, so awesome – one of those heaven/earth mystical moments, when the temporariness of current troubles shrinks down to their right size in comparison to the vastness of the universe and its Maker.

This uncertain stage in Covid too shall pass.  Abraham found out.  We will too.

Prayer:

Covenant keeper God   you make a lot of promises.
Forgive us when we behave as if you don’t, or that you have forgotten,
or that you might not be able to keep them.

 It takes more faith than we can muster sometimes,
to trust that you have not broken faith with us,
to trust that you are good for your Word.

When our faith falters or forgets, come alongside once more,
call us by name, and remind us that we are your people,
and you are, and will be, our God, not matter what, no matter how long.

Amen

This Sunday, on leaving worship, our blessing will be:

May love shape its own eternal ritual in you;
may covenant hone its own home in you;
may stardust reveal the ancient promise in you;
and may the God of that love, that covenant and that stardust,
show you the gift you are to the world. Amen.

In peace, I share this journey with you.

Pastor Beryl, DLM

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