Kairos & Ambiguities

525,600 Minutes

    I had an awesome opportunity last night to take our HIV/AIDS Support group to see the opening night of "Rent" at the Beaned Theater in Pittsburgh.  It was an awesome experience and a great opportunity to get to talk with one another about things.

    This trip was really a blessing as the tickets were donated by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.  Rent is in some ways very sad, yet it points to the human longing for community that must be based on love.  That's really the meaning of the lyrics of Seasons of Love.

"525,600 minutes, 525,600 ;moments so dear.

525,600 minutes--how do you measure, measure a year?

In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee.

in inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.

In 525,600 minutes--how do you measure a year in the life?

How about love? How about love?  How about love?  Measure in love.  Seasons of love."

    The community built by Angel is good, but it is finite.  When I see a film or play like Rent, I remember that the only real and lasting love (and therefore community) is in Jesus Christ.  I am thankful to be part of such a wonderful community.

Until next time...Grace & Peace

A Great Holy Weekend

    Just a wonderful blessed weekend for the Easter holiday.  Here are just a few of the things that happened.

1. Great Confirmation Retreat from Thursday to Friday
2. Cold and Raining Cross Walk through town (but as a parishioner said, better than being crucified and it makes you think about sacrifice)
3. Excellent Evening Good Friday service, I especially remember TJ using the whip for By His Stripes We Are Healed.
4. Was moved by watching the Passion of the Christ.
5. Great ride back from State College with Sara as she got in on the express bus at 12:30 a.m. on Saturday morning.
6. Fantastic Easter Egg Hunt (about 20 more children than last year!)
7. Wonderful Family meal together with Laura, Nate (her boy friend), Sara, Polly, & Robert!  Turkey to eat (but Sara has gone back to a vegetarian menu)
8. Incredible Easter Service with great music (Laura and Nate did a special piece as well), we had 416 voices raising their praise to the Risen Lord.
9. Ham for lunch and then rushing off to take Sara to the train in Lewistown. She forgot her drawing by Laura raced up Clearfield mountain to make a timely hand-off.
10. Got to watch "The Express" with Robert, just to get in the mood for football.

    I hope your Easter weekend was just as meaningful and enjoyable.  May God bless you in this Easter Season.

Until next time...Grace & Peace

Everyday

    I have been thinking about the Last Supper and Holy Communion.  One of the things that captures my imagination when I think about Holy Communion is that shortly after the first celebration, Communion has been celebrated somewhere in the world each and every day.

    I think about all the things that seemed so permanent that have passed away since then and it reminds me about the power of this simple thing done every day for 200 years.

1. Sacrificing to the god Zeus
2. The Roman Empire
3. Ephesus & Constantinople (or for that matter many other cities)
4. The Parthians, Goths, and a variety of others
5. The East India Company & Krupp Industries
6. Monarchy
7. Slavery

   You could probably name many more.  Yet everyday the bread and cup changes the world. Today is no different,  It simply reminds us of the power of the work of Jesus Christ.

Until next time...Grace & Peace

One for the Janitor

    Polly and Robert both got their report cards yesterday and made the honor roll.  Amy and I are very proud of the work that they are doing.

    One of Polly's big projects is in Earth Science.  She is doing a science project and decided to gather bacteria samples from different places in the church.  One of the surprising results for her was how little bacteria was in the restrooms.  She had to modify her conclusions from her hypothesis.

    Where was the most bacteria?  The computer keyboard...I guess that is where all the dirty work is done.

Until next time...Grace & Peace

Preparing for Thursday

    Tonight we have our first practice for the Last Supper play that we do as a church on Thursday.  Pastor John Bullock is in the role of Jesus and I play Simon the Zealot.  Amy says I just wanted that role because I wanted an excuse to buy a sword.  We don't often think of  the disciples of Jesus carrying swords, but a few of them did.  Your really never know when a good sword might come in handy.

    One of the things I am looking forward to this year is that Robert will be playing a role.  I think it will be fun to share this experience together.  I have often thought of Jesus as a youth group leader as I have always imagined the disciples to be younger than portrayed in Leonardo's painting.  Robert doesn't get to carry a sword as he plays the role of James.  I have always thought of James and John as more like soldiers in the field artillery (ten years for me around cannons in the Army), because they didn' t necessarily want to mess around with swords, but went straight to the heavy fire power (Luke 9:54 When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?")

I pray your Holy Week preparations are going well.

Until next time...Grace & Peace

Catata & Palm Sunday

    We are celebrating Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem today.  It is one of my favorite Sundays.  I love to watch the kids parade around the church with their palm branches.

    This morning we are doing our cantata.  It is a great piece that is written very well by Pepper Choplin, Come, Touch the Robe.  I know that many lives will be touched and I am honored to sing with such a good choir.

    May you have a blessed Palm Sunday and a wonderful Holy Week.

Until next time...Grace & Peace

24 Hours Before Holy Week

We are preparing for our 24 hour prayer vigil at the church.  It runs from 5:00 p.m. Friday until 5:00 p.m. on Saturday.  We have been gathering prayer requests for the last month and the prayer room is all prepared.  We are ready to go.

This has been a very special time for me and for the church to get ready for Holy Week.  We have security at night and coffee and donuts after the prayer time.  We have captains for each hour who have recruited others to pray with them.  We had about 150 participate last year.

Here are a couple of reasons to have a prayer vigil:

1. Allow time to stop and spend with God
2. Prepare heart for Holy Week
3. Joy of prayer for others in the church and knowing that your requests are being prayed for.
4. The fellowship of kindred minds
5. A refreshed heart.

Many first time participants are amazed that the hour goes by so quickly.  Many veterans sign up for two hours. 

My prayer for you is that your walk with Jesus might be closer and you have a wonderful Holy Week experience.

Until next time...Grace & Peace

New Gear

    I have to sport some new gear on my right wrist.  I was goofing around with the youth during our lock-in last Friday night and dinged up my wrist pretty bad.  Manage to keep from breaking it, but I have a pretty bad sprain.  I will be wearing this brace for a week or so at least.

    I tried to go without it for the Sunday Service, but I forgot about shaking hands.  If it feels this way next Sunday I will have to wear the brace.  It is amazing what pride makes us do.

    So I hope you are dodging the balls better in your life than I am in mind.  But remember in all things Christ walks with us.

Until next time...Grace & Peace

Lent & Ashes Coming to an End

    Lent is quickly coming to an end and it will soon be time to take the ashes off the altar. As I have written before I used the money I received from helping a friend David Frantz move away from Pennsylvania and ministry in the United Methodist Church.  As I remember these folks again, I remember that each left for different reasons, but I again give thanks for what they have done for us here in Western Pennsylvania and pray that as they work for the Kingdom in other places and in other positions they may be blessed.

1999    David Frantz

1999    Mary Catherine Haldeman (she received the cloak for my ordination class)

2003    David Lee

2003    Joe Wilcher

2004    Jay Tennies

2004    Niel Leftwich

2004    Clark Kerr

2004    Chris Heckert

2005    Cristen Decious

2005    Gary Shockley

2005    Jack Roble

2005    Randy Roda

2006    Martha Orphe

2006    Vivian Waltz

2006    Douglas Heagy

2006    Rich Nulph

2006    Ron Geisler

2007    Tim Emmett

2007    Jeff Greenway

2008    Paulo de Silva

2008     John Shaver

2008    Maria Baugh Barontini

2008    F. Jayne Verner

2008    Paul Wilson

2008    Lee Moore

2008    Keith Cutshall

May God bless them where ever they are are working and living, they are missed.

Until next time...Grace and Peace

On the Road Again

    I am on the road again today to take the Confirmation Class up to Coudersport for the Passion Play.  As we are getting closer to Easter and as Lent winds down I tend to think more and more about the meaning of the suffering of Jesus on the cross. 

    One of the items that has kept me busy the past couple of weeks was what I would call a tragedy.  Two elderly members of my church were stabbed by their son.  This has certainly been an event that can only be described as tragedy and I often find myself in tears as I pray for the family.  But again and again I am confronted by the faith of this couple and mercy of God.

    Here are just a couple of observations I have made:

• God doesn't ever leave us...even in a dark time.
• Jesus suffers with as well as for us.
• There is faith beyond reason as well as hope beyond despair.
• Some healings will have to wait until the next life
• Angels are watching over us.
• Demonic voices prey on our weaknesses
• Nothing can separate us from God's love in Christ Jesus.

    As you pray for this family, know that God is working.

Until next time...Grace and Peace