Saturday, November 15
Koinonia, Day 2. It starts at 9am. WOW! I could sense the presence of God’s spirit in the room. Sitting at the back table I could watch the different tables with the participants and how they we responding to the talks and the conversations at the table. I was also moved by being part of the prayer team that went into our small chapel to pray for each speaker before and after their talks. The music was outstanding, and again, often I felt tears on my checks as I could worship God in this very powerful way.
The talks were wonderful and right on target. Then came the evening where we gathered in chapel to worship and then provide an opportunity for those who wished it to come to a healing team for prayers for healing. I was asked to be with my friend, Pete on one team. Those who came to us for prayer moved me deeply. I wanted to take away their tiredness, their pain and hurts, but I know that’s God’s job, not mine. My role is to vocalize God’s concern for them and to join my prayers with God’s for the relief of their pains and hurts.
Fr Doug decided to end the day with an informal “rite III” Eucharist. In this setting, besides being the “deacon of the mass” I could also worship.
Following the service I talked with one of the participants who I have been praying for and talking with for a while. This person was “slain in the spirit” at one of the healing station. This person didn’t realize what had hit them in that healing session. I called over another member of the healing team to help explain the experience. It moved me deeply to see God’s action so powerfully in this person.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Koinonia, Day 1
Friday, November 14, 2010
Koinonia started today. There are around 25 participants. I was moved by the stories many of them told in their introductions of themselves. The music lead By Scott Gardner and included my friend Ron Kohl, Jeremy Rudacille, Jeff Hartnett (Fr. John Hartnett’s son) with Dan Lemley on drums and joined by Michele Rudacille on flute was very moving. It felt wonderful to be singing what is often called “praise music” in community again. Of course any kind of music that praises and give glory to God, even if it was written thousands of years ago, can be considered “Praise Music.”
I am anxious for Saturday to hear the talks, to sing and to talk with people, as they encounter God in this new and special way.
Koinonia started today. There are around 25 participants. I was moved by the stories many of them told in their introductions of themselves. The music lead By Scott Gardner and included my friend Ron Kohl, Jeremy Rudacille, Jeff Hartnett (Fr. John Hartnett’s son) with Dan Lemley on drums and joined by Michele Rudacille on flute was very moving. It felt wonderful to be singing what is often called “praise music” in community again. Of course any kind of music that praises and give glory to God, even if it was written thousands of years ago, can be considered “Praise Music.”
I am anxious for Saturday to hear the talks, to sing and to talk with people, as they encounter God in this new and special way.
The Prodical Son
Thursday, November 11
The gospel reading for today was from Luke’s re-telling of the parable of the “Prodigal Son.” In Kairos we learned that there was a better name for this story that Jesus told, and it would be the “parable of the Loving Father.” As I read it at Morning Prayer, my eyes filled with tears because the images that aroused in me reminded me of persons I know living today, and even countries like my own. How far many of us have strayed squandering the wealth of the land and people that God has graciously given to those who came before us and to our own generation. Our current economic crisis felt in many ways around the world, mostly in sovereign debt, and here in the USA with the housing bubble, foreclosures, liar loans, the raise in employment, and the resulting personal bankruptcies. Have we reached the point that we are willing to say “We will go back to our Father and tell him that we have sinned against him and heaven and are no longer worthy to be called his children?” For the sake of political correctness we removed prayer from schools, took down your ten commandments from many public buildings, spread a gospel of profit only without ethics and morality, that there was no longer a need for God in our society. We have misused your creation that you put us in charge of. We have not taken care of our brothers and sisters here at home and around the world, who are hungry, thirsty, strangers, naked, sick and in prison. We had a chance through the Millennium Development Goals, but we spent our resources on wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We spent our children’s and grandchildren’s money (through increased debt) on what we perceive to be our needs of today.
We know how the original parable ends in the gospel, because the Father seeing his returning son, far off in the distance ran out to him, and rejoiced that his son had returned to him, brought him back home and declared a celebration. The key to this parable is humility, followed by repentance and then finally forgiveness. It’s a story about God’s grace, unearned and undeserved that is always there if we chose to live into the divinity that he has offered us through Jesus Christ. It’s not too late for us to go home. It begins when we recognize that we have not been living in God’s favor, not because he has not given it to us, but because we have chosen not to accept it and live by it. I pray that we may wake up soon like the prodigal son, and realize how far we have gone from being in relationship with our Creating, Redeeming and Sanctifying God. It’s time to accept God’s favor towards us, and live into that high calling that he has given us, at whatever the cost. I can only make that decision for myself, but I will start on the road back home. Is there anyone who wants to join me?
The gospel reading for today was from Luke’s re-telling of the parable of the “Prodigal Son.” In Kairos we learned that there was a better name for this story that Jesus told, and it would be the “parable of the Loving Father.” As I read it at Morning Prayer, my eyes filled with tears because the images that aroused in me reminded me of persons I know living today, and even countries like my own. How far many of us have strayed squandering the wealth of the land and people that God has graciously given to those who came before us and to our own generation. Our current economic crisis felt in many ways around the world, mostly in sovereign debt, and here in the USA with the housing bubble, foreclosures, liar loans, the raise in employment, and the resulting personal bankruptcies. Have we reached the point that we are willing to say “We will go back to our Father and tell him that we have sinned against him and heaven and are no longer worthy to be called his children?” For the sake of political correctness we removed prayer from schools, took down your ten commandments from many public buildings, spread a gospel of profit only without ethics and morality, that there was no longer a need for God in our society. We have misused your creation that you put us in charge of. We have not taken care of our brothers and sisters here at home and around the world, who are hungry, thirsty, strangers, naked, sick and in prison. We had a chance through the Millennium Development Goals, but we spent our resources on wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We spent our children’s and grandchildren’s money (through increased debt) on what we perceive to be our needs of today.
We know how the original parable ends in the gospel, because the Father seeing his returning son, far off in the distance ran out to him, and rejoiced that his son had returned to him, brought him back home and declared a celebration. The key to this parable is humility, followed by repentance and then finally forgiveness. It’s a story about God’s grace, unearned and undeserved that is always there if we chose to live into the divinity that he has offered us through Jesus Christ. It’s not too late for us to go home. It begins when we recognize that we have not been living in God’s favor, not because he has not given it to us, but because we have chosen not to accept it and live by it. I pray that we may wake up soon like the prodigal son, and realize how far we have gone from being in relationship with our Creating, Redeeming and Sanctifying God. It’s time to accept God’s favor towards us, and live into that high calling that he has given us, at whatever the cost. I can only make that decision for myself, but I will start on the road back home. Is there anyone who wants to join me?
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
God comes first
Tuesday November 9
Today’s gospel reading (Luke 14:25-35) is a difficult one for me. In it Jesus says “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple.” It’s one of those quotes from Jesus that I would just as soon pass over and forget, or excuse it as an error in translation. But I remember preaching on this same verse several months ago, and at that time I was inspired to point out that what Jesus was saying is that God has to be first in our lives, before mother, father, wife and children. Of course these relationships are very important, but they all derived their meaning from our relationship to God first. Where does our love and sacrifice come from that we experience with those around us. Isn’t Jesus the best example of agape love? As a disciple of Jesus, he provides the model for how I should be living my life. So, loving God comes first, and through that relationship the love I receive is then available to give to the others I encounter daily in my life.
“Love is the answer” . . .God’s love for us comes before anything else.
Today’s gospel reading (Luke 14:25-35) is a difficult one for me. In it Jesus says “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple.” It’s one of those quotes from Jesus that I would just as soon pass over and forget, or excuse it as an error in translation. But I remember preaching on this same verse several months ago, and at that time I was inspired to point out that what Jesus was saying is that God has to be first in our lives, before mother, father, wife and children. Of course these relationships are very important, but they all derived their meaning from our relationship to God first. Where does our love and sacrifice come from that we experience with those around us. Isn’t Jesus the best example of agape love? As a disciple of Jesus, he provides the model for how I should be living my life. So, loving God comes first, and through that relationship the love I receive is then available to give to the others I encounter daily in my life.
“Love is the answer” . . .God’s love for us comes before anything else.
A new beginning
Monday, November 8 2010
Beginnings: Fr. Doug and I have agreed to start a daily journal meant to be aware of God’s presence in our daily lives and to publish that journal on our blogs.
A note before I begin: As a vocational Deacon, my ordinations vows require me to “interpret to the Church the needs, concerns, and hopes of the world.” That is a pretty broad statement, but it provides a lens through which I view the ministry that God has called me to serve in. Consequently, I read Holy Scripture through that lens and I look for comparisons in our world today so that I may bring an interpretation of current events to the Church for awareness and possible action.
The daily office for today begins a series of Old Testament reading from the Book of Joel. We are not sure when Joel lived, or the date of authorship.
I have never read Joel seriously before, but this book records a description of a locus invasion, a call to repentance (for Judah), and salvation in the coming “Day of the Lord.” Today’s reading is the beginning of the book and a records a terrible invasion of locusts and the impacts on the farmers. Joel also states that It’s a call to wakeup to the destruction happening around them. As I read this, I immediate thought about the continuing destruction of our economy, the raising number of people who are losing their homes to foreclosures, the rising number of those who are being laid off from work and the increasing number on unemployment. How are we as Christian people supposed to respond to our brothers and sisters in these times of increasing need? How can we help others in our neighborhoods and communities? I would suggest that we have an opportunity, especially as we approach the holiday season, to provide assistance to those in need through Metropolitan Ministries, ECHO, Angel Tree, Meals on Wheels and other such programs. Joel has issued a “wake up” call to those around him. I am reminded that same “wake up” echoes down through the ages to us as well.
Blessings, Gary
Beginnings: Fr. Doug and I have agreed to start a daily journal meant to be aware of God’s presence in our daily lives and to publish that journal on our blogs.
A note before I begin: As a vocational Deacon, my ordinations vows require me to “interpret to the Church the needs, concerns, and hopes of the world.” That is a pretty broad statement, but it provides a lens through which I view the ministry that God has called me to serve in. Consequently, I read Holy Scripture through that lens and I look for comparisons in our world today so that I may bring an interpretation of current events to the Church for awareness and possible action.
The daily office for today begins a series of Old Testament reading from the Book of Joel. We are not sure when Joel lived, or the date of authorship.
I have never read Joel seriously before, but this book records a description of a locus invasion, a call to repentance (for Judah), and salvation in the coming “Day of the Lord.” Today’s reading is the beginning of the book and a records a terrible invasion of locusts and the impacts on the farmers. Joel also states that It’s a call to wakeup to the destruction happening around them. As I read this, I immediate thought about the continuing destruction of our economy, the raising number of people who are losing their homes to foreclosures, the rising number of those who are being laid off from work and the increasing number on unemployment. How are we as Christian people supposed to respond to our brothers and sisters in these times of increasing need? How can we help others in our neighborhoods and communities? I would suggest that we have an opportunity, especially as we approach the holiday season, to provide assistance to those in need through Metropolitan Ministries, ECHO, Angel Tree, Meals on Wheels and other such programs. Joel has issued a “wake up” call to those around him. I am reminded that same “wake up” echoes down through the ages to us as well.
Blessings, Gary
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