|
BIRTHDAYS
3/20 Zach Herman
3/21 Julia Albanese
SUNDAY READINGS
Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Psalm 22:1-11
Philippians 2:5-11
John 11:18-44
|
March 13, 2008
From the Rector's Desk - Penitence
We are now just days from the entry to Jerusalem and Holy Week, which will bring us in time to the end of Lent and the arrival of Christ’s glorious resurrection. The last weeks have been a time of preparation—of drawing near to the Lord and preparing to walk Holy Week with him. We’ve prayed, fasted, given to others, taken on spiritual disciplines and longed to find Spring, both spiritual and climatological. One hallmark of Lent that remains for us to consider in these weekly reflections is penitence-- a word that, along with penance, is taken from ‘repentance’, a call for us to express sorrow for our sin and a desire and willingness to turn from it. The picture of repentance in the New Testament is a complete turnaround—a change of direction. It involves confession, a change of heart and action, and a desire to live according to God’s call. It cannot be done without humility, the power of the Holy Spirit, and where possible, undoing the wrong caused to others.
Jesus, and John the Baptist before him, began his ministry with a call to repentance—a call to turn and follow (Matthew 4:17). And one of the most powerful pictures of repentance in the scriptures is the parable of the lost son, in Luke 15. This son repents after humility finds him in his state of starvation and poverty after squandering his part of the family fortune. Returning home he begs to be received as a servant, or slave, but his father only rejoices that his son has returned and fully reinstates him.
There is a rather strange website I recently discovered that allows visitors to anonymously offer their confessions to the seven ‘deadly’ sins. This site, www.penance.us, provides a ‘safe’ forum for getting things off one’s chest, and then, presumably, to move on. The idea is attractive on some levels, but it misses the point of true repentance that calls for us to live out our lives in vulnerable community, and to acknowledge the impact that our sin has on others. Attempts like this website strike me as ways to push down the feelings of pain and guilt that accompany our distance from God, but on our own terms.
Penance is ultimately God’s action through us, or it is nothing more than trying to reach God by our own power. Tim Keller highlights this by distinguishing between repentance of ‘religion’ and true Godly transformation: “In religion, the purpose of repentance is basically to keep God happy so he will continue to bless you and answer your prayers. That means that ‘religious’ repentance is a) selfish, b) self-righteous and c) bitter all the way to the bottom. But in the gospel the purpose of repentance is to repeatedly tap into the joy of our union with Christ in order to weaken our need to do anything contrary to God’s heart.” (taken from Tim Keller's essay "All of Life is Repentance")
Lent provides a refresher course in the whole area of penitence—of a desire to be forgiven and to live in the way God is calling us forward. It’s something we come to know well for the rest of our lives if we are to be filled with joy, peace, patience, etc.…..(you may have heard this list before). This is especially true as we prepare to enter Holy Week and witness the suffering and death of Christ—a suffering that he endured for us. It’s why I wanted to save this subject until my last Lenten reflection, because it is tied so closely to the events of Holy Week and the image of the cross. Repentance (penance, penitence) requires us to recall the pain of sin that Christ suffered on our behalf, and in response turn from that sin, knowing that its power was broken in the resurrection. This discipline is lived out in our community through Holy Week worship that calls us to confess, wash each other’s feet, take up our own cross to follow the steps of Christ’s suffering, and to celebrate in his victory. I embrace this journey with you in the days ahead.
Blessings and peace,
Jay+
The Rev. Jay L. Greener, Rector
Church of the Redeemer
frjay@redeemernorthshore.org
Holy Week
Holy Week is a powerful journey that will shape our faith as we enter in and follow in the footsteps of Jesus. For people new to the cycle of the church year and liturgy itself it’s hard to understand how vital this time can be, without actually experiencing it. As a friend of mine relates it: “The Agony and Ecstasy of Palm Sunday, the prayer of Holy Monday and Tuesday, the amazement at the betrayal on Spy Wednesday, the grace of the new commandment on Maundy Thursday, the fasting, exhaustion and sadness with Christ’s crucifixion and entombment on Good Friday, the eager expectation and silence on Holy Saturday, and the sheer splendour, joy, brightness, wonder and feasting with the first proclamation, “Christ is Risen!” as the Sun arises from Saturday to Sunday.) I remember one year when our children were young that our family actually got a hotel room close to church so we could participate in as much as possible.
Whatever you are able or choose to live into this year in Holy Week worship, I hope you sense its value as a journey—a journey in which we are all changed through sacred encounter. God created us to experience him in a way that involves all of our being, and the march from Christ’s entry to the city to the empty tomb captures us through sight, sound, taste, emotion and more. Children, especially those who are school age, can grasp much more than we sometimes think they can, especially in the participatory services of Holy Week. Share with them something of the story of Jesus’ last week before your family comes to worship, and they will be able to grasp much at their level.
Remember that this is not a dusty memory, but a present moment, and I call all of us to enter in, as we are able. May God truly bless our experience of him throughout next week.—Jay
To find daily readings for Holy Week, click on the following link: http://www.textweek.com/
Holy Week Schedule
Sunday March 16
10 a.m. Palm Sunday/ Passion Sunday
Wednesday, March 19
12 noon Eucharist/healing prayer
7 p.m. Prayer service for "Spy Wednesday"
Thursday, March 20
7:30 p.m. Maundy Thursday service
Friday, March 21
12:00 p.m. Stations of the Cross
7:30 p.m. Good Friday
Sunday, March 23
10 a.m. Resurrection Sunday
All services will be at Redeemer Lutheran, except for those on Wednesday, which will be at the Evangelical Church in Highland Park. Nursery Care is available for the Sunday services, for Maundy Thursday and for Good Friday Evening.
Rwanda Benefit
This year will be the 10th annual banquet to benefit Sonrise School in Rwanda. Plan now to join this special celebration on April 26th at 6:30 at the Renaissance Hotel in Northbrook. Again this year Bishop John Rucyahana will be our special guest. Invitations will go out shortly, and a limited quantity of additional invitations will be available for you to pick up. Begin to invite others to join for this special night and important cause.
A Taste of Rwanda
 Friday, March 28th will be a unique opportunity to reach out to the community with a taste of Rwanda through coffee. The Church of the Redeemer is sponsoring free coffee from Rwanda to be available at Newport Coffee Shop in Bannockburn, from 7-9pm (Waukegan and Half Day Road). Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee Company’s Robert Crowe will be on hand to offer expert 'tastings' and to tell the story of reconciliation through Rwandan coffee. There will also be live music and other coffee related treats available. Invite some friends and drop in. “Drink a cup and do good.”
Meals of Mercy
Church of the Redeemer offers a ministry of meals to families who have had a new baby, have a family member in the hospital, or are going through difficult times. If you are available to help provide and/or deliver these meals please contact Julie Battaglia at (847) 480-1152 or at (224) 595-1152 to add your name to the list. When we hear of someone in need, we will contact you to coordinate the meals.
Redeemer Youth Ministries
April 18th - 20th - Jr. High retreat!!!
The detail are in and you should be getting that information in the mail very soon!
Purpose of the weekend: Spiritual Rejuvenation, growth, and a ton of fun.
Where: Chula Vista Resorts in the Wisconsin Dells.
What to bring:
- Friends
- Bible, journal, Pen,
- Pillow and sleeping bag.
- Normal clothes for 2 days
- Towel, Personal hygiene items
- Water Sports Equipment
- $15 for meals while traveling
- Swimsuit (One-piece only, please)
Cost: $125 - Turn in the Registration that you'll be receiving in the mail.
Return: Sunday by 5:00 pm.
Partial Scholarships Available!
Prayer Notes. . .
- for the Mission and Vision and Outreach of Church of the Redeemer
- for our Rector, Fr. Jay, and his family
- for our staff and their families
- for the Vestry meeting next Tuesday
- for Holy Week and our walk with God
- for those recovering from surgery--Bill Ekvall and Chris Marchand
- for those in need in body, mind and spirit
- for us to arrive at the Resurrection in joy and celebration
|
