Hi – today we are going to talk about patience and the good things we may notice if we are patient. I know it is realllllly hard to be patient sometimes – we want to interrupt when someone is talking because we just need to tell them something soo very exciting – or sometimes it is hard to wait for things – like birthdays or Christmas. But if we take a deep breath and wait………………. it will be worth it!
The story today is from a book that i have, but it has disappeared, so I’m using a recording of the story: it is called “OWL MOON” and i hope you will be patient to enjoy it to the end!. Dont forget your blanket and pillow.
todays activity is making bubbles. See how big a bubble you can make, and how small. How long before they pop, and how high can they float? Have fun.
gracious God, you know that we sometimes find that waiting is really hard. Forgive us when we are impatient. Help us remember that good things take time. Amen.
story for today, do you have your blanket and pillow? The story is called “How the Fawn Got its Spots, and it is from a book called Native Stories from KEEPERS OF THE ANIMALS.
the activity today is a finger path that takes us to the place where people work or live. As our finger arrives, stop, think about the person and say “God bless name. “ you can add other thoughts too, as you pray. End your prayer by saying Amen. ( that means.. may it be so)
Holy one, loving God, you bring peace to all creation by taking care of us. Help us to see your love and to be your peace in the world. When we feel like fighting, or when we feel, angry, help us to remember to be like you and help us stop, count to 10, (or 100) until our anger fizzles out, and then to act in love. Amen.
Welcome to VBS summer story time. Grab a blanket and a pillow and snuggle down for a story: Today we read the story PARTNERS, from the book “Does God Have a Big Toe?”
ACTIVITY to help us understand JOY – the activity bag should have some playdo. We heard the story about how God created the world, the universe, and that gave God a lot of Joy. Joy is that bubbly feeling inside that makes you smile, feel good, and feel content. Use the playdoh to create some things that look like things that make you joyful. Share them with the people around you and see what things give them bubbly contented joy.
Dear God, you created the world to bring you joy and we are part of that joy. Help us to share happiness, joy and contentedness with all the people we love. AMEN
Hi, Here is a funny story about LOVE: hope you like it. The story is “Mamma do you Love me?” can you guess where the little girl and her mamma live by looking at the picture?
get out your dancing shoes for this fun song: Our God is an Awesome God, He reigns from heaven above with wisdom, power and love, our God is an awesome God.
the activity about love is a colouring page about clothes and creatures in the Canadian Territories. Love is how we respect everyone, even when we are not the same. Our food and clothes might be different, but all people love to laugh and make new friends. Bring your coloured page to church sometime.
peace be with you as we prepare to walk with Jesus through the Holy days of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
Here are links for each mid-week service. They are always available through the pastors blog (www.sweetlutheran….ETC) and are also printed here for your convenience.
Maundy Thursday: 7:30pm Join in person at the Neustadt Community Centre or sign in to this zoom link:
this is from a daily mailing I receive and I share it with you this week. Check out her web page if you wish. Receive this gift today. Be blessed this week. Pastor Pam
Approaching a most sacred site in Jerusalem, we bow in prayer: Jesus, Remember me when you come into your kingdom. Jesus remember me, Amen
Today we make our final stop for this devotion series. We arrive at The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a holiest of holy Christian sites, revered as the site of the tomb and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The church was planned to enclose the site of both Golgotha and the nearby tomb where Jesus was laid.
We entered and our eyes adjusted from the bright sunlight to see a glowing mosaic in the dim light of the entrance. Slowly, we were wrapped in the golden highlights of a brilliant mosaic of our Lady of Sorrows.
As we contemplated the authenticity of the claim that the cross of Jesus was once in this spot, Bishop Pryce came up behind us and gently said “go and touch the place of the cross”.
In other words, we were there and he encouraged us to enter into the full experience. (Thank you Bishop!)
So we moved from the shimmering entrance, and stood in line, recalling the events of the day Jesus was crucified.
Place of Crucifixion
Inside the church is a rocky outcropping which marks the traditional place where the cross was placed. Archaeological excavations have demonstrated that this site was outside the city but close to one of its gates and thus would have been a used as a location for a crucifixion. Today this chapel is controlled by the Greek Orthodox Church.
When my turn came, I knelt at the altar, and reached out my hand placing it into the crevice beneath the altar where Jesus’ cross had stood. The terrible cruelty of Jesus’ crucifixion became very real at that moment: Christ died at the hands of cruel and oppressive powers. From this place he had prayed: Father forgive them. Oh my heart!
I stood and slowly moved away from the place of the cross, wandering the chapels and thinking, until I came to the huge wall of mosaics.
Join me in looking at these pieces of art.
This is the hall of mosaics. The anointing stone is also here – the place where Jesus’ body was laid for quick anointing before being placed in the tomb.
Mosaic image of anguished angels weeping at the cruelty in the world.
Jesus is taken down from the cross:
The words “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing” have been spoken. (Luke 23:34)
The words “It is finished” have been spoken to fulfill the scriptures. (John 19:30)
And the prayer “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit” has been cried. (Luke 23:46)
These mosaics are on an interior wall in front of the stone of anointing – the place where Jesus’ body was laid and quickly anointed as it was taken from the cross. That day in the Holy Sepulchre people were kneeling around the stone, praying and weeping. There was deep emotion reflecting the cries of vulnerable humanity heard across the ages.
Reflection:
Jesus was killed by the evil in the world. Jesus was not sent by God to be killed. Jesus took on human flesh to point humanity toward God, who is creator, and redeemer, loving us more than we can imagine – enough to forgive every nasty thing we do. This is the place where our lent journey leads us – to unconditional and all encompasing love.
Pause in your devotion now. Bow in prayer recalling power abuses seen in the world today. Pray Jesus’ prayer “Father, forgive them, (Father forgive me,) We don’t know what we are doing. Please release me from this burden of hatred and ego. Fill me with your love. Make me new and bring me to joyful thanksgiving that all people are forgiven through your grace. . Amen
Return to visit the Holy Sepulchre when you are able to spend time here. Peace be with you as we journey through Jesus’ life and death. May you be blessed as you prepare for the Holy Celebration and say the words: “Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again”, witnessing to what God is doing in our lives.
More about the Holy Sepelchre
One more Holy location in the Sepulchre is found in the largest part of the church. The Edicule, or shrine that encloses the tomb where Jesus was laid and from where he rose is protected by what looks like an elaborately decorated box – the size of a room within a room.
This structure preserves the location of Christ’s tomb. A clear history shows that this is the revered location of the tomb. When we visited, the Edicule was undergoing significant restoration, and as part of this work, the tomb was opened for the first time in centuries.
During that work, visitors were not able to access the Edicule, but as you can see from the photo of our group, people still crowded around to touch as near as they could, the spot where Jesus had been laid.
When Constantine converted the empire to Christianity, he had the church built over the spot and the Edicule constructed inside.
First century tomb
The best piece of evidence that the tomb of Jesus was in this area is the fact that other first-century tombs are still preserved inside the church. Called the “Tomb of Joseph of Arimathea,” these burial shafts (kokhim) are clearly from the time of Christ’s death and thus attest to some kind of burial ground in the area. Combined with the evidence from tradition, this church is most likely the true location of Christ’s death and burial. The picture below shows an empty tomb.
Stone of Anointing:
This significant religious artifact, also known as the Stone of Unction, is located within the church and is believed to be where Jesus’ body was anointed after being taken down from the cross.
Reflection and prayer:
Jesus was in the tomb for 3 days. As we observe the three Holy days, plan to carve some time for your own personal reflection.
Hold time to see how God fills open hands with the things we need – not material things, but things of God’s kingdom: Love, relationships, hope.
Reflect on the things which hold us prisoner and in fear – and turn them over to God so that our relationships and lives can be free from burdens of fear, control, and ego.
Remember our baptism promises, and God’s promise to be with us always. Hold this promise close to your heart.
Sit in contemplation regularly as Jesus did, going into nature and breathing in peace, God’s peace -which human minds cannot create on their own.
Most sincerely, give thanks to Jesus for opening the gateway to God’s presence, and his prayer pleading for God’s forgiveness for us all.
Form your prayer this day around these gifts of your Lenten journey.
Peace be with you until we gather together and cry “Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed.”
Lent is a Journey – from the wilderness to seeing how God touches our life.
A prayer for our journey: My Soul proclaims your greatness O Lord. We rejoice in your love for all people and creation. Be with us as we journey. Open our eyes and hearts to your presence in our life. Amen
Today we visit The Mount of Olives and sit under the ancient olive trees in the garden of Gethsemane.
My hope is to share with you the peace of this place where Jesus prayed, and yet, Jesus was deeply troubled that night. The world remains a place where people chose evil and greed, and seek power, acting without compassion.
I wish to share with you the care and time that it takes for Olive trees to grow, and produce the fine oil which Mary (no last name) used to honour and anoint Jesus. Judas criticised her action, but Jesus spoke to him. Perhaps that strengthened the resolve of Judas to harm Jesus. He later regretted that. The peace of God is pure. The peace of the world is fleeting.
The Mount of Olives is one of the oldest Biblical cultivations of olive groves, and some still remain in the Garden of Gethsemane. We were able to walk in the Garden.
Our tour leader arranged for us to spend an hour in the Garden of Gethsemane and we instinctively separated to walk alone. It seemed the right way to be there. Of course, the grounds are looked after very lovingly, and perhaps it looked different than when Jesus found retreat there. In this time, the peace of the space was perfect. It did not seem important to take pictures during our time there, so I only have a few. When I say or hear the words “The peace which passes understanding” I think of this place, and immediately my stress and anxiety lowers. That same feeling can be found in places closer to home too, especially if one’s mind holds the words of God’s peace. Where do you retreat when you need space to sit and just breathe?
These are a few of my photos from the garden- myself in the first one and Pastor Jason in the second.
Biblical references to the Mount of Olives:
Jesus shares a meal with his disciples. Bread and wine is offered as the body and blood of Jesus. They sing the Passover hymn and go out to the Mount of Olives. (Matthew 26:26-31)
Before he is betrayed, Jesus takes three disciples with him as he goes to pray, because he is so very anguished. The peaceful garden lulls the disciples to sleep. (Matthew 26:36-46). When we give our worries and burdens to God, we too are able to sleep.
The events of Jesus’ arrest occur at the Mount of Olives and are recorded in three of the Gospels: (Matthew 26; Mark 11-14; Luke 19-22;)
John records the account of the woman accused of Adultery as happening on the Mount of Olives – (John 8) a story where the law of society is used to shame those who are already vulnerable. We do that – when we say “those people” or “someone should…” suggesting that we know what should happen and are therefore superior. (“shame on them” is the unspoken message) The way of Christ is not to shame, but to lift up those who are vulnerable or weak.
The Olive branch is a symbol of peace.
Reflection question or thought: We seek peace in our life, we pray for peace and sometimes we do actually know the joy of living in peace. Too often, however, we find ourselves lacking in compassion, criticizing like Judas- taking the moral high ground, or being complacent about loving Jesus, maybe even falling asleep/taking Jesus for granted – just as the disciples did.
These traits hurt our heart when we think about them afterwards, and that is good. There is hope for us. These are the things that the refining fire of God will purify, and our true generous and loving soul will be returned to God: Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
Facing the truth about ourselves is hard. Facing the grace of God who loves, and forgives is hard too, it makes me weep because I deserve nothing. God forgives us and holds us in love.
Pause here with a prayer for God to create in us a clean heart and to renew a right spirit within us.
Return to this devotion when and if you have time. Read about olive trees, and the significant sites on the Mount of Olives.
More about the Mount of Olives
Olive Groves: One of the oldest Biblical olive groves that covered the mountain slopes of the Judean Mountains still exists today. An olive tree does not produce fruit until it is at least 5 years old, but then it can produce for thousands of years if properly pruned and cared for.
Fruit grows on new growth from the previous year, so pruning needs to protect those branches. The fruit ripens best on a tree that is pruned so “a bird can fly through the centre” – meaning that pruning allows the light to filter onto the fruit.
The trees are not able to survive cold temperatures, but the root system of an olive grove is very strong. Even after trees are cut down, sprouts come forth around the stump, and new trees grow.
The symbolism of the olive tree is ancient too – branches represent peace and abundance and are presented to deities and powerful people as signs of purification and blessing. The oil continues to be used in many religious ceremonies and is considered sacred. Olive production is a livelihood for many Palestinian families.
Church of All Nations
Jerusalem, Israel – APRIL 4, 2015: Church of All Nations, Church or Basilica of the Agony, Roman Catholic church
In addition to the Garden of Gethsemane, the Church of All Nations stands on the Mount of Olives. It is a Roman Catholic church located next to the Garden of Gethsemane. It is built over the rock Jesus is said to have prayed on in agony before he was betrayed by Judas. Often called the Church of Agony, it is built on the foundation of 2 earlier buildings: a 4th century Basilica and a 12th century Crusader chapel. The funds for the building came from 12 different countries, and the coat of arms of each country – including Canada- are displayed.
The Church encloses the rock of agony, seen in the picture below. The inscriptions above the columns at the front door are two scripture passages:
(Luke 22:43–44) “And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”
(Matthew 26:42b) “My Father, if this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”
The day we spent on the Mount of Olives ended with communion in a shaded area, reserved for our use. Sharing the bread and wine at the end of the day left us with profound gratitude for Jesus who met evil and death and conquered them. We went on our way, touched with deep faith for God’s promised redemption.
My prayer is for the love of Christ to live in us, changing the world and changing our lives. Amen
finding Grace in Surprising Ways 