VBS July 23: gifts of the spirit: kindness and generosity

have fun with this song. It makes me laugh 😆

the Activity to help us learn kindness is COOKIE BAKING! Yummmm and I know it would be great to eat them up, but it’s even more fun to eat one and share the rest! Who will you share your cookies with?

God bless each of you as you continue growing up to be filled with the gifts of the spirit! Amen

VBS July 19: Fruits of the SPIRIT – PATIENCE

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.

VBS July 18: Fruits of the spirit- PEACE

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.

VBS July 17 GIFTS of the SPIRIT: The gift of JOY

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.

Joyful music: Rise and Shine and Give God the Glory Glory woohoo!!https://youtu.be/jnI0Lnd65bE?si=z3xUgLh4Y83TPOf9

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

VBS July 16: Gifts of the SPIRIT – LOVE

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.

Holy Week Live Stream Worship Links

Hello friends

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: 

Topic: Maundy Thursday
Time: Apr 17, 2025 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87214937912?pwd=ETjgxmtCX6hymR2ZTigXoMULZFRSuJ.1

Meeting ID: 872 1493 7912
Passcode: 130869

Good Friday, 10AM worship at St Matthew’s  Lutheran Church Mildmay  – join in person or through this zoom link: 

Topic: Good Friday worship
Time: Apr 18, 2025 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88445570930?pwd=aCXKAUeL8hAatY3Farxr2YRaaVZZJB.1

Meeting ID: 884 4557 0930
Passcode: 895939

The Easter Sunday link remains as previously published in the newsletter -for all Sundays in this season. 

Devotions for week 6 in Lent: A visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

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.”

Amen

Exterior view of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre