Month: March 2013

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Voice of the Day: James Martin

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In Between Heaven and Mirth: Why Joy, Humor, and Laughter Are at the Heart of the Spiritual Life, James Martin makes the connection between the resurrection we celebrate at Easter and the joy that should suffuse the Christian life.

For Christians, the knowledge that Jesus has been raised from the dead is a cause for rejoicing, even in tough times. This does not mean that suffering does not bring sadness. Of course it does. But suffering is not the last word—in Jesus’s life nor in ours. And that knowledge can lead us to a deep joy.

— James Martin, Between Heaven and Mirth

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O Love Divine, What Has Thou Done

Last night, as part of a deeply meaningful Good Friday service we sang one of Charles Wesley’s great hymns, O Love Divine, What Has Thou Done. It’s an appropriate poem for Holy Saturday:

O Love divine, what has thou done!
The immortal God hath died for me!
The Father’s coeternal Son
bore all my sins upon the tree.
Th’ immortal God for me hath died:
My Lord, my Love, is crucified!

Is crucified for me and you,
to bring us rebels back to God.
Believe, believe the record true,
ye all are bought with Jesus’ blood.
Pardon for all flows from his side:
My Lord, my Love, is crucified!

Behold him, all ye that pass by,
the bleeding Prince of life and peace!
Come, sinners, see your Savior die,
and say, “Was ever grief like his?”
Come, feel with me his blood applied:
My Lord, my Love, is crucified!

— Charles Wesley

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Concerning Homosexuality and Slavery

Adam Hamilton had an article a couple months ago comparing the biblical arguments over homosexuality now to the arguments back in the 1800’s about slavery. I’ve long (about 20 years) thought that future generations will look on the anti-homosexual interpretations of the Bible now being made in much the same way as we now look at the pro-slavery interpretations of the Bible that were made before the Civil War, but Adam says it better than I could.

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Good Friday Service

This year’s Good Friday Service of Tenebrae will be at 7:30 pm. Jenny and I are looking for volunteers to help with the scripture readings. Let me know if you want are willing to participate (john@revcollins.com).

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Palm/Passion Sunday – Updated

This Sunday is Palm/Passion Sunday. We’ll have the traditional procession with palms. I’ll be preaching on Luke 23.33-49 with a sermon titled “God’s Rope-A-Dope.” Following the sermon we, as a congregation, will nail the problems, evils, and sins of the world to a cross at the front of the chapel/sanctuary.

Homework for tomorrow: it will help if you’re familiar with the songs of the suffering servant — Isaiah 42.1-4; 49.1-6; 50.4-9; 52.13-53.12

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Welcome Nicole Schwartz!

It was announced from the pulpits by Dave Larimore and Becky Dobbins this morning that Nicole Schwartz will be appointed to Coffeyville First, taking our places beginning in July. Nicole is currently serving Parsons Faith UMC, so she’s familiar with this area. Jenny and I are very excited on your behalf. You’re in good hands.

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Good Friday Service of Tenebrae

A Good Friday of Tenebrae will be held at this Friday (Friday, March 29, 2013) at 7:30 pm. According to The United Methodist Book of Worship, “A Service of Tenebrae, or “Darkness,” is is based on a twelfth-century late night/early morning service and is an extended mediation on the passion of Christ.” This meditation includes sixteen scripture readings from the passion story according to the Gospel of  John 18.1-19.42, during which time fifteen lit candles are extinguished. This service does not include a sermon, but there will be special music by the choir.

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Free Desks

The church has two old metal desks (the kind of desks that the teachers at school had when I was a kid) we need to get rid of. You can take a look at them in room 105. They are yours for the asking and moving.

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Stations of the Cross

We’ll again be setting up the Stations of the Cross this year. The United Methodist Book of Worship provides the following description of this devotional practice:

“The Way (or Stations) of the Cross has been a common way of participating in the passion (suffering) of Christ as part of Good Friday services … The version offered here differs from traditional ones in that it includes only stations with a biblical basis.” (BOW, 366)

This year, we’re again encouraging members and friends of the church to bring individual crosses that they would like to share with the congregation through the Way of the Cross. You can drop your cross off during regular office hours or bring it next Sunday morning and leave it in room 102.