Daily Devotions for the 2017 Season of Lent

Transforming lives by Loving God, Serving Others and Building Christian Community

150 East Franklin Street • Chapel Hill, NC 27514

www.universityumc.church

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AshWednesday,March1,2017 SlowDownandGoFastPAUSE“WhatareyougivingupforLentthisyear?”Perhapsthisisn’tthefirstquestionoftheseason.Perhapstheinitialquestionweneedtositwithisthis:“WhataboutthewayIlivemylifeisabarriertofriendshipwithGod?”LISTEN:Matthew6:16-1816“Andwheneveryoufast,donotlookdismal,likethehypocrites,fortheydisfiguretheirfacessoastoshowothersthattheyarefasting.TrulyItellyou,theyhavereceivedtheirreward.17Butwhenyoufast,putoilonyourheadandwashyourface,18sothatyourfastingmaybeseennotbyothersbutbyyourFatherwhoisinsecret;andyourFatherwhoseesinsecretwillrewardyou.[a]REFLECTWhenIwasveryyoung,Irecallaninstanceofmybrotherprayingbeforetheeveningmeal.Calvinwashungryand impatient, andhurried through the “God is great”at a speed thatblurred thewordsandrequiredcommentbyourfather.Calvin’shandswereonthebowlofpotatoesevenbeforethe“Amen”camefromhismouth.“Slowdown,Calvin!”Dad’swordswerenotjudgmental,butgentleandpersuasive.“Whenyourushthroughtheprayer,youmightaswellbesayingtoGodthateitheryouorthefoodismoreimportantthantakingafewminutestosaythankyoutotheOnewhohasprovidedit.”Well,thefoodwas important,especiallytoahungryfive-year-old.Yet,Dad’swisewordshavestayedwithme-don’trushyourconversationswithGod.IamnotsureDadwasintentionallytryingtoteachtheologyatthetable,butthat’swhathewasdoing:“Takecare,children,thatyouractionsandyourbehaviorreflectthenatureandcharacterofGod.”Speedprayersatmealtimerevealourimpatience,orevenourdesireforfood,notourdesireorgratitudeforaGodwhomadeusaspeoplewhoeat.InMatthew’sgospelJesusinstructshisfollowerstopraybeforeheinstructsthemtofast;slowdowntorememberwhoGodis,thengofast.NoticethatJesusdoesn’tsay“Praythisway,andthen,ifyoufeellikeit,gofast.”Fastingfollowsprayer,especiallywhenwelearntoprayasJesushasinstructedus.WhenwelearntoprayforGod’snametobehallowed,forGod’sKingdomtocome,forGod’swilltobedoneonearth,andforGodtogiveusourdailybread,wearelearningtoprayforaparticularwayoflifethatisnotlimitedtoour“innerbeing”,butalifethatwe“wearinourbodies.”Fastingisonewaytolearnthatwearebodies,andthattheflourishingofourbodiesisdependentonGodwhoprovidesabundantly.Whenwefastwebecomestarklyawareoftheneeds,quirks,andfrailtiesofourbodies.Intheprocessoffastingfromfood,ourstomachswillmakestrangenoises,ourheadsmayache,andperhapswewillhavetroublefocusing.WebegintorealizeinnewandwonderfulwaysthatthewayGodhasorderedtheworld–bycreatingusasthosewhoeat,andprovidingallweneedfromtheearthtobenourished–isnothinglessthanmiracle.Ourresponseisadeepgratitudethatisexpressedinjoy,resultinginanincreaseddesiretoknowGodandbeknownbyGod.Fastingalsopointstoourfalsegods.WhenfastingcomesasadirectresultoflearningtheprayerJesushastaughtus,welearnthatperhapswehavehallowedourowndesires,createdkingdomstosuitourownwills,andgrabbedwhateverismostconvenienttofillourbellies,oftenattheperilofneighbororcreation.

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Wedonotfastsothatwecanloseweightorprovetoourneighborsthatwearepious;wefastasaresultofprayer;prayeratbestreorientsourdesires.WhenwedenyourselvesduringLent,wearemakingspacetocomprehendthemysteryoftheGodwhocreatedallthatisandcalleditverygood.PRAYERLovingGod,ourheartsarerestlessuntiltheyrestinyou.Increaseourdesiretoloveyouaboveallothers,sothatthejoyofthelifeyouhavemadepossibleisevidentinourbodies.DuringthisseasonofLent,walkwithusaswewalkwithJesustothecross,tothetomb,andtotheresurrectedlife.Amen.GOSlowdownthisseasonofLent,andgofast.Slowdowntolisten,thentakeupalifeoffastingfromthehabitsorpossessionsthatyouthinkyoucannotlivewithout.KnowthattheFatherwhoseesinsecretwillbesmiling,waitingtoembraceyouwithopenarms.(Letyourdoctorknowifyouarefastingfromfood.Or,tryasimplefastofsnacksbetweenmeals,beveragesotherthanwater,oronemealaweek.PrayforGod’sguidance.Whenyouaretemptedtobreakthefast,slowdownandtalktoGod.)Rev.GraceG.HackneyThursday,March2,2017 AMetamorphosisPAUSEThereisgreatjoyinforgiveness,bothfortheonewhoforgivesandtheonereceivingforgiveness.IbelieveGodhasgreatjoyinforgivingourtransgressions,forhedesiresonlyourhighestgood.However,strangeasitseems,acceptingforgivenessisoftenharderthanofferingforgiveness,sinceacceptingforgivenessmeansadmittinghavingtransgressedwhichouregodoesnotwanttodo.LISTEN:Psalm321Happy are thosewhose transgression is forgiven,whose sin is covered. 2Happy are those towhomtheLORDimputesnoiniquity,andinwhosespiritthereisnodeceit.REFLECTMartinSmith’sbookReconciliation:PreparingforConfessionintheEpiscopalChurchwasrequiredreadingearlyinthetwo-yearSpiritualDirector’sFormationProgramIwastakingseveralyearsago.IttoldmehowtoprepareforalifetimeconfessionbygoingbackasfarasIcouldremember,includingso-called“sinsofyouth”, and those harbored, rationalized, or denied. This took several months to do, using the TenCommandments,Beatitudes,Jesus’twocommandmentstoloveGodandneighbor,andotherguidancefromtheBible.Havingthisonpaper,IwenttomyMethodistministeratSt.Andrewby-the-SeaUMConHiltonHeadIsland.Hedidn’tquiteknowwhattodo,excepttosuggestthatIpraytheJesusPrayer,“Lord,JesusChrist,SonofGod,havemercyonme,asinner.”Overour14yearsatHiltonHead,IperiodicallywenttoweekendretreatsattheCistercianAbbeyofOurLadyoftheHolySpiritatConyers,GA,southeastofAtlanta.RetreatantswerewelcomedtoprayseventimesadayinchoirloftsadjacenttothemonksandtoparticipateinthedailyEucharist.Duringthedaysandevenings, therewasopportunity toattendclasses taughtby themonksandAbboton theretreat

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themeoftheweekend.AndeverySaturdayeveningtherewastheopportunitytogotoconfession.Withsomefearandtrembling,Idecidedtotakemyseveral-pagelistoflifetimetransgressionsintotheroomdesignatedforconfessions.ThereIsat inacomfortablechairandconfessedfacetofacewithamonk,FatherMalachy,sittingcloseby.Hewasakindlyoldgentlemanwhoremindedmeofoneofmyuncles.HissisterhadgivenhimacopyofThomasMerton’sSevenStoryMountainin1948,anditsomovedhimthat he became a Trappistmonk. He recognized that I had a good conscience and hadmade someprogress,butwouldfindmorechallengesahead.Bythepowerofapostolicsuccession,heabsolvedmeofmytransgressions, toldmetotearupmy list,andthattheslatewaswipedclean. Healsogavemeapenance toprayerfully readPsalm51and130 frequently. Itwasametamorphosis! Iwent into thatconfessionfeelingaslowasaworm,andcameoutfeelingasfreeasabutterfly-afeelingwhichexiststothisday.JohnWesleybelievedthattheentrancetothelifeoffaithisrepentance;thatitisGod’sprevenientgrace,thatelementalgraceforeveryone,whichleadstorepentance.TheChristianlifecannotbeginwithoutaperson’sacknowledgementofsinandanearnestdesiretochange.FaiththencomesasthegiftofGod.Wesleycalledthisjustifyinggrace.WesleyfurtherbelievedthatafterwehaveacceptedGod’sforgiveness,wearetomoveoninGod’ssanctifyinggracetowardsperfection.PRAYERThankyou,mercifulGod,foryourgraceandforsendingyourSonintothisworldforoursalvation.Amen.GOBeasfreeasabutterfly.DonSchoeneFriday,March3,2017 Ground-InDirtPAUSE"Whosinned,thismanorhisparents?"thePhariseesaskedJesus.TheApostlePaulpointsthefingeratoneman–Adam–themudmanGodfashionedoutofthedustoftheearth.Ifwelatter-daycreaturesofthegroundarebornsoiledwithAdam’sdirt,whathopedowehaveofbeingwashedclean?LISTEN:Romans5:18-19Thereforejustasoneman’strespassledtocondemnationforall,sooneman’sactofrighteousnessleadstojustificationandlifeforall.Forjustasbytheoneman’sdisobediencethemanyweremadesinners,sobytheoneman’sobediencethemanywillbemaderighteous.REFLECTGrowingup inEasternNorthCarolina, Ispentsummersoutdoorsmakingmudpies,climbingmagnoliatrees,andbuilding“houses”inthedirtRoxaboxen1stylewithsticks,trash,andotherscraps.NomatterhowoftenIbathedorhowhardIscrubbed,mykneesandelbowsremainedstubbornlydiscoloredbyabrownishlayermybrothersteasinglycalled“ground-in”dirt.Oh,thehumiliation.

1Roxaboxenisawonderfulchildren’sbookbyAliceMcLerran.

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Iwaswellintomiddleschoolbeforetheliteraldirtwashedoff,butbythattimeIhadbeguntounderstandanothertypeofstain–theground-indirtofhumanbrokennessandsin.Aswematureinourfaith,wefinallylearnthelesson18thcenturyschoolbooksusedtoteachtheletterA:“InAdam’sFall,wesinnedall.”InwritingtotheRomans,PaulshowsusthatacrucialpartofourChristianjourneyislearningtobehonestwithGodandourselves.WemustbewillingtoadmitthatwehavesinnedandfallenshortofbeingthepersonGodwouldhaveusbe.LikePaul,wematureasChristianswhenweareabletoadmit,"Idonotunderstandmyownactions.ForIdonotdowhatIwant,butIdotheverythingIhate"(Romans7:15).Noneofuswakesupasking,“HowshouldIsintoday?”It’snotthatothersareperfectandwesomehowdon’tmeasureup.Weallweartheground-indirtofsinanditsnaturalconsequence,death.It’sAdam’sfault.Throughthisoneman,sincameintotheworldandeversince,allsubsequentbeingshavebeensinners.Butwait!Bythetimethosecolonialschoolchildrengottothe letterC, they learnedamorebeautifultruth:“Christcrucified,forsinnersdied.”AsPaulwrites,“Forjustasbytheoneman’sdisobediencethemanyweremadesinners,sobytheoneman’sobediencethemanywillbemaderighteous.”OrasJohnWesleyputit,“Bynatureyouarewhollycorrupted.Bygraceyoushallbewhollyrenewed.InAdamyoualldied:InthesecondAdam,inChrist,youallaremadealive.”Asitturnsout,thereisnodirtsogroundinthatitcan’tbewashedcleanbytheonewhoisourlivingwater.PRAYWethankyou,OGod,thatyouhavegivenusanenduringhope.Wethankyou,thatthroughourfaithinyouandinyourSonJesusChrist,youenterintoeverydustyheartandwashitclean.Amen.GOGointheknowledgethatthroughthedeathandresurrectionofJesusChristyouhavebeenpardoned,yoursinsforgiven,andyouhavebeenmaderighteousbeforeGod.PastorMitziJohnsonSaturday,March4,2017“Snakes.Why’dithavetobesnakes?”PAUSEEvenacreatureyourevileor involuntarily recoil toseehasaplace inGod’screation.AndeventhosecreaturesthatGodhaspunished,usincluded,havearoleinourbeautifulworld.LISTEN:Genesis3:1-17REFLECTAsa6-year-old,Ihadanightmarethatinvolvedbeingchasedaroundmybackyardbyasnake.UltimatelyItrippedface-firstoveralogintheyard,andasIfelltotheground,thesnakerearedupandopeneditsmouthtostrike.Iwokescreamingandrandownthehalltomyparents’room.FormonthsIspentthenightontheflooroftheirroom.Ihatesnakes.

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I’llneverpassasagirlygirl.Icanhandlebugsandspiders(evenifI’dprefernotto).IdoubtI’djumponatablescreamingshouldamouseskitteracrossthefloor.Idon’tminddirt.IhavetwosonssoIgetmyshareofit.Snakesthough…I’mwithIndianaJones.SowhileIcanhandlemuchofwhatmysonsbringhome,frompilesofrockstojarsofbugstocupsfullofmysteriousmud-based“potions,”Ican’thandlesnakes.Notthesnakeskinstheyfindandleaveontheporch,notsquashedsnakesfoundintheroad,andcertainlynottheliveonethathungoutbehindmy10-year-old’sbikeforawhilelastsummer.“Buttheyeatbugs!”my6-year-oldargues,andmy10-year-oldchimesinwithLyme-diseasepreventiontips. “Theyarean importantpartof the foodchain,” Iamtold,andalso: scientistshavestudied theirvenomforcurativemedicines!Isn’tthatexciting!Iconsidermyselfalifelonglearnerandpayattentiontothesnakelessonsmyboysteachme.Iloveknowledge.Iloveknowledgeandhatesnakes;aregularmodern-dayEve,Iam.OneofGod’spunishmentsforeatingtheforbiddenfruitisto“putenmitybetweenyou[thesnake]andthewoman,”andinthismostancientoftalesIfeelGod’swordasdeeplyasanythingintheBible.ButwhileGodcursedthesnaketocrawluponhisbellyandeatdust,hedidnoteradicatehimfromtheEarth.Indeedmyboyshavetaughtmethatsnakes,likeallofGod’screatures,areanimportantpartofthisEarthweliveon.PRAYLord,yourcreationisfullofwonderandfear.Someofusfearsnakes;othersfearsharksorspiders,orrumblingthunder.Butallofyourcreationhasameaningandaplace.Helpustoacceptourfearsofyourcreationandappreciateitallthesame.Amen.GOWhatdoyoufear?Whateveritisyoufear,itishereonEarthforareason.Acceptyourfearsandtheirplaceintheworld.Yourfearstoo,areGod-given.AletheaGerdingSunday,March5,20171stSundayinLentMatthew4:1-11YouareinvitedtoworshipGodincommunityatUniversityUMC(150E.FranklinSt.,ChapelHill,NC)orjoinusonlineathttps://www.youtube.com/user/ChapelHillUUMC.

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Monday,March6,2017Testing1,2,3PAUSEHaveyoueverpreparedtospeaktoanaudienceandthemicrophonedoesnotwork?Whenthathappens,weoftenchecktoseetheproblemandthentryitagainsaying,“Testing1,2,3,”toseeifitisnowworkingsatisfactorily.LISTEN:Matthew4:1-11REFLECTInMatthew4:1-11,JesusisbeingtestedbySatannotoncebut3times.“ThenJesuswasledupbytheSpiritintothewildernesstobetemptedbythedevil.Hefastedfortydaysandfortynights,andafterwardshewasfamished”(Mt.4:1-2).Thetemptercameandsaidtohim,“IfyouaretheSonofGod,commandthesestonestobecomeloavesofbread,”butHeanswered,“It iswritten,‘Onedoesnotlivebybreadalone,butbyeverywordthatcomesfromthemouthofGod’”(Mt.4:4).AndSatanagaintemptedJesusandinverse7Jesussaidtohim,“Againitiswritten,‘DonotputtheLordyourGodtothetest.’”Inverses8-9,SatanagaintemptedJesusbutJesusresponds,“AwaywithyouSatanforitiswritten,‘WorshiptheLordyourGod,andserveonlyhim’”(Mt.4:10).Everydaywearetestedinonewayoranother.Howwerespondtothetestssayssomethingabouthowweliveourlives.Mycousincontractedpoliowhenshewas29yearsoldandwasmarriedwithtwosmallboys.Shewasparalyzedfromtheneckdownandcoulddonothingbutmoveherheadfromsidetoside.Initially,shecouldnotunderstandwhyshewasafflictedinthiswayandhowshecouldlivewithoutevermovingagain.Iamsureshewastemptedtogiveup,blameGodandlosefaith.Throughherstruggles,andperhapswiththeencouragementofothers,herfaithwasdeepened;itcarriedher through 40+ years of living on a respirator andmany of those yearswithin an iron lung. I oftenwonderedif IwereputtosuchatesthowIwouldhaverespondedinasimilarsituation. Sheisarolemodelformethatnomatterwhathappens,IhopetohavethefaithshehadtomoveforwardandtrustinGodtosupplymystrength.JesuswastestedandHetoorecognizedthatwedonotliveby‘breadalone,butbyeverywordthatcomesfromthemouthofGod’(Mt.4:4).Mycousincouldnotattendachurchservicebutherchurchcametoher;sheconductedregularBiblestudyinherhomeeachweek.Sheandherfamilyweretestedandthey,likeJesus,reliedonGodtoseethemthroughtheirtrials.PRAYGraciousGod,whenwearetested,grantusthecourageandthefaithtohavetheconfidenceofJesustoknowyouareour‘breadoflife’andwillabidewithusalways.GOWhenwearetested,doweasJesusdid,relyonGodtosupplyourstrengthtoseeusthroughthechallengesoflifenotonce,twiceorthreetimesbuteachandeverytime?JaneM.Campbell

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Tuesday,March7,2017TheJourneyPAUSETheSpiritualLifeisajourney.Alloflifeisajourney.LISTEN:Genesis12:1-3NowtheLORDsaidtoAbram,“Gofromyourcountryandyourkindredandyourfather’shousetothelandthatIwillshowyou.2Iwillmakeofyouagreatnation,andIwillblessyou,andmakeyournamegreat,sothatyouwillbeablessing.3Iwillblessthosewhoblessyou,andtheonewhocursesyouIwillcurse;andinyouallthefamiliesoftheearthshallbeblessed.”REFLECT“Journey,”veryearlyoninWesternCivilization,becamethestandardmetaphorforthehumanlifetime.BoththeBibleandtheclassicalliteratureofGreeceandRome,fromearliesttimesemploythismetaphor.InClassicalliteraturetheprimetravelerisOdysseus,inHomer’seighthcenturyB.C.Greekepicpoem,theOdyssey.ThemetaphorsodeeplygraspedclassicalcivilizationthattheRomanepicpoetVirgiladaptedittoastoryofthefoundingofRome,theAeneid.The Biblical authors of Genesis introduce the founding journey in Genesis 12:1-3. Amarried couple,AbrahamandSarah,arecalledbyGodtomakethelongjourney(about800miles)fromUroftheChaldees(moderndaysouthernIraq)tothelandofCanaan(moderndayIsrael).ThefirstwordthatGodsaystoAbrahamis“Go.”Godsays,“Gofromyourcountry…tothelandIwillshowyou.”ThroughacomplexseriesofeventsthedescendantsofAbrahamandSarah,theIsraelites,endupleavingthe landofCanaanandgoing toEgypt. Thebookof Exodusbegins400 years laterwith the IsraelitesenslavedinEgypt.AgainGodcallsthemtogo,toescapefromEgyptandgotothepromisedland,thelandofmilkandhoney,thelandofCanaan.AfterHistransfiguration,JesussetsHisfacetowardJerusalemandmakesthehardjourneythatwillleadtothecross.Afterhisresurrection,thelastwordshewillsaytohisfollowersare,“Go,intoalltheworld,makingdisciplesofallnations.”InActs 9,God says toAnaniaswho leads theApostle Paul out of his blindness, “Go, for [Paul] ismyinstrumentwhomIhavechosentobringmynamebeforegentilesandkings.PaulwillthenbecomethegreatestChristiantravelerofall.God’sliteralcalltothesevariousheroesoftheBibletotravelbecameametaphoricalcall.ThePromisedLand,theultimateendofthejourney,becameametaphorforHeaven.OurspiritualjourneyisourquestthroughlifetoaneverdeeperexperienceandunderstandingofGod,untilwewillbewithGodfullyinthelifetocome.IfwereadtheliteraturesofEasterncivilizationsandreligionsofIndia,China,andJapan,wewillfindanabsenceofthejourneymetaphor.Heroesarenotonjourneys.Wheretheyalreadyareistheircenteroftheworld.Theyhallowtheplacewheretheyare,keepitsafefromintruders,andstaythere.Christianshaveinternalizedthejourneymetaphorintoawayofunderstandingourlives.Wememorializeandactivatethatspiritualjourneyinthecustomofpilgrimage,atraveltoaholyplace.St.Helena,perhaps

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thefirstpilgrimandmotheroftheemperorConstantine,travelstotheHolyLandinordertoidentifyallthe places where Jesus had been. Chaucer’s pilgrims make the journey to the Holy Cathedral ofCanterbury.ForNorthCarolinaUnitedMethodists,ourHolyPlaceisLakeJunaluska.PerhapsGodwillcallusasachurchtomakeapilgrimagethere!PRAYEROurleaderGod,leadusandfollowusonthejourneythatisourlives.Makeourlife’sjourneymoreandmoreaspiritualjourney,untilweultimatelyfindourrestinyouandyourpromisedland.ThroughJesusourtravelcompanion,Amen.Rev.ChristianWilsonWednesday,March8,2017FaithasBrightasaStarPAUSEYou’velikelyseenthispaintingbefore,buttakeafewmomentstoslowdownlifeandtoreallyhavealook.Whatdetailsdoyounotice?…Ipromisethiswilltieinsoon.

VincentVanGogh.TheStarryNight.1989.MuseumofModernArt(MOMA),NYLISTEN:Genesis15:1-6.REFLECTHerethroughbothAbrahamandtheLord’swords,wegetasenseofhowawesomeGodcanbe—knowingexactlywhatweneed,whenwemostneedit.ThepassagebeginsastheLordapproachesAbrahaminavision,tellshimnottobeafraid,andhintsatthegreatrewardstocome.AsAbrahamspeaks,wegetasenseofhisanxietyandconcernabouthislackofasuccessor.EarlierinGenesis,GodhasalreadypromisedtomakeAbrahamintoagreat,blessednationthatwillspreadacrossendlessamountofland(Genesis12:2-3and12:14-19).ButasAbrahampointsout,he

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hasyettohaveanheirwhocaninheritthisgreatpromise.HowlongAbrahamhasbeenwaiting!Whathardshipshehasalreadyendured!Howpatienthehasbeen!Yetstillinversestwoandthree,Abrahamexhibitshisunwaveringfaith.Herepeatedlyusestheverb“togive”andacceptsallthingsascomingfromtheLord.Abrahamviewseverythinginhislifeasdrivenbyandprovidedby theLord.By completingcenteringhis thoughtsaroundwhat theLordprovides,AbrahamdemonstratesthatheistotallywillingtofollowtheLord’spathforhim.Ultimately, Abraham’s faith is rewarded as seen in the last section of this passage. The Lord bringsAbrahamoutside;heinstructshimto“looktowardstheheavensandcountthestars,ifyouareabletocountthem,soshallyourdescendantsbe.”Haveyoueverexperiencedyourfaiththroughawonderfulsight?Experiencedsuchamomentofintensereliefafteraperiodofwaiting?Here,wecanimagineAbrahamandhisexperiencethroughVincentVanGogh’sfamouspainting,TheStarryNight.Inthenightskyweseesixbrightorbs,shininginvarioushuesof mustard and buttercup. They are seemingly out-shadowed by the bright yellow crescent moondominatingtheupperrightofthecanvas.Ifyoulookclosely,youcanseethateachstarismadeupofcountlessindividualbrushstrokes.Uponfurtherinspection,youmightseehowthebluesandyellowsmixandmingleinthebrushstrokesasVanGoghseeminglyanimatesthewindblowingacrossthecanvas.Ilike to thinkof these tinybrushstrokesandthemajestyof thenightsky in relationship toAbraham’svision.Heispromisedinfiniteblessingsandprosperity.AswecontinueourjourneytowardsEaster,letusconsiderthewayswemightreorientouractionstowardsGod.Whatareyouwaitingfor?HowmightyoumodelAbraham’spatienceandfaithinyourownlife?PRAYLord,inaworldfilledwithswirlingcloudsofconfusion,guideustothebright-shininglightofyourplan.Revealthewaysthatwecanfaithfullyfollowyou,andgiveusthepatiencetoworktowardsyourgoals.Wearethankfulforallthatyouprovide,andanticipatewhatistocomeinthefuture.Allgloryisyours,Amen.GOAsAbrahamsawGod’spromisefulfilledinhisvisionofthenightstars,howmightyouseeGodintheworldaroundyoutoday?

CarleeForbesThursday,March9,2017WhatDoAbrahamandIHaveinCommon?PAUSEManyofuscompareourselvestoothersinordertomeasureourperformancesandeventodeterminethemeaningfulnessofourlives.AsChristians,howdoesthatfitintoourrelationshipwithGod?

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LISTEN:Romans4:1-5WhatthenarewetosaywasgainedbyAbraham,ourancestoraccordingtotheflesh?2ForifAbrahamwasjustifiedbyworks,hehassomethingtoboastabout,butnotbeforeGod.3Forwhatdoesthescripturesay?“AbrahambelievedGod,anditwasreckonedtohimasrighteousness.”4Nowtoonewhoworks,wagesarenotreckonedasagiftbutassomethingdue.5Buttoonewhowithoutworkstrustshimwhojustifiestheungodly,suchfaithisreckonedasrighteousness.REFLECTIamreallyagoodguy. I reallyam.Evenwhenmyfavoritesoccer teamplaysontelevisiononSundaymornings, I am in church. I attend Sunday School and TheOmega Project,where ChristianWilson, aministerandretiredreligionprofessor,leadsusthroughtheScriptures.IserveonchurchcommitteeslikeHigherEducationandWorship. IpledgetocontributeacertainamountofmoneytoUniversityUnitedMethodistChurcheachyear;notasmuchasIcould,butIcontributearegularamount.IevenoccasionallymissaCarolinabasketballgameinordertosupportthechurch.Thatisrealsacrifice.Now, howdoes thatmatch upwithAbraham?Please remember though, Abrahamwas father of theJewishnation.IamamerecitizenofChapelHill,livingintheChathamCountyportionofChapelHillatthat.Abrahamwas“God’sfriend.”AbrahamwasaskedbyGodto,“Leaveyourcountry,yourpeopleandyourfather’shouseholdandgotothelandIwillshowyou.”Abrahamresponded.Hewentastold.HeobeyedGod.Thatwasaremarkabledecision.Hemovedfarawayfromfamilywhichwasnotatallcommonthen.He likelyreceivedGod’sinstructioninaclimateofworshippingBabylonianpagangods;yethebelieved.Asyourecall,AbrahamandSarahwerechildless,whichwasnotwellunderstood in theirculture,andindeedconstitutedarealsourceofshameforthem.ThebirthofIsaacwasablessingofthehighestform.ThenGodorderedAbrahamtosacrificeIsaaconthemountain.AcknowledgingtheheartacheAbrahammusthavefelt,whatweknowisthathedidasGodinstructedandtookIsaactothemountain.AgainheobeyedGod.Hetrusted.ConsideringthemundanedeedsoreventsIhaveexperiencedandthespectacularaccomplishmentsofAbraham, the father of the Jewish nation, there is no comparison. In either case however, a certainamountofearthlystatus,esteemoradmirationmightaccrue.However,forbothofusbeforeGod,deedsandearthlyaccomplishmentsalonearenotimportant.Godcanseeintothedoer’sheart.Thatiswhatisimportant.Theheartiswherethedoer’smotivesareandondisplayforGodtosee.ItwasbecauseoftheAbraham’sfaith,notthedeedsarisingoutofthefaith,thatrighteousness,aneternalpromisefromGod,wasaffordedAbrahamorfoundinAbraham’sheart.AbrahamandIdohavesomethingincommon.JustasAbrahamwasanexample,IinmyroutinelivingcanbeanexampleoffaithandbeliefinthepromisesofGod.IcanreceiveGod’spromise.Weallcan.PRAYDearLord,giveusthefaithandbeliefthatAbrahamhadtofollowyourinstructions.MakeusawareofyourpresenceinourlivesthatwemaybeexamplesofthelifethatJesuslivedandtaughtustolive.WepraiseourLordandsaviorwhodiedforoursinsandshortcomings.Amen.

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GODonotconcernyourselfwithdeedsbywhichyoumightacquiretheesteemoffellowhumans.SeektopleaseGodbyfaithinandobediencetoHim.JoeRitterFriday,March10,2017TrustingGod:AStorywithinaStoryPAUSEHaveyoueverfeltaloneandpowerlessinthefaceoflife’schallenges?Godcanandwillhelp.Justask.LISTEN:Psalm121REFLECTForthefirstelevenyearsofmylife,IlivedinasmalltowninWesternNewYorkwithmyparentsandfouryoungersiblings.BothMomandDadhadbeenraisedinthearea,sowewerepartofalargeextendedfamily. I havemany happymemories ofmy childhood there.Most are associated withmymaternalgrandmother,“Nana.”ThedaughterofacircuitridingPresbyterianminister,shehadtaughtinaone-roomschoolhousebeforemarryingmygrandfather.NanawouldoftenbabysitmysisterBarbaraandme.Shewaswonderfulatengagingus.Welovedtosingalongwithherwhensheplayedhymnsontheolduprightpianoinherlivingroom;andwelookedforwardtospendingthenightbecausethestoriesshereadtousweresogood.HersourcewasUncleArthur’sBedtimeStories (circa1950). ThestoryIrememberbestincludedanillustrationofaboysoundasleeponhisbedwhileaterriblethunderstormragedoutsidehiswindow.Here’sthegistofthatstory:Abusyfarmerwashavingtroublehiringresponsiblehelptoworkwithhimonthefarm.Againandagainhehademployeddriftersashands,onlytofindthemlazyandunreliable.Onedayateenageboyshoweduplookingforajob.Theboywasstrange;allhesaidtorecommendhimselfwas,"Icansleepthroughstorms." The desperate farmer hired him anyway. After a short orientation, the boy quietly did hisassignedworkeverydaywithoutdirection.Thenonenightthefarmerwasawakenedbytheboomandcrashofabigthunderstorm.Herushedtotheroomwheretheboywassleepingandtriedtoarousehim,buttheboywouldnotwakeup;sothefarmerwentoutonhisowntosecurehispropertyfromdamage.Hewasangryandvowedtofiretheboyuntilherealizedthateverythingthatneededtobedonetoprotectthefarmfromtheravagesofastormalreadyhadbeendone.Thecowswerefedandsettled,thehaystackswerecoveredandtieddown,theequipmentwassheltered,andthegatesandbuildingswerelocked.ItwasthenthatthefarmerunderstoodWHYtheboycouldsleepsohard.Hehaddoneallhecouldandtrustedhisboss–andultimatelyGod–tohandletherest.Today’sscripture,Psalm121,isapsalmoftrust.BiblescholarsthinkpilgrimstravelingtoJerusalemmayhaveusedit.Structuredasdialoguebetweenapilgrimandarespondingpriest,itsmessageistwo-fold:1)Godisourguardianandprotectorand2)weshouldtrustinHispower,loveandintentiontoprotectus–especiallyindifficulttimes.TheboyinUncleArthur’sstoryreliedonGodtoseehimthrough.IdidthesamewhenmyparentsdecidedtomovetoCentralFloridain1956.Theyboughtasmallhouseinthecountry,enrolledthethreeofusolderkidsinschool,employedaneighbortokeepthetwolittleonesduringmyschoolhours,andquickly

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foundnewjobswithcommutes.That iswhenIknewmychildhoodwasover.Bydefault Iwouldbeinchargeofcaringforthehouseandmysiblingswhenevermyparentsweregone.Therewasnooneelsetohelp.Iwasangryanduncooperativeatfirst,buteventuallyacceptedwhatIcouldn’tchange.AllIcoulddowastrustinGod’spower,loveandprotection.Theyearswentby.LiketheboyinthestoryIworkedhard,oftenexceedingothers’expectations.EventuallyIwentawaytocollege,gotagoodjob,marriedawonderfulmanandstartedafamily.Ourchildrenarenowintheirfortieswithchildrenoftheirown,andIamtheNana.MylifetodayisbetterthanIevercouldhaveimagined.ThanksbetoGodforkeepingmesafeandansweringmyprayers!PRAYLovingGod,thankyouforprotectingandguidingusthroughlife’sstruggles.Teachustotrustyouandtorememberthatweareneveralone.GOWhereveryouare,youcanseekGod’shelp.CarolineMartensSaturday,March11,2017CreationItselfWillBeSetFreePAUSEAppearinginaUUMCSundayservicebulletinafewyearsago,therewasthisprayer:“Grantusthegracetolivefullyintheassuranceofyourpresence,sothatwemaywitnesstoyourloveandpeacethroughthestrengthofourowncharacter.”DoyouyearnforassuranceofGod’spresenceinyourbusydailylife?Howcancreationbesetfree?LISTEN:Romans8:18-25REFLECTIt’sanordinary,coldNovemberFriday.Small,lowcloudsscudacrossacrispbluesky.Iamdrivinghurriedlythroughmyneighborhood,anxiousnottobelateformyhaircutappointment.Iseethelightsturnred.Iwaitbehindtwoothercarsatthebusyintersection.Wewait.Thesunmovesinandoutofthepassingclouds.Alightbreezehaspickedup.Iglancedown,andthereinthemedianarelittlegrey-browndrytuftsoffinegrasseswithtinydarkseedheads,growingoutofthehardseamsoftheconcretepaving.AsIwatch,theybegintotremble.Ifeeltheirlifeessence.Theyrespondtothelightbreeze.Theytrembleandvibrate.Theirconnectiontothebreathoflifeissoevident,yetsounnoticed!IammesmerizedasIwatchtheirsilent,vigorousmovements.Itisremarkable!Itisamiracle!ThenIlookforward,andthatBreathofLifeiseverywhere,flowingandswirling,connectingeveryobject,everyperson,everycar,everycloud.Ilookbackatthelittledrygrasses,andyettheytremble,still!Thelightchangestogreen,andItakealeftturn.Suddenly I realize that Ihave justexperiencedbeingalive,veryalive, just then! Iamastounded. Iamgrateful.Ifeelenergized.Ifeelhopeful.Ifeellovedandloving.ThomasMerton,writingin“ConjecturesofaGuiltyBystander”writes:“Here isanunspeakablesecret:paradise isallaroundusandwedonotunderstand.Itiswideopen.”

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PRAYLovingGod, thank you forplacinghopeand love in even the smallmovementsof tiny, tremblingdrygrasses.Thankyouforgrantingusthefreedomtodiscoverthepresenceofyourgloryrevealedtousinourordinarydailylives.Thankyouforthegracetofeelwhatitmeanstobefullyalive.Helpustoseethatyour“creationwaitswitheagerlonging”torevealitselftousthatwemayberevealedtoourtrueselves,andourheartsmaybeopenedbyyour love.Mayyourhope forallof creation,andyour loveas it isrevealedtous,bringustofullyofferourselvesinloveandpeacetohelpsetyourcreationfree.GO“HewhowiththehelpofGod’sgracebecomesawareofthewill’sconstantmovementsand learnstodirectthemtowardGodwillneverfailtotastesomethingofheaven’sjoyeveninthislife,andcertainlyinthenext,hewillsavor it fully.” (From“TheCloudofUnknowing,”Anonymous,14thCentury,EditedbyWilliamJohnston).SueAldworthSunday,March12,20172ndSundayinLentJohn3:1-17YouareinvitedtoworshipGodincommunityatUniversityUMC(150E.FranklinSt.,ChapelHill,NC)orjoinusonlineathttps://www.youtube.com/user/ChapelHillUUMC.Monday,March13,2017Areyou“bornagain”and“saved”?HowcanthesethingsbeNOW?PAUSE“Jesusansweredhim,“Verytruly,Itellyou,noonecanseethekingdomofGodwithoutbeingbornfromabove.…Jesusanswered,“Verytruly,Itellyou,noonecanenterthekingdomofGodwithoutbeingbornofwaterandSpirit.…“Indeed,GoddidnotsendtheSonintotheworldtocondemntheworld,butinorderthattheworldmightbesavedthroughhim.”(John3:3,5,17).ReadtheseversesfromJohnslowlythreetimes.TakeafewminutestobestillinsilenceandaskGod,“WhatdoesthismeanformeNOW--inthistime,inthisplace?”BeattentivetoGodspeakinginnewways.LISTEN:John3:3-9,16-17 REFLECTImustadmitIfeelavisceralcringewhenIhear“bornagain”or“saved.”SeveralyearsagoIwasattendingmymaternaluncle’sfuneralinmywesternNorthCarolinahome.Havingbeen“raised”intheMethodistChurch Iwas startledwhen the non-Methodist preacher began to shout, “Have you been ‘born-ded’again?Haveyoubeensaved?”FromthatpointonIwantedtobesavedfromthispreacher.Theeulogyofmybelovedunclewassupplantedbyalitanyof“hell-fireandbrimstone”rhetoricofcondemnationanddamnationofsoulswhodidnotbelieveinthisPunishingGod.

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SeveralyearsagoIjoinedtheWednesdayMorningWomen’sBibleStudy.Ithasbeena“saving”placeinmyspiritualjourney.Thesewomenhaveprovidedasafe,loving,non-judgmental,butchallengingplacetoexpressmydoubtsandconcernsaboutwhoGodisandhowGod“saves.”LastAprilMitziaskedmetolead,inherabsence,asessionfromAnimate:Faith[SparkHouse].ThelessonwasSalvation:AbundantLifeNowbyShaneHipps.QuestionsofsalvationhavebeenattheforefrontofChristian conversation for generations. Formany believers, salvation is essentially the key to a goodafterlife.ButShanedevotesverylittleattentiontotheafterlife—“Salvationisnotjustaone-timepromiseforwhenwedie.It’samoment-by-momentpossibilitywhilewelive.ForJesus,salvationishereandnowjustasmuchasitisthereandthen.”Shanedescribesthese“hereandnow”Godmomentsas“salvationmoments.”ThinkJohnWesley:“Ifeltmyheartstrangelywarmed.”Formea“salvationmoment” isasenseofGod’srescueorchangeNOW.Asuddensenseofclarityorawakening that seems God sent. A “born from above”moment. A “restoration”moment. Have youexperiencedsuchmoments?N.T. Wright, renowned British New Testament scholar, seems to agree with Shane Hipps about theafterlife.In2012JohnMurawskipublishedanarticletitled,“N.T.WrightAsks:HaveWeGottenHeavenAllWrong?”MurawskiquotesWright,“First-centuryJewswhobelievedJesuswasMessiahalsobelievedheinauguratedtheKingdomofGodandwereconvincedtheworldwouldbetransformedintheirownlifetimes. This inauguration, however,was far from complete and required the active participationofGod'speoplepracticingsocialjustice,nonviolenceandforgivenesstobecomefulfilled.WhatwearedoingatthemomentisbuildingfortheKingdom.OncetheKingdomiscomplete,thebodilyresurrectionwillfollowwithafullyrestoredcreationhereonearth.Indeed,doingGod'sKingdomworkhascometobeknowninJudaismastikkunolam,or‘repairingtheworld.’”Afewfinalthoughtson“beingbornfromabove.”InOctoberourgroupstudiedCompanionsinChrist:TheWayofGrace[UpperRoomBooks].GodgraciouslyledmetoasermonbyTheRev.Dr.ThomasG.Longtitled“TheStartoftheTrail.”PonderRev.Long’swordsofwisdom:“WhatJesustoldNicodemuswasshocking...shockingtoNicodemusandmaybeshockingtous,too.Jesussaid, ‘Nicodemus, youdon'tneedGod inyour life.... Youdon'tneedGod to come intoyour life.That'sbackwards.YouneedtocomeintoGod'slife.…GodoffersusGod'sownlifeasagiftandbeckonsustoenterit.YouneedtobeinthelifeofGod.Infact,Nicodemus,youneedtobebornalloveragain,thistimebornintoGod'slife."‘Idon'tknowhowtodothat,’saidNicodemus.‘Idon'tknowhowtobebornalloveragainintothelifeofGod.’AndJesussaid,‘Iknowyoudon'tknow.Well,thereisgoodnewsforyou,Nicodemus.ThelifeofGodisnotfarawayfromyou.ThelifeofGodhascomeneartoyou.Indeed,thelifeofGodissittingrightnexttoyou,speakingtoyounow.’ThelovethatbindstogetherFather,Son,andHolySpirit,thepassionatelovethatflowsinthedivinelife,intherelationshipsoftheTrinity,hasspilledoutintotheworldinJesus.GodsolovedtheworldthatGodhasgivenGod'sonlySon...givenaSonnottocondemntheworldbuttosaveit...givenaSonasawayintothefullnessofthelifeofGod.Inotherwords,JesusChristiswherethetrailstarts,thetrailthatleadsusintothejoyfulandlovinglifeofGod.”

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PRAYSaviorandCreatorGod,YouwholovedyourcreationsomuchthatyousentJesustosaveusandnottocondemn us. Guide us to seek and follow the Jesus trail so that we can assist you in the repair andrestorationofyourcreationNOW.ThroughJesusChristandinthepoweroftheHolySpirit.Amen.GO Be“bornagain”and“saved”intotheabundantlifeofGodNOW.BeattentivetoGod’s“salvationmoments”NOW.FollowthetrailofJesusthatleadstorestorationofGod’screationNOW.RitaProctorTuesday,March14,2017WordoftheLord:ColoringBooksPAUSEIfIweretosummarizethebookofExodusinafewwordsIwouldsaythatittalksaboutlivingintheword;perhapsofChrist,religiousknowledgeorpersonalpreferencesrelatingtoyourbeliefs.This,much likeotherbooks,passages,ortextscanbeinterpretedmultipleways.LISTEN:Exodus20:1-17Exodus 20: 1-17 starts out with the sentence, ¨And God spoke these words" followed by The TenCommandments.Bydefinition,TheTenCommandmentsare¨lawsorruleshandeddowntoMosesbyGodonMountSinai.¨WhenIsawthisdefinition,Ihadonequestion:“Aretheselawsmeanttobefollowedexactlyorinterpreted?”OnethingthatIhavelearnedovermyyearsinBiblestudies,churchservices,SundaySchoolhoursandyouthgroups,isthatinordertotrustinGodandgrowasaChristianyouhavetodoatleastonething.YouhavetotrytotakethewordoftheLordintoyourownsituation.Everyword,idea,orstorytalkedaboutisnotsetinstone;theseideasandstoriesaremeanttobeaddedonto.These"lawsandrules"setguidelinesorareastofollow--likeacoloringbook.Idon'tknowaboutyou,butmycoloringbookwouldbeallovertheplace.Mycolorsmightnotbethesameasyours;mylinesanddesignsmightnotbeeither.ButIdon'tthinkGodcaresaboutthedifferentcolorsordesigns.IthinkGodcaresaboutwhatyougetoutofthebigpicture.Messyorneat,insidethelinesoroutsideofthem,itdoesn'tmatterupthere.Ourstoriesandideasareuniqueandpersonal,suchastherulessetbyGodandsuchashisrequests.TobeagoodChristianIdon'tthinkyouhavetofollowexactlyeverythingwrittenintheBible.Idon'tthinkyouhavetocrossyourt'sanddotyouri's.IthinktorelatetoGod,tobeabletocoloryourownpicture,you have to interpret God's words. God will guide you along the lines of his words to follow in hisfootsteps.Colorinsidethelinesoroutside;makeitabstractorsimple.Whateveritlookslike,youwillbeexceptedbyGodintohiskingdom.Ithinkthekeyistorelatepersonally.Whoknows--maybeJesus/Godhasacoloringbooktoo!PRAYLord,helpustoliveourfaithwhereyouare--outsideofthelines,outsideoftheboat,andwalkingwherenooneelsegoes.Suchafaithisonethatcompelsshepherdboystostanduptogiants,widowstousethe

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lastbitofflourandoilinthecupboardtofeedstrangers,andfishermentowalkonwaterinthemidstofaragingstorm.Letmejoinyouinlivingfaithoutsideofthebox.-AnonymousGOGoandcolorthepartoflife’spicturethathasnotyetbeendreamedorsetinstone.VictoriaWoodsUniversityUMCYouthWednesday,March15,2017BeforeandAfterPAUSEBeforewestumbledindarkness;nowwewalkinthelight.Beforeweweredeadandsubmergedinthewatersofsin;nowwearerisen,ourlungsfilledwithlife-givingbreath.Whatmakesthedifference?Whatcausesustoseeclearly,tobreathedeeply,andpulsewithnewlife?TheimmeasurablegiftofGod’sgrace.LISTEN:Ephesians2:1-7REFLECTI’malwaysintriguedbythosedietingbeforeandafterpictures,butIneverreallytrustthem.Placedsidebyside,thetransformationlookssoeasy,sosuddenasifthepersonwenttobedonenightwithhispajamabottomscutting intohiswaistlineandawokethenextmorningneedingabelt.Ofcourse,weknowinreality thereweremenusplanned,caloriescounted, slicesof cakedeclined,anda thousand reluctantwalksintherainandcold.It’sthesamewiththose“fixerupper”showsonHGTV.Atthetopofthehour,we’reshownabungalowthatismoldy,dingy,andheldupbyspitandaprayer.Fasterthanyoucanmakeasandwich,there’saglisteningshowpiecerepletewithsubwaytile,doublevanities,andakitchenislandthesizeofaSubaru.Onlythebravestamonguswouldtrythiswiththeirownhome.Suchtotaltransformationsnecessitateblood,sweat,andtears.Alotoftears.Don’tthey?Waryasweareofsomuchsmokeandmirrors,wedistrustthosescripturesthatdescribethefree-flowingmercyofGod’sgraceinChrist.Surelywemustdosomethingtoreceiveit?Surelythere’satallyboardintheskysomewheremakingnoteofoureveryattitude,thought,andaction?IfGodissmartandfairandwise,thewaywearesmart,andfairandwise,thenGodwouldkeepscore.TothisPaulsays,“No.”Ourdivinetransformationhasnothingtodowithhowloveablewewere,buthaseverythingtodowithhowincrediblylovingGodis.ItisGodwhomakesusaliveinChrist.ItisGodwhoraisesuswithChrist.ItisGodwhoplucksusoutofourhumdrumcontentmentwiththelowestcommondenominatorandsitsusintheheavenlyplaceswithChrist.WhenwetrulygraspthesheerenormityofGod'smercy,love,graceandkindness,wecan’thelpbutrespondbythrowingourwholeselvesintobringingaboutthehealthandhealingofGod’speopleandtherebuildingofGod’starnishedworld.PRAYEvenwhenwearedead,Paulwrites.

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EvenwhenweturnawayfromtheOnewhocreatedus.EvenwhenweliveinthegripofwhatdrawsourgazefromGod.Evenwhenweareoblivious.Evenwhenwefollowapathfashionedofnothingbutourowndesires.Evenwhenwewanderfarandwillfullyaway.Evenwhenweforgottolookpastourownfeetandtoseethewondersnotofourmaking.Evenwhenwefailtostandinawe,tobreathethanks,toleanintothelovethathaswaitedlongforus.Evenwhen,Paulwrites.Evenwhen,eventhen:grace.OLord,wepraiseyouformakingusalivetogetherinJesusChrist.Amen.GOGod’sloveisfreelygiven;therefore,mayyouwalkinabundantlife,eternallife,fullnessoflife,afreedlife,alovedlife,alovinglife,andagrace-givinglife.Andforallthesegifts,givethanks.PastorMitziJohnsonThursday,March16,2017Adoration:StartHerePAUSEScripture is full of examples of God’s people responding to God in adoration, reciting back to GodexamplesofGod’sgreatnessatworkintheworldandinindividuallives.What’sgoingonhere?WhatdifferencedoesitmakewhenwegiveadorationfirstplaceinourworshipofGod?LISTEN:Psalm95REFLECTSeveralyearsagoIsteppedoutsidemycomfortzoneofregularchurchattendanceandjoinedaWomen’sBibleStudy.Ididn’tjustjoinit;Iofferedtohostit,whichmeantIcouldn’tshowuplateandleaveearly.Clearly,I’darrivedatapointwhereIwasreadytogetseriousaboutengagingwithmyfaith.Knowingthatspiritualgrowthwasmymotivation,thegroupleadertookmeasideoneeveningtoofferanobservationaboutmyapproachtoprayer.“Lianne,”shesaid,“Yourprayersseemtofocusawholelotonaskingforstuff.”Right.Sowhat’syourpoint?“Don’tgetmewrong,”shecontinued,“Supplicationisoneaspectofprayer,butitisn’ttheonlythinganditisn’tnecessarilywhereyouwanttobegin.”Blankstare.ShethenwentontointroducemetotheACTSapproachtoprayer:Adoration,Confession,Thanksgiving,andSupplication.Inthatorder.Sheaskedmetocommittothisapproachforaweekandreportbackthenexttimewemet.Inparticular,sheaskedmetopayattentiontowhathappenstoC,TandSwhenprayerbeginswithA.Iacceptedherchallenge.WhatIlearnedthosemanyyearsagoandcontinuetobeamazedbytodayisthatadorationchangeseverything.WhenIbeginmyprayerwithadoration,confessionismorehonestand less intimidating; thanksgiving transcends theobviousandembodies theunexpected;andsupplicationislessaboutaskingandmoreaboutsittinginsilence,confidentthatthegoodnessofGodwillhavethelastword,regardlessoftheseverityofthepain,thedepthoftheworry,orthecomplexityoftheproblem.

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How dowe go about adoring God? By speaking back to God through scripture, song, and our ownexperiencesofGodatworkinourlives,innatureandintheworldaroundus--thetruthaboutwhoGodis.Today’spassageofscriptureisawonderfulexampleofadoration.ThepsalmistproclaimswhatGodhas revealed about God’s own character: the rock of our salvation, great above all gods, creative,compassionate. Attributes abound but prove inadequate in expressing the fullness of the psalmist’spraise.“Let’ssing!”instructsthepsalmist.“Let’smakeajoyfulnoise!Let’sbowdowninworship!Let’srememberandnever losesightof theseeternaland irrevocable facts: He isourGodandweare thepeopleofhispasture,thesheepofhishand.”PRAYLoving, faithful,mightyGod,youare theAlphaandOmegawho is,whowasandwho is tocome, theAlmighty.Thisiswhoyouare,andwhoyouareiseverythingIneed.Amen.GOOmagnifytheLordwithmeandletusexalthisnameforever(Psalm34:3).LianneMacGregorFriday,March17,2017PAUSECouldyouloveonewhohaswrongedyou?Ifyouwrongedanother,wouldyouhopetheycouldforgiveyouandloveyouagain?Jesuslovedeventhosewhowrongedhim.Hecallsustodothesame.LISTEN:Luke22:1-13REFLECTIn today’s scripture Jesus is preparing for dinner. The dinner is the Passovermeal, or the Festival ofUnleavenedBread,whichcelebratestheJewishpeople’sdeliverancefromslaveryinEgypt.Granted,hisinstructiontofollowamancarryingajarintoahouseandtoprocurethehome’sguestroomisratherunorthodox.Butnevertheless,thesearedinnerpreparations!Withwhomdowesharedinner?Mostofusinviteourfriendstodinner,orthosewhomwehopemaybecomefriends.Mealsareplacesofconnection,times inwhich intimacycandevelop.Wedon’t invitethosewhohavewrongedus,orthosewhointendtoharmus.Wejustdon’tdoit.ButJesusdoes.JesuspreparesthePassovermealforhisdisciples,includingtheonewhowillbetrayhim,JudasIscariot.WecouldponderJudas’motivesforbetrayal,butthatwouldmissthepoint. Itwoulddistractusfromwhat’sreallygoingonhere.JudasintendstobetrayJesus,tohandJesusovertotheauthoritieswhointendtokillhim.Jesusknowsthis!Andyet,evenstill,Jesussetsaplaceforhimatthetable.Glass,plate,utensils–theyareallthere.Perhaps this is not surprising. Jesus never seemed very good at discerning acceptable dinner guests.ThroughoutthegospelofLuke,Jesuscriticscomplain,“Whydoyou[Jesus’disciples]eatanddrinkwithtaxcollectorsandsinners?”(5:30)and“Thisfellowwelcomessinnersandeatswiththem”(15:2).Jesusisnotonlyseeninpublicwithundesirables,heevenembracestheminprivate.“Hehasgonetobetheguest

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ofonewhoisasinner”(19:7).SowhenJesusputsJudasontheguestlistofhislastdinnerparty,Jesusisactingincharacter.WhenwecelebratecommuniontheliturgyremindsusofJesus’character.“Heatewithsinners,”theGreatThanksgivingproclaims.ItisareminderthatJesus’standardsforfriendshavelittletodowithpeople’sactions,andeverythingtodowithJesusownunbounded,inclusivelove.ThisisthegoodnewsofLent:theguestlistofsinnersatJesus’tableincludesthelikesofyouandme.PRAYOpentheeyesofmyheartwithyourlove,LordJesus.ShowmehowIhavewrongedothers.Givemethecouragetorepentandseektheirforgiveness.Andgrantmethegracetoforgivethosewhohavewrongedme.ForIwishtoloveasyoulove.Transformme,LordJesus,Ipray.Amen.GORememberthatJesusatewithsinners,peoplelikeyouandme.Extendyourtabletoothers.Pullupextrachairs.LovelikeJesus,forJesusfirstlovedus.PastorCarlH.KingSaturday,March18,2017APowerfulLovePAUSEManypeopleseemtothinkthatGodonlylovescertainpeople,asinthosewhobelieveinGodanddon’tcommitspecificsins.ItisimportanttoknowthatGodloveseveryone,nomatterwhattheylooklike,orwhattheybelieve,orevenwhatwrongstheycommitted.LISTEN:Romans5:6-11REFLECTIONJesusdidn’tdieforusbecauseweweregreatpeoplethatdeservedtobeadmiredandloved,butratherbecauseoftheopposite.Hediedforusbecausewewereunworthysinnersthatdidn’tdeservesuchasacrificetobemadeforus.Weareallbroken,whetherwewerethedisobedientchildwhosnucksomecandy when their parents told them not to, or whether we were the mass shooter who murderedhundreds of people in one day. Comparing thewrongdoing of a disobedient child to that of amassmurderermayseemirrelevant,orevenridiculous.Butasdifferentastheiractionswere,therewasonethingincommonwiththem:theybothcommittedasin.WhywouldGodsendGod’ssontodieamosthumiliatingandpainfuldeathonthecross?ItisbecauseofGod’sloveandgraceforeachandeveryoneofus.Nomatterwhatwrongswecommit,orwhetherweevenbelieveinGod,weareallgiventhemostpowerfullovethatweourselvescouldn’tevenimagine.ToknowthatGodlovesusthatmuchdespiteourbrokennatureistrulyanamazingthing.WhetherwehavedoneGod’swillonEarthornot,wearewelcomedintoheavenwithanunconditionallovethatneverdies.WewillallbeheldcloseinGod’sarmsandliveinalifeofeternalharmonyandgrace.GodlovesthemassshooterjustasmuchasGodlovesthedisobedientchild.Godreceiveseachwiththatsameunconditionallovethatnoonecouldcomprehend.

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PRAYERDearGod,thankyouforlovingusallnomatterwhatwethinkordo.Helpustoknowthatyouarealwaysthereforus,andremindusthatyouhaveaplaceforusinheaven.Pleasegiveustheabilitytobemerciful,just,kind,humble,graceful,andlovingsothatwecanlivelikeJesusdid,andtoknowthatyouloveusunconditionally.Thankyouforallyoudoforus.Inyournamewepray,Amen.GOGoandlivelikeJesus,showingloveandkindnesstoeveryone.KatieKincadeUUMCYouthSunday,March19,20173rdSundayinLentJohn4:5-42YouareinvitedtoworshipGodincommunityatUniversityUMC(150E.FranklinSt.,ChapelHill,NC)orjoinusonlineathttps://www.youtube.com/user/ChapelHillUUMC.Monday,March20,2017AWell-thofTestimonyPAUSEThestoryofJesus’conversationwiththeSamaritanwomanatthewelltugsatourdesiretobelovedandacceptedforwhoweare,wartsandall.There’ssuchreassuranceinJesus’affirmationofthisheavyheartedwomanthatwecanbetemptedtostopreadingwhensherunsoffintotown.Butthewoman’sencounterwithJesusisjustthebeginning.LISTEN:John4:5-42REFLECTWherewereyouduringtheGreatChapelHillWaterCrisisof2017?Didyoudashtothestoretostockupongallonjugs?Didyouescapetoafriend’shouseinDurham?Ordidyousecretlyenjoytheexcusetobelazyandungroomed?(Myhandgoesup,here!)InthehalcyondaysbeforeOWASAdelivereditsdecree,Iselectedthispassagetowriteabout,becausethestoryoftheSamaritanwoman’sencounterwithJesusatthewell issopreciousandprofound.AsIapproachthestoryagain,havingsufferedthrough24hourswithoutaccesstowater(recognizingthat,asthe entire Twitter community rightly pointed out, Flint has itmuchworse), I expected to find a newappreciationforJesus’promiseoflivingwater.There’snothingliketheinconvenienceofabasicsurvivalneedtomakeapersonstoptakingthesupplyforgranted.All of the story’s originalmeaningwas there: the surprising kindness that Jesus demonstrates to thisoutsider,herdawningrecognitionthattheirconversationwasaboutmorethanH20,Jesus’compassionate

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patienceasheuncoversheremotionalpain,andherEaster-morningexclamationof faith. Jesus’deepquenchingofthewoman’sspiritualthirststruckmeinanewwayafterhavingfeltabitparchedmyself.The story doesn’t end, however, at verse 26 when Jesus reveals he is theMessiah. The rest of thecommunitynowenterstobroadenthescopeofJesus’promise.Thesudden(“justthen”)appearanceofthedisciplesanddepartureofthewoman(withoutherwaterjar!)almostsoundasthoughthescenehasended.Butifyoureadon,youdiscoveranadditionallayerthatcontinuesJesus’message.Asthedisciplespuzzleoveryetanotherenigmaticdeclarationfromtheirleader,thewomanralliesthetownspeopleto“comeandsee,”echoingJesus’owninvitationinanearlierchapter.Nolongerdejected,shethrowsopenthegatethatbarsentrytooutcasts,tramplesthefencethatseparatesin-groupsfromout-groups,andboldlyrelatesherconversationwithJesus.Twiceshereferstohimas“someonewhotoldmeeverythingIhaveeverdone.”Inverse39weseethefruitsofhercourage:“ManySamaritansfromthatcitybelievedinhimbecauseofthewoman’stestimony….”AllshehadtodowasdescribeherencounterwithJesus,andtheHolySpiritmovedherlisteners’hearts.Thegospelwriterusestheword“many”intwodifferentversestodescribethenumberofSamaritanswhocametobelieveinJesusastheMessiah.Whatisyourrefreshingtestimony?PRAYGodofallgraceandglory,thankyouforthismomenttolearnfromyourword.Helpeachoneofustoleavebehindthewellsthatprovideonlytemporaryrefreshmentinordertotakeholdofthesourceoflivingwater.Leadustopeoplewhomightneedacupofquenchingcoolness,andgiveuscouragetodisclosenotjustwhatweknowbutalsowhoweknow.GOHo,everyonewhothirsts,cometothewaters;andyouthathavenomoney,come,buyandeat!--Isaiah55:1JennyMcGloneTuesday,March21,2017ByGrace…AllthingsarepossiblePAUSEWehaveallheardcountlesstimes,“bytheGraceofGod!”Butwhatdoesthatreallymean?LISTEN:Ephesians2:8-10Forbygraceyouhavebeensavedthroughfaith,andthisisnotyourowndoing;itisthegiftofGod—9nottheresultofworks,sothatnoonemayboast.10Forwearewhathehasmadeus,createdinChristJesusforgoodworks,whichGodpreparedbeforehandtobeourwayoflife.

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REFLECTGraceisaconceptthatisbyitsnaturehardtograsp.IthinkthisistrueformanyofusbecausewearenevertrulypreparedtounderstandandgrasptheoverwhelmingpowerofloveandgreatnessthatisGod.Infact,I’mnotsuremostofusareevencapabletounderstand.Iwasblessed inthepasttoactasafriend infaithforoneofourconfirmands.Hesharedwithmehisfrustrations after having had the opportunity to visit one of the other faith communities with hisConfirmationClass.HewasfrustratedbecausehefeltlikeoneofthechurcheshevisitedwastryingtoputGod inabox,basedon theirowndefinitionofGod.After thinkingabout it,webothagreed that it isimpossibletoputGodinabox…GodISTHEBOX!Andsoitiswithgrace,Ibelieve.God’sgraceissolarge,soencompassing,sogreatthatwecannotbegintounderstanditcompletely.ThebestwemightdoissimplyacceptitandtrytolivealifethatmightbepleasingtoHim,basedonallthatweknowtobetrue.Sothisisformeaprescriptionforlife,thatIwouldliveinawaythatmightbepleasingtoGod,assmallandinsignificantasIam.NotsothatImightpleaseothers,orpleasemyself,butthatImightpleaseGod.ForitisthroughGod’sgracethatwearesaved,notbyanythingthatwedo.PRAYOGod,mayyourgracefindmeinallthatIamdoing.Amen.GOLivealifethatmightbepleasingtoGod.Ifyouevencomeclose,youwillbewellonyourwaytopeace.ShawnMcClarnonWednesday,March22,2017JoyforAllPAUSEDoyoueverfeellikeyourgoodworksgounnoticedwhileyourshortcomingsgetalltheattention?LISTEN:Luke15:1-10REFLECTIwasoneof“those”studentsgrowingup;fromthetimereportcardswereissuedinthe3rdgrade,IgotstraightA’s.I’msuremyparentswereproudthatIearnedA'sineverysubject,buttheyweren’ttheonesputtingthatkindofpressureonme;Ididthatonmyown.Ifeltdriventopleasemyteachersandparents,andbydoingso,Iwaspleased.Iwasself-driventomakeperfectmarksinschool,andIsucceeded.UntilthedayIdidn’t.In7thgrade,IreceivedmyfirstB—inScience.Iwascrushed.Myacademicmarkswerenolongerperfect,andIhadletdownmyteachersandparents.Cryingandashamed,Ihandedmytaintedreportcardtomydad,expectinghimtoshowhisdisappointmentandevenanger.Hisreactionsurprisedmethenandamusesmenow.Hecheered!Heclapped!HecalledtherestofthefamilyintocelebrateandrejoiceinmyfirstB.Rejoice?Ididn’tunderstand.Jesus’ parables present many layers, interpretations, and take-away lessons today as they did two-thousandyearsago. Jesus toldTheParableof theLostSheepandTheParableof theLostCoin to the

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PhariseesandthescribesinreactiontotheirgrumblingsthatHetalkedtoandsatwiththetaxcollectorsandsinners.Whywasthererejoicingatonefoundsheepandonefoundcoin?Becausetheninety-ninesheepandtheninecoins(representingthePhariseesandscribes)didn’tneedanycelebration.However,thetaxcollectorsandsinnerswereeagertohearJesus’teachings.Jesusexplainedthat“therewillbemorejoy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need norepentance.”WhydidmydadrejoiceandcelebratemyoneBamongallA’s?Becausehedidn’tneedtocelebratetheA’s.Butthere’smore,morefrommydadandmorefromourHeavenlyFather.Ididn’tneedtomakeallA’stobeacceptedbymyteachersandlovedbymyfamily.Moreimportantly,God’sgraceisavailabletoallwhobelieveinHimandrepentoftheirsins.Andwe’reallsinners:taxcollectors,Pharisees,scribes,shepherds,womenwholosethings,evenmiddleschoolgirlswhomakeB’sinScience.Ourimperfectionsrevealourhumanness,andwhenweacknowledgeourshortcomingsandaskGodforforgivenessandguidancetogetontherightpath,thatisreasontocelebrate.PRAYLord,leadusawayfromfeelingandactingself-righteousandleadusclosertohumilityandclosertoyou.Amen.GOWiththeknowledgethatGod’sgraceisavailabletoeachofus,letusrepentofoursinssothatwetoo,mayrejoiceinthepresenceofangels.SarahCooleyThursday,March23,2017InAbundance,MoreWorry?PAUSEDigginginthedirt,plantingandgrowingcanreconnectuswithGod’screationandreapemotional,physicalandspiritualbenefits.LISTEN:Matthew6:25-30REFLECT

Asagirl,mygrandmotherlivedthroughtheGreatDepression.Herfamilyof10livedonafarm,growingtheirownfood,raisinganimals,andtradingwithneighborsforanyitemsthattheylacked.Ifshewenttoschoolwithalunchthatshefoundalittlerepetitiousorboring,shesimplyswappedwithotherchildren.Bytoday’sstandards,mygrandmother’sfamilywaspoor.Buttheydidn’tconsiderthemselvesassuch,andshedidn’tfindherselfworryingthattheywouldlackfoodorotherbasicnecessities.Hermothermadetheirclothes.Theyhadeachother.Tohearhertellit,theyhadallthattheyneeded.Jesus,inverse25,tellsusnottoworry:“Therefore,Itellyou,donotworryaboutyourlife,whatyouwilleatorwhatyouwilldrink,oraboutyourbody,whatyouwillwear.Isnotlifemorethanfood,andthebodymorethanclothing?”

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My life is filled with plenty, more than enough food and material possessions for my needs. Butbombardedwithadvertisementsandoptions,sometimesIcanbeledtothinkthatIdon’thaveenough.Istewoverthe“right”dresstoweartochurch,theperfectdinnertoservetoguests.Even inallofmyabundance,Isometimesstillworry.Perhapsyoudo,too.ButI’venoticedthatwhenIchoosetorestinandrelyonGod,andtosimply“be,”myworryoftenceases,atleastforalittlewhile.Iwonderifmygrandmother’sfamily–becausetheywereconnectedtotheland,eatingaccordingtowhatevereachseasonbrought–foundthemselvesmoreconfidentthatGodwouldprovideindueseason.CanIbecontenttowaitontherightseason?Today,fewofusgrowanyofourownfood.Manyyouthandyoungadultshaveneverevenvisitedafarm.All sorts of produce and meat come to us from around the world, delivered to our neighborhoodsupermarket,sowetypicallydon’teatseasonallyandlocally.WebuyapplesyearroundfromWashingtonStateandNewZealand,manyofwhichhavebeenstoredinchilled,modifiedwarehousesforsixmonthsormoretopreventripening.Webuyimportedfarmedfish–muchofwhichispoorinqualityandhasanegativeimpactontheenvironment.Ourbreads,ladenwithpreservatives,lastforweekswithoutrotting.Whilewehavedevelopedmethodsto increaseourabundance,wealsohaveconditionedourselves inunhealthy,unsustainableways.Butwhatif?Whatifwesupportthelocalfarmer,whodoesliveaccordingtotheseasons?WhatifwestartedgrowingsomeofourownfoodtobetterattuneourselvestoGod’screation?Whatifwereclaimedourconnectiontothelandandsawitasaspiritualmandatetoreduce,reuse,andrecycle?Couldweslowouranxiousmindsandworryless?Couldwebe,andthenlooktoyoutodo?PRAYDearCreatorandSustainerofLife,helpustoputasideourfearsofinsufficiencyandtocometoyouwiththanksgivingforallthatwehave.Wecannotaddasinglehourtoourlivesbyourworry.Helpustobe,andhelpustobeyours.Amen.GOThissubtractionprayer,basedonPsalm46:10,bringsmepeaceintimeswhenIfindmyselfworriedoranxious,soI’vecommittedittomemory.Asyoureaditslowly,mayGod’swordsalsospeaktoyouintimesofneed.BestillandknowthatIamGod.BestillandknowthatIam.BestillandknowthatI.Bestillandknowthat.Bestillandknow.Bestill.Be.AmyHoogervorst

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Friday,March24,2017SurelyGoodnessandMercyPAUSEThe23rdPsalm,oftenreferredtoas"TheShepherdsPsalm”ismemorizedandreferredtomorefrequentlythananyotherPsalm.LISTEN:Psalm23REFLECTI remembermy third gradeBible School teacher teaching these six verses tome andmy classmates.Recently,IheardamemberoftheclergyrefertothisPsalm,bysharingahumorouscomment:"Childrenwereaskedtomemorizethe23rdPsalmandthensayitaloud.WhenDanny'sturncame,hesaid,"TheLordismyShepherd,"andsatdown.Theteacherasked,"Areyougoingtosaytherest?"Hisreply,"That'sallIneedtoknow."Howcomfortingitistoknowthat"TheLordisourShepherd."There is a senseof renewal ifwe take time fromourbusy lives toenjoy themanywondersofGod'screationofgreenfields,parksandstreams.Toooftenthesewondersaredestroyedbycarelessfires,airpollutionandchemicals,pluswasteproductsdisposedinthestillwaters.HowcomfortingitistoknowthatGodisalwayswithus.PartoflivingisexperiencingtrialsandtribulationswhichthePsalmistcalls,"thedarkestvalley."Irememberaseverecaseofwhoopingcoughasachild,thenlaterinlifeafracturedbackandasevereAsianfluillness.DuringconvalescenceIhadtheopportunitytoreadscripture,spendtimeinprayerforhealingandtogivethanksforalovingmother'scare.Verse4ofthePsalmremindsustofearnoevilforGodiswithus.Howcomfortingthisiswhenweareaskedtoserve inanewwayormaybetotraveltonewareasandshareaschurch leadersourfaith inChrist.OneincidentIrecallwhereIreliedonfaithinGodwasatduskinWashingtonD.C.Myhusbandwasthereonbusiness.Ihadvisitedsomemuseumsandwaswalkingalonebacktoourhotel.Approachingmewerefivetallyoungpeoplewhomademeanxious.Ithoughtiftheyareouttodoharm,IwillflingmypurseasfarasIcanandscream.Astheyapproached,Ikeptwalkingtowardthemandlookedtheleaderintheeye.Hecommented,"Boydoyoulooknice."Ireplied,"Thankyou,"andadded"ThankyouGod"andkeptwalking.Ihaveacarved,tallwoodenstaffthatChristiansinSamoapresentedtome.DonandIhadoneweekthereformanytimesofworshipandfaith-sharingduringaglobaltour.WeareallmembersofaworldfamilyofChristians.ManyareveryinvolvedservingasChrist'smoderndaydisciples,sharingtheword,preparingtables of food and offering hospitality.Many of ourmembers in distant lands and isolated areas aregratefultohavevisitorscomeandrememberthem.Ifdistanceseparatesus,ourprayersuniteus.PrayerisawonderfulgiftandagreatwaytorememberothersandbeinconversationwithGod.AmotherwaspreparinghersonAdamtostartschoolasakindergartener.Itwasathreeblockwalkfromtheirhometoschool.Hedidnotwanthismothertowalkwithhim.Sincehewasanewstudent,shehadsomeconcerns.Herneighboroftenwalkedwithafriendwhopushedaninfantinababybuggy.TheywereChristian friends and she readily agreed to followAdamandhis neighbor friend.As theywalked, theneighborasked,"Whyarethosewomenfollowingus?"Adamknewthe23rdPsalm.Heanswered,"SurelyGoodnessandMercywillfollowyouallthedaysofyourlife."

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PRAYCreatorGod,thankyouforbeingwithusallthedaysofourlife.Forgiveuswhenwefailtocareforthemanywondersofyourcreation.Thankyouforyourholywordthathasbeensharedforcenturiesandcontinuestoguideandsustainbelievers.AmenGOMayyougoandbefaithfulfollowersofChrist,mindfuloftheneedsofothers,bothphysicalandspiritual,asweserveinGod’sname.FrancesM.AlguireSaturday,March25,2017WhoamI? PAUSEToknowhowtoshineyourlight,youmustfirstknowwhoyouare.LISTEN:Ephesians5:8-9Foronceyouweredarkness,butnowintheLordyouarelight.Liveaschildrenoflight—forthefruitofthelightisfoundinallthatisgoodandrightandtrue.REFLECTInsideourhouse,allwaswell-eventerrific.Yet,2016mayhavebeenthemostconfoundingyearofmylifeintheworldatlarge.Iwrestledwithhowtoliveinthelight,howtobeabeaconofGod’sloveinthemidstofdistressingandpolarizingtimes.Asawriterwithanonlinepresence,IknewIhadtochoosemycausescarefully.WouldIspeakupabouteveryissuethatcrawledundermyskin?Ididn’twanttobethewritereveryoneignoredbecausehervoicejoinedthecacophonousroaroftheinternet,whereeveryonehasanopiniononeverything,andeveryoneisangryaboutsomething.AsIdiscernedmypublicpersona,IhadtorememberwhoIwas.Andwhoweareisreallywhoseweare.WeareGod’sbeloved,childrenhecreatedinthewomb,tohavespiritualgifts,interestsandskills.The5thchapterofPaul’slettertotheEphesiansbegins,“ThereforebeimitatorsofGod,asbelovedchildren,andliveinlove,asChristlovedusandgavehimselfupforus,afragrantofferingandsacrificetoGod.”IultimatelydecidedtocraftmyvoicearoundtheGod-givenaspectsofmycharacterandmyuniquelifeexperiences as a special needsmom,which have ledme to advocate for children. Thiswould bemyoffering,mylivingsacrifice.MypromisetomyselfandmyreadersisthatIwillalwaysfightforchildrenwhoaredifferent;Iwillbetheirvoicewhentheirsaren’theard.ThecausesIbelieveinanddiscussinmyprivatelifemaynevermakeittothescreen,andthatisok.ThatdoesnotmeanIdon’tcareordon’thaveopinions. It doesn’t evenmean I won’t take action. It simplymeans I have chosenmy public wordscarefully,soasnottobecomewhitenoise.Whataboutyou?AsGod’sbeloved,whatisyourvoice?HowdidGoddesignyou?Howcanyoubeachildoflightwhobearsfruit“thatisgoodandrightandtrue?”

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PRAYDearFather,helpmetodiscernthewordsandactionsthatwillserveyouandbringhonortoyourname,forItrulydesiretobeachildoflight.MayIacceptwithgracethelifeyou’vegivenmeandreturnittoyouasalivingsacrifice.Amen.GO“IfIcouldonlyholdGodinmymind.IfIcouldonlyalwaysjustthinkofHim.”FlanneryO’ConnorMeredithDangelSunday,March26,20174thSundayinLentJohn9:1-41YouareinvitedtoworshipGodincommunityatUniversityUMC(150E.FranklinSt.,ChapelHill,NC)orjoinusonlineathttps://www.youtube.com/user/ChapelHillUUMC.

Monday,March27,2017

APresentMindsetPAUSEWealllongforpeaceandfreedominourheartsandourminds.WhenwefocusourmindsonthingsoftheSpirit,thereisfreedomandthereispeace.HowinourdailylivescanwerenewthisfocusandliveinChrist’sfreedomandpeace?Howcanwesharethiswithothers?LISTEN:Romans8:1-11REFLECTSomanydaysI’vearrivedatadestination(work,home,etc.)afterdrivingandhavenorecollectionofthedrivetogetthere.Idon’trememberifthereweremanycars,whatthetreeslookedlike,orwhattheskylookedlike.MymindoftenracesaroundsomanythingsthatIfailtoseethepersononthesideoftheroadwhoneededhelp,or really listen tomydaughter talkingaboutherday.Whydoes thishappen?Whereismymind?Whatisgoverningmythoughtsandactions?ButtherearealsodayswhereIwakeupandIamintentionalinmythoughts,inmyprayers,andinmyactions.ThesedaysIseeothersfirst;Ifeeltherealityandthegraceoftheday,andthereisclarityinthepresent.Whatcreatesthisdifferenceofexperienceandthought?EachyearIchooseawordtobethe“theme”oftheyear.Iprayforwhatthatwordandfocusshouldbeandthisyearthewordispresent.TobepresentandsetourmindsontheSpiritchangesourperspective.AswefocusonthisseasonofLent,mayourmindsbesetontheSpirit,onpeace,onservingothersbeyondourselves,onreallylistening,andbeingpresentrightwhereGodwouldhaveus.Maywerememberourdrives,ourconversationsandthegiftofthepresent.

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PRAYLord,youhaveprovidedfreedomandpeaceinYourSpirit.Wethankyouforthisgiftandpraythatyouopenoureyesandmindstothispeaceinyou,intheeveryday,inthebigandinthesmall,sothatwemaysharethatfreedomandpeacewithothers.GOMakemeachannelofyourpeace,Itisinpardoningthatwearepardoned,Ingivingofourselvesthatwereceive.Andindyingthatwe’reborntoeternallife.-StFrancisofAssisi(PeacePrayer)JohnaRegisterMihalikTuesday,March28,2017GoingAboveandBeyondPAUSEItissaidthat“Ifyoudowhatyoulove,you’llneverworkadayinyourlife.”Similarly,ifyoutakejoyinwhatyouareaskedtodo,itwillneverbeaburden.LISTEN:Jeremiah31:31-34Iwillputmylawwithinthem,andIwillwriteitontheirhearts.REFLECT"Whatissomethingthatyouhavetodo,butforwhichyoudomorethanisrequiredbecauseyoujustliketodoit?"ThiswasthequestionIputtothemiddleschoolSundaySchoolclassacoupleyearsago.Theanswersweren'tterriblysurprising:shootbaskets,playthepiano,writestories,etc.Thequestiondidhelpthekidsrecognizethatdoingwhatyouaretoldisn'talwaysthedrudgerythatteenagersmakeitouttobe.Sowhydid Iaskthisquestion?WewerestudyingtheGospelsand IwastryingtobringthemalivebyshowingtheclassscenesfromFrancoZeffirelli’sfilm"JesusofNazareth."Inourscenefortheweek,Jesussaystohisdisciples,"Godwantstowritethelawonyourhearts."Ithoughttomyself,“Idon'trememberthosewordsbeingintheGospel,”soIgrabbedmyconcordance(ormaybeIjustlookedituponmyphone),andsoughtoutwherethosewordsappearintheBible.Ifoundthemonlyintoday'spassagefromJeremiahandinHebrewswherethewriterquotesJeremiah.Inbothplaces,God is establishinganewcovenantwithhispeople.Under theoriginal covenantwithAbrahamandMoses,God'speopleagreedtoworshiponlyhimandtoabidebyhislaws,andGodgavethemalandinwhichtoprosperandprotectionfromtheirenemies.ThepeopleofIsraelrepeatedlyfailedtoliveuptothecovenant,andhavinglostGod'sprotection,wereconqueredandtakenintoexile.JeremiahprophesizedthataftertheexileGodwouldcreateanewcovenant.Underit,thelawwouldnotbeimposeduponpeople,butwouldlivewithintheirhearts.ThewriterofHebrewsexplainedthatthisnewcovenantwasbasedonthereconcilingpowerofthecross.Undertheoldcovenant,peoplemade

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sacrifices in the vain hope that theywould cancel the sin of violatingGod's laws; but under thenewcovenant"wehavebeensanctifiedthroughtheofferingofthebodyofJesusChristonceforall."Sowhatdoesthishavetodowithwritingthelawonourhearts,andwhydidZeffirellichoosetogivethesewordstoJesusinhisfilm?Jesustaughtusthatwhilethelawgovernsouractions,Godistrulyconcernedaboutwhatis inourhearts.It isnotenoughtoresisttheurgetokillanotherperson;wemustcleanseourselvesoftheangerthatleadstokilling.Thishigherstandardseemsimpossibletomeet,yetJesustellsus,"Myyokeiseasy,andmyburdenislight."ThisapparentcontradictionissolvedbyJesus'deathandresurrection,whichmeansthatwearenolongerjudgedbyouractionsorourdesires,butbyour faith.Godknowsthatwewill fail,but ifwedesiretosucceedandconfessourfailures,wewillbeforgivenandreceiveeternallife.Thisisthetruththatsetsusfree.Thelawisaburdenwhenitkeepsusfromhavingthetreasuresinthislife,butwhenourtreasureisinheaven,theburdenislifted.LikethekidsinmySundaySchoolclasswhowantedtodomorethanwasrequiredofthembyshootingextrabasketsorplayingthepianolongerthanrequired,weallhaveobligationsatworkandhomethatwedooutofjoymorethanrequirement.WeshouldbringthissamefeelingtodoingGod'swill,bytakingjoyinlovingGodandservinghischildren.PRAYLord,weoweourlivestoyouandweknowthattheseliveswillfallshortofyourexpectations.Wethankyoufortheloveyoushowedbygivingusyourson,sothatourfailingswillnotseparateusfromyou.Wepraythatyouwillwriteyoulawonourheartssothatwemayalwaysseektoreturnyourlove.GOLetusapproachwithatrueheartinfullassuranceoffaith,withourheartssprinkledcleanfromanevilconscienceandourbodieswashedwithpurewater.Letusholdfasttotheconfessionofourhopewithoutwavering,forHewhohaspromisedisfaithful.Andletusconsiderhowtoprovokeoneanothertoloveandgooddeeds.KarlKnappWednesday,March29,2017ThoseDryBonesPAUSEManytimeswhenweexperienceextremelossorstresswesaythatwefeelasifweare“fallingapart.”InthismemorablepassagefromtheOldTestament,we learnhowGod’sgracecanputusbacktogetheragain,nomatterhowfracturedweare.LISTEN:Ezekiel37:1-14

REFLECTMythirdgradeclassatalocalelementaryschoolrecentlycompletedaunitonthehumanbody,largelyfocusingonthefunctionandpurposeofourskeletalsystem.Inoneofourintroductorylessonswegave

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eachchildalengthofyarnandaskedthemtocreateahumanfigurewithitonthetabletopinfrontofthem.Mostofthechildrenusedtheyarntoformanoutlineofahumanbody–abitliketheclassicgingerbreadman.“Wow,thoselookgreat!”weexclaimed.“Now,pickthemupandshowthemtoyourfriends!”Ofcourse,whenthestudentspickeduptheir figures, they foundthemselvesholding just thepieceofyarn.Their“person”hadlostitsshapeandfallenapart!Thatishowweintroducedtheconceptthatourskeletalsystemprovidessupportandstructurefortherestofourbody,aswellasallowsustomoveandprotectsourinternalorgansfromharm.TheprophetEzekielspoketoapeoplewhohadlosttheir“shape”aswell.Despitecountlesswarnings,thousandsofJudeanpeoplehadbeenexiledtoBabylonbecauseoftheircontinuingsinagainsttheLord.They were lost and scattered and confused. And yet they still refused to repent and ask God forforgiveness.Theyseemedtohaveforgottenthattheirinnerstrengthandsupport,theirabilitytogrowandmove,andtheirultimateprotectioncameonlyfromGod.Theyhadfallenapart.Ezekielwasrelentlessincallingouthispeoplefortheirtransgressions.AndyethewasequallyrelentlessinsharingthemessagethatreturningtoafaithfullifewouldleadtothehealingandrestorationofnotjustthenationofIsrael,buteventuallytosalvationfortheworld.Theprophet’svisionoftheValleyoftheDryBonesisoneofthemostmemorableaccountsintheBible,especiallytakeninthecontextofthisgreatermessage.Inthepreviouschapter,theLordhadcommandedEzekieltotellthepeople,“Iwilltakeyoufromthenations,andgatheryoufromallthecountries,andbringyouintoyourownland.Iwillsprinklecleanwateruponyou,and...anewheartIwillgiveyou,andanewspiritIwillputwithinyou.”(Ezekiel36:24-26).WhathappensnextisavividillustrationofthepoweroftheLordtodojustthat.AstheLordleadsEzekielintothisastonishingvision,iftheprophetishorrifiedatthesightofcountlessdryhumanbonesbeforehim,heshowsnosignofit.AndwhentheLordcommandshimtoprophesytothosewhoclearlycannothearhiswords,hedoessowithoutflinching.Perhapshehasgrownaccustomedtospeakingtothosewhowillnotlisten!Amazingly, thebonesriseupandknit themselvesbacktogetheragain. Theyareclothed in flesh,andinhalethebreathoflife.Theyareonceagainwholeandlivingpeople.Atfirstglance,thispassagestruckmeasanunusualchoiceforaLentendevotion.ButasIreflectedonit,especially inthecontextofthepreviouschapter, IbegantoseethatEzekiel isnotjustshowingusthefutureforthepeopleofIsrael,butisgivingusaglimpseintoourownfuturesasawholeandredeemedpeople,madepossiblebythedeathandresurrectionofJesusChrist.Heisrisen,andweareaswell.

PRAYLord,throughoutScripture,youremindusthatyouareourGod,andweareyourpeople.Thankyouforsprinkling our dry bones with your clean, living water; for giving us new hearts and spirits; and forbreathingthebreathoflifeintous.

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GOGod’sgraceremindsusthatnobonesareevertoodrytoberaisedandknitbacktogether,andthereforenopersoniseverbeyondthescopeofGod’spowertorestore,healandbless.LetusrememberthatinthedaytocomeaswecarryonwiththispreciouslifetheLordhasgivenus.SusanMorrisThursday,March30,2017GodGoesSilentonUsAllPAUSEHastherebeenatimeinyourlifewhenyoufeltGodwentsilentonyou?WhowasthevoiceofGodinyourtimeofdarkness?WhenhaveyoubeenthepresenceofGodforsomeoneelse?LISTEN:Psalm13REFLECTWehaveallsufferedtimesoffearorloss.AsthePsalmistsays,sometimesthefearleavesusfeelingthatGodhasabandonedusinourtimeofneed,andwewonderhowlongGodwillhidefromus.However,wemustcontinuetotrustinGod’ssteadfastlove.RecentlyIwaswithagroupofconfirmandsandseveralsharedtimeswhentheyhadsufferedlossandhowtheirliveshadbeenovershadowedbygrief.Thecommonthemeinthesestorieswasnothowtheyhadsuffered,buthowothers(friends,teachers,family)hadhelpedthem.OftenthewayGodcomestousintimesoftrialisthroughthosearoundus.Sometimesit’ssomeoneclosetous;sometimesit’sagroupofpeoplehalfaworldaway.Foragroupof79orphansandvulnerablechildreninKenya,UUMChasbeenthevoice,handandheartofGodastheymovedfromsufferingtosurvival,fromsurvivaltosecurityandfromsecuritytoprosperityoverthelastthreeyears.OneoftheseorphansisDavid.Davidandhisyoungerbrotherlosttheirfatherwhentheywereyoungandtheylosttheirmotherafewyearsago.Davidwasnotafraidofhardwork,buteventhoughhetriedhisbesttoearnmoneyforfood,hecouldnotalwaysfindwork.Whenhedidwork,hewasn’talwayspaidfairlybecausetherewasnoonetostandupforhim. Hecouldusuallyaffordonlyonemealofcornandbeansperday. Therewasnomoney for clothing, andheandhisbrotherwerenotable togo to schoolbecause theydidnothaveuniformsorschoolfees.Intheyearshestruggledjusttosurvive,DavidfeltabandonedbyGodandbyhiscommunity.OnedayDavidheardthatagroupcalledZOEwashavingameetingforyouthlikehim.Afterthemeeting,Davidjoinedwithotherorphanstoformagroupthatmetweeklytoworktogetherandlearnhowtotakecareofthemselvesandtheirfamilies.Afterafewmonths,DavidandtheothersinhisZOEfamilywereinformedthatachurchintheUnitedStates,UniversityUMC,waspartneringwiththemontheirjourneytoself-sufficiency.Davidandtheotherswereamazedthatagroupofpeoplefromtheothersideoftheworldbelievedinthemandlovedthemwithoutevenmeetingthem.

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After some initial training, David was given a small grant to open a stall where he could sell drygoods.WithintwoyearshehadexpandedhisbusinesstoincludeaphonechargingserviceandasocialclubwherehechargespeopletocomewatchTVandhavetea,coffeeorcocoa,makingthemostofhisapproximately6’x6’stall. Nowheandhisbrotherareabletoeat threehealthymealsadayandhisbrother is back in school. Although they stillmiss their parents, they are no longer alone. They areconnectedtotheothersintheirZOEgroup,toGodandtoyou.InJanuaryofthisyear,DavidandhisZOEgroupgraduatedfromtheprogram.Theywillcontinuetomeetweeklyandsupporteachother,butnowtheyprosperindependentofZOEandofoutsidesupport.Theseyouthhavemade it through their timesofdarknessbecausemembersofa churchhalf aworldawayreachedouttothemandshowedthemtheloveofGod.PRAYCreatorGod,whoclothestheliliesofthefield,helpustorememberthatinourdeepestdespair,Youhavenotdesertedus. Youarethereforus inthehandthatreachesoutto liftusupandinthekindwordsspokentocomfortus.GOForsurelyIknowtheplansIhaveforyou,saystheLord,plansforyourwelfareandnotforharm,togiveyouafuturewithhope.Jeremiah29:11ErikaLuskFriday,March31,2017PlantedbyGodPAUSEAreyouplantingagardenthisspring?WhatdoesitmeanthatGod“plantsus”inaparticularplace?Wherehaveyoubeenplanted?LISTEN:Amos9:13-15 REFLECTThefirsttimeIexploredthepieceoflandthatwasofferedasagifttothechurchinCedarGrove,Ileftwithliterallythousandsoffreckle-sizedtickscoveringmylegsandarms.ScenobiaTaylor,thelandownerwhowasofferingthisfive-acrepieceoflandtothechurch,hadwiselystayedontheroadsideofthefenceand watched me, her husband and Fred the Farmer walk the 5 acre abandoned parcel of land onLonesomeRoad,CedarGrove.Mrs.Taylor’sofferoflandtothechurchhadcomeastheresultofamurderascantquartermilefromtheovergrown,tick-infested land,andonlytwomilesfromthechurch.BillKing,awhitestoreowner,hadbeenshot inbroaddaylightathisbaitandtackleshoponthecorner.Hopewasscarce in thispartofOrange County, and so was a sense of safety, fresh local food, and the neighborliness that sustainscommunitiesthroughthickandthin.Thefiveacreswasovergrownwithsweetgumtreesandthistles,obviouslynotgoodformuchotherthanthebreedinggroundforticks.Yet,Godhadanotherplan.Outofthefear,themisplacedhope,theanger,

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theresentment,andthegriefofapeoplewhohadgatheredatthesiteofthemurderasasignofsolidarityforthe“waythingsshouldbe,”Mrs.Taylor,descendentofslavesandsharecroppers,giftedthechurchwith land to be used for reconciliation in the community. Anathoth Community Gardenwas birthed,mimickingtheprophetJeremiah’scalltosettledowninaparticularplace,plantgardensandeatwhattheyproduce,seekingtheshalomoftheplacewherethepeoplehadbeensent.(SeeJeremiah29).Today,Anathoth provides fresh food and a sense of neighborliness to more than 150 households. (Seewww.anathothcommunitygarden.org).God’spromiseforrestorationisneverlimitedtoGod’speople,butalwaysincludesthelandandallthatinhabitstheland.WhenAmosendshisprophesywithavisionofafruitfullandwhichdripsplenty,itisGod’s people who are given the goodwork of rebuilding, inhabiting, planting, drinking,making, andeating.Throughthisgoodwork,God’snameastheCreatorofallthatisgoodisglorified,andthepeoplecalledbyGod“mypeople”bearwitnesstothebeautythatcanrisefromthedust,orevenfromatick-infestedpieceofland.PRAYERRestoringGod, aswe drawnear to the annual remembrance of the death and resurrection of Jesus,restoreusasapeoplewhorebuild,inhabit,plant,drink,make,andeatofyourdivinegoodness.Rootusdeeplyinthisparticularplace,thatwemightstandfirmintimesoftrial,andbearfruitthatpleasesyou.Amen.GOConsidergettinginvolvedinUniversity’sCommunityGarden.LearnthestoryofhowtheUmsteadlandwasgiftedtotheChurch.Whatroledoyouplayinseekingandworkingforthepeaceoftheplacewhereyouhavebeenplanted?Rev.GraceG.HackneySaturday,April1,2017DeathisNoLongerFatalPAUSEAsyoubegintocenteryourself,lookaroundandobserveallofthelightyousee.Youmayberelyingonlyon the sunlight or youmay be sitting under a reading lamp late at night; or perhaps the only thingilluminatingtheroommaybetheglowcomingfromthescreenofthedevicefromwhichyouread.ListeninthispassageforwhatChristsaysaboutdarknessandlight,deathandnewlife.LISTEN:John11:1-45REFLECTBeforemy husband and I lived in Scotland,wewere not really aware of the significant difference inlatitudebetweentheUnitedStatesandtheUnitedKingdom. In fact,webothseemedtoassumethatCanadawasagoodcomparison.Thisnaïveassumptiondidn’tbecomeaproblemuntilNovemberwhenwereallybegantonoticethedaysgettingshorterandshorter...andshorter.ThemostdevastatingdaywasacoldmorninginearlyDecember.Iawokewhileitwasstilldark.IfeltgroggyandIfiguredIhadafewmorehourstosleep.Icheckedtheclockanditglared8:30am.AsIstumbledoutthedoortowalktowork, I lookedupthecoordinatesofSt.AndrewsandcomparedthemtoNorthCarolina. Immediately

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following,IorderedasunrisesimulationlamponAmazon.Myexperiencethatmorningfailedtocurbmybewildermentlaterinthedayasduskcreptinaround2pm.ThatwinterinScotlandasInavigatedmywaythroughthedarkness,Ilongedmorethaneverforthelight.In this passage from John, we read about the Light of theWorld calling Lazarus from death to life.Throughoutthepassage,Jesus’wordsrepeatedlydirectourattentionnottodeathordarkness,buttolightandresurrection.Lazarus’illnessisnotfatal,JesusretortstothemessengersentbyMaryandMartha.Thisresponsecarriesadualmeaningas it foreshadowsboththeresurrectionofLazarusandofChrist.Deathisnolongerfatal,hepromises.Later,inaconversationwiththedisciplesaboutreturningtoJudea,Jesusrepliestotheirconcernabouthissafetybyspeakinginmetaphorsaboutlightanddarkness.Thosewhoseethelightoftheworlddonotstumble,he says. Inotherwords, thosewhoknowChrist live in light.He subsequently illustrates thisconceptofresurrectionandeternallifeinhisraisingofLazarus.Inabeautifulunfoldingofthestory,Christallowshimselftobebothteacherandfriendasheweepswithhiscommunity.HereassuresMarthawithoneofhisseven“Iam”statementsfoundinthegospelofJohn.Iamtheresurrectionandthelife,heoffersasabalmtoherbrokenheart.Attheclimaxofthestory,Christ’swordsonresurrectionbecomefleshashecallshisfriendfromthegrave.Withouthesitation,LazarusstumblesoutofthedarknessofthegraveandintothelightofChrist.PRAYLordoflightandlife,youarealampuntoourfeetandalightuntoourpath.LeadusthroughthisseasonofLentaswelearnhowtoreflectyourlightintotheworld.Amen.GOThinkaboutwaysyouorthosearoundyoumightbestumblinginthedarkness.HowareyouprayingforresurrectionandthelifeofChristtoguideyou?HowmightyoureflectthelightofChristintheworld?Onalighternote,considerreplacingthelightbulbsinyourhousetoCFL.AccordingtoEnergyStar,ifeveryhome in theU.S. replacedevenonebulb, therewouldbeenoughenergy to lightmorethan3millionhomesforoneyearandsavemorethan$600millioninenergycost.LauraIsaacSunday,April2,20175thSundayinLentJohn11:1-45YouareinvitedtoworshipGodincommunityatUniversityUMC(150E.FranklinSt.,ChapelHill,NC)orjoinusonlineathttps://www.youtube.com/user/ChapelHillUUMC.Monday,April3,2017LettingGo,Kenosis,andCenteringPrayerPAUSE“Lettinggoistheworkofalifetime—learningtopatientlyandgentlynavigateourownheartswiththe

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infiniteloveandhealinggraceofGod.Lettinggoisthejoyofthejourney,thesecretofthesaints,andtheessenceofspiritualexperience.”(1)LISTEN:Philippians2:5-11REFLECTThetheologicalbasisoflettinggoliesintheprincipleofkenosis.KenosiswasthecoregestureofJesus’life,hishumbleself-emptyingasexplainedbytheApostlePaulinPhilippians2:5-11.CynthiaBourgeault,authorofCenteringPrayerandInnerAwakening,stressesinherretreatsonCenteringPrayer that themethodologyof Centering Prayer is essentially a gestureof letting go. If youwant todevelopthesamemindthatwasinChristJesus,asurgedbyPaulinthetextabove,atime-testedwayisthedailypracticeofCenteringPrayer.CenteringPrayerisamovementbeyondconversationwithGodtocommunionwithHiminlovingsilenceandstillness.ItislearningtoreceivethegiftofGod’spresencethroughintention,notthroughattentiontothings,thoughts,noreventoabreathoramantra.Byquietingthenormalfacultiesoftheintellect,imagination,memory,andwill,weprepareourselvestoexperiencethegiftofGod’spresence.Whatweseekisbygracealreadywithinus.Thechallengeistoallowourselvestobecomestillenoughtoallowthisinteriorsilencetoemerge.WhenthegiftofGod’spresenceisbestoweduponusandexperienced,wemeetGoddirectly,immediately,notmediatedbyanythought,prayer,reflectionorreading.CenteringPrayer isalsoacatalystforthepurificationoftheunconscious: theexposingandreleaseofthose hidden and sometimes neurotic inner compulsions that can sabotage even our best spiritualintentions.Dr.Keatingsaidthattoproceedincontemplativeprayertherehastobean“unloadingofthesubconscious.”Hecallsthis“DivinePsychotherapy.”Centeringprayerisnotmeanttoreplaceotherkindsofprayer;ratheritcastsanewlightanddepthofmeaningonthem.ItisatthesametimearelationshipwithGodandadisciplinetofosterthatrelationship.Aswithmostspiritualdisciplines,itissimplebutnoteasy.Perhapsthiswillbethedayyoubeginanewpractice.PRAYThankyouGodforsendingyoursonJesusChristtoourworldtoteachusloveandhumility.Amen.TheminimumtimeforCenteringprayeris20minutes.Guidelinesareasfollows:

“Lord,IwillbestillandknowthatYouareGod”(Psalm46:10paraphrased)“ForYou,andYoualone,mysoulinsilencewaits”(Psalm62:1paraphrased)

1.ChooseasacredwordasthesymbolofyourintentiontoconsenttoGod’spresenceandactionwithin,suchas:God,Jesus,Abba,Father,Yahweh,Mother,Mary,LetGo,etc.2.Sittingcomfortablyandwitheyesclosed,settlebrieflyandsilentlyintroduceyoursacredword.Keepyourbackstraightwithyourheadsquarelyonyourshoulders,notbowingdown,andwithyourhands,palmsup,onyourlegs.Youmayuseyoursacredwordasamantrainitiallyuntilyousettlein.Breathedeeplyuntilyouarecompletelyrelaxed.3.Whenengagedwithyourthoughts,emotions,bodysensations,images,returnever-so-gentlytoyoursacredword.Letgoofthem.Letthempasswithoutanyinvolvementorresistance.Themorethoughts

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inwhichyouengage,themorepracticeyouhaveinlettinggo,inbecomingmorelikeJesus.Ifyoufeelyourselffallingasleep,openyoureyestoasoftfocus.4.Attheendoftheprayerperiod,remainsilentwitheyesclosedforafewminutes.Providetimeandspacetobringthekenoticdanceintoyouractivelife.(2)GOLetthesamemindbeinyouthatwasinChristJesus.(Philippians2:5)

(1) JonathonErdmam,June12,2016meditationinForwardDaybyDay.(2) TheabovewastakenandadaptedfromabrochurepublishedbyContemplativeOutreach,Ltd.:

The Method of Centering Prayer, The Prayer of Consent by Thomas Keating, and also fromCenteringPrayerandInnerAwakeningbyCynthiaBourgeault.

DonSchoeneTuesday,April4,2017HowtoFixaBrokenVesselPAUSEDoyoueverhavevoicesinyourheadremindingyouofallyourfaultsandsins?Youarenotalone!Whetheryourenemiesarerealorjustinyourhead,thereisrefugeinGod’slove.LISTEN:Psalm31:9-16REFLECTOftenwhenIlayinbedatnight,Ihavethisunhealthytendencyofrunningdownalistofmyfaults:Youpaymoreattentiontoyourworkthanyourfamily.Youspendtoomuchmoney.Youaren’tworkinghardenough.Youaretooimpatient.Youdidn’tgetenoughdonetoday.Youspenttoomuchtimelookinginthemirror.Youthinkmoreaboutyourselfthanofothers.Youdon’tloveGodenough.Yousintoomuch.Perhapssomeofthesethoughtsareunfair,buttheyeachcontainsometruthofmysins. IamnotthepersonIwanttobe.Evenifnooneisplottingtotakemylifeorrunningatthesightofmelikeinthispsalm,Icanimaginethefearofwhatpeoplewouldsayordoiftheykneweverythingaboutme—allmythoughtsandwhatIdowhennooneislooking.Weallknowwhatit’sliketowonder,Whatwouldtheythinkofmeiftheyknewallofmysins?Thosenegativethoughtsthatlingerattheendofalongdayarethe“whisperingofmany…thatschemetogetheragainstme.”IfItookthemasabsolutetruthIwouldwasteawayinshameandmiserylikethepsalmist. Sometimes they even make me a “broken vessel”—what could have been productive andbeautifulstartstoleakallovertheplaceintheshadowofmydemons.Noonecanstandtoliveunderconstantscrutinyandtheweightofthesumoftheirsins.Thankfully,wedon’thaveto;wecanseekrefugeintheLord’s“steadfastlove.”DidyouknowJesusprayedthisverypsalmwhenhecommittedhimselftoGodashefacedhisveryrealenemiesandpersecutorsonthecross?Becausewecouldn’tdoitourselves,heputhislifeinGod’shands

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andtradedplaceswithussothatwearesavedfromsinanddeath.Hetookthebrokenvesselofhumanityandmadeusnew.OnsomedaysIletmysinseatawayatmeandotherdaysIambetteratrememberingGod’sgraceandthepromiseoftheresurrection.ItrytolearnfromthemandtakemorestepstobecomethatpersonIwanttobe—moreloveforGodandfewersins.ThenIdomybesttoletGodtakecareoftherest,becauseifmyvesselisbrokenandleaking,mycupwillrundry.Andweallknowyoucan’tpourfromanemptycup.PRAYHeavenlyFather,despiteourmoralfailures,wefindmercyinyourlove.MakeusvesselsforyourHolySpiritsowecanpouroutyourloveforothers.WegiveourthanksfortheredemptivepromiseofyourSon.InJesus’namewepray.Amen.GOAndwhenyouweredeadintrespassesandtheuncircumcisionofyourflesh,Godmadeyoualivetogetherwithhim,whenheforgaveusallourtrespasses,erasingtherecordthatstoodagainstuswithits legaldemands.Hesetthisaside,nailingittothecross(Colossians2:13-14).SallyScruggsWednesday,April5,2017LoveIsasStrongasDeathPAUSETheBiblehasoftenbeenchargedwithasevereshortageofthatmostcommonanduniversalofliterarygenres,the lovestory.Theonlygood lovestory intheOldTestament isthestoryofJacobandRachel(Genesis29),althoughtherearequiteafew“luststories,”DavidandBathshebabeingtheworst(1Samuel11).TheNewTestamentcompletelylackslovestories.YetonebookoftheBiblestandsoutassomethingtotallydifferent,theSongofSongs.LISTEN:SongofSolomon8:5-7TheSongofSongs,orasitisbetterknown,theSongofSolomon,isanextendedpoemsetintheformofadramaabouttheromantic lovebetweenamanandawoman,whosenamesweneverhear.Eachofthemspeaksinbeautifullovepoetry,whileachorus,withwordsofwisdomaboutlove,isinterspersed.Thepoemsarerapturouslypassionateandfrequentlysexual.TheChurchthroughoutthecenturieshashadtroubleacceptingthepoemsastheyare.Instead,wehavetriedtoallegorizethemaspoemsaboutthelovebetweenChristandtheChurch.Afterthetitleofthebook,theveryfirstlineis,“Lethimkissmewiththekissesofhismouth.”Thisdoesn’tsoundlikeChristandthechurchtome.OnehastodoalotofstretchingtoallegorizethisintoapoemaboutChristorGod.IndeedGodisnevermentionedintheentirebook.Inthelastchapterthewomansaystotheman,“Sealmewithasealuponyourheart,asasealuponyourarm,forloveisasstrongasdeath.”AsfarasIamaware,thisisthefirstmentioninallofliteratureofanassociationbetweenloveanddeath,whatwillbecomeknownasthe“love-death”theme.

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ThethemewasfirstlivedinhistoryinthereallifestoryofMarkAnthony,aRomannoblemanwhoalmostbecameemperor,andCleopatraVIIthequeenofEgypt.AfterhearingthattheirforceshavelostthecrucialBattleofActium(31B.C.)andknowingthatifcapturedtheywillbeexecuted,thetwoloversinseparateplacesbyseparatemeanscommitsuicide.OnlyafewyearslaterinthefourthbookofVirgil’sepicpoemAeneid(19B.C.),wereadofthefictionalheroAeneas’sloveaffairwithDido,theQueenofCarthage.WhenAeneassailsawaytofoundthecityofRome,hislastsightofCarthageisaburningfuneralpyreinwhichDidohascommittedsuicideratherthanlivewithouthim.InMedievalGermanicliteraturewehavethestoryoftheill-fatedloversTristanandIsolde,whichwassixcenturieslaterturnedintoanoperabyRichardWagnerinwhichIsoldesingsLiebestode,theLove-Deathariabeforehersuicide.Bestknowntous,however,isWilliamShakespeare’smostfamousplay,RomeoandJuliet,whenlikethereal lifeAnthonyandCleopatra (aboutwhomShakespearealsowroteaplay),commitsuicidewhen itappearsthattheirlovecanneverbefulfilled.After Shakespeare the theme occurs again and again in literature andmusic. In Giaccomo Puccini’sMadamButterfly,Butterflywaitspatientlyanddreams inthearia“UnBelDie,” (OneFineDay)ofherlover,LieutenantPinkerton’sreturntoherinJapanfromhisnativeAmerica.Whenhedoesreturnwith,anAmericanwife,Butterfly,asshemust,commitssuicide.LeonardBernsteinandStephenSondheim’smusicalWestSideStoryisamodernadaptationofRomeoandJuliet.AndrewLloydWebber’smusicalMissSaigonisanupdateofMadamButterfly.Thelove-deaththemeevenechoesevenintorockmusic.ListentothewordsoftheBlueOysterCult’ssmashhit,“Don’tFeartheReaper.”Sometimesinthethemebothofthecouplecommitsuicide;sometimesonlythewoman(never,onlytheman).Yes,wecouldallegorizethispoemofscriptureandthesestoriesofloveanddeathtoChrist’sdeathonthecross,adeaththatwitnessedGod’soverwhelmingloveforusall.Butinthisdevotion,inthisreadingofthatmostunusualofallBiblicalbooks,letusjusttakeitforwhatitsays.Romanticlove,lovewhichthevastmajorityofushavebeenprivilegedtofeel,isthemostpowerfulofhumanemotions.Loveisasstrongasdeath.PRAYOGodofLove,thankyouforlettingthisbookbeintheBible.Thankyouforromantic,passionatelove.Andforthoseofuswhohavehadthejoyofbeinginlovewiththesamepersonformanyyears,forthoseofuswhohaveknownthatlovewhichispartedonlybydeath,wegivethanksforyourblessing.InthenameofHimwholoveduswiththegreatestlove,Amen.Rev.ChristianWilson

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Thursday,April6,2017TheTreeofLifePAUSETheBookofRevelationtellsusthatJesusisthebeginningandtheend,theAlphaandtheOmega.AlthoughRevelationwasnotthelastbookoftheNewTestamenttobewritten,itappearslastintheorderoftheNewTestament.Therecouldnothavebeenabetterchoice.LISTEN:Revelation22:1-5

REFLECTRevelation serves as a perfect bookend to the other end of the Bible, Genesis. Genesis begins withcreation,thebeginningoftime.Revelationendswiththeconsummation,thenewheavenandthenewearth,thetransformationoftimeintoeternity.InGenesis2,wereadofthecreationoftheprimevalGardenofEden.Wereadofaparadiseonearth,ofamanandawoman,ofatreewhosefruitisforbidden,ofatemptingserpent,andoftheflawedcharacterofhumanity.AlmostlostinthisstoryofbeginningsisanothertreeGodplantedintheGardenofEden.Unlike the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, this other tree’s fruit is not forbidden. It is notforbidden,butitisnevereaten,eventhoughitsfruitbringseternallife.GodcallsittheTreeofLife.FromGenesis2theTreeofLifeisnevermentionedagainuntiltheBookofRevelation(thephrase“treeoflife”isusedinProverbs,butnotinreferencetothetreeintheGardenofEden).TheBookofRevelation,avoidedbymostUnitedMethodistsandhorrendouslymisinterpretedbyvariousfundamentalistdenominationsandchurches,takesusfromveryearthlyfirstcenturyscenesinspecificrealchurchesinsevennamedcitiesinAsiaMinor(moderndayTurkey)throughaseriesofend-of-timeapocalyptictribulations,toagloriousvisioninitslasttwochaptersofthenewheavenandnewearth.ThenewJerusalemcomesdownfromheaven.Throughthecentercityrunstheriverofthewateroflife.Thetreeoflifebridgestheriver.Itbearstwelvefruits,producingadifferentfruiteachmonth.Theleavesofitsbranchesareforthehealingofthenations.Canwe in our 21st century very earthly lives relate to this heaven come to earth vision? Forme thisparticularrelatingisodd.InJanuaryof1988MarianneandIfoundourselvesonatourbusintheJudeandesert.ThebusstoppedforustoseetheruinsofancientJericho,excavatedinthe1950’sbytheBritisharchaeologistKathleenKenyon,through30separatestratarepresenting30separatesettlementsgoingallthewaybackto8,000B.C.AfterwardthebusstoppedatafruitstandontheoutskirtsofthemoderntownofJericho,amileortwoaway. Aswe looked at an abundanceof fruits, the guyswho ran the fruit took out sharp knives andexpertly slashed open different kinds of fruits for us to sample. Theywere all delicious, better thananythingIhadevergotteninagrocerystoreorafruitstandhere.ForthefirsttimeItastedapummello,whichIhadneverhadbefore,andhaveonlyappearedinourgrocerystoresforthelastfewyears.Thelastfruitwetastedwasanorange.Ihadeatenalotoforanges,butneverbeforeorsincehaveIhadanorangelikethis.EverybiteexplodedinmymouthwithmoreorangeliquidthanIthoughtanorangecouldpossiblecontainandadeeperorangeflavorthananythingIhadhadbefore.FromtherethebuswhenontoQumran,andwelookedinthreeofthecaveswheretheDeadSeaScrollswerediscovered.ThenitwasbacktohomebaseinJerusalem.

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Fromthatday19yearsagotothisveryday,InevermadeanyassociationbetweenthefruitsatJerichoandthefruitsofthetreeof life. I’mnotevensurewhyIammakingthatassociationnow.ButasIamthinkingnow,I’mthinkingofthatphraseaboutthetreeoflifeandthatitsleavesareforthehealingofthenations.ThemenfromwhomweboughtthefruitswerePalestinianArabslivinginIsraelioccupiedterritoryinoneoftheworld’smostintractableconflicts.TheHolyCitycomingdownfromheavenisanewJerusalem.HealingthisHolyLandwillbeasdifficultasthehealingofanynationsonearth.PRAYOGod,shedsomeleavesfromthetreeoflifetohealthatlandnow.Shedsomeleavesfromthetreeoflifetohealothernations,andtohealourown,evennow.Amen.

GO“PrayforthepeaceofJerusalem.Maytheyprosperwholoveyou.Peacebewithinyourwallsandsecuritywithinyourtowers.ForthesakeofmyrelativesandfriendsIwillsay,‘Peacebewithinyou.’”(Ps122:6-8)Rev.ChristianWilsonFriday,April7,2017TheSayingsofJesusontheCrossPAUSEThinkaboutatimeyouhavefeltforsakenorabandonedorexcluded.Spendafewminutesrememberingthethoughtsandfeelingsthatsurgedinsideyouatthetime.ImaginehowJesusfeltonthecrosswhenhecriedout,“MyGod,myGod,whyhaveyouforsakenme?”Imaginethefeelingsofthebystandersatthecross;Jesus’motherandthemanywomenstandingwithheratadistance;andthecenturion.Withwhomdoyoumostidentify?LISTEN:Matthew27:45-55

REFLECT“The Sayings of Jesus on the cross (also called the Seven Last Words from the Cross) are sevenexpressionsbiblicallyattributedtoJesusduringhiscrucifixion.Traditionally,thebriefsayingshavebeencalled‘words.’TheyaregatheredfromthefourCanonicalGospels.ThreeofthesayingsappearonlyintheGospel of Luke (23:34, 43 ,46) and three only in theGospel of John (19:26-28, 30). The other sayingappearsbothintheGospelofMatthew(27:46)andtheGospelofMark(15:34).Traditionally, these seven sayings are calledwords of 1) Forgiveness, 2) Salvation, 3)Relationship, 4)Abandonment,5)Distress,6)Triumphand7)Reunion.1”Canyourelatetothesewordsdemonstratedinyourownpersonallifeexperiences?ThesesayingsofJesusonthecrossseemtoreflectthefullnessandunityofhisfullyhuman,fullydivinelifewhileonearth.FatherRichardRohrexplainsthat“…inByzantine[EasternRomanEmpire]artandmanylatericonsJesusisshownholdinguphistwofingers,indicating,‘Iamfullyhuman,andIamfullydivineatthesametime.’Wewerestruckdumbbythisparadox.”

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In addressing this paradox Father Richard articulates: “But in most of Christian history we haveemphasized thedivinity,omnipotence,omniscience,and ‘almightiness’of Jesus,whichmakesactuallyfollowinghim—orlovinghim—seemunrealistic.…FormostChristianstoday,Jesusistotallydivine,butnotreallyhuman.Hereisthepricewepayforourinabilitytothinknon-dually:WhenwedenywhatJesusholds together,we can’t put it together in ourselves! And that’s thewhole point: you and I are alsodaughtersofheavenanddaughtersofearth,sonsofGodandsonsofthisworld.Botharetrueatthesametime,whichdefiesallreasonandlogic.Wealsoarealivingparadox.Butweneedamodel,anexemplar,apromise,andaguarantee(allwordsusedinPaulineletters)toimaginesuchafaroffimpossibility.Forus,thatmodelisJesus.…salvationisagradualrealizationofwhoweare—andalwayshavebeen—andwillbeeternally.”2

InMatthewandMark,JesuscriesouttoGod:“MyGod,myGod,whyhaveyouforsakenme?”InLuke,he forgiveshiskillers, reassuresthepenitentthief,andcommendshisspirit totheFather. In John,hespeakstohismother,sayshethirsts,anddeclarestheendofhisearthlylife.1IfwecanrelatetothesewordsandactionsofJesus,thenitispossiblethattheseemingimpossibilityofbeinglikeJesusmightjustbepossible.Mysteryuponmystery.RevisitthefeelingsofforsakennessyourememberedinthePAUSEsectionofthisreflection.TrustthatJesushasfeltthesesamehumanfeelingsandfeelsthemnowthroughyou.Jesussaid,“Andremember,Iamwithyoualways,totheendoftheage.”Matthew28:20.Wearenotalone.ThanksbetoGod.PRAYGraciousandlovingGod.YouwhosenttheWordmadefleshtoliveamongussothatwewouldknowthedepthandbreadthofyourbeingandlove.HelpmetograsptheseemingimpossibilityofChristwithinme.Letthattruthsetthe“real”mefreetobewhatyoucreatedmetobe.ThroughJesusChristwithinmeandinthepoweroftheHolySpirit,Amen.GO LivewiththeparadoxthatyouandIarealsodaughtersofheavenanddaughtersofearth,sonsofGodandsonsofthisworld.Botharetrueatthesametime.1. Retrieved2/23/17fromhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sayings_of_Jesus_on_the_cross#2. DailyMeditationsofFatherRichardRohr,OFM.FullyHuman,FullyDivine,Thursday, February11,

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RitaProctorSaturday,April8,2017“Youknowwhathashappened…”PAUSEPraiseGod!Liketheearlydisciples,weknowthegoodnewsGod“senttothepeopleofIsrael,preachingpeacebyJesusChrist—heisLordofall.”LISTEN:Acts10:35-43

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REFLECTPeter delivers this short message to Gentile Romans in the home of a centurion named Cornelius.Normally IwouldfocusonthisculturalcontextandtheGentile-Jewconflict. IwouldreflectonPeter’svisionof the“unclean” foodandCornelius’svisit fromtheangel.Today,however, Iamstruckby twowords:Youknow.WearenotstandinginCornelius’shome;wearenotnewChristiansinCaesarea.Yetthismessagecertainlyappliestousaswell,becausewehaveheardtheGoodNews.Howoftenthough,doweliveasifwedon’tknow?Wewonderhowtoshareourfaithwithothers.Wedon’twanttooffend,don’twanttoseemcrazy,don’twanttobeostracized.ParticularlyduringthistimeofLent,wewonderhowmuchtosayaboutourfaith.DowewashoffourcrossesonAshWednesday?Dowetalkaboutwhatpracticeswe’veadoptedorhabitswe’veabandonedduringLent?Sowerationalize.Wequestion.Wehemandhaw.Wewonderandprayaboutwhattosay.Coulditbesimplerthanthat?Peterexplainedthegospelinlessthan10sentences.Couldwedothat?CouldwesimplysharewhatwebelieveandbecontenttoletGodbeinchargeoftheoutcome?Maybesharingourfaithissohardbecausewe’reworriedabouttheresults.Weworrywhatpeoplewillthink.Weworrywe’llloseourcredibility.Weworrywe’llsaythewrongthing.Perhapsworstofall,weworrywe’llturnthemevenfurtherawayfromChrist.Maybewhatwe’rereallyafraidofislosingcontrol.Weloveschedulesandcalendars.Weorganizeandmanageandplan.Wesetgoalsandworkdiligentlytoachievethem,sometimestoexcessandburnout.Wecreatetheillusionofcontroloverourlives,buttheonethingweknowwecan’tcontrolisanotherperson.Wecannotcontroltheirresponsetooursharingofthegospel.ButPeterremindsus:Weknow.Weknowwhatwebelieve.Ourfaithallowsustonotknoweverything;infact,thebeautifulmysteryiscrucialtothefaith.Ithinkwewoulddowelltorememberweareseed-sowers,butwearenottheHarvester.Wejusthavetosharewhatweknow.PRAYGod,remindmeonceagainhowJesusassuresus“myyokeiseasy,andmyburdenislight.”RemindmeofwhatIknow-ofyourSon’sbirth,death,andresurrection-andhowknowingithaschangedme.Givemethehumilitytotrustyouwithmymeagerwordsandmychildlikefaith.Amen. GOWeplant,trustingGodforthegrowth.Weactinfaith,trustingGodfortheoutcome.Webuild,trustingGodtofill.Weoffer,trustingGodwiththeresponse.-EmilyP.Freeman,SimplyTuesdayMeredithDangel

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Sunday,April9,2017Palm/PassionSundayMatthew26:14–27:66YouareinvitedtoworshipGodincommunityatUniversityUMC(150E.FranklinSt.,ChapelHill,NC)orjoinusonlineathttps://www.youtube.com/user/ChapelHillUUMC.Monday,April10,2017It’salwaysdarkestbeforethedawnPAUSEJustasquicklyasyoucanfindyourselfincompletedarkness,youcanfindyourselfblindedbyGod’sglory.LISTEN:Psalm118:1-2,12-24REFLECT“God will never give youmore than you can handle.” Though we have certainly been through a lottogether,myhusbandandIareoftenabletomusterenoughgratitudeforourabundancethatwejokethatGodmustthinkwearenotabletohandleverymuch.Infact,wehavebecomemastersatusinghumorasacopingmechanismintimesofgreatstress.Sometimesthatmeansourhumorisalittlebleakoreveninappropriate,butoneofthestrengthsofourmarriageisourabilitytofindwhateverlightwecanintimesofdarkness.Besidesmakingme laughwhen Ineedhumor themost,myhusband isa shoulder tocryon, the firstperson I runtoor textorcallwhensomethinggood,bad—well let’sbehonest,anything—happens,asoundingboardwhenI’mfrustratedbyothers,mybestfriend.Heismyrock.Heseesmyfaultsandstilllovesmedespitethem.TheloveinmymarriageisonlythetipoftheicebergthatisGod’sloveforus.Godistheultimaterockandshelter.Whenweseenothingbutdarkness,Heisourshoulder,oursoundingboard,ourbestfriend.Heseesourfaultsandstilllovesusdespitethem.Whenwewouldbecastawaybyothersforourfaults,Godlooksatthosefaultsandsays,Actually,Icouldusethosefaultsasthechiefcornerstoneofmykingdom.Chiefcornerstone!?ThatmeansGoddoesn’tjustacceptourfaults.HeturnsthemintoourstrengthsforthegloryofHiskingdom.Let’sreconsiderhowwemightreshapeourfaultstoglorifyGod.Canweturnourangerintopassionateoutreach?Ifwe’veletsomeonedown,canwebuildastrongerrelationshipoutofourapology?Whenwemaintainourfaithfulnessinthebleakestofsituations,westandtoreapthegreatestrewards.Whentherewarddoescome,letusbaskinitandtrulylive,rejoice,andbegladinit!PRAYHeavenlyFather,turnusfromimperfectstonesintochiefcornerstonesforthebuildingofYourkingdom.Wefindstrengthinyoursteadfastlove,theultimatefoundation.Amen.

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GONotestinghasovertakenyouthatisnotcommontoeveryone.Godisfaithful,andhewillnotletyoubetestedbeyondyourstrength,butwiththetestinghewillalsoprovidethewayoutsothatyoumaybeabletoendureit.(1Corinthians10:13)SallyScruggsTuesday,April11,2017LookUp…notOutPAUSEPerhapsnowmorethanever,ourheartsandmindsneedtolooktoChrist.LISTEN:Colossians3:1-4SoifyouhavebeenraisedwithChrist,seekthethingsthatareabove,whereChristis,seatedattherighthandofGod.2Setyourmindsonthingsthatareabove,notonthingsthatareonearth,3foryouhavedied,andyourlifeishiddenwithChristinGod.4WhenChristwhoisyour[a]lifeisrevealed,thenyoualsowillberevealedwithhiminglory.REFLECTWe seem to haveworked ourselves into this period in historywherewe are perpetuallymad aboutsomething.Formanyofus,we’remadabouttheoutcomeoftherecentelectionandthedirectionwethinkourcountryisheaded.Forothers,wearemadbecauseourfavoriteteamdidnotgettherightcallinthegamelastnight,lastweek,orever!Andforstillothers,wearemadbecauseweseewhatwethinkthedirectionofthechurchis,andit’snotwherewethinkitshouldbe.Paulhadadviceforallofus.Setyourmindsonthingsabove…notearthlythings.Letthosewordssoakinforamoment.Breathethemin.Allowthemtosoakintoyourmindandsoul.WhatmightourworldlooklikeifwetookPaul’sadvice?PerhapsinsteadofyellingateachotherupanddownFayettevilleStreetinRaleigh,orFranklinStreetinChapelHill,wewenttoworktoimprovethelivesofourneighbors.Ifweputourmindstothingsabove,wemightstopyellingateachotherlongenoughtounderstandwhatothersarethinkinganddoinginthefirstplace.Perhaps.AswepauseduringthisLentenseason,Iurgeallofustoseekfirsttounderstand.Insteadofthrowingastoneatthosewedisagreewith,pickupthestoneandbuildahousewithit.Itispossible.Andaswedothismore,Iamconfidentthatsmileswillreplacefrowns,songswillreplaceshouts,andlovewillovercomethosedarkearthlyfeelingsthatwearefeelingsomuchrightnow.PRAYDearGodabove,drawourattentionbacktoyouandawayfromourselves,thatindoingsowemightallowyourpeacetoovercomeournoise,yourlightwillovercomeourdarkness,andyourlovewillovercomeallelse.

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GOLooktoChristfirst.Hewillprovideoutcomesthatfarexceedanywemightimagine.ShawnMcClarnonWednesday,April12,2017PAUSEHowdoyoulimityourlifeexperiencesbystayinginthe“familiarandcomfortable?”LISTEN:Psalm117PraisetheLord,allyounations!Extolhim,allyoupeoples!Forgreatishissteadfastlovetowardus,andthefaithfulnessoftheLordenduresforever.PraisetheLord!

REFLECTItendtofocusontheNewTestamentinmydevotions.Somehow,IalwaysthinkoftheNewTestamentasbringinghopeandwhenIthinkoftheOldTestament,IoftenthinkoftheTenCommandmentsorlistsofbegets.IlistentotheOldTestamentreadingsinchurchandfocusonthemwhenIamreadingadevotionwhichcallsforthem,buttheyarenotmy“goto.”AsIsigneduptowriteoneofthesedevotions,therewerenotmanyNewTestamentversestochoosefromsinceIwassigningupverylate.IinitiallychoseoneofthefewremainingNewTestamentverses,butitdidnotspeaktomeandIcouldn'timaginewhatIwouldwriteabout it. I thenfinallybegan lookingupremainingOldTestamentselections. As IcametothischapterinPsalms,Ihadtowonderatmyownintractability.Ilovemusic;Ienjoypoetry.Whywouldn'tIgravitatetowardthePsalms?!So I approach these verses from two different perspectives. One, I am chagrinned atmy own shortsightednessandunwillingnesstobeopentoalltheBibleandallmyGodhastooffertoguidemeortoupliftmyspiritsindifficulttimes.ThevoiceandteachingsofJesusaren'ttheonlylessonsformeinmyBible.ThisisagoodmetaphorforotherwaysthatIamlimitingmylifebyfallingbackonwhatisfamiliarorcomfortableandissomethingIwillponderandmeditateoninthedaysahead.TheotherwayIamseeingthispassageisasmusicandpoetry.HowbeautifularethePsalms!Psalm117istheshortestchapterintheBibleaswellasbeingtheshortestPsalm,andyetitsayssomuchtous.PraiseGod,everyone!Helovesusgreatlyandwillbefaithfultousforever.Whatsecurityandcomfortthatbrings,aswellasJoy.TheSpiritoftentouchesmethroughmusic.MythreefavoritetimesoftheweekaresinginginourSundaychurchservice,choirpracticeonThursdaynights,andwaitinginthehallsothatIcanlistenduringKatie'sweeklyvoice lessons.What joysacredmusicbringsme! Wesinghymnsandanthemstaken fromthePsalms,butIcanjustimaginethewonderwhentheywerenewlywrittenandsettomusicbeingplayedbystringedinstruments.Musicallowsustoexpressourconvictionsandourjoysinauniversallanguage.Itisourlossthatthetunesdidnotremainwithus,butIamgratefulthatthepowerfulwordsofthePsalmsendured. PRAYLord,helpmetobeopentoallYouwouldhavemetoexperience.ThankYouforthegiftsofmusic,poetryandpraise.Amen.

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GOOpenyoureyes,yourearsandyourhearttoexperienceallthatGodhasinstoreforyou.BeckyKinkadeMaundyThursday,April13,2017Befilled!PAUSESometimesIthinkthatweforgetthattheLastSupperwasjustthat,amealsharedtogetherwithJesusandallofhismuchbeloveddisciples.LISTEN:ICorinthians11:23-26ForIreceivedfromtheLordwhatIalsohandedontoyou,thattheLordJesusonthenightwhenhewasbetrayedtookaloafofbread,andwhenhehadgiventhanks,hebrokeitandsaid,“Thisismybodythatisforyou.Dothisinremembranceofme.”Inthesamewayhetookthecupalso,aftersuppersaying,“Thiscupisthenewcovenantinmyblood.Dothis,asoftenasyoudrinkit,inremembranceofme.”Forasoftenasyoueatthisbreadanddrinkthiscup,youproclaimtheLord’sdeathuntilhecomes.REFLECTManyyearsagoIrecallreadinginaUMWResponseMagazineastoryofayounggirllivinginathirdworldcountrywhowouldpeekintotheopenwindowofthesmallMethodistchurchinhervillage.Shesoonrealizedthatinsidethechurchtheywere“givingoutfood”soshebravelywalkedinandcamedowntheaislefortheopportunitytohelpsatisfythatgnawinghungershefeltinherstomach.SoonshelookedforwardtoeachSundayforthatwonderfullittlemeal.IwanttobelievethatthememberstherereachedouttoherinChristianlovesothatatsomepointshereceivednotonlyfoodtosatisfyabitofherhungerbutthatsheeventuallyunderstoodtheblessingofreceivingthespiritualfoodprovidedbyChrist.AndIchoosetobelievethatshe,probablynowayoungwoman,issharingthelightandloveofChristtoothers.BeforetheMethodistchurchbeganthepracticeofreceivingcommunionbyintinction,myformerchurchcelebratedcommunionbyhavingeachperson feedanotherperson standingnear themat thealtar –sometimes a family member, a friend or a total stranger. What a beautiful method of sharing thecommunionelementswhenyoupickupthatpieceofholybread,dip it inthe juiceandplace it inthemouthofafellowbelieverandthentheotherpersonservesyoulikewise.Theconnectionispersonalandintimate.ThechurchlaterdisbandedthatpracticebutI’vealwayskeptafondmemoryofthatexperience.Regardlessofhowweservecommunion,IpraythatIwillalwaysrememberboththespiritualneedsandthephysicalneedsofallpersonsatthecommuniontablesharingwithmeinthisholymoment.PRAY(Hymn641)Fillmycup,Lord,IliftitupLord,Comeandquenchthisthirstingofmysoul.Breadofheaven,feedme‘tillIwantnomore;fillmycup,fillitupandmakemewhole.Amen.

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GO“Just like the strangerswho'd fedme in El Salvador or South Africa, I was going to have to see andunderstandthehungerofothers,differentmenandwomen,andmakeagestureofwelcome,andeatwiththem.AndjustasIhadn't"deserved"anyofwhathadbeengiventome…Ididn'tdeservecommunionmyselfnow.Iwasn'tgettingitbecauseIwasgood.Iwasn'tgettingitbecauseIwasspecial. Icertainlydidn'tgettopickwhoelsewasgoodenough,holyenough,deservingenough,toreceiveit. Itwasn'taprivatemeal.ThebreadonthatTablehadtobesharedwitheveryoneinorderformetoreallytasteit.”―SaraMiles,TakethisBread:ARadicalConversionElizabethAndrewsGoodFriday,April13,2017AftertheWorstHasHappenedPAUSEWhenourdaughterwas firststartingkindergartenat theneighborhoodschool,wewouldcarefullygooverwithheringreatdetailwherewewouldmeetherafterschooltobereadytowalkherhome.Butnomatter how many times we went over it, she would implore us in the most heart-wrenching way,“Mommy,Daddy,don’tbelate.Please,Mommy,Daddy,don’tbelate.”Wehadneverbeenlate,butshewas just exhibiting what has to be one of the most acute emotions we human beings can suffer:abandonmentanxiety.

LISTEN:Psalm22:1-22MyGod,myGod,whyhaveyouforsakenme?Whyareyousofarfromhelpingme,fromthewordsofmygroaning?REFLECTOnGoodFridaywefocusonamanwhowaskilledbyallthethingsthatcanpossiblykillahumanbeing:lies,betrayals,fears,hammerandnail,spearandspike,hatredandjealousy.Withbloodshoteyesandgroaningvoice,Jesusspitsoutalamentstillrememberedasoneofhissevenlastwordsfromthecross:Why,whyGodhaveyouabandonedme?

Makenomistake:GoodFridayisadayofabandonment.Thecrowdsaregone;thedisciples,hisfriends,quiver and cower behind locked doors; his enemies openly mock him; and he feels himself slowlysuffocating,thewayyoudieonacross—alone,forsaken,abandoned.Whereareyou?

LorenEisleywasonabeachinCostabeljustbeforedawnwatchingalltheprofessional“shellers”searchfortheirnickelanddimetreasures,anythingofvaluetoeatorsellwhichhadwasheduponthebeachfromthenightbefore.

ExceptEisleysawoneman—ankle-deepinsurf—pickingupstrandedstarfishandinsteadofkeepingthem,wastossingthembackbeyondthesurfwherehehopedtheywouldhaveachancetolive.

Eisleywatchedand thensmiledat theseeming futilityof theman'seffortand thenwalkedaway.Yetanothermorning,hefoundhimselfjoiningthestarthrowerindoingthesamething.Hewritesofit:

SilentlyIsoughtandpickedupastilllivingstar,spinningitfaroutintothewaves.“Iunderstand,”Isaid.“Callmeanotherthrower.”OnlythenIallowedmyselftothink,heis

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notaloneanylonger.Afterustherewillbeothers.Wearepartoftherainbow—anunexplainedprojectionintothenatural...

Ipickedandflunganotherstar.Perhapsfaroutwardontherimofspaceagenuinestarwassimilarlyseizedandflung...

Iflungandflungagainwhileallaboutusroaredtheinsatiablewaterofdeath.Butwe,paleandaloneandsmallintheimmensity,hurledbackthelivingstars...

Thetaskwasnottobeassumedlightly,foritwasmenaswellasstarfishwesoughttosave.Foramomentwecastonaninfinitebeachtogetherbesideanunknownhurlerofsuns.(Eisley,TheStarThrower,p63-71)

“NobodyknowsthetroubleI’veseen,nobodyknowsbutJesus”—butheknows,andhisexperiencemakesitabsolutelybelievabletoyouandmethatJesusisupthismorningwalkingtheshorelineofourtimeandplace,siftingthedebris,pickinghiswaythroughallthewayswefractureandbreak—andhavingfoundwhatheneeds,heliftsusup,clearsawaythedamage,andlaunchesusbacktolife,NewLife,theNewCreation.CallmeaStarThrowertoo!

PRAYHewasbornsinginglove,Helivedsinginglove,Hediedsinginglove.Ifthesongistocontinue,wemustdothesinging.DearFriendsinChrist:SingLove,SingJustice,SingPeace.Rev.DavidHarwoodHolySaturday,April15,2017TheMysteryofDeath

PAUSE

Inthefaceofdeath,allwordsfallsilent,theirmeaninglost.

LISTEN:Job14:1-14

"Amortal,bornofwoman,fewofdaysandfulloftrouble,comesuplikeaflowerandwithers,fleeslikeashadowanddoesnotlast.Doyoufixyoureyesonsuchaone?”

REFLECT

TheChristianphilosopherNicholasWolterstorff supervisedmy thesis at YaleDivinity School.He is anexceptionalscholarandadeeplyfaithfulmanwhohaswrittenextensivelyonart,culture,philosophyandreligion.LamentForASonisWolterstorff’sprofoundanddeeplypersonalaccountofgrievingthedeathofhis25-year-oldson,Eric,whodiedinaclimbingaccident.Earlyinthememoirofgrief,Wolterstorffwrites:

“Istandbeforethelibrary,wherehespentsomanydaysofhislastmonths.He’swalkingupthesesteps,throughthosedoors,tothedesk,askingforabook,receivingit,sittingdownatatable–whichone?–copyingoutthesenotesIhave.

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No,Iseenothing;noformatall,notevenatrace.Allboneandmusclegone,thestepssweptclear–nosmile,nosturdystep,nobrightintelligence,nosilhouette,noloveembodied.Whereheshouldbe,Istarestraightthrough.

Turnitback.Stoptheclockandturnitback,backtothatlastFriday,thatlastSaturday.Lethimdoitover:getuptoolatethistime,toolatetoclimb,readabook,waitforhisbrother.Lethimdoitrightthistime.Letusalldoitright.”(p.23)

Inhisreflections,Wolterstorffwrestleswiththestarkrealityofdeath:“Whatdoes itmean,Ericdead,removedfromourpresence,coveredwithearth,inert?Orissuchshatteringoflovebeyondmeaningforus,thebreakingofmeaning–mystery,terriblemystery?”(p.43.)

On Holy Saturday, the Church affirms that Jesus was dead. His body, lifeless. Inert. I find strangeconsolationinJesus’experienceoftheterrifyingrealityofdeath.OnthisHolySaturday,deathleavesussilent; our only task is to be still. In the stillness of his grief,WolterstorffwrestledwithGod and themeaningofsuffering,andwrote:

“God is Love.That iswhy [God] suffers.To loveour suffering sinfulworld is to suffer.GodsosufferedfortheworldthathegaveuphisonlySontosuffering.TheonewhodoesnotseeGod’ssufferingdoesnotseehislove.Godissufferinglove.

Sosufferingisdownatthecenterofthings,deepdownwherethemeaningis.Sufferingisthemeaningofourworld.ForLoveisthemeaning.AndLovesuffers.ThetearsofGodarethemeaningofhistory.

Butmysteryremains.Whyisn’tLove-without-sufferingthemeaningofthings?Whyissuffering-Lovethemeaning?WhydoesGodendurehissuffering?Whydoeshenotatoncerelievehisagonybyrelievingours?”(p.90)

LikeWolterstorff,IdonotknowwhyGoddoesnotrelieveGod’sownsufferingbyrelievingours.IonlyknowthatHolySaturdayoffersusthestrangeconsolationthatwithus,Godsuffers.

PRAY

CreatorGod,thisHolySaturdayIamdeeplyunsettled.Deathisinevitableandterrifying.AndyetfacingthefinalityofdeathiswhathelpsmefullyappreciatetheEasterpromiseofresurrection.GrantmegracetoponderthestrangeconsolationthatbeforeJesusarose,hediedasutterlyandascompletelyasoneday Iwill.Makethisconsolation fertilesoil formyhope inyourresurrectionpromise. InChrist Ipray.Amen.

GO

Take time to be silent and still today, for only after silence and stillness do we truly appreciate thetrumpetingofresurrection’spromiseinChristJesusourLord.

Rev.CarlKing

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HappyEaster!April16,2017John20:1-18YouareinvitedtoworshipGodincommunityatUniversityUMC(150E.FranklinSt.,ChapelHill,NC)at6:30 a.m. (Sunrise Service), 9:00 a.m. or 11:00 a.m. Alternatively, join online athttps://www.youtube.com/user/ChapelHillUUMC.