An Elder Pilgrim's Reflections

Bass Harbor, ME "I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you; I will praise your name, Lord, for it is good. You have delivered me from all my troubles, and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes." Psalm 54:6-7 Harry is a sternman on a lobster boat. His job is baiting traps, measuring each catch and throwing back undersized lobsters. Like all sternmen, he wears oil coveralls, oil jacket, and muck boots. To get to the boat he's working on, he rows his dingy out and climbs aboard. One Spring morning, he slipped from the dingy into the icy, bitter water. His boots and oiled overalls filling quickly so he was facing death by drowning or hyperthermia. As a very heavy man rescue is a difficult task Try as he might, pulling himself into the boat became impossible and he began sinking. It's not hard to imagine the fear he's experiencing in the icy Spring Atlantic waters.  Several other captains and sternmen see his situation and rescue him by dragging him through the w...

Cocoa Farmers “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." Mark 8:34 Chocolate. Really, really good chocolate is one of my weaknesses. I'm talking about Godiva, Lunt, and from the Equal Exchange Co-op. I'm also talking about Snowflake Chocolates , Jericho, VT, and Ben and Jerry's Chocolate Ice Cream.  When I announced to my congregations I was giving up chocolate for Lent, it seemed like a significant sacrifice.  However, Jesus never meant denying something as trivial as chocolate.  Deny Yourself Jesus is laying out what's needed to fully grasp ones identity as a disciple. Jesus says denying ourselves is separation from what defines us and embracing a new understanding of our identity.  For example, when  the disciples followed Jesus they became a community defined by association with Jesus. Self-denial means you have completely redefined your identity. Take up your cross. Taking up your cross implies rejection. I...

What shall I return to the Lord  for all his bounty to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation  and call on the name of the Lord. PS 116: 12-13 Lifting the Cup of Salvation during Holy Communion is, for me, a way of giving thanks to the Lord. It is a sign to me of the Lord's saving activity both in the Exodus story and the cross-resurrection story.    When I hear the "Great Thanksgiving" in holy communion, I am reminded of the Lord's saving activity, not just for me, but for all humanity.  Read the story of the psalmist's  story of salvation  which gives the reason for lifting the Cup of Salvation. In  my 30 years of pastoring, I have had many people ask for prayers for friends, family, or neighbors during the Joys and Concerns in worship. I don't recall anyone saying, “Let me tell you all how my prayers were answered." Prayer Changes Things . Don't give up on  prayer. It seems to me the poet is telling folks to not give up on prayer. ...