An Elder Pilgrim's Reflections

"John to the seven churches that are in Asia:  Grace to you and peace from him  who is and who was and who is to come." (from Rev. 1:4-8 ) I am fascinated by the Revelation of John.  But I want to qualify how I understand Revelation:      First, it was to the seven churches in Asia, not us.      Second, John writes apocalyptic literature designed to reveal what's hidden.     Third,  he was persecuted and imprisoned on the island of Patmos for   preaching about Jesus. The churches were experiencing persecution, so the visions were for the churches.     Finally, Revelation is about a battle between the power of Rome and power of God. The challenge John of Patmos faced was encouraging the seven churches to remain faithful to God as Jesus did. In order to get his writing out to the churches without being  seized, he used Biblical language, images, and symbols Roman readers wouldn't understand. That's what you do...

Jesus said to her,  “Woman, why are you weeping?  Whom are you looking for?” (from John 20:1-18 ) Which of us hasn't experienced a season of the spirit? Certainly, we've experienced a winter of the spirit wandering through Covid, snow storms, and war effecting our lives and those in the war zone.  For me, the Sugaring Season marks the end of winter and the beginning of Spring. Some Vermont friends posted pictures of their sugar houses as they worked boiling the sap into syrup Sugaring is  ALOT  of hard work!!! Traditionally, the opening of sugar houses to the public includes sharing sugar on snow, donuts, and pickles.  Mary Magdalene's season of the spirit meant wandering through an odyssey of seeing Jesus tortured, crucified, and buried.  She was in a season of grief with good reason for weeping.  However, our God of healing breaks into her human experience.  Mary sees angels in the tomb asking her why she is weeping. Jesus calls her by name...

"Blessed is the king  who comes in the  name of the Lord!" (from Luke 19:28-40 )   A modern version of a very ancient Palm Sunday tradition begins with gathering outside the church. The pastor reads the scriptures about Jesus entering Jerusalem.  With palm branches in hand, people walk to the church entrance. The pastor knocks on the door, there's a dialog between people in the procession and those seated in the sanctuary.    People enter and take their seats singing "All glory laud and honor ".  The service continues with scripture, prayer, and preaching.  Holy Communion follows the sermon, the lights are turned off, the altar is "cleansed" by removing the communion elements, candles, and cloth.  The final hymn is "Where you there?" Where do you see yourself in this drama?       In the crowd cheering Jesus entering Jerusalem?       At the table of cup and loaf with him?       ...

I am about to do a new thing;  now it springs forth,  do you not perceive it? (from Isaiah 43:16-21 ) For over 10 years, Elaine and I attended a Congregational church during our annual Maine retreat. It seemed to be a lively church with about 100 in worship. Then the church went into a barren land. The pastor and 95% of the attenders left. Seeking meaningful worship, we attended a local Episcopal church. The music, liturgy, sermon, and Holy Communion revealed a live church. Through this church I was able to connect with a pastor I had lost contact with.  As I look back on this journey, I can see God was doing a new thing. From the darkness of one church to light in another to reestablishing a good friendship. When Isaiah spoke of God doing a new thing, it was based on what God had done.  God freed the Israelites from Egyptian slavery and led them through the wilderness to the Promised land. God heard their cries, saw oppression, and responded with justice and compass...