10w for May 9th, The Ascension of our Lord.

The following is a 10 minute worship for May 9th, The Ascension of our Lord. You can either listen on the flash player below or download it to your favorite music program to sync with your mp3 player by clicking on "DOWNLOAD" or play it on your smartphone's music player by clicking PLAY. You now also have the option of receiving these notices each week and on festival days by signing up for the 10W constant contact email list on the right side of the 10W blog where it says "Please Join our Email List." The Song for the day is "Awesome God" by Michael W. Smith from the CD "Worship" which can be purchased HERE

Poem for Luke 24:44-53 The Ascension

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth

And the earth was formless and void

And chaos ruled

And God created

And declared

It is Good

It is good this creation of earth

It is good this creation of life

It is even good

This earthling from the earth

Made in the image of God

It is good

And not all good

Tempted to turn inward

Tempted to eat of the tree

Tempted to be god

With a little g

Then one came

Of lowly birth and high calling

Called to fulfill what was called into being as good

Bringing forgiveness

For inward turning little “g’s”

To turn them outward once again

From Jerusalem

To all the nations of this earth

Called good

To bring the news of new beginnings

Freedom from the created chaos

Of the ever inward turning earthling

Called to go into all of creation

Called good

And bring the news of new beginnings

Freedom from

Inward turnings

Freedom for

Outward yearnings

And as he ascended from Bethany below

To the heavens all around

He told them to go

To every nook and cranny

Every nation and state

Every tribe and village

And bring the forgiving news of goodness

As they once again turned inward

To small “g”

And stayed in the temple day and night

Praising god

10w for May 5th, Justification by Faith, E6NL.

The following is a 10 minute worship for May 5th, Justification by Faith, E6NL. You can either listen on the flash player below or download it to your favorite music program to sync with your mp3 player by clicking on "DOWNLOAD" or play it on your smartphone's music player by clicking PLAY. You now also have the option of receiving these notices each week and on festival days by signing up for the 10W constant contact email list on the right side of the 10W blog where it says "Please Join our Email List." The Song for the day is "Your Love is Everlasting" by Dakota Road from the CD "Break These Chains" which can be purchased HERE

10w for May 5th, You're Growing Up, E6.

The following is a 10 minute worship for May 5th, You're Growing Up, E6. You can either listen on the flash player below or download it to your favorite music program to sync with your mp3 player by clicking on "DOWNLOAD" or play it on your smartphone's music player by clicking PLAY. You now also have the option of receiving these notices each week and on festival days by signing up for the 10W constant contact email list on the right side of the 10W blog where it says "Please Join our Email List." The Song for the day is "Whispers from a Spiritual Garden" by Yusif Islam from the CD "Another Cup" which can be purchased HERE

Poem for 6th Sunday of Easter John 14:23-29

She ran in the door smiling

covered with mud

in little splotches here and there

with a smile of love

plastered amid the streaks of dirt

just smiling

and that was enough

it said love

with no agendas

---- strings

-------- ifs

it just said love

and that was enough for the whole world

in that moment

just love

Christ’s Spirit is here

to guide us

---- love

to gently nudge this way and that

---- love

so that as we stand before God

amid our smudged and streaked hands

and faces

the God and Creator of all

sees only the smile

---- love

of Christ

Opening Litany based on Psalm 67

Pastor: May God be gracious to us and bless us, and may the face of our God shine us so that the ways of the Lord may be known on all the earth, the salvation of the Lord known among all nations. 

Congregation: May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you.

Pastor: May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth.

Congregation: May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you.

Pastor: The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us.

Congregation: May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you.

Pastor: May God bless us still in the months and years ahead, so that all the ends of the earth will live in awe of the Lord God Almighty.

Congregation: May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you.

end up in the future

Sunday May 5^th, Revelation 22: 1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city.  In the second creation story (Gen. 2) we have the river flowing from Eden and watering the tree of life, in the end, (Rev. 22) we have the river of life flowing from the throne of God and down the middle of the Holy City and nurturing all of humanity.  These are bookend visions of God providing life.  In the middle is the story of humanity nurturing that life in line with the vision God has given us.  In The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen Covey, Habit 2 is "Begin with the End in Mind." Or, in other words, determine where you want to end up in the future, and plan the present in light of those goals. God’s part of the vision is the majestic future of the Holy City come down to earth; our vision is perhaps a little less majestic.  God’s part of the vision, God living with us and all the nations living together in harmony, gives us a glimpse into what our life should be like on this side of heaven.  While we spend so much of our time on unimportant and often destructive tasks, God calls us to a higher vision as part of the family of God.  God calls us to the vision of the river of life flowing through our lives and out into the world nurturing all of humanity.  In Israel there are two seas.  One has lots of fish in it, lush crops grow along its shoreline and children play for hours, the other has no fish, no crops, and except for a resort or two, there is not much playing.  One is the Sea of Galilee and the other is the Dead Sea.  The difference is that water flows into the Sea of Galilee and the water flows out to water the crops and feed the people.  In the Dead Sea, the water only flows in.  For God’s sake, let us return to the vision of the river of life, where the life giving water flows through our lives and out into the world.  For when we horde it for ourselves, we die within.  The Love of God is truly seen only as love when shared.    

work out into the world

Monday May 6^th, Revelation 22: On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.  God’s vision for this place called earth is one of wholeness and healing.  In the beginning was one tree of life for the family of God consisting of the first humans.  Now as the family of God has grown into many tribes and nations, there are trees for every tribe and nation and the leaves are for the healing of the nations.  Healing for what it is that ails that nation perhaps, but more importantly, for the healing that is needed between nations and tribes and factions and religions and races, etc. One could also conclude that they would be for the healing between the nations.  From what do we need healing?  One of the first tasks in any healing process is diagnosis.  Perhaps what the church should first be about is diagnosis and healing. All too often we find the big business of the church hung up on justification and self-preservation.  In the process we have stagnated and are dying.  We as the people of God are called into conversation as to what would be the most healing for all of humanity, especially the least, lost and lonely.  We often get caught up in the conversation about what would be best for our church, our community, or our nation and forget God’s larger vision.  We may not be able to invoke peace in the Middle East, but we can start with how we talk to, and deal with one another.  Love God and Love others sums up all of scripture.  Start on your inside and work out into the world.  

wrong direction

Tuesday May 7^th, Revelation 22: The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. Darkness can be a time of chaos in our lives and often in scripture is a symbol of chaos.  In the vision of God’s kingdom come down to earth, there is no night, there is no chaos.  There is only wholeness, health, and healing for those in need which includes all of us.  It’s an idyllic vision I know, and not a place of serenity we can ever hope to obtain in our time and in our part of the kingdom in this world.  We can however get a whole lot closer than we are now, and indeed we are called to move in that direction.  How we do that starts in our hearts, knowing God loves us, and moves outward knowing God loves others and calls us to do the same, remembering that love is a verb not a feeling.  It helps if you are standing in the light of Christ in the first place, otherwise, we sometimes head in the wrong direction.

scratch it

Wednesday May 8^th, Acts 16:  9-10 That night Paul had a dream: A Macedonian stood on the far shore and called across the sea, "Come over to Macedonia and help us!" The dream gave Paul his map. We went to work at once getting things ready to cross over to Macedonia. All the pieces had come together. We knew now for sure that God had called us to preach the good news to the Europeans. Dreams can lead us in many different ways, some good and some not so good. The difference in our dreams often comes about by what it is we steep our life in.  When we live our lives in prayer, we live our lives steeped in God and our lives take on the flavors of that God life.  For Paul, dreams were one way God spoke to him and moved the gospel once again beyond pre-conceived boundaries of this world, from Jerusalem, Judea and onto the ends of the earth.  Paul was already operating beyond the comfort boundary of the church by ministering to the Gentiles.  God had taken him north out of Israel, across present day Lebanon, Syria and up into Turkey and then west to the shore of the Aegean Sea.  From across the Aegean, on the shores of present day Greece God moved the Good News from the Mid-East to the southern shores of Europe.  God’s boundaries are always far ahead of what we consider acceptable, safe or comfortable.  When and if we get there, we find that God is already there waiting for us to show up and get to work.  What boundaries does your faith community need to cross today in order to go where God is waiting for you?  What safe boundaries do you need to cross only to find God waiting for you?  If you feel the itch to get moving, perhaps it is time to pack up and scratch it. 

listen God is calling

Thursday May 9^th, Acts 16:  13-14 On the Sabbath, we left the city and went down along the river where we had heard there was to be a prayer meeting. We took our place with the women who had gathered there and talked with them. One woman, Lydia, was from Thyatira and a dealer in expensive textiles, known to be a God-fearing woman. As she listened with intensity to what was being said, the Master gave her a trusting heart—and she believed!  When Paul gets way beyond those boundaries of comfort, what does he find but a community and leaders already waiting for him and for the word of God being preached.  Not only had God prepared Lydia for learning a new thing, God had also prepared Paul for learning a new thing about the kingdom of God.  The next time you feel you are being brave and stepping out with the Gospel, picture in your mind a young child taking their first steps.  It is exciting and scary for the one taking the steps, but there is always someone there calling and encouraging them in love.  So it is with God in this world.  Listen, listen God is calling, through the Word inviting, offering forgiveness, comfort and joy.  Jesus gave his mandate; share the good news that he came to save us and set us free. Let none be forgotten throughout the world in the triune name of God go and baptize. Help us to be faithful, standing steadfast, walking in your precepts, led by your Word.  Listen, listen God is calling, through the Word inviting, offering forgiveness, comfort and joy.  (Listen God is Calling, a Tanzanian traditional hymn translated by Howard Olson, number 712 in “With One Voice”).  God is always out in front calling us on. 

half-baked idea

Friday May 10^th, John 14: 23 Jesus replied: If anyone loves me, they will obey me. Then my Father will love them, and we will come to them and live in them. 24 But anyone who doesn't love me, won't obey me. What they have heard me say doesn't really come from me, but from the Father who sent me. What I find interesting about this passage is that the ones who love and obey God, God will come and live in them.  The word translated as “obey” also has the meaning “hold fast.” For those who don’t love God, the result is that they won’t, not just don’t, but won’t obey God.  It doesn't say anything about God not continually coming to them in love and working with them to learn to love God.  It doesn't say anything about God not loving them.  It also doesn't say anything about the children of God not loving them.  The only difference is that in the meantime, they don’t get the joy of knowing God is already with them.  When they hear the old Brenda Lee song, “All Alone Am I” it pulls on their heart strings, they know that feeling of aloneness.  As Fredrick Buechner puts it, “A Christian isn't any better than anyone else, they just have some half-baked idea who to thank.”  Life’s short, live in the knowledge of God’s love, live thankfully, and live knowing who to thank.  

acting accordingly

Saturday May 11^th, John 14:  25 I have told you these things while I am still with you. 26 But the Holy Spirit will come and help^] you, because the Father will send the Spirit to take my place. The Spirit will teach you everything and will remind you of what I said while I was with you. 27 I give you peace, the kind of peace that only I can give. It isn't like the peace that this world can give.  When I was young and lived at home, my father was an idiot.  When I got out on my own and grew in years, it is amazing how much smarter my father got.  Many have expressed the opinion that if Jesus were here today; and then they usually paint some rosy picture of how they would be following him around and listening at his feet.  I think we would all just join together and try to kill him again.  The Spirit leads us not into the knowledge of what Jesus would do, but rather into the peace of knowing Christ is with us, and then calls us to action, living out that knowledge.  It is not a peace for us alone, but for all of creation.  It is living, knowing that Christ is not only in us, but also in them, and then acting accordingly.  

10w for May 1st, Phillip & James, Apostles.

The following is a 10 minute worship for May 1st, Phillip & James, Apostles. You can either listen on the flash player below or download it to your favorite music program to sync with your mp3 player by clicking on "DOWNLOAD" or play it on your smartphone's music player by clicking PLAY. You now also have the option of receiving these notices each week and on festival days by signing up for the 10W constant contact email list on the right side of the 10W blog where it says "Please Join our Email List." The Song for the day is "Baptized" by NiNa from the CD "I Am Your Child" which can be purchased HERE

Poem for May 1st, Philip & James, Apostles John 14:8-14

We don’t know where you are going

we don’t have a handle on what is happening

we don’t feel in control

just show me the one who has sent you

the one we have worshiped for so long

Show me

that I may believe

that which I have already said

I believe

Show me
that I may no longer be nagged by doubts

Show me

---- (I am the way)

---- (and I will be with you)

---- (for I am going)

---- (to be with you in a special way)

Help me to keep the ways

I have learned

from my ancestors

who have lived so long

with the special relationship given

by God

---- (I am the way)

Show us that we may believe in you

Show us

that our human side may be satisfied

Show us

that we may have an edge

over

those who have not been shown

---- (I am the way)

---- (and I will be)

---- (with all people)

---- (in love)

10w for April 28th, It's Grace, E5NL.

The following is a 10 minute worship for April 28th, It's Grace, E5NL. You can either listen on the flash player below or download it to your favorite music program to sync with your mp3 player by clicking on "DOWNLOAD" or play it on your smartphone's music player by clicking PLAY. You now also have the option of receiving these notices each week and on festival days by signing up for the 10W constant contact email list on the right side of the 10W blog where it says "Please Join our Email List." The Song for the day is "Amazing Grace" by Bluegrass Gospel from the CD "Essential Bluegrass"  which can be purchased HERE

10w for April 228th, New Commandment, E5.

The following is a 10 minute worship for April 28th, New Commandment, E5. You can either listen on the flash player below or download it to your favorite music program to sync with your mp3 player by clicking on "DOWNLOAD" or play it on your smartphone's music player by clicking PLAY. You now also have the option of receiving these notices each week and on festival days by signing up for the 10W constant contact email list on the right side of the 10W blog where it says "Please Join our Email List." The Song for the day is "New Commandment" by Desert Rain from the CD "Desert Rain" which can be purchased HERE

Poem for 5th Sunday of Easter John 13:31-35

Jesus the Christ

Emmanuel, Lord with us

the God who created all

---- and sustains all

-------- and saves all

lived among us

---- taught us

---- cared for us

---- loved us

---- brought us new life

and left us with the command

Love one another

in the midst of strife and conflict

in the midst of war

---- Love one another

in the midst of families

and finances

---- Love one another

it is then we hear Christ

know Christ

see Christ

in the smile of a child

and the tears of a friend

the laughter in the halls

and the sun in the sky

Love one another

and in doing so

know

---- of God’s love for you

Christ

Opening Litany based on Psalm 148

Pastor: Praise the LORD from the heavens, and in the heights above.  Praise the LORD, all angels and heavenly hosts.

Congregation: Praise the LORD, sun and moon and shining stars. Praise, you highest heavens and waters above the skies.

Pastor: Let everyone and everything praise the name of the LORD, for the LORD spoke and they were created. The LORD set them in place for ever and ever and gave a decree that will never pass away.

Congregation: Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding.

Pastor: Praise the LORD you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds.

Congregation: Praise the LORD all you kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth, young men and maidens, old men and children.

Pastor: Let them praise the name of the LORD, for the LORD alone is exalted; and the LORD’s splendor is above the earth and the heavens.

Congregation: The LORD has raised up for all people a voice through the praise of the saints, and the people close to the heart of God. Praise the LORD.

no line

Sunday April 28^th, Acts 11:  4 Peter began and explained everything to them precisely as it had happened: 5 "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. 6 I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds of the air. 7 Then I heard a voice telling me, 'Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.'  8 "I replied, 'Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.'  9 "The voice spoke from heaven a second time, 'Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.' 10 This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again.  Peter found himself caught between a sheet and a hard place.  That doesn't sound bad until you put yourself in Peters place and realize that sheet contains everything objectionable in his limited world view.  Peter found himself face to face with God’s expanded view of the kingdom. Peter has had a rough time of it of late.  He has lived with Simon the tanner which would make him unclean, touched and healed a dead Greek woman named Dorcus which would also make him unclean. Now God is continuing his education by once again showing him the expanse of God’s kingdom which in Peter’s mind would make him unclean.  Peter is also left trying to explain this to others when he is not so sure he understands it himself.  Most of us, like Peter, when confronted with the expanse of God’s kingdom may at first say Wow. Then after a while we shrink back and come to our senses and say, “but surely you don’t mean them?”  It is one thing to expand our view of the horizon as far as we can see, it is quite another to expand it as far as God can see.  Sometimes God has used a sheet to show his vision for the kingdom.  Sometimes he just takes us up to the line we have drawn in the sand and urges us to step across it, and then leads us up to our next line in the sand and urges us to do it again, and again and again and again until we begin to grasp just a part of the expanse of God’s love.  Perhaps this was an inspiration for U2’s “No line on the horizon” (www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oKwnkYFsiE)

where next

Monday April 29^th, Acts 11:  11 "Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. 12 The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man's house. 13 He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, 'Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. 14 He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.' You almost get the idea that this was Peter’s idea. Peter’s idea?  I think not!!  God was way out in front of him on this.  Keep in mind that God is way out in front of us also.  Come over here, Kingdom work to do!  Now go over there, Kingdom work to do!  God is always out ahead, preparing the way, setting the stage and encouraging us and waiting for us to show up to receive the blessing.  Where is God leading you do kingdom work at this time, today?  Where is God leading your faith community, your worship community, to do kingdom work or are you still hiding behind the church walls on Sunday morning? It is never a matter of if, it is only and always a matter of where next.  You only need to decide what path will you take to get there and how long it will take you to get started, and sometimes, sadly, if you will get started.  The life of a Christian is just pointing your nose toward the Kingdom and taking off down that path.  That doesn't mean the road is smooth all the time, nor does it mean that it is rocky all the time, nor does it mean that others are called to go down that same path. What it does mean is that God is way out in front of you and this time has prepared the way for you.  Advent and Christmas are about preparing the way for the Lord, Easter is about going the way the Lord has prepared for you today and knowing that tomorrow may be different.

but, but, but

Tuesday April 30^th, Acts 11: 15 "As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' 17 So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?"  18 When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life."  If God is sending us into all the world to bring the Good news, who are we to stand in the way?  Peter is trying to explain the no line on the horizon boundary-less kingdom to boundary loving followers.  It is a tough job, full of “Yes, but’s.”  Yes I believe the Kingdom is for all (but) who follow the right path; the kingdom is for all (but) who live as the children of God; the kingdom is for all (but) who have made a profession of faith; the kingdom is for all (but) who pray the believers prayer; the kingdom is for all (but) who follow the Christian faith; the kingdom is for all (but, but, but, but). The Christian church over the centuries hasn't changed much.  Even today there is all manner of “yes, but you surely don’t mean ‘those’ people” among those who claim the title of followers of Jesus.  All living things have within them the living breath of the Holy Spirit.  Our job as kingdom dwellers is to help awaken the awareness of the spirit that is already within them, and in the process awaken the awareness of the spirit that is already within ourselves, to that spirit presence.  Where is God leading you today where you don’t want to go? Perhaps it is time to start packing.  

follow the vision

Wednesday May 1^st, Revelation 21:  1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."  This is a vision of God’s kingdom in heaven becoming God’s vision on earth and for all humanity.  All who are victims and who are hurting will weep no more and every tear will be wiped from their eyes.  All who are perpetrators and who are hurting will weep no more and every tear will be wiped from their eyes.  There will be no death, no mourning, no crying, no pain, only the joyful presence of God with all of humanity and all of creation.  It begs the question, if this is God’s vision, why do we work so hard at maintaining war and injustice in this world?  Why do we spend over half of our economy on ways to kill and come unglued over a few dollars to heal? Why do we defend to the last straw the so called “right” for every Tom, Dick and Harry and Sally to carry a weapon designed for killing? This last year we have seen outrage on the airwaves and in the halls of state houses over wanting to pay for health care and barely a whimper over the trillions to kill.  Many in the name of god, (and for the glory of profit) try to lead us in the opposite direction of God’s leading.   God is leading us to focus on ways to heal, however for the temporary and temporal satisfaction of greed fulfilled by a few, so much of humanity is kept far from God’s vision.  Someday maybe, someday, we may get back on the path God has set before us.  In the meantime, for those who have eyes to see, follow the vision.  

here and now

Thursday May 2^nd, Revelation 21:  6 He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. Christ is the beginning and the end of all that is.  Creation was for the glory of God and in the end Creation will once again be for the Glory of God.   For this brief in-between moment called life, both our own lives and the life of all creation, we are given a chance to catch just a glimpse of, and participate in, God’s unfolding promise to mend the entire universe.  (Check out “Manna and Mercy” by Daniel Erlander for a delightful rendition of this unfolding promise.   www.danielerlander.com)  This life is a gift to us to help us grasp the glory of God in this world and participate in the promise.  Christians aren’t any better than anyone else, they just have some half-baked idea who to thank.  This gift of life given to us is a call to give to those who thirst a drink without cost from the water of life, and in the process glimpse a bit more of that gift of life for ourselves.  We know the beginning; we know the ending; and our lives are the pages in-between.    How do you want your particular page to read?  It reads in how you participate in the Kingdom life in the here and now?

Holy City Vision

Friday May 3^rd, John 13:  33 "My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. When I was younger, my father taught me how to plow the fields.  I rode along with him and asked him questions and he gave me advice for a few years.  When I was old enough to plow alone, he let me go.  I was awful.  It takes more than head knowledge to really know what you are doing and enjoy it, it takes experience.  We have been taught, it is all there in the scripture, now is our time to learn the joy of gaining experience of what it is like in the kingdom of God.  When I looked back and saw those first plowed rows staggering down the field, I knew I had a bit of work to do. In time the rows became straighter and I felt good about what I was doing.   When I look around and see how far we are from the vision of the Holy City coming down from heaven with no pain, death or tears and manna for all and mercy for all, I see that I, and the rest of humanity, have a long way to go.  Someday perhaps we can look back at where we have been and what we have done and feel good about it.  For now, our task is to keep aiming at that Holy City vision.  

fluff

Saturday May 4^th, John 13:  34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."   This is how you get kingdom experience, this is how you learn to plow your rows straight, you learn to love one another.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and soul and mind and your neighbor as yourself is how the scriptures put it.  Caring for one another as brothers and sisters in Christ, because that is what they are, is how we live it.  Life is all about sharing the manna and showing mercy and love for all.  All else is fluff.  

10w for April 25th, St. Mark, Evangelists.

The following is a 10 minute worship for April 25th, St. Mark, Evangelists.  You can either listen on the flash player below or download it to your favorite music program to sync with your mp3 player by clicking on "DOWNLOAD" or play it on your smartphone's music player by clicking PLAY. You now also have the option of receiving these notices each week and on festival days by signing up for the 10W constant contact email list on the right side of the 10W blog where it says "Please Join our Email List." The Song for the day is "Baptized" by NiNa from the CD "I Am Your Child"  which can be purchased HERE

Poem for St. Mark, Evangelist Mark 1:1-15

Prepare the way

Prepare the way of the Lord

was the call

Prepare

and make ready for what will be

----(the time has come)

make ready for the son of God

in the flesh

in the world

living among the people

you and I

who long so to hear the news

who long so to see the doves

descending on the one

God sent

to save

Prepare

----(the Kingdom of God)

the way of the Lord

the one for whom the prophets foretold

the one for whom John foretold

has come

and had defeated the one

who would being death

----(is near)

the message is told

and the time is now new

time for the whole world to change

from what it was

----(Repent)

to what it is in Christ

New

and alive

God has loved the people

God has loved the nations

and sent

the one foretold

----(and believe)

who would save the people

from their sins

----(the Good News)

this Christ

the Son of God 

10w for April 21st, Etheopian Believer, E4NL.

The following is a 10 minute worship for April 21st, Etheopian Believer, E4NL. You can either listen on the flash player below or download it to your favorite music program to sync with your mp3 player by clicking on "DOWNLOAD" or play it on your smartphone's music player by clicking PLAY. You now also have the option of receiving these notices each week and on festival days by signing up for the 10W constant contact email list on the right side of the 10W blog where it says "Please Join our Email List." The Song for the day is "Baptized" by the Jay Beech Band from the CD "One Body Alive"  which can be purchased HERE

10w for April 21st, Waiting, E4.

The following is a 10 minute worship for April 21st, Waiting, E4. You can either listen on the flash player below or download it to your favorite music program to sync with your mp3 player by clicking on "DOWNLOAD" or play it on your smartphone's music player by clicking PLAY. You now also have the option of receiving these notices each week and on festival days by signing up for the 10W constant contact email list on the right side of the 10W blog where it says "Please Join our Email List."  The Song for the day is "Waiting for the Lord" by the Jay Beech Band from the CD, "Everyone who is thirsty, Come"  which can be purchased HERE

Opening Litany based on Psalm 23 and healing the blind man

Pastor: There are times when we seem almost blind to the blessings that surround us.  

In the midst of our fear, our pain, our complacency, we either don’t see or don’t care

 about the Lord’s presence in our lives.  But then something happens, the scales fall 

from our eyes and we see what has been there all along. 

Congregation: The LORD is our shepherd, we shall not be in want for the Lord 

makes us lie down in green pastures, and leads me beside quiet waters. The Lord 

restores my soul and guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 

Pastor: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no 

evil, for the Lord is with me; The Lord’s guidance comforts me.

Congregation: For the Lord prepares a table before us in the presence of those 

who would harm us. The Lord provides us with all we need and our cup of 

blessing overflows. 

Pastor: Surely goodness and love will follow us all the days of my lives,

Congregation: And we will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Poem for John 10:22-30 4th Sunday of Easter

Questions have a way of framing the answer

--(how long?)

of saying

--only these possibilities exist

Within the framework of my mind

--And thought          

----And expectation

How long?

--(tell us plainly Lord)

How long before what I expect to happen

--will happen?

Never is the answer

--And Now

Never and Now

--before I hear His voice

Never and Now

--before I am shown the way

Never and Now

--before I hear the words

--already spoken

His sheep will follow

--Because they hear

His sheep will follow

--Because they know

His sheep will follow

--on to new life

--and love

many will not

they are too busy framing the question

to hear the answer

don't touch that!!

Sunday April 21^st, Acts 9: 36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas^, both words mean gazelle), who was always doing good and helping the poor. 37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, "Please come at once!"  Last week we heard of Peter being forgiven and sent into the world to fish for and feed others instead of to the sea to catch fish and feed himself.  This week we find him near Joppa, in the area around Tel-Aviv.  It is here that Peter has the vision of the blanket, the unclean animals and the voice of God telling him not to call unclean anything God had made.  Tabitha who is Greek, would have been one of those unclean things Peter thought he might want to avoid.  Acts calls her a disciple.  Not long before this Peter might disagree.  This is a story of healing and of healing.  Tabatha, the disciple some would call an “outsider” is healed to continue to do the work all disciples are called to do is brought back to life by Peter.  Peter, the leader of the church is healed from the bigotry of considering Tabatha, and all like her, as outsiders.  It also calls us to look at the question, that in our world today what disciples do we call unclean and what do we need to do to experience Peter kind of healing?

It's unclean.... deal with it!!

Monday April 22^nd, Acts 9: 41 He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive. 42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. 43 Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.  Peter continued his schooling.  After raising the Greek disciple Tabatha from the dead, he stayed with Simon, a tanner.  Tanners, besides turning out leather used extensively in those days, were considered unclean.  Before a hide is tanned, it is the skin of a dead animal.  Touching the skin of a dead animal made one unclean and therefore unable to participate in worship in the temple.  God was working on Peter to help him get over his purity test past, just like last week when God was helping Paul do the same thing.  Peter, come touch a foreign dead person, come take the hand of a woman, a woman who is a disciple, then Peter live with a tanner.  It is enough to make even a strong man like Peter quiver.  It is enough to make the loving God of all smile.  We will all eventually learn God’s lesson to love one another, the extent to which we resist it often times determines the lesson plan God uses.  I read these texts from the Gospels and from Acts and wonder how so many churches can get caught up in the purity test all over again.  I think it has more to do with making their religion fit their politics than making their politics fit their religion.  

God’s love is all inclusive, period!

Tuesday April 23^rd, Revelation 7:  9-12 I looked again. I saw a huge crowd, too huge to count. Everyone was there—all nations and tribes, all races and languages. And they were standing, dressed in white robes and waving palm branches, standing before the Throne and the Lamb and heartily singing: Salvation to our God on his Throne! Salvation to the Lamb!  The book of Revelation, if read correctly, is a book of hope.  Most often, it is presented as a book to scare people.  Those who have presented the book that way are wrong and have twisted and distorted the word of God to mean the opposite of what it should mean.  Those included in the book of Revelation gathered around the throne are “all” nations, tribes, races and languages.  God’s love is all inclusive, period!  Heaven is for All, including those who would distort the word with diatribes of hatred like the religious right.   

never alone

Wednesday April 24^th, Revelation 7:  14-17 Then he told me, "These are those who come from the great tribulation, and they've washed their robes, scrubbed them clean in the blood of the Lamb. That's why they're standing before God's Throne. They serve him day and night in his Temple. The One on the Throne will pitch his tent there for them: no more hunger, no more thirst, no more scorching heat. The Lamb on the Throne will shepherd them, will lead them to spring waters of Life. And God will wipe every last tear from their eyes."  When you pass through difficulties in life, (and if you haven’t, just wait, you will) remember that you are never alone. That is one reason the 23^rd Psalm is the Psalm for the day.  Even when you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you shall fear no evil, for the Lord is with you.  God is with you in this life. Hopefully, the children of God are with you also.  The vision of hope in Revelation is one where those who have gone through the difficulties of life, find themselves in the midst of Gods abundant love and grace and surrounded by the vast kingdom that is the Kingdom of God.  With this as the vision, go forward and live your life, praising God in confidence knowing you are never alone, even in eternity.