Date: 02/17/2004
Time: 08:35 AM
As we enter into Lent, perhaps we ourselves the priests and the ministers of the Lord need to lead the pack in weeping on behalf of the people (v.17) If the leaders won't lead, then who would blow the trumpet, and who would gather the people?
I have been troubled a lot lately as I went through Medieval Church History. There were just too much astroscities committed by the church, all was done in God's name. "Where is our God?" was exactly my cry.
I started to realize that God cannot be motivated by pride. He would not worry so much about His name become mockery among the nations. And it should be so, for Christ did not shy away from shame but willing to embrace the cross of utter humiliation. If God was to relent (as in Exodus 32), then it was not done for His glory in a prideful sense. (I may need to develop a more corrective understanding about the Glory of God here)...
And to look back in Israel history as well as church history, it's always the fallen leaders were the cause of deteriation and judgement. So, in this Lent season, may God have mercy on me. For if I am failing in responding to God first, failing to weep for the people, I will also fail to blow the trumpet and to gather the people, too.
Oh God, am I taking myself too seriously here? Surely you could accomplish what you want to accomplish - I just don't want to fall through the crack.
Coho, Midway City
Date: 02/17/2004
Time: 09:19 AM
I am doing a series called "Habits that nail" My first nail is pride. I am working from a tenebre service I found last year. The Scripture reference is Mark 12:38-40, but I may use this too. Pride keeps us from fully experiencing our faith. Nancy-Wi
Date: 02/18/2004
Time: 05:36 AM
v. 15 - "sanctify a fast ..." "sanctify the congregation ..."
A fast made holy. A congregation made saintly.
The Lord relents... God will change God's mind based on our actions. This is a debate we have in our UMC with our former Presbyterian brothers and sisters.
I like the thought of "who blows the trumpet?" I doubt my getting frustrated with my congregants is really the same thing is weeping for them - caring for them to the point of grieving over their lostness.
It also brings up another point of the priesthood of all believers. Do we weep for the sinners we don't know? Are we able to sound the trumpet for them?
Sally
Date: 02/19/2004
Time: 01:41 PM
Nancy - WI,
You mentioned a tenebrae service from last year that has given you your Lenten theme this year of "Habits that Nail" -- what a great theme! Could you say a little more about it? You mentioned the Mark passage, but I'm having a hard time connecting that to six weeks of habits to fulfill the theme. Then again, I'm feeling a tad dense at the moment -- it's been a long week. I'm intrigued though, would you be willing to share?
mm in pa
Date: 02/21/2004
Time: 06:25 AM
The context of this reading is a community liturgy of sorrow over sin. The prophet has called the people to mourn a devastating plague and to announce a day of darkness, the day of the Lord. The people are called to repent and to return to God, who is gracious and merciful.
Date: 02/22/2004
Time: 02:22 PM
Does anybody have any ilustrations for this passage that can make it touchable for the people?
Susan in Wa.
Date: 02/24/2004
Time: 12:13 PM
Susan in Wa - if you check this, here's one I've used (though not exactly part of THIS text, it relates to the theme).
Go to the fabric store and buy some cheap burlap. Cut bracelet-length strips and put Velcro stickers on the ends, to attach them. Don't hem them. Invite worshipers to put them on.
Sally
Date: 02/24/2004
Time: 03:56 PM
Sally,
o.k., so call me slow, but I am not getting the connection here. Can you tell me any more?
Susan in Wa.
Date: 02/25/2004
Time: 05:08 AM
Susan in Wa - it may be too late, but here goes ...
You asked for something folks could "feel." Repentance has always been associated with putting on sackcloth and ashes (Ninevah, for an example off the top of my head) as well as fasting (the above scripture, Ninevah).
Burlap is pretty scratchy. Asking the worshipers to "Put On" the sackcloth (burlap) is something they can really FEEL in the form of itchiness on their wrists. That they put it on themselves is not as in the "imposition" of ashes by another, but something they willingly take onto themselves.
Get it now?
Sally
Date: 02/25/2004
Time: 05:09 AM
oops, sorry, you asked for it to be "touchable" rather than "feel." I'd interpreted your post to be more metaphorical, but this is concrete.
Sally
Date: 02/25/2004
Time: 09:26 AM
Sally,
ahhhhhhh, now I get it! I did mean more metaphorical, but that isn't a bad idea! I will have to noodle that one.
Thanks,
Susan in Wa.