Earth's crammed
with heaven, and every common bush afire with God...
(E.B.
Browning)
We are surrounded by
Saints' days this week. Monday was the feast day of St. James, our patron
saint. He is often known as "James the Greater" and was the brother of John.
James and John were the sons of Zebedee, a prosperous fisherman.
They both tended to be a bit hot-headed, and Jesus nicknamed them
"Boanerges" or "Sons of Thunder."
James was the first apostle to
be martyred. Acts 12:1-2 states, "About that time Herod the King laid
violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. He killed James the
brother of John with the sword."
The collect for St.
James:
O Gracious God, we remember before you today your
servant and apostle James, first among the Twelve to suffer martyrdom for the
Name of Jesus Christ; and we pray that you will pour out upon the leaders of
your church that spirit of self-denying service by which alone they may have
true authority among your people; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and
reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen
Friday is the feast day of Mary and Martha of
Bethany, who were close friends of Jesus. They appear in the gospel of
Luke, in the well-known story of Martha, "busy with many things" and Mary, who
stayed at the feet of Jesus. They appear in the gospel of John when
Jesus comes to Bethany and raises Lazarus their brother from the dead.
Another story in John tells of a supper in which Mary anointed Jesus' feet
with fragrant oil and wiped them with her hair. Martha and
Mary can represent for us the two-sided aspect of the Christian life: action and
contemplation. They also give us a wonderful picture of friendship,
hospitality, and service to the Lord.
I am Martha, I am Mary
I am
Martha
preparing the house
expectant
yet
busy
cleaning
bustling
setting all in
order.
I am Mary
preparing my heart
expectant
watching at the
door
listening for footsteps
setting all aside.
Martha
welcomes with a smile
"Make yourself comfortable
shed your
shoes
relax into the cushions of the couch"
Mary
welcomes with anticipation
"make yourself available
shed your
burdens
relax into the presence of the Spirit."
Together we embrace
the Spirit's presence
a trinity of seekers
beneath a cross of sycamore
wood
before a candle flame
Martha serves a word
to start the
conversation
Mary sits at Jesus' feet
to draw the focus to him
Our
guest begins that conversation
her eyes on me, her heart on God
never
noticing as Martha slips silently
from the room.
After our guest's departure
Martha returns to plump the cushions
as
Mary douses the candle flame
No need for words
beneath the cross
in
hallowed spaces
we count blessings together
instead of
teacups
gathering mercies
from the crumbs of conversation
giving
thanks
for the gift of hospitality.
A trinity
remains.
Ms. Shirin McArthur
Debra's Mid-Week Meditation
But who indeed are you, a human being, to argue with God? Will what is
molded say to the one who molds it, ŒWhy have you made me like this?¹
Romans
9:20
Paul takes a distinct turn toward Israel in Chapter 9. He begins
the chapter by avowing that he would be willing to be sacrificed himself if only
Israel would believe in Jesus.
This seems almost a contradiction from the missionary who has spent so
much of his time preaching salvation to the
Gentiles.
However, as we move further into the chapter we see that Paul is telling
all of us-Jew and Gentile-that God is in control. It is God who decides
and it is we who are being asked to have faith.
This doesn't go down too well, does it?
What about fairness, and understanding?
The 20th verse of chapter 9 reminds me of Jeremiah 18:3-4. Jeremiah
has been instructed by the Lord to go down to the potter's
house.
"So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his
wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's
hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to
do."
This is the image of God the Creator.
There are some things we may never understand and I, for one, am grateful
that I do not know exactly what God is up to.
Even in my limited experience, God's ways have always been more loving,
more generous and more surprising than my ways.
For today I am willing to have faith in God's
righteousness.
Blessings, Debra
He showed me a little thing, the size of a hazelnut, in
the palm of my hand, and it was round as a ball. I looked at it with my
mind's eye and I thought, "What can this be?" And the answer came, "It is all
that is made." I marveled that it could last for I thought it might have
crumbled to nothing, it was so small. And the answer came into my mind,
"It lasts and ever shall because God loves it." And all things have being
through the love of God. In this little thing I saw three truths. The
first is that God made it. The second is that God loves it. The third is
that God looks after
it.
Julian
of Norwich
Daily Morning Prayer
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This Week at St. James
Friday: 10:00 Memorial service
for Peggy Keigler
Sunday: 8:00 Holy Eucharist, STM
room
10:15
Holy Eucharist, STM room
Wednesday: 8:30 Healing, Meditation
Chapel
Coming up: Nathan and Anne's farewell
party
at
the home of Stephanie and Nick meittinis, 2311 Tracey's Road in Sparks. If
you are attending, please contribute a food/drink item that corresponds to the
first letter of your last name.
A-D Appetizer
E-H
Side dish
I-L Salad
dish
M-P Sodas/non-alcoholic beverages
Q-T
beer and/or wine (chilled if needed please)
U-Z
desserts
Babysitting will not be provided at the
event. Directions are available in the church office. Let Marie or
Doreen know if you're planning to attend.
Prayers Etc.
When The Road Ahead Is In
Darkness
My
Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I
do not see the road ahead of me.
I
cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor
do I really know myself,
and
the fact that I think that I am following your will
does
not mean that I am actually doing so.
But
I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And
I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I
hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And
I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road
though
I may know nothing about it
Therefore
will I trust you always
though
I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I
will not fear, for you are ever with me,
and
will never leave me to face my perils alone.
--
by Thomas Merton
Thank you for your prayers for my friend Rick Hoecker.
Please continue to pray. He is now in Hospice in Nashville.
Those in need of healing and their families:
Chloe
Sarah J.
Anna B. Lelia
G. Alexis
Laurel Natalie K.
Karl
Maria R.
Matty
Joel B.
Heather JB Chase and
Sandy Susan L. Rosemary
Phil O. Aris
Joyce R.
Earl C.
Uncle Bob O.
Pastor
Robert Groves Paul & Fritz
Jeffrey
David W. Dave
Henry H.
All
wounded soldiers, sailors, marines in our military hospitals.
We pray for
the repose of the soul of Peggy Keigler, and for comfort for her
family.
In Closing:
Alone with
none but Thee, my God,
I journeyed on my way:
What need I fear, when Thou
art near
O King of night and day?
More safe am I within Thy hand
than
if a host did round me stand.
The child of God can fear no ill,
His
chosen dread no foe:
We leave our fate to Thee, and wait
Thy bidding when
to go.
'Tis not from chance our comfort springs,
Thou art our trust, O
King of
kings.
Saint Columba
Pax et
Bonum,
Loree+