Easter Sunday – April 8, 2012

UMH #312 – Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise

Hail the day that sees Him rise, Alleluia!
To His throne above the skies, Alleluia!
Christ, awhile to mortals given, Alleluia!
Re-ascends his native heaven, Alleluia!

There the glorious triumph waits, Alleluia!
Lift your heads, eternal gates, Alleluia!
Christ hath conquered death and sin, Alleluia!
Take the King of glory in, Alleluia!

See! the heaven its Lord receives, Alleluia!
Yet he loves the earth he leaves, Alleluia!
Though returning to his throne, Alleluia!
Still he calls the world his own. Alleluia!

See! he lifts his hands above, Alleluia!
See! he shows the prints of love, Alleluia!
Hark! his gracious lips bestow, Alleluia!
Blessings on his church below, Alleluia!

Charles Wesley, 1739

April 7, 2012

Gossip in the Garden

Read: John 15:1-12

The Neighbor's roses stretched themselves, and leaned over the back fence to check out their new neighbors.

    Whispers abounded. “Who are They?” “Where did they come from?”
    “Why are they coming here?” “This has always been the corner for the
    roses.” “Why are things being changed now?”

    “I heard they are lilies,” said the tallest rose, the one with the best view. “I also heard they have fancy names, not simple ones like Mr. Lincoln, or Peace, or Love. How would you like to be called 'Rubrum,' or 'Star Gazer,' or 'Moon Silk?' Why, there's no dignity in names like that.”

    There was much agreement with the tallest rose. After all, he was Mr. Lincoln.

    The lilies, meanwhile, were looking around too.

    “Do you think they will like us here? Will we be welcome?”
    “After all, we are different.” “What can we do to get them to like us?”
    “It will be a long time until people will be able to see us at our best.”
    “We can't stay around for a long time like the roses do; we are different.”

    Said the other lily – the one called Star Gazer, who had been the first lily to take up residence in the roses' corner, “Wait. Just wait. That is all we can do. Spring will come, and while the roses are still waking up from their long winter sleep, we will be blooming, and looking up at the stars, and putting on quite a show – even if I do say so myself.
    “When they see how beautiful we really are, then they may change their attitude.”

    “Why does it take so long,” asked a younger lily.
    “Tis the way of the world, child, tis the way of the world.”


Lois Leineke

Good Friday - April 6, 2012

This Man Called Jesus

Who is this man called Jesus
that everyone is talking about?
They’re buzzing here and buzzing there.
What’s it all about?

They said He turned water into wine,
a girl He raised from the dead.
A man now sees that once was blind,
The hungry ones are fed.

I heard He visited the Temple
and you could hear Him shout.
He became angry at their sins.
Please, tell me – what’s it all about?

He gathers all the little ones,
someone said the other day,
and tells them beautiful stories –
they say it’s about “The Way.”

Oh dear God, I see Him
coming down the street,
carrying such a huge cross,
tripping over His weary feet.

There is a wreath upon His head
and deep pain in His eyes,
everyone yelling and screaming
which seem to be all lies.

Why are they nailing His hands
and feet to that old cross?
Tell me what is going on,
that we should suffer such a loss.

Above the cross there is a sign
that reads “King of the Jews.”
He looks so good, pure and kind,
these people must be fools.

I talked to those that stood about
and asked them “oh, just why
a man like Jesus seems so good,
why did He have to die?”

Then I heard someone whisper,
tears streaming down his face,
“This man is the Son of God
who saves you by His grace.”

The Earth shook, skies grew dark
(they said the veil did rent)
we heard Him give up the ghost,
a centurion said, “This man was sent.”

Someone please talk to me,
there’s anguish in my soul.
I haven’t slept or eaten,
His face I shall behold.

I walked along a garden,
a man was standing there,
I cried out to him –
“Kind sir! It just wasn’t fair!”

He said “My child do not weep,
I know you hurt inside.
For I am ‘The Man Called Jesus’
in whom you shall abide.”

All of a sudden I could see
like shades falling from my eyes.
Here was the King of Kings
Who died for you and I.

Rejoice, rejoice, you angels
from the heavens far above!
Thank you, our dear Father
for the One you sent, with love.

Gladys Catinella (Connie Frock’s sister)

maundy thursday – april 5, 2012

choices

read: matthew 25:34-40

it was my lunch hour. i ran across the highway to grab lunch quick at the gas station before the afternoon's patients arrived. it was cold and snow crunched under foot. the kind of cold that cuts through you and numbs hands in seconds. i am hurrying back to my car. away from the cold.

and he stops me. bundled in his coat, looking a bit disheveled. tells me he has lost his job. he and his girlfriend have lost their trailer home and are headed to his parents to try to get back on their feet. do i have any money i could spare for gas to get them to his parents in a town an hour away.

and i pause. and the lies of society and the walls of self-above-others scream to get in my car and leave. rationalize that he is running a scam for money that is heard about on the news or in email. feel almost offended that he asks me because i am so sure he is going to take advantage of me. but i stop. and slowly my heart takes over.

"let me see what i have in my wallet." knowing i have about $4. then i go further against the protesting in my head. ask him where his car is. {and the protesting justifies the asking, the involvement ~ if he can't answer then he's lying}. and he shows me a car next to a pump. and i pull my car around. and inside the girlfriend sleeps. and i get out. and i ask him how much gas he needs. how full is the tank? and he looks puzzled. and responds they have only a little bit.

and with the protests screaming and my mouth not speaking in the nicest tone me heart pulls out my wallet. and my fingers are cold in the air. and i see his breath as he watches me. the girlfriend wakes up ~ our talking having woken her. and she watches too. and i lift the nozzle. and with frigid fingers i swipe my card and begin to fill his tank. and he watches. and as the amount nears $40 he begins to protest. "no really, that's plenty. you don't have to do that. i'm sure that's plenty." he says.

and the lies that have been taught scream out. see ~ he feels guilty because he's scamming you and you just spent 10x what you had in your wallet. see ~ if you were going to fall for this you should have just gone with the $4. and my heart wrestles and i fill his tank. close the cap and replace the nozzle. and he starts to ask for my name and address to repay me. and i stop him. and the tender finally comes in my voice. "no. you just do the same for someone else when you get back on your feet." and i smile. and he blesses me.

and before the protests can come the heart obeys God and i kneel next to him in his car. ask to pray for them. bless them with protection, provision and peace. seat them in the lap of God and ask that He watch over them. shut them in the car and watch them drive away.

and the cold comes back fierce and the wrestling continues the rest of the day. i will have to tell pete. tell him i spent $40 ~ might have been a scam. but he rejoices when i tell him {and oh i am blessed}. maybe it was a scam. maybe it was not. but he points out to me ~ what led me? what did i listen to? and i talk of my tone and my hesitation and my reservation. and he talks of my action despite the conflict. and he talks of a heart breaking forth with the walls of self-preservation down. a heart that chose others over self. and we talk of Jesus. Jesus who reminds us that when we clothe the naked, feed the hungry, care for the poor we are really doing these things for Him, as if He were the one we were caring for. and really if i'm going to make a choice don't i always want to choose Him? maybe it was a scam. maybe it wasn't. but in the end don't i always want to choose to care for others. to love others. isn't that what He asks of us? others above self. love above all. maybe, just maybe i am learning this lesson. i am choosing this choice.

natalie dewitt wilson

April 4, 2012

UMH #293 – Behold the Savior of Mankind

Behold the Savior of mankind
Nailed to the shameful tree.
How vast the love that him inclined
To bleed and die for thee!

Hark, how he groans! while nature shakes,
And earth's strong pillars bend!
The temple's veil in sunder breaks,
The solid marbles bend.

'Tis done! the precious ransom's paid;
"Receive my soul!" he cries:
See where he bows his sacred head!
He bows his head and dies!

But soon he'll break death's envious chain,
And in full glory shine.
O Lamb of God! was ever pain,
Was ever love like thine!

Samuel Wesley

April 3, 2012

Putting a Face to the Name

Read 1 Corinthians 13:12

Have you ever seen a picture of a radio personality and discovered that he really doesn’t “look like his voice” – or at least not the way you’d imagined him? I know I have.

In the same vein, I remember a coworker I had in our New York office. I had worked with her for a few years, always by phone, before she had any reason to visit Detroit. When she did, I was surprised to find that she didn’t look the way I expected at all.

Despite those surprises, I always find it’s helpful to put a face with a name, or with a voice. When I can picture the person on the other end of the phone call – or at the keyboard sending email – I have a much easier time dealing with him as a person, rather than as a job title or a resource.

I think that’s one of the great things God did in sending Jesus to us.

Before that, we had the writings of Moses and David and the prophets. They had heard God’s voice, somehow, and they told us what He said, and what He was like.

Then, suddenly, right there among us, was Jesus – God in human form. At last we could put a face to the Name, we knew Who it was when we heard His voice.

I know we don’t have a photograph of Jesus – we don’t know exactly what he looked like (pace Rembrandt’s exhibit at the DIA), but we do know enough:
We know He looked like us, we know we were created to look like Him, and we know that one day we’ll see Him face to face.

What Joy!

Charlie van Becelaere

Thought for the Day:
May the Lord bless you and keep you;
May the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you;
May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. Amen

April 2, 2012

Time Marches On

Read: UMH #128

Here it is again – February, 2012. Unbelievable how quickly time marches on. Another year in the journey of life, as we know it here on earth, and ultimately in Heaven..

It is not unlike us to set goals for ourselves. I remember being excited as a little child, then an adolescent, then a young bride waiting anxiously for an event or something I really wanted or a goal not quite reached.

Then as I grew older…mother of 3 children, then grandmother of 11, working on my career, doing volunteer work, etc. etc there never seemed to be enough time. Time was passing by faster and faster. Along the journey, there were many goals made and accomplished, some not quite finished and some just started.

But the one constant goal I have had since October 28, 1961 is to celebrate Maynard’s and my 50th wedding anniversary. And that we did!!! At first 50 years seemed like such a long time away, but now it seems like yesterday.

As I reflect through this journey, I firmly believe that this also was God’s plan and without his guidance, my journey and this goal, for various reasons, may not have come to fruition. Thank God for all he gives us!!

Karen Leigh

Palm Sunday – April 1, 2012

UMH #60 – I'll Praise My Maker While I've Breath

I'll praise my Maker while I've breath;
and when my voice is lost in death,
praise shall employ my nobler powers.
My days of praise shall ne'er be past,
while life, and thought, and being last,
or immortality endures.

Happy are they whose hopes rely
on Israel's God, who made the sky
and earth and seas, with all their train;
whose truth for ever stands secure,
who saves th'oppressed and feeds the poor,
for none shall find God's promise vain.

The Lord pours eyesight on the blind;
the Lord supports the fainting mind
and sends the laboring conscience peace.
God helps the stranger in distress,
the widow and the fatherless,
and grants the prisoner sweet release.

I'll praise my God who lends me breath;
and when my voice is lost in death,
praise shall employ my nobler powers.
My days of praise shall ne'er be past,
while life, and thought, and being last,
or immortality endures.

John Wesley, 1737