The Wilderness

By Karen Biggs, Stephen Minister

This past Sunday Pastor Andy’s sermon, based on Genesis 21, told the story of Hagar and Ishmael being cast into the wilderness. Hagar’s husband Abraham reluctantly drives them away to live apart from himself, Sarah, and Isaac. Hagar is rightfully devastated at what looks to be a death sentence. Yet, God has another plan for her and her son. Hagar and Ishmael collapse in the desert, cry out, and God provides a source of water and a path to new life. Yahweh takes this story of rejection and cruelty and makes another way. 

I was recently reminded of the wilderness while hiking a local trail. The trail was green and lush at the beginning, but the higher I went, the stonier, drier, and more barren the terrain became. However, in this harsh environment I saw patches of white and yellow flowers called mountain-avens. These perennials grace the dry, windswept, shallow, nutrient-weak soil atop the Chugach front range. The blossoms arrive on the scene without any assistance from a human gardener — they appear as a loving gift from the Master Gardener. These delicate flowers survive the harsh arctic climate, proclaiming God’s message of hope that all is not lost, even in what appears to be a wild, bleak place. 

Our life journey often meanders over rocky terrain. We feel beaten down, parched, and demoralized by financial woes, job losses, hurtful relationships, health calamities, and a world seemingly on fire. It can often look or feel like the end of us, with sadness overwhelming our heavy hearts. During those heart-rending times, God hears our cries just like he heard Hagar and Ishmael weeping in despair. Jehovah’s always-compassionate presence never leaves us, and we can always turn to God for guidance along our way. 

Mountain-avens

By Karen Biggs

Eight delicate petals

Perched high upon the hill

How did you make the climb?

Who held you by the hand?

You squeeze into the crag

You adorn the rocky face

You wink and wave

Undaunted by chinook gales

You wait without a word 

For the release of winter’s grip

Leaves stretch, petals burst

You dance wildly like David

To that joyful solstice song

Of hope, love, and brilliance

Even in the wilderness

Prayer: God of all Beauty, make a way for us through the unavoidable wilderness seasons of life. Sustain us with your loving power and generous provision. Bring joy back into focus so that we see You everywhere. Amen.

One Bread, One Body

By Betty Hertz, St. John Lay Leader

“One Bread, One Body, One Lord of all.,

      One Cup of blessing which we bless.

      And we, though many throughout the earth,

      We are one body in this one Lord.”  UMH 620

When I sang these words at the Maundy Thursday service, I once again felt their power. I thought about the variety of gifts that came together to share this meaningful evening. The gifts of the element preparers, the musicians, the tech team, the altar designer, and the community of believers. Each gift added to the shared experience.

As I watched Pastor Bill preside at the Table, drawing on traditions of his Lutheran faith, I thought about the hymn's ecumenical theme: “We are one body in this one Lord.” I pictured the diverse group of Christian believers  “throughout the earth” who paused yesterday to celebrate—the Eucharist, the Lord’s Supper, Holy Communion—One Lord of All. We came together at God’s Table.

Thanks be to God!

This is the Day the Lord Has Made

By Betty Hertz, St. John Lay Leader

“This is the day that the Lord has made;
    let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

These words took on new meaning for me on Sunday. The praise band started the 11:30 service with a song using words from this Psalm, but the lively version they sang was very different from the one in the Methodist Hymnal. That hymn only repeats the scripture. In this new version, I heard the words:

               “Whether the sun will shine,

               Whether the skies will rain,

               I know that you are good

               And this is the day you made.”

I smiled because my carefully planned sunny day had already been rained on and disrupted. A couple needed a ride to the ER. My thought was, “I really don’t have time for this,” but God proved He has lessons for me every day if I allow Him to be my focus.

Because of God’s “disruption,” I had the opportunity to hear their stories of how they are overcoming their struggles and are on a new path. They expressed much gratitude for my little gift of giving them rides. My heart was filled with love as I heard their hope for a better life. What a reminder. Every day is the day God made. My job is to rejoice and be glad in it!

God of the sun and God of the rain, thank you for the daily reminders of your presence. Help us let you be our Planner each day. Amen.

You Are Mine

By Betty Hertz, St. John Lay Leader

Do not be afraid, I am with you;
I have called you each by name.
Come and follow me,
I will bring you home,
I love you, and you are mine.

(refrain from You Are Mine, The Faith We Sing, p.2218)

Each time I sing this hymn, the words “I am with you; I have called you each by name.” I feel humbled. Sometimes I feel chills. I think, God is my personal God. Wow! I also think, “Who me, God? You know my name? You are choosing me?” I feel overwhelmed.  When I let the words sink in, I feel comforted. I am reminded to let go of fear and be hopeful because God says,

               “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”

Isaiah 43:1

The hymn is a message of hope. As Pastor Andy said in his Sunday sermon, God calls us to root ourselves in hope.  We are God’s children. He’s with us.

Most Holy God,

We stand in awe that you choose us as your children. Remind us daily that you are our source of hope, regardless of the turmoil around us. Teach us to seek your guidance. Encourage us to listen for your blessed assurances. May we follow Jesus’ teachings and feel the Holy Spirit working in us. Amen.

The Journey of Discipleship

By Betty Hertz, St. John Lay Leader

As I have shared in previous reflections, singing hymns has moved me closer to God. I am reminded of John Wesley’s words found in the hymnal, “Above all sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing.” (UMH, p.iii) I was reminded of doing that as I reflected on the hymn, “Oh For a Thousand Tongues to Sing.”

Charles Wesley wrote this hymn on the anniversary of his religious conversion. He wrote it when experiencing “a full and thankful heart as testimony of what Christ has done for me.” I always assumed the phrase “thousand tongues” meant all of us singing. However, Charles took this idea from his mentor Peter Bohler, who said, “Had I a 1000 tongues, I would praise him with them all.”(1)  The emphasis is on praising God in many ways.

The words from the second verse formed a prayer for me:

“My gracious Master and my God

assist me to proclaim,

to spread through all the earth abroad

the honors of thy name.”

This is a strong statement about witnessing to others. In my prayer, I added, “God, give me a job description for being a disciple.”

I've always been a believer, but not a proclaimer. Only in recent years have I learned to share my faith journey with others. Christie Latona shares, “the journey of discipleship involves committing to move oneself and others deeper in our/their discipleship: from wondering to beginning to growing to maturing.”(2)

Has your journey been a straight line?  My journey looks like many zigzag lines that intersect and then zigzag some more. Just when I think I am maturing, new questions surface, and I am back to wondering. God keeps asking me to dig deeper. My understanding is that graduation happens when we enter eternal life. In the meantime, God makes it clear that my job is to share His words with others through my actions…to go and be a disciple.

Generous God,

Thank you for your patience as we grow in our faith. Help us proclaim our faith beyond the walls of St. John, so that others may experience your unending love. Amen.

Resources:

(1) History of Hymns: “Oh For a Thousand Tongues to Sing,” UMCDiscipleship.org. June 7, 2023.

(2) “Leader Development, Discipleship Formation” by Christie Latona, Baltimore-Washington Conference, March 3, 2023.