Foregiveness

By Betty Hertz, St. John Lay Leader

I'm always amazed at the new insights I gain when singing a hymn for the 100th or more time. As I sang, “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace” at the 11:30 service on Sunday, I thought of Saint Francis's prayer:

            “Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace…

            Where there is injury, pardon” (UMH 481)

 And the words in the hymn paraphrase this thought:

            “It is in the pardoning that we are pardoned.”  

I looked at Matthew 6:12-15, the scripture reference, and discovered a connection I hadn’t experienced before. These words are very similar to the words we say every Sunday in the Lord's Prayer as we address God,

 “And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” (Matthew 6:12)  

The words from The First Nations Version New Testament speak to me:

“Release us from the things we have done wrong in the same way we release others for things done wrong to us,” (Matthew 6:12)

I confess this is hard to do. Especially when I think about my list of those who have deeply wronged me, and I haven’t forgiven them.

Yet God forgives us. What keeps me from being as forgiving as God?

I decided to ask God to show me ways to be more willing to forgive. This seems overwhelming, but with God’s help, it is possible.

I recently read “Think Small,” written by Rabbi Evan Moffic, which helped me in my pondering. He answers the question “What is the best way to deepen our spiritual commitment?” Rabbi Moffic says, “Starting small is always more effective and lasting than beginning with a big commitment.” So, if I practice doing the small acts of forgiveness, I will grow in my ability to share God's gift of forgiveness. I will experience humility and healing. I will live a more Christian life.

Loving and forgiving God.

As we experience your gift of forgiveness, remind us of the many times your Beloved Son forgave others. Instill in us ways to accept one another and to have forgiving hearts. Amen.

Grace Alone

By Betty Hertz, St. John Lay Leader

This year, my Lenten practice is to reflect on what God is saying to me through the words of hymns. On Sunday, we sang Grace Alone, and the words of the refrain have been floating around in my ponderings this week.

               Grace alone which God supplies

               Strength unknown He will provide.

               Christ in us, our cornerstone.            

               We will go forth in grace alone.

Understanding what grace is and living it has often occupied my time during this journey with God. I thought I finally got it—grace is God’s unmerited favor, His unconditional love. God gives us this gift of love. However, as Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2:8,

“You are saved by God’s grace because of your faith. This salvation is God’s gift. It’s not something you possessed.” 

The refrain reminds me that faith comes to us as “Christ in us, our cornerstone.” Faith means resting in God and believing every promise, prayer, hope, and blessing is only by His grace.

This prayer guides me in ways to thank God for His grace:

“God, we give you thanks for the grace that lies at the heart of our faith.

Even as we fall short in our response to your love and your call,

your grace still abounds.

We see your grace in the sunlight that warms the earth

and in the stars that light the sky.

We see it in the manger at Bethlehem and the cross of Calvary.

In your grace, we find peace and healing for troubled lives.

In your grace, we see promise for justice and mercy in a troubled world.

As you envelop us, enliven us, and embrace us,

we celebrate you as the God of grace. Amen.”

From Prayers for Life’s Ordinary and Extraordinary Moments by Mary Lou Redding

Lenten season begins...a time for reflection

By Betty Hertz, St. John Lay Leader

When I pause to reflect on my connection to God, I frequently find myself being drawn to the words of a hymn. Those words often inspire a prayerful conversation with God. At the Ash Wednesday service, we sang “Just as I Am.” In 2021, I shared a reflection about this familiar hymn. As I re-read my words, I realized the soul-searching questions I wrote about are still with me today.

One Dark Blot

“Just as I am and waiting not, to rid my soul of one dark blot” caused me to ask, “what is a dark blot for me today, and what will I do to cleanse it from my soul?” My job is to ask God to help me recognize my daily “dark blots” and ask God to give me the willingness to let them go.

Many a doubt, within, without

“Just as I am, though tossed about with many a conflict and many a doubt, fightings and fears within, without,” this raises the question, what fear is taking me away from trusting God? To let go of those fears and doubts, I am reminded of God’s reassuring words in Isaiah (41:10), “Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you.”  I ask God to help me trust Him in all life’s challenges.

Relief

“Just as I am, thou wilt receive, wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, and relieve, because thy promise I believe.” What a great reminder! When I turn to God, I receive the gifts of pardon, cleansing, and relief, and am filled with hope as I experience God’s love.

Perhaps this Lenten season, you might find a few words from a hymn that speak to you; you might have a soul-searching conversation with God.

Lord, help us avoid stumbling through our dark blots, doubts, and fears. Teach us to turn to you in prayer, to receive your unconditional love, and to grow in our faith. Amen.

To hear Just as I Am click here.

Written in heaven

By Karen Biggs, St. John Stephen Minister

Luke 10:20 [Jesus speaking:] “However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

In this passage seventy of Jesus’ followers are sent out ahead of Him into the region to preach the good news, to bring healing to the ill and relief to the suffering. And they did just that, returning to Jesus with an exuberant report. They celebrated what God had done through them. Yet, Jesus right-sized their earthly successes by saying (in my words), “But really guys, the most awesome thing is that your names are written in my book.”  

Think of that — your name written in a heavenly tome with the indelible ink of hope and a future. It’s transcendent — far surpassing the miracle-working that Jesus' seventy followers experienced. Jesus reminds us to keep this life in heavenly perspective, and relatedly, to keep our pride and power in check.  

You may be a doctor who brings healing to the sick, a pastor who baptizes hundreds, or a volunteer who serves countless hours. Those achievements merit jubilation. I think I hear Jesus saying (in my words), “Yes, but even more so, rejoice because I know you, love you, and have a wondrous eternity-plan in store for you.”  

Rejoice

By Karen Biggs

No matter what comes 

Along the way, thrill or throe 

Rejoice

No matter what storm 

Brews o’erhead, rumbles below

Rejoice

No matter the row 

Raging ‘round the whirling world 

Rejoice

For all will be well

Your name is written 

In heaven above 

Rejoice!

Philippians 4:4  “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!”

Prayer: Most Holy One, use each of us with our unique gifts to serve and to bring love and healing to the world. Remind us often to revel with exceeding joy for You’ve written our cherished names in Your love journal. What grace and honor you bless us with — all an unmerited gift to us. Praise be! Amen.

Advent Devotion: Hope

Hope

By Betty Hertz, St. John Lay Leader

O house of Jacob,

come, let us walk

in the light of the Lord!

Isaiah 2:5

We spoke Isaiah’s words on Sunday in the Call to Worship. They are part of his message of hope at the beginning of Chapter 2—words of peace throughout the world.

Then, as Pastor Autumn lit the Advent Candle of Hope, she shared these words:

“We remember that Your light pierces the darkness and brings hope to all who trust in You.”

As I pondered these words, I reflected on times in my life when I have groaned at hearing the word “hope." When I didn’t feel hope. When life felt dark, even with my eyes open. When I didn’t remember, or didn’t want to believe, that God’s light would pierce my darkness. I realized during these times of hopelessness, I didn’t trust “this too shall pass, and life will be better.”

I didn’t trust the words Julian of Norwich heard Jesus say,

“I am able to make everything well,

I shall make everything well."

My view of hope was one of doubt and lack of trust in God. But Advent hope reminds me to believe that God always keeps His promises. As I face the unknown, God will provide for my needs. He will bring me inner peace despite my present circumstances.

When I hear God say, “I will be with you as you journey through darkness and with you as darkness turns to light,“ I have hope.

God of hope,

Thank you for the assurance today that because you are God and Jesus is Lord, all will be well. Help us experience this Advent journey with hope and confident expectations.

In the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, Amen.