Last Sunday, Matt led us in this reading of Scripture:
Luke 2 – The Message
So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David's town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant.
While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel.
Colossians 1- The Message
15-18 We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body.
18-20He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he's there, towering far above everything, everyone. So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Lectio Divina | Led by Matt A
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Movies & Faith | Expelled
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Lord's Prayer Backwards | from Cheryl
A couple of years ago, I (Cheryl) was at a worship gathering at Weston Park Baptist and the pastor Alan Davey had us read the Lord’s Prayer backwards. I’'ve been meaning to share it with you long before this, but didn’'t get around to it or I would forget. Then we prayed it last week and now I can’'t get it out of my head. It was new to me and made quite an impact on my heart.
Amen
For ever and ever
The power and the glory
For yours is the Kingdom
Deliver us from the evil one
And lead us not into temptation
As we have forgiven our debtors
Forgive us our debts
Give us today our daily bread
On earth as it is in heaven
Your will be done
Your kingdom come
Hallowed be your name
In Heaven
Our Father
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Lectio Divina | Psalm 18
Our meditation time on Sunday night was a lectio divina, which you can read about here. The lectio was a reading of part of Psalm 18:
4 The ropes of death entangled me;
floods of destruction swept over me.
5 The grave[a] wrapped its ropes around me;
death laid a trap in my path.
6 But in my distress I cried out to the Lord;
yes, I prayed to my God for help.
He heard me from his sanctuary;
my cry to him reached his ears.
7 Then the earth quaked and trembled.
The foundations of the mountains shook;
they quaked because of his anger.
8 Smoke poured from his nostrils;
fierce flames leaped from his mouth.
Glowing coals blazed forth from him.
9 He opened the heavens and came down;
dark storm clouds were beneath his feet.
10 Mounted on a mighty angelic being,[b] he flew,
soaring on the wings of the wind.
11 He shrouded himself in darkness,
veiling his approach with dark rain clouds.
12 Thick clouds shielded the brightness around him
and rained down hail and burning coals.[c]
13 The Lord thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded
amid the hail and burning coals.
14 He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies;
his lightning flashed, and they were greatly confused.
15 Then at your command, O Lord,
at the blast of your breath,
the bottom of the sea could be seen,
and the foundations of the earth were laid bare.
16 He reached down from heaven and rescued me;
he drew me out of deep waters.
17 He rescued me from my powerful enemies,
from those who hated me and were too strong for me.
18 They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress,
but the Lord supported me.
19 He led me to a place of safety;
he rescued me because he delights in me.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Suffering | CBC Radio's Tapestry
Tapestry is a show on CBC radio on Sunday afternoons. Rodway pointed out an excellent show last week, which had a professor from Wycliffe speaking about suffering. From Tapestry's website:
The Victorian novelist George Eliot once wrote that “deep unspeakable suffering may well be called a baptism, a regeneration, the initiation into a new state.” To modern ears, Eliot’s poetic view of suffering may sound a bit much. But to the Reverend Doctor Ann Jervis , it makes sense. Ann Jervis is an Anglican Priest and professor of New Testament at Wycliff College, and at Trinity College. She is also the author of At the Heart of the Gospel: Suffering in the Earliest Christian Message.
Download the show here (right-click and select Save As...) or get the podcast (CBC Tapestry) or listen to it below:
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
The Peace of the Lord Be With You | A Meditation by Matt A
Download it here, listen to it here:
...or read below:
All day long I see patients who are sick, dying and in need. I wonder whether these
individuals know why I’m doing this. I wonder if they know the love of God through
me and his healing hands through my care and support. After all of my labor people
sill get sick, they are still lonely and there is always more to do. I am tired, worn out
and sometimes struggle to remember why I am doing this.
“The Peace of the Lord be with you.”
Every day I get to spend time with children; teaching them, caring for them, doing
administrative tasks to keep things going around the school. These kids go through
many stages in life. One year I’m there best friend and the next year they don’t even
say hi. I wonder whether I will have a lasting impact on these kids, whether I really
make a difference. It is often hard to fit in with staff too. Do they understand me? Do
they really know who I am? Do they see the Lord I serve in me and the work that I do?
“The Peace of the Lord be with you.”
Every week I come to the Church or this place of ministry. I give up evenings,
weekends, holidays, time with friends and family to serve the Church and the scattered
of this world. I often wonder whether it’s all worth it. Does anyone care? Does anyone
see the sacrifices I make? I can not often see what I’m building. It can be a lonely
journey. Sometimes I spend so much time on demanding tasks which I dislike that I
miss the opportunities for joy, for passion and for ministry.
“The Peace of the Lord be with you.”
When well school ever end; it feels like I’ve been a student forever. I am thankful for
this privilege, but when money is low, professor’s talk to much, the stress never ends
and everyone thinks I have it easy, it’s hard to show that I’m thankful. Where I’m even
going? What career will I choose? What is God’s will for my life? How do I know?
“The Peace of the Lord be with you.”
It’s hard to feel joy, to smile and to believe that everything happens for a reason when I
have friends and family who are sick and dying. Everything is not okay. It hurts so
much to experience suffering, to see my loved ones suffering, that I often pretend like
it’s not even there; like I live in another world. What hope do I have? What hope does
my family have?
“The Peace of the Lord be with you.”
I am a new mother. I am a new father. Does anyone see how precious life is? How
dear this child is? I wonder what they will grow up to be like. How can I raise this child
so that they will know the deep love of God? Will they know how much I love them?
How will I protect them and keep them safe?
“The Peace of the Lord be with you.”
It’s another day at the office. Another day of small talk, photocopying, filing,
procrastinating, trying not to eat poorly and daily duties. Am I wasting my life in this
office? Does this work even matter? I wonder if I should switch jobs, but what would I
do. I hope someone cares about me, that this work does matter. I hope that I can still
be a faithful Christian and work in a place like this; can I?
“The Peace of the Lord be with you.”
I have no job. I have no status. I have no money. It is hard to feel important in a
world where your carrier is power, and I don’t even have one. It’s hard to make good
friends and have a good conversation when you’re caught in your home most of the
day. I know that I spend money that I don’t have in ways that I shouldn’t but I don’t
know how to live otherwise. I just want to be comforted. I want to belong. I want to
have a home.
“The Peace of the Lord be with you.”
I haven’t cried in months. I haven’t experienced God in ages. Where has He gone?
Does He even exist? Sometimes I wonder if this faith is a sham. Maybe it would be
easier to give up; to do whatever I want. I’m sick of all these rules, of all this guilt and
manipulation. I’m sick of hating everything; I just want to be free.
“The Peace of the Lord be with you.”
I am so thankful to God for everything He has done. I can not keep signing His
praises. I want to shout on the top of a mountain. I want to soar in the heavens with
God. I want the world to know that God reigns, that Jesus is alive!
“The Peace of the Lord be with you.”
Numbers 6:22-26:
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be
gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
Monday, October 15, 2007
Prayer of Examen | Second Commandment
Stemming from Gene's teaching on Sunday night, we used the above as a prayer of examen.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Confession Liturgy
L: The Lord almighty grant us a quiet night and peace at the last.
C: Amen.
L: It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
C: to sing praise to your name, O Most High;
L: to herald your love in the morning,
C: your truth at the close of the day.
L: Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.
Silence for self-examination.
L: Holy and gracious God,
C: We confess that we have sinned against you this day. Some of our sin we know-the thoughts and words and deeds of which we are ashamed-but some is known only to you. In the name of Jesus Christ we ask forgiveness. Deliver and restore us, that we may rest in peace.
L: By the mercy of God we are united with Jesus Christ, and in him we are forgiven. We rest now in his peace and rise in the morning to serve him.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Thomas Merton | A Prayer
On Sunday night, we prayed through the following prayer by Thomas Merton, click on the pic for the graphic version we used on Sunday:
My Lord God,
We have no idea where we are going.
We do not see the road ahead of us.
We cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do we really know ourselves,
and the fact that we think we are following Your will
does not mean that we are actually doing so.
But we believe that the desire to please You does in fact please You.
And we hope we have that desire in all that we are doing.
We hope that we will never do anything apart from that desire.
And we know that, if we do this, You will lead us by the right road,
though we may know nothing about it.
Therefore we will trust You always
though we may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
We will not fear, for You are ever with us,
and You will never leave us to face our perils alone.
Amen
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Prayer by John Wesley
Let the inspiration of the Holy Spirit prepare and assist me in all the duties of this, Your sacred day. That my wandering thoughts may all be fixed on You, my devotion centered upon You, and my apathy quickened into longing for and thirsting after You.
Let me join in the prayers and praises of Your Church with committed and holy passion. Let me hear Your Word with listening ears and a determination to obey it. And when I approach Your altar, the tree upon which Jesus died, pour into my heart humility, faith, hope, love and a holy character which reflects the crucified Saviour.
Let me make use of this entire day to the ends for which it was intended, doing what must be done but also living out mercy, in prayer, praise and meditation; and let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be always pleasing in Your sight.
Amen.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
The Church & Healing | Lesslie Newbigin
On Sunday night, while preaching on Acts 5:12-16, Scott referred to this article written by Newbigin. You can read it here.
Picture: http://www.tstl4sda.net/children/Coloring/Coloring.asp
Monday, August 6, 2007
The Prayer of St. Francis
On Sunday night, we used the prayer of St. Francis to guide us as we prayed and listened to how God desired us to be used for His Glory in our city. Read about St. Francis in Wikipedia and the
Catholic Encyclopedia. Here's the prayer and click on the image for a bigger version of it from Sunday night.
Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Scripture Memory | Dallas Willard
In his book, "The Great Omission", Dallas Willard writes extensively on the church's failure to actually make disciples. We have separated being a "Christian" from being a disciple, literally a student or apprentice of Jesus. To him, the spiritual disciplines are of vital importance for shaping our lives after Christ by indirect effort (since we cannot, by our own effort, simply be like Christ, we must undertake other activities which by God's grace transform us into Christ-likeness). One of those disciplines is Scripture memorization. This is what Willard writes:
God is not pushy--for now, in any case. He is not going to overwhelm you if you don't want Him. He gives you the power to put Him out of your mind. And even if you want Him, you have to seek Him. Now, I realize that there is a sense in which He is already seeking you, and I am not tring to dispose of that, but we misunderstand what is our part and what is God's part. God is ready to act. He is acting. We are not waiting on Him; and if it doesn't hurt your theology too badly, He is waiting on us to respond. And you know we have a problem here. As I often point out to folks, today we are not only saved by grace, we are paralyzed by it. We will preach to you for an hour that you can do nothing to be saved, and then sing to you for forty-five minutes trying to get you to do something to be saved. That is confusing, to say the least. We really have a rpoblem with activity and passivity in our theology. I can't being to deal with all of that here, but I simply am calling attention to it.
We have to think about working with God on the contents of our minds. David says in Psalm 16:8, "I keep the Lord always before me." I keep the Lord always before me. I keep the Lord always before me. What do we say to Daivd? Synergism! Works! "I keep the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved." Here is our action at the heart of that great messianic Psalm, which I wish I had time to talk more about because it has so much to say about spiritual formation.
How then, shall we set the Lord always before us? Bible memorization is absolutely fundamental to spiritual formation. If I had to--and of course I don't have to--choose between all the disciples of the spiritual life and take only one, I would choose Bible memorization. I would not be a pastor of a church that did not have a program of Bible memorization in it, because Bible memorization is a fundamental way of filling our minds with what they need. "This book of the law shall not depart out of your moth" (Joshua 1:8). That's where we need it! In our mouth. Now, how did it get in your mouth? Memorization. I often point out to people how much trouble they would have stayed out of if they had been muttering scripture. Our friend Bill Clinton would have done much better with that. Muttering scripture. You meditate in it day and night. What does that mean? Keep it, and therefore God, before your mind all the time. Can anyone really imagine that they have anything better to keep before their mind? No!
- Dallas Willard, The Great Omission, pp. 57-59
Monday, June 4, 2007
Communion Liturgy
Last night, Matt led us through a liturgy as we celebrated communion, receiving the body and blood of Christ through the elements of bread and wine (well, juice). As he described it, "formal" liturgy is like falling in love - dive into it, ponder it, ask questions of it, probe the meaning of the words. If the analogy is a little uncertain for you, talk to Matt about it. Either way, the liturgy is an amazing way to connect with the language and history of the saints throughout the ages of Christianity. If you want a very detailed look at the history of "liturgy", check out the liturgy entry at the Catholic Encyclopedia.
The liturgy we used is as a PDF file and can be viewed here.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
The Lord's Prayer | The Voice Translation
Your prayers, rather, should be simple, like this:
Our Father in heaven,
let Your name remain holy.
Bring about Your kingdom.
Manifest Your will here on earth,
as it is manifest in heaven.
Give us each day that day's bread, no more, no less,
And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive those who owe use something.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
But let Your kingdom be,
and let it be powerful
and glorious forever.
Amen.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Vocation Small Group Material | April 22
Here is this week's handout for Vocation small groups (and anyone else who may want to use it!).
Monday, April 16, 2007
Praying with Icons
On Sunday, we made use of the long history of praying with icons. This was probably something new and different for most of us, despite its rich tradition. In a visual age, icons present an ancient practice brought to new life. Read an explanation about praying with icons here.
The Onslaught of Busyness | Yann Martel
You may recognize the name Yann Martel from his well-known book The Life of Pi. I came across an interesting article by him on Saturday, although what interested me didn't have much to do with what he was writing about (Stephen Harper and arts funding - which is important, don't get me wrong). Here's what he wrote though:
"To read a book, one must be still. To watch a concert, a play, a movie, to look at a painting, one must be still. Religion, too, makes use of stillness, notably with prayer and meditation. Just gazing upon a still lake, upon a quiet winter scene - doesn't that lull us into contemplation? Life, it seems, favours moments of stillness to sppear on the edges of our perception and whisper to us, 'Here I am. What do you think?'
Then we become busy and the stillness vanishes, yet we hardly notice, because we fall so easily for the delusion of busyness, whereby what keeps us busy must be important, and the busier we are with it, the more important it must be. And so we work, work, work, rush, rush, rush. On occasion, we say to ourselves, panting, 'Gosh, life is racing by.' But that's not it at all, it's the contrary: Life is still. It is we who are racing by."
It made me recall Greg's challenge about God's call to Sabbath rest. What struck me in particular was how busyness is often linked to our worth. The busier we are, the more important we feel. What does God say to this? Any thoughts?
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Vocation Small Group Material | April 8
The material for Vocation small groups can be found here this week. We'll be talking about the significance of the Resurrection, what it means in our individual lives and our life as a community of faith.
Post any thoughts!
