what are we to do?

Holy Saturday Silence

Our journey through Holy Week has brought us to the place where Jesus’ bodily presence is no longer among us. The eucharist has been consumed and the church is no longer the house “of the Lord”, but a structure like any other. In a similar way, we feel this at times in our own lives - empty, without direction, bereft. We go running to the tomb, hoping to see some stirring of life, but find only silence. 

Silence. We’re not very familiar with it these days. We have earbuds and podcasts and news cycles and talk radio and social media that robs us of any chance of a silent moment. We’re uncomfortable with silence and do everything to avoid even a tiny dose. We call it an “awkward pause”. Yes, silence is awkward for us, cumbersome and unwieldy.

But it is silence that always reveals the depths of any situation. Only silence allows us enough “space” to let things settle and just be. Only silence allows the truth to bubble up and presumptions to settle down. How quickly we scramble to fill up any silent spaces in our lives.

As the story goes, a couple of women went to the tomb the morning after Jesus’ crucifixion. They went early, in the quietest time of the day. There’s not much talking that takes place in a cemetery, but there’s something else. There’s a language spoken there that goes beyond audible hearing. It’s a place where hearts talk to one another. There’s a knowing in that silent space, deeper than the mind can conceive. 

And so we are here today in this silent space with Jesus. Like those women, don’t look to see him with your eyes. Don’t expect your ears to hear his voice. But if you can give yourself a time of silence, you’ll see and hear from a place in your heart that will calm your tattered nerves, ease your doubts, and restore you from the inside out. In silence you will experience God’s love for you, not as the result of someone telling you that God loves you, not because of any creed, but because you have chosen to follow your heart to the silence of the tomb. 

Holy Saturday holds the key to the resurrection. Without a visit to the tomb, we will never discover that it is empty! May you be blessed as you wait in silence on this holy day. 

Good ? Friday

Good Friday Service tonight at 7PM

Here we are at Good Friday. Just the name of this peculiar day leaves us scratching our heads. How is the cruel death of an innocent man in any way “good”? And what in the world does the cross have to do with us in 2015?

The meaning of the cross has little to do with punishment, and everything to do with example. The undeniable message that keeps coming through these few days of Holy Week is that Jesus allowed everything to unfold exactly as it did. In the garden of Gethsemane he consents to the impending suffering. He refuses to protect himself, or be protected by his sword-wielding followers. He remains silent before Pilate. Ultimately, he is hung - bloodied and betrayed - between two criminals, one we call good, the other, bad.

The cross, of all the possible symbols, is the image that has represented our Christian faith from day one. Strange? You bet! What in the world does this mean? 

In addition to offering forgiveness (that’s just one component of what was achieved through the cross), Jesus is doing something of even greater importance - giving us the instructions for how to “do” life! The cross is the symbol of our faith because it shows us that when we hang in the middle of good and bad in our own lives, without eliminating either, without fighting, defending or refusing what life brings us, we arrive at peace - the peace that passes our limited understanding. Peace will come to you when you too, can learn to stop fighting and resisting what life brings you. This is what it means to follow Jesus, to “pick up your cross”. It means to literally put your life in the hands of a loving (not wrathful) God, just as Jesus did.

So when things turn difficult, relax a bit. Trust. Let go. Be patient. Allow God to work in your life, without trying to control everything. In time, you will get better at it. In time, placing yourself in God’s care will become your first choice, not your last.

Through the cross God is reconciling all things. He is allowing all things to serve his ultimate purpose. How do we know this? Because Jesus survives this ordeal, and not just survives, but emerges glorious and victorious in his resurrection. This is our hope! This is why we needn’t fear whatever life may bring us, and why the resurrection of Jesus on Easter day is the source of the greatest hope ever given to mankind. 

Listen to some of Jesus' his last words to his disciple-friends - hear them as if he is speaking to you: 

"You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy…and no one will take your joy from you.” 

May you be blessed on this Good Friday and be ready to rejoice on Resurrection Sunday!

What is Holy Thursday, anyway?

Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter. The calendar and the Church tell us that these are pivotal events in the history of the world, but it hardly seems that way when we’re having to be at work and trying to juggle the outfits and meals that go along with the “holiday”. 

A brief note about Holy Thursday: what we commemorate today is nothing less than a total reversal of all that we assume to be valuable in this world - power, prestige and possessions. Jesus did this in two very distinct moments that we generally overlook, except on this day. 

The first thing that Jesus did that changes everything is that he gave us “communion”. This is not just a stale tasting piece of bread that a man (usually) in robes hands out to those who are “worthy”. Nothing could be further from the truth! What Jesus very intentionally put into place was a way for him to be “in” us. He is no longer “out there” somewhere, but physically taking up residence in our bodies - leading, guiding, speaking and experiencing our life “in our skin”. This why we proclaim at Christmas time with full voice his name: Emmanuel, God with us! 

Communion is solidarity. Communion is favor and advocacy and empathy. Communion means NO separation. This changed the way mankind had perceived God since the very beginning, and it can radically change your views and your LIFE this Holy Thursday!

Another thing that Jesus did to change the dynamics in his relationship to us comes through this statement: 

I do not call you servants  any longer, because the servant  does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.

History has always been about masters and servants, even to this present day. If we look closely, we see our own concept of God has been completely shaped through the lens of “Lordship”. Lordship doesn’t create love. It creates fear. Jesus has turned that table upside down. To prove it, he gets a basin and starts to wash the grime off of the feet of his disciples, his friends. He’s letting us know that we can approach him through love - that fear is NOT the basis for knowing God.

Please come tonight to the Holy Thursday service as we commemorate these astounding acts of Jesus. Come ready to receive love like you’ve never experienced it before. We will participate in communion. We will wash one another's feet. We will begin to undo the false ideas of God that we’ve held for so long. That, is called healing.

Holy Thursday 7PM 

come. eat. drink.

Live to eat. Eat to live. Which is it? According to Jesus, the food we live to eat won't get us very far. Turn the stones into bread...what a great idea! End hunger forever, for stones are everywhere and plentiful. But Jesus wouldn't do it, even though he was starving.

Live to eat or eat to live? 

On this day over 2000 years ago, bread came down from heaven. True bread. Bread that would give life to our souls. Just as Jesus promised the woman at the well that the water he gives would quench thirst forever, so now he offers the bread of life. 

But we still don't understand. We're still repelled that he offers his body and blood as food and drink. He's a mystery man, even to his disciples. But there were a few who hung on in spite of the craziness, in spite of utter confusion in their heads about where this was all going and... what was he talking about anyway? He lost them. 

This is his way, The Way, moving ahead without telling us clearly what he's doing. We try to follow, but we're lost. If only he would explain. If only we knew where he is going, where he is leading us. If we could just see the Father, as Philip bemoaned.

On this day so long ago, Jesus wondered if anyone would actually stay with him. He knew it was hard for them, like a camel going through the eye of a needle, and he knows it's hard for us. So he asks, "Will you also leave?" 

The question is not a scolding. It's a plea. A plea for us to stick with him in spite of our own arguments against him. A plea to see him as God, even as our culture whittles him down to a wimp. A plea to have confidence that he is going to make all of this work out in a fantastic way. A plea for us to look beyond immediate circumstance to the things of the spirit.

Amazingly, our decision to stay, made in our hearts with every passing day, depends on what we eat.

Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you... the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."         They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”  John 6:32; 51

May you feast on his food and live an eternal life.

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Life can change this Easter. Come and see...

Holy Week and Easter

Does Church Matter?

It’s a fair question these days. It used to be assumed that going to church was part of life. It mattered to your parents and grandparents, even if you couldn’t see the relevance at the time. As you got older, you understood that it made a difference when it came to things like marriage and how you would raise your children. 

Things today aren’t quite as clear and many are giving up church attendance all together. The authority of the church has been diminished through a series of scandals across many denominations. Secular philosophy that seeks to explain everything in scientific terms alone has taken over our universities and media. It’s no wonder that this present generation of young people would question the thousands of years of history that the church has recorded. But that’s just it—they don’t question it. Rather, they quickly dismiss it without questioning. There is no inquiry into say, miracles, scrutinizing them with the scientific method. There is not a single area of study today where you can earn a degree that requires any knowledge of God whatsoever! 

This means that the Creator, who is the originator of galactic energy and molecules and biodiversity etc., is no longer brought into the study of the creation. And while this is the case worldwide, we continue to see and sense God’s presence very much with us here at Grace. It’s as though we’ve been provided a refuge from the current that is sweeping away human dignity, freedoms, and even, common sense.

 

Perhaps this sounds like a bit of an overreaction, but it seems the world is changing more rapidly that we would like to admit. From the very beginning, God has established places where he has chosen to “dwell” among his people. This happens, of course, through the Eucharist, but through the very real presence of his Spirit. 

By all accounts, this place, Grace Church, matters very much. God’s word is clear. He says that if we seek him, we’ll find him! Our prayer is that you will continue to find at Grace Church the very real presence of God.

meant for good

It’s hard to believe that yet another “school year” has come to a close and we are in that time of year when things are a bit less scheduled. What a relief for those with kids to be able to enjoy a long summer evening with out the pressure of school schedules and activities. Likewise, those without kids around can enjoy less traffic on the way to work!

Summer is a welcome gift from God. It is a time of rest and     reflection—exactly what God did after having created this beautiful world. He rested from his work and reflected seeing that “It was very good.” (Gen. 1:31—2:2) There are moments in life when that reflection allows us to sense God’s presence very near to us. It could be  during a predawn walk or gazing at the stars in the summer sky. You might feel  his gentle presence in a warm breeze or hear his voice in the tumbling waters of a woodland stream. The laughter of a family gathering can overwhelm us with a sense of goodness. 

 

The point is that these times are vital to our existence. They connect us with the reality that we are, in fact, eternal beings with a connection to all of God’s  creation—each with a role to play. This awareness can easily get lost in the hectic schedules that we keep, but the truth of our unique identity is never lost to God. We are literally created by him, “knit together in our mother’s womb”, at such a time and for a purpose that only you  can bring to completion! Just imagine, if only one of your  ancestors,  for as far back as you can possibly go, had chosen a different path—you would not exist! Can you see how specific everything had to be to get you! God was very intentional about arranging things so that you would be you!

 

So where does this leave you? It presents you with an open door to journey on a path toward fulfilling the purpose for which God has created you. You are the only one who can bring forth the goodness that God created you to establish through your life. 

Quite simply, summer reminds us that our lives are meant to produce fruit! Most fruit is quite beautiful, delicious and  satisfying. When life is hectic and you’re wondering which way to go, remember that you are meant to bring about goodness. You simply bring light into a dark world. It’s so simple, Jesus said, that a child understands it. A child wants things to be good. You are to be that goodness!  

This summer, take some time to reflect on how good God is and how you can bring simple goodness to those he’s placed in your life. No need to solve the world’s problems, just bring light and goodness wherever you go!                       ~Amy

Time Heals...

Spring is in the air and even though we have witnessed incredible darkness over the past  days and weeks, we have also seen the goodness in people and the grace of God poured out in ways that defy our reasoning.

Suffering. It’s our biggest hang up. We want the garden where everything was perfect. But we left God when everything was perfect. We have less need for God when things are good. He's just a picture on a card. We take him for granted. When things are good, we overlook one another, especially those closest to us. When things are good, we're BUSY taking care of insignificant tasks. When things are good we look to be entertained and we're too often entertained by things of darkness. When things are good, we're the center of our universe.

But look what happens when faced with tragedy. All of a sudden we need God. In suffering, we cry out to him and find him. All of a sudden we need one another. Through suffering a swell of goodness rises in our hearts. Love is seen everywhere. Compassion prevails. Sacrifices are made. Strangers become what we've been all along - brothers and sisters. Life becomes precious again.

Please do not look to have things too quickly back to normal. Normal is what got us here. Normal is selfish. Normal is uncaring. Normal is taking God and loved ones and freedom and health and prosperity for granted. May we never again go back to that type of normal.

Prayer is the path to healing for each one of us. We pray against evil, but we also pray for our enemies. We draw strength from God and one another as we face an uncertain future. And so it has been since the dawn of time. The bonds formed through our community at Grace are Rock solid, for we stand in the strength of Christ. 
We go forward with the bond of love that we share and the words of Jesus always before us — “Fear not!”

God Bless Boston

We don't have to have an answer for everything 

that goes on in this world. 

We simply need to be the light.

in times of crisis...

Most of us are overwhelmed with feelings of helplessness at times like these. As pastors of Grace Church, we cannot stress strongly enough that there is indeed something every single one of us can do to help alleviate the pain and fears that we presently face.

As a community of faith, now is the time to stretch ourselves beyond our comfort levels and PRAY for those in need. This is something we can DO. We have members of our own community who are directly and indirectly affected by yesterday's events. There is a long road ahead.

No matter how unsure you are of your own ability to pray, pray you must. Your prayers are needed more than anything else at this time. Like giving blood, your prayers are the light and life that we can infuse into the darkness of this tragedy. God is listening. Please do not stop praying for healing, justice and peace.

God's Story

Once Upon a Time…

there was a child born to a single mother, single in every sense of the word. The child was special, said to be a king, and his birth was announced by angels. He lived an ordinary life, at least for a while, living among his subjects without distinction, his royalty perfectly camouflaged, like the secret crawlspace behind the barn that concealed him in many a game of hide-and-seek. His mother alone replayed the  angels’ heavenly declaration and the earthy pains of his birth like a movie in her mind’s eye, each night as she closed her real eyes to catch some much needed sleep.

While the hidden prince did his chores, had foot races with his brother and learned the trade of the other man of the house, his heavenly pedigree was pulling him away from the ordinary like an outgoing tide. He awaited his cue, supporting his widowed mother until he traded his trade to be about some other business. No one foresaw that the man from Nazareth (who could have been the man from Brockton or Detroit or East LA), would begin a campaign to turn the world upside down; where the first would be called last and the poor blessed; welcoming in the outcast and casting out the in crowd. He made sick people well and well people...well, sick.

He liked boats but didn’t need swimming lessons because he could simply walk across the white caps. He could even change the weather. Speaking of weather, he looked exactly like the sun one day and his friends weren’t sure which was which. His words were telling, but it was hard to be certain what they actually told.

He was a truth bearer - The Truth, in a Way - a PhD, a prophet who knew your name (and so much more) before you could introduce yourself. But in all of this, he never looked like the one thing he truly was. You know, what the angels had said about him, - “a king who will save his people”. The last thing he could have passed for was a king, which disappointed everyone - so much promise.

So the hidden king rose to fame and just days later fell from grace on a pole where they strung up derelicts and scum bags. Silence alone remained. Grief for a few; relief for most. Then after three gray days of April showers, the bud opens and the grave opens and open wounds now painless are the fingerprint of his identity into which they all must put their fingers. He is sometimes fleshy, sometimes ghostly – a “now you see him, now you don’t” presence who is a gardener, a walking-along-the-road-scholar, and a beach vendor serving up breakfast burritos.

It’s a fairy tale ending to the story of God that began with some newlyweds in a garden in Iraq, of all places, and a handhewn barge full of animals and one family who won the lottery. It’s the story of the sea all gathered up into walls like a giant aquarium with a dry sidewalk right down the middle. It’s the story of a child born to a teenage virgin and a dead man cooking the catch-of-the-day on a campfire. It’s a fairy tale if you want to call it that, one that a child listens to with eyes all aglow, all things being plausible.

Doesn’t every culture and time generate their own version of this – God’s story – where the epic conflict between good and evil unfolds and princes are disguised beneath bumpy green skin and sons discover their true identity, exchanging their allegiance from darkness to light? Doesn’t the gospel ask us to step into the looking glass and follow the yellow brick road? Isn’t the gospel itself God’s trail of holy breadcrumbs that safely lead us home? No wonder we're asked to lighten up and become like little children if we want to see the heavens open. Can we read the story through any other than a child’s eyes?

This is, after all, God’s unique story. It is the essence of life; the story that guides, uplifts and warns; passed along from generations before us to weave with our own - in this very place and time - tenuous chapters that we read even as they are being written.

A fairy tale, it’s fair to say, whose author is God who can write whatever he wants. A serpent can certainly talk, a bush can burn and be ever-green and the senseless death of one so good brings life to all. The key is to recognize ourselves, and one another, in this epic tale, living players in the thick of God’s plot until the too-good-to-be-true ending truly happens and we find ourselves living with the Author of our faith, happily ever after.

Step into the story. Become like a child and believe. 

© Grace Church