Holy Thursday

On the third Thursday of each month, I go to a small nursing home in the area and celebrate worship with the residents there. It has always been an enlivening experience for me. It is also interesting in that I am a woman ordained in the United Church of Christ, and many of my Thursday "parishioners" are Catholic.

We do not celebrate the Eucharist. That is done for them on Sundays. But I read scripture, offer a brief meditation on the piece, and then we sing.

The joy for me is that the residents seem to look forward to my visit. I usually hang out with them for a bit afterward.

But back to Holy Thursday. As this is a once a month service, I realized I could have brought an Easter message. That would be uplifting and life-affirming. But it seemed to me that we can only come to Easter by first traveling through the Last Supper with his disciples and standing at the foot of the cross.

I read John's account of Jesus's washing the disciples' feet.

And then, I asked permission to wash the hands of the people. Most of the hands were gnarled, and affected by arthritis. But all responded with tenderness to this small thing.

It was a sacred moment. Nearly everyone closed their eyes when I washed their hands in my bowl. And everyone whispered thank you.

One of the women who works there said, "But no one has washed your hands. May I?"

Each of us met Jesus that day. For a brief moment, the Christ in each of us spoke to the heart.

What would surprise Jesus in this? I think for him, there are no surprises. Jesus knew the power of touching. And he calls us to share that with each other.

This Day of Resurrection

It was cold in the Emerson Garden adjacent to the church. A brazier was lit to bring a little warmth to those gathered there.

Regardless of the cold, I was glad to be there, gathered with the church, celebrating the miracle of the empty tomb.

Last Easter was marked by the death of my father. The second family death in about six months. I did not sing "Alleluia" but I did have confidence in the Resurrection.

The day my father was buried, a preacher stood to say that he knew that Fred had accepted Jesus. That was a surprise to me. I don't think he ever made such a confession. Of course, what might surprise those who believe that one must make a confession heard by someone "qualified" to hear such things is that it does not matter whether Fred uttered those words.

What matters is that the living God accepted Fred. That is the good news of the Gospel. We are all accepted by God as beloved children. There is no rote confession, no statement of faith worded just so. We are accepted.

This might surprise some reading this. But it won't surprise Jesus. Jesus was, after all, the one sent into the world, not to condemn the world, but to bring us to God.

Gathering of the Lodge

What would surprise Jesus?
Perhaps Jesus would be surprised and pleased to see that the children of God gather to support those who walk for peace. That is exactly what happened Sunday night. Children who call God by different names, who worship in different places, and with different traditions. Yet all were called as people of one spirit to bless the walk of the Buddhists of the New England Peace Pagoda. Accompanying them for part of the walk is our neighbor Al.
They will walk from Hiroshima to Tokyo. Their purpose is to encourage the Japanese government not to rescind the prophibition against a standing army. As put in their constitution: "The government shall not act belligerently on behalf of the people."
Each of us presented Al with a small stone, a piece of our community for him to leave with the people of Japan. While most came from the neighborhood, Paul and I brought stones we had collected by the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia. The circle of stones is very wide, as is the love of God.
The evening did put me in mind of a book called "Circle of Stones." This book suggests that women might consider gathering at the lodge to honor the right of passage of girls into womanhood. That as we gather at the lodge, and pass the secret knowledge of women, that the young woman feels the love and care and support of the lodge.
So it seems to me, the lodge gathered this night to show Al support and love and care in this journey. Not a lone journey, but a journey of community, for the community. Not the community of Montague alone, but for this blue and green orb that is the home of us all.
This lodge is very inclusive. We were Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, Hindu, male and female. This lodge does not ask that we have been long-time members. Paul and I have only been here a few months. We were received with the same hospitality as those who have been long-time friends.
This was no official body of any church. No committee planned and voted. Rather, the community, the lodge gathered, because it is the responsibility of the lodge to bless and support this venture.
This would surprise Jesus. It certainly surprised and blessed me.

Living in a Winter Wonderland

It's been months since I posted. Why?

I've been acclimating myself to a new environment. Back in October we moved to western Massachusetts where I was called to Leverett Congregational Church. It's been a blessing and joy to live here.

I'll post a picture of my church soon. And try to get back to a less sporadic posting.

Living in this area is like living in a Christmas card. I've not tired of it yet. But we'll see how I'm feeling by the end of February.