The Beacon Messenger April 2016

Transcription

1 The Beacon Messenger April 2016 A publication of Bethesda Lutheran Church and East Church Congregational What Jesus in Need Looks Like When he [Jesus] had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, Why are you untying it? just say this: The Lord needs it. (Luke 19:28-31) The Lord needs it. As I heard these words on Palm Sunday I thought, this is the first time that I can recall Jesus ever needing anything. I searched through scriptures and only in the three gospel accounts of Palm Sunday did Jesus ever say that he needed anything. Yet in this instance he needs a donkey, not for his sake, but he needs it for our sake, so that he can give us salvation. As he enters the city of Jerusalem the crowds shout, Hosanna which means save us. They understand that we are held captive by sin and that we cannot save ourselves. We can never make ourselves right before God. Thankfully we do not need to; Jesus takes that task on for our sake. All he needs is a donkey for his triumphal entrance into Jerusalem. He enters Jerusalem not on a powerful stallion but a humble colt. He is not wearing fancy clothes indicating his kingship; he is wearing the simple clothes of a peasant. He has no crown but soon soldiers will place a crown of thorns on his head. Before Jesus took on human flesh he lived as a king; but he left that behind and became as one of us. He was tempted to sin, but did not. He was homeless during his three years of ministry. He ate when others provided for him. He got hungry and tired and frustrated. He experienced the full human experience never asking God for divine intervention for himself, only for others. When he was stressed with the needs of people around him, he withdrew to quiet places and prayed. Jesus taught his disciples that, Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. (Matthew 6:8) But Jesus encouraged us to pray anyway; this is how God directs and enables us and helps those for whom we pray. The night before he was arrested he prayed that he might be spared the awful death that was ahead of him. Yet he deferred to God s will, not his own. God gave him the strength not to escape death but to endure it. Jesus did not have to die, but he willingly laid down his life for all of humankind. God s love for us is so immense that he showed us the full measure of his love in his innocent suffering and death. He who knew no sin took on the sin of all of humankind so that nothing would come between us and God. When Jesus spoke of need, he spoke of what our neighbor needed. When he called disciples to follow him he meant live as I do, live for others. Love everyone as I do; welcome everyone as I do, feed them, clothe them, house them, visit them, and heal them. When you do this for anyone, you are doing it for me. The night before Jesus was betrayed he taught the disciples one final lesson; the most important one of all. After he washed all of their feet he said, I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 12: 15, 34-35) Homeless Jesus by Timothy Schmalz We become disciples in our baptism; we follow Jesus all the days of our life. We walk in his ways, say and do what he would say and do. Jesus was always focused on the needs of those around him; until he asks for a donkey to carry him toward his death he never speaks of his need for anything. Jesus saved us out of his love for us and now calls us to love others just as he loved them. Give thanks for God s unfathomable, eternal, unconditional love, Alleluia! Your fellow disciple of Christ, Pastor Lauren

2 Thank You!!!!! Our new choir! Mike Dufault for playing for the choir and Ruth Carlson for directing. Our Lenten soup makers: Jay Cleaveland, Carol Haglund, Duncan Hunter, & Jan Davies. Our midweek Lenten attendees. All who donated food and money for Easter dinners. Norma and Art Semle for bringing the Easter dinners and the canned goods to the Open Pantry. Mike Lewison, Norma and Art Semle for the Easter Garden. Hellen Schoeder for lots of extra bulletins. Marybeth Lewison for coordinating the Easter Breakfast. Social Ministry Open Pantry Thank you for donating 29 Easter Dinner bags, and $215. Make Way for Ducklings collected 100 cans of food for the Open Pantry to mark 100 days of the school year. When combined with donations from our churches the total weighed 438 pounds. Heifer Project We collected enough money to purchase the following animals: Rabbits - $60, Chicks - $20, Ducks - $20, Geese - $20, and honeybees - $30 - a total of $150!!! Campaign Nonviolence Walks Sunday April 17 th Indian Orchard 2pm starting point to be announced Sunday June 12 th Six Corners time and place to be announced Remembering in Prayer We all share in the ministry of intercessory prayer. We are called individually to pray each day and as a gathered community of faith in worship. If you have someone we need to include in our prayers please notify our church office.

3 Easter Garden 2016 Given by: Millie Anderson Sandy Carnevale Ruth, David & Lucy Carlson In loving memory of: Whitey Anderson Mom Steng & Mom and Dad Carnevale, & Linus Evert Carlson, parents and grandparents Jan Davies Loved Ones (2) Robert and Pauline Duffney Robert and Pauline Duffney Robert and Pauline Duffney Shirley Flanders Shirley Flanders Pr Lauren & Jay Cleaveland Denise & Laurence White, Sr. Irene Patson & Clara Duffney Richard DeRosier, Paul Patson & Daniel Keating, Jr. William Flanders To the Glory of God Stephen Haglund Birger & Betty Haglund & Leon and Ruth Poirier Harold, Arthur and Walter Haglund & Earl and Hilda Nilson Elna and William Holm Gary and Mary Holmquist Walter Holmquist, Ralph and Mildred Stone & Elof R. Holmquist Gary and Mary Holmquist Foster and Helen Turner, Foster Turner & Barbara Turner Judy Johnson Andy Johnson Judy Johnson Loved ones (2) Lillian Lewison Lillian Lewison My husband Michael J. Lewison My son-in-law David Hodgman Michael J. Lewison, father and grandfather

4 Given by: Aisley Poirier Aisley Poirier Derik Raiford Sheryn & Gary Roberts Norma & Art Semle Norma & Art Semle Patrick & Barbara Venneri Patrick & Barbara Venneri Marla Zippay Given by: Evelyn Morris In loving memory of: Leonard R. and Eunice Shepard, parents and grandparents Timothy Baldwin and David Hodgman, brothers-in-law and uncles and Jimmy Shepard, nephew and cousin Uncle Ted and Aunt Sophie Buczoki Elmer Sheffer Ruth & Leon Poirier Tyron Raiford My mom Nella Bettaccini Petersen Arthur & Dorothy Semle and Dorothy Schwalb Orville & Ann Bray Anthony Pessolano Diane M. Venneri Albert & Marjorie Zippay In honor of: Russell "Coach" Peterson Grand Children & Great Grand Children

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