The Mainline Minister

Alleluia! Christ is Risen! On this Easter Sunday we are delighted to discover that the journey did not end on Good Friday.  Rather, this morning we find that God is taking us in new and surprising ways.  Let us give thanks to God for the wondrous thing he has done and is doing in and through Jesus. Alleluia! Christ is Risen today!

By any standard of our world, our Lenten journey should have come to an awful, painful end yesterday.  His ministry was ended emphatically on a cross.  Perhaps he caused a little bit of a stir while traveling the highways and byways of Galilee and Judea.  Maybe he did enjoy his fifteen minutes of fame in Jerusalem.  But to what end?  So he could be executed beside a couple of crooks?  All of the teaching, healing, preaching, loving, challenging of Jesus was for naught the cynics and doubters, scoffers and savants said - and have said for 2,000 years.  The road Jesus journey came to an end on Calvary.  Yet we believe otherwise.  We, as Christians, believe that the cross was not the final destination.  We believe God's promises.  We hold the conviction that Jesus' story, his ministry, his presence, his power did not come to an end on Good Friday.  Far from it.  With hope, we anticipate that something more is to come. This Holy Saturday, I invite you to reflect on yo

It seemed apt that the day began with a cold, raw, rain.  It was as if Creation itself was mourning the horror and the injustice of what was done to Jesus.  On this day, we are called to confront the evil that can be wrought in our world.  Not that we should not be aware of this awful truth throughout the year, lest we become complacent or complicit.  But on this Good Friday, we gaze into the abyss.  We watch as the forces of hate, fear, ignorance, prejudice, chaos, and anomie lash out with all their fury and might.  We steel ourselves as Jesus takes the brunt of the assault for us, demonstrating conclusively how far God is willing to go on our behalf. The morning will come.  We know this.  But first ... darkness.

In many churches today the washing of feet will be a centerpiece of the Maundy Thursday liturgy.  This element of worship recalls Jesus' washing of feet and his exchange with Peter about what it means to be a servant to others.  As we enter into the Triduum, the three days leading up to Easter, consider how others have been a servant to you and how you may be a servant to others.  After you've reflected, let the Spirit guide you into putting your thoughts into faithful practice.

I'm tired today.  This is a state not unknown to clergy during Holy Week.  But it's not so much everything that's happening this week that's leaving me drained as it is the world around me.  Yesterday's attacks in Brussels were just the most recent in a string of atrocities: Ankara, Ivory Coast ... San Bernadino ... the list goes on.  We are told that radical Islamists are behind the killing.  Some have responded by saying that all Muslims should be barred from entering the country.  Others suggest monitoring Muslim neighborhoods.  This doesn't seem very Christian to me.  Jesus told us to turn the other cheek.  When he did so, he didn't call us to be patsies - he was actually suggesting something provocative, something that took away control from the aggressor.  If Holy Week teaches us anything, it is that the forces of darkness in our world will take every opportunity to turn us against one another and thus hinder the advent of God's kingd

I woke up this morning to the news of terrorists murdering travelers and commuters in Brussels.  Oftentimes, events like this are called tragedies.  In truth, they're outrages.  Murder in the name of God or a political ideology isn't something that happens to people; it's something that is intentionally done by some people to others.  Why one person would murder another person is a question that has been asked since the beginning of time.  Facile answers are all too easy to come by.  I know I can't offer a definitive explanation. What I do know is this: later this week we will remember the murder of Jesus by those who were frightened, angry, ruthless, fallen.  And at that moment, God was present, experiencing Jesus' pain and suffering, ultimately turning it into something healing.  This morning I have no doubt that God is with the people of Brussels.  That may be small comfort to some.  I can understand that.  But when I consider the alternative - that

Yesterday was the first day of spring and this morning it was snowing.  Welcome to New England! Weather jokes aside, snow in spring, though not unheard of in this region, is still disconcerting.  Our expectation is that with the arrival of spring, we can look forward to flowers blooming, birds singing, and the rebirth of a tired, sometimes bleak, landscape.  When it snows after spring has begun, it can feel as if our hopes of something warmer, better, newer were premature, even all for nought.  We can have moments like this in our spiritual lives, too.  Scripture tells us that God is already remaking the world, yet we look around and think we see no sign of a new creation.  Don't be fooled!  It's all around us. God is faithful to his promises.  Holy Week is an especially good time to remember just how reliable God really is.  At the darkest moment of history, God redeemed everything in and through Jesus.  What happened long ago, is still happening today. What time

Today we begin Holy Week.  During today's Palm Sunday worship we commemorate Jesus' entry into Jerusalem.  We recall with song and excitement the rapturous welcome he received.  And then, called to be honest with ourselves, we remember how those who cheered Jesus fell away and we are confronted with the question: when will we fall away?  For fall away we will. But then we have a choice: to return to God in repentance, or to hide ourselves away from God's love? Today we can imagine Peter lustily cheering on his teacher and friend.  Later this week we will encounter Peter denying Jesus three times.  But then Easter will come -- and Peter will be redeemed.  Peter will not be alone for on that day, Jesus will redeem all humanity.  The question for us is what we will do in response. So, wave a palm today.  Sing "All Glory, Laud, and Honor" with abandon.  But be ready for what comes next - for Holy Week begins today.

It's a beautiful sunny morning.  A bit cold perhaps, but it is still winter after all, if only for a couple of more days.  The same is true with Lent.  Tomorrow begins Holy Week and before we know it, we'll be celebrating Easter.  That's great.  That's wonderful.  But let's not lose sight of the imperative of this season: to reflect, repent, renew.  Try to take some time this day to pray to God about those things you've done and those things you've left undone, then think about what you might do differently going forward.  True, Lent is almost over. But not yet.  There's still time.  And this is a good morning to do so!

Christopher Buckley, the author and humorist, published a collection of essays and columns last year titled "But Enough About You."  I think that would have been a great title for a book about Lent.  And so, while Mr. Buckley wasn't writing about this liturgical season, I will now happily appropriate his title, if not for a book of my own then at least for this reflection. Lent is a good time to remind ourselves that the universe does not revolve around us.  Instead, the focal point of Creation is God, even if we fail to recognize or choose to ignore this reality.  Lent offers an opportunity to renew our acquaintance with the truth of who is at the center of all being: God.  During these days before Easter, through prayer, reflection, and repentance, we ought to take the time each day to say to ourselves, "But enough about you.  It's time to focus on God."

To the best of our knowledge, St. Patrick did not drink wear green.  We know he did not drink Guinness.  And I'm confident he did not wear shamrock deely-boppers.  The fact is, he was too busy spreading the Gospel to the people of Ireland.  Today, as millions of American and others around the world seek to "honor" the patron saint of Ireland by hoisting a pint, let's do Patrick the true honor of spending some time reflecting on the power of God, the redemptive work of the Spirit, and the model of Jesus in and for our lives.  Then, let's share the good news with others.

Monday was Pi Day (at least here in the US, where our shorthand for the date was 3/14.  Not so in other parts of the world which put the day before the month!). Tuesday was the Ides of March (Sorry, Caesar). Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day.  Or, if you live in Boston, Evacuation Day (which commemorates the British evacuation of Boston in 1776). Today, though, is just a plain old Wednesday.  There's nothing to remember, nothing to mark.  Except this: today is the day that the Lord has made.  And that's pretty neat.  We can easily forget that each day is a precious gift from God.  Lent is a good time to remind ourselves of this truth and to repent for all of the times we've forgotten this reality.  So give thanks for this God-given day.  Have a parade, put out the bunting, rejoice!

"Almost every Christian I meet cannot quite believe that they are loved by God and forgiven – entirely. If I pray one thing for you, and for me, it’s that we find constantly afresh that we are overwhelmed by the love of God."  These words from Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, are just what we need to hear during this Lenten season and, to be honest, throughout the year.  Forgiveness is powerful and transformative.  When have you felt forgiveness?  When have you offered it.  And, as this is a time of reflection and repentance, when have you spurned or withheld this holy gift?  Let us think about these questions, pray on them, and act on what we discern.

From our earliest years we are taught by our parents, families, teachers, and church to do the right thing.  Yet we all know from experience that implementing what we have learned can be more challenging than we expect.  We may want to do the right thing but then temptation arises and we quickly find ourselves making excuses and offering justifications for why a different course of action may be warranted, or at least excusable, if only in one particular instance.  That's why I was inspired by the story of Laurie Rimon, who whilst hiking in northern Israel found a 2,000 year old gold Roman coin.  She was tempted to hold on to her find but instead contacted the Israel Antiquities Authority, which quickly mobilized to do research.  One thing that was quickly learned: there is only one other known example of this coin in the world and it's in the British Museum.  Ms. Rimon could have held onto her treasure and nobody would have been any the wiser.  Instead, she has c

Today we read about Mary's using expensive oil to anoint Jesus' feet.  This was generous gift was a remarkable act of love.  Think today of remarkable gifts you have received and given.  Consider what make them special and meaningful.  Then reflect on how your experience might be similar to or different from that of Mary and Jesus.  When you're all done, offer a prayer of gratitude for the wondrous possibilities inherent in gifts and giving.

Tonight (or if you are a stickler for these things, early tomorrow morning), we will set our clocks ahead by one hour and begin Daylight Savings Time.  That's not the only change, though.  We'll move into a new period of Lent.  No, not Holy Week.  That is yet to come.  But the Fifth Week of Lent has always struck me as being just a bit different from the rest of the season.  There's something transitional about these days and also a sense of urgency.  The time to simply focus on Lent is running short.  Soon we'll be caught up in the liturgical dynamics of Jesus' last days, his death, and ultimately his resurrection.  So we ought to take care to be focused on our prayers, our meditations, our being present as we repent, reflect, and renew.  Yes, we're moving forward.  But we need not move to quickly.  Instead, we should make full use of every minute to tend to our relationships with God and God's people.

Early this morning all was quiet at the church.  It was a perfect time to pray.  I came before the Lenten cross in the parish hall, gathered my thoughts, and took a few moments to be with God in prayer.  Though I have a busy day ahead of me, I already know that this time will be with me, nurturing and sustaining me, until nightfall. Do yourself a favor: sometime today, take a moment, find a quiet place, and pray.  You won't be disappointed!

We have a bit of a box elder bug problem at the church.  These bugs are harmless.  But they are annoying.  And I find bugs to be creepy.  But they're part of God's creation, so there we are.  I don't have to like them, but there's lots in life I don't have to like but do have to abide.  If I'm attentive, I might go beyond abiding and actually learn something.   Lent can be like this too.  There are times when it's a drag - I really wanted a cup of coffee this morning - but if we are willing to take a step back and think about things, we can glean new insights about things like patience and perseverance. So this morning, as I've foregone my cup of Joe and have already released two box elder bugs back into the wild, I will be alert to the Spirit, waiting to see where it will lead me on this Thursday during the fourth week of Lent.

According to the report I heard on the radio this morning, meteorological winter, the stretch of winter with the 91 average coldest days of the year, comes to an end today.  As if to punctuate this development, the forecast is for temperatures in the mid 60s in the Upper Valley.  It's going to fell like Pentecost! Before we get too comfortable, though, we should remember that snow could hit us right up through the middle of April. Winter may not yet be done with us. Lent definitely isn't. We still have two and a half weeks until Easter.  The clock is ticking and now is a good time for us to focus on what we need to do during this season of reflection, repentance, and renewal.  Remember that our time is not God's time.  Our time is based on our observations of the skies, the passage of seasons, the calendars we create.  God's time is that which governs all creation.  God's time is that in which we find new life - regardless of whether meteorological or

This morning, as I prepared to eat breakfast, I offered a prayer.  As I was doing so, I realized what I was sharing with God was rather pro forma.  True, I'm not feeling well today.  But that's not a reason, it's an excuse.  So I stopped.  Then I began again, really thinking about my blessings, my gratitude for the food I was about to eat, and all of the good things God has done in my life.  I also asked God, having just "mailed it in," to give me the ability to do something useful, substantive, and meaningful this day. This Lent, as we reflect on our lives, it's helpful to not just focus on the "bad" things we do but also on the "good" ones, looking at motive and implementation.  Are we going through the motions?  Are we doing things to look holy to our friends?  Or are we fully investing ourselves in our faith practices, whether of worship, service, fellowship, for the glory of God? Jesus told us to pray to our Father.  Let&#

Psalm 122 shares a pilgrim's joy as he approaches the city of Jerusalem.  It also highlights a longing for peace and wholeness.  What places in your life elicit joy from you?  What places in your life do you wish to see enveloped by peace?  How might you make that happen? A Song of Ascents. Of David. 1 I was glad when they said to me,    ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord !’ 2 Our feet are standing    within your gates, O Jerusalem. 3 Jerusalem—built as a city    that is bound firmly together. 4 To it the tribes go up,    the tribes of the Lord , as was decreed for Israel,    to give thanks to the name of the  Lord . 5 For there the thrones for judgement were set up,    the thrones of the house of David. 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:    ‘May they prosper who love you. 7 Peace be within your walls,    and security within your towers.’ 8 For the sake of my relatives and friends    I will say, ‘Peace be within you.’ 9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our G

Today we read the Parable of the Prodigal Son in church (Luke 15:11b-32).  This is a very, very familiar story - which in a way is a problem since a parable is meant to capture the attention of the audience, to spur them to see things in a new light.  Take a few moments to read the story.  Sit quietly. Consider what jumps out at you, what word, phrase, or idea startles you.  Think about your discovery.  Then offer a prayer of thanksgiving to God for stories that help us see our lives in a different, potentially transforming, light.

Did you know that the Iditarod race begins today?  Intrepid mushers and hardy dogs will make the long journey from Anchorage to Nome, battling the elements and testing their endurance along the way, propelled by conviction but perhaps at times wondering if they are up to the task at hand.  Hmm.  Sounds kind of like Lent. We're half way through our spiritual Iditarod.  We can imagine what it will be like to arrive at Easter.  But we're not there yet, not by any means.  We still need to reflect, repent, restore, and reconcile.  We still need to be Lenten people.  Fortunately, we know what awaits us at the end: a loving, forgiving, healing God who offers new life to one and all.

I've been on the go since 6 am this morning. Three hundred miles of driving, multiple meetings and an evening engagement. Now, the day has come to an end. I'm ready for bed. But first, it's time for prayer and thanksgiving. Join me in reflecting on the day, thinking of something to which we might give God thanks and praise. P.S. If you received this message after you went to bed, I have good news: this can be done on any day!

Have you ever had one of those days when its just one darned thing after another?  When you feel like your bandwidth has been maxed out?  It's in those moments that we should try to take a step back and pray, to ask God for strength, support, clarity.  It may not be easy, but it can be calming and empowering.  True, prayer won't make all of one's problems go away, but it can make a tremendous different in equipping us to deal with whatever is going on. So, if the question is "Now what?" remember that an important part of the answer is, "prayer!"

It's gray, raw and wet today.  Perfect weather for Lent!  Or is it? Yes, this is a season of high seriousness and purpose, but that need not mean it is one marked by sorrow and depression.  Confronting our shortcomings, reflecting on how we have separated ourselves from God and God's people, may not be easy, indeed may be difficult.  But it should also be a source of peace, and, ultimately, joy.  For is it not a wonderful thing that God has invited us into this season to do this work?  Isn't it amazing that God cares enough to want us to reflect, repent, and renew?  This is indeed Good News!  Which suggests that the perfect weather for Lent might more rightly involve clearing skies and improving conditions.