Prayer for Mission in Lesotho

This week, we pray for Mark Behle, our missionary serving in the African nation of Lesotho.  He has served as a missionary in the African nations of Zambia and Lesotho for over 25 years, mostly as a teacher.  Now, though, he serves as a denominational officer for the Lesotho Evangelical Church.  I imagine his journey from math teacher to director of planning is a powerful witness.

You can learn more about the mission to Lesotho here, including the expansion of computer education classes in the numerous schools operated by the Lesotho Evangelical Church.

There are Christian missionaries serving around the world on our behalf in 70 countries.  Each week, Global Ministries highlights one of these missions and asks the church to pray for its continued vitality in spreading the Gospel.

Coming Up Sunday, April 1

On Sunday, we begin Holy Week, which we will mark with several worship services over the coming days to remember and reflect on Christ's final journey to Jerusalem, his arrest, trial, crucifixion, burial, and, ultimately, resurrection.  For nearly 2000 years, Christians have marked this time each year in certain ways, developing an extensive tradition, parts of which we will share in this year.

First is Palm Sunday, when we mark Christ's entry into Jerusalem amid shouts of "Hosanna" from a large, cheering crowd.  Our children will celebrate this with a parade of palms at the beginning of our worship, followed by the great Palm Sunday hymn, "All Glory, Laud, and Honor."  As the service progresses, though, we will turn our attention, in part, to the rest of the journey Jesus will make this holiest of weeks, leading to Calvary.

Building on our Lenten theme, this week we will consider the "Curses and Blessings" which stand in stark contrast in Christ's passion.  On Palm Sunday, we focus on "Via Dolorosa: The Cursed Journey of God's Anointed," as Jesus, described by a voice from heaven as "my beloved one," walks along a road that will lead inexorably to suffering and death.

March 25 Worship: Choir Cantata

I don't know about others, but I found Sunday's worship to be a powerful and meaningful experience.  This year's Lenten cantata, "Song of the Shadows" by Joseph M. Martin, was well prepared by our choir and wonderfully led by our director of music Renee Zimmerman.  I heard several positive comments after the service, including some for our sung words of institution at the Lord's Table and others of deep appreciation for the choir's efforts.

I did not get to bask long in the afterglow of worship (I was quickly off to the airport to attend the Scott Lectures at Bethany College -- a fantastic experience I hope to reflect on in a later blog post).  Travel demands and security checkpoints can distract us from the warm feelings of being together in God's presence on Sunday morning.

But I hope that those who joined us for worship were not so quickly taken away from the powerful emotions of remembering Christ's passion.  As we move through the years, we can sometimes become complacent about the stories that we think we know all too well, especially the often-told stories of Jesus.  But in journeying through Lent and Holy Week each year, pausing to focus on Jesus' going into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, his time with the closest disciples in an upper room before heading into a night of despair, betrayal, denial, and brutal treatment at the hands of Roman soldiers, his noble death upon a cross, and his burial, our faith is stretched and enriched, making our Sunday celebrations of the resurrection that much more special and more powerful.  Certainly this has been my experience over the years.

Through the choir's music on Sunday, we were all encouraged to see the familiar story in a new and deeper way.  This encouragement to deepen our faith will continue in our Holy Week worship services, beginning on Palm Sunday (April 1, 10:25 am) and continuing through Maundy Thursday (April 5, 7 pm), Good Friday (April 6, 7 pm), the Great Vigil of Easter on Holy Saturday (April 7, 8 pm), concluding with our special celebration of Christ's resurrection on Easter Sunday (April 8, 10:25 am).

We are in a very special time of year for Christians.

Prayer for Mission in Zimbabwe

This week we pray for Maryjane and Don Westra, missionaries serving in the African nation of Zimbabwe, a country whose recent history is filled with economic and political challenges.

You can read more about the mission here, including a description of the daily commute of most people -- on foot.

There are Christian missionaries serving around the world on our behalf in 70 countries.  Each week, Global Ministries highlights one of these missions and asks the church to pray for its continued vitality in spreading the Gospel.

Coming Up Sunday, March 25

On Sunday, we have a special Lenten service featuring our choir cantata, "Song of the Shadows," by Joseph Martin.  This wonderful music offers a powerful look at Jesus' passion, from his entry into Jerusalem to the Last Supper, then to a night in the garden, followed by the trial in Pilate's court, and finally the crucifixion.

The choir has worked hard to prepare this special Sunday of music to encourage us as we continue our journey toward Holy Week and Easter.  Under the leadership of Renee Zimmerman, our wonderful and talented director of music, this cantata will move your spirit.  Even during our rehearsal last night, there were a couple of moments that made everyone pause with wonder.  So I hope that you will take the opportunity to experience this and invite others to join us too.

Also this Sunday, just in time for Easter, we unveil our redesigned worship bulletin and newsletter.  It will be an exciting Sunday at Eastgate.

March 18 Worship: "Unfed Hunger: The Curse of the Fig Tree"

On Sunday, we continued our Lenten journey, worshipping on a bright spring morning (on the last Sunday before Spring).  We continued our "Curses" sermon series by considering Jesus' cursing of the fig tree, just before he cleanses the Temple.  In "Unfed Hunger: The Curse of the Fig Tree," we considered how Jesus expects us to not only be faithful, but to be fruitful through our faith.  Next Sunday, we turn our attention fully to the story of Christ's passion.

The first two sermons I preached in seminary were on this story of Jesus' cursing the fig tree, which I find fascinating and compelling.  Also, given Jesus directive to his disciples, after they notice the cursed fig tree has withered a day later, is to "Have faith," I can't help but think there is a vital lesson for our faith in this enigmatic event.  As I continue to grow in my faith, I continue to wrestle with this story, trying to understand what that poor fig tree ever did to Jesus.  For now, it remains a mystery (at least to me).

If you missed Sunday's sermon, if you'd like to listen to it again, or if you'd like to share it with others, you can listen to an audio recording here.

Prayer for Mission in East Timor

This week we pray for Monica and Tom Liddle and Carlos Madrazo, who serve as our missionaries to East Timor.  East Timor is a nation on a few islands near Southeast Asia, near to Indonesia.  Our missionaries there serve a variety of roles -- educating and supporting pastors, building up the broader ministries of the Protestant Church of East Timor, and offering free medical care at a clinic.

You can read more about the mission to East Timor here, including a description of a day's work at the clinic where one of the missionaries serves as a doctor.

There are Christian missionaries serving around the world on our behalf in 70 countries. Each week, Global Missions highlights one of these missions and asks the church to pray for its continued vitality in spreading the Gospel.

Coming Up Sunday, March 18

This week, we continue our Lenten journey together, moving ever closer to Holy Week.  In the final "Curses" sermon before Holy Week, we turn our attention to a New Testament curse spoken by Jesus against fig tree that had no fruit on it.  In many ways, the cursing of the fig tree is a mystery: some people offering differing interpretations and many more seem to ignore the story entirely.

It seems unclear how the fig tree has wronged Jesus -- after all, it was not the season for figs.  But somehow this enigmatic story relates to authority, fruitfulness, and faithfulness.  The question that Christians should dare to ask is, "Are we the fig tree or have we learned the lesson of the fig tree?"

March 11 Worship: "Lost Covenant: The Curse of Those Left Behind"

On Sunday, we continued our Lenten journey.  If our day began slowly, as many of us were tired from one hour less of sleep due to Daylight Savings and it was a dreary morning, I think as worship progressed we felt energized by the presence of God.

We continued our "Curses" sermon series, looking this week at the curse God placed on those Jews who were not taken into exile by the Babylonians.  In "Lost Covenant: The Curse of Those Left Behind" we considered an unexpected revelation that God sometimes makes when steadfastness turns to something less than faithfulness.  In essence, frustrated by stubbornness and reverence for the Holy, God looks for ways to start over.  In the sermon, we considered ways in which God might train us to be better Christians without completely rebuilding us from scratch, focusing on a comparison to improving a golf swing that I think is a helpful metaphor.

If you missed the sermon, if you'd like to listen to it again, or if you'd like to share it with someone else, you can listen to an audio recording here.

Prayer for Mission in Swaziland

This week, we pray for our missionary in Swaziland, Lizzy Beach.  She has served for over a year in an African nation ravaged by AIDS, leaving countless children orphaned and many infected themselves.  In this impoverished country, people have responded -- out of necessity -- by changing their understanding of family, as many bring these children, and others in need, into their homes.

You can read more about the mission to Swaziland here, including links to interviews and a detailed account of the hope that our missionary attempts to bring to a desperate situation.

There are Christian missionaries serving around the world on our behalf in 70 countries. Each week, Global Missions highlights one of these missions and asks the church to pray for its continued vitality in spreading the Gospel.

Coming Up Sunday, March 11

**Don't forget to "Spring Forward" on Saturday night as Daylight Savings Time begins this weekend.  We don't want you to be late for worship on Sunday!**

This week, we will continue our Lenten journey together.  As we progress in our "Curses" sermon series, we will consider an odd lesson that people of faith have often forgotten through the centuries: as the human situation changes, sometimes God's desire for people changes.  That was certainly the case in ancient Israel, when many of the leaders were captured and sent into exile by the Babylonians.  Contrary to expectations, God blessed those who were exiled and cursed those who remained behind in the Promised Land.  On Sunday, we will consider when the good of steadfast faith turns to the sin of obstinance.

March 4 Worship: "Fallen Idol: The Curse of the Ark of the Covenant"

On Sunday, we continued our Lenten journey.  Our worship was warm and Spirit-filled, including a wonderful musical offering, "Sanctuary," from Eastgate's Bell Choir.  We also continued our "Curses" sermon series.  This week we focused on the story of the curse that befell the Philistines after they captured the Ark of the Covenant.  In "Fallen Idol: The Curse of the Ark of the Covenant," we considered the idolatry that sometimes succumb to in our lives, losing self-awareness and perception about things in our lives like money, possessions, and even loving relationships with those closest to us.

In all honesty, I found Sunday's sermon a bit difficult to prepare.  I greatly enjoy the Biblical story that I preached upon, but idolatry in our lives is much different from placing a statue on a pedestal.  Though I believe that idolatry is a common occurrence, even for Christians at times, it does not have generic manifestations, but tends to be very unique.  It may even be that certain actions might be idolatrous for some people, but not others.  This made illustrating Sunday's sermon more difficult than I had expected.  As you noticed (or will if you listen), I eventually resorted to speaking about an opposite of idolatry, in this case love, to try to flesh out the Biblical lesson for our lives.

If you missed the sermon, if you would like to listen to it again, or if you'd like to share it with someone, you can find an audio recording here.

Prayer for Mission in Haiti

This week we pray for the ongoing mission in Haiti, including the work of our mission workers there, Jeanette Salley and Katie Pickens.  Both of them actively serve with CONASPEH, the National Spiritual Council of Churches in Haiti.  As you might imagine, much of their work still involves recovery from the devastating earthquake in January 2010.

You can read about the mission to Haiti here, including a link to interviews with both missionaries and Katie Pickens' frequently updated blog. 

I also hope that you will pray for Eastgate's continued outreach to Haiti, including our commitment to provide the salary for a doctor in Haiti each year.  Envelopes for contributions for this purpose are on the back table in the sanctuary.  We are currently planning a Haiti Sunday later in the spring to highlight this significant outreach project of our congregation.

There are Christian missionaries serving around the world on our behalf in 70 countries. Each week, Global Missions highlights one of these missions and asks the church to pray for its continued vitality in spreading the Gospel.

Into Your Hands...

Each Sunday -- in fact, each time we worship -- we celebrate the Lord's Supper.  Sometimes, as on Ash Wednesday, we come forward to take communion; more often, we stay in our seats as the deacons pass trays with pieces of bread and small cups.

If you're like me, you focus on the eating and drinking during Communion.  After all, Jesus directed his disciples in the Upper Room to "Take, eat" and "Drink of this, all of you."

But before the bread and the cup reach our lips, it first passes through our hands.  An Episcopal priest recently spent a sabbatical focused on the use of our hands in the holy sacrament of communion.  She traveled to various Episcopal parishes and took photographs of people receiving the bread into their hands -- in Episcopal practice, congregants come forward, kneel, and the communion wafer is placed into their hands.  After worship, she asked the people she photographed, "What is the most important thing you do with your hands?"

We Christians, who have been taught that we are 'the hands and feet of Christ,' each week take bread and cup representing Christ's body and blood into those same hands.  This makes me wonder: How do I use my hands the rest of the time?

If the sacrament usually reminds us, by eating, to remember whence comes the food that sustains us, it can also remind us, by taking it into our hands, to remember that we are entrusted by God to handle holy things and, by extension, to do holy things in Christ's name.

Coming Up Sunday, March 4

On Sunday we will continue our Lenten journey together toward Holy Week and Easter.  As we enter March, we will go deeper into our consideration of the sinful context of our broken world in our sermon series, "Curses."  In the past couple of weeks, we've considered the general nature of sin and the passing of sin from generation to generation, stunting our spiritual growth.  This week, with "Fallen Gods: The Curse of the Captured Ark," we will explore how God reacts to our efforts to place our passions on pedestals, exalting them as we should honor God alone.

We will explore our identity in light of one of the funniest stories in the Bible about what happens to a Philistine god after the ancient warriors captured the Ark of the Covenant and brought it into their sanctuary.  If you want a chuckle before Sunday, you might look up 1 Samuel 5.