Lord's Prayer Meditation
Pastor Tom

As we continue to journey into the Lord's Prayer by 
experiencing different versions, I would invite you to embrace 
this beautiful Aramaic version of the Lord's Prayer. 

The music is beautiful, ancient, and with many images of 
Christianity from around the world and across time. Jesus 
likely spoke Aramaic, so this may be as close as we get to the
"real" Lord's Prayer. 

The words you'll hear chanted in the background are the first 
words of the Lord's Prayer: Abun d'bashmayo which we render "Our God
who art in Heaven", but a better translation might be: "Oh
Thou, from whom the breath of life comes, who fills all realms 
of sound, light and vibration."  

The prayer will be spoken in Aramaic and then sung.  
It's worth your time.  It's a glimpse of where we come from.

I would recommend that you first center yourself, align your 
body to prepare for prayer, maybe light a candle, and take a 
couple of deep breaths.  Don't just watch it, but come into it.  
It lasts about six minutes.

Here is the link: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
pKBtb3zZhOE&feature=related

Sunday in worship, we will experience the Lord's Prayer as
interpreted and translated in the Syriac Bible (also known as
the Pshita), it dates to the 4th century, that's 1,200 year 
before any English translation was rendered.

On Palm Sunday, we'll bring it all together.

"Come to the Table"

On the Thursday before Easter, MCC Omaha will host dinner gatherings to remember the night when Jesus gathered his followers and celebrated the ancient Jewish Festival of the Passover.

It was on that night that he washed the feet of the disciples and at the end of the meal celebrated the first Communion meal with them. 

So, on April 1, you are invited to "Come to the Table" to remember that night as we prepare for Easter.

Six hosts have agreed to organize the dinners. The host is responsible for providingthe main dish for the evening and for planning a celebration that helps us remember that very special night.  Guests are asked to bring a side dish for the meal.

Guests will sign up to participate in the Thursday Meal and will be assigned to the various hosts to allow us all a chance to get to know new people.

So, if you would like to attend one of these Dinner Gatherings, please sign up on one of the lists posted at the greeters' table at church.  Please note if you have pet allergies, mobility or accessibility issues, or if you have children who will be attending.  This will help us assign you to an appropriate site for a dinner since dinners will be held in various homes. 

All dinners will be held on Thursday, April 1, at various times and at various locations.   The menus and the rituals chosen to go with dinner will vary from home to home, but we assure you that each will be a deeply moving spiritual experience. 

If you have questions, contact Sharon Van Butsel at Sharonv@mccomaha.org or Royal Bush at Royalb@mccomaha.org.