What fire can't burn...

Ash Wednesday is really good for the church, not just for individuals... On Ash Wednesday, we have to realize, we have to corporately realize, that we are completely out of control.  

- Paul, rector, St. Gregory of Nyssa Church

There are certain liturgical seasons and particular worship services that I have come to think of as "family time" for the church--seasons in the liturgical calendar that call us, as disciples, to be more intentional in our journey of faith not only as individuals, but also as the body of Christ. Ash Wednesday (and the season of Lent) is one of those seasons.

The gift and the challenge of Ash Wednesday (and the Lenten journey that follows) is that it is not simply a season of individual introspection, but a communal call to, in the words of the ancient liturgy, "observe a holy Lent by self-examination and penitence, by prayer and fasting, by works of love, and by reading and meditating on the Word of God."

How many of us, in reading those words, receive them individually? Yet the liturgy is addressed to us as a community of faith. Together we are to engage in self-examination and penitence. Together, we are to practice prayer and fasting. Together, we are to read and meditate on the Word of God... not simply for our personal sanctification, but for the transformation of the world.

All too often, we see Lent as simply an inward journey. A time when we are called to give up, without understanding that the giving up is prelude to receiving a much greater gift. A closer look reveals that Lent is a threefold journey: upward through reading and meditating on the Word of God (justice towards God), inward through self-examination, penitence, prayer and fasting (justice towards self), and outward in works of love (justice towards others).

Justice is a gift of God, flowing from God's heart and character into our lives and living. The practice of justice towards God, self and others involves restoration of community and Shalom. The imposition of ashes reminds us that we cannot accomplish this on our own. As Sara Miles of The Food Pantry ministry reminds us: "Ashes are what a fire cannot burn." Only God can "wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away" (Revelation 21:4).

Ultimately, Lent is an invitation to meld contemplation and action. Ash Wednesday is a reminder that we are partners in one another's conversion to justice and charity. Not a charity confined to Christmas baskets, but a charity born of love of God, self and neighbor.

With blessing,

Debbie Rundlett

General Presbyter

Holy Habit: Ashes

Sara Miles of The Food Pantry ministry notes that "ashes are what a fire cannot burn." What is the source of ashes in your life? How do they inform you living? How do the ashes call you to "observe a holy Lent by self-examination and penitence, by prayer and fasting, by works of love, and by reading and meditating on the Word of God." How is God calling you this Lent to release your past that you may live in the present?

Commit yourself to attending an Ash Wednesday service this coming Wednesday, February 18^th.

Note: There is intentionality in the liturgical calendar that can sometimes be missed. Transfiguration precedes Ash Wednesday. How is God calling you to be transfigured that you might bear transformation into your community through acts of charity and justice?

The following is a reflection from Sue Ann Schmidt, HR, who attended this past Saturday's Journey Remix and Stated Meeting of Muskingum Valley Presbytery. 

Ruminating Remix: February 7, 2015 

A Reflection from Sue Ann Schmdit, HR

You had me hooked when the organ burst forth with the glorious preludial pieces [Saturday] morning. The worship began and the voices sang out. A song I knew! Loved it.

Tom shared Jesus' words about how fruitless it is to put new wine into old wineskins - for it simply will burst the seams of the container and destroy the whole thing [Luke 5:37]. And as Mike stood and wrapped his guitar strap over his shoulder and began to strum, I was carried away from that worship space, I was gently transported back...oh, about 50 years. Half a century... can it be? Truly that long ago?

I saw a young woman, barely out of her teens, as she stood in a long-aisled sanctuary, slipped the strap of her guitar over her shoulder, and, with just the slightest hint of a defiant smirk playing at the corner of her mouth, sang out as Bob Dylan would have her sing:

            Come gather 'round people wherever you roam

            And admit that the waters around you have grown

            And accept it that soon you'll be drenched to the bone

            If your time to you is worth savin'

            Then you better start swimmin'

            Or you'll sink like a stone

            For the times, they are a-changin'.

            Come mothers and fathers throughout the land

            And don't criticize what you can't understand

            Your sons and your daughters are beyond your command

            Your old road is rapidly agin'

            Please get out of the new one if you can't lend a hand

            For the times, they are a-changin'.

Still lost in my half-century-ago vision, I saw the long-ago liturgist walk to the lectern and begin to read Jesus' words about not trying to put new wine in old wineskins. Yes, Jesus knew, I thought to myself.

We youth were finally going to bring the church into the new age! We were going to lead in stopping the war in Vietnam. We were going to move civil rights forward and abolish the ill of the most segregated hour in the nation. We were going to make sure women received equal pay for equal work and that no jobs were barred to them. We were going to make worship relative to the young so they wouldn't leave the church of their parents. We were going to make sure that the youth in churches were on committees, making decisions. We stormed the General Assembly in 1970 and demanded that the process for electing the Moderator be updated so we could question the nominees. On and on went our charges against the established greatest generation and the church we were inheriting from them.

And indeed, things shifted and changed! We married and settled down in our updated churches and had babies. We went to Montreat and Ghost Ranch to learn how to sing a new song in our worship. We relaxed in to the new church we knew God had intended for us to create for his people in those days and in this place. I thought to myself, My, but we were smug.

Then, suddenly, I was back in the sanctuary in First Presbyterian in Ashland and the gentle words of Mike and his congregants and team members brought today's words of wisdom:   

• What Core Identity is within you - a place that can never be taken away from you - the seeds of your very being?
• What character identifies you and your congregation?
• What call do you share, what competences does God give you and your congregation to accomplish this?
• What does your sacramental life offer in the community around you?

Ah, these young leaders know what I wish I'd realized then: we will always need new wineskins. Once is never enough. They said it so gently and so confidently and so wisely. Back through the Generations 14 and 14 before me (Mark 1) and out 14 beyond me, God will provide new wineskins for his children.

I feel such confidence in these generations to build the Body that Christ can use to bring his message of love and salvation again and again. Thank you, God. Thank you, Presbytery leadership. Would that I could have been so gentle with those who were in their 60s, 70s, 80s in those decades of 1969 and 1979 and 1989. Maybe... maybe when today's new leaders have reached those years of age, they will reflect back to when they were 20- and 30-year-olds asking the church to Remix. They will remember the old days of 2015 when they shared God's message and were moving the Church forward as God intended. And the 20's and 30's of 2065 will hear God's call to move on people of God for the times they are a-changin'.

Thanks be to God!

Sue Ann Schmdit, HR

After today, churches will no longer be able to enter their statstics information via the website listed below.

Please contact Candice at the Mission Center for alternate ways to submit your 2014 Statistics Information.

http://oga.pcusa.org/section/churchwide-ministries/stats/ 

2014 Year-End Statistics Entry Timeline

The 10-minute dramatic monologue "Should I Give Up?' portrays an 83-year-old woman seeking meaning and purpose in her last years. This piece engages the audience with questions, challenging them to take action to assist the elderly and disabled. Discussion, led by the presenter, follows the performance and usually lasts 30-45 minutes.

"Should I Give Up?" has been performed at

• Fairmount Presbyterian Church, Cleveland Heights for deacons' training
• The Area Agency on Aging for staff and nursing home volunteers
• Catholic Charities Adult Day Services for staff
• Hospice of the Western Reserve for volunteers and staff
• Walsh University for nursing and education students
• Call to Activism Play Festival, Stony Point Center, Stony Point, New York.

The presentation is free, as it is part of a sabbatical research project. There are no production requirements other than a wheelchair and seating space for a group of 5-50 people. Allow at least one hour for the presentation and discussion.

If your organization is planning a program on the needs of elderly and/or disabled people for a general audience, for staff, or for youth or family caregivers, please consider including "Should I Give Up?"

To schedule a performance in spring 2015, or for more information, please contact Mary Giffin at 330-244-4688 or mgiffin@walsh.edu.

"WHEREVER YOU GO... Helpful Prayers for the Journey (Dealing with cancer - when it's difficult and you don't know what to pray)

Prayer Booklet by Alice Phillips (Creston)

I wrote this prayer booklet for those dealing with cancer.  As many of you know, I had breast cancer and had mastectomy surgery one year ago on January 22, 2014. I felt a deep desire in my heart from the Lord to write this prayer booklet to help individuals experiencing cancer. 

When I found out I had cancer, my mind was in a whirlwind, and often I found it difficult to know what to pray. Yet I was extremely grateful to be sustained by the prayers of many, many individuals. The booklet is divided into five sections:  The Waiting Game (waiting for test results), The Dreaded Diagnosis (when you hear you have cancer); Treament Time (dealing with treatments); Hope and Healing (healing after treatment and hope for better days); and Rejoicing in God's Goodness (moving beyond cancer into the future)

It contains 35 scripture readings with accompanying prayers. The Romich Foundation is graciously handling printing costs.  Copies are free; however, if you would like to make a donation to the Romich Foundation in memory/honor of someone or to just donate to help the booklets be given to others, it would be greatly appreciated. (Suggested donation is $4.00/copy to cover printing and mailing.) You can contact me at revalp@neo.rr.com for more information or to order copies.

Blessings in Jesus!
Alice