5 Lent

Posted on March 15, 2013 by Peace Lutheran Church Wayland Massachusetts

Mary took a pound of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. John 12:5

The gospel reading for Sunday is the scene in which Mary anoints Jesus’ feet with costly perfume. This luxury of “nard” seems out of place in the stories of Jesus’ usual itinerant and Spartan activities. Something momentous or extreme has happened here. A corner has been turned, the future foretold, a commitment made. The speculations about this scene in the commentaries range from the highly symbolic to the brazenly sensual. The anointing could have royal, medical, sexual, ritual implications. All four of these, as well as others, are plausible. On Sunday we will think about the extravagance of this act and ponder where the extravagance is in our lives and what it might mean about who we are and what we believe in.

The choir rehearses at 8:45 am.

Jonathan Moretz(guitar) and Bruce Goody (flute) will play music of Telemann, Michio Miyagi and Schubert.

Sunday ends our two weeks of Family Promise hosting.

The confirmation students will meet after Sunday school to do the laundry. You are all asked to bring quarters to church. The confirmation students will collect them and use them to do the laundry in Maynard.

The Sunday school children will rehearse the Palm Sunday drama.

Bring in paper goods for the Wayland Food Pantry.

Dr. Eben Alexander will speak at Temple Shir Tikva at 1:30 pm. He is the author of Proof of Heaven. Suggested donation $10.

Rejoicing Spirits at 4 pm at Peace, followed by a potluck supper. All are welcome.

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Sunday, March 17

Posted on March 15, 2013 by Peace Lutheran Church Wayland Massachusetts

This week in Sunday school, our children will return to their classrooms following two successful weeks of hosting families from Family Promise Metrowest. I think it’s wonderful that our children have the opportunity to see their classrooms transformed from a place of learning about God’s love for them into a place where they can show God’s love for those in need.

On Sunday morning, our preschoolers through 3rd graders will begin in the sanctuary as they continue to rehearse songs they will sing on Palm Sunday next week.

Later, in their classrooms, our 1st through 3rd graders will encounter the story of Mary anointing Jesus’ feet in John 12:1-8. They will “speak” with their actions to show their love of Jesus, as Mary did. Our preschoolers through kindergarteners will review the past three Sunday school lessons about the life of Moses.

Our 4th through 8th graders will continue to rehearse the dramatization of The Passion of Our Lord According to Luke to be presented during the Palm Sunday worship service. Please let me know if your student will be available to participate this Sunday and on Palm Sunday, March 24.

I look forward to seeing you and your children together this week in Sunday school.

“The Christian education program at Peace, where your child can experience God’s love through worship, learning, and fellowship with others.”

-Kim

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classrooms transformed into bedrooms for Family Promise host weeks

Posted on March 15, 2013 by Peace Lutheran Church Wayland Massachusetts

This gallery contains 2 photos.

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4th Sunday in Lent

Posted on March 8, 2013 by Peace Lutheran Church Wayland Massachusetts
But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with  compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Luke 15:20
The parable of the Prodigal Son comes to us on Sunday, in the middle of Lent. This most well known of all the parables opens up topics of youthful rebellion, family customs, sibling rivalry, alienation, shame, forgiveness, reconciliation and more. Luke tells us that the son went away into “a distant country”. Have you ever been there, psychologically and spiritually speaking? Maybe you are there now. Or maybe you feel like leaving for “a distant country”. It’s a common occurrence, no doubt about it. The church exists to be a home that offers nothing but “welcome-back” and forgiveness. Jesus stands at the door and welcomes home everyone who has been away in some “distant country” for a short time or for the better part of a lifetime.
The choir rehearses at 8:45 am. All voices are welcome.
We’ll gather for a potluck lunch after the service. It’s a joy to see how folks pitch in setting up and cleaning up. Set up will have to be Sunday morning because our Family Promise families will be there until Sunday morning.
There are still a few volunteer slots available for our second hosting week. Speak to Kim Ho or Kim Canning.
The Sunday school schedule has been sent out by Kim Canning.
The council meets after lunch. Council members, I’ve heard from most of you. If I haven’t heard from we’ll assume that you’ll be there for the meeting.
If the sun is out and the solar panels are clear Ron will show you how they are generating power for our building. What a great addition to our church and to the community. I believe that the panels look good up there. When the system passes the final inspections we’ll schedule a blessing.
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Sunday, March 10

Posted on March 8, 2013 by Peace Lutheran Church Wayland Massachusetts

Immediately following worship, our younger children, preschool through 3rd grade, will meet with Kathryn in the sanctuary to rehearse music being prepared for Palm Sunday.  Following this rehearsal, they will join the potluck lunch in the Fellowship Hall.  Once our children have eaten they will meet with their teachers for about a half hour in the big Little Dove room.  They will discuss The Parable of the Prodigal and His Brother from Luke 15:1-3, 11-32.  Children will hear about the loving father and his sons and grow in knowing that God’s love is with them wherever they are.

Our older students, 4th grade through middle school, will begin with the potluck.   Once they have eaten, they will meet in the sanctuary to rehearse a Palm Sunday dramatization.  Our students will be familiar with the dramatization since they performed this one last year.  I think they will enjoy revisiting the story.

-Kim

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Sunday, March 3

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Peace Lutheran Church Wayland Massachusetts

This week during Sunday school your children will have an opportunity to welcome guest families from Family Promise by creating door banners for them. These banners will grace the doors to our Sunday school classrooms which by then will have been transformed into inviting bedrooms for at least two families. We will also discuss the bible verse from Isaiah 55:1-9. Here are some thoughts I shared with our Sunday school teachers earlier today while preparing for this lesson:

Isaiah 55:1-9 is a great lesson for us to focus on this Sunday with families arriving at Peace later in the day. One of the questions (and answers) posed in this bible verse reads: “Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good and delight yourselves in rich food.” In context with Family Promise Sunday, one way I respond to the answer provided here is to realize that we are being asked to do those things in communion with others, share with others that which is good. I mean, think about it: when we experience something good and when we take delight in something, we want to share that experience with others. And, by sharing what is not only delightful but also important with those in need, we are close to God.

Take note of this week’s Session Goals:

Pre-K through 3rd grade students will feast on God’s great gifts and give praise to God for giving them what they need.

Fourth and fifth graders will savor (love that word!) God’s promise of abundant life in Isaiah and invite others to the feast.

Middle School students will dig into Isaiah’s words and describe the nature of our generous God.

As I read these goals, I raise an obvious question: If God gives us what we need, then why are there children coming to Peace who don’t have a home? One answer is that, for two weeks, we are giving them a home. They will receive what they need: a roof over their heads, a warm place to sleep at night, food on the table. And their family is together. These are things we can do to show God’s love and to express gratitude for having a roof over our heads, a warm place to sleep at night, and food on our table, too. God has given us everything we need, and more!

Please come to church on Sunday morning, listen to Isaiah, and hear how God provides for each of us, in abundance.

-Kim

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Family Promise

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Peace Lutheran Church Wayland Massachusetts

Our Family Promise host weeks begin Sunday. The morning service will include prayers and blessings for the weeks ahead. Howard Gold, president of congregation Or Atid, will attend to bring a greeting from our friends next door and to offer a blessing from the Jewish tradition. Some of you have brought in supplies for the Family Promise weeks. You are invited to bring these into the church and place them on the table in front. As the blessings are spoken by Kim Canning and Kim Ho, these supplies will serve as visible and tangible signs of our service and hospitality. There is a good Lutheran sacramental principle at work in this. The promise or the word is attached to a material object or substance. In other rites the substance is water, bread, wine, a wedding ring, etc. Here our promise to be of service to those who need (following Jesus’ command to love our neighbor) is made visible in the paper supplies and other items. 

The order for the day will be the service of the word, led by Milly Engberg. I will be away with Nate at a soccer event in New York City.

Ron Riggert reports that the final inspection for the solar panels is scheduled for today 23/1/13.  The panels should be up and running soon! 

Dick Stitt and Loren Korte were here last week. Along with Kris Lutz, these two long-time members of Peace are auditing the books. Thank you to all of them.

 id-Lent potluck lunch next Sunday, March 10. We have been snowed out so much this year, I hope we can all come out for this fellowship event. Bring a dish to share.

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Sundays in March

Posted on February 28, 2013 by Peace Lutheran Church Wayland Massachusetts

Sunday, March 3 will be Family Promise Sunday at Peace. The coordinators of the program will talk about their work. There will be an order of blessing for the rooms. Howard Gold, the president of Or Atid, will be here to bring a greeting from our friends next door and to offer a blessing from the Jewish tradition.  Bring in disposable items that will be used during the week. If you are still thinking about signing up for a Family Promise task, there’s still time. www.lotsahelpinghands.org.

Sunday, March 10 will be our mid-Lent potluck. The snow hit us hard in February. I hope many of us can get together for lunch on March 10. The March meeting of the council will take place on this day, right after lunch.

Sunday, March 17 Jonathan Moretz and Bruce Goody will be with us to add their exquisite guitar and flute music to our worship. Invite your friends and family.

Sunday, March 20  Soup supper and service of the word for healing at Lutheran Church of Framingham. The supper is at 6 pm, the service at 7 pm. I hope that you will consider coming to this annual Lenten service. Let me know if you plan to do so. Thank you!

Looking ahead to Holy Week.  Palm Sunday, March 24  a gospel dramatization. Maundy Thursday March 28 here at Peace with the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit 7:30 pm. Other holy week services will be a little bit different this year. Mark your calendars March 28-March 31 as the great days of the Christian year, and plan to enter into the memory and sacramental meaning of them this year

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Jesus in Jerusalem and Snow

Posted on February 22, 2013 by Peace Lutheran Church Wayland Massachusetts

1940s  Jerusalem, Dome of the Rock and Temple Mount 

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 

The Little Dove Board will meet after church. If the weather keeps us away we’ll try to meet early next week. 

NOTE FOR MEMBERS OF THE CHOIR:  Kathryn is away on Sunday, so the choir will not sing. Thanks to Bob Holmgren for playing the piano for our worship. 

The weather reports show snow again. I know it’s hard for all but the hardiest of us to get out in it, so if you are snowed out of church again, may I ask you to do a couple of these things.

  • On Sunday morning take just a few minutes to rest in God’s word. It’s not a Christian obligation; it’s the air Christians breathe.  Read the gospel for the day and think about it for a minute. (I printed it below) Say the Lord’s prayer and spend a moment in silent prayer. End by giving thanks for the people you love and the good things in your life. Pray for your those who are suffering, for those who are not like you, for those you do not like.
  •  Reach out to at least one other member of the congregation through a telephone call so that they can hear your voice. When we cannot assemble as a congregation we miss the mutual support and encouragement that helps us grow as a congregation.
  • Do one or two other things that are to you signs of your Christian faith.
  • Continue your Lenten disciplines and devotions.
  • Make an extra effort to come out and take part in the March events at church. Sign up to help with the Family Promise week. Lets try to have everyone take part in some way. We’re collecting supplies for Family Promise. See the attached newsletter and bring in something on March 3, Family Promise Sunday.
  • Attend the March 10 potluck lunch if at all possible. The council will meet after lunch on that day.
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Jesus in the desert

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Peace Lutheran Church Wayland Massachusetts
The Temptation of Christ, Botticelli, 1500 The Vatican

Worship the Lord your God and serve only him, said Jesus to the devil (Luke 4:7). The scripture-quoting devil tries to back Jesus into several corners. He has considerable power and authority and he is persistent. Our lives are full of temptations too. The devil drives us into unpleasant corners of one kind and another. The Holy Spirit, which Luke says filled Jesus after his baptism, is a freeing power. The devil enslaves. The spirit frees. That’s more or less the gospel story.

On Ash Wednesday I said that in Epiphany we heard who Jesus is. In Lent we try to discover who we are, in the light of our own experiences and thoughts, and with the scripture’s guidance. Our Lenten devotions and disciplines are the means to this kind of discovery. Come on Sunday and let the holy spirit run the devil out of your life. The word and the sacraments are the means of grace offered every Sunday morning for your spiritual nourishment for your desert journeys and temptations.
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