The April Fool

I haven't thought much of April Fools in recent years, but when I was young, my friends and I always tried to come up with different pranks. Back then, we didn't have caller ID, so we could call a friend or a friend's parent and pretend to have bad or silly news. And in the few cases where people didn't know we were joking, it was such fun to yell out, "April Fools!"

When a friend's daughter was 4, she had just discovered the concept of April Fools. She would point to my head and say, "Manda, there's a monster on your head!" And I would play along, "Aaaaaah! Get it off!" It was such a delight to hear her squeal "April Fools!" and dissolve into giggles.

Given the beginning of our Gospel reading for this Sunday, it seems rather appropriate for April Fools Day: When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately'" (Mark 11:1-3).

Can you imagine? You walk out to your car and see that there's someone trying to break in. "What are you doing?" you ask. And the reply: "Oh, the Lord just needs to borrow it for a while." Would you let them go? Would you think maybe it was an elaborate joke? Or something more serious?

On Palm Sunday, the story of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem plays out like an elaborate April Fools joke - but who is the butt of the joke? It might appear to be Jesus, who is praised by the crowds in this moment but will be mocked and crucified the next. But the real joke is on the powers that be - on the Roman leaders who believe they are gods, on the religious leaders who think they have a monopoly on the truth, on Jesus's followers who believe that the Messiah will lead a military coup.

April Fools! The tables are about to be turned. The Anointed One will win by losing. The powers that be will lose by winning. This Sunday, join us as we seek to follow the one who became the April Fool in order to reveal a greater truth.

And a special invitation to young adults - join us tonight at my home (106 Northview Rd.) for dinner and conversation about the nature of Jesus and what it means to follow him.

Blessings,
Manda

Covenant People

There seems to be a word or phrase for all the mainline denominations to describe how they relate to each other. For the United Methodists, it's 'Connectional System'; for the American Baptists, it's 'Association Principle'; for the Lutherans it's 'Liturgical Communion'. For us, in the UCC, the big word is 'Covenant'.

It all began with the Pilgrims and the Salem Covenant of 1629:

We Covenant with the Lord and with one another and doe bynd our selves in the presence of God, to walk together in all his waies, according as he is pleased to reveal himself unto us in his blessed Word of truth.

And this has pretty much shaped our whole trajectory for our denomination. If you want to learn a lot more, snoop around on ucc.org, just search the 'c' word!

On Sunday, we will focus on one of the epic texts of covenant from the book of Jeremiah. For us, there is a core resonance with who we are as congregational churches in the United Church of Christ.

Martha Baumer, former professor at Eden Seminary and former Conference Minister has made some observations about what it means to be a people of covenantal relationships that I think are worth considering:

·         We might be slow to commit to being in the covenant, but when we do, we do so with great zeal and tenacity;

·         We never give up on each other - we don't kick people out, 'dis-fellowship' them or walk away - we stay at the table and keep struggling with each other, until we find a way forward;

·         We believe we cannot speak for each other - ever, and yet, we are obligated to always listen to each other and then decide whether or not we can agree.

·         We aren't driven by a need to agree - just to 'walk together in all of God's ways'; and

·         We are autonomous, only to the degree that our decisions do not weaken the covenant or the other covenantal partners.

Interesting observations of the 'scrappy' community to which we belong - bound together in freedom and in promises. So, read the texts for Sunday and take a minute to celebrate 'being a 'covenant person'.

Blessings, Laura Lee

Texts for This Week:

Heb 5:5-10

John 12:20-33

+ Jeremiah 31:31-34

* Psalm 119:9-16

Note: The texts in bold type will be read in the worship service and the one with an asterisk will be used as the focus for the proclamation of the word.

Red Alert!!!

We need a data entry person for Feed My Starving Children ASAP!

Please call the church office if you can help out.

"Light for the Soul"

Last year, our Worship Committee conducted some "Worship Conversations". It was no surprise to me that 'darkness' and 'candles' were words often used to describe meaningful worship experiences. It was no surprise that Christmas Eve, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and the 9/11 Service were lifted up as spiritual, moving and transformative experiences of worship.

There is something about worshiping together in darkness, lighting candles that touches deep places in our hearts and souls. Sunday's text is John's bold and familiar proclamation that "God so loved the world......". It is also a declaration that Christ is the "Light of the World." We usually understand this as a proclamation of Christian revelation for the whole world. Christ is a beacon for peace and hope for all people everywhere. I believe this interpretation is true (as long as we are willing to acknowledge the light of Mohammed and Buddah and Moses.......).

In this Season of Lent, I think it is worth pondering another interpretation: that Christ is the "Light of Our Souls." Our visceral responses to evening candlelight services point us to a truth that Christ shines a light of hope and healing and peace into the darkest places in our souls. He is there in our darkest times, in our most painful losses, in all of the ways we feel isolated and alone. The Light of the World shines for each of us. So in the days ahead, trust your dark places to Christ and look patiently for the flicker of the Light of Christ - it's there.

Blessings to you all and hoping to see you on Sunday - Laura Lee

Texts for This Week:

Numbers 21:4-9

Psalm  107:1-3, 17-22

+ Ephesians 2:1-19

*John 3:13-21

Note: The texts in bold type will be read in the worship service and the one with an asterisk will be used as the focus for the proclamation of the word.

"What WOULD Jesus Do?"

Remember these little rubber bracelets? Reminders for the wearers, especially young people, to consciously try to do what Jesus would do. My guess is that most of the wearers and those who saw the bracelets on others would think: "Jesus would be kind and compassionate, serving and giving." And, this is certainly true. But, Jesus was also ironic, forceful, unpredictable and at times downright mean - like when he called his beloved Peter, 'Satan.' He even cursed a poor fig tree for not bearing fruit in the wrong season!

Perhaps, it's not a good thing to focus on what Jesus did, but why he did it. Perhaps, we can think about Jesus' total commitment to God and to living out a realm of justice and community and dignity - even to the point of death. When you read the Gospel text for Sunday - you might wonder why Jesus threw a big temper tantrum in the temple (one that contributed to the loss of his life). Maybe, you should ask why? Maybe, Jesus' outrage over the commercialization of religion, the ways that poor people were being 'ripped off', the shallowness of faith prompted his action. Perhaps we should be asking, "What can I do?" to serve God? To make a difference? To love as Jesus loved? Perhaps, is there some place you need to have a temper tantrum?

Hoping to see you all on Sunday and sending Blessings Always, Laura Lee

Texts for This Week:

Exodus 20:1-17

Psalm 19

+I Corinthians 1:18-25

*John 2:13-22

Note: The texts in bold type will be read in the worship service and the one with an asterisk will be used as the focus for the proclamation of the word.

The Challenge of the Cross

According to the Gospels, Jesus said a lot of things. Many of them are inspiring and heartwarming:

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find."

"Yes, I am with you always, even to the end of time."

"Peace be with you."

"Do not be afraid."

"Your faith has saved you."

But if we look at the whole of Jesus' words and witness, we will find that while yes, Jesus wanted us to know that we are deeply loved and cared for, he also challenged us to be transformed, so that we can transform the world. This week's Gospel reading contains questions and statements that make us stop and think, to consider what it really means to be followers of Christ:

"Who do you say that I am?"

"Get behind me, Satan!"

"Take up your cross and follow me."

"Those who want to save their life will lose it."

What do we do with these words? I'll admit that they scare me a little - if I want to save my life, I have to lose it? Do I have to become a prophet, so driven by a quest for justice that I might be killed for it?

We know that the cross is not the end of the story - ultimately, there's an empty tomb. But as we journey together in the season of Lent, I hope we can all wrestle together with these questions and the challenge of the cross. What does it mean to be the Body of Christ in the world today? And ultimately, who do you say Jesus is? Join us on Sunday as we continue the struggle and proclaim Christ's presence among us in communion.

AND: Join us tonight for a prayer service in the chapel at 6pm, followed by a soup supper at 6:30. You are also invited to join us for worship with the Protestant Community at Ithaca College on Sunday evening at 6pm in their chapel. Hope to see you soon!

Blessings and peace,
Manda

Texts for Sunday worship:
Psalm 22:23-31
Mark 8:27-38

Other lectionary texts for Sunday:
Romans 4:13-25
Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16