Pastor’s Weekly Message: 04.11.17
Grace Waves
Friends:
Prayer for Holy Week:
Just as your Final Week begins – everything collides together:
The glib attitudes of ‘life on the surface’ with your moment of sublime submission.
You are afraid, anxious, wary of betrayal, tasting despair and anguish.
Here and now is held everything human and all human beings.
Here are you and me.
It is when you have been tested that you know who you are;
You know it, Lord, not me……because my final test hasn’t happened yet.
Lord, we would like to follow you all the way…..all the way to the Cross.
Seder this Thursday at 6:30: We gather to commemorate our roots, identity and the Lord’s Supper. We recognize that imperfect people can usher in liberation. There’s no sense waiting until we are totally pure, psychologically and spiritually healthy. The healing of the world continues now and it will be accomplished by imperfect people/wounded healers who will transform our lives and world through wisdom, compassion and grace.
Good Friday: Peace will be open from Noon – 3 pm for prayer. Contemplative worship begins that evening at 7:00 pm. “Stay with me, remain with me, watch and pray.”
Easter Day at 10:00 am. A joyous celebration of new life and new creation! Our Brunch begins at 9:15 and the Egg Hunt will follow worship.
Keep in your prayers: Shiva, Nik, Nette, Teresa, Brian McGee, Gun, Nancy, Brian Turner, Sue, Marshall, David, Bob, Ralph, Marlene and Fred, those who have lost parents/loved ones – Alan, George, Ann, Dwane, Maili and Kersti; Ed K. Liz, Peter, Kathy, Jerry, the Confirmation Class; those living with addictions, the people of Syria and the Coptic Church of Egypt.
Spring Cleaning at Peace – Saturday, April 22: We begin with Pancakes at 9:30 and work from 10 – Noon. Make your mother proud that she taught you how to use elbow grease!
Culinary Herbs for Warm Weather with Elana: At the Orinda Library, Garden Room, Friday from 1 – 2 pm.
Sunday, April 23
- Earth Day worship at 10 am.
- Interaith Shoah Remembrance at Beth Chaim from 3 – 4:30 pm.
- Confirmation – 5:00 pm
- Four Seasons and More – a Concert by the Sycamore Chamber Orchestra under the direction of our own Goran Berg at 7:00 pm!
How can we sing praise songs in a world so full of hunger, hatred and war?
How can we praise God when surrounded by negativity and deception?
How can we say ‘thank you’ when suffering is so present and betrayal so near?
We are living in a Dark Time but the Light is here – who can stop us!
Therefore we can live like it is day despite the dark night.
In the midst of so much need and darkness
We are not allowed to be Silent.
Therefore we must sing: Hosanna in the Highest, Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!
(Bishop Karoline Krook)
Holy Week Blessings,
Pr. Steve
