Greetings from Peter Mayer

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Shine On - h2o devos loc 122612


May the Light of Christmas Day 
continue to shine on you.

H2o devos will return on Ash Wednesday, February 13, 2013.


This year's theme is Passages4Passages. We'll be taking a look at Bible passages for the various passages of our lives and connecting them to the beautiful lyrics and sounds of Peter Mayer's music.
  
Special thanks to:  Peter Mayer for his amazing music which connects us to God and one another.

Deep appreciation to Cynthia Tanner who designs the look and feel of the devos and sends them out on a daily basis and to Brenda Greenwald for "watering" this blog, H2odevos.blogspot.com

Right now, I'm checking out four very cool books which we will be utilizing in Lent.



The first is The Art of Worship by Rt. Revd Nicholas Holtam.  This book is going to be the basis of our Lenten Retreat in 2013. Bishop Nicholas takes us through the National Gallery in London by offering up commentary on paintings with prayers and readings for meditation.



The second is The Lion's World by Rowan Williams.  This is a great review of The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. My good friends at BIGBIBLE will provide free info for house groups to study this book.

When I was in London, I met Siku, an amazing manga artist. I purchased a set of his Stations of the Cross (Manga Style) for display at Bethany in Lent 2013.  Click HERE for more information.



Additionally, the Mowbray Lenten read for 2013 is all about the stations of the cross. 



Last but not least, the Archbishop of Canterbury's 2013 Lenten read is called Abiding by Ben Quash. He has some great things in there about the Rule of Benedict.

So, as you can see in just six weeks, we'll be back with you.

God's blessings and peace,
rtg

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

The Light of Christmas Day - h2o devos loc 122512


Through the shadows of our longing
Comes the song of truth to save
Every hill and valley dawning
With the brightness of this day
Gloria for joy we sing
For Jesus Christ the light of Christmas Day
Lowly lo the lamb
Lo the Prince of Peace is coming
Glory o’er the land
Hear the song is coming,
Morningstar is coming
Jesus Christ is coming this day

Lowly manger babe asleep
Promise in his hand

Out of night the dawn is breaking
O’er the hills of Bethlehem
From despair a world is waking
Barren earth will bloom again
Gloria for Joy we sing
For Jesus Christ the Light of Christmas Day
Christmas Day
The Light of Christmas Day by Peter Mayer

Here’s the story. 
Rejoice and be glad in it!

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3All went to their own towns to be registered. 4Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

8In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see — I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

14"Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"
15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." 16So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Peace,
Rtg


Monday, December 24, 2012

The Light of Christmas Eve - h2o devos loc 122412


Through the shadows of our longing

Comes the Son of Truth to save

Every hill and valley dawning

With the brightness of this Day

Gloria for joy we sing

For Jesus Christ the Light of Christmas Day
Lowly Lo the lamb Lo the Prince of Peace is coming

Glory O’er the land

Hear the song is coming, Morning Star is coming

Jesus Christ is coming this day
The Light of Christmas Day by Peter Mayer


I want to wish you the very best on this holy day. May your time spent with family and friends warm  you and illuminate your heart. I pray that the Light of Christmas will bring you peace, joy, hope and love.

Right outside the porch of St. Martin in the Fields is what is called the “Millennium Sculpture” by Mark Chapman. It is a very solid looking piece of art with words chiseled into in from the Gospel of St. John, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was made flesh.”

May this amazing gift of the “word becoming flesh” fill you with Love and Light today!

Peace,
RTG

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Keep Bakin' - h2o devos loc 122312


Pass it on

Break the bread, lift the cup

Pass it on

The broken will be lifted up
Every gift grand and lowly

Every purpose great and small

At this feast they are made holy

By your name you have been called

By your name you have been called
Pass it On by Peter Mayer


Check out the VIDEO on how to bake communion bread.

There are stars, butterflies and crosses on the bread. I’m reminded of promises made long ago to Abraham and Sarah, Mary and Martha and the thief on the cross. These promises have been conveyed and delivered to us as well. We have been invited by the shepherds, “Come to Bethlehem and see.”

Bethlehem means “House of Bread.”

It’s all part of the cosmic comedy of the gospel that the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem. I know that Jesus satisfies the deep hunger which is in my soul. I’m getting excited about gathering together with family, friends, parishioners and guests to celebrate the birth of the ONE who makes all things new.

Today at church we heard the transforming song of Mary, namely, The Magnificat. It’s such a very cool song. It is as Peter sings, “the broken will be lifted up.”

So, pray it, sing it, bake it, and taste it….

Peace,
Rtg


Saturday, December 22, 2012

Keep Walking - h2o devos loc 122212


On freeways and biways in villages and town

On this 21th century road

We’ve traveled so far but still look for the star

Don’t you know it’s a heavy load

Hey Joseph Keep walking Hey Joseph keep walking

Hey Joseph Keep walking To Bethlehem

Hey Joseph Keep walking Hey Joseph keep walking

Keep walking Joseph you’re part of the plan
Hey Joseph  by Peter Mayer

You’ve heard the ever-present before “are you there yet?” Sometimes it is asked before one even rolls out of the driveway. “How much farther is it going to be?”

Peter artistically “paints” Joseph into the holiday scene. If there was ever a “stand-up guy” it had to be Joseph. Joseph goes along with the “plan.” Joseph follows and leads at the same time.

I really like the fact that God spoke to Joseph via a dream. Isn’t it interesting how and when God communicates to us along the way?

When Peter performs this song he often invites the congregation to join in on the refrain, “hey Joseph, Keep walking.” It is the words of the community exhorting Joseph and each one of us to keep walking.  We are proxies and stand-ins for God’s encouraging voice,

“keep walking, you’re part of the plan.”



blessings,
rtg

Friday, December 21, 2012

Golden Light - h2o devos loc 122112




A painted sky is fading
Come and take my hand
For all the roads you travel
Only this will stand
Pick up what is precious
Make light your load
Golden Light by Peter Mayer/Jay Oliver



“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11

I simply love Peter’s line, “make light your load,” which echoes and “spins” the words of Jesus, “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”  Last summer some of my pals, Lynne, Sarah, Ryan and Brenda and I took the notion that 12 21 12 would have lots of people caught up in the “end of the world” hysteria.

So, we decided to echo and spin the date just a bit into 12 12 12 -meaning Give $12, Give 12 lbs and tell 12 people. In our particular case we wanted to inspire and energize folks for Metro CareRing

We even created a 3 minute
 video about it HERE.

As well as a blog HERE.

In addition to all of that we 
worked with Metro CareRing
 to do a Virtual Food Drive.

So, I put  all this data out here for you on this date. Responses have been good, but as you know deep down in your heart and soul, “hunger doesn’t take a holiday.” So, today I urge you to END hunger in your community. Make a gift today!
 
“Pick up what is precious
Make light your load”

Peace,
rtg

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Break Out the Lights - h2o devos loc 122012


+Katherine von Bora, 1552+
 
Break out the lights shine them bright

Hang them from tree and from rafter

Let them burn all through the night

Light up your hearts with the laughter
The Christmas star, shines from afar
A herald of joy far and wide

Break out the lights Christmastide
 Ring Out The Bells by Peter Mayer


Five years ago today my father, Frank Glusenkamp woke up on his 90th birthday and suffered a stroke. The stroke was so debilitating that he had seizures for 3 and ½ hours and never regained consciousness.  He died 14 days later on January 4th, 2008.

Many of you h2odevos community folks walked with me and talked with me as our family went through the “valley of the shadow of death.”  I will always remember the “light” you gave to us during those dark days. Here is part of an obituary about my dad.
 
There isn’t a day that I don’t think about him. I suppose our relationship was typical of many fathers who were members of the “greatest generation” who had sons and daughters growing up in the 1960’s and 1970’s. I know that’s why I like Peter’s song, Harmony, so much because it names the distance and difficulty of being in “harmony” with a parent or with a son or daughter.

Frank Glusenkamp was a plain speaking person. My sister, Trina and I marvel how she (an attorney) and me (a preacher man) can “smooze” whereas our father didn’t have time for that. Now that is not to say he didn’t talk, in fact he loved to authentically talk and listen to just about anyone. But, when he asked “how are you?” He actually meant it and wanted to know “how you were.”  “Smalltalk” was not something he was interested in doing. “Plain talk” or “getting to the point” was were he was at.

He’d be happy that I share the following information with you today which can be found HERE.
“The most common symptoms of stroke can be remembered by the acronym FAST:
  • F = Face: Is one side of the face drooping down?
  • A = Arm: Can the person raise both arms, or is one arm weak?
  • S = Speech: Is speech slurred or confusing?
  • T = Time: Time is critical!! Call 9-1-1 immediately!”
You also can get more info HERE.

If you haven’t spoken to your parent or an adult child for some time, why not pick up the phone today and give them a call? You’ll be glad you did. Furthermore, I can just about guarantee it that your loved one will be very glad you did. If you need an excuse or reason to make the call, tell them that Pastor Ron is conducting a PR campaign (with the PR standing for Personal Relationship)

Blessings,
rtg

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

The Light of the Lou - h2o devos loc 121912

PETER MAYER and the 
Stars and Promises Tour 
is in ST. LOUIS TONIGHT!!!!
@ the beautiful SHELDON
More info HERE!


They’re puttin’ up lights for the holidays in this town

Winding down the old year into new

They’re talkin’ at the bar ’bout how we come so far

And where the hell this road is leading to
This Town by Peter Mayer


On Tuesday I reported for jury duty. It provided me the opportunity to be quiet and be still for a bit of time. I wasn’t looking forward to the experience, but I must say it gave me time to think and pray. I thought a great deal about the “Stars and Promises” which we gather around this holy season.

Tonight (Wednesday, December 19) Peter’s show comes to St. Louis.



If you are down in the dumps, it will Cheer you UP.


If you are sad, It will make you SMILE!

 
This is an opportunity for you


 to let your light shine!

Peace,
rtg

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

The Light of Love - h2o devos loc 121812


Love is patient, Love is kind,
slow to anger, free of pride,
never ever fails,
though we go wrong
it bears all things
believes all things
lifts up the truth,
it’s redemption song
Without Love by Peter Mayer


I simply love Peter’s song, Without Love.  It is based on 1 Corinthians 13. On Sunday night as the candles were burning, while the Stars and Promises Tour Band was “doing their thing” we were treated to hearing Chris on piano, Peter on guitar and Brenda and Andrea on vocals. One of the very cool things is that the concert was in our sanctuary, a place were all the major life events have taken place, from baptisms to funerals, with confirmations and weddings sprinkled in for good measure.

I find church (and I’m not just talking about the physical building here) as a place which can be very welcoming, but also at times judgmental and rather exclusive. I have shared with people before that the following two statements are true for me:

1.     I have never felt any place to be more welcoming than church
2.     I have never felt such loneliness than at church

Wow, how does that work or not work? And yet, maybe you’ve felt that same way as well. The very people who are called to “love one another” sometimes fight with each other over things which in the grand scheme of things appear to be rather petty and insignificant. Because church is a human institution and by that I mean it is full of humans it does not always take the lead on loving.

So, on Sunday night as we heard this song and felt the “light of love”, I know people in the congregation were thinking about the grieving families in Newtown, CT. I know people were feeling the call to be more inclusive and less exclusive. I am aware that women and men were crying because they know being the giver or recipient of anger, pride as things go wrong.

One of my favorite paintings at the National Gallery is “Mystic Nativity.” 

I like to go and stand in front of it and it’s as if  the angels are doing some kind of circular “holy hoedown.” The room almost spins because of them. And it’s all happening because LIGHT is coming into the world because Love is being born anew.

Love is patient, Love is kind,
slow to anger, free of pride,
never ever fails,
though we go wrong
it bears all things
believes all things
lifts up the truth,
it’s redemption song
Without Love by Peter Mayer

rtg

Monday, December 17, 2012

The Light of Angels - h2o devos loc 121712


My friend Delia makes angels out of Junk. Here she is in front of an angel by the name of Bloom.

Today’s devo is gonna be a short one. We had the Stars and Promises Tour stop by Bethany Lutheran last night. WOW! That’s what I have to say. Peter Mayer and the band were simply amazing.

Peter sings,
Have a little faith in angels

You never know where they might be

Have a little faith in angels

And you might begin to see

You could have a little faith in you and me
Faith in Angels by Peter Mayer

 This angel was made out of a house that was flooded in Minot, ND. My friends Sarah and Brenda worked on cleaning up that house, so a family who lost their home could move back home. The angel's name is LIGHT.  Read more about the life-changing experience of that Minot trip HERE.

Listen to these great words from Hebrews 13:1-2
“Let mutual love continue. 2Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.”

Okay, that’s your assignment today, be on the look out for angels. And here’s what’s cool:  you might be an angel to someone- and they might be one to you.

Peace,
rtg

Sunday, December 16, 2012

The Light of Dirty Water - h2o devos loc 121612

 

3rd Sunday of Advent

Dirty Hands Dirty Feet

I’m over my head it’s made a mess of me

But it keeps you coming back to the

Way of love never stops on easy street

You’ve gotta walk through the muddy water to come clean
Dirty Hands, Dirty Feet by Peter Mayer


 I just love the counter intuitiveness of this line,  “You’ve gotta walk through the muddy water to come clean.”   John the Baptist wasn’t the first one to ever say something like this because way back in 2 Kings 5  Elisha said, "Go, wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean." 11But Naaman became angry and went away, saying, "I thought that for me he would surely come out, and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and would wave his hand over the spot, and cure the leprosy! 12Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them, and be clean?" He turned and went away in a rage.”

So, there is precedent of prescribing some kind of “cleansing” ritual in water that appears to be less than hygienically satisfying. I actually like Naaman’s reaction. He is used to getting his way when it comes to being treated in the manner in which he thinks he should be treated. He’s nobody’s fool. And yet, it seems to be foolish that “You’ve gotta walk through the muddy water to come clean”

John the Baptist calls his congregation a “brood of vipers.” His message is so compelling that people from all walks of life decide that it is time for a change. John is really give it to them and so he calls their self-importance in to question by saying:  “God can make children from stones if he wants. What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it’s deadwood, it goes on the fire.”

10 The crowd asked him, “Then what are we supposed to do?”
11 “If you have two coats, give one away,” he said. “Do the same with your food.”
12 Tax men also came to be baptized and said, “Teacher, what should we do?”
13 He told them, “No more extortion—collect only what is required by law.”
14 Soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”
He told them, “No shakedowns, no blackmail—and be content with your rations.”
THE MESSAGE

“You’ve got to walk through the muddy water to come clean.”

It’s as St. Francis of Assisi said,
“it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned
it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.”

(Special bonus)  Peter Mayer is dropping by our 8 and 9 am worship services today.  So, here’s what’s gonna happen in the sermon:

Advent 3c - 121612
Pastor Ronald T Glusenkamp
Home

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Blessed be the holy Trinity,
+ one God,
the Lord of Israel who comes to set us free,
the mighty Savior who comes to show mercy,
the Dawn from on high who guides us into peace.
Amen.

This morning we gather here with heavy hearts. And we hear in the First Lesson the words from St. Paul, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.” And what’s interesting is that the word “rejoice” grammatically is an imperative, that is, it is a command, not a suggestion, “REJOICE.”

I can’t think of anyone who better communicates the gospel in such a creative way than my good friend Peter Mayer. He’s going to sing a song and invite us to sing along with SING JOY.

Thank you, Peter.   Frederick Buechner has written:

“We are in constant danger of being not actors in the drama of our own lives but reactors. The fragmentary nature of our experiences shatters us into fragments. Instead of being whole, most of the time we are in pieces, and we see the world in pieces, full of darkness at one moment and full of light the next.

It is in Jesus, of course, and in the people whose lives have been deeply touched by Jesus, and in ourselves at those moments when we also are deeply touched by him, that we see another way of being human in this world, which is the way of wholeness. When we glimpse that wholeness in others, we recognize it immediately for what it is, and the reason we recognize it, I believe, is that no matter how much the world shatters us to pieces, we carry inside us a vision of wholeness that we sense is our true home and beckons to us.”  (pages 109-110)  Frederick Buechner in The Longing for Home.

Peter has a song called Harmony.  The refrain goes something like this:

“Hear the children singing peace on earth

Must they close their – eyes to -see

You can dream of home for Christmas

But it’s a long way back to Harmony”

I find it to be one of the most poignant of this season. It’s about the relationship or more correctly the lack of a relationship between a father and his son. Obviously there are the issues of judgment, disapproval and distance. In many ways it’s a modern day take on the Prodigal Son.

“It doesn’t really matter if it’s yours or if it’s mine

It’s the same amount of distance taken one step at a time
Three more years a choir sings in Harmony

The old man and the market fade away

But his son’s been coming home to talk to him

To wrestle out a thing or two he could never say
Chorus
Hear the children singing Peace On Earth

To this scattered family

It’s never enough for all you try to be

But you’re welcome home

It’s a long way home

But you’re welcome home in Harmony"

I call this next song, Pete’s version of “IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE.” You know that Jimmy Stewart movie with him as George Bailey?

"THIS CHRISTMAS" - It’s so very Biblical, so Jesus like-
Lend a heart, lend a hand

Make a start and understand
Lend a hour lend a day

Wrap yourself to give away

 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

AMEN
rtg

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Searchlight - h2o devos loc 121512


Ever walk with me Lord

Each night and day a rejoicing

With kindness the harmony, justice the beat

You’ve turned my footsteps to dancing

Oh ever walk with Lord
How can I come before You?

What worthy gift could I bring?

What glorious feast could I offer?

What songs of majesty sing?

Lift this heart of sadness into gladness by Your Peace

Before I can come before You, You come to me
Ever Walk With Me Lord by Peter Mayer


Brenda is a music teacher. Last night her “choir” of 161 children presented a show called, “JOUST- A Mighty Medieval Musical" by John Jacobson & Roger Emerson. It was so good to see children singing, laughing and just being children. With the events of the day on everyone’s mind we all sat there thinking and praying about the safety of all children. What follows is a statement about the premise and perhaps promise of the show- Joust!

“Imagine a world where all weapons were replaced by musical instruments! Welcome to the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table - like you've never seen it or heard it before. En garde! This medieval marvel, complete with jousting knights, delightful damsels, and court jesters, will captivate your actors and audiences.”   Source:  JWPepper

And so that brings us to the idea of “harmony.”  Peter has a song called Harmony.  I find it to be one of the most poignant of this season. It’s about the relationship or more correctly the lack of a relationship between a father and his son. Obviously there are the issues of judgment, disapproval and distance. In many ways it’s a modern day take on the Prodigal Son.  Peter sings,

“Hear the children singing peace on earth

Must they close their – eyes to -see

You can dream of home for Christmas

But it’s a long way back to Harmony”


  Prodigal Son by de Chavannes 

From Evening Prayer-

Jesus Christ is the Light of the World
The Light No Darkness Can Overcome
Stay with us for it is evening
And the day is almost over
Let your light scatter the darkness
And illumine your church

Today as the “searchlight” of our souls and conscience shines on us we take time to pray for the victims, for first responders, for the survivors, for counselors and teachers, for parents and children, for our country.

Peace
rtg