For-giveness

H2odevos p4p Lent 2013 “For-giveness”

"In the Word the walls will crumble down

And all are welcome to enter in

In the blood of Christ the great sacrifice

The withered branches bloom again

The withered branches bloom again

Pass it on

Break the bread, lift the cup

Pass it on

The broken will be lifted up"

Pass It On by Peter Mayer

We do First Communion with our third graders. As part of their time of preparation I often as the students and their parents to take a “post-it” note and write down on it a sin, something they do or something they know they should do, but don’t do (you know the things we do and the things we leave undone). I always joke that if they need more paper, I’ve brought it. I also tell them that if they don’t know how to spell it, they can draw a picture of it. Then I have this giant nail, or better yet a stake of sorts on which we put the “sins.” We then go out into our courtyard and nail this giant nail into the cross.

After a few moments of explanation, I then light the “sins” on fire. It’s totally amazing how they burn and get shaped into the form of a black rose which smokes because of the fire and then simply falls to the ground. The sins are forgiven. The kids and their parents are silent and amazed. Soon, there are cheers of “hallelujahs” and smiles all around.

¹⁴For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.  Ephesians 2:14

Peter is so correct, “the broken will be lifted up.”

Pass it on,

rtg

The Grace

H2odevos p4p Lent 2013 “The Grace”

From a raindrop to a river

From one word into a song

Source of all gifts,

Friend and Forgiver

Bring us together, to pass it on

He has called us, all creation

Every woman, child, and man

To bring our gifts in celebration

To be transformed in the Savior’s hands

To be transformed in the Savior’s hands

Pass It On by Peter Mayer 

Click to hear "Pass It On"

Last year while on sabbatical in London, I took a quick trip to Berlin to see a good friend of mine. While I was waiting to meet him one day, I stopped in at the Alte Museum {click here}.  As I wandered around the various galleries, I saw a painting by Fritz von Uhde entitled “Das Tischgebet,” which is the grace before the meal.

It took me back to every time that my family of origin prayed before our meals. In fact, I can’t even remember a time when we didn’t pray before a meal (and that includes being in restaurants, camping or even at a picnic).

Peter’s song takes me back to those times and places as well. It also sets a lovely stage for the present and the future, “To be transformed in the Savior’s hands.”

I commend the practice to you today. Pause, take time to say “grace.”

Peace,

rtg

Lord, Light My Way

H2odevos p4p Lent 2013 “Lord, Light my way.”

Oh Lord Light my way

Love light my way

Together now we pray

Oh Lord Light my way

Lord Light My Way by Peter Mayer

About one year ago I made a special trip to the British Museum. I've been there many times, but each time I go I see something which amazes me. On this particular day it was the Rosetta Stone.  Normally this stone is surrounded by visitors. But, on this day it was pretty much deserted. I quickly took a picture of it and then moved on to other exhibits. The stone, of course, has three scripts on it, Egyptian hieroglyphs, Demotic and ancient Greek. It provided the "key" to understanding the hieroglyphs.    The little votives in the labyrinth are "leftovers" from Westminster Abbey.  If you go to their website here it states, "Founded in 960."  I always get a charge out of that, because it signals to me a sense of confidence and hope like, "We've been in business for some time now. We've seen it come and go." People, communities and institutions all look at times for direction and advice. Peter's song is a lovely little prayer for this Fifth Sunday in Lent. Oh Lord Light my way Love light my way Together now we pray Oh Lord Light my way Blessings, rtg

Holy Feat

H2odevos p4p Lent 2013 “Holy Feat”

Dirty Hands Dirty Feet

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

But it keeps a coming back to the

Holy road means crashing you and me

You've gotta walk through the muddy water to come clean

Dirty Hands Dirty Feet by Peter Mayer

Tomorrow's Gospel lesson is from John 12 where we hear that Mary anoints the feet of Jesus with a very expensive perfume. At other places in Scripture, Matthew 26, Mark 14 and Luke 7, the text tells us a "woman" and in Luke 7 it states, a "woman who was a sinner" anointed Jesus. Often this woman has been identified as Mary Magdalene. Biblical Scholars aren't sure if this is the same event repeated and reported in different ways or if it happened twice. There is also the possibility of "conflation" of rolling all of it into one story.

But, here's what is striking. A woman, and in John she is named as Mary, anoints Jesus' feet. Anointing was the job of prophets, remember Samuel who anointed Saul and David as king. The substance used to anoint is expensive stuff. The woman's actions bring about anger and criticism from the onlookers. In John, we hear that Judas objects, by saying that the ointment should have been sold to feed the poor. The editorial comment in John is that Judas was a thief!

But, this woman performs a sacred and holy feat in preparing Jesus for Kingship and Burial. This King is going to be different than all other kings. His death and burial is going to have a surprise twist and ending as well.

Peter is so correct, You've gotta walk through the muddy water to come clean.

Peace,

rtg

Hop Into Spring

H2odevos p4p Lent 2013

Sleep child the world is wild

you'll need your dreams to get through

When out go the lights we'll turn on the night

The moon and stars shine for you

A is for Angel right from the start

A is for Angel you've stolen my heart

A Is For Angel by Peter Mayer

If I was going to add a line to this song, it would be, "B is for Bunny." Last year I was the Lenten retreat for the parishioners of St. Martin in the Fields which took place at the Saint Andrews Retreat Center in Edenbridge. It was an amazing experience for me to be with members of the SMITF congregation as well as to witness the hospitality of the Sisters. Click here At one point during the retreat (it was a silent retreat, so there wasn't a great deal of chatting) I scanned some of the Annual Reports for this amazing Ignatian Community of Sisters.  I could tell by reading through the lines that expenses exceeded income. And so I wasn't surprised when I read yesterday that the sisters would be moving from this location. It was clear that they had embraced the notion that there are times when things come to a close in order that new things can be born, reborn through the Spirit of Love and Grace. One morning at the retreat center, I got up early to explore. I was surprised by the bunny shaped bushes. They made me laugh out loud. I don't know why they tickled my funny bone, but they did. And so today, I invite you to smile and laugh as we hop into this weekend. Peace, rtg

Connections

H2odevos  p4p Lent 2013 “Connections”

The face of this world is changing and turning 

What are we learning, and what is our vision? 

We build the walls of strength deep inside us 

They must not divide us, become our prison 

We bring our differences, our hopes and faith, our fears 

We'll build a home for love in this family 

For the light that brought us here

 Chorus

With a blueprint for living
That calls you back from where you've been
In this house we build a doorway
To send us out and welcome in

Blueprints by Peter Mayer 

Blessings to Pope Francis! I saw a lovely prayer on the Church of England website:

Almighty God,

shepherd of souls,

we pray for Francis chosen to be Pope:

Guide him by your Spirit,

give him grace to lead people in prayer and zeal

and to follow in the footsteps

of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.

Amen.

And so we pray as Peter sings, "We bring our differences,

our hopes and faith, our fears

We'll build a home for love in this family

For the light that brought us here."

We have been brought to this particular place by light. May God bless you today.

I had an amazing day yesterday filled with prayer. I imagine you did, too.

Peace,

rtg

Waiting For a Voice

H2odevos p4p Lent 2013 “Waiting For A Voice”

They say happiness

Is just around the bend

'Til I'm there

It's good to have a friend

You're an Angel waiting on her wings

Getting by on what each new day brings

I'm a silent prayer waiting for a voice

I sing because I have no other choice

Good To Have A Friend - Peter Mayer

Today I'm thinking that it would be grand if you can offer to a friend your willingness to voice a prayer for them. It's interesting that in all the years that I've offered to pray for other people, I think that offer has only been declined once or twice. So, that is to be a word of encouragement to you to offer our voice to voice a prayer for another person.

It can be as easy as saying, "Would you like me to pray for you?" Or "Can I say a prayer?"

There is a great little Bible verse from 1 Thessalonians 5:17, "pray without ceasing."

So, let that be your guide and your prayer today.

Peace,

rtg

“When You are In Need of a Shepherd”

H2odevos p4p Lent 2013 “When You are In Need of a Shepherd”

"What if Love was a shepherd's eye

Could see one lost for the ninety nine

And Faith and hope were a tiny seed

That could bloom into a family tree?"

Still In One Peace by Peter Mayer

It might be due to the fact that I've been reading The Hobbit over the past few days. You see, we have fixed our Lenten theme to be "All Things Being Made New" - Experiencing God Through Art. You can check out our Lenten Mentoring booklet here.  Joni Grundman put together this great guide for us to follow along the way.

I'm sure I read The Hobbit sometime between seventh grade and my sophomore year of high school, but I can't recall the exact time. I told Sue Ann, "I'm sure I was told to do it, and I always did what I was told to do."  I will refrain from sharing with you what her comment was %^)). Anyway, because I am preaching on it on Wednesday, I figured I better get my act together.

What has been stirring around in my heart and soul these past few days of attending a family wedding, traveling and reading The Hobbit is, of course, the notion of being on a quest, a mission (aka the Blues Brothers), a journey that is full of twists and turns along the way. In the midst of all of that (which is substantial) is the potential to become lost and afraid. Just a few moments ago I was thinking about how prevalent and powerful fear is. It can bring one to their knees. It can immobilize you. It can cause one to let go of love. It may even make you turn your head to backwards which might result in turning into a pillar of salt.

  

So, there come those times in life and death when one needs a shepherd. A guide who is committed to helping one stay on the right path, or better yet, a path of righteousness.

The following words give me a sense of freedom and comfort:

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹²The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away - and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. ¹³The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. ¹⁴I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, ¹⁵just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd." John 10

⁴Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? ⁵When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. ⁶And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' ⁷Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Luke 15

Blessings today as you think and pray about such good news.

rtg

Belonging

"Belonging" (This is an encore presentation of a devo first published on March 5, 2009)

"We are one in God our creator  Reborn by the breath of the spirit  We belong by the blood of the lamb  In the joy of this dance we are changed"  We Are Changed by Peter Mayer  Click to hear "We Are Changed"

A few weeks ago we had a very large funeral at church. There were lots of people from the community in attendance. In fact, most of the people who were at the funeral were people I had never met before. During the reception which followed the service, I was making the rounds of visiting with various individuals and groups. I found myself saying to them, "How are you connected?" "How do you belong?"  Those are appropriate questions for us to consider today: "How are you connected?" "How do you belong?"  Now, initially your answer might be, I don't know that I do belong, or that I feel very connected. Well, if that's the case, then let's spend some time there. Peter spells it out for us in a formula that is pretty traditional, in fact, one could say quite Trinitarian: "We are one in God our creator Reborn by the breath of the spirit We belong by the blood of the lamb" God is the creator. The Son is the lamb who takes away the sin of the world. The Spirit gives us spiritual CPR which renews, revives and refreshes. And then to just shake it all up, Peter adds, "In the joy of this dance we are changed"  It is a very old image of the Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit dancing together making it all happen. So, anyone who thinks God is just sitting up there in heaven in a rocking chair needs to have a new image. God is the Rock; God is also rocking! You and I are invited to a "holy hoedown!"   Check out these words:   Come, Join the Dance of Trinity (ELW 412)  1      Come, join the dance of Trinity, before all worlds begun- the interweaving of the Three, the Father, Spirit, Son. The universe of space and time did not arise by chance, but as the Three, in love and hope, made room within their dance. Text: Richard Leach, b. 1953 Text © 2001 Selah Publishing Co., Inc. www.selahpub.com All rights reserved. Used by permission. Duplication in any form prohibited without permission or valid license from copyright administrator. Talk about "dancing with the stars" Peace, rtg

Prodigal

H2odevos p4p Lent 2013 “Prodigal”

Fourth Sunday in Lent

"What if Love was a shepherd's eye

Could see one lost for the ninety nine

And Faith and hope were a tiny seed

That could bloom into a family tree?"

Still In One Peace by Peter Mayer

Today’s devo is going to be short, but sweet. I’m still in Charlotte with Sue Ann, our adult kids, their significant others and my family of origin. Of course, my father who died 5 plus years ago and my mom who died 8 years ago will be with us in Spirit and memories.

 In today’s Gospel lesson we hear about the Prodigal Son. The word “prodigal” means extravagant. Helmut Thielecke and others have pointed out that when it comes to “extravagance,” it was the “Waiting Father” who really delivered the goods. On the other side of things, the elder son was “extravagant” with his anger.

So, blessings today, thank God we have a God who is Prodigal when it comes to grace.

RTG

Hands of Love

H2odevos p4p Lent 2013 “Hands of Love”

"We gather round as family to send you on your way

That you greet each tomorrow with the promise of today

Whatever road your hearts may find

Share your gifts that they may shine

The handiwork of God's design

Formed in the hands of love

Take these hands and never let them go

To lift you up and guide you like a good friend that you know

And a promise that comes from above

That you'd be carried

Carried by the hands of love"

Hands of Love by Peter Mayer

We are in Charlotte for the wedding of Rachel and Reid. Rachel is the daughter of my brother Bob and his wife Linda. Last Sunday their daughter Erin married Jonathan. So, we’ve all gathered here to celebrate the gift of love.

Rachel and Reid asked me to make the communion bread for their wedding. So, you can see in the photo above the cross with the two rings imprinted on the bread. Upon closer scrutiny you can also see that the loaf of bread is not perfect. When I was removing it from the cookie sheet that I baked it on, a little piece fell off of it. Initially, I thought well I can use one of the other loaves which had fewer defects. And Rachel told me she liked this one. I must say after almost 37 years of marriage, 59 years of being alive and almost 32 years of being a pastor and a bunch of years of being a bread baker, I am heartened and comforted by the words of Father Dom who says, “bread is very forgiving.” Bread, especially communion bread is for “imperfect” people. Thus it stands to reason that there should be some “pieces” missing or imperfections present.

So, tonight we’ll gather as Peter reminds us through his lovely, lovely words:

Share your gifts that they may shine

The handiwork of God’s design

Formed in the hands of love

Take these hands and never let them go

Blessings to Rachel and Reid and to everyone who have joined their hands in love.

Peace,

rtg

Twist and Shout

H2odevos p4p Lent 2013 “Twist and Shout”

http://www.petermayer.com/albums/goodbye-hello

I take great delight in making pretzels. I suppose it has something to do with my love of food coupled with my memories of my mother and grandmothers cooking and baking in the kitchen. They taught me how to cook and bake. Over the years I’ve found that the way to many a parishioner’s heart is through their stomach. One’s soul must be close to the heart and stomach. I know it is for me.

I also remember the first time I ever heard the Beatles sing, “Twist and Shout.” I wasn’t sure what it was, but I’m pretty sure I knew that I liked it. However, I also know there was some pretty significant pressure coming from the likes of parents and teachers at school to not like the Beatles. And then John made the quote about Jesus (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_Lennon), and then I had to take my Beatle cards and some other things and toss them into the fire.

So, here it is many, many years later. I’m making pretzels, “twisting and shouting” and attempting to lead people through the mysteries and passion of Christ.

There aren’t too many passages in the Bible which use the word “twist.” Many of the passages which do talk about “twisted linen” for the sanctuary of God. So, it was rather startling when I found verses from the passion narratives in the Gospel that state they “twisted” thorns for a crown.

^17”And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him.” Mark 15:17

There are far more passages which encourage and extol the followers of God to “shout” it out!

Psalm 47:1  “
Clap your hands, all you peoples;

shout to God with loud songs of joy.”

And so we find ourselves in this holy season meditating on Christ’s passion and love for us all. Which when you think about it is really something to shout about.

Peace,

rtg

Everything is Possible

H2odevos p4p Lent 2013 “Everything is Possible”

"Tried to run fast enough

Tried to fly high enough

Thought that I could dive deep enough

To lose your hold on me

The end of the road the bottom of the glass

The grip of fear that holds you fast

Lost in the valley no song to sing

When you're brushed by an angel's wings

And you're Still in One Peace

Still in One Peace

We are blessed we are broken

Given one more chance to be

Found in you we are

In One Peace"

Still in One Peace by Peter Mayer

I like fortune cookies, especially ones that have Bible verses in them. We often hand them out at church in a Bible study or as people enter the sanctuary for a worship service.If we do it at a service, I invite the parishioners in the sermon to open up the cookie and then to read the passage/fortune to a person sitting next to them. Then I ask them to listen to their neighbor’s passage. At times, people decide to switch the verses. At other times they feel the passage they received is precisely what they needed to hear at that time.
 I like the idea that “With God everything is possible.” Peter sings about trying to run away from God. His words echo the thoughts of
Psalm 139:

O LORD, you have searched me and known me.

²You know when I sit down and when I rise up;

you discern my thoughts from far away.

³You search out my path and my lying down,

and are acquainted with all my ways.

⁴Even before a word is on my tongue,

O LORD, you know it completely.

⁵You hem me in, behind and before,

and lay your hand upon me.

⁶Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

it is so high that I cannot attain it.

⁷Where can I go from your spirit?

Or where can I flee from your presence?

⁸If I ascend to heaven, you are there;

if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.

⁹If I take the wings of the morning

and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,

¹⁰even there your hand shall lead me,

and your right hand shall hold me fast.”

My hope and prayer today is that you will experience

that “with God everything is possible.”

Peace,

rtg

Walls

(The following is an encore devo, first published on April 4, 2007:)

"Only You can break down the walls that hide me away

Only You can turn the night into day

Only You can stop the darkness from overtaking me

Created the land the sky and sea

I know it in my heart to be true

The answer to me is only You"

Only You by Peter Mayer and Jim Mayer

It is very natural when one has been hurt or abused to build up walls, literally and figuratively. For nobody wants to be hurt or deserves to be hurt. Constructing a wall seems to be the "wise" thing to do. Vulnerability is risky business. And yet, so is wall-making. For it is quite possible that while one thinks that the wall may promote and increase protection, it could also have unintended consequences like rejection of relationships and subjection of feelings and emotions.

Peter sings,

"Only You can break down the walls that hide me away."

The author of the letter to the Ephesians wrote,

"For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us." (Ephesians 2). So what that means is Jesus is in the construction business (of building us up) and also in the demolition business of breaking down the walls that divide and separate us.

Peter sings,

"We build the walls of strength deep inside us

They must not divide us, become our prison

We bring our differences, our hopes our faith our fears

For the light that brought us here"

"By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days".(Hebrews 11:30)

You might want to pray today about some of the walls which you feel and see in your life. Perhaps they've been in place for quite some time. Maybe you inherited them and you've only patched and repaired cracks or holes in the wall. Let Christ help you envision a time when the bricks and stones of those walls can be taken down and recycled into BBQ pits, or borders of gardens or fashioned into fish ponds.

It can happen .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

Peace,

rtg