We know by now that New York state leads the country in the number of deaths due to COVID-19.  Apparently, though, there are not enough burial plots for the recently increased number of victims, so corpses are being “stockpiled.” This situation reminds me of a town in France where, decades ago, a similar outbreak occurred forcing the mayor to issue a law forbidding anyone who lived in that town to die.

Well, sadly, we don’t have that option, regardless of the municipality we live in.  However, the Good News is that we have a home in heaven waiting for us! Some may have to wait longer than others to reach their final destination, but imagine the joy and celebration in heaven when we do.  If death came into the world through the first act of disobedience with Adam and Eve taking fruit from the tree, everlasting life with God came by Jesus’ death on a tree.  This is Good News every day, every week, month, and year because Easter is not merely one day or season, but a way of life.  Thanks be to God who gives us the victory because there’s plenty of room in heaven for all who believe and walk down that road that leads to eternal life. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

NOTICES for this week

• View – Sunday mass– a video will be posted on the church’s website, Facebook via our YouTube channel. Don’t forget to subscribe free so that we will in the future be able to retain our site.
• Urgent Message– Please continue to pray for an end to the COVID-19 virus and its victims and thank you for your continued financial support (check, automated bank transfers or electronic donations via www.myeoffering.com  to the life and witness our congregation in this community. As a reminder, the music ministry continues, outreach is still feeding the homeless, Some of us have already received the government’s stimulus checks, or discounts on various utilities or insurances, or simple savings of not going out to eat so often. We also have the ability to pray for others, donate blood, and particularly lessen the load on our medical resources by staying home and taking care of each other via phone calls; you never know who else needs to hear a friendly voice.
• In case of a pastoral emergency, you can leave a message on our voice mail, and we will respond as quickly as possible.
• Please Pray – For the sick: Carole, Patti, Sandy, Kim, Joe, Steve, Bob, Linda, Francine, Timone, Donna, Ashlyn, Robin. For birthday celebrations: Emma Torres, Michelle Gardner, Erin Thomas, Assad Thompson, Patricia Burke, Kathleen Lannaman, Blake Wolliston, Phyllis Gibbs-Thomas. For those celebrating a wedding anniversary: Rudy & Pat Bernard, Victor & Jeanne Champagne, Howard & Karen Brown, Daryl & Shelby Walcher. For our expectant mothers: Dani and Andrea. For the faithful departed: The Rev. Harvey Klein.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, Physician of the body and soul, You restored sight to the blind, healed the lame and cured those with leprosy. Grant, we beseech You, the necessary knowledge and perseverance to all who are working on a vaccine to quickly end the spread of COVID-19. Have mercy on those who have died, and grant comfort to all who are affected in any way and those who are living in apprehension. Give us the grace each day to trust in You and Your loving mercy. We ask this in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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Second Sunday of Easter – 4/19/20- Peace Be With You.

Acts 2:14a, 22-32   This is part of the first Christian sermon of which we have any record. Peter delivered it on the streets of Jerusalem on the Jewish Feast of Pentecost, which is fifty days after the Feast of the Passover at which Jesus was crucified. Notice that Peter is a brave, bold man in contrast to the fearful fellow who had denied Jesus at the time of his trial. Notice also that he is unshakably convinced that Jesus has risen from the dead.

Psalm 16     This psalm, which is in part set in the form of a prayer, is an affirmation of trust in God. The psalmist sums up his wholehearted commitment to the Lord with the words, “I have set the Lord always before me”” (v.*).

1 Peter 1:3-9               Peter is writing approximately two generations after the crucifixion-resurrection to Christians in a time of persecution; notice how central is his conviction of the Lord’s resurrection.

John 20:19-31        The earliest record of resurrection appearances is in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8. These fall into two categories. The first group (to Peter and others) has a church-founding significance. The second group (to James and others) has a mission-inaugurating significance. The two appearances described in John 20 are in the first category. Jesus binds the disciples together in their conviction of his risen presence. The Holy Spirit is bestowed, and the Church as a spiritual entity begins.

Challenge Questions

1. Try to imagine that you are among those gathered behind closed doors on Easter evening. How would you describe the atmosphere in the room? How do you think the disciples might have felt when Jesus suddenly appeared among them? Why do you think he showed them his wounds?
2. In John 20:19, 21, and 26, Jesus says, “Peace be with you.” Why do you think he repeats this greeting? What effect do you think these words had on the disciples? How are they important to us today?
3. What is the mission that Jesus gives to his followers in verses 21b-23, and how are they empowered for this? How are we as individuals and as the Church to fulfill this mission today? How are we enabled to do so? In particular, what does it mean that we are to forgive and retain sins?
4. As you read the exchange between Thomas and Jesus in Verses 24-29, how would you characterize the words and actions of both Thomas and Jesus here? What do you think moves Thomas to declare that Jesus is Lord and God? What do we learn from this passage about doubt, faith, and belief?
5. All of the readings for today proclaim the reality and implications of the Resurrection. Read the Epistle for today in 1 Peter 1:3-9 and reflect on your understanding of the implications of the Resurrection in your own life.

We all like to receive presents, especially those in pretty wrapped boxes.  Our curiosity plays with our emotions; could the gift be a key to a new car, a book, piece of jewelry, a new garment, or gift card to a favorite restaurant.   However, what if the box were empty?  Wouldn’t we be disappointed, puzzled?  Perhaps not if we had anticipated something bad was in the box like insects or rotting food?  In this case, we’d feel relieved.

An incident was reported in a newspaper about a car which had driven off the road and into a canal.  A passing motorist noticed the car’s headlights and called 911.  The police came and ran the license tag number to find the name of the owner.  The woman who owned the vehicle turned out to be the mother of the driver who had used her car to drive to work that evening.  When she arrived at the site of the accident, she stood in horror awaiting to see the lifeless body of her son.  Finally, the car was pulled out of the water and rested on the bank, but there was no body in the car.  However, minutes later, the young man was found on the opposite side of the canal; somehow he had managed to release himself from the car and swim to safety. The ecstatic mother rejoiced in the good news.

On that Easter Sunday morning, the women rejoiced to find an empty tomb, and they ran and told all their friends the good news.  Jesus’ empty tomb is good news for us too.  Because His grave was empty, we know ours will be empty too, except for the lifeless body we leave behind when we join Him in heaven to live forever.  The Lord is risen indeed.  Alleluia.

NOTICES for this week

• View Good Friday & Easter Sunday Mass – a video will be posted on the church’s website, Facebook via our YouTube channel. Don’t forget to subscribe free so that we will in the future be able to retain our site.
• Urgent Message – Please continue to pray for an end to the COVID-19 virus and its victims and thank you for your continued financial support (check, automated bank transfers or electronic donations via com)to the life and witness our congregation in this community.
• In case of a pastoral emergency, you can leave a message on our voice mail, and we will respond as quickly as possible. Please continue to pray for an end to the COVID-19 virus, for its victims, and for those who are working on preventative measures.

Please Pray – For the sick: Carole, Patti, Sandy, Kim, Joe, Steve, Bob, Linda, Francine, Timone, Donna, Ashlyn, Robin. For birthday celebrations: Dale Pugliese, Mike Riddle, Shirley Fenner, Gabriel Falco, Kerry Jackson, Madge Tinglin, Earl Williams. For those celebrating a wedding anniversary: David & Leila South, Walter & Georgette Dzubiak. For the faithful departed, and for our expectant mothers: Dani and Andrea.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, Physician of the body and soul, You restored sight to the blind, healed the lame and cured those with leprosy. Grant, we beseech You, the necessary knowledge and perseverance to all who are working on a vaccine to quickly end the spread of COVID-19. Have mercy on those who have died, and grant comfort to all who are affected in any way and those who are living in apprehension. Give us the grace each day to trust in You and Your loving mercy. We ask this in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

https://www.facebook.com/SaintDavidsInThePines/

Easter Sunday – Resurrection – 4/12/20

Acts 10:34-43     Peter was the leader of the Twelve and the first to see the risen Lord (Lke. 24-34). Here is part of one of his early sermons, in which it is obvious that the resurrection of Christ is of crucial importance.

Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24     This psalm is “a powerful testimony to the strength of faith that flows from the direct experience of the help of God”. After that introduction, there is the thanksgiving of an individual (vss. 5-21). The portion of this section which we read sounds like the thanksgiving of the risen Lord himself (vss. 18, 22). The latter part of the psalm (vss. 22-29) is the chorus of pilgrims attending the feast. Read on this day, it is an appropriate Easter hymn.

Colossians 3:1-4     The conviction that the risen Lord has conquered both sin and death, is meant to influence all that the Christian is and does.

John 20:1-18     The Easter morning account in John is, first of all, Mary Magdelene’s story. She is baffled by the empty tomb, suspecting foul play, and she is the first to see the risen Lord. Her meeting him in the garden is peculiar to John and is one of the warmest and most touching of all the resurrection appearances. Included is the enigmatic command, “Do not touch me,” and a perplexing reference to his impending ascension. There is no further allusion to the ascension in John, as there is in Luke.

Challenge Questions

1. As you read John 20:1-18, put yourself in the place of Mary Magdelene, Peter, or the “other disciple” as they came to the tomb. What did they expect to find, and how do you think they might have felt when the tomb was empty.
2. In verse 8, why do you think the “other disciple” believed? We are told in verse 10 that the disciples returned to their homes. How do you think they might have explained what they had just discovered to the others?
3. The story continues in verses 11-18. As you read this section, discuss how Mary was finally able to identify the Risen Jesus.
4. The meaning of the Resurrection for the early Church and for Peter is expressed in today’s reading from Acts 10:34-43. How would you explain the truth of the Resurrection to someone else?
5. How do you think Mary and the other disciples were changed by their experience of the empty tomb? How is your life different because of the events of Easter morning 2000 years ago?