Sunday January 26, 2020
This is the Third Sunday after Epiphany, which is both the season of Epiphany as celebrated in the Protestant tradition, and the beginning of what is known as Ordinary Time, in the Catholic tradition. Following the story of Jesus' transformative baptismal experience, we reflect on those who, hearing Jesus speak, follow him without hesitation. "In this slice of Ordinary Time that is also an extended celebration of Epiphany, we are called, like Peter and Andrew, to follow Jesus and, in following him, to listen to him as he commands repentance and proclaims the good news of the kingdom. No bright stars. No earthquakes. Just a voice that strikes our ear amid the ordinariness of our lives and announces that God is among us." David Toole
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“Our hearts are restless, till we rest in thee.” Augustine What then does it mean to be a Christian? Peter Rollins: It means entering into a journey of becoming one. It does not mean accepting a worldview but rather entering into a healing journey of life.. To be a Christian also means that one is committed to exploring this life through the Judeo-Christian tradition, wrestling with it, learning from it, and being transformed by it. Being a Christian means learning how to be the opening of life into the world. For the full interview: https://internetmonk.com/archive/peter-rollins-on-orthodoxy-doxology-and-the-end-of-religion |
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TODAY January 12th Primrose and Trinity Services Cancelled
We have decided to cancel today's service at Trinity.
Primrose was already cancelled for the morning.
So stay home and enjoy some peace and quiet in the warmth and safety of your homes, with prayers of gratitude for what we take as normal, but which others may not have.
We were to read Psalm 40 this morning in the version written by Christian scholar and teacher Eugene Peterson from his modern interpretation, The Message. Peterson's interpretation of the Psalms was much loved by Bono, Irish singer/song writer and lead vocalist of U2. Here below is a wonderful short documentary of Bono and Eugene Peterson meeting and talking about the Psalms at Peterson's home. It is a beautiful meeting of minds, and a great personal discussion about the language of the psalms, which often combine petulance and violence in alarming ways.
And just for fun I am sending you a video of U2 closing a big concert tour with Bono's original interpretation of Psalm 40,
called, well, '40.' And Peterson's interpretation of the psalm in The Message. It should be noted that Peterson worked from the original language - Hebrew - and then brought that ancient language right into everyday 21st century language.
The photo above was taken by Jennifer and Gary Shaver of the icy destruction on their front lawn in Shelburne this morning.
As Jennifer says, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.....
Enjoy.
Candice
Primrose was already cancelled for the morning.
So stay home and enjoy some peace and quiet in the warmth and safety of your homes, with prayers of gratitude for what we take as normal, but which others may not have.
We were to read Psalm 40 this morning in the version written by Christian scholar and teacher Eugene Peterson from his modern interpretation, The Message. Peterson's interpretation of the Psalms was much loved by Bono, Irish singer/song writer and lead vocalist of U2. Here below is a wonderful short documentary of Bono and Eugene Peterson meeting and talking about the Psalms at Peterson's home. It is a beautiful meeting of minds, and a great personal discussion about the language of the psalms, which often combine petulance and violence in alarming ways.
And just for fun I am sending you a video of U2 closing a big concert tour with Bono's original interpretation of Psalm 40,
called, well, '40.' And Peterson's interpretation of the psalm in The Message. It should be noted that Peterson worked from the original language - Hebrew - and then brought that ancient language right into everyday 21st century language.
The photo above was taken by Jennifer and Gary Shaver of the icy destruction on their front lawn in Shelburne this morning.
As Jennifer says, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.....
Enjoy.
Candice
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Psalm 40 (The Message)
I waited and waited and waited for God.
At last he looked; finally he listened.
He lifted me out of the ditch,
pulled me from deep mud.
He stood me up on a solid rock
to make sure I wouldn’t slip.
He taught me how to sing the latest God-song,
a praise-song to our God.
More and more people are seeing this:
they enter the mystery,
abandoning themselves to God.
4-5 Blessed are you who give yourselves over to God,
turn your backs on the world’s “sure thing,”
ignore what the world worships;
The world’s a huge stockpile
of God-wonders and God-thoughts.
Nothing and no one
comes close to you!
I start talking about you, telling what I know,
and quickly run out of words.
Neither numbers nor words
account for you.
6 Doing something for you, bringing something to you--
that’s not what you’re after.
Being religious, acting pious--
that’s not what you’re asking for.
You’ve opened my ears
so I can listen.
7-8 So I answered, “I’m coming.
I read in your letter what you wrote about me,
And I’m coming to the party
you’re throwing for me.”
That’s when God’s Word entered my life,
became part of my very being.
9-10 I’ve preached you to the whole congregation,
I’ve kept back nothing, God—you know that.
I didn’t keep the news of your ways
a secret, didn’t keep it to myself.
I told it all, how dependable you are, how thorough.
I didn’t hold back pieces of love and truth
For myself alone. I told it all,
let the congregation know the whole story.
11-12 Now God, don’t hold out on me,
don’t hold back your passion.
Your love and truth
are all that keeps me together.
When troubles ganged up on me,
a mob of sins past counting,
I was so swamped by guilt
I couldn’t see my way clear.
More guilt in my heart than hair on my head,
so heavy the guilt that my heart gave out.
13-15 Soften up, God, and intervene;
hurry and get me some help,
So those who are trying to kidnap my soul
will be embarrassed and lose face,
So anyone who gets a kick out of making me miserable
will be heckled and disgraced,
So those who pray for my ruin
will be booed and jeered without mercy.
16-17 But all who are hunting for you--
oh, let them sing and be happy.
Let those who know what you’re all about
tell the world you’re great and not quitting.
And me? I’m a mess. I’m nothing and have nothing:
make something of me.
You can do it; you’ve got what it takes--
but God, don’t put it off.
The Shelburne/Primrose Pastoral Charge partners with
Partera Peace Builders International, The Shelburne Farmer's Market,
First Line for Syria, Soup Haus, KAIROS, and the Quiet Garden Movement.
We support the work of the UCC Mission and Service and are part of the
Dufferin Moves initiative in Dufferin County.
We are supportive of the work of Streams Community Hub
We continue to look for partners and friends who are offering a
compassionate presence to the community and an uplifting and creative spirit.
Call or email if we can be of any help to you.
shelburne.primrose.uc@gmail.com / 519 925 2233
Partera Peace Builders International, The Shelburne Farmer's Market,
First Line for Syria, Soup Haus, KAIROS, and the Quiet Garden Movement.
We support the work of the UCC Mission and Service and are part of the
Dufferin Moves initiative in Dufferin County.
We are supportive of the work of Streams Community Hub
We continue to look for partners and friends who are offering a
compassionate presence to the community and an uplifting and creative spirit.
Call or email if we can be of any help to you.
shelburne.primrose.uc@gmail.com / 519 925 2233
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