Easter 4-May 2-3, 2020
Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! We return to the parking lot this weekend, thanks be to God, for those who feel comfortable doing so. For those with health issues or over 65, please continue to consider extending your sheltering in place as recommended by the CDC. Your health and well-being are of first importance to us as we remain faithful in worshiping with one heart, one mind whether physically together or distanced. I have a three-step plan for worship at Hope to share with our congregation council, with parking lot worship being the first step. We continue to hand out bulletins with gloved hands and masked faces, and the items of bulletin and wafer in bags to eliminate the need for physical contact. There will be no offering collected-we humbly ask you to continue to mail in offerings as you can-and please know how truly and deeply grateful we are for your generosity. Holy Communion is shared with the bread only as directed by our Bishop-and please know, all benefits of the Sacrament – life, forgiveness, and the very presence of Jesus-are present in this sacred meal, whether we receive in both kinds or one. We maintain physical distancing using our parking lot boundaries to protect all folks gathered. The additional steps will be implemented as safety allows and we will also be proactive about future possibilities where we might once again be called upon to shelter in place and move out of our building. When our council meets next, we have much to figure out and decide, but please know this-your congregation council are dedicated and faithful leaders who follow the Spirit’s leading in these decisions. We can trust that we will make careful and safe choices for our future because our congregation council leaders at Hope are wise and discerning. We are blessed! If you need to remain home during this time, please continue to worship with us. We will continue to email worship and homily resources, and are looking into additional opportunities for sharing, and devotional and spiritual support.
If you are making masks at home, please consider donating some to Hope so that when we do re-enter our building, we will have a stockpile to share with those who have none. Gloves will also be here for all who attend-but that is for the days to come. Please keep listening to robocalls and read emails to provide you with the most up-to-date information about plans and details for Hope Lutheran Church.
God bless each of you in this Easter season as we continue to be led by the Spirit to serve God and share Christ’s love with all. I pray for your health and peace.
Love, Pr. Jen+
SEASON OF EASTER WORSHIP -FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER MAY 2-3, 2020
You may have a bowl and a pitcher or glass filled with water to pour to remember the flowing and forgiving waters of Baptism.
THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM
All may make the sign of the cross, the sign marked at baptism. Alleluia! Christ is risen. Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia! Joined to Christ in the waters of baptism, we are raised with him to new life. We join in thanks for the gift of baptism. Water may be poured into the bowl. We give you thanks, O God, for in the beginning you created us in your image and planted us in a well-watered garden. In the desert you promised pools of water for the parched, and you gave us water from the rock. When we did not know the way, you sent the Good Shepherd to lead us to still waters. At the cross, you watered us from Jesus’ wounded side, and on this day, you shower us again with the water of life. We praise you for your salvation through water, for the water in this font, and for all water everywhere. Bathe us in your forgiveness, grace, and love. Satisfy the thirsty, and give us the life only you can give. To you be given honor and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
**You may make the sign of the cross with this water or wash your hands to remember your Baptism and your call to life in Christ.
PRAYER OF THE DAY Let us pray. O God our shepherd, you know your sheep by name and lead us to safety through the valleys of death. Guide us by your voice, that we may walk in certainty and security to the joyous feast prepared in your house, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Psalm: Psalm 23
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want.
2 The Lord makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters.
3 You restore my soul, O Lord, and guide me along right pathways for your name’s sake.
4 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil, and my cup is running over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Gospel: John 10:1-10
Jesus uses an image familiar to the people of his day to make a point about spiritual leadership. Those who listen to Jesus are led to abundant life. [Jesus said:] 1 “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7 So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
HOMILY: Even though we are in the season of Easter, our lives may still feel like one long Lenten discipline of social distancing and fighting illness. As someone posted on FB-This was the Lentiest Lent I’ve ever lented. Even as we proclaim the truth of Easter resurrection, Good Friday’s shadow still looms long. But we also know that Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is faithful. So, on this Good Shepherd weekend, our Psalm and Gospel provide us an opportunity to be taught, to be healed, to be loved.
~~~What we notice first is that of all the Good Shepherd Sunday texts in the lectionary, this gospel is by far the most abstract. Jesus clearly has something he wants to communicate to us, but his layers of symbolism are so dense that it’s difficult to understand what he means beyond the obvious. In fact, John even tells us the confusion: “Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.” So, if we don’t get it right away, we are in good company!
~~~Traditionally, this text has often been used to exclude ppl-to keep them out.. Jesus says, “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit.” People have used this saying to enforce false boundaries to prove their own power, labeling the “thieves and bandits” anyone who is “different from us,” whether that means they have the “wrong” gender, sexuality, race, doctrine, belief, religion, politics, liturgy, etc. “Not everyone is going to get saved,” is the message some take out of this text. “Jesus doesn’t love everyone,” is the attitude expressed-but Jesus loves us best.
~~~ When we feel threatened or challenged by differences, we sink into black and white thinking very quickly. All shades of gray are rendered invisible by our need for security. Everything becomes very rigid, and suddenly we love Jesus’ image of the sheepfold with the gate that is going to keep some people out because it will keep those of us “on the inside” safe. We have a holy and secure isolation from “those people,” who will no longer be a threat. In this circle-the-wagons mentality, everything and everyone becomes rigidly locked into place. We imprison ourselves and everyone around us into roles of “good guy” and “bad guy.” There is very little freedom in that place and very little love. They aren’t getting into heaven because they don’t believe like we do, we might think, so why bother with them at all???
You may all remember that old joke-a many shows up at the Pearly Gates, and St. Peter escorts him down a long hall. As they pass one closed door, St. Peter turns to the man and warns him that he must be quiet as they pass. When the man asks why, St. Peter responds: That’s the Lutherans in there. They think they are the only ones up here.”
~~~So, let’s go back to the gospel. When we first read it, especially if we are feeling vulnerable, threatened and longing for security, all we see are walls, barriers, boundaries, and separation. That’s what a fence with a gate is, right? But that is not what Jesus is talking about when he says, “I am the gate.” He’s not trying to keep people out, or even allow “us” to stay safely in the sheepfold.
~~~Stop and think for a moment. What is the purpose of the gate? It creates an opening in the fence. it allows travel through the wall. It is a means of freedom and including, not excluding. When Jesus, our Good Shepherd, says, “I am the gate,” it is his way of inviting us both in and out. He is telling us that he is our way to safety, to entering a restful place where we know we are loved and protected. But he is also telling us that we will need to go back out through that gate into the world. It is his invitation to leave safety and security and go back out into a world of challenges and stumbling blocks.
~~~We might expect that of Jesus—that he would tell us that we are safe but that there is more to life than safety. We understand that he does promise us sanctuary, but he also expects us to go back out and do the good work we are called to do, knowing that it may sometimes take some risk. Think about Jesus’ own life. Luther reminded us of that when he encouraged us to be Christians in the world rather than hiding out in the safety of a cloister. We are sent out to be Christ to others in the world. Even if we are sheltering in place, there are ways to do that-by tipping extra or showing extra courtesy to people who help us with food ro groceries or service. We can fervently pray for the medical workers who put their lives on the lines for everyone. We can call or write or email or text someone we know is lonely or alone in this strange and frightening time. There’s so much we can do even if we are bound in the sheepfold for a time-and we can plan for doing MORE when we are free to leave.
~~~But where Jesus really gets kinda tricky is when he calls himself the gate. He’s not just saying, “There is a gate in all your carefully constructed, self-isolating walls.” He’s saying, “I am the gate in all your carefully constructed, self-isolating walls.” Jesus calls us in to send us out. Everything we have set up to protect ourselves is actually our means of being called out into a life of adventure, possibility, and yes, strife and conflict. And those careful walls we’ve placed between ourselves and others? Jesus is the gate. He’s made himself a secret entrance into our hardened hearts, and all kinds of scary people are going to get in because Jesus wants us in relationship with all kinds of people and to be Christ to them. When we fully understand that Jesus is the gate—Jesus is the entry point into all change, depth, struggle, and love—it’s both terrifying and exhilarating. As the saying goes, “God loves us exactly as we are, and God loves us far too much to leave us that way.” The Good Shepherd calls us to be better.
~~Martin Laird tells a powerful story. He speaks of walking across a moor with a friend who had four dogs. As they walked, three of the dogs would run out across the moor, leaping over creeks and chasing rabbits and joyfully exploring their environment. But one of the dogs would only run in a small circle right in front of his owner. No matter how many miles they walked or how far afield the other dogs went, this dog would only run in a tight circle very close to them. Laird asked him why, and he replied, “This dog was kept for his entire life prior to coming to me in a very small cage. His body has left the cage, but his mind still carries it with him. For him, the world outside the cage does not exist, and so no matter how big and beautiful the moor, he will never run out across it. I bring him here so he can breathe the fresh air, but he’s still running circles in his cage.”
~~~On a good day, when we’re feeling confident and happy in God’s love, seeing the glory of God’s people and God’s creation all around us, gray is beautiful. We can set aside the comforting security of black and white thinking. Gray is possibility, opportunity, the treasure hidden in the field. Gray is appreciating the differences we see around us without feeling threatened or dismissing them as “bad”. We can handle and even appreciate the uncertainty that is a part of faith. But when we are hurting, weary, afraid, not only can we no longer see the shades of gray, we no longer want to. We are the dog who carries the cage with him out onto the moor. We want to hide out in the sheepfold. We think we’re keeping ourselves safe, we think we’re obeying the rules, but really, we’re our own jailers. We’re refusing to see the open gate in our hearts. We’re refusing to see Jesus and all the beautiful and wonderful opportunities he provides us daily for mission and ministry in his name as we do his work with our hands and hearts, following the lead of our Good Shepherd.
~~~But we know Jesus is patient with our willful blindness. He says to all of us, “I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.” Sometimes we wish there were no gate. Sometimes we wish the barriers and boundaries we’ve placed around our hearts were bulletproof and siege-resistant. But before long, God reminds us that that aching hole in our hearts, where insight and possibility and all of these people, beautiful, flawed people, keep sneaking in—that is the very presence of Jesus who brings us rest in green pastures, beside the still waters. And in all of this, Jesus our Good Shepherd walks with us-as we are led by his Spirit to serve him and share his love with all people. Thanks be to God. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed Alleluia! Amen.
Prayers of Intercession: Penned up in our homes but united in the one flock of believers, we pray for the church, the earth, the world, and all in need, asking God our Shepherd to restore our lives. A brief silence.
For the church, O God, we pray: that we will hear and follow your voice calling to us in the word; that bishops and pastors be sustained for their shepherding tasks; that churches devastated by the virus be upheld; that in this time churches find ways to continue their ministries of education and service. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For the earth we pray: that lands and waters be renewed; that animals and plants enjoy safe growth; that rain and soil nurture the fields; that drought and floods be eased and storms calmed. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For the nations of the world we pray: that heads of state and legislators cooperate for the good of all; that medical experts be heeded; that government moneys serve the nations’ greatest needs; that during Ramadan our Muslim brothers and sisters are granted release from prejudice: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For a world so economically divided, we pray: that the millions of those unemployed be given food and shelter now and jobs in the future; that children find a fruitful means of education; that refugees be safeguarded from violence and prejudice; that, inspired by the early Christians, those who have means become ever more generous to those who endure great want. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For all in need we pray: that those afflicted with the coronavirus be cared for; that the sick be healed; that those in despair find hope; that those who are lonely be comforted; that medical workers be safeguarded; that those we name here receive the best possible care…… Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For our own desires we pray, that we will be encouraged by your Spirit for the fulfilling our tasks; and that you hear the cries of our hearts. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We praise you for all who have died in the faith. We pray that at our end, as sheep of your own fold, as lambs of your own flock, we will be gathered into your mercy, through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Into your everlasting arms we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your care for us, through Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd, our guardian, Savior, and friend.
Amen.
BLESSING: May the One who brought forth Jesus from the dead raise us to new life, fill us with hope, and turn our mourning into dancing. Almighty God, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit, bless us now and forever. Amen.
DISMISSAL: Christ is risen, just as he said. Together, let us go to share this Good News, led by the Spirit, to serve God and share Christ’s love with all people. Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!
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Please call the church office or email Pr. Jen with any prayer requests you may have so they may be shared with the congregation.
Please continue to hold in prayer:
Laura Everill, daughter of Phyllis and Tom Agness, residing in a healthcare facility
Walter Crowley, husband of Kathryn and father of Ginger Toomire recovering from pneumonia
Pr Cheryll, Karl, and Nick Kaukis who mourn the death of Chris, beloved son and brother
Jack Kraigenow, Linda’s husband, recovering from surgery
John Greene, Millie’s husband, recovering from surgery
Fred Schaible, Eileen’s husband and Pr. Jen’s dad, in hospice care
Those recovering from storm damage
Suzette, Katie McClay’s friend who is recovering after colon cancer surgery,
Norm Balint, Roberta’s husband, who is recovering from catheterization & two stents
Colleen, Fran Kostrowsky’s cousin who is recovering from a broken hip in rehab
Those who are in need or ill in any way, those who are lonely, those who are frightened, those who grieve, those caring for those who are ill
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