Pastors Notes:
A message from Rev. Jane C. Rich
A WORD FROM PASTOR JANE:
Since we are in the mode of “sheltering in place”, I've been able to do a lot of reading and part of that reading contrasted Psalms 22 and 23. Both of these Psalms are attributed to David, but are very different in character and feeling. 22 Starts with the words, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? 23 begins with this phrase of assurance, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want”
In this time of crisis, when we really don't know what is going to happen next, we need to trust the good God who is Lord of the good times and Lord of the crisis. So I offer this prayer:
Throughout all times, O God, you have been with us. It's easy for us to say that in the good times, but not so easy in the time of Covid-19. As you lead us beside still waters, restore our trust in your goodness and the certainity that you are in charge and that out of all these troubling circumstances you have prepared a table for us in your presence where we will understand that your goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives. We ask your mercy for all those who are sick, for those who will face death, for the caregivers who put themselves in harms way to serve others and You. Use these circumstances Lord God to reveal yourself to each of us and the world. We ask all of these things through Jesus, Your Son, who taught us to pray, Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debters. Lead us not into tempation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. AMEN.
_________________
THOUGHTS IN THE MIDST OF THE CORONAVIRUS
For those of us who are use to worshiping on Sunday morning, this Sunday morning seems very strange and so I offer some thoughts and Scripture to help us be centered in God and to trust that He is really the one in charge.
For ourselves we can ask the question: What is really important in life? So much of what we observe seems so unimportant. The amassing of material things, the constant search for what will entertain us or amuse us. These two items alone put us at the center of everything. Rather than asking what can I do for others, so many ask the question, how will this effect me? This time is a time of testing and interestingly enough occurs right in the middle of Lent.
One thing man does not tolerate well is uncertainty and nothing is more uncertain than a virus which leads to questions such as how can I avoid this? We live in uncertain times even if there were no Coronavirus. The only certainty we have is that God is in charge and the Scriptures give us some comfort. So for your reflection are a couple:
From the Old Testament, Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
From Paul's Letter to the Philippians 4:6-7
“Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God,
which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
A WORD OR TWO FROM PASTOR JANE:
Somehow a new year that marks a new decade seems to imply a milestone has been reached and
the next years may hold life changing events.
The church Lectionary which is a rotating three-year program of Scripture selections has led us
through Advent, the birth of Christ and the Epiphany, or revealing of Christ to the world. The next
several weeks will lead us through the life of Christ and we will hear his teachings and follow him to the
cross and rejoice in the resurrection at Easter.
For some of us this cycle has been repeated over many years, for others it is relatively new or
maybe totally new. This revelation happens through the church and for many the church is a tradition and
a place of security in a turbulent world. For others the church is not relevant at all.
For the church to be important to anyone, one question needs to be answered and that question
is: Does God exist? This leads to other questions about who God is and how God acts. If there is a God
and he is indeed, Creator and Savior as the Creeds say, then it seems reasonable that this God should be
worshiped since no human being can be a Creator or a Savior. That worship is the main point of the
church's existence. It is the main point for the existence of the West Bethel Union Church.
400 years ago the pilgrims came to this country seeking to be able to worship as congregational
churches meaning that the individual church was the governing body and not some outside organization.
2020 will mark several important anniversaries including the pilgrims, the establishment of
congregational churches in this country and the 200th anniversary of the formation of the State of Maine.
These anniversaries call us to think about God and our relationship with him and the church.
COME AND WORSHIP!
Since we are in the mode of “sheltering in place”, I've been able to do a lot of reading and part of that reading contrasted Psalms 22 and 23. Both of these Psalms are attributed to David, but are very different in character and feeling. 22 Starts with the words, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? 23 begins with this phrase of assurance, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want”
In this time of crisis, when we really don't know what is going to happen next, we need to trust the good God who is Lord of the good times and Lord of the crisis. So I offer this prayer:
Throughout all times, O God, you have been with us. It's easy for us to say that in the good times, but not so easy in the time of Covid-19. As you lead us beside still waters, restore our trust in your goodness and the certainity that you are in charge and that out of all these troubling circumstances you have prepared a table for us in your presence where we will understand that your goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives. We ask your mercy for all those who are sick, for those who will face death, for the caregivers who put themselves in harms way to serve others and You. Use these circumstances Lord God to reveal yourself to each of us and the world. We ask all of these things through Jesus, Your Son, who taught us to pray, Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debters. Lead us not into tempation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. AMEN.
_________________
THOUGHTS IN THE MIDST OF THE CORONAVIRUS
For those of us who are use to worshiping on Sunday morning, this Sunday morning seems very strange and so I offer some thoughts and Scripture to help us be centered in God and to trust that He is really the one in charge.
For ourselves we can ask the question: What is really important in life? So much of what we observe seems so unimportant. The amassing of material things, the constant search for what will entertain us or amuse us. These two items alone put us at the center of everything. Rather than asking what can I do for others, so many ask the question, how will this effect me? This time is a time of testing and interestingly enough occurs right in the middle of Lent.
One thing man does not tolerate well is uncertainty and nothing is more uncertain than a virus which leads to questions such as how can I avoid this? We live in uncertain times even if there were no Coronavirus. The only certainty we have is that God is in charge and the Scriptures give us some comfort. So for your reflection are a couple:
From the Old Testament, Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
From Paul's Letter to the Philippians 4:6-7
“Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God,
which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
A WORD OR TWO FROM PASTOR JANE:
Somehow a new year that marks a new decade seems to imply a milestone has been reached and
the next years may hold life changing events.
The church Lectionary which is a rotating three-year program of Scripture selections has led us
through Advent, the birth of Christ and the Epiphany, or revealing of Christ to the world. The next
several weeks will lead us through the life of Christ and we will hear his teachings and follow him to the
cross and rejoice in the resurrection at Easter.
For some of us this cycle has been repeated over many years, for others it is relatively new or
maybe totally new. This revelation happens through the church and for many the church is a tradition and
a place of security in a turbulent world. For others the church is not relevant at all.
For the church to be important to anyone, one question needs to be answered and that question
is: Does God exist? This leads to other questions about who God is and how God acts. If there is a God
and he is indeed, Creator and Savior as the Creeds say, then it seems reasonable that this God should be
worshiped since no human being can be a Creator or a Savior. That worship is the main point of the
church's existence. It is the main point for the existence of the West Bethel Union Church.
400 years ago the pilgrims came to this country seeking to be able to worship as congregational
churches meaning that the individual church was the governing body and not some outside organization.
2020 will mark several important anniversaries including the pilgrims, the establishment of
congregational churches in this country and the 200th anniversary of the formation of the State of Maine.
These anniversaries call us to think about God and our relationship with him and the church.
COME AND WORSHIP!