Easter Vigil, By George Demetrion

If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he

who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your

mortal bodies through his Spirit who lives in you.

Romans 8:11

I grappled with several related verses before settling in on Paul’s

astounding epiphany in Romans 8:11.  We experience much struggle

in fully coming to an appreciation of the audacious claims of this

amazing verse.  The reality of the persisting power of our first Adam

identity is all too alive and present in which “I do not do the good

that I want” (Rom 7:16).  Despite the best of intentions, at least for

me, the old man of despair, skepticism, fear, and sense of inability

to change in any substantial way keeps on breaking into my life in

thought, attitude and action. That is, the first Adam is present,

despite the profusion of promises of the gospel hope of new

resurrection in this life as well as in the life to come to which I cling

with all my heart, mind, strength, and soul in the more perceptive

moments of my life.

 

In Romans 7 Paul says that, “it is no longer I” who embodies this

first Adam identity, “but sin that dwells within me” (Rom 7:17).

The very struggle for this “I” is a core component of my faith walk in

which daily dying to self is the essential precondition “to putting on

the Lord Jesus Christ” in which the real “I” begins to surface.  The

new creation reality to which Christ calls us is the central focus of

Romans 8. By contrast, the old man within seeks a settled world

where nothing profoundly new breaks in.  The old man may seem

comfortable, but it does not lead to new life which requires a going

beyond oneself, in which for me there is much holding back, which

takes many forms.  Simply put, do I, in faith, take risks of new, but

costly ventures, or not—costly in terms of time, in terms of risk of

rejection or failure, in terms of fear of closing old doors, however

little they are open in any event?

 

When Paul discusses the struggle between the flesh and the spirit,

he is referring to the totality of life in which the hoped for

resurrection entails a cross in matters large and small.  It is with

this totality of the struggle in mind that Paul is referencing in the

first 11 verses of Ch 8 of Romans, and from that pivot point toward

the final crescendo in verse 38 in which “neither death nor life, nor

angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,

nor height nor depth, nor anything else will be able to separate us

from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Let us, then, seek to

make “every thought captive to obey Christ” by laying low the First

Adam through the small still voice of the Holy Spirit.  Let us

embrace new creation through the same power given to us that God,

through the Spirit, bestowed upon Christ in raising him from the

dead.  We know that your Spirit is good news in which you are ever

calling us into new life.  In our perpetual journey from Old to New

Adam let us come to an ever fuller realization of the gift of that

same Spirit which raised your Son from the dead which has been

given to us to embrace new life in you to the fullest.

 

Lord, help us rise up to the level of faithful and glorious

living to come into the full realization that the very Spirit

that raised your Son from the dead is in us too; that same

Spirit, calling us to new life in your kingdom on earth as it is

in heaven.  Amen.

 

 

Good Friday, By Deana Blake

Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of itself.

Mathew 6:31

When I read this verse I sometime wonder and ask God “Is that

true?” It must be so.

 

When things are going through my life on a daily basis, I thank God

for each new day. I thank God that my mom had lived each day

until she went home to be with the Lord. I thank God for my life,

family, friends, etc. Can you thank God as many times in your daily

life? The answer is a most definite “Yes!”

 

As I think back, I thank God for it all, good or bad, and hope that

my future will be fulfilled. God’s love is a promise he keeps for us on

a daily basis. Just remember, thank God for your everyday blessings,

You will be glad you did. God Bless.

Dear Lord, thank you very much for giving us a spiritual

goodness in all our lives. May we truly be thankful in our

reflections and for our ability to move on. In your son’s

blessed name Jesus, amen.

 

Maundy Thursday, By Etheleen Glisman

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that

whosoever believeth in him, shall have everlasting life.

John 3:16

 

The cemetery was deserted in the early morning. The white crosses glistened

against the green grass, with no break in the color scheme except for an

occasional bouquet left from the Memorial Day ceremony the day before. On

that day there had been flags and bands and color guards and generals and

dignitaries and guests. Today, the sound of the gate unlocking was all that

could be heard as the gate keeper let us in to say our last good bye.

 

My son Scott and I had attended the ceremony the day before at the Rhone

American Military Cemetery in Draguignan, France, where my nineteen-year-

old brother Bram had lain since the closing days of World War II. The

ceremony was a moving tribute to the “foreign” military buried in this

beautiful setting.

 

Now I stood by Bram’s grave in quiet memory, rearranged the flowers a bit,

kissed his cross – then we walked in silence back toward the gate. As the gate

keeper let us out I was wondering if Bram and Mother and Dad and Aunty

Ethel were all together and if they knew we were here…How good it would be

if, at this moment, they could be here with Scott and me. The gate-keeper

broke into those thoughts with the familiar, but unexpected, beautifully

French-accented words, “God bless you.”

Suddenly, in this ancient village so far away, in this tender moment, I felt as

though we were together surrounded in God’s loving embrace. “Everlasting

life” is real!…it has begun!

 

Thank you, God!

Wednesday of Holy Week, By Dorothy Davies

This is what the Lord says to you, “Do not be afraid or discouraged

because this vast army for the battle is not yours but Gods.

2 Chronicles 20:15

Decide right now that you will trust God wherever you are, When

you do so, the battle is not yours – the battle is the Lords. Ask God

to give you strength to endure, and rest assured he will take care of

you, even in the midst of life’s most vicious storms.

 

Gracious loving heavenly Father, you are all good, and your

promises are sure. Help me to trust you more each day

knowing you have me in your care. This I pray in the name

of your son Jesus Christ who gave his life so we can live.

Amen.

 

 

 

Tuesday of Holy Week, By Claudia Humphrey

Blessed is the man that perseveres under trial, because when he has

stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised

to those who love him.

James 1:12

I found this little poem in the San Diego Tribune probably thirty

years ago. I have no idea who wrote it, but it helps me in many ways

to remember its message when it pops into my head.

 

Thank God for dirty dishes,

they have a tale to tell.

While other folks go hungry

we are eating very well.

With home, health, and happiness

we shouldn’t want to fuss,

for by thus stack of evidence

God is very good to us.

 

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

 

 

Monday of Holy Week, By Rosemary Bentley

The second (commandment) is you must love others as much as

yourself.

Mark 12:31

The members of Foothills have truly lived up to this great

commandment and I have had the privilege of receiving their love

when I really needed it.  In 2008 I wrote the following for the

Lenten Devotional Booklet:  “I thank God over and over that He led

us to Foothills.  The people of Foothills have become our second

family and we know they will always be there for us.”

Little did I know then how important the loving support of our

Foothills family would be when I needed it.  In the fall of 2008 Jack,

my husband of 54 years, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease,

for which there is no cure.  His physical and mental condition

deteriorated until he died in October 2010.

 

Throughout those difficult years I received so much help from my

Foothills family.  I especially appreciated the loving prayers, notes

and hugs that kept me going then and that wonderful support

hasn’t stopped yet.  In January of this year when I unexpectedly

became very sick and was hospitalized, more notes and prayers

surrounded me and helped me recover.  Eventually I was delighted

to get a clean bill of health from my doctor and I’m doing well now.

 

I am convinced that the love expressed to me through the prayers of

my Foothills family, my neighbors and my family was significantly

responsible for getting me through those very difficult times and for

making me healthy again.  I thank God over and over for leading me

to Foothills and making me feel so loved by this caring and

prayerful community, who have been and always will be my very

special “second family.”

 

Heavenly Father, Thank you for the many gifts of love that I

have received from others and help me to return these gifts

by loving others as much as myself.  Amen.

 

Saturday 5th Week of Lent, By Anne Bullard

Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

Psalm 63:7

I am so glad to be a part of the Chancel Choir here at Foothills.

When our friends, Mary Kathryn and Ham introduced Greg and me

to the church seven years ago, I was in the midst of deep mourning

for my mother who had died six months before. Foothills welcomed

us, offered structure, and the opportunity to become more “centered”

during this time of grief.

 

Family tragedy visited us again during the summer with the death

of my brother, and my sadness seemed overwhelming. Soon after

that Greg and I were crying our way through worship when I was

touched by the beautiful singing voice of a woman seated behind us.

Afterwards I complemented her and she responded saying “why

don’t you come sing with us in the Choir?” That voice belonged to

choir member Dorothy Relaford.

 

I had no experience singing, let alone with a choir.  But I thought I

would give it a try. Carol encouraged me to start that same week,

and at once I became swept-up in the intricacies and joy of choir

rehearsal!

 

In the weeks that followed I attended rehearsals and participated in

services at often as I could. The hard work of learning to read music

and sing the right notes provided a wonderful distraction for me at a

time when I seemed to be moving with shuffling feet from one day to

the next. At the same, time something happened that I did not

expect.  In singing the poetry of the hymns over and over, the words

became prayers that stayed with me constantly, providing great

comfort and helping me heal.

 

Gracious God, thank you for your sheltering wings.

Friday 5th Week of Lent, By Reverend John Farley

“But each of you is given grace according to the measure of Christ’s

gift. Therefore it is said, “When he ascended on high he made

captivity itself captive; he gave gifts to his people” (When it says, “He

ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the

lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the same one who

ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.)

Ephesians 4:7-­‐10

I have always cherished the simple reminder of this Ephesians

passage. We often preach about the glory of God in Christ. We lift

up the power and might of God in the resurrection and ascension of

Jesus, but we too often forget about the powerful message of God

“descending”, coming down to our level, entering into our struggles

and just “being with” us. Every parent can remember a time when

their little child was hurt; a smashed finger, a scraped knee, and

there was nothing more one could do than to descend to the ground

and scoop up a hurting child and hold them. But it was just what

was needed.

 

In Christ, God comes down to us, enters into our moment of pain

and struggle and holds us. The infinite Spirit wraps around our

finite flesh and comforts us with an embrace of eternal love. It is

just what was needed.

 

Gracious God, we pray for those who have fallen today, for

those bruised and hurt. May your Spirit and grace find a

channel through which to embrace them. And if that

channel needs to be us, may we be ready. In Jesus’ name.

Amen.

 

 

Thursday 5th Week of Lent, By John Logsdon

So you, mortal, I have made a Sentinel for the house of Israel;

whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them

warning from me. If I say to the wicked, “O wicked ones, you shall

surely die,” and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from

their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood I

will require at your hand.

Ezekiel 33:7-­‐8

What is a sentinel? A sentinel is one who warns of danger, one who

oversees a situation and makes sure that all is well, one who

defends to the death. He has an awesome responsibility for if he

fails in his task, people can die or property lost.

In this scripture God is making Ezekiel responsible for his fellow

man. Am I my brother’s keeper? God roars a resounding “YES” and

tells him that “ their blood I will require at your hand” if he fails to

faithfully discharge his obligations. But that’s just Old Testament

stuff isn’t it? God wouldn’t do that today would He? Really?

Evidently our own revered Charles Wesley thought so. In his hymn

A Charge to Keep I Have he states:

Help me to watch and pray

And in Thyself rely,

Assured if I my trust betray

I shall forever die.

 

We are the only vessels that God and Jesus have to spread the

gospel “unto the ends of the earth.” And if we don’t inform “the

wicked” of the consequences of rejecting Jesus, how will they know.

We are the sentinels (disciples) who must tell others of Jesus’ love.

What a fearsome and awesome responsibility! But also what a

wonderful opportunity to be chosen as God’s special representative

in a less than perfect world.

 

Dear God, thank you for choosing us as your Sentinels. Help

us to be strong vessels of your love.

 

 

Wednesday 5th Week of Lent, By Theresa Erb

Solvitur ambulando – It is solved by walking.

St. Augustine of Hippo

Labyrinths and mazes have often been confused. When most people

hear of a labyrinth they think of a maze. A labyrinth is not a maze.

A maze is like a puzzle to be solved. It has twists, turns, and blind

alleys.

 

A labyrinth has only one path. The way in is the way out. There are

no blind alleys. The path leads you on a circuitous path to the center

and out again.

 

There are many beliefs about the origin of a labyrinth, but Christian

labyrinths seem to appear in the twelfth century.  The most famous

is in the Chartres Cathedral in France. Christians often used a

labyrinth when making a pilgrimage to Jerusalem was not possible

so a symbolic pilgrimage was done on a labyrinth in the nave of a

church.

 

There are three stages of the process of walking a labyrinth:

Shedding – from the entrance of the path to the center.

This is a time of letting go of control of the things that may

block communication with God.

Illumination – at the center. It is usually a surprise to

reach the center after following a long, winding path. After

quieting the minding on the labyrinth’s path, the center is a

place for meditation and prayer.

Union – begins as you walk away from the center. Often in

this stage of the walk a sense of purpose or clarity is

experienced and one is able to move back into the world

replenished and directed.

 

Walking a labyrinth is a wonderful spiritual tool. When I walk the

labyrinth it helps to clear my mind and often provides insights to

my personal spiritual journey. Foothills church is fortunate to have

a labyrinth on our property in the Memorial Garden beside our

sanctuary, it always open and available to whoever is ready for a

spiritual journey.  I invite you to take a walk and encounter God.

 

Loving God, provide for me a path to find you.