XVII. POLLYANNA’S GLAD GAME Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (I Thessalonians 5:18). One of our fellow congregants does a daily Glad Game, adapted from the book and movie “Pollyanna.” As you might recall, the Glad Game emerged when Pollyanna, the daughter of missionaries, had expected a doll in the Christmas missionary barrel but nothing arrived except a set of crutches. Obviously, she was disappointed. But her father told... Read more
XVI. I THANK YOU GOD FOR THE WONDER OF MY BEING I praise you because I am fearfully [awesomely] and wonderfully made; wonderful are your works. That I know well! (Psalm 139:14) When I was taking a course on spirituality at the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation three decades ago, I learned a sung prayer, “I thank you God for the wonder of my being,” which we repeated three times at certain intervals in the class. Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel... Read more
XV. I THANK YOU GOD FOR WAKING ME UP THIS MORNING Give thanks in all circumstances. (I Corinthians 5:18) In many African American churches, people preface their prayers with the affirmation, “I thank you God for waking me up this morning.” My variation on this is my affirmation of Psalm 118:24 when I awaken, “This is the day that God has made let us rejoice and be glad in it.” In both cases, we give thanks for the sheer fact... Read more
XIV. LOOKING FORWARD I have plans for you, for good and not evil, for a future and hope. (Jeremiah 29:11) This morning, as I was walking on Craigville Beach, I encountered a Barnstable Department of Public Works employee. One of the qualifications for being a pastor is being curiosity. (Not nosiness!) Having seen his truck parked in the lot for a couple days, I asked, “What are you planning to do?” “We’re going to repave the parking lot.” The Town... Read more
The Adventurous Lectionary – Palm Sunday – April 5, 2020 Bruce G. Epperly Isaiah 50:4-92 Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 Philippians 2:5-11 Matthew 21:1-11 Matthew 26:14-27:66 Holy Week is a spiritual rollercoaster. We experience joyful celebration, uncertainty and anxiety, desperation, fear, and depression. We have to walk through the valley of darkness to get to celebrate the resurrection. Our lives are also a rollercoaster. Our sanctuary will be silent, and few of us, despite presidential aspirations to reopen the USA by Easter,... Read more
XIII. THE OSPREY ARE BACK! God’s mercies are new every morning; great is God’s faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22) This morning as I was walking along Covell’s Beach, one of the usual – early morning – suspects noted from a safe physical distance, “the osprey are back!” And then added, “You may not be able to see the Osprey couple here at Covell’s but they’re here, getting their nests ready for another generation.” Oblivious to our human responses to the Coronavirus, the... Read more
XII. Saying Thanks! In everything with prayer and supplication with thanksgiving make your requests known to God. (Philippians 4:6) This morning on Facebook, a friend posted an article, entitled, “Immigrant farm workers feed us despite the Coronavirus epidemic. They deserve better.” Those words provoked me to ponder all those persons, whether citizens or not, legal or not, who support us every day. Thanksgiving is the virtue of connection and affirmation. When we are thankful, we are affirming that we need... Read more
XI. ON AVOIDING CABIN FEVER I’ve heard the words “cabin fever” invoked several times this week. The counsel to keep physical – or social – distance has led to many of us being confined to our homes, except for shopping. Over the past two weeks, my world has been a triangle between my home, my son’s and daughter-in-law’s to pick up our grandchildren, and Craigville Beach. Like many, I’m used to getting out whenever I want and going wherever I... Read more
X. NEED, NOT GREED Cast your bread on the waters, for you shall find it after many days. (Ecclesiastes 11:1) Yesterday I had an interesting conversation with two carpenters, rebuilding a house on Craigville Beach. We have gotten to know each other, saying “hello” as I pass by on my morning walks. As I went by, the men were standing by the port-a-potty. I quipped, “At least no one’s tipped over your outhouse.” To which one of them replied, “Last... Read more
IX. PHYSICAL, NOT SOCIAL DISTANCING If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it. (I Corinthians 12:26) There has recently been a discussion on Facebook about the appropriateness of using the counsel “social distancing” in Coronavirus messaging. Some suggest “physical distancing” would be a better term since it involves our physical rather than emotional or relational proximity. You can be next to someone and be emotionally absent. You can also... Read more
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