Musings on Monterey Bay ~

Last month I traveled to California and spent two weeks resting in God's magnificent seascape . . . . .

I went hiking with two beloved friends one Spring afternoon. We hiked through my most favorite coastal place: Point Lobos State Park. The state park sits above the Monterey Bay and views of the Pacific Ocean are just around every corner. Through the Monterey pine trees, coated with mossy lichen, we hiked high above the crashing waves . . . . reading the Psalms to one another as we paused to take in the spectacular views of God's amazing creation. Cool, crisp, clean ocean air we breathed . . . . God's incredible majesty we took into our psyche. Each of us felt a deeper knowledge of how vast and wide God's amazing love for us is. This love is ever present, available for us whether we are walking along the ocean or in our busy daily lives. My prayer: Thank you Lord, for your creation and your ever present reminder of who we are and who created us and of your gift of nature and rest. Amen.

There is a Wideness in God's Mercy

~ by Maurice Bevan

There's a wideness in God's mercy

Like the wideness of the sea;

There's a kindness in his justice

Which is more than liberty.

There is no place where earth's sorrow

Are more felt than up in heaven;

There is no place where earth's failings

Have such kindly judgement given.

For the love of God is broader

Than the measure of man's mind;

And the heart of the Eternal

Is most wonderfully kind.

But we make his love too narrow

By false limit of our own;

And we magnify his strictness

With a zeal he will not own.

There is plentiful redemption

In the blood that has been shed;

There is joy for all the members

In the sorrows of the Head.

There is grace enough for thousands

Of new worlds as great as this;

There is room for fresh creations

In that upper home of bliss.

If our love were but more simple,

We would take him at his word;

And our lives would be all gladness

In the joy of Christ our Lord.

Our small group is reading of Lydia

in Acts 16:9-15.

We're discovering that:

• she was a woman of prayer


• she listened & was eager to learn


• she was a worshipper


• she opened her heart


• she was baptized


• she confessed that she was a believer


• she wanted to serve


• she opened her home


• she was hospitable
  
  How am I able to bring Lydia's qualities into my own life this week? Worship, bible study, sharing my faith, opening my home, extending hospitality . . . . what will be my chance to extend these qualities?

"With a Voice of Singing" by Martin Shaw With a voice of singing declare ye this, and let it be heard, alleluia. Utter it even unto the ends of the earth. The Lord hath delivered his people, alleluia. O be joyful in God, all ye lands, O sing praises to the honor of his name, make his name glorious.

"This Joyful Eastertide" ~ by Phillip Ledger

This joyful Eastertide, away with sin & sorrow! My Love, the Crucified, hath sprung to life this morrow.

Had Christ, that once was slain, ne'er burst his three-day prison, Our faith had been in vain, but now is Christ arisen.

My flesh in hope shall rest, and for a season slumber: Till trump from east to west shall wake the dead in number.

Death's flood hath lost his chill, since Jesus crossed the river: Lover of souls, from ill my passing soul deliver.

After a restful Sabbath day, I awake to Monday . . . . the day after Sabbath . . . . .
Monday is the day that begins a new week with a new perspective.
After resting on the 'things of the Lord' yesterday,
I take a look at my church bulletin and remember our Prayer of Confession.
I sat with members of my congregation and spoke out loud the following:

"God of love and light,
you have called us by grace to live as one,
yet we fail to reconcile and do not work together.
We hide from you and from one another,
rather than joining hands, hearts and resources.
Though called and chosen to live in confident hope,
that Christ's resurrection assures us of abundant life,
we anxiously strive instead to preserve
and increase our own personal well being and profit.
Forgive us for denying the one-ness of Easter hope
and empower us by your Holy Spirit to walk as people of the
resurrection in all we say and do."

This makes me think long and hard on what areas of my own spiritual path do I fail in walking the life of a resurrected child of God. How can I turn my own faith journey into an active life that engages others along the path . . . . The Easter hope of my own life is one filled with enormous opportunity to share the good news of Christ's mission for the world.

My morning prayer this April 19th ~ "Lord, help me this Monday - to see the promised of hope made alive through its spring rain May I be used to Your benefit - to bring awareness to all those I meet today, to the hope and fulfillment of Spring Eternal . . . . amen."

Eastertide Introit from today's Worship

Alleluia!

O sons and daughters,

let us sing!

The King of heaven,

the glorious King

O'er death and hell

rose triumphing.

Alleluia!

o filli et filae

Hebrews 13

Verses 20 - 21

The God of peace,

who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus,

make you complete in everythig good

so that you may do God's will,

working among us that which is pleasing in God's sight,

through Jesus Christ,

to whom be the glory forever and ever!

May the God of hope

fill you with all joy and peace in believing,

so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Blessed are you, O Lord our God,
Ruler of all creation.
We praise you for the abundance of your blessings.
to those who ask, you give love;
to those who seek, you give faith;
to those who knock, you open the way of hope.
Help us to serve you in the power of the Holy Spirit,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

[Book of Common Worship]