Blog

Our Worship Service centers on John 21:1-19, John’s prologue featuring Peter’s renewal. The highlight of the service is Paula Hitchen’s baptism. 

Our worship focuses on John 20:19-31, Jesus encounter with Thomas. Worship leaders include Jack White, Khan Naw, Molly Huffstetler, Lea Coppage, and the Pastoral Staff. Joseph Perdue’s sermon is entitled Don’t Stop Believin’.

He is Risen!

No Crying He Makes, Luke: 23:50-56

Verses 50 and 51 describe Joseph of Arimathea is beautiful terms. “ÖJoseph, who, though a member of the council, had not agreed to their plan and action”. He was a believer who “was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God.” (v 51b). Believers must bring the truth of Jesus and his teaching to government, rather than “baptizing” the “righteousness” of oppressive and unjust laws. Waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God must affect how we live and relate to the kingdoms of this world. Indeed, the kingdom of God is at hand. This lesson from Joseph is too often lost in the story of his offering his own tomb for the burial of Jesus.

Joseph asked for the body, then properly wrapped the body “in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid” (v 53). Strange echoes fill our ears and hearts.

No Crying He Makes

Again, God’s Son sleeps.

Again, no crying he makes.

Again, his body is wrapped against the cold.

Where are the shepherds?

Where are the kings?

Joseph, where are you?

Angels guard the door, but not one angel sings.

Where is the hay for this cold room?

Every manger knows a tomb, my Jesus,

Every manger knows a tomb.

God does not slumber,

But God’s Son sleeps

Death’s cold dark sleep.

God’s Son sleeps.

No crying he makes.

His body is wrapped against the cold.

Again, we thank you for the gift of your Son.

 

 

A word about the series

The Lenten season has always inspired many people to create everything from poems, art and music to a completely new direction in their lives.  This Lenten season Tabernacle will be exploring many of those creations in the hope of inspiring you to compose in a medium that is natural for you.   The paintings in the Sanctuary are of the Biblical Stations of the Cross.  The artist, Grieg Leach, completed them in 2010.  They will help us to visualize the events leading to the crucifixion of Jesus.  In addition to the paintings there is a Lenten devotional booklet, Return to Me, which is available in print or online.  The Stations of the Cross also inspired these devotions, written by Terry York of Baylor University.   Living with these two bodies of artistic expression based on the Biblical Stations of the Cross throughout the season of Lent should help us as we seek to return our lives to God by walking with Jesus though his final days.

Pray, read, think and return to God.

 

 

All scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible.

Copyright © 2013 Birnamwood Publications (ASCAP)

A division of MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc., St. Louis, MO

All rights reserved.  Printed in U.S.A.

www.MorningStarMusic.com.

 

Father, into Your Hands, Luke 23:44-46

Jesus died. There is nothing divine in this death that kept it from being a real and final human death. Jesus wasn’t asleep; he was dead. The whole creation seemed to know, for there was darkness at noon, at a latitude on our globe where this was not normal. Two sounds accompany this scene that had become quiet with the darkness. The first was Jesus’ cry, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit” (v 46). The second was the sound of the curtain of the temple ripping in two, from the top down. And there was, of course, the sound of weeping.

Jesus’ death was as real as the death of our loved ones. His death was as real as the death we face. Jesus knew he was dying. Friends and family saw him die. Enemies and distracters suddenly sensed the significance of this death, and all death.

This Mid-Day Night

The Savior’s grief, a healing sorrow;

His night a womb for our tomorrow.

His tears, his water, and his blood;

This mid-day night, a womb for our tomorrow.

The Savior’s death, the Parent’s loss, the Spirit’s leaving.

How long this darkness, death, and grieving?

The temple veil rips as for birth.

He speaks his last in shouted, labored breathing.

The Savior’s pain, a human shouting;

The Savior’s death, the Spirit parting.

He cries our tears, he bleeds our blood;

This mid-day night, the life in death concealing.

The Savior dies, a stillness creeping;

A quiet darkness, save for weeping.

No jeers, no insults, no more taunts;

This mid-day night, no hope for dawn revealing.

Let us receive the Savior’s death with humility and find in it transformation of our living.

 

 

A word about the series

The Lenten season has always inspired many people to create everything from poems, art and music to a completely new direction in their lives.  This Lenten season Tabernacle will be exploring many of those creations in the hope of inspiring you to compose in a medium that is natural for you.   The paintings in the Sanctuary are of the Biblical Stations of the Cross.  The artist, Grieg Leach, completed them in 2010.  They will help us to visualize the events leading to the crucifixion of Jesus.  In addition to the paintings there is a Lenten devotional booklet, Return to Me, which is available in print or online.  The Stations of the Cross also inspired these devotions, written by Terry York of Baylor University.   Living with these two bodies of artistic expression based on the Biblical Stations of the Cross throughout the season of Lent should help us as we seek to return our lives to God by walking with Jesus though his final days.

Pray, read, think and return to God.

 

 

 

All scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible.

Copyright © 2013 Birnamwood Publications (ASCAP)

A division of MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc., St. Louis, MO

All rights reserved.  Printed in U.S.A.

www.MorningStarMusic.com.

 

God Knows, Isaiah 53:10-12

“Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him with pain” (v 10). We can hardly read the sentence. We search for a way to explain the words and the image, and the God. Jesus’ physical, emotional, and spiritual pain is described in this passage as anguish.

Pain and anguish are familiar words to many people.They experience anguish in our world and, often, the suffering is private and unknown to others. On the cross, Jesus’ anguish was on display for all to see. Indeed, God sees anguish wherever it exists. Those in physical anguish and mental torment are not alone. God the Creator sees the anguish; Jesus has experienced the anguish. What those who suffer in private must know is this, “God knows.” For many, it is true that only God knows.

Yet in this passage there is “light” (v 11). Jesus bore our sin and experienced our pain. He knows. Pain becomes a spiritual matter.

Only God Knows

Only God knows

The pain of nails in hands and feet.

Only God knows

The pain of bending neck and knees.

Only God knows

The pain of nails that will not cease.

Only God knows;

God the Parent, God the Child.

Only God knows

This pain that’s running wild.

Only God knows

The pain beyond the cries.

Only God knows

The pain through which I hear and see.

Only God knows;

God the Parent, God the Child.

Only God knows

The pain of arms outstretched.

Only God knows

The pain in every breath.

Only God knows

This pain that’s sacrament and prayer.

Only God knows;

God the Parent, God the Child.

Through our pain we pray and sense Your presence.

Help us know and respect the pain of others.

 

 

A word about the series

The Lenten season has always inspired many people to create everything from poems, art and music to a completely new direction in their lives.  This Lenten season Tabernacle will be exploring many of those creations in the hope of inspiring you to compose in a medium that is natural for you.   The paintings in the Sanctuary are of the Biblical Stations of the Cross.  The artist, Grieg Leach, completed them in 2010.  They will help us to visualize the events leading to the crucifixion of Jesus.  In addition to the paintings there is a Lenten devotional booklet, Return to Me, which is available in print or online.  The Stations of the Cross also inspired these devotions, written by Terry York of Baylor University.   Living with these two bodies of artistic expression based on the Biblical Stations of the Cross throughout the season of Lent should help us as we seek to return our lives to God by walking with Jesus though his final days.

Pray, read, think and return to God.

 

 

All scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible.

Copyright © 2013 Birnamwood Publications (ASCAP)

A division of MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc., St. Louis, MO

All rights reserved.  Printed in U.S.A.

www.MorningStarMusic.com.

 

Father, Forgive Us, Luke 23:32-38

Now, on the cross, in the painful process of crucifixion, Jesus hangs between two thieves. He is their fellow victim in this cruelty. Jesus knows the plight of the prisoner and the humiliation of the criminal. He knows what it is to be the brunt of jokes and sarcasm. Yet, he loves and forgives those who are so weak as to do these things and say these things.

What Was That He Said?

Strip him of his clothes,

Soon he will be dead.

What was that, what was that,

What was that he said?

Nailed upon the cross,

He dies with the thieves.

Roll the dice, roll the dice

For the clothes he leaves.

Shame upon shame,

The people stare.

Name upon name,

The people sneer.

Are you now a savior?

What is that you say?

Can he save himself

If he’s dressed that way?

Strip him of his clothes,

Soon he will be dead.

What was that, what was that,

What was that he said?

“Father, Father, forgive them, forgive them,

They know not what they do.”

Father, forgive us for what we do and say, for what we fail to do and say.

 

 

A word about the series

The Lenten season has always inspired many people to create everything from poems, art and music to a completely new direction in their lives.  This Lenten season Tabernacle will be exploring many of those creations in the hope of inspiring you to compose in a medium that is natural for you.   The paintings in the Sanctuary are of the Biblical Stations of the Cross.  The artist, Grieg Leach, completed them in 2010.  They will help us to visualize the events leading to the crucifixion of Jesus.  In addition to the paintings there is a Lenten devotional booklet, Return to Me, which is available in print or online.  The Stations of the Cross also inspired these devotions, written by Terry York of Baylor University.   Living with these two bodies of artistic expression based on the Biblical Stations of the Cross throughout the season of Lent should help us as we seek to return our lives to God by walking with Jesus though his final days.

Pray, read, think and return to God.

 

 

All scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible.

Copyright © 2013 Birnamwood Publications (ASCAP)

A division of MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc., St. Louis, MO

All rights reserved.  Printed in U.S.A.

www.MorningStarMusic.com.

 

Do Not Weep for Him, Luke 23:27-28

There were women in the crowd who fell in step behind Simon of Cyrene, who was walking behind Jesus, carrying his cross. Jesus turned to the women in the crowd and told them not to weep for him, but to weep for themselves and their children. Women and children were among the oppressed of the society of that time. We, too, are to weep for the oppressed of our society. Women and children remain overly represented in that category. We are to weep for the poor and the oppressed as if we were weeping for Jesus, for he relates to them and walks among them. We are to weep for the oppressed and for those who, in their ignorance and arrogance, oppress them. Jesus brings grace and mercy into the picture, even though the world seems to cultivate oppression. Weep, says Jesus, for your children are being born into such a world. Weep and live grace and mercy into the world. The condemned Jesus knows the plight of the oppressed. He calls us to kinship with the oppressed.

Daughters of Jerusalem, Weep

Daughters of Jerusalem, weep.

Weep not for me,

But for yourselves and your children;

Daughters of Jerusalem, weep.

Weep for yourselves,

For the sources of your tears.

Weep for your children,

For their fate in coming years.

Weep for yourselves,

Your destruction and disgrace.

Weep for your children,

From their fate you’ll turn your face.

Sing your lament; sing your sorrow and oppression.

Sing your lament; sing abuse and its frustration.

Daughters of Jerusalem, weep. I know your tears.

Daughters of Jerusalem, weep.

Let us feel kinship with the oppressed of the world.

Let us work for mercy and grace.

 

 

A word about the series

The Lenten season has always inspired many people to create everything from poems, art and music to a completely new direction in their lives.  This Lenten season Tabernacle will be exploring many of those creations in the hope of inspiring you to compose in a medium that is natural for you.   The paintings in the Sanctuary are of the Biblical Stations of the Cross.  The artist, Grieg Leach, completed them in 2010.  They will help us to visualize the events leading to the crucifixion of Jesus.  In addition to the paintings there is a Lenten devotional booklet, Return to Me, which is available in print or online.  The Stations of the Cross also inspired these devotions, written by Terry York of Baylor University.   Living with these two bodies of artistic expression based on the Biblical Stations of the Cross throughout the season of Lent should help us as we seek to return our lives to God by walking with Jesus though his final days.

Pray, read, think and return to God.

 

 

All scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible.

Copyright © 2013 Birnamwood Publications (ASCAP)

A division of MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc., St. Louis, MO

All rights reserved.  Printed in U.S.A.

www.MorningStarMusic.com.