When I was growing up I used to listen to Big John and Sparky on Saturday mornings. The musical theme for that show was “The Teddy Bears’ Picnic”. I remember hearing an invitation to get up and march around the house while that song was played. I don’t remember how many I times I actually took up that invitation. Obviously, however, I do remember the song and I do remember the invitation.
Right now we are living during some interesting times. In addition to approaching the culmination of Lent with the observation of Palm/Sunday of the Passion, Holy Week and finally Easter, we face the threat of placing one another in danger because of the highly infectious nature of the corona virus. In the face of that threat Faith has, let us say, made some “modifications” to our plans for these most important days of the Christian calendar.
With the experience of the last weeks of March behind us I believe that while we dare not gather together as is our wont, we can still gather, perhaps a bit more spiritually (!) through the use of technology. I am so surprised and pleased by the level of participation you have shown using Zoom to hold services that much of my concern about the viability of using it for the coming Sundays and Holy Week has been erased. So, that’s what we’re going to do.
Now, in that regard . . . . I bet you’re wondering about that opening paragraph. Well, here we go.
The vast majority of us grew up with the Sunday before Easter identified as Palm Sunday. You perhaps clearly remember sermons based on Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and the, apparent, victory that had been won. For reasons I don’t have space to address, by the 1970’s the name of the day changed to Sunday of the Passion. That recognition took place among all of the main denominations. With that name change a change in focus also took place so that the practice of many congregations today has the Passion according to Matthew, Mark or Luke narrated by the congregation. What happened to the triumphal entry?
It has been retained but it now is confined to the opening of the service. That juxtaposition of readings, if recognized, might assist us in experiencing, not just hearing, the whipsaw nature of that week. Jesus entered Jerusalem in an apparent political victory but by the end of the week he had been crucified among criminals. On a normal Sunday of the Passion we would have re-enacted that first Palm Sunday event. Forming in the narthex, waving the palms given to us, marching around the sanctuary and placing them in the chancel would have given way to a much more sobering set of readings, ending in the Passion narrative.
We’re still trying to figure out just how we might accomplish all of this but we’re working on it. Here’s the payoff. The opening hymn for that day is “All Glory, Laud and Honor to Thee Redeemer King”. When we get to that point I’m going to invite you to march around your home as we sing that hymn. This is your invitation to join us. You won’t be alone.
Peace, Stan

Immigrants

My family, probably similar to yours, is a history of immigrants. Not from Guatemala or Mexico, but from northern Europe. Philemon, from Württemberg in 1854. After Napoleonic wars calmed down and there was period of peace in that land. He was an educated person. He was a religious person. He left his native land and journeyed across the ocean with hopes of a better life. He traveled from New Jersey, to Missouri, and then to California by ox cart. Seeking his own kind he located an area of largely German immigrants, Woodland. He was granted citizenship. He was granted a homestead. [Thank you, President Grant]. And a beginning was made, Americans were shaped. A family was founded.
Liv, from county Buskerud in Norway came to this country in 1886. She and her family were at first, farmers. Like others of that time she was anxious to be an American rather than a Norwegian. Another family was born. A family that became farmers, carpenters, and one, a WWI soldier. They shed the old tongue for English. Americans were shaped.
I see in the faces of the new immigrants the old immigrants. My family. I see in the hopes of the immigrants new the hopes of old. I see in the immigrants new the stamina and determination to succeed. I welcome these immigrants to become shaped as Americans.
This is the strength of our country. We are all Immigrants. We must look kindly on refugees. They are who our family ancestors were.
This is the strength of our faith. Our inheritance of faith must include Joseph, Mary and Jesus who fled to Egypt; who were threatened by Herod. Our inheritance of faith must include Israel, who fled Egypt and Pharaoh’s threat. Out inheritance of faith must include Ruth and Naomi who fled from a life of poverty and God surrounded them with promise and hope.
May your religion inform your politics. May America bless God. May we bless all those immigrants!