Ashes, Ashes, We All Fall Down - 02 March 2022 - Plague Journal Day 720

Micah 6:8
Matthew 6:16-18  Joel 2:12-13
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.

This may seem odd, coming from someone who publishes a book of Lenten Devotions every year and is fairly liturgical (especially for a Methodist, of course I'm also much more of a mystic than one would expect in a Methodist), but I really don't get Ash Wednesday. (You can check devotions for this and past years here.)

Yes, it's the beginning of Lent, a season of repentance and preparation as we head toward the glory of Easter and the Resurrection, but I'm more specifically skeptical of the imposition of ashes. In fact, I've been planning to write a devotion for our book for several years talking about why I don't take ashes on Ash Wednesday.

Recently I read somewhere about Wesley's attitude toward ashes, and that the practice at the time was to get the ashes but wash them off before going out into the world to avoid showing off. As the post I've linked here (that really does an excellent job of explaining what I've been struggling with) says:

It is a funny thing about badges given for humility.  The moment you accept them you are immediately disqualified.

I can't find that original reference now (it may have been in a book about hymns and Methodism that I recently finished, but it could have been online somewhere, and that means I'll likely never find it again), but that kind of sums it up. Rend your hearts and not your garments, let your fasting be seen by your Father, not by men.

On a totally different not, on 02 March 1962 Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points - in a single basketball game. That's just astounding. Well done, Wilt.

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our insane lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

Worship - 20 February 2022 - Plague Journal Day 710

Micah 6:8

Genesis 45:3-11, 15
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

For our 9:30 AM worship service we have a favorite piano solo at offertory time and our standard three hymns for congregational singing. Why not join us to find out who the soloist is? You'll be pleased, I have no doubt. 

Also, today is the final extended deadline for submitting your devotions for the Lenten devotions book!

Remember, we'll be streaming for all those who can't join us in person, and intend to continue that practice indefinitely. Still, know that we miss seeing you in person - please come join in corporate prayer, praise, and worship as soon as you feel ready.

As usual, today's stream should just appear as the latest entry on our YouTube channel, here.
You'll find all our previous worship videos right there at that same place, and today's stream will stay there as a recording as well. 

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264

Now What? - 05 April 2021 - Plague Journal Day 389

Micah 6:8
Acts 13:13-52
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Well. Holy Week is over. Lent is over. Now what will stimulate my blogging?

Breakfast this morning was strange. I no longer had my Lenten devotions to read, as all three of the books I've been reading are now completed. I am reading CS Lewis's book on the Psalms, so that's still there, but I'm almost done with that one too.
As the title says here - Now What?

If you know me well at all, you probably know that my shirt collars all have holes in them. I have worn a cross pin on my collar for many years now. (I'm thinking it started in June 1985, but I'm not completely certain of that date. It's within a year, one way or the other.) Over those 35 years I've collected a few different crosses (and lost one I really liked), and I tend to change them based on the season or particular activities or happenings.

   

One thing I do is to wear the one that incorporates a G clef when we're heading into a Music Sunday or other special music event. Another was to wear the (now lost) Celtic cross I bought at the New Room in Bristol, England when there were Wesley dates.

Holy Week is another time when I have a pattern. It's whatever cross I've been wearing until Good Friday, then I switch to a pin that has three crosses on it (I have matching cuff-links should my shirt allow). Then on Saturday I switch to a fish pin. Why the fish? Because Jesus told folks that the only sign they would get was the sign of Jonah. While some think that sign is a successful outreach to Gentiles. mostly it's taken to refer to the 3 days in the belly of the fish = 3 days in the tomb and then a resurrection. That's why I wear my fish pin on Holy Saturday. Generally I then put in a pin with the words "He Is Risen" for Easter.

Now you know.

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

40 Days - 13 March 2021 - Plague Journal Day 366

Micah 6:8
Mark 1:9-13
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Many of you know that I edit / publish a book of Lenten devotions every year for my church (Grosse Pointe United Methodist Church, to be specific), and have done for more than 20 years now. If you'd like to follow the readings (sorry, I should have done this weeks ago), a new devotion is posted each morning at the church blog. In fact, my sister's church near Nashville, TN (College Grove UMC) is in their second year of doing the same thing - with the added bonus that they also published a book of Advent devotions this past Advent season.

I told you that to tell you this - every year I have a wonderful book of devotions for each day in Lent. Each year I've already read all of the devotions for each day in Lent before the season even starts (Yes, I try to edit carefully, and I'm often charged with finding Scripture references and titles for those who haven't supplied their own. It can be a lot of work sometimes, but it's a joy none the less.) At any rate, I try to find another book of devotions to give me something new for each day. This year and last I got a copy of Jacki's book, so that was mostly new each day, but I'm also reading another 40 day book - 40 Days of Decrease, by Alicia Britt Chole. It's been a really good journey so far, and it's gone beyond my expectations. I had assumed it would focus on John the Baptist's "He must increase and I must decrease" statement; and it does, to an extent, but really it's about decreasing as fasting, and each day is a challenge to fast some other thing that gets in the way - that gets between me and God. Some of them don't seem like much of a challenge to me, while others are huge asks. (I'm sure everyone will have different fasts that are harder or easier.)

If you haven't taken up a Lenten discipline - be it fasting from something or taking up something - why not go ahead and do it now? There's no rule that says you can's start late and try to catch up, and - even better - the Glory that is Easter is getting ever nearer! Hallelujah! Amen!

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

Ash Wednesday - 17 February 2021 - Plague Journal Day 342

Micah 6:8
Joel 2:12-14
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

This is Ash Wednesday - the first day of Lent.
Why not join us on our journey of preparation for the Glory that is Easter?
Check out GPUMC's Lenten Devotions here each day.

With the COVID case levels settling down in Grosse Pointe, we've resumed our in-person worship!
You have two ashen opportunities today - from noon to 1PM, Pastor Ray will be doing drive-by ashes in the parking lot of the church, then at 7:30 we'll have a worship service in the Sanctuary, led by Emily Bianchi and Josh Kearney.
We'll stream the evening worship service as usual, but the drive-by is strictly in-person. Maybe

As usual, today's stream should just appear as the latest entry on our YouTube channel, here.
You'll find all our previous worship videos right there at that same place, and today's stream will stay there as a recording as well.

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

Making Copies - 13 February 2021 - Plague Journal Day 338

Micah 6:8
Ecclesiastes 12:12
John 21:25
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Today was the day I made the books.

No, not a secret set of accounting numbers, nor being included in "Who's Who in Whatever" - this was the day I printed up and assembled the Lenten Devotions books for our church. This is the 20 somethingth year in a row we've published a book of our congregation's devotional writings, and it was a very unusual one. Rather than having to beg for submissions and receiving them at the last possible moment, this year I actually got more than I needed, and I got them early! An embarrassment of riches, as they say.

They'll be posted online as well - check them out daily at the GPUMC blog site.

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

15 July 2020 - Plague Journal Day 125

Micah 6:8
Exodus 20:12
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Today is my (late) Mom's birthday - she would have turned 86 today - and I miss her very much, every day.
One thing she did well, even though she didn't think she did, was to write. She wrote devotions for our annual church Lenten Devotions books for many years. The one that was always my favorite was one that she didn't think was worth submitting, but she felt she needed to turn in something, so there it was.
I'm sharing it here today for a couple reasons. First, because it really is my favorite of her devotions, and secondly because it seems incredibly appropriate in these days of fear and loathing.

Read and ponder:

A Lump of Coal

Read: Genesis 45:3-8, 50:18-20

Remember when you were a kid, and at Christmas time you hung up your stocking for Santa to fill?

If you'd been good, he'd give you candy and oranges.  If you'd been bad, you'd get coal.

Picture this –
A snowman facing the fireplace – his back to you.
He reaches into his stocking and finds coal.
He turns; he has eyes and shouts joyfully – “I can see!”

Sometimes we get coal.

Sometimes it's a blessing.


Prayer:  Dear God, let us see.  Amen

Shirley Van Becelaere

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.

Little-known New Orleans Flemish Mardi Gras Traditions

The following is purported to have been translated and excerpted without permission from Flemish Life in the New World, by Anke Vandermeersch  published in Ghent, 1893

Mik van de Koningen

The large Flemish community in New Orleans has a centuries-long tradition at Vette Dinsdag (or Mardi Gras) of which far too few “outsiders” are aware. This tradition, parts of which were copied by the French Acadian refugees (also called Cajuns) when they arrived here in the deep South, is that of the festive Mik van de Koningen, now called in French the Miche des Rois (sometimes altered to Galette des Rois – the King Cake).

At the end of Epiphany, each Flemish household would endeavour to rid itself of all the soon-to-be-outlawed items, such as fat and flesh. Unlike their French neighbours, the Flemish – reputedly a somewhat “thrifty” or “frugal” race – were seldom overstocked in the fat area, but rather in that of meat: hence the Mik van de Koningen, the Loaf of the Kings.

The loaf traditionally consists of a mixture of ground beef, oatmeal, crushed tomatoes, and eggs. Typical additions would include diced onions or other aromatics, salt, pepper, possibly nutmeg, and a sauce known to Latin America as salsa inglesa - the venerable Worcestershire Sauce.

No Flemish Vette Dinsdag celebration is complete without the round loaf, festively decorated in the three colours of the kings – Purple for justice, Gold for power, and Green for faith. Adding even more to the anticipation is the hope each celebrant harbours of finding the tiny, hidden representation of the Christ Child in his or her piece of the loaf. Tradition dictates that the finder of the child, if of suitable and legal age, must host the party the next year, and provide the loaf or the beer – a sometimes difficult choice to make in that zymurgic culture!