Worship - 10 April 2022 - Music Sunday!

Micah 6:8
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
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 hae the choir back with a Music Sunday presentation of selection from the cantata "Footprints" by Joseph Martin (augmented with his "Winds through the Olive") and a couple of hymns for congregational singing.

The service went really well - the choir didn't just sing well (they did), but they led us in worship through the settings of the various stories leading down the path through Holy Week past the Crucifixion of Jesus to His glorious Resurrection on Easter and beyond to our own journeys with our Lord and Savior. I encourage you to check out the stream (info below).

Also, you're really late if you don't have a copy of our Lenten devotions book for 2022, but there were still a few on offer - of course you can always read them at https://gpumc.blogspot.com as well.

Remember, we streamed for all those who can't join us in person, and we intend to continue streaming 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.

Worship - 27 March 2022 - Plague Journal Day 745

Micah 6:8
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
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 the choir back at offertory time and our standard three hymns for congregational singing.

Also, there are still a few copies of our Lenten devotions book for 2022, so come and get one! (You can always read them at https://gpumc.blogspot.com as well.)

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

Worship - 06 March 2022 - Plague Journal Day 724

Micah 6:8
Luke 4:1-13
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?

For our 9:30 AM worship service we have the choir back at offertory time, our standard three hymns for congregational singing, and we're serving communion. We see it as the Lord's table, not our table, so why not join us for this sacrament?

Also, there are still some copies of our Lenten devotions book for 2022, so come and get one! (You can always read them at https://gpumc.blogspot.com as well.)

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

Worship - 27 February 2022 - Plague Journal Day 717

Micah 6:8

Luke 9:28-43
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 vocal solo at offertory time and our standard three hymns for congregational singing. Why not join us to find out who the soloist is? We understand the music will be transformed, or transposed, or transfigured, or something like that.

Also, today is the long-awaited day for the distribution of our Lenten devotions book for 2022!

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

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

It Still Stings a Bit, Though - 26 August 2021 - Plague Journal Day 532

Micah 6:8
1 Corinthians 15:50-56
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?

Well, Dad's entering hospice care today or tomorrow. We all knew something like this would happen someday, but no day is the day you expect it.

I thought I'd pull an old writing out and share it here. This is from the 2004 book of Lenten Devotions from GPUMC: (you can find them all here)

Wrestling with My Mortality

Read: John 6:47-58

And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. - Mark 15:37 ESV

And He died.
He died.
Even Jesus died.

I've been thinking about dying
quite a bit lately, wrestling with my mortality. After all, there have certainly been enough reminders of just how temporary this life is these past months.
Maybe it's only natural to think this way; to look at the calendar pages turning more and more quickly, and to think about endings. Sure, it's only natural.

But as a Child of God, born of water and the Spirit, I'm not only natural; when I really get down to it, my mortality isn't worth worrying about. I don't have to look at things that way any more. Think about it. Jesus says that whoever believes in Him has eternal life. He doesn't say that now I have a chance to live forever. He doesn't say that if I do enough stuff, then He'll give it to me. He says that, as a believer, I already have it.

I already have it.

Wow. Amen.

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.