Dr Maya Angelou dies at 86

The “national treasure,” Dr Maya Angelou, among other things, poet and teacher extraordinaire, has died today in her own home at 86 years.

   She was, to say the least, a remarkable woman! Truly gifted with life and light, graced with humility, wisdom, nobility, and, most of all, love—Dr Maya Angelou inspired and mentored countless people not only in the United States, but around the globe.

   Tonight I watched a special on her in conversation with Oprah. I was amazed at her resilience, reminding me again in a profound way, that as human beings, no matter what race or nationality, we are all brothers and sisters because we are all God’s children.

   Reflecting upon how she would like to be remembered, it is as one who loved, which is the greatest gift, surpassing all others.

   “What I would really like said about me is that I dared to love,” Angelou told an interviewer in 1985, when asked what she'd like to read in her own obituary.

   “By love, I mean that condition in the human spirit so profound it encourages us to develop courage and build bridges, and then to trust those bridges and cross the bridges in attempts to reach other human beings.”

   For us preachers, she also had a word of encouragement regarding the power of the word. She told Oprah in her conversation that words are things. Words get in the carpet, on the walls, and inside of us. They can be life-giving. Dr. Maya Angelou’s words have indeed been thus for countless people world-wide.

   Rest eternal grant Maya Angelou, O Lord; and let light perpetual shine upon her.

30 Days of Forgiveness Challenge

“Without forgiveness, we remain tethered to the person who harmed us... Until we can forgive the person who harmed us, they will hold the keys to our happiness, they will be our jailor.”

Desmond & Mpho Tutu

Today I signed up for the Tutu 30 Global Forgiveness Challenge. Most, if not all of us struggle with forgiveness from time to time in life. I would like to think and believe that I am a forgiving person. However, there have been times in my life when it was not easy to forgive. I've learned that only by the grace of God go you and go I. Forgiveness is first and foremost a gift from God through Jesus. Only from the power of this gift can we proceed down the road of forgiveness. So I am accepting this challenge from the Tutus. How about you? 

Our Introduction to the Lutheran Faith Course

One of the privileges we pastors are given is to teach courses to folks who are curious about Christianity and the Lutheran version of it and want to learn more. The following persons completed the Introduction to the Lutheran Faith Course: Front: Richelle, Back, L-R: Jessica & Dawson, Pastor Garth, Natalia & James. They were a pleasure to teach, I thoroughly enjoyed each class!  

Sermon Palm/Passion Sunday Yr A

At the movies: Son of God

Tonight my wife and I went to see Son of God. I must confess that I haven't read the reviews of it, although I've spoken with one movie-goer I know who said he liked it. Of course by now there's a whole genre of Jesus movies. In relation to others that I've seen, I'd rate it about average or perhaps slightly above average in a couple of areas. 

   First though, the critique: Movie directors, producers and actors-and likely those who are providing the funding-usually have their agendas and exercise "artistic license" by employing their creative juices to make the movie's plot "work." So in this movie you've got characters-including Jesus-who say or do things that are either out of the context in which the gospels record certain events or they are not recorded in the gospels at all. A factor related to this may be that the movie is not based solely on the Gospel of John; rather it is a strange combination of the Gospels along with "artistic license." 

   One example that occurs more than once in the movie is scenes involving the high priest, Nicodemus and other Jewish leaders. The scenes may function to spice up the storyline a bit, even though they are not recorded in the gospels.

   Another example was raising Lazarus from the dead. In the Gospel of John, Jesus does not speak to Lazarus the words "I am the resurrection and the life" inside the tomb. Rather, these words were spoken to Lazarus' sister Martha prior to Jesus raising Lazarus, which may well function to heighten the drama of the actual miracle and reaffirm the authenticity of Jesus' identity. In this movie scene, neither does Jesus weep; a mistake I think, since this is the shortest verse in all the gospels and also adds to the drama of raising Lazarus and underscores Jesus' human solidarity with Lazarus' family and friends. 

   On the upside, I did like the acting, especially: Jesus, Mary, Peter, John, Mary the mother of Jesus, Nicodemus, all performed their roles well. The clothing and some of the props, like the Galilean villages, Jerusalem and the temple looked quite authentic. Although the Passion portion of the movie seemed like it could have mirrored Mel Brook's movie, with all of the closeup shots of the blood-covered Jesus (a bit too Hollywoodish for my liking), it was emotionally and spiritually moving. All-in-all, if those considering going to this movie are looking for a historically accurate portrayal of Jesus, then they will be disappointed. This movie, like others in the genre of Jesus movies, may however spark some interest in exploring further who Jesus was and is. For that I'd encourage the reading of the four Gospels themselves, and perhaps a visit to a neighbourhood church to engage in a conversation with the pastor and parishioners.       

    

Sermon 3 Lent Yr A

2 Lent Yr A Prayer & Benediction

2nd Sunday in Lent Yr A Prayer of the Day/Collect: Life-giving God: In our baptism

Image by Dim Lamp

of water and the Spirit you have named and claimed us as your people. May our birth from above help us to reach out in loving service; reflecting your light in the dark places of the world; through your Son Jesus, Saviour of the world; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit; one God, now and forever.

Benediction for 2nd Sunday in Lent, Yr A: May the God of Abraham and Sarah bless you in your Lenten pilgrimage. May the trusting faith reckoned as righteousness surround you today and every day. May Jesus our Messiah's saving love help you to bear your cross as the Holy Spirit breaths life into you.