A few years back, Sue and I both read a book by author
Bill Bryson named "A Walk in the Woods" which recounted
his and a friend's adventure hiking the Appalachian
Trail. When we moved here to Virginia, Sue wanted to visit
McAfee's Knob, located on the trail and featured in the
book. She asked me to accompany her and I inquired if she
had arranged for me to be helicoptered in. So she talked
Todd into accompanying her. She accomplished her goal
but on the way back, they found themselves rushing to beat
a summer thunderstorm. That was when she tripped and
fractured her leg. Highs and lows! She recounted a
wonderful view from the top and then experienced a six
week recovery from her injury.
This Sunday, we experience some disciples in their own
highs and lows. Transfiguration is a bridge between the
Advent-Christmas-Epiphany cycle that comes to a close
today and the Lent-Easter cycle that begins in several days.
On a high mountain Jesus is revealed as God’s beloved
Son, echoing the words at his baptism. This vision of glory
sustains us as Jesus faces his impending death in
Jerusalem. We turn this week to Ash Wednesday and our
yearly baptismal journey from Lent to Easter. Some
churches put aside the alleluia at the conclusion of today’s
liturgy. This word of joy will be omitted during the penitential
season of Lent and will be sung again at Easter.
May God bless each of you!
Warm greetings to all! After missing two Sundays in a
row because of weather, I'm really looking forward to seeing
everyone again - although it is supposed to be really cold
this week. I'll be traveling up to Pennsylvania on Sunday
afternoon to attend the funeral of our oldest member, Ada
Kuhn. She was 106 years young! As you know, she was a
proud veteran and was recently honored at a special
ceremony in New Orleans.
This Sunday we continue our scripture readings in both
1 Corinthians and Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. The theme
this week is light. We are reminded that light shines in the
darkness for the upright, the psalmist sings. Isaiah declares
that when we lose the bonds of injustice and share our
bread with the hungry, the light breaks forth like the dawn. In
another passage from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus, the
light of the world, calls his followers to let the light of their
good works shine before others. Through baptism we are
sent into the world to shine with the light of Christ.
This week we will finally be able to celebrate our
Consecration Sunday as well. It is a time when we will see
how God works among us as we share our pledges
together! May God bless us all this week and always!
Greetings in the name of Jesus, the Light of the world!
This Sunday we continue the story of John the Baptist with
his later encounter with Jesus, whom he proclaims to be the
"Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." The
gospel for this Sunday opens with further reflection on
Jesus’ baptism. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the
sin of the world and the one anointed by the Spirit. In the
liturgy we come and see Christ revealed among us in word
and meal. We go forth to invite others to come and worship
the Holy One and to receive the gifts of grace and peace
made known among us.
Remember that our Consecration Sunday will be on
January 25. You can participate by submitting your pledges
(for both the building fund and the general fund), together
with other stewards of our parish. We will ask God to bless
these pledges. So, please pray about your participation in
this consecration! May Christ be with you now and always.