As [Jesus and the disciples] were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home. Jesus said to him, “No one who puts their hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9.57-62
The text is an illustration of the cost of discipleship. “The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Note that Jesus does not condemn these individuals; he simply invites them to accept the reality of cost as well as the reliability of gain. Come and experience how we experience being called deeper into discipleship by Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit within First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant. Be Well, Timm
May 2016…I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you…When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. John 16.7, 13
The voice is Jesus’, according to John, sharing with the disciples (code word for the Church) that his departure does not mean the absence of God’s ongoing presence and presents, that they continue through the Advocate, or the Holy Spirit. The Sunday after Easter is Trinity Sunday in the church calendar, a day to reflect on the relationship that is within the Godhead: three persons, traditionally Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. One of the challenges in the church today is to live fully into relationship with God and with each other based on this model. You’re invited to come and experience how the Spirit is inviting us into a deeper relationship with the living Lord within First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant.
April 2016 …on the first day of the week, at early dawn, Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, came to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find [Jesus’] body….While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified…the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.” Luke 24.1-6 (modified)
The message of Easter is He has risen!, that death is not the final answer, that there is new life amidst the numbness of death. The women come to the tomb to tend to Jesus’ corpse and learn that they should look for Jesus amongst the living, not the dead. The message of the men remains true today: We celebrate Easter not to look for Jesus who has died but Jesus who has risen from the dead and “lives” amongst us today. Come and experience how the Spirit is inviting us into a deeper relationship with the living Lord within First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant. Be well, Timm
March 2016…Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of perfume. John 12.1-3
Passover was a major festival in Jesus’ day, a time for heightened awareness of God for the Jewish people, and many of the faithful made their way of Jerusalem. Jesus is included in this crowd reports John. On the way he stops in Bethany and is feted at the home of his friends Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. The former is the host, the latter serves the meal, and Mary is the one who fills the room with a sweet scent as she takes and applies twelve ounces of costly perfume and anoints Jesus’ feet. Each of us has a way to serve, you’re invited to come and join us at First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant as we inquire how the Spirit is inviting us to discover our place of service. Be Well, Timm