A final, wonderful example of what Alive Now magazine has provided is so appropriate – great job Beth and team! Subscribers will be dealing with the transition in our devotionals without this fine publication and here is a technique to help us move over this threshold! **

In her article “Crossing Thresholds with Jesus,” Flora Slosson Wuellner takes us through an exercise to help when readying to cross a “threshold moment” of any type. What strikes me is that it is straightforward, tactical, strategic and practical all at the same time. Thanks Flora!

ACTION: Think of a transitional time you are facing and try out the exercise “Crossing Thresholds with Jesus” My bet is that it will help you enjoy an even better day, filled with the Spirit and more aware that Christ Jesus is preparing the places ahead for you!

** For subscribers of Alive Now, this is a very sad month. We say goodbye to a periodical that we’ve enjoyed for many months – it will no longer be published and no more emails will be arriving once May hits.

Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, April 30, 2017:

Last year, my friend Toni P. was mentioning an area of new interest. I asked if she would do a ‘guest post’ for the Christian Playbook and she said YES!

We’re re-posting it again, a year later, since we have several new CP “subscribers” plus it’s a nice reminder… (many thanks, Toni!)

My crafting journey has recently led me to a small movement called “Bible journaling.” Though I have no doubt that people have been journaling about the Bible for ages, this reference is to a specific method of lettering and coloring in the margins. In fact, there are editions of the Bible specifically designed for this.

If this sounds appealing or interesting, just do an online search or check Pinterest. What I have found works for me is to combine this with my morning devotion, usually beginning with “The Upper Room.” After I read the passage and the story, I focus on a portion that speaks to me on that day. Then I letter and color in the margin. If a verse is particularly inspirational, I commit it to memory and silently recite it through the day. Sometimes, I use this same process with verses found in other ways–through reading, Bible study or beloved by those close to me.

I would like to mention the blogger and online teacher, Sandy Allnock, who first brought this to my attention. I am personally using and loving the “Inspire” Bible, which happens to be NLT. This translation was new to me, but another part of my study has been to compare it to my more familiar NRSV.  

Toni, thanks for the tip and a new way to consider reading devotionals and thinking about Biblical passages!

For those wanting quick links on Bible journaling to review, consider …

• How to Start Bible Journaling for Beginners
• Sandy Allnock’s Bible Journaling homepage

Enjoy the bright colors of the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, April 30, 2017:

Inspiring this CP post is a quote from Wendy M. Wright in her book The Rising**:      “Peace is active, not passive. And it can be won.”

…Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As God who so loved me has sent me, even so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive sins, they are forgiven; if you hold them bound, they are held bound.”…  (John 20: 21-23)

In The Rising, Ms. Wright talks about these verses in John and says “What they {the followers} receive in this sacred aspiration is the power to forgive. It is as simple as that. This is the miracle of Easter, that whatever is bound, enchained, enslaved, or unfree, can be loosened, liberated, and freed through our forgiveness. In fact, if we do not exercise this God-given capacity, our lack of action is not neutral. Without forgiveness, we hold each other bound. Without being forgiven, we cannot be free.” (p. 131)

ACTION

Since our lack of action is not neutral, maybe you’d be willing to join me over the next week in sharing/saying these Four Things That Matter Most*** to family members (and others!):

• Please Forgive Me [For Any/All Hurts You Have Sustained From Me]
• [If There are Things You Wish I Could Forgive, Know That] I Forgive You
• Thank You [For Being Part of My Life]
• I Love You

Expressing these four things does not suggest that hurts are gone or that you somehow excuse all that transpired. It does, however, affirm the desire for love and peace.

Let’s encourage one another to actively increase peace. Winning peace within our family and friends would be a great start, wouldn’t it?!

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

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** full title is The Rising: Living the Mysteries of Lent, Easter, and Pentecost

*** from the book The Four Things That Matter Most by Ira Byok, with words in [   ] added by me

Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, April 23, 2017:

With weather warming in most areas, maybe it’s a good time for some Spiritual Practices in Nature? This site has many good ideas: find something in nature…take a hike…labyrinth efforts…  These thoughts will undoubtedly prompt many more customized to you.

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit (and a little bit of “Mother Nature?!”)

Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, April 23, 2017:

Happy Easter! I hope and pray that you will have a glorious Easter day of worship and fellowship [or did have, if you’re reading this on Monday or later]

Now what?

In her book The Rising: Living the Mysteries of Lent, Easter and Pentecost, Wendy M. Wright talks about the “Easter Octave” – the 8 days of Easter and after. She tells some stories, including her experience of “putting yourself in Mary Magdalene’s place” in the John 20:11-18 verse.

When you have 10 minutes – maybe even right now? – do the following:

• close your eyes and imagine yourself in the role of Mary Magdalene – you’ve experienced the crucifixion and are going to visit the tomb
• read John 20:1-18 (listed below,) as though you are living what Mary Magdalene did – with Jesus saying your name
• pray that you might carry that sense of post Easter experience in the day ahead

May the spirit move through you vibrantly during this Easter Octave!

John 20: 1-18 [“PUTTING YOURSELF IN MARY’S PLACE” VERSION]

20:1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, I came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb.

20:2 So I ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”

20:3 Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb.

20:4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.

20:5 He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in.

20:6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there,

20:7 and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself.

20:8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;

20:9 for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

20:10 Then the disciples returned to their homes.

20:11 But I stood weeping outside the tomb. While weeping, I bent over to look into the tomb;

20:12 and I saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet.

20:13 They said to me, “Woman, why are you weeping?” I responded, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.”

20:14 After saying this, I turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but did not know that it was Jesus.

20:15 Jesus said to me, “Why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, I said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”

20:16 Jesus said to me, “__________ {INSERT YOUR NAME HERE}!” I turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher).

20:17 Jesus said to me, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

20:18 I went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and told them that he had said these things to me.

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, April 16, 2017:

Good Friday brings mixed emotions. Putting ourselves in the place of the disciples and other followers, we’ve been high with Palm Sunday events, had a nice dinner with friends and then WHAM…the next hours turn tragic. Watching Mel Gibson’s movie The Passion of the Christ brings home some very human moments of this time period.

Around mid-day you may want to use this Good Friday prayer by Larry Peacock in Alive Now or LP Jones’ Holy Week Prayer. Both provide nice perspective on this time period.

May this “good day” bring you time for quiet contemplation…

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, April 16, 2017:

Our friends at Alive Now in their “Thresholds” edition (March/April) shared THIS nice Maundy Thursday prayer by Larry Peacock.

May this Maundy Thursday provide you many memorable experiences along the way…

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, April 16, 2017:

NOTE: In the early 2010s, Rev. Dr. L.P. Jones, prepared and shared a Holy Week Prayer with the MWPC community as part of his weekly column in the Beacon Lite. This prayer is great to read every year during Holy Week. With his permission it is now available to the Christian Playbook community.

A Holy Week Prayer

For more than five weeks, guiding God, we have traveled the Lenten road. We are ready for it to end. We prefer celebration to reflection and self-examination. On the table, pulpit, and lectern, we prefer pure white, festive red, hopeful blue, or gentle green to Lent’s pensive purple. We know our sins are many, but why must we confess them so often? Remind us, gracious God, that you call us to confession not to burden us, but to free us. Help us to offer you every fear, failure, and sin, so that your forgiveness can calm and cleanse us and your steadfast love can draw us to new beginnings.

We thank you, God of wonders, for countless blessings. We thank you for those special people whose embrace, friendship, and accepting eyes ease our burdens and heighten our joys. We thank you for the songbirds who greet the dawn with exuberant melody. We thank you for the ability to laugh: to laugh at ourselves when we are mistaken; to laugh with our friends when we take ourselves too seriously; to laugh for the pure pleasure it brings. We thank you for eyes that see familiar friends and a new face in the crowd, savor a peaceful sunrise or sunset, and note a hand in need of our touch and open arms waiting to receive us.

Because we are so blessed, help us to respond faithfully to life and its goodness. Because people and relationships are so important, help us to look beyond ourselves and share our plenty with those in need. Help us to build a community known for the risks it takes to help others experience your loving presence. Because life can be so abundant, help us to be a community as joyous in our celebrations as we are committed to service in Jesus’ name. Because not everyone sees your blessings so readily, help us to comfort the bereaved, accompany the lonely, offer hope to the despairing, and reach for a better world for all.

We pray for all whose needs and concerns touch our hearts. We pray for those in need whom we cannot or do not see. We pray for new members and those preparing to receive baptism. We pray for all making difficult decisions. We pray for those enduring illness of body, mind, or spirit, and those who struggle to hope. We pray that during this Holy Week we will complete our Lenten journey by seeing our brokenness borne by and entombed with Jesus, which will prepare us to hear anew the almost unimaginable proclamation that the tomb is empty, Jesus is risen, and life and love prevail. These and all our prayers we offer with confidence, for we bring them in Jesus’ name.

Amen.

May this day of Holy Week be a blessed one, filled with the Spirit moving in mysterious ways yet again…

P.S. The Lectionary offers daily scripture during Holy Week and today’s are listed as links below in case you want to read them…

Lectionary Texts for Monday, April 10, 2017:

This Sunday many of us will be waving palms, heralding the entry of our King.

Yet in Zechariah 9:9-12 we read prophesy that is very counter to an “entry of the King” from Roman times.

Zechariah 9:9-10
9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

9:10 He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall command peace to the nations; his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.

In The Rising: Living the Mysteries of Lent, Easter, and Pentecost, Wendy M. Wright writes:

“But we do not get the leader we have anticipated. For instead of entering the holy city on a warhorse, this Jesus comes deliberately on an ass’s colt, thereby calling up our collective memory of the prophesy in Zechariah which paints for us a picture of a monarch who bans implements of war, whose rule is gentle and whose reign is peace.” p. 77

ACTION: As we raise our Hosannas and wave the palms, may we embody a powerful stance of gentleness and peace!

Enjoy the day, filled with peace and actions of the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, April 9, 2017:

As we prepare for Easter Sunday, many thanks to today’s contributor, Toni P. from SW Ohio, for this commentary:

Horseradish.   Butter–in the shape of a lamb.    Sausage.   Traditional Polish costumes.   Eggs.   What do these things have in common? They are all part of our family’s traditional Easter celebration.

Combining symbolism from our Polish and Roman Catholic heritages gives us a holiday that makes us feel very connected to our family and to our faith. Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. The bitter taste of horseradish, reminding us of the drink offered to Jesus. Homemade bread to honor the bread of life. Eggs that symbolize new life.

We put a basket of these traditional foods together on Saturday and take them to a communal food blessing ceremony. Then these foods become a part of our Easter Sunday breakfast.

ACTION: Do you have traditions at holidays that deepen the meaning and the family connection for you? Perhaps you could try adding something to your celebration this year (HERE’S an epicurious.com article if you want to explore world traditions and related food items.)

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P.S. In case you’re interested in some smiles, this Facebook post has a humorous take on having a Polish heritage

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, April 9, 2017: