Thursday's Thoughts 4/09/2009

Greetings Friends,

 

Tonight we enter into my favorite service of the year, the Holy Maundy Thursday remembrance service.  This is a powerful service that you will not want to miss.  In this sacred space we re-live the last supper that Jesus shared with his dearest friends and his disciples.  Tonight we will sit at table with twelve disciples who will read through the scripture of the passion narrative.  We begin with the last light of the day at 7pm and as the story progresses the room gets darker and darker.  We move deeper into the night and deeper into the story.  Delving into Jesus’ experience we feel his emotions with him, we hear him ask us to stay awake with him, and we ask ourselves the question we’ve been asking all week: where will we be?  Will we allow him to stoop and wash our feet?  Are we going to sit at his table?  Will we eat his bread?  Will we drink from his cup?  And where will we be when the night ends?  Where will we stand tomorrow?

 

Friends, I invite you to experience this night in its fullness.  I invite you to join me in the mystery.  Hear Jesus’ words inviting you into discipleship.  Come. Come and be filled. For this is a night of transformation.  Come and let the spirit wash over you and take you deep, deep into the night.

 

Tomorrow I will be partaking in an ecumenical Good Friday service at Newport Center United Methodist Church .  There, gathered with brothers and sisters of our faith: Methodist, Episcopalian, Disciples, United Church of Christ, American Baptist and Catholic we shall enter the stations of the cross. As always, this service proves to be powerful as we remember those final hours and we feel the depth of Jesus’ pain along with the depth of his belief.  Please join me in this observation.

 

It is my belief that we cannot celebrate Easter with the joy of the day if we have not felt the depths of Holy Week.  So I hope that you will experience these next couple of days and that when we gather together on Easter we will have real reason to celebrate! For only those who have faced the depth of this faith, those who have walked alongside Jesus, who have faced the cross and died to their old selves will know the true miracle of the new life of resurrection day.  For we know that as painful and difficult the days of Holy Week were for Jesus and are for Christians, not even death could kill Jesus’ spirit, nor ours.  So let us come together to celebrate this Sunday!   Please invite your friends and family to join us for our special Easter Morning Service!   And be sure to bring kids!  There will be an Easter Egg hunt with over 350 eggs!  Wow! 

 

See you this evening, tomorrow, Saturday for our final Lenten Film Series: Jesus in the Dark –The Colors of the Cross and of course on Easter Sunday!

Please bring cut flowers Sunday morning to help transform the dead cross into a cross alive with beauty!

 

 

I have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet.

Jesus rose from the table, took off his outer garments,

got a towel, tied it around his waist,

poured water into the basin,

and began to wash
his disciples’
feet.

Teacher,
help us learn this
lesson.

The infinite, all-powerful God,
inexhaustible love,
serves.

Let us not
ignore or just
tolerate our neighbors.
Let us, like you, wash their feet.
Let us become their food and drink.

Copyright © 2009, The Center for Liturgy at Saint Louis University . All rights reserved.
Permission is hereby granted to reproduce for personal or parish use.

********

Please take a moment to read through the prayers of our community,

 the prayers that matter to us, and lift them up in your hearts this moment.

 

If you have an a prayer request you would like to add to our list, please email or call the office714 545-4610.

 

 

 

 

Megan Henry’s maternal grandmother Marie, who is recovering from a heart attack along with other physical health challenges.

Pam Kamps who had an aortic valve successfully replaced in open heart surgery on Monday, March 9.

Carrie Lester’s friend Dawn, trying to cope with the death of her husband.

Jane Philipp, who continues to struggle with back problems and other health issues. She appreciates all the prayers  and cards she has received from everyone.

Flo Martin’s friend Susan Gilles who is pregnant with triplets and has gone into early labor. Additionally, Susan’s  mother is in the final stages of bone cancer.

Carol Morrison’s sister, Lynn, who has undergone chemotherapy for cancer for the past year and shown no improvement.  She’s now being treated with an experimental drug for an undetermined cancer.

Gina Notrica and her family as her father’s cancer has returned and he has only a couple of months left to live.

Ernie Ransom, who is being treated for an apparent recurrence of her previous malady.
Wayne Rash’s stepsister-in-law Barbara Gentry, who is in an intensive care facility

Frenacee Schuck and her family as her much loved aunt, Magda Davis, is on her death bed.

Joan Sullivan who was hospitalized this week.  She is out and working hard to finish taxes so she can go back in for surgery later this month.

Fritz Tramz’s wife, Carolann, was transferred to a care facility. She is on hospice and continues to suffer from extensive pain.  Continue to pray for her and strength for Fritz.

Roxanne Smith’s mother Ann Boddie as she continues to battle cancer.

Prayers of rejoicing for the people of Iowa and Vermont , may equality be available to all citizens of every state.

The people of Italy who are recovering from a devastating earthquake.

The people of Gaza and the people of Israel, as we pray for a more comprehensive and lasting cease-fire and true peace while mourning the loss of life of more than 1,300 Gaza residents (400of them children) and 13 Israelis.

Those seeking new employment, in this time of severe job losses and economic hardship.

All who were affected by the shootings in Binghamton , N.Y.

Our state and nation, during this time of transition.  May we experience peace and justice for all.

Our Troops, as they perform their duties, wherever they are in the world.

All who feel the burdens of life that the burden might be lifted and God’s grace felt and  accepted.

 

 

 

 

 Announcements

 

Please join us for:

Maundy Thursday April 9^th  7pm  -where we remember the Last Supper Jesus shared with his Disciples

Good Friday, April 10^th  ( Newport Center United Methodist Church ) noon – an ecumenical service with Stations of the Cross

Easter Sunday, April 12^th 10am – A celebration of Resurrection Day, with a children’s Easter Egg hunt

 

  

If you are a singer then you should  definitely join us –if you’re like me and you’re not a singer –you should still join us!

Choir Rehearsal is this tonight and every Thursday at 6:15pm –count on it and have fun!

Let’s make beautiful music together!

 

Join our team:  Fairview’s AIDS WALK Team and select register and pick Fairview Community Church team

Or  Follow This Link to visit my web page and donate to support AIDS Services Foundation Orange County through our team!

 

Being a member of the church is easy! 

 All you have to do is come to a membership class and learn more about the church.

if you’re interested please contact Marge Salmassy, Wayne Rashor hit reply to this email

 

 

 

 

 In Preparation,  

 

 

Reverend Sarah Halverson

Fairview Community Church

2525 Fairview Road

Costa Mesa , CA 92626

(714) 545-4610