Notes from the Choir Loft - January 31, 2021
The year of Mark can be confusing for anyone looking for a sequential narrative. In Lent, three of the gospel readings come from John, whose portrayal of Jesus could not be more different from Mark’s. Year B is probably a good time to let go of the notion of “following Jesus” on his journey to Jerusalem and instead sink into the season as a time for catechesis, for reclaiming our identity in baptism as we prepare for Easter. It is also a good time to remember that not everyone in our assemblies may be baptized yet, or may have a grasp of what that long-ago rite means in their lives now.
Whether or not a congregation has a pattern of preparing candidates for baptism in Lent, the season is rich with baptismal imagery. The waters drown the evil around us (Genesis 9), name us as part of God’s family (Genesis 17), enroll us as a people formed by God’s law (Exodus 20), offer healing from deadly sin (Numbers 21), and welcome us home as a people whose law is written on the heart (Jeremiah 31). When read through the season in this chronological fashion, these texts offer the reader/listener a chance to dispel the myth that God’s mercy in the Old Testament is somehow different from God’s mercy in Christ.
Many people imagine Lent as merely a time of somber self-sacrifice, but the gospel acclamation for Lent reminds us to return to God, who is gracious, merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. Repentance is not a frightening appearance before an angry God, but a homecoming to one who longs to save us in the midst of our trials and fears. In each of the gospel readings we hear a word of grace in the midst of the fears we face: God longs to hear us as a father wants to listen to his children (Ash Wednesday); angels accompany Jesus during his temptation in the wilderness (Lent 1); Jesus calls Peter to move from confession to discipleship (Lent 2); the corrupt temple cannot throw Jesus off his mission (Lent 3); even the cross becomes a sign of healing (Lent 4); and death is a precursor to new life (Lent 5).
There is no need to create more somberness or fear of sin in us our assemblies that we are in desperate need of God’s help and salvation. As you look around at those around you, remember those for whom the usual language of sin and grace has no particular resonance; keep in mind that for some people any mention of sin produces shame. It is not enough to simply point to the cross without providing a clear sense of God’s mercy found there. We can easily find words to name our need; the challenge is to name the gifts of God’s grace with as much creativity and vividness as possible.
From the Pastors Desk - 11/03/24
Thanks Be To God for ALL of You!!
From the Pastors Desk - 09/30/24
Serving Others
From the Pastors Desk - 09/01/24
A Busy Month!
From the Pastors Desk - 08/11/24
Where Did Everyone Go?
From the Pastors Desk - 07/10/24
Small Can Be Mighty!
From the Pastors Desk - 06/09/24
Dandelions!
From the Pastors Desk - 05/05/24
Keep It Short!
From the Pastors Desk - 04/07/24
When “Thank You” Seems Insignificant
Notes from the Choir Loft - 02/29/24
Searching for an Organist/Choir Director
From the Pastors Desk - 02/29/24
Always Living in the Future
Notes from the Choir Loft - 01/07/24
Thank You!
From the Pastors Desk - 01/07/24
“We are doing the best we can!”
Notes from the Choir Loft - 11/26/23
Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve Worship
From the Pastors Desk - 11/26/23
A Toast to Ed!
Notes from the Choir Loft - 10/31/23
All Saints Sunday, November 5th & Christ the King Sunday, November 26th
From the Pastors Desk - 10/31/23
November Already!!!???
From the Pastors Desk - 10/31/23
November Already!!!???
Notes from the Choir Loft - 10/01/23
Reformation Sunday, October 29th Combined service with Zion United Church of Christ
From the Pastors Desk - 10/01/23
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God!
From the Pastors Desk - 08/31/23
God’s Amazing Creation
From the Pastors Desk - 07/26/23
Oh, for a Thousand Thanks to Give!
Notes from the Choir Loft - 06/27/23
Lutheridge Bound…
From the Pastors Desk - 06/27/23
Fifth Sunday Combined Worship
Notes from the Choir Loft - 06/02/23
Trinity Sunday
From the Pastors Desk - 06/02/23
Happy Father’s Day!
Notes from the Choir Loft - 04/30/23
Organ Concert and Space Dedication
From the Pastors Desk - 04/30/23
Random Thank Yous!
Notes from the Choir Loft - 04/03/23
Holy Week Schedule
From the Pastors Desk - 04/03/23
Worship Opportunities with Zion
From the Pastors Desk - 02/25/23
The Future of the Church
Notes from the Choir Loft - 02/01/23
Ash Wednesday and Additional Lenten Worship and Bible Study…
From the Pastors Desk - 02/01/23
Care and Concern Committee
Notes from the Choir Loft - 01/01/23
January Sundays and Inclement Weather
From the Pastors Desk - 01/01/23
An Interview!
From the Pastors Desk - 11/28/22
Working Together
Notes from the Choir Loft - 10/31/22
November/December Upcoming Events
From the Pastors Desk - 10/31/22
Thanksgiving!
From the Pastors Desk - 10/02/22
Future Possibilities
From the Pastors Desk - 09/02/22
Thanks Plus More
Notes from the Choir Loft - 07/31/22
Upcoming Events…
From the Pastors Desk - 07/31/22
Odds & Ends
Notes from the Choir Loft - 06/30/22
This month I will be attending Music Week at Lutheridge
From the Pastors Desk - 06/30/22
Dream Big!
Notes from the Choir Loft - 06/30/22
This month I will be attending Music Week at Lutheridge
From the Pastors Desk - 06/30/22
Dream Big!
From the Pastors Desk - 05/29/22
Waiting!
From the Pastors Desk - 05/04/22
Thankful for Others
From the Pastors Desk - 04/10/22
The Sure and Certain Hope of Easter
Notes from the Choir Loft - 02/27/22
The narthex is an architectural element typical of early Christian and Byzantine basilicas and churches consisting of the entrance or lobby area
From the Pastors Desk - 02/27/22
Spring IS Coming…Really!
Notes from the Choir Loft - 01/30/22
Look Up
From the Pastors Desk - 01/30/22
Chilly Musings
Notes from the Choir Loft - 01/07/22
The 12 days of Christmas begin on Christmas Day, December 25, and last through January 6, also known as Three Kings’ Day or Epiphany.
From the Pastors Desk - 01/07/22
Let’s Get Back to Normal Living Again… Maybe????
From the Pastors Desk - 12/19/21
Christmas Time… Again, Already??!!
From the Pastors Desk - 11/07/21
Always Living in the Future
Notes from the Choir Loft - 11/06/21
november Voice 2021
Notes from the Choir Loft - 03/31/21
The Easter season starts out with dwelling on the resurrection appearances,
Notes from the Choir Loft - 03/31/21
The Easter season starts out with dwelling on the resurrection appearances, and then moves back in the gospels to Jesus’ farewell speeches while simultaneously moving forward in the book of Acts as th
Notes from the Choir Loft - 03/02/21
The Paschal Triduum (Latin: Triduum Paschale), Holy Triduum (Latin: Triduum Sacrum), or Easter Triduum, or the Three Days,
Notes from the Choir Loft - 01/03/21
What is it that makes for a good story? A novel that grabs and keeps our attention gradually reveals that which is not known
Notes from the Choir Loft - 11/01/20
November is generally a month that we give thanks for family, friends, life, food and health, just to name a few.
From the Pastors Desk - 11/01/20
Are you familiar with the term Minnesota Nice?
Notes from the Choir Loft - 10/01/20
Music in church has taken on a different tone since the pandemic started.
From the Pastors Desk - 10/01/20
The Northeastern Ohio Synod held its Synod Assembly online
Notes from the Choir Loft - 09/05/20
As the Sanctuary Worship Team looks at the guidelines we will use in October for sanctuary worship, I thought I would share a little about our musical options for the fall and winter.
From the Pastors Desk - 09/05/20
A global pandemic. Civil unrest. A society divided. A church struggling to find its place.
Notes from the Choir Loft - 08/01/20
What Do We Do This Fall?
From the Pastors Desk - 08/01/20
Do you watch the TV show Jeopardy?
From the Pastors Desk - 07/04/20
At Good Shepherd we are fortunate to have a large parking lot
From the Pastors Desk - 07/04/20
At Good Shepherd we are fortunate to have a large parking lot
Notes from the Choir Loft - 06/06/20
On Singing Together1
From the Pastors Desk - 06/06/20
One of my favorite church holidays is Pentecost
Notes from the Choir Loft - 06/06/20
On Singing Together
From the Pastors Desk - 06/06/20
One of my favorite church holid
Notes from the Choir Loft - 05/01/20
Coming Festival Days
From the Pastors Desk - 05/01/20
Many years ago, when I was in the Metro DC synod
From the Pastors Desk - 04/03/20
As I type this article (I decided not to use the one I’ve been working
Notes from the Choir Loft - 03/03/20
Organ Dedication and Concert Sunday, May 3rd at 4pm Dexter Kennedy, Organist
From the Pastors Desk - 03/03/20
When I was in the 3rd and 4th grade our across
Notes from the Choir Loft - 01/30/20
Organ Dedication
From the Pastors Desk - 01/30/20
During the season of Epiphany the
From the Pastors Desk - 01/03/20
I remember the first time I was allowed to stay up to welcome the New Year. Some of the details are a bit fuzzy, but I do remember the night.
Notes from the Choir Loft - 12/06/19
Music Fund
From the Pastors Desk - 12/06/19
New Stewardship Projects
From the Pastors Desk - 11/14/19
Stewardship
Notes from the Choir Loft - 11/14/19
Organist Notes
Notes from the Choir Loft - 10/07/19
New Hymns, New Organ
From the Pastors Desk - 10/07/19
Found faithful in little, with much, with all
Notes from the Choir Loft - 09/29/19
How Singing impacts your well-being
From the Pastors Desk - 09/10/19
Introducing Junior Church