Shining the Light on the Body of Christ

This video was a light for my day and a reminder of the importance of our Zion community.  Take a moment to watch it.  Remember that as a member of the Body of Christ, you are salt and light for all your sisters and brothers at Zion.  We need each other in order to be the healthy, vibrant, joy-filled congregation that Christ wants us to be.  Each person's gift is important to the community.

http://christianitytoday.imirus.com/Mpowered/imirus.jsp?volume=kyria11&issue=5&page=34

Are you salt and light when you're online?

This article reminds us that we are called to be followers of Jesus in whatever we do---even when surfing the web.

5 questions Christians should ask themselves before logging on

  

Nations will come to your Light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. - Isaiah 60:3

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. ~John 14:12

by Toni Birdsong
We are God’s beloved. We are heaven’s people; the blood-bought, Calvary claimed sons and daughters of the Most High King. We are the rescued ones empowered by the Holy Spirit to cover even greater earthly ground for the gospel than Christ himself.
But do we really get what that means? Better yet: Do believe it? If so, we should log online each day with the untamable expectation that through our words, ideas, and interactions, Jesus Christ will be seen. When we truly believe and live out Jesus’ words in John 14:12, then The Great Commission stops being an ideal and becomes a personal, burning, reachable charge.
5 questions to consider before you log on today:

1. What’s my plan and purpose for being online? Are you wandering around aimlessly, casually posting minus a biblical filter? Are you chatting on and on without a point? Stop. Be quiet. Pray. Ask the Holy Spirit to anoint you with a purpose and lead you in a plan for your online time.
2. Am I majoring in the minors? Do you spark conflict, whine, complain, judge, make sarcastic comments, post random nothings, or criticize others? If so, you you’ve lost sight The Great Commission and the amazing opportunity to share the gospel in the online space. Log off. Get into the word. Ask God to anoint your thoughts, eyes, and words.
3. Would Jesus approve of how I spend my online time? Not every click needs to be about sharing your faith, however, every click does need to align with the teachings of Christ. Please—be interesting, funny, creative, diverse, and opinionated—just don’t allow the “you” to clash with holiness and majesty of your King. Yes, the temptation is great so ask God for help.
4. Am I influencing culture or is culture influencing me? Are you fixed in your purpose and standing your ground or are you easily (or subtly) swayed by the cultural banter, music, opinions, news stories, and assortment of morals swirling around you? If you’re confused about the biblical view of a controversial issue or idea—or if you are emotionally charged—don’t post! Log off. Breathe. Search the scriptures. Pray.
5. Does my digital footprint point others toward heaven? If you added up your posts, comments, photos, profiles, tweets and “likes,” would they point others toward heaven or confuse them about who Jesus is and why He came?

Remember, you can’t make a difference in this world unless you are different. Your Sunday worship doesn’t need to end abruptly when you show up in the world on Monday. Don’t hoard the Love that saved your life. Be brave. Stand apart. Be the light in the darkness so that others will be able to recognize and encounter the person of Jesus Christ.
Do you struggle with any of the above questions? Can you add a question/s to our list?
Post/tweet this today:Don’t hoard the Love that saved your life. Be brave. Stand apart. Be a light in the darkness. #LiveSticky


Don’t stop here! Learn how to lead, influence, engage, and share your faith on social networks—like Jesus. Purchase @stickyJesus: how to live out your faith online, today! Check out the buzz on @stickyJesus, here!

Nursery School Graduations

After offering an opening prayer, I watched our Zion Nursery School teachers and helpers line up the children at the ceremonies on Monday evening and this morning.  Each child had a little mortar board on his or her head that threatened to fall off.  It was so cute!

 I couldn't help but wonder what these precious little ones will be like when they line up for their high school graduations.  We can be thankful that they are getting a good start on their educational journey right here at Zion.  The Nursery School is certainly a blessing for the children and their families.  A testimony to the excellent reputation of the school is that many of the siblings of the children celebrating their "graduations" this week have been students or will be students in the future. As we experienced on Sunday, May 15, when the graduates visited worship, the school is, also, a blessing for Zion congregation. 

At today's graduation event, the children of Mrs. Fry's and Mrs. Stone's two-day class provided a musical program reviewing the activities of the past year.  Each child had a speaking part to introduce months and the appropriate songs.  The program ended with several patriotic songs sung in front of a large American flag displayed behind the children.  Monday night, the children of Mrs. Carr's and Mrs. Moore's three-day class also provided a musical program about colors and a photo slide show of their activities throughout the year.  Although I was attending the Planning Council Meeting by then, I was told that there wasn't a dry eye in the nave during the slide show.

The children seemed so proud of their achievements.  It was such a joy to see how much they enjoyed participating with their classes.  At both ceremonies, parents, siblings, grandparents and friends were present, many with video cameras and all with smiles of love and appreciation. 

Let us  pray that the spirit of love and concern for others, of joy in learning, and of curiosity about God's creation being instilled in the children will continue to grow.  May these beautiful children of God continue to be shining lights in our world.  We, also, ask God's continued blessing upon the ministry of education provided through Zion Nurser School, its teachers and staff.

Dancin' in the Street

Ever since I was a little kid, I've loved to dance.  I tried ballet in first grade, but it wasn't for me.  But put me on a dance floor, and I can go all night.  One parishioner called me "the Electric Slide Pastor".  One of my favorite songs that I learned a church camp is "Lord of the Dance."

One of the newer additions to worship services in the Lutheran Church has been liturgical dance.  Done well, these interpretations of music and God's Word can be truly inspirational.
 Although I've never danced liturgically, I have often wanted to break out into dancing during a worship service. Our rather serious Lutheran worshippers aren't too keen on this type of display, however.  Still, most congregations that I've served know that I just can't keep still in worship.  Perhaps I ought to just let go and dance when I feel like it?
What better time to do this than at Easter?  My hope is to gather a big group of adults, youth and children to join in celebrating the Resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ and in witnessing to our joy in life in His name for Up To Faith Dance 2012.  Won't you join me and members of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Landisville, PA next April 8th?  Time and place will be announced.
In Celebration of the Lord of the Dance (and I mean the TRUE one, Jesus!)
Pastor JMe Lowden

Click here to learn more about Up To Faith and the Resurrection Dance.
Up To Faith

Special Easter Message From Bishop B. Penrose Hoover

The proclamation of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the central message of the Christian faith. It is a message of radical hope and promise, assuring us that God does not abandon us even in times of greatest anxiety and danger. The morning light at the empty tomb dispels the darkness of death and despair and gives us a foretaste of God's assurance of eternal life.  

  

But this assurance is not limited to the future that God gives. The hope it brings sustains us in the face of illness and fear here and now.  And there is much fear and anxiety in the world and in our lives. The economy remains shaky and drastic budgetary cuts in public programs along with the inexorable increase in the price of gasoline renew fears of another economic collapse. We continue to fear the possibility of terrorist attacks and watch the violence spreading across the Middle East with trepidation. We long for renewed hope while we fear what the future may hold for us... wars and rumors of wars... nation rising against nation... famines and earthquakes in various places... In short, we fear death.

This fear is universal and particular. It takes its sharpest focus in our lives and relationships with the diagnosis of critical illness. Even with great advances in medical science, the word "cancer" still has the power to shock and stagger our emotions. Most of us have experienced this in our families or in our families of faith. This gut-wrenching experience challenges our faith and often strains our relationships with one another and with God. It is at such times that the voice of the risen Lord calls us again to hope and gives us strength to face the realities of life in a mortal world. For those who live and walk in faith, our deepest fears call forth our deepest hope.

Some time ago, I saw the following words framed and displayed in a doctor's office. These words, I think, speak directly to the hope and assurance that Easter brings and I share them with you now.

WHAT CANCER CANNOT DO

Cancer is so limited...

It cannot cripple love,

It cannot shatter hope,

It cannot corrode faith,

It cannot eat away peace,

It cannot destroy confidence,

It cannot kill friendship,

It cannot shut out memories,

It cannot silence courage,

It cannot invade the soul,

It cannot reduce eternal life,

It cannot quench the spirit,

It cannot lessen the power

Of the resurrection.

May Easter's blessed gift of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen and sustain us in every circumstance of life. And may our Easter joy be reflected as we welcome one another into each new day that God gives.

Faithfully, your bishop,

+B. Penrose Hoover

Cross Life

Dr. H. can't hear much at all.  He can't go very far from his room on foot, even with his walker.  He has trouble breathing sometimes, and he admits that the aging process sometimes gets him down.  He misses going to the ocean with his family, but he can't maneuver the stairs to and from the condo where they stay. 
He enjoys the many photgraphs of his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren that he proudly displays on a shelf in his small room.  And he is clear about what keeps him hopeful, even when he feels frustrated by the health problems that are plaguing him:  the Cross of Christ.

During a recent visit with Dr. H., I gave him a palm cross from our Palms to Passion Sunday observance.  He took it gently in his hand, held it up in front of his face and said, "It is the cross that makes it all possible.  I couldn't live without it."  As we shared Communion together, tears came to his eyes, and he smiled and said, "Thank you. God bless you."

Oh, the Wonderful Cross!

Oh the wonderful cross (2x)
Bids me come and die and find
that I may truly live

Oh the wonderful cross (2x)
All who gather here by grace
draw near and bless your name

At the Ecumenical Good Friday Service today, we sang this chorus by Michael W. Smith together with the stanzas of  the traditional hymn, "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross," by Isaac Watts.  Members of congregations in the Hempfield area filled the nave of the Hempfield Brethren in Christ Church, and we joined in contemplating the Words that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ spoke from the Cross. 

The church was in darkness during the reading of the Seven Words.  The brief comments made by each of the pastors, and the special music provided by three soloists, were all spoken or sung from the back of the worship area. On the stage in front of us, a large, wooden cross draped in purple cloth and a crown of thorns stood in a spotlight as the central focus of our worship.  The effect was stunning. 

Sitting in darkness, gazing at the cross, heariing Jesus' words, contemplating the awesome act of love Jesus offered "for us and for our salvation" through his crucifixion is an experience of worship unlike any other.  It forces one to search deep within one's heart and recognize his or her utter unworthiness of God's grace, freely given through Jesus.  It brings you to your knees in confession and upright again in thanksgiving for the forgiveness offered "once and for all."  It gives light to your heart and soul so that the darkness of suffering, sin and death no longer have power and you can walk out into the daylight filled with peace, hope and purpose.

Oh, the Wonderful Cross!  I pray that all who read these lines will know the power and blessing of the Cross of Christ for their lives.  That is why we call this Friday "Good."