Lent post 6

open

To be present is to arrive as one is and open up to the other. At this instant, as I arrive here, God is present waiting for me. God always arrives before me, desiring to connect with me even more than my most intimate friend. I take a moment and greet my loving God.

+ Sacred Space; The Presence of God

scripture

Old Testament: Isaiah 52:13-53:12

Psalm: Psalm 22

New Testament: Philippians 2:5-11

Gospel: Luke 19:28-40

reflection

Holy Week is the church's great celebration of life in all its dimensions: communion with others in the Spirit, the call to suffer if necessary for the sake of the gospel, the sometimes loneliness of total commitment and the glory of living in the Christ, whatever the cost. It is a week to recall your own cost of living the Christian life and drawing strength for the journey from the One who has lived it before us and now fills us with His own eternal life.

+ Joan Chittister, OSB

O God, the deathless hope of everyone, we rejoice that you support us both when young and even to old age. When our strength comes from you, it is strength indeed; but when our own strength is all we have, it is feebleness. You give refreshment and true strength.

+ Augustine of Hippo (354-430)

Where am I with God? With others?

Do I have something to be grateful for? Then I give thanks.

Is there something I am sorry for? Then I ask forgiveness.

+ Sacred Space; Consciousness

Dear Lord, your disciple Peter wanted to know who would betray you. You pointed to Judas but a little later also to him. Judas betrayed, Peter dined you. Judas hanged himself, Peter became the apostle whom you made the first among equals. Lord, give me faith, faith in your endless mercy, your boundless forgiveness, your unfathomable goodness. Let me not be tempted to think that my sins are too great to be forgiven, too abominable to be touched by your mercy. Let me never run away from you but return to you again and again, asking you to be my Lord, my Shepherd, my Stronghold, and my Refuge. Take me under your wing, O Lord, and let me know that you do not reject me as long as I keep asking you to forgive me. Perhaps my doubt in your forgiveness is a greater sin than the sins I consider too great to be forgiven. Perhaps I make myself too important, too great when I think that I cannot be embraced by you anymore. Lord, look at me, accept my prayer as you accepted Peter's prayer, and let me not run away from you in the night as Judas did.

Bless me, Lord, in this Holy Week, and give me the grace to know your loving presence more intimately. Amen.

+ Henri Nouwen

close

Lord God, whose blessed Son our Savior gave his body to be whipped and his face to be spit upon: Give us grace to accept joyfully the sufferings of the present time, confident of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen

+ Book of Common Prayer

*community prayer, worship & bible study tonight at 6:50pm. (4/20)

**Good Friday gathering at 7pm (4/22)

***Easter celebrations at 9am, 10:15am, 11:30am (4/24)

Lent post 5

open

I reflect for a moment on God's presence around me and in me. Creator of the universe, the sun and the moon, the earth, every molecule, ever atom, everything that is: God is in every beat of my heart. God is with me, now.

+ Irish Jesuit Prayer; Sacred Space

scripture

Old Testament: Isaiah 58:1-12

Psalm: Psalm 130

New Testament: Romans 8:6-11

Gospel: Matthew 6:1-21

reflection

O God, you are not far from any of us,

since it is in you that we live,

and move, and exist.

You, who have overlooked the times of ignorance,

let everyone everywhere be told

that they must now repent.

+ after Acts 17:27-28, 30; Henri Nouwen

"Christians throughout history have fasted in preparation for the Lord's Supper. In addition to the elements of repentance and humility before God in this kind of fast, it is also intended to help the person focus on adoring the One who is represented in the Supper."

+ Donald S. Whitney

"In adoration we enter the rarefied air of selfless devotion. We ask for nothing but to cherish God. We seek nothing but his exaltation. We focus on nothing but his goodness. 'In the prayer of adoration we love God for himself, for his very being, for his radiant joy.'"

+ Richard Foster; Prayer

God in my living, there in my breathing

God in my waking, God in my sleeping

God in my resting, there in my working

God in my thinking, God in my speaking

Be my everything, be my everything

Be my everything, be my everything

Christ in me, Christ in me

Christ in me the hope of glory, You are everything

+ Tim Hughes; Everything

close

O God, make clear to us each road.

O God, make safe to us each steep;

when we stumble, hold us;

when we fall, lift us up.

When we are hard-pressed with evil,

deliver us;

and bring us at last to your glory.

+ Celtic Daily Prayer

*community prayer, worship, and Bible study tonight at 6:50pm (wednesday 4/13)

lent post 4

open

I pause for a moment

and think of the love and the grace that God showers on me,

creating me in his image and likeness, making me his temple.

+ Irish Jesuit Prayer; Sacred Space

My soul waits for the Lord

more than those

who watch for the morning

more than those

who watch for the morning

Out of the depths I have cried to You.

O Lord, hear my voice.

With my whole heart I want to praise You.

O Lord, hear my voice.

If you, Lord, should mark iniquities:

Who could stand? Who could stand?

I will wait for the Lord.

My soul waits,

and in His word

do I hope.

+ Celtic Daily Prayer

+ The Crucified Christ; Fra Angelico (1395-1455)

scripture

Old Testament: Numbers 21:4-9

Psalm: Psalm 32

New Testament: Ephesians 2:1-10

Gospel: John 3:14-21

reflection

Forgive me, most gracious Lord and Father, if this day I have done or said anything to increase the pain of the world. Pardon the unkind word, the impatient gesture, the hard and selfish deed, the failure to show sympathy and kindly help where I have had the opportunity, but missed it; and enable me so to live that I may daily do something to lessen the tide of human sorrow, and add to the sum of human happiness.

+ F.B. Meyer (1847-1929)

We need you, how we need you

we need you every hour

to see you in your glory

to know your Spirit's power.

There's healing in your presence

there's mercy where you are

so meet us, won't you meet us, Living God.

No other God but you, no other God but you

No other God can satisfy

You are our great reward

it's you we're longing for

no other God, but you, Most High

+ Brenton Brown, We Need You

Grant, O Lord, that as we are baptized into the death of thy blessed Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, so by continual mortifying our corrupt affections we may be buried with him; and that through the grave and gate of death, we may pass to our joyful resurrection; for his merits, who died and was buried, and rose again for us, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

+ Book of Common Prayer

close

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

World without end. Amen.

+ Gloria Patri

3.31.11

It's time to get ready for Easter and Eastridge. It's Easteridge!!

This year we'll have 3 services on Easter Sunday, join us, invite friends and hang out!

Also, don't forget that the men's breakfast is this Saturday at 8am at the church... come hungry!

Lastly, start prepping yourself for helping us with cleaning day on 4.16.11 from 9am-Noon. It'll be a blast! A blast of cleaning... a spray of cleaning, like a cleaning spray. That's what it will be like. A spray of cleaning fun.

Lent post 3

open

O Lord, let my soul rise up to meet you

as the day rises to meet the sun.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Come, let us sing to the Lord: let us shout for joy to the Rock of our Salvation.

In you alone we put our trust: let us not be put to shame.

+ Common Prayer

For a few moments, I think of God's veiled presence in things:

in the elements, giving them existence;

in plants, giving them life; in animals, giving them sensation;

and finally, in me, giving me all this and more,

making me a temple, a dwelling-place of the Spirit.

+ Irish Jesuit Prayer; Sacred Space

scripture

Old Testament: Exodus 17:1-7

Psalm: Psalm 95

New Testament: Romans 5:1-21

Gospel: John 4:5-42

reflection

Knowing that God loves me unconditionally,

I can afford to be honest about how I am.

How has the last day been, and how do I feel now?

I share my feelings openly with the Lord.

+ Irish Jesuit Prayer; Sacred Space

As the rain hides the stars,

as the autumn mist hides the hills,

as the clouds veil the blue of the sky,

so the dark happenings of my lot

hide the shining of your face from me.

Yet, if I may hold your hand in the darkness,

it is enough, since I know that,

though I may stumble in my going,

you do not fall.

+ Celtic Prayer

"We are called to withdraw at certain intervals into deeper silence and aloneness with God, together as a community as well as personally. To be alone with Him, not with our books, thoughts, and memories but completely stripped of everything, to dwell lovingly in His presence -- silent, empty, expectant, and motionless."

+ Mother Teresa; No Greater Love

*community prayer, worship, and Bible study tonight at 6:50pm (wednesday, 3/30)

lent post 2

open

"Earth is crammed with heaven,

and every common bush afire with God,

but only he who sees takes off his shoes."

+ Elizabeth Barrett Browning

God is with me, but even more, God is within me, giving me existence.

Let me dwell for a moment on God's life giving presence in my body,

my mind, my heart and in the whole of my life.

+ Irish Jesuit Prayer

scripture

+ Old Testament: Genesis 12:1-9

+ Psalm: Psalm 121

+ New Testament: Philippians 3:12-4:1

+ Gospel: Mark 8:31-38

reflection

O Son of God,

do a miracle for me

and change my heart.

Thy having taken flesh

to redeem me

was more difficult

than to transform

my wickedness.

+ Irish, 15th Century

"No one is strong in his own strength, but he is safe by the grace and mercy of God."

+ Cyprian (d.258)

Breathe in me,

O Holy Spirit,

that my thoughts may all be holy.

Act in me,

O Holy Spirit,

that my work, too, may be holy.

Draw my heart,

O Holy Spirit,

that I love only what is holy.

Strengthen me,

O Holy Spirit,

to defend all that is holy.

Guard me, then,

O Holy Spirit,

that I may always be holy.

+ Augustine of Hippo (354-430)

"Fasting is not confined to abstinence from eating and drinking. Fasting really means voluntary abstinence for a time from various necessities of life, such as food, drink, sleep, rest, association with people and so forth. The purpose of such abstinence... is to loosen to some degree the ties which bind us to the world of material things and our surroundings as a whole, in order that we may concentrate all our spiritual powers upon the unseen and eternal things."

+ Ole Hallesby (1879-1961)

We believe and trust in God the Father Almighty.

We believe and trust in Jesus Christ His Son.

We believe and trust in the Holy Spirit.

We believe and trust in the Three in One.

+ Celtic Daily Prayer

"O Lord, we beseech thee to deliver us from the fear of the unknown future; from fear of failure; from fear of poverty; from fear of bereavement; from fear of loneliness; from fear of sickness and pain; from fear of age; and from fear of death. Help us, O Father, by thy grace to love and fear thee only, fill our hearts with cheerful courage and loving trust in thee; through our Lord and Master Jesus Christ."

+ Akanu Ibaim (1906-1995)

3.17.11

Hey Church! We need your help! We are looking for someone who is a structural engineer and can take our drawing of our new road-side sign and do a wind test rating on it. We need to have this done in order for Happy Valley to approve a new sign for Sunnyside Road. If you are a S.E. or know one, please email derik@eastridgechurch.org with your mad-wind-testing skills!

Check out Youversion.com, an interactive bible study site from a sister covenant church. Choose from several reading plans and keep track of them, read

commentaries and notes on your daily scripture reading, invite friends to journey with you!

Please continue to keep your thoughts and prayers in Japan as they work to rebuild what's been lost. Pray for the people who are left behind, that they would find comfort and hope! You can read more about what the Covenant Denomination is doing to aid people in Japan by clicking here.

I'll leave you with this less known saying from the Breastplate of Saint Patrick.

Christ be with me
Christ before me
Christ behind me
Christ in me
Christ beneath me
Christ above me
Christ on my right

Christ on my left
Christ where I lie
Christ where I sit
Christ where I arise
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me
Christ in every eye that sees me
Christ in every ear that hears me
Salvation is of the Lord.

lent post 1

open

"The Lenten season begins. It is a time to be with you in a special way, a time to pray, to fast, and thus to follow you on your way to Jerusalem, to Golgotha, and to the final victory over death.

I am still so divided. I truly want to follow you, but I also want to follow my own desires and lend an ear to the voices that speak about prestige, success, human respect, pleasure, power, and influence. Help me to become deaf to these voices and more attentive to your voice, which calls me to choose the narrow road to life."

+ Henri J.M. Nouwen (from Show Me the Way: Readings for Each Day of Lent)

(Via Crucis-Pablo Sanaguano Sanchez)

scripture

+ Old Testament: Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7

+ Psalm: Psalm 32

+ New Testament: Romans 5:12-19

+ Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11

reflection

O God, early in the morning I cry to you.

Help me to pray

and to concentrate my thoughts on you;

I cannot do this alone.

In me there is darkness,

but with you there is light;

I am lonely, but you do not leave me;

I am feeble in heart, but with you there is help;

I am restless, but with you there is peace.

In me there is bitterness, but with you there is patience;

I do not understand your ways,

but you know the way for me...

Restore me to liberty,

and enable me to live now

that I may answer before you and before men.

Lord, whatever this day may bring,

Your name be praised.

Amen.

+ Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945)

"All God's plans have the mark of the cross on them, and all His plans have death to self in them."

+ E.M. Bounds (1835-1913)

"The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God."

+ Psalm 51:17

"Remember what I say: if you would cleave to earthly pleasures, these are the things which will murder souls. There is no surer way to get a seared conscience and a hard impenitent heart, than to give way to the desires of the flesh and mind. It seems nothing at first, but it tells in the long run.

Consider what Peter says: "abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul" (1 Peter 2:11). They destroy the soul's peace, break down its strength, lead it into hard captivity, make it a slave."

+ John Charles Ryle (1816-1900)

close

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you,

wherever He may send you.

May He guide you through the wilderness,

protect you through the storm.

May He bring you home rejoicing

at the wonders He has shown you.

+ In the name of the Father,

and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

*community prayer, worship, and Bible study tonight at 6:50pm (wednesday, 3/16)

3.10.11

What's new? I thought you'd never ask...





Guess what this weekend is!! Save your daylight because we SPRING FORWARD this Saturday. 9:00 become 10:00... so pretty much we'll see you when we see you on Sunday.










It's not too late for Discovery class this Sunday. 12:30-2pm right after second service. Lunch and childcare is provided. The class goes over the history of Eastridge, it's affiliation with the covenant church, membership information and the best ways to get connected. Join us!!














Lent started this week! What are ya'll doing during this season? Is anyone giving up something? Let's hear it!

3.3.11

Hey folks!
Welcome to March! We've got some exciting news to share with you! And a few random and new needs... so buckle up...

First off, don't forget we are still doing coffee for Pulay... bring your mad cash and your grinder on Sunday and we'll hook you up! It's all going for those find folks in Pulay who need a boost to be a healthy, self-sustaining community.








The second "don't forget" is about the Men's Breakfast this Saturday at 8am at the church. There's a $5 suggested donation for the amazing food, but don't let that be prohibitive! Come, eat, listen and enjoy hanging with the dudes!






Point number 2: We are looking for someone in the church who has engineering skills that can take our drawing of the sign we want to do and do a wind test rating on it. We need to have this done in order for Happy Valley to approve a new sign for Sunnyside Road. Please email derik@eastridgechurch.org with your mad-wind-testing skills!





Neeeeext! We are setting up a crying room for mothers in the kids wing, so we would be MORE than happy to accept furniture donations like changing tables, rocking chairs, ottomans, or other comfortable furniture for a mother's room. You can email nancy@eastridgechurch.org if you've got materials that will help!






The fine print: Lastly, we need you to subscribe to our blog! Some of you may be reading this from facebook, but in order to know if this is reaching people we actually need you to read it on blogspot! So if you're still reading this I'm going to give you a treaty-treat! Every 10th person who "subscribes" to our blog (www.eastridgers.blogspot.com) will get a free barrista coffee coupon... Yes, I said that! So #10 person, #20 person and so on... I'm so not bluffing so make this happen Eastridge.

Also if you're still reading this and just want to have a little fun, add your comment with how many mistakes or words/phrases I made up during this post. Collect all 6!