Media Connections for Sixth Sunday in Eastertide

Our texts for this Sixth Sunday in Eastertide are Acts 17:22-34 and John 14:15-21, which you can read here.

In this week's texts, as I thought about the nature of the Holy Spirit, here is the one phrase that really captured my attention:

This is the Spirit of truth."-John 14:17

Truth. Yikes. Now THERE's a concept that can inspire some debate. What is truth, anyway?

To help you start mulling over this, consider some of the quotes and images below. Since motivational quotes and posters are pretty ubiquitous these days, a lot of different thoughts and statements on truth were not hard to find:

(NOTE: Just because I post something on here does not mean I agree with it...these are all things to get us thinking and stimulate conversation!)

Media Connections for the Fourth Sunday in Eastertide

Our scriptures this week are Acts 2:37-47 and John 14:23-29, which you can read here.

Over the next five Sundays leading up to Pentecost, we will be continuing our series on the Holy Spirit--considering what it is we are inviting into our lives when we say "Come, Holy Spirit." What are we welcoming when we welcome God in this invisible but powerful form to live in us, around us, among us? What does the Holy Spirit do?

This week's sermon will focus on how the Holy Spirit serves as a reminder--as we hear in our Gospel text, Jesus promised us that "the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you." What does it mean to be reminded? Of what do we need to be reminded?

Here are a few things to get you started turning these questions over in your head.

A beautiful drawing by Cerezo Barreto, imagining what it looks like when the Spirit comes to abide with us--or make the Spirit's home with us, as the word "abide" means literally:

Some interesting statistics (though I don't know how credible they are, they do speak to our forgetfulness):

Researcher Karen Bolla says the things people most often forget are:

1) Names (83%)

2) Where something is (60%)

3) Telephone numbers (57%)

4) Words (53%)

5) What was said (49%)

6) Faces (42%)

7) Whether we just did something (38%)

Finally, this remarkable song by Jason Gray: "Remind Me Who I Am." Don't we all need that to be done for us every now and then? The video is incredibly powerful as well.

Media Connections for Second Sunday in Eastertide

Our scriptural focus for this Second Sunday in Eastertide will be upon John 20:19-31--but in particular the first 5 verses, 19-23. You can read the whole passage here, but the connections below will be mostly to the beginning of the story.

A couple of pieces of art that imagine what the scene of Jesus breathing the Holy Spirit on the disciples that first Easter evening may have been like:

"Jesus Breathes His Spirit Upon the Disciples," by Hanna Cheriyan Varghese

"Appearance to the Disciples" by Ed de Guzman

I hunted and hunted for a movie clip I believe illustrates the power of Jesus' breath in a beautiful way--"The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" from C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia. The movie doesn't catch the fullness of how Lewis describes this scene in the book, but you can catch a glimpse of it by watching this link I hope: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBOcsXEADR4 

Finally, in the coming weeks we will be spending time exploring the Holy Spirit together, this gift the risen Christ gives to us to be active in our lives and help us actively carry on Christ's work in the world. The scripture doesn't always give us a clear-cut definition of what the Holy Spirit is, but it does tell us--in lots of different ways--what it is that the Holy Spirit does. The Wordle below, which includes many of the activities of the Holy Spirit mentioned in the Bible, will be our bulletin cover for the next several weeks. Which of these attributes strike you as most important? Which are new to you? Which are most familiar?

An Image for Maundy Thursday

Consider the picture below, by artist Lars Justinen, of Jesus washing the feet of world leaders. The image is of prominent world leaders from the year 2007, when this piece of art was commissioned: German Chancellor Angela Merkel; Tony Blair, England; Kofi A. Annan, UN; Osama bin Laden; George W. Bush; Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh; and Jiang Zemin, former president of China. What does this image evoke in you as we prepare to remember Jesus' sharing of the last supper and washing of his disciples' feet tonight--and his new commandment for us to do the same?

Hope to see you tonight for Maundy Thursday worship at 7. For me, it is one of the most meaningful and powerful services of the year.

Media Connections for Palm Sunday

Our texts for this Palm/Passion Sunday are Matthew 21:1-11 and Matthew 27:11-54, which you can read here. The media connections below focus on the first text, of the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.

My absolute favorite Palm Sunday song, which Jeremy sang for us in worship a few years back, is Andrew Peterson's Hosanna. "Hosanna" is not just a word of praise; it is a cry that means, "Save us!" From what do we need to be saved? Consider that as you listen to the song below. I hear "Hosanna" totally differently after hearing this song.



I have a poster of the print below that I hope to display somewhere in worship on Sunday (someone please remind me to do this!). It is “Guatemala: Procession” by Betty LaDuke. I love how often this story has been envisioned across different cultures in vibrant, varied ways.

Beyond art, reflect on reality. Look at these images of modern Christians around the world celebrating Palm Sunday in their context. Why do you think this story has connected with so many? What looks common among the various ways groups retell this story? What looks different?

In Ivory Coast, West Africa:

 In Jerusalem:

 In Krakow, Poland

 In Pakistan:

 In El Salvador:

 In Paris:

 In Spain:

 In the Republic of Georgia:

Media Connections for the Fifth Sunday in Lent

Our texts for this Sunday are two stories of resurrection: Ezekiel 37:1-14 and John 11:1-45, which you can read here.

After reading these stories, here are some pieces of art, music, and story to inspire your reflection and thinking:

First, the wonderful illumination of this passage from one of my favorite modern works of art which I have shared with you all before, The Saint John's Bible. Look at the image of the bones across the bottom of the page. What else do you see in this picture? Why do you think the artist included these things?

This beautiful seriograph of the Raising of Lazarus by John August Swanson shows not just Lazarus, but an entire community wrapped up in this scene. What do you see in the people on the fringes of the action? Where are Mary and Martha in this scene, do you think, and what are their reactions?

The Ezekiel passage speaks of the wind of God's breath bringing new life. A children's book that really captures this idea is "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind" by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer, which tells of Kamkwamba's effort to bring hope to his drought-stricken village in Malawi by figuring out

how to harness the wind to create electricity that can pump water. You can see a great sample of the book, which has beautiful language and illustrations, by clicking on the image of the book to the right.

Finally, one of the truest and most powerful songs I have ever heard about resurrection, by Andy Gullahorn and Jill Phillips; listen for the reference to the Lazarus story from John 11.

Media Connections for the Fourth Sunday in Lent

Our stories for this week are stories of seeing--two of my favorites (okay, I have a lot of favorites, but these are definitely among them!)--1 Samuel 16:1-13 and John 9:1-41, which can be read here--and I strongly encourage you to give them a read, so that hearing the story versions of them on Sunday (and engaging the connections below) can be even more meaningful.

When I was reading the stories for this week, the first memory that came up for me was of our Music and Arts camp back in 2011, when our kids memorably acted out the story of Samuel anointing David--the youngest of all his brothers, one everyone overlooked--to be king. I went back through the archives and found these great pictures of the "brothers" lined up, "Samuel" anointing "David," and the Spirit descending on young David. There is power in telling the story ourselves, with our own bodies!

I also connected these stories quickly to a song I listen to a lot when I feel like I am having a hard time seeing the world and others as God sees it--a song that is really a prayer. I encourage you to give it a listen--"Give Me Your Eyes," by Brandon Heath:

If you're into poetry, here is a lovely and thought provoking offering from David Whyte's book Songs for Coming Home, entitled "The Opening of Eyes"(1984):

That day I saw beneath dark clouds
the passing light over the water
and I heard the voice of the world speak out,
I knew then, as I had before
life is no passing memory of what has been
nor the remaining pages in a great book
waiting to be read.

It is the opening of eyes long closed.
It is the vision of far off things
seen for the silence they hold.
It is the heart after years
of secret conversing
speaking out loud in the clear air.

It is Moses in the desert
fallen to his knees before the lit bush.
It is the man throwing away his shoes
as if to enter heaven
and finding himself astonished,
opened at last,
fallen in love with solid ground.


Finally, I came across a really wonderful quote from late 19th century French artist Paul Gaugin: "I shut my eyes in order to see." As you consider what this might mean, try engaging a couple of famous works by the painter below. What do you see in these? What do you see in them when you shut your eyes?