John is now grown up, but he left us this wonderful image.
Lenten Devotions
February 23, 2021
"FATHER"
Although the Gospels tell us that Jesus often went off to pray by himself, we are only given one prayer that he taught to his followers. It begins: "Our Father." Much to my surprise, my inter-linear Greek-English New Testament (my "trot" or translation crutch if you will) shows that both the Gospels of Matthew and Luke use "Pater," the Latin word for "father." Scholars like to think Jesus actually used the Hebrew word "Abba" which they translate "Dad" or "Daddy" to show that Jesus wanted us to see God as close and accessible, not some distant authority figure.
This should remind us of the words of the Hebrew prophet Jeremiah:
Am I a God nearby, says the Lord,
And not a God far off?
Who can hide in secret places
So that I cannot see them? says the Lord.
Do I not fill heaven and earth, says the Lord.
Jeremiah 23:23-24 NRSV
May we not hide, but be open to God's bold plans for us.
Lyn Pickhover, Lent, 2021
Lenten Devotions
February 22, 2021
DAN WOODMAN'S ORDINATION
Today is a very special day when the Central Association of the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ ordains our own Dan Woodman as a minister of the UCC. You need to register to join the Zoom ceremony at 3:00.
Since the UCC subscribes to the principle of "the priesthood of all believers," while Dan receives his official credentials today, in reality, his ministry began many years ago when he made his first commitment to serve his church. He was an active lay leader, earned his Master of Divinity degree at Andover Newton Theological Seminary, wrote reams of papers, met repeatedly with the Central Association Committee on Ministry, wrote more papers before his Ecclesiastical Council which declared him "fit for ministry" in the UCC. Along the way, Dan joined the FFC where he was a student minister and sabbatical interim pastor before he became Associate Pastor at Pilgrim Congregational Church in Leominster.
Dan has worked hard toward ordination. It will be a real pleasure to address him as "The Rev. Daniel Woodman" from now on.
Congratulations and Best Wishes, Dan, from all of us at the Franklin Federated Church.
Lenten Devotions
February 21, 2021
FASTING
Fasting is a way of emptying our lives to make more room for God. A contemporary fast (for Lent) could include:
A commitment to spend fewer hours watching television, or abstain entirely from TV for the season.
A choice to spend less time on the internet and more time offline with family and friends.
A promise not to buy luxuries or possessions you don't really need.
A decision to clear out the clutter in your home and donate to Goodwill or some other charity the possessions you can live without.
"The purpose of a fast is NOT self-punishment. Instead, use it as a spiritual opportunity."
from: A Lime For Transformation,
The Journey of Lent, 2008
Thank you, Nancy Ross
Lenten Devotions
February 20, 2021
A Time for Fasting or Feasting?
By Rev. Mary Poole
This COVID year has felt like one long Lenten fast.
Forty-plus weeks of quarantine, social distancing, uncertainty, and anxiety about health, jobs, the economy, racism, and politics. Enough, already!
Instead of wallowing in deprivation and scarcity this Lent, why not consider God's abundance -and ours? Instead of FASTING, we could be FEASTING.
William Arthur Ward invites us to do just that:
Fast from thoughts of illness; feast on the healing power of God.
Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness.
Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude.
Fast from discouragement; feast on hope.
Fast from worry; feast on divine order.
Fast from emphasis on differences; feast on the unity of life.
Fast from shadows of sorrow; feast on the sunlight of serenity.
Fast from problems that overwhelm;
Feast on prayer that gives you strength.
Lenten Devotions
February 19, 2021
LENTEN LOVE JUG
Find a special jar or container ...Decorate and place a Lenten Love Jug label on the container.
Each day during lent, perhaps at dinnertime, have each family member think of something for which they are thankful. ...Write it on a small piece of paper and place it in the jar along with a nickel, dime, or quarter for each item.
And also, because there is sometimes pain in our relationships with others, do the same when you have hurt someone and need their forgiveness.
At the end of Lent, take the money and give it to a service organization or agency that helps people in need.
(from the FFC 1999 Family Lenten and Easter Booklet,
put together by Susy-Affleck Childs and the CE committee)
contributed by Nancy Ross
Lenten Devotions
February 18, 2021
Ash Wednesday
There is some evidence that Ash Wednesday started in the 6th century in ancient Gaul, in what is now France, and that it was a day to mark the most egregious sinners in the church. Only the people who had messed up BIG TIME had to wear ashes—as a sign of public shame and humiliation. Now, surprise, surprise, this set up a dynamic where some people felt they were superior to others (the inferior ones, obviously, were the ones with the ashes; the superior ones had clean heads.) So, to counter this developing arrogance, priests began putting ashes on their own heads on Ash Wednesday as well, as a sign of solidarity with the sinners.
A Prayer: O God, on this first day of Lent, help us to remember that we are all human; we all make mistakes; we all need forgiveness; we are all in this together. Amen.
Rev. Dr. Marlayna Schmidt
Lenten Devotions
February 17, 2021