Fairfax Community Church, UCC - Church Services Audio:

ÐÏà¡±á>þÿ 13þÿÿÿ0ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿì¥Á5@ ð¿r#bjbjÏ2Ï2 (,XXXÿÿÿÿÿÿˆ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¸```8˜¬¸p¶ÄÄ"ææææææï ñ ñ ñ ñ ñ ñ $&RxÐ¤aææaa¤¤ææ*i i i aˆ¤æ¤æï i aï i i ‡ ¤¤‡ æ¸ ¿ïI Ä`é0‡ ï @0p‡ H :H‡ ¸¸¤¤¤¤H¤‡ hæZ@@i €4´æææ¸¸$Ü„S ¸¸ÜREFLECTION READ LENTEN POEM: ahh, this lovely poem has been speaking to us for six weeks now! The richness of it’s images has given us much food for thought. For many of us, this poem points to some pieces of an Ultimate Truth we cannot fully articulate. Poets, artists, musicians, and writers offer us windows, lenses through which to view this Truth. In our discussion last Thursday night, which centered on the movie the Passion of the Christ, we discovered how this movie is --for many-- one of those windows that point to the Ultimate. A week ago, I heard discussions by a Zen Priest, a Catholic Priest, and a Rabbi who saw this movie --- each of them found a different piece of the Ultimate Truth was illuminated for them. The same was true for the two people in our discussion group of six, who had seen the movie. Each of them had a different, profound awakening to a piece of the truth of Jesus’ life and teachings. You have undoubtedly heard the fable of the six blind people who came upon an elephant, each one stationed at a different part of the elephant’s body. Attempting to come up with a description of the elephant, each one reported what their part was like....one said the elephant was a huge wall....another said no, it was like a rope....another thought it was a tree trunk......or snake. None of them knew the full truth of the elephant, but each one had a part. The stories in the New Testament are descriptions or reports that point to the essence of Jesus’ teachings. We have some stories that are probably quite factual.....as well as many that clearly reflect the influence of earlier Jewish Scriptures.....the gospel of John is thought by many to be a beautiful, and mostly literary description of Jesus’ life and teachings. We’ve talked before about how the enormity of who Jesus was, and what he did in his short time of ministry and teaching, challenged his followers and those who formed the early house churches to find ways to articulate a story that is truly bigger than life. And we are now entering a week in which this challenge becomes enormous. The story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem tries to give us a picture of what it was like at the peak of his ministry.....he was so beloved by that time, that crowds gathered to welcome him. They paid him the kind of homage reserved for the highest spiritual leaders. These people knew he was extraordinary – that his life was a powerful demonstration of the extravagant, boundless love of God. Nothing one could say would adequately describe what it was like to be in his presence, I would imagine. But they had to try. So this story of the waving of the palm branches actually comes from the Jewish Holy Days called Sukkoth....thanks to Bishop John Shelby Spong for this information in is book Liberating the Gospels. Sukkoth is a seven-day period in which Jews build a special structure called a Sukka in which they are to dwell.....they are to use it as the place in which they sleep, eat, study and pray. It is a temporary structure made from branches cut from a living tree....and part of the ritual of Sukkoth is the waving of special branches called lulab. From the Internet: The sukka represent the negation of human artifice in order to recreate the experience of direct sustenance from God. In other words, living in the sukka means living within God's hands, being totally in God's presence, not in the manner of going to the synagogue or the Temple - where I enter a special holy realm divorced from this world - but as part of this world. One can live here and now, eat, drink, and sleep, under God's clouds of glory. The Divine Presence is within the world. In other words...... "Man does not live by bread alone, but by that which comes out of the mouth of God." Just by living, by being there, one is immersed in sanctity. So, this gives us a much fuller picture of what the Gospel writers meant when they described Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. The people in the story waved palm branches. Another tradition practiced during Sukkoth is chanting the words of Psalm 115 verses 25-26 ...Hosannah (which means “save us”) and “blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord”. So the crowd in the Palm Sunday procession are using rituals from this important Jewish Holy Day.....a ritual the writers of the gospels knew inside and out. It seems to me that they were indicating that this experience of being around Jesus was, for them, an experience of being immersed in Sanctity.......of experiencing the Divine Presence within the World. No wonder it was such a challenge to articulate!!! And what about us, now, today......where do we go from here?? We can only imagine what it was like to hear Jesus speak, to feel the love he must have emanated from every pore of his body. This story, this description....can point to that Ultimate, indescribable truth that Jesus clearly demonstrated in his life. But we cannot just be content to know what an amazing guy he was. As Christians we must wrestle with what his message to us means.....and what we are to do with our own lives to live out that message........I don’t believe his message was that we are to let him do all the work.........I’m very certain his teachings tell us that WE are to carry on his work. And I will speak more on this next week, on Easter. But before we get to Easter, we must pass through the dark last days of Jesus’ life – a time when all his friends not only deserted him, but betrayed and denied even knowing him. He was convicted and sentenced to death. How do we walk through this dark time, sandwiched as it is between Joy and Liberation? Because it is so difficult, many people choose to skip over it, avert their eyes and jump directly to Easter. Understandable, to be sure. But if you choose to enter into contemplation of Jesus’ actions during this time, you may gain some new insight into his message for us. You are invited to join us for our Maundy Thursday service, and/or come to the chapel for meditation on Good Friday. I invite you to travel this path in a way that feels right for you.....you may just choose to sit with the Bible and see what each of the Gospels have to say about this time. Do remember that these stories are each giving a piece of the picture......each pointing to a part of the Ultimate Truth of Jesus’ life and teachings. As busy as this time of year is, I encourage you to make some time to sit with this story.....it is my feeling that our experience of Easter is made richer and fuller when we can enter into a time of contemplation. There is not one “right experience” or “right method” of Holy Week.....it will be unique for you, this year, at this time of your life. AND, it is a part of the Journey, helping us to better understand that Big Ultimate Truth of God’s extravagant love. May each of you be blessed and held in that love this week. AMEN. PAGE PAGE 4 ì î ö ø + 6 ‡ ²³€…ý .9Ÿ¿Ð@E\]£¦®êRSš£Ò./19tŽ›¡ö2Û3=PUZô:?¦ïôß!T#V#W#X#Y#üøôøôøôøôüôðôìðìèìèðèðèôèäðäàèàðàðØðàðàðàðàÑàÍðÍÉÍÉÍÉÍàÅ»Å·³·Å¬¢jhmD0JUhËb»h–8íhVKƒhÁ#˜hPXÒh;(´56h;(´h!9(h¥LhJ8hJ8hPXÒhPXÒ>*hJ8hØ/hBhYhPXÒh–8íhC|šhÍ2+@³´]Shi45>?X#a#b#c#n#o#p#q#r#÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷ëâàëâàà÷„h]„hgdmD„øÿ„&`#$gdmDdhgdBX#q#ýýY#_#`#a#c#d#j#k#l#m#n#p#q#r#úðúìðúðáðúìÝÖhËb»h–8íhZ5 hZ5 0JmHnHuhmDjhmD0JU hmD0J &1h:pËb»°Ð/ °à=!°Ð"°Ð#Ð$Ð%°œL@ñÿLNormal$CJOJQJ^J_HaJmH sH tH DA@òÿ¡DDefault Paragraph FontRióÿ³RTable Normalö4Ö l4Öaö(kôÿÁ(No List4 @ò4mDFooter ÆàÀ!.)@¢.mDPage Numberr,ÿÿÿÿ³´]S h i 45>?Xabcnops˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€p˜0€€p˜0€€p˜0€€p˜0€€p˜0€€˜0€€p˜0€€˜0€€p˜0€€p˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€0HÆ£³´]S h i 45>sO900¤¢ˆtõO900€O900€G900¤¢ÜtõG900€G900€0à%O900€O900€O900€O900€O900¤¢Y#r#r#q#!•!ÿ•€ÿÿZƒÔh[ƒD`\ƒ\Q]ƒ´Õ"^ƒ4d_ƒtd||³ ³ ¤¤s……¹ ¹ s8*€urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags€City€9*€urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags€place€!ò ÷ †‡Œ¨8 = <DWX`cmps!pt¯¶ ‘™KP ¬¼°º¡[aãô¶»9>”œÆá4:©¯+0¶ÀWX`cmps333333333333333333333?MWXpsXpsÿÿ Sara VurekåZ5 7mDB!9(Í2+Ø/J8¥LYVKƒt'…ö;Á#˜C|š;(´Ëb»PXÒF ì–8íÿ@€DDrP@ÿÿUnknownÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿG‡z €ÿTimes New Roman5€Symbol3&‡z €ÿArial"1ˆðÐh_„Æn]„è„Æ»D 1D 1YðÐÐ´´4KK3ƒQðH)ðÿ?äÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿö;ÿÿNC:\Documents and Settings\sara\Application Data\Microsoft\Templates\Sermon.dotqToday we celebrate Palm Sunday, the day that Jesus entered Jerusalem, welcomed by the crowds as a conquering hero Sara Vurek Sara Vurekþÿà…ŸòùOh«‘+'³Ù0ð˜ (<HTd x„ ¬¸ ÄÐØàèärToday we celebrate Palm Sunday, the day that Jesus entered Jerusalem, welcomed by the crowds as a conquering herorodaSara VureklaraaraSermonrSara Vurekl5raMicrosoft Word 10.0@"¤@@ÒîÄ@úkÜÄ@´< I ÄDþÿÕÍÕœ.“—+,ù®0Xhp|„Œ”œ¤¬´ ¼:ä 1 KA rToday we celebrate Palm Sunday, the day that Jesus entered Jerusalem, welcomed by the crowds as a conquering heroTitle þÿÿÿþÿÿÿ!"#$%&'þÿÿÿ)*+,-./þÿÿÿýÿÿÿ2þÿÿÿþÿÿÿþÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿRoot Entryÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ÀFP× I Ä4€1TableÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿHWordDocumentÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ(,SummaryInformation(ÿÿÿÿ DocumentSummaryInformation8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ(CompObjÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿjÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿþÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿþÿ ÿÿÿÿ ÀFMicrosoft Word Document MSWordDocWord.Document.8ô9²q