Under the Oak Tree

April 14, 2019                    Luke 19:28-40                     Heather MacArthur

The Donkey

By G. K. Chesterton

When fishes flew and forests walked

And figs grew upon thorn,

Some moment when the moon was blood

Then surely I was born.

With monstrous head and sickening cry

And ears like errant wings,

The devil’s walking parody

On all four-footed things.

The tattered outlaw of the earth,

Of ancient crooked will;

Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb,

I keep my secret still.

Fools! For I also had my hour;

One far fierce hour and sweet:

There was a shout about my ears,

And palms before my feet.

April 13, 2019                         John 11:28-44                         Rev. Erin Counihan

April 12, 2019                                     Psalm 148                               Donna Cook

“Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created. The Lord established them forever and ever; The Lord fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.” (v. 5-6)

Monarch Butterflies became a complex “back to school“ sign for me in the 1980s. I was teaching in High Ridge and living in Lafayette Square. During a walk in the park I noticed what looked like orange flags or ribbons all over the shrubs that were around the small pond near the park entrance. They looked like those little flags that the utility companies use to mark their lines. Why were they all over the shrubbery? It wasn’t flags, it was butterflies, at least 100 butterflies! Monarch Butterflies all over the shrubbery! (Yes, I’m saying shrubbery, repeatedly.) I had never seen anything like it. I saw a similar vision outside of my school one day. The school neighbor hadn’t mown his lawn and the clover flowers were blooming beautiful purple. They too, were covered with orange butterflies galore. Around the world people view the butterfly as representing endurance, change, hope and new life.

I learned that the monarchs migrate through our area during “back to school time”. ( I often think of them as little orange and black school buses, heading off to school with a crew of kids starting a new year.) I now relish every monarch I see fly by during those months and try to lure them to my yard. (I have a friend in Baltimore who hatched out over 100 monarchs in her back yard last summer. I am so jealous.) I keep looking for those visions and I know they are rare to see in my own community.

As I learn more about butterflies I now know they migrate to special areas in Mexico and along our southwestern border. One of those areas is clearly in danger. The most diverse butterfly sanctuary in the county, the National Butterfly Center in Mission, Texas and other protected ares in the lower Rio Grande Valley are under threat from the current administration’s plan to build a extensive border wall. In December 2018 the US Supreme Court issued a ruling allowing the current administration to waive 28 federal laws, including the Endangered Species Act and the Clean Air Act and to begin construction on 33 new miles of border wall in the heart of the river valley – and right through the butterfly center. This project will include a 30 ft tall concrete and steel wall, roads and a 150 ft “reinforcement zone” where all vegetation will be cleared.

At this writing heavy equipment has arrived on the site and bulldozing may begin soon. Local inhabitants fear for the destroyed habitat, the ecotourism and the undocumented immigrants that are pushed further into marginal and dangerous areas.

The Psalmist (and God) surely would condemn any action that would drive a species to extinction or endanger human lives. We can’t claim to have dominion over God’s gift of the earth and all that is in it (Gen. 1:26) if we allow government policy and our own actions and inactions to “diminish the praises of earth and heaven.” We need to protect creation’s capacity to praise it’s Creator.

More information can be found here.

https://www.nationalbutterflycenter.org

Prayer: “Let them praise the name of the Lord, for the Lord’s name alone is exalted. The Lord’s glory is above heaven and earth.” (v.13)

April 9, 2019                               Psalm 146                         Brian Heuckroth

                                               Romans 10:1-13

                                                 John 9:18-41

Christianity brings to me a spirit of thankfulness, a practice of openness, and a lifelong pursuit of the truth in all things. Lent is for me a time to focus on inner meanings and higher truths, and to be comforted by the timeless support of a God who loves us all.

Praise the Lord, O my soul. Psalms 146:1

Every day which goes by contains many gifts and opportunities for thankfulness. I try to make it a point to recognize these moments, whether it’s a hot meal with loved ones, a job especially well done by my employees, or making the green light on that long left turn in my commute.

“Thank you Lord, for thinkin’ about me, I’m alive and doin’ fine…”

– Signs, by the 5-Man Electrical Band

For the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For hosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:12

We live in a complex world which is now very divided, particularly when strong forces benefit from a divided population. Compassion for others has never been more important. We can set an example each day of the type of world we wish to live in, where all are important and even the people with whom we disagree are not the enemy.

“My sweet Lord, Hallelujah, My my Lord, Hallelujah

Mmm, My Lord, Hare Krishna, My my my Lord, Hare Krishna”

– – My Sweet Lord, by George Harrison

Whether he (Jesus) be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. John 9:25

Jesus gave sight to a man blind from birth. The Jewish authorities could not accept such a miracle and wanted to assert that Jesus was a sinner. There are many parallels between the Jewish authorities of Christ’s time and the politicians of today. In both times, an agenda becomes more important than the truth to people who cling or aspire to power, and inevitably the truth becomes a casualty of the struggle, unless we care, unless we act, unless we persevere.

“I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.

– Amazing Grace, by John Newton,
popularized by Judy Collins and 1,000 others

April 8, 2019                           Psalm 121

You do not have to be good.

You do not have to walk on your knees

for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.

You only have to let the soft animal of your body

love what it loves.

Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.

Meanwhile the world goes on.

Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain

are moving across the landscapes,

over the prairies and the deep trees,

the mountains and the rivers.

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,

are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,

the world offers itself to your imagination,

calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting –

over and over announcing your place

in the family of things.

Mary Oliver
Wild Geese

April 7, 2019                   Mark 8:31-9:1                   Tegan Counihan Ratliff

Listen and reflect with these questions and the lyrics of the song Oceans by Hillsong

When do we save our life from sin?  When do we lose our life to sin?

When do you find it easy to follow Jesus?  When is it hard to follow Jesus ?

Have you ever suffered because you are a Christian?

Have you ever been tempted with the ability unto avoid suffering?

How does this passage encourage you to keep going?

You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand
And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise, my soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine
Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You’ve never failed and You won’t start now
So I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise, my soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior
I will call upon Your name
Keep my eyes above the waves
My soul will rest in Your embrace
I am Yours and You are mine

April 6, 2019                         Psalm 31:3                               Dena Roper

You are indeed my rock and my fortress;

   for your name’s sake lead me and guide me,

Song 275 from the purple hymnal.   The words are by Martin Luther. 

A Mighty Fortress is Our God.

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing.

Our Helper he, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.

For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe.

His craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our our striving would be losing,

Were not the right man on our side the man of God’s own choosing.

Dost ask who that may be?  Christ Jesus it is he.

Lord Sabaoth his name, from age to age the same and he must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,

we will not fear, for God hath willed his truth to triumph through us.

The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him.

His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure.  One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abide them.

The Spirit and the gifts are ours through him who with us sideth.

Let goods and kindred go, the mortal life also.

The body they may kill, truth abiding still.  His kingdom is forever.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for music and expression of your Word and for reminders that you are always with us.