revnancyduncan

Watch the video below to view a preview of my Easter reflections.

https://1drv.ms/v/s!ArI93Gt9eFRcgYEuGvau_-P2lh6igw?e=el3HW6

Today, I carry my grief to the tomb.

Grief as I remember my mother and my sister.
Grief as I stay home and miss visits with my father.
Grief for those locked down in nursing homes or assisted living facilities and the families who cannot see them.
Grief for those without work and for those who work in places of fear or danger. 
Grief because I cannot see each of you in the flesh and welcome you with a smile or a touch. 
Grief for those who have died and those who are dying—so often alone.
Grief for the funerals and goodbyes that are not being said.
Grief.

The only way through grief is through it.  There are no short cuts.  Detours bring us back to the same place.  There is no statute of limitations on grief.  Grief returns. 

The psalmist sang, “yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.”  We are walking through the valley of the shadow of death.

Uncertainty is the way.  Love is the way. Resurrection and rebirth are the way.

There were no trumpets, no songs, no Easter lilies or Easter baskets on that first Easter. There were women in grief who got up early to do the impossible.  They went to the tomb even though they knew that they would be unable to roll away the stone. Yet still they went.

I have no idea how to pastor a church in a time of pandemic.  I know how to show up, how to open my arms, how to listen.  Not only do I not know how to create fancy facebook posts, upload video, or adjust the microphone on Skype, but I struggle to walk in the place of not knowing how I will roll away the stone. I make the mistake of thinking that I need to be the one to roll away the stone.

This Easter, we walk (apart) together in the place of not knowing and of not understanding—the place of fear and amazement.

I suppose it is always that way.  Even as we gather in the churches, we always come with our doubts and our fears.  This year, our uncertainty and the presence of death is obvious.  This year, some of the trappings (sanctuary, organ, lilies) have been stripped away forcing us to search for and lean on the essence of our faith.

“Don’t be alarmed,” he [the young man dressed in a white robe] said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”

Mark 15:6-7

We join the women to search for the risen Christ in the pandemic.  We join the women in fear and trembling to first find Jesus and then preach Jesus and his love.   

On Easter Day, the women encountered the angel.  “Jesus is Risen,” they were told.  “Go and tell his disciples and Peter.”  Even though Peter had denied Jesus three times, the women were given specific instructions to seek Peter out.  Even though we may have denied Jesus over and over again, God includes us, just as God reached out deliberately to Peter.

On Easter, particularly Easter in the midst of the Corona Virus, we hold two seemingly contradictory premises. 

First, Christ is Risen.  Risen Indeed. Alleluia! 

Second, “Wait!  What?  “Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.”

We hold both the certainty and bewilderment.

Just as we cannot will grief away but instead must sit with it, neither can we shortcut our own fears, our own confusion, and our own terror.  Fear, terror, and confusion are part of the resurrection. 

Transformation and rebirth are hard work.  God’s promise is not that we will not encounter death or fear but that God is with us in the times of death and fear.  “Yea though I walk THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou are with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.”

God is with us in this pandemic.  Right here.  Sharing bread. We were never promised an easy road.  We were promised companionship on the journey.  Jesus is with us in the garden, on boat when the seas are rough, on the cross, at the table.

This pandemic, is stripping away so many illusions.  About health.  About security. About safety. About economics. About how to be a family or community or church.  It is forcing us to see our lives through new eyes and to grapple with what really matters.

We live the resurrection as we face each day with love, courage and hope. 

We live the resurrection as we discover ways to love one another from afar.

We live the resurrection when we go to the places of death with love.

We live in resurrection as we live with hope and joy in the midst of all that we do not know about what the future may hold.

We live in resurrection when we join the women at the tomb ready to anoint Jesus even as we have no idea how the stone may be rolled away.

Christ is risen!  Alleluia.  Amen.

This email reminds me (Nancy) that telling old stories in new ways is not new for the people of the Broad Bay Church. Hope you enjoy this message from the Scheuzgers and wonderful video produced by our church school in 2015.

Sometimes it’s just fun to watch something old anew, especially in these Days of Virus.

Enjoy this one again… for the first time.

Our boys never get tired of hearing how young everyone sounds.
Lego Holy Week

When you think about it, besides the big one, there are a lot of messages in Holy Week:-The crowd cheering; the same crowd chanting & crying out & crying (for the same guy).-Riding in on a donkey; stumbling out with a cross.-A meal with friends with immense meaning.-A quiet prayer; too tired to stay awake.-A conflicted follower who thought he was doing the right thing but betrayed his teacher; and in the end, it had to happen. Poor guy.-A dead body going in; a new life coming out.

Happy Holy Week everyone. Peace & health to you all.

~The Scheuzgers

Message                   “She has done what she could.” Mark 11:1-11 and Mark 14:1-9
                                Rev. Nancy Duncan

“It was now two days before the Passover and the feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth, and kill him; for they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be a tumult of the people.”  Mark 14:1-2

Jesus was nearing his death.
He was in Jerusalem, the place of danger. 
Jesus was in the home of Simon the Leper—an outcast presumably. 
A woman anointed Jesus with Nard, worth a year’s wages. 
Some scoffed at the expense.
But Jesus defended the woman who poured out an incredible gift. 
It was generous, loving, loyal gift.
Jesus said, “She has done what she could.” 
She has anointed my body for burying.

We are talking and thinking about death these days. 
Not just as something far in the future but as real—deadly.
Filling up our hospitals and morgues.
And so what is our response? 

To do what we can.
To stay home.
To make masks.
To love with wild abandon.
To call our friends, neighbors, family and simply love them.
To share.

She broke the flask and poured it over Jesus’ head in an act of love and generosity. How can we join the woman and anoint one another before death? What generous gifts of love do we have to offer one another?  What kindnesses?  What thank yous can we share?  What apologies can we make?  What prayers may we offer?  We are on a journey with Jesus.  Jesus walks with us no matter what.

May our hearts remain open to Christ’s love even as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. 
May our hearts remain open to Christ’s love in the garden, on the cross and at the empty tomb. Amen.

Today we shared a virtual communion using the beautiful words of Maren Tirabassi. Read it slowly and peruse her other poems and prayers.

https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/2343678/posts/2639705134

And if that link fails, here are Maren’s holy words.

Online Communion for Palm Sunday

April 5, 2020

By Maren C. Tirabassi

Please take and adapt to your various online formats.

This is a service for those who want to share Communion in an online community during a time of quarantine // lockdown // shelter in place. I am sure that a number of denominations are creating resources for this occasion and I would like to add to the choices. This liturgy includes the theological premise that lay sharing in the preparation and words of consecration over a table blesses the elements received fully and completely. In other words, there is no need for a clergy person to handle them. This may be uncomfortable for some.

This is a simple service which begins with an announcement on Sunday, March 29 (or during the week prior to April 5) and continues with words of liturgy, to which you can add language, music, gestures and practices. (For example, some churches pour the drink for the shared cup and some do not, some bring elements forward as part of an offertory and some do not, some include a confession and assurance of grace, musical responses or a hymn and others do not. Shape this to be familiar to the congregation but not an exact replica, which leads people to be more aware that they are missing the gathered community. Make it a celebration of the possibility of online connection, not an apology for something that is not-as-good as in-person worship.

Announcement … “Save the Date” March 29 (or during the following week)

On Sunday, April 5, Palm (and, for some, Passion) Sunday we share together Holy Communion in our online interactive worship.

Before the time of the service you will want to prepare some bread, a slice or a small loaf of any kind of bread. In some parts of the world tortilla, rice cake, cassava are used as this element which is defined not as a wheat product but as the most common food of the people. Let it be something you alone or you with others in your house may break and share. Prepare a cup or cups of juice — perhaps grape or cranberry — or wine, with or without alcohol.

Set these elements in the living room or kitchen where you experience worship electronically with our faith community. Perhaps you want to put them on a lovely cloth or fabric that reminds you of a special time or a person deeply connected with you in the communion of saints. Perhaps you will light a candle or place a flower or plant or the photograph of someone you wish to bring into the circle of faith beside the bread and the cup.

Thank you for your preparation.

Celebration of Holy Communion

(Pause to invite those who have not already prepared elements to do so. Assure them that even an English muffin can become a sacrament, even a cup of water or tea

become a remembrance of God’s redeeming love)

Invitation

For Holy Communion this morning,

I invite you to lend Christ your table.

On the first day of Holy Week long ago,

people throughout Judea arrived

at the dusty gates of Jerusalem,

primed with “Hosanna” in their hearts

and Jesus asked to borrow a donkey.

On the Thursday that followed,

Jesus rented or was given

John Mark’s mother’s Upper Room

to celebrate the Passover with the disciples.

On the afternoon of the resurrection,

Jesus was invited into a house in Emmaus

and used the bread of that hospitality

to break and bless.

Lend Christ your table, your bread, your cup and your heart,

for, as the disciples told the person who loaned the donkey,

“The Lord has need of it.”

Prayer of Consecration

Leader:          We are one bread, one body, one cup of blessing.

Though we are many throughout the earth

and this church community is scattered,

we are one in Christ.

In your many kitchens, and living rooms,

rest your hands lightly upon these elements

which we set aside today to be a sacrament.

Let us ask God’s blessing upon them.

Unison:         Gentle Redeemer, there is no lockdown on your blessing

and no quarantine on grace.

Send your Spirit of life and love,

power and blessing

upon every table where your child shelters in place,

that this Bread may be broken and gathered in love

and this Cup poured out to give hope to all.

Risen Christ, live in us, that we may live in you.

Breathe in us, that we may breathe in you.

Words of Remembering

Leader:          We remember that Paul the apostle

wrote letters to congregations throughout places

we now call Greece, Turkey and Macedonia,

and they were the first “remote” worship resources.

Our online service has a long heritage.

The Communion words sent to the church at Corinth were these:

For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you,

that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed

took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks,

he broke it and said,

“This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying,

“This cup is the new covenant in my blood.

Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup,

you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Sharing of the Elements

Leader:          Let us in our many places receive the gift of God, the Bread of Heaven.

Unison:         We are one in Christ in the bread we share.

Leader:          Let us in our many places receive the gift of God, the Cup of Blessing.

Unison:         We are one in Christ in the cup we share.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Leader:          Let us pray in thanksgiving for this meal of grace,

rejoicing that, by the very method of our worship,

we have embodied the truth that Christ’s love

is not limited by buildings made with human hands,

nor contained in human ceremonies,

but blows as free as the Spirit in all places.

Unison:         Spirit of Christ, you have blessed our tables and our lives.

May the eating of this Bread give us courage to speak faith and act love,

not only in church sanctuaries, but in your precious world,

and may the drinking of this Cup renew our hope

even in the midst of pandemic.

Wrap your hopeful presence around all

whose bodies, spirits and hearts need healing,

and let us become your compassion and safe refuge.  Amen

Online Communion for Palm Sunday was written by the Rev. Maren C. Tirabassi.

©2020 Maren Tirabassi, all publishing rights reserved.  Permission for congregations to use in worship or educational settings, including streaming.

Today I share a link to a devotional from the Boothbay Harbor Congregational Church. The speaker is Donald C. Duncan who spent his professional life as a teacher of Mathematics; I am his daughter.

Never assume that it is only the clergy who have something to say.

Lockdown – Brother Richard Hendrick

Yes there is fear.
Yes there is isolation.
Yes there is panic buying.
Yes there is sickness.
Yes there is even death.
But,
They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise
You can hear the birds again.
They say that after just a few weeks of quiet
The sky is no longer thick with fumes
But blue and grey and clear.
They say that in the streets of Assisi
People are singing to each other
across the empty squares,
keeping their windows open
so that those who are alone
may hear the sounds of family around them.
They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland
Is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound.
Today a young woman I know
is busy spreading fliers with her number
through the neighbourhood
So that the elders may have someone to call on.
Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples
are preparing to welcome
and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary
All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting
All over the world people are looking at their neighbours in a new way
All over the world people are waking up to a new reality
To how big we really are.
To how little control we really have.
To what really matters.
To Love.
So we pray and we remember that
Yes there is fear.
But there does not have to be hate.
Yes there is isolation.
But there does not have to be loneliness.
Yes there is panic buying.
But there does not have to be meanness.
Yes there is sickness.
But there does not have to be disease of the soul
Yes there is even death.
But there can always be a rebirth of love.
Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now.
Today, breathe.
Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic
The birds are singing again
The sky is clearing,
Spring is coming,
And we are always encompassed by Love.
Open the windows of your soul
And though you may not be able
to touch across the empty square,
Sing.

March 13th 2020

https://brorichardblog.blogspot.com/2020/03/lockdown-brother-richard-hendrick.html

Here are worship resources for Sunday, March 29, the fifth Sunday of Lent.

This is the day that God has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Holy God,
God of all creation,
In this time of certain uncertainty, draw us close to you.
We confess that sometimes we fall into the abyss of fear and worry.   Open our eyes and hearts and ears to the wonder around us.
We confess that we worry about our own well being and turn away from those who have less.
We confess that we fail to be present to the gifts of each day.  Open our eyes and hearts and ears to the blessings of today.
Slow us down.  Calm us down.  Let us rest in your love.
Amen.

Assurance of Grace:  You are God’s beloved.  You are forgiven.  You are always drawing us back to your presence.  Thanks be to you, O God.

Joe Cough playing ‘Smile’ by Charlie Chaplin

Scripture Reading:  Mark 13:1-8, 24-37

1 As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!” 2 Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.” 3 When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?” 5 Then Jesus began to say to them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. 6 Many will come in my name and say, “I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.

24 “But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. 27 Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. 28 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. 35 Therefore, keep awake — for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, 36 or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”

We are in the midst of Lent, the time of walking in the wilderness, pondering the ways of life and death.  While I don’t think that God decided to smite us with a pandemic, we are presented with a different Lenten journey than most of us have ever experienced.

It is hard and filled with fear and grief and anxiety for many of us.

Jesus told us to pay attention and to watch and stay awake.   This is the beginning of birth pangs.  Stay awake.  Awake to the opportunities to love our neighbors by keeping our distance and being intentional about picking up the phone because we won’t see them at church, at work, or in the community.

We are learning in this time.  Learning about how we react to fear.  Learning to smile at one another.   Learning to share.  Learning to be followers of Jesus in the community–not in the church building.  We can find the holy in this time.   Learning to preach from the places of death instead of within the walls of a building.

Holy is the decision to keep our distance.  Holy is the recognition that we cannot close our borders to illness.  Holy is the recognition that we are in this together.  Holy is the care of those who are working in our hospitals and grocery stores.  Holy is the care of those who are providing essential services from first responders to utility workers.

Jesus calls us to stay awake and pay attention to what God is doing in our midst.  Pay attention to the coming of spring and to the ways in which we are pulling together to love God and love our neighbor.  Where and how do we see signs of God’s love? In the smile of a neighbor, the kindness of a stranger, the faithfulness of those who serve our community.

We journey with Jesus to the cross.  We journey with Jesus to the places of death and the places of healing.  We journey with the women to the empty tomb where we will learn again that death is not the end of the story.

May you find peace and joy this week. Amen.

Take some time for quiet and prayer.

Listen to God.  Bring your prayers.  Listen.

A version of The Lord’s Prayer
from The New Zealand Prayer Book

Eternal Spirit,
Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God, in whom is heaven:

The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom
sustain our hope and come on earth.

With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and testing, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.

For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,
now and for ever. Amen.

I hope you enjoy the video below.  You are the seed that will bring new life, sending sparkles of faith, hope and love.  Go in peace and joy.  Amen.

 

 

Thanks to everyone who braved the journey by Skype to Broad Bay Worship this morning.   We gathered and laughed and prayed and learned new ways of communication.

After the Assurance of Grace I shared this email from Josie Davis:

Sophie and I have been spending a lot of time playing music together and today we decided to record Godard’s Berceuse from “Jocelyn.” We roped in Colin to pluck a cello bass line and Luke to play viola. We wanted to share the music with the Broad Bay community because we think that music has an important role to play right now – we hope you can pass this along to everyone if it feels right.  Sending Love, Josie and Sophie.

Click below to hear something beautiful and uplifting played for us.

Berceuse_Jocelyn

Then we read the Scripture Reading: Psalm 23 – a Psalm of David
(translation from The Inclusive Bible) We read it three times sharing our reactions to this ancient text that have brought comfort to so many. 
YHWH, you are my shepherd, I want nothing more.
You let me lie down in green meadows;
You lead me beside restful waters: you refresh my soul.
You guide me to lush pastures, for the sake of your Name.
Even if I’m surrounded by shadows of Death,
I fear no danger, for you are with me.
Your rod and your staff, they give me courage.
You spread a table for me in the presence of my enemies,
And you anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows!
Only goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in your house, YHWH, for days without end.

We took an offering by reminding people that they can give by mailing a check to PO Box 161, Waldoboro, ME 04572 or going to the website at https://www.broadbaychurch.org/capital-campaign.
There will be a pull down menu with a choice of general fund or capital campaign.  

We shared joys and concerns and prayed for health care workers and all those providing essential services.  We expressed gratitude for one another, for health care workers, grocery store workers, and everyone who is doing their part by staying home to limit the spread of corona-virus.  We prayed for our community and for those who find worship on the internet to be challenging.

We laughed.

And after the benediction, it was what Blake reminded us was happy chaos as we essentially moved into the fellowship time.   It is good to be together.

Live in Peace.

 

I was at the church today practicing social distancing.  Greeted Marc the Construction Superintendent from across the room.

Explored the building.  Stopped in the fellowship hall and noticed that Carol Hakkila had brought fresh flowers.

Then I walked up to the sanctuary.   Here is what I saw.

https://1drv.ms/v/s!ArI93Gt9eFRcgP44SV1zEM765ok7jg

 

 

 

Colin was scheduled to play his viola for today’s service.  He writes, “This is a piece by French composer Faure called Apres in Reve ‘After a Dream.’ I planned to play this during your service after Assurances of Grace. Indeed, some calm music may be what we need in these uncertain and unpredictable times.”  Colin’s music

To learn more about Colin:  Halcyon

Today was another beautiful day.  Enjoy the signs of spring. Enjoy the opportunity to spend time alone or with close family.  Wash your hands. Read a book.  Write a book.  Draw a picture.  Sort through the old family pictures.  Rake some leaves. Bake a pie. Call someone.  Knit a sweater.  Build something. Pray.  And pray some more.

The poem below is helping me through my fear. Resting in God is enough.  May we find the grace in stillness.

Pandemic

What if you thought of it
as the Jews consider the Sabbath–
the most sacred of times?
Cease from travel.
Cease from buying and selling.
Give up, just for now,
on trying to make the world
different than it is.
Sing. Pray. Touch only those
to whom you commit your life.
Center down.

And when your body has become still,
reach out with your heart.
Know that we are connected
in ways that are terrifying and beautiful.
(You could hardly deny it now.)
Know that our lives
are in one another’s hands.
(Surely, that has come clear.)
Do not reach out your hands.
Reach out your heart.
Reach out your words.
Reach out all the tendrils
of compassion that move, invisibly,
where we cannot touch.Promise this world your love–
for better or worse,
in sickness and in health,
so long as we all shall live.

Lynn Ungar 3/11/2020