Peace 

 



1After this there was a festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

2Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes. 3In these lay many invalids-blind, lame, and paralyzed. 4, 5One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. 6When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be made well?" 7The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; and while I am making my way, someone else steps down ahead of me." 8Jesus said to him, "Stand up, take your mat and walk." 9At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk.

Now that day was a sabbath.

John 5:1-9

 

Arise

WESLEY, Frank

1923-2002

 

Notes:

Wesley was born in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh into a fifth generation Christian family of Hindu and Muslim descent. He belongs to the Lucknow school of painting. His paintings reflect this influence and that of the Chughtai school of painting that flourished in India at the turn of the century. Wesley made art based on both biblical and secular themes. He used water colours, oil paintings, miniatures and wooden carvings.

Wesley's painting "Blue Madonna" was used for the first UNICEF Christmas card, while five of his paintings were exhibited at the 1950 Holy Year Exhibition in the Vatican. He is also known for designing the funeral urn for Mahatma Gandhi's ashes. 

“The arches of the underground cistern curve across the whole scene, recalling the rainbow of God’s first covenant with his people. Yet here is a scene of despair. The blind, lame and suffering are waiting for the slight ripple of the water which they believe will bring the angel of healing. Entering upon such darkness, Jesus’ presence sheds the only light. Jesus stands with his back to us in clothing as ragged as that of the poor, his body in shadow because all the light in the painting emanates from his face. A triangle is formed from the head of Jesus to a priest behind him, the blind man at his feet forming the third corner. A second triangle is formed by the outstretched arms of Jesus, with his right foot as the apex. These two intersecting triangles form the Star of David, symbolizing the law of the Jews. But this star is made by the body of Jesus and his relationship with people who are in need. He is the new Law, not of written words, but of God’s love and care. His hands stretched out in blessing presage the cross, God’s sign of this new covenant. The people leaning forward watching the water intently for the ripple seem to be unaware of Jesus’ presence. The moment of miracle is reserved for the only one who will rise from the water healed. It is worth noting that Jesus healed only one person that day, one whom he himself approached, not one who turned to him with a request. This scene is all about God’s love which seeks us out, bringing healing.” From Frank Wesley: Exploring Faith with a Brush by Naomi Wray.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let me keep my distance, always, from those

who think they have the answers.

Let me keep company always with those who say

“Look!” and laugh in astonishment,

and bow their heads.

~Mary Oliver

 

 

 

Peace, which is not of this world,

comes when we learn how

to hope beyond what we know is possible.

~ Patricia E. de Jong*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dine-Around

Tuesday, May 17, 2021

Greg and Laurie Romberg hosted our group.

There were nine of us.

 

Ann Moore brought colorful eggs for each of us from her henhouse.

 

Bible Study

Joann Burnham, Carolyn Alexander, Laura Mehmert

There were only three of us this week.

 

Sondra Kellogg, Karla Byrd, Marilee Bradford, and I got together on Thursday

 to watch Episodes 2 and 3 of The First Ladies.  We shall watch the rest of them next Wednesday.

 

 

Our fascinating program at Rotary this week.

ShelterBoxUSA

 

 

Our speakers gave an inspirational insight into all that

ShelterBox has done in the last two decades.

I have been fascinated by it ever since I first heard about it years ago.

 

 

I highly recommend the following sites!

What is included in emergency ShelterBoxes:

https://www.shelterboxusa.org/home-page/aid/

 

ShelterBox: 20 years of impact:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kagua1_lLrs

 

What aid is ShelterBox deploying in Ukraine:

https://www.shelterboxusa.org/the-ukraine-crisis-explained/

 

 

 

Some elk are beginning to calve.

No photo description available.

An oldie but goodie!

 

Friday morning, May 20, 2022

From my neighbor, Janet Way.

The hummingbirds were not fazed too much by our very big snow.

 

The snowfall is over and it is now quickly melting.

How wonderful to have this much-needed moisture!!!

 

 

 

 

Drop they still dews of quietness,

Till all our strivings cease;

Take from our souls the strain and stress,

And let our ordered lives confess

The beauty of Thy peace.

~ John Greenleaf Whittier**

 

 

 

 

 

May 22, 2022  Sixth Sunday of Easter - Year C

 

Previous OPQs may be found at:

 

  *  Not As This World Gives  by Patricia E. de Jong

 

**   from The Brewing of Soma, by John Greenleaf Whittier

 

9During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." 10When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.

11We set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis, 12and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some days. 13On the sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. 14A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. 15When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home." And she prevailed upon us.

Acts 16:9-15

 

Agnus Day, by James Wetzstein

Agnus Day appears with the permission of www.agnusday.org

 

 

 

  

 

Remembering

Kerin Alexander Siler

January 5, 1960 ~ May 14, 2022

I took this photo at the interment and reception for her father (our brother, Keith Wilson Alexander) in 2012.

 

 

 

 

Lectionary

Acts 16:9–15 

Psalm 67 

Revelation 21:10, 22—22:5 

John 14:23–29 or John 5:1–9

 

“Father, I pray . . . for those who will believe in me through their word, so that all may be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you . . . ”
John 17: 20-26

THE WORD:

In John’s account of the Last Supper, after his final teachings to his disciples before the events of his passion begin, Jesus addresses his Father in heaven.  He begins praying for himself, that he may obediently bring to completion the work of redemption entrusted to him by the Father.  Next, he prays for his disciples, that they may faithfully proclaim the word he has taught them.  Finally (today’s Gospel pericope), Jesus prays for the future Church – us – that we may be united in the “complete” love that binds the Father to the Son and the Son to his Church, and that in our love for one another the world may come to know God.

 

 

First Reading Acts 16:9-15

9During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." 10When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.

11We set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis, 12and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some days. 13On the sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. 14A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. 15When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home." And she prevailed upon us.

Psalm 67:1-7

1May God be gracious to us and bless us

and make his face to shine upon us,

Selah

2that your way may be known upon earth,

your saving power among all nations.

3Let the peoples praise you, O God;

let all the peoples praise you.

4Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,

for you judge the peoples with equity

and guide the nations upon earth.

Selah

5Let the peoples praise you, O God;

let all the peoples praise you.

6The earth has yielded its increase;

God, our God, has blessed us.

7May God continue to bless us;

let all the ends of the earth revere him.

Second Reading Revelation 21:10, 21:22-22:5

10And in the spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God.

22I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. 25Its gates will never be shut by day-and there will be no night there. 26People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 27But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.

1Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb2through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; 4they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

Gospel John 14:23-29

23Jesus answered him, "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.

25"I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26But the Advocate, 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. 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. 28You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I am coming to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. 29And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe.

Gospel John 5:1-9

1After this there was a festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

2Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes. 3In these lay many invalids-blind, lame, and paralyzed. 4, 5One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. 6When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be made well?" 7The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; and while I am making my way, someone else steps down ahead of me." 8Jesus said to him, "Stand up, take your mat and walk." 9At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk.

Now that day was a sabbath.