<font color='black' size='4' face='Times New Roman, Times, serif'><WBR>SPIRITUAL REFLECTIONS<br>
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April 1, 2010 - Maundy Thursday - Year C<br>
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(RCL) Exodus 12:1-4, 11-14; Psalm 116:1, 10-17; I Corinthians<br>
11:23-26; John 13:1-17, 31b-35<br>
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By Katerina K. Whitley<br>
<br>
[Sermons That Work] "And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father<br>
had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and<br>
was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and<br>
tied a towel around himself."<br>
<br>
Have you ever heard a verse of scripture as if for the first time?<br>
Have you ever noticed a connection that, in many hearings in the past,<br>
you had ignored? Did you now hear the stunning juxtaposition contained<br>
in this one sentence?<br>
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Full reflection:<br>
<A href="http://www.episcopalchurch.org/sermons_that_work_120925_ENG_HTM.htm">http://www.episcopalchurch.org/sermons_that_work_120925_ENG_HTM.htm<br>
</A><br>
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April 2, 2010 β Good Friday - Year C<br>
<br>
(RCL) Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Hebrews 10:16-25 or Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:7-9;<br>
John 18:1-19:42; Psalm 22<br>
<br>
By Katerina K. Whitley<br>
<br>
[Sermons That Work] "For this I was born, and for this I came into the<br>
world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth<br>
listens to my voice."<br>
<br>
Pilate asked him, "What is truth?"<br>
<br>
Good Friday comes every year with its unique burden of grief. We know<br>
the story, we have heard it, felt it, wept over it. But every year it<br>
comes to us with renewed regret and sorrow, even though, for the<br>
Christian, the outcome of the story does not remain in tragedy but<br>
emerges in triumph. Yet the pain of it never diminishes. When we hear<br>
the words of John, so simple and so utterly heartbreaking, we allow<br>
our hearts to be wounded anew.<br>
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Full reflection:<br>
<A href="http://www.episcopalchurch.org/sermons_that_work_120923_ENG_HTM.htm" target=_blank __removedLink__90614226__href="http://www.episcopalchurch.org/sermons_that_work_120923_ENG_HTM.htm">http://www.episcopalchurch.org/sermons_that_work_120923_ENG_HTM.htm</A><br>
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April 3, 2010 β Easter Vigil - Year C<br>
<br>
(RCL) The Liturgy of the Word: Genesis 1:1-2:4a [The Story of<br>
Creation]; Genesis 7:1-5, 11-18, 8:6-18, 9:8-13 [The Flood]; Genesis<br>
22:1-18 [Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac]; Exodus 14:10-31; 15:20-21<br>
[Israel's deliverance at the Red Sea]; Isaiah 55:1-11 [Salvation<br>
offered freely to all]; Baruch 3:9-15, 3:32-4:4 or Proverbs 8:1-8,<br>
19-21; 9:4b-6 [Learn wisdom and live]; Ezekiel 36:24-28 [A new heart<br>
and a new spirit]; Ezekiel 37:1-14 [The valley of dry bones];<br>
Zephaniah 3:12-20 [The gathering of God's people]<br>
(RCL) The Eucharist: Romans 6:3-11; Psalm 114; Luke 24:1-12<br>
<br>
By the Rev. Dr. Susanna Metz<br>
<br>
[Sermons That Work] "Alleluia, the Lord is Risen! The Lord is risen indeed!"<br>
<br>
That is enough. What else do we need to know on this most glorious of<br>
all days? What else do we need to shout? Nothing! Nothing at all.<br>
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Full reflection:<br>
<FONT size=4><A href="http://www.episcopalchurch.org/sermons_that_work_120926_ENG_HTM.htm" target=_blank __removedLink__90614226__href="http://www.episcopalchurch.org/sermons_that_work_120926_ENG_HTM.htm"></FONT>http://www.episcopalchurch.org/sermons_that_work_120926_ENG_HTM.htm</A><br>
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April 4, 2010 β Easter Day - Year C<br>
<br>
(RCL) Acts 10:34-43 or Isaiah 65:17-25; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; 1<br>
Corinthians 15:19-26 or Acts 10:34-43; John 20:1-18 or Luke 24:1-12<br>
<br>
By the Rev. Dr. Joseph S. Pagano<br>
<br>
[Sermons That Work] In a recent essay, Nora Gallagher talks about<br>
practicing resurrection. It is a splendid phrase, "practicing<br>
resurrection." She wonders whether we spend too much time in the<br>
church discussing whether we believe in the resurrection or do not<br>
believe in the resurrection. By doing this, she thinks, we may miss<br>
the point. She writes:<br>
<br>
"When I think about the resurrection now, I not only wonder about what<br>
happened to Jesus. I ponder what happened to his disciples. Something<br>
happened to them, too. They went into hiding after the crucifixion,<br>
but after the resurrection appearances, they walked back out into the<br>
world. They became braver and stronger; they visited strangers, and<br>
healed the sick. It was not just what they saw when they saw Jesus, or<br>
how they saw it, but what was set free in them. ... What if the<br>
resurrection is not about the appearances of Jesus alone, but also<br>
about what those appearances point to, what they ask? Itβs finally<br>
what we do with them that matters; make them into superstitions or use<br>
them as stepping stones to new life. Maybe resurrection, like<br>
everything else, needs to be practiced."<br>
<br>
Maybe resurrection, like everything else, needs to be practiced.<br>
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Full reflection:<br>
<A href="http://www.episcopalchurch.org/sermons_that_work_120927_ENG_HTM.htm" target=_blank __removedLink__90614226__href="http://www.episcopalchurch.org/sermons_that_work_120927_ENG_HTM.htm">http://www.episcopalchurch.org/sermons_that_work_120927_ENG_HTM.htm</A><br>
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More Spiritual Reflections: <A href="http://www.episcopalchurch.org/82457_ENG_HTM.htm" target=_blank __removedLink__90614226__href="http://www.episcopalchurch.org/82457_ENG_HTM.htm">http://www.episcopalchurch.org/82457_ENG_HTM.htm</A><br>
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