2.17 Emmaus Update

This Sunday, the last before Lent begins, we celebrate the feast of the Transfiguration.There are two moments in this week's Lectionary texts that are subtly moving.

In 2 KINGS 2: 1-12, Elisha cries out "Father, father!" as Elijah is taken up into heaven with the famous chariot of fire. In MARK 9: 2-9, as Jesus, Elijah and Moses are "transfigured", glistening intensely. Peter, terrified, asks if might make three dwellings, or "booths" for the comfort of this particular trinity.

These gestures point to a grounding human-ness in the midst of an ascending divinity, a search for the familiar in the midst of the strange, for the natural in the midst of the supernatural.

In a sermon titled "THE ART OF TRANSFIGURING", I will explore what lies behind Elisha and Peter's actions. We will have a look at how we navigate the Sacred. In some ways, we will continue our thinking about spiritual healing as we seek to replace doubt and fear with Divine Love. We will define what it means to be transfigured in our daily life.

ALLISON SHELBY will play VIVALDI, a traditional WELSH melody, and C.P.E. BACH. The CHOIR will sing KANTOR's "Send Me Rains."

I am trusting that this will be an exceptionally lovely Sunday. There is something about Winter that truly inspires a deep breathing in, so as to breathe out the power and the presence of the Christ. That is the essence of transfiguration.

2.10 Emmaus Update

We continue our exploration of spiritual healing with a close reading of these texts from 2 KINGS and MARK. Both texts deal with the healing of leprosy, a disfiguring and dangerous condition in Biblical times. What does it take to see beyond seemingly impossible to heal situations? Is it easier than we might think to throw our weight onto the side of healing? What hinders us? I will argue that it is our sense of undeserving, guilt and shame that hinders our healings in all aspects of life. Knowing that we truly are sacred, precious and beloved of God is the foundation for living, and healing. And that knowledge, my dear friends, goes against much of what and how we are influenced. How can we cultivate a sense of ourselves as truly loved of God? How do we "choose yes?" The texts are below, and the sermon it titled "I DO CHOOSE."

GREG BLOY will play BACH, and TOMMY DORSEY. The CHOIR, conducted by ALLISON SHELBY, will sing SIBELIUS' "Be Still My Soul."