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March 2: Transfiguration Sunday

Transfiguration Sunday: Why Do We Celebrate It Before Lent?

The background of this question lies in the differing practices of Christians in North America. United Methodists and many other denominations schedule the observance of the Transfiguration on the Sunday before Lent.

Why does the celebration of the Transfiguration take place just before Lent in United Methodist and other denominations that follow The Revised Common Lectionary?

The Book of Common Prayer collect for the Last Sunday after the Epiphany suggests why the Transfiguration of Our Lord is celebrated when it is:

O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.(Book of Common Prayer according to the use of the Episcopal Church, 1979, page 217. Book of Common Prayer is public domain material and is used here with gratitude to the Episcopal Church and Church Publishing.)

We celebrate the revelation of Christ’s glory “before the passion” so that we may “be strengthened to bear our cross and be changed into his likeness.” The focus of the Lenten season is renewed discipline in walking in the way of the cross and rediscovery of the baptismal renunciation of evil and sin and our daily adherence to Christ.

At Easter, which reveals the fullness of Christ’s glory (foreshadowed in the Transfiguration), Christians give themselves anew to the gospel at the Easter Vigil where they share the dying and rising of Christ.

In the biblical context, the synoptic gospels narrate the Transfiguration as a bridge between Jesus’ public ministry and his passion. From the time of the Transfiguration, Jesus sets his face to go to Jerusalem and the cross.

From Chuck Knows Church:

The Transfiguration of Jesus is an event reported by the Synoptic Gospels in which Jesus is transfigured upon a mountain. Why is this event lifted up and celebrated? Chuck will tell you.

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Posted by MaryO on March 1, 2014 in Chuck Knows Church, Holidays, Lent, Posts of Interest, Videos

Tags: Chuck Knows Church, cross, Easter, Epiphany, Jerusalem, Jesus, Methodist, The Book of Common Prayer, The Revised Common Lectionary, Transfiguration Sunday, video

Good Friday

29 Mar

Good Friday is observed on the Friday before Easter Sunday. On this day Christians commemorate the passion, or suffering, and death on the cross of the Lord, Jesus Christ.

Many Christians spend this day in fasting, prayer, repentance, and meditation on the agony and suffering of Christ on the cross. (For a more detailed explanation about Christ’s death, listen to the Palm Sunday sermon Why Did Jesus Have to Die?)

The biblical account of Jesus’ death on the cross, or crucifixion, his burial and his resurrection, or raising from the dead, can be found in the following passages of Scripture:

The Good Friday service at Pender UMC will focus on the “Wondrous Love” of Christ and how that love manifested itself in His sacrifice on the cross. The service will include special music from the Sanctuary Choir.

Christians begin journey toward Easter (ohio.com)
Holy Week at Pender (pendernews.org)

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Posted by MaryO on March 29, 2013 in Books of The Bible, Lent, Music, Pender UMC, Sermon, The Holy Bible

Tags: Christ, Christian, cross, Easter, Friday, Good Friday, Gospel According to John, Gospel According to Luke, Gospel According to Mark, Gospel According to Matthew, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John, John 19:16-20:30, Lord, Luke, Luke 23:26-24:35, Mark, Mark 15:16-16:19, Matthew, Matthew 27:27-28:8, music, Passion, Sanctuary Choir, sermon, wondrous Love

Bring a Friend and Join us this Easter!

22 Mar

STORY TIME & EASTER EGG HUNT
MARCH 27TH at 10:00 AM

Lots of fun for all, including an egg hunt, snacks and you can even take pictures with the Easter Bunny! (Don’t forget your camera!)

Come rain or shine — no RSVP necessary.

William Blake’s Holy Thursday (1794). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

HOLY THURSDAY SERVICE WITH COMMUNION
MARCH 28TH AT 7:30 PM

Theme: Questions of the Passion
The Sanctuary Choir will be presenting special music concerning “Questions of the Passion.” The music will address questions that were asked of and by Jesus on His final night on Earth.

GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE
MARCH 29TH AT 7:30 PM

Theme: The Great Love God Showed Through the Cross
The Sanctuary Choir will be presenting special music as a meditation following in Jesus’ footsteps on his walk to the cross. It will focus on His love for us, as well as our adoration of Him and the sacrifice He made for us. We will have a time of “Adoration at the Cross” where a large cross will be erected for people to come for a time of prayer at the altar.

EASTER SUNDAY SERVICES
– 6:00 am Sunrise Service with breakfast after
– 8:00 am Traditional Service
– 9:30 Contemporary Service with Communion
– 9:30 Traditional Service with Communion
– 11:00 Traditional Service

Bring a flower to place on the Easter Cross in the Sanctuary on Easter Sunday.

Our Easter Offering this year will be split between Western Fairfax Christian Ministries and Pender ReGift Thrift Store.

Holy Week at Pender (pendernews.org)

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Posted by MaryO on March 22, 2013 in Lent, Music, Pender UMC, Posts of Interest, Sermon

Tags: Adoration at the Cross, breakfast, choir, church, Communion, cross, Easter, Easter Bunny, Easter Sunday, Egg hunt, flower, Good Friday, Holy Thursday, Jesus, Maundy Thursday, music, nature, outdoors, ReGift Thrift Store, religion, Sanctuary Choir, Sunrise service, the Passion, Western Fairfax Christian Ministries

The Cross

01 Feb

Why the cross rather than the fish for the accepted Christian symbol? Do you know? And why are there two types of crosses. . .one in catholic churches and another in protestant churches?

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Posted by MaryO on February 1, 2013 in Chuck Knows Church, Videos

Tags: Christian, cross, fish, protestant, Roman Catholic, symbol

Casting God’s Love

28 Nov

Since Jan 2012 our ministry has undergone many new changes. Not only do we knit, we now have people who crochet, cross-stitch and do other needlecrafts to support our ministry. These changes allow our ministry to meet the goals and projects of our church, both on going and new ones for each of us. We continue to bring together members of our church and others who wish to learn or have experience knitting and crocheting or any other hand crafts which benefit our church family and neighbors.

Our projects have included creating chemo hats for the local cancer treatment center, confirmation crosses, baby blankets for both our new babies born to church family members as well as donations to local hospitals. We also furnish the Healing Services with cross-stitched crosses for our Pastors to distribute during this service. During the churches semi-annual Flea Market, our ministry has a table set up in the Boutique area next to the Jewelry table where we have many different items for sale.

Our main on-going project is to provide prayer shawls for those who are experiencing distress or going through a difficult time and need reminding of how much God loves them. Each shawl is prayed over by our members, our church members and our Pastors.

We meet for fellowship each Thursday evening at 6:30 in room 200. We have on-going classes, both knitting and crocheting, during this time as well. This gives newcomers or beginners the opportunity to learn with those who have experience. Our beginning class created many beauty crocheted baby blankets this past year. All levels of skill are welcome to join us and if you find you cannot make it, you are encouraged to continue to work at home. You can choose which project you want to participate in as your time schedule permits. We understand if you can’t and love it when you can.