From Rev Sue Ann Yarbrough

Greetings from SpiritCare Ministry.  Please know that you, those you love, and those you serve are in our prayers. My intention is to provide a weekly short meditation and prayer, especially for care community activity directors who may be looking for something to share with their residents. 
 
Blessings to you all this Easter Season.  I miss you all and you are in my prayers. 

Scripture:  Matthew 26:36-40 New International Version (NIV)  Garden of Gethsemane
Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”  He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.  Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
 
Meditation   
Yesterday I took our dog out for a walk. Jack is an aging standard poodle with very curly hair. About ten years ago, we adopted him through a rescue agency. We think he was about two years old then, so we estimate his age to be about 12. He no longer sees well, so on our walks he relies heavily on his sense of smell. 

On this particular walk, a rose caught my eye, and I went over to investigate. Jack decided to do the same, but as he drew near to the plant, one of his curly ears got caught in the thorns. This particular bush has large thorns.  He immediately tried to pull away, but that just made things worse.  I actually had to pull him a little closer to the thorns that had snagged him in order to gently get his hair untangled. He was not too sure about that strategy, but it did work. He was soon set free.
    
In the garden, Jesus actually prayed three times for the cup to pass him by. But that also meant that three times he prayed, "not as I will, but as you will."  That is the gift of prayer. While we may be called to draw closer to the thorns that ensnare us, we do so, knowing that we also draw closer to God, and it there where we find our freedom.  This is what Jesus' life teaches us.  To be willing to go where we are called, trusting in the hand that is guiding us, listening to the voice that says, "You will be okay.  In just a moment, you will be okay."  God always calls us to freedom, just where we are.  We simply must learn to trust the hand that is freeing us. Blessed be.  
 
Prayer
Holy Eternal God, while we may feel isolated now, you are ever with us, calling us to freely share our love. May we feel this freedom right where we are today.  May we remember that whatever thorns may be in our path, Christ will always free us from what threatens to ensnare us.  May we always have the courage to trust, even when, like Jesus, we are called to move closer to the struggle.  We pray for those who are ill, dear God. We pray for those who are tending to our care, and we pray for their families.  May your loving, healing touch be known to all.  
In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.  

From one of Rev Dr Tom Nibbe's Parishioners

Dear Lord, we come to you in prayer to ask in Jesus' name to heal our land, and to stop all the evil-one is doing in our midst.  May our land, and all lands, be made whole again.  Bring your glory down...and bless each and every person here on earth!

Lord, we pray that you would release us from this plague, this pandemic, and this crisis threatening each and every country on the face of the earth.  We pray that you will be with every one who has lost a job or whose job is at risk.  We pray that you will be with all the doctors and nurses and everyone working hard to get things under control.

We also pray for all ordinary women and men toiling to keep the rest of us comfortable and fed.  We humbly seek that there will be no more death from this virus and only healing.  We are nothing without you, God!  Eradicate this virus faster than when it started.  Leave this world in wonder at how mighty the work of your hand will be, and always will be.  Let this nation and all nations seek after you.  May all call upon you.  May all repent and turn to you, Lord.

In Jesus' name.  Amen!

From Rev Dr Tom Nibbe

​Grace and peace to you!  Amen!  So glad to be able to communicate with you on this occasion as your pastor when we can get together on the internet and give praise and share hope through the blessing of post-modern technology. 

Join me with this short prayer:  Dear King Jesus, take control of my life and rule in my heart.  Forgive me all my sins.  Cleanse me and make me whole.  Bring me from darkness into light.  Keep those I love and all others safe from harm.  Amen!

The Old Testament lesson provides encouragement for those of us, who need to know the Lord has our back, Isaiah 50:7, "Because the Sovereign Lord helps me I will not be disgraced."  He is our king, the ruler of our hearts.  Great assurance for you and me!  As His subject, since my King says it, I will proceed as a normal human being to be "imperfect" and "extraordinary" for His purpose...remembering...all saints have a past and all sinners have a future.  This implies that even though we do not always act the way the Lord would want us to, He will make "a way" for us to find joy in Him and succeed in Him.  One day when we stand before the Lord, looking upon the "Face of God", He will look upon each of us viewing the face of His Son, Jesus, and say, "Well done my good and faithful servant!"  In the meanwhile, living fully day by day, we will gladly receive what comes my way: even in the midst of pandemic, we will be healed and made whole. 

From Angela Hey

Hi,
I am the president of SpiritCare. For April, we have created a playlist of Easter hymns for you to sing along with.

​Here they are.

From Rev Sue Ann Yarbrough

​Hello,  
This is a note to let you know that we of SpiritCare Ministry are thinking of you, and praying for you. This coming Sunday is Palm Sunday, which marks Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, and the beginning of Holy Week. If we were in church this Sunday, our celebrations would start with the waving of palms. This part of the service is often led by children, so there is usually a festive air.  Yet, by the end of the service, a more somber note is heard. We know Good Friday is on the way. However, we also know that Resurrection Sunday will always follow. This is the promise that Jesus' life, death, and resurrection gives to us. We can believe in eternal life. 
  
Scripture: Mark 11:4-9 Common English Bible (CEB)
They went and found a colt tied to a gate outside on the street, and they untied it.  Some people standing around said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” They told them just what Jesus said, and they left them alone. They brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes upon it, and he sat on it. Many people spread out their clothes on the road while others spread branches cut from the fields. Those in front of him and those following were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!"
 
Meditation 
In Mark 11, we read of Jesus being brought a colt that had never been ridden.  People threw their clothes on the colt and on the ground as Jesus rides on to Jerusalem. I have always loved this passage. It speaks of the humility of riding into Jerusalem simply, not in a chariot or on a war house as the Romans would have done, but rather on a colt that had never been ridden. This hints that something new was happening, and the people were not only excited,  they wanted to take part. They placed their clothing on the colt and on the path that lay before them.  People also brought  branches cut from the fields.
      
This Holy Week and Easter, of course will be very different for us all. There will be no elaborate gatherings.   However, I think this might be the way that Jesus wants us to note his death and resurrection - with humility and deep love, and with the knowledge that something new is about to happen.  In this, we, too can take part!   
   
Prayer
Holy One, we give you thanks for the knowledge that you are always with us, and always guiding us.  We pray for our community, that love and good health will prevail.  We pray for all of those who are tending to the sick, and for those who working to find the cures.  Help us to remember to treat everyone with compassion and love.  May our hearts always be grateful for what Jesus has done for us.    
 
In Jesus' name we pray,  Amen.   

If you have any comments, please let me know.   Bless you all.  I am so grateful for the work you do, and please take good care of yourselves.