STAY
FAITHFUL,
STAY
CONNECTED,
STAY
COMMUNITY!
ANNOUNCEMENT
ZOOM REGULARLY SCHEDULED
GENERAL COUNCIL MEETING
GENERAL COUNCIL MEETING
AUGUST 23, 2020, 11:00 A.M.
The agenda will include:
· reports from the minister, president, and treasurer
· committee reports/updates
· old/new business items including tech upgrades in
progress.
Join Zoom Meeting by clicking on this link:
Meeting ID: 827 8371 0925
Passcode: 380286
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MESSAGES FROM PASTOR HOLLY
ALOHA CCH OHANA,
1. Zoom
For those of us who are not familiar, Zoom is an
application that allows people from all over the world to be in video and/or
audio contact with one another. Many of
us have had the opportunity to use the Zoom program to either attend Aloha
Hour, participate in a meeting, have a conversation, or even take a class. CCH uses this program currently to do many
things, including all that was just mentioned, as well as the upcoming Women’s
Retreat and Sunshine Ministry Social.
There are many of us, however, who have not had the
opportunity to utilize Zoom. With all
that is happening here at CCH via Zoom, I’d like to share with you a couple of
ways that we can use it that we may not have known. One of the biggest challenges with using Zoom
is that some of us do not have the equipment or feel comfortable trying to join
a Zoom gathering. Well, there is great
news! CCH has assembled a fabulous
Technology Team that is dedicated to making sure that everyone has the
assistance they need to connect.
This is not limited to Zoom, our amazing Technology
Team will also help us figure out how to participate in the online worship
services, participate in new online initiatives and so much more. The other piece of good news is that we do
not need a computer or a tablet or even a smart phone to use Zoom. We can also participate in ANY Zoom event by
calling in on any phone, a landline, a flip phone, you name it! The reason that we like the Zoom feature so
much is for this very reason.
So please consider participating in our many Zoom
opportunities here at CCH. How about
Aloha Hour this week? Give any one of our Technology Team members a call and we
will have you connected to the CCH Ohana in no time!
2. CCH Technology Team
With the numbers of COVID cases rising and Hawaii
needing to revert back to a modified lock-down, it is clear that our need for
technology to worship and fellowship is here to stay for a while. In response,
we have assembled an amazing Technology Team to help walk us all through
this. For anyone who has had some
trouble being able to find the worship or joining in on the Zoom links, or for
anyone who has yet to try to do any of the virtual things that CCH is doing
online, don’t worry, you are in good company!
With any virtual activity comes challenges, and because we must continue
to be virtual in order to keep one another safe, it is more important than ever
to have technological support. The following are the members of your new
amazing CCH Technology Team…
Pastor Holly Norwick
808-371-4701
Art Lum
261-1204 (home)
222-2579 (cell)
Arlene Chang
Mona Chock
808-524-0226
Wayson Wong
808-753-4442
Martha Hernandez
If anyone is still interested in being a part of the
technology team, please let me know right away!
It is more important now that it ever was to stay in
contact with one another here at CCH.
And now, with our awesome Technology Team, we have friendly folks ready
and waiting to help. Please reach out to
any of the team members and join in for all that CCH has to offer
virtually. It isn’t the same without you!
3. Visit with Pastor Holly
How are you doing?
It is a pretty simple question, but a very important one! It is a
question that I would like to ask each and every person here at CCH. I have had the pleasure of visiting with many
of you and I look forward to having the chance to visit with everyone in the
CCH Ohana! Please consider taking a
little time to have a visit with me.
Each week I will have Pastor’s Hours, during which time I hope to get to
know each of you more and more. The
following are the Pastor’s Hours for this week.
But please note that if none of the following days and times work for
you, I can be flexible to your schedule.
Reach out now and claim your spot.
Virtual Pastor’s Office Hours August 16th - 22nd
I look forward
to learning more about each of you and sharing my life and my stories with you
also. The following are the virtual
office hours for Aug 16th – Aug 22nd. Please email me or call me using the
contact information below and claim your spot!
If none of these time slots fits into your schedule, please let me know
and I will find a time that works for you! Call or Text: 808-371-4701 -OR-
Email: hollynorwick@gmail.com
Sunday, August 16th 12:00pm, 12:30pm, 1:00pm, 1:30pm,
2:00pm, 2:30pm
Wednesday August 19th
12:00pm, 12:30pm, 1:00pm, 1:30pm, 2:00pm, 2:30pm
Thursday, August 20th 12:00pm, 12:30pm, 1:00pm, 1:30pm, 2:00pm,
2:30pm
Friday, August 21st 12:00pm, 12:30pm, 1:00pm, 1:30pm,
2:00pm, 2:30pm
Saturday, Aug 22nd 8:00am, 8:30am, 9:00am, 9:30am,
10:00am, 10:30am
4. The Sunshine Ministry
The Sunshine Ministry here at CCH is alive and active
during this pandemic. Because of COVID, it is more important than ever to keep
in close contact with one another. The
Sunshine Ministry is dedicated to doing just that.
The Sunshine Ministry grew out of a concern that our
church members were increasingly aging and have difficulty attending Sunday
services and other activities for various reasons. In the early 1990’s A group of amazing women
assembled and birthed the Sunshine Ministry.
The goal of this important ministry is to identify our members in need
of help connecting and find ways to keep them in touch with the larger
Ohana.
The members of the Sunshine Ministry meet about 4
times a year to check in with one another and share information about those who
we serve in order to use the strengths of all the members. We rely heavily on our CCH congregation as a
whole to help us identify those who would best benefit from this ministry, so
if you, or someone you know, would benefit from the love of the Sunshine
Ministry, please let us know right away.
One of the much-anticipated happenings of the Sunshine
Ministry is the yearly social. Each year
we host a Sunshine Ministry Social that invites our folks together in a fun and
memorable way. This year is no
different! We are still planning a
Sunshine Ministry Social that will take place in the comfort of each of our
homes.
This year’s social will be held via Zoom. We are enlisting the help of the
congregation, the family members of the participants of the Sunshine Ministry
as well as our new Technology Team to help bring this annual event to
fruition. We hope to have lunch
together, have music and a sing-a-long, and even our annual bingo game! If you
know someone who would benefit from the love of the Sunshine Ministry, and
wants to join in on the annual social, please reach out to Aileen Char
right away at alohaoechar@gmail.com.
Mahalo
nui loa,
Pastor
Holly
808-371-4701
ARE YOU DESPERATE FOR
SOCIAL INTERACTION?
CCH WILL HAVE ANOTHER
DRIVE BY CELEBRATION!
We will be celebrating
Pastor Frances’ three years of ministry at CCH on Saturday, August
29, 2020 from 12:30 to 2:00 with a drive through celebration
event! Pastor Frances' last day at CCH is on August 31st. She will
be taking time off from ministry (but will continue with her other two
part-time jobs) in order to practice harder on her retirement.
Come into the gate beeping
your horns! Come through the turn around and Pastor Frances will be
there. Without getting out of your car and with responsible social
distancing . . . shower her with best wishes, blessings, and God speed.
Beep as you drive
out!
A word from Pastor
Frances: Please
no flower lei or gifts, unless homemade. You have already
given me three years of incredible gifts; that is enough.
I know that, when you have asked me before whether it is OK to give something
to someone who said "no gifts", I've given you permission to ignore
it. You don't have my permission to ignore this! Thank you.
But, please consider contributing canned goods to the Women's Retreat Hawaii Foodbank drive. They will be collecting food on the 29th and 30th, from 12:30 to 2:00.
But, please consider contributing canned goods to the Women's Retreat Hawaii Foodbank drive. They will be collecting food on the 29th and 30th, from 12:30 to 2:00.
CCH IPT WEDNESDAY
(INTENTIONAL PRAYER TIME)
by
Kathy Young
Our community is now
plagued with MANY cases of COVID-19. Even our mayor followed all
protocols and still was exposed. We must be more careful and stay within
our "protective bubbles".
We know that our Lord is
always with us, which gives us comfort and peace. We place our lives and
our futures in His loving hands.
Eternal, Almighty God, we pray:
- our praise and adoration for You, Lord!! You are "the Way, the Truth, and the Life!" (John 14:6)
- asking that You forgive our sins and for the many times we have failed You. Help us be better in the days ahead.
- that you continue to keep our CCH families and their loved ones safe from the deadly Coronavirus. Please grant special protection to our precious kupuna! As new cases are revealed and the virus is everywhere, we seek refuge within your loving embrace.
- special prayers for Pastor Frances as she continues to minister to us during the next few weeks. Our prayers of thanksgiving and love go with her both now and in the future. She will always have a special place in our hearts.
- for Pastor Holly, as she continues to provide meaningful worship opportunities for us via YouTube. Be with her and her family during this unsettling, challenging time.
- deep prayers of thanksgiving for Ardis, Glenn, Hari, Nate, our Executive Committee and Council. Even with extreme challenges, they work diligently for You and for the good of us all. Surround them with Your safekeeping.
- impassioned pleas for those of us who are sick or dealing with health-related problems. Place your healing hands upon each one, oh Lord.
- for members of our 'ohana who face hardships due to the continuing statewide shutdown. Help all who have lost loved ones, are lonely or afraid, struggling with anger or despair, or seeking new pathways to brighter futures. Grant Your comfort and guidance.
- asking that You turn our paralyzing fear of this virus into positive steps toward serving You!! We place our lives in Your hands. Fill us with Your purpose. Energize us with Your Spirit.
- for those in our
hearts.
CCH COVID TEAM
Information from Ryan Urabe’s Minutes
Your Executive Committee has formed a special task
force to help keep the congregation and users of its facilities safe as
possible by following the guidelines set by Federal, State and City government
and agencies. The members are: Ryan Urabe and Gwen Murakami (Executive
Council representatives), Michael Lum and Vernon
Chock (CIP representatives), Lorraine Wong (Facilities representative), Dr.
Brent Uyeno (health professional), and the Reverend Holly Norwick.
The Team held its first meeting on August 8th
and wants to share with the congregation a list of their intended tasks to
complete as they develop a Covid Action Plan.
These tasks include:
1. Adopting a commitment to CDC
guidelines for Communities of Faith.
2. Create a specific action plan for
CCH.
3. Create a contact list of tenants
and facility users.
4. Designate a contact person for CCH
who can act as a liaison between tenants and facility users.
5. Encourage CCH tenants and facility
users to follow the federal, state, and county safety guidelines for Covid 19.
6. Provide CCH with a notification
and action plan if someone in their organization tests positive and has been on
the CCH property.
7. Designate zones and bathrooms to
limit areas of contact between users and designate sanitization
responsibilities.
8. Limit access to CCH office.
9. Plan facility improvements for
health and safety, including: bathrooms (sink, toilets, water shut offs), meeting
rooms, office (consider access to mailbox? sign in requirements?), the Sanctuary.
10. Create a phased reopening plan
for the campus.
11. Create a plan for phased
in-person worship services.
Editor’s note: On behalf of CCH, a great big mahalo to
every member of this Team! Just a note
of caution to everyone that we must remain flexible and to keep your expectations
realistic. It has only been a few months
since the onset of the pandemic (even though it feels like a lifetime) and scientists worldwide are ferociously working to both understand the virus and to create a
vaccine. As conditions, knowledge, and
experience change, plans made may have to change quickly.
~Pastor Frances
Take an Inside Peek at our
Virtual Women’s Retreat!
By: Marti Taba
You’ve seen our flyer and
have enjoyed one or all of our 10 CCH Women’s Retreats in the past. Over the years, you’ve shared stories with
your sisters in Christ, enjoyed spirited singing, laughed and cried with your
small group, and enjoyed the yummy food.
You will experience all of
that on September 12th.
The members of the Women’s
Retreat Committee have put our heads together to provide a way to virtually
connect in this special, once a year opportunity. Sign up to get to know our ladies deeper and
be a body of Christ for a fast-paced three-hour trip around the world.
Everyone will be assigned
to a small group of four women called a "Travel Group". In each session, like we typically do, we
will meet as a larger group first then split up into our Travel Groups for
discussion. Each woman will have two virtual "rooms" on the computer -- our
main meeting room and a small group room where you will be with your group of four for the whole
morning.
It will be as easy as
clicking a link to get to the right place and we will use text to make sure no
one gets lost.
You will drive up to
church the week prior for your "Travel carry-on bag" which will have
supplies for the day, the fabulous goodies to snack on, and a Participant's Guide
with a schedule to follow while you're at home (we will mail it to you if you’re on the
mainland).
Amy Taba will be leading
our Praise Songs.
We will have 5
sessions. Session 4 --
"Africa" -- is a service project that we are scheduling for Aug. 29
and 30, between 12:30 to 2:00, as a drive-up food drive that the congregation is invited to participate
in. Please let us know if you'd like to
help collect or deliver food to the Food Bank.
Ladies, we’d love to “see”
you on Saturday, Sept. 12 from 9am-noon.
So please RSVP sandy_nish@yahoo.com by August 15th – it’s FREE!
Editor's
note: These aren't links but you can use this list to easily copy and paste to email these
terrific women planners!
Sandy sandy_nish@yahoo.com
Marti tarwarshawaii@hotmail.com
Bobbi lumbbi@gmail.com
Gwen joyfulnoise28@gmail.com
Annie and Martha 808hermanas@gmail.com
Sandy sandy_nish@yahoo.com
Marti tarwarshawaii@hotmail.com
Bobbi lumbbi@gmail.com
Gwen joyfulnoise28@gmail.com
Annie and Martha 808hermanas@gmail.com
CCH YOUTH
by Pastor Frances
It has been awhile since I
have been able to include anything from our youth. There’s so much chaos and uncertainty out
there. Parents have too much on their
plate and the young’uns also have so much to adapt to and contend with that I
haven’t wanted to do any programming since the burden would fall on the
families.
While cleaning out my CCH
files, I came across a “sign” made by Kevin Chen that I had been saving to use at a future
sleepover. Kevin and I were planning to
have a paper-airplane-making project. Kevin
is a master paper airplane maker and he was willing to teach his skills to the
others. I had wanted to turn it into a competition
(the plane that flies the highest/farthest wins) but Kevin didn’t want that
because he was worried that it would hurt someone’s feelings so we deep-sixed
that part of the project.
Here is the sign that
Kevin made. He is so kind and encouraging—qualities
which shine through this simple sign!!
READING THE BIBLE WILL NEVER BORE
by Pastor Frances
In our in-person and Zoom Bible Study classes, we were never bored and
never ready to end our discussions (good thing I have a firm rule about ending
mostly on time!). I had asked the classes to challenge themselves by broadening their experience of Scripture—to read the
Bible, not just with their minds, but with all their senses, their life
experiences, their hearts, and their intuition.
This is hard work but it is exhilarating and never boring.
Did you ever notice that Mary Magdalene is named as a
witness to the Resurrection in all four Gospels? Me, neither!
Here are the references. I have left the verse numbers in these passages; these are taken from the NRSV.
Matthew
27
The
Death of Jesus
45 From
noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 46 And
about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema
sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 47 When some
of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” 48 At
once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a
stick, and gave it to him to drink. 49 But the others said, “Wait, let us see
whether Elijah will come to save him.” 50 Then Jesus cried again with a loud
voice and breathed his last. 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was
torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52
The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep
were raised. 53 After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered
the holy city and appeared to many. 54 Now when the centurion and those with
him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place,
they were terrified and said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”
55
Many women were also there, looking on from a distance; they had followed Jesus
from Galilee and had provided for him. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary
the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
The
Burial of Jesus
57 When
it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was
also a disciple of Jesus. 58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus;
then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59 So Joseph took the body and
wrapped it in a clean linen cloth 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he
had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and
went away. 61 Mary
Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.
Matthew
28
1 After
the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see
the tomb. 2 And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the
Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing
white as snow. 4 For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. 5
But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are
looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for he has been raised,
as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his
disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of
you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” 8 So
they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his
disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to
him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do
not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see
me.”
Mark
15
The
Death of Jesus
33 When
it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34
At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema
sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 35 When
some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah.”
36 And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave
it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take
him down.” 37 Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the
curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 Now when the
centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he
said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”
40
There were also women looking on from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary
the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41 These used to
follow him and provided for him when he was in Galilee; and there were many
other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem.
The
Burial of Jesus
42 When
evening had come, and since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day
before the sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council,
who was also himself waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God, went boldly to
Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 Then Pilate wondered if he were
already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had been
dead for some time. 45 When he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted
the body to Joseph. 46 Then Joseph bought a linen cloth, and taking down the
body, wrapped it in the linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been hewn
out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the
mother of Joses saw where the body was laid.
Mark
16
The
Resurrection of Jesus
1
When the sabbath was over, Mary
Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so
that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the
week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll
away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4 When they looked up,
they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 5
As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe,
sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them, “Do
not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He
has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 7 But
go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee;
there you will see him, just as he told you.” 8 So they went out and fled from
the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to
anyone, for they were afraid.
The
Shorter Ending of Mark
[And
all that had been commanded them they told briefly to those around Peter. And
afterward Jesus himself sent out through them, from east to west, the sacred
and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation.]
The
Longer Ending of Mark
Jesus
Appears to Mary Magdalene
9
Now after he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom
he had cast out seven demons. 10 She went out and told those who had been with
him, while they were mourning and weeping. 11 But when they heard that he was
alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.
Luke
8
Some
Women Accompany Jesus
8 Soon
afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the
good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, 2 as well as some
women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene,
from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward
Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their
resources.
Luke
24
The
Resurrection of Jesus
1 But
on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the
spices that they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the
tomb, 3 but when they went in, they did not find the body. 4 While they were
perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. 5
The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said
to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but
has risen. 6 Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that
the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the
third day rise again.” 8 Then they remembered his words, 9 and returning from
the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it
was Mary Magdalene,
Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this
to the apostles. 11 But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did
not believe them.
John
19
The
Crucifixion of Jesus
So they
took Jesus; 17 and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called
The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. 18 There they
crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between
them. 19 Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read,
“Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” 20 Many of the Jews read this
inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and
it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. 21 Then the chief priests of
the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘This man
said, I am King of the Jews.’” 22 Pilate answered, “What I have written I have
written.” 23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and
divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic;
now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. 24 So they said to
one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.”
This was to fulfill what the scripture says,
“They
divided my clothes among themselves,
and for my clothing they cast lots.”
25 And
that is what the soldiers did.
Meanwhile,
standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary
the wife of Clopas, and Mary
Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw
his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his
mother, “Woman, here is your son.” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Here is
your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.
John
20
The
Resurrection of Jesus
1 Early
on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the
stone had been removed from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter
and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have
taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3
Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. 4 The two
were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb
first. 5 He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but
he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the
tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and the cloth that had been on
Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by
itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in,
and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the scripture,
that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples returned to their homes.
Jesus
Appears to Mary Magdalene
11 But
Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look
into the tomb; 12 and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of
Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13 They said
to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away
my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 When she had said
this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that
it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are
you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if
you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him
away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew,
“Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to
me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and
say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your
God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went
and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that
he had said these things to her.
Who
knew?! This
inclusion by name of Mary Magdalene in all four Gospels has never clicked with
me.
Mary Magdalene is traditionally known as “Apostle to
the Apostles” because she was first to see the resurrected Christ and the one
who commissions the others to spread the good news. Here’s what Cynthia Bourgeault, a member of
the CAC’s teaching faculty observed.
“Like
myself, a great many Christians have absorbed most of what they know about Mary
Magdalene through the dual filters of tradition and the liturgy, which
inevitably direct our attention toward certain aspects of the story at the
expense of others.
All four
gospels witness to Mary Magdalene as the premiere witness to the
resurrection—alone or in a group, but in all cases named by name. Given the
shifting sands of oral history, the unanimity of this testimony is astounding.
It suggests that among the earliest Christians the stature of Mary Magdalene is
of the highest order of magnitude—more so than even the Virgin Mother
(mentioned as present at the crucifixion in only one gospel and in none at the
resurrection). Mary Magdalene’s place of honor is so strong that even the heavy
hand of a later, male-dominated ecclesiology cannot entirely dislodge it.
All four
gospels insist that when all the other disciples are fleeing, Mary Magdalene
stands firm. She does not run; she does not betray or lie about her commitment;
she witnesses. Hers is clearly a demonstration of either the deepest human love
or the highest spiritual understanding of what Jesus was teaching, perhaps
both. But why, one wonders, do the Holy Week liturgies tell and re-tell the
story of Peter’s threefold denial of Jesus, while the steady, unwavering
witness of Magdalene is not even noticed?
 |
| Cynthia Bourgeault |
Cynthia
Bourgeault, The Meaning of Mary Magdalene: Discovering the Woman at the
Heart of Christianity (Shambhala Publications: 2010), 5‒6.
In our Bible study classes, we were free to turn to other genres to deepen our understanding of Scripture. I invite you to do the same right now with these Gospel passages.
During this series, this picture (above) was the banner for
Rohr’s Daily Meditation. Ask yourself: Does Jesus look like this? How would I imagine Mary Magdalene differently? Why? How do I react to their expressions? How do these colors make me feel? How does this picture make me feel? Please share your thoughts by posting in the comments box, below (bottom of this page).
Janet McKenzie has this to say about her painting, “Mary Magdalene with Jesus, the Christ”:
Janet McKenzie has this to say about her painting, “Mary Magdalene with Jesus, the Christ”:
 |
| Janet McKenzie |
Mary
Magdalene with Jesus the Christ
(middle panel of the triptych The Succession of Mary Magdalene)
(detail), Janet McKenzie, 2009, Collection of Catholic Theological Union,
Chicago, Illinois. Used with permission of the artist.
Poetry is a wonderful open channel to a deeper multi-sensory
understanding. Here is one by Diarmuid Ó
Murchú, an Irish poet, author, and member of the Sacred Heart Community.
“Of all
the Gospel material related to women, none is more enigmatic and empowering
than the role of the women in post-Resurrection space . . . I [wrote of] the
women on Calvary remaining faithful to the end. For those women, it was
anything but an end. Even when the male disciples fled in fear, they remained
to await a new frightening dawn that would propel them into a mission
transcending all other missionary endeavors recorded in Gospel lore. The early
church seemed unprepared for the archetypal breakthrough and proceeded to
consign the women to historical invisibility.”
Diarmuid
Ó Murchú, “Risen Empowerment,” Inclusivity: A Gospel Mandate (Orbis
Books: 2015), 163‒164. Poem used with permission of the publisher.
 |
| Diarmuid Ó Murchú |
Read this poem aloud slowly.
What
happened [to] the women on the first Easter Day
Breaks
open a daring horizon,
Inviting
all hearts to discern.
Mid the
grieving and trauma of loss,
The
horror to stand at the foot of a Cross.
A body
we think was buried in haste,
And a
tomb that was empty but restless in taste.
Empowering
a strange group of women. [stanza 2]
What
happened to those on the first Day of Easter,
The
faithful disciples by Magdalene led?
A
subverted truth the patriarchs dread.
Beyond
all the theories that time has construed,
Beyond
the oppression we have too long endured.
The
first ones commissioned for Easter proclaim
A
woman-led mission we’ve brutally maimed.
But we
can’t keep subverting empowerment. [stanza 5]
Resurrection
still flourishes and always it will,
Imbued
with a truth that time will fulfil.
What
women empowered at the dawning breakthrough
will
bear fruit in season
despite
all the treason.
’Cos
justice will render what deserves to endure. [stanza 6]
 |
| William Henry Johnson |
Look deeply and think about these questions:
Who are the three Marys? Which one is Mary Magdalene? What is she feeling? What is she thinking? How would you describe her position in the painting and how would you describe her physical attributes? How do these three Marys relate to Jesus? How do they relate to each other? How do they relate to us?
(I’d love to hear your thoughts. Please add them to the comments section, below, at the bottom of the page.)
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ENJOY
COVID-19 Tribute Video - We are the World -
Various Artists
We are the World sung by Various Artists/Singers all
across the globe during the 2010 Haiti Earthquake with a special video for
Covid-19 crisis 2020 by DOT Philippines. "We are all in this together, WE HEAL
AS ONE!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5AyGvJcyoU
Broadway for Orlando - What the World Needs Now is
Love
“What the World Needs Now Is Love” is the
charity single sung by Broadway for Orlando, an all-star group of artists from
the theatre and pop world. The single was created to honor the victims of the
Orlando shooting massacre at the Pulse Nightclub.
Brian Stokes Mitchell singing The Flag Song
from
Sondheim 90th Birthday Celebration
Since we just had our primary election, here is another version of
one of my favorite patriot songs.
Since we just had our primary election, here is another version of
one of my favorite patriot songs.
(Pastor Frances)
LISTEN TO LEARN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6W0lX-zwFa0
Col. Chris Hadfield, the former Canadian Astronaut and
Commander of the International Space Station, gives one of the most eye-opening
interviews you will ever hear.
"Every single thing that you learn really just
gives you more comfort. It's something I counsel kids all the time: if someone
is willing to teach you something for free, take them up on it. Do it. Every
single time. All it does is make you more likely to be able to succeed. And
it's kind of a nice way to go through life."
― Chris Hadfield
LISTEN TO PRAY
Vivaldi - A Rain of Tears - Anderson & Roe,
piano duo and arrangers
Filmed at the Shalin Liu Performance Center in
Rockport, MA.
SING YOUR PRAISES
Tune: Diademata (also the tune for Crown
Him With Many Crowns)
Praise to the Living God
by Curtis Beach (New Century Hymnal No. 8)
Verse 1:
Praise to the living God,
The God of love and light,
Whose word brought forth the myriad suns
and set the worlds in flight;
Whose infinite design,
Which we but dimly see,
Pervades all nature,
Making all a cosmic unity.
Verse 2:
Praise to the living God,
From whom all things derive,
Whose Spirit formed upon this sphere
The first faint seeds of life;
Who caused them to evolve,
Unwitting, towards God’s goal,
Till humankind stood on the earth,
As living, thinking souls.
Verse 3:
Praise to the living God,
Who knows our joy and pain,
Who shares with us our common life,
The sacred and profane.
God toils where’er we toil,
In home and mart and mill;
And deep within the human heart
God leads us forward still.
Verse 4:
Praise to the living God,
Around, within, above,
Beyond the grasp of human mind,
But whom we know as love.
In these tumultuous days,
So full of hope and strife,
May we bear witness to the Way,
O Source and Goal of life.
Everything that irritates us
about others
can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.
Carl Gustav Jung
There is within each of us a
modulation, an inner exaltation, which lifts us above the buffetings with which
events assail us. Likewise, it lifts us above dependence upon the gifts of
events for our joy.
Albert Schweitzer
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