In my last year of seminary – one of the last classes I took, was a kind of nuts and bolts class of the ministry – how to make a budget, how to run a session meeting, how to run a stewardship campaign. Just the kinds of things a pastor needs to know before they get out of school and into a church.

At the very end of the class, the professor brought in a retired minister who had years of ministry experience. He was in his 70’s at that time – a lot of wisdom. And he shared with us about the need to persevere and the need to be out visiting people. He covered all the ins and outs the good, the bad and the difficult. And at the very end of his speech, he said, “Here is the most important thing. If you remember nothing else, please don’t ever forget the power of Jesus Christ to change lives – even yours.”

I have never forgotten it. In fact, in the 20 years since, I have seen it happen again and again and again. I have seen lives changed, prayers answered, situations turned around, redemption happen. So much so, that today, no matter what what the situation, no matter what the person might have done, no matter what happened, I always hold out for redemption. I hold on to the possibility of change. And, I hold on to hope.

I don’t know what you might be going through in your life, but I pray that you would never forget the power of Jesus Christ to change lives – even yours.

Let us pray: Loving God, today we lift up to you our anxious, worried hearts. Calm our spirits and help us to trust that your love will prevail. And may you peace which surpasses all understanding guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

One of my favorite artists John Severson – said that his personal mission statement was this: Make it a beautiful life. Make it a beautiful life for yourself and everyone else you meet. He meant that beyond the art he created; but to make it a beautiful life for himself and others – simply by the way that he lived…. through his generosity….hospitality… having open ears… open heart…. open hands….

In 1972, shortly before his death, Abraham Joshua Heschel said in an interview: “I would say to young people a number of things… I would say, let them remember that there is a meaning beyond absurdity. Let them be sure that every little deed counts, that every word has power, and that we can do — every one — our share to redeem the world despite of all absurdities and all the frustration and all disappointments. And above all, remember that the meaning of life is to live life as it if were a work of art… When you are young, start working on this great work of art called your own existence.”

I wonder what it might look like for you to live your life – to craft your life – as though it were a work of art…

I wonder what it might look like for you to make life beautiful not only for yourself, but with everyone within your sphere of influence….

As my friend Roger Kunkel used to say, “Today – this day… is an unrepeatable miracle. Let’s make it a masterpiece!” May it be so.

Our prayer today was written by John Philip Newell. Let us pray: In the morning light, O God, may I glimpse again your image deep within me, the threads of eternal glory woven into the fabric of every man and woman. Again may I catch sight of the mystery of the human soul, fashioned in your likeness, deeper than knowing, more enduring than time. And in glimpsing these threads of light amidst the weakness and distortions of my life, let me be recalled to the strength and beauty deep in my soul. Let me be recalled to the strength and beauty of your image in every living soul.

I was recently reading back through the story of Joshua. When the Israelites were finally settled in the land that God had promised them, he gathered the community together and he retold the story of God’s providence, God’s deliverance up to that point. Joshua ends his speech by encouraging them to make a decision, to choose to serve the Lord.

This made me wonder, what does it mean to chose to serve the Lord?

Maybe it really is the small everyday decisions we make that add up. Maybe it’s the small decisions that speak to who or what we are actually worshiping. Everyday we do get to decide:

Today: am I am going to make a choice to care – even when every fiber of my being says, “Why bother… You won’t make a difference”?

Am I going to make a choice to look for God’s presence even in people who make me really angry?

Am I going to make a choice to give generously; even when I’m afraid to do so?

Am I going to make a choice to give priority to the activities I believe make a difference to world around me and within me?

Am I going to make a choice to notice that even the toughest, most draining moments of life are actually at the same time alive with the same Power that created the universe, the stars and love and fellowship?

I hope so… And I hope you will too.

Let us pray: We remember, O God, that Jesus said that he came that we might have life – and have it in abundance… Help us to keep you at the heart and center of our lives, that abundant life would be ours; through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Please know how much we appreciate your financial giving to Dial Hope. Especially at this critical time, when so many people are feeling isolated, anxious and worried, your gifts will enable us to continue to spread ripples of hope. If you are able to help, please visit our website at www.dialhop.org. Any size gift will make a huge difference.

The Rev. Mark Trotter tells about an underwater statue of Jesus in the port of Genoa that is called the Christ of the Deep. It is a statue of Jesus with his arms outstretched, as if to say, “Come unto me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” The statue is placed beneath the surface of the water in the harbor, descended into the depths of the ocean, as a memorial to all of those who died at sea. But Trotter makes the point that it is also a wonderful symbol of the gospel message that Christ has gone into the depths of suffering in our lives in order to give us new life.

Even today, on this Maundy Thursday, Christ continues to descend into the depths of our pain and heartache and into our problems and burdens. And the invitation is still there for all who are weary and heavy ladened. He will give you rest.

Our prayer today was written by St. Patrick of Ireland. Let us pray: May the strength of God pilot us. May the power of God preserve us. May the wisdom of God instruct us. May the hand of God protect us. May the way of God direct us. May the shield of God defend us. May the host of God guard us against the snares of evil and the temptations of the world.

May Christ be with us, Christ before us, Christ in us, Christ over us. May your salvation, O Lord, be always ours this day and forevermore. Amen.

Something I hear often from my friends outside the church is this: I’m spiritual but not religious… I’m sure you’ve heard this too. I even said it myself. And usually it is said meaning: I’m not into all the rules of religion. But what’s missing in that, is that word religion actually has a powerful origin. It comes from the Latin re-ligio – to re-ligament – to reconnect – to reconnect with God. In Christianity, there is a strong emphasis on re-connecting with other people as a way of re-connecting with God.

In that sense, I want to be religious. I want play a role in re-connecting people with each other and with God. The truth is, in this day and age, we need more people like this. We need more people who are willing to let go of pride and their need to be right. We need more people who can let go of the differences that divide and work instead to bring folks together.

I’m remembering again the astronaut Nicole Stott who spoke at our Dial Hope Friendraiser. She told us that the view from space – a God’s-eye view as it were, made it very clear that our life together as human beings is shared. We are in this together.

In his second letter to the Corinthians (6:17-18), the Apostle Paul wrote:

So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation…

Let us pray: As you have loved us, O God, help us to love others. As you have reconciled us to yourself, may we work toward reconciliation with others. Use us even now as ambassadors of your grace. We ask in Jesus name. Amen.