Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
Matthew 4:1
Dear Edwards Church Community,
When Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 22, I will be as ready as I can be to lead us – truth be told, it will be more like “help us all to explore and reconsider” than lead us – through a series of sermons on traditional Christian ideas that are so familiar to some and so off putting to others that they often are left unnamed or treated as no-go topics.
I have in mind sermons and post sermon conversations about sin, repentance, forgiveness (all part of any relationship!), life, death, resurrection, and the forms of death required for varieties of new life to emerge. I am sure other things will come up as we go.
The 40 days of Lent are based on the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness facing his temptations. It was his spiritual retreat in preparation for what was to follow: a period of intense service in a ministry of feeding, healing, teaching and bringing new life to others.
My evolving plan to discuss traditional Christian concepts – some of them considered cornerstones of the faith – will, I hope, become an invitation to renewal for all of us, a time of letting go and letting new life emerge. This is, after all, the pattern of life as we know it. We all get to decide how to face it.
Christ in the Wilderness1
By Ivan Nickolaevich Kramskoi
On Thursday, February 16, I will attend the online program offered by Historic Northampton, Religion and Slavery in Colonial New England. The program is described on the Historic Northampton website:
From 1729 until 1750, Northampton’s minister was Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758), an internationally known philosopher, theologian, and leader of the Great Awakening spiritual revival. While in Northampton, he enslaved three people—Venus, Leah, and Rose. After his move to Stockbridge in 1751, he enslaved three others—a married couple named Joseph and Sue, and a boy named Titus. In his writings and from the pulpit, Edwards defended the practice of slavery. How and why could a minister uphold the ownership of people and deny basic human rights?
In this presentation, Dr. Kenneth Minkema will examine some of the theological and religious justifications for, and critiques of, slavery and the slave trade, as they were expressed from the colonial incursion in the early seventeenth century to the eighteenth century when Jonathan Edwards and his followers were active.
You too can register: https://www.historicnorthampton.org/programs.html. In fact, Jeff Olmsted will host a “watch party” that evening in the sanctuary, using our large screen monitor.
Our church bears the name of Jonathan Edwards. I do not know how the church decided to take his name, but I imagine it was in honor of the pastoral service and powerful preaching and teaching he provided for a generation at what is now First Churches, the church from which 99 members obtained permission to withdraw and form a new church called Edwards Church. I approach learning more about the history of Northampton and Edwards the way I approach renewing my acquaintance with the Christian tradition.
Christianity was given to me soon after I was born into a family with a strong Christian identity. As an adult I have chosen to make that tradition my own in a way that is still related, but different than my family of origin. Whether you were born in the valley or, like me, came as an adult, let’s learn together about Christianity and our namesake, Jonathan Edwards.
Jonathan Edwards
In faith, with hope, for love,
Michael
- Kramskoi, Ivan Nikolaevich, 1837-1887. Christ in the Wilderness, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=54297 [retrieved January 30, 2023]. Original source: http://commons.wikimedia.org
- The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Print Collection, New York Public Library, EM2578. The New York Public Library believes that this item is in the public domain under the laws of the United States.
From the Minister of Faith Formation
Dear Beloved of God, *
As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion,
kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another
and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as
the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all clothe
yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
Colossians 3:12-14 (NRSV)
Attributed to Paul and often a scripture read the first Sunday after Christmas in Year A of the lectionary cycle, I was drawn to this passage in Colossians as we move through the Season after Epiphany, Jesus’ Transfiguration, and into Lent. Throughout the forty days of Lent, like many of you, I hope to be intentional about something(s) in my spiritual life. While it is still a few weeks away, I have begun the process of reflecting on what that might look like for me this year:
Holy One,
When and where I see the suffering of others, may my actions be clothed and guided by Jesus’ spirit of compassion and meekness that I may not add to the suffering but strive to relieve it.
When my spirit becomes overwhelmed by the injustices and all I perceive as wrong in this world, may your Holy Spirit clothe it with courage to be an instrument of your love and justice.
When my spirit wants desperately to be right, may it be clothed with humility allowing me to listen deeply, respecting and honoring other opinions while walking the path you would have me take.
When my spirit is wounded, may I extend forgiveness and seek reconciliation. When my spirit has wounded another’s may I seek forgiveness and reconciliation.
When I get frustrated with individuals or with little things that come up, may my spirit be clothed with patience.
When my spirit is weary, may it be renewed by the seeds of kindness I see planted by others and with renewed energy, may I plant seeds of kindness as well.
When my spirit is restless, may it be reminded of those places and people with whom I experience Sabbath renewal, honor and attend to it.
I pray this Holy One in the name of your Son, Jesus, who was himself clothed in your love, grace and desire for all people and all of creation. Amen.
*The reflection for this issue of the Spire came to be the morning of January 24th as I was engaged in the practice of Lectio Divina (divine reading) on the following passage from
Isaiah 48:6-7:
Now I am revealing new things to you
Things hidden and unknown to you
Created just now, this very moment.
Of these things you have heard nothing until now.
So that you cannot say, Oh yes, I knew this.
The phrases: Created just now, this very moment. Of these things you have heard nothing until now., shimmered for me as I had absolutely no idea how I would begin. Writers block you might say. Meditatively walking around the sanctuary, the values of the Colossians passage spoke to my soul and returning to my office, I started writing away on a blank piece of paper. There is still more reflection to sit and pray with.
As we journey into and through Lent, may we do so aware of and open to the transformative love of God we are all clothed in,
Deb
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