April 12, 2020
Easter Sunday
- At 6:15am, Jeremy will lead a short Sunrise Service on Facebook Live.
- At 10am, we welcome you to join us on Facebook, as we go live with a Celebration of the Resurrection with Rev. Jeremy!
Be sure to check our recent posts to view past videos!
- In addition to seeing us on Facebook, join us for House Worship on our website by following the link below. Each of our worship leaders have contributed prayers and songs, along with a video sermon from Rev. Jinkins.
|
|
Luke 10: 29-37
29
But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30
Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.
31
Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32
So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
33
But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity.
34
He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35
The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’
36
Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?”
37
He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
|
|
Perhaps you were expecting a Good Friday or Easter devotional to have a scripture selection from the events of the Holy Week. I suppose that I would have had that same expectation as well. The events of the Holy Week take us all on an interesting journey. A journey that started with the Palm Sunday ride into Jerusalem and continued with the Last Supper, Judas’s betrayal, Peter’s denial, the trial of Jesus, the crucifixion, and finally the discovery of the empty tomb. I wonder how each of us would have responded to everything that transpired in that short amount of time. Would we have been courageous? Would we have been anxious? Would we have feared for our own lives and looked for a road to escape?
The scripture passage you just read from Luke’s gospel is one that may have seemed out of place until you consider the setting. There are plenty of stories in the Bible that take place on a road. The Good Samaritan, the transformation of the apostle Paul on the road to Damascus, the Palm Sunday account of Jesus's ride into Jerusalem on a donkey. The list goes on and on. But there is a common theme to all of these stories, and one we might take for granted - The Road Is There. Please allow me to shake up your thinking about that just a little by sharing with you all a personal account of when "The Road Is Not There". Let's rewind time for a second. The date is Sunday, April 5, 1987.
I happened to be in upstate New York that weekend with some friends of mine. Sunday morning was a typical lazy Sunday. We got ready at our leisure, had some breakfast, said goodbye to our New York friends, and headed back to New Jersey. As we got on the New York Thruway, the four of us had a strange sense that something "wasn't quite right". Perhaps instinctively, we slowed out the car a little as we continued on our journey home. What happened next will be forever etched in our minds. A entire section of the New York Thruway collapsed right in front of us. Because we had slowed down, we managed to stop the car just before we would have plunged over the edge. We were the first car traveling in either direction to stop in time. Fortunately, we were able to stop the traffic going in both directions to prevent more cars from driving over the edge. We also got the other travelers rerouted around the missing section of the Thruway.
Most of us will never have quite a dramatic moment in our lives like that fateful Sunday 33 years ago. But let’s not forget the dramatic moments that unfolded during Holy Week over 2000 years ago. Moments that are the foundation of the Christian faith.
But we don’t need to look for those dramatic, made for Hollywood moments. We can all do good things for others, just like the Good Samaritan did on the road to Jericho (or like my friends and I did on the New York Thruway). Jesus takes ordinary people and has them do extraordinary things. Ordinary people like you and like me. With all that is going on in our lives today, our "new normal", let's remember what we can do for our neighbors, wherever that may be.
The Road Is There. I will be on it. Who will join me?
|
|
Dear God,
Help us to know that The Road Is There, even when it's hard to see. Be with each of us as we travel on that Road, doing those good things for our neighbors. Keep us well, keep us safe, and keep us together as part of your family. Amen
David DuBois
Guest Contributor
|
|
Christine Treger's Retirement
|
|
Dear Friends in Christ,
For the past 7 years, Christine Treger has joyfully and faithfully served the families of her home congregation. We have been blessed in immeasurable ways by her gifts, passion, and pastoral presence in her role as Director of Faith Formation.
As you know, Christine announced her retirement and will be stepping away from her professional role with our church to focus on family, and the joys of having shaken off the fetters of professional ministry. This does not mean that we lose her spirit, however. As a long-time member, we will continue to enjoy our relationship with her and her presence in this place.
While the current health crisis means that we will not celebrate Christine in presence for the moment, all are invited to participate in a gift expressing our gratitude for Christine’s ministry and service. You may send a check (made payable to “PCW”) to the church office, marked “Christine’s Gift” or follow the link below to make an online gift for her at
https://www.westfieldpc.org/give/
.
May the Peace of Christ be with you and yours in this time,
Jeremy Jinkins
|
|
Adult Learning Opportunities
|
|
F
aith Formation is pleased to announce the following adult learning opportunities that are meeting “virtually” while we “shelter in place”. Anyone is welcome to participate. Please send an email to the contact person.
Questors:
Sundays at 9 am via conference call. No book required. The lesson is emailed weekly. Contact
Nancy Smith
.
Serendipity:
Sundays at 11 am via ZOOM. Contact
Robin Hoy
.
Lunch and a Book
: Second Friday every other month from 12:00-1:00 pm via conference call. The next meeting is 5/8/20. Contact
Lisa Black
.
Theology Group
: As scheduled via ZOOM. Contact
Alan Smith
.
|
|
 |
Helping Hands
If anyone needs a helping hand, whether it is getting groceries or pick up medicines, we have many people who are willing to help.
Please call the church office (908.233.0301)
and we will seek to help you
with your needs.
|
|
|
|
Register NOW for September
(Children 6 months-2.5 years)
T.O.P.s is a preschool experience that helps get children socially ready for Nursery School when they are 3.
|
|
|
|
How PCW is Making a Difference NOW
|
|
The Presbyterian Church in Westfield continues to burn as a light in the darkness as our community weathers this fearsome storm of illness. Our reach of care continues to extend far beyond our immediate borders. You can help us make a real impact in the lives of others by joining in our work through your time, your talents, and also in the fruits of your labors.
|
|
Please watch your email, our church website and Facebook page for updates on the ways in which you can worship at home!
We are so excited for worship using Facebook Live Sunday morning at 10am, as well,
and we hope you can tune in!
|
|
Be sure to LIKE us on Facebook and stay up to date on social media!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
