So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord
with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
2 Samuel 6:15
Raiders and the Still-Missing Ark
From its very beginnings, the prohibition against idols has been ingrained in the faith of the Israelite people. Other nations might pray before idols, but the God of Israel was beyond any representation. The only permitted icon of God’s presence was the Ark of the Covenant. This wooden box, covered entirely with gold, was crafted at Mt. Sinai a year after the Exodus from Egypt. It was carried by gold covered wooden poles attached by rings on the four corners. Inside were the stone tablets inscribed with the 10 Commandments, brought down from Mt. Sinai by Moses.
Atop the Ark of the Covenant were two golden cherubs (no, not the pudgy baby-face angels of medieval artwork). Cherubs were protectors, first seen after Adam and Eve were sent from the Garden of Eden. There they carried flaming swords. The cherubs on the Ark of the Covenant bow towards one another with great wings that touch at the center. It was from that space that Moses and his successors could hear the voice of God.
The Ark preceded the Israelites as they wandered in the desert for 40 years. Famously, it was part of the destruction of the Walls of Jericho at the beginning of the conquest of Canaan. It was a fierce image of a fierce God. So, when the Philistines captured the Ark from King Saul, it was a disaster. In an almost comic retelling, we learn in 1 Samuel how God causes the idols of the Philistines to crash to the ground in their temples before the Ark and inflicts tumors and boils on those who come near it. Eventually the Philistines give it back. In Sunday’s first reading, King David now moves the Ark into his new capitol with great fanfare. You’ll have to come on Sunday to find out what happens next.
Some of you started humming John Williams great theme “The Raider’s March” composed for Raiders of the Lost Ark in 1980. The Steven Spielberg film is one of the highest grossing movies of all time and is listed on the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry. Interestingly enough, the Ark is actually lost. There are as many theories about where it went as there are archeologists. There are claims that it was destroyed by the Babylonians; hidden from the Babylonians and never rediscovered; taken to Egypt or Yemen or Ethiopia or Zimbabwe. Some claim that the Knights Templar took it to France. I even read this week that it is in Arizona!
It is certain that the Ark disappears from the Biblical record by the time of the destruction of the Temple. An object so sacred that it was deadly to touch ceased to have a place in Jewish worship.
This Sunday we will think about the images and items that remind us of God’s loving care and our identity as beloved children of God. Maybe you could cue up a little Indiana Jones ….
Peace,
Mark +
O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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This Sunday's Worship Service
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Face Mask Update!
In response to the rising number of vaccinations and declining number of COVID 19 cases in our area, Christ Church leadership has revisited our mask policy. While everyone is encouraged to wear masks during Sunday services, especially those who are at heightened risk of infection, the use of masks is not required.
This change is effective immediately. As conditions change with the evolution of the pandemic, this policy may be revised.
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Please pray for: Robin Pender, John Perkins, Bob Willis, Deny, Chris, Avery, Jack Wright, Laura & Bob Dean & Family, Carol Holland, Susan Fralic, Dot Deren, Camilla Parrott, Sally Russell, Jay Czerniak (RIP)-Lisa Oesterling & Family, Barbara Jerome, Barbara Faulkner, Nancy King, Shelia McJilton, Aubree Burton & Tiffany Tia, Daniel Bedard, John Price (RIP), Abdul Sabur (RIP)-Susan Fauceglio, Dot Deren, Colleen Minahan, Sheila Savage, Terry Thomas (RIP)-Megan Christopher & Thomas Family, Roger Brown, Michael Sipes, Danny Brown, Melody Sutherland, Gabriel Ratcliff, Matthew Versis (RIP)-Versis Family, Scott & Lynn Clark, Anna Sisson, Sharon McCain, Kayla, Chalk Jewell, Pat Sherbert, Lynne Benton, Susan V., Dian Rowe, Randy Timms (RIP)-Timms Family, Donnie Jones, Angelo
Prayer Requests can be sent to prayer@ccpki.org
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Serving This Month
Serving In Person Sunday July 11th
Lectors: Maria Jones, Betsy Sipes
Eucharistic Minister: Leslie Schneider
Ushers: Eric & Linette Hummel
Greeters: Tim & Caroline Aland
Altar Guild: Sherry Lissitz, Lois Rys, Dot Deren, Cara Fehrenbacher
Recording the Online Service for Sunday, July 11th
Readers: Colleen Minahan, Charlie Mead
Eucharistic Ministers: Dick Sells & Lois Vanderbok
Serving In Person Sunday July 18th
Lectors: Ruthanne Herold, Mike Herold
Eucharistic Minister: Keith Fulmer
Ushers: John Reckord, Bob Rosekrans
Greeters: Maria Jones and Molly Cannon
Altar Guild: Betsy Sipes, Tom Christensen, Lynne Shand, Patti Snyder
Recording the Online Service for Sunday, July 18th
Readers: Leona Parker, Mike Parker
Eucharistic Ministers: Mike & Ruthanne Herold
Serving In Person for Sunday, July 25th
Lectors: Bob Thompson, Dottie Wilson
Eucharistic Minister: Dick Sells
Ushers: Leslie Schneider, Charlie Schwan
Greeters: Dottie Wilson, Bob Thompson
Altar Guild: Sally Lewis, Maria Jones, Eileen Shreve, Anne Tyler
Recording the Online Service for Sunday, July 25th
Readers: Bob Seitz, Leslie Schneider
Eucharistic Ministers: Liza Hamill & Charlie Mead
If you are unable to serve, please find a replacement and contact the Parish Office.
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Race and Reconciliation Book Discussion |
You are invited to read Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson, and discuss it with a group of parishioners on Tuesday, August 24, 2021 at 7 p.m. by Zoom. Feel free to invite friends to join us in the discussion.
Caste describes racism in the United States as an aspect of a caste system – a society-wide system of social stratification characterized by notions such as hierarchy, inclusion and exclusion, and purity. Wilkerson does so by comparing aspects of the experience of American people of color to the caste systems of India and Nazi Germany, and she explores the impact of caste on societies shaped by them, and their people.
Caste has been included in several lists of best books of 2020, including the Washington Post, Time, and NPR. The New York Times described the book as "an instant American classic and almost certainly the keynote nonfiction book of the American century thus far." To hear Wilkerson talk about this book, click here or here. For more information, contact Dottie Wilson at 615-478-2366.
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Sign up Now for Fall
EfM Class
Every one of us is called to ministry. The Education for Ministry (EfM) program provides people with the education to carry out that ministry. We start in September and meet once a week until May. As lay people we face the challenging task of interpreting the richness of the church's faith in a complex and confusing world. We need a theological education that supports our faith and teaches us to express our faith in day-to-day events. The EfM program is preparation for the ministry to which we all are called. EfM is a four-year program: Old Testament, New Testament, History, and Theology.
We are now recruiting for the Fall where we will do both Zoom and In-person meetings (we hope for in person!). For more information, please contact one of our mentors: efm@ccpki.org
Adele Sadiq (410-924-3313), Bluette Blinoff (610-212-6366), Ann Sieracki (302-547-5692), or Connie Clark (502-235-9674)
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Ways to Support Christ Church
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Electronic Giving: Click Here
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Text to Give by texting CCPKI to 73256
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Bank: Have your bank send a check or make an ACH transfer
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By Check: CCPKI 830 Romancoke Rd. Stevensville MD 21666
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Christ Church Parish Kent Island| 410-643-5921 | office@ccpki.org | ccpki.org |
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