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The Episcopal Church
of the Resurrection
1433 NW R.D. Mize Road, Blue Springs, MO
Weekly e-mail
Saturday, May 21, 2022
Sixth Sunday of Easter

Sunday, May 22, 2022



Holy Eucharist Rite I at 8:00 am
Holy Eucharist Rite II at 10:30 am
From Father David +
THE MEANING OF JOHN 14:27

John 14:27

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Explanation and Commentary on John 14:27

This is a wonderful promise and a life-giving command. Jesus has troubled the disciples by explaining about his impending death. He has also comforted them by promising the Holy Spirit who will “teach you all things and remind of everything I have said to you (Jn 14:26). He has promised that though he is leaving them, he will not leave them as orphans, but will come to them (Jn 14:18).

The world has a way of giving peace, but that is not Jesus’ way. If we understand that Jesus is the way to the Father, we love him, and obey his teaching, we will have perfect peace. The Holy Spirit will dwell with us and in us, and we will not be alone.

If we obey and follow God in Christ by the Holy Spirit, we can actually have some power over our feelings. Most people are enslaved to their emotions and their “heart.” Jesus believes that we can “not let our hearts be troubled.” And he believes that we can choose to “not be afraid.”

Breaking Down the Key Parts of John 14:27

#1 “Peace I leave with you;”
In one sense Jesus is leaving them. He has walked with them in the body for three years. He always knew what to do. He controlled the weather and calmed the storms. He provided food when they didn’t have any. He was the target of the Jews who hated them. Now he was leaving them. This should have caused them to have no peace, but Jesus had a plan for that.

#2 “my peace I give you.”
It is not insignificant that Jesus leaves his very own peace with them. They have seen him in action for all the time they have been with him. They saw him face many trials and confrontations with men, demons, and satan himself. But he had been unflappable. How? Even though he was the Son of God, full of the Holy Spirit, Jesus rose early every morning to be with his Father and to pray (Mk 1:35).

#3 “I do not give to you as the world gives.”
How does the world give peace? The world’s peace is circumstantial. Change the circumstances. Get rid of the distressing agent. Run away. Quit. If you cannot get away, medicate, eat, check out. Go to your idols for comfort. This is an unending cycle of hell. Jesus’ peace is altogether different and has nothing to do with circumstances. It passes understanding (Phil 4:7). God is in control and he loves you, but you must be in union with him through Christ and the Holy Spirit to walk in perfect peace.

#4 “Do not let your hearts be troubled,”
There is a you that is not your heart. The heart is good and helpful when you are in charge of it, and not the other way around. Fill your heart with courage and peace by going to the Father daily. Be still in His presence and let Him fill you with his Holy Spirit.

#5 “and do not be afraid.”
It is freeing that Jesus makes this a command. Do not be afraid. He would not command it if it were impossible to obey. But apart from him and his peace, it is impossible (Jn 15:5). With God, all things are possible (Mt 19:26).
Yard Sale raises over $4,000
THANKS TO ALL WHO HELPED

Janeece Buckner and Janet Woodward would like to acknowledge and thank everyone who helped to make the Yard Sale a success. From donating items for sale to sorting, pricing, providing food for workers, working the sale, and packing up items that didn’t sell.

We’d like to give special recognition to John Biggs, Joyce Biggs, Rick Buckner, Pat Carle, Rich Conn, Gabe Conn, Elaine Gilligan, Phil Hampton, David Henson, Beth Henson, Brenda Holbrook, Reagan Hook (salesperson extraordinaire), Mary Liddle, David Lynch, Jayden Morris, Joe Owen, Marilyn Owen, Jan Pahlas, Joaquin Perez, Idida Perez, Judy Ramirez, Brenda Sprofera, Tanya Vickery, Marie Weisbach, Paula White, Les Woodward, and Maura Zumwalt for their tireless hours.

It is always great to work together and further the mission of the church.  May God richly bless each of you!
From Fr. Jay Sidebotham +
FASTING

When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. -Matthew 6: 16, 17

Fasting is all the rage. In many corners of our culture, we’ve come to realize that this ancient practice, part of many faith traditions, is a good idea. In the Christian tradition, fasting is often associated with giving something up for Lent. It may simply suggest deprivation. Truth be told, at least in my own experience, the practice of fasting in Lent can be a bit like beating your head against a wall. It feels so good when you stop. It can also become a matter of spiritual pride, a competitive sport. Being holier than thou easily slides into being more miserable than thou.

Jesus recognized that fasting was part of the spiritual practices of his culture. He saw its value. He began his ministry in the desert, going without food for forty days. I can barely skip a meal. He also recognized that like all kinds of spiritual practices, it can go off the rails as ego creeps in. (Remember: ego is an acronym for edging God out.)

We’re well past Lent. Right now may be a great time to consider what fasting is all about, free of seasonal obligation. It’s not about earning a spiritual merit badge. It’s about taking a look at our lives, at what we value, and what we might do without for a period of time in order to get clarity about what matters. Looking at it that way, assume that no one has any idea of the contours of your fast. Look inside yourself and think about what you might want to give up, maybe for an evening, or a day, or a month, or a season.

Maybe you want to go one day a week without checking social media, or take a break from screen time. That’s not to denigrate these ways of connecting with others or getting work done. It’s simply a way to say that it shouldn’t take over our lives. And it allows us to notice things we may have missed.

Maybe you want to have a day free of news, however you get the news. That’s not to say it’s unimportant to be informed. It’s a Christian duty. But a break from the news might just do some good for the soul, and offer some perspective.

Maybe you want a day of fasting from cussing. That may help you see how powerful speech can be, for good or ill.

Maybe you want a day free of complaining. We all have something to complain about, but how would the rest of the week be changed if we decided to accentuate only the positive for one 24 hour period.

Maybe you want a day free of comforting things like chocolate or Merlot or potato chips, a way to remember that billions of people in our world never get those small pleasures.

Maybe you want to skip a meal, or two, or three. That’s not a diet plan, though it does have health benefits. But it can help us pray for those who have no choice in skipping meals. There are people like that in all of our neighborhoods, not to mention our global village.

Maybe you choose a day without coffee…wait a minute…let’s not get carried away….

Here’s the deal: Nobody else needs to know when you fast. Jesus seems to indicate that if we sense that others need to know, we’ve missed the point. This is not about sitting in the city square in sackcloth and ashes. It’s about a regular check-in assessing the things we value, and focusing on the following:

  • Gratitude: Fasting gives us a chance to count our blessings.
  • Compassion: Fasting gives us a window into millions around us who face deprivation.
  • Clarity: Fasting gives us a chance to see what is really important, really essential.
  • Worship: Fasting gives us a chance to deepen our relationship with God, to trust that all that we need will be provided.

I invite you to. consider some non-Lenten way to put this spiritual discipline to work in your life. Let the practice be just between you and God.
Altar Flower Donations
SIGN-UP IN THE NARTHEX

We welcome you to make a donation to provide flowers that beautify our worship space and altar. Your gift is a wonderful way to remember a loved one or to express thanksgiving for a milestone life event. Flowers may also be given to the Glory of God.

Tell us the name of the person being honored by the flowers, and if the flowers are being donated in memorial of that person, or if they are being donated in thanksgiving for a life event (birth, baptism, wedding, anniversary or milestone birthday.)

The suggested donation is $35 for each memorial or thanksgiving.
Reminders
CHURCH CALENDAR
May 21: 10:00 am Daughters of the King
BIBLE STUDY WEDNESDAYS AT 1:00 PM
Every Wednesday in the undercroft at Church.

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