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Weekly Update

Bethesda UCC

April 10, 2024

Last Sunday's Worship

Second Sunday of Easter

"Breakfast on the Beach"

In Sunday's service we continued to celebrate Easter. Our reading was from John 21:1-14. The disciples are in Galilee once again and decide to go fishing. It is just before sunrise, so it is still dark (an important symbol in John). They put out their net on once side of the boat - and catch - NOTHING.

A man (Jesus of course) is on the beach. It is sunrise. The light has come into the world! He yells to them, "Haven't caught anything? Throw the net on the other side of the boat!" They obey (important!) and, of course, catch a ton of fish.

Commentator Karoline Lewis points to the abundance of the catch as the reason the disciples recognize Jesus. Throughout John's gospel, abundance is a main theme. The abundance of wine at Cana, fish and bread on the hillside, and the abundance of love Jesus showed.

What this tells us, church, is that we must be abundant with our love, care, and ministries so that people will recognize Jesus in our work and our lives. So often churches have a poverty mentality - don't spend any money, buy the cheap stuff! But that is not God's attitude toward us! In John 1:16 tells us "From his (Jesus) fullness we have all received, grace upon grace."

Let us be abundant with our love this week. Show God's grace to the world!

Pastor's Message

Butterflies

I'm thinking about butterflies this morning. About 6:30 am I received a text from Sheri, Clifford's daughter, letting me know that Clifford passed away earlier this morning. In conversations with many of us, Clifford had expressed that she "was ready." Earthly bonds can hold her no longer.

The butterfly is known as a symbol of new life, transformation, and resurrection. I see the butterfly as the soul or spirit, breaking away from its earthly bonds, and soaring heavenward.

I planned Sunday's liturgy yesterday, centering the message on this theme of resurrection and the butterfly being a symbol of Jesus breaking the bonds of death and appearing to the disciples in a transformed, resurrected state. I think we can take the image of the butterfly, breaking out of its cocoon and unfurling its wings, flying free, as a hopeful sign. Hope in Christ, and the assurance of the hope of abiding with Christ when we pass from this earthly life.

Butterflies fluttering around the garden can remind us of those gone on before. They can remind us to whisper a quick thank you for the memories and the love. Perhaps we should think about planting some butterfly bushes in our memorial garden to attract these gentle creatures.

As we think about both Clifford and John, who we lost in March, and the immense impact each of them made to BUCC, let us give thanks for their lives and their legacy. Think of them the next time you see a butterfly in the garden.

Blessings

Pastor Jill

Bethesda UCC