Week of Thursday, July 22, 2004
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MESSAGE OF THE WEEK
• BRIEFS
Receiving the gift of peace
By REV. KEITH GEISELMAN
First Presbyterian Church
Peace You shake the hand of your departing mentor at an
office luncheon.
He championed your abilities and guided your career. You are
afraid of being without his teaching.
You hug your best friend at the foot of the commencement
stage knowing that you won’t see each other on a daily basis again. You are
afraid that she will forget to call.
You pray beside a hospital bed for your beloved spouse or
parent, fearing that death’s shadow is near.
Events like these leave us disturbed and ill at ease and,
yes, heartbroken. In moments like these, we are like the disciples who sat
with Jesus in that upper room late at night, unsure of the future, fearful
of the night, and confused about what to do.
"Jesus knew that the time had come to leave this world to go
to the Father. Having loved His dear companions, He continued to love them
right to the end" [John 13:1, The Message].
In loving His followers and friends right to the end, Jesus
gives them a blessing, a gift from His heart to your heart. This gift is
peace, and this peace is His guidance, His way, His hope, His love.
When a wise teacher departs, a friend leaves, or a parent
dies, we have our memories, our affections, a card, maybe even a love
letter.
There is a real loss of their presence--a touch, a hug, a
living smile--that cannot be filled by memories.
If we were close, we have sorrow, and we mourn. We know
these thoughts and feelings and the disciples did too, and Jesus, who looks
upon us and sees us as we are, knows it as well. So in the wisdom of the
Father, He tells them, and us, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to
you. I do not give to you as the world gives."
Jesus’ gift of shalom is given "not as the world gives it."
The world’s greetings of peace have no power (Jeremiah
6:14), and its attempts to establish it in the world come to naught.
A striking example is the famous Ara Pacis, altar of
peace, erected in Rome by Caesar Augustus, the first of its emperors, to
celebrate his establishment of the age of peace proclaimed by the prophets.
It still stands in Rome, a monument to the skill of its sculptors and to the
empty messianic pretensions of its emperors. The peace that Jesus gives is
not a false promise of security nor, alas, the end of conflict and strife.
But we don’t need to look to ancient Rome to know that the
age of peace has yet to come.
"Gunman shoots nine at Detroit fireworks," screamed the lead
headline on paper.
"This is what happens when you don’t know how to resolve
conflicts without violence," stated Police Chief Ella Bully-Cummings.
We know that the world, our city, and our homes are without
peace. If the promise of Christ’s peace is not the end of all strife and
violence, what is this peace that Jesus gives to us?
In the Jewish tradition "peace" was commonly one of leave
taking. A farewell if you will, such as, when Eli tells Hannah to go away
when she comes to the temple: "Go in peace," he says [1 Sam 1:17].
Now in the fourth Gospel, Jesus promises not to leave us
orphans. We will not be alone because we will live in the peace of Jesus
Christ. His peace tells us that we are received by God, and reclaimed, as
God’s own, and sheltered by God, and sustained by God, and addressed and
treated as His friend and indeed His child.
The peace that Jesus gives is His peace, a peace that flows
out of His life and being. His peace is His love, His joy, His hope.
"So do not be afraid." Do not be cowardly.
We can have "peace with God" (Rom 5:1). But how and on what
basis? We can only answer: by the Word of God, in Jesus Christ, by faith in
Him, by the Holy Spirit who awakens faith. That peace is given to us, so
that we can have it, because the covenant broken by us is kept and fulfilled
by God.
This is no sentimental gift telling us not to worry, but a
call to find strength to face new circumstances in life. It is the strength
to go out into the city and the world and share the good news and this gift
of peace. It is the strength to face the struggles and losses in your life.
It is a call to be makers of peace, which we can only be because Christ
gifts us with an inner peace of quiet confidence and hope and love. This is
not as the world gives.
The great pastor and reformer John Calvin put it this way,
"Love makes us servants of our neighbors in all things…having peace with God
in our hearts, we may also live at peace with our neighbors."
For our life, I add, is not shaped by the absence of Jesus,
but by the unending presence of God.
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
The Rev. Melanie Carey will be
preaching "Major Voices from the Minor Prophets: Hosea," at First United
Methodist Church, 209 Washtenaw, at 9:30 a.m. July 25. Sunday school for
third grade and under and nursery care provided during the service. For more
information, call 482-8374.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
First Baptist Church,
1110 W. Cross, meets at 9:30 a.m. July 25 with Pastor Randy Johnson
preaching. Sunday school for all ages is held at 11 a.m. David Wells will be
in concert at 7 p.m. July 23. Vacation Bible School begins at 6 p.m. July 26
through July 30. For information, call 482-7380.
LINCOLN COMMUNITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Lincoln Community United
Methodist Church, 9074 Whittaker is
holding a gigantic yard sale from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. July 23 and July 24.
There will be a $2 a bag sale on clothing. Lunch is also available as is
coffee and homemade baked goods.
FAITHWAY BAPTIST CHURCH
Faithway Baptist Church,
2020 Packard, is holding CastleKids a Bible story, craft, games, puppets,
skits, snacks and prizes event from 6 to 8:30 p.m. July 26 through July 30.
For more information or for a ride, call 482-2747.
ST. MARK LUTHERAN CHURCH
A New Dawn concert, sponsored
by St. Mark Lutheran Church, 1515 S. Harris Road, will be held at 7
p.m. July 24 at the church. New Dawn, of Minneapolis-based Youth Encounter
presents a concert centered on this year’s theme "new Creation." For
information, call 493-0949.
YPSILANTI EVANGELICAL FRIENDS
Summer Friday Night Family
Drive-In Movies will be held each Friday through the end of August at
Ypsilanti Evangelical Friends, located at the corner of Bemis and
Tuttlehill roads, east of Whittaker. The church is presenting family
oriented movies on a big screen. The films begin at dusk with a Veggie Tale
short followed by the main feature. The church will be providing free
popcorn and lemonade during the show. On most Friday nights, the Praise Band
will be performing before the show, which begins at 9 p.m. In case of
inclement weather, the movie will be shown on a big screen in the Youth
House. Visit the website at http://ypsilanti.friendschurches.com/or call
483-6380. The schedule for the summer is: July 23, "Bamboo in Winter Going
Home;" July 30, "The Climb Best Seller;" Aug. 6, "The Homecoming End of the
Harvest;" Aug. 13, "The Ride Freedom on the Water;" Aug. 20, "Mercy Streets
The Crossing;" Aug. 27, "Powerplay In the Arms of Angels."
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF YPSILANTI
Vacation Bible School will be
held from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 2-6 for ages 4 to fifth grade at First
Presbyterian Church of Ypsilanti, 300 N. Washington. To register or for
more information, call 482-1525. |
