House-to-House
Family of Hope House Church March 2018
The Holy Nativity In Mark’s Gospel
The lectionary texts for the first Sunday of Lent included a part of the first chapter of the Gospel of Mark, which begins not with Christ's birth, but with his baptism.
Might it be that Mark saw this event as the more significant sign of God's "advent"?
In Luke's birth account, the heavens open up with an angel's joyful announcement, followed by a multitude of heavenly hosts proclaiming "Glory to God! On earth peace and to all goodwill"! In the account of Jesus's baptism in Mark, the heavens open up with God"s Spirit breaking in in the form of a dove, accompanied by the inaugural announcement, "This is my Beloved, in whom I am well pleased"!
Jesus is here experiencing his second "birth", not through the water of Mary's womb but in the Spirit-drenched baptismal water of the Jordan River, where his Hebrew ancestors crossed over into their new life and new liberation as God's free-at-last people.
In our present violence-prone world, as then, God hovers over us with Dove-power rather than bursting in with the scream of an eagle. Jesus comes as Lamb, and becomes Spirit-filled as Dove. He comes as prey rather than predator, as Life-giving Redeemer rather than as Warrior and Conqueror. But in the end, it is the power of God's mercy and truth that conquers and prevails.
Such is Advent. Such is Lent. Such is baptism and new birth. Such is the power of divine suffering and resurrection, of Passion Week and Easter.
Feliz Navidad! The Lord has come! - Harvey Yoder
Notes, Prayers and Praises
- JOIN HUNDREDS OF OF YOUR FRIENDS at a special Lenten season performance of The Jesus Stories by Ted & Company set for 7 p.m. Saturday, March 17, at the Divine Unity Community Church on Country Club Road. Your participation will help raise money for Gemeinschaft Home through a suggested $15 donation, and Ted Swartz will auction off items you can bid on during the course of the evening.
- BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to Ruth Stauffer, 3/28!
- WE WILL HAVE A LENTEN COMMUNION SERVICE Sunday, March 18, with a bread, cheese and grape juice only meal.
March Lectionary Texts
4 Exodus 20:1-17 Psalm 19 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 John 2:13-22
11 Numbers 21:4-9 Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 Ephesians 2:1-10 John 3:14-21
18 Jeremiah 31:31-34 Psalm 51:1-12 Hebrews 5:5-10 John 12:20-33
25 Isaiah 50:4-9a Psalm 31:9-16 Philippians 2:5-11 Mark 14:1-15:47
March services, worship at 4, meal at 6 pm
4 Location: Park Place, second floor meeting room 564-3716
Worship and sharing: Lois Rivera-Wenger
Bible Study: Paul Swarr light salad/fresh fruit meal
11 Location: Guy Vlasits 1260 Parkway Drive 269-6706
Worship and Sharing: James Stauffer
Bible Study: Dick Dumas Carry-in meal
18 Location: FLRC, 273 Newman Ave. (ground floor) 432-0531
Worship and Sharing: Elly Nelson
Bible Study: Harvey Yoder Communion Bread, Grape Juice and Cheese Meal
25 Location: Susan Campbell 1361 Lincolnshire Dr, 22802 564-1524
Worship and Sharing: Susan Campbell
Bible Study: Lewis Overholt Carry-in Meal
