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By Mrs. Gail Landers, member of New Covenant United Church of Christ
United Churches of Lycoming County’s Christian Social Concerns Committee
Experts define pilgrimage as “a journey to a sacred place or shrine, a long journey or search.”
A decade ago, a long-awaited journey with my just-graduated seminarian and youngest daughter, now an ordained pastor with the United Church of Christ, welcomed the end of May. It was a retreat to the peace-filled Island of Iona with Oasis Ministries for Spiritual Development. Accessibility was limited via two ferries.
Our life journeys are always in progress, more than one big list. Being off the beaten path in the Sea of Hebrides, due West of Oban, Scotland and the Isle of Mull, sits the three and a half mile long and one mile wide Island of Iona.
It is just half the size of my first week-long island exploration off the coast of Boston: Thompson Island.
There is no need for cairns direction on this sacred ground, full of history. The mixing of Celtic Christianity and Pagan traditions blends from the founding by Saint Columba.
When people asked me what I did there, “Did you stay in a castle?”, I find it difficult to give an understandable answer. When you have your senses heightened through the beauty of nature, new bird songs and sightings, historical memories at your feet, fresh air and late night light; walk around sheep scat bedecked with flowers; view flowers growing through rocks-new life from the old past; freedom to walk off trail (with respect to closing any gates/styles) to roam the land of endless mounds of grass and stones, I had one of the simplest, healthiest, and rewarding pleasures of life: “the walk.”
Robert Reber, managing editor of Illinois Stewardship, refers to “the walk” as “one of life’s most intimate experiences with nature.”
When eyes and hearts are opened to the beauty of nature and our human connection to it, new awakenings occur. Sometimes this is referred to as an “ah ha” moment. The ability to connect is realized. Respect for the colorful embedded stones and labyrinth root the history of Iona, mirrored through the legacy of Columba.
Later this month, I will join another pilgrimage stateside, this time to the Southwest and the Ghost Ranch of New Mexico, two hours from Albuquerque. It was formerly the residence of artist Georgia O’Keefe and is now under the auspices of the Presbyterian Church. My sister will be joining me, along with a small group of other Oasis Ministry travelers.
Like the spiritual gifts of strengthening that the apostle Paul shared with the Romans, we will be hoping for what is not seen and waiting with patience and renewing of minds, “rejoicing in hope and persevering in prayers, extending hospitality to strangers and living peaceably with all” (Romans 12:12-13).
“Sometimes one must travel far to discover what is near” Uri Shulevits, The Treasure.
“Hold on to what is good, even if it is a handful of earth. Hold on to what you believe, even if it is a tree that stands by itself. Hold on to what you must do, even if it is a long way from here. Hold on to your life, even if it is easier to let go. Hold on to my hand, even if someday I will be gone away” Pueblo Prayer.
Living A Lifestyle Of Worship
By Apostle Dawn Gueary
Lite-Shine Intl. Ministries
There are several ideas that may come to your mind when you think of living a life of worship. One may be which church you attend, how often you read the Bible, how often you pray, etc. Examples in the Old Testament may have included animal sacrifice, the tabernacle where only the priests could make atonement once a year for the sins of the people, or where the people would gather to worship. As we know from the New Testament, Christ came to become the ultimate sacrifice, which would set a new standard for us to live by.
Romans 12:1-2, in the Passion translation, says that our daily act of worship should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies. We are to surrender our bodies to Him to be His sacred and living sacrifice. The word sacrifice means to forfeit or surrender, which leads to life and not death. For us to live in holiness and to experience all that delights His heart, this must become our genuine expression of worship. We must stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around us and be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit, through a total reformation of how we think. This, in turn, will empower us to discern God’s will and help us to live a beautiful life, despite what may be going on around us.
Here the word “bodies” means to surrender the totality of our life. The sacrifice that pleases God is a life fully lived for Him. Psalm 113:3 says “From the rising of the sun to its going down, the Lord’s name be praised,” and 1 Corinthians 10:31 says “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you may do, do all for the honor and glory of God” (NIV).This is saying that living our life for God is considered a holy sacrifice and it brings great joy to His heart. So how then do we truly live a life of worship?
First, we need to be receivers of His mercy. How we receive His mercy is how we, in turn, give. Secondly, we need to devote our entire self to him. Third, we need to really be aware of what we are worshipping! A good way to measure this is to think about who or what consumes our time, our thoughts, our energy, and our heart space.
Ecclesiastes 2:1-11, 10:6-7, and 11:10b clearly describe Solomon’s report of what potentially became his false gods. Such things included but were not limited to money, fitness, vanity, men, women, work (or works), children, family, and home. Although all these things are important and are blessings that have been given to us by God and are to be stewarded well, they can easily become our god if we are putting too much emphasis on them instead of worshipping God.
What is our primary purpose on this earth? You guessed it; it is to worship God! In Matthew 22:37, Jesus declared that our greatest commandment is to love the Lord our God “with all your heart, all your soul and with all your mind.” And in Matthew 19:19, he included “love your neighbor as yourself.” The only way we can do any of this is to first allow God to show us His infinite love by inviting Him by our own admission into all areas of our heart. We should give Jesus the access into our intimacy by looking into us to see anything that may have taken the place where He so longs to be the Lord.
The following institutional services are arranged for and reported by United Churches of Lycoming County:
Sunday, June 12, 2022
Because the COVID-19 outbreak continues to keep us from safely gathering together, few services are scheduled in area long term care facilities or prisons. Many congregations are beginning to meet together in person for Worship, being careful to social distance and to follow all CDC guidelines. They also encourage those most at risk to continue to Worship at home and to take advantage of services that are live streamed on Facebook, YouTube, Zoom, and other venues.
The following institutional services are arranged for and reported by United Churches of Lycoming County:
Sunday:
Lycoming County Prison, 1:45 and 3:15 p.m., None scheduled.
Celebration Villa, 2 p.m., None scheduled.
Williamsport South, 2 p.m., None scheduled.
Valley View Nursing Home, 2 p.m., None scheduled.
Embassy of Loyalsock, 2 p.m., Mr. Anthony Mileto, St. John’s – Newberry United Methodist Church, Williamsport.
HCR Manor Care North, 2:15 p.m., None scheduled.
Rose View Center, 2:15 p.m., Mr. Jerry Webb, AME Zion Church, Williamsport.
Leighton Place, 3 p.m., None scheduled.
Williamsport Home, 3 p.m., None scheduled.
Pre-Release Center, 3:30 p.m., None scheduled.
Services during the week include:
Heritage Springs, 10 a.m., Tuesday, None scheduled.
Presbyterian Home, 11 a.m. Thursday, None scheduled.
On the radio:
Radio Services are provided by the following congregations:
8:30 a.m. (Saturday) Jersey Shore Assembly of God, WJSA 96.3 FM.
9 a.m. (Sunday) Community Baptist Church, Montoursville, WJSA 96.3 FM.
9 a.m. (Sunday) Pine Street United Methodist Church, Williamsport, WWPA 1340 AM/101.7 FM., WILQ HD3
Ecumenical luncheon:
United Churches of Lycoming County’s Wednesday Noon Ecumenical Lunch will return September 7th!
Devotion line:
The United Churches telephone devotion line is available 24 hours a day by calling 570-322-5762. These devotions change daily and are hope filled and inspirational. The devotions this week will be provided by Rev. Gwen Bernstine, Lycoming Presbyterian Church.