Easter Lilies

There is something so special about Easter Liles. We deliver these beautiful flowers not to remember the death but resurrection of our Lord Jesus. They bring joy and the truth that our God has taken us in His hands. They give us a chance to spread his word and share his hope and resurrection through service to others.

Lilium longiflorum

    Somewhere while the Easter lilies

    Swing their perfumed censers white,

    Softened rays of sunlight falling

    In lines aslant, and warm, and bright,

    Shall gild the altar, nave and chancel;

    Rest with tender roseate ray

    On the font, enwreathed with lilies

    For baptismal rites today.

    Another pilgrim on the journey

    From the cradle to the tomb,

    Shall receive a name and blessing

    While the Easter lilies bloom.

    — Mrs. S.R. Allen[8]

 Lilium longiflorum is known as the Easter lily because in Christianity, it is a symbol of the resurrection of Christ, which is celebrated during Eastertide. The "lily has always been highly regarded in the Church", as Jesus Himself referenced the flower, saying "Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these" (Luke 12:27).[3] Moreover, according to pious legend, "after Jesus' death and resurrection, some of these beautiful flowers were found growing in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus went to pray the night before His crucifixion. The popular Easter lily we use today to celebrate the holiday is referred to as ‘the white-robed apostles of hope.’

 The bulb of these flowers buried in the ground represents the tomb of Jesus and the glorious white trumpet-like fragrant flowers which grow from the bulbs symbolize His life after death. The snowy white color stands for the purity of the Divine Savior and the joy of the resurrection while the trumpet shape signifies Gabriel's trumpet call to rebirth and new life.

 The magnificent white lily known as the Easter Lily has long stood as a symbol of purity, hope, innocence and peace. Also called the Bermuda lily, the Trumpet lily, and Jacob’s Tears, the Easter lily is a biblical flower commonly associated with the resurrection of Christ.

 It is thus absolutely appropriate that we on this day of rebirth celebrate a baptism.The new birth in Jesus name. We take on the responsibility of the soul baptized that they may know the peace and rebirth of the Lord and the keeping of God's promise.

Psalm 118 17

I shall not die but live and declare the deeds of the Lord.

Isaiah 65

23

They shall not labor in vain,
or bear children for calamity;[a]
for they shall be offspring blessed by the Lord—
and their descendants as well.

24
Before they call I will answer,
while they are yet speaking I will hear.

 Baptism is the ritual use of water as an outward sign of inward purification in Christ (forgiveness of sins), of our adoption into God's family, of our ingrafting into Christ, and our admission into the Church. In the Presbyterian Church, a person may be baptized by sprinkling with water, by pouring water, or by immersion under water. In some other churches, only baptism by immersion is allowed. In accordance with our Lord's command in Matthew 28:19, baptism is always performed "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit".

 Luke 24:1-12 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The Resurrection of Jesus

24 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in, they did not find the body.[a] 4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. 5 The women[b] were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men[c] said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.[d] 6 Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.”

Lets us celebrate not the Death but the promise kept of eternal life.

In Jesus memory.

Noral R.

Palm Sunday

This Sunday was Palm Sunday, so we celebrated Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem with a joyful service with all 3 of the choirs participating (the Children’s choir, the Bell choir and of course the Choir).

When I read the passage about the Lord choosing the young donkey that had never been ridden as His mount, it brought tears to my eyes. Of course Jesus loved animals too! Jesus could take a colt who had never been ridden and ride it through the screaming crowds without ever having to “break” the colt. The colt would sense the calming love of his rider and know that he had nothing to fear though the crowd screamed ever louder. Normally even an experienced mount is tested to its limit in a raucous crowd of thousands. My wife and I lost our dog of 18 years and what a comfort it is to know that our Lord understands our grieving for our dog.

I recently led a course in our Wednesday evening studies on the parables of Jesus, so not surprisingly everything now reminds me of the parables. This Palm Sunday I thought about the parable of the Sower. Every seed that Jesus had sown in His short Earthly minister seemed to line the road to Jerusalem that day. The palms, like the newly sprouted seeds of the parable, turned the Earth to green. Jesus like every farmer or gardener knew that not all of the seedlings would flourish, indeed in the next week at times it looked like none would survive, but like every gardener the green sprouts are celebrated for the moment without thoughts of the weeding and watering that lies ahead. So we celebrate with pure joy of Spring with the green palm leaves this Sunday.

George B.

Palm Sunday

Today we were treated to a play on Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Zacchaeus, Bartimaeus, a woman healed by Jesus, a child and Judas all made an appearance and gave their own impressions and experiences of Jesus. Bartimaeus spoke of the contrast between Pontius Pilot’s procession into Jerusalem and Jesus’ procession. One was all solemn pomp and circumstance. The other was a celebration, humble and full of joyful chaos with the waving of palm leaves and cries of “Hosanna!”.

Nothing highlights better the contrast between the Kingdom of Heaven and the world we live in than the differences in these two processions. Pontius Pilot’s procession was a display of imperial power, representing hierarchy, a division of the rulers and the ruled. Jesus’ procession represented a breaking down of this hierarchy and a recognition of the value of the marginalized. Palm Sunday is a time not just to celebrate his joyful entrance into Jerusalem but to remember the message he was bringing with him, and what he was soon to die for.

Melanie A.

Vivre comme un enfant

Le culte du dimanche 7 avril a été une véritable source de bénédiction. Apprendre ce que représente l'Amour de Jésus est une véritable bénédiction. Et justement l'une des meilleures façons de le comprendre davantage est de l'expliquer aux petits enfants. En effet, pourquoi Jésus nous a-t-il recommandé d'être comme des petits enfants pour entrer dans le Royaume des cieux? Pour moi c'est parce que les enfants sont simplement le symbole de la simplicité, de la vérité, de la sincérité ; et justement n'est ce pas cela l'Amour?

Être simple, vrai, sincère, avec soi-même et avec les autres? Donner aux autres son temps, son attention? Partager ce que l'on a? S'apprécier et apprécier les autres? Qu'est ce que l'Amour si ce n'est  tout simplement vivre  comme un enfant, c'est-à-dire avec son coeur!

Laurentine M.

He's Got the Whole World in His Hands

He's Got the Whole World In His Hands

Today we talked about loving care for us all. Our first hymn was 190 You Thirsty  Ones where God fill our belly with food and , our thirst is sated with the water of the everlasting and our souls are filled with His spirit. A very nice start to a service of blessing for the gifts he has given us, including his only son.

Our prayer of confession cleared our hearts and souls to receive the blessings of Jesus Christ that we may live in his way and word. A truly joyful hope for the future.

Our musical approach is without a doubt one of my favourites. He's got the  whole world in his hands. I always loved the positive upbeat message and the comfort of knowing that God is always with us as he cares and protects us. To know that God is with us in our toughest times and greatest joys.

He's got the itty bitty baby in His hands

And so it follows that the Baptism we enjoyed today is the first step in feeding,watering and filling his soul and ours. The taking up of an itty bitty baby in his hands. God IS with us.

The scripture readings furthered this idea when they talked about the sabbath.

Mark 2:23-28
23 One sabbath he was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. 24 The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?” 25 And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food? 26 He entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions.” 27 Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; 28 so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”

The Sabbath was about the compact that God gave the people and the promise to honour Him by showing respect for the Sabath.

Exodus 20: 8-12
8 Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work. 10 But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it. 12 Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

King of glory, King of peace,
I will love Thee;
and that love may never cease,
I will move Thee.
Thou hast granted my request,
Thou hast heard me;
Thou didst note my working breast,
Thou hast spared me.

God is with us always and it is for US to remind that we are also always with God. The Sabbath is our time to set aside to honour what has been given for and to us.

In Jesus Name.

Amen

Noral R.

Be still and know ...

Rev. Dimock used the words from Genesis 28: 10-22 for today's sermon.  Sadly, the story of Jacob seems very modern - conniving, lying, cheating, inheritance and family estrangement. 

How often are we still?  Do we take time to be quiet and reflect on the blessings in our lives?  The fact we are not alone?  We are loved?  How often do we feel vulnerable?

This Sunday is a difficult time as we are confronted with the hatred and violence in New Zealand.  We pray for our Muslim neighbours who were physically vulnerable in their houses of worship.

'God was in this place and I did not know.'

In some reading about these words,  we have to ask if this is when Jacob suddenly becomes aware of the potential divinity with himself, the place where God can reside? Or, does it mean that only when we are not filled with our egos can we truly experience God’s presence? Both remind us how ever-present God can be and how easy it is to say “But I did not know.”

Jeanie H.

Time change

As we started the day with a time change (regardless of how you feel about Daylight Savings Time), we are also coming into a time of change in the church.  It is a time to consider God's invitation to leave our comfortable lives and hear His call given to us through Jesus.  It is a time of reflection, of deep internal consideration of how best to follow Jesus' teachings.  Are we able to take those teachings on board?  Are we able to work with the deeply uncomfortable changes He calls us to make?  How can these changes be reflected back into our community and into the world community?  Without the knowledge of the love which will never let us go, we can only struggle as individuals but with the knowledge of that love, we can conquer all challenges.  It is indeed a time of change and challenge, temptation and false promises but in turning our eyes away from these temptations, we are able to focus on what is true, what is whole and what will lead to a life everlasting.

Laura M.