Transfiguration of Jesus -- Armando Alemdar Ara
Tomorrow we'll return to in-person worship at Trenton United for the first Sunday since just before Christmas. We did gather for Ash Wednesday earlier this week but this will be the first Sunday service post lockdown. Our region never had the high rates of COVID infection of other parts of the province and we're in the Green category, so Ruth and I are returning with lots of confidence in our congregational safety protocols.
As important as it is to come together to be the body of Christ, when the time is right, I'm thinking of the gospel passages for last week and this week. It was Transfiguration Sunday last week, which is the story of Jesus climbing a mountain with some of his disciples and experiencing the presence of Moses and Elijah. Tomorrow is Lent 1, and we will remember Jesus' sojourn in the wilderness, the forty days of privation and temptation before his public ministry began.
In neither of these stories is a building, a synagogue or church, involved. When the disciples are tempted to build a booth on the Mount of Transfiguration Jesus steers them elsewhere. When Satan tempts Jesus with a spectacular leap from the temple in Jerusalem, he declines. It is in the wild places that Jesus experiences the holy, discerns the truth, and God's glory is revealed.
I'm pleased that we're going "back to church" tomorrow but it's important to remember that we worship God, Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, who is present in all places. During this past year we've remained grounded by walking, paddling, cycling, skiing, literally hundreds of times, and we've delighted in the goodness and variety of Creation. Of course, we also sit and ponder the beauty around us. So, as we warm up a pew tomorrow in the sanctuary we'll be looking forward to being outdoors again. Inside, outside, God is there.
Temptation of Christ -- Briton Riviere
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