"Learning To... " is led by Pastor Carolyn Hetrick and Pastor Scott Schul of Grace Lutheran Church, State College, PA. Each week features breath prayer, a passage from scripture, music and reflection before sending you out with grace. Today we are "Learning to Focus." Jesus is telling people their way of living has lost focus. We too have ways we need God to restore us, but change is hard even when we know we need it. Even in these times, we can count on Jesus to cts out of mercy for our world.
Today's scripture: John 2:13-22
Today's music:
"O, the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus" (Thomas J. Williams; arr. Molly Ijames). Copyright © 2018 Beckenhorst Press, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Recorded by Laurel Sanders, flute and Cynthia Mills, piano.
"What Wondrous Love Is This" (Appalachian; setting by John Carter). Copyright © 2011 Beckenhorst Press, Inc. All rights reserved. Recorded and used with permission from the publisher, Beckenhorst Press, Inc. Laurel Sanders, flute; Cynthia Mills, piano
To learn more about our ministries at Grace Lutheran Church, visit glcpa.org.
“Learning to…” Weekly podcast for Lent, 2024 Episode 3
PC:Welcome to Pocketful of Grace, I’m Pastor Carolyn Hetrick of Grace Lutheran Church in State College Pennsylvania
PS: And I’m Pastor Scott Schul
PC: We’re continuing in our third week of the series called “Learning to…” where each week we are focusing upon words from Psalm 25 “Lead me in your truth and teach me your paths.” Each week a passage from Scripture helps us to learn how to follow Jesus more closely. Remembering Jesus loves us, we come to God knowing there are always things we can learn to embrace as we follow our Lord.
PS: Before we go on, let’s breathe. Today we will take the first part of the Psalm, “Show me your truth” as we breath in and then say “I am listening” as we breath out. We will do that three times.
PC: Now we are here to check in with God as we navigate our world and faith journey. Our daily lives can feel upended by new information or situations. Taking time to check in with God helps us focus again. Where do you need God to help you focus? Take a moment and tell God about it.
(Music)
PS: Today we encounter Jesus clearing the temple to return it to a house of prayer in the Gospel of John. (John 2:13-22)
PC: Jesus is telling people that their way of living that has lost its focus. Jesus is brutally honest here. Not surprisingly the leaders of the temple were defensive and angry. Sometimes being shown the truth hurts. Sometimes what we do becomes more important than why we do it and it becomes focused upon us and not God. In lots of ways we need God to restore us, but change is hard even if we know we need it. Has there ever been a time that you resisted God’s effort to restore some part of your life?
MUSIC for reflection
PS: Jesus tells people he is the temple. He is the place where we meet God and God’s mercy. The business of selling animals for people in order to fulfill a rule kept some people out of worship because they could not afford it. That surely was not God’s intention. Has there ever been a time you felt you were kept from God’s mercy? As we listen to the reading again, listen for what word or phrase stands out that you might wish to talk to God about.
PC: Read John again. Jesus cleanses the temple right after his first miracle of turning water to wine. This means that restoring us is his focus. We are His. Take a moment now to ask God for where you need to be restored, or where you have questions or anything else that is on your heart with this reading.
MUSIC
PS: Before we go, let’s take a moment again to breathe and if you stick around after the music we have some information about upcoming things at Grace. This time we will say “Restore me, Lord” as we breathe in and “I am yours” as we breathe out. Let’s do that 3 times. AMEN
PC: OUTRO: Join us each week for another episode of “Learning to…” through the week of Easter. Next week we will be “Learning to Love.”
Save the date for March 20th at 6:15 pm. We’re hosting an Ecumenical Music event called “Songs of Our Times” with choral, handbell and instrumental music.
Weekly Wednesday Worship continues at 12:15 and 6:15. Why not join us for dinner at 5:15? Use the main entrance and head downstairs to our Harkins Fellowship Hall.
Sunday worship is at 8, 9 and 10:30 am in person. Our 10:30 service is on the radio at Bigfoot Country Legends or watch it 10:30 live or later buy visiting our website, glcpa.org and click “WATCH.”
And you can download our free glcpa app to have Grace on the Go wherever your journey takes you. Remember however we meet Jesus, we will be restored and given grace for the journey. Take care, beloveds.