"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 Be Amazed" as we join the women who show up at the tomb of Jesus expecting to grieve but are met with astounding news- Christ is Risen! Have you ver heard something that seemed too big to take in even when it was good news? Or maybe a burden was rolled away and it seems too good to be true. Or maybe like Peter there is a place where you wish you could have a "re-do." Wherever you have been or hope to be amazed, Jesus' story with us continues. Let's keep learning and rejoicing together!
Our in person Bible study at Grace resumes on APRIL 3RD and stay tuned for another podcast series in the fall for Advent.
Today's Scripture: Mark 16:1-8
Today's Music:
"Jesus Christ Is Risen Today"- Thomas Keesecker's setting of Jesus Christ is Risen Today, from Easter Hope, was recorded with Adam H. Smith on piano for worship use for Grace Lutheran Church, State College, PA. Copyright (c) 2020 Birnamwood Publications (ASCAP), a division of MorningStar Music Publishers. Non-commercial recording made available with permission from MorningStar, March, 2022. Streamed with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-700989. All rights reserved.
"Easter Medley for Flutes"- This composition by Laurel Sanders features three familiar public domain tunes: O filii et et filiae, Hyfrydol, and Puer nobis. Originally intended as an onsite greeting on Easter Sunday 2020 in our main entrance and intended to be played by flute, clarinet and cello, it was subsequently rewritten for two C flutes and bass flute, as you will hear in this recording.
To learn more about our ministries at Grace Lutheran Church, visit glcpa.org.
“Learning to…” Weekly podcast for Lent, 2024 Episode 6
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: Well, here we are. Christ is risen! Over the last of six weeks, we have been learning to pause and meditate upon a passage from Scripture which helps us to learn how to follow Jesus more closely. We have reached the end of Lent and Holy Week and arrive at the moment we remember resurrection. We have heard the story of Jesus’ resurrection so many times, but this week as we remember we still have much to learn. Christ is Risen! Let’s learn to be amazed.
PS: As we begin, let’s take time to breathe deeply and pray. Today we will do so by using a few words inspired by the women at the empty tomb. As we breathe in, we will say,”I am looking for Jesus” and then say “Help me see you” as we breathe out. We’ll do that three times.
PC: As we have been journeying these past weeks, we have pondered lots of things in Scripture and in our lives. As you reflect back upon what it means to trust God, to rethink, and to focus, has God stirred up anything that has changed you? As you have thought about loving, seeing the world beyond ourselves, or giving ourselves away, has God birthed new life in some way?
Take a moment and reflect, giving thanks for those graces along the way. Or ask God for what you need to see. (Music for 1:00)
PS: Today we hear the good news from Mark, the first of the gospels recorded. We hear how the women who went to the tomb, probably numb and expecting to care for a dead body and grieve, were astounded instead.
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
PC: Can you imagine being there? Jesus had been preparing his followers but the words didn’t really sink in. Have you ever heard something that was too hard to take in even when it was good news? The women who went to the tomb expected they would have to roll away the stone that covered the entrance. It would have been heavy and hard to move. But it was already rolled away. Has there ever been a time when a burden was removed in your life but it felt too good to be true? Maybe you were even afraid of what new life would look like. Take a minute and tell God about it.
MUSIC for reflection
PS: We know from the other gospels that the women do end up telling the others and they too find it hard to take in. But two things stand out- is that the messenger from God want them to make sure Peter knows. Maybe that motivated the women to speak after all. Remember Peter abandoned Jesus and acted like he never even met him and then regretted it.
The women are also told that Jesus will meet them in Galilee just like he said. Let’s listen to our lesson from Mark’s Gospel again and imagine how these things would sound to you.
PC:When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
PS: Where do you need Jesus to meet you? Is there something you wish you could re-do like Peter probably felt? Where do you hope to be amazed by God’s love and grace anyway? Why not let the stone be rolled away and expect to meet Jesus. Mark tells us that the gospel is the beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ- but the story goes on and Jesus wants to amaze you too.
MUSIC
PC: Before we go, let’s take a moment again to breathe and pray, using words inspired by Mark. As we breathe in, say, “Now I see you” and then say “Just like you said” as we breathe out. Let’s do that 3 times. AMEN
OUTRO: Friends, thank you joining us to learn and breathe and pray together. This series is completed, but we will be back for Advent. In the meantime, all of our archived episodes are available going back to 2021, where you can find lessons for Sundays of the church year and previous bible studies. Just visit our website, glcpa.org and click LISTEN or find us wherever you get your favorite podcasts.
Our in person Bible study will resume the Wednesday after Easter. And remember that you can download our free glcpa app so that you have Grace on the Go wherever your journey takes you. Christ is Risen! New Life is here! Let’s find it together. Take care, beloveds.