Blog Archives

Lenten Workshops

2/29/2024

Even though Shirley and I are well into our retirement, we are still blessed enough with good health to use the ministry gifts we have been given. This past week end we helped led two Lenten workshops.

Shirley led a Celtic-themed Lenten Quiet Day on Saturday. The event included an overview of Celtic spirituality, quiet contemplation, and some creative time involving Celtic knots and crosses, and mandalas---circle patterns deeply rooted in Celtic spirituality. She shared information from her own spiritual journey, and from a Celtic spiritual pilgrimage she took part in last year when she and her daughter, Amy, went to Scotland. The day concluded with a Communion service using parts of the liturgy from The Iona Abbey Worship Book which she purchased while on the spiritual pilgrimage last summer.

After worship on Sunday, I co-led a session on Faith & Spirituality. From my own faith journey and from my ministry work, I offered suggestions to encourage people on their faith journey and spiritual pilgrimage. The importance of prayer, Bible study and reflection were highlighted. Additionally, Jesus in his daily walk left us many examples on how to have a closer relationship with God, (note especially Matthew chapter six) and a number of these aspects were covered in this session.

Blessings on your Lenten journey and may you take time to have quiet meditation during this period. Peace, Vernon T.

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Time Alone

2/22/2024

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“Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself . . .” Matthew 14: 13a

In Matthew 14: 1-12 we have the death of John the Baptist described. After Jesus heard this, he was saddened, and had to get away. Even though he was the Son of God, this event greatly grieved him, and he had to be alone so that he could mourn the death of someone he loved very much.

We may have times in our lives when we have to be alone to think about, grieve, or contemplate something that has happen to us. Like Jesus we want to remove ourselves from the noise and strain of the world around us. However, notice what occurred in the verses that follow this one, Jesus was moved by the crowds and went to them and ministered to them. Thus, at some point after our periods of grief and reflection, and we are the only ones who know when that time is, we ought to think about getting active again in the community that we live in.

I experienced something like this, after my late wife, Judy, died after a long struggle with cancer. We had been married for more then twenty-eight years when she passed away in January, the middle of winter when the days are short. My time of grieving for her was when there was not much day light, and I remember sitting in my living room alone after work, with it being dark outside, it really was a very trying and painful period for me.

I was alone a great deal in the evenings, for I needed to grieve and process what had happened. Of course, she was missed, and I did not know how my life would unfold. It took all my energy to make it each day. Spring did come, and I began to feel somewhat better. Looking back that time away from doing a lot extra activity was important for my healing, and for my moving on.

On your spiritual pilgrimage you may have the occasion when you need to get away to pray, grieve, or reflect on events in your life. If that is needed, please do so, remember Jesus did the same thing. However, realize that just as Jesus did, at some point we may need to get back into our surroundings in order to do the ministry that we have been called to do, and to continue with our healing! Peace, Vernon T.

Copyright © 2024 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved

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The Lenten Season

2/17/2024

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Last Wednesday was Ash Wednesday, during this Lenten Season let us reflect on how this New Jerusalem will be!

“Arise, shine, for your light has come; and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you,
though darkness covers the earth and dark night is over the nations.
But upon you the Lord will rise, and the glory of the Lord will appear over you.
Nations shall come to your light; and rulers to the brightness of your dawn.
No longer will violence be heard in your land nor ruin or destruction within your borders.
You will name your walls Salvation, and all your gates Praise.
No more will the sun be your light by day, nor by night will you need the brightness of the moon,
for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.”
Isaiah 60: 1-3, 18, 19

Even in the midst of some dark days in the earthly life, we have the promise of this New Jerusalem, and that the Lord will be our everlasting light!!! Peace and have a blessed and light-filled Lenten Season, Vernon T.

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Following Instructions

2/15/2024

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“When he [Jesus] had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.’ Simon answered, ‘Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.’ When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break.” Luke 5: 4-6

In this chapter from Luke, we have Jesus calling his first disciples. Jesus tells Simon (Peter) to go out into the deep water and let his nets now again. Even though Simon had fished all night and came up empty, he did what he was told. The catch was so big that his nets were strained, and Simon had to get his partners to help out with the haul. Simon and the others were in awe at what had just happened. After this passage Jesus tells these individuals that they would be soon fishing for people. After getting to shore, all of them left their boats and followed Jesus.

As you take part in this spiritual journey, you may also be asked to do something that in human terns maybe quite remarkable. However, if the instructions and discernment come from the good Lord through the Holy Spirit hopefully, you will be like the first disciples and do as you are guided.

Something like this happened to me the summer after I got out of high school. I did not quite know what to do afterwards; I was not guided to go to college or enter the military and I worked for a time at a few odd jobs. I did not have a lot of self-confidence at that time and was somewhat shy. So going out and trying to find a full-time job or find out what I was meant to get involved with, was a very frightening task. A couple of caring men at my church helped me get interviews with two of the steel mills that were in town. I lived in Youngstown Ohio and the steel mills were still a going concern for the community. However, this was an industry that I knew very little about and had never been in one before. So, it took a lot of strength and faith on my part to enter this world. But these men encouraged me to try interviewing with these companies.

I applied at one mill called Republic Steel, and they told me that they would call me later on if they wanted to hire me. I also applied at Youngstown Sheet & Tube Company, and they offered me a job on the spot and said I could start in a few days. A few days later Republic Steel called back and offered a job as well. I thought about it and decided to go with Youngstown Sheet & Tube.

That really worked out for me in the long run. I was laid off less working for them, rather than for Republic over the next eight years. I was also able over time to work shifts, which allowed me to go to college part time, and eventually leave after getting my college degree. I became somewhat comfortable in those surroundings; however, it was not very easy at first and took a long time before I got used to going to work every day. The mill environment could be very daunting and sometimes dangerous. Thus, interviewing for the steel job and then staying with that job took me way out of my comfort zone.

I did not fully know of the importance of that decision, however for my journey it was extremely significant. My life has been far from being perfect, and I have made my share of mistakes both large and small ones, however, over the years I have increasingly sought the instruction and discernment of the Holy Spirit on my daily walk.

As you take part in this pilgrimage and with your spiritual practices may you like the early disciples and listen for Jesus’ voice coming through the Holy Spirit calling you to do things for the kingdom of God that you never thought you could do before! Peace, Vernon T.

Copyright © 2024 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved

Picture is from the Youngstown Steel Museum, Open Hearth Furnace Door, like the one I worked around for over eight years.

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Disciples Being Strengthened and Encouraged

2/8/2024

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“There they [Paul and Barnabas] strengthened the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to continue in the faith, saying, ‘It is through many persecutions that we must enter the kingdom of God.’” Acts 14: 22

We have Paul and Barnabas traveling from city to city proclaiming the good news and causing many to become disciples of Jesus Christ, then they returned to Antioch and spoke these words. They wanted the disciples to be strengthened in their souls and to be encouraged in their faith. Reflect about the times when you have been strengthened and encouraged by people around you, and when you were able to do the same for others.

This has happened many times in my life, and one of the major occasions was after my late wife’s second surgery to remove a brain tumor. After this operation she could not talk, walk, or move her right side. She spent twelve weeks in two different hospitals and a nursing home recovering from the effects of the procedure, having radiation, and relearning her life functions again.

Needless to say that was a very trying time for my family and me, I was with her every day for some period of the day during that time, and thus grew extremely tired and became emotionally drained. Even though it was very demanding, we were nevertheless strengthened and encouraged by the many people who prayed for us, visited us, called us, sent us cards, gave us meals, and were there to support us and help us in any way that they could.

That experience certainly changed me and caused me to see so many things in life differently. I know that I am more empathic to others who go through something similar. I will always remember those who aided us and became God’s love for us. Without this love and compassion that time period would have been more challenging and lonelier. May you also be like Paul and Barnabas and our friends and family and strengthen the souls of others and offer encouragement in their faith, so that they can feel God’s love through you! Peace, Vernon T.

Copyright © 2024 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved

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The Spirit Speaking Through Us

2/1/2024

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“When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” Matthew 10: 19-20

This passage is recorded after Jesus talks about his twelve disciples going out to the Gentiles to proclaim that the kingdom of God had come near. He gives them instructions for the journey and warns them that they may be handed over to the authorities, in which case they should not worry about what to say, but the Holy Spirit would give them what to speak.

On our spiritual pilgrimage, the Holy Spirit can guide and comfort us when we are open to receiving the help. It can also speak through us, when we are called to witness to our faith, and when we are called to proclaim that the kingdom of God has come near.

A few years ago I was fortunate to lead two Lutheran (ELCA) Synod workshops on the topic of discipleship, one in Michigan and one in Indiana within a few weeks of each other. For both workshops I had a handout with a presentation that I could have given. However, the sessions were right after lunch and people had listened to speakers all morning, and I thought that it would a challenge to keep their attention. After a brief overview, I asked them to quickly read over my handout and come up with topics that they wanted to hear versus what I thought they wanted to hear.

In that way they were more invested in the discussion, and we let the Holy Spirit guide what would be covered. It could have been a risk on my part to do it this way, because you never know where the discussion would go. Both breakouts seemed to go well and those who attended appeared to get something out of them. When I had done presentations in the past, I generally followed my outline to keep everything on track. I still had to keep things under control and moving in this case, but I trusted that what would be covered was what the people needed and wanted to hear.

May you be open to the Holy Spirit giving you guidance on your daily walk and when you are speaking about your faith or proclaiming the gospel message. It takes courage to trust and to give up some control of the situation, but that is what Jesus asked his disciples to do, hopefully you can do the same when the time is right to do so! Peace, Vernon T.

Copyright © 2024 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved

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Lenten Workshops

Time Alone

The Lenten Season

Following Instructions

Disciples Being Strengthened and Encouraged

The Spirit Speaking Through Us

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Archives

Categories

​Lenten Workshops

​Time Alone

​The Lenten Season

​Following Instructions

Disciples Being Strengthened and Encouraged

​The Spirit Speaking Through Us

Author

Archives

Categories

Lenten Workshops

Time Alone

The Lenten Season

Following Instructions

The Spirit Speaking Through Us