Resurrection Bay Reflections

Are We there Yet?
Psalm 13, James 5:7-11
June 28, 2009
Rev. Peter K. Perry

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A cliché becomes a cliché only because it is a repeated observable phenomena. My experience is that the old cliché about travelling with children is accurate… kids in cars over long distances will eventually open their little mouths and say those four little words parents come to dread… the distance is relative and the words can be heard driving across town as easily as across country… if you haven’t experienced it yet, you will eventually shudder when you hear the words emanating from a small voice in the back seat: “Are we there yet?” More… »

Lord, we confess that there are times when we say to you:
I’m too busy, God. I’ll do it later, God. I’ve got places to be, things to do, people to see, and bills to pay. God, I’m sure you understand that I don’t have time to be holy today.
Lord, we know that you know it is a lie:
For we know that there is one thing we all have in equal measure. Each of us has this moment, and though we don’t know how many moments we will have, we have the opportunity to use each one to its fullest by offering it to you. Help us, Lord, to give you the gift of our time, for it is the greatest treasure we have.
In this moment, hear our prayer of confession.

The people keep silence as all offer personal prayers of confession

Take this moment we have offered to you, O L:ord, and use it to fit us anew for your service.
(Sung response)
Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,
each thought and each motive beneath his control.
Thus led by his spirit to fountains of love,
thou soon shalt be fitted for service above. (395, v.4)

The Soul Needs the Sabbath
Genesis 2:1-3, Psalm 55:1-8, Luke 10:38-42
Seward Memorial UMC
June 21, 2009
Rev. Peter K. Perry

Listen to this sermon…

For the next several weeks, our Sunday morning messages will be centered on the rather vague theme of “summertime.” Last week we talked about tents and RVs and God’s promise to provide for our needs. Today we are going to talk about summer vacations and getting rest for our weary souls.

This is my third summer in Seward and I have learned that for many folks, summer is not a time of rest but a time of work… lots of it… this is the season when livings are earned helping the tourists feel at home and filling the freezers with fish so that we can make it through the long winter. Vacations will come in January and February when it seems the entire state runs off to tropical places to golf or lay in the sun.

But even those who are working extra hours and summer jobs here in Alaska, still somehow find some time to recreate in the summer… to fish, to hike, to play… recreate… literally re- CREATE!

We may be a bit off from the clocks the rest of the world follows, but we know that for most folks out there, summer probably brings to mind rest. Down time. Vacation. Quiet. Solitude. Bare feet in cool grass. Long afternoons curled up in a hammock strung between two shady trees. An armful of good books filled with stories that transport our minds to far off times and places.

My idea of the perfect vacation is a month at a cabin in the woods, napping in a hammock in a cool breeze, with a shelf full of novels and a pitcher of iced tea and a case of Twinkies by my side! I don’t have to go any place else. I don’t need to see all the museums and hit all the tourist traps, just give me quiet. Just give me bare feet, and a hammock, and a good summer read. But no matter how hard I try, I always seem to be too busy to fulfill this fantasy vacation. Somewhere I’ve gotten this idea that even vacations are supposed to be productive. More… »