I've come far in life, my accomplishments, the many
obstacles I've overcome, and the countless testimonies,
simply through faith in God and believing that nothing
impossible with Him. When we pray we praise God saying,
He is the God of ALL possibilities, reflecting on what the
Bible tells us that with God ALL things are possible. I
believe with faith in God there is nothing that cannot be
accomplished. FAITH means completely trusting and
having confidence in someone or something, and putting
our complete trust in God is one such example.

There are others, however, who do not share our faith in
God or His son Jesus Christ. Just as the blind man in the
passage--not keeping quiet when rebuked but instead
continuing to call on Jesus because of his faith that Jesus
could heal him--we must also stay strongly rooted in our
faith. We must not worry about what others think of our
beliefs but work on ourselves; steadfastly reaching out to
Jesus, and building our faith and trust in He who loves us
unconditionally.

I pray that God will keep us grounded in on our faith and
belief in Him. I pray He helps us withstand those who mock
or laugh at us. With faith in God, we can accomplish
anything through Christ who strengthens us. Great is His
Faithfulness!


Psalm 137:1-6(7-9), 144; Exodus 10:21--11:8; 
2 Corinthians 4:13-18; Mark 10:46-52

These Lenten meditations were written by the people
of St. Barnabas' for the people of St. Barnabas' as part
of our recognition of the 50th anniversary of the founding
of this church. We hope that you will find them helpful
in your own Lenten devotions.

Psalm 22: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

We hear news stories about people whose lives have been
turned upside down by disaster, personal tragedy, or just bad
luck. Underneath the heartbreak, sometimes there seems to
be a hint of outrage that God has abandoned them, unjustly
punished them, and left them alone in the wilderness.

When I was in my mid-twenties, I was an underemployed
college graduate, living at home with my parents, and
depressed because my life wasn't going the way I'd planned.
The great job, apartment, and adoring boyfriend hadn't yet
materialized. But then one day, as I sat in the doctor's office
awaiting the results of some medical tests I was sure were a
waste of time, I was surprised with a diagnosis of Crohn's
Disease.

After I got over the initial shock, found a gastroenterologist,
and did some research on the illness, a strange thing
happened--I stopped feeling sorry for myself. My previous
complaints seemed trivial, and even with the challenges of a
chronic illness, I began to feel hopeful. I realized that the
adversity we experience does not mean we've been
abandoned by God. If we trust in Him we are not alone, and
He can make us strong.


Psalm 22; Exodus 9:13-35; 2 Corinthians 4:1-12; 
Mark 10:32-45

These Lenten meditations were written by the people
of St. Barnabas' for the people of St. Barnabas' as part
of our recognition of the 50th anniversary of the founding
of this church. We hope that you will find them helpful
in your own Lenten devotions.

Mark 10:31: Many who are first will be last, and the last
will be first.

The reign of heaven is seemingly the realm of topsy-turvy.
Yet, when Jesus speaks of letting go of houses, family, and
land for the sake of the good news as the way to abundance
and eternal life, he is describing how life really works. (The
key to juggling is not catching, it's the letting go.) When you
and I are invited to step into the realm of topsy-turvy to
continue to grow, then faith, courage, and resources multiply
to meet the needs. Starting the Center for Liturgy and the
Arts was a letting go, yet so much has come in return. How
blessed I am to have been adopted into the family of St.
Barnabas' and to have shared in such abundance through
assisting with Lenten programs, bible school, Shrine Mont
weekends, Region 8 events, forum hours, celebrations of the
lives of dear friends, Sunday and midweek services, and just
being able to come and sit in the pew. Your welcome,
prayers, and encouragement for me and your support for the
Center continue to be abundant blessings for which I am
profoundly grateful.


Psalm 131, 132; Exodus 7:25--8:19; 2 Corinthians 3:7-18;
Mark 10:17-31

These Lenten meditations were written by the people
of St. Barnabas' for the people of St. Barnabas' as part
of our recognition of the 50th anniversary of the founding
of this church. We hope that you will find them helpful
in your own Lenten devotions.

Mark 10:5: Jesus said to them, "for the hardness of your
heart [Moses] wrote you this commandment."

Hardness of heart in the Bible is resistance to God's
promises and commandments. Many of us, perhaps most,
suffer from it.

But we live, we say, in the real world where we face daily
opponents and competitors. We are sure that to deal with
such a world means we must make adjustments to the
Sermon on the Mount, and to Jesus' invitation to follow Him
to the Cross.

St. Barnabas', our community of faith, offers a training
place where we may, in some safety, try out the Gospel. God
is interested that the seed of the Word produce in us
abundantly the fruit of faith, hope, and love. Our sisters and
brothers in Christ will be our teachers in a shared learning
experience. And the realm of God which Jesus announces
will become ever more real.

Ameliorating hardness of heart requires daily application of
our hearts to wisdom. Reading Morning Prayer is one way
to begin our daily training. And Morning Prayer begins with
Psalm 95. Can we hear the Risen Christ speaking the psalm
to us with present immediacy and authority?

    Oh that today you would hearken to (God's) voice!
    Harden not your hearts.


Psalm 119:145-176; Exodus 7:8-24; 2 Corinthians 2:14-
3:6; Mark 10:1-16

These Lenten meditations were written by the people
of St. Barnabas' for the people of St. Barnabas' as part
of our recognition of the 50th anniversary of the founding
of this church. We hope that you will find them helpful
in your own Lenten devotions.

Psalm 121: I lift up my eyes towards the mountains. My help
is from the Lord who made Heaven and earth. The Lord will
guard your coming and going both now and forever.

The rain began at night and continued until the mid-morning
leaving a dark and melancholy greeting for the day. At noon
a welcome reprieve was given by the sun, providing an
opportunity for a walk. The reward was a beautiful view of
the hills leading to the mountains of the Shenandoah.

The shifting moods of the weather, complemented by a
"mountain high," echo the journey we are on, and remind us
that the Lord is our guide. Nevertheless, the rise and fall of
emotions driven by the joys and tragedies of life can lead to
malaise and confusion. However, in 1 Corinthians 14:33, we
find that God is a God, not of confusion, but of peace.

We give thanks to our St. B. parish for helping us find that
peace and guiding us as we continue our Journey with Jesus.


Psalm 121, 122, 123; Exodus 5:1--6:1; 
1 Corinthians 14:20-33a, 39-40; Mark 9:42-50

These Lenten meditations were written by the people
of St. Barnabas' for the people of St. Barnabas' as part
of our recognition of the 50th anniversary of the founding
of this church. We hope that you will find them helpful
in your own Lenten devotions.

Assuming that the selections in the lectionary are put
together for a reason, to illustrate a point, I began by trying
to discern their common thread. The two passages I selected
(from 1 Corinthians and Mark) describe different ways to
show forth the word of God, which we communicate both
by words and by deeds. In 1 Corinthians, Paul says to ask
for the gift of prophecy, so that our words may be
understood by others. Paul points out that our witness is of
limited value if others cannot understand out words.
Sometimes I think that our specialized Episcopalian terms
get in the way of speaking to others, so when I describe our
church life I try to use everyday terms which are readily
understood. But as Mark tells us we also bear witness to
God by our deeds, and that a kindness done to a stranger is
as if it was done to our Lord. Our works are important in
communicating our faith to others; they are a tangible
demonstration that we practice what we profess. In our
Journey with Jesus we have to talk the talk and walk the
walk!


Psalm 31; Exodus 4:10-20(21-26)27-31; 
1 Corinthians 14:1-19; Mark 9:30-41

These Lenten meditations were written by the people
of St. Barnabas' for the people of St. Barnabas' as part
of our recognition of the 50th anniversary of the founding
of this church. We hope that you will find them helpful
in your own Lenten devotions.

Psalm 118:4: This is the day which the Lord has made; let
us rejoice and be glad in it.

I was delighted when I learned that March 25 is the day for
my meditation for two reasons: this verse from the reading
in Psalms has always been one of my favorites; and on this
date I personally rejoice for the birth of my younger son,
who has grown to be a loving husband and father and a truly
committed Christian.

I start every morning by repeating Psalm 118:4. Knowing
that God is our Father and Savior, how can we not rejoice?!
My years at St. Barnabas reinforced my sense of rejoicing.
The worship liturgy, the joyful music, the love of friends, the
sense of caring for the world beyond the church walls all
nurture rejoicing in God's kingdom on earth. The spirit of
joy and the challenge to walk in the ways of the Lord always
seemed to greet me when I entered. And I further rejoice
because, though life's path has led me away from St.
Barnabas, I have a new church family who embrace me with
God's love.

Prayer: May we be ever mindful of the peace and joy that
comes from God and pause to rejoice and live as He would
have us live.


Psalm 118; Exodus 3:16--4:12; Romans 12:1-21; 
John 8:46-5

These Lenten meditations were written by the people
of St. Barnabas' for the people of St. Barnabas' as part
of our recognition of the 50th anniversary of the founding
of this church. We hope that you will find them helpful
in your own Lenten devotions.

Exodus 3:4: "Here am I."

When God first calls to Moses from the burning bush,
Moses gives the appropriate traditional response of "Here
am I". But when God says "I will send you to Pharaoh that
you may bring forth my people.", then Moses changes his
tune. Then his response is: "Who am I that I should go.?"
For many of us it is easy to say, "sure, I'll do it". It is only
later what we realize that, to quote Oliver Hardy, "Here's
another fine mess you've gotten us into". Moses is an
example for these times. He let God get him in over his
head, but God saw him through. As it says in today's gospel,
"All things are possible to him who believes."


Psalm 107:33-43, 108:1-6(7-13); Exodus 2:23-3:15; 
1 Corinthians 13:1-13; Mark 9:14-29

These Lenten meditations were written by the people
of St. Barnabas' for the people of St. Barnabas' as part
of our recognition of the 50th anniversary of the founding
of this church. We hope that you will find them helpful
in your own Lenten devotions.

Exodus 2:22: Zipporah gave birth to a son, and Moses
named him Gershom, saying, "I have become an alien in a
foreign land."

We look at the United States today, and we see a country
that is growing in racial diversity. We look at Annandale
today, and we see a community with a wealth of young
families with children. We look at St. Barnabas' today, and
we see a church that is slowly changing to match the world
around it.

By the fall of 2012, there will be no Rite 13 or Journey to
Adulthood classes. The Youth Group--those teenagers 13 or
older active within the church--will be down to three or
four members. With very few college-aged adults at the
church, and a four-year gap before the next oldest group of
children, is it any wonder that we, like Moses, feel like
aliens in a foreign land?

Our church must continue to seek out young families. These
new families will bring new ideas to our church and new
ways to seek the Truth. While the Truth itself never changes,
the church must change if it is to grow.


Psalm 102; Exodus 2:1-22; 1 Corinthians 12:27-13:3; 
Mark 9:2-13

These Lenten meditations were written by the people
of St. Barnabas' for the people of St. Barnabas' as part
of our recognition of the 50th anniversary of the founding
of this church. We hope that you will find them helpful
in your own Lenten devotions.

1 Corinthians 12:12-26: But the Holy Spirit has fitted us all
together into one body. We have been baptized into Christ's
body by the one Spirit, and have all been given that same
Holy Spirit.

As an infant, my parents made the decision to have me
baptized into the body of Christ as an Episcopalian. As a
teenager, I made the decision to be confirmed into the body
of Christ as an Episcopalian.

As an adult, I made the decision to become part of the body
of Christ at St. Barnabas' Episcopal Church. I joined St.
Barnabas' as a parent, focused on my children being part of
the body of Christ. St. Barnabas' has been a wonderful part
of our journey.

I learned much about my part in the body in Christ while I
was exposing my children to the life of faith. I learned my
spiritual gifts as well as my challenges during my "Journey
with Jesus." Yet I find that my greatest challenge is to accept
that I must push myself as a part of Christ's body; and that I
cannot get discouraged when I fall along the way.

I must remain open to receive all of the body of Christ. My
greatest joys often come when I remind myself of His grace,
understanding and blessings, and my "Journey with Jesus'
continues to bring me peace.


Psalm 69:1-23(24-30)31-38; Exodus 1:6-22; 
1 Corinthians 12:12-26; Mark 8:27-9:1

These Lenten meditations were written by the people
of St. Barnabas' for the people of St. Barnabas' as part
of our recognition of the 50th anniversary of the founding
of this church. We hope that you will find them helpful
in your own Lenten devotions.

Humility is a gift from God. Each of us must recognize that
every talent which we possess is a gift and not something for
which we can claim credit. If we choose to claim credit we
deny God's role in making us who we are. To be truly
humble is the gift itself. To accept all aspects of life--both
good and evil--is to begin our journey toward a more
humble life. But we must beware of making humility our
goal.

It is easy to thank God for the blessings he bestows upon us.
To rejoice in God's thorns is quite another matter. It is
infinitely harder to recognize and accept the adversities that
beset us as gifts from God and strive to accept them as part
of God's legacy.

With this in mind I try to hold each day's events as blessings
to be appreciated and cherished. I find that the blessings far
outweigh the thorns. THANKS BE TO GOD!


Psalm 101, 109:1-4(5-19)20-30; Genesis 50:15-26; 
1 Corinthians 12:1-11; Mark 8:11-26

These Lenten meditations were written by the people
of St. Barnabas' for the people of St. Barnabas' as part
of our recognition of the 50th anniversary of the founding
of this church. We hope that you will find them helpful
in your own Lenten devotions.

Here again we have the wonderful and amazing story of how
Jesus, having blessed seven loaves and a few small fish,
enabled his disciples to feed about 4,000 people. I always
think of church suppers when I read this story. Somehow
there is always enough. The only instance in my memory
where there wasn't sufficient fare, one parishioner went
home and brought back a cooked leg of lamb! This concept
carries beyond to everyday life. In Red Cross Disaster
Services, I was always amazed at how supportive and
helpful neighbors were to those who had been burned out,
and many times they didn't know each other. Today, in spite
of the economic situation, charitable donations and
volunteering have continued steadily. One of the things we
teach the ASYP kids to do is to write thank-you notes to the
church and others for the space, volunteers and support for
the program. The original loaves and fishes were a miracle.
Today, the concept of giving back, to which many of us were
brought up, and some came to late in life, is a modern and
human attempt to continue our Lord's concept.


Psalm 97, 99; Genesis 49:29-50:14; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34;
Mark 8:1-10

These Lenten meditations were written by the people
of St. Barnabas' for the people of St. Barnabas' as part
of our recognition of the 50th anniversary of the founding
of this church. We hope that you will find them helpful
in your own Lenten devotions.

1 Corinthians 10:31-33: So eat your meals heartily, not
worrying about what others say about you—you’re eating to
God’s glory, after all, not to please them. As a matter of fact,
do everything that way, heartily and freely to God’s glory. At
the same time, don’t be callous in your exercise of freedom,
thoughtlessly stepping on the toes of those who aren’t as free
as you are. (The Message)

Usually when I think about what I am going to give up for
Lent, I end up picking something that I like—coffee,
chocolate, donuts—and then do my best to abstain until
Easter Sunday dawns. Then it’s back to my old creature
comforts! But if I take Paul’s advice to the church in
Corinth, maybe I should be giving up something I don’t
like… and not go back to it at all.

So this Lent I am giving up Fear.

If I “do everything that way, heartily and freely to God’s
glory,” more fearlessly without becoming “callous in my
exercise of freedom,” I believe that I will journey into a
deeper discipleship with the holy rebel, Jesus.

Prayer: Jesus, you said, ‘Fear not.’ I am taking you at your
word. Amen.


Psalm 89:1-18; Genesis 49:1-28; 1 Corinthians 10:14-11:1;
Mark 7:24-37

These Lenten meditations were written by the people
of St. Barnabas' for the people of St. Barnabas' as part
of our recognition of the 50th anniversary of the founding
of this church. We hope that you will find them helpful
in your own Lenten devotions.

Paul is talking about us as Spirit-filled Christians. He tells of
the working of the Spirit. As the Spirit resurrected Jesus, we
will be resurrected. The Spirit not only overcomes death, but
the way of the flesh (sin), and will bear witness to the Father
that we are his children and heirs. Easter bears witness to the
resurrection and the promise of a future with God. Our
future as Spirit-filled Christians is to be free of physical and
moral corruption. It is the only hope that life holds. So let us
hold up our Gift of the Spirit and let it shine brightly in this
darkness as a beacon to others that they might find their
way.


Psalm 66, 67; Genesis 48:8-22; Romans 8:11-25;
John 6:27-40

These Lenten meditations were written by the people
of St. Barnabas' for the people of St. Barnabas' as part
of our recognition of the 50th anniversary of the founding
of this church. We hope that you will find them helpful
in your own Lenten devotions.

Psalm 90: All our days are passed away...(and) we spend
our years as a tale that is told… So teach us to number our
days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

With Barbara’s life cut short these words tore my heart as
her disease tore hers. But, they also provided the path each
of us needs to live out the remainder of our own lives. When
we talked about when one of us would die, we said to each
other that “life must go on” and so it has but different. Years
ago a good friend wrote this poem as his death grew near. It
touched me then and more so now.

Life is wonderful
When there are others to love and touch.
And even when you can’t touch
there’s still food and wine.
And when the taste for food is gone
there’s music to feed the heart.
And when you can no longer hear the music
there’s art to fill the eyes.
And when the eyes can no longer see
you can still know the touch of a friendly hand
and feel thoughts and heaven, on your mind.
And when that touch is no longer felt
and the thoughts are no longer yours.
Take stock, for you must know
to dear G-d it’s time to go.
Children... G-d gives... G-d protects... Love G-d.

Psalm 87, 90; Genesis 47:27-48:7; 1 Corinthians 10:1-13;
Mark 7:1-23

These Lenten meditations were written by the people
of St. Barnabas' for the people of St. Barnabas' as part
of our recognition of the 50th anniversary of the founding
of this church. We hope that you will find them helpful
in your own Lenten devotions.

Psalm 88:14: Why, Lord, do you reject me and hide your
face from me?

Ever heard of the term “drama queen”? It refers to an actor
who gives overly emotional performances on the stage or
screen, or to a person who reacts to criticism or mishaps in
an overly emotional manner. In both cases, the drama
queens suffer from narcissism; from their point of view, “It’s
all about me.”

Upon reading Psalm 88, described as the most mournful of
all psalms, my first thought was that the author was a drama
queen. Placed in the lowest pits, the darkest depths, cast
among the dead? That is prime drama queen material.
Hidden beneath the doom and gloom verbiage, however, is
the suffering of a man caught in sin. He knows that God is
his salvation, and he prays to God for mercy.

The church keeps me from turning into a drama queen.
When I attend services on Sunday morning, or when I teach
Sunday school, I am reminded that is not all about me. It is
about faith and service. It is about Jesus, forgiveness, and
salvation.

It is all about God.


Psalm 88; Genesis 47:1-26; 1 Corinthians 9:16-27;
Mark 6:47-56

These Lenten meditations were written by the people
of St. Barnabas' for the people of St. Barnabas' as part
of our recognition of the 50th anniversary of the founding
of this church. We hope that you will find them helpful
in your own Lenten devotions.

Mark 6:46: After saying farewell to them, he went up on the
mountain to pray.

I’m an introvert. This doesn’t mean that I don’t like people
or enjoy being around them. I do. It does mean that
interacting with people, especially a lot of people, drains my
energy and that I need some time alone to recharge.

Today’s Gospel tells the story of the loaves and fishes. The
miracle is bracketed by Jesus’ efforts to escape the crowds
that followed him. Jesus gave in to their need and began
teaching, offering food for their souls and their bodies. After
feeding them, Jesus dismissed the crowd and went off by
himself to pray. As an introvert, I can identify with his need
to get away from everyone, even the disciples.

It may be too great a leap to say that Jesus was an introvert,
but throughout the Gospels we hear about his need to draw
apart from his followers and pray. His time alone with God
provided the energy he needed to continue his mission.

Like Jesus, we also need to retreat. We need quiet time to
recharge, to connect with God, to pray. Lent, the church’s
quiet time, is an opportunity for us to set aside our own time
alone with God to gather the energy we need to continue our
mission.


Psalm 42, 43; Genesis 46:1-7, 28-34; 1 Corinthians 9:1-15;
Mark 6:30-46

These Lenten meditations were written by the people
of St. Barnabas' for the people of St. Barnabas' as part
of our recognition of the 50th anniversary of the founding
of this church. We hope that you will find them helpful
in your own Lenten devotions.

Our personal journey with Christ is one where we are
constantly learning, questioning, reflecting and reaffirming
our faith. I often find myself having to reaffirm to myself
what it means to be a follower of Christ. A conversation with
God on a daily basis is something that we need to have so
we can reaffirm our beliefs, thoughts and prayers. We
mention the troubles and tribulations we face, we give
thanks for all the good we have. Yes, it is part of a daily
conversation. Think of Christ as our travelling partner, and
the daily conversations we have with him would be what
you would have with your best friend. You cannot get a
better friend than Christ. We talk to him about the day we
had—the nice things that happened, the fears we have, and
the anticipation of things to come. We ask God to
understand our plight and to keep us safe. It is our daily one-
on-one with God to say, here’s what I did, here’s what I am
going to do and here are the obstacles in my way. I use that
in work and it works wonders. Imagine how much more
powerful this conversation would be with God.


Psalm 119:97-120; Genesis 45:16-28; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13;
Mark 6:13-29

These Lenten meditations were written by the people
of St. Barnabas' for the people of St. Barnabas' as part
of our recognition of the 50th anniversary of the founding
of this church. We hope that you will find them helpful
in your own Lenten devotions.

Mark 6:8: He ordered them to take nothing for their journey
except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts.

Jesus prepares his disciples to go out and spread the word, to
cast out demons and to heal without him. Eugene Peterson
in The Message phrases these instructions a little differently.

“Don’t think you need a lot of extra equipment for this.
YOU are the equipment. No special appeal for funds. Keep
it simple.” If they were rejected, they were to move on and
continue their work. What an awesome job they did in
starting the church. I have often wondered if they would be
happy or sad to look at the church today. How do you think
they would feel? What do you think they would see? What
do you see?

Looking back on the fifty years our St. Barnabas’ Church
has existed, I marvel at what has been accomplished. The
congregation has helped settle Vietnamese refugees; a young
child who needed a liver transplant; many who needed their
homes fixed up; people and families who are hungry and
most recently, the Annandale Safe Youth Project. Wonderful
volunteers have always been available to lead these projects.

By leading joyful God-centered lives we will continue the
work that Jesus and his disciples began 2,000 years ago.
Remember, we are the “equipment.”


Psalm 78:1-39; Genesis 45:1-15; 1 Corinthians 7:32-40;
Mark 6:1-13

These Lenten meditations were written by the people
of St. Barnabas' for the people of St. Barnabas' as part
of our recognition of the 50th anniversary of the founding
of this church. We hope that you will find them helpful
in your own Lenten devotions.

Mark 5:21-43: Your faith has healed you; go in peace and
be freed from your suffering.

Two days after Thanksgiving, 2001, I had the beginning of a
major heart attack. It was a rainy, cloudy day when I entered
the Heart Institute, a part of the Fairfax Medical Center.
There had been no signs or reason for me to suspect that I
was on the verge of a serious heart problem. When the
medical staff informed me, I was shocked, to say the least—
“me,” a professional Dietitian, always eating the right things
(no sweets, gravy, candy, etc.), keeping my weight under
control—my, oh, my. But I had faith and knew that I would
be alright. Throughout my journey with family, St.
Barnabas’ friends, and competent medical personnel, I knew
that there was no cause to worry. I never asked, why me? As
Jesus said in Mark, after the woman touched his robe,
“Daughter, you took a risk of faith, and now you are healed
and whole, live well, live blessed; Be healed from your
suffering.”


Psalm 80; Genesis 44:18-34; 1 Corinthians 7:25-31;
Mark 5:21-43

These Lenten meditations were written by the people
of St. Barnabas' for the people of St. Barnabas' as part
of our recognition of the 50th anniversary of the founding
of this church. We hope that you will find them helpful
in your own Lenten devotions.

As a musician, Psalm 96 has always been one of my
favorites. It wasn’t hard to envision David quietly tending
his sheep, strumming a lyre and using his voice to express
his thoughts. His words were masterful and encompassed his
faith and fears. Through the centuries we have grown to
cherish and repeat those words because they articulated an
inner truth and a relationship with God we aspired to.

Over the years I have said and sung Psalm 96 in many ways,
but have always wondered how I could personally follow
their bidding. How would I be able to offer God something
that is worthy? Something that is new? I would never have
the brilliance of Bach or the eloquence of Palestrina. My
“song” would always seem pale and thin by comparison. It
was only when I realized that I was equating perfection with
worth that I began to understand God does not ask for great
talent, but great love. How many of us have been served
bitter tea and burnt toast offered by tiny, eager hands so
proud of their achievement? It is the love not skill that
makes them valued. Likewise, God accepts our flawed
efforts and adoration as a loving Father. To Him each life is
a new song and each endeavor a joy when presented with
our faith and devotion. Thus, no matter what course our life
may take, we must always offer God our best and there will
be no song more pleasing to His ear.


Psalm 93, 96; Genesis 44:1-17; Romans 8:1-10; John 5:25-29

These Lenten meditations were written by the people
of St. Barnabas' for the people of St. Barnabas' as part
of our recognition of the 50th anniversary of the founding
of this church. We hope that you will find them helpful
in your own Lenten devotions.

Mine is a story about my brother, Michael. The first-born
child in our family, Michael grew up in Washington, DC. As
a youth, he was an acolyte at St. George’s Episcopal Parish.

He was a newspaper boy, a Cub/Boy Scout, and a loving son
and big brother. He enjoyed sports, attended baseball games
with our Dad, and, as a teenager, loved to sing.

On November 8, 1961, Michael, 18, joined the Army and
boarded Imperial Airline Flight 201/8 at a Maryland airport.
This aircraft was doomed to crash with only two survivors,
the pilot and co-pilot.

November 8, 2011 marked the 50th Anniversary of this
fateful flight when my brother and 76 others perished near
Richmond.

This year also begins the celebration of the 50th Anniversary
of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church.

Golden Anniversaries marking two significant events: One,
the beginning of a new church in VA that positively changed
the lives of many. The other, a horrific ending of many
innocent lives that also changed the internal design of
airplane cabins. It changed the lives of many and devastated
communities.

What a contrast in the parallelisms of these events!


Psalm 75, 76; Genesis 43:16-34; 1 Corinthians 7:10-24;
Mark 5:1-20

These Lenten meditations were written by the people
of St. Barnabas' for the people of St. Barnabas' as part
of our recognition of the 50th anniversary of the founding
of this church. We hope that you will find them helpful
in your own Lenten devotions.

We find it so hard to believe that something good is going to
come out of the troubles we face or that it really will end in
time. When you’re in a pit like the one Joseph’s brothers put
him in and don’t see a way out, it seems natural. But, Jesus
tells us, “Don’t be afraid, just believe.” (Mark 5:36)

In 2009, I had the most difficult boss. Having spent a year
trying to work through the challenges, I decided to quit even
without a back-up job. It was an extremely difficult decision
since I lived alone in Singapore, and I knew I’d have to head
back to India if I exhausted my savings.

I put this decision in God’s hands, praying for weeks before
I planned to resign. Something beautiful happened in this
time. I was filled with God’s reassuring peace that He would
provide for me no matter what, even if it meant leaving
Singapore. Faithful as God always is, I received two
impressive job offers while I served my notice.

Though we can’t see what’s in our future, all we have to do
is believe in our Lord through every circumstance as He
perfects all things.


Psalm 69:1-23(24-30)31-38; Genesis 43:1-15;
1 Corinthians 7:1-9; Mark 4:35-41

These Lenten meditations were written by the people
of St. Barnabas' for the people of St. Barnabas' as part
of our recognition of the 50th anniversary of the founding
of this church. We hope that you will find them helpful
in your own Lenten devotions.

God reveals himself in several ways, and God can be
understood through his creation. God’s image of the world
can be learned from the study of human nature. The story of
Joseph and his brothers illustrates the power of God to make
his will come true. For Joseph to be sold into slavery for
decades, then to reconcile with his family in Egypt during a
period of famine, demonstrates God’s loving nature and how
his will for mankind is fulfilled.

Mark advises us to listen as he describes Christians’
relationship to God through Christ. Devotion is a matter of
attitude. We are given a conscience to police our heart’s
desire, decisions and choices. We must learn the mind of
Christ as it has been revealed because no Christian should be
satisfied with effort to achieve if it is less than full effort.
“To those who have more, more will be given,” teaches us
we need to be serious in our devotion to God. It is easy to
get distracted by the cares of this world and to listen to the
voices of confusion, doubt, and deceit. God knows us and
directs us unto his way. There is only one path on which we
must travel. It may take twists and turns, but God knows the
way. It is God who guides us and shows us the path.


Psalm 71; Genesis 42:29-38; 1 Corinthians 6:12-20;
Mark 4:21-34

These Lenten meditations were written by the people
of St. Barnabas' for the people of St. Barnabas' as part
of our recognition of the 50th anniversary of the founding
of this church. We hope that you will find them helpful
in your own Lenten devotions.

Mark 4: 1-20: Jesus taught by using stories, many stories.
To those who can’t see how God’s kingdom works yet,
everything comes in stories, creating readiness, nudging
them toward receptive insight. (The Message)

How blessed we are that Jesus taught by using parables
instead of direct instruction. All the bible stories, but
especially the parables, allow us to approach them slowly,
understanding them a bit more each time we hear them. Like
the seeds in today’s parable of the sower, the stories are
planted in us, and when we are ready, they take root and
began to produce fruit.

Each time we really listen, we are made ready to understand
a story or parable in a richer way. The Scriptures are God’s
living word, relating to us in different ways as our lives
change.

In my spiritual journey I have heard today’s lessons in
various settings: in worship, in college classes, as the basis
for discussions about faith and life in Education for Ministry
(EFM), and in Godly Play where I learn from both my
teaching preparation and the children’s insights. Each time I
encounter the stories there is a new or deeper revealing of
God’s kingdom and my life in it.

During this Lent join me in spending time with God’s stories
so that they may take root in our hearts and bear fruit in us.


Psalm 72; Genesis 42:18-28; 1 Corinthians 5:9-6:8;
Mark 4:1-20

These Lenten meditations were written by the people
of St. Barnabas' for the people of St. Barnabas' as part
of our recognition of the 50th anniversary of the founding
of this church. We hope that you will find them helpful
in your own Lenten devotions.

Psalm 62:1: For God alone my soul in silence waits.

Elijah found God in the sheer silence on top of Mount
Horeb. Mary encountered God in the form of a child on a
star-filled silent night. Pilate encountered God in the silence
of the accused Jesus who was like a silent lamb being led to
the slaughter. Mary Magdalene encountered the risen Lord
when the silence of a mournful morn was broken with a
simple call, “Mary.” O God, for you alone my soul in silence
waits.

We long for those places of precious silence in our lives. The
cacophony of life that demands our attention seems never
ending. We forget the silence. Our prayers are often one-
sided, petitioning God to organize the world as we want the
world to be. We rarely wait in the silence seeking how God
wants the world to be. Perhaps this Lent is an opportunity to
practice one-sided prayer as we put our words aside and
simply wait and listen for God in the silence.

Through Jesus Christ we have not been left alone in a
Godless silence. We are invited into Holy Silence to
encounter the living God and the sound of God’s
overwhelming grace and love.


Psalm 61, 62; Genesis 42:1-17; 1 Corinthians 5:1-8;
Mark 3:19b-35

These Lenten meditations were written by the people
of St. Barnabas' for the people of St. Barnabas' as part
of our recognition of the 50th anniversary of the founding
of this church. We hope that you will find them helpful
in your own Lenten devotions.

1 Corinthians 4: 14-20: I appeal to you then, be imitators of
me… For the kingdom of God depends not on talk but on
power… Am I to come to you with a stick, or with love in a
spirit of gentleness?

I had the honor of attending a conference led by Bishop
Gene Robinson. His focus during the conference was on
getting in gospel trouble like Jesus did! He said, if we think
about it, we are really admirers of Christ, not prophets. We
give money generously in support of Outreach but we rarely
“get our hands dirty.” He gave as an example a friend of his
who is Rector of Church of the Epiphany in Washington,
DC. It is in an area with a huge homeless population. As
they strolled the streets together, his friend greeted each
homeless person by name! Each Sunday, the doors of this
Church open and the homeless pour in to get warm and to
sleep for a few hours. Most attend the 8:00 am service and
then are fed breakfast. Bishop Robinson was the Celebrant
one Sunday and as he greeted the congregation at the Peace,
he was overtaken by the odor. Suddenly, he realized that this
is what Jesus smelled! To really make a difference in the
lives of others, we have to get a little dirty. We have to give
of ourselves. Bishop Robinson charged us each with finding
just one thing to do that really makes a difference. Looking
at his gentle face, surely I saw the face of Jesus!


Psalm 56, 57; Genesis 41:46-57; 1 Corinthians 4:8-20(21);
Mark 3:7-19a

These Lenten meditations were written by the people
of St. Barnabas' for the people of St. Barnabas' as part
of our recognition of the 50th anniversary of the founding
of this church. We hope that you will find them helpful
in your own Lenten devotions.

John 5:24: Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word,
and believes him who sent me, has eternal life; he does not
come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

To pass from death to life is surely at the center of our faith.
It means to me that the “Powers of Death” —greed, fear,
cruelty without, and the darkness within—do not have the
last word.

Jesus says that when we believe, we have passed from death
to life. We are either alive or dead. How then am I to
understand what I experience in myself, joy and awareness
of belonging to God, at one time, followed by darkness and
fear? I know that the light will win out over darkness, but
how am I to navigate these times, beset with my own
ignorance and weakness from within, and dangers and
calamities from without?

From the Word come words addressed to us, to be
understood by us, digested, and acted upon. As we accept
this word as truth, we can recognize other “words” that
come to us from another source and let go of their negative
pull on us.

St. Barnabas’ is the body of Christ. It is the place where I
can hear and be nourished by the words of Jesus that come
to me from scripture and sacraments, and from my sisters
and brothers gathered there.


Psalm 24, 29; Genesis 41:14-45; Romans 6:3-14;
John 5:19-24

These Lenten meditations were written by the people
of St. Barnabas' for the people of St. Barnabas' as part
of our recognition of the 50th anniversary of the founding
of this church. We hope that you will find them helpful
in your own Lenten devotions.

After suffering a nearly fatal stroke more than seven years
ago, I have been living with death as a close companion
every day and every night since the gracious extension of
my new lease on life began. Therefore, I find it personally
most meaningful that the psalmist lists death, that last and
greatest enemy of humankind, among the enemies who are
oppressing him: “The terrors of death have fallen upon me,
fear and trembling come upon me and horror overwhelms
me.” At verse 16, however, the psalmist completely reverses
his course: “But I call upon God, and the Lord will save
me… Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain
you.”

So after moaning and complaining to God, the psalmist falls
back upon his trust in the Lord, and reaffirms his belief that
God will cast all of his enemies, including death, into the
lowest pit. Certainly the psalmist is here foreshadowing the
message of a happy Easter morning, which always so
triumphantly follows a good Lent, when we reflect upon and
humbly confess our sins. So as faithful Christians we all
believe and affirm that in Christ’s mighty resurrection from
the dead, He has conquered death once and for all. As
Christ’s devoted followers, we also believe that we who
share in His new life are thus enabled to cry out with the
Apostle Paul: “Oh death, where is thy victory? Oh grave,
where is thy sting?”


Psalm 55; Genesis 41:1-13; 1 Corinthians 4:1-7;
Mark 2:23-3:6

These Lenten meditations were written by the people
of St. Barnabas' for the people of St. Barnabas' as part
of our recognition of the 50th anniversary of the founding
of this church. We hope that you will find them helpful
in your own Lenten devotions.

Mark 2:17: Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who
need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the
righteous, but sinners… Those who are well have no need of
a physician. I have come not for the righteous, but for the
sinner.”

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus compares sinners in need of
his healing to those who are physically ill and in need of
medical care. I have often heard our Church described as a
“hospital for sinners.” The idea of going to the hospital
makes me uncomfortable. We only go there when we
recognize that something is really wrong and we need
serious medical attention. Hospital stays can be humbling
experiences. Patients must submit to the care of strangers,
cooperate with the medical team, and have a desire to be
well. Sometimes the results are not favorable and we have to
learn to accept our limitations. I have been thinking about
what all this means in the context of my journey with Jesus.
Sometimes I forget that being a Christian requires humility,
and that following Jesus is not supposed to be a comfortable
experience. Can I accept my sin-sickness and surrender to
Jesus’ offer of healing? Am I willing to be examined and
tested, no matter what the results?

Prayer for today: Gentle Jesus, I pray for the wisdom to
recognize my brokenness and the courage to take your hand
and be healed. Amen.


Psalm 40, 54; Genesis 40:1-23; 1 Corinthians 3:16-23;
Mark 2:13-22

These Lenten meditations were written by the people
of St. Barnabas' for the people of St. Barnabas' as part
of our recognition of the 50th anniversary of the founding
of this church. We hope that you will find them helpful
in your own Lenten devotions.

Psalm 51:15: And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will
deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

Cindy, Cricket’s mother, was slipping away, sleeping,
waking, and her breathing was weak and much labored. I
silently asked, “How can I help?” In my mind God spoke,
“Be there for Cindy and Cricket.”

In my mind I replied, “I am here. What must I do to help?”
Softly, but firmly I heard, “Listen.”

I grasped Cindy’s hand. She looked up at me and speaking
softly she said, “Hi Charge,” my nickname. I replied, “Hi
Cindy,” and in my heart I spoke to the Lord. “Thank you,
Thank you.”


Psalm 50; Genesis 39:1-23; 1 Corinthians 2:14-3:15;
Mark 2:1-12

These Lenten meditations were written by the people
of St. Barnabas' for the people of St. Barnabas' as part
of our recognition of the 50th anniversary of the founding
of this church. We hope that you will find them helpful
in your own Lenten devotions.