ECUMENICAL WORSHIP aboard the Silver Whisper

Let us pray. Holy and Mighty God, who revealed your Son’s glory upon the holy mountain grant that as we walk our earthly paths we may see your light around us and shine with your Love through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Psalm 27: 1, 3-13

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear?
the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid?

Though an army should encamp against me,
yet my heart shall not be afraid;

And though war should rise up against me,
yet will I put my trust in him.

One thing have I asked of the LORD; one thing I seek;
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life;

To behold the fair beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.

For in the day of trouble he shall keep me safe in his shelter;
he shall hide me in the secrecy of his dwelling and set me high upon a rock.

Even now he lifts up my head
above my enemies round about me.

Therefore I will offer in his dwelling an oblation with sounds of great gladness;
I will sing and make music to the LORD.

Hearken to my voice, O LORD, when I call;
have mercy on me and answer me.

You speak in my heart and say, "Seek my face."
Your face, LORD, will I seek.

Hide not your face from me,
nor turn away your servant in displeasure.

You have been my helper; cast me not away;
do not forsake me, O God of my salvation.

A Reading from the Gospel of Mark

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!’ Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus. (9:2-8)

The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God

A Reflection The Reverend Hope H. Eakins

So Jesus takes three of his disciples up a high mountain, where he shone with a dazzling light so bright they could have been in heaven. Peter’s reaction was exactly what ours would likely be: “Lord, it is good for us to be here.” Let’s build some houses and stay here together away from the world. Yet what would have happened had Jesus replied, “You are right, Peter. Let’s stay here and see who comes to visit us?”

What would have happened is that Lazarus would never have been raised from death, nor the lepers cleansed, nor the children blessed. The loaves and fishes would not have fed 5000, and the cross, the dying, the empty tomb, the rising - none of it would have happened.

Peter chose detachment from the world; Jesus chose involvement and love. Descending the mountain, he set his face toward his death, because he knew that he had more to do than to establish a mountain top retreat. He knew that Mt. Tabor was no place to pitch his tent since he had been sent to redeem the world down here in the dirt and the toil and the pain because this is precisely what needs redemption.

Lent begins in three days on Ash Wednesday. Lent is a hard sell on a cruise ship, but I am going to try. Lent is a dark season when we come face to face with life in the valley, with thorns and whipping and death, with sin and decay and betrayal. But this is what Christian life is all about - facing into the darkness and finding light. Christians say that we’re an Easter people, but that does not mean that we spend our time rolling eggs on the lawn. Being an Easter people means that even though we know sickness and suffering, we have seen signs of transfiguration and glimpses of resurrection. It means that since we know the end of Jesus’ story, we have hope, knowing that life and love do triumph over death and darkness.

So why do we need Lent? Why can’t we stay on the mountain and go straight to Easter? Because then we would forget that Christ died for us because we need dying for, because we are worth dying for.

A friend of mine who has just turned 100 remembers Lent in her youth. She remembers that grown men gave up smoking, remembers the mite boxes in which she put her pennies instead of buying horehound drops and peppermints. The funds that would have been spent were given to the Missionary Society, and there were no poker evenings for men nor bridge afternoons for ladies.

But I think there is something questionable about giving things up for Lent. If sweets or card playing or smoking are causing us trouble, we should give them up forever, not just for forty days. Some spiritual leaders urge us to take something on for Lent rather than to give something up. We are exhorted to read Scripture, visit the sick, and go to church. But there is something unsettling about this too. Prayer, Bible study, good deeds, exercising - these are not disciplines but good things we should be doing anyway.

I think the real Lenten exercise is in the discipline itself, not in giving up something bad for us or taking on something that is good for us, but choosing a discipline for no reason other than to strengthen us for Christ’s sake. Athletes run to build up their muscles; musicians practice to build up their skills; Christians pray to build up their souls and give up things to learn that God is more important than dessert.

I don’t think it matters what we do for Lent, as long as we do something. You could promise to read the little newspaper or listen to the news each day and pray for God’s blessing someplace in this broken world. You could send a regular email to someone who is lonely or shut-in. Even putting a dime a day in some kind of mite box could be a powerful sign of self-offering if you make a serious ritual of it. The four dollars won’t make a dent in the world’s poverty, but it could make a dent in your soul. Taking a moment for silent prayer each day might not stop war in Ukraine, but it might let us hear God’s call to work for peace. Letting the other person always go first may not change our ship’s community, but it would challenge our tendencies toward self-importance.

Lent is upon us. It is time to decide how you will keep it. I hope you will find some Lenten practice of devotion and that you will share your intent with somebody else because it is a lot harder to cheat if you’ve gone on public record. I also hope you will begin Lent on Ash Wednesday and come here to be marked with ashes as a sinner in need of redemption, as a pilgrim seeking God, as part of a community that walks together on the way to the cross hearing the old old story of Christ’s love for us so that, heartened and supported by each other, our Alleluias may resound all the louder when Easter dawns.

The Prayers

O God, you sent your Son Jesus to bring light to our world: Take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth.
The eyes of all wait upon you, O Lord, and you give them their food in due season.

Give wisdom and perseverance to our political leaders. Keep their vision high and their sympathies broad that their work may be for the common good. Protect those who serve in armed forces and all who face war and violence.
The way of the Lord is righteous and loving.

Bless the people of Ukraine. Bestow wisdom, discernment and compassion on those with power over war or peace. Hold and protect all your children, at risk and in fear.
Keep us safe in the day of trouble.

Be present with the staff and crew of the Silver Whisper who are far from their families.
Do not forsake us, O God of our salvation.

Strengthen all who suffer in body, mind, and spirit: those who have no home to call their own, the bullied and abused, the mentally ill, those in need of healing and those who mourn
The Lord upholds those who fall and lifts up those who are bowed down.

Watch over those whom we love; be with our families and friends; bless all who celebrate birthdays and wedding anniversaries and all who pledge love and faithfulness to each other in your Name.
All your works praise you, O Lord, and your faithful servants bless you.

Eternal light grant unto those who have died, that they may now rest in peace:.
The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and of great kindness.

Summing up all our petitions and all our thanksgivings, we pray in the words Jesus taught us

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name
Thy Kingdom come;
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread
and forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us
And lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil
For thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory
forever and ever. Amen.

The Blessing

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit, and may the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

G.K. Chesterton wrote “A white post will only continue to be a white post if it is painted white every year; otherwise it will become a black post.” Our lives are like that. We need a time of annual painting, a time of discipline to keep our souls from getting tarnished.

It doesn’t matter what we do for Lent, as long as we do something. Here are some ideas:

You could give up
Dessert (maybe one day a week?) - to remind you God is more important than dessert.
Gossiping - to challenge your self-importance and expand your heart in love.
Complaining – to open your eyes to the goodness and blessings all around you.

You could take on

Reading the news and praying for God’s blessing someplace in this broken world.
Walking around the deck and saying the Lord’s Prayer silently.
Doing one act of kindness each day.
Contributing money to a cause that touches your heart
Forgiving someone who has hurt you, praying for them and wishing them well.
Reading a Psalm each day (you can find the Psalter at bcponline.org and
bible.oremus.com).

Between Ash Wednesday (March 2) and Easter (April 17), there are 46 days, 6 of them Sundays. The forty days are a remembrance of Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness and the six Sundays are places to rest in the wilderness, days of celebrating that we DO live on the other side of Easter. Have you given up sweets? Then eat a piece of chocolate cake every Sunday because if chocolate cake is a bad thing, you should give it up permanently, and if it isn’t a bad thing, you should enjoy it so that you know what you are giving up.