Oxford Presbyterian Church

April 9, 2020

Greetings everyone,

“Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” And he said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me.” (Luke 22:31-34)

The above words are some of the most poignant in all of the Gospels. Peter, the best friend of Jesus and the Lord’s most ardent devotee, has been told in no uncertain terms that he simply does not have what it takes to remain faithful to Jesus through the night. It matters not what self-confidence Peter has regarding his own devotion to his Lord. It matters not the bravado that Peter displays in boasting that he is willing to die for his Lord. Before the night is out, Peter will be overcome by unbelief.

The denial of Peter is not some incidental detail added alongside other, more significant details that we are told of in the Passion narratives of the Gospels. Rather, the denial, which is found in all four Gospels, is a central aspect regarding what is taking place in the events near and at the end of Jesus’ life. But what is that central aspect? If Peter cannot believe in Jesus, then no one can.

This is an utterly sobering and devastating judgment of any pretensions we have regarding our own faith. When push comes to shove, Jesus’ best friend and most devoted disciple seeks to save himself by denying his Lord. Are we somehow more ardent followers than Peter? The Gospel narratives intentionally hem in any wayward confidences that we might harbor in imagining that we ourselves would have done anything more impressive or faithful than Peter or any of the other followers of Jesus. Ten of the disciples abandon the Lord to his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, and the other remaining disciple sells out his Lord to death to the tune of thirty pieces of silver. No one from all of humanity stands with Jesus when his appointed moment comes.

But it is precisely at this moment, when there is this shaming and judgment of the whole human race for its unbelief in Jesus in favor of its own self-styled salvations and self-preservation strategies, that the true salvation of our lives and of this world is revealed: Jesus Christ believes for an unbelieving humanity. I’ll say that one more time: Jesus Christ believes for an unbelieving humanity. Jesus on the cross is the pinnacle of all faith and faithfulness to God. It is the true offering made by the true human being on behalf of a world that cannot tell truth from lies. The world is imprisoned to falsehood and sin and evil and cannot liberate itself from the prison cell in which it is destined to die. Jesus Christ believes for an unbelieving humanity. If we miss this, we miss everything.

On this Maundy Thursday in which I am pained by the absence of the bread and the cup and pained by the absence of my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I am also pained by a world in travail. The guarantees of tomorrow and the next day seem so fleeting, and we are all in danger of turning in on ourselves and against neighbor. It is into this world today—exactly as it is with a virus upending plans and dreams and stability and wreaking havoc and death on mind and body and soul across the planet—that Jesus Christ is present with the offering of himself. The bread that we are not breaking and the cup we are not drinking this evening are nevertheless the communion of our Lord who has believed for us. This he has done. “Alan, Alan, listen! Satan has demanded to sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail.” My faith is not my own, but rather my faith is the faith of Jesus Christ himself into which I am baptized. He is the one who turns us back so that we are able, even in absence, to strengthen one another. Jesus Christ—he is our certain hope.

We still are engaged in our ministry of social distancing for the sake of loving one another and loving neighbor. We are in continuity with what the church has done before when plagues and pestilence has visited states and communities. Again, it is the severe mercy that we extend to one another these days. As always, your elders keep abreast of all policy updates that have material impact upon our life as a community and do so in all faith and humility.

Hopefully, you have received by snail mail or email (or both!) a packet of worship and devotional materials for the Three Days—Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter. Utilize them with the knowledge that your sisters and brothers in Christ at OPC are sharing in the same worship and the same devotions—that we all share in one another because we share in the same Lord even when we are not sharing in the same loaf and same cup. We are still united with one another because Jesus Christ unites us in and through him.

Continue in the things you are already doing. Be praying. Be calling. Be loving. Be patient (always easier said than done). The Holy Spirit does not leave us bereft of what we need for these days—the gifts have been given and continue to be given.

As always, remember that our website, www.oxfordpres.org, is there. It has calendars, newsletters, the OPC WEEKLY, sermons, and even ways to give your offerings (right here à https://oxfordpres.org/give/).

Regarding offerings, Oxford Presbyterian Church has an offerings drop-box situated next to the door on the back side of the church at the top of the ramp if you want to drop off an offering. Or, you can mail offerings to Oxford Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 652, Oxford, NC 27565. They will be collected and deposited.

You can listen to sermons through our website right here à https://oxfordpres.org/media/#sermons, and at The Oxford Exchange, found here à http://theoxfordexchange.blubrry.net/.

Our worship bulleting for this Easter Sunday will be emailed to you Saturday evening.

Here is our schedule for the week:

Resurrection of the Lord, April 12, 2020:

Scripture reading: John 20:1-18

Sermon Title: “Why are you weeping?”

Mission of the Month – Our monthly mission emphasis for April continues to be the One Great Hour of Sharing. The offerings are used for disaster assistance, hunger relief, and for the development of poverty-ridden communities. Online gifts can be made here à https://specialofferings.pcusa.org/make-a-gift/gift-info/oghs/.

Announcements:

• None

Prayers for: Becky and Isabella Baird, Michael Boyd, Ann Currin, Linda and Mike Diamond, Randy Downey, Julie Gaydon, Diane and Fred Heath, Hannah Hobgood, Sue Huggins, Barbara Laurent, Carlis Laws, Will Newcomb,  Greg and Kellie Price,  Kathy Webb

Happy Birthday to: Vivian Oney – 14th; Richard Hobgood – 16th

As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and behold the face of God?
My tears have been my food day and night,
while people say to me continually, “Where is your God?”
These things I remember, as I pour out my soul:
how I went with the throng, and led them in procession to the house of God,
with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival.
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.
My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep at the thunder of your cataracts;
all your waves and your billows have gone over me.
By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,

and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.
I say to God, my rock, “Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I walk about mournfully because the enemy oppresses me?”
As with a deadly wound in my body, my adversaries taunt me,
while they say to me continually, “Where is your God?”
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.

?Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people;
from those who are deceitful and unjust deliver me!
For you are the God in whom I take refuge; why have you cast me off?
Why must I walk about mournfully because of the oppression of the enemy?
O send out your light and your truth; let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling.
Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy;
and I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God.
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God. (Psalms 42 & 43 NRSV)

All blessings in Christ,

Alan

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