Resurrection Monday

Many prayers today for the family of our Clerk of Session and for the family of the Chief's  son.  Both Services of Resurrection will be today.    While we call this worship a Funeral,  for Presbyterians this worship is really called a Service of Resurrection to remind people that death is not the end but that death is the beginning of new life with God.   I've noticed lately that Funeral Homes are calling Funerals  "Funeral Ceremony".    While, yes that is what it is,  the title Funeral Ceremony gives no hope.  It is an end with no Resurrection.      

Presbyterians (and Anglicans)  also have a humourous outlook on death and Resurrection.  Many years ago there were some older women who used to sit in the last pew at the back of the Church.   When asked why they all sat together at the back,  they said with great joy that this pew was called "Resurrection Pew".  They figured with their advanced ages that they were next in line to see God.   How neat!   They understood the whole concept of death and Resurrection AND could delight in it.   

Today,  in prayer remember those who have died and their families.  Ask that God give the families comfort in knowing their loved ones are now rejoicing in heaven. 

Devotional......

Prayer:   Great God,  we come before You today ready to hear Your words to us today.   We bow down before You today  ready to listen to Your words to us today.   We bow down before You,  ready to take Your Words of life to all we meet this day.   In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

Read:  St. Matthew 6: 19 – 24

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth,  where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasurers in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.   

All museums,  including our Presbyterian Church in Canada Museum in Toronto,  are constantly on the look out for clothing with moth holes and Communion tokens and Communion ware that has rusted.    Moths along with Beetles can destroy Gowns and Communion Linen in the blink of an eye.    Rust begins on Communion ware and Tokens when humidity is too high.  Silver Communion ware is especially vulnerable to tarnishing.   Tarnished silverware is as horrifying for Museum Conservators as polished silverware.  A layer of Tarnish can destroy the surface of silver.    Yet each time one removes the tarnish,  they are removing a layer of silver.  The best way to keep silverware in peek condition is always wear cotton gloves when handling the item.  Remove Tarnish with either Hagerty or Twinkle products.  Then carefully wrap the Silver ware in Silver Pacific Cloth, wrap that in acid free tissue paper, and then pop everything into a ziplock bag.     Amazing what it takes to keep a Church’s  treasures.  

How many of our Churches now have alarm systems to alleviate the threat of break-ins.

In verse 21, Jesus is instructing the disciples that their “treasures” are to be in heaven. 

Sacred Space website says that “Jesus urges us to put our trust and our security in something less perishable, something more lasting. To ‘store up treasure in heaven’ is not just to pile up a whole lot of ‘good works’ which will be to our credit in the next life. That credit too can be very quickly lost. It is much more a question of growing more and more into the kind of person who is steeped in the values and the outlook of the Gospel. It is less a question of doing than of becoming. We also build treasure by what we give away, by sharing with others whatever gifts we have, especially those most in need. “  (www.sacredspace.ie)
Today,  ask yourself  what kind of treasures you already have in heaven?    How will you continue to store up treasures in heaven?

Prayer:    Creator God,  we thank You for the treasures we already have in heaven.  Help us to store all our treasures with You in heaven.  Help us to keep our eyes focused upon You this day so that we become all You would ask us to be.  This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Many blessings.