September 2, 2022

Dear Road Church Friends,

I grew up on a small farm. We had a big garden, cows, calves, and a few dozen chickens. The chickens were my idea and my responsibility. I soon learned that chickens establish a pecking order. Soon every member of the flock knows their rank in relation to all the others. The operative rule is that you can peck down the order but never up. The lowly chicken at the bottom whose feathers always look disheveled and who is wary of the others isn’t allowed to peck anyone. We humans also establish hierarchies with pecking orders of their own. In Jesus’ day people at the bottom of the pecking order in a large household were the servants whose job included washing the feet of visiting guests. When Jesus washed his disciple’s feet, they were shocked that he would do something so far below his rank as their Lord and Teacher. Peter said he would never let Jesus wash his feet! Jesus replied if Peter refused, he couldn’t be a disciple any longer. Then Jesus asked, “Do you know what I have done?” Jesus did this act of lowly service at the Last Supper. Sunday is our communion service. The communion meditation will be a reflection on the answer to Jesus’ question and what it means for us today. Join us at 10:00 am.

SCRITURE: John 13:1-15      THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:  Do You Know What I Have Done?

Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas to betray him. During supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel. Peter, asked him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Peter said, “You will never wash my feet!” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash your feet, you have no share with me.” Peter said to him, “Then, Lord, wash my hands and my head too!” Jesus replied, “Only your feet need to be washed, the rest of you is clean. But one of you is not clean.” He said this because he knew who was to betray him. After he had washed their feet, he put on his robe and returned to the table and asked them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You rightly call me Teacher and Lord. So, if I have washed your feet, you should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example, that you should do to others as I have done to you.”

HYMN FOR THE DAY:  When I Survey the Wondrous Cross  #261 

POEM FOR THE DAY:

TRUE FREEDOM

by James Russel Lowell

Is true freedom but to break fetters for our own dear sake,

And, with leathern hearts, forget that we owe mankind a debt?

No! true freedom is to share all the chains our brothers wear,

And, with heart and hand to be, earnest to make others free!

They are slaves who fear to speak for the fallen and the weak;

They are slaves who will not choose hatred, scoffing and abuse,

Rather than in silence shrink from the truth they needs must think;

They are slaves who dare not be in the right with two or three.           

Blessings to you all,

Pastor Norm

Our YouTube post for this service: https://youtu.be/XUqIPqa6Yjo