Welcome to the 2011 Journey

Thank you for joining us today. You are about to embark on a journey that invites you to enter into reflection and meditation that aims to bring the ancient story of Christ's passion into a personal experience in the life of the seeker today.



We have designed today’s experience for you to go on a journey into the life of Christ. We have designed a series of “thresholds”

(the starting point for a new state or experience; the smallest detectable sensation; the entrance, the space through which you enter). You are invited to step across the threshold to another time, another place. Using all of your senses, you are encouraged to participate fully in each one. Each Threshold has a scripture reference and many include other things like poems, lyrics, and meditations.

Each threshold of the physical vigil will be presented in a separate post on this blog. Be sure to continue to the older posts" to see all of the thresholds.



Feel free to “journal” your experience. We encourage you to share any special thoughts you may have and leave it n a comment for those who come after you to read.

Throughout the day we will add notes from the physical vigil to the virtual vigil and vice versa. At the end of the day, we will have a service in the church sanctuary

beginning at 7:30 p.m. At that time we will read aloud any comments that have been left.





If you are near Brimfield, please join us on Easter Sunday Morning for a Sunrise Service beginning at 6:30 a.m. at

100 Tower Hill Road, followed by breakfast at the church. Easter Service of Celebration will begin at

10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary.



Our regular Sunday Worship Services are at 10:30 a.m.



For more information about the church call 413-245-7162.

Prayer Wall

"God's Power can only enter where there is a void to receive it -
and we no longer try to fill it by ourselves."

As you begin the journey, take a moment to focus and center yourself. If you have a concern for yourself (please no requests for others without their permission) to lift to God write as a comment to leave it on the prayer wall. We will pray for these concerns at the Vespers Service at 7:30.

Declare Your Carry On Luggage

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)

Take a moment to think about all the things running through your mind right now. You know, the “I have to do this, I have to do that…I have to remember to do ….” Now, EMPTY YOUR MIND, by writing them all down on a piece of paper provided for you. Then fold this paper and put it in your pocket. The thoughts on your list are now safely stowed away in your pocket, leaving you FREE to concentrate on other things. You can retrieve it later when your journey here is over. This is your “carry on” luggage, since you get to carry it with you. Now proceed to the next check point.

Baggage Check Point

If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.

Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.

If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

Matthew 6:25-34 (The Message)

At this stop you will EMPTY your mind on a deeper level. This is very different than your daily “to do” list. On the slips of paper provided write down your fears, your worries, your doubts, your regrets…anything that is weighing down your soul.

This is your SOUL BAGGAGE.

After writing them on the paper provided, take the paper and attach it to a balloon string.

Next, move to the spot next to the stairs, step behind the curtain and release your balloon.

As the balloon floats away, MENTALLY RELEASE THOSE BURDENS GIVING THEM OVER TO GOD. Remember that Jesus wants you to release your burdens to Him. He does not want you to be weighed down by anything.

Now that you have “checked all your “baggage” you are free to enjoy the rest of your journey with a clear mind and a lighter soul. Please continue, we hope you enjoy your “journey” with us

Empty Vessels

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ Now standing there were six stone water-jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, ‘Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.’ So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.’ Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

John 2:1-11

JESUS needs you to be an EMPTY VESSEL (CONTAINER) so that He can fill you with His goodness and use you daily to be a blessing to others. What kind of vessel are you? There are many types…some are big, some are small, some are ornate while others are ordinary. Some are so pretty you just sit them on a shelf and never use them because you don’t want to break them. Others are used constantly being emptied and filled again on a regular basis. Still others look pretty but they are full of holes and when they are filled, everything spills out through the holes so they can’t really be used for much of anything. Think about your life… do you daily ask Jesus to fill you and use you as He will? Are you willing to be poured out as a blessing to others? Or do you prefer to sit on shelf looking pretty but no of no practical use?

Empty Purse

Jesus looked up and saw the rich people dropping offerings in the collection plate. Then he saw a poor widow put in two pennies. He said, "The plain truth is that this widow has given by far the largest offering today. All these others made offerings that they'll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn't afford—she gave her all!"

Luke 22:1-4

Take ALL the money you have on you right now out of your pockets. (no we are not asking you for it) If you have credit cards, take those out too! Count it, think about what this represents. Is this all that you have? When you give of yourself do you give your all or do you hold back? Do you give what you won’t miss?

Empty Alabaster Jar

Six days before Passover, Jesus entered Bethany where Lazarus, so recently raised from the dead, was living. Lazarus and his sisters invited Jesus to dinner at their home. Martha served. Lazarus was one of those sitting at the table with them. Mary came in with a jar of very expensive aromatic oils, anointed and massaged Jesus' feet, and then wiped them with her hair. The fragrance of the oils filled the house. Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, even then getting ready to betray him, said, "Why wasn't this oil sold and the money given to the poor? It would have easily brought three hundred silver pieces." He said this not because he cared two cents about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of their common funds, but also embezzled them. Jesus said, "Let her alone. She's anticipating and honoring the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you. You don't always have me."

John 12:1-8

This alabaster jar is all I have of worth
I break it at your feet, Lord.
It's less than you deserve.
You are far more beautiful,
More precious than the oil,
The sum of my desires,
And the fullness of my heart...

the time that I have left
Is all I have of worth.
I lay it at your feet, Lord.
It's less than you deserve.
And though I've little strength,
and though my days are few,
You gave your life for me,
so I will live my life for you...

Smell the fragrant aroma of this exotic ointment. Feel the soothing texture. Now imagine using all of this and more to anoint Jesus. What would it be like to give such a complete gift. This woman gave her all and is remembered for all time because of it.

Empty Streets

After saying these things, Jesus headed straight up to Jerusalem. When he got near Bethphage and Bethany at the mountain called Olives, he sent off two of the disciples with instructions: "Go to the village across from you. As soon as you enter, you'll find a colt tethered, one that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says anything, asks, 'What are you doing?' say, 'His Master needs him.' " The two left and found it just as he said. As they were untying the colt, its owners said, "What are you doing untying the colt?" They said, "His Master needs him." They brought the colt to Jesus. Then, throwing their coats on its back, they helped Jesus get on. As he rode, the people gave him a grand welcome, throwing their coats on the street. Right at the crest, where Mount Olives begins its descent, the whole crowd of disciples burst into enthusiastic praise over all the mighty works they had witnessed: Blessed is he who comes, the king in God's name! All's well in heaven! Glory in the high places!

Luke 19:28-38

Have you ever walked down a street days after a parade? What does what is left behind say about what happened? What is it like to be in such a crowd? Do you hear echoes of “hosanna!” or “crucify!”?

Empty Grave

After all this, Joseph of Arimathea (he was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, because he was intimidated by the Jews) petitioned Pilate to take the body of Jesus. Pilate gave permission. So Joseph came and took the body. Nicodemus, who had first come to Jesus at night, came now in broad daylight carrying a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. They took Jesus' body and, following the Jewish burial custom, wrapped it in linen with the spices. There was a garden near the place he was crucified, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been placed. So, because it was Sabbath preparation for the Jews and the tomb was convenient, they placed Jesus in it.

John 19:38-42

Pick up the candle, enter the tomb by gently pushing aside the black covering. Sit on the bench and contemplate this: "There is a candle in your heart, ready to be kindled. There is a void in your soul, ready to be filled. You feel it don't you?" - Rumi

Empty Cross

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death—
even death on a cross.

Philippians 2:5-8

Friday
I am imagining the soldier
who drove the nails,
clambering around or stretching
to reach the hands,
trying to avoid seeing
the face and the eyes,
ignoring the eternal life line
dividing the palms
from fingers down to wrists,
glimpsing the lips
moving silently,
mouthing words not meant 
for ears to hear.
And I'm wondering
how many keepers of reliquaries
claim to own those nails,
or perhaps even the letter home
written by the nailer
or some other soldier ordered
later to do his duty
and pull them out.
                     Warren L. Molton

Take the hammer in your hand and drive the nail; for surely your participation (even through silence) in systemic evil nails Jesus to the cross still. Jesus emptied himself in order to be fully human, even though it meant this pain. What do you hold on to (like the hammer in your hand) that causes pain?

Last Supper

When it was time, he sat down, all the apostles with him, and said, "You've no idea how much I have looked forward to eating this Passover meal with you before I enter my time of suffering. It's the last one I'll eat until we all eat it together in the kingdom of God." Taking the cup, he blessed it, then said, "Take this and pass it among you. As for me, I'll not drink wine again until the kingdom of God arrives." Taking bread, he blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, given for you. Eat it in my memory." He did the same with the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant written in my blood, blood poured out for you. "Do you realize that the hand of the one who is betraying me is at this moment on this table? It's true that the Son of Man is going down a path already marked out—no surprises there. But for the one who turns him in, turns traitor to the Son of Man, this is doomsday." They immediately became suspicious of each other and began quizzing one another, wondering who might be about to do this.

Luke 22:14-23

This meal has been prepared just for you. Take a piece of bread and dip it in the cup. Jesus told us to remember how he poured out his life for us every time we come to this table. At the Passover meal, there is always an empty seat awaiting Elijah's return. With whom do you long to break bread?

Garden of Gethsemane

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done." When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

Matthew 26:36-46

Jesus prays “not my will, but your will be done” When you pray do you ask God to answer your prayers the way you want them done, or do you truly ask God to answer your prayers according to God’s will? What would it be like if instead you prayed as Jesus did “not my way, but yours?” Jesus' friends deserted him at Gethsemane, will you?

The Suffering of Jesus

So Pilate took Jesus and had him whipped. The soldiers, having braided a crown from thorns, set it on his head, threw a purple robe over him, and approached him with, "Hail, King of the Jews!" Then they greeted him with slaps in the face.

Jesus, seeing that everything had been completed so that the Scripture record might also be complete, then said, "I'm thirsty." A jug of sour wine was standing by. Someone put a sponge soaked with the wine on a javelin and lifted it to his mouth. After he took the wine, Jesus said, "It's done . . . complete." Bowing his head, he offered up his spirit.

John 19:1-3, 28-30

Jesus was mocked with a crown of thorns and purple cloak. His torturers flogged him and then paid mock homage to the bleeding king. On the cross he was offered sour wine for his thirst. You can smell and taste the bitter vinegar on the table.

Empty Nets

When he finished teaching, he said to Simon, "Push out into deep water and let your nets out for a catch."

Simon said, "Master, we've been fishing hard all night and haven't caught even a minnow. But if you say so, I'll let out the nets." It was no sooner said than done—a huge haul of fish, straining the nets past capacity. They waved to their partners in the other boat to come help them. They filled both boats, nearly swamping them with the catch.

Luke 5:4-6

Sometimes Jesus leads us to do what is contrary to what we think is best. The disciples knew better than to cast a net one more time. They had caught nothing so far. But what if they had? What if they had a decent catch for the day? If their nets had not been empty they could not have received the abundance God wanted them to have.

Samaritan Woman at the Well

When the Lord learned of this, he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" (His disciples ha am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." "Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?" Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water." He told her, "Go, call your husband and come back." "I have no husband," she replied. Jesus said to her, "You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true." "Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem." Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us." Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he."

John 4:3-30

Jesus had no bucket to draw water. He didn't need one because this water is flowing, that is the meaning of living water. You don't need a bucket either. Touch the living water. Jesus knew everything there was to know about this woman….and yet he reached out to her. In his world, she was unclean, an undesirable, an outcast of society….and yet he reached out to her. Jesus knows everything there is to know about you….and yet he reaches out to you. He is offering you a drink. Will you accept the Living Water? Your soul is thirsty and you try to quench that thirst with many things that satisfy for awhile, but eventually you always get thirsty again. The only thing that can truly quench the thirst of the spirit is the living water, Jesus Christ.

Empty Nest

Behold, I stand at the door and knock;
if anyone hears My voice and opens the door,
I will come in to him and 
will dine with him, and he with Me.

Revelation 3:20

Do you feel alone? No one to talk to… You’ve given up… some days you don’t even feel like getting dressed.… Perhaps you are stressed with too many things to do, you feel an ache, an emptiness, because you never have time to spend with your family, even meal times are rushed….. You feel as though there must be more to your life than this….Just like at the Last Supper, JESUS IS HERE WITH YOU. He Invites you to eat, to drink, to remember HIM. Maybe this isn’t your experience but you know someone who is alone, who is depressed, who needs Jesus. Will you be as Christ to them and share your bread?

Running on Empty

How long do we have to put up with this—
the country depressed, the farms in ruin—
And all because of wickedness, these wicked lives?
Even animals and birds are dying off
Because they'll have nothing to do with God
and think God has nothing to do with them.

Jeremiah 12:4

If we don't stop our over-consumption we will be asking this question. But we do know whose garden this is. It is God's, we are hear to tend the garden. How will you answer when the owner comes and asks for a progress report?

Peter Walking on the Water

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat wor>shiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Matthew 14:22-33

When Christ said ‘Come’, Peter put his trust in God and climbed out of the boat. He didn’t let fear or the natural circumstances stop him. He obeyed Christ’s call, and into the water he went. Faith is always expressed by obedience to Christ. Peter put his confidence in Christ’s Word, and didn’t look at his own inabilities. As long as he kept his eyes on Christ he stayed walking and upright. However, when he let his fears creep in, he began to sink.

Walking on water is walking by faith and looking to Christ for all we need. It is putting Christ first in our lives and seeking first to do His will. As we look to Christ and put our faith in Him, His peace will keep our hearts and minds and enable us to rise above the stormy

circumstances. Those who are trusting in Christ will have a faith and peace that carries them through some very difficult storms. Others will see and want to know about this Peace. That’s walking on water!

When we walk on water, we are walking away from what we find natural and comfortable and walking towards our highest goal in life, Christ.

Many never ‘walk on water’ because they are letting fear and unbelief stop them from obeying Christ’s call. They are looking to the flesh – taking stock of their strengths, weaknesses, abilities and limitations – and not looking to Christ. Or they are looking at the difficulty of their circumstances. Either way, they are not looking to Christ. In short, they are saying ‘I can’t’ , instead of realizing that whether they can or can’t has nothing to do with it. Christ will give us the strength and ability we need to obey Him. The only way we will ever be able to take great steps of faith is to look to Christ and not self. Are you willing to step out of the boat?