Welcome to the 2013 Virtual Vigil

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. It is not a “Stations of the Cross” however some of the thresholds are designed around that “Holy Week”. They do not follow in order though.

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 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.

We invite you to participate fully in the life of First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Brimfield.  Please visit our web site to learn more about us.

The Baptism

Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

You are walking along the banks of the Jordon River. You see a strange looking man wearing animal pelts baptizing people. Someone says his name is John. You wish to be baptized too. Dip your hands in the water. It is a tradition in our church that when we do baptisms, we put a few drops of water that were brought back from the Jordan River into our regular water. When you look at the water, there is no way to take the Jordan River water out, it has mixed with the other water and they are now one. In the same way when you are baptized with Christ, you become one with the larger family of Christians. Look at the Mirror. Read God’s words spoken about you.

The Temptation

The tempter came to him and said, “ Since you are God’s Son, command these stones to become bread. ”

After that the devil brought him into the holy city and stood him at the highest point of the temple. He said to him, “Since you are God’s Son, throw yourself down; for it is written, I will command my angels concerning you, and they will take you up in their hands so that you won’t hit your foot on a stone.”

Then the devil brought him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. He said, “I’ll give you all these if you bow down and worship me.”

As you imagine Jesus being tempted with the physical desires of hunger, with the emotional desire for immortality, and the base desire for power, consider what you are tempted by. What do these temptations teach you about yourself? How do you strengthen yourself to avoid them?

The Wedding

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They don’t have any wine.”
Jesus replied, “Woman, what does that have to do with me? My time hasn’t come yet.”
His mother told the servants, “ Do whatever he tells you.” Nearby were six stone water jars used for the Jewish cleansing ritual, each able to hold about twenty or thirty gallons.
Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water ” and they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some from them and take it to the headwaiter ” and they did. The headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine. He didn’t know where it came from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew.

The headwaiter called the groom and said, “Everyone serves the good wine first. They bring out the second-rate wine only when the guests are drinking freely. You kept the good wine until now.” This was the first miraculous sign that Jesus did in Cana of Galilee. He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.
Jesus and his mother attend the wedding. She wants him to use his talent and gifts to do something and he says he’s not ready. Think about any talents or gifts you might have that you are not using. Are you being prompted to use them by others or by God?

The Suffering

Then Pilate had Jesus taken and whipped. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and dressed him in a purple robe. Over and over they went up to him and said, “ Greetings, king of the Jews! ” And they slapped him in the face.
After this, knowing that everything was already completed, in order to fulfill the scripture, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar full of sour wine was nearby, so the soldiers soaked a sponge in it, placed it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When he had received the sour wine, Jesus said, “It is completed ” Bowing his head, he gave up his life.

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. Smell and taste the bitter vinegar on the table. Touch the crown of thorns; place it on your head. This was the ultimate crime of hatred. When Jesus was being tortured, not even his beloved disciples stuck up for him. No one did. If you had been there would you? Today there are many hate crimes. Children and adults suffer on a daily basis due to hatred. Is there something you could do to stop it?

Notice the weaving on the table. You will see one at several different stations. Our lives are like a tapestry, each moment a thread woven together with other moments. Interwoven into our lives will be choices of good or evil.

The Denial

Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing with the guards, warming himself. They asked, “Aren’t you one of his disciples?”
Peter denied it, saying, “I’m not.”
A servant of the high priest, a relative of the one whose ear Peter had cut off, said to him, “Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?” Peter denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed.

Peter swore to Jesus that he would always be there for him. Yet Jesus knew better…
There is no ignoring the crow of a rooster. How harshly does that sound grate your ears when it serves to remind you of the many ways you have denied Christ in your daily life? Do you know God loves you so much that even when you deny God, God is still there waiting for your return?

The Prayer

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.

Enter the Garden of Gethsemane If your best friend asked you to do something for them; in most cases you wouldn’t even hesitate. Jesus asks two of his closest friends to simply stay near and pray. They fail. Twice. Set a timer for one or two minutes. Clear your mind and pray or meditate until it goes off. Did your mind wander… listening to the outside sounds, thinking of your to do list? Or were you able to stay on task? Sometimes it’s the big important things that we find easier to do. But to sit and pray for an hour, that seems like such a little thing, an unimportant thing. Perhaps that’s why the disciples were able to fall asleep, it wasn’t a “busy” task they were asked to do. We are asked by people every day to do all types of things. Will you do only the “fun, busy” things or will you be willing to just sit or to just pray if asked?

The Cross

Two others, both criminals, were taken along with him for execution. When they got to the place called Skull Hill, they crucified him, along with the criminals, one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them; they don't know what they're doing."

The nails are there for you to use. What do you need to nail to the cross and leave it there? Contemplate these words from the book “Come Away My Beloved” by Frances J. Roberts…” If you bathe My feet in your tears, I shall clasp you to My heart in love. I cannot describe to you My love. I can only give it to you. It is beyond the Cross. Go Through. The Spirit alone can communicate what lies on the other side.”

The Tomb

After this Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate if he could take away the body of Jesus. Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one because he feared the Jewish authorities. Pilate gave him permission, so he came and took the body away. Nicodemus, the one who at first had come to Jesus at night, was there too. He brought a mixture of myrrh and aloe, nearly seventy-five pounds in all. Following Jewish burial customs, they took Jesus’ body and wrapped it, with the spices, in linen cloths. There was a garden in the place where Jesus was crucified, and in the garden was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish Preparation Day and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus in it. 

Enter the tomb. Think about ways that gluttony is in your life. What do you have too much of? What can you do to make things better in your life, your community, your country, the world?

The Betrayal

When Judas, who betrayed Jesus, saw that Jesus was condemned to die, he felt deep regret. He returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, and said, “I did wrong because I betrayed an innocent man.”
But they said, “What is that to us? That’s your problem.” Judas threw the silver pieces into the temple and left. Then he went and hanged himself.
The chief priests picked up the silver pieces and said, “According to the Law it’s not right to put this money in the treasury. Since it was used to pay for someone’s life, it’s unclean.” So they decided to use it to buy the potter’s field where strangers could be buried. That’s why that field is called “Field of Blood” to this very day. This fulfilled the words of Jeremiah the prophet: And I took the thirty pieces of silver, the price for the one whose price had been set by some of the Israelites, and I gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.

Judas betrayed Jesus for money. Pick up all the coins at once then toss them into the bowl. Let the sound remind you of ways that you might betray Jesus. Pick up one coin and face the front of the church. Hold the coin up to your eye until you completely block out the cross. Are there times in your life when you have let money or other things block you from Jesus?

James and John

James and John, Zebedee’s sons, came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”
“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
They said, “Allow one of us to sit on your right and the other on your left when you enter your glory.”
Jesus replied, “You don’t know what you’re asking! Can you drink the cup I drink or receive the baptism I receive?”

What mother isn’t proud of her sons? However, too much pride is never good. Are there times when you have been prideful thinking you were better than anyone else? Do you put others down inadvertently with bragging about your accomplishments? Think of times when you might have let pride get in the way. How can you change that moving forward?

The Last Supper

When the time came, Jesus took his place at the table, and the apostles joined him. 15 He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. I tell you, I won’t eat it until it is fulfilled in God’s kingdom.” After taking a cup and giving thanks, he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. I tell you that from now on I won’t drink from the fruit of the vine until God’s kingdom has come.” After taking the bread and giving thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, he took the cup after the meal and said, “This cup is the new covenant by my blood, which is poured out for you."
“But look! My betrayer is with me; his hand is on this table. The Human One g goes just as it has been determined. But how terrible it is for that person who betrays him.” They began to argue among themselves about which of them it could possibly be who would do this.

You are invited to supper. Sit in one of the red chairs and imagine you are sitting across the table from Jesus. Take some time to sit and talk with Him like you would talk with a friend over dinner. Take some of the bread; dip it in the wine in remembrance of Him.

The Blank Weaving

If we claim, “ We don’t have any sin, ” we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from everything we’ve done wrong.  If we claim, “ We have never sinned, ” we make him a liar and his word is not in us. 

 If this weaving represented your life, what “sin” word or words would be written on it?

The Final Weaving

Suffering one, storm-tossed, uncomforted,
look, I am setting your gemstones in silvery metal
and your foundations with sapphires.
I will make your towers of rubies,
and your gates of beryl,
and all your walls of precious jewels.
All your children will be disciples of the LORD —
I will make peace abound for your children.

As we said, our lives are a tapestry woven by God. As seen through our eyes, we may think our tapestry is boring, woven by mostly drab colors with a little texture here and there. However, when seen through the eyes of God, we are as precious jewels, brilliant bold colors for we are made in God’s image. We tend to dwell on our sins, the negative things we’ve done. We carry around so much baggage that we don’t have to. You have just seen that all of the disciples had sin in their lives. These were the people who were closest to Jesus. Yet everyone of them disappointed him in the end. Despite their sins, they went on to create the church, preach the good news to others. Like them, you too are forgiven for your sins. Leave them behind. Go forth knowing that you life is a beautiful tapestry, woven by God, just for you.

The Fountain

Jesus said "Come to the water, stay by my side.  I know you are thirsty, you won't be denied.  I felt every tear drop when in darkness you cried.  And I come to remind you that for those tears I died."

Jesus is calling you to come to Him. Meet Him at the water. Read the words there. Take a few minutes to contemplate their meaning for you today. Go forth from this place a changed person. Use your talents and gifts to be the blessing to others you were meant to be.