This is my first Sunday home since my ordeal with my heart. On March 25, Brooks Schramm picked me up from the ManorCare rehab and brought me home. I was never so happy to be in my home again. Although I didn't want to go to do the rehab, I can say that it was helpful in returning home. While I am walking slowly, I can get around the house and go up and down the stairs. Psychologically, I feel a lot better. The most difficult part of my return is to know that I am dependent on family and friends to get things done. That is different for me. On Friday, Pat Pasqual came up from Alexandria and brought several items that she had cooked. On Saturday, my sister and Robert arrived from New York. The Payne-Pasqual team got to work on the kitchen. Hilda was supposed to come and clean on Friday morning, however, I didn't hear the bell when she arrived at the house at 9 AM. She will come on Tuesday.
Today is Palm Sunday. Pat left at about 8:30 AM. Jeanie, Robert and I went to Christ Chapel, Gettysburg College. It was good to be with the young people. This Holy Week is particularly special for me. I began the heart issue at the beginning of Lent and now I return home a few days before Passion Sunday. Resurrection gives humankind hope; it will be paramount in my reflections and reading this week.
Tomorrow, I will begin dialysis at the Littlestown facility. Dr. G transferred me to Dr. Ayola. That will save a lot of time and gas. Going to York Hospital is 32 miles from Gettysburg....Littlestown is only 7 miles away...a big difference. My time will change, too. rather than the first thing in the morning (6:30 AM), I will be in Littlestown in the early evening (5:30 PM). Crump and Schramm have scheduled themselves to taking me to and from Littlestown.
Showing posts with label Lent. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lent. Show all posts
Sunday, March 29, 2015
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Lenten Journey
There are several areas of reflection for me during this Lenten season.
For the first time in several years I have attended mid-week Lenten liturgies at St. James Lutheran Church in Gettysburg. With the Word given by a lay person and Pr. Michael Allwein presiding at the Eucharist it has been a powerful journey so far. I have heard powerful talks on "change" from three lay persons. Each talk was unique but each indicated the power of the Word of God in their lives. The talks were reminders for all of us that the Word of God continues to sustain and empower us in the more difficult of times in our lives. On this last Wednesday in Lent, Allwein summarized all the reflections that were heard. He stated, "It takes courage to walk through the changes." The question that he brought before us, "How does God work in our lives in the midst of the changes?" I will ponder the question during the post-Easter period.
On the weekend of March 21 I drove to Buffalo, New York to attend the memorial service for Pastor Kathleen Gahagen/Pastor KEG. She died at the age of 44 having lived with cystic fibrosis for all of those years. I remember her growing up in East Cleveland, OH were her father was the pastor. I recall her graduation from Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia and chuckle when I remember an e-mail she sent to me after meeting her confirmation class for the first time when she was called to the congregation in Buffalo. Kathleen had a passion for the gospel. Preaching, teaching, and pastoral care were important for her. She didn't let her illness define her...it was the Word of God that centered her life and interactions with all she met. That was clear in the various remembrances that were share at the liturgy. It was also clear in the sermon that was shared by her brother, Pastor Patrick Gahagen. I left the liturgy blessed that I had known Kathleen, pastor.
This has been a good Lent.
For the first time in several years I have attended mid-week Lenten liturgies at St. James Lutheran Church in Gettysburg. With the Word given by a lay person and Pr. Michael Allwein presiding at the Eucharist it has been a powerful journey so far. I have heard powerful talks on "change" from three lay persons. Each talk was unique but each indicated the power of the Word of God in their lives. The talks were reminders for all of us that the Word of God continues to sustain and empower us in the more difficult of times in our lives. On this last Wednesday in Lent, Allwein summarized all the reflections that were heard. He stated, "It takes courage to walk through the changes." The question that he brought before us, "How does God work in our lives in the midst of the changes?" I will ponder the question during the post-Easter period.
On the weekend of March 21 I drove to Buffalo, New York to attend the memorial service for Pastor Kathleen Gahagen/Pastor KEG. She died at the age of 44 having lived with cystic fibrosis for all of those years. I remember her growing up in East Cleveland, OH were her father was the pastor. I recall her graduation from Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia and chuckle when I remember an e-mail she sent to me after meeting her confirmation class for the first time when she was called to the congregation in Buffalo. Kathleen had a passion for the gospel. Preaching, teaching, and pastoral care were important for her. She didn't let her illness define her...it was the Word of God that centered her life and interactions with all she met. That was clear in the various remembrances that were share at the liturgy. It was also clear in the sermon that was shared by her brother, Pastor Patrick Gahagen. I left the liturgy blessed that I had known Kathleen, pastor.
This has been a good Lent.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Lenten Projections
The church enters into the Lenten season with Ash Wednesday this week. I try to enhance my faithlife by incorporating something different for the season such as more reflection time, surveying or in-depth study of one of the Gospels, reading theological and religiou education texts, etc. At this time, I'm thinking about the theology of the cross. This is prompted by my reading of The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James Cone.It took me a few days to get throught it; not because of the length (it is a short treatise)but because it could be a meditation. I had to stop often to reflect on the words and images that Cone describes. I wonder what others anticipate during this segment of the church year?
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