PCJH Pinnacle Quarterly Newsletter Spring 2021 VOL 11

PINNACLE

Presbyterian Church of Jackson Hole

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Quarterly Newsletter I VolUME no 11 SPRING 2021

THE

Places of the

Passion

the judean wilderness the upper room mount of olives the garden of Gethsemane t h e c o u r t ya r d the road to Golgotha c a lva r y the tomb the garden

to be a c o m m u n i ty, Rooted in Christ, reaching out in love

Table of Contents Volume NO 11 I spring 2021

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T h e P l a c e s o f t h e Pa s s i o n

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PINNACLE

The Spring 2021 Pinnacle edition is a compilation of reflections from fellow PCJH members and friends on the various places and events of Holy Week, from Palm Sunday to Easter. Our hope is that this edition will enrich your Lenten journey, beginning with Pastor Ben’s reflection of Jesus being tempted and prepared for ministry while fasting in the desert. We encourage you to take some time during this season of Lent to reflect on your relationship with Jesus as we seek to be a community, rooted in Christ, reaching out in love.

“Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” u John 21:25

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The Desert Wilderness: A PLACE of preparation Re v. Ben Pascal

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The Importance of the Upper Room

A Fan or A follower?

Jean Bruun

Interview with Rev. Dr. Steve Shive

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~ Re v. Tamara Mitchell

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hard pressed hope Addie Pascal

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in the middle of the night Kacy O'Hare

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the cross is foolishness John Hamon

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stay awake, STAY AWAKE, stay awake!

Jon & Joanna Ahlum

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sharing the burden Pontier Sackrey

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EASTER MORE THAN EVER Re v. Ste ve Weber

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get to know us

cover: the garden of gethsemane; photography by Beth Ricciardi: on location 2018 pcjh holy land pilgrimage

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calendar @pcjh.org/events

� Please check pcjh.org calendar for updates as all PCJH events subject to change due to COVID �

MARCH 1~ 7~ 14 ~ ~ ST

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Safe Church Training 12-1pm on Zoom

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Daylight Savings Time Begins

Little Lambs Preschool Registration Begins

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GOOD FRIDAY 7pm

7pm "ENCOUNTER"

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Maundy Thursday, 7pm service at PCJH

Safe Church Training 12-1pm on Zoom

Storytelling Event: Prayer th in All Seasons

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service

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2 ND

Shepherd of the Mtns.

Lutheran Church

25 TH

Palm Sunday

MAY

APRIL 1~

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One Great Hour of Sharing Special Offering

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EASTER SUNDAY SERVICES * sunrise SERVICE @JHMR summit of Bridger Gondola

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Mother’s Day

wednesdays Group Zoom Reflection, 12-12:45pm “The Other Side of the Wall” Take-Out Wednesday, 5-6pm Ascent (20’s & 30’s), 6-7pm Adult Zoom Class Lenten Series, 7-8pm (Feb. 24-March 31) Livestream Choir Rehearsal, 7-7:45pm on PCJH’s YouTube channel

youth Ministry

Various small groups Meeting in-person, reach out to Liz Collins; lcollins@pcjh.org to get plugged in.

Young Adult Ministry ASCENT 20s & 30s

*10:15 PCJH sanctuary & LIVEstream

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Easter service times subject to change

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6pm Wednesdays In-person and online, reach out to Liz Collins; lcollins@pcjh.org for the schedule of studies / fellowship.

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the judean wilderness

The Desert Wilderness:

A PLACE of

preparation Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. u-Matthew 4:1

I

love going on adventures in the desert wilderness of the Southwestern United States.

Whether it be mountain biking the iconic Porcupine Rim trail above Moab; summitting Independence Monument, a desert tower outside Grand Junction; hiking and canyoneering in Arches National Park; exploring the heights of Zion National Park; or the depths of the Grand Canyon. There is something that draws me to the desert wilderness. It is full of adventure. It is vast and beautiful.

It tests me. I have faced my fear of heights many a times.

I always have a heightened awareness of matters pertaining to life and death. There are real dangers and severe consequences for poor decision making.

I think what I love most about the desert wilderness is that it draws me closer to God: in awe and wonder, in silence, in simplicity, in the stripping away of all human-made distractions. I love the fact that most of my

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desert wanderings take me to places where there is no cellphone service. The desert wilderness helps me to become more aware of the simple yet significant things of life.

Jesus spent 40 days in a desert wilderness at the beginning of his ministry. The Judean wilderness extends from just north of Jerusalem to the southern tip of the Dead Sea. The strip of land itself is ten to twenty miles wide and lies between the hill country of Judah and the Rift Valley. This land is in the rain shadow – that area on the east side of the hill country that receives little rain from the Mediterranean Sea. The area experiences a tremendous drop in elevation. From Jerusalem to Jericho (a distance of approximately thirteen miles), the land drops from 2,600 feet above sea level to 1,100 feet below sea level – a drop of 3,700 feet!

The Judean wilderness is more like a desert than a forest. This is where Jesus prepared for ministry. God also

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Middle Eastern desert, home to the Bedouin's— Arabic speaking nomadic peoples.

prepared Abraham, Moses, David, John the Baptist, and Paul, along with many others, for their ministries by sending them to the desert wilderness for a season.

Lent, which began on Ash Wednesday (February 17), is an opportunity for all of us to go on a journey with God into the desert wilderness of our souls, together in community, to deepen and strengthen our roots in Christ, so that we are prepared for the work God has called us to do as we reach out in love to others with the message of resurrection hope.

T h e F o rty D ay s o f L e n t After fasting forty days and forty nights, [Jesus] was hungry. ~Matthew 4:2 The Gospel of Matthew tells us that Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights. Jesus’ time in the desert wilderness is the inspiration behind Lent. Lent is the 40 days from Ash Wednesday to Easter, not including Sundays.

Why does the Church not count the Sundays as part of the 40 days of Lent? The reason is that Sunday is the Lord’s

Day when we worship and celebrate the hope of the resurrection. Sundays during Lent are like a day of rest when we feast instead of fast. It is a day of rest from whatever discipline we are practicing.

The forty days of Lent are a great time to practice some sort of spiritual discipline to strengthen our relationship with God. Perhaps you are being called to deepen your prayer life, to fast from something you are growing dependent on, to give more freely and generously, to add or subtract something from your life that will help you be less distracted and more engaged in your relationship with Christ. What Lenten discipline is the Spirit calling you to practice for these forty days and forty nights leading up to Easter?

It says that Jesus was hungry during those forty days.

Jesus experienced our humanity and the reality of hunger and temptation. I promise you that during Lent, you will be tempted to give up on whatever you set out to do on Ash Wednesday. We are human and we experience temptation. There are three temptations Jesus �

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the judean wilderness

“ Lent, is an opportunity for all of us to go on a journey with God into the desert wilderness of our souls, together in community, to deepen and strengthen our roots in Christ, so that we are prepared for the work God has called us to do as we reach out in love to others with the message of resurrection hope.”

experienced in the desert wilderness and they all came to him by the way of the devil. It is a reminder that God does not tempt us, but the devil does. The three temptations of Jesus cut to the roots of trust in God. More specifically, they are temptations to stop trusting in God’s provision, protection, and power. Let’s take a look at each of the three temptations and how they apply to our life today.

T h e F i r s t T e m p tat i o n i s about Provision The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” ~Matthew 4:3-4 The first temptation is about provision. Jesus could have turned stones into bread but he didn’t. Jesus’ time in the desert wilderness wasn’t about fulfilling his physical hunger; it was a time where he was fulfilling his hunger for the things of God. It is a reminder to us that sometimes we try and satisfy the deep longings of our heart by consuming earthly things that cannot truly satisfy our soul. For some of us that is food, for others it is drink, or knowledge, entertainment, sex, power, and the list goes on. St. Augustine said, “Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in thee, O Lord.”

How about you? What are you hungry for? What are you impatient for? What are you consuming yourself with

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that perhaps you need to cease from… to fast… so that you can satisfy that deep hunger within your soul? Do you truly trust God to provide for your deepest needs? Take a moment of silent prayer to reflect on the hunger in your soul and actively trust God to provide for that need.

T h e S e c o n d T e m p tat i o n i s a b o u t P r ot e c t i o n Then the devil took [Jesus] to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” ~ Matthew 4:5-7 The second temptation is about protection. Jesus could have jumped off the temple and angels would have certainly come to his aid, but he didn’t need to do it. He didn’t need a miracle to convince him of God’s protection.

Jesus was secure knowing that God had him in his hands no matter what.

What are you scared of? What keeps you awake at night? How has fear overwhelmed you? Instead of asking God to do some miracle to convince you of his presence and protection, how about simply trusting that God will protect you in life and in death? Jesus is our salvation.

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I am not saying that God will protect us from pain.

We are not immune to suffering. Sometimes God delivers us from certain kinds of suffering and sometimes he doesn’t.

Jesus faced the suffering and death of the crucifixion. Even the thief on the cross next to him mocked him for not being able to save himself from the cross. Jesus didn’t come here to save himself, but to save us. He came to deliver us from the eternal suffering and death that comes from our sin.

It was through Jesus’ courage to suffer that he was able to bring us into everlasting life.

There is a temptation for Christians to live a life of safety. However, following Jesus is not about playing it safe.

C.S. Lewis in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe tells of Aslan, the mighty lion, who is the Christ figure of the story.

When the kids ask if Aslan is safe, they are told that Aslan is good, but he is not safe. As Christians, may we be good, but not safe. It doesn’t mean we should be careless or reckless and try to jump off a building as Jesus was tempted to do. My point is that we must not be tempted to reside in safety but instead trust in God’s protection as we go out into the world with courage in the midst of all the fears that can so easily paralyze us.

David articulated this beautifully in Psalm 23 when he wrote, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” The psalmist in Psalm 46 said, “The Lord is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

Do you trust God to protect you and to be there for you? Let’s take a moment to reflect on our fears and actively hand them over to God, trusting in his ultimate protection of our souls in life and in death.

T h e T h i r d T e m p tat i o n i s a b o u t P o w e r Again, the devil took [Jesus] to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan!

For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. ~ Matthew 4:8-11 The third temptation is about power. Jesus had no need to worship anyone other than God the Father. He knew that Satan craves attention and so badly wants to be worshipped. Perhaps the most dangerous temptation of all is idolatry: to put someone or something else in place of God, even our very selves.

Are you tempted by the lure of significance, power and achievement? Or in other words, do your thoughts, words

and actions reflect a belief in God’s almighty and sovereign power, or do you put your trust in human power, whether that be your own power or some other person’s power?

Take a moment to reflect on your own power struggles with God and humbly surrender yourself to our good and faithful Lord.

where do we go from here?

After all of this tempting in the desert wilderness, the devil left and the angels came and attended to Jesus.

As Christ-followers, we can be certain the devil will tempt us. As Christ-followers, we can also be certain angels will come and tend to us. The devil doesn’t want us to trust in God’s provision, protection and power. If the devil succeeds, then he succeeds in crippling us in our walk with Jesus.

We need to trust in God’s faithfulness in order to walk in the wilderness of life as we prepare and do the kingdom work that is before us.

Don’t let Lent pass you by. It’s not too late to intentionally participate in preparing your heart and mind for the work that is before you. During Sunday morning worship we are on a journey through lent as we explore a few selected psalms and reflect on Christ’s sacrifice for us. We have daily electronic devotionals you can receive to help you go deeper alongside Sunday’s sermon. Pastor Tammy is teaching a class on Wednesday nights at 7:00pm via Zoom on the Stations of the Cross. You can use this Pinnacle edition to reflect on Holy Week. There are so many opportunities to grow deeper in Christ so that we can be people who reach out in love.

As we enter the season of Lent, a helpful starting point is to consider what Lent means, both literally and figuratively. The word “Lent” comes from the Old English word “lengthen,” which simply means “spring” – when the days lengthen and new life springs forth. It is a time in which we anticipate the victory of the light and life of Christ over the darkness of sin and death. It is, to borrow a phrase from C.S. Lewis, a season of a kind of “happiness and wonder that makes you serious.”

My friends, God is with us in the midst of the desert wilderness of our souls. May you prepare your heart for Easter living as you trust in his provision, protection and power. ✝

Ben Pascal is senior pastor of PCJH and is looking forward to spending Spring Break in the Utah desert with his family. In 2021 he and Addie will celebrate 15 years of marriage.

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the upper room

An interview with Rev. Dr. Steve Shive

The

Importance of the

Upper Room

~ Re v. Tamara Mitchell

Multi Cultural Jerusalem "We are invited to see the gospel thr

through Middle Eastern eyes, African eyes, South American eyes, th

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teve is currently living in Irving, Texas as Interim Presbyter for Grace Presbytery after serving in Wyoming for almost 10 years.

Tammy: Thank you for agreeing to share about this particular “Place in the Passion”. I know you have been reflecting on the importance of the Upper Room and the night before Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion.

What have been your reflections so far?

Steve: Thank you for asking me. I had so much fun doing this. I mostly focused my attention on Jesus washing the REV. Dr. steve shive Interim General Presbyter for Grace Presbytery and the former General Presbyter for the Presbytery of Wyoming. I’m on a journey with God through a great trek in the woods of life.

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disciples’ feet. I was particularly struck while reading Dr. N.T. Wright on this topic. In one of his publications, Wright describes the scene as one of the most intimate and touching events in the life of Jesus. However, on the other hand, it is also one of the most scary and dangerous acts he did. That caught my attention. Wright goes on to say, “his (Jesus’) act sums up all that is to come in the astonishing act of divine humility, of loving redemption…. Jesus’ vocation to rescue the world from its plight and in so doing to reveal the divine glory in action is focused, symbolized, encoded in an action simultaneously dramatic, fraught with cosmic significance, and gentle, tender with human emotion”. In other words, the footwashing act is part of the bigger story of God’s saving grace. It points toward a “the great saving act to come [the cross] in which the filth and mire of the centuries would be washed away in the torrent of water and

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as the ultimate act of love. The footwashing, included by John, is there to “launch the final moves that will take us to the foot of the cross and beyond.”

That’s so powerful. So how does this great truth intersect with your life and ministry today?

S: It’s counter-cultural for our world. Here’s the Lord of

rough other people’s eyes,

hrough Chinese eyes.

blood…the theology of the cross is only ultimately complete when it issues in the footwashing and fruitbearing mission of Jesus’ followers.” Wow.

Usually, we think of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet as just a simple illustration of being kind to someone or as a symbol of caring for others. But what you are describing is a deeper theological revelation. Jesus washing the disciples’ feet is showing us how Jesus redeems our broken world – when we humbly serve and care for others we participate in God’s redeeming story.

S: Yes. And the footwashing was a surprise to the disciples just as the cross was a surprise – that the Lord of all would die on our behalf. Then Wright said the simple explanation of the washing are Jesus’ words – love one another as I have loved you – which points to the cross

the universe in the person of Jesus. On Palm Sunday, the Lord comes into Jerusalem riding on a donkey. This has global significance – he reveals himself as a humble servant. The greatest way that we can lead and be God’s people is by humbly loving one another. Even in the dirty acts of washing one another’s feet. I think of the early church during the 1st-4th centuries. There were many epidemics and plagues in the Roman empire. When others forced the sick and dying out in the streets, the Christians took them in, cared for them, offered them food and water, and buried them. They became known as those who risked their lives for others. Yes, the church grew through the proclamation of the gospel, but also through the proclamation of love they showed to others.

I ask myself, is this history an example for us during this pandemic? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that we should not follow CDC guidelines, wear masks, wash hands, or take every precaution laid out by our authorities. But what does it mean to show mercy and serve others in the midst of a pandemic? This is what Christians have done throughout the centuries in the midst of suffering and death. I don’t have the answers. It’s an important question to ask ourselves. How do we risk and still love? That’s what this story invites us into.

We hear a lot about others who are doing so much good and caring for others. We are inspired by their acts of sacrifice and putting themselves in harm’s way. How does the Christian church differ in their means of loving others?

S: It gets back to what we were talking about earlier.

Our motive is to point to Jesus’ love. We find our place in God’s story. God came into the world to get us out of ourselves. We love God and are centered in God and we love each other and this world in sacrificial ways, just as God loves this world in sacrificial ways.

Can you share about how the footwashing of Jesus challenges you?

S: I grew up in a family that you would describe as a “looking good family”. The most important thing in the �

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t h e u p p e r r o o m CONT i n u e d

An interview with Steve Shive

“ We love God and are centered in God and we love each other and this world in sacrificial ways, just as God loves this world in sacrificial ways. ” world was to “look good.” This story of the washing of the disciple’s feet invites me to not “look good” but get mov ing into loving action. In ministry, and in particular the US Church, we are invited to get out of “looking good”. So much of our Western way is to be attractive.

But washing feet isn’t attractive. We are invited to see the gospel through other people’s eyes, through Middle Eastern eyes, African eyes, South American eyes, through Chinese eyes. We are invited to see God’s heart for the world. It’s not just about “me and my.” It’s about a God of Unstoppable Love. It’s about a God who is for all – and God’s love is just as great for the person who is living in poverty with the threat of typhoid living in Africa, as much as it is for me. He demonstrated that by going to the cross.

When I think of the footwashing of Jesus, I think of it as not only an act of service or altruism, but also an act of real intimacy and personal devotion.

S: Yes, absolutely. That’s why I appreciate the Celtic tradition where they equally emphasis the proclamation

by Word but also the proclamation by action together.

It’s not an “either/or” but a “both/and”. The footwashing encompasses all forms of devotion. I remember two times that footwashing were significant in my ministry. One time, a group of the deacons at a former church studied this scripture together and it was right before Holy Week.

Someone asked, “why don’t we have a footwashing service?” It was quickly dismissed because it was considered to be too intimate. That just shows how intimate it must have been. The Brethren Church includes this as one of the sacraments. They see it as one of the things that Jesus commanded. The reason we do not include it in our sacraments is because we believe it wasn’t the

the places of the passion

Can you reflect a little more about your transition from serving in the Wyoming Presbytery to serving as your new role as the Interim Presbyter for Grace Presbytery?

S: When you love and leave a group of people, you don’t really leave. You still love the people. You realize their significance. In leaving the presbytery and in particular PCJH, I think of the year of 2014/15 and seeing the heart of PCJH; their love of God, love of Jesus Christ, love for one another and love for community. It was a beautiful time. I will be back, by the way. You don’t ever really leave. I don’t believe you stop having a relationship. You just don’t talk about church stuff. It’s hard to say goodbye. I know God has called me here.

I miss Wyoming. There are a lot of people and traffic here. In ~ John 13-17, Jesus was getting his disciples ready for his departure and how this love can continue on—this presence of God never leaves us.

What is your prayer for us?

S: My prayer is that the love of The Upper Room, the washing of the disciples’ feet, the Lord’s Supper and ultimately the Cross would be the compelling message in action for PCJH and the Presbytery of Wyoming. My heart is still with you.

Thank you so much Steve for taking the time. We are honored you did this.

REV. Tamara Mitchell grew up as a Presbyterian and as a young adult, was active in Young Life where she grew in her faith and love for God. She is excited to call Jackson her home, as PCJH associate pastor.

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act Jesus commanded, but the love Jesus commanded.

The other time was when I was pastoring a church and went on a mission trip with the youth group. One day on the trip there was a footwashing. I washed all the feet of the youth. We processed it afterward. For them it didn’t reveal so much the intimacy, but it did set in motion the love of Jesus – we were sent that week to serve and love people as Jesus served and loved us.

S: Thank you and my prayers are with you all. ✝

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Mount of Olives

Fan or A follower?

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each desert hues of early morning sun crept over rounded hills, sharp towers, along an ancient Gate arch—all smoking in wisps of morning dew. Jerusalem, the Holy City, was less than a mile away from the Mount of Olives and permitted The King a familiar and meditative view.

Patiently preparing, Jesus knew that one week from today, nothing would ever be the same. His followers, likely lazing about Him like scattered and tentless boy scouts, lean against worn stones and olive trees. Then comes a gentle request for two to “go ahead” and, with the “right of a King,” to procure a donkey and her un-broken colt for the entrance.

Palm Sunday prompts images of solemnity, fulfilled prophecy, and cries of “Hosanna to the son of David…” ~ Matthew 21:9. This triumphal procession of the Messiah was received by people waving palm branches in the air and spreading them before the King.

Palm Sunday, the first day of Holy Week and the “Passion of Christ,” offers a definitive view of the character of Jesus as he fulfills his destiny of sacrifice and salvation.

J e s u s pr e pa r e d f o r t h i s d ay The Mount of Olives, three hills once covered with ancient olive groves and a historic cemetery, is where Jesus spent a great deal of intimate time, meditating, praying, laughing, teaching and sharing parables with his disciples. He will return here to pray the night of his betrayal.

Symbolizing humility and peace, Jesus descends into Jerusalem, on the back of a donkey’s colt; a war-king would have ridden a horse. In a profound moment ~Luke 19:41 the compassion of Jesus erupts: “As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it…,” a King who cared about peoples’ sufferings.

Jerusalem was a place of holiness for the Jews. It held Solomon’s Temple and was a center of commerce, sacrifice, and government. Jesus’ arrival through the Eastern gate fulfills prophecy ~ Zechariah 9:9, greeted by pressing crowds fanning palm branches, shouting “Hosanna,” which is a cry to The Messiah meaning “Save Please.” ~ Psalm 118:25. As today, these people lived with sin, fear, hunger, poverty, and disease. Our sin separates us from God, and without Jesus’ sacrifice and the coming Sunday with a resurrected Lord, there would be no hope.

Palms are vitally important in the ancient and the modern world. They remain important for survival providing shelter, landmarks for water sources and orientation. As sustenance, palms provide nuts, fruit, oils, vegetables, sugar, and medicine. They are used for everything from making mats, roofs, boats and even thread.

Palms require care (pruning), and they hold great value as “owned” real estate.

Symbolically, the palm represents triumph and peace.

The Latin name “Palmae” is the same root of the word for the human palm. The image of an open hand within the palm frond leaves is not lost. The Savior will out stretch his own hands to be nailed on a cross for all of mankind to be saved.

Waving palm fronds in the air was a show of praise and adoration. Placing palms on the ground, as well as scattering cloaks and garments, were ways of traditionally honoring their king. The image of people fanning fronds, then bowing and kneeling to lay down an available gift of necessity and value, before the Messiah is extraordinary. For the Christian, the palm represents victory of the spirit over the flesh. This image is repeated in ~Revelation 7:9 in the end times, “… a great multitude … from every nation, tribe, people and language … holding palm branches in their hands…”

Jesus asked his disciples simply to follow him. These Palm Sunday followers waved palm branches, shouted praises honoring Jesus, acknowledging His authority. For some, the journey ends here. Recently Reverend Clay Smith of Marietta’s Johnson Ferry Baptist Church succinctly asked his congregation, “Are you fans or followers?”

This Palm Sunday, follow Jesus. Find your Mount of Olives, prepare in meditation and prayer for this time with a heart of humility and compassion for others. Acknowledge and worship The Messiah. Lay down your necessities, valuables and selves with shouts of Hosanna to honor the King.

Know that Palm Sunday previews how Easter Sunday will change everything. And follow Jesus. ✝ jean bruun serves as a Fly Fishing Guide, in Jackson, where she celebrates and shares God's handiwork with guests and friends.

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​T h e g a r d e n o f g e t h s e m a n e

Hard

pressed

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he rock-hewn wall extended far above my head like a fortress surrounding what appeared to be an entire cobbled block, just on the outskirts of Jerusalem. Lush vines crept over the top, casting alternating hues of cool gray shadows and warm golden sunlight. The vines piqued my curiosity, beckoning me to discover what awaited on the other side. A rush of adrenaline shot through my veins as I stepped through the old metal gate leading into the Garden, the tormenting history which I’d only read about until now springing to life with each step I tred upon this holy ground.

• • • • •

I wonder if it smelled like this that troubled night.

Perhaps more bitter.

I wonder under which tree he begged for his cup to be taken from him.

I wonder which patch of earth was watered by his sweat and tears.

Did he know one day pungent roses would spring forth in brilliant whites, deep pinks, and cheery oranges?

I cast my gaze upon the thick twisting olive trees, some perhaps having borne witness to the betrayal. They seem to watch over the garden like a faithful shepherd, firmly rooted, a steadfast testament that pain lasts through the night but joy comes in the morning.

Here I was in the Garden of Gethsemane. Andre, our Palestinian guide and friend, led us to a shady peace-filled space under the olive trees where he began to teach us. He is such a gifted teacher I often feel like a child at storytime, hanging on his every word. “The word Gethsemane comes from the Hebrew ‘gat’ meaning ‘a place for pressing oil’ and "shemanim” meaning ‘oil,’” he began.

As Andre continued to speak, we soon realized the importance of the fact that we were sitting at the base of Mt Olives, where Gethsemane is positioned at the edge of the ADDIE PASCAL is an overwhelmed mom to three kids and wife to Ben Pascal. She is also a writer and a registered nurse at St. John's Family Health & Urgent Care.

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HOPE

old city. Andre went on to explain this significance of the olive trees and thus the olive press. “The olive pit is very hard. It must be crushed in order to release the oil,” he said.

By this point we had seen working olive presses and olive crushers. Large stone slabs would grind the strong olive pits by way of the magic of physics, something to do with donkeys, some ropes, and a large beam (these are the technical terms of course). Anyhow, when the pressure became significant enough, the pit would eventually crack, releasing the oil inside and ultimately draining it into clay jars.

In the same way the heavy stone slabs weigh down upon the olive pits, the weight of the sins of the world pressed down on Jesus. It would only be a matter of time before his blood flowed like oil into jars of clay.

Paul writes about this quite beautifully in his second letter to the church in Corinth: “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” ~ 2 Corinthians 4:7-10 In a story that often feels like a very dark part of Easter, there is actually an immense amount of hope. These vessels we live in, these clay jars so to speak, are fragile, imperfect, and temporary. They will surely fail us and are not meant to last. But the treasure we now carry inside them is abundant, permanent, and indestructible. Jesus allowed himself to be crushed so that we don’t have to be. His blood flowed freely, releasing the greatest treasure of all, that of his unfailing love and eternal life with him.

Perhaps this Lent season you might find a small clay jar to place somewhere in your home. At times when the truth of Jesus speaks to you, take pause to write it down and place it in your jar. It could be something as simple as “Jesus loves you” or “You are a child of God” or “My grace is sufficient.”

Set your jar somewhere you will see it, as a reminder that you carry within you the greatest treasure of all. ✝ ~ Addie Pascal shares her perspective from the Spring of 2018 during a journey to Israel and Palestine with 30 other members/friends of PCJH.

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in

A

t h e c o u r t ya r d

the middle

of the night

m a n is seize d by a g r o u p of private citizens and some soldiers in the middle of the night. He is roughly treated and dragged off to a tribunal before religious leaders. There is no attorney to represent him, no jury of his peers, a presentation of baseless and conflicting evidence, and no opportunity for cross-examination. He is condemned as deserving death, and is beaten. He is taken, to a different court and tried again. This judge finds no crime has been committed, but in response to pressure from the religious leaders and in fear of the unruly mob, the judge agrees to sentence him to the death penalty, and he is whipped on the way to his fate. There is no opportunity for an appeal.

This scenario would be unthinkable under our current American court system, which presumes a defendant’s innocence until proven guilty, and prohibits double jeopardy.

But it was the reality in Jerusalem in Jesus’ day and under the Roman occupation of Judea.

Just as it is so hard with our 21st century experience to imagine such a miscarriage of justice, it is impossible for any of us to imagine the horror of Jesus’ trial and mistreatment. Jesus, whose life and teachings had been centered on love and healing, was in a situation with none of those things. No love, no compassion, no empathy. Only hatred and violence.

The chief priests and elders wanted Jesus eliminated for what they termed his dangerous teachings because he and his followers were upending the status quo. Despite finding Jesus an innocent man, Pilate fears a Passover riot, so he agrees to sentence Jesus to death on the cross.

How did Jesus have the strength to face his trial and punishment? Before his arrest, in the Garden of Gethsemane, he prayed to the Father to take the cup away, but ultimately concluded, “Not my will, but yours be done.”

Jesus found his strength in the Lord and in the knowledge of his purpose. When Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world – to bear witness to the truth.” ~ John 18:37.

As Jesus previously told the disciples, “I am the way, and the truth and the life.” ~ John 14:6 Nothing we face can approach the sufferings of our Lord so that our sins might be forgiven. Christ died on the cross for us. But when we face our own trials, we can find strength in the Lord. Our faith in Jesus and the knowledge of his deep and abiding love for us will sustain us.

He is our Rock and our Redeemer. As Paul prayed for the church in Ephesus, “he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ might dwell in your hearts through faith – that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” ~ Eph.3:16-19 ✝

kacy o'Hare is a retired deputy city attorney. She loves to ski, hike and be the sous chef for her husband, Scott.

pcjh.org

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T h e R o a d t o G o l g o t h a

sharing the burden

r

T

his passage ~ Mark 15:21, tells the story of Simon of Cyrene who the Romans pressed into service to carry Jesus’s cross to the crucifixion site in Golgotha. In various Biblical interpretations, Jesus and Simon carry the cross together, but much of Christian imagery shows Simon carrying it alone. In either case, there’s no argument that the wooden structure was tremendously heavy. Crafted of solid wood, its weight is estimated to be 300 pounds. Assuredly this assistance was deeply appreciated by Jesus. He was facing a horrendous death, mocked by crowds and thoroughly abandoned. For a brief moment, Simon shared this burden.

It is easy to apply this Bible story to one’s personal life. All of us, at some point, have needed help along the way. When faced with life’s adversities, the support of others can make the difference between an inability to cope or facing difficulty square-on.

Four years ago I was at one of these crossroads when I broke my leg skiing. It was the first day of a week-long clinic and our group was descending an easy slope. I skied onto a patch of frozen, bumpy snow— tricky conditions—and caught an edge.

I twisted, fell backwards, and fractured my upper tibia.

I had won a scholarship to attend this clinic, sponsored by a local nonprofit that encourages women to challenge themselves through outdoor pursuits. The award was in recognition for an essay I had submitted about facing my fears. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, one of the world’s toughest ski areas, seemed to me to be a fitting site to practice courageous acts. That day when I broke my leg and was brought down the mountain by the ski patrol, I reflected, “this isn’t exactly what I had in mind.”

A good friend drove me to the orthopedic office for my initial exam and as we made our way there, the reality of my situation became clear. I am a single parent and at PONTIER sackrey has been a member of PCJH since 2001. She has two daughters and is happily engaged to Bret Moss.

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that time without a partner and raising two teenaged girls who didn’t drive. How was I going to manage their care?

How was I going to manage my care? As I spun down an emotional drain, I was unable to envision sharing this burden. There was no thought of the helping hand of God, the support of my church and loving family, assistance from long-time friends or trusted co-workers. I was lucky to have them all, but I was locked in fear.

Upon entering the clinic, fighting tears and clumsily navigating my new crutches, I was greeted

by Kenlyn Long, the ever-capable manager of the medical practice. I sort of knew Kenlyn but couldn’t recall how. Maybe through PCJH? Kenlyn stood before me, smiling with assurance and compassion. She is a beautiful woman, a delightful person, and immediately comforting. She said, “I am your Deacon. I have a good idea of what you might need right now.”

Kenlyn’s comforting presence helped shift my mood. Starting then, I knew that my girls and I would be okay. Church deacons serve a critical role in taking care of their flock. They offer emotional support. They run errands. They pay visits. This is exactly what my girls and I would need. I knew that with their help we could meet our challenge.

Kenlyn is an organizational wonder (clearly, given her key role at the clinic). She galvanized a group of generous parishioners who ran our myriad errands— grocery shopping, doctor visits, church carpool, driveway plowing, dog walking, taking kids to the orthodontist and school dances…Each was performed with good cheer, a positive outlook, and even hilarity. (Jackie Montgomery, in picking me up for an appointment, managed to slide down my icy driveway into a bush. She was thankfully okay, and the bush recovered nicely, too).

This Easter season, the story of Simon of Cyrene reminds me of why it is my favorite holiday. Easter means “east” or “dawn” and symbolizes the rising sun, new beginnings, and hope. Also, shared burdens. My experience four years ago resonates today. In my time of need, God’s trusty flock swooped in to help. They were my Simon of Cyrene. I was not alone. And I am grateful. ✝

tghreopwliancge ys ooufntgh e p a w s siinotne r 2 0 1S 9P R ING 2 0 2 1

the

cross

is

c a lva ry

foolishness

For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. u 1 Corinthians 1:18

F

rom the beginning the c r oss h a s perplexed people who have not understood the good news it brings. The cross is but one symbol among many in today’s marketplace of spirituality. It was reduced to a kitschy design element in the high fashion on display at The Met Gala 2018. But for many, the cross epitomizes superstition and anti-intellectualism, and is incompatible with modern understanding. And sadly, the cross has most recently been viewed as the rallying emblem of a hateful nationalism.

Nor was that terrible day up on Golgotha anything like the serene masterpieces that adorn our museums.

The harrowing images from Syria in 2015 of men crucified in public squares better paint the picture. Jeering, hateful crowds crushing in. Thuggish soldiers taunting and smashing an already badly beaten man. Splayed out on the cross, this Jesus certainly could not be the “King of Jews,” as Pilate’s notice read. The Romans were clear that there could be no king but the Emperor. And Jesus’ claim that he was “one with the Father” was sacrilege to Israel’s clergy.

No nobility in this scene. No triumph. Just the cancellation of a traitorous and blasphemous fool with a horde of benighted followers.

A thousand years before, David had prophesied this scene in song, portraying it so vividly, he seems to have been an eyewitness of that Good Friday yet to come: I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death.

For dogs are all around me; a company of evildoers encircles me.

My hands and feet have shriveled; I can count all my bones.

They stare and gloat over me; they divide my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots. ~ Psalm 22:14-18

All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD; and all the families of the nations shall worship before Him. For dominion belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations. ~Psalm 22:27,28 The cross is the cure for sin, sickness and death.

Through the cross Christ Jesus calls people of every ethnicity—old and young, peasant and rich, unschooled and educated alike—to himself. The apostle Peter explains:

“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.” “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” ~1 Peter 2:21-24 Jesus made us right with God up on the hill. Because he has freed us from our slavery to sin, we are now free to live differently. No longer do we have to justify ourselves, nor maintain the pretense that we are good people. No longer are we crushed by our failings.

The message of the cross is that we are far worse than we dare admit—even to ourselves—and at the same time, we are also more deeply loved than we can fathom. Through the cross, Christ opens up a new way to be human. We can truly love because he first loved us: “For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died.

And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them.” ~ 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 ✝

... to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. For Christians, the cross is the hinge of human history— that moment in which God permanently closed the chasm that yawned between us and him. David foresaw this triumph, too:

JOHN HAMON John and wife Kristi live in South Park, along with their whippet Jack.

He’s the grandfather of one (so far).

p cpjchj .ho. o rg rg

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The Tomb

stay awake, stay awake, stay awake!

“When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away. And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the grave.” ~ Matthew 27:57-61

T

he past year has been a dark time for our community, country, and world. In what felt like the blink of an eye, the entire world shut down. We were not allowed to gather with family and friends for months on end in an effort to keep others safe. While necessary, these actions left many of us feeling lonely, isolated, and fearful. Too many saw jobs and housing disappear as the economy went into free fall. Others continue to grieve the passing of loved ones claimed by COVID-19.

Usually during dark times the Church can be a place of refuge and healing, but this pandemic has made gathering together a complex challenge. Whether we have voiced it or not a question on many people’s mind is . . . where is God? • Where is She in my unending loneliness?

• Where was He when I lost my housing?

• Did God care that I was let go from work?

Our cries of desperation during COVID were preceded by those of early Christ-followers on Easter Saturday when the body of Jesus was laid in the tomb.

We tend to skip over Saturday in the Easter story. We know how the story ends. It is easy to forget that our brothers and sisters had no idea that resurrection was coming. On that Saturday all they could see was darkness and death. It looked like God had lost.

But the beauty of this dark night is that God was on the move. When it seemed like evil had won, like all was forsaken— God was doing His best work.

The women at the tomb remind us to WAIT and STAY AWAKE during dark times. They remind us to believe that God is still working when we are sure that all is lost. As we wait in the darkness of Saturday ~ • How is God inviting you to wait with hope?

• How is God inviting you to stay awake?

Please consider spending ten minutes in silent reflection on these invitations. ✝

Jon & Joanna Ahlum call Victor, ID home. Proud parents of two little girls, Charlotte (7) and Eliza (4). When we are not working we love playing in nature!

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the places of the passion

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the garden

EASTER MORE THAN EVER

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n EAster morning we sing of big things. No. We sing of the biggest things. It is a time when our hearts and minds are stretched to their limits and then a little more. This is the morning of which it has been said, “On Easter you can see forever.” A stone rolled back and an empty tomb changed everything.

Later, as the age of faith commenced, followers of Jesus would claim Easter to be the fulcrum point in all of history, “Because he lives, we shall live also.“ That’s big!

John’s gospel account of Easter hints at the grand pivot of history and the requisite movement of head and heart to receive and accept a resurrection gospel. A sorrowful Mary Magdalene ran from the vacant tomb to find Peter with the news. She was convinced the crucified body of Jesus had been stolen. He, in turn, ran to the tomb as well. He took it all in: the gapping tomb, the cloth Jesus had been buried in. It was a mystery. The grave clothes were there but not the body. Had someone unwrapped him and then stolen the body? Logic failed them both until the other disciple, most likely John the gospel writer, went inside the tomb as well.

He too saw the linens, lying as if the body had simply evaporated out of them, like air from a balloon, leaving them in place, not as if someone had unwrapped the body. As John told the story, “he saw and believed.”

Easter is foremost a believing event. How else can we comprehend a risen Lord than with a conclusion such as John’s? New Testament scholar, N.T. Wright observed, “Something quite new surges up in the young disciple, a wild delight at God’s creative power. He remembers the moment ever afterwards. A different sensation. A bit like falling in love; a bit like sunrise; a bit like the sound of rain at the end of a long drought. A bit like faith. Oh, he’d had faith before. He had believed that Jesus was the Messiah. He had believed that God had sent him, that he was God’s man for God’s people and God’s world. But this was different. ‘He saw and believed.’ Believed that new creation had begun.

Believed that the world had turned the corner, out of its long winter and into spring at last. Believed that Jesus was alive again.” (John for Everyone, Wright, p.142)

Early last summer, when the trails along the canyon walls of the Tetons were just opening up, I walked with one of my brothers through the aspens and firs. It was a hike to catch up with one another and the pace was conversant. We had not talked for quite some time and he knew I had only that month retired from pastoral work. Still, I was surprised when he asked me the question, “Do you still believe?” For a few steps I wondered if he considered my faith of no substance now that it was not my vocation.

Was he challenging me in my deepest place? I took a few more steps and decided to respond with the only words that came to mind: “More than ever.”

Perhaps it is a legitimate question after all. Believing we are the recipients of an eternal hope, one centered in a risen human being, is big. It is a truth and a hope which can recede in our hearts over time and under challenge.

Now, I wonder if my brother was acting as my pastor, as we walked along the trail, knowing the journey of life can take its toll. Faith in the living God can be subtlety, quietly replaced with well-doing, or even discarded in contemporary cynicism toward a now ancient story. Our believing hearts can be strong but they can also be fragile. Scripture reminds us “to hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”

A week later, John heard the risen Jesus give a proclamation for all of us: “Blessed are those who see and believe,” and then, as if looking down the corridors of time, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Do you still believe? Easter’s call is forever a call to where God is going next. It was true for the first followers and it is true still: an old life discovers something more to be. Easter holds the promise of more. It is big. Life, we realize, is more than we can see, more than our own experience. It is of God. ✝ REV. STEPHEN WEBER is a retired PCUSA pastor and Navy chaplain now living in Teton Valley, Idaho with his wife of 41 years, Cindy, where he teaches skiing at Grand Targhee.

pcjh.org

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"I am the resurrection and the life. He who

The Church of the

believes in me will live, even though he dies;

the Old City of Je-

and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" u Jesus

S P iRiT

sightings

Holy Sepulchre in rusalem. It is likely the site where Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected.