Tucker Talk

Lent is a journey that we take with Jesus and his disciples as they head towards Jerusalem and a cross. We remember the words Jesus spoke to his closest friends, that if they are to be his disciples they must "take up a cross and follow him." I have always loved the story told about the famous Passion Play at Oberammergau in Germany. One day a man and his wife, tourists, had gone backstage to meet the famous Mr. Anton Lang, the man who played the part of Jesus Christ. The man took a picture of Mr. Lang with his camera and as he did he noticed the great cross Mr. Lang had carried in the play. He handed his camera to his wife and said, "Here, dear, when I life the cross to my shoulder, you snap my picture. Before Mr. Lang could say anything, the tourist had stooped down to lift the cross to his shoulder, but he couldn't budge it one inch off the floor. The cross was made of very heavy iron oak beams. The man turned to Anton Lang and said, "Why, I thought it would be light. I thought the cross was hollow. Why do you carry a cross that is so terribly heavy." Mr. Lang replied softly, "Sir, if I didn't feel the weight of his cross, I could not play his part." Life is full of crosses we are all called to bear and they can be terribly heavy. We can carry them with faith in the Christ who gives us the strength to face whatever life gives us. Jesus said, "In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." We invite all of you to join us in the special services of Holy Week at Sheepscott Community Church. Thursday evening, April 21, we will share in a service of Holy Communion at 7:00 p.m. as we remember Jesus Last Supper with his disciples. Good Friday we will share in an ecumenical service at 6:00p.m. at the Damariscotta Baptist Church. Easter morning we will join in a Sunrise Service at 7:00 a.m. at the Hill Church, followed by Breakfast at the Valley Church at 8:00 a.m. and an Easter Egg Hunt at 9:45. We hope many will join us for our Easter Worship at 10:00 a.m. at the Valley Church. See you in church, Pastor Hal

Tucker Talk

The Shepherd Psalm

The first Sunday of each month at Sheepscott Community Church we observe the sacrament of Holy Communion. This past Sunday among the lectionary readings for the day was Psalm 23, the Shepherd Psalm. Since the days of the early primitive church it has been a custom in many congregatins to say the 23rd Pslam during the communion service. At the conclusion of my message yesterday I told the following story I read a few years ago. During the height of World War II worshippers had gathered in one of the great cathedrals outside of London, England. As was their custom, before receiving Communion, the congregation said the 23rd Psalm together. As they repeated the words of the Psalm bombs hit the church. The congregation didn't miss a beat, but said the Psalm through to its conclusion. Turning around after saying the words, "I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever," they saw that the back part of their sanctuary had been destroyed. Their House of the Lord was in ruins. But, the altar had not been touched and not one person had been injured and they continued on to share the Lord's Supper. They felt God's love in the midst of violence and they committed themselves to live by that love in their war torn world. May we find God's love in the midst of our own difficulties. See you in church Pastor Hal Tucker

The Shepherd Psalm