Page 7 - February 2013 Spire
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Caring & Women’s Ministries
7
I
have been thinking about Gethsemane
a lot lately. Our Tuesday morning
Bible studies recently spent three weeks
there as we worked through the Gospel
of Mark.
It’s not a comfortable place to be,
Gethsemane.
Maybe you remember. Gethsemane was the garden Jesus
went to pray in just before he was betrayed by Judas, and
arrested. He had spent time with his disciples around a table
that night, telling them that his body would be broken, and his
blood would pour out for the remission of their sin. And he
told them that he was about to suffer and die. And he told
them that he’d be back. He seemed to be at peace during
dinner, walking in the presence of God, able to ‘drink from the
cup’ set out for him.
But then he went to the garden. And he doesn’t seem to be
at peace. Not at all. He says “my soul is overwhelmed with
sorrow, to the point of death.” And he moves further into
the garden and falls to the ground, continuing in prayer. “If it’s
possible, let this cup pass from me.” This was a moment of
profound grief and wrestling. Tim Keller writes of this in his
book
King’s Cross.
Keller observes that in this prayer, Jesus
is staring into the abyss: He knows that he is about to bear
the consequence of evil, and that the consequence of evil is
separation from God. The one who was with God from the
beginning, who had never known separation from God, the
one who was God, would ‘drink the cup’ and be separated
from God when crucified. Terrifying. No wonder he was
prostrate in prayer.
This prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane is brought out
every year during Lent. And most years, I give it a nod, and
continue on my way. “That’s nice, Jesus,” I think. “You sure
did do a nice thing for us.”
Here’s the thing: It’s not “nice.” It’s horrible. He went through
a horrible ordeal for us. He did not just gloss over the grief.
He experienced deep, make-your-stomach-hurt-and-your-
throat-sore grief. He wrestled and moaned. He did it so
that we would be free. Not so that we wouldn’t know grief
ourselves, but so that we would never know the absence of
God.
Weeping may endure for the night,
but joy comes in the morning.
Psalm 30:5
MONDAY Women’s Lunchtime Study:
Join us Mondays at noon in the Parlor.
Contact Beth Peelle at 203-856-7092 or
.
Women! Tuesday Morning Happenings:
If you haven’t tried Tues. morning Bible study
yet, why not make this your year?
6:15 am: in the Parlor. We will finish our
study of Mark on February 5. The join the All-
church study of Luke/Acts for Lent.
Come when you can!
9:30 am: in Horton Hall
.
We’re excited to be
spending time in Mark. We worship in song,
receive teaching from one of our leaders, and
then break into small groups to apply what
we’ve learned to our lives. Register online or
contact Lori at
or 203-655-1451 ext. 44.
Moms of Young Adults Book Group:
We meet two Tuesdays each month 11:30
a.m.-1:00 p.m. in NPC’s SHAC. Our new
book is
Unglued
by Lysa Terkeurst. For
questions and sign-ups, please call leaders
Linda Russell (203) 536-6110 or Claudia
Roux (203) 253-6795.
Moms’ Oasis Ministry:
Have you ever
sought guidance as you navigate being a
Mom? Join us Thursday mornings 9:30 -
11:00 from Oct. 4 - April 4. Register early
for TotDrop childcare. Check our website or
contact Lori at 203-655-1451 ext. 44 or
lori.
.
Moms of Teens Parenting Book Group:
Please join us on Thursdays at 12:00 noon
in the SHAC. Led by Lisa Isherwood and
Seana Turner. We have chosen a book called
“
Parenting Is Your Highest Calling: And Eight
Other Myths That Trap Us in Worry and Guilt
”
- Leslie Leyland Fields. We look forward
to seeing you then! Bring a friend! For
registration and book, please contact
Marlene Moffett at 203-655-1451, ext. 49
or email
.
Questions? Email Seana (
) or
Lisa
.
Women’s Ministry Studies
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