IN LIGHT & IN NIGHT
Every day he was teaching in the temple,
and at night he would go out and spend the night
on the Mount of Olives, as it was called.
And all the people would get up early in the morning
to listen to him in the temple.
Luke 21:37-38 (NRSV)
and at night he would go out and spend the night
on the Mount of Olives, as it was called.
And all the people would get up early in the morning
to listen to him in the temple.
Luke 21:37-38 (NRSV)
Dear friend,
So, last week our focus was light. This week, night. I’ve always been challenged by night, challenged to
give in to sleep, letting go of light, taking hold of the restorative gifts of night, allowing dreams to come.
September 21 marks the end of my favorite half of the year, in terms of light. March 21 to September 21
marks the half a year when light hangs in the sky the longest. September 21 to March 21 marks the shortest
days. From now until December 21, there is a steady march towards the shortest day of light. Yet, this year, I
have decided, more than ever before in my life, to do my best to embrace the darker days, to embrace the night.
I’ve begun a 10 day course on the Insight Timer app, taught by Jennifer Piercy, called “Your Guide to Deeper Sleep."
So far so good. Last evening, despite feeling as if there was no time (a long pattern in my life) I took the time to participate
in a live concert meditation with Sherry Finzer in Arizona. It was free through Insight Timer, so why not? Until yesterday I’d
never heard of Sherry Finzer. By last evening I was communicating with her directly, even encouraging her to consider
pairing her contrabass flute (which I didn’t know was an instrument until yesterday) with the deep cello of “The Wong Janice,”
another artist on Insight Timer. She liked the idea and promised me she’d follow up with this, and I believe she will.
Above is a recent video of Sherry Finzer playing a different flute with Darin Mahoney on guitar. Below is Sherry playing the
contrabass flute, so you can hear it also, and below that is The Wong Janice. If you enjoy these, there are many others
on YouTube. Explore. I find them deeply calming and healing.
Our minds need rest, and times of transition between waking and sleeping, between the bright light of day, the light of
waking up to the next difficult reality needing our attention, the constant stimulation of blue screens on computers and iPads…
to the softer, gentler lights of night. Perhaps a candle is helpful. Perhaps you’ll even step outside to glimpse the moon and stars.
Then, when it is time, after listening to flutes or cellos, after reading something for pleasure (not the news!), after meditating
or playing a board game or going for a brief walk…it will be time for sleep, time to release yourself to dreams. Light and Night.
To wake and to sleep. To stimulate the mind and to allow the mind to dream. We need them both.
God, says the book of Genesis, “said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light and God saw that the light was good.’
(v.3 NRSV) Well, the night is good, too.
Yes, we live in a time of absolutely needing to wake up to what is real and true. Yet, we must also find time for
rest and joy and the renewal of our spirits. Jesus calls us to be on guard and prepare for the work of tomorrow.
He also retreats to prayer, rest and renewal at night.
We’ll talk more during worship (in-person and on YouTube) and I’ll reflect even more on my podcast.
Praying for you the blessings of light and of night,
Pastor John
So, last week our focus was light. This week, night. I’ve always been challenged by night, challenged to
give in to sleep, letting go of light, taking hold of the restorative gifts of night, allowing dreams to come.
September 21 marks the end of my favorite half of the year, in terms of light. March 21 to September 21
marks the half a year when light hangs in the sky the longest. September 21 to March 21 marks the shortest
days. From now until December 21, there is a steady march towards the shortest day of light. Yet, this year, I
have decided, more than ever before in my life, to do my best to embrace the darker days, to embrace the night.
I’ve begun a 10 day course on the Insight Timer app, taught by Jennifer Piercy, called “Your Guide to Deeper Sleep."
So far so good. Last evening, despite feeling as if there was no time (a long pattern in my life) I took the time to participate
in a live concert meditation with Sherry Finzer in Arizona. It was free through Insight Timer, so why not? Until yesterday I’d
never heard of Sherry Finzer. By last evening I was communicating with her directly, even encouraging her to consider
pairing her contrabass flute (which I didn’t know was an instrument until yesterday) with the deep cello of “The Wong Janice,”
another artist on Insight Timer. She liked the idea and promised me she’d follow up with this, and I believe she will.
Above is a recent video of Sherry Finzer playing a different flute with Darin Mahoney on guitar. Below is Sherry playing the
contrabass flute, so you can hear it also, and below that is The Wong Janice. If you enjoy these, there are many others
on YouTube. Explore. I find them deeply calming and healing.
Our minds need rest, and times of transition between waking and sleeping, between the bright light of day, the light of
waking up to the next difficult reality needing our attention, the constant stimulation of blue screens on computers and iPads…
to the softer, gentler lights of night. Perhaps a candle is helpful. Perhaps you’ll even step outside to glimpse the moon and stars.
Then, when it is time, after listening to flutes or cellos, after reading something for pleasure (not the news!), after meditating
or playing a board game or going for a brief walk…it will be time for sleep, time to release yourself to dreams. Light and Night.
To wake and to sleep. To stimulate the mind and to allow the mind to dream. We need them both.
God, says the book of Genesis, “said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light and God saw that the light was good.’
(v.3 NRSV) Well, the night is good, too.
Yes, we live in a time of absolutely needing to wake up to what is real and true. Yet, we must also find time for
rest and joy and the renewal of our spirits. Jesus calls us to be on guard and prepare for the work of tomorrow.
He also retreats to prayer, rest and renewal at night.
We’ll talk more during worship (in-person and on YouTube) and I’ll reflect even more on my podcast.
Praying for you the blessings of light and of night,
Pastor John
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If you wish to receive Pastor John's weekly e-mail, known as PJ's Place, please contact
Pastor John at jwhite3646@charter.net with a request to be put on the mailing list.
Suspended, Canceled or Closed
until further notice:
Public gatherings of worship and MOST meetings within our church building.
In-person worship within our church building is now taking place,
following CDC and state guidelines for reopening.
AA is now able to meet again in Jacobs Hall, following
CDC and state and our church guidelines for meeting.
Adult Study is now able to meet again in Jacobs Hall, following
CDC and state and our church guidelines for meeting.
(Conversations continue about when and how to
reopen for all other meetings and gatherings)
Open
(Always)
Our collective heart, which continues to be a beacon of light beyond the
hill on which our church building stands, extending throughout our communities.
Our collective prayer
which continues to be a beacon of hope beyond the hill on which our
church building stands, reaching beyond ourselves to all people.
Our collective seeking after God who is always seeking after us...
Our collective financial giving, which continues to be a beacon of sustaining resources on
which the work of our church family depends, reaching beyond ourselves to all people.
Please... continue to give financially to your church family.
Checks can be made out to First Congregational Church of Dudley (UCC).
If you use church envelopes, please include that
in the envelope you send to your church at
135 Center Road - Dudley, MA 01571
Our Deacon's Fund reaches out to those, within our church family, in
financial distress. Please, if your financial situation allows, give to our
Deacon's Fund at this time. Simply send a check to
The First Congregational Church of Dudley (UCC)
135 Center Road
Dudley, MA 01571
in the memo write "Deacon's Fund."
Please...regardless of when we gather again for worship, do give to HANDS.
(Helping Address the Needs of Dudley's Seniors / Heating Assistance)
The organization needs extra help this year to rebuild its funds
for the next heating season. Donations have been down due to
COVID 19 and fundraisers have had to be canceled.
You may make your check payable to: HANDS
and mail it to:
HANDS
PO BOX 343
DUDLEY, MA 01571
No amount is too small!
Thank you, on behalf of the HANDS Board!
until further notice:
Public gatherings of worship and MOST meetings within our church building.
In-person worship within our church building is now taking place,
following CDC and state guidelines for reopening.
AA is now able to meet again in Jacobs Hall, following
CDC and state and our church guidelines for meeting.
Adult Study is now able to meet again in Jacobs Hall, following
CDC and state and our church guidelines for meeting.
(Conversations continue about when and how to
reopen for all other meetings and gatherings)
Open
(Always)
Our collective heart, which continues to be a beacon of light beyond the
hill on which our church building stands, extending throughout our communities.
Our collective prayer
which continues to be a beacon of hope beyond the hill on which our
church building stands, reaching beyond ourselves to all people.
Our collective seeking after God who is always seeking after us...
Our collective financial giving, which continues to be a beacon of sustaining resources on
which the work of our church family depends, reaching beyond ourselves to all people.
Please... continue to give financially to your church family.
Checks can be made out to First Congregational Church of Dudley (UCC).
If you use church envelopes, please include that
in the envelope you send to your church at
135 Center Road - Dudley, MA 01571
Our Deacon's Fund reaches out to those, within our church family, in
financial distress. Please, if your financial situation allows, give to our
Deacon's Fund at this time. Simply send a check to
The First Congregational Church of Dudley (UCC)
135 Center Road
Dudley, MA 01571
in the memo write "Deacon's Fund."
Please...regardless of when we gather again for worship, do give to HANDS.
(Helping Address the Needs of Dudley's Seniors / Heating Assistance)
The organization needs extra help this year to rebuild its funds
for the next heating season. Donations have been down due to
COVID 19 and fundraisers have had to be canceled.
You may make your check payable to: HANDS
and mail it to:
HANDS
PO BOX 343
DUDLEY, MA 01571
No amount is too small!
Thank you, on behalf of the HANDS Board!
Would you pray with me?
O God, thank you for light.
Thank you for sun rising,
shining an often difficult, glaring light on the scars and open wounds of the world.
In light
help us see what needs to be seen,
help us to acknowledge what is real,
help us to know light is good…
to accept what it has to show,
to be alert to its teachings,
to live not weighed down
with dissipation and drunkenness
and the worries of this life…
to listen to Jesus,
through the stories of women and men,
through the stories of earth,
to the story you are writing, God, through us.
Forgive us when we disregard the lessons of light.
O God, thank you for night.
Thank you for moon rising,
shining a softer, more restorative light on the scars and open wounds of the world.
In night
help us dream what needs to be dreamed,
help us acknowledge what we could make real,
help us know night is good…
to receive what it has to show,
alert to the lessons of our internal processing,
to enter the restoration of sleep,
without fear, without the use of substances to dull our senses,
letting go of the worries of this life…
to listen to the movement of Holy Spirit,
upon the waters of our floating minds,
upon the waters of our searching hearts,
preparing us for the work of tomorrow.
Forgive us when we disregard the lessons of night.
We place our lives within the center of your life, God, Jesus, Holy Spirit.
Be with us always, in light and in night.
Amen.
______________________________________________________________
O God, thank you for light.
Thank you for sun rising,
shining an often difficult, glaring light on the scars and open wounds of the world.
In light
help us see what needs to be seen,
help us to acknowledge what is real,
help us to know light is good…
to accept what it has to show,
to be alert to its teachings,
to live not weighed down
with dissipation and drunkenness
and the worries of this life…
to listen to Jesus,
through the stories of women and men,
through the stories of earth,
to the story you are writing, God, through us.
Forgive us when we disregard the lessons of light.
O God, thank you for night.
Thank you for moon rising,
shining a softer, more restorative light on the scars and open wounds of the world.
In night
help us dream what needs to be dreamed,
help us acknowledge what we could make real,
help us know night is good…
to receive what it has to show,
alert to the lessons of our internal processing,
to enter the restoration of sleep,
without fear, without the use of substances to dull our senses,
letting go of the worries of this life…
to listen to the movement of Holy Spirit,
upon the waters of our floating minds,
upon the waters of our searching hearts,
preparing us for the work of tomorrow.
Forgive us when we disregard the lessons of night.
We place our lives within the center of your life, God, Jesus, Holy Spirit.
Be with us always, in light and in night.
Amen.
______________________________________________________________
