Saturday, April 28, 2007

We're Back!

Rebecca and I are back from our vacation. In the near future, we will describe our vacation in detail and post some pictures. But for the meantime, we just wanted to let you know that we are--to quote the words of Gene Autry--"back in the saddle again"!

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Friday, April 13, 2007

Vacation

Dear Ones,

Rebecca and I will be on vacation for a couple of weeks, and will have limited computer access while we're gone. Depending on how our schedule goes, we may be able to post once or twice while we're gone. But if we don't, "Let not your hearts be troubled" (St. John 14:1). We'll be back to our "usual schedule" of posting at the end of April. Until then, take care and God bless.

Clayton and Rebecca Peak

Sunday, April 08, 2007

Easter Telegram

Just like we did with our 2006 Thanksging Greating, our 2007 Easter greeting will be in the form of 19th Century Western Union Telegram. If you are new to this blog and/or you don't remember the distinctive characteristics of an old telegram, please go to our archives and read our entry from November 22, 2006.

So once again, let's step into the "way back machine", and pretend that the year is around 1875 or so...

CHRIST IS RISEN STOP CHRIST IS RISEN INDEED STOP HAPPY EASTER STOP LOVE THE PEAKS END

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Thursday, April 05, 2007

Less Than 100

I checked my visitor counter this morning, and we've topped the 900 mark. That means we have less than 100 hits to go before we reach 1000. 1000 hits! That will truly be an accomplishment. Rebecca and I certainly appreciate all of you dear readers who faithfully visit this blog site. I must admit that my loyalties have been a bit divided lately, now that I've been writing entries for my 7villages page. My entries at 7villages are more church/faith related. Plus I haven't yet figured out how to post pictures. So at my 7villages page it's just text only. Yet even so, it's worth a read now and then. To get to my 7villages page, just go over to the right hand collumn of your screan. Under "Faith Links" you'll see a link titled "Rev. Clayton Peak". Click on that link and it will take you directly to my 7villages page. Rebecca and I wish you all a blessed Easter Weekend.

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Monday, April 02, 2007

Lenten Podcast

During November and December 2006, the Missouri Conference of the United Methodist Church posted a series of Advent Podcasts at the Conference web site. The podcasts were 2-3 minute recorded devotions given by both clergy and laity in Missouri. People could go to the Conference web site and listen to these devotions.

Because the Advent Podcasts were so successful, the Missouri Conference decided to do the same during Lent 2007. Clergy and laity were asked once again to submit 2-3 minute recorded devotions pertaining to the season of Lent. Unfortunately, there wasn't as big a response as there was during Advent. Furthermore there were some technical difficulties in getting the podcasts recorded and linked to the Conference web site.

Well, to make a long story short... I recorded a Lenten podcast and I invite all of you to listen to it. You can either click here or type the following web address into your internet browser:

http://www.moumethodist.org/page.asp?PKValue=1144

Mine is the one for March 19. The podcast is available for both high speed (e.g., DSL, cable) and low speed (e.g., dial-up) connections. Your computer will need Windows Media Player or a similar type program to play the podcast.

If you don't have Windows Media Player and/or you have a Macintosh computer, you won't be able to listen to my Lenten podcast from the Conference web site. If that's the case, email me at clayton_peak@yahoo and I will send you the podcast in wave file (.wav) format. If you have QuickTime Player, RealPlayer, or iTunes, you should be able to listen to it. I hope you find my Lenten devotional meaningful. I welcome your feedback.

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Sunday, April 01, 2007

April 1st

Your shoes are untied!
Did I make you look?
April Fools!

Although some of you may not be reading this post until April 2nd or later, for me right now the date is April 1, 2007. This day has a different significance to different people. For the secular world (especially in "The West") today is "April Fools Day". There are many theories about how April 1st came to be known as "April Fools Day". One of the most common theories takes us back to 16th Century France. Apparently, and for who knows how long, April 1 had been celebrated as New Year's Day. In 1564, King Charles IX declared that New Year's Day would be moved to January 1. As the story goes, not everyone "got the memo" that New Year's Day had been changed. And those who continued to celebrate New Year's on April 1st were dubbed "April fools". This story may or may not be completely true. But it is true that for at least a couple centuries, April 1st has been the day for telling jokes, pulling pranks, and making mischief.

April 1st itself does not have specific significance for the Church. But due to the changeable date of Easter, April 1, 2007 falls on the beginning of Holy Week--the week before Easter. The Sunday before Easter has many names: Palm Sunday, Palm/Passion Sunday, Passion/Palm Sunday, and Sunday of the Passion. For many Centuries, the Sunday before Easter was simply known as "Palm Sunday", remembering Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem as recorded in Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:29-40, and John 12:12-19. (Here's an interesting note: John's Gospel is the only one which specifies that the crowds took palm branches to welcome Jesus. Matthew and Mark simply mention "leafy branches" and Luke makes no mention of branches at all!)

At some point, church leaders realized that people who only attended worship on Sundays were missing out. Such worshippers went from the celebration of the Palms directly to the celebration of the Resurrection on the following Sunday, Easter. If they didn't attend worship on Maundy Thursday or Good Friday, "Sunday only" folks had no worship experience centered around Christ's Passion. Thus "Sunday of the Passion" was created. Since it was not possible to put an extra Sunday in the liturgical calendar between Palm Sunday and Easter, Sunday of the Passion was originally held two weeks before Easter! Although this established a Sunday worship service to remember Christ's Passion, the timing of the commemoration didn't quite fit. So in the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council (1960's), Palm Sunday and Sunday of the Passion were merged into one day: hence "Palm/Passion" or "Passion/Palm" Sunday. In many churches which observe this "double Sunday", it is common to begin a Service of the Palms, followed by a Service of the Passion. Thus, those worshipers who only attend on Sunday celebrate Christ's triumphal entry and remember Chris's crucifixion all in one Sunday before celebrating the Resurrection on the following Sunday.

However you celebrate this day in whatever church you may attend, I hope that you experience the wondrous love of Jesus Christ in your life.

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