Lay Your Burden Down

By / March 25, 2015
At the Elizabeth Communities of Faith service today, worshippers were handed a stone and asked to think about it as a burden they carry. Later in the service, many brought their "burdens" forward to lay down at the cross. What burden are you carrying? Have you carried it long enough?
At the Elizabeth Communities of Faith service today, worshippers were handed a stone and asked to think about it as a burden they carry. Later in the service, many brought their “burdens” forward to lay down at the cross. What burden are you carrying? Have you carried it long enough?

Dear Caldwell,

As we travel from Sunday to Sunday this week, we are getting ever nearer to Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, where the world would at least try to do its worst to him.

Today in our Elizabeth Communities of Faith service, the chaplaincy staff from Novant Presbyterian Hospital led meaningful worship, inspired primarily by Chaplain David Lytle.  As we entered the sanctuary, each worshipper was handed a stone to represent a burden they are carrying. We heard scripture and took long moments to confess our need for God’s healing. Then we were invited to “lay our buden at the cross,” symbolized by putting our stones down amid the beautiful communion table art that Caldwell member Jane McBride created for us for this season of Lent.

Today’s worship service extends the same question to you: What burden are you carrying? What weight of the day do you feel on your shoulders? What slows your gate? Have you carried that burden long enough to understand it fully, to recognize what you can or can’t do with it? Is it time to give that burden over to God, to lay it at the foot of the cross toward which we all walk in these waning days of Lent?

Congratulations to Caldwell newcomers Katherine and Thomas Burke-Reisinger, who were married yesterday. Thomas just moved here from London and Katherine is a lifelong Presbyterian and area veterinarian. Look for them on an upcoming Sunday to say hello and congratulations.
Congratulations to Caldwell newcomers Katherine and Thomas Burke-Reisinger, who were married yesterday. Thomas just moved here from London and Katherine is a lifelong Presbyterian and area veterinarian. Look for them on an upcoming Sunday to say hello and congratulations.

One thing that happens when we lay down a burden is that we create an open space. A space in us that was once occupied with burden is now emptied, and we should not be too rushed to fill it. There is value in emptying ourselves to make space for something new, something healthy, something the brings new life – and there is value in giving that new thing time to take root.

This Sunday, in the second of three sermons looking at Philippians 2:1-13, we will revisit what is known as the “Christ hymn.” It is an ancient and lovely poem but it spares no detail about how far Christ went to empty himself on our behalf. We will take time in worship to check in with ourselves and our readiness and ability to empty ourselves to make room for God to use us, which sometimes does mean that we have to put down a burden. Perhaps that is something to think about as we move toward Holy Week.

Before closing, I do want to ask you to offer a special prayer for a teen named Blake Brockington, who committed suicide Monday. Blake was a popular student at East Meck High School, a transgender teen who had been rejected by family because of his idetntity. This is the second suicide of a transgender teen in the last month. These tragedies highlight the profound difficulties of those who are “different.” Several of our members are reaching out to support LGBT teens through an organization called Time Out Youth. Meantime, let us pray for these two souls, who are known to – and now in the presence of – their God. 

Look for more Caldwell news in the days to come.

I remain yours in Christ,

John