Happy Passover!

Last night Bob and I celebrated a meaningful and worshipful Passover seder with hundreds of people at Beth Israel Worship Center in Wayne, New Jersey, with Pastor/Rabbi Jonathan Cahn officiating. Happy Passover!

Image credit: patheos.com

THE PASSOVER LAMB

Abba went into the sheepfold to choose a spotless lamb,

as Moses gave instructions that he got from the I Am.

Our lamb, indeed, was spotless, so I named him Wooly Bright;

we brought him inside to live with us, morning, noon and night.

I ran my fingers through his coat and fed him from my hand,

I put fresh water in his trough; he’s the best lamb in the land!

Today he’ll be our sacrifice. Moses said this must be done.

He must die that I may live, for I’m a firstborn son.

We’ve been oppressed by slavery; Pharaoh will not let us go,

but God’s mighty arm will save us. We’ll watch His power flow.

Moses told us, take lamb’s blood, and brush it on the lintel

then we will be protected; it almost sounds too simple.

Tonight we will leave Egypt and journey far from home,

but I’ll remember Wooly Bright wherever I may roam.

Someday the world will see in this, God’s salvation plan;

God’s Son will be the sacrifice, the great Passover Lamb!

For as God will use blood of lambs to set His people free,

the precious Blood of Jesus will save sinners…you and me.

Maude Carolan Pych

Giants in the Land

Image credit: www.tarafurman.com

THE VALLEY OF ELAH

Israel Pilgrimage—2006

Our spritely band of pilgrims

stop at the Valley of Elah—

a wide open field

of dry grass and an old rocky

dried up spring, somewhere

in the general vicinity

of where David slew Goliath

Oftentimes pilgrims perform

a loose reenactment

of the Biblical account—

so we select our cast

Six foot six Shawn, obviously

is cast as the giant

and Mary Rose’s

slight young daughter, Ariana

agrees to be David

(after a little arm twisting)

While Big Shawn is sprawled

flat on the ground

and Ariana lifts her slingshot

to declare victory

I select five smooth stones

from among thousands

in the bed of the brook

and place them

in my pocket

for one never knows

when one will encounter

a giant in the land

Maude Carolan Pych


*I'm always delighted to hear from visitors to my blog. Click below to leave a comment and I will respond.

My Granddaughter's First Communion

Emelia Kristin

Daughter of Randy & Kristin Thompson

Received her First Holy Communion

at Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church

Manasquan, NJ, April 10, 2016

Emelia Kristin Thompson

In honor of my granddaughter Emelia's First Communion, today, I am posting a poem about when my sister Carol and I received our First Communion, a long, long time ago...

FIRST COMMUNION, 1950

It was a long, long time ago, but
I remember as if it were yesterday—
My sister Carol was six; I was seven
Viola, my mother's best friend
sewed lovely white dresses for us
Mine had a bodice of white embroidered flowers
and a shimmery organdy skirt
Carol's, just the opposite
had an organdy bodice and flowery skirt
We wore crinoline slips
and pristine white stockings
shiny white Mary Janes
and tulle veils adorned with sprigs
of lily of the valley at the crown

Carol and I practiced walking
with hands in prayer
down the long church aisle
to receive the Little White Host
at the altar rail

We each nervously whispered
our first confession to the priest
in a dark confessional
the size of a small closet
We said the Act of Contrition
received absolution
and prayed our penance prayers
all in anticipation
of our First Communion Day

…but, my sister became ill
She had the measles
so I received my First Communion
without her, but with all the other
First Communicant boys and girls
of St. Bonaventure Roman Catholic Church

We were well prepared—
schooled in the liturgy
the songs and prayers
Most importantly, we all truly loved Jesus

As I sat quiet and still
like a pure wingless angel
in the old wooden pew
gazing at the stained glass windows
listening to the Latin Mass
and the ringing of the Offertory chimes
my stomach began to feel queasy
I had fasted, as was the custom
from midnight, the night before—
the first fast of my life
so I thought I was just hungry
but I developed chills and felt faint
and wanted to go home

Nevertheless, I said the prayers
and sang the songs
and received the precious Holy Bread
from the hand of the priest
upon my tongue, happy
that Jesus now lived inside of me

After Mass was over
I went home and straight to bed
Little red spots dotted my face and body
…Measles, of course

Two Sundays later
Carol and I dressed up
in our beautiful white finery--
Two healthy little brides of Christ
and received Holy Eucharist, together

Maude Carolan Pych

At the Temple Mount, 2006

Photo credit: christianforums.com

THE LITTLE CUPOLA 
OF THE TABLETS

Israel Pilgrimage--2006

If it is true

as I’ve heard said

that this little spot

on the Temple Mount

is the actual place

where Abraham

bound his son,

the location

of the Most Holy Place

in the Holy of Holies

and the very same spot

where Jesus

will return

If this is amazingly so…

this would be

the most hallowed ground

on earth

…so I remove my sandals

and feel the sublime coolness

on my humble soles

Maria picks up

a tiny chip of ancient stone

tinier than a pea—

She gives it to me

to keep

Maude Carolan Pych