Chubby Shape Book

Posted on April 30, 2023April 30, 2023 by John

Worship on the Lord’s Day
10:00 am 2023
Online & Onsite (Mixed Presence) Gathering as a Worshipping Community
Led by the Rev Brad Childs
Music director: Binu Kapadia Vocalists: Sam and Ann May Malayang
Elder: Darlene Eerkes

We gather to worship God

Music prelude

Greeting
L: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
P: and also with you.

Lighting of the Christ candle
Welcome and announcements
Mission Awareness Presentation
Silent preparation for worship

Call to Worship
L: God, our Shepherd, offers us abundant life.
P: God, you are with us!
L: God, our Shepherd, leads us by still waters.
P: God, restore our souls!
L: God, our Shepherd, walks with us through every dark valley.
P: God, we will not be afraid! God, our Shepherd, we praise for your goodness and mercy with us every day.

Opening praise: Give us clean hands

Prayers of approach and confession

God of love, we come trusting that your love has the power to defeat evil in the world.

Jesus shows us that your love defeats even the power of death.

You are with us through the darkest valleys so that we are not afraid.

We worship you with glad hearts, praising you in the name of our Risen Lord,

praying with the breath of your Spirit in us.

Renew our strength and courage to face whatever each day holds, so our lives will bring you honour and glory now and always. Amen.

God of love, we confess that too often we let the events around us shatter our trust in your love.

When terror strikes and innocents fall, we wonder if love can defeat violence.

When truth gets lost among misleading claims, we wonder if love can prevail over lies.

Forgive us, God, when we lose our trust in the power of your love so soon after it raised Jesus from death’s grip.

Response: We come to ask Your forgiveness, O Lord

Assurance of God’s forgiveness

The Apostle Paul asked: What will separate us from the love of Christ? Hardship? Distress? Peril or sword? No! he declared. Neither death nor life, nor things present nor things to come can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Let us rejoice that, no matter what is happening around us, God’s gracious and forgiving love will never let us go.

We listen for the voice of God

Children’s time

Gradual: Open our eyes, Lord (445)

Story: Brad showed the children (and the adults) many versions of the Bible – translations, paraphrases, large, small, formatted with images like comic books, etc.

Prayer: We thank you for your word. We ask you that you help us while we read it, to discover not it, but you.

The Lord’s Prayer (535)

Transition music

Song: O Christ, the Word incarnate (505)

Today’s Message

Scripture readings: Psalm 23; Acts 2:42-27; I Peter 2:19-25; John 10:1-10

Response: Behold the Lamb of God

Message: “Chubby Shape Book”

There is this really beautiful story in my daily devotional called Fragments by Dan Wolgemuth. I could just as easily tell a similar story of my own (as I suspect most of us could) but I think he captures the moment so perfectly so I’ll use his words.

The book is called School House. It’s one of Malia’s (our 4 year old granddaughters’) favorites. It’s one of those “chubby shaped books”. It has 85 words scattered across 16 pages, enhanced with some creative pictures. On page seven of the book, the teacher (a glasses-wearing lamb clothed in a purple-striped-dress) points to a flip chart with a picture of an elephant on it. The copy on page 8 reads “The teacher asks the children to name the animal. Can you name the animal?” (Incidentally, that’s the kind of writing gig I need to find. If you know how I get that job let me know).

Anyway… For whatever reason, Malia loves this book. Every time we get to page 7, I too point to the flip chart and ask her to tell me what the animal is. Sometimes she answers, sometimes she lets me know she’s tired and that I need to push on to pages 9 and 10. But mostly, we pause on that thick-stock paper of page 7.

On December 30^th, 2009 something incredible happened. It was on that chilly Denver, Colorado night that a group of us headed to the Zoo. They had more colored lights than animals and more cotton candy than lights. It seemed as much a circus as a zoo to me.

Christmas time at the zoo is a lot to take in. But in due time we made our way to the pachyderm building. The sheer size of the crowd made us realize that something more than lights and junk food was available inside.

I scooped Malia out of the wagon and we made our way through the smell of the building. An immediate left and we were on the railing right in front of two enormous elephants. The one on the left was sucking up gallon upon gallon of water and spraying it high into the air. And the one on the right shoved scoping huge bundles of fruit into its gigantic mouth. It ate a watermelon whole. Without looking at Malia first I said, “Look at the elephant’s honey”. What a waste of breath – the little girl was not only looking, she was spellbound. Her mouth was open and jaw dropped and eyes as wide as a Disney princess. She was in awe.

We stood for a long, long time; Malia and I. Malia’s expression never changed. No dialog, no question, no jokes, nothing moved her from that since of awe.

Until December 30^th 2009 at roughly 7pm, Malia only thought of an elephant as a two-dimensional, two inch high drawing on a flip chart page in a chubby shaped book. In fact on page 7 the elephant is smaller than the lamb. But not in a real life encounter.

In this encounter – the elephant was real. And it was grand.” (Fragments, p. 30)

Is it possible that we’ve done our best to tame the untameable God? That our own Chubby Shaped book just can’t ever, fully do Him justice?

In his book from the Chronicles of Narnia series, theologian and writer C. S. Lewis wrote about the child Susan’s introduction to Aslan the Lion (who stands in for God in the books). He wrote, “Aslan is a lion– the Lion, the great Lion.” “Ooh” said Susan. “I’d thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion“…”Safe?” said Mr. Beaver …”Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

The question sticks in my side and won’t let go. Have we placed The One That Hung The Stars In place on page seven in a “chubby shape book”? Is our God relegated to the pages of the Bible alone in our lives? Is He safe, manageable and confined to the copy on the page? Have we compartmentalized our faith and made a great King… small?

Or is God truly awesome?

When was the last time you really saw him that way?

In my mind, any and every authentic encounter with our God should propel us to a dropped jaw type of moment like that little girl coming to the realization that the thing in the book could never do justice to the experience of it firsthand.

I’ve had those types of moments in my life. I bet you have too. I’ve seen them in my kids’ lives and in others. They’re those December 13^th 7:00pm at the zoo types of moment.

Psalms 68:35 says, “Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised.” Psalm 68:35 says, “O God, You are awesome”. In Deuteronomy 10:17 it says “For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome.” But when was the last time you encountered that awesome nature?

In our reading from today it says that God want to share that with us and prove that to us. It says that God wants a life fully lived for his children. But that’s not what the forces of this world want.

Jesus says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; But I have come that they may have life, and have it to the fullest.”

The Koine Greek word used here is Perissos. It’s root meaning is excessive. And it means “more than anticipated” or “exceeding the expectations of” or “running over the limit”.

The truth is, despite those encounters with a great an awesome God we don’t always feel that way do we? Life to the fullest often seems way too far out of reach. In this life a whole lot of things try to get between us and the life God wants for us.

There is this goofy joke about a camel from a kids joke book that I find oddly inspiring and oddly insightful. It goes like this. A baby camel asked his mother “Mom, why have I got these huge three toed feet?” The mother replies, “Well son, because when we trek across the desert your large toes will help you to stay on top of the soft sand.” “Oh OK,” said the son.

A few minutes later the son asks another question, “Mom, why have I got these great long eyelashes?” “Well” said the mother camel, “They are there to keep the sand out of your eyes on the long trips through the desert sands.” “Wow, thanks mom,” replies the son.

But as kids often do the boy returns with more questions. “Mom”, says the boy “why have I got these great big humps on my back?” The mother, now a little impatient with the boy replies, “They store up to 1/5 of our body-fat and protect us from the sun’s rays and make it so we can travel on long trips through the desert without any need for food or water for a great number of days”.

“Amazing! That’s great Mom! So we have huge feet to stop us from sinking, and long eyelashes to keep the sand from our eyes and these huge humps to keep us alive while we travel very far! But Mom …” the boy continued. “Yes, son?” “Why do we live at the zoo?” (HotIl 166r)

God is great and awe-inspiring and God created each and every one of you for a purpose. He’s provided you with gifts and talents so that you can serve him, his people and his world. And there is no one at all like you.

But are you doing all that you were created to do?

Living at the zoo isn’t always so bad, but it’s certainly not where camels were created to be. Just like God wasn’t meant to be encountered only on the pages of the scriptures. You are meant to encounter God in your prayers, in your deeds, and in your everyday life.

A while back I was talking to my friend Matt Ruttan about his church in Berrie. And Matt was talking about how it can be scary for people in his church to do something new because it doesn’t feel safe. And then he said this. “Brad, the safest place for a ship is in the harbor, but that’s not where ships were created to be.”

Where were you created to be and what were you created to be out doing?

This week I would encourage all of you to seek out (very intentionally) those jaw dropped moments and spend some time in prayer asking God to reveal His presence to you in new ways. I would encourage all of you to spend some personal time alone with God, thinking about what thief came to steal away the life God has for you; what wants to destroy your hopes and dreams. This week I would encourage all of you to spend some time asking God to direct you to the abundant life (the “life to its fullest”) that God had planned for you all along.

And lastly I want you to know this. It’s never too late to see an elephant in real life. It’s never to late to seek out a new encounter with God.

The future is before you and our God is the God of life and life to its fullest!

My challenge for you today is simple. Decide this week – to live that life. – Amen

Song: Called as partners in Christ’s work (587)

We respond to serve God

Reflection on giving: We have been committed to continuing the ministry and mission that define Dayspring – using the ways described below. Thank you all for your support of our shared vision and mission.

Prayer of gratitude and for others and ourselves

Wise and generous God, shepherd of our lives, we are thankful this day for all you provide to sustain us.

You call our weary souls to rest when the world seems busy.

You bless us with the promise of new life as pastures around us turn green, announcing another spring.

You gather us around tables of friendship to draw strength from one another.

Thank you for signs of your goodness and mercy we can treasure each day.

Loving and Listening God, shepherd of the world, we bring you our prayers for others, friends and enemies, neighbours and strangers alike.

We pray for people who are struggling with illness, loneliness, grief or sadness:

Walk with them through dark days and steep valleys.

We pray for people in countries and communities where it is not safe to live out their faith or express their views openly.

Walk with them through dark days and steep valleys.

We pray for victims of discrimination and acts of hatred, and those who fear violence day by day.

Walk with them through dark days and steep valleys.

We pray for journalists and advocates for justice who live under threat for telling the truth.

Walk with them through dark days and steep valleys.

We pray for churches, local organizations and businesses that face difficulty reorganizing and the pressure of economic challenges.

Walk with them through dark days and steep valleys.

We pray for our families, friends and for ourselves, as well as those in the news whose situations tug at our hearts.

Walk with us all through dark days and steep valleys.

Song: Who’s goin’ to tell the story (761)

Sending out with God’s blessing

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
And may the Father Son and Holy Spirit lead you on.

Response: He is Lord, …

Music postlude

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Numbers in brackets after a song/hymn indicate that it is from the 1997 Book of Praise of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. Those and other songs are being used in accordance with the specifications of Dayspring’s licensing with One Licence (3095377) and CLC (A735555).

The Rev. Brad Childs retains the copyright (© 2023) on all original material in this service. As far as Brad Childs is aware, all of the material that has not been attributed to others is his own creation or is in the public domain. Unacknowledged use of copyrighted material is unintentional and will be corrected immediately upon notification being received.

Sandwiches

Posted on April 23, 2023April 23, 2023 by John

Worship on the Lord’s Day
Third Sunday of Easter 10:00 am 23 April 2023
Online & Onsite (Mixed Presence) Gathering as a Worshipping Community
Led by the Rev Brad Childs
Music director: Binu Kapadia Vocalist: Linda Farrah-Basford
Elder: Gina Kottke

We gather to worship God

Music prelude

Greeting
L: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
P: and also with you.

Lighting of the Christ candle
Welcome and announcements
Silent preparation for worship

Call to Worship
L: We have come from many places, following different roads.
P: We come hungering for greater understanding.
L: We have come to hear the wisdom of Scripture.
P: We come seeking companions in the faith.
L: We have come to discover the One revealed in the breaking of the bread.
P: We come to grow as disciples of Christ.
L: Come, let us worship God, made known in Christ Jesus.

Opening praise: 10,000 reasons (Bless the Lord, O my soul)

Prayers of approach and confession

God is gracious and merciful and knows our needs even before they reach our lips. Still, we engage in confession, admitting to God all that rests uneasily in our hearts. Confident of God’s love, let us make our confession, first in silent prayers.

Lord, help us. Help us to lean on you and each other when things get hard and when we get depressed. Remind us every day that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Encourage our hearts, and help us to be your people, to the best of our ability in these strange days.

Sometimes, O God, we forget people, or we toss them aside – the difficult ones, the needy ones, the ones that are hard to spend time with, the ones who confront us. And sometimes when we do things like that, it’s not really about the other people, but about us. We are uncomfortable, or we feel guilty, or we follow brighter, shinier people, or we worry about what will make us look good. We are in such desperate need of your forgiveness. We need to be forgiven for our sin, for our mistakes, for mistaking what the world values with what you value. Help us to be better, and to see more clearly, and to care more thoroughly.

You call us to a reconciled life, to healed relationships, to a wholeness with each other and with You.

Mend us, we pray, and make us new creations through the power and love of Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.

Response: I waited, I waited on you Lord

Assurance of God’s love

If God is for us, who can be against us? ³²He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:31b-32

[T]here is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, ²because through Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. ³For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. Romans 8:1-3a

We listen for the voice of God

Children’s time

Gradual: Open our eyes, Lord (445)

Story

Good morning. Good morning at home. Well, normally I have a little story and a Bible lesson to give you today is a little bit different.

I want to talk just for a second about the fidgets.

Any time there are fidgets or kids in any place, and it’s not always kids that use fidgets and things.

But any time it’s kids, kids do make a little bit of noise.

(We just lost 2 of the kids. In fact, they’re grabbing some noise makers now. Kids make noise. But this is actually a wonderful, beautiful thing.)

I know we all want moments of silence, and we all want some reverence, and we all want respect and good behavior.

But when kids are laughing or singing, or chatting, or talking in the middle of a service, even when it’s a little disruptive, it’s still a beautiful thing.

It’s a sign of growth and if we didn’t have that it would be a sad place.

There is something I want to talk to you about, though.

You see, even though we’re okay with kids making some noise (we’re okay with, anybody making a little bit of noise), lot of people in the congregation have hearing-aids and the hearing aids help them to hear

But the hearing aids generally don’t work very well at picking up 2 sounds from 2 different locations. So, a lot of the time, if you hear noise, and you have a hearing-aid, you only hear the noise and not the the thing that is actually happening at tha moment.

So here’s my proposal.

We’re all friends. We’re going to be good friends and if you have to make a little bit of noise every once everybody here is going to be okay with it, because it’s a wonderful sign of praise.

And, at the same time, when we’re in the service and we’re doing some things and you make a little noise, everybody’s going to be OK with it. But you’re also going to to try and be a little quiet. jjust because you know that some people can’t hear very well, and someday you’re going to have a hearing aid, too.

Now! We’re going to say a little prayer, and then for just a couple of minutes I’m going to introduce you to a new friend. Since you were being good friends for everyone and everybody is being good friends for you so we’re going to say a little prayer, then we’re going to meet a friend.

Prayer

God, we pray for understanding. We pray that as a unity that grows together, we would be understanding, that we would be loving and caring respectful for each other and understand that different people need different ways of learning and listening.

The Lord’s Prayer (535)

Meeting Brad’s friend (a ferret)

Now we’ll meet my little friend, okay.

We’re just going to say “Hi,” then we’re going to put him away, and he might go back to the Sunday school room.

This is a Mr. Cho. Come on over and pet him. …

You guys remember we’re all going to be good friends.

We’re all going to respect each other.

Okay, have a good time of Sunday school.

Transition music

Song: Joyful, Joyful, we adore You (410)

Today’s Message

Scripture readings: Matthew 22:1-4 and Luke 14:15-23

Response: Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the Risen Lord

Message: “Sandwiches”

Sitting in a kindergarten class in Westside Baptist church in Hutchinson Kansas a young boy gives the teacher a puzzled look. His hand reluctantly rises up into the air and he asks a simple but important question. “Teacher, why does Jesus tell so many stories?” The teacher looks pleased as she looks up from her felt board filled with tiny bible characters. She smiles and says, “Because stories are easy for everyone to understand.” She was a sweet person and I’m sure I learned a lot from her. But sadly my Sunday school teacher was wrong.

In Ps 78:2 the palmist writes, “I will open my mouth in a parable’ I will utter dark sayings from of old.” (NRSV) In the Young literal translation it says, “I will speak in similes” and in the Darby and NASB it says, “Open my mouth in a riddle.” https://ebible.org/pdf/engDBY/

The question of why Jesus spoke in parables is not a new one. It’s seems I was in good company. In fact even the disciples asked Jesus that very same thing. His response can be found in Matt. 13:10-13. “The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” He replied, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.”

He says, I speak in parables (not because it’s easy to understand) but because it’s confusing.

There is a well-known story from Robert J. Wicks book Riding the Dragon. (I’ve edited out the swear-word.) It reads, “I once heard of a priest who spent part of each night making sandwiches for the homeless. He would travel around the poorer areas of the city and distribute them. Even though his days were full, each night he bought three bags of bread, a jar of penult butter and a jar of jelly and then go to work. He didn’t do it out of guilt or duty; he just shared freely because of his faith.

On day the local media found out about the priest and his sandwiches and did a story about him in the local paper. The priest became an instant celebrity. The public friends and even fellow priest started sending him money to support the ministry. But each dollar, each check the priest returned. Inside each returned envelope came a small piece of paper with something scribble on it… they read, “Make your own … sandwiches.””

In my view one of the most important words you will find in the Bible is the word “disciple”. See, when Jesus asks people to follow him, he wants them to be a disciple (or pupil). He wants them to be seeking after God. He wants them to be thinking, intelligent, questioning people. He doesn’t just give simple answers. When people came up to him and asked for the keys to the kingdom, he told them something… but not something so simple that they could just take and go home (forgetting they had ever met). Instead, he tells them something that keeps them asking, keeps them learning… keeps them in conversation with God; keeps them seeking. As Lao-Tzu said, “Give a man a fish and he eats for a day; teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime.” Jesus doesn’t want people seeking easy answers, who want to go it alone. He wants people to make their own sandwiches. He wants disciples.

The parable of the Wedding banquet is particularly difficult. To say the least it is uncomfortable. The parable as Luke tells it ends with people eating a feast, but in Matthews’s hands this already uncomfortable parable ends with a seemingly innocent man being cast out of the kingdom. Stranger yet he is cast out for not wearing proper wedding clothes… as if he should have been standing out on the street corner waiting in a tuxedo just in case the King decides to invite commoner-guests in from off the street.

Over the years, many people have tried to understand this parable in many different ways. St. Augustine actually came up with the idea that perhaps the king had given all the guests wedding clothes before dinner and this man refused to wear them. But this is highly disputed (right or wrong) and most scholars reject this idea. Many others have pointed out that Jesus might be casting out those guests who do not know the King’s son, but again there seems to be debate. Others still have pointed to descriptions of the wedding banquet in Revelations 19:7-9 “Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) In my mind this is the most likely interpretation but again, just because I like it, that doesn’t mean the issue is settled. To further complicate the issue there are at least 4 different audiences being addressed here and each group would hear the parable differently.

You see on the Tuesday before his execution Jesus was found teaching in the Temple to a crowd of followers when he was confronted by the Chief Priest and Elders. So when Jesus tells this story there are already two distinct groups of listeners (the followers of Jesus and the Religious Leaders who didn’t like him). Both groups would have heard the parable differently.

Beyond that we find this parable recorded in the book of Matthew (written some 20-40 years after the event occurred). His audience is completely different from the original listeners Jesus was talking to.

And lastly there are those of us reading this parable nearly 2,000 years later. So what does this parable mean to us?

For the Chief Priests and Elders the story was an insult. It said that Jesus was defending the crowd (the good and the bad alike are invited… both the clean and the unclean). This was heresy. It said the Kingdom of God is open not just for the Pious Elite but also for the lowly who worked in the street corner markets surrounded by foreigners and traders (people who came in contact with gentiles). It said the Kingdom isn’t for the Priests to handout or withhold but Gods.

For the crowd that followed Jesus into the temple, they would have seen the Pharisees as the murders who killed prophets like John the Baptist and let Rome walk all over them. They would have seen themselves as being included in the banquet. For them the story solidified Jesus and John as ushering in a new messianic age of Heaven of Earth. The story spat in the eyes of the pious and arrogant; it called down judgment on the Jewish Religious Leaders who had bowed down to Roman Rule and ignored the true King of Israel.

For Matthew’s audience the parable might have been seen as predictive. Those who had rejected Jesus were his listeners. He wrote to convince them that Jesus is the Messiah. At a time when Jesus had been killed, the city taken and the Temple burnt to the ground the actions of the Kings servants might hold special meaning. For them the second group of Jews invited to the banquet meant that Jesus some 20-40 years past was actually talking to them.

And this brings us to today. What does this parable mean for you and I? What does it mean for us? We are not Jews. We were not born into the “chosen race”? And what do are the wedding clothes that we must have? What does that mean to us?

Well I’d like to tell you; I’d like to give you the easy answer but I’d much rather do just what Jesus did. I’d rather send you home with a fishing pole rather than a fish. I’d rather let you use your God-given intellect. I’d rather see us keep asking, keep learning, keep the conversation going. I’d rather send home Disciples of Christ… so go make your own sandwiches.

Song: Lord Jesus, You shall be my song (665)

We respond to serve God

Reflection on giving: We have been giving faithfully since the beginning of the pandemic and we are committed to continuing the ministry and mission that define Dayspring – using the ways described below. Thank you all for your support of our shared vision and mission.

Prayer for others and ourselves

Prayers for Persecuted Christians

We pray for those suffering because of their Christian faith; that the Holy Spirit will guide and protect them and nurture courage and faith, giving them the grace to forgive those who persecute them. We pray also for those who follow your Son in bearing their cross, that they may, in every trial, glory in the name of Christ.

For Christians living in …, that they may be given courage, hope, and perseverance.

Prayer for Christians Fleeing Persecution

For our sisters and brothers who, like your Son our lord, had to flee persecution from dangerous political powers, we pray for safety, strength and guidance. Let those who flee persecution and war in [name of place] find safety and protection, and the ability to rebuild their lives in dignity and contentment.

Prayer for Those Assisting Refugees

For those who provide assistance to refugees and people suffering persecution and violence, we pray that they may be safe and see the face of Christ in the most vulnerable people in your world. We pray also for guidance for those who help refugees. We recognize that people who have experienced trauma often have pressing physical and mental health needs. We pray that those assisting refugees and people suffering persecution and violence find the necessary resources to help address and care for the trauma that the people they help have faced.

Prayer for Those Who are Persecutors

We pray for those who persecute Christians and other religious minorities, that Love and mercy will illuminate their hearts, that they will come to see the common humanity of all peoples, and that they will cease committing acts of hatred.

Prayer for World Leaders

We pray for government leaders around the world, that they may recognize the grave responsibility that comes with power, and form and keep just laws that protect the persecuted and work for an end to violence and war. We pray also recognizing we have at times limited the religious freedom of others and have failed to protect others from religious persecution.

Song: One more step along the world vss. 1,3, 4, 5 (641)

Sending out with God’s blessing

Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.—Romans 16:25–27

Response: Go forth into the world

Music postlude

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Doubting Thomas

Posted on April 17, 2023April 17, 2023 by John

Worship on the Lord’s Day
10:00 am     16 April 2023    2^nd Sunday of Easter
Online & Onsite (Mixed Presence) Gathering as a Worshipping Community
Led by the Rev Brad Childs     Children’s time: Vivian Houg
Music director: Binu Kapadia     Vocalist: Lynn Vaughan
Elder: Jane de Caen

We gather to worship God

Music prelude

Greeting
L: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
P: and also with you.

Lighting of the Christ candle
Welcome and announcements
Silent preparation for worship

Opening praise: Everlasting God

Prayers of forgiveness and rest

God our Maker, we come giving thanks for all the wonder in your creation, the great theatre of your glory.

We praise you for the detailed perfection revealed in a baby’s tiny fingers, for the wisdom and growth that comes with age, for the strength to serve you, for your glory seen in flowers greeting the spring,and in each rock face worn by wind and water.

These details lift our hearts to praise you.

So let the details of the story the Risen Christ lift our hearts this day, that we too may discover him in our midst, making all things new with the springtime of your Spirit.

God our Redeemer, in raising Jesus from the dead, you showed us your power to defeat all that brings fear and sorrow to our lives.

Yet when things go wrong, we confess we are sometimes uncertain how to find him.

Like Thomas, we are unsure if we can trust the promise of resurrection. Help us Lord. Help our unbelief.

Lord in this time we pause. We turn our attention to you and we ask you to show us peace.

Show us those people we struggle to forgive. Led us together and help us to mend.

Lord if we want forgiveness then we must forgive.

Lord even for those we wish not to forgive, we still seek to be forgiving.

For those who do not deserve it, we pray, and for strength. Lord for all those we can bear, with your help – We forgive those who hurt us.

Forgive us when we struggle with doubt about your presence with us.

Breathe your Spirit upon us and bring us the peace Christ promised.

Response: I will trust in the Lord

Assurance of God’s forgiveness

Friends, the risen Christ is in our midst, speaking words of peace and forgiveness to us this day. Do not doubt these gifts are for you. And do not reject sharing that peace with others. Be at peace with yourself and with all God’s children. Amen

We listen for the voice of God

Children’s time

Gradual: Jesus loves me (373)

Story: This is Gabriel: Making Sense of School by Hartley Steiner.

Vivian Houg talked with the children about this book, which provides a look into the challenges children with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) face in the classroom. This easy-to-read and beautifully illustrated picture book gives teachers, parents, and students a better understanding of all seven senses, how they are each affected at school (or church), and what kinds of accommodations are necessary to help children with SPD become learning sensations!

Note: The prevalence of sensory processing issues is reported to be around 1 in 20 to 1 in 6.25 children in the US general population (Ahn et al., 2004; Ben-Sasson et al., 2009), and a more recent study in Finland found the prevalence of sensory abnormalities to be around 8.3% in an epidemiological population of 8-year-old children (Jussila et al., 2020).

Prayer: Creator God, thank you for making our wonderful bodies and all of our senses that tell us about the world. And help us to know that we are all a little bit like Gabriel sometimes and it’s important to pay attention to the needs of our body so that we can focus on you now,

The Lord’s Prayer (535 or 469)

Transition music

Song: Thine be the glory (258)

Today’s Message

Scripture readings: I Peter 1:3-9 and John 20: 19-31 (NRSV)

Response: Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the Risen Lord

Message: ”Doubting Thomas”

September 15^th; Nuremberg; 1935… Adolf Hitler had just managed to push new anti-Semitic laws through the German legal system. At his urging the parliament passes a series of new restrictions that strip Jews of official citizenship. Doctors, layers, teachers, musicians, writers, actors and other professional (influential people) are expelled from the country or flee. Remaining Jewish children are disallowed from public school and other Jews (or suspected Jews) made to carry official papers stamped with the letter J for Jude – Jew.

As far as the average German citizens were concerned however Hitler was a kind of savior. Most people were almost totally unaware as to the severity of what Hitler intended to do. For them, he was simply a great political leader. He brought about amazing social change, started welfare programs, and gave property and companies to families in need.

But the Judenrien project was well underway. By this point about 100-thousand Jews are estimated to have been murdered. Thousands were moved into work camps. Just days after the laws had passed the Gestapo had rounded up another eighteen-thousand Polish Jews and packed them onto freight trains. Soon the only Jews left in Germany were held up in Berlin and Cologne (Ko-Ln). In towns and villages all over, no signs remained that the Jews had ever even existed there. The towns and villages of Germany were just as Hitler had wanted them. They were Judenrien (Jew Emptied). Only here and there were there small indications of a previous Jewish presence.

One such piece of proof was found just days after the war officially ended. On a cellar wall in Cologne, where a few Jewish families had sought refuge and safe hiding, there bore the hint of a Jewish presence. Before being arrested, deported or worse yet killed, someone cowering in this cold basement; hiding in fear scratched a poem onto the wall. It read:

I believe.

I believe in the sun even when it is not shining.

I believe in love even when feeling it not.

I believe in God even when God is silent.^[1]

If we had only the first three Gospels, the only thing we would know about Jesus’ friend the apostle Thomas: would be his name. The Gospel of John is the only place we find him speaking. Very unfortunately however, out of three times he speaks in John’s Gospel most of us are generally only aware of the reading read from here today. Rarely do we think of the time that Thomas asked Jesus how be could follow him into the kingdom (John 14).

And most of us, when thinking of Thomas would never think of the time that Thomas courageously tried to convince the other disciples that they needed to go to Bethany to comfort Mary and Martha after Lazarus had died (as Thomas notes, he believed the disciples should go – even if it meant death for all of them!). And so… most of us, when we hear the name “Thomas” only think of that terrible phrase “doubting Thomas”.

It’s sad really. From what we’re told in the Bible Thomas may well be the only brave person among the disciples. There they were sitting in that remote back ally room; huddled together on the floor, confused, defeated and crushed. There they were feeling ashamed, not knowing what to do or who to trust; scared to death with the door locked (cowering like scared children hiding under the covers in the dark). To tell the truth, at this point in history, that probably just where they should have been because at this point the disciples were little more than a group of failures (all of them). Yes, Peter was the one who denied Jesus three times just after he promised he’d never do so. But he wasn’t alone. Not one disciple (not even John) stayed in Gethsemane. They all ran in fear hoping to save their own necks.

And then, suddenly, astonishingly, quietly, (three days later) there he was, right there, before their very eyes. Jesus was just standing there… Alive! He should have been angry. He should have been disappointed. He should have told them what it felt like to be hanging there on the cross and to look out and see his friends sneaking away; afraid and to ashamed to even look at him as he died. But no… there Jesus was, not with angels, trumpets, or legions, but calmly and quietly. And with him he brought no hint of anger. No accusations, no trouble or turmoil… no righteous indignation; no justice! Instead he brought only words. But what powerful words he brought. And no doubt those first words of Jesus were a relief and a great gift in the ears of the people that betrayed him. Jesus said, “Peace be with you”.

In Greek the word that John tells us Jesus used is eirēnē (I-Rain-A). It means: exempt from anger, harmony, safety, salvation and is used in one case in the Bible to describe the final state of an upright and righteous man after his death. In short… when Jesus says, Peace be with you… he also says, “I Forgive you”.

But that is not where our story ends. When Jesus appeared to the disciple huddled together in that locked room not everyone was there. Thomas wasn’t there! Maybe he was out running errands, maybe he was moving on with his life, and maybe just maybe… like he told Jesus earlier in the book of John, he really was willing to die for the gospel (and so he was out in public; fully visible and willing to be caught).

Whatever the case, we may never truly know. But what we do know is that when the other disciples told Thomas about the unbelievable and impossible thing that had just happened Thomas responds with the same caution and the same common since we all would have. He said, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.” Understandably what Thomas wanted was nothing more than the same experience the other disciples had. Thomas wasn’t there. He didn’t get to hear Jesus’ voice. He heard only silence.

At this point in the story, Thomas… is… us. Thomas is the one that heard the message “Jesus is risen” second hand. He heard an amazing story but he hadn’t yet seen Jesus with his own eyes. All Thomas wanted was to see Jesus face to face. All he wanted was to hear the voice of God. Thomas wanted the same thing every single one of us wants. His story is the story of every human being alive today.

What’s interesting for me though, is that Thomas does get to see the face of God. Thomas does eventually see his face; he does hear his voice. Jesus does appear again to the disciples and Thomas is there for it this time. And even though he says he won’t believe until he can put his finger into Jesus’ wounds, it turns out that when push came to shove… he didn’t do it. In verse 27, when Jesus says to Thomas “Put your finger here” Thomas doesn’t do it. We have no scripture that says “and then Thomas put his finger in the wound”. In fact, we have just the opposite. What we have is what Jesus says in verse 29 which suggests that Thomas had no need to. Thomas emphatically proclaimed “My Lord and my God!” And in response Jesus tells him, “Because you have SEEN ME, you have believed”. And that’s all it took. Just seeing his face; just hearing his voice, just hearing those words “Peace (I-Rain-A) be with you”… “I forgive you”.

And it is at this point in the story that Jesus speaks directly to John’s first readers; years after Jesus had left. It’s here that Jesus speaks directly to us present in this church here today. Jesus says “Because you have seen me, you have believed; but blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Well that is us. We are those that have heard the good news (have not seen his face or heard his voice) and yet still believed. We are those people that Jesus called “Blessed”. We are the ones that have not seen the face of the risen Lord. Because we are the people that know… that like courage or honesty, grace, kindness, or love that faith cannot be proven and yet these things we believe in nonetheless if not most of all. We are the people that are called to believe in the promises of God even when he is hidden from us; even when he is silent. We are the ones (that like Thomas) can proclaim even in the darkest of times, “My Lord and my God!”

Whatever it is you face in your life: fears, anxieties, sin, failures, uncertainty, or shame. Whatever makes you hide your light away… whatever it is that makes you lock yourself off from the world around you. Whatever you lock in or out… whatever it is that your heart simply cannot manage on its own. Whatever it is that like the disciples, you try to hide from the world; whatever disappointment you lock behind those doors; whatever doubts churn in your minds, whatever sins trouble your consciences, whatever pain and worry bind you, whatever walls you put up or doors you have securely locked; whatever it is that overwhelms you this morning… know this:

At the center of the gospel is the proclamation that Jesus Christ has come looking for us – even behind those locked doors. And when he comes he comes not with anger not with reminders of our failing but in the quite and the calm. He has come to us and says (“I-Rain-A”) “Peace be with you.”… “I forgive you… you are free”.

“Peace be with you” You that have Not Seen and Yet Believed! Because like the poet that scratched his words into that wall on Cologne (Ko-Ln), Germany… we can all proclaim in faith:

I believe

I believe in the sun even when it is not shining.

I believe in love even when feeling it not.

I believe in God even when God is silent. Amen & Thanks be to God.

Song: Come to us, beloved Stranger (262)

We respond to serve God

Reflection on giving: Giver of every good and perfect gift, in Christ we see the power of sacrifice, and trust the hope of resurrection he offers. Receive our gifts given in gratitude for all we have received in him. Bless all that we give so that his healing work in the world may continue.

Prayer of gratitude and for others and ourselves

God of new Life, the Risen Christ spoke words of peace to his friends.

Thank you for strengthening our faith and offering us that peace as we live in you day by day.

We are grateful that you give us courage to face our fears and struggles, patience to endure moments when the way ahead is not clear, and resilience to meet changing realities.

Make us a source of peace and resilience for Christ’s sake.

Loving God, we pray for the many places of brokenness in our world.

We think especially of those weighed down by economic pressures, and people still recovering from the effects of the pandemic.

We pray for people and communities at odds over policies and opinions, and those who feel their concerns are going unheard.

We pray for the earth itself under the impact of human activity and for those working to protect its future.

Grant the earth and all its peoples your gifts of hope and healing.

Faithful God, we pray for those who struggle with their experience of the church.

Open them to your love and grace so that any pain the church has caused will be healed.

Guide us with your Spirit of wisdom to know how to live out our faith in ways that create pathways for others to find you, not barriers.

We pray for our congregation, for The Presbyterian Church in Canada, and for the Church of Jesus Christ in every country and culture.

In these days of challenge and criticism for churches, strengthen our trust in you and our concern for others.

Give us ears to hear the correction we need in any challenge, with hearts opened by the grace of the Risen Christ.

We also pray for ourselves, our family and friends, our community and country.

We lay before you in silence all the people and concerns on our hearts and minds today.

(Silence for 15 seconds)

We are grateful that we can place all our worries and our hopes into your hands,

O God, knowing that you will hear us and respond. Amen.

Song: Amazing grace, my chains are gone

Sending out with God’s blessing

Now may the God of our hope fill us all with the joy and peace that comes from belief, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit forever. Amen. (Romans 15:13)

Response: He is Lord

Music postlude

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^[1] From the Book Nightmare in History by By Miriam Chaikin

Risen Indeed

Posted on April 10, 2023April 10, 2023 by John

Worship on the Easter Day
10:00 am April 09, 2023
The Sacrament of Holy Communion
Online & Onsite (Mixed Presence) Gathering as a Worshipping Community
Led by the Rev. Brad Childs
Music Director: Binu Kapadia Vocalist: Glynnis McCrostie
Elder: Sam Malayang

We gather to worship God

Music prelude

Greeting
L: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
P: and also with you.

Lighting of the Christ candle
Welcome and announcements
Silent preparation for worship

Call to Worship
L: Christ is risen!
P: He is risen indeed!
L: The tomb is empty.
P: Life has defeated death!
L: Rising from the grave, Jesus brings life to all the wrong places.
P: Christ lives where death has ruled.
L: Rising from the grave, Jesus brings life to all the wrong people.
P: Christ welcomes those who are often overlooked.
L: Christ’s resurrection means that we are no longer lost in the wilderness.
P: He provides us with a living hope and travels with us to places where death had once prevailed.
L: The world has been turned upside down.
P: Life has defeated death!

Opening praise: This is amazing grace

Prayers of approach and confession

God of resurrecting power, we are caught up in the joy of Easter and your love fills us with expectation.

Death will never overcome the life, and the powers of chaos will never overcome your loving intentions for the cosmos.

Just as Jesus spoke to Mary in the garden that first Easter day, you call each of us by name because you love us.

So we praise you for the hope you have given us, your powerful love and your promise of new life in Christ.

God of tender mercy, we confess that faith doesn’t come easy every Easter.

When we face loss in our own lives, sorrow can weigh us down.

Our challenges can feel like a stone too heavy to roll away.

Forgive us, O God.

Let the hope of new life in Christ assure us that the power of your love that raised Jesus will never let us go. Amen.

Response: Glory, glory, hallelujah

Assurance of God’s grace

“No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Dear friends, Christ has laid down his life for us and invites us to love one another as he has loved us. Let us rejoice in his redeeming, resurrecting love (as we sing with grateful hearts:

Song: Jesus Christ is risen today

We listen for the voice of God

Scripture readings (NRSV): Colossians 3:1-4 and John 20:1-18 (NRSV)

Response: Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord

Message: Risen Indeed“”

I say, He is risen? He is risen indeed!

John Piper has this great statement he makes all of the time. He says, “God is writing the story of our lives.”

It is very easy to get sucked down into the daily activities. So easy to get pulled down into the dull or the humdrum that we get to drowning in the boss pleasing and bill paying and we forget that God is actually up to something grand in each of our lives. But as the saying goes you can’t see the forest through the trees.

Life has so many starts and stops and twists and turns. And life is confusing. We have cemeteries next to schools and wedding on the same calendars as funerals. And if living is not confusing enough for us than what about the conclusion?

Reality is simple: This heart will have one last beat. This hand will go limp. We all die. No one escapes death. Good Friday and the crucifixion of Christ is extremely powerful but without Easter it means nothing. Anyone can die. More to the point everyone WILL die.

It’s been said that “Death is the most democratic institution on earth”. It accepts no discrimination. It accepts no substitutions. The mortality rate all around the world is the exact same – one death per person, 100%. As the Psalmist says “who can live and not see the grave). No gender is spared; no person exempt. The worlds greatest genius, fastest, the best artist, the wealthiest just like the poorest, no one buys off death; outruns it… no one outsmarts it. No one escapes it.

Julius Caesar died, John Lennon died, Elvis Presley died, and Princess Dianna died. We all die. Nearly two people per second actually. That’s 155,000 people just today that will go to the grave. Since last Easter, 57 million people died. We all die.

No matter what you do. The finest surgeons in the world might be able to enhance or extend your life but they cannot prevent your death. Pop all the pills you want, eat all the green veggies you can get your hands on. Stay out of the sun. Wear a seat belt. You might improve the quality of your life and perhaps the length, but you can’t avoid the inevitable. We just die.

Isn’t that… a bummer?

But what if this (all the stuff that happens before we die) is just the first chapter… what if this is just the first paragraph of the first chapter? What if this is the first sentence of the first paragraph? What if this is the first word or the first letter – in the story that God is writing in our existence? What if we’re just getting started?

What if that’s what Easter is about? I say that is exactly what it’s about. I say, He is risen? He is risen indeed!

The executioners had done their work. They made sure with a spear to the side that this Jesus the Nazarene’s last breath was in fact his last breath. Solider that knew death, saw it, accepted it and took him down. People he knew and loved, took him off the cross and wrapped him up and carried his lifeless corpse of to the tomb. No mistakes were made. These people weren’t morons. And as he lay motionless in the grave, no one thought there was anything else to come. Nobody thought this book had a second chapter let alone an appendix. They thought it was over. The story was done.

It was time to close the book. The bible says, “All the disciples forsook him and fled.”

All!

If you were there, do you think you’d do better?

I don’t.

The whole thing is an indictment of self no matter who you are.

Peter follows Jesus to the trial – but betrayed him; terrified as he was. Next John “the disciple whom Jesus loved” went all the way to the cross with His Lord but then left and hid when things got really hard. And when the women came to the cemetery that morning (while the men were still in hiding) they didn’t come to meet with Jesus for a pleasant conversation, they came to embalm his lifeless body with scented oils so that he would not smell. The story of his existence was done. The final chapter had been writ. The book was closed. It was over. And so were his promises… like eternal life, a world beyond… something more than death.

But what if God’s story was actually just getting started?

I say, He is risen? He is risen indeed!

What if death itself were just the first page, paragraph, word, or even letter in a grand story? What if that’s what Easter is all about. That first tiny seed. A first fruits of heaven for a great bounty to come.

What if?

It all starts off with Mary Magdalene and the other women going to the tomb and finding the rock rolled away.

And right away Mary runs to find the apostle Peter to tell him – what?

Answer: “Jesus is risen” right?

Nope. Life doesn’t work that way.

Dead people stay dead. The back cover of this book is closed.

No, she ran to tell him “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him”. That is the story Mary knew.

But Mary shares it. Who wouldn’t.

So, Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. ⁴Both were running, but the other disciple (John) outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. ⁶Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, ⁷as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. ⁸Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside.

And then we are told when he did this, he “saw and believed.” Verse 8. But then right after John tells us that “He ‘saw and believed’ (and he’s writing about Peter and himself) he writes, ⁹(But they still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) ¹⁰So the two disciples went back to where they were staying.”

So just what was it, that John “saw and believed” then. It wasn’t that Jesus is risen. No, John (the disciple whom Jesus loved) had closed the book on that.

What John “saw and believed” was actually pretty weak. He “saw and believed” just what Mary told him. He “saw” that someone “had taken the Lord out of the tomb” and he “believed” that “[Mary] did not know where they had taken” his decaying body. That’s all. He saw and believed that someone took the body.

At this point in his life… John’s God was too small. But that was not to last word. And I say, He is risen? He is risen indeed!

Mary goes back to the tomb as well.

John continues on. He writes, “¹¹Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying.” Why? Because his body is missing. Mary’s God was too small. “As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb ¹²and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. ¹³They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

Isn’t it amazing how conditioned we as human beings are to get caught up in the supposed power of death… to see the future as impossible to overcome? To see obstacles and not solutions, to get weighed down in the only ways we can imagine e things might be?

Think of all the amazing things you have seen in your lives – the miracle that lead you to that perfect person out of 8 billion; just right for you, to all the friends that have cared for you… and still we worry about bills and grades and traffic jams – Maybe our images of God are too small sometimes too? But I don’t want a small God. I want a God of Power! I want a risen one. I say, He is risen? He is risen indeed!

A young paratrooper was learning to jump, and he was given the following instructions: First, jump when you are told; second, count to 10 and pull the ripcord; third, in the unlikely event that it doesn’t open, pull the second chute open; and fourth, when you get down there, a truck will take you back to base.

The plane ascended up to the proper height, the men started jumping out, and the young new paratrooper did just right. 1) He jumped when told. 2) He counted to 10 and pulled the cord, but the chute failed to open. So he did what he was told. 3) He proceeded to the backup chord. But the second chute also failed to open. “Oh great,” he said. “And now I suppose the truck won’t be there either.”

Pessimism abounds. Doubt, fear, Death and darkness want to rule our lives. But I reject all that. I choose life. I say, He is risen? He is risen indeed!

How big is our God?

Even in the face of the miraculous we can’t seem to imagine that God is bigger than the tiny little boxes we try to put him in.

And confronted with angels, angels! – Mary is still so convinced that her understanding of life is all there is, that when angels ask why she is crying she still says again, “They have taken my Lord away and I don’t know where they have put him.” Mary too, has closed that book. At that point in her life… her God was too small. But she was wrong. Our God is huge. I say, He is risen? He is risen indeed!

¹⁴“At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there” and then she screamed “Lord” and she hugged him… right? Wrong. So convinced that death was the last word she could not even see a miracle staring her right in her face. As John writes to us “she did not realize that it was him.”

And so he talked to her saying just as the angels did, “Why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for? And then she recognized him and ran over and kissed his cheek. Nope! The last word has been written; the book was closed. Instead she thinks he’s a body snatching gardener (because that’s more logical than the creator of everything in existence also being able to make one man breathe again?). Mary said he was dead. I say, He is risen? He is risen indeed!

It is not until he looks at her directly in the face and says her name “Mary” that she finally faces the miracle she’s surrounded by and calls out “I have seen the Lord”.

What do you suppose happened to that Book Mary had just closed? What happened to her universe that day? When she saw a living breathing Jesus standing before her what do you think that did to her picture of God. Do you think it grew a little? What chapter of the story did she think she was in while she was walking to the tomb and where did she think she was after? How much bigger did Mary’s God get that morning when she found herself willing to open her mind to something unexplainable? It was the morning when the last chapter of the book didn’t turn out to be the last.

Herman Melville’s great classic, Moby Dick is packed with themes and allusions to the scriptures. For example there is a character aboard ship named Queequeg, who was beloved by all the crew. He plays a seemingly odd, sporadic part that’s almost insignificant until the end – sort of. When Queequeg was seized by a serious fever, everyone tended to him carefully and he recovered. But the illness left him worried about his future. He wondered when and how his end would come. Calling the ship’s carpenter, Queequeg requested a coffin to be built for him. But he wanted something special that reminded him of his island in the south pasific. It was to be shaped like a canoe… like the ones he rode in as a child. Queequeg’s measurements were taken, planks were marshalled, tools were picked up and the carpenter set to his task.

As the book progresses, the story of Queequeg’s coffin disappears from the reader’s mind. The story returns to Captain Ahab and his fatal obsession with the great whale, Moby Dick. In the novel’s dramatic climax, Captain Ahab finds Moby Dick, but the great whale overcomes the captain smashing the boat to pieces, dragging Ahab under the water and tossing the crew into the sea to be eaten alive by sharks. Death is all around. Ishmael the storyteller finds himself floundering in the water being sucked into the vortex of the sinking ship, circling in a fatal eddy, prey for the sharks. In theological terms… It’s a bummer. In all truth, it’s the end of the book (in more ways than one). But suddenly a “Black bubble” bursts from the water, liberated from the depths by its own buoyancy. It shoots up with great force and lands near Ishmael. It is our long forgotten about friend. It is a coffin. As he is about to die a coffin lands right in his lap – the very symbol of death. And yet it is no ordinary coffin – for this coffin is also the canoe that saves Ishmael’s life.

Climbing in it, Ishmael floats for a day and night until he is rescued by a passing ship. It’s not his final chapter. His book was not to close. His story was just getting started.

And in fact, I would argue that were Ishmael real, even if he had died, it still wouldn’t be the final chapter. My God is-not, will-not and can-not be too small. I say, He is risen? He is risen indeed!

Because of his death, because of Easter, our coffins are nothing more than canoes bearing us across the plain. (Sourcebook 251 Coffin becomes a canoe)

Weather you know it, admit, doubt it or even care at all, it doesn’t change a thing – God is writing the story of our lives. It’s not your world. It’s not your universe. It’s not your book. And though we think the book closes along with the coffin door, Jesus proclaims to all who will listen… What if? What if death itself were just the first page, paragraph, word, or even the first letter in a grand story?

It is by his cross that we are free and by his resurrection that we might live eternally.

My God is big. This is Easter morning.

I say… He is risen? He is risen indeed! Amen.

Song: At the dawning of salvation (248)

We respond to serve God

Reflection on giving: On Easter Day, we celebrate God’s most precious gift to us in Christ’s dying and his rising. As we present our gifts to God this morning, may our generosity reflect God’s goodness, and the hope we have in Christ Jesus, our Risen Lord.

Prayer of gratitude and for others and ourselves

Generous God, this day we recognize how much you have given us in Christ Jesus, and what that gift has cost. Bless these gifts so they may offer the hope and joy we feel today to the world you love so dearly. In the name of your greatest gift, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

God of power and possibility, you broke open the tomb that held our Lord. Now break into your church where your people are distracted by old quarrels, discouraging results, or unhelpful divisions about mission and service.

Resurrect, renew and revive your church!

God, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

God of resurrection and new life, you broke into the hearts of Jesus’ fearful friends. Now break into our relationships with one another. Where they are vibrant and life-giving, nurture them. Where they are strained by old hurts and misunderstandings, or carelessly taken for granted, mend them.

Resurrect, renew and revive our life together!

God, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

God of might and mercy, you broke the schemes of those who stood in the way of your love. Now break into the governing systems of your world. Stir the minds and hearts of leaders to work for justice and equitable sharing. Where laws are corrupt, or people suffer under harsh rule, call them to account.

Resurrect, renew and revive the leaders of the world!

God, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

God of healing and hope, you broke the bonds of death which tried to shackle new life. Now break into situations of illness, pain, grief, and loss. Wherever people are sick in body, mind, or spirit, wherever someone mourns the loss of any elationship or dream, bring your healing grace.

Resurrect, renew and revive our lives!

God, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

God of Easter Renewal and Resurrection, you have broken into our lives again this day. We give you thanks for the power of your love to remake every situation that brings us challenge or choice. Break into all our moments of celebration and joy, too. Give us gratitude, the impulse to share, and a spirit of grace and understanding.

Resurrect, renew and revive your people!

God, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

The Sacrament of Holy Communion

Invitation

On this resurrection day, we come to the table to remember our future with our Risen Lord.

Remember Jesus declared that people will come from east and west, and north and south, to sit at table in God’s kingdom.

Remember – the Risen Christ has spread this joyful feast for you.

The gifts we bring to his table are for all those who love him and for all who want to love him more.

All who belong to the body of Christ are welcome to share his gifts on this joyful Easter day.

Taste and see that God is good.

Song: I come with joy (530)

We affirm our faith: The Apostles Creed (539)

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer (469)

The Story of the Table/Words of Institution

When we gather at this table, we remember how this meal began, how it has promised hope and new life to Jesus’ friends from one generation to the next.

Often, when we gather, we remember bread and wine shared around a table

the night Jesus was arrested by his enemies.

Today we remember the first Easter day, when Jesus appeared to friends along a road.

But they were too sad and tired to recognize him.

So he came to the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.

Then their eyes were opened, then they recognized him.

As we break this bread and share this cup in the name of our Risen Lord, may our eyes be opened to recognize Jesus, present with us here.

May our spirits be refreshed to face our future in hope.

And as Jesus offered thanks for the gifts of the earth,

Let us also bless God for what we are about receive:

Prayer of Great Thanksgiving for Easter Communion

Holy One,

On this joyful Easter day, we offer you our gratitude and praise with hearts full of love, for we have seen your grace and power, rolling away the stone of sorrow and despair, bursting from the tomb in the gift of new life.

And so we join our voices with all your creatures high and low, with all the saints before us and beside us, in heaven and on earth, to celebrate your resurrecting power.

Receive our praise and joy this day, O Christ.

Your resurrection promises that there are new possibilities for us and our weary world.

Even when we falter in discouragement, even if we hesitate at the news

that your great love has come back to embrace us, you will not let us go.

You call us by name to assure us of your love.

You open your arms to welcome us back to your side.

You have spread this table for us, offering us not only the bread and wine, but your very self, present with us here and everywhere.

In anticipation of receiving these gifts, we proclaim our faith and our hope.

Spirit of Life, rising in us and around us, breathe upon us now and upon this bread and wine.

May they be for us Christ’s body and blood, gifts of new life, with the power to make us whole.

As this bread and wine become a part of us, may we become a part of you, Lord Jesus, united with you and with each other in love.

Dare us to live for justice and joy, trusting that all things will work together for good through the power of love that raised you from the dead, the power of the love we share in your name.

Sharing of the bread and wine

Song: One bread, one body (540)

The prayer after Communion (Ref: Ps. 103:1-2)

Loving God, we thank you that you have fed us in this sacrament,
united us with Christ, and given us a foretaste of the heavenly banquet in your eternal realm.

Send us out in the power of your Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hymn: I danced in the morning (Lord of the dance) (250)

Sending out with God’s blessing

Easter is above all about the promise of Christ and who He is. For every who has loved and lost, if Easter is true (and I believe it is,) it not just a statement about the resurrection of Jesus, but also, the resurrection that awaits all who belong to Him in everlasting life.

Our hope rests in Jesus. Go now, with wonder at the empty tomb to amaze and even confuse you, Go with the joy Mary felt in the garden when God called her out by name. Go with the disciples’ hope at news Jesus had risen and so too shall we! And may God’s resurrecting love open the future for you, challenge you to dig deeper and lead you to forever reach for the God of Wonders, died and yet alive again.

Response: He is Lord

Music postlude

“Beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us.” – Martin Luther

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No King but Christ

Posted on April 2, 2023April 2, 2023 by John

Worship on the Lord’s Day
Palm/Passion Sunday
10:00 am April 02, 2023
Onsite & Online (Mixed Presence) Gathering as a Worshipping Community
Led by the Rev. Brad Childs
Music director: Binu Kapadia Vocalist: Lynn Vaughan
Elder: Darlene Eerkes

We gather to worship God

Music prelude

Greeting
L: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
P: and also with you.

Lighting of the Christ candle
Welcome and announcements
Silent preparation for worship

Call to Worship
L: Just as the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness,
P: the Spirit sends us into places of uncertainty where we confront our weakness and insecurities.
L: Sometimes the wilderness is the city.
P: In the city, life can be a struggle where the vulnerable are victimized by unfamiliar structures.
L: Jesus rode into Jerusalem to reclaim the city for God.
P: By entering on a donkey, Jesus showed that he would rule with humility and compassion.
L: As the Church, we too bring care to those whom the city too often forgets.
P: We remember that many are lost and alone: refugees, the unhoused, sex workers, those far from home.
L: We cannot put the burden on the destitute to find their way through the urban maze.
P: We come in humility to serve those whose resources are few and whose needs are many.

Opening praise: Forever God is faithful

Prayers of approach and lament

Almighty God, like your children of ages past, we gather to wave our branches and lay down our coats before Jesus. As the Messiah rides into Jerusalem, we sing praises, “Hosanna! Hosanna!” “Save us! Save us”. However, the praises from our lips do not last. We prefer to have our saviour’s ride into town on white horses and conquer our enemies. One day we sing, “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” On the next we wash our hands with Pilate, trying to cleanse ourselves from our part in the passion of Jesus. We say, “We are innocent of this man’s blood.” When things don’t go our way. When our God does not respond as we wish we find ourselves aligned with the shouting crowd – one day shouting “Save us” and the next “Crucify him!” We travel from “Hosanna!” to “Crucify!” in the blink of an eye.

Lord we lament the world as it is and seek a world that is better.

We praise you on Sunday and ignore you on Monday. Forgive us again and again, our God, for turning away from your call to lay down our own lives for the sake of the Gospel. May we follow you with faithfulness all the days of our lives and may you remember these words upon our lips. “Hosanna” “Save us.” Amen.

Response: We come to ask Your forgiveness, O God

Assurance of God’s grace

Hear, then, the good news: those who are in Christ are a new creation; the old has passed away, behold the new has come. The call Hosanna has been answered by Jesus Christ, Lord and Saviour. Amen!

We listen for the voice of God

Children’s time

Gradual: Jesus loves me (373)

Story

Some time ago the Toronto Sun newspaper printed a few samples from actual accident reports made to insurance companies and printed them in the paper.

Here are some examples:

“A pedestrian hit me and went under my car.”

“In my attempt to kill a fly, I drove into a telephone pole.”

“I had been driving my car for forty years when I fell asleep at the wheel.”

“I was shopping for plants all day and was on my way home when a hedge all of a sudden appeared and started blocking my view. It made me hit another car.”

“The person had no idea where they were walking, and I hit him.”

“The telephone pole was approaching quickly. As I attempted to swerve it struck the front end of my car.”

“An invisible car came out of nowhere, struck my vehicle before vanishing.”

“The true cause of the incident was some little guy in a small car with a big mouth.”

Most of the time in life, when we mess up, our excuses are equally lame.

In the Bible in 1 John 1:9 it says God forgives every sin. In fact it’s often said that the only sin God doesn’t forgive is the sin that’s unconfessed.

When we mess up. It doesn’t do any good to make up silly excuses. It’s best to just be honest, admit the mistake and be forgiven.

Prayer

Thank you, our God! We come to you in a world that is not perfect.

C’s teacher, A, is hurting. We all know people who are not doing well.

Our God. We pray for them. Be with them.

Especially, today, we pray for A.

Surgery can be difficult, and we ask that you guide the hands of the doctors and the nurses, and be with everyone in the building, including the people that wipe up the floors.

Lord, thank you for your many blessings,

The Lord’s Prayer (535)

Transition music

Song: Hosanna (216)

Today’s Message

Scripture readings: Psalm 118, 1-2, 19-29 and Matthew 21: 1-11

Response: Jesus, remember me

Message: “No King but Christ”

John Adams once wrote, “We have no Sovereign but God and no King but Christ.”

The imperial procession was Pilate’s military demonstration of Roman power and theology. Matthew’s Jewish audience knows it well. In 33 AD around 80,000 people live in Jerusalem but on this day the city would swell to 2.5 times that at nearly 205,000 people. Travelers would come from hundreds of miles, 3 times a year to the Temple for celebrations (the largest numbers showing up for Passover).

And so throngs of pilgrims would flood into the city in order to celebrate at the Temple together. How ironic then it would be that as thousands upon thousands of people piled into the city to celebrate Israel’s freedom from Egyptian oppression, they would do so in a city presently occupied once more (this time by Rome and her loyal subjects).

Because of past insurgencies (as zealous Jews sometimes used this occasion to rise up against Rome in protests and revolts) it became standard practice (for all Roman concurred cities) to at least triple their military presence at times of non-Roman festivals (like the Passover in Jerusalem). Reinforcements for the Roman garrison permanently stationed in Fortress Antonia would be marched into the city in anticipation of Jewish protests. Attendance for all Roman governors would be compulsory in order to parade a massive military presence before the people just in case of any trouble.

Pilate of course didn’t live in Jerusalem. The city was far too dull and far too filled with peasants for that. It would not be terribly safe or as flashy as he would prefer. Instead, Pilate lived in a large estate house in Caesarea Maritima (overlooking the sea).

For the Passover (as was custom) all Roman governors were required to have a physical presence in the cities they were responsible for controlling. And so, Pilate and his army would march into the city in pomp and circumstance. And I can almost picture it. Cavalry on horses, foot soldiers by the hundreds, shining metal armour clanking, helmets and weapons flashing in the sun. The procession would be preceded by banners of Rome, large golden Roman eagles atop marching poles; gold everywhere.

The loud sound of marching would fill the air (dust whirling all around them). Pilate who represented Emperor Tiberius carried the titles “son of god” and “savoir” with him written out for all to see.

Pilate would march into Jerusalem with parade like fashion and military precision; escorted by masses of Roman imperial power. Pilate and his men would enter the city at the Eastern gate (near his vacation palace) overlooking the Temple and court. It would be an impressive show like few had ever seen as Pilate (the very symbol of Roman authority) would ride his white stallion and golden chariot into the city in the name of peace brought by the sword.

But just as Pilate entered… so too would Jesus.

So, there they were – just at the end of the dry season when the flax seeds and barley were harvested. Jesus and his disciples had just left Jericho (the world’s oldest city). They were on their way South West to Jerusalem with thousands of other pilgrims to celebrate the Passover. Though his journey was over 100 miles long from Nazareth, from here it would only be another 15 mile hike down the Kidron Valley and back up to the walls of the city in order to enter at the west Golden Gate closest to the Temple on the other side of the city Pilate came from.

On their way the pilgrims would pass the tiny Bethpage (the House of Unripe Figs) on the edge of the Mount of Olives. They would pass near the village of Bethany (which means the House of the poor) and then all of the sudden they stop. Here Jesus sends two of his followers into the village. He says, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

What an odd thing to say! Most theologians of course suggest that in this case Jesus has actually prearranged for the use of the donkey. He too would have a parade. But the normal picture we have in our heads of Jesus calmly riding into the city may not be terribly accurate. Two things are wrong with the picture of Palm Sunday as we usually think of it.

And the first one should be quite clear already. While we normally picture Jesus quietly riding a donkey into the city the reality is that Jesus doesn’t send the disciples out for one donkey… he sends them out… for two (a donkey and its baby). Matthew is very clear about this. And then in his usual fashion Matthew interrupts Jesus’ actions right away for his Jewish audience. He writes, “This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal [baby] of a donkey.’”

And so in verse 6 we read that this prophesy is fulfilled when “The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on.”

And so that’s the first problem with the picture we normally have of this day. Jesus didn’t ride into town on a donkey. The verse says, they put their coats on them (plural) for Jesus to sit on.

Now this could mean one of two things. This could mean that they put the animals side by side (though one is much bigger than the other) and that Jesus rides both the mother and the baby at the same time. Or it could mean more likely, that Jesus rides the mother for a while and then baby for a while. But no matter exactly how this took place, there is some political satire involved.

For the original audience the message would be clear. Jesus isn’t a political ruler quite like Pilate. And more to the point… he doesn’t want to be. Matthew’s story shows just how truly un-king-like this event is, as Jesus rides not one annoying little donkey… but two. And on top of that he makes sure to tell you that he comes (not on a white horse with a golden chariot) but “gently” or as some translators put it “humbly.”

And then again just in case you still don’t get how silly this looks. Mark beats us all over the head with it one more time making sure to point out that the baby donkey “had never been ridden before.” Now that should change the picture in your head of the nice calm Jesus parade.

I don’t know if you have ever seen a donkey up close but they are not exactly the most endearing of God’s creatures. There is another name for a donkey and these things live up to that name with ease. They stink and they snort and they generally do just the opposite of what you want them to do. And that’s what they’re like after they’ve been trained. And an untrained donkey is Crazy!

But Jesus isn’t riding one of these good natured, well behaved, well trained donkeys. He’s either sitting on two of them at once or he’s switching off and on from the mother to a completely instinctive animal; surrounded by literally thousands of shouting people. Now… how smooth a ride do you think this is?

As a side note, some believe that Matthew mentions 2 donkeys because he misunderstands the verse he is quoting. I doubt it. I suspect his Hebrew was better than ours is. More likely Matthew saw not just fulfillment of the prophesy but More than the fulfillment. Not just one but two.

The next problem with how we normally view this story is that we call this Palm Sunday. The problem is (and you may have noticed) Matthew never says a word about palms but just “branches from trees.” Mark says “leaves from the field” and so does Luke. Only John tells us specifically that palm branches were used.

And so… while palms were certainly present at this procession – they were clearly in the minority. So what did most people lay on the ground. Verse 8 says “the very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road.”

Now let’s think about that for a second. The people take off their expensive outer clocks and lay them on the ground.

So, let’s get this straight – the people are just wearing their inner tunics? In other words, they are wearing… … … underwear.

So here’s the real picture of what happened. Jesus is riding an untrained baby donkey down a hill while thousands of people surround him, wearing only their underwear. This is the story that Matthew tells.

As Luke presents this story in his gospel it is a depressing scene.

For John who is interested only in the spiritual identity of Jesus, it is a celebration.

But for Mark and for Matthew this so-called Triumphal entry is really a joke; a comical piece of biting political satire.

For Matthew especially, Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem is like a political demonstration; a mockery of the Roman procession Pilate has just done. And with every step Jesus takes, it gets funnier and funnier. In short, for Matthew… when Jesus enters Jerusalem it’s like burning an effigy of worldly authority.

Matthew’s point is that unlike Pilate and his Roman Processional, God does not bring peace by the sword. God’s ways are not our ways and his kingship very much unlike ours.

God will not be found with the sword. He will be led to the cross.

John Adams once wrote, “We have no Sovereign but God and no King but Christ.”

May we always remember those words. We have no Sovereign but God and no King but Christ. –Amen.

Song: My song is love unknown (220)

We respond to serve God

Prayer of gratitude and prayer for others and ourselves

God of God, Light of Light, we seek refuge in you as we offer you our prayers. Incline your ear to us and answer our calls to you according to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the coming week, we, as the Body of Christ, pray that we will not turn away from the suffering and pain of Jesus but will be faithful witnesses to the love Christ emptied out on the cross. You know, God, that this world is full of suffering and pain.

But you are our God and our King. We turn to you. We cry out to you, praying that you will lift the pain and suffering from each of your children. So many families – too many – are hungry for healthy food and clean water. Feed them, we pray. Countless children have neither schools nor teachers to guide them. Teach them, we pray. We see the eyes of your children who only know the pain of disease. Heal them, we pray. Nations war against nations and the destruction seems to know no bounds. Bring peace, we pray. Rulers come and go, continually failing us. Lead us, we pray.

By the power of your grace, may we be inspired to bring your light into the darkness of the world. Remind us always that we are your Body are called to do each thing we ask of You. We are to feed the hungry. We are meant to provide clean water. We are meant to provide education. We are to bring hands of healing. And we, when we have no king but the ruler of the universe will do all things in Your name. Amen.

Song: Give me oil in my lamp (655)

Sending out with God’s blessing

Go now, to serve Christ and follow him.

Let your old life fall like a grain of wheat into the earth so that you may bear much fruit as you allow God to reshape your heart and live in obedience to the law ritten within you.

And may God centre you in truth and steady your spirit.

May Christ renew your joy and strengthen your will.

And may the Spirit teach you God’s hidden wisdom and fill you with songs of rejoicing.

Response: The Blessing

Music postlude

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These bones live

Posted on March 26, 2023March 26, 2023 by John

Worship on the Lord’s Day
Fifth Sunday of Lent
10:00 am March 26, 2023
Onsite & Online (Mixed Presence) Gathering as a Worshipping Community
Led by the Rev. Bradley Childs
Music director: Binu Kapadia Elder: Gina Kottke
Vocalist: Fionna McCrostie Guest Violinist: Rob Hryciw

We gather to worship God

Music prelude

Greeting
L: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
P: and also with you.

Lighting of the Christ candle
Welcome and announcements
Silent preparation for worship

Call to Worship
L: Just as the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness,
P: the Spirit sends us into places of uncertainty where we confront our weakness and insecurities.
L: Here we are taught to pay attention to those calling out for care.
P: Jesus knew that God is revealed at unlikely times.
L: Like him, sometimes we arrive too late, when tragedy has already occurred:
P: after the war has torn lives apart, after the earthquake has crumbled homes, after the drought has killed crops.
L: With Lazarus already in a tomb, Jesus cared for the grieving before turning his attention to his dead friend.
P: Let us pray for and support the medics as well as the injured, the aid workers as well as the homeless, the food providers as well as the hungry.
L: Tragedies may show us the worst of humanity, when greed and malice flourish.
P: Yet, we celebrate those who respond with love and compassion, bringing Christ to the places where death has brought devastation.

Opening praise: Here I am to worship

Prayers of approach and confession
God of the past, present and future,
in whom all things are renewed, we praise you.
In the face of all that grinds us down
and belittles the human spirit,
your healing words echo through the centuries.
Seeds of hope grow. Pictures of shalom become clear. Images of possibility fuel our passion. When we rest in You, Your people breathe again. Wondrous are your ways O God. Glorious is your working. Holy is the path of renewal. Deeply do we revere you. And so now we stop the break-neck speed of the week gone by. In this moment there is no report to be written, no class to attend, no paper to do, no work for our hands. In this moment we hold back the world and we pause. We find quiet and simple contemplation. We sit with you and with our thoughts. Like a cooling breeze, cover us with peace. Still our minds.
Lord, search our hearts.
Find for us those things we have not done quite right.
Seek out and remove the worries and the pain and the stress.
Take from us all that you would not wish us to have or hold onto.
Cleanse us and prepare us for a new week ahead.
Forgive us God. We seek only to follow you. We seek your kingdom. We seek heaven on earth. We seek freedom from temptation, rest for the restless, and hope for the world. Amen.

Response: I waited, I waited on You, Lord

Assurance of God’s forgiveness

Renewal is God’s response to human struggle. Bringing sight to the blind, bringing life where there is death, bringing forgiveness when there is sin. Hold on to your mistakes no longer. Leave your stress at the foot of the cross. Forget your wrongs just as God does and be at peace. Amen.

Musical Offering: I shall not want: Fionna, Rob, Brad, Binu
(words and music by Audrey Assad and Bryan Brown © 2013
worshipptogether.com songs/fortunate fall music)
For performance of this song by the originators, see

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzLUrWQYBGU&t=87s

We listen for the voice of God

Children’s time

Gradual: Jesus, we are gathered

Story: This is a story is about a four-year-old girl. Are there any four-year-olds around? A 4 year old girl just like you was in the kitchen with her mom. Mom was baking some food, making some preparations for dinner, and the little girl was right behind her, like right behind her.

And whenever Mom took a step the little girl would take a step too. if her right foot moved, her right foot moved. If Mom’s left foot moved, girl’s left foot moved. She just walked along with her, following her around the kitchen.

Everywhere she went, and every time Mom reached for something or a drawer there was the little girl.

About 5 min into this, the mom goes. “Ouch!” And screams. The little girl had stepped on the back of her heel. So she tells her, “Can you just back up just a little bit?”

3 min later. Guess what happens? The little girl is walking around and she steps on the back of Mom’s heel. “Ouch!” Mom says, “Can you just back up just a little bit? That’s what happens when you follow too closely.”

3 min later, she steps on the Mom’s heel again. Again, Mom says: “Can you back up a little bit? What are you doing?”

“Well, I wanna be here with you,” says the little girl, The Mom says “Why don’t you just go somewhere else for a little while so I can finish making dinner?”

The little girl says: “But, Mom, the Sunday school teacher, told me that I was supposed to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. I don’t see him here right now, so I’m following yours.”

The thing about this story is, it’s actually what we’re all supposed to do. The little girl is actually doing right. She’s following her mom, who’s supposed to be following Jesus.

Paul says you act like me, but he’s only saying that because he acts like Jesus, or that’s what he says. Your job is to try and be in step with Jesus. If you see him take a right, take a right. If you see him take a left, you take a left. But your other job is to be Jesus for the people who can’t see him.

Let’s take a moment and let’s pray.

Prayer: Our God. We asked that you help us to follow in your footsteps, and to look for the mommies and the others in our lives, whom we can follow since we don’t actually see God. We pray that you would show us direction. Lead us where to go.

The Lord’s Prayer (535)

Transition music

Today’s Message

Scripture readings: Ezekiel 37:1-14

Response: Behold the Lamb of God

Message: “These bones live”

My name is Bradley Roy Childs. That name Roy is a family name. It’s something that connects me to my family and it’s a strong reminder of who I am and where I came from. A s some of you know this name is a tradition in my family. It goes from first name to middle name, rotating back and forth with each generation. Tracy and I have continued that tradition.

Our first born son is named Roy Wesley after his grandfather and his great-grandfathers. It’s our hope that these names will remind us to tell the stories of his family to create some interest in his namesakes so that the people I have lost in my life can be remembered like they deserve to be.

My grandfather Wesley Applegate died in 2005 of a heart attack in the basement of his home in Arlington, Kansas. He was organizing a scrap book of our family at the time. When my grandmother found him, he had the book open to pictures of us kids as well as a set of the blueprints of the house he (a carpenter) had built for my parents; a house they needed very much when they found out they were pregnant with their second and quite possibly their most adorable child (i.e. me).

One of my most vivid memories as a child is of my other grandfather’s funeral. Edward Roy Childs died when I was about 8 years old. I had just come home from spending the night at a friend’s house. They were still in the driveway dropping me off at home when my mother met us. I remember that I was in the middle of asking to stay another day at Nathan’s house when my mother interrupted me to tell me what had happened. When she told me I couldn’t really say anything. I couldn’t really even breathe. It was the first time I had ever lost someone. And that inability to breathe didn’t go away quickly either. I remember standing in the graveyard listening to all the people’s best attempts to make me feel better about something that, no matter what, wasn’t ever going to be better. I can very vividly recall that feeling… it was like having a baseball stuck in my esophagus. Despite the fact that I had a million things on my mind, I remember not being able to get a single word out of my mouth.

The next time I felt that way, I was in my mid twenties. This time, it was my Grandpa Wes’s funeral and it was the exact same thing. I was kind of hovering around inside the entry-way to the sanctuary; trying to get up the nerve to go in and see his face. But I just kept pacing past the door instead. Every time I got past the wall and could see the casket at the corner of my eye I just had to turn and look the other way. I probably walked back and forth 15 times before I could get in the door. I ended up not going in until they closed the casket.

I had this huge swelling pain in my throat – the kind that makes it so you can’t hardly talk and you’re just struggling to take a breath and when you do it’s just a quivering mess.

Sometimes when we think of the biblical figures and authors, we tend to gloss over them as people (like many of us probably did today when that passage from Ezekiel was read). Quite often the words are just that, words on a page. But they’re more than that. They are alive and moving and human. Sometimes that’s too easy to forget. We don’t often stop to think about them as actual people… people who lived and suffered, laughed with friends, and ate with family and looked for God at work in their world; struggled though.

Ezekiel isn’t just some old dead guy from a dusty book; he was a real living; breathing human being. He was a person who was proud of his name and his heritage and his country and his history and his Hebrew people and he suffered in a way that few of us could ever understand.

Ezekiel was taken into captivity in Babylon in 597 BC. He was fairly young at the time. He was married. Briefly. Ezekiel’s wife was killed in the initial conquest of the city. She would have probably been in her late teens or early twenties when she died. There is no record of Ezekiel’s remarriage and there is no record of him ever having children. When we met Ezekiel on the pages of this book, he is utterly alone.

Ezekiel was from the Davidic family. In fact, he was in the process of studying to be one of the Cohen (priests) but you couldn’t actually take on that role until you had completed massive quantities of memorizations from three different schools and even then you couldn’t begin your work until you were thirty years old. (I’m going to repeat that because it’s actually a very important detail in his book that’s usually lost on us… Ezekiel would be ordained to the priesthood when he hit thirty years old.)

But of course, that was not to be. Ezekiel would not stand in the Temple for his ordination the way his father did. And he wouldn’t stand there the way his grandfather did when he turned thirty either. And he never would do it… the temple (the sight where all of this was supposed to take place) was now just a pile of dust and broken rocks. Not only would he not be a priest… there wouldn’t even be a priesthood anymore. They didn’t exist anymore.

For many people Ezekiel is a kind of an eccentric. Taken out of context he seems to be a fanatic. And in fact he was defiantly a tortured soul. So much so, in fact, that some have suggested Ezekiel to have been an epileptic. Others have suggested that he was a schizophrenic. Now if you have ever read Ezekiel before that second diagnosis probably seems pretty accurate. The reasons are simple enough.

Ezekiel became a kind of street preacher, the kind of guy you might see standing on a soap box with a sandwich board around his neck / telling people the end is near. In fact, that’s pretty much where those guys came from – they didn’t get the idea out of the thin air – they’re actually copying him.

Once Ezekiel laid on his right side in the busy street for 40 days in a row (he just laid there); and then he laid on his left for 390 days.

He locked himself inside his house and then he dug his way out of it though the side to make a point to those who were watching.

Once Ezekiel drew the city of Jerusalem on a tablet of stone, then built a miniature city wall to protect his picture and set up a miniature battering ram; set up a miniature camp of tents outside his little city and then he went and he dressed himself in full amour and waged war on his creation as a sign to Israel (kind of like a young child acting out a battle upon a sandcastle at the beach). It was sort of like an early version of performance art.

He has this vision of wheels within wheels and of a creature covered in eyes.

Now it’s quite unfair for us to try and diagnose a biblical figure and he is directed as a prophet by the Spirit of God, but I think it’s pretty fair to say that even with everything else aside, Ezekiel wasn’t entirely stable. But who could be? Would I? Would you?

Ezekiel saw everything he had taken from him. In 586 BC Jerusalem was totally ruined by Nebuchadnezzar and his great Babylonian army. Ezekiel’s church (Solomon’s Temple, which had been the pride and glory of Israel for almost 400 years), was stripped away. All the inhabitants of Jerusalem, (defeated in battle) had been taken either to Chaldea or to Babylon in captivity, including Mattaniah. Now that name might not mean much to us – but for Ezekiel that name meant a lot. Mattaniah was last king of Judah, and he was blinded and taken in chains to Babylon with his eyes gauged out – marched through the streets. (Imagine what it would be like if all the churches were destroyed, Canada in ruins, Her leaders beaten, chained, and paraded down the streets by an invading army.) Her survivors, young men and women were shipped away to a foreign land. Meanwhile the only people left behind were the extremely frail and the people who couldn’t possibly fight.

The people were slaves in captivity, seemingly rejected by God (“dry bones” as they would call themselves) asking if the gods of the captors were more powerful than the God who had brought them into the promise land.

In despair the people had become spiritually dead. And why not? Who wouldn’t be? They had no place to worship, they had no priests.

Ezekiel quotes what he heard the people saying. They said, “Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.” Now at the time saying “dry bones” was like saying “we’ve lost faith” or “we are in utter despair” as some translators have put it. But being “cut off” was considered to be the absolute worst thing that could happen to the Jewish people. The phrase “cut off” refers to being completely separated from God – it’s the ancient Hebrew equivalent to saying: “We’ve been condemned to Hell.” The literal meaning is that your contract or covenant with God had been torn up. “It’s cut off’”

The people thought that God would never take them back. They had nowhere to worship, no acceptable place to pray, no treasury, no ark, no tablets, no staff of Aaron, no Commandments, no homes, no land, no dead relatives, no hope, no covenant, and no faith. The world swirled around them seemingly out of control. They were “dry bones”.

And Ezekiel was no different. He was one of them.

In the begging of his book Ezekiel has a sort of flash forward moment. The dates are given in the Jewish calendar and the dates are also based upon the year of the King’s rule. That’s interesting because that means it can be checked against Babylonian sources. Most bibles just do a simple translation here but luckily The New Living translators do some nice things for us in their translation. One of the things they do is that they take the Jewish calendar, and they convert the dates to what they would be in our own Roman calendar so things make more since for us. Here the NLT translation reads, “On July 31of my 30th year, while I was with the Judean exiles beside the Kebar River in Babylon, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.”

No in case you’ve missed it, something very wrong has just been stated. How old is Ezekiel? “On July 31of my 30th year” “while I was with the Judean exiles” “beside the Kebar River in Babylon,” “the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.”

Ezekiel’s family is dead, his father is dead, his grandfather is dead, his wife is dead, his life’s work and study is useless to him and on the day that he had dreamt about his whole life… the day he would stand in the temple and be ordained to the priesthood like his father before him and his grandfather before that… He turned thirty by the Kebar River, a captive and an exile. No celebrations, no crowds, no sacrifices, no family pride, no cheers, no respect, no accomplishment earned… nothing. It must have been the worst day of Ezekiel’s life.

But God was still doing something.

In the reading Ezekiel has a vision, the verse says, “Then the hand of YWHW came upon me” meaning that Ezekiel fell into a dream-like state. In his vision “The Spirit of the Lord” then transports him to a freighting place. It is a valley full of bones. It is a place filled with death; filled with only mismatched piles of his former countrymen. It’s both a battlefield from a lost war, and an open mass cemetery. It is a place that we are told contains “all of Israel” and “all of the people from both tribes” – the whole nation once divided now resting together as nothing but “dry bones”: all of the people from both sides of Israel (North and South), the fallen; the innocent, Friends/Family, everyone he has ever know. The Valley is a place of hopelessness and despair. It is the kind of place where you would try to speak… but find no breath.

I picture Ezekiel with that same lump in his throat we all know far too well, a baseball or a fist where your breath should be. And he stands silently at this place described like no other place in the entire Bible. In a world where “water” was synonymous with “life”… It is described as “of utter dryness”.

And what does God want from this man?

God’s message to Ezekiel is simple. God wants him to do the one thing that he can’t do. He wants him to Speak. It’s like giving the eulogy at the funeral. It’s the hardest thing in the world.

God wants Ezeikel to speak. He says, “Prophesy to these bones and speak to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! ⁵This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you… and life”.

When Ezekiel turns to God and does as he is asked, his vision of the valley is shaken. The scattered piles of dry bones changes and the bones begin to come together. The imagery is interesting and it’s extremely vivid. The piles begin to organize. They begin to form skeletons and then tendons snap them back into place, as decay reverses, muscles return, skin covers them and then finally in this place where one can barely breathe, God breathes for them. He breathes life back into the dry bones. And as Ezekiel looks out upon his vision he sees an army of living people; a people that God breathed new life into.

The word ruach, meaning breath, by the way also means wind and soul. And just like with the story of Adam in the garden God breathes into the people and they become living souls.

When the Spirit first takes Ezekiel to this graveyard He asked, “Son of man, can these bones live?” Do you happen to remember what Ezekiel’s answer was? What did Ezekiel say? He said, “O Sovereign LORD, you alone know.” Ezekiel had been considered a prophet of God for years now. He is described as being one of the most devout people in Jewish history and yet, even when confronted with the Spirit of God – the death and despair in his world has dragged him down so much that he can’t seem to answer. Even in that moment, when he knows and feels and sees God with him he still feels hopeless.

Ezekiel is standing in the entry way to the church pacing back and forth; he’s in the cemetery with a lump in his throat; unable to breathe. He has no hope. So God hopes for him. He has no words. So God gives him the words.

God sends His spirit to rest on Ezekiel. God breathes new life into the bones and in doing so He breathes new life into Ezekiel – and God can breathe new life into you too. The bones are all Israel. They are the dead and they are the living.

When people in Jesus’ time read this story they thought it was about God raising the dead to life. But for Ezekiel it was about lifting the living up so they could have life again.

And both interpretations are correct. Someday, God will raise the dead again, but first he wants to raise the Living.

Everyone’s life is in constant flux. We all have ups and down. We all suffer loss, face illness, have financial concerns, worry about our children or our parents or our grandkids or friends or neighbors or our selves. We all lose loved ones, have arguments we should have with people we love, face low times, hard times and all face death. But these dry bones can live, I promise.

If you are here today and you are doing great. God bless you. Find someone that’s not and do something for them.

For the rest of you: Today, are you standing in the entry way of the sanctuary. Are you pacing back and forth in life? Are you standing in the cemetery? Are you frozen and unable to move? Are you stressed out, depressed or lost? Are… your… bones… dry?

God is still here. And God’s message is simple. He is in the business of resurrection. He breathes new life. Whatever it is – don’t give up.

These bones can live. Amen.

Song: Breathe on me, Breath of God (389)

We respond to serve God

Prayer of gratitude and prayer for others and ourselves

God of all times and places we thank you that there is no place we can go where your spirit is not there already. We are grateful that your presence is not dependent on us nor on our faith. Long before us, you were. Long after us you will be. Here and now, in the sad and in the joyous, in fear and in confidence, in hope and in despair, in beauty and in horror, you are present.

Love is energized. Courage is discovered. We are grateful.

As we pray for our world and its people, rekindle our belief, not that you will do our bidding, but that you will purify our prayers making them serve your good will. Rekindle our faith that our prayers are significant in making possible the triumph of life and goodness.

Today we pray for those suffering.

Lord, speak us to the words we need, speak for us when we can not. Breath into our lives new life and raise us up.

Lord we also ask today that you might make us great tools in your hands, Tools for healing and caring for those around us. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Song: O love that wilt not let me go (209)

Sending out with God’s blessing

Go without fear. Listen for the voice of the Most High. Look for God’s angels. Turn to the one that cures, find water and live. And may the blessings of God, creator, redeemer and Holy Spirit be with you all.

Response: God to enfold you

Music postlude

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Clean up

Posted on March 20, 2023March 20, 2023 by John

Worship on the Lord’s Day
Fourth Sunday of Lent
10:00 am March 19, 2023
Onsite & Online (Mixed Presence) Gathering as a Worshipping Community
led by Rev. Bradley Childs
Music director: Binu Kapadia
Elder: Jane de Caen

We gather to worship God

Music prelude

Greeting
L: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
P: and also with you.

Lighting of the Christ candle
Welcome and announcements
Silent preparation for worship

Call to Worship
L: Just as the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness,
P: the Spirit leads us into places of uncertainty where we confront our weakness and insecurities.
L: Here we are taught to pay attention to those whom others ignore.
P: Jesus insists that God’s grace is revealed in unlikely people.
L: God’s realm is a place where all are welcome, regardless of their state or position. In a world of disparity, we recognize that some receive what is denied to others.
P: Let us break through barriers that keep many from receiving the grace that they need.

Opening praise: Great are you, Lord

Prayers of approach and confession

God of Great Wisdom,

You are beyond our imagining, beyond our control,

and sometimes beyond our comfort zone.

You amaze us.

You have given us more than we could ever earn or deserve,

and in response, we are not only grateful but determined to be faithful stewards.

Receive our worship this day, O God.

Speak to us in the sounds and silence of this hour

and amaze us once again in your presence.

God of Goodness,

You share your abundance with us and shower us with gifts.

But we confess that we have squandered those gifts.

We have wasted knowledge, friendship, beauty and wealth; we have squandered our time and energy, sometimes even our trust and love.

Forgive our foolishness.

Have mercy on us.

Teach us new ways of living out your love in the world today and every day, with the help of Jesus Christ, our Friend and Saviour. Amen.

Response: We come to ask your forgiveness, O Lord

Assurance of God’s forgiveness

While it is true that we have sinned and squandered God’s gifts at times, it is a greater truth that we are forgiven through God’s love in Jesus Christ.

To all who humbly seek the mercy of God I say, In Jesus Christ our sin is forgiven. Be at peace with God, with yourself and with one another.

Musical Offering: Pie Jesu (Linda)

We listen for the voice of God

Children’s time

Gradual: Open our eyes, Lord (445)

Story: There was a woman who went to go see a Catholic priest. She be;ieved that she had seen Jesus. She went to the priest, and she said, “Father, I have seen Jesus, and it was like, well, just like He was right there like you are – right there, right nw.”

The priest didn’t really believe the woman had really seen Jesus and wasn’t really sure what to say.

So he said, “Did he talk?“ The woman said that he didn’t

The woman went away, and a few days later she came back to the Catholic priest, and she said, “I saw Jesus again just as clear as you , standing there in front of me.” And the priest said, “Did he speak?” And the woman said, “Yes,” he said, “I love you and I forgive you and everything is okay.”

Again, the priest said, Hmm. Sounds a little suspicious. Why don’t you go back and this time you aske Jesus what you confessed in the confessional this morning?

So the woman went away and, a few days later, she came back.

She said, “I’ve seen Jesus again standing there in front of me, clear as day, just like you. And he spoke.

“What did he say? Asked the priest.

He said, “I love you, and I forgive you, and everything is okay.”

Then the priest says, “And what about the sins you confessed? How did he respond when you asked him what you had said in the confessional?”

The woman paused for a second.

Then she looked up the priest, and she said, ”He said, ‘I forget.’”

The little trick here is that once you confess, God says that our sins are as far away as East is from West.

They are forgiven.

They are gone. They do not exist.

Prayer: Our God. We don’t always do what’s right. Sometimes we’re rude to our parents, to our grandparents, to our friends. Sometimes we’re selfish. Sometimes we think just about ourselves. Lord, help us to be a part of a bigger family to do better, to be better.

The Lord’s Prayer (535 or 469)

Transition music

Today’s Message

Scripture reading: I Samuel 16: 1-13

Response: Jeus, remember me

Message: “Clean up”

A young man was playing basketball in the driveway when a lens popped out of his glasses. He looked all over for it but found nothing. For about 5 minutes he searched the ground but couldn’t find it. So, he gave up; went inside and reluctantly told his mother she would have to buy him a new pair of glasses.

Right away the boys’ mother marched outside. Within a single minute the mother found the lens sitting on the lawn and had popped it back into place. Impressed that his lens had been found, the boy asked his mother, “how did you find it so fast?” With motherly wisdom indeed, the mother replied with these words, “You were looking for a piece of glass. I was looking for $400.”

While the boy was looking for an object and gave up quickly, the mother saw the true value of the thing.

Okay, so the year is about 1025 BC.

Saul is the King of a divided Kingdom of Judah with its capital Jerusalem in the South and Israel in the north.

Samuel the prophet had anointed Saul King, but things have changed since then.

God had rejected Saul’s Kingship because Saul had become increasingly cruel, drunk on his own power, and had disobeyed God. Secretly Saul had even informed a subset of his own enemy forces about his plans to attack and thus allowing them to escape. This will not end well for him.

In addition, Saul had refused to wait in his attack on his enemies, the Philistines.

Samuel the prophet was in the process of traveling to the front line to offer sacrifices and to ask God to protect the people. But instead of waiting for him King Saul assumed both the prophetic and priestly roles for himself, made his own sacrifices and called for his own blessing.

Now, Saul did this not because Saul was a faithful person seeking God’s advice and favour. Saul did this because he wanted to go to war without having to wait.

And then on top of that, after going into battle Saul once more disobeyed God’s direction in order to plunder the Philistines. As a result, God would soon remove the anointing from King Saul and appoint for Judah and Israel a whole new King. But there would be no mutiny. This new King would not assume his role until Saul had died.

Eventually and sadly, King Saul would die by suicide on the battlefield while fighting against the very same Philistines he had allowed to escape in first place; killing himself to prevent the opposing army from claiming his life. (As a side note – If you have ever wondered about a possible biblical position on physician-assisted death or DNR’s, this is probably a good place to start.)

When we pick up our reading for today the prophet Samuel is mourning the fact that God wants him to appoint a new King. While YHWH felt sorry that he had ever allowed Saul to be appointed as the Prince of the People, Samuel mourned for Saul who he thought of as a mighty warrior and frightening figure in a world where war seemed all but inevitable.

Three thousand years ago Israel was in crisis. Only a few years before, the nation had insisted on getting a king, so that they could be like all the other nations that surrounded them. The prophet Samuel (the most respected man in Israel) had reluctantly given into their demands and had anointed Saul as leader largely because of his height.

But Saul had proved to be a very poor choice – moody, tyrannical, superstitious, hostile – a man that found himself at war every single year of his reign without fail. Clearly a new direction was needed for the nation of Hebrews. And so it fell on Samuel’s tired old shoulders, once again, to find somebody to be king – someone who would be worthy, somebody who could command the respect of the people. Where would Samuel find a man like that? God would send him.

As our reading today says, “the spirit of the Lord directed Samuel” to the household of a man named Jesse whom he had never met or heard of. Samuel was to find a new king for Israel among the several sons of Jesse and God would help him find the man that would be king.

The story starts off in a very interesting manner. Although it’s a short story – in its original language it’s full of political satire and word play as well as at least one extremely sticky point and one more I’ll give you for homework later.

God rejected King Saul who had become wicked and directs Samuel to the sons of Jesse in Bethlehem to anoint a new soon to be king. But Samuel is afraid. What he’s being asked to do, at first, appears tantamount to insighting a political coup and overturning an entire government system. Samuel fears for his life and says to God, “If Saul hears about it, he’ll kill me”.

Samuel’s fears are not unfounded. To get to Jesse in Bethlehem is just a 15km hike, but to get there, Samuel must leave Ramah and pass through Gibeah (where Saul lives). And not only is Saul King, but he also already assumes that something is amiss. He’s prone to fits of violence. He’s said to be 7 feet tall, and he’s spent his entire life on the battlefield.

What’s more if we were to glimpse into the future by turning ahead to chapter 18:10-11 we would see Saul, twice, throw a spear at a soon to be very famous young musician while he is attempting to perform a song.

And then something very odd happens.

If you would open those pew bibles to 1 Samuel 16:2 on page 259.

But Samuel said “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.” And “The LORD said, ‘Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.”

Did you catch that?

Samuel says I can’t go through Saul’s Village. If Saul hears about it, he’ll kill me. And God responds to Samuel’s objection by instructing him to take a young female cow with him and tell the people that he’s come to offer a sacrifice.

Now I want to be clear here. God doesn’t tell Samuel to lie exactly. But… the sacrifice is certainly not the main reason he’s there is it? Samuel is there to anoint a new King. He’s there to replace Saul.

God’s direction to Samuel is true (he will make a sacrifice) But it’s also perhaps a bit deceitful as it is clearly not the whole truth. (Let that one sink in for a moment.) Remember, this is purportedly God who proposes the sneaky solution. Also, just for future notice, I have a whole evening bible study on that topic coming up this spring titled: Deceit, Lies and Truth presented in the Christian Scriptures.

In any case in verse 4 it says, “⁴Samuel did what the Lord said…” and tells the people who meet him that he has “come to sacrifice to the Lord.”

After this Samuel tells Jesse and his sons to “consecrate themselves” and come along to the sacrifice he will make. Now it’s fair to say that this is a spiritual practice (this consecration). They are readying themselves. But… to put it plainly it’s also just a bath. Basically, Samuel tells them to wash up, take their monthly bath, put on some clean clothes and then come for the ceremony.

The plan has worked but now Samuel is face-to-face with the sons of Jesse. He’s hidden his real motives, made it there alive and now he actually has to do the thing he was told to do – to anoint a new King.

Now, before we go any further, we need to know a couple of things about this particular place and time. You see, height and stature were very important to the ancient Israelites. To be tall was a thing of reverence. King Saul for example was chosen in part simply because he was said to be “a head above any other” (an imposing figure that would command the attention of the nations who sought to harm Israel). To be tall was to be respected. And this is something that is been repeatedly proven to-still-be true today. Studies often show that taller men and women tend to move up the corporate ladder at quicker rates and command higher salaries. It’s the same idea here.

But height wasn’t the only thing that garnered respect. In fact, if there was one thing most important for status at this time it would have to be family position.

Do we have any First-Born Sons here today?

Ah, you are the chosen people.

And for you non-first-born males – Good on you too. You are generally the Heroes of the bible.

(My mom might hear this – so, this is hyperbolic, lighthearted and completely jocular. No tears. Just smiles!)

I am not the first. I have an older brother who is also at least a half foot taller than me and by some perverse cosmic justice also much smarter. Did you ever see the 1988 movie Twins with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito where the one brother hit the genetic lottery and the other one was made up of all the left-over bits/ That’s pretty much it. So, I sort of get this story.

In my family Chad is the first-born son. Hannah is the first-born daughter. Amanda is the baby. And I am basically just the second money-sucking thing that should have been the first girl. I think I was supposed to be Cassandra (I may have that wrong).

Now, at this time in history the first-born son held a particular place of honour. And it mattered. As a leader’s child it meant that you would someday be the leader. It meant that you would be the leader of an entire extended family system within your clan. Massive numbers of people would count on you for water and food and protection.

When a father died for example, often the first-born son received ½ of everything from the father’s estate. In part this was because it carried the honour of caring for the matriarchal widow. Following this, the rest was to be split up among the remaining sons (sorry ladies, it was definitely not an egalitarian society). Please note that scripture is not telling everyone how it should have been or be – just how it was.

Nevertheless, there are some examples of money being split evenly between all children in this culture, but there are many other accounts of money being split up from the oldest male to the youngest (with each son receiving half of what was left before going to the next oldest son).

So, case in point… for the clan elder Jesse (from our story today) who had 7 or 8 sons depending upon how we read this story and/or what source material was first written (probably 8 children is correct). In any case, the youngest would receive only a miniscule amount. To be the youngest was a disgrace; the lowest position a person could have.

So, let’s say for the sake of argument that Jesse had $1,000,000.00.

Well (if Jesse were to die) the first son, Eliab, would get $500,000.00 (not bad). But the second would get $250,000.00 and the third $125,000.00 (still not too shabby). But the fourth would get $62,500 the fifth $31,250. the sixth $15,625. the seventh $7,812.50 (that might be the youngest one), or the eight sons (if there are in fact 8) would get just $3,906.25!

That’s the equivalent of giving one of your children a two-bedroom condo on the water in Victoria BC and giving another one of your children a used hot tub.

The first-born son would get half a million dollars and the last would get a fairly well maintained 2001 Pontiac Aztec with 240,000km’s and fresh back from it’s 6^th factory recall. (I’m sorry if you bought a Pontiac Aztec.)

The oldest son was considered the most important person in any family. The oldest was the one that would receive the largest share – would later be responsible for the others, the head of the house, the person who fathers had to spend the most time with, to teach; to guide. The eldest son was the one the others envied; the one parents wanted their daughters to marry; the one with respect. Each son after that first son was worth exactly half as much as the last. This is the society the Prophet Samuel lived in when he visited Jesse and his sons.

And so, Samuel first sees the eldest. But not just the eldest but also the tallest: Eliab. And Samuel just new this guy was the one. It had to be. And even though God had told him that he would reveal the one who was to be King, it is so ingrained in Samue from society that the eldest and tallest is the best that Samuel actually thinks in verse 6 “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here”.

But it wasn’t. Verse 7 reads, “But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.’”

So Samuel moved on to the next son… ½ a man compared to the last… and then the next… and the next… and the next… and the next… and the next… and the next until at least 6 men had been passed over. And so, Samuel is confused. He has risked his very life to come here. God had promised that He would show him the next King of Israel and he’s looked them all over and no King was to be found. He must have wondered, “Is this a joke?”

And so, in nervousness he begs a vey important question. He says, “Are these all the sons you have?”

But no… These are not all the sons Jesse has. There is one more.

And so the father, no doubt surprised, tells Samuel, “There is still the youngest” “He’s tending the sheep”. And so, Samuel stops the presses. He stops everything he’s doing and then sends for this youngest child (literally ½ of a ½ of a ½ of a ½ of a ½ of a ½ of a ½ of the man Samuel had expected). A waste of his time. And they all wait… they wait until someone can travel all the way out to the fields, search them, and find the boy and return with him.

But then as soon as this youngest boy appears, Samuel is told what to do. “Rise and anoint him,” said the Lord.

The anointing of David indicated that “from that time onward” David was now king de jure dei. The following chapters describe how he became king de facto. All the deeds of politics, of guerrilla action and intrigue, of marriages of convenience and questionable service with the Philistines are trumped by this a priori fact: already at the start God had anointed David to someday be Saul’s successor.^[1]

Now I want to stop the story here for just one second to point out something strange in the text. When David appears in the translation, it generally says, “He was glowing”. The contemporary English version says, He was “healthy”. But that’s not that accurate. The vast majority of translations say, “he was Ruddy”.

The Hebrew word here is ‘admoniy (ad mo nay) which actually only has one meaning. It means red. In other words, when David appeared before Samuel he was described as being red in appearance. Now, it could be that he was embarrassed as some have argued but that’s not really the way they described embarrassment in Hebrew so that is very, very unlikely. More than likely then this actually means that David has red skin (freckles) or most likely of all, that David is a red head.

Bet you didn’t know David was a ginger!

Now that’s not actually important to the text but I do think it’s pretty cool for red heads to know they aren’t alone. David is one of you soulless devils.

Now back to the story. In all truth it didn’t matter what David looked like. It’s a clean heart God is after. Sure, he’s described as being sort of handsome but that doesn’t really matter either. In fact, that’s kind of the point. David almost doesn’t matter at all. This isn’t about him. David is a completely passive participant in this story.

It sounds odd to say this but this story isn’t about David. Think about it, we don’t even know his name until the very last line in the story. This story isn’t about David so much as it is about God and how God works.

The point of the story isn’t about David’s looks any more than it is about Saul’s height or Eliab’s (the first-born son’s statue). The point isn’t who the people would choose or even who the religious icon Samuel would have chosen (he liked the first kid). The point comes from verse seven where it says that “people look at the outward appearance,” but “the LORD looks at the heart.” It is the clean heart that matters.

In religious circles a lot of people like to talk about Orthodoxy. That means Right Thought. It means having the right theology, knowing God correctly. Other people put a lot of focus on Orthopraxy. This means Right Acts. The idea here is that what you do might actually be more important than what you believe.

I think this is a false dichotomy because one must inevitably flow into the other from my perspective. How can you really do what is right if you don’t believe in what’s right? And how can you honestly believe in what right but then not do it?

What God seems to care most about in this passage is Orthocardia. Here God says that what he looks for is not just the right belief or the right acts but the Right Heart.

The world tells us that God is looking for the well-spoken, the young, or the wealthy. It tells us that the kid on the street corner with the blue hair and the torn jeans is worth less than the businesswoman. It gives us all kinds of criteria by which to measure and judge people. But God doesn’t work that way. God chose David: the youngest and the lowliest.

(½ of a ½ of a ½ of a ½ of a ½ of a ½ of a ½ of the man that the people were looking for) – a guy whose family didn’t even think to bring him – he was so worthless!

When God looks at people he knows what he’s looking for. He’s not like that boy in the driveway looking for a chunk of glass. He’s like the wise mother who sees the real value. When God looks at us, he sees the heart…

May you see (yourself and all those you meet) with the eyes of God – Eyes that judge not the appearance of a person but… the presence of a clean heart. Amen.

And now for your homework. Feel free to open those bibles (NRSV) back up to page 260 and Read 1 Samuel 16:14-15 and then ask yourself this question: “an evil spirit” from who? Have you ever read the introduction to Jesus being led out into the desert for 40 days. It’s the same line there. He’s led out by God to be tested by the devil. But God is fully in control.

Song: Open my eyes that I may see (500)

We respond to serve God

Prayer of gratitude and for others and ourselves

We give thanks to you, O God, because you have blessed us with all we need to do your work. May the offerings we share today become a source of healing for a world in need, for the sake of Jesus Christ, the One who sends us out in love.

Lord of every person and every part of creation, the world we live in is so complicated. We are grateful for your company, and for your compassion, as we try to figure out how to live well and respond to complicated challenges.

Thank you for your Word, and for its wisdom, even when we don’t entirely understand it. Thank you for Jesus, who can also confuse us. when he calls us to love and live in ways very different from what the world expects.

You are far wiser than we are, and we rest in this knowledge. Still, even as we thank you for your guidance, we plead for your mercy. Because we have sometimes been like the dishonest manager, distracted by money and making poor choices, we ask for your mercy.

Because we know people who suffer, people who are barely making ends meet, people who feel as if they have not even one person to help them, not even us, we ask for your mercy.

And because there are places in the world where chaos reigns, where clean water is just a dream, where violence is an everyday occurrence, we ask for your mercy.

Hear our silent prayers for those who suffer. and for those situations stir in our hearts this day…

Keep silence for 30 seconds.

O God, we trust that you hear us when we cry out, when we complain, when we whisper, when our words for you are angry, and when we have no words for you at all.

In your mercy, hear us and help us, not because of our own goodness but because of the mercy and love already demonstrated for us in Jesus Christ, your son and our Lord. Amen.

Song: I’m gonna live (work, pray) so God can use me (648)

Sending out with God’s blessing

And now we go into the days ahead. May we find strength. May we have wisdom. May we keep humble. And as we live and work together may we also build a new and better world for tomorrow in light of Christ our Lord. Amen

Response: Go forth into the world

Music postlude

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^[1] Klein, R. W. (1983). 1 Samuel (Vol. 10, pp. 158–162). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.

Depend on them

Posted on March 12, 2023March 12, 2023 by John

Worship on the Lord’s Day
Third Sunday of Lent
10:00 am March 12, 2023
Onsite & Online (Mixed Presence) Gathering as a Worshipping Community
Led by the Rev. Bradley Childs
Music director: Binu Kapadia Vocalist: Linda Farrah-Basford
Elder: Iris Routledge

We gather to worship God

Music prelude

Greeting
L: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
P: and also with you.

Lighting of the Christ candle
Welcome and announcements
Silent preparation for worship

Call to Worship

L: Just as the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness,
P: the Spirit sends us into places of uncertainty where we confront our weakness and insecurities.
L: Here we are taught to pay attention to those whom others discard.
P: Jesus insists that God is revealed in unlikely people.
L:Jesus offered living water to the Samaritan woman at the well who was the wrong religion, the wrong gender, and had the wrong marital status.
P: We, too, are a gathering of nobodies, yet Jesus claims us as somebodies who all have a place.
L: In Christ, there is neither insider nor outsider, invited nor shunned, accepted nor rejected.
P: We, too, are called to see beyond outdated categories and to offer living water to the thirsty.
L: It is those who have been rejected who most need to know acceptance.
P: Let our gatherings be a place for those who have been told they don’t belong.

Opening praise: Here’s my heart, Lord

Prayers of approach and confession

Lord God, our Maker and Redeemer, who to know is to love and to love is to worship, we gather delighting in your presence and reveling in your holiness. We gently cradle delight and peace, encouraging them to settle deep within. They alone satisfy our hunger for meaning and our thirst for the fullness of life. And they alone come from you and your gifts to us.

Many are the things that compete for our worship in this world but we are here in your house for you alone hold the words of life. Each week we come for care and support, to learn and teach, to share and grow and you will never lead us down the wrong paths.

You know us best. You love us most. You alone create and You alone take home to you what is yours.

You speak the nourishing words of truth and all we want is to hear. In you do we find joy, pressed down and running over.

And in response we cannot help but offer you our praises.

Lord help us as we help each other, increase your blessings and lead to on this journey. Pick us up when we fall, aid us when we sin, burn away what’s not quite right and refine our hearts and make them pure once more. And so Lord hear us now as we confess and then bring us back into a right relationship with you once more. Amen

Response: I will trust in the Lord

Assurance of God’s forgiveness

Forgiven and restored we are the sheep of God’s hand and the people of God’s pasture. There is no fear for there is no need. Forgiveness is ours. Amen .

We listen for the voice of God

Children’s time

Gradual: Jesus loves me (373)

Story: Prayer isn’t just for emergencies.

“I cried to my God for help.

From his temple He heard my voice.”

Psalm 18:6 (NIV)
I brought my cell phone today just in case we have some kind of emergency. You know – if there’s a fire or if someone needs an ambulance. If that happens, what number do I dial? Right! 911!

You dial 911 and the dispatcher says, “911. What is your emergency?” And then they send whatever help you need.

You know, some people think of prayer as a kind of 911. Whenever they have a problem, they pray.

Maybe a problem at work, or money problems, or even a problem with someone at school. They pray and ask God to help them. It’s like sending up a 911 to God.

And we should take our problems to God. King David did. In Psalm 18:6 he says, “I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice.” So David sent a 911 up to God and God heard him.

But do we use our cell phones only for emergencies? No! And we shouldn’t use prayer only for emergencies, either. God wants us to talk to Him about everything, not just emergencies.

We should tell God what we’re thankful for.

Maybe tell God what we’re excited about.

And He especially likes it when we tell Him how much we love Him.

I mean, how would you like it if you had a friend who only talked to you when she had a problem and the only thing she ever said to you was, “Help me! Help me!”?

I bet it’s the same with God.

Sure, God does want to us to turn to Him when we have an emergency, but prayer isn’t just for emergencies.

In fact, let’s pray now.

Prayer: Dear Father, we thank You that we can talk to You in prayer. Help us to remember that we can talk to You anytime about anything. We thank You in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer (535)

Transition music

Song: I will call upon the Lord

Today’s Message

Scripture readings: Exodus 17:2-7

Response: Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet

Message: “Depend on them”

It’s weird for me to say this. It’s probably weird for you to it. But I’m actually sort of a skeptic. I like logical answers. I like science, archeology, even when it comes to theology, I like historical theology and systematic theology. I like order. I like proof.

The Haggadah are the oral traditions and sermons of the ancient Israelite priests and later Rabbis that were never really written down. Instead, they were passed from generation to generation by memorization and camp-fire retellings. Many portions of Haggadah (contained in the Talmud and Mishnah) if not older or the basis of, are at least, almost as old as the biblical stories they often seek to explain.

Certainly, some of these commentaries and sermons on certain scriptures are actually much older than other scriptures. Some of them were never originally written down simply because they are in fact, older than written language. In the case of one of today’s scriptures it appears that the oral tradition led to it being written down.

But after that the Haggadah still contains comments on it. In this Rabbinic literature it says that not only did God miraculously provide water from a rock for the Israelites in the desert but it also goes on to suggest that from that point on, the Israelites were accompanied in the wilderness by that very same rock which they claimed continued rolling along with the people and pouring out water for them to drink (until they came to a place where water could naturally be found).

This rolling stone story is very interesting to me. Even though, it’s not actually a story found in the bible itself, it was interesting to many others as well. In fact, by the time of Jesus it was generally accepted to be true by most Jews. A life-giving, water providing, rolling stone? The whole thing sounds… well, crazy. And it is… Except it also isn’t.

Sailing Stones are a geological phenomenon that occurs in California’s Death Valley, and they are exactly what they sound like. They are moving rocks. They range from small stones to 800 pound boulders, and they move along the dry lake bed leaving behind them a trail cut in the sand, or dirt or mud. Some of their trails are as much as 900 feet long!

Now, make no mistake – these are just rocks. They aren’t carried by a bunch of ants or some strange hybrid of rock and animal. As far as anyone can tell, they’re just rocks. Some go straight, others curve and some make 90 degree turns left or right (like they’ve abruptly changed their minds and decided to go somewhere else. They only move about once every three years or so and have never been witnessed or recorded doing so.

There have been a lot of theories about Sailing Stones over the years. Some people believe that aliens move them to coordinate landing sites. On the slightly more serious side, others say that it has something to do with magnetic fields. A few of the rocks have actually been stolen by people hoping to figure it out. Every once in a while, someone claims to have solved this scientific mystery but no one has really proven anything. One popular and probable answer is that in cold weather ice forms at the base of the rocks which makes them glide along aided by strong winds until the sun rises and melts the ice. But no one really knows for sure. And it’s not a myth or a trick, or a hoax. It is a scientific fact. They move.

Truly no one knows for sure how these rocks do the impossible. But they do.

It’s a very strange little story (just a few sentences long) squashed between the provision of Manna in the wilderness and the Amalekite war. It’s tiny and it’s almost out of place. Here at ancient Rephidim, these people are not just thirsty – they’re MAD. They’ve been 6 months in the desert with nothing but rocks and sand and all they do all day; every day is walk.

The people have been getting angrier and angrier. They complained about not having food, then they got food and they complained that they had too much and that they didn’t want that kind of food and on and on. These people’s lives have literally been filled with miracles and yet they had the shortest memory when it came to recalling that fact.

And it all came to a head that day. They’d come too far from the last oasis and didn’t know how long it would be before they came upon any more. They were going to die. Their animals were going to die. They were going to die and their kids were going to die. And that tends to make a person’s blood boil. The people were looking for someone to blame. And they didn’t have to look far. Moses was their leader. It had to be his fault. And so the people turn mutinous.

Now most of us have either fortunately or unfortunately received a little too much of our education from the Television. Largely I think due to Monty Python most of us have an incorrect understanding of the practice of stoning. We tend to think that a crowd gathered and picked up little rocks and tossed them at you. But that’s not generally how it worked. In reality the practice was to attack someone, break some portion of their legs and then push them off of cliff or some other high point. Then they would drop large rocks onto your body while you lay helpless until you were both dead and buried.

This is about to go down. Moses is about to be killed. And so, he cries out to the Lord and says, “What am I to do with these people? They are ready to stone me.” And so the Lord answered Moses.⁵“Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile and go. ⁶I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.

And then that’s it. That’s how this odd little story ends. The people get thirsty, and God makes water come out of a rock and everyone is saved.

Now (because of the different kinds of words used) some have pointed out that this story seems to be a compilation from a bunch of different time periods which was then added to make for transitions in the desert narratives. Others have rightly noticed that this story is a duplet (a story told twice in the bible but told with two opposing outcomes).

There are a few of these kinds of stories – enough of them anyway that theologians had to come up with a term for them. In numbers chapter 20 we get the other side to this duplet. It says “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water.” In this case two notable things are different. In the first case God tells him to hit the rock with his staff. And everyone is saved.

In the second story Moses is told to speak to the rock, but he doesn’t believe it will work, so he (instead he does what he did last time – the time we’re reading about now) hits it (twice actually, as if he’s not even sure that will work) and this time not everyone is saved. In fact that denial of God’s power is then listed as the reason why Moses isn’t allowed to enter into the promise land. People who ascribe to the doublet theory of meaning generally believe that the point of both stories is that God’s power cannot be doubted.

More recently a few scholars have begun to suggest that this story was never meant to be taken literally. They suggest that the original authors didn’t think of it as history. Instead, they suggest that the whole thing is an allegory for putting ones trust in God even when it seems impossible. After all, God is often referred to as a Rock in both the New and Old Testament.

Deuteronomy 32:4 says, “The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He.” A few verses later it says Jeshurun “scorned his own maker, the Rock of his salvation”. (vs15) When referring to the Philistine gods the author writes, “Indeed their rock is not like our Rock, Even our enemies themselves know this.” (Deuteronomy 32:3) And even Paul in 1 Corinthians 14 will explain that Jesus is like the rock in the desert that brought forth water and so he calls Christ, “The Rock of my salvation”.

Of course, the thing is, all of those quotes are from later time periods than this story about God bringing salvation through a rock that miraculously pours out water. In fact, it’s this story that establishes the context for future allegories about God as a rock. Without this story the allegory doesn’t really make sense.

Others have claimed this story to be nothing more than an etiological tale (a story with the sole purpose of explaining why something was given a particular name). The reason for this suggestion is because they name this place quarrel and test as a result of the people quarreling with Moses and Testing God.

Others just get uncomfortable with miracles all together and seek to explain them away by natural terms. For example, sometimes people will suggest that the limestone in this area can actually contain trapped water (but it’s not actually true). Some others have said that Moses actually finds an old well (with a cap on it to keep wild animals out). But nothing in the story suggests that. It’s just conjecture. Similarly, some say that Moses came across an aqueduct covered by a layer of thin rock. Thus, he struck it; revealing a source of water beneath. But to be fair if that’s true, I wouldn’t find it any less miraculous. I don’t think it really explains anything away. After all, the water doesn’t have to be produced by the rock for this to be a miracle.

Trying to explain this story is nothing new of course. In 325 AD, Eusebius said you could still see the rock that Moses struck to provide water for the Hebrews. He said it was at the town of Petra. The rock he identified as that rock Moses struck is still there today. A town (where today about 25,000 people live) has sprung up around it.

In fact, a building was constructed around the sacred rock to protect it. Directly below the rock (still alive and well today) is spring. At its base, it’s now been carved out into a proper looking pool with smooth walls and sharp edges. But the spring is natural. People of the city and travelers can still come and collect clear spring water. And they do. The path the water flows from the rock is called the “Wadi of Moses”. It flows down the 1 km SW then turns 90 degrees right at the “treasury,” then winds its way down into the Arabah Valley.

Now I don’t know how you feel about miracles. The idea that God sometimes intervenes in this world. Maybe you’re a true believer. Maybe you’ve widened your scope, as to what you consider miraculous. Maybe you are a bit of a skeptic at heart.

I don’t know, maybe it is allegorical. Maybe it’s just about trusting God. … Maybe it’s historical and God reached down into our world and bent the rules of nature to save these people’s lives.

You know, if I didn’t believe that were at least possible I’d never bother to pray again.

I believe in Jesus Christ. So pretty clearly, I believe that God intervenes.

I believe we should pray for miracles.

I don’t think we should demand miracles. And I don’t think this particular type of miracle is common. If miracles were common, they’d be called “normals” not miracles. I don’t think we should even expect miracles, but I do believe in them. And when someone I know and care about has cancer or is facing Alzheimer’s or whatever it might be I find myself not just hoping but truly believing in miracles like this one all the more.

The problem is… I don’t have proof. And like I said a while ago. I’m a bit of a skeptic.

I really want to believe that this rock at the Wadi of Moshe is the real deal; the proof of a miraculous event. If this is the rock, then we could all say with one voice united that we believe in miracles, that we have proof, that from now on we will pray for our loved ones to get better and though not always expect it to happen – at least always believe it’s possible to happen.

But the problem of course with the Wadi of Moses, is that the geography doesn’t actually fit. It can’t be the right rock. See, this rock is just not quite in the right place. And so we probably don’t have any proof that miracles happen, that God reaches down into our world and that our prayers can be answered. The only way that this could be the rock… is if… rocks could somehow inexplicably move on their own like the haggadah suggests.

I don’t really know what happened that day in the desert. No video camera captured the event. But I know, inside me that God does move in this world. And so today I would just like to encourage you with the words of Laurence J Peters. He wrote, “Don’t believe in miracles… depend on them.” – Amen

Song: I hunger and thirst

We respond to serve God

Prayer of gratitude and for others and ourselves

God, our Renewer, we offer you our thanks for the truth we know and the activity of your Spirit we have experienced. We have found that, as a river gradually wears its way through the mountain rock making a new space of great beauty for itself, so your spirit gently enlarges its dwelling space within, deepening the pond of quiet wherein your spirit and truth can settle, creating an inner space where our own spirit can bathe in yours and be refreshed. We thank you.

From that inner space flows a stream that nourishes the roots of hope and faith, making it possible for us to live in your light, making it possible to stay sane amidst the crazy making activity around us, sustaining us through the sad and empty times, deepening our joy in the happy moments. We are grateful for what we know of your truth.

We thank you as well for the power of prayer.

And so, we pray for those we love, asking that good things may abound. (Silence)

Grant them freedom to live their truth and use their gifts. Deepen their joy in the good that is their portion and bring them more fully alive in your spirit.

We pray for those at the centre of our thoughts because their needs are great: The ill, unemployed, over worked, scared, lonely, the silent, the suffering, those at loose ends.

We ask to be tools of your hands to make these changes but we also pray for you to do the things we simply cannot. We pray for miraculous healing. We pray for unexplainable recovery. We pray for new gifts and new blessings and we pray to see your hands at work.

Create convergences between their deepest need and your loving providence. Bridge the gaps. Send the people and the materials that will help them most to the people most in need. Provide the money and the time and talents to the people who need it at the exact moment that they need it most.

Gently lead each of us in the way of truth and worship.

We pray for those who lead us in government, businesses and the institutions that give our public life structure. Delve down into their lives and shock them with your works.

Bring peace to the troubled places of our world. Show you face in new ways and demand to be seen and heard.

And finally, we pray for ourselves.

We open ourselves to you now, praying for the week ahead.

We are not blind in the desert to the blessings you have given. We are not people of short memories.

We are a people that knows we have been blessed.

This week may we live that truth boldly. May the way of the Spirit be reflected in our actions. May worship be our response to all this week brings as we seek to follow and serve Jesus our Lord today and forever. Amen.

Song: Be Thou my vision (461)

Sending out with God’s blessing

Hold firmly to truth. Delight in the Spirit. May the grace of God: Creator, Redeemer and Spirit be with you and yours until eternity. Amen.

Response: God to enfold you

Music postlude

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Stuck in Haran

Posted on March 5, 2023March 5, 2023 by John

Worship on the Lord’s Day
March 05, 2023 10:00 am Lent 2
The Sacrament of Holy Communion
Online & Onsite (Mixed Presence) Gathering as a Worshipping Community
Led by the Rev. Brad Childs
Music Director: Binu Kapadia Vocalists: Cheryl & Peter Sheridan
Elder: Gina Kottke

We gather to worship God

Music prelude

Greeting
L: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
P: and also with you.

Lighting of the Christ candle
Welcome and announcements
Silent preparation for worship

Call to Worship
L: Just as the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness,
P: the Spirit sends us into places of uncertainty where we confront our weakness and insecurities.
L: Even when our situation changes, we cling to the tried and the true.
P: We insist that what worked in the past will work in the future.
L: Yet, Jesus calls us to die to our old ways so that the new will emerge.
P: He said that we need to be born again to see God’s new realm.
L: Embracing God’s realm will mean accepting different principles that no longer feed our egos.
P: It will mean putting the needs of others before our own.
L: We know the depth of God’s love, revealed to us in Jesus, God’s Son.
P: When we are reborn by God’s Spirit, we will go where the Spirit leads us and love as God loves us.

Opening praise: Holy Spirit, you are welcome here

Prayers of approach and lament

Almighty God, we know you as both Lord and Servant.

We know you to be vast beyond our mind’s grasp yet small enough to dwell in our hearts.

We know you as light and love, yet you are able to encompass all darkness.

When we gather together it is not because we are strong, because we understand you, or because we are good people.

When we gather, we acknowledge that we have weakness, that we couldn’t ever possibly fully understand you, and that we are seeking to always be better people.

Lord, deepen our sense of your mystery’s this day.

Free us to worship your transcendence even as we cling to your nearness.

While we treasure our knowledge of you, we rejoice that you are more than we can ever know.

That doesn’t scare us – that amazes us.

Free us from the need for a small, manageable God so we can contemplate your majesty, power and might.

And hear us now as we confess before you. Amen

…

Response: I waited, I waited on you, Lord

Assurance of God’s forgiveness

Hear the good news: God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son so that whosoever shall believe in him will have eternal life.

We are forgiven. Amen.

We listen for the voice of God

Song: In the bulb there is a flower (674)

Scripture reading (NRSV): Genesis 12:1-4

Response: Glory to the Father

Message: “Stuck in Haran”

At a rather fancy retirement care facility, a group of residents were sitting around talking about all their ailments. “I take so many pills I’m too full to eat.” one woman began “And my arms have gotten so weak I can hardly lift this cup of coffee.”

Not to be outdone another person spoke up. “Yes, well, my cataracts are so bad I can’t even see my coffee.” “Oh yeah” said another, “I couldn’t even mark an “X” on the election ballot the last time I was supposed to vote. My hands are so bad now I can’t even hold a pen let alone a cup.”

“That’s nothing” said another woman “I can’t turn my head because of the arthritis in my neck. I can only look straight forward all the time. If I want to see someone I have to rotate my whole body”. “Well,” said someone else, “I’d kill for a problem like that. My blood pressure pills make me so dizzy I keep falling asleep all the time!” “And I forget where I am, and I forget where I’m going. And where I just came from.” “I guess that’s just the price we pay for getting older,” winced one man as he slowly shook his head.

The others nodded in agreement. “Well, count your blessings everyone and thank God for the things we still have. Enjoy the journey,” said one woman cheerfully, “At least we can all still drive just fine”.

The gift of a long life comes with its own challenges. Sometimes it’s the sore feet and at other times it’s the road not taken in the first place.

By the time we first meet Abram in the Bible he’s already 75 years old. And I bet 4000 years ago things weren’t all that different for 75 year olds than they are today. I bet he woke up with pain in his back. I bet his feet hurt and he probably didn’t see all that well either. I bet he had great struggles and I bet he had regrets.

He might be the patriarch of Muslim, Jewish and Christian faiths but he was a human being first and he didn’t float on the clouds or live a life without challenges. So when God came to him and wanted him to do something new, I bet he struggles with it.

It’s interesting. God comes and says “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.” And then in verse 4 it says, “So Abram went, as the Lord had told him”. But is that really how it all went down? Is that whole story?

The reality of it is this: Abram was living as a part of a clan system. And he’s not even the head of the house. He actually didn’t even have the right to move without permission. On top of that, Joshua as well as other sources tells us that Abram is with his father Terah. And as a strange side note I’d also point out that at this time Terah and Abram don’t even know the God they’re speaking withy. They are actually Babylonian moon- god worshipers. (Josh 24:2) The God of the Bible just sort of drops in on him and expects him to respond.

But this isn’t the first time Abram or his family has been asked to do something by this God that they didn’t even worship. See In chapter 11 (just before our reading from today begins) there is this strange little line. It says, “Then Terah (Abram’s father) took his son Abram… and together they set out from Ur to go to Canaan (the promise land). But when they came to Harran, they settled there.”

Now there is a big problem here. Ur was a city in present day Iraq. That’s where Abram was from and that’s where he lived. But then God calls them to go to Canaan. And yet they settled in Haran (up in what is present day Syria). Now if you’re not up on your Middle Eastern geography, that’s okay. See the point is pretty simple. Harran is not on the way to Canaan. Not even close. In fact, he goes North (the complete opposite way). He walked 600 kilometers north – out of the way (when the whole trip was only 600 kilometers and after they got to Harran they were still 550 kilometers away from Canaan). That is not “on the way”. This is like leaving Edmonton for Dawson creek BC and ending up stopping in St. Mary, Montana. It’s a big triangle out of the way. And then the family “settled” there.

The book of Acts sheds a little bit more light on all of this. Acts 7:2-4 reads, “The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, and said to him, ‘LEAVE YOUR COUNTRY AND YOUR RELATIVES, AND COME INTO THE LAND THAT I WILL SHOW YOU.’ “Then he left the land of Ur and settled in Haran. From there, after his father died, God had him move to this country in which you are now living.”

This is where our story really starts. It doesn’t start the way it seems to. It doesn’t start with a guy that’s willing to do anything for God. It doesn’t start with a guy that steps out in faith or that was completely unwavering in his faith. It starts with a guy that’s already been told to do something once and didn’t do it. And he probably started out with nothing but good intentions. You know, it says, “and together they set out from Ur to go to Canaan”. They started out right. They just somehow got off course along the way.

Have you ever done that?

For me it’s really telling that there is no space between chapter 11 and chapter 12 where this is made really clear. There is no verse that says, “But Abram followed his father to Haran instead and the Lord punished him for his failure.” That verse doesn’t exist.

It doesn’t work that way. Abram settles in Haran and God lets him go out of his way. He doesn’t force or punish. But God does keep pursing anyway.

And so, when Abram’s father Terah died. God comes to him again. Following a death of a loved one God often challenges us with new things.

Here he comes once more and he says, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.” When God calls Abram a second time, there is a command to leave all that is familiar. This time he wants commitment. But like challenges always do, this one also comes with a promise. He says, “I will make your name great”.

What is your name?

Abram comes from combining a noun and a verb together in Hebrew. It’s Ab for Father and R’wm (ram) for Exalted. His name means “exalted Father”. Terah must have expected a lot from his son.

Later when his name is changed to Abraham it adds the word for “of multitudes”. Abraham means “exalted father of multitudes”. His two names Abram and Abraham are found 190 times just in the book of Genesis.

Now, if you didn’t know this, for many years I had a monthly column in our national magazine, The Presbyterian Record. And every month they send me two free copies and I must admit that every month I open the package up like it’s my own little Christmas present and I flip to find the article. It’s silly but I get a little glimmer in my eye when I see my name printed at the bottom of that page. Well Abraham got his name in the Bible! 200 times… In the Bible!!!

Moreover, from Genesis on, whenever God spoke to someone new, He would usually say something like “fear not for I am the God of… Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”. Think about that for a second. That is crazy. What that means is that even though these people may not have known who God was, they knew for sure who Abraham was. Now that is a “great name”. People came to identify who God was, by who Abraham was.

And in 4000 years really nothing has changed. God still reveals himself through his people.

David Will wrote, “You are the only Jesus some will ever see.”

Abram was a blessing because his life pointed to faith in God. How do we do that?

I am glad you asked that question. By being seen.

The world is watching you. They don’t even know that they are watching you. But they are. At your job they are watching you. In the classroom they are watching you. When you call yourself a person of faith, the world begins to watch you. When you are doing well. They are watching. When you go through the mess that you have to go through, and the world sees you going through turmoil and pain…they are watching.

People see that when all hell is breaking loose in your life, that you still have an anchor… that you bend a lot but you don’t break. They see you. And when they see you, they see him. When they see you and the storms are raging in your life and you are still able to give God praise. They see someone worthy of respect. They stand back in amazement and say there’s something about that God of . That is a part of the legacy that you leave.

And then God says, “And I will bless you”.

As the old story goes, the prison warden told the condemned man to order whatever he wanted for his last meal and he offered some suggestions: “Lobster, Filet Mignon, Beef Wellington, Caviar or Shrimp get whatever you want?”

“No,” the prisoner said. “I’ll just take a bowl of mushrooms.”

Confused the warden asked, “Why mushrooms?”

To which the prisoner replied, “I’ve always been afraid to eat that fancy stuff.”

It seems nuts. But… what kind of fear, keeps you from the blessings God has in store for you? What keeps you from going where God is leading you in life? What stops you from taking that leap of faith?

Of course, with our God, a person can’t just be left alone as blessed. Blessings exist to be shared. And so, God says, “And you will be a blessing”. But it all starts with following God where he wants to lead you.

And nobody ever said, taking a leap of faith is easy. It’s not. That’s why it takes faith to do it. But you just do it, one day at a time. Laozi once said that the journey of a thousand miles begins with just one step. That’s how faith works too sometimes.

Maybe like Abram you started off on your journey some time ago but somewhere along the line you got stuck in Haran along the way.

Abram was 75 years old when he set out from Haran. He’d been ignoring that first call to follow God to a new place for some time. But God hadn’t given up on him. He knew there was faith in there. He knew he was destined for something. And when Abram finally took that leap of faith, God promised to make his name great and to bless him and others through him. And I believe that God is still making that promise today.

I don’t know where God is calling you to follow but if I may give one piece of advice… Enjoy the journey. Amen

Song: All my hope on God is founded, vss. 1, 3, 4, 5 (462)

We respond to serve God

Reflection on giving

Prayer of gratitude and for others and ourselves

Generous God, we offer our gifts to you in gratitude for all that we have received in Christ and in creation. Bless our gifts and our lives, so that we can share in the building up of your kingdom in the world you love. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Lord God, you are our keeper, our shade in the heat of the world’s troubles, light in every shadowed time of life. In all our comings and goings we are yours.

And so we thank you for your care which sustains us, and offer you our trust for those things we can do nothing about.

Thank you for the energy to focus on the things we can do day by day, putting our love and care to work in community and creation.

By the power of your Spirit, bless us with the insight and passion to act in hope.

May your wisdom guide us in all things.

Attentive God, we bring our concerns for the world to you in these uncertain times.

We think of Abraham and Sarah setting off to an unknown land and pray for people on the move:

For those seeking safety and shelter, fleeing violence;
For those settling into a new home or community;
For those who must travel, whatever the conditions. (brief silence)

God, our Companion, walk with us on the way.

We think of the Psalmist looking to the hills and we pray for people seeking help:

For those seeking help for the earth itself as its fragile balances are threatened;
For those seeking help to make ends meet as bank balances are threatened;
For those seeking help for vulnerable people to right the balance of justice. (brief silence)

God, our Companion, walk with us on the way.

We think of Nicodemus turning to Jesus with questions in his heart and we pray for people seeking answers:

For those with health challenges, seeking diagnosis and treatment;
For those researching problems and policies, seeking to better our common life;
For those wondering if you exist, O God, wondering if you have a purpose for them. (brief silence)

God, our Companion, walk with us on the way.

We think of Jesus, calming his disciples amid their fears, challenging us all to follow him in love and faithfulness for he is our Companion on the way. Amen.

The Sacrament of Holy Communion

Invitation

Welcome, all who follow Jesus are met here in this act. It is not Dayspring’s table or mine but God’s. Gather gladly for this tiny foretaste of a feast in heaven to come.

Song: I come with joy (530)

We affirm our faith: The Apostles Creed (539)

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit

and born of the virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to hell.

The third day he rose again from the dead.

He ascended to heaven

and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.

From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer (469)

Communion Prayer

Creating father we thank you for the gift of life and for the gift of all creation. All that is praises your name. Providing one, we are forever grateful to you for the unending gifts you bestow upon us and entrusted to us. Your faithfulness and mercy astound us. God of sacrifice, You are our rock and our shield. Your compassion and grace know no end.

We thank you, Almighty God, for the salvation you offer and we give complete control of ourselves to you and call You “Lord”. Help us to know your ways, To share them with others and to forever seek after your divinely hidden face.

Precious Lord, we thank you for the gift of salvation sent through your son Jesus Christ. We thank you for the incarnation, as you made yourself low and brought yourself down to be a vulnerable human being. And from this blessing we were given instruction but also freedom. Our god it is completely beyond our understanding how you could send Christ to live among us, love us, and know that he would died at our hands. Such love is too far above us. And through him you the author of salvation have also shown us what it means to rise to new life.

Father God, we also thank you for the gift of your spirit. It is by your Spirit of glory that we find comfort and council. We praise you also for the works of the divine Spirit in both creation and our holy scriptures. We praise you for that the same Spirit which empowered the holy conception of our Lord also empowers us today. By your spirit we are called to service for your divine will. Let none of us remain in conflict with one another but instead bring as peace that passed understanding… both now and forever. Amen.

Sharing of the bread and wine

Breaking of the Bread (Fraction)

“Therefore, I received from the lord what I also passed on to you: the Lord Jesus on the night he was betrayed took the bread and when he and given thanks, he broke it and said This is my body which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Pouring and Elevation of the Cup

“In the same way after supper he took the top saying “this is the new covenant in my blood do this whenever you drink it in remembrance of me” , “for whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

Distribution of the elements

Bread: The gifts of God for the people of God “take eat”

Wine: The gifts of God for the people of God “take eat”

Song: One bread, one body (540)

The prayer after Communion

Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery in which you have given yourself to us. Grant that we may go into the world, in the strength of Your Spirit, to do just as you have done, to give ourselves for others. In the name of Jesus Christ of Lord – Amen

Hymn: Shout for joy! (557)

Sending out with God’s blessing

As we continue our Lenten journey, remember the promise of the Psalmist: “The Lord will keep your going out and you’re coming in from this time on and forever more.” So go now, trusting that your help comes from God,

And may God’s presence strengthen you,

Jesus’ faithfulness guide you,

And the wind of the Spirit bring you energy to serve with love.

Response: The Blessing

Music postlude

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Tested

Posted on February 26, 2023February 26, 2023 by John

Worship on the Lord’s Day
First Sunday of Lent 10:00 am February 26, 2023
Online & Onsite (Mixed Presence) Gathering as a Worshipping Community
Led by the Rev Brad Childs
Music director: Binu Kapadia Vocalist: Sam Malayang
Elder: Jane de Caen

We gather to worship God

Music prelude

Greeting
L: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
P: and also with you.

Lighting of the Christ candle
Welcome and announcements!
Silent preparation for worship

Call to Worship
L: Just as the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness,
P: the Spirit sends us into places of uncertainty where we confront our weakness and insecurities.
L: In the wilderness, we, too, are confronted by our hunger and thirst.
P: We are tempted to grab at empty promises that offer an easy way out.
L: Like Jesus, we are tempted by power and prestige.
P: Unlike him, we often submit to their glamour.
L: We wonder whether God is with us.
P: We wonder whether we can trust God to take care of us.
L: We can only move forward in faith.
P: Let us stand on the cliff edge and, like Jesus, dare to trust.

Opening praise: Forever God is faithful

Prayers of approach and confession

Providing Father, We come before you as servants to the King of all creation. You, Oh God, stand at the door and knock. We seek only to answer your call to us. We gather in your name before you as unworthy people drawing near to you and to your perfect word. Father blesses us and our worship of you for the benefit of your will and your world.

Our LORD you are supreme. Your security is overwhelming and your powers without limits. Oh, Holy! Holy! Holy God! your sovereignty holds us. Salvation is from you and you alone. Father of Knowledge and Wisdom your wrath, mercy, justice and faithfulness abound; your deeds are wise and perfect; your goodness overflows. Our gracious Father you are good and all that is good comes from you. You are Patient. You are Love; your grace and personal attention to all creation is unending. Your Jealousy and Majesty reign on High and you are ever faithful to your word and to your people. You are God, Eternal King.

As we draw near to You oh LORD, advance us even more toward the living water and to your right hand. And hear our confessions to make us whole again. Silence

Gradual: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God

Assurance of God’s forgiveness

Hear the words of the Psalmist: Happy are those who are forgiven. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice. (Psalm 32) Thanks be to God. We are made new. Amen.

We listen for the voice of God

Children’s time

Gradual: Jesus, we are gathered (514)

Story: There was this Jewish grandmother, and she loved her one and only grandson. She loved him like crazy. She gave him anything that that he wanted, and she never said no.

One day she took him out to the beach, and she put these big floaty things on his arms, and she put a big white floppy hat on his head and a big smear of white goo on his nose so he wouldn’t get sunburned and then she sat down on a chair on the beach, put her umbrella up, and read her book.

She looked out, and she saw her happy grandson out playing in the ocean and having a good time, and she was excited.

This grandma wasn’t a particularly nice lady..

She was nice to her grandson, but she was kind of mean to everybody else. She always cheated on her taxes, and she stole their neighbor’s newspaper every morning. She always said mean things about the ladies down the hall, but she loved the grandson.

So, that day at the beach she looked up, and she saw him playing, and she was so happy, and she went back to her book.

Then she looked up again and all of a sudden, she realized he was gone. Her grandson was missing in the ocean, and she was terrified.

And so she falls down on her knees, and she starts praying right away.

God, please, please, bring me back my grandson. Don’t let him be hurt. Please bring him back. Let him be okay. I won’t steal the paper anymore. I won’t cheat on my taxes. I’ll be nice and the ladies down the hall. I’ll do anything, please.

And then, Boom! Thunder! Crash!

Lightning flashed, and a huge swell of waves started building in the ocean, and it pushed forward right up in front of her, and it deposited the boy just perfectly standing there on 2 feet, floaties on his arms, goo on his nose.

She ran up and she hugged him, and she said, Thank you, thank you. God! My boy is Ok.

And then she moved back a bit and looked at his face and said: But he had a hat!

Sometimes in life we are tempted to take things for granted, but every good gift comes from above.

In the letter of James. It says, you should be humble of heart, not wanting what other people have, but being content with what God gives you. (James 4:5) Let’s try, this week, to be very content with what God gives us, and not worry so much about the hat.

The Lord’s Prayer (535)

Transition music

Song: Forty days and forty nights (197)

Today’s Message

Scripture readings: Matthew 4:1-11; Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7

Response: Behold the Lamb of God

Message: “Tested”

When I was in high school I went white-water rafting in Colorado. It was the scariest thing on earth. And I distinctly remember the feeling of that raft turning sideways down the rapids, with my stomach sinking and my heart in the throat. And as the rocks got closer and closer the fun became more dangerous and I prayed harder and harder and I paddled until my arms just burned.

The baptism of Christ… this is where it all began. As the Bible tells us, Jesus came up out of the water and was greeted by the voice of God as the Holy Spirit descended upon him like a dove. The great voice from heaven spoke and said, “This is my Son, in whom I am well pleased.” It is perhaps the single most beautiful picture described in all of our Holy Bible. And yet… it comes with a catch. You see, this beautiful story of Baptist doesn’t stand alone. It appears in all three of the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) and in every single case the story ends in the same way.

Right after the Spirit descends upon our Savior, we’re told that Jesus was led out into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil who immediately challenges Jesus with “if you really are the Son of God”… a direct challenge to the words the Father has just spoken and the same exact words Matthew will later tell us that the people called out to Jesus when he was on the cross again saying (just like the Devil did) “if you really are the son of God come down off that cross and save yourself”. (Matthew 27:40)

The Hebrews had this belief in Tiamat and the Leviathan which are serpent-monsters of the ancient world that almost every nation feared. Both are mentioned in scripture and have to do with evil, chaos and death. Snake stories were popular.

In Ancient Samaria the people believed in a snake-god called Ning-ish-zida whose name means “Lord of the Produce tree”. They had a similar Adam and Eve type of story involving the serpent and the fruit from its tree. But the snake isn’t really the bad guy in that story. Then again the snake isn’t really the bad guy in ours either. In Gen 3:4 the serpent is called “crafty” but not evil. In fact he never lies to them in the story. And the same word we translate “crafty” is used in other parts of the Bible to describe Godly people). Unlike the Christian idea of a powerful and evil foe, the Hebrew’s had no concept of a singular personification of evil (a Devil).

The Old Testament talks about a character called ha-Satan. Used as both a noun and a verb it can mean “to oppose” or “the adversary”. Ha-Satan is applied to supernatural beings in Numbers and 1 Chronicles. But it’s also used to describe humans in 1 Kings and 1 & 2 Samuel. Ha-Satan is also used 14 times in the book of Job. But in Job ha-Satan is a part of the heavenly court (what’s sometimes called “the hosts of heaven”). Essentially his job is to act as the prosecuting attorney. Yes, I did just say that Satan is a lawyer. Save the lawyer jokes, though, because the way he is portrayed – this particular prosecutor actually works for God and can’t do anything without his permission. The same is true in 1 Kings where God actually asks ha-Satan (three times) to do things for him.

Now at some point when the Israelites were concurred by Babylon they began to view ha-Satan as more of a foe to fight than a part of God’s counsel. This would be natural because the Persians were Zoroastrian worshipers and their God had a mirror-opposite, evil version of himself whom he was always battling. Some people think of this as a developing theology whereby the Israelites borrowed parts of their religion from other ancient people. Theologians just call this progressive revelation.

By the time of Jesus, Greek speaking Jews were using the Greek word (diabolos) “Devil” instead of ha-Satan but it’s really just a translation. Both words mean accuser. In his version of the story Matthew refers to this character as “Satan”, “the tempter” and “the Devil” just so everyone is clear. And really nobody doubted the existence of pure evil personified. In fact, it was assumed.

In the present age the world scorns those who believe in the supernatural (the idea of a “Devil” with horns and goat feet (not a biblical picture by the way) is shunned. Yet Christianity has historically affirmed the existence of the divine and quite frankly although it makes people very uncomfortable and seems superstitious to others… One cannot deny that it is the very same book that tells us there is a God which tells us there is a Devil. If one already believes in Angels (as most people do in the world – even the non-religious) it’s not exactly a giant leap to say that one should also believe in fallen angels.

In any case whether we believe or not one thing is for sure. Jesus and his followers did. In fact in the Lord’s Prayer we know (which comes from Matthew’s gospel) Jesus says, “Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from πονηρός ponēros (pah-neh-ross) The Evil One”. That is what he actually says.

Now, our story takes place at the very beginning of Jesus’ journey; before he even gathered his disciples.

And we’re told that for 40 days and 40 nights Jesus is in the wilderness. 40 days and 40 nights is important. It’s like recalling Noah’s time of rainfall as he prepares to start anew, Moses’ time on Mount Sinai as well and Elijah’s time in the desert as well as others. To the original audience it’s like a hint that this story is about temptation and preparation.

As an interesting note we’re told that Jesus was led out into the wilderness TO BE TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL. BUT He’s not led out by the Devil. He’s led out BY THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BE TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL. In the end it’s actually God that wants him tempted.

As the story goes, a billionaire oil tycoon from Texas decided to find a husband for his only daughter, a girl who wasn’t exactly having much luck in the dating department. He initiated his search by inviting local bachelors to a party in his backyard. A large, elegantly designed swimming pool dominated the yard. As the men edged by it to get their refreshments, they saw it was filled with sharks.

Clustering beside the pool, the bachelors puzzled over the strange sight. Just then the tycoon appeared on the patio and gave an emotional speech, telling how much he loved his daughter and expressing how much he wanted her to marry someone deserving of her. He then laid out The Deal. “Anyone who will jump in the swimming pool and swim to the other side will have their choice of a check for one million dollars with no questions asked or the hand of my daughter in marriage and your place in my will, which will result in your inheriting my entire fortune.”

The bachelors were speechless. Their questioning looks seemed to say that none of them would be crazy enough to risk his life–even for all that money. The long silence was finally broken by a splash. Everyone turned to see one of the men swimming to the far side of the pool as fast as any Olympic swimmer ever could. Leaping out of the water, he shook himself off and walked over to the tycoon. With a hug and a handshake, the oil man congratulated the boy on a fine swim.

“Son, would you like a million dollar check?” he asked. “No sir, I wouldn’t,” responded the young man politely, and slightly out of breath. “Fine,” said the tycoon. With a tear in his eye the tycoon asked, “Then, my boy, would you like my only daughter’s hand in marriage?” To the surprise of the gawking bachelors, the young man replied, “No sir.” Puzzled and a little hurt, the tycoon asked, “Well then, son, what do you want?” “I only want one thing,” he answered. “I want the name of the guy who pushed me.”

Nobody would willingly jump into a shark-infested pool–even for a million dollars.

Similarly, no one really wants to be tested. It’s something forced upon you. And in this case it’s God’s idea. And I can’t help but wonder… Maybe it always is??? Not because God wants us to fall for temptation though… maybe it’s because he wants to watch us overcome it.

After living in the hot desert (Luke’s word), and eating nothing for 40 days (most likely living off only water), staving, smelling of the desert sun and the wild animals, emaciated, in his most vulnerable state; skin most likely just hanging off his skeleton – the Devil asks a literally starving Christ to turn stones into bread (something God does for Moses and the Israelites when they are in the wilderness) and Jesus just waves his nearly lifeless arms and shrugs the very notion of it away. The way he deals with temptation is – He calls on God. He quotes the Hebrew Bible and says, “Man cannot live on bread alone”. Jesus has no need to prove He is the Son of God.

In the story it all just seems so easy for him. But I don’t think it was. It can’t be a real temptation unless it’s actually tempting. I suspect it wasn’t quite as easy as it appears. If Jesus was truly fully human as we say he was, then I bet he had to struggle with it, just like us.

I read this story about a boy and a shopkeeper this week. Apparently the shopkeeper sees a little boy standing outside of the storefront; wide eyed and staring down at a large basket of apples with a lot of sideways glances as if he’s constantly checking to see if anyone is watching him. “What are you doing son?” the shopkeeper asked the little boy “Trying to steal one of those apples?” “No sir” said the boy as he stood up straight. And then he swallowed hard “Then what’cha do’n boy” the shopkeeper said. And at that the boy took a deep breath and said, “Trying not to”.

I suspect that’s more the way it is for most folks. That’s why Humorist Sam Levenson said, “Lead us not into temptation. Just tell us where it is; we’ll find it.”

It’s a struggle. And even if we weren’t surrounded by it – we’d find it anyway.

The Huntington River Gorge, near Richmond, Vermont, is beautiful but deadly. In recent years, twenty people (mostly in their early twenties) have lost their lives in the gorge. Hundreds of gorge swimmers have been severely injured.

See, on the surface the water of the gorge looks calm and placid, but beneath it are strong currents that run swiftly over treacherous underwater drops, crags and whirlpools. Public safety officials have designated the gorge “the single most deadly place in the state of Vermont.” Warning signs have been posted all over the place, reading, “When the water is high due to rain or snowmelt, especially powerful currents can easily sweep you over the falls and trap you underneath the water.” There are Danger and Warning signs everywhere.

Over the years people have debated about what to do about the gorge. Some argue for more public information about the gorge’s risks. Others want to ban anyone from visiting the place all together.

Meanwhile, swimmers continue to be attracted to the scene. One college student attending the University of Vermont—just fourteen miles from the gorge—said she had heard about the beauty of Huntington River Gorge and wanted to swim in it. She said people already know about the dangers and try their best to be careful. But as young Katie Zezima told the New York Times, “You can’t change the water, and you can’t stop people from going in,” (Katie Zezima, “An Enticing Gorge Poses a Deadly Problem,” The New York Times (July 16, 2006)147 725-729)

The world can be a dangerous place. And even though we don’t often think of it in those terms, we are surrounded by temptations. You can’t keep people away from temptation. Whether it’s the temptation to speed or lie your way out of a ticket, or cheat on your taxes, have two extra helping of desert, or something far, far more serious, temptation is literally everywhere because it is anything you know you shouldn’t do – and so because of that temptation is far more than the personification of evil… that’s part of it but really – it takes every possible form known to man.

When the Devil takes Jesus up to the Temple and says “throw yourself off if you are the Son of God and He will protect you” Jesus again quotes the Hebrew Bible and says, “No.”, “Do not put the LORD your God to the test.”

And when the Devil promises him every kingdom in eye’s sight (even his beloved Israel, at that very moment – oppressed by Rome and its army) and says all you have to do is “bow”… Jesus says “No”. “You shall worship the LORD your God and Serve Him only”. When dealing with temptation his first response is always to call on God.

And then that’s it. Matthew shows that Jesus has been tested and has come out victorious. And that’s the end of the story. The End.

But it’s not. Not really. You see, I promise you that wasn’t the first time in 30 some years that Jesus was ever tempted. And I promise you that it wasn’t the last either.

What’s more, if you read this over carefully you’ll see that the Bible doesn’t actually say, “Jesus went out into the desert to fast” or Jesus “was to be tempted 3 times” It actually says, “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.” And in Luke it says, “for 40 days he was tested”. And for me… that one little sentence makes all the difference. See, it’s not that Jesus defeated this pure personification of evil in three great temptations. These are just the three that get their own headlines. He was tempted every day.

And that’s where I find the most meaning in this story. Because I think that’s just how it is for us. It’s not just a one-time deal or even a three-time deal. It happens every day of our lives. In fact more than that, it’s a part of our lives. Who hasn’t been tempted in one way or another? There is no escaping it. The fact that we’re tempted to do things we shouldn’t do is a part of who we are as fallen people.

There is no getting away from the danger. You can’t stop people from going to the gorge. The gorge is everywhere. Moreover if the bible is to be trusted, God even puts us to the test on purpose sometimes just to see what we’re really made of.

And as if that isn’t bad enough, sometimes, some of us will actually go out looking for it too.

In the end, I can’t help but think back to my time in the raft as the best possible way to deal with trials and temptations in life. There is something about that image of uncontrollably being pushed into the rocks that speaks to me. And so, in the end, I think Ralph Waldo Emerson put it best. When writing about temptations he wrote “Call on God, but row away from the rocks”.

This is the Lord’s example. May we follow. – Amen

Song: O Jesus, I have promised (569)

We respond to serve God

Prayer of gratitude and for others and ourselves

Lord God, we offer our gifts in thanksgiving for all the goodness you provide. Bless our gives and our lives so that we become a source of goodness for others, in the name of Christ, our strength and our hope.

God of all life and each life, we offer you thanks for all the ways we meet you in our daily lives:

in a word of encouragement, (brief silence)
an insight into truth, (brief silence)
an answer to prayer. (brief silence)

Thank you for a breath of calm in the midst of stress, and an offer of support when we need it. (brief silence)

Thank you for a sense of accomplishment that our work matters and moments of rest and relaxation to renew us. (brief silence)

Thank you for all these signs that you love us, understand us and walk with us, Loving God.

Our gratitude for your love reminds us of the need for your mercy in the world.

And so in times of silence we pray for:

The world and the people and places in the news this week. (silence for a count of 10)

Leaders facing difficult decisions and balancing different needs in complex situations. (silence for a count of 10)

Your church and congregations facing new challenges and opportunities for mission. (silence for a count of 10)

Our workplaces and our community facing many needs and pressures. (silence for a count of 10)

Our family, friends and neighbours, especially those facing hard choices these days. (silence for a count of 10)

And for ourselves, offering to you our own concerns. (silence for a count of 10)

Thank you for your grace that embraces all for whom we pray, O God. In the week ahead, help us notice your hand at work in our lives and in this troubled world.

Song: Word of God across the ages (497)

Sending out with God’s blessing

As we begin our journey through the season of Lent, remember the words of the prophet Micah: What does the Lord require of us? To do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with our God.

May God’s loving kindness comfort you,
God’s justice inspire you,
And Jesus walk beside you in humility and hope.

Response: Amen, we praise your name, O God

Music postlude

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