Wounds

Posted on May 26, 2024May 26, 2024 by John

Worship on the Lord’s Day
10:00 am       26 May 2024
Online & Onsite (Mixed Presence) Gathering as a Worshipping Community
Led by the Rev Brad Childs
Music director: Binu Kapadia     Vocalists: Cheryl & Peter Sheridan
Children’s Time: Vivian Houg and Marc Johnson     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: Loving God: you call us together
P: To worship God as the people of God.
L: You call us by name and just as we are: you know each of our needs; you know our experiences; you know what rests in our minds and our hearts, and in your love you call us:
P: To worship God as the people of God
L: We come together, our heads, our hearts and our hands and feet yearning to be remade and redirected to paths of justice, and in ways of love. Help us, Jesus, to walk in the paths of justice and love that you yourself have walked:
P: To worship God as the people of God.
L: God invites us to worship as beloved and loving people! Mold us, Holy Spirit:
P: To worship God as the people of God.

Opening praise: Here’s my heart. Lord

Prayer of lament for children who did not return from Residential Schools

Creator God, we pray for Love. We thank you for the love that these families and communities hold for their daughters, mothers, grandmothers, aunties, sisters, cousins, and friends. We mourn with them. We pray for all those whose lives are marked by trauma because of these murders and disappearances. Hold them in love, Abba. Catch every tear that falls.

Creator God, we pray for Honesty. May those who have information about the whereabouts of these women and girls be moved to share it?

Creator God, we pray for Humility. Give Canadians the humility to open their hearts to hear stories from this country that are not celebratory: stories of colonization, racism, and marginalization.

Creator God, we pray for Wisdom. May the leaders of the inquiry and all those who direct them have the wisdom that comes only from you to listen deeply and make wise recommendations, so that we may all heal together.

Creator God, we pray for Respect. May the families who share their pain and perspectives with the inquiry be treated with respect—may the inquiry be centred on their needs.

Creator God, we pray for Truth. These stories are far from simple and clear-cut. May the truth of the impacts that Indigenous women bear become clear.

Creator God, we pray for Courage. For families and community members testifying. For inquiry commissioners crafting recommendations. Civil society organizations hold the inquiry to its mandate. For Canadians, as we prepare to listen to these stories and to advocate for action on its recommendations. For our political leaders, as they prepare to respond to the recommendations.

And Lord we also confess that too often we have let ourselves ignore these and other issues. In Christ’ name we pray. Amen.

Response: Here’s my heart, Lord

Assurance of God’s loving grace

In Christ, we are new creations. Let the old fall away and embrace the new. Forgiveness is found in Christ for all those who wish to change.

We listen for the voice of God

Children’s time

Response: Open our eyes, Lord (445)

Story: This is Trinity Sunday, a day we set aside every year to celebrate our wonderful 3 in 1 God. The Trinity cannot be completely explained by me (or really by anyone else), because we don’t totally understand it. It is a bit of a mystery, so I’ll do the best I can, but remember that this comparison doesn’t explain everything about God, who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Although the word “trinity” does not appear in Scripture, it is taught in Matthew 28:18-19. Some people think God is a very big idea to understand, and God is, but we don’t need to understand everything about the mysteries of God to love God and to serve God with our hearts, our minds and our whole bodies. God loves us. Because of that love, God shows God’s self to us in different ways. Trinity means 3, just like a triangle has 3 sides.

I don’t want you thinking God is like an egg or water or an apple. God made all these things; they are part of his creation. God is greater than this similarity, but it’s the best I can do to help you understand the concept of the Trinity. Does that make sense?

Have you ever eaten an apple? Of course you have. Look at this apple. It is one of God’s creations. It can help us understand that there is still only one God. Have the children name the three parts of the apple, the skin, the flesh and the core. All the parts are uniquely different, but they are all one apple.

There are basically three parts – the skin, the flesh, and the core. All the parts are still one apple, yet they are all uniquely different. Each part of the apple – the peel, flesh, core – have different functions, yet are all “apple” and nothing else. The Trinity [three parts] of God – Father, Son Jesus, Holy Spirit – are all God in different forms. Just as the peel protects the apple – God the Father protects humankind, an apple has flesh – Jesus was God made flesh and the core of the apple, like the Holy Spirit, contains the seeds. Just as seeds of apple trees grow in fertile, watered and cared for ground; seeds of faith will sprout, grow and flourish. The seeds of faith are just that – faith – in God. We Christians need to nurture and care for one another to keep the seeds of faith alive.

Prayer: Dear God, help us to know your love through Jesus, to feel your power in the Holy Spirit, and to praise your splendor in creation. Amen.

Source: https://sermons4kids.com/sermons/an-apple-for-trinity

The Lord’s Prayer (535)

Transition music

Song: Holy, Holy. Holy (299: vss. 1, 3, 4)

Today’s Message

Scripture reading: Psalm 147; Zechariah 8:16-17; Micah 6:8

Response: Glory to the Father

Message: Wounds

It was over ten years ago now. I was the minister of First Church in Regina. I had done my first 40 or so funeral services and became a sort of “go-to” for people without a church association. And I was at the time serving as the Moderator of the Presbytery and as the Moderator of the Synod. Because of this, when Prince Charles came to town, I got the invitation to come. When they filmed local Christmas services, I did the opening prayers. Whatever the activity required some level of ministerial presence, either I or the three other guys in my theology book club did it.

So, I wasn’t surprised when a small group of local activists came to my office with the news that they would like me to speak at a ceremony. The reason, however, did surprise me.

Someone had noticed one small grave marker in a corner of a farmer’s field outside the airport. It was the old location of the Regina Indian Industrial School. It had been taken over by the United Church in 1945 and torn down in the 1980s. But it was originally operated by the Presbyterian Church.

The reason they came to see me. There was one marker… but there were dozens of mounds. From correspondence with the government, church records and other materials like ground penetrating radar, it was determined that likely 38 children resided in that field. And while early letters are rather kind, after a few years the correspondence becomes almost completely about finances.

Now I want to be fair. I think this was one of those well-meaning plans that didn’t go well. But residential schools (especially one like this one which taught farming) at the time seemed like the only way to get kids regular medical care (which they had on site) while not getting “left behind” without an education in a newly technological world. You can imagine the alternative of having only white kids getting an education and everyone being left behind. And while horror stories exist to be sure, it’s always good to remember that the principal and teachers and nurses’ children all stayed in the same dorms, ate the same food, and got the same medical attention. It is 100% true that these schools also did good. But I understand that probably sounds to some people like I’m saying Nazis did build large instruction and boost the economy… while murdering 6 million people. That’s because I am.

In the end, we had the ground scanned, discovered the marker of the Principles two children, located the burial space, commissioned a book, and funded indigenous artists to make a music video and dance along with a documentary film which we premiered. We planned 3 feasts of remembrance and three mass funerals as well as attempted to connect with the federal government about the issue.

It bears saying that when I first agreed to speak publicly about this issue, I was advised by some folks at the national church offices that I needed to make a “confession” but NOT an “apology” because (not to put to fine a point on it but) a confession is to God and an apology can get us sued.

So, I wrote three apologies; not because I’m a good guy – ‘cause I’m a contrarian and I’m full of beans as my grandma says.

Now wouldn’t you know it 8 years later another group discovers the bodies of more children, this time in Kamloops – and this time people seem to notice. Improvements are being made, just slowly.

When I first came to Canada I had no idea about the history of native peoples. I didn’t know any about residential schools (didn’t know what they were) and had never met someone taken away from their home to attend a school by force – though in the US, the government did a similar thing with the Amish who didn’t go to school and were becoming completely incapable of surviving outside the colony. They are now legally required to attend school until grade 8.

I had no idea what had taken place at these schools until I was introduced to Sheryl Bear a famous Canadian artist and activist. And that is when I decided that I was guilty of something, despite also, not being guilty at the same time.

I wrote an article for the Presbyterian Record Magazine. I wrote the most popular and silliest of the monthly columns, but I also wrote two very serious op-eds. One was shortened and submitted and won an award in Canadian Journalism. I’d like to read my original entry now.

My editor changed the title to

Why Issues Surrounding the Residential Schools Should Matter to Us

My original title was: I might not be a racist, But I benefit from it.

I will read it in full now.

I don’t believe I have ever personally mistreated a native person on the grounds of race. I never personally created any rules restricting First Nations people. When The Presbyterian Church in Canada set up Residential Schools I wasn’t even born yet. I had nothing to do with it. I’m an immigrant. I didn’t even come to Canada until 1999. I didn’t join the Presbyterian Church in Canada until 2005. What exactly do I have to apologize for? I don’t like being blamed or taking the blame for things I didn’t do. Who does?

I was born in a small community in the State of Kansas. “Bleeding Kansas” is its nickname due to corruption in the White House at the time which led to a change in the number of entered “Slave States”. You see, there weren’t just Union States and Confederate States. Union States were covering the Northeast as well as Nevada, California, and Oregon. Then there were Union States not permitting slavery (which is different). There were also Border Union states between the Union and the “Deep South”. Then there were three Union States that permitted slavery (bet you didn’t know that). That was Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arizona. Then there was Kansas who simply entered the Union (sort of). So, what happened? People above us permitted slavery and people below us did not. People Northeast of us did not and people Southeast of us did. People Northwest of us permitted slaves and the people Southwest of us were confederates. We were surrounded. So, they all met in Kansas for 8 years of fighting while tensions grew within the state itself and neighbours simply started killing neighbours in the middle of the night. I’m not a Yankee! Only people from 20 Union states are. I’m not a Southerner. And I’m not a Confederate. I’m just “bloody”.

As you might imagine race and racism are often just under the surface of what’s going on. But am I a racist? Unlike 50million living today, I never owned a slave. I didn’t grow up thinking about race the same way that my grandparents’ generation or my parents’ generation did. When I was little, I just didn’t notice it. My brothers’ (then and still) best friend is black. My best friend was Japanese. Early on in life, the only racism I ever encountered was when I was the target. The other kids at my Amish school hated me because I was “Zee English”. Eventually, I had to be pulled out and switch schools. But me? I’m not a racist. I didn’t own a slave or set up a “separate but equal” water fountain. I know slavery was/is wrong but, just what exactly do I have to feel sorry about when it comes to slavery?

Well actually quite a lot. Indeed, I may not be a racist… but I’ve sure benefited from it. The fact is, the rapid prosperity experienced in the United States occurred on the backs of slaves and on land first claimed by the Europeans though Native Americans were already living there. Even people who belonged to the Union had investments in the South, wore clothes made by slaves and had sugar for their tea that came from free labour. They might not have been racist themselves, but they sure benefited from it. Even today, many major companies still exist that were slave fueled at one time (part of The Canadian National Railway Company for example claimed the loss of dead slaves for insurance purposes). They still thrive today because of the money they made with slaves for future investments.

My family moved to the United States legally at a time when people from Asia, Africa and other areas were restricted. The best land of course was gone by the time immigration opened more broadly. My ancestors might not have been racists, but they benefited from it. Once here my ancestors were never relocated forcibly. When they died, they passed down money earned on land not made available to other races. Later on, they lived in better communities where non-whites were discouraged from living. If I have any inheritance coming to me (and I most certainly do not), that’s where it’s coming from.

My grandparents received small business loans unavailable to non-whites. They voted in elections and voted for people that best represented them and their particular class as to be expected but those politicians and platforms had little interest in representing non-whites. In their newer neighbourhoods, police protection appeared easier to come by. My parents were safer. They had public swimming pools, libraries, and playgrounds close to them. No one stopped them from using these facilities. They were encouraged too.

When my parents were young there were segregated schools that received more funds and drew interest from more and better-qualified teachers than non-white schools would get. They have got newer materials, up-to-date books, and better facilities. They were trained better to get higher-paying jobs. They learned from textbooks that reflected their race, religion, class, and opportunities and spoke more favourably to issues textbooks written by non-whites might have. Little to no mention of non-white heroes were anywhere to be found. They had tons of people who looked just like them to look up to, making it clear that they too could be doctors, scientists and engineers. People told them they could someday be the “president of the United States”. My parents might not have been racist, but they sure benefited from it.

When my parents and grandparents went to college, they were eligible to receive student loans. No one stopped them or protested their education. While they were training to be the boss others were being kept for labor. When a co-worker of colour was hired, often, they would be paid less, leaving more money for white workers. When cuts were made often people of color were cut first saving white jobs. My father might not be racist, but he probably benefited from it. He built a house with a higher wage because of it. He bought me my Sunday dinner with it, and my shoes too. I may not be racist, but I benefited from it when I got new toys someone else didn’t.

Very few of us would ever consider ourselves racist and yet there is no doubt that we benefit from racism. We were born into or inherited a system which restricted some and propped up others and helped create a cycle which can be escaped from but isn’t as easy to do as it is to say. Today I own a house built on land that was taken from someone long ago. When the government first sold that land to a homesteader the homesteader didn’t steal that land and wasn’t a bad person for buying it… but that homesteader sure benefited from racism and so have I. I benefit from it every time I shop at a store or buy gasoline made with oil pulled up out of the ground that belonged to someone else. I may not be a racist, but I benefit from it.

When I joined the Presbyterian Church in Canada the residential schools were all closed, an apology in the form of a “confession” had already been issued (provided at the end of this service text) and people by and large just wanted to forget about it and move on. And that makes sense. After all, what did most of us ever have to do with those schools anyway?

Well in truth it sort of doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter if they were closed. It doesn’t matter if rather conveniently the United Church inherited the “problem” from Presbyterians seemingly freeing us from the past. It doesn’t matter at all. Because I call myself a Presbyterian now. I joined this church, and I don’t just get to identify with this denomination and its rich heritage when it suits me. I don’t get to celebrate with it without admitting the faults with it. I don’t get to be a part of the “Continuing” Presbyterian Church without being a part of the history it’s continuing from.

Sometimes when we think about the issues surrounding Residential Schools in Canada, we are tempted to brush them off and go about our business. It’s tempting to think, “Get over it”. It’s tempting to blame others or ignore the issues altogether. But the truth is, there is no getting around it or away from it. And it’s not someone else’s problem. We all have a role in it.

I may not be a racist, but I’ve benefited from it. How about you?

-The Rev. Brad Childs

Song: O for a world (730)

Our time of giving

Reflection on giving: Dayspring is empowered to carry out our mission of worship, service, and care by generously given volunteer time, talent, and treasure. Many thanks to all who give so generously!

Prayer for others and ourselves

Creator God of love and justice, Comforter of those who mourn,

We turn to you acknowledging the actions of your church, our complicity in running residential schools and taking children from their families. We have asked forgiveness and committed to work for truth, healing and reconciliation. But we recognize that for some, that change came too late.

The names of more of the students who died and never made it home from residential schools are beginning to be known, but we know these lists are incomplete; that there will be more names and that some names may never be publicly known. But you know, Loving and Healing God, their names, and their stories, their hearts and their families.

For those children whose names we do know, those we do not yet know, and for the intergenerational harm, the trauma still present today that grew from their absence, we apologize. We pray for healing for the siblings, family, and friends of those were taken from home but did not return, and for the intergenerational impacts the schools continue to cause today in families and communities.

For where there was joy, and we took it:

Laughter and we stifled it.
Play and we turned it to tears.
Family and we broke it.
Dignity, and we stifled it.

We repent and renew our commitment to walk a new path. We honour the children lost and hold the memory of their lives in our hearts.

Comforting God, we pray for healing in the communities and families of all who experienced residential schools, and strength for all who pursue healing, truth and reconciliation. Amen.

Song: Make me a channel of your peace (740)

Sending out with God’s blessing

As we go out today, may the Spirit rouse in each of us, minds prepared to be unsettled, hearts that yearn for justice, and bodies that work for peace. Guide and impassion us in love and justice, to walk lightly and humbly and seek truth and reconciliation, healing, and wholeness. May God’s transforming love flow freely through each of us. Amen.

Response: Benediction (As you go)

Music postlude

————————————————————————-

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 License (3095377) and CLC (A735555).

The Rev. Brad Childs retains the copyright (© 2024) 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.

The Confession

In 1994, The Presbyterian Church in Canada adopted a confession recognizing the church’s role in operating residential schools and the harm those schools caused to Indigenous children, their families and communities. The Holy Spirit, speaking in and through Scripture, calls The Presbyterian Church in Canada to confession. This confession is our response to the word of God. We understand our mission and ministry in new ways in part because of the testimony of Aboriginal peoples.

We, the 120th General Assembly of The Presbyterian Church in Canada, seeking the guidance of the Spirit of God, and aware of our sin and shortcomings, are called to speak to the Church we love. We do this, out of new understandings of our past not out of any sense of being superior to those who have gone before us, nor out of any sense that we would have done things differently in the same context. It is with humility and in great sorrow that we come before God and our Aboriginal brothers and sisters with our confession.
We acknowledge that the stated policy of the Government of Canada was to assimilate Aboriginal peoples to the dominant culture and that The Presbyterian Church in Canada co-operated in this policy. We acknowledge that the roots of the harm we have done are found in the attitudes and values of Western European colonialism, and the assumption that what was not yet moulded in our image was to be discovered and exploited. As part of that policy we, with other churches, encouraged the government to ban some important spiritual practices through which Aboriginal peoples experienced the presence of the creator God. For the Church’s complicity in this policy, we ask forgiveness.
We recognize that there were many members of The Presbyterian Church in Canada who, in good faith, gave unstintingly of themselves in love and compassion for their Aboriginal brothers and sisters. We acknowledge their devotion and commend them for their work. We recognize that there were some who, with prophetic insight, were aware of the damage that was being done and protested, but their efforts were thwarted. We acknowledge their insight. For the times we did not support them adequately nor hear their cries for justice, we ask forgiveness.
We confess that The Presbyterian Church in Canada presumed to know better than Aboriginal peoples what was needed for life. The Church said of our Aboriginal brothers and sisters, “If they could be like us, they could think like us, talk like us, worship like us, sing like us, and work like us, they would know God and therefore would have life abundant.” In our cultural arrogance, we have been blind to how our understanding of the Gospel has been culturally conditioned, and because of our insensitivity to Aboriginal cultures, we have demanded more of the Aboriginal people than the Gospel requires and have thus misrepresented Jesus Christ who loves all peoples with compassionate, suffering love that all may come to God through him. For the Church’s presumption, we ask forgiveness.

We confess that, with the encouragement and assistance of the Government of Canada, The Presbyterian Church in Canada agreed to take the children of Aboriginal peoples from their own homes and place them in residential schools. In these schools, children were deprived of their traditional ways, which were replaced with Euro-Canadian customs that were helpful in the process of assimilation. To carry out this process, The Presbyterian Church in Canada used disciplinary practices which were foreign to Aboriginal peoples, and open to exploitation in physical and psychological punishment beyond any Christian maxim of care and discipline. In a setting of obedience and acquiescence there was opportunity for sexual abuse, and some were so abused. The effect of all this, for Aboriginal peoples, was the loss of cultural identity and the loss of a secure sense of self. For the Church’s insensitivity we ask forgiveness.

We regret that there are those whose lives have been deeply scarred by the effects of the mission and ministry of The Presbyterian Church in Canada. For our Church we ask forgiveness of God. It is our prayer that God, who is merciful, will guide us in compassionate ways towards helping them to heal.
We ask, also, for forgiveness from Aboriginal peoples. What we have heard we acknowledge. It is our hope that those whom we have wronged with a hurt too deep for telling will accept what we have to say. With God’s guidance our Church will seek opportunities to walk with Aboriginal peoples to find healing and wholeness together as God’s people.

Pentecost

Posted on May 19, 2024May 19, 2024 by John

Worship on the Pentecost Sunday
10:00 am 19 May 2024
Online & Onsite (Mixed Presence) Gathering as a Worshipping Community
Led by the Rev Brad Childs
Music director: Binu Kapadia Vocalist: Ann May 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: Breathe upon us, Holy Spirit,
P: and inspire our worship with your truth.
L: Stir in our hearts, Holy Spirit,
P: and fill us with your love.
L: Strengthen us, Holy Spirit,
P: and move us to act with your power.
L: Breathe in us, Holy Spirit,
P: and receive our prayers and praise.

Opening praise: Holy Spirit, you are welcome here

Prayers of approach and confession
God of power and possibility, with the flame of your Spirit, you give us energy to move into the world in Jesus’ name.
With the breath of your Spirit, you refresh us to engage life in its complexity.
Your Spirit embraces us in the diversity and difference you wove into our creation and united us in your love.
We praise you for your presence with us in every time and place.
In this time of worship, send us the Holy Spirit once again.
Renew us to serve you in the world that aches for the healing and wholeness you offer through Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord.
God of mystery and mercy, we confess we have not always paid attention to the urging of your Spirit to follow your will and your way.
Too often we claim to belong to Jesus, yet we ignore his teaching.
You created us to love one another, but we resist loving those who differ from us.
Stir our hearts with your Holy Spirit.
Transform who we are, and direct who we shall become through Christ’s redeeming love.

Response: We come to ask your forgiveness, O God

Assurance of God’s love

These words are worthy of our trust and acceptance: In Jesus Christ our sins are forgiven. Be at peace with God, with yourself and with one another. Thanks be to God for God’s steadfast love and mercy!

We listen for the voice of God

Children’s time

Response: Jesus, we are gathered

Story

When I was in school, I studied several languages (Spanish, Latin, Greek and Hebrew). I’m not great with any of them.

Pentecost took place with people from all around the known world who spoke many different languages.

There were Flames, Tongues, and Fire.

People heard God’s Message in their own languages.

The Bible has been translated into 1,658 languages to share God’s message.

One language that everyone speaks is Love. If you love someone, they know it. Now the Holy Spirit has never given me the special gift of speaking in tongues, but I know what the language of Love is. It’s kindness and respect. It’s sharing God’s message by how we act and how we treat each other.

God has given you a message to share, in English, in any language you speak and in all you do.

Prayer: Our God, we pray that you will help us to speak the language of love – to share the Gospel with all people whether we share the same language or not.

The Lord’s Prayer (535)

Transition music

Song: When the Spirit of the Lord (398)

Today’s Message

Scripture reading: Acts 2:1-21 and Romans 8:22-27

Response: Glory to the Father

Message: Pentecost

I heard a story some time ago about a boy who was wandering around the narthex of a large downtown church one Sunday morning. As the ushers looked over, they saw the boy stop and carefully examine a large bronze plaque that was hung on the wall. The ushers came over to say “Hello.” “Why are all those names up there?” the boy asked the ushers. “Those are the names of people who died in the service.” the usher replied. With eyes now open as wide as they had ever been the boy stared at the ushers and asked “the 9:30 service or the one I come too?”

Sometimes it’s easy to get confused about things in the Church. Pentecost is one of those things. Most people know what Christmas is; many know what Easter is but very few people generally know what Pentecost is. And really that’s very understandable because most Christians tend to disagree a bit about what Pentecost is about.

My Grandmother Grace once told me about how she and her friends used to hide in the bushes outside the Pentecostal church and watch the people roll around in the aisles. She said that one of her great regrets in life is laughing at the so-called “Holy Rollers” when all they were doing was trying to understand God in their own way.

The events of Pentecost and different understandings about what happened at Pentecost have helped to create a whole host of different denominations and sects of Christianity. The Toronto Blessing is a group of Charismatic Christians that believes itself to be weekly experiencing the Holy Spirit as worshipers go through fits of uncontrolled laughter. It may not be for me… but I doubt laughing every really hurt anyone.

Many Pentecostals believe that only those who speak in tongues have been given the Holy Spirit and therefore are the only true Christians. That seems odd and perhaps rude at first but then again, John Calvin was the complete opposite. He believed that the original Pentecost experience was a miracle but that it existed only for the birth of the church and that miracles were no longer needed and so, no longer happened. When people spoke of the miraculous, he argued with them (considering them uneducated). It seems Pentecost (a day that’s supposed to be about unity) is dividing us. We all seem to understand what happened differently.

In the story from Acts chapter two, the disciples are gathered together when suddenly a sound “something like” a violent wind came from heaven and filled the house. And then what seemed like “tongues of fire.” Then the tongues separate and rest on each person. And then everyone in the room begins to speak in “other tongues.”

Outside there is a large crowd with people gathered from all around the known world. But somehow everyone outside hears the gospel message proclaimed in their own native language. Some of the people nearby are skeptical and think the disciples and other travelers are simply drunk and attempt to dismiss them. But many others come to believe.

Just what was happening at Pentecost though is a little hard to tell. There was no camera around to capture the event; it was written two thousand years ago, and it was written in another language complete with its own traditions, background, idioms and much more. At first it might seem straightforward enough (The Holy Spirit came as tongues made of fire and gave people a magical language so they could share the gospel with the world beyond) but… What does it mean that Luke (the writer of Acts) doesn’t actually say that a great wind came? No instead he himself can’t describe it…calling it “something like a mighty wind.”

Next Luke can’t describe the so-called tongues… instead calling them “what seemed like tongues of fire.”

Next what does tongues of fire mean? By tongues are we meant to literally envision tongues but made of fire? Or are “tongues of fire” a figure of speech that describes the flickering edges or tops of the flames? What is speaking in tongues anyway? Are they speaking other human languages as some suggest? Did they know the languages they were speaking but simple felt compelled to speak as some say… or did they speak human languages they had never studied before? Or are they babbling nonsensical words or are they speaking the language of angels as many Charismatic Christians believe?

On the more literary front, many scholars have pointed out that the events of Acts 2 appear to mirror the events that take place at the bottom of Mt. Sinai in the book of Exodus. Both have a violent wind, both have the theophany (fire of God), both have the presence of God being revealed in a new way, both have a multitude of people gathered, both make a point to note that people from foreign lands are present and both note the Word being given to the people to share.

Other scholars have noticed that what happened in Acts 2 is actually the exact opposite of what happened in Genesis 11 at the Tower of Babel. The say that in Babel the people didn’t trust in God’s promise to Noah to never again flood the earth and so they began to make a structure to reach the heavens where they could go and be above God’s reproach and so be “like gods” themselves. In response God confuses their language and scatters them throughout the world as a curse. In contrast to this, on the day of Pentecost they say, God lifts the curse and creates a kind of universal language and speaks to people from all around the known world who are all gathered together once again.

Is the story history the way we define history, history the way they defined history or was the whole event meant to be a literary or figurative way of explaining the beginnings of a spiritual revival that first century people would have easily understood but has been largely lost on us?

Want to know what I think happened? Would you like to know exactly what I think happened?

I don’t have a clue. I don’t know why but strangely and quite frankly I don’t really care all that much to know exactly what happened.

But I’ll tell you what I do know.

Three times a year the Jews were to take a pilgrimage up to Jerusalem. Shavu’ot is one of the three. It comes from Ex. 34:22 which says that God’s people were to have a festival on the Sabbath following seven weeks after the Passover. In Leviticus 23:16 it says, “You shall number the festival after 50 days”. By the New Testament times, the Hebrew Bibles were nearly out of use and most people; even Rabbis read a Greek translation called the Septuagint. The Septuagint translation of the above texts just reads “You shall have a festival at ‘pentekostes’” the Greek word for 50 (“You shall have the festival at 50”). While the Passover was about the exodus from Egypt, the pentekostes was commonly thought to be about the giving of the Ten Commandments. But officially the holiday was a pre-harvest festival called “The Feast of First Fruits.”

See in the early first temple period when the nomadic Israelites had just left the desert and first begun to farm, they began to celebrate the festival of first fruits. It was an extreme act of faith. See farmers didn’t just cultivate crops all at the same time. It took a long time to plant and a long time to bring in the crops. Farming is hard and dangerous today, but this was an even harder time. For most people there were no irrigation systems, no safe place to store next year’s seed, no guarantee of pleasant weather, no pesticides to keep crops from being destroyed, and only a few ways to take out loans (none of which were pleasant) if nothing grew. A weak harvest could mean starvation and the death of a whole extended family. Two weak harvests and death was almost certain. Now it should be noted that Leviticus asks the people to give a tithe or tenth of their earning as a sacrifice to God for the festival but here’s where the feast of first fruits gets really serious.

See – at the feast of first fruits, they gave 1/10 of their harvest. But it’s not 1/10 after the harvest is all over. It’s the first 10% of the crop. At the beginning of the harvest before it had all come in, long before they knew if the rest of the crop would mature, if the rain would come, if the bugs wouldn’t eat it all, if there would be enough to eat, if enough to eat… enough to store, if enough to store then enough to save for planting the following year. Before they knew anything at all… they would take the first 10% of their crop, and during the harvest season… travel to the Temple in Jerusalem (at the time when they should be watching their crops most carefully) and they would take that first 10% (their only food for the whole year thus far… all of it) and they would burn it.

They would burn it because they trusted God would provide them with more.

Shavu’ot… Pentekostes… That is why the disciples are gathered together in that room 50 days after Jesus was killed. There is a party going on… it’s the 50^th day. It’s a pentecostes. It is an exciting time… but it’s also a very selfless time when the people really stepped up to the plate in faith, where they stuck their necks out as far as they could possibly go.

And on that day, the Ruach HaKodesh (the very Breath of God) came into that place. And as opposed to how things had been before (an insular and tight knit group), verse four says the Breath of God and the Fire and Spirit “came to all present.” What’s more the Spirit didn’t just “rest” on them as He did in the Old Testament but instead verse five says he “filled them.” Everyone began at once preaching the gospel and outside travelers from all around the known world heard the message of Christ in his or her own language. Because of Pentecostes when the people gave their first fruits, God birthed the Church through the disciples… the First Fruits of many (including you) who would share the gospel with others. Because he trusted that there would be more.

Sometimes it’s easy to get confused about things in the Church. And that’s understandable. Exactly what happened that first Christian Pentecost day two thousand years ago? I don’t have a clue. I don’t know for sure if they were literal tongues or just flames (both would be miracles). I don’t know if the story is more literal or literary. I don’t know for sure if they were known languages, angelic tongues, or something else. I don’t know if God still does the same kind of miracles today or if this was just for those first believers. I don’t know… but strangely and quite frankly I don’t really care all that much. Because I may not know all the minute details of exactly what happened at that first Christian Pentecost, but I do think I know what it means that it happened.

I think what John the Baptist had said in Luke 3:16 came true when he said,
“I baptize with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”

I think Jesus did what he said he’d do in John 14:16 when he said, “And I will ask the Father and He will send you another advocate who will never leave you.”

I think what Christ said Acts 1:8 came true where he said, “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.”

I think that first Pentecost day they were the first fruits of those called to proclaim the message of Christ to all the world and that you and I are a part of that harvest just as you and I are called to proclaim it to all the world in every language and every corner of creation. Because Acts chapter two is the birthplace of the Church as we know it… and when the Bible says, “12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, ‘What does this mean?’” I believe Peter is right to answer that question by saying, “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Because the Church might be confusing at times and the gospel hard to grasp but the Spirit of God wants everyone to hear it.

May the Lord Bless you and keep you,

May you be the first fruits of all those you touch,

And may we always proclaim Happy Birthday to the Church of Jesus Christ, in every language everywhere knowing that by the power of the Sprit, “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Song: I am the church (475)

We respond to serve God: Our time of giving

Reflection on giving: At Pentecost, God poured out gifts of the Spirit upon the Church, to equip Christ’s followers to bear witness to him throughout the world. We offer our gifts and our lives to God so that the witness of the Church will continue with the blessing of the Holy Spirit in this generation and beyond.

Prayer of gratitude and for others and ourselves

Spirit of grace and power, bless the gifts we offer so that they may accomplish surprising things in Jesus’ name. Bless our lives, too, so that our words and actions bear witness to Jesus’ love and mercy each and every day.

Wind of the Spirit, blow through your whole church on this day of Pentecost: Blow through us and renew our faith. Re-awaken our love for God. Let the flames of your love warm our hearts with trust in Jesus Christ. Dare us to do great things in his name.

Wind of the Spirit, blow through us and renew our faith and hope.

Wind of the Spirit, blow through us and give us energy to serve you as the body of Christ working in the world. Open our eyes to recognize needs for ministry and mission around us. Open our hearts to welcome newcomers and meet those we don’t yet know. Open our hands to share in tasks that need doing, and open our lips in prayer and praise.

Wind of the Spirit, blow through us and renew our faith and hope.

Wind of the Spirit, blow through us and give us understanding for all those whose lives seem so different from ours (brief silence)

for those facing situations we’ve never encountered (brief silence)
for those with whom we’ve disagreed (brief silence)
for problems and challenges we face at home, at work, and in the world facing so much turmoil. (longer silence)

Wind of the Spirit, blow through us and renew our faith and hope.

Wind of the Spirit, blow through us and bring healing

for all who face pain or illness, discouragement, or disappointment (brief silence)
for all who know sorrow, sadness, or grief (brief silence)
for those who feel pressure in these uncertain times (longer silence)

Wind of the Spirit, blow through us and renew our faith and hope.

Wind of the Spirit, blow through us and bring us the compassion we see in Christ Jesus to serve the world you love in his name.

Blow through us and refresh us as his faithful followers.

Unite us across our differences as together, we pray, Amen.

Song: Jump with joy (406)

Sending out with God’s blessing

On this Pentecost Day, go in the strength of the Spirit to serve with renewed energy wherever the Spirit moves you. And may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit, and the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Response: God to enfold you

Music postlude

————————————————————————-

Sent into the World (Lynn Vaughan)

Posted on May 12, 2024May 13, 2024 by John

Worship on the Seventh Sunday of Easter
Mother’s Day / Christian Family Sunday
10:00 am 12 May 2024
Online & Onsite (Mixed Presence) Gathering as a Worshipping Community
Led by the Lynn Vaughan
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: Clap your hands, all you peoples;
P: We will shout to God with songs of joy.
L: For God is awesome, reigning over all the earth!
P: We will sing praises to God every day.
L: Let us worship God with all we have to offer.
P: We will offer God our love – heart, body, mind and soul!

Opening praise: Love the Lord, your God

Prayers of approach and confession

God of promise and purpose, we praise with thankful hearts.

As the beauty of the seasons change the beauty of your world lifts our hearts in praise. You lifted up Jesus to be by your side, and so we know he is always by our side as the future opens before us. Show us the promise and purpose in our own lives – how we can unfurl with new life and move into the future empowered by the Holy Spirit, embraced by the love of Christ our Lord.

Lord Jesus Christ, you called your followers to carry the Good News of God’s love and forgiveness to the ends of the earth. Yet we confess we cannot always find the words to tell others of our faith.

We try to act out your love, but it’s hard to tell others why we do what we do for you.

Forgive us. Give us the courage to speak openly of our commitment to you.

Response: I waited, I waited on you, Lord

Assurance of God’s forgiveness

Friends, remember the promise the Apostle Paul declares: What will separate us from the love of Christ? Hardship? Distress? Peril or sword? 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, no matter what path we are looking to follow, God’s deep love will always be with us.

We listen for the voice of God

Children’s time

Response: My Lighthouse

Story

Our theme in Sunday School today is “Sent into the World”, so we’re going to do a little experiment to demonstrate how that might look for us, as Christians.

This bottle I have and the water inside of it is going to represent the world we live in. It has the potential to be pure and beautiful and clear but, unfortunately, our world is sometimes a messy place. Sometimes, bad things happen. Sometimes, people are too busy looking out for themselves that they forget to look out for each other. They forget to love one another and be kind, as Jesus teaches us. So, that makes our world look a little murky and cloudy. (add food colouring to water)

After Jesus and his disciples ate their Last Supper together before his crucifixion, he prayed for them. He prayed that as they lived in the world, they would not become part of the murkiness and bad things that happened in the world. He wanted them to go out into the world and share the gifts he had given them, but he did not want them to become stained. He wanted them to remain the people God made them to be. He wanted them to know His love and to share that love with others. So, he prayed for them.

This prayer doesn’t just apply to Jesus’ disciples; it applies to us, too.

So, here we are, getting ready to go out into the world. Let’s see what happens. (pour oil into water in jar, shake it up)

When we first put these things together, it appears that the water and oil become one, right? But wait a minute.

Have the oil and water really become one? Let’s let the bottle stand for a little while and see what happens. Look! The water and oil have separated. That shows us that even when they were all mixed together, they were never really all together as one.

This is a pretty good picture of what Jesus wants US to be like in this world of ours. Even though we live in the world, we don’t have to become part of the muck and the bad stuff that so often exists. We can rise above everything bad and negative in the world and be separate from it, showing off our love and compassion for each other. We can teach others about God’s kingdom and everything good that happens when we follow Jesus and open our hearts to having a relationship with God.

Prayer

Dear Jesus, help us, as we live in this world, to remain faithful to your call to be separate from the world and show off your love.

The Lord’s Prayer (535)

Transition music

Song: God forgave my sin (774)

Today’s Message

Scripture reading: Acts 1:1-14 and John 17:1-19

Response: Behold the Lamb of God

Message: Sent into the world

This Sunday’s Gospel text comes at a unique time in the Church year.

The Easter season begins a time of 50 days that ends with Pentecost, which will happen next Sunday, and it includes the outpouring of the Holy Spirit onto Jesus’ disciples. During the 50 days of Easter, we have the chance to revel in the new life Christ brings when he conquers death.

This past Thursday, which is ten days before Pentecost, marks the day of Christ’s Ascension into heaven. So then, today, the 7th Sunday of Easter – is kind of an “in between” Sunday.

On this particular Sunday of the Easter season:

Christ is no longer physically present with the disciples, as he has been since his resurrection, but
The Holy Spirit has not yet come upon them and given them the courage and motivation to begin their mission work as they are sent out into the world.

This scenario is a very typical moment for our own experiences of Christian life. We know Christ is risen. We know He has the power to conquer death. But, like the Apostles during this in-between time before Pentecost, we sometimes feel a bit scared and powerless to go out and face the world.

In the Gospel reading from John 17 that we just heard, we are taken back in time to Jesus’ last meal with his friends – the Last Supper – and the great and mysterious prayer he recited after dinner. Jesus is acutely aware that he is about to leave them. He has done all he can to protect his friends and teach them about God’s love, up until this time, but now he must entrust them to his Father’s care.

The prayer that Jesus recites bounces around a bit and is a little confusing, but it emphasizes three main things: belonging, being informed, and being sent. Today, I’m choosing to focus on the being sent part of things.

The disciples are made aware that Jesus, the Son, was “sent” by the Father. This “sentness” seems to be crucial to a true and transforming faith.

Jesus prays that his disciples – that WE – are being sent out in the same way as he was sent. He gives us the big green light to GO into the world to spread the message of the gospel and TRUST that all will be well as we face the future … and all the uncertainties that come along with that.

I’m going to share with you a little story about some fish who were kind of stuck in their own little world, set in their ways, when they were suddenly given the opportunity to follow a new path and take a chance on something that could change their sheltered lives forever. We are reminded that Christ offers an invitation to each one of us, as well. He holds it out and waits for us to respond. No one is forcing us to accept it. No one coerces us into believing. We each receive an invitation to follow Him and go out into the world to continue to spread the good news.

Do we dare respond to this invitation? Are we ready to follow this teacher? Are we ready to live our lives with him and be sent out to do His work? As I tell the story, see if you recognize any of the characters in the story in the people around us. See if you recognize any of the characters in yourself!

This is a story about some fishes who lived in a very small puddle of water.

“Give me that waterbug!”

“No, I saw him first!”

“Get your fins off my supper!”

“He’s mine, I tell you!”

And so, every day, the little fishes would fight. In such cramped quarters, there isn’t much else to do — except swim in circles and hunt for waterbugs. Their stagnant puddle, cradled between the roots of an ancient oak, lay just beside a swiftly flowing river. Life never seemed to change for the puddle fish.

But one morning, as they swam in circles and hunted for waterbugs, there was a sudden noise:

SPLASH!!!

“Watch yourself! Stand clear!”

An amazing, brightly coloured fish had jumped into the riverside puddle. This large fish had blue and red and golden scales. And — what was most unusual to the inhabitants of this particular puddle of water — he was smiling.

At first, the frightened puddle–fishes huddled together against the puddle’s far edge. Finally, one of them asked, “Where do you come from?”

The Sparkling Fish smiled brightly: “I come from the sea.”

“The sea? What’s the sea?”

The Sparkling Fish shook his head in surprise. “You don’t know about the sea? No one has ever told you? Why, the sea . . . the sea is what fish are made for!” He rubbed a golden fin against his head, puzzled.

“How can I explain the sea to you? Well … it’s not like this little puddle; it’s endless! You don’t have to swim in circles all day; you can dance with the tides. Life isn’t lived in the shade — the sun arches over the waves in silver and crimson! And there are many splendid sea–creatures, such as can hardly be imagined! It’s endless! And sparkling clear. The sea is what fish are made for!”

Just then, a waterbug skirted the surface overhead, but no one moved. Then a pale gray puddle–fish spoke up: “How do we get to the sea?”

The Sparkling Fish pointed toward the large black root that lay close to the river’s edge. “It’s a simple matter. You jump from this little puddle into that river, and trust that the current will take you to the sea.”

Astonishment clouded the puddle–water. At last, a brave little fish swam forward with a hard, experienced look in his eye. He was a Realist Fish.

The Realist Fish looked down at the muddy puddle–bottom and frowned. “It’s pleasant to talk about this ‘sea–business’. But if you ask me, we have to face reality. And what is reality? Obviously — it’s swimming in circles and hunting for waterbugs.”

A look of distaste mingled with pity crossed his face. “It’s all pie–in–the–sea nonsense. Of course, I sympathize; you undoubtedly dreamed this up because of some trauma you suffered as a little guppy. But life is hard. It takes a real Fish to face the facts.”

The Sparkling Fish smiled: “But you don’t understand. I’ve been there. I’ve seen the sea. It’s far more wonderful ….” Yet before he could finish speaking, the Realist Fish swam away.

Next, there neared a fish with a nervous twitch in his tail. He was a Scared Fish. He began to stutter: “If . . . if I understand y–y–you, we’re supposed to j–j–jump into th–th–that river over there?”

“Yes. For a fish who wants to go to the sea, the way to get there lies through the river.” The Sparkling Fish swam closer. (It’s difficult to understand someone when he stutters underwater.)

The Scared Fish’s voice jumped to a screech: “B–B–But . . . have you looked at that river over there? I’m just a small fish! That river is deep and strong and wide! Why, a small fish would be swept away by the current! If I jumped out of this puddle, I wouldn’t have any control! NO! I just can’t. . .”

The Sparkling Fish whispered, “Just trust me. Trust that the river will take you some place good . . .” But before he could finish, the Scared Fish hurried away.

Finally, there swam out a figure who seemed very solemn and learned. (He had been in this particular school of fish longer than anyone else.) He was a Theologian Fish.

Calmly, he swam to the middle of the puddle and adjusted his spectacles. Setting down a small shellfish podium, the Theologian Fish pulled out a sheaf of notes from his vest pocket. Then he smiled at the puddle–fishes: “My brothers and sisters, our distinguished visitor has expressed many views which certainly merit consideration.”

Then, he bowed respectfully to the Sparkling Fish: “However, my colourful friend, we must also concede that those fishes who so gracefully inhabit this humble puddle have also expressed many views which merit consideration. By all means, let us be reasonable.”

He glanced down at his notes, and then his smile brightened: “We can work this out. Why not form a discussion group? We could meet every Monday at seven o’clock, and I’m certain that some of the puddle–fish would be happy to bring coffee and doughnuts ….”

The eyes of the Sparkling Fish were sad: “No, this will never do. Talking is important, but in the end — it is a simple matter. You jump. You jump out of this puddle and trust that the river will take you to the sea.”

From somewhere above the muddied waters, a sparrow was singing. The light in the Sparkling Fish’s eyes shone with a bright urgency: “Besides, don’t you know? Summer is coming!”

The puddle–fishes murmured: “Summer is coming! Summer is …. Summer is coming. What difference does that make?”

The Sparkling Fish pointed toward the sun: “Summer is coming. The spring rains filled this little puddle to overflowing. But this puddle is going to dry up someday. No puddle lasts forever.”

The puddle–fishes were stunned. But then the Realist Fish swam to the front. There was a dark contempt on his face as he spat out his words: “That’s just like you religious people. When you don’t honestly convince people of what you believe, you try to scare them. You’re just one of those end–of–the–puddle fanatics!”

He swam away in disgust.

But then, all the colours of the Sparkling Fish — blue, red and gold — brightened into a warm glow. He whispered: “It is a simple matter. You jump. You jump from this little puddle, and trust that the river will take you to the sea. Will take you to a better future. Now … who will come and follow me?”

At first, no one moved. But then, a few puddle–fish swam to his side. Together, they jumped into the river, and the current swept them away.

The remaining puddle–fish were quiet for a long time.

Then, once again they began to swim in circles and hunt for waterbugs.

So now, ask yourself: are you ready to jump? Amen

Song: We are marching (639)

We respond to serve God: Our time of giving

Reflection on giving: Even as the season of Easter draws closer to its end this week, we continue to receive the blessings God pours out for us in Christ and in creation. Our gifts to God speak of our gratitude for these blessings and our commitment to share them with the whole world.

Eternal and ever-present God, bless the gifts we offer today with the power of your Holy Spirit. Use them and us to witness to the love of Jesus Christ and bring healing and hope to the world in his name. Amen.

A Prayer for Christian Family Sunday

Lord Jesus Christ, You came to us bearing God’s love to live with us, to walk with us, and to show us how to love.

You pray with us and for us day by day.

Today we turn to you with our hopes and our concerns.

Draw near to us and to those for whom we pray, so that your love will be known in our world this day.

Lord Jesus, on this Christian Family Sunday, we pray for the families we belong to. Thank you for parents, grandparents and great-grandparents for the generations who started our families and all they have given to us.

Today we thank you especially for our mothers and pray for all the mothers around the world.

Give mothers hope for their children, and peace in the world to raise their children safely.

Comfort and support each member of our families and guide each child and young person into the future.

Lord Jesus, we pray for families in our community and in your world

We remember families in need:

Families who are struggling under economic pressures…

Families who know sorrow because someone has died or gone away…

Families who live in fear because they are in the midst of some kind of trouble…

Surround these families with your love and bring them courage to face whatever tomorrow brings.

Lord Jesus, we pray for each other and for our church family:

Thank you for the friendship and fellowship we share, and the unique gifts each one brings to our life together.

Show us our paths into the future and give us important things to do in your name. Amen.

Song: Who’s goin’ to tell the story (861)

Sending out with God’s blessing

Go in strength, with the assurance that Christ walks with you, to witness to his love in truth and action. And may God’s resurrecting love open the future for you, empowered by the Spirit, and embraced by the presence of Jesus Christ, our Risen and Ascended Lord.

Response: Go forth into the world

Music postlude

————————————————————————-

Lynn Vaughan retains the copyright (© 2024) on all original material in this service. As far as she is aware, all of the material that has not been attributed to others is her own creation or is in the public domain. Unacknowledged use of copyrighted material is unintentional and will be corrected immediately upon notification being received.

The long road

Posted on May 5, 2024May 5, 2024 by John

Worship on the Sixth Sunday of Easter
05 May 2024    10:00 am
The Sacrament of Holy Communion
Online & Onsite (Mixed Presence) Gathering as a Worshipping Community
Led by the Rev. Brad Childs                Elder: Heather Tansem
Music Director: Binu Kapadia           Vocalist: Vivian Houg

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: Let us sing to the Lord a new song,
P: for God has done marvelous things.
L: Let us make known the Lord’s victory,
P: for God’s steadfast love covers the whole earth.
L: Let us sing joyful praises,
P: and join all creation to worship God’s holy name.

Opening praise: Forever God is faithful

Prayers of approach and confession

God, you are known to us in scripture and you are known to us in our experiences but you are also beyond our knowledge and our comprehension. We come together not because of strength but because we need to be lifted up. We come to put our attention for one hour of the week on something clearly beyond ourselves. We come to dedicate time to the God we know and yet still strive to fathom.

God of all power and new life we come, humbly, bowing our heads before you, aware of your holiness and majesty knowing that in most things we are powerless and lowly. We come hoping to be received as humble servants but when we pray we feel like more than that. Many of us are invigorated by the morning. Yet many come today with reservations or doubts or simply come weighed down by the burdens we carry. Here we experience your willingness to walk beside us and share the weight of our load.

Only you can meet us in the heights and depths of human living. Only you can lead in the way of fulfillment. Only you are worthy of our worship. Thus we join with all creation singing your praise. To the seas’ roar, we add our melody. To the song echoing in the hills, we add our harmonies. To the voices carrying long distances through the prairie fields, we add our tone.

Despite our experiences of grace, we are not always faithful to you. We do not always live up to our calling to be your people. We seek joy in the strangest places. We tire of the old, old Story and seek happiness in novelty. We seek out swear words more often than true ones. We seek easy roads rather than the right paths. We play with the fires of addiction, compulsion and greed and wonder why we have so little fulfillment.

We are more attentive to the voices around us that sanction self-interest over love of neighbor or stranger and we wonder why peace is so elusive. We fail those you have given us to love and wonder why we feel so insecure.

Forgive us, Lord. And we ask for your help to live up to our best intentions and help to be the best that we can be and prayerfully even beyond. Help us use the energy of our regrets to change our ways. Fuel our desire to walk in your way. Energize us to pursue your purposes. Make us yours and only so. Bless the days ahead and lead us in all truth. Forgive us, change us, send us, defend us and make us new. We offer our prayers through your son, Lord Jesus Amen

Response: We come to ask your forgiveness, O Lord

Assurance of God’s pardon

The God of the Scriptures comes with fire to burn away what is unclean. But like gold being refined in the flames, what is left behind is more pure. In confessing our trials and our failures and in our promises to do better, our God refines the souls of the faithful. Thanks be to God. Thanks be to God amen.

We listen for the voice of God

Song: There’s a spirit in the air (764: vss 1, 3, 5, 6)

Scripture readings (NRSV): I John 5:1-6 & John 15:9-17 (NIV)

Response: Glory to the Father

Message: The Long Road

While a college student, Heidi Neumark took a year off from Brown University to be part of a volunteer program. It was sponsored by a group called Rural Mission. Heidi was sent to Johns Island—off the Carolina coast—where she learned from the sons and daughters of plantation slaves who allowed her to sit and listen-in as folks sat around telling stories.

In her words: “The most important lesson I learned on Johns Island was from Miss Ellie, who lived miles down a small dirt road in a one-room, wooden home with an outhouse and one small cooking pot. I loved to visit her. We’d sit in old rocking chairs on the front porch, drinking tall glasses of sweet tea, while she’d tell me stories often punctuated with unique expressions that would leap from her river of thought like bright, silver fish. ‘Girl, I be so happy I could jump the sky!’ she’d say.

It’s the kind of phrase where you know what she means without understanding what she means. And Miss Ellie was full of them.

I never could find out Miss Ellie’s precise age, but it was somewhere between 90 and 100. The sad part – maybe she didn’t know herself. She still did everything herself. She still chopped her own firewood, stacked in neat little piles behind the house. She was committed to work hard and to relax.

Miss Ellie had a friend named Netta. And Netta, whom she’d known since they were small girls had been a good friend. In order to get to Netta’s house, Miss Ellie had to walk four miles through fields of tall grass. This was the sweet grass that Johns Island women make famous baskets out of sold at Easter all around the state. But it was also home to numerous poisonous snakes: coral snakes, rattlesnakes, water moccasins, and copperheads. It was home to all manner of venom.

Actually, Netta’s home was not that far from Miss Ellie’s place, but there was a stream that cut across the fields between the two homes. You had to walk quite a distance to get to the place where the stream narrowed enough to pass. The travel was dangerous. And I admired Miss Ellie, who would set off to visit her friend Netta; full of bouncy enthusiasm, with no worry for the snakes or the long miles or the aching bones.

Still, I also felt sorry for her. Poor Miss Ellie, I thought, old and arthritic, having to walk all that way, pushing through the thick summer heat, not to mention the snakes. And the miles of travel! It was a lot for anyone; certainly a well-seasoned senior!

I felt sorry—until I hit upon the perfect plan.

See, I arranged with some local men to help build a simple plank bridge across the stream near Miss Ellie’s house. I scouted out the ideal place—not too wide, but too deep to cross without a bridge. I bought and helped carry the planks there myself.

Our new bridge was built in a day.

I was so excited that I could hardly wait to see Miss Ellie’s reaction.

I went to her house, where she wanted to sit in her rocker and tell stories as usual, but I was too impatient with my project for that. I practically dragged her off with me. ‘Look!’ I shouted, ‘a shortcut for you to visit Netta!’

I was so proud of what I’d done to help Miss Ellie, that sweetest old lady I had ever met. I’ll never forget that day.

In our reading from today, Jesus tells his disciples “¹²My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”

It’s one of those nice moments. But of course, it means different things to different people. The question has to be asked, “What does it really mean to love somebody”?

Over the years I have done a lot of weddings and a lot of wedding sermons. You may have noticed that I don’t insert names into forms. I start from scratch with nearly every wedding or funeral service. I don’t just do the same thing on repeat replacing “he” with “her” and call it quits. They are all very specific to the individuals involved.

But all of my wedding messages have one thing in common. In every one, I always make a point to say that “Love is not a feeling, it’s an action”. And that is extremely important.

For example, when the apostle Paul famously lists his definition of “true love” he says, “Love” “is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. ⁸True love never fails.”

But here is the rub” Those are all actions.

Nothing on Paul’s list is a feeling.

Nothing.

I am completely convinced that the rise in divorce in recent years is at least in part due to the fact that Hollywood and movie stars and the whole world out there – have convinced people that love is a feeling you have for someone else… that love is some feeling you get. In reality, love is not a feeling you have for someone else, it’s the things you do, in response to a feeling you have about someone else.

We have a whole generation of people raised on a concept of love that is utterly selfish at its core because it’s about what we get out of a relationship. Are you served by this relationship? What do you get out of it? It is often selfishness deputized as love.

The Bible on the other hand has just the opposite concept. In the scriptures, Love is not something you feel about someone else, it’s something you do for someone else. And there are no shortcuts. Love takes work. It’s not getting. It’s giving.

Putting Paul’s words in the affirmative: Love is when you have patience for someone else. Love is when you show kindness to another when you hold humility, and you show honour to someone else. Love is when you reject selfishness, you choose to trust and decide to have hope. You give love.

The Bible says that true love “never fails” because true love isn’t a feeling that can pass with time or emotions, it’s a commitment, a devotion and an action. You can never fall out of “true love” because it’s an action you’ve determined to do and you keep at it even when not deserved.

Jesus takes this idea to its ultimate conclusion.

True love is being willing even to die for someone else. It’s being willing to give up everything for another.

Often modern readers will be a little confused if they sit down with these verses and no surrounding context. So, when Jesus says “You are my friends if you do what I command” it sounds harsh and silly. To be friends we have to do whatever you say? Really?

When you hear those words it’s easy to think – that’s a horrible thing to say. “You are my friends if you do what I command” sounds like the little 8-year-old neighbour-girl Jenny who used to tell my little sister Hannah when they were kids that if Hannah didn’t do A, B and C then they weren’t gonna be friends anymore. It’s mean.

But is that really what he’s saying?… that we need to be perfect and follow him perfectly or will he reject us?

I don’t think so. Remember in Luke 7:34 Jesus is called “the friend of sinners” too.

No, it’s deeper than that.

If you don’t understand your relationship, and your place in God, you’ll find yourself trying to do what only God can do.

Many people in church today are confused, messed up, discouraged, depressed, and unable to praise God the way they are supposed to because they are spending all of their energy trying to be their god. They are trying to bless themselves, make their gospel, heal themselves, promote themselves, climb the latter of success themselves, trying to solve their problems alone, answer their own prayers, trying to cover up for God, because they feel as if he’s not doing it fast enough, trying to make God look good through their human efforts and it cannot be done. We don’t need to be perfect we just need to be His and fully His.

True Christianity is not about adding Jesus to my life. Instead, it is about devoting my life completely to Him – submitting wholly to His will and seeking to please Him above all else. It demands dying to self and following the Master, no matter the cost. It’s doing exactly what he did… it’s being willing to give everything.

And then the conversation takes a unique turn. Jesus says ^15 “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends.”

In ancient times, a rabbi or teacher would have followers and those followers were considered servants. But here Jesus is changing the relationship that He has with the disciples and with us. He now calls us friends.

Interestingly although this was the common word for Talmidim (a Master’s student) this is the last time the word doulos (for servant) or any variation of that word appears in John’s gospel. After this, the word is never used again. Once Jesus called us friends, that became the only way they were referred to from that point on.

Theologians have noted that Abraham was called a “friend of God” (Chron 20:7) in Exodus 33:11 so was Moses. But that’s it. It’s very rare in the Bible for someone to receive that kind of title from the triune creator of the universe. That should say something about the power of friendship. And it should say something about the love of Christ.

Aristotle writes, “To a noble man there applies the true saying that he does all things for the sake of his friends … and, if need be, he gives his life for them” (Eth. Nic. 9.8, 1169a). Plato stated “Only those who love, wish to die for others” (Symposium, 179B).

Plato and Aristotle it seems are in good company.

To the idea that a friend is willing to give everything for another Jesus adds, “¹⁴You are my friends…if you do what I command.”

And once again that comes phrase comes off a tad harsh to modern readers. Jesus will only love us and he will only call us friends if we do what he says. It just feels like little 8-year-old Jenny Mahoney is trying to get my sister Hannah to do something she doesn’t want to.

Do we have to do what God says to be called friends? If we want to be loved or be friends with God we have to obey his every command. At first, this verse makes the all-powerful God of the universe sound like a kid on the playground readying to take his ball and go home, if he doesn’t get his way.

But then again… maybe it’s more simplistic than all that.

See, In this very paragraph, Jesus defined what he meant by this exactly. He said this is my command: “Love one another”. You are my friends if you love one another.

And then he gives an example: “Greater love has no more than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” In other words, if you want to be friends you can’t just decide that you like each other. You don’t just get to have warm fuzzy feelings about God or the people around you. You have to do something about it. You don’t just get to take. You have to sacrifice. You have to actually love, not just with your feelings but with your service. Because true love isn’t a feeling, it’s an action. You have to give.

The point should be well taken. You don’t just get to call people your friends and then do nothing for them. You don’t get to call yourself of friend of God and then ignore Him. There are no shortcuts to friendship, no shortcuts to real love. It’s a long road. And real Love means action.

For Jesus, the title that was previously given only to Abraham and Moses is now a title that belongs rightly to anyone who knows that kind of love… true love. Many things in this world could cause us to wonder. But one of the most striking is that the bible tells us – the divine being that hung the stars in their place and built the universe atom by atom, and quark by quark, that this same God should want to call us His friends.

And we are. But love has a price. Friendship has a price.

This is not the love of Hollywood. It’s the love of God.

On John’s Island, Heidi Neumark shouted “Look” to Miss Ellie, “A shortcut for you to visit Netta!” And it was a grand gesture which was greatly appreciated. But “Miss Ellie’s face did not register the grateful, happy look Heidi had expected at first. There was no smile, no “jumping the sky”.

Heidi continues to tell the story in her own words. She wrote: “Instead, for a long time, Miss Ellie looked puzzled, then she shook her head and looked at me and said, ‘Child, I don’t need no shortcut.’ And then she told me about all the other friends she kept up with – on her way to visit Netta.

A “shortcut” she noted, would cut her off from Mr. Jenkins, a lonely man with whom she always talked about politics; from Miss Hunter, who so looked forward to the quilt scraps Miss Ellie would make sure to bring by; from the raisin wine she’d get to sample at one neighbour place in exchange for her homemade biscuits; and the chance to look in on the “old folks” (whatever that means to someone over 90) who had “taken ill”.

And then as if she were a parent speaking to a child or a teacher granting a bold and important lesson to a student, Ms. Ellie cocked her head a bit to the side, blinked her dark brown eyes slow and hard and with a pursed little smile she taught… “Child, ‘can’t take no shortcuts if you want friends in this world. Shortcuts don’t mix with love.” (1001 Il. pg325)

Friends… The God of the universe commands you – to love. But remember this, Love is not a feeling, it’s an action. Friendship has a price because love takes work. And “shortcuts don’t mix with love”. So when it comes to friends and loved ones, to God and neighbour…. Always take the long road. Amen.

Song: For the beauty of the earth (434)

We respond to serve God: Our time of giving

Prayer for others and ourselves

Life-giving God, we thank you for signs of renewal around us. From treetops to roadside ditches new life is bursting forth. Vitality is now evident all around us. Our city is becoming green again. How amazing is a renewal? How delightful is birth and rebirth? Who are we that we should be so blessed? And yet we are. Even the greatest losses we’ve ever suffered in life, are only painful because we had something so special in the first place.

Deep is our gratitude for your constant reminders of the power of life over death. Deep is our gratitude for the resurrection’s power upon which your church is built.
Deep is our gratitude for the simple gift of prayer.
Deep is our gratitude for the ability to transform as people, change situations and revitalize the yearnings of our hearts.
Deep is our gratitude for love that nurtures life and makes renewal possible. For all that nurtures love, we are grateful: family relationships, friendships, worship, prayer, art, music, rest, play, learning and even our work.

We pray for your love to spill over into the areas of need where it seems too thin.

We pray for our families and for the families of our church where suffering might be found. May loving actions be the mark of our homes. May those who nurture the young and the needy be supported. May children experience their value. May people be treated fairly. We name before you now particular situations in our family and we pray silently to you. …

We pray for the new life slumbering within our church. May it burst forth in ways we cannot imagine. Help, us look for its signs and put our energy into nurturing it. Show each of us one thing we can do for the good of your Kingdom in this place in the coming weeks. Hear our prayers for this congregation and a thousand other churches in this denomination. …

We pray for the people of Nepal. We pray for aid workers, for those who administer resources, for those who are on the front lines serving those who have been devastated, for generous responses around the world and for the people who offer them. Uphold each individual who has been directly affected and lead each one to new places of safety and care. And Lord, Bless those who think of others… those who give. Amen.

The Sacrament of Holy Communion

Invitation

Beloved in the Lord, as we draw near to the Lord’s Table, we are to consider the great benefits of this Sacrament for those who come in faith and repentance, and those who hunger and thirst after Christ.

Those who, putting their trust in Christ, desire to lead a new life, and to mature with the gifts of grace, are invited and encouraged to come to the Supper of the Lord for their spiritual refreshment and renewal of strength.

Song: Worship the Lord (555: vss. 1-4)

The Lord’s Prayer (469)

Communion Prayer

Gracious God, we praise your holy name, giving thanks to you with our lips and our lives.

For the power and mystery of your Word by which you created us and called us to yourself, we give you thanks.

For the power and mystery of your Word by which you took flesh and lived among us through your Son, Jesus Christ, we give you thanks.

For the power and mystery of your Word by which you choose common people, forming the church to be the body of Christ in the world, we give you thanks.

Faithful God, we offer you our praise and thanks as we return to you these holy gifts of bread and wine.

Remembering our Lord’s command to take and eat we ponder the mystery of his promise that in this meal we are joined to him and to one another as a holy people uniting heaven and earth.

We offer you our praise and thanks for Jesus Christ, who took flesh and lived among us, was baptized for our sins, taught us your way of truth, loved us in our lovelessness and died that we may have life.

And now O God, we celebrate with great joy the resurrection of our Lord, his presence with us in this feast, and his promise of a new creation.

God of grace and power, you invite us to share in mysteries that are beyond our understanding; in simple trust, we seek the transforming power of your Spirit on this assembly of your people, on these words and actions, on this bread and wine, in order that, by the miracle of your grace, we may be united to Christ and to one another– one in body, one in spirit, one in faith.

Sharing of the bread and wine

The Lord Jesus, on the night before he died, took bread, and after giving thanks to God, he broke it and said, “This is my body, that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

…

In the same way, he took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant sealed in my blood. Whenever you drink it, do it in remembrance of me.”

Every time you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Song: One bread, one body

The prayer after Communion

Our God, we ask that you would send us out to love our neighbours, to love you and to do so not just with words but with our acts.

Hymn: Amigos de Cristo / Friends of the Lord (476)

Sending out with God’s blessing

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Response: Benediction (as you go)

Music postlude

————————————————————————-

The Communion liturgy is based on the liturgies of the PCC’s 1991 Book of Common Worship. 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).

You and Goliath

Posted on April 28, 2024April 28, 2024 by John

Worship on the Fifth Sunday of Easter
Mission Awareness Sunday
10:00 am 28 April 2024
Online & Onsite (Mixed Presence) Gathering as a Worshipping Community
Led by the Rev Brad Childs
Music director: Binu Kapadia Vocalist: Rom Rhoad
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: Like spring breaking through winter’s power,
P: God’s resurrecting power breaks into our lives in surprising ways.
L: Like the vine that supports blossoms and fruit,
P: God’s Word upholds the church in strength.
L: Let us worship God who makes all things new.
P: We will praise God who brings growth and renewal to all life.

Opening praise: I give You my heart

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: Glory, glory, hallelujah

Assurance of God’s grace

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.

We listen for the voice of God

Children’s time

Response: Jesus loves me (373)

Story: Behold a team went forth to play a game of baseball.

Just as the umpire was saying “Batter up” to start the game, the catcher for the home team arrived and took his place behind the plate. The center fielder didn’t show up at all but sent regrets. The 3^rd basemen likewise failed to come to the game, having been up late the night before. The shortstop was there but left his glove at home by mistake. Two the outfielders were away on a weekend trip but said they’d be there in spirit.

The pitcher went to the mound and looked around for his teammates. But his heart was sad for their positions were empty. The game was announced; the visitor were in the stands; and there was nothing to do but pitch the ball and hope for the best.

BUT in addition to pitching the ball, the same person also had to cover first base, shortstop, and center field.

When the absent players heard that their team had lost, they were very upset. Everyone held a meeting and they decided to get a new pitcher.

When things aren’t going well, it’s the leader that often gets the attention. But it’s never just about the leadership.

Schools, Work, Church, Families – everyone has to do their part.

That is exactly what you are all doing right now. Thank you for being here today to worship together. Without you, we just don’t have a full team.

Prayer: God, I thank you for these young people, for our children, for their excitement and their big bright smiles and their energy. You bless us greatly and we are not the same place without them. And now we pray our prayer that you taught us to pray.

The Lord’s Prayer (535)

Transition music

Song: We will tell each generation (46)

Today’s Message

Scripture: I Samuel 16:1-23 and 17:1-6, 32, 38-40,48-50

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

Message: You and Goliath

In the City of Gath, located near the mound, in 2005, just below the late 9th-century BCE earthquake destruction level, in a small section dating to the earlier phase of the Iron Age, a team of British archeologists found an interesting inscription. Scratched on a shard typical of the time are two non-Semitic names written in Semitic “Proto-Canaanite” letters. Both inscriptions are variant spellings of the same word – (Gol-iYeth). Goliath.

The ancient Greeks and Philistines sometimes decided on issues of war through the battles of selected warriors or small detachments. The “trials by battle ordeal” was based on the idea that the gods of the peoples determined a war’s outcome anyway so why not just send a few fighters and spare as many of your people’s lives as possible? Of course, despite this belief that the gods determined the victors, evidence is pretty clear that only the biggest, fastest and strongest were ever chosen. Although the phrase “God helps those who help themselves” is not actually in the bible. I think it’s fair to say that it’s a pretty universal concept nevertheless. I guess the Kings and military leaders thought their gods needed a little extra help… just in case.

The custom was not that uncommon, In fact, in 2Sam. 2:14-16 there is a similar story whereby 12 men are picked to battle in place of the full military (though in that story the warriors cheat… I guess they thought god needed help).

Historical texts outside scripture also show other traditions of warriors who fought this way as well, including Egypt. And of course, it is also well recorded in the epics like Homer’s Iliad and the famous Enuma Elish epic.

Now the Philistines were a sea-faring people who came to Canaan at the very end of the Bronze Age and barely defeated the Hittites in a land war. When they did win, however, they gained a whole new kind of technology – Ironworking. And that was a game changer. With this new ability to make weapons, came a new age of warfare. The introduction of these weapons changed the world of war forever and is part of what led the Israelites to demand a King for themselves in the first place.

As a result of these trades and weapons the Philistines quickly ravaged the surrounding lands and claimed 5 new territories for themselves including the mysterious land of Gath (a city that had already stood for at least 1200 years before the Philistines ever got there). In Gath, like all places, once the people were defeated they became a part of this new Philistine army and were granted in return the gift of breaching the Iron Age.

Now armed with a whole new kind of violence and covered in metal protection even the average soldier became a super-soldier; almost invincible to other people still counting on arrows and rocks as weapons to fight off this new Iron Man. You can imagine how frightened the people in the nearby cities must have been. They had never seen anything quite like this before and now every town was falling to the Philistines.

When the Philistines arrived on the scene, readying to enter Israel they stopped at the top of the valley on the West side. There they stood with long steel swords. Israel received word of their coming and assembled in the East to defend their land and people.

In the text, Goliath’s spear is said to be “like a weaver’s beam” meaning that at times the writer didn’t even know what it was or understand it.

Until David, Saul’s army focused on guerrilla warfare holding attackers off with short copper and tin or even rock knives. They managed to do so, simply because they knew the landscape and could fire random arrows and hurl rocks from hiding places. Israel was completely made up of light infantrymen, and only the very wealthy might have been able to buy armour (and even that was made of weak flimsy tin). It was designed to deflect small rocks.

As the Philistine army prepared for war (metal armour blazing in the light of the sun) they sent Goliath out to the front to taunt Israel as their chosen warrior. Sometimes translations will call him the “warrior” or the “champion” but the Hebrew description is pretty literal. It calls Goliath “the man who stands in the space between two armies”.

And then comes the description. While I must note that the oldest version of this story from the Dead Sea Scrolls states that Gol-yet is “Four cubits and a span” which is roughly 6ft 9inches, the majority of texts, the Septuagint and the Masoretic texts all state that he was “Six cubits and a span” which is roughly 9ft 9inches tall. Do with that what you will, but the point is this… He is big. In all variant text, it is agreed that his coat of armour weighs 125 pounds and that just the tip of his iron spear is another 15 pounds. To the Israelites, it was like the first time a chariot was ever seen the first time someone used gunpowder against a bow and arrow or the first time a tank appeared on a battlefield. It was insurmountable. And without a doubt, this huge armoured man is the champion and the only selection of a massive army picked to be “the man who stands in the space between two armies”. He is huge and he is nobody to be trifled with.

Then again, the whole point of this story is that God doesn’t judge by outward appearances. See, about the time that the Philistines were coming to power the people of Israel begged God for a king so they could be like the other nations around them. But King Saul wasn’t quite what they hoped for him to be. In essence, he was chosen because he was the tallest in the land. In 1 Samuel the bible says that Saul was “a head and a shoulder above everyone else in height.”

So when God asked Samuel to go and anoint a new leader he rather naturally goes out looking for the same thing. That leads him to the sons of Jesse but as Samuel is looking over the boys, the biggest and tallest and strongest around, and just as he is considering Jesse’s oldest and tallest child, God speaks to Samuel and says, “Do not consider his appetence or his height for I have not picked him, for the Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at outward things but the Lord looks at the heart.” ¹¹So Samuel asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”

Now up until this point Jesse hadn’t even considered that his youngest boy would even be a possible candidate. He was off in the field and while the others are named, David is so unimportant he is simply referred to as “another boy” until the end of chapter 16 when finally his name appears. In other words, he’s nothing, just a shepherd. But remember God does not consider his age or his height.

Now- some people disagree on this one but – Some people believe that David is pretty big. And I will concede that it’s probably a fair possibility that he’s large compared to most Israelites considering that he does have tall brothers (though he is very young here). Some also wisely note that Saul (the tallest man in Israel) later puts his armour on David and that David takes it off not because it’s ill-fitting but in his own words because “I am not used to them” meaning they might not have fit all that badly.

So was he a big guy? Maybe. Relatively I suppose. Okay, I don’t think so. I think he’s pretty small. And honestly, even if he’s big for the time – he’s still a whole “head and shoulders shorter than Saul”. And Saul we should remember trembles at the mere sight of Goliath. The whole point of the story is that David isn’t big but that God “does not look at his appearance or his height”. He looks at the heart.

No, I think the whole point of the story is that he’s small. The tall impressive men have been rejected (two in a row so far and soon to be a third) so that God can prove His might, not the warriors. The point is that David is facing a real insurmountable challenge, not that he’s almost big enough to beat Goliath on his own.

When David finally shows up at the battlefield, he comes as an errand boy; not even allowed to fight. He’s way way way too young. Only three of his oldest brothers (three out of 8) are there. David’s a kid; still taking care of the sheep and doing the lowest of chores.

For 40 days both armies had been waiting for Israel to send a champion. The valley of course has steep walls on both sides with each one looking down on the battlefield. Each army stood there waiting; all the while knowing that whoever rushed into battle first would be both tired from the climb up the other side and strategically disadvantaged (literally fighting an uphill battle). Neither side was stupid. It was time to choose a hero. It was a “trials by battle ordeal”. They needed “the man who stands in the space between the armies”. But who?

When David (who’s just there to deliver the pizza by the way) hears Goliath calling out to the Israelites saying he will murder them all, David is infuriated and confused that nobody is doing anything. It drives him mad that Goliath is insulting the God of Israel and no one has the guts to stop him – and so he volunteers.

And now as if to make it even plainer to see that “God does not consider” his “appearance or his height”, and perhaps even more importantly that God does not consider these new weapons of war or armour as a threat, David strips off the amour he is offered and picks up 5 smooth stones instead.

Now he is just a boy with a sling.

And then of course the story takes place that many of us know. “⁴⁹Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.⁵⁰So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.”

Now I want to be clear, this story is not a story about why we need to defend God’s honor and it’s not a story about how God will help a small persecuted people rise against a massive military oppressor. I would argue that King Saul could have defeated Goliath too. He just had one problem. He didn’t have the right attitude.

Saul thought too much of himself and too little of his God. He forgot who was actually in charge. He forgot this one simple truth in life which we cannot and should not ever forget: that no matter what giants we face, we do not face that Goliath alone. As Mother Theresa once wrote, “We are all pencils in the hand of God”. We just have to realize it and let him draw the picture. Unlike those who trusted in the stature, strength and skill of their warriors, Israel sent an untrained, ill-equipped and largely unarmed teenage boy into battle as the only willing champion.

In the end, Goliath’s name ended up scribbled on a shard of pottery that eventually fell to pieces thousands of years ago.

Everyone knows David. Why? Because when everyone else saw a giant, David saw an ordinary problem and knew an extraordinary God.

Whatever Goliath you face, and you will face more than a few….

Ask yourself this – What do you see?

Song: With the Lord as my guide (574)

We respond to serve God: Our time of giving

Prayer of gratitude and for others and ourselves

Lord Jesus Christ, we draw near to you in prayer this day, trusting that your love changes lives and your resurrection brings hope into the world God loves.

You walk with us through every challenging time, and we give you thanks for every sign of hope in a world that is often on edge and the future seems uncertain.

May we abide in your love.

We ask you to bless the ministries and mission activity undertaken through staff and funding provided by The Presbyterian Church in Canada.

Thank you for each faithful servant serving in these challenging days, whether in Canada or in international ministries.

Bless them with good health and courageous commitment, and equip them well to reach out in love and respect.

May they abide in your love.

Loving and Listening God, we bring you now our prayers for others, friends and enemies, neighbours and strangers alike.

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

Hold silence for 15 seconds.

May they abide in your love.

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

Hold silence for 15 seconds.

May they abide in your love.

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

Hold silence for 15 seconds.

May they abide in your love.

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

Hold silence for 15 seconds.

May they abide in your love.

We pray for churches, local organizations and businesses struggling under the pressure of economic challenges.

Hold silence for 15 seconds.

May they abide in your love.

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

Hold silence for 15 seconds.

May we all abide in your love.

Song: You are holy, you are whole (828)

Sending out with God’s blessing

Go in the peace of Christ, to witness to his love in truth and action each day. And may God’s resurrecting love open the future for you, empowered by the Spirit, and embraced by the presence of Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord.

Response: He is Lord

Music postlude

————————————————————————-

In the dark

Posted on April 21, 2024April 21, 2024 by John

Worship on the 4^th Sunday of Easter
10:00 am 21 April 2024
Online & Onsite (Mixed Presence) Gathering as a Worshipping Community
Led by the Rev Brad Childs
Music director: Binu Kapadia Vocalist: Lynn Vaughan
Elder: Shirley Simpson

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: Jesus the Christ said, I am the Good Shepherd.
P: We have come to follow him.
L: We gather in the name of the One who leads us by still waters.
P: We have come to be restored in him.
L: We gather in the name of the One who prepares a banquet for us.
P: We have come to be fed by his love, so let us worship God.

Opening praise: Lord, I need you

Prayers of approach and confession

Lord, you surround us with your grace. Our cups do overflow. We have been given relationships and people we don’t deserve; people better for us than we are for them. You give us people to care for and love but truth be told, we take more than give. And still, our lives are showered with greatness. You fill our days with care. Even when we can’t see it, it’s there.

We have comfortable homes and beds to lay our heads. We worry, not about food or clean water but about paying bills for things we’ve already enjoyed and planned to pay for long ago. We see before us a blossoming world. We see good people and a watered prairie getting greener by the day. We see schoolchildren staying later after the day is done just to play longer. More noise we hear yes, but more laughter too. We used to be bored. Today we have kids who are free to do so much they are overstimulated. We have so much it’s like we have too much.

But we always grumble.

Where we see rain, we should see a last chance to sit in the calm of a drizzling day in warm socks with a hot tea or cup of stew but instead, we complain about the much-needed rain. God, you provide us with homes and friends and books and hugs and messages from loved ones and safe journeys and surprises.

But we’ve spent a lot of time on ourselves. We’ve ignored others too much. We’ve put forward false and better versions of ourselves when people we love just want the real me and you. We’ve wasted good food, spent too much time sitting around being memorized by nothing or by work or by thinking about things we “need” to do and not enough time with You or the people we love and love us. We have so much we waste.

We’ve spent too much time NOT having meaningful conversations.

These are some of our sins God… some of the things in our lives that just aren’t right on target. We trust too much in ourselves, our ways, our own opinions our strength, our own ideas, our own money, our own everything. We forget that you are the source of it all. We forget how much we need you.

But this week we want to be different. We confess. And we say that we want to be better. And we will be: with your help. Amen.

Response: I waited, I waited on You, Lord

Assurance of God’s grace: Jesus said, “What kind of Father when asked for bread would give his child a stone instead”. Our God hears us when we admit we can be better. Our God hears us when we ask to be better. And our God forgives and enables us to be better. Thank be to God, from a forgiven people. Amen.

We listen for the voice of God

Children’s time

Response: Open our eyes, Lord (445)

Story: Charades
Charades means acting out. You can’t speak. You have to act something out and everyone has to guess. Who’s first???

First word: Penguin! Second word: Telescope! Third word: Hockey! Final word: Love!

You don’t need words to tell someone that you love them. Love is something you can show by the things that you do. Now, let me point out that the game would be a lot easier if you could speak wouldn’t it? That’s true in life as well. You can show people you show them all you want but some people still need to hear it. As young people, you can show God’s love with your actions and with your words.

Prayer: Our God, you help us to shine a light into the world. So help us to say we love you with our words and our actions. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer (535)

Transition music

Song: The Lord’s my Shepherd (11)

Today’s Message

Scripture reading: Acts 4:5-12; Psalm 12; John 10:11-18

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

Message: In the dark

In his book Unseen Footprints Timothy George writes, “When I was a student at Harvard Divinity School I learned “Homiletics” (the art of preaching) from Dr. Gardner Taylor, a minister in New York City. I’ll never forget those lectures. But most of all I remember a lesson I learned very early on. I remember Dr. Taylor telling a story from when he was preaching for the first time in Louisiana. During the depression, electricity was just coming into that part of the world and Dr. Taylor was visiting a small, rural; predominantly black church (as most were). The place was not exactly beautiful (especially due to a near-total lack of windows in the building) but it was clearly well cared for. And unlike a lot of places it had the much-welcomed technology of a single light bulb hanging down from the ceiling to light the sanctuary.

As Dr. Taylor put it, he was “preach’n away” when right in the middle of his sermon the rare gift of electricity went out. The building went black as night and Dr. Taylor didn’t know what to say. He wasn’t a real “wing it” type of guy and the pages of his planned 45-minute sermon were now utterly useless. He’d basically just introduced himself. What to do? It was nerve-racking and it was embarrassing and Taylor froze, motionless and speechless. It was just… dark. (1001 Il 190)

“Meanwhile, back at the ranch.”

Psalm 23 is probably one of; if not the most well-known chapter of scripture in all the world. Traditionally attributed to King David who was himself a shepherd, the Psalm is an allusion to God not only as Creator but also as Protector of a flock who knows each of His own by name and guides them through life’s joys and dangers.

Several years ago, a pretty devout Presbyterian man by the name of Steven King wrote a story about a family in crisis. It has a number of different incarnations but was most popular in the form of the book titled The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. In it, Tricia McFarland is on a family hike across the Appalachian Mountains when she stops to go to the bathroom.

While trying to catch up with the family she found herself on the wrong trail. Lost and alone she sat down closed her eyes and tried to pray. “Our Father…” came out of her mouth but not much else and she found it flat and awkward. That was just about all she could remember. In fact, Tricia couldn’t remember discussing spiritual matters with many people including her own mother… But she had asked her father not a month before this trip if he believed in God. “I’ll tell you what I believe in,” said her father. “I believe in the Sub-audible.” A curious look crossed Tricia’s face. He continued, “Do you remember when we lived on Fore Street? Do you remember how the electric baseboard units would hum even if they weren’t heating up?”

Tricia shook her head. “No”, she said. “That’s because you got used to it,” the father said with a smile. “But take my word for it Tricia that sound was always there. It was there humming. We just didn’t see it. And even in a house where there aren’t baseboard heaters there are other noises: the fridge goes on and off, the traffic going by outside.

We hear those things all the time so most of the time we don’t hear them at all.”

“They are sub-audible,” said Tricia not quite content with her father’s explanation.

“That’s like God,” he said. “That’s great,” she thought, “But is that enough”?

Still, there she was, a young girl lost in the woods wanting to pray and all she could think about was a God that must be there but is ultimately unseen and unheard. And that didn’t help.

So here’s this broken, lost person, who is sensing that there must be something more when for some unknown reason she began recalling her favourite baseball player Tom Gordon.

Tom came to mind. He played for the Boston Red Sox. And Tom ended every game in the same way… by pointing his finger up in the air and giving credit to a personal and knowable God “revealed to the world in the person of Jesus Christ” as he would say to the camera; each time he was given the opportunity. Something about that helped.

After nine days of being bug-bitten, scared, and sick from drinking bad water and eating poisonous berries, she broke down in a very personal and passionate prayer from the depths of her heart. She prayed to the God of Tom Gordon, not the sub-audible, but the God she could point to. At the end of the book, Tricia finds the right path in more ways than one. (1001 Il. 314)

The 23^rd Psalm sort of does that for us. It gives us a God we can point to. It’s the God that grants you what you need, takes you to greener pastures, finds you rest and restoration, guides your way carefully, provides all that you’re surrounded with and blesses you. It’s the God you have seen moving in your past and goes inaudibly if we aren’t listening.

But there is a problem. See the truth is, the shepherd is good but the sheep aren’t always that great. It is the nature of the sheep to stray and get in harm’s way, whether from hungry wolves or steep canyons. For centuries shepherds have used various methods from staff to dogs to keep sheep from straying from the safety of their care. But the sheep keep getting into trouble generation after generation.

In recent times shepherds have tried more sophisticated methods. One of those ways is a metal, hoof-proof grid that is built into the ground around the sheep’s territory just two feet wide. The animals cannot walk over the grid without falling over. This works well in keeping the sheep in the protection of a particular area. But in 2006 shepherds in Yorkshire, England found that their sheep were not only stubbornly prone to stray but were also “very crafty”.

When it found itself falling each time it came over the grid, one particular sheep determined to lie itself down and roll over the grid. [it must have been a crazy sight to behold]. The other sheep in the herd saw this genius little troublemaker and followed suit. Soon the entire flock had spread over the entire countryside to neighborhood gardens where they ate the food and flowers of local residents.

The shepherds eventually gathered up the troublesome sheep and returned them to their pen but they escaped again and got back into trouble right away. While the escape of these sheep may have seemed like an exciting adventure to them, it placed them in harm’s way from everything from theft to unfriendly dogs to busy traffic on the streets. They found it fun. But it was bad for them to run away. They just didn’t know it. (1001 Il. 111)

While the shepherd cares for His own and puts barriers around us for safety – We sheep are sometimes sly too.

I’m told several men were in the locker room of a private and very expensive club when a cell phone rang. One man picked it up without hesitation and said “Hello”.

“Sugar, it’s me!” she said.

“Hi!”

“Hi, back Shug. I’m at the store and this coat is absolutely beautiful. It is more than we had agreed to but it is also on sale. It’s $1,900. Is that okay?

“That’s a bit more than we agree,” the man said, “But Okay if you like it that much, then go ahead and buy it.”

“Thank you,” said the wife. “Oh and Sugar, I stopped by the dealership and the new BMW M6 is here and it does come as a red convertible!”

A little annoyed now, “How much?” said the man.

“$138,000 she replied???”

“Fine – but I want every option they can possibly stick on it, or in it, for that prince, and I mean it – Loaded!”

“Great!” came the replay. “Now before I hang up, I spoke to the real estate agent and that piece of land we looked at on the beach last year is for sale again. And you were right; Smarty-Pants the price did go down. It’s $740,000 now, so I think we should maybe talk about it tonight after dinner if that’s alright?”

“No,” said the man, “Go for it! You call and set the whole thing up. It sounds great.”

“Thanks, Shug! I love you” said the woman.

“I love you too,” said the man.

Then the man smiled a huge loving smile, hung up the phone, raised it in the air and announced, “Does anybody know whose phone this is?” (1001 Il. 263)

Sometimes the sheep wander out of the pen and into dangerous ground. Other times we just do whatever we want ‘cause we think it’s fun.

We are sheep.

Thomas Linacre was the king’s physician to Henry the 7th and Henry the 8^th of England, founder of the Royal College of Physicians, and friend of the great Renaissance thinker Sir. Thomas Moore. One of the colleges at Oxford is named for him.

Late in his life, Linacre studied to become a priest and was given a copy of the Gospels to read for the first time. Linacre lived through the darkest of the church’s dark hours under the papacy of Alexander 6^th the pope whose bribery, corruption, incest and murder, plumbed new depths in the annals of Christian shame. It is recorded that in reading the Gospels for himself, Linacre was both amazed and troubled. “Either these are not the gospels,” he said, “or we are not the Christians”. (1001 Il. 23)

The sheep it seems were out of the pen.

Too often we proclaim to love the Good Shepherd with our lips, but with our lives, we choose to ignore Him.

The craziest thing about Psalm 23 is that when we read it, we can generally agree with it.

When we look back on our lives, it’s pretty easy to see that someone was there helping us all along the way. We tend to see those “footprints in the sand” so to speak of the one who carried us through. But we didn’t see it at the time. And it’s a lot harder to see a personal and knowable God we can point to, when we are walking through the valley of darkness. And that should be no surprise. We see it when looking back. That’s true for King David as well.

After all, David didn’t write this Psalm when he was poor.

He didn’t write it while his brothers were making fun of him.

He didn’t write this as he was being attacked by a bear.

He wrote it years later from the comfort of a palace.

He wrote it when the dark valley was something of the distant past and he knew he’d been carried through.

Yes, Psalm 23e says that God is with us in the shadow of death but it doesn’t always feel like that does it? It might not of at the time… even to David. If you have been in Death’s dark valley you know, it’s dark.

The valley is where you don’t know if you can pay your bills, you don’t know if that medicine is going to work, don’t know if that surgery will work, aren’t sure what’s going to happen to your children.

The valley is where you feel alone and confused and you don’t know what to do and “all the best-laid plans” have come to naught. It’s in the valley that it feels like the Sub-audible [g]od is all we’ve got.

It’s in the darkness, we have to strain our eyes to see.

In that tiny little church back in Louisiana when the lights went out and Dr. Taylor didn’t know what to say or do. He stumbled around a bit trying to search out a phrase or word that might remind him of what he had planned to say. But he didn’t find it. He just looked out at the congregation in stunned silence. “What could he possibly teach these people?” he thought. He felt like a sham. AND THEN, all of a sudden a voice rang out from the back. “Preach on, preacher. We can still see Jesus in the dark”. And then again from someone else and someone else, and on and on… “We can still see Jesus in the dark”.

That day Dr. Taylor didn’t have much to teach. But he had a lot to learn. This world can sometimes be a cold, dark place. Life is full of surprises and not all of them are good ones. Yet, while it may not always feel like it, God is always down in the valley with us and just below all the noise, but personal and knowable too. And if we really try (and you may have to)… we can all still see… Jesus… [even] in the dark. (1001 Il. 190p2). Amen.

Song: Saviour, like a Shepherd lead us (485)

We respond to serve God: Our time of giving

Prayer of gratitude and for others and ourselves

We make our offerings, small and large,
with the hope and confidence
that all we do,
all we offer
all we say,
all we think,
and all we hope
will take root in this world
and be the source of new expressions
of God’s love,
of God’s justice,
of God’s character,
of God’s mission,
and of God’s reign.
May God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven
through us,
alongside us,
despite us,
and for us.

Gracious and loving God, as a shepherd cares for the flock, so you care for each one of us; move in our hearts, minds, and communities and enable us to care and serve as you lead each of us.

You are rest and you lead us into green pastures: we pray for all those who are tired with work or with worry; who wear themselves out with anxiety or serving others; be rest and re-creation for those who feel weary and tired:

Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

You are truth and you lead us beside quiet streams of reflection; where peoples’ lives are twisted by untruth, where tyrants and leaders or any in authority distort reality, be a strong and transforming word of truth:

Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Particularly this morning I pray for those in North Korea who have recently received smuggled bibles. We pray for safety for understanding and protection. We pray that all people might find a heart for one another and an end to violence.

Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

You are life and you restore our souls: wherever people’s lives are impoverished or in chaos, repair and bind them up. We remember all who are facing trials and difficulties, those who are sick and dying, and those who are bereaved. We pray for loved ones watching others fade away and feeling left behind. And we pray for those affected by the terrible earthquake in Nepal this morning. Lord may they feel a strong sense of your presence and peace and may you be seen in the lives of the rescue workers and aid:

Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

You are freedom, your rod and staff comforts us. We remember before you all those in danger for those who are far from home, prisoners, exiles, the marginalized, victims of oppression, police abuse and brutality, racism, and hatred:

Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We give you thanks for those times when others and we have found peace in the face of turmoil, happiness after moments of strife, and when insight has emerged from times of confusion. Open our eyes more to the redemption of your work in our lives and orient us so that we might be part of your redeeming work unfolding around us for others in need:

Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer. Amen

Song: Christ is alive (251)

Sending out with God’s blessing

May God,
the Good Shepherd,
lead you
to places of rest and renewal;

May Christ,
the Lamb of God,
accompany you
on the journey;

May the Holy Spirit
fill your hearts
with joy and generosity;

And may the blessing of God Almighty, the Creator, Christ and Spirit, descend upon you and dwell in your hearts this day, on hills and in valleys, always and forever. Amen.

Response: Go forth into the world

Music postlude

————————————————————————-

Where you focus your eyes and heart (Raymond Baker)

Posted on April 14, 2024April 14, 2024 by John

Worship on the Lord’s Day – Easter 3
10:00 am       14 April 2024
Online & Onsite (Mixed Presence) Gathering as a Worshipping Community
Minister: The Rev Brad Childs     Service led by: Raymond Baker
Music director: Binu Kapadia     Vocalist: Linda F-B
Elder: Rom Rhoad

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 gather with joy, for Easter brings us new life.
P: The Risen Christ is with us wherever we go.
L: Love breaks all bonds and unites us in hope.
P: Christ has defeated death. Let us rejoice and be glad!
L: Come and worship with hearts full of praise.
P: O God, receive our grateful Hallelujahs!

Opening praise: Come, now is the time to worship

Prayers of approach and confession

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.

We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.

We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.

In Jesus’ Powerful name we pray. Amen.

Response: I waited, I waited on you, Lord

Assurance of God’s love

Scripture teaches that there is a time for every matter under heaven.

A time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance.

In confessing our sins to God, we have offered God our tears of regret.

Now is the time to rejoice in God’s mercy:

In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

In Jesus Christ, we can make a new start. Thanks be to God.

We listen for the voice of God

Children’s time

Response: Open our eyes, Lord

Story

Have ever not been able to walk. Have you ever been in a position where you needed someone to carry you?

Why did you need someone to carry you?

Can anybody else think of a time when you needed someone to carry you? Because you just couldn’t walk?

I’m thinking of maybe when you were a little baby. And your mom or dad or grandma grandpa carried you around?

How about maybe when you’re a little bit older and you fall asleep on the couch and they have to carry you to bed?

Well, in our scripture reading today and in Sunday school, we are going to talk about a story about a man that wasn’t able to walk.

And back in the time of Jesus, they didn’t have wheelchairs and they didn’t have programs to help people that had health problems.

So really this man had to rely on his friends or his neighbors to carry him places. So they had put him outside the temple because also because he couldn’t walk. He couldn’t walk from since he was born. So he would sit outside the temple and he would beg for money.

One day, a couple of Jesus’ disciples were walking to the temple to pray, like good Jewish people did, and they saw this man there.

How would you feel if you had to spend all your days just sitting outside of a temple begging for money?

It’s kind of sad, right? So this man just kind of sat there waiting for somebody to notice him.

Then Jesus’ disciples, Peter and John, saw this man and they decided to go up to him and talk with him.

He didn’t really look up and they said to him, “Sir, look at me.”

Then the blind man got all excited. He thought that they were going to give him money because that’s what he did, right?

He begged for money and then he could buy himself food or whatever he needed. And so he looked up at them.

And he held out his hand waiting for them to give him some money. And Peter said to him, I don’t have any money. I don’t have any silver or any gold of you. But what I do have I will give you.

What do you think he gave him? What did Jesus’ disciples have? Can you think of anything?

All he had was Jesus’ Holy Spirit inside of him.

This is a few weeks now since Jesus had been resurrected. So their friend is now gone and now it’s up to the disciples to go out and help people.

Peter said, “Give me your hand, I will give you what I have.”

So the blind man held out his hand.

Let’s reenact this.

Hold out his hand, Claire. You got have to get because, you’re late going somewhere. But you can’t.

A s Peter said to the blind man, in the name of Jesus Christ, get up and walk. There you go.

And that’s what happened with the blind man.

So how do you think the man felt? Pretty happy.

He told everybody about it.

So what do you think the people that saw this did?

They were they amazed? Like if you saw some guy that you’ve seen at the temple all the time and he couldn’t walk and he couldn’t walk and all of a sudden now he’s walking and dancing That would be pretty amazing.

So did Peter say, “Oh yeah, that was all me. I’m so good”?

No. What did he do?

So he didn’t take credit for it. He said, “I told you to walk in the name of Jesus.”

I had the power of God inside of me and that’s why you’re walking.

And that’s what he told all the people.

“It’s because of the power of God, because I focused fyself on God and if you focus yourself on God then you can do that too.”

Now that happened 2,000 years ago so nothing like that happens anymore, right? You don’t think so?

So do you think that if you focused on God and you did things in God’s name that you could do some amazing things?

Maybe. But I want to talk specifically about some of the programs at Dayspring.

About 15 years ago the Sunday School at Dayspring decided that they would sponsor a child with World Vision.

And this, we now have a fourth child, Joshua Gustavo.

I have to say about our last child, Jose, that we supported that family enough that they managed to get on their feet and they didn’t need support anymore.

And that kind of reminds me of our story where this man needed some help and he got help and now he was off on his own and he could do his own thing. So now we’re going to try it again we’re going to have a new sponsored child – Joshua

The Sunday school is a little sparse, so we’re going to ask for help from the congregation.

We’ve not talked about our sponsor children for a while, so I just want to remind people that we have this program going, we’re going to have these cans out with the offering plates if you want to give some offering, if you have change in your pocket or $5 bills, that’s good too. They fit in the slot as well.

It costs $49/month and we help support a child and their family.

And then we can have stories like we did with Jose where they eventually didn’t need our help anymore and they managed to get on their own 2 feet.

Now when we do service to others, it’s like we’re showing them Jesus, right? So there’s lots of things we can do.

We do lots of programs at the church where we’re showing them Jesus and we’re showing them how God’s kingdom could be and how we want them to be part of that.

Prayer

Dear God, thank you for loving us. Be with each of us as we go out into the world and do great things. In the name of Jesus Christ.

The Lord’s Prayer (535)

Transition music

Song: In the presence of you people

Today’s Message

Scripture reading: Ac\ts 3:1-16

Response: Alleluia, Alleluia, give thanks to the Living God

Message: Where you focus your minds and hearts

What is your Focus?

In Waikiki, Hawaii there is a beggar who lives in the streets named Lynda. People know she is there, but rarely look at her as they pass by. Maybe they are trying to avoid making eye contact with her, because they do not want to engage in or listen to her outrageous and confusing stories.

One day my wife, Jacquie and I got lost while visiting my father in Hawaii. We had gone to Walmart in Honolulu and became confused about how to get back to the condo in Waikiki where my dad lives. Thankfully, we noticed Lynda on the street and she began to engage us in a conversation. During our discussion, we told her that we were lost and needed to get back to The Pavilion on Kalakaua Avenue. She proceeded to give us very clear directions and when we arrived safely back home, my dad, who had passed by Lynda many times, was waiting for us. He was stunned to find out it was Lynda who directed us back to the Pavillion.

Unfortunately, it is true today that people get used to seeing the same unhoused individuals living on the streets as if they are part of the background, when they are there every day.

I can imagine it was no different in the story that we find in Acts where Peter and John were on their way to the temple for prayer. A man who was lame since birth was set at the same temple gate every day to ask those going in for money. The lame man saw Peter and John and asked them for money. When Peter and John heard the lame man’s request, they fastened their eyes upon him. This was probably different from what most people walking into the temple did. Peter then asked the beggar to look straight at them. The beggar gave heed to them, expecting to receive something from them. Peter told the crippled man that they did not have silver or gold, but what they had was Jesus Christ of Nazareth. In Jesus’ name, Peter instructed the lame man to get up and walk. Peter helped the man up and the lame man was instantly healed. The beggar began walking and jumping and praising God!

All the people around looked and saw the same beggar who had been laying in the same spot at the temple gates for years was walking and jumping around. Peter said to the crowd, “Why do you stare at us?” It was as if the crowd thought by Peter and John’s power or godliness they healed the man. Peter then corrected the crowd saying it was faith in Jesus that made this man able to walk.

I find it interesting that Luke, the author of the book of Acts, repeatedly used the Greek word, Atenizō for some of the words in this passage that are associated with the act of looking. This word is very similar to the Latin word attentio, which means “to attend, give heed to” and it is where we get our present word, “attention”. I believe it is not by accident that Luke emphasised “looking”.

Where do we put our attention?

Way back in the eleventh century, the theologian Thomas Aquanis went to visit Pope Innocent II at the Vatican in Rome. Aquinas seemed stunned at the opulent beauty and gold trimmings in the buildings. Innocent II bragged, “No more can we say silver and gold we have none!”

Thomas Aquanis quickly answered with, “Yes, and now you can not say get up and walk.” Aquanis was being very cheeky to the Pope, hinting that their focus was not on Jesus and therefore they had lost their connection with God. We can all listen to this story and think poorly about Pope Innocent II, but I think that we all should think personally about the focus of our eyes and heart.

Where do we put our attention?

The idea of where we focus our attention and heart is beautifully illustrated by Jesus’ response to the rich young ruler in Matthew 10. We read that this ruler came to Jesus and asked, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus knew the young man’s focus and asked him to sell all his possessions, give the money to the poor and then follow Jesus. The rich young ruler was dismayed at this answer. He owned a lot of property and could not change his focus and turn his eyes to Jesus, who was literally standing right in front of him.

Where do we put our attention?

This narrative in the Bible reminds me of an old story about catching a monkey. I don’t know if it is true, but it goes like this. First, take two clear jars with narrow necks, just large enough for a monkey’s hand to fit in. Next, place a piece of fruit in each jar and then put the jars near the monkey. Instinctively, the monkey will put his hands in the jars and try to grasp the fruit. Soon the monkey will realise that he cannot take his hands out of the jars with the fruit in his fists. Supposedly, one can approach and grab the monkey, yet the monkey will not take its hands and focus off the fruit, leaving it with jars on his hands. I am not sure this would work, because the monkey could just pelt you with the jar. The point is, that the monkey is too focused on the fruit in the jar to look at what is happening as you grab him. Just as the rich young ruler did not want to lose his possessions, the monkey did not want to lose his fruit.

Where do we put our attention?

The author of Hebrews summarises my first point well in chapter 12:1-3 when he says that we should throw off everything that hinders us and continue to fix our eyes on Jesus.

The second point of my sermon is: Jesus is the healer. As revealed in Peter’s retort to the crowd in Acts 3:16, “By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.” By faith in Jesus the man was miraculously healed.

There is no formula for miraculous healing. The focus should be on having a relationship with Jesus.

To prove there is no formula for being healed, let’s remember the different ways Jesus healed people. For instance, in John 9:1-7 the blind man was healed when Jesus spit into some dirt and rubbed it on the blind man’s eyes. Another time in Luke 8:43-48, Jesus healed a bleeding woman when she touched His robe.

When we think of healing we mostly think of healings of lame people being able to walk like in today’s passage. I want us to think about all kinds of healing. Romans 3:23 states that all of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. As Christians when we are sanctified, we are healed from our sinful nature as we are made new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Paul states, “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” As we have just celebrated Easter, we understand that Jesus died for our sins and if we accept his sacrifice and follow Jesus as our Lord, we become new creatures and our old selves pass away. This is a form of healing. We are healed from our sinful nature.

1 Peter 18-19 states, “…it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed …but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”

I love this. It is not with silver and gold that we are redeemed, but if we believe in and focus on Christ’s sacrifice, we are saved. It is a ‘spiritual’ healing. Similar to what Paul said in Acts 3, “silver and gold, he and John did not have, but what they did have was faith in the name of Jesus”. This faith is what healed the lame man. Faith in what Jesus did on the cross for us gives us salvation.

I also want us to understand that we are subject to God’s will. This is my third point.

There is an old joke: if you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans that you want Him to do. I remember when I was first saved in the 1990’s, I went to many churches looking to find a home church. It was interesting to me that several churches were praying for a missionary named Scott Hugg. The congregations were asking God to heal him from cancer. Because so many churches and people were praying for Scott, I thought he would definitely be healed and even possibly walk on water. In my mind, I did not consider another outcome. Sadly, however, a few months later, I heard that Scott had died. Needless to say, I was devastated and disappointed that seemingly, God did not listen to our prayers. In retrospect, I now believe that God did listen to our prayers. Focusing on God’s will, actually enthrones God in our lives. Jesus exemplified this in Luke 22:42 as He prayed on the Mount of Olives before being betrayed and arrested. Jesus prayed to the Father, “ if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” Jesus was saying that He understood that all was in God’s will and put the focus on the Father’s will. If we pray and place all things in God’s hands we know that God will be there no matter what happens.

When we suffer, we also know that God is with us and we should focus on Him. This is stated in Isaiah 41:10, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. In Psalm 46:1-3 we find that “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” If we are sick or need healing, God is always with us and is our strength.

Where do we put our attention during tough times?

In conclusion, in Acts 3 Peter and John tell a paralysed man to get up and walk by the name and power of Jesus Christ. Peter made sure that the people around understood that it was focusing on Christ that healed the man, not their power. We too, must focus on Christ to change our lives, not on our possessions, like silver and gold.

Next, Jesus is the healer. Whether becoming a new creation in Christ as a result of believing in, accepting and focusing on Christ as saviour, or being healed from things like alcoholism or sickness through praying to God– we are healed by Him, who is ever present in our lives. It is only through Christ that our lives can be changed.

Finally, surrendering everything to God’s will helps us persevere and put our present situations and circumstances into God’s hands. We may not be physically healed here on earth, but God promises to always be with us even in our suffering.

If we focus our attention on Christ as Lord, there is a spiritual healing, which makes us new creations in Him.

In our daily lives, we can encourage others to focus their attention on Christ. When we do this, we can be the light of Christ to a world of suffering people like the lame man that Peter and John found sitting at the temple gate.

What is your focus? Is it Christ?

Song: Come, my way, my truth, my life (565)

We respond to serve God: Our time of giving

Prayer of gratitude and for others and ourselves

Lord, we come before you today to say thank you. Thank you for all you have given us–for all the blessings that we can and cannot see. With a grateful heart we thank you Lord for saving us from darkness and delivering us from evil. We accept what you did on the cross as you took our sin and shame. You can take away our sickness and can heal our pain. We thank you for all you have done and are about to do in our lives. Thank you Lord

Song: We are one in the Spirit (471)

Sending out with God’s blessing

Go in faith in the power of Christ. Help us to keep our eyes and heart on You as our Lord, redeemer and healer. In the name of the Father Son and Holy Spirit Amen

Response: God to enfold you

Music postlude

————————————————————————-

Raymond Baker retains the copyright (© 2024) on all original material in this service. As far as he 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.

Germs and Jesus

Posted on April 7, 2024April 7, 2024 by John

Worship on the Lord’s Day: Easter 2
10:00 am       07 April 2024
Online & Onsite (Mixed Presence) Gathering as a Worshipping Community
Led by the Rev Brad Childs
Music director: Binu Kapadia     Vocalist: Glynnis McCrostie
Guest Violinist: Rob Hryciw     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: We gather with joy, for Easter continues.
P: Locked doors have been opened and fear has turned to peace.
L: We celebrate the presence of the Risen Christ among us.
P: Doubts can be erased and uncertainty turned to faith.
L: Let us rejoice and be glad!
P: We offer our prayers and praise with humble, hopeful hearts.

Opening praise: Forever God is faithful

Prayers of approach and confession

Fresh is the breeze, Clear is the air. Scattered are fears. Tangible is forgiveness. Settled is peace when we meet you, risen Lord.

Astonishing in your resurrection splendour. Treasured is your activity in our midst. You are our delight. Desired even more than gold is your risen presence. Praise is our response, our sign of love and trust.

But too often – Stale is the air. Dim is the light. Many our sins. Great are our fears. Starved are our spirits. Strained is our love.

Too often we ignore your presence, trust our own power, build our own kingdoms.

Forgive us for ignoring the power of resurrection,
For our slavery to anxiety,
For living the values of our time instead of those of your eternal kingdom,
For withholding forgiveness,
For seeking the risk-free way instead of the right way.

Strengthen your hold on us. Renew our faith Breathe upon us..Blow away the chaff. Breathe kingdom life into our spirits. Breathe resurrection’s wisdom into our minds. So, our lives may be places of your power. So that we may be examples of your will at work.

Hear our prayer, offered in your name, you whom we know as Lord and Redeemer. Amen

Response: I will trust in the Lord

Assurance of God’s pardon

The risen Christ is in our midst speaking words of peace and forgiveness. Thanks be to God for the gifts of Easter. We are free, we are forgiven. We have found love, we have found power, we have found grace. For we are an Easter people. Amen.

Music Offering: Glynnis, Rob, and Binu: Morning has broken

We listen for the voice of God

Children’s time

Response: My Lighthouse

Story

Guy, upset about all the bad news in the newspaper, goes to sit in the chapel. He says: “Even I could make a better world than this” God/Jesus: “That’s exactly what I told you to do.”

Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer (535)

Transition music

Song: Come to us, beloved Stranger (262)

Today’s Message

Scripture reading: John 20:19-31 (NRSV)

Response: He is Lord

Message: Germs and Jesus

There was once a little boy who went to stay with his grandmother for a month every summer at a little cottage on the lake. It was the only time the boy went to church during the year, the only time he ever had to wait to eat his food until a prayer had been said and apparently the only time, he was ever forced to take a daily bath and wash his hands before meals.

As he ran inside with dirty caked fingernails after a long day of playing in the yard with the dog, he kicked his shoes off and sat down for his meal. He reached out to grab a leg of chicken when Grandma smacked that tiny hand with a spoon. “No, you don’t dear child.

“We’ve not yet prayed, and your hands are in desperate need of good cleaning. Go get those germs all washed off before you make yourself sick.”

“Alright, alright-already,” said the boy, “Germ and Jesus, Germs, and Jesus. That’s all I ever hear about, and I’ve never seen either one of them.”

Well, me neither. But I believe. (Hot Ill. pg213)

If we had only the first three Gospels, the only thing we would know about Jesus’ friend the apostle Thomas: would be his name. Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell us that he exists and that’s it. The Gospel of John is the only place we find him speaking. Very unfortunately, however, out of the 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 he 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; saying that even if it meant they too might die, that they should all follow Jesus there. And so… most of us, when we hear the name “Thomas” only think of that terrible and very unfair phrase “doubting Thomas”.

It’s sad really for me. 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). Everyone was there… except Thomas.

To tell the truth, at this point in history, that is probably just where they should have been because at this point the disciples were little more than a group of failures (all of them). It was a real low point. 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 Jesus’ best friend, John – the person who records this story) stayed in Gethsemane. They all ran in fear hoping to save their necks.

And then, suddenly, astonishingly, quietly, (three days later) there he was, right there, before their very eyes. Jesus was 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 of supporters, but calmly and quietly. And with him he brought no hint of judgment. 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.[ I-Rain-A] = total peace. 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). Maybe he was out because he was actually the brave one.

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 to them while Thomas was gone, Thomas responded with the same caution and the same common sense 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.”

For that, Thomas has forever been labelled “doubting Thomas”. Despite how earlier bravery being the only thing, we know about him… despite the fact that when Mary told Peter and John the same story – these two disciples didn’t believe Mary about the resurrection either.

And so instead the guy Jesus nicknamed Didymus or Twin (just in case you didn’t know, Jesus, gave everybody nicknames), Twin gets to be referred to as “doubting Thomas” from here on out!

The lesson of the Day: Try your best to never judge anyone based upon only their worst moments.

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.

Let me say that again. At this point in the story, We are Thomas. Thomas is Us! That is how we are meant to read it. Go back and read it again. Feel free to disagree with me but bring you’ a-Game!

Thomas is the one who heard the message “He is risen” secondhand. He heard an amazing story but hadn’t seen Jesus with his own eyes. All Thomas wanted was to see Jesus’ face to face like all of the other disciples and Mary and Salmone and the other Mary and two men on the road like a bunch of other people had. All he wanted was to hear the voice everyone else got to hear. For Thomas to ask to see for himself is not a bad thing. It’s fair.

Thomas wanted the same thing every single one of us wants. His story is the story of every human being alive today. It’s the story of every person born in the last 1900 or so years.

What’s really interesting for me though, is that Thomas does get to see the face of God. Thomas does eventually see Jesus’ 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 Thomas says in verse 29 which suggests that Thomas had no need. Thomas emphatically proclaimed, “My Lord and my God!”

These are the words of the so-called “doubting Thomas” and they are perhaps the boldest words in John’s entire gospel.

Do you doubt it? “It is unexpected, but extraordinarily convincing to me, that the one absolutely; unequivocal statement, in the whole Gospel, of the Divinity of Jesus comes from Doubting Thomas. It is the only place where the word ‘God’ is used of Jesus without qualification of any kind and in the most unambiguous form of words (not merely theos but ho theos mou with the definite article). And Thomas says these words with awe as if his Jaw has dropped open. He is stating a fact that he has just uncovered and is amazed by. And he has not the slightest doubt about it. He says You are my Lord and my God like he’s saying, “The sun is in the sky.”

And in response, Jesus tells him, “Because you have SEEN ME (not touched), 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 even more blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

We are those who have heard the good news (have not seen his face or heard his voice) and yet still believe. We are those people that Jesus called “Blessed”. We are the ones that have not seen the face of the risen Lord just like we’ve not seen the germs on our hands. Because we are the people who know… that like courage or honesty, grace, kindness, or love, 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 scares you. 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 John’s gospel is the proclamation that Jesus Christ comes looking for us – even behind locked doors. And when Christ comes, he comes not with anger; not with reminders of our failing; but in the quiet and the calm. Jesus comes to us and says (“I-Rain-A”) “Peace be with you.”… “You who have Not Seen and Yet have Believed!”

I believe in “germs and Jesus.“

Germs and Jesus. Germs and Jesus!

How about you? Amen.

Song: Sing a new song unto the Lord (422)

We respond to serve God: Our time of giving

Prayer of gratitude and for others and ourselves

Risen Lord, you come to us speaking words of peace and understanding.

Thank you for strengthening our faith and empowering us to live in and for your kingdom.
Thank you for supporting us in our struggle to believe.
Thank you for never judging our doubts, never avoiding our questions.
Thank you for taking them seriously, for turning them into pathways of discovery and wiser faith.
Thank you for answers that evolve over time.
Thank you for giving us courage to face our fears, steadily freeing us from their power.
Thank you for leading us to a place of greater trust both in you and in ourselves.
Thank you for surrounding us with amazing people.
Thank you for sending us people to love.
Thank you for giving us the keys to your kingdom, allowing us to hold the door open for others to enter.
Thank you for placing your hopes in our hands.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.

We thank you that when we are hemmed in, confined to a small space, either because of faulty thinking or the actual confines of our situation you find ways to come to us. You find ways to breathe peace over us, to breathe courage into us. We are grateful for the hope that is the result of our experiences of grace. We’re thankful for the lessons we gain from tough times.

But we pray now for someone we know who struggles with faith. May their experience be that of Thomas, a discovery that you provide exactly what is needed to believe. Use our prayers as an avenue to speak to them. (Silence)

We pray for those in our circle of companions who struggle with the church. May they be able to find your love and grace, even if this happens despite the indiscretions of your people. Forgive us for any actions of our own that confirm their distrust of you or this place. Teach us how to live in such a way that we create pathways to your kingdom instead of barriers.

We pray for this congregation, for The Presbyterian Church in Canada, and for the church in every place, asking that we take more seriously our role as those called to welcome, called to hold the door open between your kingdom and the world you love.

All these things we place in your hands and, as we do so, we also acknowledge our role in making these prayers come true.

In the name of Christ, we pray, amen.

Song: Lord of the dance (250:1-3, 5))

Sending out with God’s blessing

Response: Sing Amen

Music postlude

————————————————————————-

Empty

Posted on March 31, 2024April 1, 2024 by John

Worship on the Lord’s Day
Easter Sunday and Communion
10:00 am March 31, 2024
Minister: Rev. Brad Childs
Music Director: Binu Kapadia
Vocalist: Kara Little
Welcoming Elder: Renita MacCallum
Sunday School starts at 10am on Communion Sundays
*indicates that those who are able may stand

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! Hallelujah!
L: The stone had been rolled back and the tomb was empty. The angel told the faithful woman, ‘He has been raised. He is not here.”
P: And so we have hope – a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. “May the God of hope go with us every day.”

*Opening praise: Graves into gardens

Prayers of approach and confession

God of mystery and power, we have heard the Good News of Easter, and we are glad to be caught up in its joy today. Your love fills us with expectations. Darkness will never overcome the light you shine in Christ Jesus. Just as Jesus spoke to Mary in the garden that first Easter day, you call each of us by name because you love us. We are so grateful for the hope we have in your resurrecting power, embracing us this day. We also do so as imperfect people attempting to learn and grow together and with you.

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

When we face loss in our own lives, we sometimes lose track of the promise in Christ’s resurrection.

Sorrow can weigh us down.

Illness breaks into our world.

Loneliness and death take hold of us and fears control our actions. Our challenges can feel like a stone too heavy to roll away.

Forgive us, O God, and let the joy of this day assure us that the power of your love will never let us go. Amen.

Response: Glory, glory, hallelujah

Assurance of God’s grace

John reminds us all of Christ’s words: “I do not call you servants any longer, but I have called you friends. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Christ has laid down his life for us and invites us to love one another as he has loved us.

In Jesus’s name, we are forgiven and expected to forgive others in kind. Thanks be to Christ. Amen

We listen for the voice of God

*Song: Jesus Christ is risen today (243)

Scripture readings: Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Mark 16:1-8

Response: Glory to the Father

Message: “Empty”

Philip Johnson was born in Bowling Green Kentucky. And like almost 1 in every 1,000 children born in the United States Philip Johnson happened to be born with the chromosomal disorder most often labeled “Down’s syndrome”. As with many children with Down’s syndrome Philip had additional complications. He had constant ear infections, a hypoactive thyroid, as well as severe chest pains caused by a combination of both gastro-reflux disease and congenital heart defect. Being born in a small town in secluded south Kentucky in 1979 didn’t help Philip when it came time to make friends. But every Sunday morning Philips’s mother would drop him off in the 3rd grade Sunday school class at Westside United Baptist Church with 15 other children.

One Easter Sunday Miss Milton the teacher of Phillip’s class brought a large box filled with LEGGS pantyhose containers, (the kind that used to come in large plastic eggs) and she dumped them out across the tables. Each child was told to take one egg and go out to find one symbol for new life and put it in the egg to share with the rest of the class. After running about the church property in wild confusion, the children finally returned to the classroom and placed the newly filled containers before the teacher. Surrounded by the children, the Misses Milton began to open them one by one. After each one, whether flower, butterfly, or leaf, the class would ooh and ahh and clap for the other kids. But one container was opened, revealing nothing inside. One of the children blurted out “That’s stupid”. And it was quickly followed by laughter from the other children and a scowl from the teacher. Philip spoke up, “That’s mine.” “Philip, never does anything right!” came a voice from the back, “There’s nothing there!” “I know”, said Philip, “it’s empty… just like the tomb they put Jesus in!” Silence, the chuckles stopped.

From the far west coast of present-day Turkey, in a city called Ephesus; around 55 A.D. the Apostle Paul writes a letter to a struggling church in Corinth and sends it just over 300km west over the Aegean Sea near Athens Greece. Since Paul had left Corinth, the church had become divisive and disorderedly as very different people with varying belief systems gathered together for worship along the large Corinthian Trade Route.

It appears that one of the loudest voices of division came from a philosophical school of thought called Epicusianism. Around 350 years earlier the group’s founder Epicurus began to teach that God or the gods were fully transcendent; and that they didn’t interfere in earthly life. It’s important to note that Epicureans did however believe in an afterlife but not in the same way that the Christians did. The Epicureans found the Christian idea of the afterlife disgusting. They did not like the idea of a resurrection because the flesh was thought of as something to shed so that a person’s ghost could be free from human trappings. For the Epicureans, the body was just a shell that held the soul. Because their view of the afterlife held no rewards or punishments Epicurus also taught a kind of hedonism to which Paul overtly objects. Many people know and quote Paul’s verse of objection without realizing that he is saying this view of life is evil. It is “eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die”. Paul uses this Epicurian saying for a final insult, saying that this is how we should all act if there is no God and nothing matters. What is most odd about the Epicureans within Corinth is that they seem to have accepted the idea that Jesus has risen from the dead without any objection. They appear to have believed fully that Jesus returned to life. What they didn’t like was the resurrection of, well… the rest of us.

You see there is something odd about present-day Christianity. The influence of the Epicureans and other Greek cultures has grasped it and never let loose. It may surprise many modern-day Christians to hear this, but the Bible never really seems to speak of the “soul” as if it were a spirit separated from a body. The idea that after a person died, their soul left and went into the afterlife leaving the body behind is not something found directly in Christian Scriptures. That is true for a simple reason, the idea simply is not a Christian concept. The idea was the invention of two other well-known Greek philosophers – Socrates and his student Plato.

For the Jews and Christians the “soul” rightfully belonged to the body. The two were not distinct entities. In Leviticus 5:2 where the laws of cleanliness are laid out, it says, “Your soul should touch nothing unclean”. In Lev. 7:8 it says, “Your soul shall not eat the peace offering”. In many of the Psalms the word “Nepesh” for “Soul” is used for “neck” or “breath”. If you were about to drown, the water might be up to your “soul”. In other places, the word is used synonymously with the word life. And in other places “soul” designates where a person’s intellect comes from. While it appears that in some scriptures a person’s soul or “life” could leave its body, a spirit floating around somewhere was not the intended end. No, the Jews and Christians taught that the believers, who had died and had been buried, would someday, somehow, in some way, physically reform and come up out of their graves.

This Greek belief that the body separated from the soul may explain why the authors of our gospels felt the need to say that Jesus ate a fish and offered to all the disciples a change to a finger in Jesus’ wounds to prove he was not a disembodied ghost but rather the same Jesus they had always known, just raised from the dead.

In a similar fashion Apostles Creed says, “I believe in the holy catholic (meaning Unified) church, the communion of saints (never being cut off from the living worship of God), the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting”. And when it says this “resurrection of the body”, it’s not talking about the resurrection of Jesus or at least not exclusively. In its strictest sense, this statement is about us saying that we believe someday we will be resurrected (not as ghosts) but in the physical body, the same way that Jesus did. This is Why refers to Jesus as the “first fruits” of the seeds of life God has planted.

So what does this mean for us? Somewhere along the lines Christianity and Greek Philosophy seem to have melded together. It is perhaps now even more a part of our churches than it was a problem in the church in Corinth. Does this mean that there’s no place to doubt, for inquiry or questions? No.

Like the Epicureans, we question what exactly happens to us after we die or question how God is going to find all our little particles and put them back together. Do we go to heaven as spirit? Are we raised for judgment? What happens to “those who have fallen asleep? Are we just phonies or traders to our faith if we say we aren’t sure? No, no I don’t think so. Because I think God can handle our questions and our honesty no matter what it is. The truth today might be great. The truth for you today might be that your faith is stronger than ever. On the other hand the truth for you today might not be all that pretty. It might be ugly. Maybe the truth for you today is “I don’t think I believe any of this” … and while most people just can’t handle that… I think God can handle that. Say it to Him. But also listen. I think the Bible can handle that. It gives us the Book of Job and the Book of Ecclesiastes filled with questions for God. And it’s everywhere.

In the book of Matthew vs. 28:17, Matthew describes the moment when the resurrected Jesus first comes before the disciples. It says, “17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.” Even at the gathering of Jesus’ inner circle, even as he stood before them with a hole in his side and wounds in his hands, the Bible says that even among the people who knew him best, they did not all believe. But what is truly amazing is that even in their doubt… they still worshiped him.

Maybe they didn’t fully understand but they worshiped anyway and they knew there was something to this whole Jesus thing. They didn’t know – but they had faith.

Back to Kentucky. Back to the story of Phillip Johnson. Phillip died just 4 months after Easter 1988. But his funeral was not a sad occasion at all. For the last few months of his life, Phillip had earned the respect he deserved from his classmates and changed a lot of young minds in the process. The quick quips and judgements of the others had turned to attention and interest. Phillip made a lot of friends in that Sunday School class (one of whom wrote this story).

And as the funeral began that same class of children which first mocked Phillip for putting nothing in his little egg tomb, well… they all marched up to the coffin, one after another… not with flowers, or with goodbyes but each one… with an empty egg container in hand.

Said the final child placing her egg in the casket, “We can’t wait to play again Phillip, when your grave is empty too”.

Because of what Christ has done,

This is the message of Easter. The tomb is empty and God willing, with faith, ours will all be empty too. Whatever that looks like.

Thanks be to God. Amen .

*Song: This is the day (78)

We respond to serve God

Our time of giving & Prayer of gratitude, and for others and ourselves

PPrayer

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, meaningless diversions, or unhelpful divisions about mission and service.

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,

God of might and mercy, you broke the schemes of those who stood in the way of your love. Now break into the governance 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,

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, and wherever someone mourns the loss of any relationship or dream,

God of Easter Renewal and Resurrection, you have broken into our lives again this day. Break into all our moments of celebration and joy. Give us gratitude, the impulse to share, and a spirit of grace and understanding.

And break into the circumstances, places, and lives we name in the silence of our hearts… (Hold a brief silence for those closest to our hearts)

Resurrect, renew and revive your people! God, in your mercy, Hear our prayer. Amen.

The Sacrament of Holy Communion

Invitation

The Eucharistic meal is a memorial of Christ’s life, death and resurrection.

Come to the front Take the elements back to your seat and we will all eat at the same time.

For you and for your children

All those who love the Lord

It is also intended to represent in some small way, a heavenly banquet in the presence of the Father and all the Saint’s loved and lost.

Make no mistake about this, The idea is not that we are inviting God and the heavenly court into our space.

In this act, we are lifted into a glimmer of His Kingdom, where all of us are One Body together.

*Song: Lift up your hearts/Sing Hallelujah (526: vss 1-4)

Lift up your hearts unto the Lord: lift up your hearts unto the Lord. Sing hallelujah, sing hallelujah; lift up your hearts unto the Lord

In Christ the world has been redeemed: in Christ the world has been redeemed. Sing hallelujah, sing hallelujah; in Christ the world has been redeemed.

His resurrection sets us free: His resurrection sets us free. Sing hallelujah, sing hallelujah; His resurrection sets us free.

Therefore, we celebrate the feast.
Therefore we celebrate the feast.
Sing hallelujah, sing hallelujah.
Therefore we celebrate the feast.

The Apostles’ Creed (539)
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come again 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 Communion Prayer

At the beginning, before time began You were. You formed the cosmos. You brought order and life. And when your people ran from you Your first act was to go wandering through creation calling out to the ones who wronged you.

While we are impressed by the vastness of space and the complexity of creation. It is your love for us, which continues to search us out that draws us close to you.

Though we may not always see you; though we may at times act as if we do not know you, though we tend to lose sight of you. You are nevertheless always there and always calling out to us. Today we earnestly lift our hearts to you in thanks and call you Lord.

With Your Holy Spirit you have made us born again. You have given us new life. Opportunities to do better, counsel, gifts and a shoulder to lean on. Though some have changed you to be a crutch for the weak, we are not afraid to admit our weaknesses, errors and failing and thus proudly proclaim that you are not our crutch but rather the whole hospital. We thank you lord that you provide us with so much and with so many other wonderful people. We praise you that you provide us opportunities to help others and gives us the strength to carry on. And now we ask that Your Spirit be present in this bread and this fruit of the vine as we partake together as one body united in you – and disciples of Christ. Amen.

Sharing of the Bread and Wine

As he was having a festival meal with friends, Jesus, knowing what lay ahead took a piece of bread, Thanked the Father for what he had, broke it, and gave it to them.

Take, Eat, he said, This is my body, Given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.

Jesus also picked up a cup, saying, This is the blood of a new covenant. Drink this in remembrance of me.

As often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s Death until He comes again.

The gifts of God for the Children of God. Please now come to the front.

Incidental music

Song: Eat this bread (527)

Eat this Bread, drink this Cup. Come to Me and never be hungry. Eat this Bread, drink this Cup. Trust in Me and you will not thirst.

Prayer after Communion

Whenever we gather like this, We do so to remember HIM. Not his teaching alone, not his death alone, but HIM. Life, death, resurrection, ascension, alive and well, currently building rooms in a heavenly mansion, Him. So, let’s take a second and thank him.

God of grace and love, who gives it all, we have everything and yet nothing to say. All we have comes from you. Everything we are comes from you. And all that we shall be comes from you. Lord we praise you and thank you for this day and ever other one like it. Amen.

*Song: Thine be the glory (258)

Sending out with God’s blessing

The Lord bless you and keep you, make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn His Face toward you and give you peace.

Amen, amen, amen. Amen, amen, amen

Music postlude

————————————————————————-

Bricks

Posted on March 29, 2024April 1, 2024 by John

Worship on Good Friday
10:00 am March 29, 2024
Minister: The Rev. Brad Childs Music Director: Binu Kapadia
Vocalist: Linda Farrah-Basford
*indicates that those who are able may stand

Music Prelude

We gather to worship God

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

Lighting of the Christ candle

Silent preparation for worship

Call to worship:

L: Jesus took the towel, poured water into a basin and washed the feet of his disciples. Then Jesus said to them, “If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.”

P: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for showing us how to love and serve one another.

L: “But God proves his love for us that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.”

P: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for suffering and dying on the cross for us and our salvation.

We listen for the voice of God

*Song: When I survey the wondrous cross (231)

Scripture readings: Psalm 22 ; John 18:28-19, 37

Musical offering: Linda and Binu

Message: “Bricks!”

Charlie and Matt lived in a nice neighborhood where the people were friendly except for one man who lived at the end of the block in a house with a giant swimming pool. His pool had the highest diving board the kids had ever seen. It was so high they could see it over the big fence that surrounded the property.

Practically every day, Charlie and Matt walked past the man’s house: wishing, imagining, and dreaming that they might someday dive off that diving board. But the mean old man didn’t allow anyone onto his property, especially kids. The “No Trespassing” signs on every post of the fence made it exceptionally clear.

But at least one of these two must have been the youngest child because the prohibition against entering just made the boys want it all the more desperately.

Matt and Charlie made a pact that the next time they saw that old killjoy-neighbour headed out of town, the two would sneak over the fence, climb that ladder, and dive off that skyscraper of diving board they had dreamed of.

As luck, kismet, providence, or happenstance may have had it… just two weeks later, little Charles and little Matthew noticed the man next door packing a suitcase into his car. They felt the rush of passion. The moment they dreamt of was upon them.

That evening, at nearly 11:00 pm, dressed in their swimming trunks, ready to rock, the two kids snuck out of their bedrooms to meet at the neighbors’ place.

It was a moonless night, perfect for getting away with a little mischief.

When I was in High School my friends and I would occasionally Fork a Yard. That being: we would take a 1000 piece package of plastic forks, and jam them into the victim’s yard, break them off, jam the rest in and then show up the next day to watch our poor teachers attempt to pull plastic bits out of their yards with pliers only to discover 50% of them were buried and likely to become permanent fixtures.

Every kid does stupid stuff… At least that is what I tell myself!

Climbing over the fence Matt and Charlie landed on the soft grass and then felt their way across the hard cement walkway, to the pool. Without a moon, the youth felt more clever than usual.

Just then Charlie thought he heard a sound. Maybe someone was still home? They stood still. Frozen for but a moment. But it was very still. All was still. No, it was nothing. No one was home. They wouldn’t get caught.

Charlie felt his way over to the edge of the pool and Matt climbed the ladder. “Last one in is a rotten egg” shouted Matt. A second later the spring of the board was like music to Charlie’s ears as he dipped his toes into the crisp cool water.

But the next two things took place simultaneously: Matt screamed out in pain, and Charlie felt not a drop of water, crisp, cool or otherwise, upon his feet.

The pool had been drained.

Matt jumped off that 12-foot high dive and next, he hit the bottom of the pool 12 more feet below ground level. Matt hit his feet first and suffered two broken legs, two broken ankles, a broken spine, and some other important and serious injuries. Matt spent the rest of his life paralyzed from the waist down. Charlie spent his taking care of Matt and was riddled with guilt.

Sometimes we think and do wrong things.

Sometimes these are “little sins” as we like to think of them, sometimes they are “Big”. But the truth is – they all have consequences. Even if like Charlie you “get away with it” with nothing but a little guilt… there is still a price.

There is always a reckoning.

Paul in his book to the Hebrews remarks “Everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin.”

The price is very high.

A just God demands that a high price be paid for every wrongdoing. Every sin demands blood. And every sin (“big” or “small” must be paid for).

The good news for us is that God paid the high price himself. In the book of Timothy, it says, “He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone else.”

But freedom from what exactly?

“For the wages of sin is death,” the scripture says.

So, freedom from death for one thing. That is – eternal life is made available. But I think there is also more to it. I think it’s also about the Guilt of the sinner and general lawlessness.

At the beginning of the book of Judges, the author writes, “In those days no one followed the law, and everyone did what was right in their own eyes.”

In a way, we live in the world of judges. We live in a time when no one ever wants to admit they were wrong. We live as a people subject to nothing and no one, because we make our own rules. And we live lives where we rarely if ever find reason to confess the few mistakes we’re willing to admit we do make.

We can “get away” with almost anything. The wages of sin are not often clear to us on this side of life. But the sad fact is this… even when we do “get away with it”, the result is still guilt. We know we aren’t quite right. In our heart of hearts, we know we can’t be right about everything and we can’t be the gods of our own lives. As the great prophet, Bob Dylan wrote… “You gotta serve somebody.”

A few years ago, a man who owned a small business in Germantown, Maryland, started what he called “a community art project.” His name was Frank Warren, and he began handing out postcards to strangers and leaving them in public places. The postcards asked people to write down a secret. The secret had to be true, and it had to be something they had never told anyone. Then people were supposed to mail their postcards to Frank Warren, anonymously.

To his surprise, thousands of people sent in cards. People had copied the address onto new postcards they had bought themselves and sent postcards. He got more cards than he handed out.

In his book Warren later said that it was like people were so weighted down by guilt for the things they had done (or not done) that they felt like they were carrying bricks around all day. He says people are killing themselves because they have so much guilt and nothing to do with it.

Kafka wrote, “We are sinful not only because we have eaten of the Tree of Knowledge, but also because we have not yet eaten of the Tree of Life. The state in which we live is the state of sin and guilt.” But we don’t have to.

Some of those cards (those bricks of guilt people pile upon themselves and carry):

“I started shooting heroin again. I still go to meetings and my sponsor doesn’t know.”
“When my friends go on diets, I discourage them because I secretly can’t handle it if they are thinner than me.”
“I’m jealous of my brother’s baby.”
“Sometimes I wish that I was blind, just so I wouldn’t have to look at myself every day in the mirror.”
“I don’t spend enough time with my kids. But I also don’t want to.”
“People think I’ve stopped lying—but I’ve just gotten better at it.”
“My mom thinks I’ve never done drugs”
“I go to parties, wait for everyone to get drunk, and steal all their stuff.”
“I accidentally ran over someone’s cat, and I just kept driving.”
“I stole money from my mother after she died.”
“I don’t like my mother anymore, she’s getting mean, so I don’t visit her”
“I waste office supplies because I hate my boss.”
“I hide money from my husband.”
“I’m on anti-depressants. I put them in vitamin bottles so people at work won’t know my smiles are faked.”
“I refuse to forgive my sister for something she did long ago but I can’t remember what it was”
“I have terminal cancer and I told my family I am in remission because I don’t want to talk about it.”
“I cheated on my wife during the war.”
“I don’t give to charities, I only claim to.”
“I hate my wife.”
“I talk behind people’s ”
“I charge lunches to work when I take friends out to eat.”

Card after card… Brick after brink… people pile guilt upon themselves until the weight of it all is too much to bear.

And you know what maybe that’s what we deserve. The weight of sin is death.

What do your postcards say?

We live in a society where people think they have nowhere to put their bricks and no one to turn to.

While the resurrection promises us a new and perfect life in the future, I want to tell you that God also loves us too much to leave us alone to contend with the sin and guilt we find in our present life.

No one is free from sin. And the wages of sin is death. We chose our own way and rejected God’s and so we told him we know better than He does; that we are the gods of ourselves.

But we were wrong, and we know it and we feel guilt for our sins.

We don’t always get caught, but our conscience will sooner or later get the best of us weighing us down like a load of bricks.

But then comes Good Friday (God’s Friday) … and the good news… God already paid the wage of sin for us and God takes all the guilt you can’t handle upon Himself.

Isaiah 53:6: “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, we have turned, everyone, to his own way, and the LORD has laid on Jesus, the sin and guilt of all of us.” And he took it voluntarily because we couldn’t.

You don’t need to suffer for your sins. He already did. Take your postcards and burn them. And dump your bricks where they don’t belong but are taken anyway – dump them at the foot of the cross. Amen.

*Song: What wondrous love is this (242)

We respond to serve God

Prayer of gratitude, and for others and ourselves

Let us pray for this world which is groaning for redemption, and its creatures struggle for survival.

We pray for all those who are victims of war and racial conflict, for those overwhelmed by natural disaster, and for all who meet with any kind of accident, and those who are in any kind of danger…………..

For them, let us sing from our hearts: Lord Jesus Christ, lover of all

Let us pray for those who are deprived and live in poverty, for those who are despairing and feel themselves beyond help, and for those who are in suffering physically, mentally, spiritually, or socially and as yet see no hope.

And let us pray for those who face death alone, especially those who do not know the hope of life beyond death……….

For them, let us sing from our hearts: Lord Jesus Christ, lover of all

Let us pray for all those in great difficulty: for those who have lost their faith in God, in goodness and in the meaning of every life; for those who seek truth but cannot find it; for those who are lonely and find no friends; for those who are disheartened, whatever their circumstance; and for those who feel betrayed…………

For them, let us sing from our hearts: Lord Jesus Christ, lover of all

Lord God, You have given us a place to live in, In Greenfield, in our neighbourhoods, in Edmonton with space to build a life together, with people who become neighbours and friends.

Open our eyes to each other.

Make us humble enough to help others and comfort them, so that a little of your love may be seen in this place and in our lives.

Make each one of us a source of your enduring presence for the sake of Christ who died that we might live. Amen

*Song: Were you there vss 1-5 (233)

Extinguish the Christ candle

Recess in silence

——————————————