Worship on the Second Sunday after Pentecost
10:00 am June 22, 2025
Minister: Rev. Brad Childs Music Director: Binu Kapadia
Vocalist: Linda Farrah-Basford Welcoming Elder: Gina Kottke
Children’s Time: Lynn Vaughan Reader: Tracy Childs
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
Preparation for worship
Call to worship:
L: We come to worship God,
P: For God is compassionate. God is love.
L: Love is not God
P: But God is LOVE
L: Where will we find God?
P: God is among the hungry and thirsty, in the face of a stranger, reaching out to us.
L: Let us seek God so that we can serve God
P: Let us worship God and seek God’s healing, reconciling grace.
Opening praise: I lift my eyes up
Prayers of approach and confession
Creator God, You have made a world full of incredible variety — countless different creatures and plants, all connected in an intricate web that keeps life going. We thank you for the beauty and wonder of your creation.
You’ve also made humans wonderfully diverse — with different cultures, languages, traditions, and communities. We see Your creativity and compassion reflected in how people love, create, and care for each other. We praise You for this too.
In Jesus Christ, You have shown us the depth of Your love for all creation and taught us how to live by that love. Through Your Spirit, give us fresh eyes to see the beauty around us and inspire us to celebrate and share that wonder every day.
God, the amazing variety in your creation leaves us in awe, but we admit we’re often caught up in what’s familiar and comfortable. We want everyone to speak our language, share our customs, and see the world as we do. We struggle to understand why some people are treated unfairly just because they are different. Sometimes, we don’t realize how our own preferences and biases can hurt others and even harm the earth.
Forgive us for clinging to what’s familiar instead of opening ourselves to new understanding. Help us listen to the stories of people whose lives are different from ours. Break down the barriers of prejudice and indifference. Teach us to see and hear the suffering of others around the world and to respond with compassion and justice.
We confess that at times we judge others unfairly, or remain silent when we should speak out. We ask for your forgiveness for the ways we fall short of loving our neighbors as ourselves. Strengthen us to grow in kindness, humility, and understanding, so we can reflect your love more fully in all we do.
And lastly Father aid us in this complex and broken world as we attempt to discern what is right so that we will not repeat the mistakes of the past. We put our trust in You Lord. Hear our Prayer. Amen.
Response: I will trust in the Lord
Assurance of God’s forgiveness
The apostle Paul writes that in Christ Jesus we are all children of God through faith. Since we have been baptized into Christ, we have clothed ourselves with Christ, and we are all one in Christ Jesus. Therefore, be at peace with one another, be at peace with yourselves, and be at peace with God. Amen.
Musical offering: Godfrey and Linda
We listen for the voice of God
Song: Open our eyes Lord (445)
Children’s time: Recognition of Graduation
The Lord’s Prayer (535)
Song: At the dawning of creation (512)
Scripture readings: Galatians 3:23-29
Message: Ships, anchors and purpose
Paul writes to the Galatians. Historically, Galatia was a region in central modern-day Turkey. The Galatians were a Celtic people who migrated to this area in the 3rd century BC. They spoke a Celtic language and maintained a distinct cultural identity.
The Apostle Paul visited Galatia on his missionary journeys and founded several churches there. These churches were primarily composed of Gentile (non-Jewish) converts to Christianity. And tensions rose between orthodox Jews who kept Kosher and focused on the Law, and gentile worshipers who were being welcomed in. In this letter, Paul addresses a theological crisis that had arisen in the Galatian churches. Some Jewish Christians were teaching that Gentile converts needed to be circumcised and follow Jewish Law to be genuinely saved. Paul vehemently opposes this teaching, arguing that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone, not by works of the Law.
In Paul’s eyes, before the coming of faith in Christ, the Law served as a guardian or custodian. It held people captive to a system of rules, but also kept them safe, revealing their sinfulness and their inability to measure up to God’s standards, showing the worshiper that works could not save and that only God can do that. But now that faith in Christ has come, the Law’s role as a guardian has ended for those who are in Christ. They see Jesus as the answer to HOW God saves. Why, then, Paul asks, would people continue to follow the law when its only purpose was to point to a saviour? Or put another way, we do not put up posters for concerts that have already taken place, and we do not follow the civil or ceremonial laws of the Old Testament because they were meant to point to a coming saviour. Because he has already come, we don’t need to “post” or proclaim them anymore. The big show has already come to us. Saying “look out, a saviour is coming” no longer makes sense. “Look our Saviour has come” is the message now.
We must be careful, however, as this was hard for the first Christians to understand as well. And some fell into the trap of antinomianism, whereby some Christians believed no laws mattered at all for any reason and even rejected the Ten Commandments. Jesus said in Matthew 5 that he did not come to “destroy the law but to fulfill it” and there is a significant difference.
I suspect at one point or another, you have heard someone critical of Christianity. It’s not uncommon for people with little biblical knowledge to think they have this great “gotcha ya” moment. They will say that Christians arbitrarily follow some law and pick and choose which ones not to follow. They love to point out laws about not wearing clothing of two different materials and the Levitical laws intended for the priests. They think of Christians as hypocrites for doing this. When you hear someone speaking this way, know that this person is no authority on scripture. They need to do a little more study.
As the reformers came to see this, the moral laws (such as the Ten Commandments) continue to apply to Christian people. Laws about how governments were once run in the ancient world, however, do not. Nor do laws intended for particular times and places, such as where to bury waste outside the ancient tent city (we no longer live in), so people won’t get sick. Nor do we follow laws about what to do with people who have certain contagious diseases (before cures came about) or where to tie your donkey up, or what type of sea creature to eat or avoid, as these no longer apply to us. The reformers thought of the law as being of three kinds: Moral (which are eternal), Civil (which applied to governments in different times and locations and clearly changed over time and within the scriptures themselves), and Ceremonial laws like the sacrifices (which point to a messiah to come and ultimate sacrifice).
So while “thou shalt not steal” is a moral law we are still to follow, the punishment an ancient government prescribed to someone guilty of stealing (a civil law), we do not, nor do we follow the sacrifice we were once required to offer in apology to God. In the same way, we do not follow dietary laws because they are not moral in nature, but rather a way for the Hebrews to present themselves as unique in the world and different from others (just as we are now called to be lights to the world through our deeds and words).
While Jewish followers of Jesus and Gentile followers of Jesus debated which parts of the law Gentiles might still be required to follow, Paul provides guidance to both. Most importantly to him, in Christ Jesus, all believers are all children of God through faith and not just because they were born to a particular tribe or nation. Through baptism (a demonstration of faith open to all people), they have “clothed themselves with Christ,” signifying their union with him and their participation in his righteousness.
Paul contends that in Christ, there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile, slave and free, male and female. All are one in Christ Jesus. This verse emphasizes the radical inclusivity of the Gospel and the dismantling of social and religious barriers. However, note that this has nothing to do with denying reality; categories still exist. Paul’s point is that no category of people is barred from coming to faith in Christ, which is open to everyone, regardless of their category, “male, female, slave or free, jew or gentile”.
Because they belong to Christ, believers are considered Abraham’s offspring and heirs to the promises God made to Abraham. This promise was always intended to extend to all nations, not just the Jewish people. In Genesis 22, God explicitly tells Abraham, “Through you, every nation on earth will be blessed.”
“Before the coming of this faith in Jesus,” Paul writes, “we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed.” (Galatians 3:23) Imagine a prisoner, confined within walls, bound by chains, awaiting a release that seems perpetually out of reach. This, Paul says, is our state before Christ. We are held “under the law,” a system of rules and regulations that, while intended to guide us, ultimately serves to highlight our shortcomings and our inability to measure up and thus points to the one who comes to save.
Think about the paradox of human effort, the struggle to achieve freedom through our means. It reminds me of the words, “Man has become irrational in an attempt to be. In defiance of himself, he has defaced himself. In an attempt to be free, he has made himself a slave. And like Alexander the Great, he has conquered the world around him, but has not yet conquered himself (which matters most). The reasonable person, striving for freedom, always becomes trapped in their own efforts, defacing themselves and becoming a slave to their own ambition. Like Alexander, they may conquer the external world but remain captive within themselves.” Or to be blunt, if you think the law saves you will slave away at attempting to keep the law, but never fully be capable of doing so. The scripture goes on.
“So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith.” (Galatians 3:24) Peter Gogos describes the law as a guardian and as being like a babysitter and a teacher. And because the law cannot justify, all with faith in God’s saviour are said to be children of Abraham (the chosen people). By adoption, the justified believer is a full heir in God’s family with all the attendant rights and privileges. The law, in this context, is not a path to salvation but a *pedagogue*, a guide, a teacher, showing us what is right and wrong, but ultimately unable to make us right with God. After all, there are 613 laws in the Hebrew bible and no one, even Moses, could manage to keep them all. This points us to our need for something more, someone greater. And that “something more, someone greater” is, of course, Christ. The entire Old Testament thus points to Jesus. The coming of faith in Jesus marks a turning point. It is the moment the prison doors swing open, the chains fall away, and the captive is set free. As Paul declares, “Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian” (Galatians 3:25). We are no longer bound by the law’s demands, but are instead justified by grace, through faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ.
Paul speaks of our identity in Christ, our inheritance, and the incredible unity we share as believers. In his mind, this new identity sets us free. As John Augustus Shedd once said, “Ships are safe in the harbour, but that is not where ships were made to be”. The law held us, but our ultimate purpose is in moving beyond it and into the world with faith rather than fear. And this is the anchor that holds us. It is grace that saves through faith.
The apostle continues, “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith” (Galatians 3:26). What does it mean to be a child of God? It’s not an ideal we strive for, but a reality offered by God in Christ. Identity as children of God is not an ideal which we must realize. It is rather a reality created by God in Christ in which we may participate. It’s a gift, freely given, that transforms our relationships with one another and with God.
And how do we receive this gift? Through faith. It’s not through our efforts, but through trusting in the saving work of Jesus Christ. And as such, the passage continues, “for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” (Galatians 3:27) We are given a new identity.
This reminds me of Max Lucado’s story from “Back Door” at the Masters. He writes, “I do not claim to be a skilled golfer, but I enjoy playing golf and watching it. And on good nights, I even dream about good golf. So, when I was invited to attend the Master’s golf tournament, I was thrilled. A pass to the Masters is the golfer’s Holy Grail. Mine came via pro golfer Scott Simpson. Off we went to Augusta National Country Club in Georgia, where golf heritage hangs like Moss from the trees. I was a kid in a candy store. It wasn’t enough to see the course and walk the grounds. I wanted to see the locker room and the clubs. Then Hogan and Paul Azinger appeared, and I wanted to go. But some men wouldn’t let me in. The guards stopped me at the entrance. I showed them my pass, but they shook their head. I told them I knew Scott, but that didn’t really matter. One said, “Only caddies and players”. “Well, He knew I wasn’t a player or a caddy. Caddies at the time were required to wear green hats, yellow buttons and white jumpsuits. So I left, knowing that I had made it all the way to the door, but then I was denied entry at the entrance. God has one requirement for entrance into heaven: that we be clothed in Christ. And because of this, we have No Fear of being turned away at the door to heaven.”
And that is where Paul continues in verse 28, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28) There is no barrier in faith in Christ.
C.S. Lewis once wrote, “We are all one in Christ Jesus. Race, social status, gender – these things no longer define us in the eyes of God. We are all equal members of His family. It is essential not to trust in what can be broken, for “Mankind is so fallen that no man can be trusted with unchecked power over his fellows. Aristotle famously suggested that some people were not fit to be citizens and appointed to be slaves for a reason, because they were unworthy. I do not reject that reality. In fact, none are worthy. But I do reject slavery. I reject it not because some are not fit for citizenship, I reject it because I see absolutely no men fit to be masters. But by grace, all people are given the chance to live without categories as to who is worthy and who is not.” And thank God for that, because all have sinned and need a saviour to show them mercy.
Finally, Paul concludes, “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29). As children of God, we inherit the promises made to Abraham. We are heirs to a spiritual blessing, a relationship with God that transcends all earthly limitations.
If you visit Scotland or any area with a large sheep population, you will likely see a little lamb running around the field with what appears to be an extra fleece tied to its back. There are little holes in the fleece for its four legs and usually a hole for its head. If you see a little lamb running around like that, that usually means its mother isn’t around anymore. Without the protection and nourishment of a mother, an orphaned lamb will likely die. If you try to introduce the orphan lamb to another mother, the new mother will bud it away 9 times out of 10. She won’t recognize the lamb’s scent, and we’ll know the baby is not one of her lambs, so she won’t take care of it. But thankfully, most flocks are large enough to have an ewe that recently lost a lamb. The shepherd skins the dead lamb and makes. It’s fleece into a covering for the Orphan lamp. It’s gross, but then again, it happens. The shepherd takes the orphan lamb to the mother with the fleece on top of the baby who has just died. And now that lamb, when she sniffs the orphan lamb, she smells her own. So instead of bidding the lamb away, she accepts it as one of her own. In a similar way, we have become acceptable to God by being clothed with Christ. For those clothed in Him, when God looks in judgment on you, he see not you but His own. He sees Jesus and judges you accordingly.
May you find yourselves no longer bound by rules that cannot save, but liberated by grace as children of God as God showed his love to Abraham and made us ALL a part of his chosen people.
May you strive to be the ship leaving the harbour to sail into the world and proclaim the glory of God rather than hiding in the safe harbour.
May you break the chains that bind, stop enslaving yourself to law and discover, in Christ, the anchor for your souls. The world will change, trends will rise and fall, governments will succeed and fail, but may you find your true purpose, identity and lasting meaning in a relationship that is eternally there.
May you be clothed in Christ, finding yourselves as equals, never again turned away from the door, but welcomed into fellowship and love by a God who has made all things new and sees you as His own.
And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you now and forevermore. Amen.
Song: I have decided to follow Jesus (570)
Response: Glory to the Father
We respond to serve God
Our time of giving
Prayers of the people
God of wisdom and hope, Your Word has guided and healed your people for generations. Send us your Spirit now, that as we listen to the stories of your people, we may find wisdom and hope, guidance and healing through your Living Word, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray.
God Your Spirit equips Your followers to bring healing and hope to the world You love. The gifts we offer you are signs of that healing and hope at work in us and through us, for the sake of Christ our Lord.
Loving God, accept the sacrifices we offer you today and every day. Use our time, talents, and treasures wherever they are needed most.
God of the earth and all its peoples, in Jesus Christ, you proclaim that true life and peace are found in you.
Guide your church to loudly and clearly share this good news, not just in ways that please people but in ways that bring Christ’s reconciling love to divided communities and fractured lives.
Shine your light into the world’s hidden corners — exposing violence, injustice, bigotry, and exploitation. Reveal what dehumanizes the vulnerable and destroys your beautiful creation.
We especially pray for peace in places torn by conflict, Lord— for Israel and Palestine, for Iran and Israel, that they may find paths to reconciliation. Encourage leaders and communities to seek dialogue and understanding, and work toward lasting peace. We pray for the talks between our nations’ allies and Iran, that they may be guided by wisdom, patience, and a desire for true peace and better yet, long-lasting brotherhood and sisterhood of humanity. May your Spirit inspire honest conversation and mutual respect, bringing hope where there is despair.
Almighty God, in the face of escalating tensions in the Middle East, particularly the conflict between Iran and Israel and the involvement of the United States, we humbly seek Your divine intervention.
We pray for restraint and wisdom for all leaders involved. Guide them to make decisions that prioritize peace, de-escalation, and the protection of innocent lives. May they be mindful of the consequences of their actions and seek peaceful resolutions through dialogue and diplomacy.
We ask for Your comfort and protection for the people of Iran, Israel, and all nations in the region who are living in fear and uncertainty. Grant them strength, resilience, and hope amidst the turmoil. May they find solace in Your presence and work towards reconciliation and understanding.
We also pray for the United States, that its role in this conflict may be one without hubris. Guide our leaders to act with integrity, compassion, and a commitment to justice. May their efforts contribute to a lasting and equitable peace in the region. While it is likely that enemies will remain enemies we ask as Jesus did, that all might pray for their enemies.
We lift up all those who are suffering as a result of this conflict – the injured, the displaced, and the bereaved. Grant them healing, comfort, and restoration. May Your love and mercy extend to all who are in need.
God of healing and hope, we pray for all those who are ill or in pain, for the anxious and discouraged, for those facing death or mourning the loss of loved ones, and for those struggling to make ends meet.
We pray for Presbyterian World Service & Development and its partners, as they work to bring healing and hope to places of conflict, hardship, and need.
Here, we especially lift up communities suffering from violence, displacement, poverty, and injustice — including those affected by recent conflicts and crises around the world.
May the mission we share in Jesus’ name shine your light into desperate lives.
God of the earth and all its peoples, let your light shine!
God of the faithful future, bless this community of faith and guide us as we look ahead.
Bless students and teachers as another school year ends, and lift the stress from their lives this summer.
Give us a time of rest and joy in the months to come, and restore our hope and energy to serve and love your world.
God of the earth and all its peoples, let your light shine!
We offer all our prayers, spoken and unspoken, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Song: Sent forth by your blessing (750)
Sending out with God’s blessing
May the peace that surpasses all understanding, a peace rooted in faith and nurtured by grace, fill your hearts and minds. May unity be your guiding principle, binding you together in love and understanding, transcending all differences. And may the grace of kindness and compassion overflow from you, touching the lives of all you encounter, creating a world more reflective of the divine. Go forth and be a beacon of peace, unity, and grace. Amen.
Response: Amen, we praise your name, O God
Music postlude
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Numbers in brackets after a song/hymn indicate that it is from the 1997 Book of Praise of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. Those and other songs are being used in accordance with the specifications of Dayspring’s licensing with One License (3095377) and CLC (A735555).
The Rev. Brad Childs retains the copyright (© 2025) 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.
Video recordings of the Sunday Worship messages can be found here on our YouTube Channel.