Always be willing to tell anyone about the hope that we have.

Posted on May 14, 2023May 14, 2023 by John

Worship on the Lord’s Day
10:00 am 14 May 2023
Christian Family Sunday and Mothers Day
Online & Onsite (Mixed Presence) Gathering as a Worshipping Community
Led by the Rev Brad Childs
Music director: Binu Kapadia Vocalist: Lynn Vaughan
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: Let us see you this day, O God.
P: Come to us as light.
L: Let us hear you this day, O God.
P: Come to us as truth.
L: Let us sense your presence, O God.
P: Come to us as love.
L: Come and let us worship, God.
P: We have come to rejoice in God, our Saviour

Opening praise: I lift my eyes up

Prayers of approach and confession

You are the God who made the world and everything in it.

You are the ruler of heaven and earth.

You give life and breath and all things.

In you we live and move and have our being.

In you we find a judge who is kind and gracious.

In you we find our beginning and our end, and so we offer you our praise and our worship and adoration this day and always.

We also offer to you our confession of sins so that we might begin again with you and one another.

We have claimed to be wise when we were ignorant.

We have sought truth in places of folly.

We have made idols of things of little value, and valued little the things of great worth.

Forgive us. Renew us.Restore within us the spirit of truth and set us on a new track.

Response: Glory, glory, hallelujah

Assurance of God’s grace

God is slow to anger and swift to forgive and always filled with loving kindness. Know that you are forgiven, forgive one another and be at peace.

We listen for the voice of God

Children’s time

Gradual: Open our eyes, Lord (445)

Story Time

If you could name something that is the farthest possible distance away from you, what would that thing be?

Now, if you could name something that is as close to you as is possible, what would that be? What are some things that are very, very close to you?

Some people think that God must live far away. If we could travel to go see God, how far do you think we’d have to go? If we thought that God lived somewhere in the “up” direction, and we got into a rocket ship to go and visit him, how far do you think our rocket would have to travel to finally get to where God is?

But is God really far away from us? Does God live way out there in outer space?

Our God is not a distant God. He wants to be right here with us. He sent his only son, Jesus, right here to our world to live with us and to die on the cross for us and to rise again to life. And when Jesus went up into heaven, he sent the Holy Spirit to fill every believer with the power of God.

God is close to us, isn’t he? Jesus is closer than your mommy or daddy when they’re hugging you tight; he’s closer than a hug. Jesus is closer than our shoes and socks. He’s closer than our skin. Acts, chapter 17, describes how close God is to us. The apostle Paul says, “He is not far from each one of us, for in him we live and move and have our being… ” (Acts 17:27-28 RSV). God is so close that he’s a part of us.

So the next time you get a nice squooshy hug from someone, remember that Jesus is even closer than a hug! When you go back to your places, give someone a big hug and tell them how close Jesus is to them.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, when we feel, like you are far away, help us to remember how close you really are. Help us to know You are always here. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer (535)

Transition music

Song: Teach me, God, to wonder (704)

Today’s Message

Scripture readings: Acts 17:23-31; I Peter 3:13-22; John 14:15-21

Response: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet

Message: “Always be willing to tell anyone about the hope that we have”

Paul has travelled from Berea to Athens ahead of his friends Silas and Timothy. That trip is 3 days by boat or 12 days if you walk.

Supposing Paul arrived by ship, (which appears from Luke to be the case) he would have landed at Piraeus and would have gone north from the harbor and entered Athens by the “Double Gate” on the west side of the city, where four highways converged.

Passing through the gates, Paul would have seen the Temple of Demeter with statues of the goddess and her daughter. A little further on he would have passed the statue of Poseidon hurling his trident. Beyond this, he would have seen the statues of Healing Athena, Zeus, Apollo, and Hermes standing near the Sanctuary of Dionysius.

Assuming that Paul explored the city (even just 6 or so blocks past the Sanctuary for the god of wine) he would have seen the Royal Colonnade, the Metroum or Sanctuary of the Mother of the gods with her image. In the agora, the central market, where that street led, he would have seen the altar of Mercy, which stood in a grove of laurels and olives. Nearby was another stone statue: this one once more of Hermes, and a bronze statue of Ptolemy which would have been bad new. Also in the city was the Sanctuary of the Dioscuri, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Sanctuary of Dionysus (at the foot of the Acropolis), the Temple of Athena (the goddess of Wingless Victory). And in Athens was of course, the most famous Greek temple of all – the Temple of the Parthenon (with its many deities).

The city was flooded with statues, temples and altars. While visiting Montréal, the famous writer Mark Twain reportedly said, “You can’t throw a bring in this town without breaking stained glass.” Athens was much the same. An ancient proverb declared that there were “more gods in Athens than men.” It wasn’t far from the truth. He had just arrived but wherever the Apostle looked, in niches and on pedestals, in temples and on street corners, at the food stores, were gods and demigods. Busts of Hermes were on every corner and statues and altars were in the shared courtyards of every home.

In short, Paul had come to a very interesting place. Archeologists have yet to find an altar to “An Unknown God” in Athens like the one we are told about here in Acts. But in Athens such an altar would not be a surprise to find, and it wouldn’t be unique either. Outside of Rome, on the Palatine Hill, there is an altar dedicated to “The Unknown gods” in the plural. Most likely it just hasn’t been uncovered just yet. But I bet it’s there.

Still, what a strange thing… an altar to a god no one worships? To Canadians it seems pretty crazy. Why build an altar to an Unknown God?

Well, the answer is actually pretty simple. French philosopher Blaise Pascal observed: “In every person’s life there is a God-shaped hole.” Each of us tries to fill that vacuum with a god of some sort. Some make glamor their god, others drugs, others their parents. But it seems innate within humanity that even people who claim not to believe in god, tend to make idols out of just about everything.

Ancient people were no different than the 17^th century French philosopher was… or us for that matter. They were searching. You see, the Athenian people believed that different gods owned different sections of the planet earth. The ancient pagans were simply people who didn’t want to offend any of those gods and so they freely prayed to any and all gods they had ever heard of in the hopes that one might answer them. It was sort of a buckshot, shot gun approach to prayer if you will. Sort of a spread it out and see if you hit something.

Writing in the third century, Diogenes Laertius tells a story of a plague that took place in Athens nearly a thousand years earlier. He says that a Cretan magician ended a terrible plague (which had ravaged the land) by bringing a heard of sheep to the Aeropagus and releasing them. According to the story, each sheep was followed around until it lay down. You can imagine a good hundred men, following sheep around all day waiting for them to take a rest. And then wherever it lay, it was sacrificed to the god whose temple or alter of sacrifice was in that area of the city. According to the story, one lone sheep lay down in an area of Athens where no temple seemed to be in the immediate vicinity. As a result that sheep was sacrificed and a new alter was erected to “An Unknown God”.

And this is where Paul goes to preach. Truth be told it’s not a lot different from today. And just like today, people are always looking for ways to share their religious views with others.

The problem is – unlike Paul, we don’t have a very good track record.

We will speak about this a little more in the weeks to come but about 10 years ago our congregation in Saskatchewan, along with one other, and a local community group began investigating a lone grave stone in a field by the Regina airport. In the end we discovered the bodies of some 37 children. What was there, long ago was a residential school, once owned and operated by the Presbyterian Church in Canada. The school was originally set up because indigenous children were being left behind. The intent was to teach farming so that native communities would have more opportunities. The government paid for it and the churches got to “witness” Jesus to the kids as a result.

I don’t think I have to tell you – it all went bad. And we need to own that history just as we own the things we are proud of.

In the first century the apostle Paul was faced with the same kinds of reality. He came upon a diverse people with variously different forms of spirituality and wanted to share a message with them previously unheard of before by the inhabitants of that land. But he did it a little differently than we did.

In Acts 17 it says, ²²Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus (or Mars Hill) and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. ²³For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: “to an unknown god.”

While the English here can be a little deceiving, there is no hint of rudeness in his approach in the Greek.

In short, he treats them with respect.

Instead of attacking the people for their “strange beliefs” he shares something with them and builds on that. He doesn’t treat them like fools or reject what they know. He starts with what they know. He talks about their “unknown god.” He meets the people where they are.

At this point I’m reminded of Engineering Scientist and Television personality Bill Nye The Science Guy, who once said, “Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don’t.” That’s kind of what Paul does here. He comes to them assuming that they know something he doesn’t and wants to share something he knows that they don’t.

He just says, I see that you are deeply religious people, but I might just know something about this “unknown god” of yours. Clever, isn’t he?

And he does it with such great enthusiasm. He’s not scared to share. He’s excited. It reminds me of this little story.

All the kids in my family used to play in the empty lot next door to my house when I was little. I can remember one time when my little sister fell and skinned her knee, a big group of us kids helped her to the house and when we got there my mom was waiting with peroxide, (which by the way does not actually help – it just hurts) band-aids and two freshly baked cookies. My mom cleaned her up quickly and put on the big bandage. Outside she could hear someone ask “are you okay”. Not three seconds went buy and my sister went from tears to joy as she screamed back. “Cookies, I got cookies”.

When you’re really happy about something, you want to tell people. That’s how we should be about our God. That’s how Paul is here.

Sadly, Christians today are often afraid to share their faith. And it’s understandable. As I said we haven’t had the best track record and quite frankly we’re haunted by the mistakes of our past. Often people are afraid of offending someone or afraid they might bump into someone that has no belief or interest in God. People wonder, “What could I ever say to somebody that doesn’t believe in God at all?”

But to tell the truth I bet if someone ever said to the apostle Paul “I don’t believe in God,” he might have responded the same way I do. I say, “Tell me about this god you don’t believe in. Because chances are that I don’t believe in that kind of god either.”

For example: some people have this strange / false picture of the Christian God. They think we believe in an angry judge that just wants to punish people. But I don’t believe in an angry god just waiting to spank the people who get out of line. I don’t believe in a god that takes attendance every Sunday. I don’t believe in a god that judges us by our wrongs without justice.

But I do believe in a God of love… a God that accepts, a God that give us grace instead of what we deserve… a God that challenges and changes lives and inspires people. A God who would literally die for you. That’s the God I believe in and that’s the God I like to talk about.

When Paul meets the pagans in Athens (the people who pray to whoever will answer) he doesn’t try to change their culture or their clothes or their language. But he does try to add to it.

As Christians we need, as Peter says, “to always be willing to tell anyone about the hope that we have but with gentleness and respect.” We need to realize the ways that we have done this in the past which have done far more harm than good. We need to realize that our Lord proclaims his glory even through nature. General revelation is real. The sunset does tell us a lot about God. And we need to realize that no one has a monopoly on faith or truth but God alone. We simply do our best to follow.

I am fairly convinced that the Presbyterians of the generations before us generally had good intentions in their evangelistic efforts. I’m convinced the guy on the street corner shouting at people does too. But I’m also convinced of something else… We can, should and must do better. We must admit our errors, own them and attempt to make up for them. Good intentions are not enough.

May you know our God more fully each day.

May your cup overflow and your joy abound.

May you be excited to share your faith, in love and with gentleness and respect.

May you be just as open to learn what others might know, as you are to share.

And may we all learn from the mistakes of our past and proclaim Christ rightly whenever and wherever he might be “unknown.” And let us always be ready to share the reasons for the hope we have in Jesus Christ. Amen

Song: This is my commandment (694)

We respond to serve God

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

A Mother’s Day story:^[1] The story is told about a mom was out walking with her 4-year-old daughter when the girl picked up something from the ground and started to put it in her mouth. The mother tells what happens in her own words:

I took the item away from her and I asked her not to do that.” My daughter quickly asked, “Why?” “Because it’s been lying outside, you don’t know where it’s been, it’s dirty and probably has germs,” I replied.

At this point, my daughter looked at me with total admiration and asked, “Wow! How do you know all this stuff?”

I thought quickly and said, “All moms know this stuff. It’s on the Mommy Test. You have to know it, or they don’t let you be a Mommy.”

We walked along in silence for 2 or 3 minutes, as she pondered this new information. “Oh…I get it!” she beamed, “So if you don’t pass the test you have to be the daddy?”

I smiled and replied, “Exactly.”

Prayer of gratitude and for others and ourselves

God of homes and families, this Sunday, we give you thanks for our families,

especially remembering mothers, grandmothers, great grandmothers.

We are grateful for their love and attention, their hard work and the deep hope they have cherished for each one of us.

We honour before you each one who has mothered us and now lives with you in your eternal care.

And we ask your blessing on each one in our family who continues to care for us, cook for us and worry about us.

God with a loving heart, Hear our prayer.

God of connections and compassion, today we thank you for our friends and relations, for the neighbours and fellow citizens who help to make our lives complete.

We thank you for glad times shared, helping hands offered, commitments honoured.

And we pray for those around us facing particular challenges this day:

Keep silence for 15 seconds.

God with a loving heart, Hear our prayer.

God of courage and new possibility, today we pray for all those who feel life or love slipping through their fingers, for those who face the loss of good health,

and for those who face the loss of good times.

We pray for communities facing upheaval through natural disaster and human misjudgment, and for countries facing economic turbulence and environmental collapse.

Keep silence for 15 seconds.

God with a loving heart, Hear our prayer.

God of forgiveness and renewal, today we pray for those caught up in relationships in need of repair and for all who seek peace and seek to make peace. We pray for families, churches, communities and countries caught up in division.

Keep silence for 15 seconds.

Send your Spirit to bring peace to troubled lives, God with a loving heart,

Hear our prayer.

Song: Love divine, all loves excelling (371)

Sending out with God’s blessing

May the immortal, invisible, God only wise, go with you, going before you, behind you, around you and within you.

May the God who made all things, who sustains all things, rules all things, sees all things, lead your way.

May the God In whom we live and move and have our being give you insight and understanding.

And may we all share our faith boldly and rightly or not at all, from this time forward and for evermore. Amen.

Response: God to enfold you

Music postlude

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

^[1] https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon-illustrations/82154/all-moms-know-this-stuff-by-sermon-central

Keep the fork

Posted on May 7, 2023May 7, 2023 by John

Worship on the Lord’s Day
5th Sunday of Easter Sacrament of Holy Communion
10:00 am May 07, 2023
Onsite & Online (Mixed Presence) Gathering as a Worshipping Community
Led by Rev. Bradley Childs
Music director: Binu Kapadia Vocalist: Vivian and Clare Houg
Guest musicians: Rob Hryciw, Thomas Schoen
Elder: Heather Tansem

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: God is our Rock and our Fortress.
P: In God, we find refuge and strength.
L: God’s house has many dwelling places.
P: We will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
L: Christ himself has gone to prepare a place for us.
P: For us, Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.
L: So let us worship God in Spirit and in Truth.

Opening praise: O come to the altar

Prayer for those seeking refuge

God of life and freedom.

When Abraham’s family wandered, when Moses took refuge in the desert, when the Hebrew people fled into the wilderness, when the Israelites lived in exile, you called them and gave them words of comfort and promises of hope.

In Christ you crossed the border.

You put on frail flesh, were born and lived your life always on the move in a dangerous world.

From your first night you slept in a bed and a place that was not your own.

You and your family fled terror and found refuge in foreign lands.

You were always the guest in the homes and tables of strangers.

You were not always sure of your next meal.

This day we remember before you:

those who lives are more like yours than we can imagine or care to acknowledge;
those who are without homes, who have been uprooted from their communities and countries;
who have had to flee for their lives;
who have left families and friends;
who live precarious lives.

We pray for your protection and care for those who suffer and must take refuge because of war, politics, natural disaster, status, race, gender, sexuality, and faith.

We mourn, we are moved, and we are angered by the loss that marks the lives of so many: the loss of dignity, of respect, of security, of community, of family, and of stability.

You have called us to be citizens of your kingdom.

We pray for the people of this country and of the church, that we may not be indifferent or naïve, afraid or overwhelmed, discouraged or blind to hope and options to help or silent in the call for justice.

Open our hearts and our doors – to the stranger, to the widow and the orphan and all that are dear to you, to your presence that we may encounter in the foreigner, and strengthen us to witness to the love of God for all people. Amen

We listen for the voice of God

Music Offering: Concerto in D Minor for 2 violins by J.S.Bach (Largo, ma non tanto) presented by Rob, Thomas, Binu

Scripture readings (NRSV): I Peter 2:2-10 & John 14:1-14

Response: Glory to the Father …”

Message: “Keep the fork”

Loretta Fields was 87 years old when she was diagnosed with Terminal Cancer. She had grown up in the small town of Evanston and married a local boy and attended the same three room church her whole life. Within only hours the whole town had heard the news. Everyone loved Loretta. Right away the minister called to see if he could come by to visit her. The phone rang four then five times…but no answer. Just then all five feet and one half an inch of Miss Fields rounded the corner in a big Easter hat. She knocked on the door and smiled at the young pastor through the crack in his door.

Loretta was there to talk about her funeral arrangements. The Minister tried at first to talk about her feelings (rather than the structure of the service) but as usual Loretta could not be persuaded from her intentions. She carefully went over all the scripture readings, making sure to note that the Bible must be a King James Version of 1611. She talked about the Hymns she loved, made mention of the dress she wanted to wear, that she wanted an open casket and even which plot outside the old country church she would like to arrange for herself. It seemed as if she had planned this all out years ago; right down to the most minute detail. But at the end of the arrangements, she said something slightly odd. “Reverend” she said, “I need a favor and you absolutely cannot say no.” Knowing the character of Miss Loretta Fields the minister didn’t hesitate to agree. “Reverend” she said, “before the memorial service starts, I want you to place a plastic fork in the palm of my hands.”

Seeing the confusion in the Ministers eyes Loretta explained, “After Kenneth died, the greatest times in my life were the times I had right here at the Church potlucks. I loved to sit and talk with friends; I loved the variety of all that food and all those choices. For me that is what life is all about. But then, as soon as I was done eating, I’d find myself walking up to put my dishes away and inevitably (without fail) one of those sweet young ladies from the kitchen would always smile, look back at the dessert trays (soon to be presented) and say, “Keep the fork. The best is still to come.”

“Now Reverend, you tell that story when people ask about the fork in my hand.”

The minister knew that the fork was more than just a story about church dinners; it was more than a story about the great things in life. It was a story about heaven.

At the funeral service a few months later, the minister did just as he had promised. And he told Loretta’s story to all the inquisitive people wondering about the fork and he always ended by saying, “Loretta was right, keep your fork, the best is still to come.”

In the verse from John today, we have a very interesting scene. Jesus and his closest friends have huddled together in the upper room. The last supper has been eaten, Jesus has predicted one disciple’s betrayal; has told Peter that he will deny ever knowing him; and Jesus has made sure his friends know that his life will soon be taken from them.

The disciples, who had finally come to understand the true identity of Jesus as the Messiah, were now once again confronted with the idea that Jesus wasn’t going to be leading them into battle or into a new political era, and that what God had in mind was not the glorious overturning of Rome. The kingdom of God is not about the city of Jerusalem; it is not about a holy city but instead, a holy people. In the confusion and the disbelief there is arguing and defiance. But Jesus steps in with some of the simplest words we find on his lips in the entire bible. Seeing the confusion in the eyes of those he knows best of all he looks at his friends and says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; and so also in me.”

It’s interesting, Jesus never says, “Do not let you hearts be troubled… the world is full of puppy dogs and roses!” He doesn’t demean pain or say that it’s not valid. He doesn’t say that everything is perfect. In fact, knowing the road that lay ahead of Him, Jesus even prayed that the cup [the pain] be taken from his lips. But despite it all, He just says “Trust in your God”… Trust me.”

There is an old story where I’m from about two hunters. One is a glass is “half-empty’ kind a guy. Everything is always in the negative.

The other guy is more of half-full type guy and for him you just have to have a little faith.

Well one day the optimist decides he can show his friend that there are great things in the world. He gets this hunting dog and trains him all year and this dog can do anything. And I mean anything.

So finally, it’s duck hunting time again and two men go out with their dogs. Almost right away, the optimist sees his shot over by the pond. He takes aim and fires and hits a duck on the first shot and the duck falls right in the middle of the pond.

“Everyone’s bound to get a lucky shot once in a while” says the friend. But the optimist just looks at his dog… “Go get ’em boy.” The dog stands up on two legs, whistles as he strolls up to the pond. Then the dog pauses for a second and looks back at the two men; smiles, and then walks on water all the way out the duck. Then the dog picks up the duck, throws it over his shoulder and happily begins walking back. Then the optimist looks over at his friend and says “Now is that glass half empty or half full?” to which his friends replies, “How much money’d you waste on a dog ‘at can’t swim?”

The reality is that all of us, no matter what we see, will at times be overwhelmed by the negative things in life. We’re all like this sometimes. The disciples are just like the rest of us; they’re human. And sometimes worries just seem to overwhelm them just like they do us. And that makes sense. These worries aren’t fantasy. They’re real. Pain, death, suffering, disease, loneliness… these things are real. There are lots of legitimate things to worry about.

I mean, here they are (the first disciples) sitting around with Jesus Christ himself, having a glass of wine when he tells them that he’s come to suffer and die. When Jesus says, the messiah is not going to conquer Rome, He’s going to suffer for the sins of the world, Peter jumps up and tells the messiah not to talk like that. When Jesus tells them that the disciples have a place in heaven… they’re either confused or they don’t seem to believe a word he has to say. They’re worried! And why shouldn’t they be. They’re worried about what’s going to happen tomorrow, what will happen to Jesus, what will happen to themselves and what will happen to their cause.

Sad days are coming. Jesus just told them that he is going to be killed. And then Jesus says something so strange. He says, “Don’t worry,” He says. I will be killed but that doesn’t mean that everything in the world is all wrong. That doesn’t mean that they have all been wasting their time. That doesn’t mean it’s all over.

“Don’t worry?” What is he talking about? Jesus says, “Do not let your heats be troubled.” But he doesn’t mean that there aren’t real worries out there.

See, when Jesus says “troubled” the word he uses is tarasso. The thing is, this word was also used to describe what happens to water when you drop a rock or a paddle into it. There is a ripple effect and it keeps growing out from the center. It keeps spreading all the way to the edges. It stirs things up. It affects the whole system. It’s not that Jesus is denying the existence of real worries. It’s that Jesus doesn’t want them to let their worries take control of them. He says, “Do not let your heart be troubled”, “Don’t let worries take over your heart.” Instead, He says, “Trust in God; so trust also in me. … Don’t let it get to your heart. Your heart, belong to me.”

Jesus tell his friends just as he is telling us… that no matter what happens, we cannot be separated from the Love of God. No army, no cross… no death can take us from Him. He says, “In my Father’s house are many dwelling places…” and “I am going to prepare a place for you.” It’s an interesting picture. Their friend Jesus, the carpenter from Nazareth says, “Don’t worry about this home. I am going to build you a new home.”

I don’t know what real and serious issues you might face. I don’t know what troubles pull at your heart; what worries seek to overtake you. But what I do know is this… “Do not lose heart, it’s not yours to lose. Do not let the troubles of tomorrow blind you to your real future and your ultimate joy.”

The world is not perfect. Things don’t always go the way we want them to… but don’t let the troubles of this world take over your whole life. Loretta was right … no matter what worries you, “Keep your fork; the best is still to come.”

Song: Those who wait on the Lord (vss 1-5) (662)

We respond to serve God

Prayers for those seeking refuge

Generous God, we bless you for life renewed through Christ’s love and through springtime growth in fields and gardens. Use the gifts we offer to bring hope and renewal to the world you love in the name of Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord.

Holy One, God with us, we give you thanks for the promises Jesus gave to all his followers, that in him we see your face.

He has shown us the face of your mercy and compassion so we thank you for understanding us better than we know ourselves.

He has shown us the face of your peace and justice so we thank you for calling us to make a difference in the world for his sake.

The Sacrament of Holy Communion

Invitation

This is the joyful feast of the people of God!
According to Luke, when our risen Lord was at table with his disciples, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.
Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him

This is the Lord’s table.
Our Savior invites those who trust him to share the feast which he has prepared.

Song: You satisfy the hungry heart (538)

We affirm our faith: The Apostles Creed (539)
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

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

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

The Lord’s Prayer (469)

Communion Prayer (with responses)

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts!
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is right and our greatest joy, Gracious and Loving God, to give you thanks and praise for your works are great and your ways are just and true.

At your loving word all things were made and the beauty of creation was called from chaos. Through your word, you formed us in your image and gave us life. By your word, you called us to love and to serve you and to live in peace with you and all that you have made.

Though we turn from you, you do not turn from us. When we are captive, you liberate us and give us freedom. When we are confused and stray from you, you give us faith to go in search of deeper understanding. When we are tempted to find easy and false comfort in idols, the challenging truth of your presence draws us into deeper relationship.

And so we join our voices with your people of every time and place in joyful praise of you:

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!

We praise you and give you thanks for sending your loving and beloved son into the world. Conceived by the Holy Spirit, he brings new life. Born of Mary’s flesh he knew joy, pain, love, and loss. Touching the sick, he heals us. Breaking bread and sharing the cup with those on the margins, he shows his love and welcome for all. Dying on the cross, he is with us in our suffering. Rising from the grave, he brings new life.

In him, you have reconciled us and you lead us out of fantasy into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life. Remembering all these things, we gather at his invitation to break bread and share the cup and to proclaim the mystery of our faith:

Christ has died!
Christ is risen!
Christ will come again

Gracious and giving God, pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered around your holy table, and on these gifts of bread and wine, that they may be for us the body and the blood of Christ, and that we, being nourished by them, may be for the world the body of Christ, made strong, made new, and redeemed by his blood.

And now through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, and with all who stand before you in earth and heaven, we worship and adore you, now and forever. Amen

Institution: And now from what I received from the Lord to what I now pass on to you. That on the night he was betrayed Jesus took the bread and when he had blessed it, he broke it and said “This is my body given for you, this do in remembrance of me. In the same way after supper Jesus took up the cup saying This cup is a new covenant sealed in my blood, drink this in remembrance of me.

As Paul says, “Whenever we eat this break or drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death – until he comes again!”

These are the gifts of God for us, the children of God. Amen.

Sharing of the bread and wine

Song: Eat this bread (527

The prayer after Communion

Eternal God, heavenly Father, you have graciously accepted us as living members
of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and you have fed us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood.
Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hymn: With the Lord as my guide (574)

Sending out with God’s blessing

The very God of peace sanctify you wholly, and preserve you blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

Response: The blessing

Music postlude

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Numbers in brackets after a song/hymn indicate that it is from the 1997 Book of Praise of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. Those and other songs are being used in accordance with the specifications of Dayspring’s licensing with One Licence (3095377) and CLC (A735555).
The Communion Liturgy is from the PCC’s Book of Common Worship (1991)
The Rev. Brad Childs retains the copyright (© 2023) on all original material in this service. As far as Brad Childs is aware, all of the material that has not been attributed to others is his own creation or is in the public domain. Unacknowledged use of copyrighted material is unintentional and will be corrected immediately upon notification being received.

Chubby Shape Book

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

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

We gather to worship God

Music prelude

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

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

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

Opening praise: Give us clean hands

Prayers of approach and confession

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

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

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

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

praying with the breath of your Spirit in us.

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

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

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

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

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

Response: We come to ask Your forgiveness, O Lord

Assurance of God’s forgiveness

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

We listen for the voice of God

Children’s time

Gradual: Open our eyes, Lord (445)

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

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

The Lord’s Prayer (535)

Transition music

Song: O Christ, the Word incarnate (505)

Today’s Message

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

Response: Behold the Lamb of God

Message: “Chubby Shape Book”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Or is God truly awesome?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We respond to serve God

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

Prayer of gratitude and for others and ourselves

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Walk with them through dark days and steep valleys.

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

Walk with them through dark days and steep valleys.

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

Walk with them through dark days and steep valleys.

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

Walk with them through dark days and steep valleys.

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

Walk with them through dark days and steep valleys.

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

Walk with us all through dark days and steep valleys.

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

Sending out with God’s blessing

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

Response: He is Lord, …

Music postlude

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Sandwiches

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

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

We gather to worship God

Music prelude

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

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

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

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

Prayers of approach and confession

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

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

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

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

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

Response: I waited, I waited on you Lord

Assurance of God’s love

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

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

We listen for the voice of God

Children’s time

Gradual: Open our eyes, Lord (445)

Story

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So here’s my proposal.

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

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

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

Prayer

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

The Lord’s Prayer (535)

Meeting Brad’s friend (a ferret)

Now we’ll meet my little friend, okay.

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

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

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

We’re all going to respect each other.

Okay, have a good time of Sunday school.

Transition music

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

Today’s Message

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

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

Message: “Sandwiches”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We respond to serve God

Prayer for others and ourselves

Prayers for Persecuted Christians

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

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

Prayer for Christians Fleeing Persecution

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

Prayer for Those Assisting Refugees

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

Prayer for Those Who are Persecutors

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

Prayer for World Leaders

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

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

Sending out with God’s blessing

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

Response: Go forth into the world

Music postlude

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Doubting Thomas

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

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

We gather to worship God

Music prelude

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

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

Opening praise: Everlasting God

Prayers of forgiveness and rest

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

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

These details lift our hearts to praise you.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lord if we want forgiveness then we must forgive.

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

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

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

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

Response: I will trust in the Lord

Assurance of God’s forgiveness

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

We listen for the voice of God

Children’s time

Gradual: Jesus loves me (373)

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

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

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

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

The Lord’s Prayer (535 or 469)

Transition music

Song: Thine be the glory (258)

Today’s Message

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

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

Message: ”Doubting Thomas”

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

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

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

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

I believe.

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

I believe in love even when feeling it not.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I believe

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

I believe in love even when feeling it not.

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

Song: Come to us, beloved Stranger (262)

We respond to serve God

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

Prayer of gratitude and for others and ourselves

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Silence for 15 seconds)

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

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

Song: Amazing grace, my chains are gone

Sending out with God’s blessing

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

Response: He is Lord

Music postlude

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

Risen Indeed

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

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

We gather to worship God

Music prelude

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

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

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

Opening praise: This is amazing grace

Prayers of approach and confession

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Forgive us, O God.

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

Response: Glory, glory, hallelujah

Assurance of God’s grace

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

Song: Jesus Christ is risen today

We listen for the voice of God

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

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

Message: Risen Indeed“”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Isn’t that… a bummer?

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

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

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

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

All!

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

I don’t.

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

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

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

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

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

What if?

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

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

Answer: “Jesus is risen” right?

Nope. Life doesn’t work that way.

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

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

But Mary shares it. Who wouldn’t.

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

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

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

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

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

Mary goes back to the tomb as well.

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

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

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

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

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

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

How big is our God?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My God is big. This is Easter morning.

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

Song: At the dawning of salvation (248)

We respond to serve God

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

Prayer of gratitude and for others and ourselves

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

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

Resurrect, renew and revive your church!

God, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

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

Resurrect, renew and revive our life together!

God, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

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

Resurrect, renew and revive the leaders of the world!

God, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

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

Resurrect, renew and revive our lives!

God, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

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

Resurrect, renew and revive your people!

God, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

The Sacrament of Holy Communion

Invitation

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

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

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

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

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

Taste and see that God is good.

Song: I come with joy (530)

We affirm our faith: The Apostles Creed (539)

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

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

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

The Lord’s Prayer (469)

The Story of the Table/Words of Institution

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

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

the night Jesus was arrested by his enemies.

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

But they were too sad and tired to recognize him.

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

Then their eyes were opened, then they recognized him.

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

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

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

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

Prayer of Great Thanksgiving for Easter Communion

Holy One,

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

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

Receive our praise and joy this day, O Christ.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sharing of the bread and wine

Song: One bread, one body (540)

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

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

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

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

Sending out with God’s blessing

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

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

Response: He is Lord

Music postlude

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

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No King but Christ

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

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

We gather to worship God

Music prelude

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

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

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

Opening praise: Forever God is faithful

Prayers of approach and lament

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

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

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

Response: We come to ask Your forgiveness, O God

Assurance of God’s grace

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

We listen for the voice of God

Children’s time

Gradual: Jesus loves me (373)

Story

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

Here are some examples:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Prayer

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

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

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

Especially, today, we pray for A.

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

Lord, thank you for your many blessings,

The Lord’s Prayer (535)

Transition music

Song: Hosanna (216)

Today’s Message

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

Response: Jesus, remember me

Message: “No King but Christ”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But just as Pilate entered… so too would Jesus.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Song: My song is love unknown (220)

We respond to serve God

Prayer of gratitude and prayer for others and ourselves

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

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

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

Song: Give me oil in my lamp (655)

Sending out with God’s blessing

Go now, to serve Christ and follow him.

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

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

May Christ renew your joy and strengthen your will.

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

Response: The Blessing

Music postlude

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These bones live

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

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

We gather to worship God

Music prelude

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

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

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

Opening praise: Here I am to worship

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

Response: I waited, I waited on You, Lord

Assurance of God’s forgiveness

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

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

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

We listen for the voice of God

Children’s time

Gradual: Jesus, we are gathered

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Let’s take a moment and let’s pray.

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

The Lord’s Prayer (535)

Transition music

Today’s Message

Scripture readings: Ezekiel 37:1-14

Response: Behold the Lamb of God

Message: “These bones live”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But God was still doing something.

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

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

And what does God want from this man?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

These bones can live. Amen.

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

We respond to serve God

Prayer of gratitude and prayer for others and ourselves

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

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

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

Today we pray for those suffering.

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

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

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

Sending out with God’s blessing

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

Response: God to enfold you

Music postlude

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Clean up

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

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

We gather to worship God

Music prelude

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

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

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

Opening praise: Great are you, Lord

Prayers of approach and confession

God of Great Wisdom,

You are beyond our imagining, beyond our control,

and sometimes beyond our comfort zone.

You amaze us.

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

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

Receive our worship this day, O God.

Speak to us in the sounds and silence of this hour

and amaze us once again in your presence.

God of Goodness,

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

But we confess that we have squandered those gifts.

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

Forgive our foolishness.

Have mercy on us.

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

Response: We come to ask your forgiveness, O Lord

Assurance of God’s forgiveness

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

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

Musical Offering: Pie Jesu (Linda)

We listen for the voice of God

Children’s time

Gradual: Open our eyes, Lord (445)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“What did he say? Asked the priest.

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

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

The woman paused for a second.

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

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

They are forgiven.

They are gone. They do not exist.

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

The Lord’s Prayer (535 or 469)

Transition music

Today’s Message

Scripture reading: I Samuel 16: 1-13

Response: Jeus, remember me

Message: “Clean up”

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

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

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

Okay, so the year is about 1025 BC.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And then something very odd happens.

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

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

Did you catch that?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Do we have any First-Born Sons here today?

Ah, you are the chosen people.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bet you didn’t know David was a ginger!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We respond to serve God

Prayer of gratitude and for others and ourselves

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Keep silence for 30 seconds.

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

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

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

Sending out with God’s blessing

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

Response: Go forth into the world

Music postlude

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

Depend on them

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

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

We gather to worship God

Music prelude

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

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

Call to Worship

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

Opening praise: Here’s my heart, Lord

Prayers of approach and confession

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

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

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

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

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

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

Response: I will trust in the Lord

Assurance of God’s forgiveness

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

We listen for the voice of God

Children’s time

Gradual: Jesus loves me (373)

Story: Prayer isn’t just for emergencies.

“I cried to my God for help.

From his temple He heard my voice.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

We should tell God what we’re thankful for.

Maybe tell God what we’re excited about.

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

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

I bet it’s the same with God.

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

In fact, let’s pray now.

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

The Lord’s Prayer (535)

Transition music

Song: I will call upon the Lord

Today’s Message

Scripture readings: Exodus 17:2-7

Response: Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet

Message: “Depend on them”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I believe we should pray for miracles.

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

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

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

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

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

Song: I hunger and thirst

We respond to serve God

Prayer of gratitude and for others and ourselves

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

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

We thank you as well for the power of prayer.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And finally, we pray for ourselves.

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

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

We are a people that knows we have been blessed.

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

Song: Be Thou my vision (461)

Sending out with God’s blessing

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

Response: God to enfold you

Music postlude

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