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

We gather to worship God

Music prelude

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

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

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

Opening praise: Forever God is faithful

Prayers of approach and confession

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

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

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

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

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

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

Response: We come to ask your forgiveness, O Lord

Assurance of God’s pardon

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

We listen for the voice of God

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

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

Response: Glory to the Father

Message: The Long Road

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Our new bridge was built in a day.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But here is the rub” Those are all actions.

Nothing on Paul’s list is a feeling.

Nothing.

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

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

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

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

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

Jesus takes this idea to its ultimate conclusion.

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

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

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

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

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

No, it’s deeper than that.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Plato and Aristotle it seems are in good company.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Song: For the beauty of the earth (434)

We respond to serve God: Our time of giving

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

Prayer for others and ourselves

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Sacrament of Holy Communion

Invitation

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

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

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

The Lord’s Prayer (469)

Communion Prayer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sharing of the bread and wine

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

…

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

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

Song: One bread, one body

The prayer after Communion

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

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

Sending out with God’s blessing

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

Response: Benediction (as you go)

Music postlude

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The Communion liturgy is based on the liturgies of the PCC’s 1991 Book of Common Worship. Numbers in brackets after a song/hymn indicate that it is from the 1997 Book of Praise of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. Those and other songs are being used in accordance with the specifications of Dayspring’s licensing with One Licence (3095377) and CLC (A735555).

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

Worship on the Fifth Sunday of Easter
Mission Awareness Sunday
10:00 am       28 April 2024
Online & Onsite (Mixed Presence) Gathering as a Worshipping Community
Led by the Rev Brad Childs
Music director: Binu Kapadia     Vocalist: Rom Rhoad
Elder: Iris Routledge

We gather to worship God

Music prelude

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

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

Call to Worship
L: Like spring breaking through winter’s power,
P: God’s resurrecting power breaks into our lives in surprising ways.
L: Like the vine that supports blossoms and fruit,
P: God’s Word upholds the church in strength.
L: Let us worship God who makes all things new.
P: We will praise God who brings growth and renewal to all life.

Opening praise: I give You my heart

Prayers of approach and confession

God of Great Wisdom,

You are beyond our imagining, beyond our control, and sometimes beyond our comfort zone.

You amaze us.

You have given us more than we could ever earn or deserve, and in response, we are not only grateful but determined to be faithful stewards.

Receive our worship this day, O God.

Speak to us in the sounds and silence of this hour and amaze us once again in your presence. God of Goodness, You share your abundance with us and shower us with gifts.

But we confess that we have squandered those gifts.

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

Forgive our foolishness.

Have mercy on us.

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

Response: Glory, glory, hallelujah

Assurance of God’s grace

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

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

We listen for the voice of God

Children’s time

Response: Jesus loves me (373)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Lord’s Prayer (535)

Transition music

Song: We will tell each generation (46)

Today’s Message

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

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

Message: You and Goliath

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Now he is just a boy with a sling.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ask yourself this – What do you see?

Song: With the Lord as my guide (574)

We respond to serve God: Our time of giving

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

Prayer of gratitude and for others and ourselves

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

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

May we abide in your love.

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

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

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

May they abide in your love.

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

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

         Hold silence for 15 seconds.

May they abide in your love.

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

         Hold silence for 15 seconds.

May they abide in your love.

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

         Hold silence for 15 seconds.

May they abide in your love.

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

         Hold silence for 15 seconds.

May they abide in your love.

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

         Hold silence for 15 seconds.

May they abide in your love.

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

         Hold silence for 15 seconds.

May we all abide in your love.

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

Sending out with God’s blessing

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

Response: He is Lord

Music postlude

————————————————————————-

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

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

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

We gather to worship God

Music prelude

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

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

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

Opening praise: Lord, I need you

Prayers of approach and confession

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

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

But we always grumble.

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

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

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

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

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

Response: I waited, I waited on You, Lord

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

We listen for the voice of God

Children’s time

Response: Open our eyes, Lord (445)

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

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

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

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

The Lord’s Prayer (535)

Transition music

Song: The Lord’s my Shepherd (11)

Today’s Message

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

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

Message: In the dark

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

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

“Meanwhile, back at the ranch.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Sugar, it’s me!” she said.

“Hi!”

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

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

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

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

“$138,000 she replied???”

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

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

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

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

“I love you too,” said the man.

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

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

We are sheep.

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

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

The sheep it seems were out of the pen.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We respond to serve God: Our time of giving

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

Prayer of gratitude and for others and ourselves

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

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

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

Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

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

Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

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

Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

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

Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

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

Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

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

Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer. Amen

Song: Christ is alive (251)

Sending out with God’s blessing

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

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

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

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

Response: Go forth into the world

Music postlude

————————————————————————-

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

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

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

We gather to worship God

Music prelude

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

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

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

Opening praise: Come, now is the time to worship

Prayers of approach and confession

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

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

We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.

In Jesus’ Powerful name we pray. Amen.

Response: I waited, I waited on you, Lord

Assurance of God’s love

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

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

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

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

In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

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

We listen for the voice of God

Children’s time

Response: Open our eyes, Lord

Story

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

Why did you need someone to carry you?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So the blind man held out his hand.

Let’s reenact this.

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

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

And that’s what happened with the blind man.

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

He told everybody about it.

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

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

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

No. What did he do?

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

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

And that’s what he told all the people.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Prayer

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

The Lord’s Prayer (535)

Transition music

Song: In the presence of you people

Today’s Message

Scripture reading: Ac\ts 3:1-16

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

Message: Where you focus your minds and hearts

What is your Focus?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where do we put our attention?

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

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

Where do we put our attention?

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

Where do we put our attention?

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

Where do we put our attention?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where do we put our attention during tough times?

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

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

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

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

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

What is your focus? Is it Christ?

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

We respond to serve God: Our time of giving

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

Prayer of gratitude and for others and ourselves

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

Song: We are one in the Spirit (471)

Sending out with God’s blessing

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

Response: God to enfold  you

Music postlude

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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).

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

 

Worship on the Lord’s Day: Easter 2
10:00 am       07 April 2024
Online & Onsite (Mixed Presence) Gathering as a Worshipping Community
Led by the Rev Brad Childs
Music director: Binu Kapadia     Vocalist: Glynnis McCrostie
Guest Violinist: Rob Hryciw     Elder: Sam Malayang

We gather to worship God

Music prelude

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

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

Call to Worship
L: We gather with joy, for Easter continues.
P: Locked doors have been opened and fear has turned to peace.
L: We celebrate the presence of the Risen Christ among us.
P: Doubts can be erased and uncertainty turned to faith.
L: Let us rejoice and be glad!
P: We offer our prayers and praise with humble, hopeful hearts.

Opening praise: Forever God is faithful

Prayers of approach and confession

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Response: I will trust in the Lord

Assurance of God’s pardon

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

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

We listen for the voice of God

Children’s time

Response: My Lighthouse

Story

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

Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer (535)

Transition music

Song: Come to us, beloved Stranger (262)

Today’s Message

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

Response: He is Lord

Message: Germs and Jesus

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

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

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

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

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

If we had only the first three Gospels, the only thing we would know about Jesus’ friend the apostle Thomas: would be his name. Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell us that he exists and that’s it. The Gospel of John is the only place we find him speaking. Very unfortunately, however, out of the three times he speaks in John’s Gospel most of us are generally only aware of the reading read from here today. Rarely do we think of the time that Thomas asked Jesus how he could follow him into the kingdom (John 14). And most of us, when thinking of Thomas would never think of the time that Thomas courageously tried to convince the other disciples that they needed to go to Bethany to comfort Mary and Martha after Lazarus had died; saying that even if it meant they too might die, that they should all follow Jesus there. And so… most of us, when we hear the name “Thomas” only think of that terrible and very unfair phrase “doubting Thomas”.

It’s sad really for me. From what we’re told in the Bible Thomas may well be the only brave person among the disciples. There they were sitting in that remote back ally room; huddled together on the floor, confused, defeated, and crushed. There they were feeling ashamed, not knowing what to do or who to trust; scared to death with the door locked (cowering like scared children hiding under the covers in the dark). Everyone was there… except Thomas.

To tell the truth, at this point in history, that is probably just where they should have been because at this point the disciples were little more than a group of failures (all of them). It was a real low point. Yes, Peter was the one who denied Jesus three times just after he promised he’d never do so. But he wasn’t alone. Not one disciple (not even Jesus’ best friend, John – the person who records this story) stayed in Gethsemane. They all ran in fear hoping to save their necks.

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

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

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

Whatever the case, we may never truly know. But what we do know is that when the other disciples told Thomas about the unbelievable and impossible thing that had just happened to them while Thomas was gone, Thomas responded with the same caution and the same common sense we all would have. He said, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.”

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

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

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

Understandably what Thomas wanted was nothing more than the same experience the other disciples had. Thomas wasn’t there. He didn’t get to hear Jesus’ voice. He heard only silence. At this point in the story, Thomas… is… us.

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

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

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

What’s really interesting for me though, is that Thomas does get to see the face of God. Thomas does eventually see Jesus’ face; he does hear his voice. Jesus does appear again to the disciples and Thomas is there for it this time. And even though he says he won’t believe until he can put his finger into Jesus’ wounds, it turns out that when push came to shove… he didn’t do it. In verse 27, when Jesus says to Thomas “Put your finger here” Thomas doesn’t do it. We have no scripture that says, “And then Thomas put his finger in the wound”. In fact, we have just the opposite. What we have is what Thomas says in verse 29 which suggests that Thomas had no need. Thomas emphatically proclaimed, “My Lord and my God!”

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

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

And in response, Jesus tells him, “Because you have SEEN ME (not touched), you have believed”. And that’s all it took. Just seeing his face; just hearing his voice, just hearing those words “Peace (I-Rain-A) be with you” … “I forgive you”.

And it is at this point in the story that Jesus speaks directly to John’s first readers; years after Jesus had left. It’s here that Jesus speaks directly to us present in this church here today. Jesus says, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; but even more blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

We are those who have heard the good news (have not seen his face or heard his voice) and yet still believe. We are those people that Jesus called “Blessed”. We are the ones that have not seen the face of the risen Lord just like we’ve not seen the germs on our hands. Because we are the people who know… that like courage or honesty, grace, kindness, or love, faith cannot be proven and yet these things we believe in nonetheless if not most of all. We are the people that are called to believe in the promises of God even when he is hidden from us; even when he is silent. We are the ones (that like Thomas) can proclaim even in the darkest of times, “My Lord and my God!”

Whatever it is you face in your life: fears, anxieties, sin, failures, uncertainty, or shame. Whatever makes you hide your light away… whatever it is that makes you lock yourself off from the world around you. Whatever you lock in or out… whatever it is that your heart simply cannot manage on its own.

Whatever it is that scares you. Whatever it is that like the disciples, you try to hide from the world; whatever disappointment you lock behind those doors; whatever doubts churn in your minds, whatever sins trouble your consciences, whatever pain and worry bind you, whatever walls you put up or doors you have securely locked; whatever it is that overwhelms you this morning… know this: At the center of John’s gospel is the proclamation that Jesus Christ comes looking for us – even behind locked doors. And when Christ comes, he comes not with anger; not with reminders of our failing; but in the quiet and the calm. Jesus comes to us and says (“I-Rain-A”) “Peace be with you.”… “You who have Not Seen and Yet have Believed!”

I believe in “germs and Jesus.“

Germs and Jesus. Germs and Jesus!

How about you? Amen.

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

We respond to serve God: Our time of giving

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

Prayer of gratitude and for others and ourselves

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In the name of Christ, we pray, amen.

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

Sending out with God’s blessing

Response: Sing Amen

Music postlude

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

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

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

We gather to worship God

Music Prelude

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

Lighting of the Christ candle

Welcome and announcements

Silent preparation for worship

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

*Opening praise: Graves into gardens

Prayers of approach and confession

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

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

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

Sorrow can weigh us down.

Illness breaks into our world.

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

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

Response: Glory, glory, hallelujah

Assurance of God’s grace

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

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

We listen for the voice of God

*Song:  Jesus Christ is risen today  (243)

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

Response: Glory to the Father            

Message: “Empty”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Because of what Christ has done,

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

Thanks be to God. Amen .

*Song: This is the day (78)

We respond to serve God

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

PPrayer

God of power and possibility, you broke open the tomb that held our Lord.

Now break into your church where your people are distracted by old quarrels, meaningless diversions, or unhelpful divisions about mission and service.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Sacrament of Holy Communion

Invitation

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

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

For you and for your children

All those who love the Lord

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Communion Prayer

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

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

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

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

Sharing of the Bread and Wine

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

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

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

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

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

Incidental music

Song: Eat this bread  (527)

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

Prayer after Communion

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

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

*Song: Thine be the glory (258)

Sending out with God’s blessing

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

Amen, amen, amen. Amen, amen, amen

Music postlude

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The Communion liturgy is based on the liturgies of the PCC’s 1991 Book of Common Worship. Numbers in brackets after a song/hymn indicate that it is from the 1997 Book of Praise of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. Those and other songs are being used in accordance with the specifications of Dayspring’s licensing with One Licence (3095377) and CLC (A735555).

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

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

Music Prelude

We gather to worship God

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

Lighting of the Christ candle

Silent preparation for worship

Call to worship:

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

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

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

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

We listen for the voice of God

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

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

Musical offering: Linda and Binu

Message: “Bricks!”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The pool had been drained.

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

Sometimes we think and do wrong things.

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

There is always a reckoning.

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

The price is very high.

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

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

But freedom from what exactly?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What do your postcards say?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*Song: What wondrous love is this (242)

We respond to serve God 

Prayer of gratitude, and for others and ourselves

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Open our eyes to each other.

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

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

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

Extinguish the Christ candle

Recess in silence

——————————————

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

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

Worship on the Palm Sunday
10:00 am       24 March 2024
Online & Onsite (Mixed Presence) Gathering as a Worshipping Community
Led by the Rev Brad Childs
Music director: Binu Kapadia     Vocalist: Linda F-B
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: On this Palm Sunday, we see Jesus entering Jerusalem riding on a donkey, showing us the way of peace.
P: With palm branches in hand, we cry out “Hosanna,” save us now, save us from our warring madness.
L: We affirm that God is at work when people are ashamed of the inhumanity of war and work for peace with justice.”
P: “We pray for peace to him who is the Prince of Peace.” (Living Faith 8.5.3)

Opening praise: Come, now is the time to worship

Prayers of approach and confession

God of the Eternal Now, through Christ’s death and resurrection, you have cancelled the debt of our sins and opened the door to new life for us. In you, dead ends can become new beginnings; the cross is transformed from a means of torture into the very means of our salvation. And so, this moment (like all moments – and despite how they might appear) is all filled with fresh possibilities through your renewed presence. We praise you for your abiding love.

Yet we confess that we have a hard time believing this good news, much less living it out. Past mistakes and failures, regrets, and grievances, often haunt us. We carry our sins, and the sins others have laid upon us, like heavy burdens which sap our energy and enthusiasm.  We hear old voices repeating their condemnations: “What you have been, you will always be…”  “You can’t change, so why try?…”  We too often let others define us by their criteria.

Lord, help us accept the gift of new life you offer us in Jesus Christ.  Forgive us for listening to voices that condemn us rather than your voice of liberating love.  Refresh us with springs of living water, so that our parched lives may blossom in our renewing presence. Forgive us all our wrongs and help us never to repeat them again. In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

Response: We come to ask your forgiveness, O God

Assurance of God’s grace

Hear the Good News: “If anyone is in Jesus Christ there is a whole new creation.  The past is finished and gone.  Behold, the new has come!”  Friends, believe the gospel: in Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Receive the power to begin new lives, starting this very moment.  Thanks be to God! Amen.

We listen for the voice of God

Children’s time

Response: Jesus, we are gathered

Story

What are these?

Palm leaves.

What are they for?

For Palm Sunday.

What do we do on Palm Sunday?

We shake a whole bunch of palms leaves all around the sanctuary.

Well, this morning is Palm Sunday. It’s kind of a weird day in a way because the people are all following Jesus, but it’s like they’re going through a bunch of mood swings.

I mean, at first they’re super happy with him, then they’re upset with him. Then they’re really, really happy with and then they start following him and then they get mad and start calling out somebody should kill this guy and get rid of him.

What’s going on with these people? Do you know? Well, we’re going to talk about that a little bit, and I think you guys are going to talk about that too.

So, I’m not going to ruin the Sunday school for you. But I’ll tell you this, the people have these weird mood swings.

And next week, It’s going to be a sad one. But today is the day of celebration where we are anticipating Jesus coming down the mountain, coming into Jerusalem and then Easter beginning.

And so we’re going to run around just like they did because when he first came into the city they took coats off and they threw them on the ground they pulled these branches off and they waved them around in the air like it was a big parade.

And so we’re going to do that. We’re going to have a song and we’re going to march around this church like this.

You guys are going to wave these things like crazy. Go around and then you’re going to them with you to Sunday School.

Okay, so first we’re going to say our prayer and then we’re going to do our song.

Prayer 

We don’t want to be people who go through all kinds of mood swings. We want to be devoted to you. And yet, sometimes we are upset. Sometimes we grieve, and sometimes we’re joyful, but Lord, we want to be always focused on you. Now let’s pray the Lord’s Prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer (535)

Transition music

Song: Hosanna (216)

Today’s Message

Scripture reading: Psalm 118:1,2,19-29 & John 1:1-16

Response:

Message: Get your own blanket

Through a scheduling mix-up, a man and a woman who had never met before find themselves in the same sleeping carriage of an old train. It’s late, the train is full, and everyone else is already asleep. After the initial embarrassment, they both manage to get to their bunks, the woman on the top bunk, the man on the lower.

In the middle of the night, the woman leans over and says, “I’m sorry to bother you, but I’m awfully cold, and I was wondering if you could possibly pass me another blanket.”

The man leans out and, with a glint in his eye, says, “I’ve got a better idea … let’s pretend we’re married.”

“Why not,” giggles the woman.

“Good,” he replies. “Then let’s act married. Get your own blanket.”

Introduction

John’s chapter 12 is the turning point in John’s gospel. While John 1-11 deal with Jesus’ ministry, from chapter 12 on, he will deal only with Jesus’ final week of life.

Bethany

These events took place in Bethany. Bethany is in the West Bank, 2.5 km east of Jerusalem on the southeast slope of the Mount of Olives. Bethany was originally a Galilean settlement (ossuaries – ancient coffins or bone boxes reveals mostly Galilean names on them) meaning Jesus and his disciples would have felt quite comfortable there.

According to the Temple Scroll of the Dead Sea Scrolls, Bethany was the site of three separate care homes for the sick.

Bethany had at least one house reserved for the care of lepers set up by the Essenes and an almsgiving station that fed the poor. This is interesting because this seems to be the sole reason for the town’s existence. Bethany was and still is extremely small. To this date, it only has around 3000 people. But it was intended to be a colony of care.

In Jesus’ day, Bethany smelled of sweet figs, dates, date wine and vineyards. Palm trees lined the roads. It was here where Jesus would begin his trip down the hill on Palm Sunday, and it was here that a close reading of scripture would suggest he returned at night for rest even after he had entered Jerusalem. On several occasions, the gospels mention Jesus going to “a solitary place” “up the Mount of Olives” “at the end the day”. And on the other side of this path, is Bethany.

Bethany is where the siblings Mary, Martha and Lazarus lived. AND Lazarus’ home in Bethany was, in all probability, the place to which most would flee to on the night of Jesus’ arrest. Because the soldiers lead Jesus westward through the garden, his friends no doubt would flee East to escape. And once again, East out of the gardens leads to – Bethany.

Bethany was also the location of Jesus’ most striking miracle and the reason a plot had been conceived to kill him. Bethany was where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.

Verse nine in the previous chapter tells us that word got out that Jesus was staying in Bethany and a host of people came out to see Him. It was no longer much of a solitary place.

Jesus had kept a low profile in the eyes of the authorities in Jerusalem and so Jesus also spent the last winter of life in Bethany and Jericho. The problem with this new crowd was not that they wanted to see Jesus, but that they seemed to have been more interested in seeing Lazarus whom Jesus raised. Jesus lived among sign seekers. They were more interested in the signs and wonders than they were in the One who performed them. This crowd of sightseers wanted to see a sign.

Here the One who is the Resurrection, and the Life was in their midst, but Lazarus was the one on the minds of the gathered. The verse reads painfully, “They came to see Lazarus.”

For many it’s hard to see how the crowd cheered Jesus on one day but called for his death the next. But if we understand that these were many of the same people in this crowd who would have followed Jesus down the hill for the “Triumphal Entry”, you start to get it. A lot of them just wanted a magician.

To be blunt with you, the timeline of all of this is more than a bit messy. Although each gospel mentions this account, the day and anointing don’t always appear to line up (though the main thrust of the story is intact). John’s telling of the story relies heavily (as his whole gospel does) on the comparative organization of stories. In John one story mirrors another and sets up the structure for his Gospel.

Luke, however, seems to present a more focused chronological order of events like a historian would. In any case, John states that the day is six days before Passover. However, it is worth noting that the Romans believed the day began at midnight. The Greek day started at dawn, which was the practical start of the day. But the Hebrew reckoning of the start of the day was sunset because night came first and then the day in the story of creation. In other words, it’s hard to tell what version of “day” and “night” the authors are always using because they are attempting to write for diverse audiences.

The Dinner

Now, Jesus is having dinner with Lazarus also called “the one he loved.” This is the second time we’ve had an account of these three siblings (Marth, Mary, and Lazarus). Dinner with Lazarus and his sisters seems to have been on March 28th in 33 AD according to John’s timeline. “Palm Sunday” would then be the 29^th that year. In Matthew’s gospel this may also be the Habdalah service at the end of the Sabbath. But again, it’s rather difficult to sus out. In either case, it appears to be a rather large group from some of the hints we are given. In other words it is a party of sorts.

Just like in the previous story of Mary and Martha, while Mary is giving affection to Jesus, Martha is working hard to serve her guests. If you don’t happen to remember that story, I’ll do a quick recap. In it, Mary takes the job of washing Jesus’ feet with water as people would do for guests at the time. But Mary becomes distracted by his teaching and begins listening intently. All the while Martha is working hard. The text says Martha is “doing very many things” and picking up the slack. When Martha complains, Jesus lovingly uses her name twice “Martha, Martha” as was a custom of affection and let her know that it’s good for her sister to sit listening to him.

Now at this point, far too many preachers will tell the congregation that the point of the story is to be a Mary and not a Martha. But this is not terribly fair, to be honest. Martha is also said in the text to be (de-ok-a-neh-oh) for “serving”. This word is also the basis for the word Deacon in the church. In other words, what she is doing is the work of the Church. Martha’s service is no less important than her sisters’. It’s just different. Worship and Service go together like peas and carrots.

The Oil and the Funeral

Similarly, to the previous story, Jesus and Lazarus are described as reclining at the table while Martha is hard at work and Mary once more can be found at the feet of Jesus. But this time is very odd. And it’s very dark. John’s language recalls not a banquet party but a funeral wake.

Mary goes to Jesus’ feet and pours half a litre of rare spikenard perfume made from a flower that grows atop the high mountains in northern India. It was hard to get. It is described as being “undiluted” or pure. At the time these jars were alabaster and sealed at the top. The only way to open one was to break the neck of the bottle.

In the passage, it says that she “anointed” his feet with the perfume but of course anointing is done to the head of a person and not the feet. Anointings were done on the head before parties or on the heads of kings at coronations. But there is one time when people poured oil on a person’s feet. They did it during the burial preparations where they began with the feet and worked their way up the body to the head.

John’s telling of the story is far darker than a first reading might suggest. In his telling Mary breaks the neck of the jar and begins preparing Jesus’ body for burial.

But it gets weirder.

Next, she undoes her hair and wipes his feet dry with her hair.

Now you have to understand the culture a bit here. Jewish women Never unbound their hair in public. Women untied their hair if they were undressing for a groom, at the time of bathing and then just for one other reason. Can you guess what that is?

They would also, as a sign of grief, and only within the home, untie their hair during the period of mourning. This is a very venerable and very embarrassing event. But then again it seems as if Mary may have assumed what others had not yet deduced – that Jesus himself, would soon enough be dead.

The Objection / The Poor

In response to this extravagant act of love. Judas protested that the perfume could have been sold and used the money to help the poor. And at first glance, his objection seems not only fair but also very fitting being that Bethany is the site of its very own house of almsgiving. He’s not exactly wrong. Though we know, there is more to the story. The year’s salary this perfume was worth, wouldn’t have all made its way to the poor. Judas it seems was stealing a share of everything that came through.

Jesus’ response to Judas seems a little uncaring at first. He said, “You will always have the poor.” But in truth, this is a quote. It comes from Deuteronomy 15:11 where we’re being reminded that our duty will always include care for the poor. Jesus’ comment isn’t that it must be one or the other. He is embracing both kinds of gifts of service: Both Mary’s kind and Martha’s kind.

Then once more John overshadows the scene with his very specific recollection of the words. Jesus responds to Judas with “let her loose” often translated as “leave her alone.” This is interesting for two reasons. 1) Because it supposes she is still pouring the perfume. And 2) Because this is also a quote. Here Jesus is quoting himself. These are the exact words he used when he told the crowd to unwrap the body of Lazarus from his burial dressing (to let him loose). Here John’s dark story has a ray of light – for the reader is given a little reminder that the dead can live again and that Jesus frees people.

In these verses, Jesus did not think that Mary’s gift was wasteful, but a loving act of adoration. And what it tells us of Judas is just the opposite. What we learn of him is that if Judas cannot get his hands on the three hundred denarii, he will soon sell Jesus for just thirty.

So what?

Now it’s at this point I might normally attempt to explain to you what this story might mean for us today.

I might argue that it’s about spending quality time with Jesus and not just doing acts of service. I might say it’s about being extravagant with your love and devotion.

But in truth, I don’t want to do that. And I’m long-winded today.

Instead, I hope that you might take some time this week to read through the full easter story and ask what this story means to you rather than just hearing me talk.

In other words… Get your own blanket.

Song: Mys song is love unknown (220)

We respond to serve God: Our time of giving

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

Prayer of gratitude and for others and ourselves

O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, we thank you for the gift of each new day and pray you will open our eyes to recognize what is truly new.

Thank you for all those things which make ordinary days meaningful and provide us with your new mercies in surprising ways:

• For encouraging phone calls, letters and emails that arrive just when we need them,
• For interruptions in our plans which open us up to your larger purposes,
• For mistakes and failures that turn into new opportunities,
• For the healing and renewal which happen even while we sleep.
• Today we pray for those who need your help to see your hand at work among us:
• We pray for those who are out of work or cannot work and find time heavy on their hands.

Help them to find meaningful activity to fill their hours:

Give them eyes of faith to see the new things you are doing.

We pray for those who grieve the loss of a loved one and those who have lost a cherished dream.  Walk with them in their time of sorrow. Mend their broken hearts with your joy and peace.

Give them eyes of faith to see the new things you are doing.

We pray for those who find the changes around them overwhelming and long for the simpler times in days gone by.  Remind them that you are the Lord of history, always at work to build a new and better world.

Give them eyes of faith to see the new things you are doing.

We pray for those who find change happening too slowly, frustrated because life feels monotonous with nothing new ever happening. Restore their sense of calling and purpose.

Give them eyes of faith to see the new things you are doing.

We pray for churches who fear the best years are behind them and have lost their sense of mission for the future. Remind them that a handful of disciples filled with Christ’s Spirit were enough to turn the world upside down.

Give them eyes of faith to see the new things you are doing.

Lord, teach us all to stop dwelling in the past or dreading the future. Instead, help us accept the little bit of time we have as your precious gift, to be enjoyed to your glory and dedicated to your purposes.  Help us recognize the living Christ present in each and every moment as our Eternal Beginning. Renew us with fresh hope and commitment. Give us eyes of faith to see the new things you are doing.

Song: All glory, laud, and honour (214)

Sending out with God’s blessing

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Response: Benediction (As you go)

Music postlude

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

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

Worship on the Fifth Sunday in Lent
10:00 am       17 March 2024
Online & Onsite (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: On this fifth Sunday of Lent, we discover a troubled Jesus in prayer as he contemplates his death on the cross.
P: We are grateful for the prayers of Jesus and for the times in the gospels when Jesus prayed.
L: In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus threw himself on the ground and prayed, ”Remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.”
P: And so we pray, as Jesus taught us, ‘Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Opening praise: Here I am to worship

Prayers of approach and confession

Our Changeless God,
Under the conviction of the Spirit we learn that
The more we do, the worse we know we do,
The more we know, the less we know,
The more holiness we have, the more sinful we realize we are,
The more we love, the more there are to love.

O Lord,
We have wild hearts
And cannot stand before you blameless unless you take our sins away;
We are like a bird before a man and at his mercy
How little we love your truth and ways! How poorly we show our love,
We neglect prayer,
By thinking we have prayed enough and earnestly,
By knowing you have saved our very souls and yet let the souls of others suffer in our midst.

Of all hypocrites, grant that we may not be greatest but that we may be the last.
Our minds are buckets without a bottom,
With no spiritual understanding,
No desire for the Lord’s Day,
Ever learning but never reaching the truth,
Always at the gospel-well but never holding quite enough water.
Likewise our consciences are without conviction or contrition,
With nothing to repent of because we do not see the depths of our sin.

On a fools errand we attempt to forget out own sins or white wash them away and pretend they do not exists. But his job is yours and yours alone and when we come to you, you truly can and do forget them, truly can and do wash them away.
Our will is without power of decision or resolution.
Our hearts without enough affection, and full of leaks.
Our memory has no retention,
We forget so easily the lessons learned,
And Your truths seep away.

Above all else this day we ask to be new men and new women. Grant us a new heart oh God and Give we hearts that carry forgiveness and grace with us everywhere we go and to everyone we meet. –Amen

Response: I will trust in the Lord

Assurance of God’s grace

The Scriptures say that to our God our sins are wiped away from his mind and forgotten. Through him we are anew and we are made perfect. Let us go and sin no more. We are a forgiven people.

Musical Offering: As the deer (Warren Garbutt, Brad Childs, and other Singers)

We listen for the voice of God

Children’s time

Response: Open our eyes, Lord

Story

I see that you’re wearing green. I wonder if that has to do with any kind of particular tradition. When I was a kid we had silly traditions. You know like on your birthday maybe they spank you. I don’t know, they, they still do that.

What about the green? What’s that about? St. Patrick’s Day, okay, so you’re wearing green because of St. Patrick’s Day?

What happens if you don’t wear green? Are there consequences? Would someone pinch you? Do they still do that?

Here are some examples of drivers for who there are consequences for not driving carefully – consequences that they try to avoid by making an excuse. These are from the Toronto Sun newspaper.

A driver said: A pedestrian hit me and went under my car.

Another said: In my attempt to kill a fly, I drove into the telephone pole.

Another: I’ve been driving my car for 40 years when I fell asleep at the wheel and had this accident.

Another: I’ve been shopping all day for plants. I was on my way home and as I reached an intersection a hedge just sprang up out of nowhere.

What do you think? Good excuses? No, no, no, no. Sometimes we have bad excuses and when I make mistakes, sometimes I make bad excuses up too. How about you?

I see a lot of rolling eyes over here in the front. You do, don’t you?

So I’m going to read this from First John 9.

This is the message that he’s given to announce to you, God is light. There’s no darkness in him. We are not living in the light of the truth, but if we are living in the light of God’s presence just as Christ is, then we have fellowship with him. … If we say we have no sin or errors, we’re just fooling ourselves and refusing to accept what’s obviously true. But on the other hand, if we confess our wrongs to him, then he’s always faithful to forgive and let us start anew from every wrong.

How about this? To live in the light you have to ask for forgiveness and, when you do, don’t worry about somebody coming to spank you or pinch you that’s not what God does. He comes to forgive you.

Prayer

Let’s pray. Our God, we thank you for our lives and for our families. And we apologize for the things that we do wrong sometimes as kids. We apologize to the people that we hurt and we apologize for our lies. God, help us to do better.

The Lord’s Prayer (535)

Transition music

Song: The Word is a lam unto my feet

Today’s Message

Scripture reading: Hebrews 5:5-10 & John 12:20-33

Response: Jesus, remember me

Message: Bart gets an “F”

In ‘Bart Gets an F,’ an episode of the Television show “The Simpsons”, Bart prays for more time to study for a history test so he doesn’t fail and have to repeat the fourth grade. In a rather passionate and saddening scene the little boy is shown crying in his bedroom. He gets down on his knees at the edge of his bed and prays. He says amidst his tears, “I just need one more day to study, Lord. I need your help.” Just then the stage expands to reveal Bart’s sister, Lisa, watching, who mumbles to herself, “Prayer: The last refuge of a scoundrel.”

Prayer is the last refuge of a scoundrel. Or at least it can be.

The Barna Research Group conducted a study in 2009. In that study those who responded answered that 82% of them had prayed as often as once per week. Even more intriguing is that out of the 82% some of those who claimed to pray as often as once a week check the box “no religious affiliation” and some had marked “Atheist”. Apparently, the urge to pray is sometimes so strong that some will pray not even believing anyone can answer. The old adage “There are no atheists in the fox holes” is truer than many would comfortably admit. Perhaps even more interesting is the breath of prayers that people pray. A Newsweek poll some years ago titled “Is God Listening” indicated that at the top of people’s prayer lists were things like Personal Health, Safety, Jobs, and Success. In fact, 64% said they mostly prayed for personal success. 51% prayed very specifically that they might win the lottery.

Prayer is the last refuge of a scoundrel. It’s true you know. But let’s be honest, we’ve all done it. We’ve all been the praying scoundrel at one time or another. We’ve all tried to pray away our just deserts. Like a dumb kid with her head inside the old procilen bowl making a deal with God in the hopes that all that alcohol had already reversed its way from whence it came.

Personally, I can distinctly recall driving North up Interstate 80 heading for Omaha, Nebraska the day after my brother’s wedding. I was going 137kilometers an hour.

Now you have to realize that it’s not terribly uncommon to go 10miles over the speed limit and the limit on that stretch of I80 is set at 75miles an hour… I was going 85MPH and that is exactly 137km/hr. Anyway, I was a student. I was broke. And when those red and blues started flashing and that HyPo (highway patrol) car revealed itself behind me, my heart started pounding like never before. And then it hit me. I wasn’t wearing a seat belt. As he approached the car, the officer no doubt saw a strange mysterious hand growing out of my neck as I reached for the seatbelt. As a side note you can’t be pulled over for seatbelt violations in Nebraska but if you’re stopped for something else then they can ticket you for it). Seat belt or no seat belt, I was a praying scoundrel like no other. “Oh God PLEASE get me out of this, I will never speed again, I’ll adopt a world vision sponsor child, just get me out of this.”

I got a ticket for speeding, I got a written warning about the seat belt and I took a drivers safety course in Lincoln instead of paying the fines. Prayer… sometimes it is the last refuge of a scoundrel. By the way I grew up in Kansas which had no seatbelt law and has no motorcycle helmet laws. So as bad as this was I got three more of those seatbelt tickets within two years of moving to Edmonton.

Ignore whatever my family says, I’m 1000 times better at remembering now. But it you needed more proof – There you go. – “Praying Scoundrel” [This Guy].

I read this story I’d like to share if I’m not getting too long winded yet: A rather heavyset fellow (it’s me😉) feeling a little soggy around the old midsection determined to get himself healthy. He would go on a very simple diet. No drastic or crazy changes just one simple trick. The man informed his coworkers that he was going on a diet and that he would no longer be brining donuts to the office each morning.

He knew it would be hard to resist stopping by the bakery on his way to work (as he’d done every day for years), but he was committed to resisting the temptation.

But to his coworkers surprise the very next day that same man arrived at work with a box of donuts in hand just as he always had. His co-workers gently reminded him of his diet but he just smiled a giant and happy grin. “These are Miracle donuts” he explained. “When I left for work this morning, I knew I had to drive right by the bakery, and as I did… I started to think that… Maybe The Lord wants me to have a donut today. And then I thought, Hey! Exactly Just Who Am I To Defy The Will of God Almighty? Adding quickly, BUT I WASN’T SURE!” His friends and coworkers listened carefully with inquisitive and skeptical faces. “But how could I be sure of His will for me” the man said. “Well we all know how busy that place is in the morning right?

And everyone agreed.

… so I prayed.

I said, ‘Lord if you want me to stop and buy some donuts, let there be an open parking place directly in front of the bakery; if its not there then I know your will is to put me on this diet”.

“So I’m guessing God freed up a parking stall for you since you brought the donuts?” said a friend with a smile.

“Yes Sir, he did”, said the man “AND IT WAS an absolute miracle… By the way everyone I’m sorry to be late it’s just that I had to circle around the block 9 times before God answered my prayer!”

Sometimes, we try and bend God to our Will, rather than the other way around.

Prayer: It can be the last refuge of a scoundrel.

More often that not though, we have real and serious concerns. Our prayers are heartfelt and with good intentions. But with that said, they’re rarely pure. Most of us participate in the very strange act of try to barter with God.

In 1978, Burt Reynolds starred in a dark comedy titled, The End. He played Wendell “Sonny” Lawson, an unscrupulous real estate tycoon who was diagnosed as being terminally ill. Sonny is then given three months to live. Not wanting to live his last few months in pain waiting for the end, he decided to take his own life. A failed attempt at suicide lands him in psychiatric care. There he enlists the help of a delusional patient named Marlon, played by Dom DeLuise. After several unsuccessful attempts to kill himself, Sonny finally escapes from the institution.

Still seeking death; during a seaside drive, he devises a clever plan that can’t possibly fail. His idea is to swim out into the ocean until he is completely exhausted making it impossible for him to make it back to shore. He would then drown and the deed would finally be done.

After swimming out as far as he could possibly make it Sonny screams out “Here I come, Lord” Then he dives down as deep as he can into the cold blue ocean. But just as soon as he dives down Sonny begins to think about his daughter and how much he loves her. He quickly changes his mind and becomes determined to live.

After surfacing, he begins the impossible task of trying to swim back to the distant beach. But he could never make it. In desperation he cries out to God “I can never make it. Help me Lord. Please. I promise I won’t try to kill myself anymore. Save me and I swear I’ll be a better father. I’ll be a better man. I’ll be a better everything. All I ask is… make me a better swimmer!”

Felling some measure of strength he continues swimming. When his muscles become more tired he cries out once more in prayer, “Oh God, let me live and I promise to obey every one the Ten Commandments. I shall not kill. I shall not commit adultery. I shall not… Okay Lord, I’ll learn the Ten Commandments.”

He swims a little further and promises he’ll be honest in his real estate business “Lord, I’ll only sell lake front property if theirs actually a lake around.”

Finally his bartering takes it to a whole new level. “Help me make it and I’ll give fifty percent of everything I make. Fifty percent! And I just want to point out that nobody gives fifty percent. I’m talking gross God.”

As he looks up he sees the shore in sight and knows that will live. With his last few strokes he calls out one last time. “I think I’m going to make it! You won’t regret this, Lord… I’m going to start donating that ten percent I promised right away.”

Prayer: when we barter with the Almighty it is the last refuge of a scoundrel.

We laugh, because there is a lot of truth in that story. Too often, we pray panic-button-prayers packaged with flowery promises we can’t keep anyway. Much of the time though we simply neglect God. When things are going fine, we’re happy to do things on our own but when things turn sour then we tend to turn to our old best buddy – God.

Prayer should be as natural as breathing. But a lot of the time its what happens when every other option has failed – it’s then that we realize we can’t make it on our own. We all do that sometimes.

Prayer can be the last refuge of a scoundrel.

We promise we’ll never speed, slack, cheat, lie or steal if God will just get us out of that latest mess.

In contrast to our tendency to try and pray our way out of problems, Jesus shows us how to pray our way into faith. In the scriptures Jesus bypasses the panic-button prayer option. Knowing he was going to Jerusalem to “The End” to be crucified, Jesus didn’t panic-button pray away his troubles with bartering or intentions to follow his own will no matter what God’s answer. He just prayed honestly.

When people started coming out from all the ends of the earth to see him, Jesus, knowing that the hour had come (and what that meant) took some time to explain to his closest friends that he was about to die. He said, “The hour has come for the Son of Man…. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”

… he continues on “32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”  John gives us a little note at the end of this just in case you happened to miss the subtlety. He writes, “He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.”… He said, “when I am lifted up”.

See, for John there is no doubt at all that Jesus knew exactly the horror that awaited him; that Jesus knew that it will be gruesome and terrible and painful. Jesus knows… and like any of us would, he is unnerved. And standing with a gathering of friends he asks a very pointed question about prayer. Jesus says, “27 “Now my soul is troubled, but what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’?” and then he answers himself. He says “No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!”

Jesus doesn’t barter with the Father. He knows a terrible fate is coming but there’s no deal-making going on. That’s not to say that he’s happy about it. That’s not to say that he doesn’t have the right to ask for things to be different. AND He does, We do!

In Matthew where Jesus prays this prayer Matthew records additional information. Here Jesus also says, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death” and “My Father if it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken from my lips.” But then Jesus ends it with this. He says, “Yet above all, Thy will be done; not mine.”

^27-28 “Right now I am shaken. And what am I going to say? ‘Father, get me out of this’? No, this is why I came in the first place. I’ll say, ‘Father, put your glory on display.’” (MSG)

Prayer can be and often is the last refuge of a scoundrel. We’ve all been that scoundrel; Treating God like he’s a magic Gene, ignoring Him until he’s our last and only hope, trying to barter with the creator of the universe as if we actually have some leverage, or trying to bend Him to our will rather than the other way around.

Prayer can be the last refuge of a scoundrel. But it’s also the last refuge of the faithful.

Prayer is the last refuge of the faithful, when we pray out of real concerns (when we express our true suffering or our true thanksgiving and joy.

Prayer is the last refuge of the faithful when we come openly and honestly to God with everything bare; knowing that He can handle the things we cant.

Prayer is the last refuge of the faithful when we admit that our souls are troubled.

Prayer is the last refuge of the faithful when we pray not selfishly but compassionately for others.

Prayer is the last refuge of the faithful when we see prayer not as a list of demands but as a conversation.

Prayer is the last refuge of the faithful when we’re willing to accept answers like, “not now” or “no”.

And above all else prayer is the last refuge of the faithful when we can cry out; with all lost and still mutter those most important words knowing deep inside that His Ways are not our ways and that He knows better than we do, saying “Yet above all, Thy will be done; not mine”. Amen.

Song: If I have been the source of pain (199(

We respond to serve God: Our time of giving

Reflection on giving: Jesus reminds us that a seed surrenders its life to the ground in order to bear fruit. What we surrender to God in our offering will also bear fruit in the world, for the sake of Christ, our Lord. As springtime begins this week, sow seeds of God’s love as you offer your gifts.

God of growth and new life, with our gifts we offer you our thanks and praise for the promise of spring and the promise of resurrection in Christ Jesus.  With these gifts, accomplish more than we can ask or imagine, as they bear fruit in the world you love, through Christ, our Lord.

Prayer of gratitude and for others and ourselves

Our Lord We pray for those whose lives closely touch our own that they may always be in our hearts and have joy and happiness in their lives. Yet we also pray for those who trespass against us that their sins too may be forgiven.

Bless us all,

We pray with thanks for families, neighbors, teachers, teammates, fellow workers and all those in our community who support the well being of others, especially the sick and the needy.

Strengthen them,

We pray for those who suffer the loss of family, friends and neighbors that they may be comforted by those who love them. Help restore peace and harmony in their hearts. Let them discover Your love through the care and support of others.

Use us Lord.

Comfort them,

We pray for the mission of the church; for our Session and for our Presbytery. We pray for all who proclaim the Gospel to the ends of the earth and for all who seek the Truth.

Strengthen them,

We pray for all the leaders of the world that they may make wise choices for everyone and that they may lead us to honor one another and serve the common good.

Guide them,

We pray for your wonderful creation, the Earth, and its streams, trees, mountains and plants. We pray that the animals of the Earth may freely enjoy these resources and that they may last as long as human people walk its soil.

Guide those who manage the world,

We pray for those who have died and for all the people who miss them. May all find peace and strength in You.

Bless all of us,

We pray for those who do not understand, have lost, or have not found Your love, that they may seek a deeper knowledge of You, that You might tap them on the shoulder gently and reveal your presence and care.

We pray our God that Your love might find those who need You most.  Guide and bless them, O Lord, and hear our prayer. But above all we pray for understanding.

For Thy will be done. –Amen

Song: O love, how deep, how broad

Sending out with God’s blessing

Fix your eyes on the Lord. Place your hand in His Hand, trusting in his guiding and comfort. Go into this world, that needs so much the words of healing love, and bring the good news of God’s absolute love and presence to all people. Go in peace. AMEN.

Response: Benediction (as you go)

Music postlude

————————————————————————-

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

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

Worship on the Fourth Sunday of Lent
10:00 am       10 March 2024
Online & Onsite (Mixed Presence) Gathering as a Worshipping Community
Led by the Rev Brad Childs
Music director: Binu Kapadia     Vocalist: Linda Farrah-Basford
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: On this fourth Sunday of Lent, we overhear a nighttime conversation between Jesus and a Pharisee named Nicodemus
P: Jesus says we must be born anew and born of the Spirit. With Nicodemus we ask, “How can these things be?”
L: But maybe it’s not all about understanding these mysteries. Maybe it’s about hearing, believing and sharing the good news with our words and our actions.
P: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”

Opening praise: Revelation song

Prayers of approach and confession
Gracious God, Great and wonderful are your works!
Your steadfast love is everlasting.
Where there is darkness, you bring light.
Where there is sadness, you speak words of hope.
Where there is despair, you bring new possibilities.
You have come among us in Christ Jesus to save us, bringing healing for the sick, and forgiveness for the sinner.
In this time of worship, stir us with your Spirit, O God.
Awaken our joy and reverence in our songs and our silence, in our prayers and praises, for you are our God, here and everywhere, now and always. Amen.
Merciful God, We confess that we often take your acceptance of us for granted.
We are careless in our relationships, focused on our own needs and desires.
The news distracts us, and we put opinion above your expectations of us.
Forgive us.
Renew our understanding of your purposes and our place within them, so we may serve you more faithfully, day by day. Amen.

Response: I waited, I waited on you, Lord

Assurance of God’s love
Friends in Christ, by grace we have been saved through faith. This is not our doing but God’s gift to us. Know that God forgives you and forgive one another. So may the peace of Christ be with you.

We listen for the voice of God

Children’s time

Response: Jesus, we are gathered (514)

Story

I have a verse for you and this is from The Message so it’s not quite a translation. But this is Eugene Peterson’s take on Matthew 23.

Okay, religious fashion show. Now Jesus turned his address to the disciples along with the crowd that had gathered with him. The religious scholars and the Pharisees are competent teachers in God’s law. And you won’t go astray in following their teachings and according to Moses.

But be careful about following them. They talk a good line, but they don’t live it. They don’t take into account the heart and they don’t live out their behavior.

It’s all spit and polish veneer.

Now I’m gonna tell you a little story.

I don’t know if it will make much sense, but there is a guy. I probably shouldn’t say his name, but I’m going to do that anyway. So, if the family of John Ferrier is watching, take no offense.

John Ferrier actually passed away a little while ago, but he used to be kind of famous in this place called Moose Jaw.

Have you ever heard of Moose Jaw? No?  It’s sort of like Red Deer, I guess, kind of outside of a larger city. Well, it’s fairly large, I would say 80,000 people or something?

John Ferrier did pretty much every funeral in the city. He did it least one a week. Every week since I knew him, he never showed up for a meeting because he had a funeral.

He also did like a lot of the weddings in town.

I don’t know what it was but everybody went to John Ferrier and asked him to do weddings and funerals – important things.

He had a church of about 15 people. But He also had an entire community because he drove around and every day had lunch with somebody and breakfast with somebody.

He was always talking to people and at his funeral l500 people showed up. It was wild.

Now John Ferrier was maybe not the most interesting preacher.

Maybe I’m not either, I don’t know.

He had a “voice” – a really deep bass voice..

And he had this kind of odd preaching style. I just couldn’t get into it. Most people couldn’t. But everybody loved this guy. Everybody loved him.

Here’s the thing. And this quote came from a red dragon

It says, “If you practice what you preach, then you don’t have to preach very loud.”

John Ferrier was a guy who really practiced what he preached. And everybody loved him and they knew he loved God because of how he loved them.

In the story about the Pharisees, Jesus says people might know what they’re talking about but don’t follow them because they don’t live  it.

They say. “Say what you mean, mean what you do.”

”Then Jesus said to the crowd and to the disciples, the teachers of the law, and the Pharisees: Sit in Moses’ seat and you should obey them and all that they tell you to do with Moses but do not do what they do for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders but do not carry loads themselves.”

In life. It’s better to follow this Jesus fellow who says, practice what you preach. And when you preach a sermon of love, it doesn’t matter how loud it is or how good it is. People know.

Prayer

Our God, we thank you for those people in our lives who are like the John Ferrier.

We thank you for the parents and grandparents and family members and brothers and sisters and friends and teachers.

We thank you for all of these leaders in our lives that help us to actually live out the lives that we want to.

And so God, we praise you today for the John Ferriers in our lives who actually walk the walk that Jesus told us to walk.

The Lord’s Prayer (535)

Transition music

Song: Sometimes a healing word (768)

Today’s Message

Scripture reading: John 3:14-21

Response: Jesus, remember me

Message: Bobby’s Valentine
In the 1970s; in the state of Indiana – it was a different time. Bobby was a “special-educatipn” boy. He was just testing high enough to remain in a regular classroom with his classmates, but he was still noticeably atypical in some fashion. Bobby was the constant butt of jokes from the other kids, but he never seemed to mind. Every day, as the neighbourhood kids walked home from school, Bobby’s mother would look out the window to see them all laughing and joking together – all except Bobby. He was always walking behind the others, all alone. It was obvious that the other children felt uncomfortable around Bobby and shunned him.

One day Bobby burst into the kitchen after school. “Mom, guess what?” he said. “Valentine’s Day is two weeks away, and our teacher said we could make valentines and give them to the other kids in our class!”

His mother’s heart sank as she pictured yet another opportunity for Bobby to be excluded. “Mom,” said Bobby, “I’m going to make a valentine for every person in my class!”

“That is genuinely nice, Bobby” his mother answered (fighting back the tears) and picturing Bobby’s disappointment in getting no cards in return.

Over the next two weeks, Bobby worked every single afternoon on those valentines. He used red paper, blue markers, and glitter. He spent hours making each one exactly right. They were truly labours of love.

When the big day finally came, he was so excited about taking his valentines to school that he could not even eat his breakfast. But he was also a little worried. “I hope I didn’t forget anybody,” he said as he dashed off to school. He ran out the door with perfect excitement leaving the door still open behind him.

Bobby’s mother made a fresh batch of his favourite cookies and prepared herself to comfort her son when he returned home broken-hearted from the Valentine’s exchange. She knew how disappointed he would be with the response he got from the other children.

That afternoon, as per usual, Bobby’s mother watched as the same cluster of neighborhood kids walked home together once again. A half block behind them, as was always the case, was little Bobby all alone.

John 3:16, which was read here today, is perhaps the single most well-known verse in all the Bible. When I was three years old, I was in a church program called A.W.A.N. A. (my group was called the “Cubbies”). A.W.A.N.A. is sort of like Boy Scouts for conservative Christians. It was really big in the Midwest United States when I was a kid. Once a week about one hundred of us kids (of all ages – from 2 to 20) would gather in my church’s gymnasium together for A.W.A.N.A. We wore tan shirts resembling military apparel, tan shorts, and tall socks and we wore red neckerchiefs for some unknown and terrible reason (I hated wearing that thing). We played games and we memorized bible verses for badges that we sewed onto a sash. And the very first verse I ever memorized for my first badge was John 3:16.

John 3:16 says, (in King James English of course) “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son, so that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have life everlasting.”

The coach told me what it meant. He said, “Jesus loves you so much that he was willing to die on the cross for your sins.”

I bet many people in this room have had a similar kind of experience. And very likely it was a warm and good moment.

Sometimes when we look back on important people in our lives it is easy to see them with rose-colored glasses. Well, I am not going to do that.

The coach was telling me the truth. And I still believe what he said, today. Jesus loves me so much that he was willing to die on the cross for my sins. I believe that – with all my heart. That is a true statement. The coach was telling the truth. But… even though that is true, that’s not what John 3:16 is about at all.

Rollen Frederick Stewart is famous. He is the guy everyone knows and yet nobody knows they know him. He was born February 19, 1944, and is also known as the Rainbow Man. Rollen was a fixture in the American sports culture in the seventies and eighties.

Rollen first’s major appearance was at the 1977 NBSA Finals. His presence was obvious, and the film crews had to desperately try to avoid capturing him but ultimately found it impossible. Rollen had the best seats in the house: on the 50-yard line, behind the goalposts, underneath the basket – he was always there, and he always got on T.V. And was always noticed. Quite frankly he was impossible to miss. Rollen wore a Rainbow afro wig and did something thousands of people now copy. He held up a huge sign. It read simply this “John 3:16”.

Although his life took a tragic turn in later years, Rollen Stewart had just become a born-again Christian and was determined to “get the message out” via television. In a way, he was absolutely brilliant. He found a way to capture free advertising for every church within the airwaves and at some of the most televised events in the world. He spent a small fortune getting the best seats at every sporting event he could. People all over the globe picked up bibles to find out what just what this “John 3:16” was all about. In his own words, Rollen just wanted people to know “that Jesus Christ had died for their sins”. True.

Today Rollen is an even more controversial figure and the subject of a documentary. It is a sad, sad story. But he was a man with a mission. He was a person who fought to see the message of Christ spread throughout the world.

The problem is…  that just like my old AWANA coach, Rollen too was right but also wrong.

See Rollen convinced an entire generation of people that John 3:16 (the most quoted verse in all the bible) is about Jesus Christ dying on the cross for our sins. But it is not.

Now to be abundantly clear once more – I believe that Christ did die on the cross for our sins. But again, just like with my coach, that’s still not what John 3:16 is about. It’s true but that is not at all what that verse is about.

AND Just think about it for a moment and you’ll see.

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son so that whoever believeth in him shall not perish but have life eternally.”

John does not say, “For God so loved the world that Jesus died on the cross for our sins.”

He says, “For God [THE FATHER] loved the world (all of us and all creation) so much that He [THE FATHER] gave His only begotten son.”

It is not Jesus giving of his life that John is talking about – it is about God (the Father) giving up His son.

What’s more, this is John 3:16… 3:16… As in John’s gospel in the 3^rd chapter and the 16^th verse… It IS NOT John chapter 19 vs 16.

The third chapter is at the beginning of John’s gospel.

It is not the crucifixion John is talking about. The crucifixion comes at the END of John. Chapter 19 not 3!

This verse is not about Jesus dying on the cross. It is about the birth of Jesus. It’s not the death of Jesus. It is the incarnation of Jesus that John is talking about.

It is not his death.

It is chapter 3. It is about his birth.

See God’s gift is not just that Jesus died on the cross. That is just one part of his gift. God’s gift is that He gave His only begotten son (not just to die) But to Live; to be human: to be born, to skin knees, to have to learn how to read, and dress himself, to play with and be made fun of by other children (AS ALL ARE), to be an awkward teen, to love, to live, to go to a wedding… To lose people you care about, to attend a funeral, to make friends, feel rejection and pain, to go through EVERYTHING WE DO, to cry… to experience it all… to give up the perfection of heaven, for the weakness and the frailty of humanity.

That is what God gave the son for.

For John this is astonishing. This is amazing. God, the maker of heaven and earth would give up everything (untold power and joy) to be a mere human being; with us and for us. It is the idea that God loved the world so much that nothing would be held back. He gave even of himself.

For a first-century Jewish writer like John, this was unfathomable.

In the Old Testament God appeared a few times throughout history, to a select and incredibly special and exceedingly small group of people. So for example, the Bible might say, “And the Spirit rested upon him for a time before leaving.” To have the Holy Spirit (God’s presence) even for just a moment was something that happened to David or Abraham or Moses or Elijiah but that’s really about it.

But John says that is not what is happening here. And not just for a moment for a few special people but for a lifetime and everyone. In John 3:16 John says that God gave everything he had, for us. And it is not just some lucky or some extraordinarily Holy person, it is for the entire world… everybody; everywhere. Everyone, no strings, no requirements, he just came… for all.

Back in Indiana with Bobby’s mother looking out the window at her son lagging behind the other kids, Bobby’s mother turned away from the window in tears and placed a plate of cookies on the table hoping to console her son. Much to her surprise, Bobby came through the door with a huge smile on his face. “What is it, Bobby?” she asked. “How did it go?”

With a shout of pure joy, Bobby said, ran and hugged her. “Guess what Mom!… I did not forget a single kid!”

Booby was so focused on giving that he did not even consider the response he would get. Being loved back was not even on the radar. He was so concerned about others that he was blind to the fact that he was being slighted. Bobby had a gift to bring for everyone and that is all that mattered.

Sometimes when we give, our motives seem pure, but we would still feel rejected if we did not receive something in return. And of course, there is nothing wrong with wanting a thank you (do not get me wrong). But Bobby gave… And Jesus gave… even more than that.

Jesus gave his life for us knowing that, as (the Gospel writer) John says, many “would not receive him.” He became like us… For us; expecting nothing. That’s agape, God’s love. It’s unconditional, unselfish, and given with no strings attached.

That is the gift that God gave to the world. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son so that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have life everlasting.” Amen. (Bobby’s Valentines pg 47 H.I.F.Y.T. 4 Wayne Rice)

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

We respond to serve God: Our time of giving

Reflection on giving: The season of Lent leads us closer and closer to the Cross. As we contemplate Jesus lifted up for our sakes, consider what the gift of his mercy and grace means for you. Let your offering express your thanksgiving for such an amazing gift from God.

Prayer of gratitude and for others and ourselves

Lord Jesus, you gave so much without counting the cost. Bless these gifts with your generous love. Use them to bless the world with the same hope and healing we have found in you. And let us not count the cost until we too have given all we can for your sake.

Gracious God, you have called together a people to be the church of Jesus Christ.

Keep our minds and hearts open to your Word and your ways, so that the world may see in us compassion and wisdom in action.

May our lives lead others to believe you are love and live by your truth.

God in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

Creator God, you made all things and called them good.

Thank you for the wonders of the world that surround us and the promise of new life stirring in burrows and seed beds around us.

We pray for the earth in its vulnerability, staggering under the demands of human needs and expectations.

May your planet earth be held in reverence by all peoples.

Guide us in our country and our community to use its resources wisely and respect its fragile balance between life and death.

God in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

Christ, Prince of peace, thank you for your commitment to mercy and forgiveness which overcome our desires for revenge.

Speak to the hearts of peoples everywhere and to those who occupy places of power and influence in every land.

Teach us how to seek peace on earth together.

Especially this week we remember the regions in conflict and pray that a just resolution to conflict will soon prevail for the sake of the vulnerable.

Overcome the fear, greed, violence or vanity  that turn neighbour against neighbour and nation against nation.

May all who claim your name be known as makers of the peace.

God in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

Christ, healer of hearts and hopes, you desire health and wholeness for each one of us, thank you for times of wellbeing, whether measured in minutes or months.

We pray that lives caught up in the economic pressures of these times may find enough to sustain them day by day and hope for more generous future.

Grant rest and renewal to all who are broken in body or spirit and bring comfort to those who ache with loss or anxiety.

In silence we lift before you the names of those on our hearts today…….

(Keep silence for 15-20 seconds)

God in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

Holy Spirit, source of wisdom and courage, embrace your church with hope this day that we may live faithfully, encouraging each other by the commitment we have witnessed in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Song: Guide me, O thou great Redeemer (651)

Sending out with God’s blessing

As we continue our Lenten journey, remember the words from Ephesians: “Live as children of light. The fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true.” So may the light of God’s love surround you, t he light of Christ’s mercy renew you, and the light of the Spirit’s wisdom guide you, through this day and every day to come.

Response: Benediction

Music postlude

————————————————————————-

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

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