An invitation to the party

Posted on August 6, 2023August 6, 2023 by John

Worship on the Lord’s Day
Pentecost 10     06 August 2023    10:00 am
The Sacrament of Holy Communion
Online & Onsite (Mixed Presence) Gathering as a Worshipping Community
Led by the Rev. Brad Childs
Music Director: Binu Kapadia     Guest Pianist: Yvonne Boon
Vocalist: Lynn Vaughan     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: For the beauty of the summer day,
P: And the comfort of friends nearby;
L: For the invitation to love and be loved,
P: For our God who extends that call;
L: For time set apart to nourish the soul,
P: For time to go out into the world armed with love:
L: For all these things we give thanks. Let us worship God

Opening praise: Holy is the Lord (vss. 1,2)

Prayers of approach and confession

Unclutter our lives, Lord
we have too much,
consume too much,
expect too much.

Grant us perspective;
to see this world
through others’ eyes
than just our own.

Grant us compassion;
where there is need
to play our part
not turn aside.

Grant us gratitude
for what we have,
our daily bread
the gift of life.

Unclutter our lives, Lord,
give us space,
simplicity
thankful hearts.

Amen.

Response: We come to ask your forgiveness, O Lord

Assurance of God’s forgiveness

Ours is the God of infinite grace. While we fail, He does not. And in Him, we are declared free of sin. Thanks be to God and Amen.

We listen for the voice of God

Hymn: O Jesus, I have promised vss 1,2, 3 (569)

Scripture reading (NRSV): Isaiah 55:1-5

Response: Glory to the father

Message: “An invitation to the party”

Isaiah is likely not just one book but three developed by a school over 80 years or so. The main reason people believe this is the case is because, in Isaiah chapter one, the people are in Jerusalem before the land is taken away. The second part continues to address the Babylonians and at the end, they are out of exile and back home again. The book comes to us in three distinct sections. What we heard today is from what is often called “the book of comforts” which includes everything in Isaiah chapter 40-55. It’s a favorite of Jesus who quotes directly or alludes to this book more than any other. The beatitudes for example where Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6).

Have you ever found yourself standing in front of the fridge, trying to find something to satisfy a vague sense of emptiness or discontent?

You aren’t looking for anything specific, but you know you want to fill a longing.

The people just restored to their homes hear Isaiah calling out a message from God. And it’s probably a nice thing to hear for a nation just released from their captives. Come here, eat and drink, and leave the coins at home.

It’s a strange and paradoxical offer.

He says, “buy wine” without money. Buy milk “without price”. The thing is this isn’t just a free for all. It isn’t “come take whatever you want”.

What is offered is something “without price” and a better way to understand this is – something that is “priceless.” It is not without value, it is beyond all value.

Clearly here, we aren’t talking about physical water or food. So what is it. What is the thing we Buy without cost?

Isaiah continues. He says Why “spend your money” for what isn’t bread. Why work for things you don’t need or don’t bring you joy? Why fritter away our lives on things that don’t count?

Now remember the whole point of Isaiah is the salvation of the people. In fact that’s what the name means even. Isaiah means the Lord Saves. And they were celebrating being back in their own land again. But overall, each book of Isaiah 1,2 and 3 all have a message. 1 is a call to the people to hold to their Lord’s teaching, to stop abusing the poor and a warning that God will not ignore their sins forever just because he is loving. God cannot be loving and ignore all wrongs. Book 2 is about the destruction that came when the people didn’t listen and an invading army came in and demolished them. By book 3 Isaiah is sure that their faithfulness during the exile has resulted in their freedom. And he takes a lot of time saying, “Yeah, we’re home and safe again… BUT let’s learn from our mistakes.

He says, Listen diligently to me, and eat only what is good for you and let your soul delight in the (and I like this) Day-Shin or “fatness” of it.

Sorry vegans, the analogy has to do with the deep richness of the food. It’s decadent. And it’s the reward for keeping the law, loving self and neighbour. That’s the deal God made with David. Keep my laws, right them on your heart so that “you will live long in the land I am giving you”.

Now that you are back, remember why things went bad. Don’t go back to ignoring God.

Of course, it is not an invitation to eat marbled beef and supersized desserts either. It is an invitation to invest our lives in things that really satisfy—things rich in purpose and meaning. At its root, it is an invitation to join God at his banquet table—to invest our lives in relationship to God—to allow God to set the direction for our lives—to live in faith that God will provide what we need to live joyfully. To live in that kind of faith causes fear to shrink and confidence to grow. It leads to purposeful living—to lives that bring great satisfaction.

Verse 3 says, “Turn your ear and come to me. Hear and you should all live. And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, according to the mercies shown to David.”

If you want to stay in the land, don’t abuse it. If you want to be together in your homeland, treat each other better. The people knew the deal and they broke it.

God calls this an “everlasting covenant” but listen to what God says about that Everlasting Covenant elsewhere (Psalm 89):

“If his children forsake my law, and don’t walk in my ordinances; if they break my statutes, and don’t keep my commandments; then I will punish their sin-”. The passage adds “But I will not completely take my kindness away. I will not fail. I will not break my covenant”. It’s everlasting in part, because He keeps offering it to them no matter how many times they fail.

Even under the “everlasting covenant,” God is not bound to ignore the people’s unfaithfulness.

It’s like that old joke from Emo Phillips who said, “I used to pray everyday that God would give me a new bike. But then I learned that God doesn’t work that way. So I stole a bike and asked him for forgiveness instead.”

The problem however seems to me that God isn’t fooled by apologies people don’t mean or intend to keep.

Still, this is no threat. The exhortations to listen (Isaiah 55:3), to seek the Lord (verse 6), and to choose between wickedness and the way of the Lord (verse 7) all show the passage’s connections with wisdom traditions. The invitation issued by Isaiah 55 is similar to that of the book of Proverbs Character “Lady Wisdom” to calls people to her table: “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Lay aside immaturity, and live, and walk in the way of insight” (Proverbs 9:5-6). These passages emphasize the choices a person faces in the course of a life, and they portray the divine summons as working through appeal and persuasion rather than command.

And that’s where we get the final verse in this section. It says, that as a Nation who keeps covenant, they will not only prosper again naturally simply due to order in society but so much so that “nations” they do not know, will run to them to learn peace.

It’s a nations call to be better and do better. It’s a call for people to seek wisdom and peace. It’s a call to include your Lord in your day to day choices. It’s about not reading the book but living it. It’s about building people up, caring for neighbours and it’s about not wasting our energy on things that don’t matter. But it’s also more than that.

My personal belief is that this verse is actually about Jesus (Surprise Surprise) even though it was written 600 years before Christ.

To be fair to me, that may have a little something to do with that idea that Jesus seems to think this passage is about Jesus too.

Jesus said to the woman at the well, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give will never thirst. The water that I shall give will become a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:13-14).

And then again, as water was symbolically poured out at the Feast of Tabernacles, one of the three times all Jewish people were supposed to travel to Jerusalem, Jesus stood in the Temple and called out, “If anyone thirsts, let Him come to me and drink” (John 7:37).

What do we need to purchase this water of salvation I wonder? What does a ticket to the banquet got for these days. It’s a pretty costly item. But the answer is this.

Nothing at all! It is a free gift of God. “Buy without money.”

All the spiritual refreshment we need, symbolised by water and wine and milk, is ours without money and without price. It costs us nothing, because it cost Jesus everything. This is our invitation to the party. Come, all who thirst, to the banquet of the eternal king. Amen.

Song: To show by touch and word (763)

We respond to serve God

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

The sacrifice that honours God is a thankful heart. So let us present our offerings with thankful hearts, grateful for all God’s goodness to us.

Blessed are you, God of all creation, for all your good gifts. Use the gifts we offer to spread your goodness in Jesus’ name. Let your Spirit work through us so that your goodness will move through us into the world wherever we go.

O God, we give you thanks for your goodness
in the changing times of our lives.

For every occasion you have surprised us with a blessing,
we give you thanks
in the pressures of this present moment,
we are grateful for the strength and courage we find,
knowing you are right beside us.

Give us wisdom and patience
to face a future filled with many questions and challenges.

Help us trust in your goodness
even when we wrestle with what comes next.

Aware of our own needs and the great need around us,
we remember Christ’s compassion
and offer our prayers for the world, seeking your guidance
so that we may do our part to share comfort, healing, and hope.
Amen.

The Sacrament of Holy Communion

Invitation

All who hunger gather at the table of the Lord. Come, eat and drink. Find spiritual food for your journey and be one together in one meal and one Lord.

Song: All who hunger gather gladly (534)

The Lord’s Prayer (535)

Communion Prayer

Lord we come together as one people united in one act and one faith. We eat and we drink of your grace. We take these elements now, setting them aside from all common use. And we dedicate ourselves to you and to each other. You are creator. You are redeemer. You are advocate.

Be with us and guide us as you have before. Assist us in our tasks to care for others. Shine light into dark places. Grant us the lanterns that help brighten the way. We thank you for life, for guidance, and for your son – for His life, death, and resurrection. Called to His service we seek sustenance that eternally satisfies. In His Holy Name we pray. Amen.

Sharing of the bread and wine

We remember Jesus who took bread in his hands, broke it, gave it to his friends, and said, ‘Take, eat, this is my body which is for you. Do this to remember me.’

We remember Jesus who took the wine cup in his hands and gave thanks for it. He gave it to them and said, ‘This is the new covenant sealed by my blood. When you drink from it, do this in memory of me’.

Song: One bread, one body

The prayer after Communion

For family and friends and food that satisfies; for countless moments of grace and glimpses into tomorrow we praise you. Lord, lead us now, out into the world to be peace – alive and well. Send us to share food, just as you have shared with us. Send us, challenge us, and help us proclaim your holy name. Amen.

Hymn: Put peace into each other’s hands vss. 1, 2, 4 (560)

Sending out with God’s blessing

Wherever you find yourself in the days ahead, in a lonely place or in the midst of a crowd, watch for signs of God’s goodness.

May God our Maker fill you with confidence,

May Christ our Saviour bring you peace and comfort,

And may the Holy Spirit renew your energy to greet the gift of each new day.

Response: The Blessing

Music postlude

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

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

Ring up the King (Raymond Baker)

Posted on July 30, 2023July 30, 2023 by John

Worship on the Lord’s Day
10:00 am 30 July 2023 Pentecost 9
Online & Onsite (Mixed Presence) Gathering as a Worshipping Community
Minister: Brad Childs
Worship led by Raymond Baker
Children’s time: Peter Eerkes
Music director: Binu Kapadia Vocalist: Vivian Houg
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: In love and joy God calls us together.
P: And so we meet this day, as friends, as neighbours, as sisters and brothers in Christ.
L: Called together by God, we bring our offerings to God;
P: Our songs, our hearts, our prayers, our lives.
L: Grateful for this opportunity to give and receive, let us worship God

Opening praise: Love the Lord your God

Prayers of approach and confession

Lord, make us an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let us bring love.

Where there is offence, let us bring pardon.

Where there is discord, let us bring union.

Where there is error, let us bring the truth.

Where there is doubt, let us bring faith.

Where there is despair, let us bring hope.

Where there is darkness, let us bring your light.

Where there is sadness, let us bring joy.

O Master, let us not seek as much

to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved as to love,

for it is in giving that one receives,

it is in self-forgetting that one finds,

it is in pardoning that one is pardoned,

It is in accepting your sacrifice, Christ, that we have eternal life.

Amen (Modified Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi)

Response: We come to ask your forgiveness, O God

Assurance of God’s forgiveness

“Who is in a position to condemn us? Only Christ – and Christ died for us; Christ rose for us, Christ reigns in power for us, Christ prays for us. This is good news for us. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. So be at peace and make peace with one another for Jesus’ sake.” (Romans 8, paraphrased)

We listen for the voice of God

Children’s time

Gradual: Open our eyes, Lord

Story: Text unavailable

Prayer: Text unavailable

The Lord’s Prayer (535)

Transition music

Song: Rejoice in the Lord always (421)

Today’s Message

Scripture readings: Philippians 4:4-9

Response: Behold the Lamb of God

Message: “Do not be anxious. Fill your minds with good.” (Call up the King)

Good Morning, my name is Raymond Baker. I went to college and seminary with your minister, Reverend Brad and he is a friend of mine. Just a few months ago I preached here and felt very welcomed by this congregation, so thank you for having me again. I am looking forward to talking about one of my favourite Scripture passages today: Philippians 4:4-9.

To begin, let’s go back to the not so distant past, during the height of the Covid Pandemic. I was working full time in an assisted seniors’ centre with 160 suites that were under outbreak lock-down. For three months, the seniors living in this centre had to stay in their rooms and could not be visited by any friends or family in person. Their food was delivered to their rooms, and they had very little interaction. Many of them began to complain of depression and anxiety while being isolated. Myself and a manager came up with a solution. Every weekday morning at exactly 10 AM I would go to the fire panel for the entire building and lift up the emergency microphone and do a devotional–always focusing on positive things and the salvation of Christ.

A month into doing these devotions, the manager told me that many family members called her to say that their loved one looked forward to the message that would come through the little speaker in their fire alarm. As well, during this time, fewer complaints of depression and anxiety were expressed by the residents.

Interesting – when the seniors focused on the positive thoughts and the devotion to Christ there was less depression and anxiety even when they were cooped up in their rooms!

Paul, in Philippians 4 states, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I say it again, Rejoice.”

What does it mean to rejoice? Some Bible translations use ‘happiness’ or ‘joy’ instead of the word rejoice. Tony Evans’ commentary in the Study Bible says that happiness for the most part is an outward reaction to pleasant things, where joy can be a deeper characteristic that sustains us during trying circumstances.

In Greek, the word for rejoice is: ‘chairete’ which means to be favourably disposed to God’s grace. The root of ‘rejoice’ is very similar to the Greek words used for joy and grace in the Bible. In fact, some translators use ‘joy’ instead of ‘rejoice’ in Philippians 4:3.

Having godly joy was exemplified by Paul and Silas in Acts during a trying time. Paul had just healed a slave woman who had an evil spirit that allowed her to tell the future. When the slave woman was healed, she was no longer of use to her owner to make him money, so the owner of the slave had Paul and Silas arrested and put them in jail. Paul and Silas prayed and praised the Lord even though they were in prison.

We know the rest of the story–just as they were praising the Lord there was an earthquake and the cell doors flung open, but Paul and Silas did not leave. Then the jailer wanted to take his life, because he thought Paul and Silas had escaped. The story ends with Paul and Silas sharing the salvation message of Christ with the jailer. I love this whole story, but for today’s sermon I want to point out that Paul and Silas were in a Roman Prison in the first century. These were disgusting places without washrooms. Paul and Silas were rejoicing in the Lord as they sat in utter filth. Look at how it turned out!

I am not saying that God will cause a natural disaster for your benefit, just because you thought about good things and praised the Lord. What I am saying is that God promises to give you peace during tough times if you focus on Him.

Next, Philippians 4:5, states: “Let your gentleness be evident to all.”

Have you ever been in a fight with your sibling, wife, husband, or friend and you wanted to avenge yourself? I have and it never works out! This kind of thinking is like the wicked witch of the west played very well by Margaret Hamilton in the Wizard of Oz movie, “I’ll get you and your little dog too!!!” In Romans 12:19-2, Paul explains that we should not take revenge, because that is God’s job. In that same chapter Paul goes on to say, “do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” To be gentle, is to find good in others. I think that letting your gentleness show is seeking to understand another’s point of view, while respectfully presenting your own.

In Dale Carnegie’s book, “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” he wrote that there is no winner in arguments, because if one feels he/she has won, the other will feel defeated or angry, leaving the relationship somewhat broken.

The second half of the greatest commandment is: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself…’”(Matthew 22:36-40). Could loving your neighbour be thinking and saying good things about them? Gentleness is to find good in others.

Philippians 4:5 also says, “The Lord is near.” In this context Paul is referring to the conflicts going on in the Philippi churches. He wants the conflicts to end because the Day of the Lord is coming. It is important that our relationships are right. Paul’s concern is that we need to be ready for Christ’s return. The Bible says the day of the Lord is like a thief in the night–we don’t know when Christ is coming back.

Let’s go to the next verse where Paul states, “do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” God is giving us a formula for peace in our lives. He is not telling us just to sit and not worry. That is like me asking everyone to not think about pink elephants right now. I believe if we could take a picture of what is in everyone’s mind we would have a stack of pink elephant images! God, here, is giving us directions. Instead of worrying, fill your minds up with things that we are thankful for and also pray to God about our circumstances.

When I was first dating my wife, Jacquie, she was in an accident on Calgary Trail. The night after her accident we prayed together. During her prayer she presented her requests to the Lord and as it says in today’s verse she did it with thanksgiving. She thanked the Lord that she and the other driver were not hurt and then she thanked the Lord for the accident so that she may learn something God was teaching her. I was stunned. Did I hear correctly, my girlfriend just thanked the Lord that she was in an accident? As I work through today’s verse where it says “in every situation by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” I believe that Jacquie was not nuts, but giving it over to God with thanksgiving.

In Psalm 110:4 it is written, “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.” It is good to be thankful in prayer. I like it when my nephews and nieces are thankful for what I do. How much more should we be thankful to God who died on a Cross for our sins and sustains us through life and offers us eternal life.

Jacquie and I were just in London England. We were at Buckingham Palace and the flag was flying at full mast. Does anyone know what that means? Yes, King Charles III was in residence. We stood there watching the changing of the guard and I imagined what it would be like to go see the King.

What if King Charles was my friend and I got into trouble in England. I could just ring up my friend, the King and he would do the best he could to help me. King Charles is not that powerful, but our God, the Lord of the Universe, the Alpha and the Omega is all powerful. We do not have to ring him up, rather we can pray to him about all things.

Unfortunately, in my lifetime I will probably never have access to King Charles III, but through Christ I have access to the throne room of God. God knows us more than our friends, He also knows what we need and want. If we leave things in His hands why would we need to worry about them. Once we have prayed and given all our problems over to God we are promised the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

The peace of God that transcends all understanding is the result of being able to rejoice and be glad when things are bad. We know that God is in control, because we have given everything to God in prayer.

Positive thoughts are whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–we should think about these things.

A renowned Canadian preacher and counsellor, Dr. Ed Weiss was leading a large Christian youth conference in Sweden. On his way to set up for the conference, he noticed a street girl doing skateboarding tricks at the train station. He yelled out to the skater girl that she was good at skateboard tricks. The girl stopped and looked surprised that a well dressed man in his late forties told her that she was good. She skated over to him. Her head was shaved and her body was covered with piercings and tattoos. She spoke perfect English, and used a lot of profanities.

He asked for her name and it was Namoi. He reaffirmed that she was very talented at skateboarding. She seemed to eat up the compliments. The next day, Naomi was skateboarding again and saw Pastor Ed. She asked if he wanted to go for a burger, which is street talk for, “Will you buy me a burger?” They went for the burger and the preacher noticed that she could switch from French, the common language in that part of Sweden, to English very quickly. During the meal he told her that her English was amazing.

Once again Naomi seemed to love the positive compliments. After their lunch, the pastor went into the conference centre. Bryce, an organiser, informed Pastor Ed that everything was ready for the conference and assured him that an interpreter would be provided. Pastor Ed let him know he had his own interpreter. Pastor Ed then left the conference centre and looked for Naomi in her usual part of town. As expected, she was there. When he asked her to interpret his talk for the conference because she could switch between English and French so fluently, she agreed, beaming at the compliment.

After the conference, the pastor asked Bryce how Naomi did with the translations. He replied, “She did well, but the conference has never heard so many profanities in preaching before.” Pastor Ed just laughed.

Five years later Pastor Ed received a phone call from Bryce telling him to google the homepage for The International Symposium on Street Children. It advertised a huge conference to take place in Geneva. The picture of the keynote speaker was Naomi.

You never know what impact a compliment or positive words can have on the people you meet. Bringing out the good you see in others by focusing on whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, excellent or praiseworthy in them will bring good to the world. Look for the good in the world, in people and in yourself.

If there can be a transformation in Naomi, imagine what God can do for you. If you think about what is pure, what is lovely, whatever is admirable, you will have peace.

Since the Covid pandemic and the increase of people on social media, there are many conspiracy theories being brought forward. I am not here to deny them or say that they are true. I am just noting that most of them focus on negative aspects of leaders, scientists, economists and doctors. It seems that myself and many of my friends are drawn to dwell on the negative when speaking about the present world situations.

Just for a minute, let’s pretend all the negative is true and that every scientist, world economic leader, and politician is nefarious and wants to control us to make money from us or even kill us. Everyday we read the feeds and podcasts that present these views. How are we going to feel, respond, and think on positive things like Paul is instructing us to do? Will we find peace?

In 1 Timothy 2:1-4 Paul states, “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. What if we prayed for our leaders? According to the Bible, the result would be that we live peaceful and quiet lives. What if everyday was Easter? Not with pink bunnies and chocolate eggs, but what if everyday we celebrated that the Lord of the universe humbled Himself and became a human to die on a cross for our sins and on the third day He defeated death and rose to heaven and is victorious!

What if we filled our minds up with thoughts about Christ as our Lord and saviour. What if we meditated on that because it is true, admirable and praiseworthy? Would some of the depression that has been getting worse in our present society be lifted? In a dark world we are the light of Christ. In this dark world we don’t want to put the joy of the Lord under a bowl, we want to spread the Good News.

The wonderful result is that the God of Peace will be with you and you will be a light of Christ in a dark world. You may be transformed like Naomi and God may use you to help transform another person, a city, a province, the world! The amazing result is having the peace of God that transcends all understanding in our lives and the lives of others.

This is why Philipians 4:4-9 is my favourite scripture passage: thinking of positive, praiseworthy things can transform how we feel and speak. If we pray about everything with thanksgiving, the peace of God will be with us, and with God we can bring the Kingdom of the Lord to the entire world! With God we can be World changers!

Praise God and Amen!

Song: Praise, I will praise (420)

We respond to serve God

Prayer of gratitude, and for others and ourselves

God of all true treasure, we offer our gifts with thankful hearts, knowing you keep providing what makes life truly rich. Bless these gifts so that your goodness is multiplied to touch the lives of those in need, for Christ’s sake.

Lord Jesus Christ, we offer you our thanks on this day for you are the true source of peace and healing for us in a world that feels dark so often.

Today we pray for those who face choices and decisions about their health: or those trying to follow good diets and exercise enough; for any waiting for appointments or wondering if they should make another call; for those who find caring for their health frustrating, and for all feeling pain or anxiety as they wait for healing and peace… God, in your mercy, guide us in our choices and challenges.

Lord Jesus Christ: We offer you our thanks on this day for you are the trustworthy source of love and forgiveness in a world full of criticism and self-doubt.

Today we pray for those facing choices and decisions about relationships: for people, we ought to call but just haven’t; for those with whom we feel a grievance but haven’t worked it through; for those we’d like to invite into closer relationships but haven’t yet found the courage; and for those we miss dearly and need to tell how much we cherish them. God, in your mercy, guide us in our choices and challenges.

We offer you thanks on this day.

In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

Song: Give me oil in my lamp vss. 1, 3, 4 (655)

Sending out with God’s blessing

May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7, NIV)

Response: God to enfold you

Music postlude

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Doing the Hokey Pokey

Posted on July 23, 2023July 23, 2023 by John

Worship on the Lord’s Day
8^th Sunday of Pentecost
10:00 am 23 July 2023
Online & Onsite (Mixed Presence) Gathering as a Worshipping Community
Led by the Rev Brad Childs
Music director: Binu Kapadia 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: We look around and see how we have been blessed –
P: Blessed with community, with beauty, with friendship, with faith.
L: That goodness washes over us, and we receive these gifts with thanks.
P: In this time, we thank God for all that we have been given.
L: So let us worship God

Opening praise: Come, now is the time to worship

Prayers of approach and confession

God of light and of love, by the waters you walk with us, inviting us into new adventures.

In the darkness you shine your light, guiding us in your path.

In the shadows of death, you send your comfort to brighten our lives and cast out fears

You let us know that we are not alone. And you surround us with others, who are salt and light in our world like we are in theirs. You fill our lives with great gifts (every minute we share).

You call us here together to be your people and lead us onward and we offer you our praise because we see where your ways lead.

So we come to give you the glory that is only due to you.

And yet, our very merciful God,

We confess that we often turn from who you call us to be to what feels right in the moment.

You call us to follow your way of compassion but often we turn to criticism because as you say in your own word, it’s easier to see the speak in someone else’s eyes than a plank in our own.

You call us to follow your way of peace but often we are the source of division. We judge and condemn and refuse to see things from another’s point of view and then we consider the other divisive.

Even among ourselves, in our own churches we differentiate and evaluate and gossip.

You call us to follow your way of trust but often we take off on our own, leaving your call behind.

Rather than your word, we trust the trapping sof this world.

Forgive us our errors God and our justifications. Unite our will to your will, and help us to cling to your ways and strive for a much higher form of love than we espouse.

Help us to be better… to be the best versions of us that we possibly can. Amen

Response: I waited, I waited on You, Lord

Assurance of God’s forgiveness

God calls us to hear the good news and rejoice…

The good news is this – that in Christ we are forgiven our every mistake. We are made new. And we are considered perfect in his name. Amen.

We listen for the voice of God

Children’s time

Gradual: Jesus loves me (373)

Story: Lynn Vaughan

Okay, so can you see the difference? Do you are these both very nice-looking flowers? OK, I’m going to tell you a secret.

This flower here is called a purple iris. Very beautiful.

This one here is called a deadly nightshade. It’s poisonous. Right? But it’s hard to tell the difference. They kind of look the same.

OK, here’s another example.

Can you know what these are? Any guesses?

So one of them. That wonderful honey bee that we’re all supposed to take care of so we can save the planet.

This one is a killer bee.

Not ideal to have around. Right? They don’t look that much different. It’s hard to tell the difference.

You might recognize this guy. He looks a little sketchy, but that’s okay. And then this gentleman over here. They both look pretty good.

This guy is Bill Gates, a big philanthropist, gives lots of money to charity.

This guy here has killed quite a few people. Looks very charming. But it’s hard to tell the difference.

So that’s sort of what our lesson was going to be about today was about how when we look at things on the outside, when we look at people on the outside, we don’t know what’s in their hearts.

We don’t know the good people from the bad people. And the parable of the wheat and the weeds is about that.

It’s about a farmer that sowed some seeds. And somebody came along in the night and spread some weed seeds in his garden, in his field. So, as they started to grow, when they’re little; the seeds are little, We definitely can’t really tell the difference between what’s a weed and what’s the good plant.

And then as it starts to grow, you can tell the difference. But even as people. We all look the same on the outside. Some people have good in their hearts, some people not so much. But as we get older, the good thing is that we have the grace of God that can help us become better people.

So, you might not start out as the best person with the most pure heart, but God can help change that.

And for those people that don’t get changed, their hearts don’t become pure and loving. By the end of times, God will deal with them.

But that’s not up to us to deal with those people. We need to treat everyone with respect and with God’s love.

And we never know what kind of things we can change in their hearts. So that was our lesson for Sunday school.

So let’s bow together and pray.

Prayer

Dear God, please help us remember that it’s not up to us to judge the people that we see around us.

It is up to us to give them the same love and grace that you would give them as you try to change their hearts and make them better people.

Please help us remember that you are always with us and that even within ourselves we all start out sort of as weeds and we need to have your love to help us become healthy and loving individuals.

The Lord’s Prayer (535)

Transition music

Song: Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee (410)

Today’s Message

Scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 1:10-18

Response: Glory to the Father

Message: “Doing the Hokey Pokey”

Corinth was (is) a prominent city-state in the south of Greece. It was also a trade port and had a land bridge that could save trades-dealer’s weeks or even months in shipping times. Julius Caesar had re-established the city from freed slaves and assigned businesspeople and Politician’s. He did this in the year 44AD and by the time Paul sent the letter read from today (possibly as few as just 10 years later), Corinth already had a booming economy and a population over 100,000 people.

But it was also a mess. It had freed men from all over the Roman empire with different rules, morals and traditions all mashed together in a Greek land that told them personal freedom was the highest rule in life. Basically, as long as you paid Caesar his dues… pretty much everything else was legal or at least permissible. And if it wasn’t, that didn’t matter either because the Corinthians were notorious for filing lawsuits against each other. It was even considered patriotic to do so.

Which is why Paul had to write even to the Christians there to say, “All things are permissible, but not all things are advisable”. By the way, this is some of the wisest advice you may ever hear. All things are permissible (we are free from rules in Christ because we are already forgiven). And yet, that doesn’t mean every idea that pops into our heads is good. In fact, most probably are selfish. Just because God isn’t waiting to “spank us” doesn’t mean we should be running around the world stealing cookies! But that’s what I do! How about you?

I do the wrong things, I do the right things, I do the I’m-not-certain things.

I do the hokey pokey. And I get all turned around.

The first letter to the Christian church established in the Greek city of Corinth (called in our Bibles, “1st Corinthians”) is a letter from the Apostle Paul to the congregation he gathered and then left under another trusted disciple and/or “presbyterium” technically meaning “THE OLD ONES” though this implication is more accurately described as “THE WISE ONES” or bishops and ruling elders as we might call them.

The book Paul writes is to the minister he has assigned to the newly established congregation in Corinth. Yet Paul also writes in a slightly round-about-way, to the elders of that same congregation and to those most respected for their wisdom.

Paul has two main sections following the introduction of that letter. Today’s reading is at the outset of the body.

Now here is the deal. It appears the congregation in Corinth send a letter to Paul asking some important questions. We don’t have that letter. But it’s really clear that from Corinthians Chapter 7 until the book’s end, Paul is answering a number of important questions the Corinthian people had asked him (and probably in a letter that the church had sent to him but is long ago lost to time).

It appears the letter to the Corinthian congregation is part of a group of back and forth correspondence. And that’s a whole big fun mess of confusing traps. But this letter read from today is a portion of early communications in the Christian Church.

And yet, while HUGE questions loom over the people Paul spends a larage amount of time not answering the people’s questions. Before he gets to that, Paul spends the first 6 whole chapters addressing things that he has heard by word of mouth from a woman that Paul greatly respects who is named Chloe. And if Chloe says it, that seems to be good enough for Paul. Chloe must have been an amazing woman.

To the Corinthians, Paul writes, “10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. 11 My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.”

It’s an interesting choice of words Paul makes. He says let there be no “divisions” among you (And when he says that he says “no skees-mas” – like schisms). At the time this word skees-mas was usually reserved for distinguishing between political parties in governments. In other words, Quite literally Paul is saying, let there be no “political factions” or “opposition parties” among you in the church.

Having opposing parties might be fine in the secular realm but not in God’s house. We are to be united.

And that’s exactly where he goes from here. In an interpolation he writes: “12 What I mean is this: One of you says, ‘I follow Paul’; another, ‘I follow Apollos’; another, “I follow Cephas’; still another, ‘I follow Christ’.”

It’s understandable that they would behave in this way in Corinth. Ingrained in their minds was a kind of caste system that put wealthy and political people on one end and poor or trades people on the other. And one could argue that we have the same kind of thing today… but quite not like this. Corinth had major difficulties with this as we see throughout this book.

For example, we know that when the congregation in Corinth took communion the wealthy people (who to be fair – probably paid for the meal) would come early with their friends and drink all the wine while the rest of the people found no seats and received no food or drink. And for them this wasn’t a problem. This was to be expected. It’s just how it things were. This wouldn’t have seemed odd to them in any way. This was the status quo. But Paul takes great effort to say that the Bride of Christ (the Church) was meant for something so much more that what they world offered.

The French Revolution was tough on nobility as one might expect. “Turn about is fair play” goes the proverb. For years, the people with money and power in France ignored, mistreated, and humiliated the common people, forcing them to suffer and starve while the noblemen lived in luxury with overflowing abundance and extravagance. But with the revolution came payback. In fact, many a wealthy person found themselves at the business end of a farmers implement.

During the revolution, many of the noblemen tried to escape execution by disguising themselves as if they were the common people in order to slip out of the country undetected. Marquis de Condoncet (Con-do-sae) (also called Nicholas) was one of these. Ironically and sadly, Nicholas was a brilliant philosopher still studied even today. He wrote about equal rights for woman and argued for equal treatment for people of all races. Though wealthy he spoke out about corrupt systems. He had different and controversial views about education and social programs. During the revolution, these ideas became very dangerous.

And so, when trouble began to brew Nicholas donned the garb of the poor and hid out for more than 8 months. However, as he worked his way to the boarder of France, Nicholas’s ploy took a turn for the worst. He rarely went out in public but famished from travel could not help but stopped for food this one particular day. At an inn and restaurant, Nicholas sat down and ordered his favorite meal… a 12 egg omelet.

He ordered a 12 egg omelet1

Right away his cover was blown. Dirty though he was, conversing as his accent may be, no peasant would ever spend money so frivolously. Nicholas would die in prison… suspiciously before ever facing a trial. He is believed to have been poisoned by a friend who wished to save him from shame.

Nicholas learned a hard lesson. Old habits die hard. So it was with the Corinthians. And so it is with us.

Too often when we should be speaking out about the things, we believe in we speak out about the things we don’t. Too often when we can reason together and speak with unity of mind, we chose division instead. But God’s plan for us as a church is to be just one church.

I love Shane Claiborne whom I’ve now met a few times. And he has this wonderful saying about unity in the church. I’m sure you will hear me quote it more than once. He says, “Jesus is coming back. And when he comes, he’s coming for a Bride… not a harem.” We pray each Communion Sunday for the Holy Catholic Church and the communion of Saints. Catholic? That seems an odd work choice for a Protestant – someone protesting the Roman Catholic Church – but the word just means “unified.” I have a Lutheran friend who won’t even say the word. He’s really missing the point.

We pray that we be Catholic because that’s what God means for us. Not to follow blindly one tradition – but to be united.

We say it. But do we mean it? This is what Paul wants for Corinth and between Corinth and other congregations. This is what God wants for us.

As was the norm in Roman society a few wealthy members exercised an influence out of proportion with their numbers. Corinth was known for its large number of “patrons” (“well to do families”) who provided land, jobs, loans and legal protection in exchange for political support which was the backbone of the Roman system of government and was also an almost inescapable trap that kept the rich wealthy and the poor unable to improve their situation. In fact, part of what made the Corinthians suspicious of the Apostle Paul and lead them to challenge his authority as their leader, was that when Paul first arrived he wouldn’t accept money from the Church. He didn’t fit the mold. And it made his look like an amateur; undeserving of pay. But Paul did this in Corinth for a very specific reason.

…

Have you ever heard of the World Memory Championships? It’s the craziest thing. It’s a set of competitions where people will see who can memorize things the fastest. In one event contestants memorize and entire shuffled deck of cards in order. The fastest last I checked both memorized and recited them, in order, in under 30 seconds. They also compete to see who can memorize the most randomly selected numbers read out loud for one hour straight. They also try to see who can memorize the most digits from a 30-minute presentation of binary code 011100110001001? They also see who can recall the most randomly listed names spoken in order. 197 names were memorized after being called out in order just once. It’s crazy and it’s pretty amazing what these people can do.

But the whole thing is actually based on techniques created by a group of educated Greeks called the Sophists (which arrogantly enough means – “the wise-ist, one who does wisdom). Anyway, the Sophists were teachers/performers (based out of Corinth and Ephesus) that would recall and recite entire plays or even books for audiences or do hour long recalled speeches. People would pay them for their work as performers and hire them as teachers. They were amazing speakers. It is a rather amazing lost art and second cousin of the modern theatre. In return for their pay, they would teach their students everything that was necessary to be successful in life including rhetoric and public speaking, which were the most useful skills in their world, where being persuasive could lead to political power, security, and wealth. And of course, the Sophists taught their beliefs and tricks – but for a considerable price.

This was not just an accepted but a prized part of Corinthian culture. And so, when Paul showed up in Corinth as this “important speaker” they had heard about, this is pretty much what the people there expected. They expected some great orator to perform for them as a sort of interview for pay and then they would determine after that whether to hire him or not to teach them his knowledge.

Now it bears mentioning that Paul’s friend Apollos might actually have been a Sophist. The Corinthian’s clearly write to Paul to say that Apollos is a talented speaker. And remember this is in an area where some of the world’s best speakers are and are trained. In addition, Luke writes in Acts 18:24-28 that Apollos is an especially a gifted orator, saying that “he vigorously refuted his opponents in public debate” and also “Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus; where was a learned man”… and “spoke with great fervor” and “in eloquence”.

In addition, we know that Apollos preached in Corinth right after Paul left. Moreover, we know that after Apollos left, he was followed by the disciples of the apostle Peter. In short, it’s pretty clear what’s going on here. Paul writes to the church in Corinth… “I have heard from Chloe’s household” One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas (that’s Peter)”; still another, “I follow Christ.”

The people in the church in Corinth have turned the church into to kind of cult of personality where it’s more about the people at the front of the church than the God we’re all supposed to be worshiping. And it’s divided into factions. It’s forming political parties like the senate. They’re focus is on the preacher of the message and not the subject of it – Christ of their salvation. Again… Old Habits die hard. And they still do.

I want to be clear that the following illustration is not intended to be considered historical as the opening words might suggest this is mythos and it is apocryphal to be sure. But it’s also very true in its purpose.

Once upon a time, long ago and far away, Otto the Conqueror reigned over his people. Known for his erratic behavior as well as for his brutality, Otto was so busy conquering new territory for his home country’s expansion that he had no time to find a wife. When his advisors became concerned that Otto had not married—and would therefore produce no heir to the throne—Otto was led into commanding his men to go out and find him a “suitable wife” who was beautiful, intelligent, and a nobleman’s daughter.

And so Sophia was discovered, in a land across the sea. Her father, a convert to Christianity, (and a previously self-described “terrible man”) now very much changed and loved by his family and his people, required but one thing for a man to marry his daughter. The daughter’s royal husband he said, must be a baptized Christian (a faith in the man, he said, who took his former evil behavior away and helped him to become something wholly new). From that he thought, everything else would take care of itself as it appeared to in his life.

After meeting with Sophia’s father Otto was oddly struck by the man’s kindness and gentle heart. And after seeing the amazing heart of Sophia in addition to her father, Otto the Conqueror agreed to become a Christian in order to devote his entire being to this Jesus who can turn men from feared to loved.

And so Otto set out to marry his bride, to profess his faith and to be baptized. He marched and with him he took five hundred of his best warriors. These were the men who served as personal protection at times for him and now for him and his wife.

When they arrived (for the baptism and wedding to immediately follow) in Sophia’s land, Otto was promptly baptized—whereupon his loyal warriors cheered and quickly also demanded that they, too, be baptized. Admittedly born more out of devotion to their king than to Christ, it was a strange yet moving scene. There was only one problem: it was a custom in Sophia’s gentle and peace-loving land that Christian converts could not be professional soldiers. In her land, Christian only served among the ranks meant for defense. At this news, the warriors doubted they could ever follow their king in Christian baptism.

But when the next morning came, the men told Sophia and Otto’s family, that they were all, every last one, ready to convert. As the story goes… The warriors marched out into the water to be baptized. But before they lowered themselves into the water to fulfill the Christian rite, all of them drew their swords, lifting them high into the air. Those who watched were dumbstruck by the strange and previously unseen spectacle of five hundred dry arms attached to bodies rising up high. All the warriors were baptized completely—except for their swords and their fighting arms.

You see, the night before, the soldiers had met and talked and debated and finally had decided… that they like their King could give all of themselves to this Christ they had heard about… all except for their fighting arms and their swords. These they said, would remain the property of the state.

The Corinthians had a similar view. They believed that they could hold on to everything they already believed or wanted to believe, add a new thig and still be unchanged… and yet still be Christians. But you can’t. You can’t be unchanged.

Like the Christians in Corinth, we can disagree about the details of what should change in our traditions our practices, our views even – that’s more than fair… but you can’t be unchanged by Christ. You can’t be a house divided. You can’t hold part of yourself back as a person. You can’t cut yourself down the middle or discount this or that part of life. And you can’t be a church divided anymore than a person divided.

Far too often we want the blessings of God in our lives and to be part of his family forever, the church… But we want it on our terms.

So we come to Christ willingly and lovingly but also we all tend to come to Christ with that one arm up out of the water. That one thing God can’t have.

In our hands, we hold those things we are unwilling to let go of — different for all of us (ME TOO) … our possessions, our time, our money, our friends, our bad habits, (you fill in the blank). We are not that different from the Corinthians because we are human beings just like them. We are divided as individual and as followers of Christ.

But Paul writes in Romans 12:1, “I urge you…in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.” In short, we are intended to offer to God our whole selves—not just… the parts we’re comfortable with.

In our reading, Paul writes, “One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Peter”; still another, “I follow Christ.”

I always liked that.

Some person in this church thinks they’re really clever.

They hear, “I follow Paul” and “I follow Peter” and “I follow Apollos” and so they say, “I follow Christ”. And you might be thinking what’s wrong with that? That last person actually has it right. Right? But no. See that last person is also being divisive. That last person doesn’t say, “Come on We ALL Follow Christ.” That last person says [WELL] “I follow Christ” with this sense of self important and superiority as if to arrogantly say, “I’m the real Christian here.” That’s no unity either.

Paul is no fool and he sees right through that arrogance and divisiveness. He replies to that, in verse 13 asking, Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?

Paul’s point to the church is actually really simple. And it’s completely different from the world around us. The church is not a place for factions. When you walk through those doors you join the family and you also give up certain things up for the good of the congregation to serve Christ and His Bride.

This is not a place to follow schisms or personalities. It’s not a place to come and listen to the “wisest of the ones that do wisdom”. It’s a place to be the Holy Catholic (UNIFIED) Church with a single voice.

And yes old habits do die hard. It was very true for the women and men of Corinth and It’s very true for us too. We tend to go along with the world we know. And so we tend to be divisive even when it’s not intentional. We tend to be selfish even when that’s not our aim. Because just like the Corinthians… like everybody… we tend to hold something back.

Instead of everybody fully, giving our whole selves over to God, (as “living sacrifices” as Paul puts it), unity is sacrificed for self-interest. Because the truth is… we all want to bask in the cool, crisp water of God’s redemption. But we all want to do it… with one arm raised high into the air, desperately trying to hold something back from our God and his Bride.

Two Questions:

1) What do you hold in your fighting arm, high above the baptismal waters?

2) What can you change to do away with the things that divide us – so that you can help unite us instead?

In the name of the father, son and Holy Spirit – Amen.

Song: Great is Thy faithfulness 324)

We respond to serve God

Prayer of gratitude and for others and ourselves

Lead people in wise decisions, lead people in peace. Help us as a world to find unity.

Lord, we pray for your many blessings for those who are suffering. And Lord, we pray, be with us always.

Let’s pray for our world. Let, we thank you for the world that you give us and we say, help us to treat it better.

We thank you for the people that you give us and we say, help us to treat them better. If we look around our world, our city, our country, and we ask that you lead the leaders – helping us to grow your kingdom here on earth. Amen.

Song: Let all things now living (338)

Sending out with God’s blessing

God of peace, equip us with every good thing for doing Your will. Work in us what is pleasing to You “through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (Heb. 13:21).

Response: Go forth into the world

Music postlude

————————————————————————-

Don’t take life too seriously … You’ll never make it out alive.

Posted on July 16, 2023July 16, 2023 by John

Worship on the Lord’s Day
10:00 am 16 July 2023 7^th Sunday of Pentecost
Online & Onsite (Mixed Presence) Gathering as a Worshipping Community
Led by the Rev Brad Childs
Music director: Binu Kapadia Elder: Heather Tansem

We gather to worship God

Music prelude

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

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

Call to Worship
L: To know the warmth of love,
P: To have the assurance that someone cares,
L: To be confident of our worth,
P: To be bold to love in return,
L: To be washed over with grace,
P: To be accepted as we are:
L: This is to know a bit of God.
P: Then let us worship our God.

Opening praise: I lift my hands up

Prayers of approach and confession

Our God, we come to you this morning as your own beloved. We come as those who’s lives are in your hands. We come and we do what nobody seems to want to do these days – we admit our mistakes. Lord we admit then, own them and wish to be rid of them.

Our God we aren’t perfect and we have taken time, places, and worst of all people for granted. We have simply not cultivated love and friendship in all the ways we should.

Father forgive us when we waste energy on things that don’t really matter and for when we ignore the things that really do.

Forgive and push us on tomorrow to remedy whatever has been done wrong. Amen.

Response: I will trust in the Lord

Assurance of God’s forgiveness

Who is in a position to condemn us – Only Christ. And it is in Him we are forgiven and sent out to begin again. Know Christ and Know what it is to be forgiven. Amen.

Music Offering (Vocal Solo by Clare Johnson): I have decided to follow Jesus

We listen for the voice of God

Children’s time

Response: Open our eyes, Lord (445)

Story

Old Jungle Book Cartoon

We’re your friends
We’re your friends
We’re your friends to the bitter end

When you’re alone
Who comes around
To pluck you up
When you are down
And when you’re outside, looking in
Who’s there to open the door?
That’s what friends are for!

Do you have a friend who is always there for you? One who cheers you up when you’re feeling sad. One who stands by you no matter what. We could all use a friend like that, couldn’t we?

The things is, if you want to have a friend like that, then you need to be a friend like that!

Proverb 17:17 says, A true friend loves at all times and siblings are made in hard times.

It’s one thing to love a friend that will be there for you in hard times – it’s another thing to be the one to come along beside them and be there for them.

But – That’s what friends are for.

Let’s take a moment to thank God for our friends.

Prayer: Our God, we thank you for all of our friends. For all of the people who stand by us. And Lord, we pray that you would help us to be there to stand by them. And now we pray the words that you taught us to pray.

The Lord’s Prayer (535)

Transition music

Song: He’s got the whole world in his hands (339)

Today’s Message

Scripture reading: Proverbs 15:13-25

Response: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet

Message: Don’t take life too seriously … You’ll never make it out alive.

You will notice in these passages read from today that there are some fairly negative words…
vs. 13 says sorrow, 15 afflicted, 16 trouble, 17 hatred, 18 strife, 22 disappointed.

It sounds to me as if things were rather difficult in I don’t know – THREE THOUSAND YEARS AGO.

Psalm 15 (that part of the Bible that we just heard from), was NOT CREATED on the spot – but was likely from a far-far earlier time in the people’s history. It is a “proverb” or specifically, a “generally true statement of wisdom.”

Psalm 15 was RECORDED for the first time in this way, in or near 900BCE. Maybe, just maybe billions of people can’t be completely wrong and there is great value in these words.

Not to lose the plot:

The book of proverbs is set of wise sayings and was likely shared for generations and generations verbally, even before the “written word” ever existed. The intended audience at the time is maybe not what most people think. It was originally a “young adult” book. It was meant specifically for boys around the age of 13. And the first part of the book is pretty sultry.

Let me stress that these words were eventually recorded some 2983 years ago (give or take). Let’s not be silly. If there is nothing to learn from wisdom people have been following for 3,000 years – then we are doomed as a species – DOOMED!!!

Things were apparently pretty difficult back in the day.

But as Shakespeare said, “Here’s the rub,” things both are and are not getting much easier.

These are still very stressful times we live in as well. And “no” – maybe clean water isn’t our first concern lately but then again, I’m not interested in any kind of geographical or chronological snobbery where any one group of people believes themselves to be not only different but better. It isn’t true.

People are people. And LIFE has never been easy for anyone, no matter what the details might be.

Is anyone in this room without something knocking at the door which you don’t want around?

Isn’t there someone knocking at your door? And you just want to say, “We already Love Jesus. School Fundraisers are a scam with very little going to the intended cause, but we already donate. We don’t buy magazines (nobody does). We already know who we are voting for and seriously, who on earth still sells vacuum cleaners’ door to door these days?

Life is messy – if you aren’t convinced make sure to look up the Penrose Triangle. I’ll save that one again – it’s called the Penrose Triangle. I wont explain it. But I will talk for just a very brief moment about something a little bit less complex. So there are so many variations of this they are hard to count but basically a massive amount of philosophical arguments come from one place. It’s referred to as the Liar’s Paradox. The first clearly recorded example of this was found in 600 BCE in Greece.

I honestly spent hours trying to find a simplified way of saying this and that – after it took me a while to wrap my head around it first —

And then I found what I should have much sooner. It’s an example of the paradox refined by St. Jerome in 363 AD, in Rome. as he delivered a sermon still quotable today.

I shall still paraphrase as best I can: “All people are liars.”

Is the narrator trustworthy?

Is it true? If all people are liars, then is not also the narrator of this quotation a liar as well? What arguments might follow?

And that’s my take on the classic liar paradox. Now why did I just spend three minutes talking about the Liar Paradox when my point is just to say that we live in a time where many things and even truth are not always clear.

Here’s the thing: We used to hear about “road rage.” Now it’s airline rage.

The knee defender is a little gadget sold for just $22. If you have never heard of this, it’s a little plastic clasp that you place on the back of the airplane seat in front of you. It prevents the person in that seat from reclining. The creators say it’s to protect computers and other gadgets from being damaged by surprised reclining. Others say it’s just a rude way to covet 3 precious inches of space in a cramped environment and rob paying customers of what they paid for.

On August 24^th James Beach used his knee defender on a Boeing 737 flight to Chicago. An argument ensued. Beach simply wanted to protect his computer and presentation he was working on. The man in the seat ahead of him saw it a different way. A fight broke out and the plane had to be diverted to a different airport. Flights had to be rearranged, people lost connections, and it cost the airline thousands of dollars in extra fees. In the week that followed, two other flights were diverted because of similar disagreements.

Stress is rising and patience is falling. We’re becoming like guitar strings slowly being tightened – until all of the sudden: Pop! We snap. Every parent has been there, I’m sure. And every friend. Every spouse too. In fact, did you know that 13% of all murders committed in North America last year were committed by the victims’ spouse? So I’m just going to say this publicly… if I ever go missing…

Stress in life is like sand in machinery. And we do it to ourselves. Increasingly I think, we do it to our kids. Another father I was talking to told me that his kids will each start 3 new activities next Monday.

Somewhere along the line we went from play to programs. And adults went from watching kids play to screaming at volunteer coaches. Stress is eating us alive.

So, how do we reduce the tension (besides not wearing busyness like it’s some kind of a badge of honor)?

Well, the writer and compiler of proverb 15 has a few suggestions. The first one…

1. Learn to Laugh

¹³A happy heart makes the face cheerful,
but sorrow crushes the spirit.

¹⁵All the days of the afflicted are wretched,
but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.

Medical science has repeatedly shown that when you laugh, chemicals are released in the brain which are extremely important not just for mental health but also to the health of our vital organs.

Listen to part of an article from the magazine Executive Digest: “Scientists have been studying the effects of laughter on human beings and have found, among other things, that laughter has a profound and instantaneous effect on virtually every important organ of the human body. Laughter reduces unhealthy tensions, and relaxes the tissues, as well as exercising the most vital organs our bodies have. Laughter, even when forced, results in beneficial effect on us, both mentally and physically. So, the next time you feel nervous and jittery, indulge in a good laugh.”

In 2009 Scientific America published an article where Psychiatrists had done a study on people suffering from mild to moderate depression. Part of the experiment involved replacing ones medication with a five minute forced-smile in the mirror each morning. The results: The group that gave up their meds reported feeling better, for longer and more often throughout the day.

A similar study suggested that fake laughing produces real laughter.
If you haven’t laughed in a while. Try it. A lot of our stress stems from trying to be so serious all the time.

Why?

In Psalm 2:4 the bible says “Even the One (the Lord) enthroned in the heavens, laughs.” Learn to laugh again.

The writer of proverbs has a another suggestion.

He or she (this is vast collection of wise sayings. In this one the author says,

2. Cultivate Contentment

¹⁶Better a little with the fear of the Lord
than great wealth with trouble.

¹⁷Better a small serving of vegetables with love
than a fattened calf with hatred.

By the way if you didn’t pick up on that, this means that even God admits that vegetables are gross and also that fatty meat is delicious. I just thought I should point that out.

Sorry vegetarians, it’s the word of God, what are you gonna do?

¹⁷Better a small serving of vegetables with love
than a fattened calf with hatred.

Who can deny that? Picture it. Mom comes home to a little house and kids run and hug her and they sit down to eat some stone soup and talk about their day. Or Mom pulls into the garage in her Ferrari and sits down at a giant; long dining room table as reluctant kids put down their phones to ignore her while she eats at break neck speed so she can get back to work.

Which one is better? I’ll take a table with love and vegetables, thank you… even celery if I have to. As someone once said, “If you have love, you want for nothing.”

I loved Robinson Crusoe. If you’ve never read it, read it. Crusoe is the man that lost everything. But at a certain point Daniel Defoe’s character comes to a new perspective on life. He writes, “I learned to look more upon the bright side of my condition, and less upon the dark side, and to consider what I enjoyed, rather than what I wanted: and this gave me sometimes such secret comforts, that I cannot express them; and which I take notice of here, to put those discontented people in mind of it, who cannot enjoy comfortably what God has given them, because they see and covet something that he has not given them. All our discontents about what we want appeared to me to spring from the want of thankfulness for what we have.”

If you’re tired of being stressed out, if you feel like pressure is building. If your husband had better start picking up his socks or your wife has recently taken out a strangely-sizable insurance package on you… Maybe you need to smile a bit more. If your friends think you have a scowl, Maybe you need to focus on people you have to love, rather than the things you’d love to have.

The author of Proverbs has more to offer. It says here, get a hold of anger, and watch your mouth. (Perhaps the author of this proverb is a grandmother. This seems like grandmotherly advice). There would be a lot less airplane brawls and soccer mom yelling matches if people followed this rule.

The proverb says ¹⁸A hot-tempered person stirs up more strife, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.

The clear lesson here: the way to control anger is to control your mouth! I have a friend that always says, “I fight with my wife a lot but in the end I always get the last words… Yes dear.”

Nothing will reduce stress and tension in life like getting control of your words. When you are mad, angry, upset (and those times will come) keep your mouth shut! Your grandma was right, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”

3. Learn to laugh. Cultivate contentment. Watch your tongue.

Our author has one more piece of advice. Walk in Wisdom.

²¹Folly brings joy to one who has no sense,
but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course.

²²The disappointed fail for lack of counsel,
but with many advisers they succeed.

The Bible says that God is not the author of confusion…if your home is characterized by confusion, understand that God is not in that! Strife and tension result when there’s confusion, when we’re not on the same page, when the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing…the result isn’t unity and harmony, it’s division, strife, tension, and stress!

Problems WILL arise on a daily basis, that’s normal, but wisdom begs us to stop attacking each other and instead start attacking the problems, together, in unity (with man advisers).

If you want a stress-free life, (keep waiting – it will never fully happen) But if you want a lot less stress, then you need people to talk to people you can trust and respect.

Listen to these words from Matthew 7

²⁴“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

You can build your life on 1 of 2 foundations: rock or sand. Let’s choose the Rock. Let’s choose to build our parenting skills, our marriages, our friendships our families on the Rock.

There is a lot of good advice out there and a lot of confidants and mentors and friends that can help you get through tuff times. Find them. Invest in them. But know this, the most important counsel you will find is Christ, the firm foundation. Walking with Christ is walking with wisdom itself.

Stress will come. It’s a messy life. It’s a busy one too. But it’s also beautiful.

And as the old saying goes, don’t take life too seriously, you’ll never make it out alive.

As the kids and I head off to camp, I just want to say. Even in trying times you can find moments of bliss.

In the coming weeks – Have some fun. Ditch the stress. Drop the things you cannot change. You are in His hands.

Tackle the things you can. Learn to laugh. Cultivate contentment. Watch your tongue. Seek good counsel. And above all, make sure to have the right foundation and trust in Him. Amen

Song: Seek ye first the kingdom of God (625)

We respond to serve God

Prayer of Gratitude and for others and ourselves

Tender and loving God, you formed the earth to be a place of joy and abundance for all your creatures.

For food in all its variety and the people who grow it, transport it, market it and prepare it, we give you thanks.

We pray for those who cannot afford enough food,

and for those whose agricultural supply is at risk through extreme weather, uncertain prices and social upheaval.

Help us care for the earth and its fruitfulness and for each other in our common need of its fruits.

God, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

God of all the nations,

You gather people together in communities to care for each other and enjoy each other’s company and creativity.

Thank you for the support we find in our congregation, and for the difference volunteers make in our community.

Wherever there is division in the world, bring unity and peace with justice;

Where people dispute opinions, give wisdom to see what is important;

Where people are tired and anxious, bring strength and courage.

God, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

God of compassion,

You call us to be communities held together by prayer and love for our neighbours.

Thank you for the ministry that has blessed us through the concern others showed us.

Where people mourn loss of any kind, provide comfort;

Where there is illness and pain, bring healing;

Where there is distress or discouragement, transform fear into hope.

By your Spirit, equip us to serve one another in Christ’s name, so that your compassion touches lives with love and mercy.

God, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

Loving God, we lay before you now our personal concerns in this time of silence:

We offer you our prayers, spoken and unspoken, in the name of Jesus Christ.

Song: Lord of all power (626)

Sending out with God’s blessing

Walk in the light of God’s Word as you leave our worship. Look around at the seeds bearing fruit around you and consider how you bear the fruit of God’s Word in your life.

May God the Spirit bring you growth.

May God the Son tend you with wisdom.

And God the Source of all life bless you with all you need to thrive.

Response: God to enfold you

Music postlude

Take the Gospel and put skin on it

Posted on July 9, 2023July 9, 2023 by John

Worship on the Lord’s Day
Pentecost 6     10:00 am     09 July 2023
Online & Onsite (Mixed Presence) Gathering as a Worshipping Community
Led by the Rev Brad Childs     Music director: Binu Kapadia
Pianist: Yvonne Boone      Vocalists: Peter and Cheryl Sheridan & Lynn Vaughan
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: Come! Share the joy of the Lord!
P: Delight in God’s goodness!
L: Praise God who gives each person a special gift to be nurtured and shared.
P: Lord, we thank you for these gifts!
L: Come, let us worship God who entrusts us with so much.
P: Lord, make us worthy of your love and trust in us. Amen!

Opening praise: Forever God is faithful

Prayers of approach and confession

You, O God, are overflowing with love, infinite in kindness, and incomparable in glory.

There is no other like you in all our imagining.

Your presence breaks into our lives in the beauty of summer and refreshes us like a gentle breeze breath on a still day.

You renew us to meet life’s changes and challenges.

In this time of worship, we offer thanks in our prayers, praise from our hearts, and honor with our lives, to you, our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, this day and every day, now and always.

Wise and patient God, You offer us peace, yet we confess life often feels rustrating and unsettled.

You offer us courage, yet we are resentful when life is challenging.

You offer us a mission with meaning and purpose, but we are preoccupied with our own plans and desires.

Forgive us, O God, and draw our attention back to you.

Response: We come to ask your forgiveness, O God

Assurance of God’s love

Jesus said, Come to me all you who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Trust that peace and forgiveness are God’s gifts to you this day. Be renewed by the power of the Spirit that moves with you into each new day.

We listen for the voice of God

Children’s time

Gradual: Jesus loves me (373)

Story: Fruit Salad (Galatians 5:22-23)

If you see an apple tree, what do you expect to find on that tree? Apples! Well, when you see someone who is filled with the Holy Spirit, you expect to see what the Bible calls the fruit of the Spirit. What is that? It is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Oh my, that is some good fruit, isn’t it?

Are you always patient? Are you always gentle and kind? No, there will be times when you fail. When you fail, ask God to forgive you and fill you with his Spirit so that you will produce the kind of fruit that he wants to see in your life.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, fill us with your Spirit so that we will show the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer (535)

Transition music

Song: Come, let us sing to the Lord our song (412)

Today’s Message

Scripture reading: Acts 10:34-43

Response: Behold the Lamb of God

Message: “Take the Gospel and put skin on it.”

At the home of a wonderful and loving family, the cries of a little girl could be heard as she screamed out in fear. The sound of mommy’s feet pounding their way up the stairs came next. The door flew open and her concerned face rounded the corner and ducked in nice and close to the little girl. “Nightmares again honey?” said the mother. She held her little girl close and felt her heart racing within her tiny chest.

The tears stopped now safe in the arms of a loving mother. “It’s okay baby, I’m here now and you’re never really alone anyway” she said. “Even after I go back to bed, you won’t be alone. God will still be right here with you. You believe that don’t you dear?” “Yes” the girl said and then cried out loudly once more as the tears began again. “What’s wrong honey? You know you won’t be alone. Even though you can’t see God. He’s here.” “Oh mommy” said the little girl. “I know God will be here… but-” “But what baby?” “But I want somebody with skin on!”

… Our passage from the book of Acts today begins with the word “Then”. It reads “Then Peter began to speak.” It’s not really the best place to start a story is it?

So here is just a little note for you – anytime you see that someone is speaking about a passage beginning a word like “therefore” or “next” or “then” it’s always a good idea to look back and see what has just taken place. In this particular context what’s just taken place is quite interesting.

In a city called Caesarea (named after Augustus Caesar) there was a man named Cornelius who was a captain in Judea over an elite group of Roman soldiers. These military officers were commonly referred to as “The Italian Unit.” This was a collection of six centuries (or 600 men). Now Cornelius was a very well respected man in his area and Cornelius was particularly well known for his charity to those in need.

Cornelius was not a Hebrew (though the evidence does suggest he may have been something the Jewish people referred to as a “God-Fearer”. God fearers were non-Hebrew people who came to the Porch of Solomon in the courtyard to overhear the rabbinic and Priestley debates. At the very least it appears that Cornelius was a fairly rare Roman monotheist).

In any case, from what we know, Cornelius has sent three men to the city of Joppa (about 50 km away) to find the Apostle Peter who was staying with a man called Simon the Tanner.

Please note that this is strange. A strict law keeping messianic Jewish man like Peter, would never be allowed to be in direct contact with a tanner. Tanners used animal parts to make tents and canteens and bows and all sorts of things – but they were also closely associated with death and considered not only extremely smelly but also disease ridden. The Hebrew’s had extremely specific laws from God that helped keep them healthy. The Gentiles (barbarians or non-Hebrew’s) had no such restrictions. As a result the two people groups often kept distance from each other.

Was Peter, the Apostle, Follower of Jesus staying with a barbarian who dealt with blood and animals skin all day? Something is wrong.

At the time, the Jews and Gentiles of course would rarely speak, would never touch, eat or stay together. But here Peter is, staying with Simon “the Tanner” anyway. When the men arrive to find the apostle, Peter is up on the roof of the house. He is in his own private prayer time but comes down speaking with them as one would generally do when met with the police. And he is polite with them – as we all should be.

But knowing that these people have just walked 12 hours to see him Peter even invites them into the home for the night (again something Peter would not normally do being that these soldiers are not his own people). In other words, Peter is staying with an “infidel” and then when other people come to check him out, he invites those “infidels” to stay with him as well.

Curiously, Peter also never refers to these men as gentiles or alludes to it in any way. An oddity to be sure. Instead, he very strangely calls them allophulos (those from another tribe). IT IS A WAY OF INCLUDING THEM and BEING ONE!

The next morning Peter and also “some of the Lord’s followers,” traveled to Caesarea with Cornelius’ men. And upon arriving at the home Peter walks right into the house (once more something that a Jewish man just simply would not do) and there Peter finds that Cornelius has already assembled a mass of friends and family and wishes for Peter to tell all of his friends about this man Jesus.

And that, everyone, that is the information that covers the very first word “Then” in our readings.

Don’t worry.

At this point our physician and historian author St. Luke speaks about what he has seen take place in the Acts of the Earliest Church. He writes to us saying, “³⁴Then Peter began to speak saying: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.” And then… THEN Peter begins to preach the gospel to Cornelius (the very first non-Hebrew convert ever to follow Jesus recorded in the bible) – person who by the end of the story (along with all his guests) will believe and be baptized.

But first Peter must preach.

To the Captain over Judea, Peter says, “You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached – how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the accusing devil, because God was with him.”

It’s a little wild. This was apparently a hit news story of the day. People were sharing the story of a risen Jesus all over the place. It was a 24 hour news cycle run by word of mouth. The news was everywhere.

Peter – think about this – Peter… assumes everyone knows this story.

Peter assumed that basically everyone had heard this story. It’s good assumption. It is likely that Cornelius had heard this very captivating and very prevalent Judean news story or the day, considering his position as a Captain over Judea.

But Peter speaks to him as if he has some take on the situation already.

Like today, just because someone knows the Judean story of Jesus, that doesn’t mean that they really know it and it certainly doesn’t mean that just because they know it that they must also believe it or accept it.

Peter knows Cornelius has heard the stories and Peter knows that Cornelius is interested.

And so, Peter continues. He says, “We are witnesses of everything Jesus did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.”

Peter’s point is pretty simple really. He is saying – That Huge News Story of the Year, – I WAS THERE! “I saw it!” I walked around with that guy for three years. I ate with him and drank with him every day. I listened to him. I knew him just about as well as anyone could ever know him and I’m telling you I saw him get ripped apart. I saw him get beat down and tortured. I saw him get spiked and dropped in the hole. I saw him get speared in the side. I saw him get taken down, covered in spices and wrapped. I cried for three days and hid from the authorities who wanted me dead too. And I saw him, clear as day (with holes in his hands and a hole in his side)… dead but not. I ate a meal with a guy I knew as well as I know my own mother, and it was absolutely the same guy we buried three days before. I saw it with my own eyes. I’m one of the first eyewitnesses. I saw it.

A police officer stepped up to the driver’s window of the speeding car he had just pulled over. “What’s the problem officer?” asked the driver. “Well, sir, you were going at least 75 in a 55 zone,” said the officer. “No sir. I was going 65. I’m sure of it and besides the guy beside me was going faster than I was.” “Oh, Harry. You were doing 80 kilometres an hour and you know it,” said the man’s wife in the seat next to him.

Shocked, the irritated driver gave his wife a very dirty look.

“I’m also going to have to give you a ticket for your broken taillight,” said the officer. “Broken taillight? I didn’t know I had a broken taillight!” exclaimed the man. “Oh Harry, you’ve known about that taillight for weeks,” said the wife, who got another very dirty look from her husband.

“Sir, that’s not all, I’m also going to give you a citation for not wearing your seat belt,” said the officer. “Oh, but I just took it off when you were walking up to the car so I could get my wallet,” protested the man. “Harry, you never wear your seat belt!” said the wife. Exasperated, the man turned to his wife and yelled; “Will you ever shut your mouth”

The police officer turned to the woman and asked, “Ma’am, does your husband talk to you this way all the time?” “Oh no, officer,” she said. “Only when he’s really, really, drunk.”

Peter had quite the story to tell.

But here’s the rub. We are only as good as our word.

As a member of the Roman army, Cornelius knew full well that Peter had nothing to gain from his story. Before this all happened, Peter was a boat owner on a lake filled with fish. He was from a fairly prominent family (though working folk and “new money”). Interestingly we see from scripture that Peter’s mother even owned her own home (something more than just a little uncommon for Hebrew women of the time).

Until about 6 months before Peter had lived a relatively safe and uneventful life with a significant safety net of generational property.

After Jesus – at this point – now… now, he was poor, his wife lived with his mother. He didn’t receive any funds. He gave what he made away. Absolute fact, if Peter didn’t tell this story, he’d be far better off. He could go back to his old life. All he had to do what just not tattle on an inebriated spouse.

Telling the story meant that Peter was in danger. Telling his story meant that Peter could be killed. And telling this eyewitness account would not help Peter’s standing, his family, Peter’s friends, Peter’s village, his people, his cause, on and on and on and on down the list – Telling this story is a death sentence. It was suicide and he didn’t even know what it meant just yet.

Peter follows Cornelius’ lead. And that’s rather trusting or stupid.

Think about that for a second. Walking into the Captain’s house, the captain of the “Italian Unit” (an elite military division), a Captain with 600 men at his disposal, the Captain who ran Judea where all this took place – Judea, where they were gradually gearing up to force non-pagans to convert to the Cult of Rome or die… For Peter to just stroll into that guys house, the guy that sent three soldiers to go and get him??? Wow, that was and is a BIG deal. Telling the story was a big deal.

The thing is… it all worked out. In fact, it worked out amazingly. Cornelius and those with him “believed and were baptized”. Go figure.

As the story goes, every day, at exactly the same time, Margaret would go to the bathroom cabinet, open it, and take out a huge bottle of castor oil. Then she would head to the kitchen to get a tablespoon. At the sound of the drawer opening and the silverware rattling, Patches, her Yorkshire terrier, would run and hide—sometimes under the bed, at other times in the bathtub or behind Margaret’s recliner.

Someone had convinced Margaret that Patches would have strong teeth, a beautiful coat, and a long life if she gave him a spoonful of castor oil every day. This was not uncommon. It was the norm. My Gramma Grace used to give each of the six kids a spoonful of cod liver oil every night from the same spoon to make sure they all stayed healthy. It was a thing. So, as an act of love every twenty-four hours, Margaret cornered little Patches, pinned him down, pried open his tiny terrier mouth, and poured a tablespoon of castor oil down his little doggie throat. Neither Patches nor Margaret enjoyed their daily wrestling match.

Then one day, in the middle of their “battle royal,” with one sideways kick, (Ping!) Patches back left paw sent the dreaded bottle of castor oil sliding across the kitchen floor. It was a momentary victory for the canine, as Margaret let him go so she could run to the pantry and grab a towel to clean up the mess.

But when Margaret got back, she was utterly shocked. There she witnessed tiny Patches happily licking up all the spilled castor oil with a joyful look of satisfaction on his face that only a dog can make. Margaret began to laugh uncontrollably. In one moment, it all made sense. Patches liked castor oil. He just hated being pinned down and having it poured down his tiny throat.

Well, doesn’t that sound about right?

In our reading from today, Peter didn’t go out looking for someone to scream his story at. He didn’t plan to forcibly shove it down someone’s throat.

Peter just wasn’t hiding the story that he had experienced.

And he wasn’t keeping safe and quiet.

And for that very reason Cornelius came to him. But Peter was ready, no matter how dangerous it may have been to tell the truth he had witnessed with his own two eyes.

And that is still the job for every one of us.

Our job… is to take the story the people have heard, or think they’ve heard. And whenever and however we’re called upon to do so… To take the gospel (that no person alive today has witnessed firsthand) … and do for it what that little girl crying at night wanted…. To do what Peter did for Cornelius… Our job is to attract the world to us, with our witness. It is to take the gospel…. And put skin on it. -Amen

Song: Morning has broken (514)

We respond to serve God

Prayer of gratitude and for others and ourselves

Gracious God, receive our gifts as tokens of our gratitude for your goodness to us. Bless them so that they become seeds of generosity, bringing needed gifts to others in Jesus’ name.

God ever creating, God ever loving, God ever leading: We turn to you in uncertain times, trusting in your steadfast love.

Where people are anxious about the future, where people overwhelmed by their responsibilities, where people fear conflict or violence in daily life, Bring peace and hope, we pray,

And let your kingdom come.

God of all compassion: Where people are lonely or isolated, longing for love, where people are trapped in unhealthy relationships, where people are grieving the loss of someone beloved: Bring courage and hope, we pray,

And let your kingdom come.

God of tender strength: Where people feel pain in their bodies, in minds or spirits,

where illness has eroded hope; and where desperation for help fills each day: Bring healing and hope, we pray,

And let your kingdom come.

God of trustworthy truth: Where leaders work to guide communities to renewed life, where individuals strive to care for the earth and its vulnerable inhabitants, and where people stand up against unjust policies or practices: Bring wisdom and hope, we pray,

And let your kingdom come.

God in whom we live and move and have our being: By your Spirit, tend your promise of new life amid the current struggles in the world you love.

Where hope flickers, reignite its power; Shine the light of Christ’s love into each life and renew our trust in you as we pray, Amen.

Song: Leaning on the everlasting arms

Sending out with God’s blessing

Go in the strength of the Lord and let Christ shoulder your burdens. And may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Response: Amen, we praise your name, O God

Music postlude

Deus Absconditus

Posted on July 2, 2023July 2, 2023 by John

Worship on the Lord’s Day
02 July 2023 Pentecost 5 10:00 am
The Sacrament of Holy Communion
Online & Onsite (Mixed Presence) Gathering as a Worshipping Community
Led by the Rev. Brad Childs
Music Director: Binu Kapadia Vocalist: Glynnis McCrostie
Elder: Sam Malayang
We gather to worship God

Music prelude

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

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

Call to Worship
L: When I think of God’s presence in the world, I am grateful:
P: Grateful for the presence of hope; grateful for the gift of life.
L: And when I think of God’s presence in my life, I am humbled:
P: Humbled by the gift of grace; humbled by the invitation to begin again.
L: And when I think of God’s presence in this community, I am glad:
P: Glad to be surrounded by holy people worshipping our Holy God.
L: Thank you all; thank you, God.

Opening praise: Everlasting God

Prayers of approach and confession
Lord God, Loving God, how majestic is your name in all the earth.

From north and south, from east and west, drawn by your majesty, we come to worship you.

For the gift of this new day, fresh from your hand, we rejoice.

For the renewal we know through friendship with Christ, we praise you.

For the Spirit’s energy, blessing us in each moment, we honour you.

Lord God, Loving God, all of life is your gift, so give us glimpses of your splendor and love in this time of worship.

Accept our praise offered in word and action, Creator, Redeemer and Holy Spirit, here and everywhere, now and always. Amen.

Lord of all life and each life,

We confess we can forget that life is your gift, especially when we face struggles or feel hard done by.

We confuse our own desires for your will, and stop listening for your guidance.

Forgive any hurt we have caused by action or inaction, and show us how to make amends.

May we live with you and with each other in reconciling grace through the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

Response: I will trust in the Lord

Assurance of God’s forgiveness
Friends, Jesus knows we have fallen short of his intentions for us, yet in his great mercy, he welcomes us back into his embrace. Thanks be to God that we are forgiven, refreshed and restored for ministry by God’s grace.

Musical Offering: Glynnis McCrostie

We listen for the voice of God

Song: How long will you forget me, Lord (6)

Scripture readings (NRSV): Psalm 13; Isaiah 45:15; John 14:9

Response: Behold the Lamb of God

Message: “Deus Absonditus”
In Psalm 13 David writes, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?”

There’s an old song by Ira Stanphill that sums it up this way: “Many things about tomorrow, I don’t seem to understand, but I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand.”

Strong faith in God does not come all at once and it is not without its times of doubt, its struggle or pain. In fact Strong Faith is often gained through willing submission to God’s love and goodness while one is right in the midst of trial.

Our text for this morning, Psalm 13, is a psalm of lament. It’s a song, it’s a prayer. And it’s a complaint. To modern ears, especially with the popularity today of “prosperity gospel” (churches telling people how God wants to give them wealth and status) the idea of complaining to God seems somehow out of place. Psalms of lament make people uncomfortable. They say things we aren’t sure should even be said. They get in touch with the pain inside of us that we’re not always eager to engage. And they are everywhere in scripture.

Almost half the Psalms in the book of Psalms are psalms of lament. In addition most books of the bible contain at least one prayer of lament and there’s even an entire book of the bible called Lamentations (complaints) that sadly enough; rarely gets read. Now, that is understandable. We live in a world that is largely separated from our emotions unless they are happy emotions. The hard work of the soul is not something people do for fun. More often than not we try to hide our pain away and put on a happy Christian face. Who wants to complain to God? It just seems wrong somehow. Still, the truth is, complaint is actually a big part of our Holy Scriptures, and so also, a big part of our faith and tradition.

I know, complaining to God is sort of like an ant complaining to a elephant about its little ant problems. It just seems arrogant and wrong. What’s more when people in scripture complain to God it doesn’t always go smoothly. When Job gets a little too testy with God, God’s got a response prepared and it’s a doosy. God’s response to Job is this: “And Job, just where were you when I stretched out the heavens like a tent and hung the stars in the heavens?”

But the thing is, even though God challenges Job, his prayer is not and never could be out of order. Job’s God is not upset that Job has complained. Once we get over that fear we quickly realize that, not only are we allowed to complain but we’re actually encouraged to bring our complaints to God.

And I find that amazing. I find the level of honesty God wants us to have with Him comforting. When things aren’t right, we’re supposed to turn to the one holding our tomorrow.

Psalm 10 begins by saying, “WHY, O LORD, DO YOU STAND FAR OFF? WHY DO YOU HIDE YOURSELF IN MY TIMES OF TROUBLE?” It sounds harsh but really, what’s wrong with that. Who hasn’t felt that way? In fact this is such a common theme in scripture that has it’s own Latin name. Deus Abscond-i-tus. The God who hides.

In Psalm 22 David cried out saying, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME? WHY ARE YOU SO FAR FROM THE WORDS OF MY GROANING? O MY GOD, I CRY OUT BY DAY BUT YOU DO NOT ANSWER ME-” I mean, miracles are great but as an old professor of mine used to say, “If miracles happened everyday they’d be called normals”. The fact is, a lot of our prayers should sound like David’s (asking Where are you God?).

Because a lot of our prayers seem to go unanswered. And when they do – “Why?” is a perfectly reasonable request (as long as it’s honest and not arrogant). And I think admitting that is healthy.

There is a sentiment today that seems to think that crying and complaining to God are signs of a weak faith. As if truly religious people never waver or get shaken. But that’s ridiculous. If someone you love gets cancer and you don’t have at least a couple chinks in your “faith-armor” than I think there’s something seriously wrong with you. How could you not be shaken? In a world where there is so much hurt and pain we need to recapture the tradition of Lament. We need to be able to express our feelings and be honest with God.

The Psalmist writes, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? ³Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, ⁴and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall.”

“How long Lord?” Who here hasn’t felt that way?

And when we feel beat down and ignored what better solution is there than prayer? That’s why Paul tells the Philippians “but in everything, by prayer and petition… present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

That’s what God’s there for, right… to listen.

I’m sure you’ve heard the old saying that God answers every prayer. It’s just that he doesn’t always give you the answers you want. Sometimes it’s Yes but sometimes it’s Later and sometimes it’s just “No”.

Sometimes it’s yes.

I think I’ve told some version of this story in every congregation I have served. But many years ago now, my brother was taking his 3 kids to visit our parents (driving from Kansas where he lives to Omaha Nebraska where my parents lived) when a large grain truck pulled out onto the highway; turning left and covering all lanes in both directions. From the devastating aftermath the police could tell that the car had not been speeding and that it had slammed on the brakes… and that at the very end, it had swerved a hard left (with a clear intent of putting the brunt of the impact on the driver – the exact opposite of what’s usually seen). The car was demolished; the three kids were okay but were left caring for the limp bloodied body of their father.

Phone calls and Facebook requests went out.

I am aware of over 1,200 people that said they were praying for his family over that first week (including a 24-hour vigil in Dongshang China on June the 25^th 2014) and that’s just one of the ones I know about. My brother Chad was in a coma with severe brain damage, and they thought he was going to die. Chad had a DAI traumatic brain injury and was left in a coma with a 50% chance of waking up and a 50% chance of spending the 3 years following any possible awakening re-learning how to walk, talk and feed himself again (something they said he just might never accomplish). For the first 3 days (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) we were being prepped for his assumed demise.

By Wednesday, he was captured wondering around the halls looking for a bathroom and talking (though very confused) and then later that day he even ate a plate of spaghetti by himself.

At the time I sent the following answer to a friend’s question. I wrote, “He’s definitely not himself (at times he is a 10 years old or very confused version of himself) but if he keeps up this rate of recovery, by next week, he’ll not only be better, he’ll have superpowers.” The team at Modona Rehab Center know him well.

The trauma has changed him for sure. But he is still doing some teaching at Friends University and working as a marriage and family counselor and administrator… Sometimes… God says “yes”. Sometimes, He’s not hidden at all. But…

Sometimes God says later.

In our inability to understand the unsearchable ways of God, there is a tendency for us to reach wrong conclusions, to assume God is ignoring us. There are times when God is silent, and we erroneously interpret God’s silence for inactivity. There are times in our lives when our hearts are breaking, and God seems to do nothing to restore them. Often when God doesn’t work in our particularly prescribed way or within our exact time frame, we feel like the Psalmist, that God has forgotten us.

But the truth is, the infinite Creator of the universe, often works in mysterious ways that are flat out unfathomable to us. Ambivalent and confusing feelings often arise. Hence, we can mistakenly feel that God doesn’t care about us. But the truth is He is there for us and no matter how we might feel at the time. God has promised us in His Word that “HE WILL NEVER LEAVE US NOR FORSAKE US” (Hebrews 13:5). He may be hidden, But he’s there.

Most of us pray as David did: “In the day when I call answer me speedily” (Psalm 102:2). “I am in trouble: hear me speedily” Psalm 69:17. The Hebrew word for speedily suggests “right now, hurry up, in the very hour I call on you, do it!” David was saying, “Lord, I put my trust in you—but please hurry!”

God is in no hurry. He doesn’t jump at our commands.

When Moses is told by God to tell pharaoh Let my people go, we know that God will also keep pharaoh from doing it. There is a whole story to unfold before Moses prayers were answered.

Abraham and Sarah don’t get their answered prayer for 13 years. Joseph prays for freedom and release from prison and for justice. That happens – again 13 years later. Isaiah’s prayer took about 700 years to be answered. If you are faithfully and hopefully praying and aren’t hearing anything yet, you are once again in good company.

Sometimes God in His wisdom says, “later”.

Other times God answers us “no”.

We don’t understand why and perhaps we never will. Sometimes God appears to be in hiding.

CS Lewis once said (I’m paraphrasing), “I don’t pray to change the mind of a perfect and all-knowing God. I pray because when I do, a perfect and all-knowing God changes me.” Or as Dr. David Osborn puts it, “Too often we try to use God to change our circumstances, while God is using our circumstances to change us.”

Sometimes God’s answer is just a simple “no” and it hurts.

We have all prayed one of those prayers. Even Jesus prayed that the cup of pain be taken away and yet that didn’t happen. Just think about that for a second. Jesus prayed to not have to face the pain of the cross. And He got a “no”. That is a hard one for me. It’s awfully hard to get mad at God for not answering me, when even Jesus got a No. Am I more deserving??? I don’t think so.

Dr. Mark Rutland, president of Southeastern College (in his book “God of the Valleys”) put it very well. He wrote, “From the mountaintops, we view life; in the valleys we live it.” “From the mountaintops, we view life; in the valleys we live it.”

While we are living life in the valleys we’re learning great lessons (sometimes very hard ones). The Bible tells us that these times allow us to stretch and grow our faith and to develop our maturity. Waiting on the Lord is not a time of inaction, rather it is perhaps the time of our deepest spiritual development (when we get broken down and remolded). And sometimes the ultimate injustice happens – Someone dies. And yet that is also when God claims us and those we love as his own. And while it does not feel like it to us – that is the ultimate healing and the answer to every prayer – to be forever with God.

Obviously, David was going through something here when he wrote this lament in Psalm 13. We don’t know what it was exactly, but David’s history was filled with not only fame and glory, but also sorrow and anguish. In other words, he was thoroughly human. He wasn’t especially close to his father and brothers. Nothing is mentioned of his mother. King Saul tried to hunt him down to kill him. His home life as king was tortuous. Three wives and multiple other relationships consumed him. He had an affair that included murder of the woman’s husband and made a bit of a mess of things. His children were at constant war with each other, and one son murdered another, after the first son violated his own half-sister. Then David’s other child tried his hand at patricide.

I think, maybe David had a few good reasons to write these words?

I bet you do too sometimes.

And yet despite these laments, God called David “a man after God’s own heart.”

Maybe that’s how he thinks of you too, when you feel lost and go out calling to him in your pain?

The idea that strong people of faith don’t go through trials or waver in their faith should be thrown to the ground and stomped upon. The truth is, we all have difficult times. And sometimes the ant really does needs to scream up into the sky and ask, “Why?”.

I think God wants that honesty.

Psalm 13 is just 6 verses long. But it comes with a little twist. David spends the first 4 lines complaining and crying that God isn’t answering him. And then all of the sudden he pulls a 180. He says, “⁵But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation (your rescue). ⁶I will sing the Lord’s praise, for He HAS been good to me.”

What’s most interesting to me about this is that David is still upset and God hasn’t answered his prayers yet. His face is hidden.

David is still in pain. And yet he says “I will sing to the Lord, because He Has Been good to me.” Not “He gave me what I want” or even “I trust that He will answer me”. BUT because “He Has Been Good To Me”. With all things considered, David is blessed. David’s experiences of God in the past reveal a loving God despite the way things appear at this difficult time. That is the God he calls upon and this is the God he rests in. The One who HAS been good.

Being a person of faith doesn’t mean living in the Rose Garden with kitty cats and unicorns. Jesus Himself said in John 16:33, “…IN THIS WORLD YOU WILL HAVE TRIBULATION…” In this sin-marred world we should expect troubles and heartaches. Nevertheless, ultimately God has promised to make all things right in the end.

Until that day we should continue to pray in all things. We do get miracles (and we should pray for them), Miracles do happen. Prayers are answered. Of this I have no doubt. But we also get to wait for the “later’s”… … … and… we get the hard to hear “no’s” too.

We have NOT been promised a life free from pain and sorrow, but rather one in which JOY WILL HAVE THE LAST WORD.” Until then, just know that shaking a fist at God from time to time doesn’t make you a weak Christian. It makes you an honest one.

Until the time comes when “Miracles” are just the “Normals”, we will just have to keep strong.

As I said before, there’s an old song by Ira Stanphill that perhaps sums it up best: “Many things about tomorrow, I don’t seem to understand, but I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand.” Amen.

Song: Come, Thou Fount of every blessing

We respond to serve God

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

Prayer of gratitude and for others and ourselves
Generous God, what we return to you today has first come to us from you. Bless what we offer so that those in need may taste your abundance which we know already in Christ, our Living Lord. Amen.
Lord God of heaven and earth, with joy and thanksgiving we praise you for you create, sustain, and redeem all things.
For making us in your image to love one another and to care for your creation, we give you thanks.
For the gift of your Son whose life is the pattern for our lives and learning, we give you thanks.
For the energy of your Spirit to inspire us in times of challenge and change, we give you thanks.
Strengthen us in these challenging times to show your love to others as we pray
For the Church and those who lead it to find new ways of reaching out in a culture with changing values . . .
Silence for 5 seconds

For creation that we may learn to reverence and care for it . . .
Silence for 5 seconds

For those who lead the nations of the world that they may work for the wellbeing of the most vulnerable and seek peace together. . .
Silence for 5 seconds

For those who make decisions about health care, education and social services in these times when there are many demands in every area . . .
Silence for 5 seconds

For the poor, the hungry and those struggling to find affordable housing when prices for everything seem to rise each day . . .
Silence for 5 seconds

For those who struggle with illness, addiction, disability or despair, and for those who mourn the loss of someone dear . . .
Silence for 5 seconds

For the powerless and the oppressed, wherever they live, and for those who work to defend them . . .
Silence for 5 seconds

Hear us now as we pray in silence for situations on our hearts this day.
Silence for 15-20 seconds.

Eternal God, thank you for listening to us in every situation.
Keep our eyes open for your Spirit at work among us.
Equip us to respond to someone else’s prayer as your servants. Amen.

The Sacrament of Holy Communion

Invitation

We come together at the Table of the Lord to be fed by God, nourished and prepared for the days ahead. We come to celebrate a tiny portion of a heavenly feast to come. We come to memorialize the death of Christ and Him resurrected. And we come, setting these elements aside, from all common use and dedicating them to the Lord’s service. Come all who hunger or thirst for righteousness.

Song: Behold the Lamb

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

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

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

The Lord’s Prayer (sung – 469)

Communion Prayer
Holy and right it is, and our joyful duty, to give thanks to you at all times and in all places, O Lord our Creator, almighty and everlasting God!
You created heaven with all its hosts and the earth with all its plenty.
You have given us life and being, and preserve us by your providence.
But you have shown us the fullness of your love in sending into the world your Son, Jesus Christ, the eternal Word, made flesh for us and for our salvation.
For the precious gift of this mighty Savior who has reconciled us to you we praise and bless you, O God.
With your whole Church on earth and with all the company of heaven we worship and adore your glorious name.

Most righteous God, we remember in this Supper the perfect sacrifice offered once on the cross by our Lord Jesus Christ for the sin of the whole world.

In the joy of his resurrection and in expectation of his coming again, we offer ourselves to you as holy and living sacrifices.

Send your Holy Spirit upon us, we pray, that the bread which we break and the cup which we bless may be to us the communion of the body and blood of Christ.
Grant that, being joined together in him, we may attain to the unity of the faith and grow up in all things into Christ our Lord.

And as the grain has been gathered from many fields into one loaf, and these grapes from many hills into one cup, grant, O Lord, that your whole Church
may soon be gathered from the ends of the earth into your kingdom.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Sharing of the bread and wine

The Lord Jesus, the same night he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke itand gave it to them, saying,
“Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you: do this in remembrance of me.”

After the same manner also, he took the cup when they had supped, saying, “This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

The bread which we break is the communion of the body of Christ.

The cup of blessing which we bless is the communion of the blood of Christ.

Come all who hunger or thirst for righteousness.

Instrumental (Piano) Time of Reflection: You satisfy the hungry heart (538)

Song: One bread, one body (540)

The prayer after Communion
Since the Lord has now fed us at his Table, let us praise God’s holy name with heartfelt thanksgiving!
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits—
who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him, who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all,
and will also give us all things with him.
Therefore shall my mouth and heart show forth the praise of the Lord,
from this time forth forevermore. Amen.

Hymn: I’m gonna live so God can use me (648)

Sending out with God’s blessing

Keep your eyes open as you walk in God’s world, alert for occasions to share God’s love. And may the God who made us, the Christ who mends us, and the Spirit who gives us life walk with you each and every day. Amen

Response: The Blessing

Music postlude

————————————————————————-

Winners and Losers

Posted on June 25, 2023June 26, 2023 by John

Worship on the Lord’s Day
10:00 am 2023
Online & Onsite (Mixed Presence) Gathering as a Worshipping Community
Led by the Rev Brad Childs
Music director: Binu Kapadia Vocalist: Lynn Vaughan
Elder: Gina Kottke

We gather to worship God

Music prelude

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

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

Call to Worship
L: To you, O God, we lift our hearts.
P: Listen to our voices and answer.
L: The Lord is good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love.
P God does wondrous things with grace and mercy.
L: So, let us glorify God’s holy name together!
P: We come to worship God in love and loyalty.

Opening praise: Come, now is the time to worship.

Prayers of approach and confession

Living God, we gather this morning to offer you our thanks and praise. We experience your loving presence in the beauty of Creation, in Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour, and in the Christian Community to which we belong. Thank you for revealing yourself to us and giving us an experience of your love and especially in the seemingly small things. As we reflect on your word and sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, teach us your wisdom and equip us to share your love with all people in word and in deed.

Merciful God, we have experienced your presence in the wonder of Creation, and yet we fail to protect the environment and continue to pollute the earth, soil and waters you have made.

We have experienced your presence in the person of Jesus Christ, and yet we ignore his difficult demands on our lives and follow our own ways instead of his sacrificial way of love. We have experienced your presence in the Christian Community, and yet we look to our own needs instead of the needs of others and hoard our resources rather than share them freely with those in need.

We are not bad,. We are generally well meaning. But we do error. Often we just take the easy way or don’t think hard enough about the things we do or don’t do.

Forgive us, loving God, when we go the wrong way, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

Response: We come to ask your forgiveness, O God

Assurance of God’s forgiveness

You are God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly and the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. And be thankful. In Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.

Recognition of this year’s Grade 12 Graduates: Wesley Childs, Heather McCubbin, Kimi Ray Moncada, Kariesa Smuts, and Marcus Thornborough.

We listen for the voice of God

Children’s time

Gradual: Jesus, we are gathered (514)

Story: Well, guys, we’re going to take a moment and I’m going to ask for you guys to fold your hands and bow your heads and to pray with me for the high school graduates. And I want you to think about the fact that someday you’re gonna stand up here while a bunch of other kids are down there praying for you just like this, okay?

Prayer: Lord, we thank You that you have helped young people make it to the point of graduation. We give You the glory for their success thus far and ask that You will continue to allow them to prosper as the next chapter of life begins.

Grant success both in the professional arena and in family life and a faith that searches and stretches and continues to inform. Allow there to be a proper balance between building a career and having a meaningful personal and spiritual life.

Most importantly, let their successes be earned in such a way that will
be pleasing in Your eyes. Amen.

Recognition and Appreciation for Fionna McCrostie

Fiona is moving on. And so we want to thank her for her service. It was a difficult couple of years. And she stuck with it and did what was asked of her. And she was an important member of the Christian Ed committee. So again, On behalf of Session and Congregation we want to recognize and appreciate what you have done..

Transition music

Announcement for those who know of any graduates

There are some scholarship programs if you are studying theology or medicine at the First Presbyterian Church in Regina where Brad used to be the minister with about $200,000 in it and they’re not allowed to use it except for this so sometimes they actually have trouble giving it away. You might consider checking that out. In fact, come talk to Brad.

Song: You, Lord, are both lamb and shepherd (356)

Today’s Message

Scripture readings: Genesis 21:8-21; Romans 6:1b-11

Response: Glory to the Father

Message: “Winners” and “Losers”

We live in a culture dominated by the idea of winning. The patron saint of NFL football, Vince Lombardi, once said: “Winning isn’t the best thing, it’s the only thing.” We accept that as truth as if it were from the lips of our Lord Himself. We have to win at our sports, win at our business, win in our relationships, and even win in our religion. We are a people obsessed with the idea of winning. So we see mottoes like:

“Second place is first loser.”

“Win at all costs.”

“Life is like a dog-sled team. If you’re not in the front the view never changes.”

Our culture has become so obsessed with winning that we idolize athletes even if they play dirty, or take drugs to enhance their performance, live highly immoral lives, and who engage in the now sacred art of trash talking. Cities and counties are often asked to mortgage their financial future for the sake of having a professional sports franchise all in the promise of enhancing their image and sense of well being. Coaches can be at the top of the heap one year and at the bottom the next depending upon their won-loss record. Go ask former or current coaches at major universities about our cultural obsession with winning. Their jobs depend on it.

This obsession with winning has affected our understanding not just of sports or life in general but also faith. We exalt those who have had transforming experiences wherein their lives or people who were miraculously turned-around. Youth leaders at large churches always seem to be ex-gang members covered in tattoos with crazy conversion stories to match the number of piercings they have.

We revel in the miraculous tales of how God took us from worst to first. Sadly when I meet ministers from other churches one of the first questions they always ask me is “how many members does your congregation have” as if the higher the digit the better the score. Everything’s a competition and we love the winners.

But what about the losers? What about those who never come out on top? What about those who will never win the big game, who never received the big promotion, who never had the great and awe-inspiring experience from on high? Does God care about the losers? Everyone that’s ever been to Sunday school knows about the great King David, or Noah. But does God only care about winners?

Ishmael is the son of Hagar and Abraham. Hagar is Sarah’s slave obtained from the Pharaoh during their brief sojourn there. Jewish tradition generally speaks well of her and says that Hagar was very beautiful: tall, elegant with the broad shoulders and “the narrow hips of Egyptians” (which I guess was a plus in the pre-nomadic Israelite history – Or if that’s your thing, I guess).

At this point Sarah decided that since she was barren and God promised them children, it must not be with her that this would take place. With that she goes to her husband and suggests that Abraham should take Hagar for the purpose of assuring an heir. At the time this was basically the ancient version of insemination/surrogacy

It was intended that children could be conceived, adopted and to be rather blunt… it was also the only existing retirement plan. If you didn’t have children, you would eventually become incapable of work and eventually starve and die. It’s grim, but think about the commandment – Honour your father you’re your mother – SO THAT you might live LONG in the land I am giving you. This is not just a, “kids listen to your parents” this is also a, “if you don’t take care of your parents when they are declining, your kids wont take care of you either” king of thing.

But now Sarah is no longer happy about the arrangement. Sarah’s ingenious plan (that could never go wrong especially since no woman in the history of all womanhood has ever become the slightest bit jealous). I am sorry. That’s misogynistic. Don’t worry though I’ve added some abusive to men And apparently no man has even met a stupid idea he would try.

So now old Abraham (the big smarty pants), leaps at this decision like a brain dead oaf and voila, Hagar becomes pregnant. The baby will be called Ishmael.

Sarah’s plan has worked. But now she is also understandably very jealous of Hagar.

Specifically, Sarah thinks Hagar is a bit too cocky – and so Sarah goes and complains to Abraham. Being a smart man (or a chicken) Abraham stays out of this fight and tells Sarah to do whatever she wishes with Hagar whose use as a surrogate is finished. So, Sarah makes life as miserable as she can for other woman (even though it was all her idea to begin with). She does this so much so that Hagar flees to the desert. In the desert God comes to Hagar and tells her to return, promising that God would bless her son and make of him a great nation (the same promise God gave to Sarah about her not yet born son Isaac that she didn’t believe God would give her).

Hagar returns and for thirteen years Sarah watches as Hagar raises Ishmael. For thirteen years she sees Abraham enjoy and revel in Ishmael as his son. The furor and rage continue to boil. No matter how miserable she tries to make Hagar’s life Sarah cannot get beyond the fact that Hagar has borne Abraham a son and she has not. Can we imagine how that fact affected Sarah? Can we comprehend her sense of worthlessness? Can we see how she would have taken that out upon Hagar in as vindictive a manner as possible?

Then the miraculous happens: Sarah becomes pregnant. At last God vindicates her! When Isaac (he laughs or he makes me laugh) is born Sarah gives him his name because her anger is replaced by joy and laughter. No more will she have to endure those snide looks from Hagar over her barrenness. Sarah has borne a son—she is now worthy! However, all is not well in paradise. When Isaac is about three Sarah’s anger comes back.

Ishmael – who is about 16 – and Isaac are playing together and evidently Ishmael laughs at Isaac in a condescending manner. Sarah cannot stand it – she will not put up with this child of the slave being equal to her beloved Isaac, much less him mocking him. Sarah demands that Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael away – much to the chagrin of Abraham. He loves Ishmael and Hagar and does not want to lose them. However, God comes to Abraham and reiterates the promise God made to Hagar concerning Ishmael. So Hagar and Ishmael are sent into the wilderness, the desert, with a skin of water and a loaf of bread.

Soon they face death from dehydration and starvation. Hagar places Ishmael under a bush because she cannot stand to watch him die. However, God has not abandoned them but leads her to a well of water. Ishmael then grows up in the wilderness under the care of his mother and becomes an expert hunter and marksman with a bow. When he is older Hagar goes to Egypt and gets Ishmael an Egyptian wife.

Ishmael eventually has twelve sons who are later divided into twelve tribes – and yes, a great nation comes of them. For Ishmael’s descendants are the the many Arab people’s, the largest non-Christian religious group on the face of the earth—about 1 billion by latest estimates. The modern day Palestinians and many Arabs trace their lineage back to Ishmael. God did indeed fulfill the covenant with Hagar and Ishmael just as God did with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Do we understand this text for what it is telling us? Hagar and Ishmael were losers—they were not the chosen. However, God blessed them just the same. Though God had other plans for them than to be the ancestors of the Messiah God did not abandon them nor cast them away. Instead he cared for them.

One of the ways of reading the Bible is from the point of the loser, the underdog, the oppressed. Time and again God takes the side of the oppressed, of the underdog. In a society which gave almost all the property and rights to the first born time and again God chooses the second born as the mode of blessing.

In a few hundred years Israel, the descendants of Abraham through Isaac, would find themselves in slavery in Egypt. God hears their cry and sends Moses to liberate them. They have become the outcasts, the losers, but God does not abandon them.

Rachel is the second wife of Jacob but becomes the one through whom the lineage continues.

Jacob supplants his older brother Esau.

Joseph is a younger child of Rachel and Jacob.

Moses has an older brother, Aaron, but it is Moses whom God chooses.

Even the winners of the bible are losers. We think of the great King David. But David was the youngest of his brothers but through God’s anointing he becomes the King even to where his ragtag outlaw band is able to defeat the mighty army of Saul.

Solomon is not the first born of David’s sons either, but becomes the heir.

God, it seems, looks upon the last, the least, and the lost as the ones who are most in need of God’s blessing. God it seems likes the losers.

Jesus spent most of his time with the peasants, the anawim, which is Aramaic for the poor and homeless. These were the ones to whom Jesus promised the kingdom of God, the meek and humble of heart, the powerless and disaffected who lived from hand to mouth and had little or no choice in life. These, Jesus proclaimed, are the least of these—the ones who provide the opportunity for our service to the Christ.

So, is that it? Is that who losers are: the poor, the poverty stricken who can do nothing about their plight? Though this is what society says—our theology is quite a bit different. Losers are those who fail, who do not achieve or live up to what they believe they should be and do.

According to the Bible we are all losers: “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” All of us fail at one time or another. So, if we are all losers are there any winners? Let me share a revelation from, of all places, the golf course to help us understand losing and winning.

Golf is a very unforgiving game when played according to the rules. No mulligans, no do-overs, you have to play every shot as it is found – even your “foul balls” as we say. If it lands in the cabbage so be it. If you can’t find it – you take a penalty.

You can play the best that it is possible for you to play and not win because someone else played one shot better. Unlike team sports where you can play bad and the team still wins in golf you are on your own – you can play good and still lose.

Professional golfer Jay Haas was asked about how he handled playing golf from a psychological perspective. In answer he said that this was the toughest part of professional golf and that one had to set different standards for success. Success comes not in winning every week, but in doing your best with what happens that week. If you play your best and someone else plays better – you accept it and go on. Another professional put it this way: “You must focus on the process and not the results.” In other words: play your game, hit every shot as good as you can, and let the chips fall where they may.

This, I believe, is a much better understanding of winning and losing. All of us have different gifts and abilities. Some of us started low on the educational or economic ladder – others began much higher. Someone once said of a certain American President, “He was born on third base and thought he hit a home run.” It seems to me that winning and losing should be determined not by where we finish – but by where we began and how far we rose during our lifetime.

Were we faithful to our Lord and our Lord’s church?

Were we faithful to our family and our responsibilities?

Did we do the best we could with what we had?

Did we try to help or hurt others along the way?

Did we use our gifts and resources primarily for personal gain or to help others?

Some of us this morning may feel like losers. We haven’t given our best, we’ve failed in being faithful, and we’ve even stepped on others along the way. Maybe you said you would do something and didn’t or forgot to do something or aren’t capable any more. Maybe your body is turning on you. Nobody is perfect. And nobody does right all the time. “For all have sinned”. You’re in good company.

I’m sad to tell you this but You are not a winner. No matter how many trophies you have or coins in the coffer, YOU HAVE MESSED SOMETHING UP – BIG TIME! Welcome to being human!

More importantly though, I’ve good news for you: God is in the business of using the losers.

Ted Turner, media mogul and former owner of CNN and famous anti-religion advocate and amazing environmental activist, once said “Christianity is a religion for losers.”

Well, Ted, I agree.

Ted wasn’t wrong…Christianity is a religion for losers – for if the standard is perfection (and God says it is) then we all are losers.

In fact, Jesus, by the world’s standards, was… a… loser! And by the way his church was tiny – and one of them got him killed. He had 12 and lost one!

Moreover, when you find yourself nailed to a tree and crucified by the powers that be, it’s hard to call yourself a winner.

The Father, however, seems to have stepped in – and the rest is history. OR the turning point of history, perhaps.

The resurrection was God’s sign that our notions of winning and losing are all messed up.

As Paul put it: “While we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” Or, in the language of today, “While we were yet losers Christ won for us.”

God makes winners out of losers in the only game that counts – the game of eternal life.

As Jesus puts it “whoever loses their life for my sake and my kingdom will find it”.

Whoever gives up their life, their time, their prayers, their everything – for the kingdom – they will find a whole new kind of life!

God will have the final say – regardless of who wins the Grey Cup, the World Series, the Stanley Cup, whoever is the strongest and fastest and whatever else(ists). And through Jesus Christ we (the losers) will all be the winners. The last are first and the first are last. So thanks be to God and Amen.

Song: God of the sparrow, God of the whale (307)

We respond to serve God

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

Prayer of gratitude and for others and ourselves

God, you are in our midst, renew us in your love. Living God, you have made your presence evident to us in Creation, in Christ, and in Christian Community. Be with us now, as we bring to you our prayers and concerns, and guide our thoughts and our desires, that they may conform to your will and your way. We pray for the church, that life among believers today may become more and more like the descriptions of the early church, with many opportunities to spend time together, to praise God, and to provide for the needs of everyone.

We pray for the earth from which we draw our health, strength and inspiration, and for all the living creatures in whose community we live. We pray for the wisdom and the will to care for and preserve the natural environment, and for the opportunity for many people to experience your presence through the wonder of your creation.

We pray for Camp Kannawin and the devoted staff and volunteers. We thank you for the camp committee and the Synod and for the funds each church brings to help children and young people experience Christian camping. And we pray for the programs and kids as they come together to worship, learn, challenge one another and grow.

We pray too for Christian camps across the country (Presbyterian and otherwise), that they may be equipped for good ministry this summer. We pray that God’s presence will be experienced by many children, youth and adults at camp this summer, and that many people will turn their hearts and their lives toward God in Jesus Christ.

We pray for all those who will be a part of Christian camping this summer, that they may be filled with the energy, enthusiasm, courage and boldness to proclaim your love in word and deed.

Today we also pray for the many people in our hearts and on our minds this morning as we silently name them before you. (silence)

We pray for many and for many things and while we do not know how you will answer we have confidence that you are with us.

God, you are in our midst, renew us in your love.

Song: I, the Lord of sea and sky (592)

Sending out with God’s blessing

May the lord bless you and keep you make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the lord lift up his countenance on you and give you his peace. Amen.

Response: God to enfold you

Music postlude

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Fatherly Advice

Posted on June 18, 2023June 18, 2023 by John

Worship on the Lord’s Day
Pentecost 3      Fathers Day      National Indigenous Peoples Sunday
10:00 am     18 June 2023
Online & Onsite (Mixed Presence) Gathering as a Worshipping Community
Led by the Rev Brad Childs
Music director: Binu Kapadia     Vocalists: Sam & Ann May Malayang
Elder: Darlene Eerkes

We gather to worship God

Music prelude

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

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

Call to Worship
L: Children of God: welcome!
P: Welcome to this place of love and grace,
L: Welcome to this place of hope and perseverance.
P: God invites all of us to be part of the beloved community,
L: God invites all of us to share in the Good News.
P: We are welcome, just as we are. We are loved, just as we are.
L: In gratitude for all of this, let us worship God.

Opening praise: O come to the altar

Statement of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada

The Church’s relationship with Indigenous peoples in Canada has been marked by colonization and the racist beliefs that underscored colonization (namely, the superiority of a Christianized, western European worldview).

The Church has confessed its role in running residential schools, its complicity in the harms of colonization, and rejected the Doctrine of Discovery. The church is committed to walking toward reconciliation. This includes advocating that the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is the framework for reconciliation, responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and engaging with the findings of the National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Calls for Justice. In 2006,

General Assembly established the Healing and Reconciliation program to assist individuals and congregations that are building relationships based on justice, love of neighbour, and mutual respect between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.

Some statements from the Presbyterian Church in Canada include the following:

The church repudiates concepts used to justify European sovereignty over Indigenous lands and peoples, such as the Doctrine of Discovery and terra nullius. (A&P 2019, pp. 35, 368-377)
It is appropriate for the church to acknowledge and honour our place on territories once under the sole care and stewardship of Indigenous peoples. (A&P 2014, pp. 372-373, 13)
The church affirms that all doctrines, policies and practices based on or advocating for the superiority of peoples or individuals on the basis of national origin or racial, religious, ethnic or cultural differences are racist, scientifically false, legally invalid, morally condemnable and socially unjust. (A&P 2019, pp. 35, 368-377)

With this and much more in mind, we come to celebrate and worship, but first, we come to cleanse. Let us pray for our sins, the sins of our nations, the sins of the world and for the forgiveness promised and secured for us in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayers of approach and confession

Divine Creator, we approach your divine presence, acknowledging the weight of our transgressions and the deep-rooted wrongs committed by our forebears. We come before you with hearts heavy, seeking solace and forgiveness for the grievous errors we have made. It is with contrition that we confess the sins of our nation and denomination, borne out of flawed ideals that sought to establish European domination and uphold the fallacious concept of “pure” blood.

In our ignorance, we propagated a misguided belief in our own sovereignty, erroneously perceiving it as a divine mandate to conquer and subdue others. This distorted perspective led us to embrace the destructive notion of assimilation, forsaking the richness and diversity of different cultures and peoples. We confess the arrogance with which we asserted our dominance and subjected others to our will, failing to recognize their inherent worth and the sanctity of their own traditions and beliefs.

Regretfully, we bear witness to the agreements struck in the past, agreements that resulted in the forced removal of children from their homes and their subsequent enrollment in educational and religious institutions against their will. We acknowledge our complicity in supporting these institutions, providing housing, sustenance, medical care, and education, all while disregarding the profound damage inflicted upon these innocent souls. The consequences of these actions continue to reverberate through time, restricting the legacies, teachings, spirituality, dress, and freedoms of those affected.

The ancestral inhabitants of this land, with their diverse cultures and deep-rooted connections, have suffered the grave consequence of homogenization. Their unique identities and histories have been marginalized, their understanding of who they are and their rightful place in this world obscured by the absence of accurate historical records. Through acts of individualistic ambition, socio-religious discrimination, and systematic abuses perpetuated by governmental institutions, the people of “Turtle Island” were subjected to near decimation. Their very being was ravaged, with their culture, identity, freedom, land, and mobility being forcibly stripped away in the wake of British colonialism.

Merciful One, we implore your boundless mercy and compassion, recognizing our profound need for reconciliation and restoration. Grant us the wisdom and discernment to establish right relationships with all people, free from the desire to convert or impose our beliefs upon others. Instead, inspire us to cultivate an atmosphere of inclusivity, where the historical study is honoured, individual tribal cultures are celebrated, and faith stories are shared in a spirit of mutual respect.

We yearn for healing and reconciliation that transcends the boundaries of time, bridging the divide between the great-grandchildren of both the oppressors and the oppressed. We understand that true reconciliation requires acknowledging the pain and suffering endured by generations past and present. May forgiveness and understanding flow between the descendants of those who suffered and those who, though not solely responsible, were complicit in their suffering.

Guide us, O Compassionate Guide In our pursuit of justice, unity, and transformation. Grant us the strength to build bridges of understanding, empathy, and compassion, fostering an environment where the sacredness of every individual and culture is recognized and revered. Help us learn from the mistakes of the past and commit ourselves to creating a world where diversity is cherished, where the unique identities of each people are embraced, and where love and respect prevail over division and discrimination.

In your holy and merciful name, we humbly offer our prayers. Amen.

Response: I will trust in the Lord

Assurance of God’s forgiveness

Beloved in Christ, in the tradition of our Reformed faith, I bring you a word of assurance and pardon, for our gracious God is rich in mercy and abounding in steadfast love. Hear these words of comfort and assurance:

Though we have acknowledged the deep-seated wrongs committed in the past, and the consequences of our collective actions, let us remember that our God is a God of forgiveness and reconciliation. In the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we find the ultimate expression of God’s love and grace, offering us redemption and restoration.

The Apostle John reminds us that “if we confess our sins, [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, knowing that our Creator hears our prayers and longs to bring healing and wholeness to the brokenness within and around us.

God’s mercy knows no bounds, and through the work of the Holy Spirit, we are invited to experience the transformative power of forgiveness. As we repent and seek to rectify the past, let us trust in the unfailing love of our God, who, in Christ, reconciles all things to Himself.

Therefore, I declare to you, by the authority of Jesus Christ, that your sins are forgiven, and you are set free from the weight of guilt and shame. Rejoice, for in God’s boundless grace, we find the path to reconciliation, restoration, and the building of right relationships.

As recipients of this pardon and assurance, let us embrace the opportunity to extend grace and forgiveness to one another, working together toward healing, justice, and the transformation of our communities.

May the peace of our forgiving God be with you always. Amen.

Musical offering: Warren Garbutt and Jack Brown

We listen for the voice of God

Children’s time

Gradual: Open our eyes, Lord (445)

Story: Proverb3 4:1-5

Can anyone tell me what today is? (Pause for response.) It’s a very special day because it’s Father’s Day! The word Father can mean many things. A father can be a dad or someone who is like a dad. A father can be someone who starts something (like the fathers of our nation). Sometimes a father is a preacher or teacher.

Maybe you have a wonderful dad who does special things with you. Maybe he takes you camping or on special trips. Maybe he plays soccer or football with you, or he takes you shopping or to get an ice cream cone. Maybe he teaches you how to do things like ride a bike, how to fish, how to play a musical instrument, or how to fix something. Maybe your dad reads the Bible to you and teaches you about God.

Tell about something your dad or father figure does with you.

Not everyone knows their father and not everyone gets to see their dad all the time. Luckily, we have a Father in Heaven who loves us all the time, no matter what.

In the Bible there’s a story about an older man who became like a father to a young man. The older man’s name is Paul, and the young man’s name is Timothy. The Bible doesn’t tell us anything about Timothy’s real dad, but we know that Paul, an older man, wrote letters to Timothy and taught him about God. He was like a father to Timothy. He even told Timothy what to do when he had a stomach ache! He also told him not to pay attention to people who said he was too young to do anything for God.

We can learn so much from our fathers and from those who stand in place as our fathers. The Bible says, “Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.” (Proverbs 4:1)

God is our heavenly Father. He will never leave us. He even said He would be a Father to those who don’t have a father. Isn’t that wonderful?

Prayer

Father, thank You for our wonderful fathers and father figures. Thank You for putting people in our lives that can be a father to us. Most of all, thank You for being our heavenly Father. And now we pray the prayer your Son taught us to prayer, saying together

The Lord’s Prayer (535)

Transition music

Song: Father, we love you (300)

Today’s Message

Scripture: 1 Kings 2:1-4

Response: Jesus, remember me

Message: “Fatherly Advice”

The specific authorship of First Kings is lost to history. Yet its importance is undeniably lasting. The book’s key purpose is encapsulated in chapter 18:21 where it begs the question of an increasingly corrupt nation, “How much longer will you people stubbornly attempt to have it both ways? If the Lord is your God, worship Him and nothing else.” As is typical of “biblical history”, what is representative of the Nation is personified in the King

Think of Samuel, David and Solomon. These are Kings and yet very flawed individuals just like the rest of their compatriots and us. Most likely what we are being told is that the nation is so corrupt that even the leaders God had chosen had gone astray. If the King is bad, that’s sort of ancient Hebrew shorthand for – the country is a mess. At any point in the bible if one of these three people (The King, the High Priest or the Prophet of the era) are depicted as “astray”, the whole nation is.

And so, when you see in the scriptures that David’s time has passed you know that something big is happening throughout the kingdom. The hearts of the people are in the balance. Through narrative he must have then become an “evil king” and in the last few chapters that has certainly been the case. Thus, David’s time has passed. Take heed: “When the Lord wants to judge a people, he blesses them with the wicked king the deserve”.

A new king, Solomon, David’s son, is about to be crowned.

As of yet, “No bloodguilt is upon his hands.”

But that’s short lived.

Still the torch is passing.

World governments are shifting.

David calls his son to his side, and he says, “I am about to go the way of all the earth”.

In this opening section, the wise but very inconsistent leader rests on his deathbed attempting to put into words a few of his most important pieces of advice. It’s a dad, dying and trying to piece together some last-minute wisdom for his son!

It is a wildly touching scene and one that many of us can relate to.

But, like all fathers, this father’s advice is a mix of great parenting and the disastrous passing down of our worst possible traits (in concentrated form).

In the description, David starts with this proud, patriarchal pronouncement, “Be strong, And act like a man (which he does not define), and observe what the Lord your God requires” (which he is about to describe).

And I will get to that in just a minute!!!

But first…

Maybe a bit of backstory could be helpful…

In his last few years, Kind David had become a rather divisive figure. A political uprising was afoot. Or at least the latest of a few political uprisings were afoot. He faced a few.

In this particular case, David’s enemies within the Kingdom had begun to stage a coup. Joab for example had been a brilliant military leader and top general of David’s army. Joab had also built for himself a reputation as a decisive person ready to act quickly. In fact, Joab had continually demonstrated his belief that cold-blooded murder was always an option. Known for his ruthlessness Joab attempted to prop a political opponent named Adon-ijah in David’s place as King, instead of David’s son Solomon, the “rightful heir”.

This was a problem. Joab was the country’s top military officer, and soldiers were very loyal to the leaders they see in action. At the same time, Abia-thar (1:7) who served as only one of the country’s two high priests under David, proclaimed “God’s favor on Adoni-jah”.

I know, I know…

These names are driving you crazy. You are almost lost.

ME TOO!!!

So here is a little recap:

David – David is the “Man after God’s own heart” / “Horrible”, “Adulterous”, “Murderous”, Polygamist, also like all of us, not just one or two things, not even the sum of the parts but a great many things. Because of that reality he was also the wonderfully successful, kingdom uniting, people inspiring, charismatic, moral for the time, long serving and now, Dying King.

Solomon – Solomon is the The Rightful King to be! David is King, Solomon is the eldest son. Solomon is about to be King.

Joab – Joab is David’s Head Military Dude! Joab holds the loyalty of the army.

Adon-i-jah – Adonijah is the person Joab (the military dude) wants to put in power instead of king David’s eldest living son, Solomon.

Does that make sense?

If not? I honestly get it… it’s confusing…

So here that is again.

David – David is the “Man after God’s own heart” / “Horrible”, “Adulterous”, “Murderous”, Polygamist, also, like all of us, not just one or two things and those alone. He is rather, not even the sum of the parts but instead, a great many things. Because of that reality David was also the wonderfully successful, kingdom uniting, people inspiring, charismatic, moral and ethical force for the time, long serving and now… dying King.

That is our Dying King.

Solomon – Solomon is the Rightful King to be! David is dying but not dead. David is still King. But, Solomon is the eldest son. Solomon is about to be King. Solomon is also the Rightful King to be!

Joab – David’s Head Military Dude! Joab holds the loyalty of the army. He could and does take thousands of infantrymen with him, seeking to overtake the government.

Adon-i-jah – The guy that the military wanted to put in place, instead of David’s eldest son, Solomon.

Abi-athar – The one and only known ordained Hebrew Priest to escape the historic Massacre of Moab. Abi-thar stays strong. But the whole kingdom is moving elsewhere. And even Abi-athar’s son ends up joining the cause against David’s son Solomon.

Now, I get that, this probably didn’t make it crystal clear. That’s alright. There is an extremely lengthy and enormously complicated backstory going on here. I’d like to call it “Shakespearian” but honestly that’s rather silly being that Shakespeare blatantly pilfered this perspective from the biblical narrative style and not the other way around.

In any case, what we are seeing is basically, an extremely complicated history; where King David, after promising to protect this man from a very young age; was later repaid by treachery. Again, the one and only known ordained Hebrew Priest to escape the historic Massacre of Moab remained silent as his own son, rejected the king. This long-standing family relationship obviously went sour. Everything was wrong and the world was collapsing in on itself; not just David but collapsing in on everyone, collapsing in upon the whole world. The generations, the times, they were a-changin!”

Two Sides Faced Off

Just before the dying King David took to his deathbed, his political rival Abi-athar revved things up hoping to install Adon-ijah. They were backed by one of only two high priests, Joab, his family friends, and the head of the political opposition military, and started cultivating a strong image of Adonijah.

Adonijah had also recently hired a mercenary team. It appears as well that they were foreign mercenaries and thought to be necessary, because they didn’t care who was the “elect king of Israel”. They cared only about one thing – who paid their bills. Adon-ijah also hired an entourage of people to continually dress like the royal officials in a fake-it-till-you-make-it sort of style. In other words, Adon-ijah dressed like the king, walked around with guards dressed like king’s guards, acted like the king, had the highest commander of the King’s army loyal to Him, and just hoped that people would call him KING!

On the other side, David was dying. He had lost most of his friends. He had a far less imposing loyal subjects to showcase, and only a few loyal guards.

Most notably though, Zadok, one of the two continually serving priests decided to back David (though he too wanted David to bring reforms).

About this time there was a man named Bena-iah who was one of 30 commanders of 24,000 men (but who sat underneath the General). This may well be the author of what we’ve been reading. Bena-iah was Loyal to David. As was Nathan the prophet (who also may well be the author of this book) as well as Shimei the lower governor in Benjamin, Rei, (an unknown person by exact spelling, though also quite likely an alternative name or reference to Bena-iah’s or the men faithful to him) as well as a reference to the “mighty men” of David.

In other words…

The world was a mess. The most stable government the people had every know was in chaos. The laws were flouted, the political leaders, even the good one’s, were a disaster. Adversaries and strife abound. And the King, David – he lay on his deathbed. He lay there very a human and not very kinglike. He lay there as a man and a father and a hero and a failure. And he has some last words to say, if he can get the words out before he takes his last breath.

At the time of his death, this political divide was growing to a head. And this is the backdrop to our reading from today. This is where we find the words that were read from the lectern just a few minutes ago.

The context is painful.

In it, a Father calls his son in to see him. The father is dying an knows it. He wishes to impart just a few words of Fatherly wisdom.

Great Words of Wisdom (a Father’s wisdom): The story is told wonderfully, and the phrase is the same phrase used when Moses and Joshua and later Samuel are described as giving final instructions before their deaths. There is something powerful in these words.

The author is saying something profound without saying it exactly. In each case, every time the same exact words precede the choosing of the Lord’s chosen successor. The Father is dying, he knows it, the audience (we) know it, and the Father has something exceptionally important to convey.

In the text David says to his son (the soon to be king):

Be strong and “Show yourself a man”.

Keep the charge of the Lord your God.”

But how do you do that one might ask.

Again, David the Father has advice for his son.

He says:

“Walk in His ways.”

“Keep his statues.”

And then with strange repetition continues,

“Keep his Commands.”

“Keep his ordinances, and His testimonies.”

According to what is written in the law of Moses:Now a lot is happening here, but one interesting thing is that the Law (and specifically the book of Deuteronomy) uses those same two sets of repetitive sounding lists… Way, Statutes… Commands, Ordinances, Testimonies. It does that in that order.

And so, 800 years or so have gone by and David in quoting the Laws of Moses??? That’s odd.

See – it’s a unique quote. It’s pretty clearly on purpose. And it’s very specific in what it means.

In Deuteronomy 17:14-20 there are specifically laid out instructions for the Kings chosen to rule as God’s leaders. (Note please that God does not require Men to serve and not women, however the author of the text does assume this to be the case due to the context lived in).

In any case, the point is stated incredibly clearly. God chooses our leaders. And yet, they must fulfil certain requirements, or they aren’t supposed to stay our leaders. In the Law of Moses, it reads like this: “The Elected must not marry too many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold. When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests. It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees and not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law to the right or the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.”

It’s important to note some tension in the texts here. Still, it appears the promise of a kingdom that lasts forever is two-fold.

First, there is the conditional promise 1:

David and his family would remain in power as long as they remained faithful. (which is true

And then there is the unconditional part that says 2:

David’s family line would reign as Kings forever (which is also true though not as first imagined)

In any case, this is wonderful Kingly and Fatherly wisdom in David’s last words to his son. David stressed to Solomon the need to make God and his law the center of his personal life and government life to preserve the kingdom. And he also reminds his child that this gift (the crown) is dependent upon his faithfulness and can be lost at a moment’s notice.

But wait there’s more.

See right after this, David adds a few more parting pearls of wisdom to his son.

So, in verses 1-4, we read that Solomon is charged with reading the scriptures, keeping the law, establishing order, and making God the center of life. Very literally the keys to the kingdom are handed to him.

He says,

Follow the teaching of God as laid down in the Law of Moses.
Obey the Lord and Keep the Faith.

And what great Fatherly advice. And then…

The father says to his child… Joab should not be allowed to die peacefully of old age. (He was an assassin and he turned on the kingdom and started a Coup)

I’m sorry WHAT!!!

… Oh and while you’re at it – also kill Shimei.

Shimei being a mentally ill; elderly man who insulted David once at Mahanama.

Many years earlier in his life David had taken Shimei as prisoner. At the time, King David had promised specifically NOT to harm Shimei because of his surrender.

BUT NOW, decades later – David is sick and dying and David is remembering that he hates this guy Shim-ei. And David, just about to die, realizes that his Son Solomon never made a promise not to hurt Shimei.

So there David is, “man after god’s own heart” dying in his bed and doing his best to find loopholes in the ancient version of “Roberts Rules of Orders” so that he can go back on his word. And oh yes!!! A loophole is found! David promised not to kill this guy. But David never said anything about his son Solomon not killing Shimei!

So, once again, David is dying. He is sharing his greatest wisdom with his son who is soon to be king. And he says. You know what? I promised not to murder that one jerk a long time ago but I never promised him that you wouldn’t go kill him!!!!!!!!!!

“Let’s bury that guy”, Dying-deathbed-David says.

And that’s when it hits you as the reader.

That is when it hits you that the Great King David – is still a mess like the rest of us.

Dying hasn’t made King David perfect; nor will it anyone.

Dying makes us dead.

And it hopefully makes our loved one’s more reflective, knowing the dead have made a difference and also for those who are still alive in Christ.

The words David gives his son on his deathbed are so strange.

They are a mix of hero and demon, faithful and abuser, adulterer and lover, writer of psalms and murderer of husbands. He is what he is. At his death there is no fake it till you make it. There is just what is and was.

So what does King David have to say to his child?

Something Great and then Something Terrible

Sure, David’s probably not at his best. Nobody ever dies on schedule. It’s unlikely David knows that these are his last words. The moment is upon him. The words are well-meaning. He intends to keep the family line on the thrown – but what David forgot is that God didn’t need his help doing that. All David had to do was be faithful. But he messed that up and in fact, he didn’t even really understand it.

And while technically speaking (as some have noted) all of these men had committed capital crimes and could rightly be tried under the law or executed by royal edicts. That doesn’t make it sound better. “Here’s some good advice about following God, Oh and making sure you kill all the people that sided with the other Priest, the General and my political opponents.”

David warns his son to keep the focus on God and remember his promise to rule justly, AND THEN IMMEDIATELY forgets the conditions of that promise and starts his wheeling and dealing to keep his family in power.

In other words, David is a father like all others. Like me, he gives a mix of good and bad advice. And like me maybe he even catches himself doing it sometimes.

I’m certainly that guy – mix of good and bad advice.

When one of my kids was young and some other children were picking on our kid, I was asked for fatherly advice. The first thought in my head was what a typical father’s reaction, or over reaction perhaps.

My first thought was to note that the soft tissue around the throat is easy to collapse. I wanted to say, Well just don’t stop punching his face until his body stops involuntarily twitching.

You know – normal defensive MamaBear types of thoughts!

But the point is simple. Every parent gives a mix of good and bad advice. David starts well, but doesn’t end well, does he?

Like my father, David is doing his best. Like me, he’s woefully unprepared. And the bible is awash with people like this, people meaning well and messing up, people trying and failing, and parents passing on the best and worst of themselves. And sharing faith with others, even our kids, isn’t always easy.

Life gets in the way. We get in the way.

The thing is nobody gets it right. Mothers, Father’s, Grandchildren, Uncles, Friends… whatever. We get in the way. And largely this is because we aren’t the heroes in our own stories like we think. Parents are far from perfect.

That’s why we are told to obey our parents but in 1 Sam 19:1-2, we are also given examples of when it’s best to NOT obey our parents.

And yes, in Titus 2:6 there is a list of good fatherly behaviour but it reminds us that the reason is simple – monkey see, monkey do. Do right because your kids will emulate you. Here it’s just assumed that parents mess up.

It seems there is no perfect Father.

But there can be an attempt.

Like all of us, David has both good Godly advice and also some of (if not the most) truly horrible advice he could ever have given (Kill my enemies!). He shares a mixture of divine calling, justice, right behaviour, wisdom and on and on but throws in his baggage along with it.

The thing is, we all do that. We all receive, hold and pass on Godly advice and Not so Godly advice. We try to be our best and share our best but just never seem to get it quite right.

The reason is simple. Every father we ever see, yours, mine, me, you, we are all the same, imperfect versions of the real one.

And so today I’m going to give the best fatherly advice I can with as little of my own nonsense passed along as possible.

Do your best, as parents, kids, neighbours, people…

Observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses.

Dive deeply into his word so that you may share it.

And whatever you do, try and keep the extra advice to a minimum. Amen.

Song: The steadfast love of the Lord (20)

We respond to serve God

Prayer of gratitude and for others and ourselves

God of grace and goodness, your world is full of gifts that sustain our lives. We offer our gifts in gratitude. Bless them and make them signs of your presence at work in the world, touching lives in need with your love and strength in Jesus’ name. Amen.

God of the earth and all its peoples, in Jesus Christ, you proclaimed the good news that true life and peace are found in you.

Guide your church to proclaim this good news, not in ways that merely please people or don’t ruffle feathers, but in ways that bring Christ’s reconciling love to divided communities and lives out of joint with each other.

Shine your light into the world’s hidden corners, exposing violence, exploitation, and bigotry.

Reveal what dehumanizes the vulnerable and degrades your creation.

God of the earth and all its peoples,

Let your light shine!

On this National Indigenous Sunday, we pray for Indigenous communities across this land, and all around the world.

We thank you for Indigenous leaders who lead advocate for the needs of their people.

Bring healing to those who confront painful experiences, and build bridges of understanding among us all.

May your justice prevail so that Indigenous communities have the resources needed to thrive and receive respect for the decisions they make.

We pray for the National Indigenous Ministry Council and the ministries with Indigenous people that the Council tends.

Bless the leaders and participants in each ministry with the resources they need to serve their communities effectively.

Teach the wider church what is being learned through these communities and deepen the bonds of faithful friendship we can share with each other.

Keep a brief silence.

God of the earth and all its peoples, let your light shine!

God of healing and hope, thank you for your faithfulness to us in all situations.

We pray for all those who are ill or in pain, for the anxious and discouraged, for those facing death or the loss of someone dearly beloved, and for those struggling to make ends meet in these uncertain times.

We pray for Presbyterian World Service & Development and its partners as they work to bring healing and hope to places of strife and deprivation.

May the mission we share in Jesus’ name shine the light of your love into desperate lives.

God of the earth and all its peoples, let your light shine!

God of the faithful future, bless this community of faith and guide us as we plan for the future in changing times.

Bless students and teachers as the school year ends and restore them for learning with summer enjoyment.

Grant us all times to rest and to enjoy this summer and replenish our hope and energy to serve in your world.

God of the earth and all its peoples, let your light shine!

We offer all our prayers, spoken and unspoken, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Song: Jump with joy (406)

Sending out with God’s blessing
Walk gently on the earth God has entrusted to us all and cherish God’s amazing creation.
Deep peace of the running wave to you,
Deep peace of the flowing air to you,
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you,
Deep peace of the shining stars to you.
Deep peace of the Son of Peace to you. Amen.

Response: Sing Amen (Amen, we praise your name, O Lord)

Music postlude

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To steal a miracle

Posted on June 11, 2023June 12, 2023 by John

Worship on the Lord’s Day
Second Sunday of Pentecost 10:00 am 11 June 2023
Online & Onsite (Mixed Presence) Gathering as a Worshipping Community
Led by the Rev Brad Childs
Music director: Binu Kapadia
Elder: Heather Tansem

We gather to worship God

Music prelude

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

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

Call to Worship
L: Rejoice in the Lord, you people of God!
P: We will sing songs old and new to praise our God.
L: God loves righteousness and justice;
P: We will do our best to serve God faithfully.
L: The earth is full of God’s steadfast love.
P: We come to worship with glad hearts, to offer our love and loyalty.

Opening praise: Everlasting God

Prayers of approach and confession

You, O God, are overflowing with love, infinite in kindness, incomparable in glory.

You are the source of all good things.

In you, all things work together for good.

Your presence breaks into our lives in many ways and you touch us with wonder.

In this time of worship, we offer you thanks with our prayers, praise with our hearts, and honor with our lives, this day and every day, now and always.

God of all our journeys, you lead us day by day.

Sometimes the going is smooth and we follow gladly.

But sometimes the going gets tough.

We face obstacles and choices.

We’re unsure which way to turn.

Forgive us when we hesitate, and give us the courage to take a step into your future.

Gradual: I waited, I waited on you, Lord

Assurance of God’s forgiveness

God is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Know that you are forgiven and be at peace with God, with yourself and with one another.

We listen for the voice of God

Children’s time

Gradual: Jesus, we are gathered (514)

Story

Do you guys know what Australian rules football is? It’s kind of like football, just more violent. They don’t stop the play. So if you get crushed you have to crawl off the field. It’s pretty harsh.

Well, a long time ago there was this Australian team called the Sydney Swans, and they were sort of the joke of Australian football. They had the worst record and they had some of the worst players. They also had an angry coach, and they had no fans, and for most of their home games, they had nobody in the stands.

But then a strange thing happened. The team got a brand new coach, and two new players, and then they started winning. And before long the team that had been the laughingstock became the powerhouse, and since everybody likes a winning team, you can imagine what happened next.

They get fans, the stadium fills, and downtown Sydney is awash with the team colours. There are people wearing Sydney Swan merchandise all around the city.

One Sunday afternoon the Swans were playing their rival team, and the TV cameras zoomed around, and then it focused on one person who had a giant smile on his face and a homemade sign that looked like this.

I was here when nobody was.

Sometimes, in life, people come and go. You have good times and bad times, but no matter what, there’s always this one person who’s been there all along, winning or losing, no matter what.

Prayer

Our God. We can never be alone. We know that you are with us, and even when the stadiums seem like they’re empty, you’re the crowd cheering us, on our God. We thank you. And now we pray the prayer that your son taught us to pray …

The Lord’s Prayer (535)

Transition music

Song: Creating God, your fingers trace (288)

Today’s Message

Scripture readings: Matthew 9: 9-13, 18-26

Response: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet

Message: “To steal a miracle”

On April 14^th 1984 (my 5^th birthday) in Greensborough Kansas an electrical fire broke out on the Raines farm. In the unusually dry weather, the fire spread very quickly up to the second floor of the old dull blue house. Young 11 year old Daniel Raines tried to race down the stairs to safety but found only a wall of fire and smoke where the stairs used to stand. One hundred year old wood, it seems, is eaten away in mere seconds.

Thinking quickly, the boy ran to the upstairs bathroom and squeezed his way through the small 6 inch open window. Outside Daniel’s father had seen the smoke from the pens and ran as fast as he could to the house. The shingles were hot beneath Daniel’s feet. Alone on the roof and crying, little Daniel paced back and forth in fear as his father approached the house.

The father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms, calling to his son, “Jump! I’ll catch you.” He knew the boy had to jump to save his life. But all the boy could see was smoke and blackness. He couldn’t see ground beneath him, let alone make out his dad. In tears Daniel cried out “I can’t” but his father kept yelling: “Jump! I can save you. But Daniel wouldn’t jump and yelled at the top of his lungs, “Daddy, I can’t see you.” And in a strange small and calming voice Daniel’s father collected himself and as calmly as he could muster shouted back these words, “But I can see you and that’s all that matters.”

In first century Judaism purity was a major issue. The law told you who you could sit next to, speak with, eat with, how to wash your hands and where to go to the bathroom. In the purity code of Leviticus there are even instruction on how far from camp one must go to relieve themselves. Sometimes when modern readers come across these things it’s easy to find the humor in it all and at times it just seems so legalistic.

But truth be told the purity laws made the Jews stand out. It made them different. In fact, it was that system (and that very same attention to detail we sometimes find confusing) that helped to ensure good health and long life for the ancient Hebrews. But it was a difficult system, and it came complete with castes and social classes.

If you were a woman for instance you could not be seen speaking to a man in public. It sounds so anti-feminist and insulting to the female gender, but things are rarely so black and white. For a Hebrew woman in the first century, to be seen approaching a man in public was to present yourself as a “women of the night” so to speak. Because of this, many laws that appear sexist to modern readers actually served to protect women from abuse.

In similar fashion, if you were ill in the first century, you were generally considered to be unclean. Again, it sounds harsh today, but at the time people had no real understanding of what was contagious and what was not. Segregation saved lives. But that doesn’t make loneliness any easier to take.

For many who were ill, you would be temporarily banned from the synagogues and from worship. You would be banned from social gatherings, from seeing your friends and from crowds, and in some cases even from town and from seeing your own family.

Most likely that is the case with the woman in our story who interrupts the story of Jarius’ daughter. The bible tells us that this woman had been ill for 12 years and had been an outcast of society. The kind of person that the world just seemed like it wanted to forget. “Out of sight – Out of mind” I suppose. She had been born into a world where Jewish boys prayed a daily prayer thanking God that they had not been born a girl and more than that she had been discarded even by her own family for fear that they might all catch her sin and become unclean as well.

In Luke (who is a doctor himself) we are told that she had gone to several doctors seeking relief but that they had relieved her only of her money and nothing else. In Luke’s opinion it was a waste of time. He himself was a physician and in his Gospel, he calls her “incurable”.

She is, to all intents and purposes, an outcast. She has no money, is not allowed to be in contact with others, cannot work and earn money, is not allowed to live in town and cannot see her family. Where does she live? The answer… she lives where all the ill live… in the lepers village far from the rest of society.

But knowing that Jesus would be coming through town, this young outcast hatched a clever scheme. She would hide her illness and sneak back into town. And as the crowd surrounded this miracle worker (Jesus) that she had heard of, she would casually brush up against one of the four Tsitsith or tassles on Jesus’ Shimla cloak in order to steal some of his magic for herself.

It was a common belief at the time that people transferred their power to their clothes, and we see this as the woman hides in the crowd and curiously enough we are told, talks to herself. It is a strange scene, like something out of Shakespeare. The woman hiding in the crowd, eyes fixed on Jesus, delivers a line. She says, “If I can touch only his clothes, I will be healed.”

In doing so, this outcast of society would be breaking several laws. After bleeding for twelve years and finding no relief, she is not to be in town, she is not to be in contact with others, she is not to be in contact with men, she is not to be this close to the temple, she is not to meet anyone without announcing her illness, she is not to be there at all. And yet she somehow knows in her heart that this Jesus can heal her. And as he walks by surrounded by a sea of followers the bible says she sneaks up behind him and reaches out to touch the corner of his robe.

Immediately Jesus knows that something has happened. He stops and looks around and says, “Who touched my robe?”

Understandably the disciples are confused. In Luke 8:45 (Luke’s telling of this same story) it says, “When all denied it, Peter^[^f^] said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!”” This translation lacks some of the force of the original. In Koine Greek it says, Master the συνέχω syn-echō (a word used for an approaching army) surrounds you and they ἀποθλίβω a-poth-libō (press in or “suffocate”) you. Peter and the disciples have no idea what Jesus is talking about, there are people all around. People are everywhere and no doubt many people have touched his robe.

But something is different here. Something more has happened. The woman’s scheme was successful. Her plan to steal a healing and sneak away has worked – or has it. She has been healed but she didn’t get to sneak away. On the contrary… she’s been caught. No doubt at this point, her mind was reeling. Surrounded by a sea of men and she has been caught. Now the law says that she could actually be stoned just for being in the crowd. And on top of that this woman has stolen from the man this giant crowd of people are following.

But instead of more suffering, instead of more loneliness, she would be set free.

Jesus turns to her (and I imagine he smiles). And he says, “My daughter, your faith has made you well.”

What is interesting about this story is that this woman comes to God as a desperate person and from time to time, we can all understand what it’s like to be on the outside of society, what it’s like to be looked down on or cast aside or lonely. But even though in her desperation, she came to take something from God…. what she came to steal and sneak away with could not be stolen. Because he already had give her what she needed.

It wasn’t the clothes that healed her (some tassel on the edge of a robe), it wasn’t the scheme she concocted… it was something she had all along. It was her faith that healed her. And though from this story we can tell that she didn’t really know who Jesus was; she didn’t really fully understand him; what she did know is that he had the power to save her and all she had to do was believe (all she had to do, like Daniel Raines, was jump).

When we read a story like this one, sometimes it’s easy to read into it more than it actually says. This story never says that people of faith won’t get sick. It doesn’t say that our prayers will heal our every illness or that ill people who don’t get better lack faith. But what it does is tell us in whom we should put our faith.

Like Daniel Raines on the roof of a burning house this woman just had to have faith that her father would catch her.

May you come to Christ in faith. May you know that while illness and suffering exist in this world, that you can still put your faith in Him. And may you know that when the smoke billows out and blocks your view; when God seem far away and all seems doomed, He is still there. Because even when you can’t see him. He can see you, and that’s all that matters.

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

We respond to serve God

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

Prayer of gratitude and for others and ourselves

God of healing and hope, you offer us what we need in Christ Jesus, not always what we want. Bless our gifts and use them to meet needs in lives touched by the outreach of our church. Give each of us courage to reach out in Jesus’ name whenever you call.

Lord we thank you for all the faithful people who give and pray and water the plants and volunteer and serve on committees and come for worship, bible study, fellowship, and friends. We are a blessed people. Father, continue these blessings and help us to serve you as your will moves within us.

God of our past and our future,

We come before you with grateful hearts, trusting that you walk with us through all the times of our lives.

You create a future for us, calling each of us to use our individual abilities and opportunities to make a difference.

Thank you that we all have a place and a purpose in your world.

Guide all who are graduating this year to listen for your call and find their true path.

Hear us now as we pray for the world in its deep and diverse needs:

We pray today for those who face danger and despair in these times:

We remember before you those living with hunger, and all those caught up in unrest and violence beyond their control.

We pray for all those working to relieve suffering in these lives.

We pray for all those facing fear or frustration, wrestling with sorrow or discouragement in any area of their lives:

For those who live with illness or pain….

For those bearing up with chronic conditions or disability….

For those who know the grief and change of bereavement….

And we pray for all those who work to bring healing and comfort and agencies that offer support and care to those who suffer.

We pray for all who feel helpless or hopeless in this present time:

For those around us facing unemployment, struggling to make ends meet…

For those caught up in the pain of misunderstanding or broken relationships…

And for those working through situations of conflict at home or at work…

We pray for all who offer guidance and support in the midst of such difficulties and for those who have skills in reconciliation or mediation.

God of healing and hope,

Guide our congregation to engage each day with faithfulness.

Where we need correction, show us a new way; where we need love and encouragement, inspire to us.

Triune One, move our leaders, governments, policy makers, journalists, legal system, medical care system, leaders of social programs, supporters of freedom and more. Take the silly views we have and rid us of them. Help us to reason. Spark our interest. Empower us with the necessary resilience to do what we are called to do and make us strong enough to do what is required of us and more. Amen.

Song: Will you come and follow me (634)

Sending out with God’s blessing

God to enfold you, Christ to uphold you, Spirit to keep you in heaven’s sight. So may God grace you, heal and embrace you. Lead you through darkness into the light.

Response: God to enfold you

Music postlude

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Quantum Physics

Posted on June 4, 2023June 4, 2023 by John

Worship on the Lord’s Day
04 June 2023 10:00 am Trinity Sunday
The Sacrament of Holy Communion
Online & Onsite (Mixed Presence) Gathering as a Worshipping Community
Led by the Rev. Brad Childs
Music Director: Binu Kapadia Vocalist: Lynn Vaughan
Elder: Jane de Caen

We gather to worship God

Music prelude

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

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

Call to Worship
L: Holy are you, Source and Creator of all things;
P: We praise you for your gift of life.
L: Holy are you, Son and Redeemer of all things;
P: We thank you for your gift of new life.
L: Holy are you, Spirit and Sustainer of all things;
P: We bear witness to your truth and worship your holy name, ever three and ever one.

Opening praise: Forever God is faithful

Prayers of approach and confession
Holy God, you are Three in One and One in Three.
Praise to you, Source of life, maker of Heaven and Earth, who created us in your image and called us good.
Praise to you, Jesus Christ, born in our flesh to teach us how to love and offer us grace and mercy.
Praise to you, Holy Spirit, for the energy you bring us to greet each day as a gift.
Holy God, Three in One and One in Three,
We praise you for your mystery and mercy.
Reveal to us how to live as your people and witness to your wonder and grace. Amen.
God of mystery and mercy, you know the details of our lives.
You see the sin and the sorrow we bear; you see the problems and the possibilities we face.
You see how we fit into the world around us and how we rub each other the wrong way.
We confess we do not always see what you see.
Open our eyes to the truth of our lives and touch us with your grace.

Response: We come to ask your forgiveness, O Lord

Assurance of God’s forgiveness
The Apostle Paul reminds us that from now on we regard no one from a human point of view. If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation. Everything old has passed away. See, everything has become new! Thanks be to God that we can all make a new start through God’s gift of forgiveness and peace!

We listen for the voice of God

Hymn: God, we praise you for the morning vss. 1, 3, 4, 5 (436)

Scripture readings (NRSV): 2 Corinthians 13:11–13 and Matthew 28:16–20

Response: Behold the Lamb of God

Message: “Quantum Physics”

Today is Trinity Sunday and that makes it an interesting day. The Trinity is the core of Christianity. It is the idea that God has come in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, all different and yet also all the same. To believe this is to be a part of the “church catholic” meaning unified.

It’s rare but in Matthew 28:19, the 3 persons of the trinity are presented, not argued, but assumed. Mark 1:9-11 does the same thing. The opening to John’s gospel also does it though not as clearly. The trinity is not something that must be understood to be saved or go to heaven; rather, it is something that cannot be denied.

Those who do are known as Mormons, Jehovah’s Witness’s Scientologists, Christian Scientist and Oneness Pentecostals all essentially deny the Deity of Jesus as they overemphasize his humanity. The opposite mistake is just as bad, to over emphasize his Deity to the exclusion of his humanity. But it’s a delicate balance.

I have an acquaintance who did a PhD at Kings College in London on the trinity and what it is. But he couldn’t do it. So instead, he did three books on what the Trinity isn’t. That was easier. It’s far easier to say what is heretical than what is orthodoxy. And it’s always been a problem – for basically everyone.

To the Jews, the single most important verse in the entire bible is the Shema: “Shema yisriel adonie, elihenue, adonie achad.” (Listen all Israel, the Lord our God is One; the Lord our God is ours.) It is the most definitive monotheistic statement and is most foundational to Judaism.

And yet we Christians believe the One is also Three and the Three are also just One. And just so everyone is clear – I don’t really get it either. But I believe it. Jesus was only a man. True. Jesus was fully God. True. Not half God, not half of the time. All God all the time, but also not!!!

According to the Church, each Person of the Trinity is Eternal, Creator, Omnipresent, Omniscient, Omnipotent, and has a free will. Each acts alone, and together; gives life and strength to believers. They appear together in many places in the Bible: Genesis 18; Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; Luke 3:22 just to mention a few. But they aren’t always clear and aren’t always what we first think they are.

To be fair, people always struggled with this. It took the Church nearly 400 years to decide about Trinitarian orthodoxy. While the Trinity isn’t always explicit (just as with infant baptism), it is present and often. After 400 years it became important to produce the Nicene Creed. Still many people foolishly believe that they created the idea. Not true. Not even close. The Trinity was a well-established tenet of the faith and it was very rarely challenged. Constantine was little more than a rubber stamp on an already extremely long held position. Now, the internet often disagrees but also the internet is full of people who are louder than they are informed.

It’s interesting that my PhD friend felt he had to write a three-volume set on what the “Trinity is not”, while all these random folks online in their parents’ basement seem to think they know everything. Well, I don’t know. I believe, but I don’t know. Perhaps we should heed the advice of Brother Elric, a 12th century monk, who, after badly botching a sermon on the Holy Trinity, decided to take a vow of silence for the rest of his life rather than mess it up again.

Someone asked the statesman Daniel Webster, who happened to be a fervent Christian, “How can a man of your intellect believe in the Trinity?” I like the response. Webster responded with, “I do not pretend fully to understand the arithmetic of heaven now.”

Brother Elric figured a life of silence was easier than attempting to explain to people how 1 plus 1 plus 1 equal 3.

The mystery of the Hypostatic Union^[1] is also at stake: Jesus was both 100% human and 100% God. If Jesus was not fully both, he could not be both our Lord and our Saviour. If Jesus were only Divine, he could be our God, but not our Saviour, Jesus could never have died for our sin. As God, Jesus could never have been the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53, or the dying Messiah of Psalm 22. If Jesus were merely human, he could be our example of a good man, as in his baptism, but could not be our Saviour, Jesus could not have been raised from the dead if he were only a man.

What you believe about Jesus, what you believe about the Trinity, affects who you are in Christ. The Bible makes it clear there is only one God. We see the oneness of God in His own statements. “That you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me.” (Isaiah 43:10) “Who has told it from that time? Have not I, the Lord? And there is no other God besides Me, a just God and a Saviour; there is none besides Me.” (Isaiah 45:21)

As I said before this oneness is also seen in in the very heart of the Jewish faith. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!” (Deuteronomy 6:4) Yet, within this declaration of God’s oneness we see the plurality of the one God. First it is seen in the Hebrew word used for “one.” It is the Hebrew word, “echad.” There are two words in the Hebrew language for the word “one.” They are “echad,” and “yahid.” “Yahid” means absolute oneness or singleness, leaving no room for any meaning other than one and one alone. But “echad” brings with it the idea of many that make up one, or what is referred to as a composite unity or a single group. Like One cluster of grapes! That’s one. The Husband and Wife (Adam and Eve) are called to be “One” flesh, for example, but they are still Two people in One Life together. There are several of these instances seen within the Bible.

St. Patrick (as in St. Patrick’s Day) said that the Trinity was like a three-leaf clover, noting that the three leaves also make up the one clover. The problem is, it’s not accurate at all. It might help us to get closer, but it also moves us further away. The Trinity is not three separate parts of one thing. And they aren’t each 1/3 of it either.

No analogy works, and they never do. All analogies break down – because they aren’t the thing they are compared to. The illustration of the Trinity as an egg also fails; shell, yolk, and whites, are all an egg but they are parts of a larger whole and what’s more they share no attributes among them. In the same way, the three states of water (liquid, steam, and ice) fail for the same reason. The cut apple fails too. All of these lead to a heresy called “Modalism,” which the early church refuted and so do we.

Some views are Partialism they suggest that Jesus is just a part of God. The Heresy of Adoptionism says that the Father “adopted a human son” at Jesus’ baptism. Arianism sees Jesus as a creation of the Father. Nestorianism says Jesus has two natures and isn’t a single being. They started to argue that Jesus was the Son of Mary, but Christ is the son of God as if there were two of him. Monophysites said God joined himself with Jesus. Sabellianism said Son and Spirit were Modes of the Father’s acts rather than unique persons. But it too, has been rejected by the Church universal. Still, while those aren’t right… again, I’ll say, it’s probably easier to say what’s wrong, than it is to say what’s right.

It’s a little muddy. To be fair, it’s also pretty nailed down. After all, we have had 2000 years to figure it out. And yet, have we? Really?

Maybe we don’t have to fully understand it, in order to believe it… know it… trust it.

After Einstein a liniar understanding of time came into question. Until then people almost always thought of time as something that is static and moves forward only in a straight line. But the problem is, that doesn’t fit with what we know today. And while most people (including me) don’t fully comprehend it, Quantum Theory and even Co-Existing Dimensions have become a part of, not just science, but of popular culture and entertainment.

Today, the words “Schrodinger’s Cat” are common to hear. It’s often used in a sort-of pop-philosophy kind of way, to mean “a thing that could be either this or that.” The idea is simple. There is a cat in a box. It is there for some time. And until you open it you don’t know for sure if it is a living cat or a cat that is not living. But where does this idea come from? Well, it’s from Practical and Theoretical Physics. It’s an attempt to explain something that makes no sense. This is one of those places where Hebrews 11:3 finds new meaning. It says, “By faith we know that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.” (NLT)

Certainly, trust me as I am, and I am NOT, an authority on theoretical physics. But here’s my best approximation and please feel free to investigate.

In what is called the “double split test.” Scientists developed an odd theory that claimed light behaved differently than anything else. The first of God’s creations doesn’t just come from the sun, is the fastest thing we know to be possible and, lastly, is not a wave or a particle like every-single thing else, but is both and also neither.

Very quickly: Scientists shot light through a sheet with two slits in it and onto a second sheet behind. The idea is that the light shines into the first sheet and as a result blocks most of the light and so two “light lines” appear on the backdrop where the light passed through the two slits. Now would light pass through the slits and leave two lines?” Does light work like a particle (like shooting a bullet through the slit) or like a wave (like a wave of water that emanates out in all directions and so would pass through both slits?)

If it’s a particle it will shoot through like a bullet in a straight line, if it’s a wave it will radiate through both slits. But it does both.

So what’s the big deal? Well anytime they attempt to record the experiment, the light works as expected. When they don’t observe it, it does a different thing. It is in fact, as if both happen at once or rather more than both. They updated the experiment with electron microscopes in 1999 but received the same results. It can’t be observed. In 2004 and then 2017 they tried again and used a vacuum and still – same results. It’s insane. More recently people have been playing around with similar thought experiments with time and finding similar conclusions. As a result, many see both space and time as existing in a braid or loop but not linear. Many see that a single molecule can occupy two spaces at once and wonder what else! Many believe what exists are worlds within worlds, within times, within times. Almost like what the prophet Ezekiel said about wheels within the wheels, within wheels.^[2]

The founder of the original study once wrote that this “double slit test” is a phenomenon which is impossible … to explain in any classical way and which is at the very heart of all quantum mechanics.

Honestly Trinity Sunday (much like Ascension Sunday) is difficult for me. It’s not because I don’t believe it. It’s because nobody understands it.

But I have to say, I feel a lot better knowing that Quantum Physics is in the same boat. We are tangled together on this one.

And it’s true, I don’t fully understand how 1 plus 1, plus 1 equal 3. But I believe.

How about you?

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

We respond to serve God

Prayer of gratitude and for others and ourselves

Lord, our God, whose glory is beyond compare; whose mercy is boundless, and love for us is endless; look upon us now in your compassion.

For peace that calms our hearts and saves our souls, and for peace in the whole world and throughout creation, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For the stability of the church and the unity of this congregation, for the ministries of your church around the world in these challenging times, and for the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada meeting this week in Halifax, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For our country, our leaders, and all those in public service; for this community, and for every neighbourhood and nation, and for all who offer themselves in service for the common good, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For the whole of God’s creation in its beauty and bounty, for the wellbeing of every creature and their habitats, for a willingness to change our ways to protect places and people at risk, and for generations yet unborn that they too may thrive, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For the safety of those who must travel by land, sea, and air, for those who long to travel but cannot, and for all those who are separated from those they love, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For the sick, the suffering, and the isolated, for victims of violence, refugees and captives, and for our protection against all affliction, danger, and distress, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

To you, Holy God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, belongs all glory, honour, and worship, now and forever, and to the ages of ages.

The Sacrament of Holy Communion

Invitation

Come to the Lord’s Table,all you who love him.
Come to the Lord’s Table, confess your sin.
Come to the Lord’s Table be at peace.

Hymn: All who hunger, gather gladly (534):

We affirm our faith: The Apostles Creed (539)
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer (sung 469)

Communion Prayer

It is right, and a good and joyful thing,
Always and everywhere to give thanks to you,
Holy Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
From the rising of the sun to its setting
your name is praised among all peoples.

Therefore we praise you,
joining our voices with your people on earth
and all the company of heaven
who for ever sing this hymn to the glory of your name:

You are holy, Almighty One!
Blessed are you, Jesus Christ!
In the power of the Spirit
you created all things, blessed them, and called them good.
You called to yourself a people
To make your mercy and truth known in all the world.
We betrayed your calling;
You were faithful.

We wandered from the way;
You called us to return, and led us home.

And still we turned from your ways,
abused your creatures,
and made ourselves slaves to sin and death.

At the right time
you came and dwelt among us,
as one of us,
bringing good news to the poor,
healing the sick, raising the dead,
sharing table with the unrighteous,
and teaching the way that leads to life.

By your incarnation, life, suffering, execution and resurrection
You gave birth to your church,
delivered us from slavery
and made a new covenant with us
by water and the Spirit.

Pour out your Spirit on us
Pour out your Spirit on these gifts
Make these gifts the body and blood of Christ
Make us, through them, Christ’s body alive in the world. Amen.

Sharing of the bread and wine

On the night of your betrayal, Lord Jesus, you took bread, blessed it, broke it, gave it to your disciples and said, “This is my body which is given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me.”
You did the same with the cup after the supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out is the new covenant in my blood.”

Music Interlude: Let all mortal flesh keep silence (542)

Song: One bread, one body (540)

The prayer after Communion
Loving God, we thank you that you have fed us in this sacrament, united us with Christ, and given us a foretaste of the heavenly banquet in your eternal realm.
Send us out in the power of your Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hymn: This is my Father’s word (328)

Sending out with God’s blessing

Trinity celebrates the overflowing love within God’s very nature, a dance of unity and diversity in the heart of God. So join the dance and let God’s love flow through you each day.

And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and communion in the Holy Spirit fill you with joy and lead you onward, now and evermore.

Response: The blessing

Music postlude

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^[1] – “the combination of divine and human natures in the single person of Christ”

^[2] Ezekiel 10:10