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
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
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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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.