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preparation for the call of a
minister to share in your mission <A002>
"You will
be my witnesses" Acts 1:8
click here for scripture passages
related to mission
For more items on pastoral relations click
here
Introduction: The suggestions set out here are based on the conviction that when a congregation calls a minister, it is inviting that person into its mission.
When your incumbent minister has told you she's leaving, and you have started to grieve and give thanks, it is essential that, before you call a new minister, you get clear about the mission you that captures the heart and will of your people. That is, to prayerfully and playfully inquire of the community: "What are we here for - what is our mission - as a people whose imagination is excited by the stories of Jesus, what are are we to be about now?"
My suggestion is that your Mission Statement is a key tool in deciding the skills and qualities you need in your next minister.
If you know your congregation and community very well, and have a recently written a statement of mission, the following is an example of how you can use your Mission Statement to identify skills and qualities in both laity and minister that would be valuable to your congregation as it seeks to fulfill its mission.
The Mission of the imagined St. Withits Community Church
The mission of Stwithits is to honour one another and our neighbours; to be a compassionate and justice-seeking people; and to care for the earth.
PERSONNEL RESOURCES FORM: Apply the following form to each program and ministry of your congregation in light of your mission. working from left to right. For this example I have chosen to apply this method to worship, the central ministry of every congregation
|
Program |
Goals for this aspect of our mission: |
Skills and personal qualities needed in Min. and lay to meet these goals |
Ministerial duties and responsibilities, time |
|
1.Sunday morning public worship
|
To express and celebrate grace, hope, nurture and challenge within our tradition and through music, and media that speak to youth and elders. -Preaching that relates faith and scripture to our personal needs, our mission and community. -Use drama, liturgical dance where appropriate. -Strong lay leadership |
Ability to plan with others, -Be grounded in liberal faith tradition. -Can work well with musicians. -Can encourage and train laity, and learn from them. -Qualities of openness to others and their gifts. -Imagination and creativity |
-Work closely with worship committee and musicians (and others - i.e. mission committee) to plan and lead in liturgy. -Be the principle preacher, -Encourage & train laity to plan and lead in liturgy Time: 20 hours per week |
DON'T HAVE A
After you have done a
survey to assess features of the
community inside and outside your church, here are a few of the many
biblical passages that would be helpful to discuss when writing a
congregation's
The
-Noah Gen. 6:18 - 22;
-Abraham and Sarah Gen.12:
1-2, 15:5, and 17:15-16;
-Shiphra, Puah, Jochebed
(Ex. 6: 20), Miriam, and the princess Ex.1: 15-2:10;
- Moses Ex.3:7 - 12;
- Ruth 1:16 f
- Jesus Jhn.1:16-17 and Lk. 4:16-20
- Mary Magdalene, Joanna
etc. Lk. 8:1-3 and 24:1-10
- Paul and Barnabas Acts
13:1 -3
- Lydia Acts 16:13-15
- Aquilla
and Priscilla Acts 18:2, 1 Cor
- The Church Acts 1:8,
Jhn.15: 11-12, Mt. 25:31-34; 1 Cor. 16:1 - 2.
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Congregations Without ministers ecclesicakes.ca A003
For other pastoral relations articles click here
Psalm 149:1-6a; John 15:7 - 17; Acts 1:6-14; 2:1-4; Phil 1:3-11.
My home congregation has just been informed that their search for a minister has not been fruitful, so they may be without a minister for a couple of months and perhaps longer.
We are not alone in this.
The May 2001 issue of the United Church Observer tells us that all over
I want to say, "that would not necessarily be a bad thing - perhaps it is even a good thing."
Congregations who have gone for as long as three years without a minister, have found that to be a very creative time. I have heard reports of this being true, and I witnessed it when I supervised a congregation which had had no minister for a year.
During that time they reclaimed their purpose and identity as a congregation. In doing for themselves a lot of the work a minister usually does. They discovered that they really were the Body of Christ.
Not having a minister also means having some money available from unpaid ministerial salary. These funds can be used creatively to encourage the ministry of the people, their visioning and planning. For instance, one congregation without a minister used some of this money to hire a theologically aware lay manager to work out of the church office in support the work of its committees. This money could also be used to employ people with special skills in planning to help congregations develop mission statements, and programs. It can also be used to train the laity.
From my perspective there are at least three positive outcomes possible for a congregation which lives for a year or so without a minister.
1. Purpose: it can be a time to remember why God created your congregation,
2. Identity: It can be an opportunity to recognize your congregation's identity,
3. Being a Congregation: It can be a time to rediscover congregations as God's strategy.
Overall, it can be a time to set your own agenda while you are free of a minister's agenda. All ministers come to congregations with their own agenda. So, a time without a minister is an opportunity for a congregation to explore its own agenda.
Let me expand a bit on three good things that can happen when you have no minister or when you are seeking one:
1. Purpose: We can recall why God created this congregation, and why God still wants it.
I believe that congregations exist because God wants them to exist. A time with no minister can be a time to delve into your congregation's story both to rediscover the purpose God had in mind when God created this congregation, and to inquire prayerfully of the Spirit: "Is this what God wants of us today. "
Such an exercise can be a very big help in deciding what kind of a minister to call next. You can say: "We are sure that God wants us to do this and this, now lets get a minister to help us do it!"
2. Identity: I have seen that a time with no minister gives a congregation some time to rediscover its identity as a people of God. A few years ago, I had a job that led me go to many different congregations. I came to see that each congregation has its own personality and gifts.
Some congregations are similar to Martha of the Gospels as she is sometimes portrayed. These congregations like to keep busy. They don't have a lot of study groups, but just watch them put on a lunch or fix a roof, or take practical action in mission.
Other congregations are more like Martha's sister, Mary, who sat at Jesus feet as a student. These like to study, and delve into the depths of the faith.
Also, I have known congregation's who were primarily Sunday worshippers, they gave a lower priority to mid week programs, and good works; they just loved to praise God on the Sabbath. Liturgy was indeed the work of this people.
Then, I have known other congregation's whose main energy went into mission. They saw Sunday Morning as a time to get inspired so they could get back to their mission.
Again, I have experienced congregations who saw themselves as family. They just loved to have pot luck meals, and programs that would bring them together. When one of their members was sick or in trouble, they responded like a family would.
Knowing your personality as a people of God can also be a big help in choosing a minister to work with you, and help you develop some areas of ministry you have neglected.
3. Thirdly, a time with no minister can be a time when you discover the profound truth that congregations are one of God's strategies for bringing the Realm of God into the world.
We can see this in the ministry of Jesus. Jesus did not write a book with directions for building the Realm of God, nor recruit an army to enforce and guard the Realm of God, or accumulate money to set up a foundation that would forever fund the Realm of God.
What Jesus did do was gather a congregation of men, women sand children. To that community of faith God trusted the Good News, and they had no minister to help them - except that they all were ministers. That community of faith sent people out to create more communities of faith, and that is how the Good News spread around the world.
A time with no minister can be a good time to remember that congregation's, are one of God's basic strategies for planting God's realm among us.
So, if you have a long time or a short time with no minister, I suggest that you use those weeks to explore your ministry, and to reassert the importance and value of your congregation, with its own personality. You are a people whom God has called into being as a basic tool for the planting of the realm of God on Earth. Then, call a minister to work with you in your high calling in Christ's name.
r. a. .k 7/01
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Minister and People; Homebodies and Transients ecclesicakes A004
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here for scripture references
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The middle of the season after Pentecost is a time when many newly settled ministers and congregations are meeting for the first time. As an incoming pastor, I have found this to be an opportune time to develop an understanding of how we will be in ministry together. This paper suggests that one way to do this is to look at one of the most obvious ways pastors and congregations differ. That is, some are Homebodies and others are transients.
The Homebodies carry out their ministry mainly in one place or neighborhood or city where they have had their home for all or most of their lives. Their ministry is among friends and family whom they have known for a long time. The Transients, on the other hand, enact their ministry by going from place to place; home to home; always meeting new partners in Christ. Each of these categories of disciple has its peculiar opportunities, and challenges within the mission of the church.
I can identify three important characteristics of the Stay-at-home disciples. First, they are challenged to be a sign of God's love, acceptance and righteousness in the midst of their long time neighbors, who may have known one another all their lives. It can be difficult to live out the Gospel among people who know you and your family, your personal history, and your foibles as well as your strengths. Yet, this relationship provides a special the opportunity to represent the gospel within long time friendships, and to see the grace of God working in your neighbors over time - sometimes where it is least expected.
These homebodies also bring a special perspective to the life of the church because they know its stories. Some of the homebodies will remember who started the first Sunday School, and Women's group. There will be those who served on the first building committee, or can recall who did. They remember working with former ministers and the gifts and agendas they brought. They know of the many struggles and celebrations, losses and gains. The Homebodies can remember the reason this church was built in the first place. This store of memory is very important to the future of a congregation. The insights of Interim ministry have taught us that a clear knowledge of original vision, and history are key ingredients in setting today's direction.
Finally, Homebodies are committed to a particular place where the Gospel has flourished for many years. A great deal of their energy comes from loyalty to their church and the community in which it is set. Given the opportunity, they will use their knowledge of the community and their loyalty to form the church's mission for that place. On the other hand, if it should be that their congregation is dying, it will cost these homebodies dearly to plan the closing, and to experience resurrection in this death. They will be the ones who will do the deepest celebrating and grieving.
Along with these homebodies, every congregation has a number of transients; Christians who are called to go from place to place, being at home where they find welcome. As I see it, these folk come in two varieties: the Ordered, and the Transient Laity.
There are in every congregation, Transient Laity who have moved from another town, region or nation. Some of them will have relocated many times. They bring with them a mix of special gifts and experiences from other congregations, and sometimes other cultures. From their different experience they offer alternate ways of enacting the Gospel, and from their travels they are a reminder of the world church. I have seen that they may also offer new possibilities of friendship for some of the homebodies who feel estranged within the local church. A wise congregation and pastor will warmly welcome these newcomers, so that by their gifts they may enrich and challenge their new church home as members working within it.
The Diaconia Ministers, Dedicated Lay Ministers and Ordained Ministers contribute some of these same gifts, but the special gifts they bring are accountability, training, and a link to the world church.
It seems to me that this mix of transients and homebodies, is one of the ways by which God keeps the church alive. God's Grace, Challenge, Peace and Hope are renewed by bringing together those who go from home to home, with those settled in a particular place. Thus the Spirit brings into being a creative mix of perspectives, experiences, and training that can provide stability and roots, while overcoming stagnation. In this way, the ancient faith is honored, and fresh insights into the gospel are enacted in the world by people who love one another either as long time neighbors, or as new friends.
r.a.k. 07/01
Our Transient & Stay-at-Home Ancestors in the Bible <A004b>
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The Bible tells of many
who found their calling by leaving one home for another, even if it meant they
might stay in that new place a few days or weeks. Our spiritual ancestors,
Sarah and Abraham, were called by God to pick up and leave
Matthew tells us that
Jesus made his home in
The church continued this
practice. It seems that Philip was among the first to follow Jesus' example.
When the authorities began to persecute the church in
However, all disciples
are not expected to be on the move. God called many to stay primarily in one
place, or to find a hometown and stick there. Ruth, who went home with her
mother-in-law, Niaomi may fit into this category.
Some of the biblical prophets never left home. Isaiah, for instance, was called
to be a prophet in his hometown - which he found a very difficult thing to do.
In the Gospels, Martha, Mary and Lazarus were stay-home-disciples in
A married couple of
Acts 181-2, 18-19, 26; Roman 16:3-5; 1Corinthians 16:19; 2 Timothy 4:19.
One role played by the
stay at home believers was that of providing a temporary home for the
transients. In Joppa, Simon the tanner had Peter stay with his family when
Peter visited there. Acts tell us that on his second missionary journey, Paul
was hosted by Priscilla and
Acts9: 43; 18:1-7, 26.
r.a.k. 07/01
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We (minister and people) are In a Covenant ecclesicakes A005
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Today is the first
Sabbath day in our new relationship of congregation and pastor. You and I are
now in that very special association of pastor and people. It is a wonderful
alliance we have made with one another. In this coalition we will do together
many things which have deep meaning:
We will get to know one
another in your homes, and in meetings,
We will share our faith, and
grow together toward God,
we will pray for one another
in times of sickness and sorrow,
We will weep together in
life's tragedy and laugh together over life's comedy,
We will grieve together at
gravesides,
we will sing together around
the baptismal font,
We will rejoice together as
couples are joined in matrimony.
By our many gifts we will
grow together in our shared ministry,
we will consult together to
imagine programs and bring them into reality,
We will meet together to set
budgets, and plan stewardship, and care for the church building,
and we will eat many
communal meals together.
Over all, we will we will
worship God, and seek together to know God's will for us;
We will work together as a
team to proclaim the Good News of God's love.
Now, what name can we give to a relationship that has so many facets? What do we call this kinship we are starting?
It could be labeled a sort of arranged marriage. There has been no courtship, but the terms of marriage have been negotiated, and we who are strangers are now expected to have an intimate life together. So, our coalition could be compared to an arranged marriage.
Or it could be compared to a business or farming partnership. We have agreed to work together on a project in which we each have an investment, and to which we are committed. We all want this business to succeed.
Again, our togetherness could be compared to an agency such as a hospital, or school in which many people with a variety of skills are joined together to employ their gifts for the benefit of the whole community and indeed, the world. We are like this; called to be an effective organization delivering the peace of Christ to our parish area.
All these could be ways of identifying what we are together: an arranged marriage, a business, an agency. They all are very positive analogies of what the church is, they are good models to follow. Each of them can be used to identify a portion of what we are to be.
There is a particular concept that we use to capture what the essence of these relationships. That, is the notion of covenant. Wherever we find people working together for the common good, they are in a covenant. So, a congregation is covenanted community, and a pastoral relationship is a covenanted association. In a few weeks we will make a covenant with one another in a special worship service. In the presence of God we will take vows that are intended to define our life together.
If there is anything special about this church covenant, it is in the areas of life in which we are joined together. For instance, when people covenant together as church, they accept the possibility of sharing a wide range of their life with one another. Pastors often experience this on their first day with a new congregation. On that first day, they may be called to lead a family through a funeral, or have a new born child placed into their arms for blessing. One day they may be helping a person with their grief, and a day later working with that same person to plan a Church school session. In this church covenant we touch one another at many levels of our life.
Secondly, as in another covenants, ours assumes that those who enter into it will mutually want the best for one another. When we make our covenant, it will be understood that I will want the best for you, you will want the best for me, we will want the best for the church, the church will want the best for the community at large.
Thirdly, and most importantly, in our covenant-making we recognize that all covenants begin with God. God has made a covenant with us, and all creation. Our covenant with one another is inside that greater covenant.
We dare to enter into a covenanted relationship because we have the guarantee of a covenant in which God promises never to abandon us, to always hold us in God's holy care. As out Creed says: "We are not not alone ....;"
God has renewed this covenant down through the ages, and makes it new again in our covenant with one another.
God first made this
covenant with Noah after the Flood, and gave the rainbow as a sign of it. Then,
God promised to bless all humankind through a covenant with our spiritual
parents, Abraham and Sarah. It was affirmed when the people of
We will make our covenant as a fulfillment of all these ancient promises from our Creator. However, our covenant will also have to do with the future when God's covenant is fulfilled in a world of peace. The prophets, Isaiah and Jeremiah envisioned that a day was coming when the knowledge of God's covenant would reside in the heart of every woman, child, and man. In us, the Holy Spirit creates a community within this ancient promise and hope. Revelations 21:1-27; Isaiah 9:6-7, 42:1-4, 11: 1-9; Jeremiah 31:31-34.
So, while this May seem like an arranged marriage, and while our enterprise May seem somewhat like a business, and although we are an agency, the best way to describe the time ahead of us as congregation and pastor would be to say: We are among those who have been drawn together by the Holy Spirit into a covenant in Christ's name to do the work of God.
r.a.k. 07/01
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The church's chaplain-outreach to the unchurched. ecclesicakes A007
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Mark 2:15-17; Luke 4:25-27; 11:25-28
In my work as a pastor in small rural and tourist towns, I came to see that my work, and that of my colleagues, included duties not spoken of in my settlement, or written into the congregation's statement of mission . These duties came within what I called the role of chaplain to many members of the larger community who were outside the congregation's membership.
I found this ministry to be a compassionate outreach and evangelical ministry, which I shared with congregations. In this ministry the congregations and I acted out and spoke the Good News through weddings, cooking for receptions, grief work, pastoral care and friendship.
It was "evangelical" in the original meaning of being a messenger of the Good News of God's love through Christ. So, while the congregation would very much wanted to have these unchurched with them in the community of the church, their motivation in this ministry was clearly nothing other than loving their neighbor, believing that God was ahead of them leading the way in loving these people.
Very often, members of the congregation took the lead in this work, knowing before me of a need in the community, and acting on it. Many times my involvement was at the direction of a member of the church.
The following examples of this ministry will sound familiar to many of my colleagues. I remember, for instance, the Churchwomen's response to the plight of a young unmarried woman who gave birth shortly after the accidental death of the baby's father who was killed while driving under the influence of alcohol. The young woman was a stranger in our town, having moved to the community to take a job in a local hotel. The family of the baby's father had no connection with the church, although everyone knew them.
The congregation's response was immediate and compassionate. I was phoned and told of the situation: "Would I visit in hospital the dead man's brother who had been badly injured in the accident? Would I make contact with the baby's mother and the parents of these young men?"
The women of the church had already sent two of their members to the young woman to ask what her needs were, and were planning a baby shower.
On another occasion, the Pastoral Committee asked me if I would conduct a wedding for a non-church couple from a low-income community on the edge of town. I agreed to meet with them to discuss the meaning of marriage and the order of worship for a Christian wedding. We found that their view of God was not essentially different from my own, which I must confess is rather undogmatic. So, we found common ground for proceeding with the wedding in the church building.
One night my sleep was broken by a phone call from a young woman of our congregation: "This is Margaret Brown, would you come to the home of my friend, Jane and Robert Smith? A train accident has killed their two children, and her parents." Margaret and I ministered to this family for the next two weeks.
As you can see, Chaplaincy was very much an accepted part of these congregation's mission. This not to say that we did not, on occasion, feel "being used," and angry toward our unchurched neighbors, or feel disappointment that we were not able to bring these folk within the fold of the church. After all, we were human, and sinners to boot.
On a few occasions this work did lead to the people served coming into the church. One particularly moving incident was the baptism of a father and son who had lost their wife and mother through cancer.
I know that some Churches do not have this tradition, and choose not perform a wedding for non-members, and they see any contact with the unchurched as an opportunity for quite assertive proselytizing. Recently, I have heard members of my own denomination advocating that we stop our present practice, and offer pastoral care to members of our congregations only, or make "joining the church" a condition of receiving our ministry.
I hope that we never take this step. Rather, I would propose that where they have not already done so, congregations study this ministry and its roots in the ministry of Jesus, celebrate this calling from God, and write it into their Mission Statement.
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Covenanting at the beginning of a
year of a
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Liturgist to congregation: We are at the beginning of a new year of Church school and a fresh curriculum. To carry out this God-given ministry with children requires the commitment of us all: parents, teachers, congregational members and church staff.
Because we believe that this is a vocation from our Creator, the story-telling God, who calls us in the name of Jesus to communicate the Gospel through the art and discipline of story, I invite you to participate in the following litany of commissioning.
Church school student a):
We students are glad that you are doing this with us.
We look forward to being on
a quest into the stories of our faith,
In which we will learn about
the saints of every age. It sounds like fun!
Ch. Sch. Student b): this is one of the ways by which God enables us to grow and develop so that we ourselves become stories of God's Love.
Teachers: We are pleased
to be in this ministry with children and to be in a partnership with you
parents who desire that your children to have this experience.
We thank God for calling us
into this ministry in Jesus name.
A parent who is not a
church school teacher: Through preparation of yourselves, by planning teaching
materials, and by preparing the classrooms, you teachers have already given
many hours to this ministry. Through the coming seasons, you will devote your
time each week to the adventure of exploring Holy Scripture with the children
of this congregation.
On behalf of the
congregation and especially the parents of these children, I give you our
thanks, and recognize your commitment.
Lit: (Invite all to stand, as they are able) We all are called In the name of Jesus, to have a part in this church school quest. Parents, and other members of the congregation, you are called to the support of the church school, and to encourage our children as they go on this quest.
Students, you are called to the adventure of exploring and learning.
Teachers, you are called to the ministry of Story Teller.
Lit: Therefore, I ask you
parents, students, teachers, and other members of this congregation, do you
accept this high calling, will you carry out your
particular role in the ministry of the
All - We do, and we will.
Lit: In communion with the saints of every age, I commission you all.
Let us join in a unison prayer:
O HOLY CREATOR GOD, AS THE BODY OF CHRIST WE OPEN OUR HEARTS TO YOUR HOLY SPIRIT.
COME IN AND FILL US WITH A SENSE OF WONDER AND ADVENTURE.
WE KNOW IT WILL BE EXCITING AND FUN TO BE ON THIS QUEST WITH YOU. Amen.
r.a.k. 7/01
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Congregational Litany for Opening of a Church School Year ecclesicakes A107
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Liturgist: We are gathered here as a People of Story
Congregation: It means that God speaks to us
through stories.
It is through stories that
we come to know of God's love,
and what God wants us to be.
Lit: Yes, that is true. God shows God's Love and challenge through stories.
School b): Like, what stories? I think I
know the answer, but I want to hear what you say.
Cong: The story of Joseph and his cool
coat,
The story of David who
bonked Goliath,
The story of Miriam who
saved a baby from the wicked government,
The story of Teen-aged Mary,
who took courage and said to God, "Yes, I'll do it!"
All the stories about Jesus,
And many others.
School b): you didn't mention the parables
Jesus told.
Cong: O.K.! And the parables Jesus
told!
School a): So, we are a People of Story.
We have stories that tell us
of God's love, and what God expects of us?
Cong: Yes that's it!.
Schoolb): Are there other stories that make
us a "People of Story?"
Cong: Yes, there are other
stories!
There are the stories of the
saints and heroes who lived after the days that the Bible tells of.
Some of them are alive even
today.
Sch: b): Name some for me.
Cong: There is Francis of Assisi, who
loved all creatures Big and Small,
There is Mother Teresa, who
looked after people that nobody else cared about,
There is Lester Pearson the
Canadian politician, who won a Nobel Peace prize
because he put forward the
idea that armies could be used to make peace instead of war,
Sch. a): You didn't mention Terry Fox, or
David Mctaggert, the Canadian who began Greenpeace.
Cong: No, we didn't, and there are so
many more.
Lit. Each of us is a story too.
God can speak to the world
through the life of each of us.
Sch. a): So, our own lives are stories
through which God speaks to the world.
Cong.: Yes, we are stories that
tell of God's grace
Sch. b): there are so many wonderful stories through which God speaks.
Sch a): So, we have gathered here today
as people of story.
Let us open our ears, eyes,
hearts, and our minds to the stories of the Bible,
Sch. b): and to the tales of the saints and of today, and of long ago!
Lit & Cong.: Indeed! Let us open our selves so that these stories will enter us and transform us into living stories of God's Love, and Grace and Call.
r.a.k. 07/01
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Mary Remembers. ecclesicakes A108
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A Christmas play in which an elderly Mary tells the Nativity to her grandchildren
inspired by a play by Carol Christians
Characters in order of appearance: Narrator, Gabriel, Elderly Mary, Judith and Samuel (her grandchildren), Young Mary, Joseph, Shepherds, Magi.
Mary Remembers. ecclesicakes A108
Scene I
The stage is bare except for the stools necessary for scene 1. Above stage at back is an unlit star. Offering plates are set near the front where they can found by Magi in scene 3.
Carol
While the carol is being sung,
Young Mary, Joseph, Shepherds and Magi enter and sit in the rear pew. Then, Gabriella and other angels enter and sit on tall stools at the back of the stage.
After the carol and when congregation is seated:
Narrator: "Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Please accept this offering of us humble players. Like our ancestors before us we mark this holy season by playing an enactment of the Birth of Christ. Let us begin with prayer: "O Holy Spirit, we ask you to use our play to bring Christ into to the hearts of each of us."
Now, let us begin. We invite you enter this play by going in imagination back to the year 40 AD. Yes, back to the time just 40 years after the birth of Christ, and about 6 years after Jesus' death and resurrection. Mary, the mother of Jesus is nearly sixty years of age. Her husband Joseph died while Jesus was a teenager.
In our pageant today we
will listen in as Mary shares her memories of the events surrounding the night
Jesus was born. We will hear her tell of being visited by the angel Gabriel. We
will listen as she tells of the trip to
Here comes Mary now, with her grandchildren, Judith and Samuel."
Elder Mary, Judith and Samuel. Enter from the back of the sanctuary. They proceed hand in hand up the aisle. Mary sits in a wooden chair at one side of the stage. Judith and Samuel sit on cushions on one side of her. On the other side of Mary is a beautiful wooden box with a lid. All are well within view of the congregation.
EMary: I am so glad you have come to visit me. Judith moves to the box and opens the lid, and takes out a figure of the angel, Gabriel. She holds it up in a way that allows the congregation to see it. Samuel follows her and takes out a figure of a Magi."
Judith: "Tell us again about the angel, Gabriel, coming to visit you."
Samuel: "I like the part about the Magi!"
EMary takes the angel from Judith: Judith and Samuel move to cushions. "This is the story of the birth of your uncle, Jesus. I have told it to you many times. It begins with the angel, Gabriel. It was a long time ago, I was barely eighteen."
Young Mary enters and sits on a low stool on the opposite side of the stage, carrying some needlework, which she works on. Gabriel (whose costume is like that of the figure EMary is holding) comes to stand beside Young Mary, who does not see the angel. "Mary." YMary is startled, jumps to her feet and drops her needlework. Gabriel and Ymary hold this pose during the following reading.
Reader 1. Gabriel visits Mary. Luke 1:26b-32a; 34-35.
Gabriel returns to stool.
YMary remains on stool, pondering what she has heard, and agreed to.
Samuel: "I wish I could see an angel. I can't believe you weren't scared!"
EMary: "Me too. All I felt was calm, and a strong sense that God was with me."
Judith: "Then, an angel came to Grandpa Joseph too, right?"
EMary: "Yes."
Joseph enters and stands facing YMary. She stands and they pose facing one another for a moment, then Joseph turns quickly away from YMary. YMary sits with her back to Joseph.
Joseph undoes bedroll and lies on it. He sleeps.
Gabriel comes and stands at Joseph's feet.
Reader 2. Matthew 1:18-24.
Gabriel returns to stool.
Joseph comes to Ymary, touches her shoulder, she turns to him. He takes her hand, and they exit together down aisle. EMary: "Your grandfather and I were amazed at all this. We knew that God had chosen us each to play a part in the birth that would bring hope to all people. Our child would bring great joy to the world."
Judith: "Uncle Jesus
was born in
EMary: "Yes. We had to go there
for the census. It was along trip from
Scene 2.
EMary, Judith and Samuel remain in place.
Props. Manger is set in place at centre front. Swaddled Baby Jesus figure is set behind it out of sight of audience. The bedroll is laid our in front of the manger. stool on which YMary sat is removed.
Reader
3. Luke 2:1-7.
Mary and Joseph in
YMary and Joseph enter down aisle and proceed to manger, and kneel on bedroll. (note. Mary can be riding on a "donkey" of some fashion). Carol sung by congregation, Gentle Mary. Screen. As carol is sung, two angels hold quilt as a screen between Mary and Joseph and congregation. While screened YMary takes Baby Jesus figure into her arms.
Star above stage is now lighted (plugged in?). At the end of the carol, when the screen is removed, Joseph and Ymary are admiring their newborn child. After a moment, Mary places Jesus figure in manger, and covers him with a blanket. Samuel: Reaches into wooden box and brings out Shepherd doll figure.
Samuel: "This is the part about the shepherds, right?"
Emery: "Yes, it is. You know the story well!"
Reader 4. Luke 2:8
Shepherds enter down aisle, and take their place on stage opposite to EMary and her grandchildren. Some stand some sit. Two point to the heavens.
Reader 5. Luke 2:9
Gabriel and other angels come to shepherds to announce the birth of Christ.
Reader 6. Luke 2:9-14
Gabriel and other angels sing: Go Tell It On the Mountain.
Gabriel and other angels return to back of stage.
Reader 7 Luke 2:15-19.
Shepherds come to kneel at manger.
Shepherds move to side of stage opposite EMary.
Judith: "That's cool. I'd like to be shepherd if an angel spoke to me.
Did you stay in that manger for a long time?"
EMary: "No. The next day the
Innkeeper found us an apartment. We lived in
YMary and Joseph exit to front pew with Jesus figure.
Scene 3
Carol sung by congregation, Away in a Manger. Props. Manger and bedroll are replaced with a cradle and a stool for YMary to be seated on at centre front.
YMary and Joseph enter with Baby Jesus figure. YMary sits in stool. Joseph stands beside her. Joseph carves at a large piece of wood. YMary places Christ Child in the cradle and rocks it.
Samuel: "So, then the Magi came?"
EMary: "Yes, wonderful and
mysterious visitors from
Judith: Reaches into box and brings our a Magi doll figure. "They were following a star, right?"
EMary: "Yes, you are right again.
Every night there was this bright star in the sky above
Reader 8. Matthew 2:1-12
Magi enter up the aisle, and place gifts reverently at the Christ Child's cradle, and remain kneeling there as Narrator announces offering
Narrator: "The Wise Magi have offered their gifts. Now let us offer ours. The offering will now be received.
Magi (and ushers?) take up offering of the congregation and return it to the front near the cradle.
Narrator offers a prayer of dedication.
Magi sit or kneel on the stage.
EMary: "I think it is our bedtime now. Let's go." Judith and Samuel stand cling to EMary: "O no! Tell us more stories about Uncle Jesus!"
EMary: "I promise that I will tell you more stories tomorrow. I will tell you more stories if you promise to tell them to your children and grandchildren."
Judith and Samuel: "O.K. that's a deal grandma!"
Congregation sings, Tell Me the Stories of Jesus - two verses.
EMary, Judith and Samuel return figures to wooden box. Narrator asks the players for suggestions for prayers of thanksgiving and intercession, then uses this for a brief prayer. Congregation sings, Joy to the World.
Commissioning and Benediction.
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Spanking ? ecclesicakes A113
Matthew 18:1-5; Matthew
ch.27
A Response to a pro spanking
column in a newspaper
for other child related articles click here
Last week a group of
Christians argued that parents have a right to spank their children, and the
state has no business interfering with this right. I disagree. In
When my
children were toddlers I did use my power over them to hit the. I did spank my children, and I am
sorry every day that I did so. I am now a grandfather with children who do not
hit their children or anyone else. I find this new atmosphere of no-
hitting-allowed to be wonderful. These young parents find other non-hitting.
This does not mean they use psychological abuse in place of hitting. Rather,
they treat their children as full members of the family and speak with them
about respect for one another. There are times when my grandchildren do strike
one another. At such times they are restrained and reminded that in their
household no one hits anyone else or speaks disparaging to them.
It has shown me that my
grandchildren can be taught and disciplined without being hit, and with love
being shown. Patience and care-filled instruction beats hitting every time.
There are times when my grandchildren misbehave in ways that causes within me
the urge to hit them, but I have learned that there is a better way.
I have come to believe
that children have the same rights as the rest of us. We would not tolerate a
boss hitting an employee in the supermarket, or adults striking one another at
home at home or at work, so why should we tolerate a parent striking a child?
Also, I have come to see
that a more powerful person hitting a less powerful person is no way to build a
world of peace. The might is right logic is being played out in many places in
the world today. While it may seem to bring a temporary peace, it cannot be the
foundation for happy family or society or world, because at bottom there always
is the background right of the strong to employ violence to enforce their will
and take over.
On the week this was
written, the world was trying its first national leader for the way he struck
his people. This is no time to advocate spanking.
From
a Christian point of view, I have difficulty in seeing the Jesus who
called children to him and who saw them as models for the faith, would want us
to hit them. (Lk. 18:15)
Take Care, I hope no one
hits you today.
Bob Kayes
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Holy Stepping Stones to Christmas A 204
Advent/Christ. Eve.
Candle lighting
for other Advent-Christmas articles click here
This material is arranged to help worshippers see Advent in the context of some particular revelations of our Judeo-Christian heritage (Creation, Noah, Abraham & Sarah, Miriam and Moses, Isaiah, the Gospels), . You are invited to use it as it is or to adapt, expand, or change according to your own insights.
People receive a personal candle as they come in
Introduction to the service, opening prayers and Carol or hymn.
First Lesson: This evening we stand at the doorway to Christmas. We are about to enter the mystery of the Creator coming to be among us as Mary's Child, Jesus.
As we pause at this moment before the birth of Christ, I invite us all to remember that God is the Source of our being; we are God's own creation, made from Holy love.
Our first lesson is a selection from the Bible's poetry of our creation. Let us listen and know from whom we have come.
-
(In bulletin, print brief synopsis of each reading where it is listed)
-Prayer, confessing that we are creatures of God's making.
Creed: for instance, the "New Creed" of the UC of Canada
-Carol or hymn
- Light 1st Advent Candle
Second Lesson: Our second lesson is from the story of Noah and the Flood. This story tells us that God caused the great flood to cleanse the Earth because the wickedness of humankind was very great.
However, after the flood, God made a promise never to do that again. We are not to be afraid that God will bring great punishment upon the Earth ever again.
-
So, in the end, the Flood story teaches us that the Creator is not a God of wrath and punishment, but rather a God of new beginnings. The rainbow is the sign of that promise.
-Prayer of Confession
(communal), and assurance of Grace.
O God of righteousness,
generosity and grace,
We recognize that we live in
an era
That has turned from you in
many ways.
We have become a
nation which places money,
Material gain and tax cuts
ahead of public services
and Care for our neighbours who are sick, or poor or young.
We confess that in our
personal lives,
We are liable to get caught
up in these materialistic values.
We prone
to becoming deaf your call to compassion and equity.
Therefore on this holy
night, we, like Noah,
Open ourselves anew to your
promise of grace
Committing ourselves to the
new life you offer,
Patterned after your Truth
in Christ.
-Carol or hymn
-Light 2nd Advent Candle
Lesson three: Our next lesson tells us of the new way God will work with humankind. God now decides to begin with one faithful family, and through them and their descendents, God will bless all humanity, and the Earth itself. Beginning with this one family and their faithfulness, and their shortcomings, God will lead us all to fulfill the purpose for which we were created.
Let us listen then to the
story of God recruiting Abraham and Sarah, and Hagar to be the founders of a
great and wonderful enterprise of blessing.
-Reading: "Our reading
begins with God inviting Abraham to be a pioneer"
Gen.12: 1-5; 17:1-6;15-16:1-3.
Prayer (communal?), thanking
God for calling Abraham and Sarah, and for inviting us to be a part of this
enterprise in the name of Jesus.
Enable us, O pioneering God,
To be faithful descendents
of Abraham and Sarah.
Help us to leave behind the
ways of rejection
As experienced by Hagar and
Ishmael,
And to form a new society,
and personal life
In which all people will be
valued as your children;
Sisters and brothers of Mary
and Jesus.
-Carol or hymn
- Light 3rd Advent Candle
Lesson four: In the years
between Sarah and Mary the mother of Jesus, the descendents of Abraham and
Sarah became a tribe living in
But later, after Joseph died, the Egyptians made slaves of them.
They were given very hard labour. So, they cried out to God in their distress. God heard their cry, and rescued them from bondage through Moses and Miriam.
Once they were free from
servitude in
God used this time to teach them that their God is a God who rescues them from bondage, and gives them rules on which to build a faithful community.
-
The second comes from the
time after the people escaped from slavery, and are camped at
"Jesus was later to sum up these rules in one commandment; "Love one another." John 13:34
-Prayer (communal?), Thanking God for bringing us from bondage into a community built on love, and from tyranny into the rule of law:
O Liberating and
Community Creating God,
Where we are enslaved, set us
free;
Where there is tyranny in
our lives, give us communities of mutual respect.
-Carol or hymn
-Light 4th Advent Candle
Lesson Five: After
receiving the 10 commandments, the people migrated from Sinai into
So, God sent prophets among the people to tell of this New Day that God would bring into being.
Isaiah 11:1-9
"Christians believe that in Jesus Christ God came among us to usher in the start of this New Age."
-Prayer
May the vision you gave to Isaiah, become our vision too.
Enable us to deal openly and fairly in our disagreements and conflicts.
Make us to be a people of peace with justice and of love with caring.
-Carol or hymn.
Lesson Six: Now, let us step into Christmas.
-
-Light Christ Candle, and the people's candles
-Carol
-Closing Prayer, Commissioning and Benediction
Be born in us this night, O Christ, Come and occupy our minds,
Our hearts, our wills. Let your thoughts be our thoughts, your hands, our hands.
May our whole being be an expression of you, O Christ, on this night and throughout the year to come.
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We are God's Garden ecclesicakes
A208a
May be used with sermon A405
for other summer articles click here
The
Gathering of God's People
Introit
Welcome
A Time For Centering
Ourselves in the Love of God. You may say silently to yourself:"I
am God's beloved creation."
Hymn,Morning Has Broken. Tune, Bunesscan.
Words, Eleanor Farjeon 1934.
Opening Affirmation of Faith:
In the beginning, O God, you
fashioned a universe.
Each star and planet had its
beginning in you. Out of the void, you brought light and life. Through eons of
creativity, you have acted, and today we are here, inheritors of an amazing
process, tiny specs in the limitless reaches of time and space.
And you are here, waiting to
greet us.
As you acted in our baptism,
you are acting still to make all things new within us and among us. O Generous God, let your light awaken us and your Spirit empower us for
faithful living. Amen.
Sung Response: "Spirit,
be our breath of life"
Tune" "Michael row the boat ashore"
Spirit, be our Breath of
Life, Al-le-lu-ia ! (x2)
Spirit, be our wind of
change, Al-le-lu-ia!
(x2)
Spirit, help us live God's
love, Al-le-lu-ia! (X2)
Sharing The Peace of Christ
May the peace of Christ be with you.
And also
with you.
We Listen for God's Word
in the Testimony of our
Ancestors in the Faith
Hebrew
Scripture:
Genesis 1-2:3
Here ends the reading.
Thanks be
to God.
Psalm 139
Reflection: Summer Sermon Series I - "Garden"
Responding to God's Word
Hymn No.
291
All Things Bright and Beautiful
We Present Our Gifts
Prayer of Dedication
Life and Work of Our
Congregation
Prayers of the People
Sending Forth of God's
People
Hymn, Guide Me, O Thou Great
Jehovah
Celtic Blessing:
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 swirling
stars to you.
Deep peace
of the God of peace to you.
Deep peace
to you. Amen.
Closing Chorus," You
Shall Go Out With Joy." Tune, Trees of the Field.
Words, Is. 55. S.G.Rubin 1975.
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An Order of Service on the theme of picnic ecclesicakes A208
May be used with
sermon, Picnic A408
for other summer articles click here
The Gathering of
God’s People
Introit
Today we will continue our
exploration into some of the common themes of summer and how they connect with
our faith. today is the theme is picnics!
Centering Ourselves in the Love of God
As we prepare to worship God
I invite you to take a moment to focus on the basket of goodness. Remember a
time of God’s abundant goodness to you... center yourselves in
God’s goodness.
O abundant god, we gather to enjoy a feast of your grace, a picnic of your love. This morning each of us bring a basket filled with memories of your nourishing blessings to share with others. by your holy spirit receive us and all that we bring to your feast.
Hymn God, We Praise You for the Morning
Opening Prayers (adapted
from prayers by Keri K. Wehlander)
An invitation so unexpected,
we accepted, in spite of ourselves.
O God, teach us how to be a
joyful people.
We arrived and are anointed
with laughter and clothed with wonder.
O God, teach us how to be a
joyful people
Voices shared glad tidings,
good news.
We danced the steps of
innocence and wisdom.
O God, teach us how to be a
joyful people
Kites high into the blue
skies,
sowed bright mirth into
circles of friends and strangers.
O God, teach us how to be a
joyful people
This banquet of humble mysteries
nourished our spirit’s yearning.
O God, teach us how to be a
joyful people
With a heart of love God welcomed us.
O God, teach us how to be a
joyful people
These gifts, so unexpected,
a giver so insistent,
we accepted, in spite of
ourselves.
O God, teach us how to be a
joyful people
Jesus taught that bread was
meant to be shared,
and that all are welcomed at
God’s picnic.
In our sharing, in our
welcoming, in our remembering we celebrate God’s gifts to us with a
joyful heart. Amen.
Sung Response:
“Spirit, be our breath of life”
Tune” “Michael row the boat ashore”
The Peace of Christ
May the peace of Christ be with you.
And also
with you.
We Listen for God’s
Word in the Testimony
of our Ancestors in the
Faith
Psalm 126
Anthem
Gospel
Matthew 15:32-39
This is Testimony to the Gospel
According to Matthew.
Thanks be
to God.
Reflection Summer Sermon
Series IV- “Picnic" A408
Responding to God’s Word
Hymn No. 299 Teach Me God to Wonder
We Present Our Gifts
Prayer of Dedication
Life and Work of Our
Congregation
Prayers of the People
God invites us to be seated
and partake of the food and drink of love and dignity. that
we may be made bold to accept God’s invitation and feed one another as
well we pray...
God of picnics and good times in the midst of our abundance we remember our sisters and brothers who do not share in your earthly abundance. whose baskets are empty. we pray for:
* all your people that our life in You may be an endless sharing of our love with those who hunger and thirst for justice and peace.
* for those who are mired in unworthiness and refuse your invitation out of despair. that you may lure them out of their fears and give them the courage to be fed in love.
* for those who are searching for those tables where God’s is calling them to be fed.
* we pray for those who are homeless. whose children see the abundance in our world and yet go to bed each night hungry. we pray for the children who have never know the joy and fun of a picnic.
* for those who suffer in mind, body or spirit.
* those we name in the silence of our hearts.
Send forth your Spirit into our midst that we may know where you are calling us to be. give us courage to let you feed us. give us the strength to feed one another as Jesus has fed us all. Make us into a people who will love out the miracle of the 5,000.. sharing your grace in words and in actions. celebrating your abundant grace in all that we do....
We pray this in the name
of Jesus the Christ who taught us to pray.
Sending Forth of God’s People
Hymn Sing A Happy Hallelujah
Blessing
With God’s words in
your heart and on your lips
Go forth to be miracle makers.
May the love of God
Grace of Jesus the Christ
And the Communion of the Holy Spirit
Accompany you today &
always. Amen
Sung Amen
Closing Chorus No. 884
Voices United, "You Shall Go Out With Joy."
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Summer Series 2: Water/Beach Liturgy ecclesicakes A209
Sermon on this theme at A406
For other summer articles,click here
The Gathering of God's
People
Introit
Welcome
Centering: A silent moment
to focus ourselves in the love of God. If you wish you may repeat silently to
yourself:" God is Love."
Hymn, "Come, Let Us Sing." Tune, Forney.
Words by Jim Strathdee 1976
Call to Worship: Have one
person hold up a glass jug of water for all to see during the following:
One: In the beginning God
created the heavens and the earth. The earth had no form. Darkness covered the
face of the deep, while a divine wind swept over the waters.
All: Wade in the water. Wade
in the water, children.
Wade in the water. Wade into
God's blessings.
One: Jesus stood amongst the
crowds and cried out, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, for out of the
believers heart shall flow rivers of living water'."
All: Wade in the water. Wade
in the water, children.
Wade in the water. Wade into
God's blessings.
One: Loving God, as a
sign of cleansing and new life bless this water, drawn from the deep springs of
the earth. Through your ever active, creative love, may this gift of nature be
a fresh and restorative sign of your forgiving and healing presence.
All: Wade in the water. Wade
in the water, children.
Wade in the water. Wade into
God's blessings.
Place the jug of water in a
prominent place.
Sung Response: "Spirit,
be our breath of life" Tune, Folk Tune, "Michael row the boat
ashore"
Spirit,
be our Breath of Life, Al-le-lu-ia ! (x2)
Spirit,
be our wind of change, Al-le-lu-ia!
(x2)
Spirit,
help us live God's love, Al-le-lu-ia! (X2)
The Peace of Christ
May the peace of Christ be with you.
And also
with you.
We Listen for God's Word in
the Testimony of our Ancestors in the Faith
Psalm 23
Gospel
Mark 1:9-11
Response - Reader: This
is Testimony to the Gospel According to Mark
Congregational: Thanks be to God.
Reflection Summer Sermon
Series II - "Water"
Responding to God's Word
Hymn, "I Feel the
Winds of God Today." Tune Kingsford. Words, Jessie Adams 1907
We Present Our Gifts
Prayer of Dedication
Life and Work of Our
Congregation
Prayers of the People
O Holy One, we give you
thanks for the gift of your love which you shower upon us.
On this day when we reflect
on the meaning of water in our lives we give thanks for the waters of creation,
the waters of birth, of tears, of refreshment, of cleansing, of healing. We
thank you for the lakes and beaches.
O God, we pray for those who
are drowning in a flood of confusion and fear;. for those who thirst for love in the midst of difficulty,
suffering and loss;. for those in need of the soothing
and calm waters of healing;. for those suffering in
the storms of injustice, violence and war;. for those
we name before you in the silence of our heart...may they be buoyed up by your
love and compassion... may they know your constant presence with them...
Gracious God, we ask a
blessing on ourselves. May your love, like water, pour over our thirsty spirits,
cleansing, refreshing and renewing us. Jesus prayer...
Sending
Hymn," May the God of
Hope Go With Us."
Blessing: May the
God of Hope indeed go with us as we go forth to be agents of God's refreshing
waters, bringing grace to our neighbours.
Sung:
Amen
Closing Chorus,"You
Shall Go Out With Joy." Tune, Trees of the Field. Words, Steffi G. Rubin.
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Travel Theme Summer liturgy ecclesicakes
A210
may be used
with sermon at A407
for other summer articles click here
The Gathering of God's
People
Introit
We welcome all visitors with
us today.. Hope you find this time to be spiritually
refreshing time. Today we will continue our explorations of some of the common
themes of summer and how they connect to our faith. The themes we have so far
looked at have been gardens and the beach. today the
topic is travel!
A Time For Centering
Ourselves in the Love of God
Hymn, He Leadeth
Me
Opening Prayers Adapted from
a prayer by Shirley Erena Murray in "Go into the
World" in "Dare to Dream: A Prayer & Worship Anthology From
Around the World" (ed. Geoffrey Duncan, Fount Paperbacks, 1995.
One: O God of travelers, by
faith you have set us upon a journey past the landmarks that we know, taking
risks with no insurance but the Word that tells us 'go!'
All: Bless now, O God, the
journey that all your people make.
One: Friend or job or home
or lover we may need to leave behind, outworn truths and ways of thinking,
baggage to the past consigned.
All: Bless now, O God, the
journey that all your people make.
One: Some are swags of easy
conscience who with others hitch a ride, some are
tourist-package Christians, dollar-safe, with Book and guide.
All: Bless now, O God, the
journey that all your people make.
One: There are others on
this journey - those who long and pray and search, heave the stones to free the
structures, love the Christ and leave the Church.
All: Bless now, O God, the
journey that all your people make.
One: We are this unlikely
people in the body knit as one, company of clowns and cripples - some are wise
and some can run.
All: Bless now, O God, the
journey that all your people make.
One: Prophets are our travel
agents, gospel makers lay this road: to the place of peace and promise faith
will take us into God.
All: Bless now, O God, the
journey that all your people make.
The Peace of Christ
May the peace of Christ be with you.
And also
with you.
We Listen for God's Word in
the Testimony of our Ancestors in the Faith
Hebrew Scripture, Genesis 12:1-9
Here ends the reading.
Thanks be
to God.
Gospel Mark 1:35-39
This is Testimony to the Gospel
According to Mark.
Thanks be
to God.
Reflection Summer Sermon
Series III - "Travel"
Responding to God's Word
Hymn, "To Abraham &
Sarah." Tune, Thornbury, Words, Sylvian Dunstan 1989
We Present Our Gifts
Prayer of Dedication
Life and Work of Our
Congregation
Prayers of the People
O Faithful God on this day
when we reflect on the meaning of travel in our lives we give thanks for the
gift of your love which companions us always.
Pray for those who are lost
in confusion and fear... Who seek your loving companionship when the way is
made lonely by suffering and loss... who need restoration and healing for the
journey... who need your power to help them clear away landslides of injustice,
violence and war... those we name in the silence of our hearts... may they
travel in the safety of your guidance in this world and in the next...
As we continue on the
journey of life we ask a blessings on ourselves. Fill
us with gratitude for the power of your love... unite us with all who need your
loving touch through our care and compassion and on this day and in of our days
left to us may we know your constant presence as we seek to be a blessing to
others. As Jesus taught us we pray together...
Sending
Hymn, "One More Step
Along the World I Go." Tune, Southcote.
Words, Sydney Carter 1971
Blessing (adapted "Go
into the World" in "Dare to Dream: A Prayer & Worship Anthology From Around the World" (ed. Geoffrey Duncan, Fount
Paperbacks, 1995.
Go into the world: Dance,
laugh, sing and create.
Go into the world: Risk,
explore, discover and love.
Go into the world: Believe,
hope, struggle and remember.
Go into the world with the
assurance of God's love for you.
Sung Amen
Closing Chorus, "You
Shall Go Out With Joy." Tune, Trees of the Field.
Words, Is.5: SG Rubin
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The Whole World is in a State of Chassis A301
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Matthew. 6:24
Originally written for Eye Opener, a publication of Winnipeg Presbytery, United Church of Canada
Captain Boyle, in Sean O ' Casey's play, Juno and the Paycock, came home in despair one day and declared to Mrs. Boyle, "The whole world is in a state of chassis!" We say, "Exactly!" We perceive a general crisis in the world today; a crisis that has every aspect of life teetering on a point of imbalance, over the Maw of Chaos.
This dangerous condition is the unforeseen direct result of humankind's choice of values. Led by such "Think Tanks" as Canada's Fraser Institute, decision-makers in Government and Finance have convinced us to let the Market Place be our Guru; from the world of buying and selling we will be led to enact the highest values to which human enterprise can attain.
What a wonderful idea! No more do we need to ponder moral or ethical dilemmas; no longer will we be required wrestle with Holy Writ and its commandments regarding justice and love. Rejoice, rejoice at this good news! All we need do is let the market dictate, and all will be well with the Earth!
The chief brave venture to be inspired by our new messiah goes by the name, Globalization. The essence of this bold step is captured in the commandment: No rights shall be higher than the rights to make a profit. Its corollary is the dictum, that no national government shall put in place laws that prevent its resources (e.g. water, natural gas, and land) from being exploited by any entrepreneur. Furthermore, it is decreed that no people shall have a culture or identity outside that which can be bought and sold. Thus saith The Market!
Now, just thirty years later, we can tally up the results of this way to the good life, and conclude that we have arrived at a crisis or decision point. That is, do we continue in the present way, in which we destroy everything we touch, or do we reintroduce values that would control and direct the market place so that it is subservient to the welfare of the Earth and its creatures. It's the ancient call to repent, and follow the way that places the sustainability of the Earth, and its creatures as the highest value; the scale that weighs the worth of all human enterprise. r a k
Update: since the above was written, the Prairie Messenger has reported that St Michael's College in Toronto Ont. Is offering business executives a program that is intended to take them beyond "a bare bones business ethic to a discussion of their relationship with the wider community. Course organizer, Laurent Leduc, himself a former CEO of Olympia and York, says that "more and more companies are taking seriously the idea of a triple bottom line:" profit, employee relations, and the environment."
The Prairie Messenger, Vol. 78 no. 29. http://www.stpeters.sk.ca/prairie_messenger
Eye Opener http://www.escape.ca/~mclachla/eyeopener/
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THE VILLAGE
part 1, the Marketplace Becomes the Highest Value A302
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Matthew. 3:2; Matthew. 6:19-24
Once upon a time there
was a Village. Like all villages of that day, it had at its centre, a village
square. Each corner of the square offered its own special "goods" to
the citizens of the village. On western side, facing East
was the
Everyone agreed that all these things together made up the Good Life. Everybody needed them all. However, there were times when the Stewards of each of these Goods would smile smugly and say in private: "We know that we have the Goodest Good." You can easily imagine that the priests might say that, for what Good could be gooder than Heaven. But would you be surprised to learn that he Healers and Comforters also would at times consider themselves to be the of most value to the village, or the Presider and Mayor, or the Farmers, or even the Publicans, and creatures of the wild? The Good Brook simply babbled by, knowing that all had need of her. Of course there were times when the villagers treated each of them as if they were indeed the Goodest Good of all. The overall effect of this was a rough sort of harmony in the village, and the forest beyond it. The Stewards of each of the Goods got enough strokes to keep them happy to serve the people, and to leave the wild creatures to themselves.
Then one day a Clever Stranger came to town with a new idea. The Clever Stranger's idea was that there could be Winners in life. Many who heard this message felt as though they'd always known it. "Of course," said the Priests, "Those who get to heaven are the Winners!" "Yes," said the Healers, "They who are strong, fit and able are the Winners in life!" And so all the Stewards of the various Goods declared themselves to be the ones who could made everyone a Winner. One child did ask, "Who will be the Losers?" but no one paid any attention.
Now, the Steward who was most interested in the stranger's talk was the Merchant. The Merchant was so attracted to this new idea as to invite the Clever Stranger home, and after dinner ask: "How can I truly be the Winner?" "Well," said the Clever Stranger, "all you need do is convince half the people of your village that your Goods, and they alone, are the Goodest Goods, and that they will make Winners of you all!"
The Merchant and the Clever Stranger sat up all night planning, and in the morning, they set up in the Village Square a display of the Merchants finest wares, and they declared to everyone who passed by: "All those who want to be a Winner, come and possess these Goods!" In the beginning, only a few adopted this idea of the Winning Good. Most of the other villagers scoffed at first, but week by week more and more of the people came over to them. So, it was that having things, and eventually, gaining money, came to be considered the Goodest Good in the village.
At first, this change
escaped the notice of the Priest and Healer, Farmer and Mayor, and wild
creatures. The priest first noticed it, when a villager asked: "Will
coming to the
If you go the Village
today, you will notice how busy the square is, with many people running to and
fro in order to become Winners. If you go to the parliament you will find that
the mayor gives attention only to the Winners. If you stay a while you will
notice the emptiness in the
Also, If you look for them, you will find those who proudly wear the badge of the "losers." They will be weeping and singing, and plotting in the Spirit of Goodness to bring in a new day, when the village will once again recognize the value of many Goods. There are those who are beginning to declare in the streets, "Repent, the Realm of the True Good is at hand!"
Note: This article is continued below as A302cont.
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THE VILLAGE,part 2, Joan Paul Comes to the Village ecclesicakes A302cont.
Imagine Paul coming to our city as he did
Scroll up for part 1.
A302
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Easter 5, Yr. A. Acts
17:16-34
Over the years, The
Village developed under the influence of the philosophy, "The Bottom Line
is the Highest Value." To be sure this made the City and most of its
people materially prosperous. Shopping Malls appeared at the East End and
Of course, the Village
was now a city. Along with its new charter and
Then, there was the vast Population of Foreigners across The Creek. This territory became known as the Other World, or the Developing World. As its name implied, this population was not as "developed " as The City. Mind you, The City did its best to help the Other World by way of aid that was filtered through the offices of the Other World's incumbent Rulers. The city also tried to stimulate commerce in that Other World by mining its resources, and bringing them to The City or through the building hotels on the Other World's Beaches.
However try as they might, the Other World seemed stubbornly resistant to development. Not only that, it seemed that vast hoards of that world's population wanted to become citizens of The City. This required The City to build high fences around its perimeter, and to institute strict entrance requirements so that only those who had shown themselves able to live by The City's philosophy would be allowed in.
This is not to say that in general the citizens of the city were preoccupied with the Other World. No, until recently, no one except The Dissenters gave it any thought at all. However, recently there was among the people a growing uneasy awareness that terrible diseases were spreading untreated in that Other World. Some were puzzled upon hearing that the need for profit made most medicines beyond the reach of the Other World.
This was the state of affairs when history seemed to be about to repeat itself. As had happened once before, a charismatic stranger appeared on the scene, and began to gain attention. The Stranger was a television producer and author, named Joan Paul. She first appeared to Dissenters and one of the University professors who had their small screens tuned to her TV program, "Neighbours, " on Sunday evenings, or who had read her book, The Whole World, or discovered her Web Site.
Soon, she began to be seen on 30-Second Spots of the National News. which led to many more Citizens of The City tuning in on Sundays. Finally, she came physically into The City at the invitation of The University Department of Way-Out-Ideas, and a group of The Dissenters known as "People of the Whole Earth."
What was
getting people's attention was her startling views on the life of the planet,
and the origins of the universe. She began by pointing to the genetic evidence
that all humans on Planet Earth were descendants of One Black Mother from
Even more attention grabbing than these ideas was Joan Paul's assertion that essence of The Planet is Neighbourhood. The final chapter in her book and the concluding message of her TV program was an affirmation of the wisdom of the ancients who claimed that Love, Compassion, and Caring were at the heart of existence. She predicted that unless the City and the Other World learned to live as one neighbourhood on an organic planet, human life would become sick and violent, and finally be reduced to a few small angry groups scarping a meagre existence from a barren Earth.
The attention being given to her message was threatening to the City Council and the Chamber of the Bottom Line. So, they decided to invite her to speak to a gathering of city leaders where they could both put on display her unfortunate and dangerous assertions and denounce them as liable to undermine the foundations of modern society.
She began her address to the gathered Council, economic leaders by holding up a gold coin, and saying in a friendly and clear voice, "This coin can be either the Pied Piper which leads us to drown in a sea of avarice, or it can be a powerful resource in building a universal neighbourhood in which Love, Compassion and Caring are the highest values.
"In the West we were told this long ago by the wise ones of our spiritual traditions. Today it is essential that we apply these ancient values to our relationship with all life including the planet itself. To do otherwise is to invite certain disaster."
At the conclusion of her discourse, most of the City leaders angrily denounced her to the local press, but a few, just a few, asked her of they could speak with her some more.
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Altering the Environment as Original Sin ecclesicakes A303
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Roman 5:12-21 Lent 1, Y.r A
One of my favourite, though sometimes disturbing, television channels is, Discovery. I am intrigued by what it reveals about the development of the human species, and the life of other creatures with whom we share this planet. What's disturbing is that this is also a good way to learn about the effect human activity is having on our neighbour creatures. For instance, just a week ago they showed a documentary on the Noble Chimpanzee, a gentle primate from whom we might learn some things about resolving conflict. After about twenty minutes of viewing the Noble's community life and its home, the narrator raised what seems to be an inevitable question, "At the rate by which its habitat is being encroached on by Humans, will the Nobel be able to survive outside of zoos?" The answer always seems to be, "Not likely."
Because of the strange way my mind sometimes works, this got me thinking about Original Sin. Now this doctrine is not one I ponder very often. In fact, I usually question its truth. The Discovery Channel doesn't talk about Original Sin either, but as I watched this story of the Noble, this is what came to mind.
I think Original Sin occurred to me because the Discovery Channel has taught me something very important about ourselves. That is: one of the most significant differences between human beings and other creatures, is our ability to alter the environment to suit ourselves and our short term interests. When we do this we almost always take away from mammals, reptiles, birds, and plants (even some insects) what they need for a natural life.
I live with an example
this all around me on the plains of
We humans have been doing
this for a long time. It was well established before the time of Jesus. By
Jesus day the forests of Judea had all been cut, most animals in
If Original Sin is a state of humankind, then it seems to me that our consumption of the world is certainly a manifestation of it. More than that, I would put forth for our consideration the thesis that this is our Original Sin. This is the primeval trait that has led us to wreak havoc on creation, and it is the sin to which we are enslaved, and from which we need to break fee if we are to be saved. Romans 6:16-23, 8:22; Ephesians 2:10
Certainly, there have been (and still are) human societies which have sought to live in harmony with the rest of creation. However, the majority of humanity has disdained these cultures, sought to co-opt their leadership, and (except for a few cases) destroyed their way of life whenever they encountered them.
Could it be argued that the dominant cultures of humankind have broken the first of all the commandments given our species by the Creator God? We have taken the injunction to be stewards of the earth and its creatures as license to act as if human life is the only life that matters. This "original sin" has rolled across the planet for several thousand years and has brought us to this moment when we are in danger of destroying even our own life. Genesis 1:27-31; 2:15-17;.
If this is at all true, now is the time for repentance; the time to turn away from the brink we have come to, and join with the Spirit in order to return to the Creator who filled this world with such a wonderful variety of interdependent living things. 2 Corinthians 13:5-13; Galatians 5:16-26.
Update - In March of 03,
a CB TV program featured the results of a study of Grizzle bears near
r.a.k. 08/01
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" What to do with it, now that you've
got it?" A402
Xmas 1, all yrs.
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There is a question that comes to my mind every year right after Christmas. It is a question that may apply to any gift we receive - especially the ones we hoped for. My wonder is this: What will we do with Christmas now that I've got it.
Have you ever received a
gift that you hoped for, then were disappointed or not
sure what to do with it after you got it? A friend of mine had this sort of
experience when he was 8. That year, he lived on a farm in a remote valley in
southern
His grandmother told him, that if he did his chores, she would see. He knew that was a "yes," and of course he did his chores without being asked. Well, as you might have expected, on Christmas morning he found under the tree, an envelope containing a membership certificate, a club pin, and club rules and benefits. He gave Gran. a big hug, then immediately, went to a place where he could be away from his brothers to read the secret club motto and rules.
His heart was happy, for he now belonged to a group of other boys 8 to 12 years old! As he read the club rules he found that the main benefit of this club was he now had the privilege of wearing the club pin prominently displayed on his shirt, and whenever he met another boy wearing the club pin, he could greet that boy with the secret club salutation, "Mahooya!"
However, before a week was out, he realized that it was very unlikely that he would ever meet, another boy wearing the club pin in this valley. So, the little boy wondered what to do with the gift he had wanted so much. His heart sunk. Discouraged, he put the pin away in a drawer. He didn't wear it, but he didn't forget it entirely. Then, he got an idea. He went to his Gran and asked: When are we going to town?" Maybe he'd find a boy in town who belonged to the club.
So, the next time they left the valley to go to town for shopping, he put the pin on the front of his shirt, and studied every other boy's shirt front, hoping to meet a club member, and call out, "Mahooya!" He watched all afternoon and found no one. He was about to give up, and throw the pin away, when he did see another lonely boy, like himself seeking someone wearing the club pin. They awkwardly exchanged the secret salutation, "Mahooya!" and became good friends over bottles of soft drink.
I think that our after-Christmas experience can be similar to what this boy felt after he got his gift. We have received God's gift of Christmas, and now may wonder what we are to do with it. For instance, you may have experienced a special presence of God in your life, and in your home this Christmas. So now what do we do with that gift? Is there anyone I can share it with? We are told that early Christians shared their experience, by drawing the sign of a fish in the sand. Any Christians who saw it, knew then that they had met another "club" member. Maybe we need to wear pins that say: "ask me about my Christmas."
One way to answer the question, "What to do with Christmas, now that I've experienced it," is to look to the Christmas story, and ask how the characters given there acted in response to the gift of the Christ Child.
For instance, St. Luke tells us that the shepherds "made known what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them." For some of us, then, the answer to my question, "What will you do with it?" will be, "I will be like the shepherds, and share my experience. I will greet the world with this news." I'm sure we have some shepherds among us this morning. I pray that you will find someone ready to hear you, as the boy with the club pin found a friend to greet.
However, the shepherd's response to God's gift will not fit us all. For example, some of us may be like Mary. Luke reports that Mary's response was to "treasure all these things, and pondered them in her heart." Sometimes, I am like that. I experience some gift of grace in my life, and I treasure and ponder it in my heart. This does not mean a passive response, because we know that Mary fulfilled the role of mother raising and guiding this child; knowing both the joy and pain of that. Her action as parent was rooted and grounded in her treasuring and pondering. So, on this first Sunday after Christmas, some of us may be Mary's.
Others of us may find that our response to God's gift of Christmas is to give a gift ourselves as the boy's Gran did. In that regard we may be like the Magi. I think that to respond like the Magi is first, to seek for a sign of God at work in the world, then having found one, to use the gifts we have been given, in support of that action of the Holy Spirit -even if the Herod's of this world want me to act differently. So, some of us too, will respond to Christmas as the Magi did, offering our gifts and treasures for the advancement of God's Peace in the world.
Others of us may take
Joseph as our model. Joseph responded to God's gift of the Christ Child by
accepting the role of loving stepfather, and mentor along with Mary. What would
it mean to respond to Christmas like Joseph? I see Joseph protecting and
nurturing. Shortly after the birth of Jesus, the holy family fled to
The church is much in need of people (men and women) who respond to Christmas by committing themselves to the church; who care for, and support, and defend the church, and all its ministries. I know that many in the church are like Joseph.
Well, these are some of the ways that we may respond to God's gift of Christmas.
These are a few of the ways we can answer the question, "Now that we have this gift, what will we do with it?
May we find openings to respond to Christmas in the way that fits us, where we are in our life today, be it: telling of it, treasuring and pondering the wonder of it, seeking where God is at work in the world and giving of ourselves and our treasures, or caring for the church in sometimes hostile world.
My prayer is that each of us, having known the grace and love of God this Christmas, will wear it one our shirt fronts, looking for others with whom you can share this experience, and joining with them to use our talents in God's mission of Love and Grace.
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THE WORD MADE FLESH, A CHRISTMAS SERMON, A403
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This sermon was first
offered within the Church of the Deaf,
In this sermon my focus is a special gift of the Deaf Community. I want to thank you for offering me the special gift of your sign language.
I will try to explain. If my signs are not clear or maybe you do not understand my point, ask me. if I need help, I will ask interpreter.
I go to Bible Study every Wednesday. I meet with ministers from other churches. Some of us use other readings. One story has the English phrase, " Word made flesh." That means what? The phrase is like poetry. It is an image. It is not a true message.
English words are not body. English is written on paper, dead not alive, not body. Or English is heard, not seen. If I am in my room and my partner is in the kitchen cooking, we can talk but can not see each other. English is only sound, vibration,noise.
But sign language is body language. Sign language lives. It is real body language. When you speak your whole body is part of the language. The expression on your face; your posture; how fast you sign all help people understand. You can't write it on paper. You must see each other.
The English phrase "word made flesh" is like poetry. It means God's promise to send us a Saviour became true. Jesus is born. Jesus is flesh.
Jesus is there, a sign of God's promise.
Now when I watch sign language, I think of the English phrase "word made flesh". If I think of the English phrase I think of Jesus. They are connected.
For me, sign language reminds me of Jesus, both are the word made flesh.
Maybe sign language is God's gift to you to share with hearing people .
Maybe if hearing accept your language, hearing people closer to Jesus and
God.
I thank you for your gift.
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Bunny Rabbits and Resurrection ecclesicakes A404
Easter
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For using this with children see below
Prairie graveyards are good places to find prairie rabbits. They take shelter in the Lilac and Caragana that border many western rural cemeteries. So, I was not surprised to see one scurry between the headstones one Easter Monday as I conducted a graveside burial service over the body of a faithful Christian. Just as I was announcing the Christian hope of the Resurrection, a small brownish gray rabbit, as if on cue, hopped into view between neighbouring tombstones.
As I rode back to the church in the car of the undertaker, it struck me that bunny rabbits and resurrection belong together. In my childhood, bunnies and the Hope of the Resurrection were both a part of Easter morning. At the crack of dawn, we children got up to hunt for the chocolate eggs that the Easter Bunny had left, and took them hidden in our pockets to the Sunrise Easter Service to hear again the story of Jesus breaking free from the grip of death.
At some point in growing up I realized that both the Risen Christ and the Easter Bunny were ancient and enduring symbols of hope. Long, long ago in Briton when the people did not yet know about Jesus, they knew the Spirit in the new life which returned after the death of winter. They celebrated this new life in a spring festival they called Oester, and they chose the British Hare as the symbol for Oester. So, this is how we got our Easter Bunny!
Much later, when they learned of God the Creator, and of Jesus, they immediately saw Oester and Resurrection as two works of the one God. God was the source of the New Life that returned every spring out of the "death" of winter, and God was the author of the Resurrection, the assurance of life beyond the death of our bodies.
Over the Years, both these fulfilled promises have given me the courage to face whatever comes my way, knowing that I am in the care of a loving, renewing, victorious Creator.
So, now whenever I see a rabbit in a graveyard, that small creature and the graves of the saints, remind me: "We are not alone, We Live in God's world...;In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us."* God keeps God's promises. * Creed of the United Church of Canada r.a.k. 07/01
Some ideas for use with Children
Materials: stuffed toy or picture to represent the Easter Bunny, Easter egg; figure to represent Risen Christ, and empty tomb.
Assumption: If the children are under 12, they will not easily relate to abstractions, so whatever we do, it would be best if it were concrete.
Timing - consider using these two figures and their stories for at least two Sundays (Day of Resurrection, and Easter 2).
God gives us the Easter Bunny to remind us that God's world is getting ready to grow things. Do you have a garden at home, or farm fields? Do you help plant the garden? What kinds growing things will be in your garden? Etc. and continue if you wish to talk with the children about the birth of lambs and calves.
Then sing with the Children, and adults present: "All things Bright and Beautiful." Vs. 1
After the hymn, take up the figure representing the Risen Christ.
Now let me tell you about the Risen Christ as a gift from God...;. Share something of your understanding of the Resurrection that seems to you to be appropriate for the children. For instance: "God raised Jesus back to life to show us not to be afraid when a friend dies. Have you had anyone die in your family? A pet? How did you feel when (that person/pet) died. Sad? Yes, it is good to feel sad when someone dies. When Jesus died his friends were very sad, and afraid. Then God brought Jesus out of the grave, to show his friends that when we die, we are still with God. Then they had joy as well as sadness, and they were no longer afraid.
or
God raised Jesus back to life to show us that God's love is stronger than anything that can hurt people. Have you ever been hurt? Tell me how Jesus was hurt. God raised Jesus back to life to show us that God is stronger than any hurt.
Conclusion: sing verses 2&4 of hymn, "Christ is Risen, Yes Indeed!" 180 Voices United
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Summer
Sermon Series I - “Garden”
ecclesicakes A405
See order of service A208a
For any summer Sunday, Trinity Sunday Yr. A, Epiphany 1, Yr. B.
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Genesis chapters 1 and 2,
Psalm 1:3, 65:9-11,96:11-13
Resource: Does God Have a Big Toe? Stories About Stories in the Bible, “Partners,” Marc Gellman, Harper Collins Publishers, 1989
For today and for the next three Sundays my intention, during the sermon time, is to reflect theologically about some of the more common aspects of Summer, which many of us enjoy. This week I want to talk about Gardening, and next week, The Beach, then Holiday Travel, ending by reflecting theologically on the summer theme of Picnics.
Today, the theme is Gardens. How many folks here planted a flower garden this year? How about a vegetable garden? Did you start from scratch with seeds or did you plant seedlings? I have a friend who always starts his tomatoes from seeds. Sometime in the month of March he goes down into his basement and spend a joyous time “playing” in the soil, putting a few seeds into each of six seedling containers and giving each of these tiny pots of hope just the right amount of water. Once the planting was completed, he carefully places each pot in long trays and brings them upstairs where they could soak up the warmth and the goodness of the sun. Every day he checks his little plants with great anticipation, watching for the 1st little shoot to push its way up out of the soil. Finally, on or shortly after May 24 he takes the strongest of these seedlings to the garden. I believe this act of gardening; from the preparation work of buying soil, pots and seeds, to the planting and the watching and transplanting, was for him, an act of love and of hope...
I want to read to you a story about another gardener. It is small story that holds within it the seeds of a big idea. The story is by one of my favourite Hebrew Testament theologians, Marc Gellman. Now, before I read the story I want to remind us that both Jesus and the Biblical prophets were very fond of telling small stories about big ideas. Today we call these stories parables. I like to think of them as children’s stories because, in my experience, it is often children, who most easily get the point of the story.
So, I invite you to get yourselves comfortable to hear this story; close yours eyes if you so wish. As I read this story be alert to the big ideas, for there may be more than one, which has been planted into it.
[Read Mac Gellman’s,
“Partners” from Does God Have a
Big Toe? Stories About Stories in the Bible. ]
So, what do you think are
the big ideas within this story? [Write down responses when using in a
discussion group]
Each these insights you have shared, and probably a few more, which have not been named, comes to us through this story. For me the Good News in Marc Gellman’s story is this: we are BIG ENOUGH to work with God in this Holy’ garden. We are BIG ENOUGH to be entrusted with the awesome responsibility of making God’s garden grow and BIG ENOUGH to take the watering can of faith out of storage and to pour its contents into the world with care and generosity. When we all do this, we all can bloom where God has planted us.
Then, I might also come to understand, that we have a huge responsibility to care for and nurture this garden in which we have been placed. We are both plants in the garden and gardener, both creatures and partners in creation
This leads me reflect on our gardens in terms of faith and learn from them many things about the nature of God and about how we are to live.
For instance, when I pass by a garden, or work in my own little plot I may be reminded that I am one of God’s seedlings, and so is my neighbour; we are all a part of God’s garden.
Then, I often find myself judging gardens; assessing as superior those, which, in my eye, have the most attractive plants, and the fewest weeds. This can lead me to the startling conclusion that, unlike our gardens, God’s creation has no weeds, or favorite plants but all things grow together in Grace.
In this coming week, may you and I receive the nurture we need, so that we may bloom in such a way that we become seeds of faith and care which take root in our world, and give hopeful nurture to all God’s creatures.
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Summer Sermon/Story Series II -
#1,"Water" ecclesicakes
A406
Liturgical for this theme is at
A209
for other summer related articles, click here
Please acknowledge ecclesicakes
when using this material
Matthew 3:13; 4:18; 8:23;
8:32; 14:22. Mark 3:7f; Luke 5:1f; John 6:16f; 21:1f
May also apply to: Yr.
B, Baptism of Jesus, Ep. 5 Yr. A,Ep.3 Prop. 14 . Yr. C, Prop.
12 Ep. 5.
Bible Quest Yr. 2, session 7
I offer today the second sermon in a four part series, which aims to reflect theologically on some of the more common themes of summer. Last week the theme was garden today its the beach.
I begin with an observation and then a wonder; an observation and a wonder about Jesus and his experiences at the beach.
My observation is that
Jesus did not grow up by water. He spent his childhood at least a couple of
days walking distance from the
Which led me to wonder:
for a person who had not grown up by or maybe never visited a large body of
water, Jesus gave water an enormously important role in his ministry. At places
of water Jesus gave himself to the Good News, and called others to it. That is,
he was baptized and visited by the Holy Spirit, in the River Jordan, then
called the first disciples by the shores of the
He used an image of the
sea to describe the mission as fishing; being catchers of people! When he would
sit with the people to teach them about God and the realm of heaven, he would
often sit by the lake or in a boat on it. He enacted the Good News by calming
the storm at sea, and walking on water, and feeding the five thousand by the
shore of the lake. There was no lake or river near
Those of you who were here last week will remember that I read to you from Marc Gellman's book "Does God Have A Big Toe." that story was about a tale in the Bible - an interpretation of Holy Scripture through story.
Today I want to offer you
another story; a tale that comes from my wondering about Jesus' fondness for
water. I think he must have visited the
---------------Jesus' first trip to the Beach---------------
I invite you to imagine Jesus as a boy of about 10 years, a boy who is of average height, with dark brown curly hair, sparkling brown eyes and an olive complexion; a boy with a vivid imagination, or so the neighbours thought. This is a boy who loved to explore,and who could also be quite introspective, and open to the wonderment of all creation. He is the eldest child of Joseph the carpenter and his wife Mary
Now, picture this boy
racing his siblings home for supper and barely
outrunning a younger sister. After the supper blessing was offered, everyone
begins talking at once, passing food, pouring cups of water; such laughter and
joy. Then they all stopped talking as their father, Joseph,
put up his hand, and spoke with excitement: "I have a something
special to tell you. Your cousin Isaac is getting married to a daughter
of a
This announcement
started a buzz of questions: "How far is it? when
do we go? Are there robbers on the road? Is it true that there are monsters in
the
For safety, they would
make the journey with two other families and several merchants who traded their
wares along this route. This would allow them arrive in plenty of time to visit
with relatives and maybe, just maybe, go onto the great sea in their new
relative's fishing boat. As well as being the best fisherman on the entire
Can you imagine the hanging mouths and eyes wide as saucers as Joseph told them with a twinkle in his eye, of Cousin Isaac falling into the sea and being swallowed by a giant sea monster only to be spit back onto shore. Just like the story in the Torah of Jonah and the whale, their mother reassured them laughingly.
Such excitement! A trip
to the
On the evening of
the second day, this little caravan arrived tired and footsore on the crest of
a hill overlooking the seaside city of
Never before had Jesus seen such vastness or beauty. He watched as below him families gathered on the beach to share an evening meal with friends. Children of all ages were running and playing together in the shallow water, the sounds of their laughter and squeals of delight carried to the top of the valley each time a piece of sea weed caught in their toes. All this was enveloped in the setting sun's warm, red glow.
As he felt bathed in all this glory, Mary took his hand and quietly recited phrases from one of her favourite psalms:
"O Lord, where can I
flee from your spirit?
If I take the wings of the
morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
Even there your hand shall
lead me." (psalm 139)
Then Joseph led them in prayer, giving thanks for a safe journey.
Finally, the whole company recited together from Psalms :
"The earth is the
Creator's and the fullness thereof;
The world and those who live
in it;
For God hath founded it upon
the seas." (Psalm 24)
"God leads me besides
still waters;
God restoreth
my soul, restoreth my soul. "
(Psalm 23)
The young boy, Jesus, knew that he was standing in the presence of the Holy. He felt that Yahweh was showing him a glimpse of the way it would be in God's Realm, which would come about through the lives of very ordinary people, like his own family and those he saw at the sea shore below him.
Sensing the change in her son, Mary whispered in his ear, "Remember always, my precious child, that the Holy One's love for us is deeper and wider than this sea. Like the fishermen in the boats casting their nets for fish so you will one day be casting Holy's nets of love; you will one day be a fisher of people. You, my son, will one day bring God's people to the shores of God's realm and share with them a great feast, for this is your destiny."
As they descended into the city, Jesus knew these images would stay with him forever. In his heart he knew that he had been connected to the source of his being, a source that had filled his heart with wonderment and awe and his eyes with tears of pure joy.
---------------------------------------- Thus ends our story -----------------------------------------------
Though we do not know for
sure when Jesus first went to the lakeshore, I would like to believe it was
when he was a child. I like to think that it was through the eyes of a child
that he caught a glimpse of God's love that is wide and deep, like
As it may have been for the child, Jesus, when he visited the seashore for the very first time, may it also be for us. May it be that our time at the lake or the beach will connect us to the source of our being. May the water and the good companionship join us to the Holy One who created us out of love and for love.
When next you go to the lake. as you come around the bend or over the hill and you catch that first glimpse of water, stop, take a moment and as you gaze upon the water be aware that God's love for you is wider that the widest ocean, deeper than the deepest sea; be aware of the warmth of the sun as the warmth of God's love. If it is storming, know that God is there with you and will always be with you in all the storms of life. As you watch the children trying to scoop up minnows with their nets, know that, because of Jesus, we too have been scooped up into God's net, and know that you, also, are a precious child of God.
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Summer Sermon Series cont.
III - "Travel" ecclesicakes A407
See liturgical material at A210
for other summer related articles click here
Genesis 12-15, 16, 24,28,37; Exodus 2:17, 14; Ruth; 1 Kings 19; Ezekiel 12;
Matthew, 2:1, 13,4:1,12, 17:1,21:1; Luke 1:39, 2:1, 24:13; Acts 8:4, 9:32, 13:1
Yr. A: Lent 2; Palm Sunday; Proper 5, 14; Christmas; Epiphany, Epiphany 3, Epiphany last; Lent 1; Easter 3.
Yr. B: Epiphany; Visitation; Christmas; Easter Eve.;Proper 26.
Yr. C: Advent 4; Christmas; Epiphany; Easter Eve.; Proper 7,
Bible Quest Yr. 2 Winter: V; Spring: X.
If you are like many
Canadians, you would have been preparing for a summer vacation trip during the
months of April, May, June, July and August .
Statistics show that Canadians do a lot of travelling in the summer. We take
long trips and short ones, visits to relatives and family gatherings, we go on
weekend camping trips, some go to the lakeside others trek to the mountains or
the coast, some visit cities to attend events like the Fringe Festivals and
Folklore, and others fly to far more exotic lands like Europe, Australia and
the Far East, or cruise up the coast to Alaska. Some will be modern pilgrims
travelling with a tour to the
Travel was an essential part of the life and faith experience of our biblical forbearers. The Bible is full of travelers: Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca, Joseph, Moses and Miriam, Ruth and Naomi, King David, Elijah, Jesus, Peter, Paul, Silas, Priscilla. They all travelled at the behest of the Spirit, taking the message of a holy, faithful, righteous creator with them wherever they went.
Down through the ages this sort of travel has been a part of the spiritual life of the faithful outside the Bible too. Millions of people have embarked on holy travel known as pilgrimage. This morning I invite you to consider the spiritual spiritual dimension of your summer travel. Is it possible that our summer travel could be a holy trip or pilgrimage, made a the call of God and taking the love of God with you?
In our tradition, holy
travel began with Abraham and Sarah, our spiritual mother and Father. Their
travel was not of the summer holiday variety. It was more like the travel of
those who migrated to this land from Europe, Africa, or
Does this fit with your travel experience? If you have moved from one place to another, can you see your relocation as your response to the call of God? Or if it doesn't seem that God called you to move, could you say at least that God was with you as you were uprooted from one place to resettle in another?
Every year when I take to the road for a holiday, I see cars and trucks loaded to the brim and puling utility trailers. This reminds me that I am sharing the highway with people who, like Abraham and Sarah, have packed up everything they have, and are on the way to a new home. When we identify such travellers, it would be good to say a prayer for them, asking for their safety on the road, and a happy life in a new land.
The type of biblical
travel that was closest to our holiday trips, was the
trek to
I had a holiday trip that
was something like this last year. In September I went to
The holiday part was
fulfilled by being a gawking tourist taking in the sights of
So, I went to the seaside city of Portsmouth and stood on the sidewalk in front of the house my Grandma Kales lived in just before she married, then I went down to the docks and stood near the place from which she embarked for Canada as young mother with a babe in arms. As did this I brought to mind all the adventures, and trials that I knew would await her in the new land. I thought of her courage and faith, and how my very existence arose from her. This was a deeply moving spiritual experience.
Then, I went to
I know of another holiday traveller who travelled across the sea to seek out the church in which her parents and been married during World War II, and to touch the baptism font at which she had been Christened in that same church. This too was experienced as a sacred journey.
One friend of mine
returned from an organized tour to
I know of another families whose spiritual experience on holiday was
quite different. This families was a poor working
family, who saved up for two years to have one week in
Other families have told
me of the strong presence of God they found in their first site of the the Canadian Rocky Mountains, or when standing in awe at
the rim of the
So, I invite us all to reflect back on the holiday trips we have had, or are planning for his summer. Whether we travel across the continent or just down the road to the nearest park, may we, like our ancestors, know God's Holy Spirit as our constant companion, guiding us, and speaking to us in all that we do and see. Like them, let us begin each journey in prayer, and keep ourselves open to the presence of God's spirit in our fun, exploration and wonderment. May we all have spirit-filled travels, catching a glimpse of God in creation, in history, in play, and in being together with our travel companions.
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Summer Sermon Series
IV - "Picnics" ecclesicakes A 408
for other summer relates articles click here
Matthew 14:13-21; Mar 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-14
Yr. A: Proper 13; Yr. B:
Proper 11 &12.
Today we conclude our series, which connects some of the more common aspects of summer like gardening, the beach and travel with our faith. Today the theme is picnics. How many of you have been on a picnic recently. Or had family or friends over for a barbecue in your backyard, and did you at anytime during your picnic or get together feel really good as you and your friends and their children enjoyed playing games, and sharing stories and jokes?
Well, you know this simple act of getting together for hamburgers and potato salad, taking delight in each other is not just something we do when the serious business of prayers and worship is over. In fact, the spirit of a good picnic echoes and reflects something of our worship and of the Holy Spirit. Didn't Jesus invite us to be like children? Well, playing and eating are two things children do well. For Jesus, there was great wisdom to be found in merely being playful. For adults, play rejuvenates; makes us young again. When we gather for something as ordinary and as simple as a holiday picnic, we are expressing something of God's will for us; that we should form playful and sharing and graceful community.
My grandmother Kayes once
told me of the wonder and grace she experienced at her first picnic in
This morning I want to
tell you about a picnic in the bible. This picnic took place on a hillside by
the
----------------- -The Greatest Picnic There Ever Was- <A408>---------------
Now let me bring you into that picnic by imaging what it was like for of these 5000 men and his family.
Imagine that at this
picnic there was a man named Eli. Eli was a God fearing man who had been born
into a family of carpenters in occupied
At one time Eli had owned the piece of land he worked on. It had belonged to his grandfather, but he had to give it up when he could no longer pay the heavy taxes the Romans had placed on him. This was true of all the small landowners like him, who had lost their land and now worked for the Romans.
The priests had told him he lost his land because he had sinned before God. God took away his land to punish him. Although Eli had great respect for the temple priests, he just didn't know what great sin he had committed that would cause God to punish him and his children by making them poor. His children were so beautiful and innocent. As he gathered in the harvest, he wondered, "What possibly could they have done that God would curse them so?"
These were the thoughts that occupied his mind when he walked home for supper the night before "the greatest picnic ever." What sin could he or his family have committed that would cause God to turn away from them and make them to live in fear of the Roman overlords. Why would God make it so that they had barely enough to eat each day? Eli thought, "If only the priests could be more specific."
Now as Eli walked through the tiny village to his home he sensed that there was something different something unusual with the people. He couldn't quite put his finger on it but there seemed to be an air of expectancy, a tenseness that was unusual. It was as if something of major importance was about to happen.
That night at the table Eli's children Ruth and Simon were talking about the stranger who was coming the next day. "What stranger?" their father asked. "The Teacher," Ruth said. "The healer!" exclaimed Simon. Eli looked at his wife. "Do you know of what the children speak, Rachel?"
"The women at the well and in the market have talked of nothing else for three days. It is even whispered that this man is, well, is the. Messiah! They say he has performed miracles that only a person sent from God could do."
"Can he part the water of the sea like Moses?" asked Ruth.
"Or bring down the
walls of
"Well," said their mother, "They say he can turn water into wine and after he touched the eyes of a blind man, he could see again. Others say that he has actually risen the dead"
"And what is his name, this man who is whispered to be the Messiah, the one who raises people from the dead?"
"They call him Jesus of Nazareth."
Jesus of Nazareth!", exclaimed Eli. "Little Yeshua! He is a relative of mine, on my father's side. He came to a wedding here when we both were children. I remember his fascination with the sea and the fishermen who were mending their nets. Oh, how he talked with them. He would ask questions for hours. He seemed to eager to learn that I thought he would become a fisherman, but you say he is a teacher and healer? He was a curious one this cousin Jesus. Hmmm, so you say that he is comes tomorrow and that he may be the Messiah. Oh his poor mother, Mary, what a gift and a burden our great God has given to her to bear.
Eli thought for a moment then announced, "Tomorrow we go see cousin Yeshua!"
Early the next morning as Eli, Ruth, Rachel and Simon, set out for the village, they had much company on the road. There were hundreds of people, all going in the same direction as they were. There were friends and neighbours, village merchants and farm workers, tradesmen, strangers and their families: the young, the elderly and the infirm, and one woman being carried on a litter, all making their way to the hills above the sea.
With a smile on his face Eli wondered if anyone was working today and then wondered, with some apprehension, "What will the priests say and more pressing what will the Romans do when they find out that we have left our work for the day? There will be consequences he thought." Eli tried not to imagine in what form his punishment would take.
Then, quickly moving these thoughts out of his head, he wondered instead, "Will Yeshua remember me. It was such a long time ago and we were both children."
When they reached the place where Jesus was to be, Eli was amazed at the numbers of people who had already arrived. Never, in all his life, had he seen so many people assembled in one place. "Some must have come last night," he thought. At the back of the crowd, he noticed men he could identify as Pharisees.
With so many people, Rachel wondered where should they lay their blanket, and how were they going to find Jesus.
Then Eli saw him. There on a grassy knoll was Jesus, playing Catch Me if you can with a dozen or so children, laughing and running in circles, and swinging them in the air when he caught one of them.
In an instant Ruth was there with them, joining in the game as if she had known these children and Jesus all her life, so unafraid. "Oh, the innocence and freedom of children," Eli said to Rachel.
Can you imagine Eli's surprise when Jesus caught little Ruth up into his arms and looking into her face said, "Ruth, where is your father Eli?" And then looking toward Eli and Rachel, he smiled, his smile, so warm and inviting.
Then, he sat on a rock with the blue sky and the green sea as his backdrop and called to the crowd, "Let the children come to me for the Realm of God belongs to just such little ones as these." Opening his arms, he drew the children to him and blessed them.
Simon, who was twelve, moved closer to Jesus, but didn't sit with the children.
When Jesus lifted his head to speak, a hush came over the crowds so that his words were clearly heard by all those gathered on the Galilean hillside that day:
"Blessed are you,
who are poor, for yours is the Realm of heaven;
Blessed are you who are
hungry now, for you will be filled;
Blessed are you who weep
now, for you will laugh."
Later Eli was to recall: "What Jesus said was difficult to accept at first. He spoke of God's great love for us all. Then, as he continued, his voice touched our hearts. It was as if he was drawing out our deepest longings for a better life for our children and our nation, drawing out our hopes and our desires, telling us that we were of great value to God and to each other.
"On that day he invited us to believe, to open our hearts and believe the Good News, to trust in the Good News; the Good News that God loves us and will never abandon us."
Though it only seemed like minutes he must have spoken for hours, for by the time he was finished many of the children had fallen asleep and the sun was beginning to set.
Simon came back to his parents, and told his mother, "I'm hungry."
Rachel opened the food basket of fish and bread she had prepared, and whispered, "Eli, it is time to eat and yet our neighbours have no food, not even a loaf of barley bread. We can't eat in front of them, and we don't have enough for everyone. What are we to do?"
Eli handed the basket to Simon. "Take this to Jesus. Tell him the people are hungry. He will know what to do, and, Simon, bring your sister back with you."
Jesus friend, Andrew, saw Simon coming toward Jesus and rose to meet him. So Simon gave Andrew the basket and they went to Jesus. "My father said you would know what to do with this."
Jesus smiled at the boy, took the basket, and spoke to the crowd: "It is time for us to eat together as one family of God." Then he took five loaves of barley bread and two dried pieces of fish, and raised them for all to see, gave thanks to God and blessed them. As he broke the bread he asked Simon if he would help his disciples feed the people.
As the people ate they laughed and spoke of the words they had heard."We are blessed," they said, "and we are a blessing to one another."
When they spoke of God's love for them, they wept tears of joy. "God has not abandoned us," they said.
When the people were finished eating, Simon asked his dad, "How did that happen, how could so many people be fed when there was so little food, and there are leftovers?
"It was a miracle," said Eli, "a miracle. Jesus took the bread of the poor and transformed it into a heavenly banquet. This day we have witnessed a miracle from God."
As the people celebrated, Eli noticed his cousin Jesus get up quietly to leave the gathering, and Eli felt within himself a new power, and he raised his hand to bless his cousin Jesus. Jesus felt the power of Eli's blessing, and turned to him and smiled, "thank-you my brother, thank you and good bye." At that moment Eli felt a great sadness rise up inside him. In that instant he knew he would never see his cousin again in this world, and also, as a farmer, he knew that this Great Picnic was like a seed of the Realm of God which would grow to change this world.
-----------------------The end of the story---------------
For some people today miracles can be a stumbling block. We no longer live in an age where miracles are expected around every corner. Miracles today are carefully sifted and examined until a satisfactory scientific explanation can be offered. Feeding the 5,000, they would say was just people feeling good and sharing their lunch with those who have none. Well, maybe, maybe not. If it was, that in itself would be a miracle. When I see it happen in our world through the Canadian Food Grains Bank, I see a miracle.
For me, miracles, however we view them, are signs which help us to understand the character of God. They also point to great and deep truths for our living as disciples.
In the time of Jesus, miracles were understood as gifts from God to God's people, and perhaps that is how we should consider them.
In terms of the picnics we take part this summer, let us remember that every community picnic is like a parable of the Realm of God and a demonstration of how God wants us to live all the time
My intention these past four weeks was to help us to see, to understand, to believe; to know that God is with us no matter what we do or where we go. God is our companion on the journey.
As we get back to work to school and to all the business of the coming fall and winter, I invite you to take time each day to sit with God to breath in God's spirit; to infuse the knowledge that as you played, gardened, picnicked, and traveled this summer. God was right there with you and continues to be. Thanks be to God.
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The Magi's gift to Us ecclesicakes A409a
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Epiphany, Matthew 2:1-12
Introduction
An introduction to this Season may be given with the Call to Worship. A Visual aid to worship could be figures representing the Magi and their gifts - prominently displayed.
Today we enter the third season of the church year. After Advent and Christmas we arrive in Epiphany. Each of these seasons has its particular focus and imagery. The image of Advent was a young woman expecting the birth of her first Child. Then, the image of Christmas is the birth itself. Now, in this season of Epiphany the central image is gifts brought by the Magi (or Wise Men) who travelled from afar to adore this child.
Each of these seasons provides us with a focus both for our worship, and for our life in the faith. During Advent we were asked to become expectant; to move from being blase about God's presence in our lives, to a state of faithful amazement and expectation. Then during Christmas that expectation is fulfilled; God is among us in the loving and challenging presence of Christ. Now, during Epiphany, we are visited by gift-bearing Magi.
Sermon
As I said in the introduction to this service, the central image of Epiphany is the Magi who come bearing gifts: Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. So, this morning on the first Sunday of Epiphany, I offer a reflection on the gold, frankincense and myrrh of the Magi. Particularly, let us consider how this trinity of gift applies to our life in the faith.
It is clear that these gifts are both precious and valuable, while they also are symbols. Over the centuries many poets, scholars and preachers have interpreted the symbolism of these gifts.
For instance, some have seen the Magi's gifts as representing the gifts we present to Christ. In this case, gold may represents our money, while Frankincense may stand for our offerings of devotion, and Myrrh may be a symbol for our commitment to remedy the word's pain. A line from William Chatterton's epiphany carol interprets the Magi's gifts this way. He wrote: "As they offered gifts most rare, So may we&ldots; all our costliest treasures bring."1.
Martin Luther was another
who interpreted the Magi's gifts. 2. However, Luther not so much as models of
giving, but as examples of receiving. Luther saw their gold as representing
God's gift of hope, and he saw their frankincense as symbolizing the gift of
faith. Myrrh, he interpreted to be the gift of love. Luther was obviously
reading
This encourages me to seek to interpret the Magi's symbolic gifts for us today. It seemed to me that the picture of the Magi's offering their gifts and the Holy family accepting them invites us to be both receivers and givers. So I invite you to come with me now and experience the gold, frankincense and myrrh, as representing both our giving, and our receiving.
Gifting is a very central Christian characteristic. To be a Christian is to know ourselves as those who have received gifts. All that we have comes from God. Nothing is of our own creation. Yet, we are able to be also generous givers of precious gifts.
I have an elderly friend who sees life this way. He gives thanks every day for the many gifts he has known and still knows in his life. He is a very hard-working person who began life with nothing except his family, and they were very poor. So, he laboured hard all his life, yet he sees everything he has a gift from God.
He says God did not give him a university degree, but God gave him the mind and will and strength to attend university. He sees his home as a gift. He had to pay for his house, yet he sees the labour of the workers who built it as a gift. He has to buy his food, yet he sees every meal as a gift from those who grew it, brought it to market and cooked it.
But, this only one half the story. Not only does this friend of mine, see everything as a gift, he also shares what he has. He sees sharing as the purpose for having anything. So he daily thanks God for many blessings, and looks for ways to share these blessings. This is the way we Christians are to understand our life.
So, let us read the story of the magi in this way - from the point of view of a gifted and gift-giving people. Let us we see ourselves as members of the extended Holy Family to whom the Magi bring gifts, and as Magi, who offer God and our neighbour that which is precious in our lives. Let us see ourselves as the Body of Christ who both give as Christ gave, and receive as Christ received.
After much prayerful thought, I have come to the conclusion that the good gifts that I have given or received always bring three important messages: love, beauty and story.
I find that all well-chosen gifts are acts of love. I find that any worthy gift is always part of a story. I find that each caring gift is an act of beauty that feeds our souls. The most meaningful gifts embody all three, love, beauty and story.
I see that this is true of gift giving between God and us and between one another. God's gifts to me are always a part of the ongoing story of my life in God, and the beauty of each gift from my Creator nourishes my soul. Of course every gift from God is a gift of love.
When I give a gift to my children, of course it is an act of love from parent to child. These gifts I give my children also reflect the story of our relationship. The gifts I have given them over the years have changed as our story changes. Each gift has a beauty in it that that I hope will touch their souls.
The same truths apply to our gifts to the church. Our gifts to the church are given as part of our story of faith, and to promote the telling of the Gospel story. They are given as acts of our love for God and for neighbour. 4. They will have about them a beauty that is intended to nurture the soul of each member of the church.
I am aware that sometimes we have difficulty in receiving a gift. A very macho male friend of mine once received a set of child's building blocks as a Christmas gift. He was puzzled by this present. He wondered why anyone would give him a child's toy. But then his three-year-old child came to him and said: "Daddy can we make some thing with your blocks?" Then he understood, and could gladly accept this gift, its place in his story, its love, and how it would feed his soul.
Sometimes
congregations have trouble receiving gifts too. For instance the church board may
get a message from the
At such times the board
may ask themselves three questions:
-Does this gift fit
the story of our congregation? How will it help us fulfill our mission? Will it
help tell the story of the Gospel?
-Is this gift an act of love
for God and neighbour? Will it help us reach out to
the community?
- Is there a beauty in this
gift that will feed the soul of the congregation and its members?
Such questions might help us as a congregation, to see the value in gifts that are offered us. It may also give us reason to suggest that the board suggests that the children's picture be hung somewhere in the church where it would seen everyday as people come.
Through this season of Epiphany, let us grow in being both receptive and giving. Let us be like Mary and Joseph and the Christ Child. Let us welcome God's gifts, and like the Magi let us be those who bring gifts of Love, story, and beauty to the Christ Child wherever we find that child,
1. Hymn, As with Gladness
Men of Old.
2. Bainton,
The Martin Luther Christmas Book.
3. 1 Corinthians 13:1
-14:1
4. Mark 12:30-33
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The Magi's Visit - with censer <A110>
With Children
Properties: Items
representing the Magi's gifts: Gold; a box of fragrant pot-pourri or perfume, labelled
"Frankincense, open while praying"; and a jar of ointment, labelled, "Myrrh ointment to remove pain. "
The following text printed
and stapled in book form.
A Magi's headwear (use you
imagination) for each child 8 and under expected to be present [optional].
A large star on the end of a
slim pole [optional]
Leader: Storyteller
Story - teller: Invite children to come forward. Ask the children what gifts they got for Christmas. Ask if they have any new babies in their families? Have you ever taken a gift to new baby? Explain that today you and they are going to talk about the story of the Magi (or Wise Men) who brought gifts the Baby Jesus. How many know the story? Let them tell the story as they know it. Affirm the parts that fit the story.
Give out the Magi hats, put one on yourself
"Can anyone tell us what a Magi is?" If necessary, you can explain that the Magi were people who studied the stars. They believed that by studying the stars they could tell what was going to happen in the world. Well, one night the Magi saw a star they had never seen before [bring forth the star on pole, and ask a child to hold it up high]. This star was brighter and larger than any star they had ever seen before.
They asked themselves: "What does this star mean?"
"It must mean something very special!"
Does anyone here know what the star meant? (Ask both children and adults)
Yes, it meant that a special baby was born - a baby who would grow up to bring peace to the world.
So, one Magi said: "Let as go and see this Child."
Another Magi said: "Let us take a gift for this baby!"
Still another Magi said: "Yes, but it must be a very precious gift. Let's take three gifts!"
Does anyone here know what three gifts they took to the baby?
Yes, Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. They were gifts like the ones we have here with the Magi figures.
Gold: Show and pass around the gift representing Gold (a golden box with something very heavy inside to give it heft.)
Frankincense: Pass around the box of pot pourri. Invite the children to sniff it. Tell the adults that they can come and sniff it after the service. "This is pot pourri it is a little like Frankincense. The smell of Frankincense- cense is to remind us to pray. God likes our prayers just as we like nice smells.
Myrrh: Show a tube of hand cream or ointment. Put a drop in each child's palm and ask them to rub it into their skin. Myrrh is ointment to help with hurts, and sadness.
So, these were the gifts that the Magi brought to Jesus, and Mary, and Joseph treasured these gifts always, just as we treasure the gifts we have been given.
Now, I am going to open this box of nice smelling pot pourri while we offer a prayer to God. Please pray with me, repeating after me: Dear God our creator (children repeat), we thank you for all the gifts we receive (repeat). We thank you also (repeat) for the gifts that the Magi gave to Baby Jesus (repeat). Amen/
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Wilderness, Temptation and Desire .ecclesicakes A411
for other Lenten material click here
Lent 1 Yr. A Lent 1, Yr. A,
Matthew 3:13-17; 4:1-11
1st in a series , Being the Body of Christ
for number two in this series click here
A challenge for us in the season of Lent is this: How shall we go out into the world, and live according to the Good News we heard during Christmas and the challenges brought to us through Epiphany? To have God's love and peace as our heart's desire; to apply this in the life situations in which we find ourselves? How do we now act as the Body of Christ? To see with the eyes of Christ, to think with the mind of Christ, the walk where Christ would have us walk, and do with our hands the good work that Christ would have us do.
There may be some people somewhere for whom this is a piece of cake. There may be some people who have so completely let themselves be drawn into the Realm of God, and know God's love so fully that they need to hear no more than what we received during this past four Sundays. If there are such people I don't know of them.
In fact, I think that this is not what God wants of us. I am convinced that our God wants us to struggle and wrestle, think and pray, and work out our salvation in the ups and downs, of life. It seems to me that God is like a good parent. A loving mother or father gives their children three gifts for life:
1. The assurance of love;
2. The gifts of Grace, by which we experience that love, even when we are being really nasty;
3. Essential values to live by - kindness, justice, compassion, and generosity.
God also gives us these three: Love, Grace, and Values
Then having done this, our parents and our Creator say: "OK go now out into the world, and show what you are made of. And, yes, you can call home when you need some help. If it get really tough out there you can come home"
Lent is a time to gather in these resources (love, grace and values) and work out anew how we can use them in our family, in our circle of friends, in our community, and in our world. In Christian terms this means being the Body of Jesus Christ. It means using that love, that grace, and that set of values to see with the eyes of Christ; think with the mind of Christ; desire what Christ desires; walk where Christ would have us walk and do with our hands the good work that Christ would have us do.
This is the very challenge that Jesus experienced. In today's Gospel lesson we read of his struggle to follow the path God set for him. This morning I am going to interpret this passage by way of a story:
Jesus in the Wilderness
Lent 1, Yr. A, Matthew 3:13-17; 4:1-11 ecclesicakes A411b
Let us go in imagination with Jesus into the wilderness. Let us imagine that this baptism took place near here on the shore of [a local wilderness lake or river]. Then picture Jesus being led by the Spirit deep into the bush where he will spend the next forty days working out how he will live in response the love, grace, and the values he has received.
As the story begins,
Jesus has just had a powerful spiritual experience. He has been baptized in the
While his hair was still
wet from the
It wasn't an easy forty days; there was loneliness, and mosquitoes and black flies and hunger. Whatever supplies he packed in ran out. However, he did get it clear in his own mind heart what it was that he most valued in life. So, on the 41st day, a Sunday, we find him burned, bitten and hungry, on a wilderness shore of _____. Jesus is exhausted and hungry, but he has sorted out what his work will be and how he will begin it and what his values will be.
Just then, a small plane circles overhead, lands on the lake, and taxis up the shore. A handsome and dashing young pilot jumps out onto a pontoon. He is dressed in a red leather flying suit. He calls out: "Are you Jesus? We have had a search party out looking for you."
Jesus replies hoarsely through dry cracked lips: "Yes, I am he."
The pilot, jumps nimbly onto the shore: "What have you been doing out here? You look like you've had a bad time."
Jesus: "I needed to come out here to sort out how I want to live out my life."
Pilot: "Yeah, well it seems to me that you'd have been better in a nice hotel room to do all this thinking. If this religion really worked for you, you could just pray for anything you want and it would come to you."
Jesus: "Well, one cannot life by material comforts alone."
Pilot: "Sounds crazy to me. Come on let's get you out of here."
So, they get into the plane and take off in to a clear blue sky.
As they are flying, the pilot speaks to Jesus in a solicitous tone: "You say you've sorting out what your work will be. Well, you've been getting some publicity with people looking for you and everything. I think you ought to take advantage of that. Now, my specialty is public relations. Here's my card: Lucifer Life Styles.
I know that I could make you a very popular, wealthy and even powerful person. For instance, you could make a big impression when we get back, if you were to arrive by parachute, You could swoop right down into the church parking lot. They will all be getting out from worship in a moment. Think of the hit you'd make, ha ha. I've got a parachute right here, and we'll just climb up high and out you go! I'm sure your God will protect you - doesn't the Bible say something about that?"
Jesus: "Well, the Bible also says, 'Don't put God to the test I know what I'm to do and it's not to put on a spectacular show."
Pilot: "Well, you
should use this religion stuff to your advantage. You could become minister of
one of those big churches in
Jesus: "I can have only one God; one can't serve both God and the bottom line in.' So, if you just put down near the road, I'll be fine, and I do know what I'm doing."
With no more to say, the pilot put down at the edge of the lake near a highway. From there, Jesus thumbed his way into town. On the next Sunday, he came into our church, where he would invite us to come with him.
---------------------------------End of story----------------------------------------
Now, one might ask what does this story have to do with us; we are not likely to go off into the bush for forty days. However, I think Matthew tells us of Christ's wilderness experience because it does fit us.
I think Matthew is recognizing that for each of us there have been, or will be, wilderness times in our lives. I'm sure we all have had wilderness times: grief, loss, and disappointment. These are often the days when we find ourselves sweating out how we are to live from now on. Just as Jesus faced temptations to abandon God's will for him, so will we. We will be tempted at these times to reject the church, or to give way to desires that are contrary to the Gospel.
Secondly, Matthew is reminding us that even if we don't feel we are in a wilderness, It does take time, thought, and energy to sort out just how we are to live our lives as faith full people. We don't find many people today going away for forty days to do this, so in place of that the church provides these forty days of Lent. This season is given us so that we might renew our way to live according to God's will for us, to refresh ourselves as the Body of Christ. To see anew with the eyes of Christ, to think again with the mind of Christ, to walk joyfully where Christ would have us walk, and do with our hands the good work that Christ would have us do, with God's love and peace as our heart's desire.
As Jesus pondered in the wilderness, let us use these days well. R.A.K.
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Lent 2 Yr. A, Being the Body of X 2: Born Anew - Jesus and Nicodemus ecclesicakes A412
for number one in this series, click here
Lent 2, Yr. A. John 3:1-21
Have you ever got up in the night to do something that had to be done before you could sleep? Like make bread, finish your income tax form, do your homework or repair the washing machine? Today's Gospel lesson may be about such an experience. It tells us of a man named Nicodemus got up in the middle of the night to get an answer to a question that was whirling around in his mind so much that he could not sleep. To answer these questions, to get some rest, he went at night to speak to Jesus.
John's Gospel tells us
that Nicodemus was a great teacher of the Hebrew people. I picture Nicodemus as
being like a university professor, the dean of a faculty. He would be
what we call a learned person, one who had read all the great literature of his
time. He could tell his students not only of the visions of Isaiah, but also of
the philosophies of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. He could be found debating
the meaning of Holy Scripture in the
From the outside, he would appear like many of us. To see us from the outside, we often give the appearance of having no problems. Those who see us may say, "There goes someone who has it all together."
If Nicodemus looked calm and assured on the outside, he was not like that on the inside. On the inside he was quite troubled. In spite of all his learning and the respect he got from his neighbours, Nichodemus-demus was ill at ease, unsettled; something was missing. He had a hunger that was not being satisfied.
Let me draw a picture of
Nicodemus from my imagination. I imagine that when he looked at the world around him, he saw that many things were not right. The Hebrew
people were oppressed by
These things bothered him especially at night. Often he would lie awake, wondering why he was not satisfied. Sometimes he would recite silently a favorite Psalm he had learned as a youth: "God, thou has searched me and known me, Thou knowest when I rise up and when I lie down." 1. When he did sleep, his soul would be troubled by the voice of the prophet Isaiah proclaiming: "God will judge the poor fairly, and defend the rights of the helpless."2. Also, faces would rise up before him and disturb his rest. These were the faces of the workers who laboured in the fields, to the point of exhaustion, but had no where to lay their head at night, or the faces of those dragged away by the Roman soldiers to be nailed upon a cross because they protested these conditions.
In the daytime, he often find himself longing for the faith of his youth; the close relation-ship he had with God as a boy. When he was young had been enthusiastic about life and idealistic about the life to which God called the people.
He may be like us in this
regard too. Some of us may also lie awake at night feeling empty and longing
for deeper connections with God and with those who are important in our life.
Some of may be troubled by the faces of the hungry families of
Like many of us, Nicodemus never shared his unease with his friends, and colleagues. Perhaps only his wife knew that he was troubled.
Then N. began to hear of
a certain young rabbi from
To his amazement, he saw Joseph of Arimathea among those who were with Jesus. This surprised him because Joseph was a well-known merchant. Nicodemus thought to go over to where Jesus was himself, but resisted the impulse. He said to himself: "It wouldn't be fitting for a person of my stature to been seen with this crowd which included ordinary workers, farmers, shepherds, women, and my own servant.
The next day, he found
his cronies discussing Jesus' arrival in
"What has be done," asked Nicodemus?
"Well, first he teaches the most outrages things - that God is like a shepherd who seeks out the lowest type of people as if they were lost sheep, when we all know they are sinners and have brought their troubles on themselves. Can you imagine God being compared to a dirty smelly herder of sheep?"
"Also, he teaches that people should be sharing their hard earned money with those who have none. If we did that we'd all be poor!"
"They even say that he heals lepers! If you ask me he he's a quack in league with the devil."
"Worse yet, some of the rabbis are encouraging him. I understand that Rabbi Shecham is letting him stay at his house this very day."
That night N. was more restless than ever. All the things that he heard about Jesus seemed good to N. When he closed his eyes he now saw the happy faces of those people who were with Jesus on the street. He couldn't rest for wanting to talk with Jesus, to hear more.
So it was that N. got out of bed and called his servants. "Benjamin," he said, "I saw you with Jesus of Nazareth today."
"Yes," that is true said Ben,
"Is it also true that he is staying at Rabbi Sherpa's home this very night?"
"Yes, it is true. He
leaves for
"Then I want you to come with me to Rabbi Schecham's place this very hour".
So, it was that N. was out on the street that night, pounding on the door of the place where Jesus was. At N. request, Jesus got up and came to meet his nighttime visitor. Jesus recognized N. immediately. "What can I do for you he asked?"
In response, N. poured out his heart to Jesus as he never done before with anyone. He spoke of the things that were troubling his mind and heart, and he wept.
Presently, Jesus said to N. "You need to reclaim the faith of your youth, Nicodemus. You must be born again."
"But," said N., "how can an old man be reborn; a man cannot go back to the state he was inn as an infant and start all over again!"
"You'll never see
the
In the wee hours of the morning N. climbed back into his bed, with his head and heart full of what Jesus said to him.
We know only a few things
about N. after that night.
The only other story we have of N. is this: He assisted Joseph of Aramathea to take Jesus body down from the Cross, and brought spices to prepare Jesus body for burial. I wonder if he also was one of those who witnessed Christ risen from the tomb. 4.
I would like to think
that N. offered himself for baptism by the first church, and that he was born
anew, and set free to proclaim Christ, and the
As the great Methodist missionary, Stanley Jones 5. once said: there is something of N. in us all. Like N. we all desire for a close relationship with God, and longing for God's peace to be upon the earth. I think too that all of us have had some experience of being born anew by the Spirit. May this season of Lent be a time when we let God reign in us so that our rebirth shines forth in all we do and say. May we be among those who work for God's Peace, and equity upon the Earth. If there are some who long for God's peace and feel they have not received it, know that God's offer of love is there for you.
1. Psalm 139
2. Isaiah 11:4
3. John 7:50-51
4. John 19:39
5. E. Stanley Jones was a
Methodist missionary to
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A World Wide
Vineyard -
John 15:1 -17 ecclesicakes A501
A Celebration of our
for other mission related articles,
click here
For planning and properties - click here
Liturgist: "One way to understand the
It is a partnership given us
by the Creator through the active guiding power of the Holy Spirit in the name
of Christ.
"It is in the first
place a partnership with God.
Secondly, it is a
partnership with other faithful people.
Today, we celebrate this
world wide Partnership.
"Jesus once spoke of
partnership within the circle of the faithful, as being like a vine.
Jesus told his friends: 'I
am the vine, you are the branches
A vine is an excellent symbol of
partnership. When you look at a vine growing up the side of a building, you see
one integrated web of branches all linked together. Each part of that vine
works with and depends on the rest of the vine. It is difficult to say which
part is the vine and which parts are the branches.
" We can illustrate what a vine is like right now by joining our hands together to link everyone in this room. Let us join our hands so that everyone one of us is connected to the rest of us." (Have the whole of the congregation join hands, including a bridge of hands to the choir).
"When we join hands
like this, we become a metaphor of that vine Jesus spoke of.
Let us say together: 'I am
the Vine, You are the branches
When we are linked like this, we are
an excellent metaphor for the partnership that is the M&S Fund. Let us
continue to hold hands for a moment.
"We have among us today people who represent three basic elements of this world wide M&S Vine.
"First, we
have with us, (Name), representing our 'overseas'
(Name), please come forward
from your place in the Vine." (comes forward and
joins a hand with liturgist.) For details re these representatives, see
Planning, below.
"Next, (Name) is
here to represent our
(Name), please come forward from
your place in the Vine." (joins hand with world
rep.)
Thirdly, (Name) will represent us as a congregation within this web of partnerships. (Name) please come forward from your place in the vine."(joins hands with Canadian Rep.).
When the representatives have come forward, let congregation release their hands "Let us enter into this celebration with music" (Suggested hymn, We Have This Ministry, Voices United 510)
At conclusion of the hymn,
The partner representatives hang a "vine" made of green twine on hooks placed at the top of an easel, then have the representatives embrace one another with their arms over one another's shoulders or waists).
Liturgist, "Jesus intended that the vine would bear fruit; the fruit of love and grace, and justice. So let us add grapes to our vine to symbolize the care, grace and justice that is the fruit of the M&S Fund. "(On three of the hooks, reps. hang grapes - real ones if you get them.)
Cong. Partner Rep.:
"I AM TRULY EXCITED TO REPRESENT YOU THIS MORNING!
THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS MANY
WORKS OF LOVE AND GRACE AND JUSTICE TO CARRY OUT IN THIS WORLD AND SHE CALLS
(name congregation or group) TO BE HER PARTNER IN THIS MINISTRY!
AND WE HAVE SAID, "YES.
YES, WE WILL BE YOUR HOLY PARTNER!"
(Place symbol of
congregation's M&S goal on an easel at the front.)
Overseas Partner
representative (step forward)" I TOO AM TRULY
GLAD TO BE HERE THIS MORNING - TO SEE YOU FACE TO FACE!
THE PEOPLE I REPRESENT HAVE
BEEN PARTNERS WITH YOU FOR MANY YEARS, BUT BECAUSE OF DISTANCE AND THE COST OF
TRAVEL, WE RARELY SEE ONE ANOTHER FACE TO FACE.
I BRING YOU GREETINGS FROM
YOUR PARTNERS AROUND THE WORLD." Place collage of many faces on the
easel).
Canadian Partner Rep.:
(step forward) "HI. I WONDER HOW MANY OF YOU KNEW BEFORE TODAY THAT I EXIST?
"I REPRESENT YOUR
THESE PARTNERS ARE TO BE
FOUND IN EVERY ONE OF
IN MANY RURAL TOWNS,
FRONTIER AREAS, AND ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES.
"I AM SO GLAD OF THE
Overseas rep. "LET ME NAME BRIEFLY ONE OVERSEAS PARTNER. AT THIS VERY MOMENT, YOUR MISSION AND SERVICE FUND PUTS YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PEOPLE OF (In two sentences, identify an overseas partner, and describe enthusiastically the work being done there). Ask if anyone knows where this place is, has anyone of us been there?" Place on the easel a picture or symbol representing that M&S project.
Canadian Rep. "VERY
MUCH OF THE WORK DONE THROUGH THE
Cong.
rep.
"ALMOST ALL OF US WHO HAVE BEEN IN A
Lit. "All these works are called partnerships because, they are based on mutual respect and cooperation. That is, each of the programs supported by the M&S Fund depends on the gifts of a number of people working together in partnership. These are partnerships in which we all give and we all receive.
Canadian Rep. "A GOOD WAY TO ILLUSTRATE THIS IS TO TELL THE STORY OF THE BEGINNING OF A MINISTRY SUPPORTED BY THE M&S Fund. (The preferred way to do this would be to tell of the beginning and development of an outreach ministry that exists in your local region/presbytery. Such a story will have the following characters: The local people who identified the need, those who developed a plan to meet the need and applied for M&S funding, the presbytery who approved it, those who presently participate in the program/ ministry, and those who make offerings to the M&S fund).
"AS I TOLD THAT STORY DID YOU NOTICE WHO THE PARTNERS ARE, AND HOW EACH GAVE AND EACH RECEIVED?"
Overseas Rep. "A
SIMILAR STORY CAN BE TOLD FOR EVERY PROJECT SUPPORTED BY OUR M&S FUND. IN
EVERY STORY THERE WILL BE LOCAL PEOPLE WHO ARE INSPIRED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT TO
SEE A NEED, AND WHO WANT IN THE NAME OF CHRIST TO DO SOMETHING TO MEET THAT NEED,
AND WHO ASKED THE UNITED
THEN, THERE ARE UNITED CHURCH PEOPLE WHO SAID, 'YES, WE WILL BE YOUR PARTNER!'
"THIS WILL BE TRUE IF WE ARE TELLING THE STORY OF THE OPENING OF A SCHOOL, OR HOSPITAL, OR CHURCH, OR IF WE ARE SPEAKING OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO AN EARTHQUAKE, OR FAMINE.
"IN THESE PROJECTS ALL RECEIVE AND ALL GIVE."
Cong. rep. "WELL, HOW DO THOSE WHO MAKE AN OFFERING TO THE M&S FUND, ALSO RECEIVE FROM IT? I SEE HOW WE GIVE, BUT HOW DO WE RECEIVE?"
Lit. "O.K. lets ask those who give to the M&S Fund, just what they receive. Is there anyone here would tell us what they get in return for their donation to the M&S Fund?" (Wait for an answer from the people. Tell how you benefit from donating.)
Cong. rep. YOU WILL FIND MANY MORE STORIES OF PARTNERSHIP IN THE M&S MATERIAL THAT YOU WERE GIVEN WITH THE SUNDAY BULLETIN THIS MORNING.
"TODAY, I INVITE
EACH OF US AND ALL OF US TO EMBRACE THE MINISTRY OF THE
Lit. "Specifically, we ask you to
be a part of the M&S vine in three ways:
One - be knowledgeable about
the work of the M&S Fund in Canada and around the world;
Two - Pray for the success
of this work;
Three - Make a regular
contribution to the M&S Fund.
Conclude with a prayer of thanksgiving for the M&S partnerships, and a prayer of intercession for those involved on the front line of these programs) or "O Holy Source of all our living, we thank you for all that you have accomplished through the Mission and Service Fund of our Church. We bless you for giving us this way to share your Hope and Love with one another. "
Hymn, When the Pain of the World, 598 in Voices United.
Dismissal - Join hands
again for commissioning and benediction.
PLANNING NOTES:
In planning - encourage innovation, rewriting and adaptation of this material to make it yours. Some research into Local and world M&S funded projects will be required by Mission Representatives.
Resources - Minute
for
Leadership: - A liturgist
- A person (or team) to
represent the congregation as a partner in the M&S Vine
- A person (or team) to
represent the Overseas Partners
- A person (or team) to
represent M&S supported ministry within Canada
If possible, the overseas
and Canadian partnership representatives will include at least one person in
each who has experience in those fields, otherwise they may be local people who
have prepared themselves for this role-playing through a study of M&S
material.
Rehearse and prepare to carry out these leadership roles at a brisk pace, with good use of microphones, and symbols. Engage the congregation, children and adults, as much as possible.
PROPERTIES:
Hats or Shirts - Dress the Partners in T-shirts or hats bearing the M&S logo.
A large easel (or computer monitor or screen) on which to hang/display the symbols called for in the script
Symbols - Appropriate symbolic props as required by the script.
Easel - Set at the front of the room a large ease with a vine drawn on it and an M&S symbol. The easel needs to be large enough so that other symbols can be added to it during the celebration.
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An Introduction to the current M&S Logo ecclesicakes A502
The M&S Fund takes its energy from God's loving action toward us.
We see this represented in the new M&S symbol.
Let us look first at the bottom portion of the logo.
It represents three actions that God has taken on our behalf: (it would be good to have a large version of the M&S logo to use at this time. and a small manger scene set up, so you can move from Manger to Font to Table as you speak).
1. It represents the Manger - God coming to be among us, as a person. God's presence in the flesh and blood of Christ, and God's presence in the flesh and blood we who give to it, and in the flesh and blood of the workers it supports. Like the manger, the M&S Fund is about incarnation.
(Give an example from Minute for Mission Booklet)
2. It represents the Baptismal Font - God calling us to be God's own people; calling us to the work of Christ which we do in partnership with many others close to home and around the world who have been baptized into God's great mission of Love and Justice. (give examples)
3.It represents the Communion Table - God gathering us to the family table, and feeding us with the Word of Life. It gathers us together to act as the Family of God. Through the M&S Fund, we each bring some of our resources for the good of the whole family, and each of us may use the resources of the whole family. (give examples)
Sing Hymn [567, 598?] (three verses) in celebration of the ministry to which God has called us.
Now, let us give
attention to the part of God's work in the world that is symbolized by the
upper portion of the M&S symbol.
What gifts from God do you
think these splashes of colour might represent?
(Wait for answers)
Affirm the people's
contributions.
Then, share with them some
other people's way of interpreting the splashes of colour:
Rainbow - hope. Give
an example of an M&S supported ministry giving hope.
Water - cleansing,
refreshing (example)
Spirit - Inspiration and
vision (example)
Prayer: O Holy Creator, who is among us in flesh, in blood and in spirit, and who calls and strengthens us within faithful community, wherein we find hope, refreshment, and inspiration,
We thank you for your
gift of the
Sing conclusion of hymn.
Planning
In planning, feel free to adapt this material to make it your own and to suit your situation. A rehearsal held a week before the presentation date allows time to make changes.
r.a.k. 07/01
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Doubting Thomas, A Story. ecclesicakes A426
The one who read and
spoke with his hands
see [ ] for alternate
versions of this story
Easter 2, John 20:19-31; 1
John 1:1
This is a story about a friend of Jesus named, Thomas. From the time that he was a child, Thomas wanted to touch things. Nothing was real to him until he touched it. When his Father showed him a flower, Thomas would reach out his hand to feel the texture of the silky petals, and fuzzy stem. When his mother showed him a tool, he put out his fingers to feel the cold metal and the smooth wood of it. Thomas really liked to touch things.
He also liked to do things with his hands. He could make or repair almost anything. Children brought their broken dolls and other toys to Thomas to be fixed. People brought plows and pots, and anything you can think of to Thomas, and he would fix them.
He could also make things
by hand. He could make houses and tools, and toys. Thomas was the best maker
and fixer in all of
Thomas also got acquainted with people by his hands. He felt that he never really knew a person until his hand touched their hand. He knew his grandfather by the hard feel of his grandfather's worker hands. He knew his grandmother by the strong feel of her bread-making fingers.
He was sure that he could tell a lot about a person by the feel of their hands, and by the way they held his hand when he greeted them. The hands of his friends told him that he could rely on them. The hands of cheaters felt untrustworthy.
His friends began to call Thomas a doubter. "Doubting Thomas," they said with a smile, "doubts that anything is true until he touches it." Thomas didn't deny it. It was true, he got to know his world and the people in it by touch. [one way to continue with this story is: Thomas was blind. another way would be: Thomas was deaf and mute ]
Well, one day Thomas
heard that a new Rabbi, named Jesus was coming to live in his town, of
So it was that Thomas was in a crowd of people who gathered around Jesus. With them he heard Jesus speak of God's love for them, and how God wanted them to love all their neighbours.
"This sounds good," said Thomas to his friends, as he worked his way to the front of the crowd, "but is it true?"
Soon Thomas got within arm's length of Jesus, and reached out his hand and touched Jesus' clothing. To Thomas it felt like the shirt of someone honest. Then Jesus took Thomas by the hand, and Thomas took Jesus by the hand. Immediately, Thomas knew that Jesus was true.
Later that day, when Jesus invited people to "come and follow me," Thomas said, "Yes, I want to come with you," and he did.
[His friends urged, "Ask him to give you sight in your eyes."
To which Thomas replied, "God has given me hands to see with."]
Jesus said to Thomas, "you can use your hands to tell the Good News."
For the next three years, wherever Jesus went, Thomas went with him, [walking hand in hand with Andrew or Mary to guide him and] using his own hands to help Jesus tell of God's love. He made new toys for children who had none, and fixed toys that were broken. He made plows for poor farmers, and wooden bowls for women to make bread in. He washed the feet of the footsore, and rubbed the backs of the weary. In all these ways his hands said, God loves you.
Then, there came that terrible day when they arrested Jesus, and put him on a Cross with nails through his hands. When they told Thomas about this he wept at the thought of it; the hands of Jesus which had helped and healed so many people, would now be pierced and broken.
For three days Thomas went away by himself, and wept. On the third day, his friends came to him with news that Jesus was alive; he had risen, and appeared to them in the Upper Room. Thomas replied [signed], "I cannot believe it. I need to touch his hands."
A week later, Thomas was gathered with other friends of Jesus, when the Risen Christ came among them again, and held out his hands. "Peace be with you," he said, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt, but believe."
Thomas did as Jesus said, and called out [or: exclaimed with his hands], "My Lord and my God!"
In the years after that
Thomas travelled to far away
So, today, if you go to
Now, I invite all of us to be like Thomas. Let us use our hands to tell of the love of God. Let us also use our hands to love our neighbours, and when people touch our hands, may they know that these are hands of those who have had their hearts touched by Jesus, and can be trusted.
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A Faith is reborn on the Walk to Emmaus ecclesicakes A427
Easter 3, Luke 24:13-35,
Luke 8:1-3
Two disciples are helped to understand the meaning of both Jesus' ministry, and its seemingly tragic end
On the first day of the
week after Passover, Cleopas and Anna were making
their weary way back to Emmaus with heavy hearts. The road was crowed with
pilgrims from Emmaus and other villages and towns west of
Anna and Cleopas counted themselves as among the followers of Jesus,
but not among those who travelled with him. Their duties as parents meant that
they never considered going with Jesus into
It was their conversations
with these two women that led them to consider themselves devotees of Jesus.
With them they explored the implications of Jesus' teachings for the nation.
They were particularly excited by Jesus' concept of the
Although they
couldn't travel with Jesus, Cleopas and Anna did want
very much to be in
For the rest of that week
Cleopas and Anna were with the other friends of
Jesus. During the day they met on Solomon's porch of the
At night the friends of
Jesus retired to the safety of
On the fifth day of the
week Jesus didn't appear at
At dawn a word came from Peter and John that it was unsafe, and all the friends of Jesus were advised to stay out of the city. Then, after the third hour, the final horrible and devastating word was delivered: "Crucified! Jesus is at this moment hanging on a cross. Everyone from outlying towns and villages should return home on the day after the Sabbath, melting in with the crowds of home bound pilgrims. Even those named to be apostles will disperse as soon as possible."
A member of the Jewish Council, a man named Nicodemus would join with Joseph of Arimathea to see if they could claim Jesus' body, but there was little hope that the Romans would allow this. It was also whispered that if they were given the body, some of the women would attempt to prepare his body for burial. The message was clear, "It is all over."
So, as Cleopas and Anna made their way home, their eyes were raw from tears, and their hearts we sunk. All that they hoped for had been torn away. The powers of oppression had punished Jesus for daring to teach the people to lift up their heads to claim their heritage as descendents of Abraham and Sarah. It would be a long time before another one came along who would encourage the people to believe in their dreams of Shalom which the prophets of long ago had proclaimed. 3.
As they were occupied with these thoughts, a stranger fell instep with with them. "Excuse me, " he said, "You may call me Joshua. I have been noticing that you look very sad and downcast. If you are strangers, I am compelled by the code of hospitality to ask if I can help in any way."
"No, thank you, " Cleopas replied, "We are not strangers, but live in Emmaus just a few miles ahead. We have lost a dear friend, and so we are in sorrow. Nothing can be done to help, thank you."
"I am a Rabbi, perhaps I could share with you words of comfort."
Anna studied this stranger for a moment. Her intuition told her she could trust him. "Well, perhaps you know of the Rabbi, Jesus, it is him that we mourn. Surely you must know of what happened to him."
"No, what things?"
Cleopas took Anna's lead, "The thing about Jesus of Nazareth, the prophet who was so compelling in his words and so strong to heal. You see we had been hopeful that this would be the one to free our people, but the our leaders became jealous of him and fearful of his message, so they turned him over to be sentenced to death by crucifixion. So now it all over. Some of the women who went to the tomb he was laid in came back saying they had seen angels who told them that he is alive, but there is no sign of him. It is all over, finished."
At this, the stranger became very animated. "Don't be so quick to lose heart, " he exclaimed, "Let show you from the scriptures that it was inevitable that Jesus would suffer." Then he began with Moses, and the prophets and taught them that this was not the end, but rather a strong new beginning** . As he spoke their perspective began to change, and the the flame of hope came alive in them again. As they arrived at Emmaus the stranger walked ahead as if to go further, but they urged him to spend the night with them, so they could talk further of these things.
When they got home, Eli and Elizabeth, and Anna's mother, Sarah, greeted them with sounds of gladness and hugs. Anna's father, Simon, welcomed the stranger saying, "It will be a blessing on us for you to have a stranger under our roof, and at our table. " The children took to Joshua right away, and he obviously enjoyed children, so he and Cleopas played with them as they waited for supper to be prepared, and as Anna told her mother and father of the week's experiences."
When they were called to
the table Simon said:"My daughter tells me that
they have lost their dear friend, Jesus, and that you have been helpful to them
in this, so I ask you, "Will you bless the bread for us this
evening?" So, then stranger took the loaf and broke it and passed a
portion to each of them as Jesus had done in
"We must go back this very night. Jesus is risen, we must tell the others that which was made known to us on the road, and in the breaking of the bread."
So, after hurriedly
putting together a bundle of food, and a skin of water, Cleopas
and Anna kissed their children goodnight, and set out in the moonlight for
They arrived at Bethany in the small hours of the morning to find the community of Jesus' friends excitedly sharing stories of having see Jesus risen from the grave, to which they added theirs. Just at dawn bread and wine were fetched and Mary of Magdala and Peter conducted a worship service of thanksgiving, and went among the community as Jesus had done, distributing the bread and wine 5.
From that day to this Christians have told of this revelation on the road to Emmaus, and in every generation we have experienced Christ walking with us in our hours of darkness, and have known Christ in community around the table and in the breaking and sharing of the bread.
1. Lk. 9:1f; 10:1f; 2. Lk. 10:25-28 3. Is. 11:1-9 4. Exodus 19:4 5. A recently discovered ancient parchment copy of a "Gospel According to Phillip" says that Mary Magdalene was a companion of Jesus, and a leader of the early church at least equal to Peter (A&E television program, March 27, 02).
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A Bible Study to begin to explore the Heb. Test. roots of
Christology A427b
For an alternate view -
see Tom Harpur
The following passages of the Hebrew Scriptures may be invoked as being among those through which the first Christians interpreted the life, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus, and came to know him as God's Anointed One, and servant Messiah.
Behind this is the assumption that after Jesus' death and resurrection his friends employed the teachings of Jesus, their own experience and the Hebrew scriptures to develop the salvation theology, and Christian life style which they then proclaimed in the world.
Peter's address in Acts 2, the New Testament epistles (in particular, Romans and Hebrews) are interesting studies of this process.
The following list of passages is far from exhaustive and probably does not include some that you consider most important.
A group discussion may begin with the following question:
- How may this Hebrew Testament passage have helped the friends of Jesus interpret their experience of him?
Genesis 22:18 (see Acts 3:25); Exodus 26:31-33 (see Mark 15:38); Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18 (see Luke 10:25-28); Leviticus 19:11-17 (see Luke chapter 6).
Psalms: 2 (see Mark 1:11); 13 (see Acts 2:32-36); 23 (see Luke 24);31:9-18 (see Matthew 27:27-31 and 39-44; 9; 17; 16:8-11; 18:1-20, 43; 19:7-13; 22 (see Mark 15:29) 30:1-3(see Matthew 28:5-7); 33:19-24; 35:24-28; 40 (see Luke 24, and John 20 & 21); 69:16-21 (see Matthew 27:48); 41 (see the whole passion resurrection narrative); 118:22 (see Acts 4:11).
Isaiah: 40:1-11 (see John 10:7-16);42:1-9 (see Mark 1:9-11); 49:1-6 (see Luke 1:31-33); 50; 4-9; 52:13 to 53:12 (see Mark 1:14-15; Mark 15:24-32; Romans 3:21-26); 61:1-3 and following (see Luke 4:18-19); Joel: 2:28-32.
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Equity or charity ecclesicakes
A307
Shall we replace social
services with generous charity?
for other articles of social comment click
here
Yr A Adv 1: Is. 11:1-10; P29 & Reign
of X : Ez. 34
Yr B P 23: Amos 5:10-15; 2:6-8
Early one day while driving from
I found myself in admiration of her acts of hospitality until her closing comment, which I heard as: we want smaller government, and that means that we have to take on the role of caring for one another privately. That final comment sent a chill to the core of my being.
Here, I thought, is the right wing charity agenda expressed as faithful heroism. This is what current crop of corporate leaders mean when they say that the government needs to get out of social services, and let the church do it.
I too consider myself a faithful Christian, but I am one who believes that we are responsible for one another as a whole nation under God. In this view, there is an important place for charity, but the prime channel of our care is through our elected leaders and a fair system of taxation. In this way, we organize our national life in such a way that everyone has both access to the wealth that is derived from the resources which the Creator has provided, and a place in the work force that creates this wealth.
It disturbs me to hear of Christians and other caring people, lending themselves to a movement toward charity, and away from our responsibilities as a nation. For example, this week the Winnipeg Free Press ran article about a person who felt called by faith to leave the world of corporate business to operate a food bank. Now, the food bank has become a fairly large corporation and has set the government free from it responsibility to end hunger.
Also, we have church groups, and other non-profit organizations contracting to carry out the ministries which have been taken away from skilled, experienced, and compassionate people once employed by the government. In my experience, these non-profit bodies further contribute to the right wing agenda by paying their staff very low salaries.
An event took place this week, which sums up my point very nicely. On Thursday, members of the Manitoba Cabinet did volunteer work within local growth industry, the Winnipeg Christmas Cheer Board. The ruling caucus helped pack Christmas parcels to be given to the very people they have made more poor through their reductions in social assistance, and other cut backs. In my view, their good will would have been more appropriately spent within their political offices, working to create a society where Christmas food hampers are not needed.
Private acts of kindness will always have an important role to play in a humane society, but let us not be tricked into making charity our main way of trying to create a just community. It simply will not work because it always means that those who need are dependent on the good will and leftovers of those who have. It also contributes toward a society in which some are free to gain tax-free wealth with no responsibility toward their neighbours. It undoes all the work our mothers and fathers did in creating documents such as the United Nations Charter, and throws us back to the age of Scrooge and Tiny Tim.
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Friends Remember eccleiscakes
A428
Lk. 24:56, Between the Cross and the
Empty Tomb
for other Easter articles click here
I suppose everyone has heard of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the respect in which they are held in by many Canadians.* Canadians particularly hold in affection the young men and women who choose who choose to serve their country through a career in the RCMP. So, one terrible day in March, 2005, the whole nation was thrown into dismay and grief when four young Mounties in their twenties were ambushed and gunned down by a mad farmer. [on March 3]
This grief was deep - I felt it myself and I wept. This grief was so deep that it required to be expressed in the holding of many services of communal and personal sorrow. Not only was there a funeral for each young man, but also memorial services in communities where they had served, and a national memorial service in which Canada's grief was expressed by the Governor General, Adrian Ckarkson, the Prime minister, Paul Martin, RCMP officials, clergy and the family and friends of the slain.
In each of these services, the speakers spoke of these young people, naming their gifts and shared memories of them. They were to large extent story-telling times . I am sure that this story-telling also went on not only on these formal occasions, but also wherever their friends and family gathered. We know this is so because story-telling is one way we deal with our grief.
This leads us to think of the grieving friends of Jesus. Did you ever wonder how Jesus' friends spent that time between Good Friday and Easter morn? Here is how I imagine it. I think they spent it doing what many of us do after the death of a beloved one: weeping and laughing, hugging and telling stories of three years they had with Jesus.
So, let me tell you a story. It's a story about the time between Jesus' death and the morning of the Resurrection.
I'm sure they told stories that would do our hearts good to hear and live by. For instance, listen to this exchange that might have occurred between John and Nichodemus:
"It is hard to believe that it's all over; it was so good. One of my memories will be about you, Nichodemus, the night you came to tell Jesus that he was a teacher sent from God, and he replied by telling you to be get a new life." 1.
"That really shook me. I was ready to discuss theology, not having my soul reborn - especially not at my age. And, its not really over, John, this will always be with me. New Wine and a New Wineskin too!"
"Yes."
Then Mary Magdalene shared this: "One of my favourite memories will be of Sarah, the woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years, then when Jesus came to town she took her one chance for a new life and dared to touch his shirt. Her family tried to talk her out of it, telling her she was getting old and foolish. Then, when Jesus turned to her and said, "My Daughter. My daughter! She was at least ten years older than he was! Your faith has made you well," he said. 2.
She never knew her worth
so clearly before. She told me all this when I saw her in the
Then, Andrew remembered:
"I saw Jarius and his daughter, Ruth, in the
Johanna 6. interjected, "There will be many like her who will want to continue."
So the stories, and tears went on all night long until an hour before dawn when the women gathered together spices and funeral cloths and went out into the dark to do the only thing left for them to do for their friend. This was women's traditional role and it was considered too dangerous for the men to go, so they kissed their sisters' cheeks and whispered, "Be careful."7
Then, silence feel over those who waited for the women's return. Peter and Andrew paced, and said, "We shouldn't have let them go." An hour went by. The sun rose and its light quickly filled the room, illuminating their haggard faces.
Then, they heard footsteps racing up the outside stairway, and James unlocked the door, to let in a breathless Mary. "It's not over," she cried out, "Jesus is risen!"8.
May it not be over for us. In many parts of our life, including the life we share as a community of faith, the future will seem uncertain as it was for those friends of Jesus. Like them, we are called to remember the Holy Grace and Loving presence of Christ we have known and seen in the lives of our neighbours. And we are called to keep faith, not giving in to despair, being open to the new life and hope, which we will be offered in the name of the Risen Christ.
*The history of the RCMP is one of bravery and meritous devotion to duty, and it also a story which of dark times, when the Mounties were called upon to carry out actions of injury to those who dared to question the wisdom of Canadian authorities.
1.John 3; 2. Mark 5:25; 3 Mark 11; 4. Luke 20; 5. Mark 5.21; 6. Luke 8; 7. Mt. 28;
8. John 20:18.
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The Shepherd and the Gate <A429>
John 10:1-10 Yr. A. Easter 4,
Let me begin by reading a few verses from the parable of the shepherd and the sheep gate, which is our Gospel reading for today. These verses are a description of how Palestinian shepherds at the time of Jesus cared for their flocks by bringing them into the safety of a pen for the night. In order to benefit from this as a spiritual teaching, it is important that we understand how the Palestinian shepherds cared for their flocks. (John 10:1-5)
As I see it, this description of the Shepherd and the Sheep Gate is all about power. The welfare of the sheep is utterly dependent upon how the shepherd uses the sheep herder's power. In this parable there are two kinds of shepherds, the good and the false, the true and the hireling. The defining difference between the good and the false shepherd is seen in the way they use their power. The safety and health of the flock flows from the shepherd who uses power for the good of the flock.
This is true of all power relationships. Whenever some of us have power, the rest of us are dependent upon how that power is used. For instance, in a congregation, the minister's misuse of his or her power can destroy families and bring great turmoil to congregations. Or, as happens in most cases, ministers use their power for the good of the congregation and bring blessing to its members.
This is true in all our
institutions. In
Every day our Television
news shows us pictures of power being misused by financial institutions, by
church officials and by government. Clergy abuse children, tanks roll through
We humans use our power of technology to destroy the habitat of the other creatures with whom we share this planet.
On the other hand, we also see examples of power being used for the good of the the community. In April of 2002 our media have been filled with images of power being used by England's "Queen Mum" for the benefit of the realm during the dangerous time of the World War II blitz, and in quieter ways her whole long life. David Suzuki remains a spokesperson for the environment, and an advocate for using our power to preserve the natural world.
Our homes are also places where power is exercised. There are many examples of parents using their power to bless or to destroy their children. I am particularly impressed with this young generation of parents who never hit their children. In these homes there is no hitting. Mom does not hit Dad, Dad does not hit Mom, adults do not hit children, and children do not hit one another.
Finally, are you aware of your power, and how you can use it for the benefit of your neighbours?
Calling us to use our power for good was a central part of Jesus' Ministry. I think this is largely what is meant by "love your neighbour as yourself," or even "love your enemy."
It seems to me that Jesus was always on the lookout for stories and examples that would teach this central truth. For instance, hatred between peoples became the parable of the Good Samaritan, which is all about using power; using power either to stay away from a nasty situation or to get involved. In this morning's reading the work of a lowly shepherd becomes another spiritual lesson about power.
There was good precedent for Jesus to look for a parable among shepherds. For instance, Jesus would have sung the psalm which we read this morning: "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." Also, he would know that the prophet Ezekiel condemned political leaders for being shepherds who "take care of yourselves, but never tend the sheep" (Ez. 34). Indeed Ezekiel envisioned God coming as shepherd to care for the people.
However, Jesus was not a shepherd, so I think he must have taken some time to learn about shepherds and sheep pens in order to get material for today's parable. I imagine Jesus watching at dusk as five or six shepherds bring their flocks into a sheep pen for safety. He would have seen how the shepherds examined each animal as it passed through the gate, making sure it was healthy. Jesus would note also the gatekeeper, who was on guard all night long against robbers; making sure that only true shepherds gained access to the pen.
In my imagination I see Jesus there again at dawn, when the shepherds call their sheep to come out to pasture. Jesus would have smiled to notice that each shepherd had a unique call which was recognized only by his own flock.
Let me take a moment aside to say that this reminds me of my Grandmother Kayes on her farm, calling her chickens. My Gran would go with a pan of grain and call:"Chick,chick,chick,chick,chick," and the birds would come running. They knew her voice, and wouldn't come for me. This is how it was with the Palestinian shepherd and flocks. John's Gospel says: "The sheep will follow because they know his voice."
Finally, Jesus would have seen the shepherd going ahead of the flock; leading, them into the hills for a day of pasture.
In these shepherds, and the way they cared for their flocks, Jesus saw a parable of the realm of God, and a description of his own ministry. He said of himself: I am the Gate and I am the Good Shepherd. By implication he is also calling us to use our power in our own situation.
To me, this says three things about use of power: first, it says, come in by the Jesus gate; come in as one who knows that they are loved by God; come in through the gate where the shepherd stands to anoint your wounds, and speak your name in the voice which you recognize.
Secondly, it says to me, be committed to being a friend of the Good Shepherd, dedicate your power to the blessing of your neighbours, and your world. Come in with no hidden motives or intentions to take advantage of another's needs or weakness.
Thirdly let us expect that our leaders in church, in community and in government use the power we give them for the well-being of humankind. Let us keep them accountable to being good shepherds.
So then, let us go into this new week, full of the power that grace gives us for blessing, and as a blessed power-filled people, let us be a blessing.
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Called By Name ecclesicakes
A430
Easter 4, Yr. A. John
10:1-10
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Soon after I came to serve a new pastoral charge, the youth leaders and I held a youth pizza night. We asked every young person to make a name tag to help me learn their names. Of course, they didn't need name tags to identify one another because most of them had known one another since kindergarten or earlier. I may have been the only one in the room who did not know everyone else by name. It is very important that the leaders of a youth group learn to know each member by name. It is part of expressing the Gospel message that each person is important.
It is essential that the pastor learn to know each person by name. It will be the job of every minister to learn to call each person in the congregation by name and to be very interested in their life story. A pastor is to be like the shepherd in this morning's gospel lesson, a shepherd who knew every member of the flock (John 10:14. Retell John 10:1-18 in your own words).
One way to read the parable of the Good Shepherd is see ourselves as members of a flock, of which God in Christ as the shepherd who knows each of us completely, and who loves us as completely as we are known, and calls us to know one another as beloved by God.
This congregation is like such a flock. You all know each other's name and you know a lot about their family history. The other day in the coffee shop I shared a table with two men in their 60's who have known one another since grade one. I listened closely to learn about them, and I invited them to tell me of themselves. In some ways a pastor will listen so intently that the pastor will end up knowing more about these two men than they do about one another. This is one way of acting out the amazing news that God knows each one of us intimately - God knows us even more intimately than our closest friend or even our spouse.
The parable sets out a very important set of God's laws for church and society. First, we all need to be known, and second we all need to be valued. To be known but not valued is of no use. To say we are valued when we are not known is patronizing, and makes us an object to be used.
Being known and valued by God and by our neighbours is very important in having a healthy society and world. A good society is utterly dependent upon these two laws.
We can see around us the terrible things that happen when we fail to do this:
A few years ago I listened to a radio reporter speak about the atmosphere of devaluing that surrounded the brutal killing of a Rena Vert. She was a teenager who was beaten and kicked to death by a group of other teens who hardly knew her, and who failed to recognize her as a human being. Some who took part in this did not know her name. She was neither known nor valued.*
Then let us think about these killers who were mostly 13 year-olds when they took a life. They too were devalued persons. This reporter told us that the parents of the killers did not know their children. They gave almost no parental supervision. Their parents had no idea where their children spent their evenings away from home.
These children were
getting no parental support during the trial. None of the parents or family
members were present when their children are giving
testimony in the courtroom. One parent was off on a holiday to
These children seem unable to comprehend that they have done something wrong. Rena Vert was nothing in their eyes. I suspect that deep down these young killers think of themselves as nothing.
Then, the reporter spoke of the parents of these children, and it would seem that they too were devalued persons.
Other recent killings of youth by youth, and youth suicide bear signs of this same disease. They all seem to be young people who have been bullied. In order to bully a person, you first have to devalue them; make them into nothing in your eyes. It would seem that some our society harbours a culture in which degradation of persons is tolerated, and even encouraged. One boy who was not involved in the killing, told a reporter that he was punched and beaten by the football jocks of his school, and that he had not recourse but to put up with it. Some children don't just put up with it. They form gangs.
Among our own school children, in this town, I have noticed that there is one child to whom some of the other children are openly mean. I think schools in which this behaviour is tolerated reflect a society in which we are allowed and even encouraged to speak of some people in disparaging ways.
We see the also the effects of devaluing among nations and peoples. It is clear to that the Israeli's and Palestinians have long ago ceased to value one another.
In the parable of the Good Shepherd, Christ provides us with an alternate model for living together. It teaches that we all are both known and valued by our Creator, and it proposes that we treat one another in like manner. **
The church is to be one of the places where this is most clearly demonstrated. When we come into the church building, we are the flock of God coming into the fold. God in Christ notices us and values each of us as we come in. Here in the church building we are to receive the kind of attention that people show one another when each person knows they are of great worth. This is to be true in worship, or in board meetings, UCW meetings and events, youth group, Sunday School.
Then when we leave the church gathering, Christ goes with us, just as the shepherd in the parable accompanies the sheep into the hills. This is the Realm of God, which Jesus came to proclaim. It begins here and now, with each of us enjoying the love of God, and sharing that joy with our neighbours.
*The teen-aged in
question was Rena Vert, of
** The parable of the Good Samaritan deals directly with such inter-racial hatred (Luke 10:25)
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Inspired to be Partners in reconciliation ecclesicakes A433
Pentecost Sun. Yr. A. Acts 2
for other articles for Pentecost see "Search" above
Liturgical note: 7 Candles - Have seven candles set in place at the front of the room by the worship committee, or set in place by the children of the congregation - one for every Sunday of waiting since Easter. Warning! Make sure they are set it in a place that is far from anything flammable.
Light these candles at a
point in the service after the reading of the Pentecost story from Acts, or
after the sermon, OR you could tell the Pentecost story to the
Sermon
Today is the Sunday of Pentecost. It is the day on which we remember that God needs and wants each of us to use the gifts we have been given. It is the day on which celebrate the power that God gives us to use our gifts.
The Story of Pentecost <A22b>
Let me remind you of the story of Pentecost. The time is fifty days after Jesus' death and resurrection. For the first forty days of this time, the friends of Jesus (Mary, Cleopas, and the others) experienced the presence of the risen Christ. Jesus had died and yet was alive!
Then that forty-day time ended, and a time of waiting began.
The last thing the risen Christ told them was that they should wait; wait until they were baptized with God's Spirit. So, they settled in to wait without knowing how long the wait would be and without being sure what to do while they waited, and probably not sure what this "baptism of the Spirit" would be when it came.
So, during this time, they met and prayed, and elected a replacement for Judas.
As they have settled in to that, I think they may have become like a memorial society in which they could reminisce about Jesus, and all the good times they had before he was arrested. Mostly they just waited, and waited, and kept pretty quiet, not drawing attention to themselves.
Is there anything in your life that is like this? Have you ever had an indefinite time of waiting; waiting for something that was to come at an indefinite time?
These friends of Jesus
didn't all hang around for the full fifty days. St. Luke (24:13) tells us that
some of them had gone home after Jesus' death, then came back and waited.
So, they were together on
the day of Pentecost, the Jewish Festival of the Spring Harvest. This was the
first long weekend (you might say) since Passover. Like Passover, the city was
again filled with people from all over the Roman Empire who had come home for
Pentecost - perhaps like Thanksgiving in the
The friends of Jesus were staying indoors, hiding, you might say, in the upper room. They were having one of their regular prayer meetings, and perhaps getting restless, when all of a sudden the mood changed, and they got excited, and they got a purpose.
They got so excited, and so filled with purpose, that they ran out of the room and into the streets to tell everyone about Jesus, and about God's love. They were so excited, that people thought they were drunk. Peter had to remind the crowd: we are not drunk - after all it is only nine in the morning! They were filled, not with alcohol or drugs, but with the Spirit, and they never went back into hiding again.
You see, they now knew that God wanted and needed them to continue the work of Jesus. This was the effect of their baptism in the Holy Spirit. And today we celebrate that this is true for us also. God wants and needs us to continue the work of Jesus.
Now, I had an experience of the Holy Spirit this past week. It was on Thursday when Joanne, Harvey, myself and the youth group held a car wash to raise money for the children of Kosovo.
It was so much fun working with them - There was a spirit in the air, excitement that filled us all, and energized us. They arrived after school a half-hour before starting time - they were ready to go! You should have seen those kids washing those cars. Everyone could do some part.
Every one was inspired, every one was wanted and every one was needed; needed to send a message of love to the children of Kosovo, who had lost everything. The Spirit that was in those youth was God's Holy Spirit.
That is what Pentecost is all about - God tells us that we are needed and wanted to carry God's love into the world, and God gives us God's own Spirit so that we are inspired and energized to love the world.
Now before going further with this theme, I'll take a moment to remind us of where Pentecost fits into the Christian story of God's love for the world. For Christians, Pentecost is one of the four great festivals in which we celebrate God's four great acts of love: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost.
1. Thanksgiving: God's first act of love was Creation. God made the world out of love, and that's what we celebrate on festival of "Thanksgiving." On Thanksgiving we remember that we ourselves and the entire world are God's creation.
Then there was trouble in paradise. We human creatures became alienated from our Creator, and from one another, and from the Earth.
2. So,