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October 25, 2020 Worship Services It's about what?  by Kristy Parker

10/25/2020

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​SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY
October 25 , 2020
Gathering 
MUSICAL OFFERING
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Let me remind you quickly of our protocols for everyone’s safety.
Attendance was taken by ushers as you entered
Offerings may be placed in the plate by the doors.
The bulletins were placed specifically for social distancing, one household per pew. Please sit exactly where you found your bulletin.
Please keep your masks on and remain seated through the whole service.
There will be no singing, and no physical contact.
You may read along silently,
Schedule reminders:
   The office is reopened
   Church Service 9:30 am
   Joint Meeting with the sessions of both First United Presbyterian Church and 1st Congregational church at 12:00 pm on October 25th at the 1st Congregational church.
     Session Meeting on November 8th at 12:30 pm in the Calvin Hall
PRELUDE
 
WORDS OF WORSHIP:
O come, let us sing to the Lord and shout with joy to the rock of our salvation!
Let us come into God’s presence with thanksgiving, singing joyful songs of praise.
 
GATHERING PRAYER:
O God, light of the minds that know you, life of the souls that love you, strength of the thoughts that seek you: Help us so to know you that we may truly love you, so to love you that we may fully serve you, whose service is perfect freedom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
CONFESSION AND PARDON:
Merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart and mind and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. In your mercy forgive what we have been, help us amend what we are, and direct what we shall be, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name.
 
OFFERING PEACE:
The peace of Christ be with you.
 
INTERLUDE
 
Word
 
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION:
O Lord our God, your Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Give us grace to receive your truth in faith and love, that we may be obedient to your will and live always for your glory; through Jesus Christ our Savior.  Amen.
 
SCRIPTURE LESSONS:               
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
34Moses climbed Mount Nebo the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, from Jericho. The the whole land—from Gilead to Dan, of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Mediterranean Sea, Negev the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, far as Zoar .the to him, “This is the land I promised on oath Abraham, Isaac and Jacob I said, ‘I will give its your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not crossin to it.”
5Moses the servant of the died in Moab, as the said. buried him [a]Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, to this day no one knows where his grave is.   was a hundred and twenty years old he died, yet his eyes were not weak his strength gone. Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab days ,the time of weeping and mourning over. 9Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit[ b]wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. the Israelites listened to him and did what the commanded Moses.10then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses ,the face to face, did all those signs and wonders sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his official stow his whole land.no one has shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds Moses did in the sight of all Israel.
 
Matthew 22:34-46
34that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, Pharisees got together. Of them, an expert in the law, him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ [a]is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ [b]the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
 
41the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?”
“The son of David,” replied.
43said to them, “ How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says,
44“‘The Lord said to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand
until I put your enemies under your feet.” ’[c] 45then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son? ”one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.
 
SERMON:                            It’s About the What
 
In his biography on Martin Luther King Jr., titled Bearing the Cross, David Garrow relays the events of the night that preceded King’s assassination. 
•        It was storming that April night in 1968. 
•        Rain pelted the windows of the Mason Temple in Memphis,
 
Tennessee where a crowd had gathered to hear King speak. 
•        King was exhausted and had grown increasingly depressed by opposition to the Poor Peoples’ Campaign that he was striving to promote. 
•        Even his own staff was apathetic, which was particularly demoralizing to him. 
•        His plane had been delayed earlier that morning due to a bomb.
•        King often dealt with a crushing fear for his life and the lives of his family.
 
He had chosen to stay at the Lorraine Hotel and rest that night. 
•        Ralph Abernathy had gone to the Mason Temple by himself. 
•        But he sensed that the crowd was disappointed to see him appear without King, and he phoned King at the Lorraine to ask him to come over. 
•        When King arrived, he stepped to the podium and assured the audience that the Memphis movement would go forward despite opposition.
 
Then he delivered what we now call his “mountaintop” speech saying:
 
“Well I don’t know what will happen now.  We’ve got some difficult days ahead.  But it really doesn’t matter with me now, because I’ve been to the mountaintop.  And I don’t mind.  Like anybody, I would like to live a long life.  Longevity has its place.  But I’m not concerned about that now.  I just want to do God’s will.  And he’s allowed me to go up to the mountain, and I’ve looked over, and I’ve seen the promised land.  I might not get there with you.  But I want you to know tonight that we, as a people will get to the promised land.  And so, I’m happy tonight.  I’m not worried about anything.  I’m not fearing any man.  Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.”
 
•        Then, with sweat streaming from his brow and his eyes watering heavily, King moved to his seat. 
•        Those who were with him said that though he was deeply moved, there was a calmness and a peace about him. 
•        Hours later, he lay dead at the hands of an assassin.
 
I have often thought that the verses that close Deuteronomy are among the most poignant in the whole Bible. 
•        In my mind’s eye, I can see Moses as he climbs to the top of Mt. Pisgah and looks out over the plush green valleys and the hillsides that rise from the Jordan River, the land promised to him by God. 
•        His eyes must have watered at the sight of it and he must have ached with longing knowing that he would never step foot on it. 
•        Moses had always been faithful to God, even when he didn’t feel adequate for the task God called him to do. 
•        When God revealed himself to Moses in the burning bush and commanded him to lead his people out of slavery in Egypt, Moses protested, “But I’m not a good speaker.” 
•        God basically said, “Go anyway Moses.  I’ll be with you.”
•        At God’s command, Moses persuaded his people to follow him out of Egypt. 
•        He was with them through the deliverance at the Red Sea. 
•        He led them from encampment to encampment as he listened to their complaints about his leadership. 
•        When they rebelled against God and worshiped idols, Moses interceded on their behalf, convincing God to withdraw his anger.
•        Even when they wanted to stone Moses and appoint a new leader, Moses still begged God’s pardon for the sake of Israel. 
•        But then, as they approached the banks of the Jordan to cross over to their final destination, God refused to let Moses enter.
 
It seemed unbelievable the first time I read it. 
•        Moses gave his whole life in obedience to God on behalf of these people, and he never got to taste the sweetness of the victory? 
•        He never got to take off his sandals and rest his weary, travel-worn feet on the other side of the river?  
•        I went flipping back through the pages of Numbers and Deuteronomy trying to find the supposed error that Moses made that robbed him of this moment.
 
Some verses suggest that God was angry with Moses on account of his peoples’ lack of faithfulness. 
•        Others point to Moses’ failure to interpret the giving of the waters at Meribah as a sign from the Lord, though the precise nature of his unbelief isn’t clear. 
•        In Chapter 34, he is simply denied entry into the promised land, with no reason given at all. 
•        It violates our basic sense of fairness. 
•        If anybody got to enter the promised land, it should have been Moses.
•        Finally, we have to accept that Moses’ time had come to die. 
 
Like we often do when someone dies, we ask “why?” 
•        We flip back through the pages of life and search for answers. 
•        We might find reasons that are meaningful to us, but in the end, they are still inadequate.
•        The answers aren’t finally clear. 
•        Even our best theology can’t fully explain the tragedies that come with being human.
 
It’s some consolation to know that Moses’ work was truly done. 
•        He had served faithfully and well. 
•        The people had the Word of the Lord that Moses taught them that would be their guide in the land God promised. 
•        Moses could move off the scene, and Israel would be led by the living Word of God, the promise and instruction of the Torah.
•        Joshua would take over as the human leader with the spirit of wisdom given in the laying on of hands by Moses.
 
The fact is, the “why” of Moses’ death really doesn’t matter in the end. 
•        At the end of the story, it is said, “Never since has there arisen such a prophet like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. 
•        He was unequaled for all the signs and wonders that the Lord sent him to perform.” 
•        In the end, the “why” of his death meant nothing in comparison to the “what” of his life. 
•        What was Moses about?  What had his life stood for?  
•        When we flip back through the pages of his life, we see a fierce commitment to his Lord, a consuming love for his people and a passing on of the Word of God to the next generation.
•        Moses was a prophet so in tune with God’s will, so filled with God’s presence, that everything he said could be seen as coming from God.
 
“I just want to do God’s will,” Martin Luther King said,…mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.” 
•        His last words, his final speech are a testimony that did little to comfort a nation in the “why” of his death. But the words ring in our ears to this day as a testimony to the “what” of his life. 
•        “I just want to do God’s will.”
 
As Christians, we often ask ourselves, “What is God’s will?” 
•        We face life’s choices and decisions and tragedies, and we wonder how to live according to that will. 
•        How do we determine the “what” of our lives? 
 
God spelled it out clearly for Moses in the ten commandments:
“You shall have no other Gods before me, you shall not make idols, you shall not take the name of the Lord in vain, observe the Sabbath and keep it holy, honor your father and mother, you shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor, and you shall not covet what belongs to your neighbor.” 
 
•        This is what God said to Moses face to face. 
•        This is what you must do to follow my will. 
•        This is the “what” of your lives together as Israel.
 
Ten simple rules to follow, yet not so simple.             
•        So difficult, in fact that Moses apparently couldn’t keep them.
•        Despite his greatness, perfection eluded him. 
•        Certainly, Martin Luther King, as faithful a servant as he was, could not keep them. 
•        Garrow relates that King was painfully aware of his shortcomings as a human being and bore a heavy burden of guilt at his inability to fully do God’s will.
•        To be sure, we don’t keep the commandments perfectly, try as we might.
The New Testament combines the commandments into two. 
•        As we heard in our Gospel reading, as the Pharisees gathered, a lawyer asked Jesus, “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 
•        Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.
•        On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
 
At first blush, it seems like this should be easier to follow.
•        Just love God and other people.  What’s so hard about that?
•        It hardly seems like a commandment really does it? 
•        Can one command someone to love? 
•        Doesn’t love just rise naturally from our hearts? 
•        Doesn’t it just happen? 
 
Anyone who’s ever really tried to practice constant, ongoing love of neighbor knows that it’s extremely difficult, that it requires effort and sacrifice and a keen awareness of God’s presence. 
•        Anyone who’s ever tried it knows that it can never be done apart from God. 
•        Our modern-day understandings of love tend to distort it into something romantic and sentimental. 
•        It bears no resemblance to the cross-bearing, self-sacrificing love that Christ commanded when he talked about love.
 
The kind of love Jesus talked about was the kind of love that required a decision. 
•        It was a decision to bend to the will of God even if it meant he had to die. 
•        Jesus loved life.
•        He pled with God that the cup might pass from him and yet “not what I want, but what you want,” he said. 
•        It wasn’t fair, but it was the work to which Jesus was called 
•        For the sake of others, for the life of the world.
 
“What do you think of the Messiah? 
•        Whose son is he?” Jesus asked them.
•        “What kind of Messiah do you want? 
•        They had hoped for a hero who would conquer by the sword, not one who would go around talking about love, not one who would pour himself out as a servant, not one who would hang on a cross and die.
 
If you’re like me, you may be asking yourself at this point, “What can I do?” 
•        I’m not Moses, I’m not Martin Luther King, and I’m certainly not Jesus. 
•        When I ponder the greatness of such leaders, my life feels a little small in comparison.  
•        Some days it’s all I can do to get the simple tasks of my life done
•        How would I ever lead a nation of people through the desert or on a march for justice through the inner city. 
•        We ask ourselves, “What can we do to honor God, to be obedient to God’s will as we struggle in our daily lives just to keep the ball in the air.
 
I’ve always been comforted by the words of Mother Teresa, “We can do no great things, only small things with great love.” 
•        Small things with great love – the debt forgiven, the neighbor sheltered, the child encouraged, the tree planted, the stranger welcomed and fed, the prayer offered.
•        Our lives are full of opportunities each day to show God’s love. 
•        The small things we do can add up to make big changes.
•        They can lead us out of the valley and up to the mountaintop, where one day we’ll take an account of our lives and ask ourselves, “What has my life stood for?”
•        Have I lived in such a way as to foster kindness and compassion to myself and others?
•        Have I lifted up the lives of others in some way?
 
Our journeys to the mountaintop will take different paths.
•        Some of us will use our voices to speak up in our community and get involved in projects to bring fairness and equity to the lives of our people.
•        Some of us will bring God’s love into schools and hospitals and churches.
•        We all have the opportunity to teach our children to love God and love people, people of every color, gender, ability and kind.
•        We can speak up when someone makes a comment or a joke that demeans someone else.
•        And we all are called to vote, to speak up for the leaders we feel God is raising up to take us closer to the mountaintop.
 
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.       
•        When you stand on the mountaintop, what will your life have stood for? 
•        Moses gave his life for the liberation of Israel
•        Martin Luther King Jr. gave his life for the liberation of African American people and the reconciliation and peace of humankind
•        Jesus gave his life for all people, everywhere
•        Jesus liberated us to live forgiven, to live loved,
•        To love God, love ourselves, and love our neighbors
 
In the end, it won’t matter how long we live, what we’ve done in comparison to others, whether we’ve gotten to do everything we had hoped, or how we die
•        What will matter is what our lives have been about, that our lives have been lived to lift one another up in love.
•        When we stand on the mountaintop one day, what will matter is that we’ve tried to do God’s will, and to do what we can to lead the next generation a little closer to the Promised Land.
 October 25 2020 
AFFIRMATION   Apostle’s Creed, Ecumenical Version:
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven,
He is seated on the right hand of the Father,
And he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
 
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION AND THANKSGIVING AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
 
Sending
 
CHARGE & BLESSING                 
 
POSTLUDE
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October 18, 2020 Worship Services When We’ve Run out of Gas. Bu Joyce Chamberlin

10/17/2020

0 Comments

 
​ ​SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY 

October 18, 2020

Gathering

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Let me remind you quickly of our protocols for everyone’s safety.
Attendance was taken by ushers as you entered
Offerings may be placed in the plate by the doors.
The bulletins were placed specifically for social distancing, one household per pew. Please sit exactly where you found your bulletin.
Please keep your masks on and remain seated through the whole service.
There will be no singing, and no physical contact.
You may read along silently,
Schedule reminders:
The office is reopened
Church Service 9:30 am
Joint Meeting with the Sessions of both ours and  1st Congregational church at 12:00 pm on October
     25th at the 1st Congregational church

 
PRELUDE
 
Call to Worship:
In a world dominated by people claiming their rights and demanding autonomy, we come as servants, held in the arms of our Lord, instructed and offered assurance and assistance.  We become the servants of our Living God, disciples of our Lord Jesus, Christ.  Come Holy Spirit.  Guide our worship and praise.  Allow us to don your glory and be a part of your goodness.  May we relinquish ourselves to you this day.
 
Prayer of Confession: 
Gracious Lord.  The world is a place where the loudest voice is very often the dominant one, where it’s easier to go along than to fight for your holy design.  Forgive us for the many times when we’ve thrown up our hands and gone along with the powers that be, even when we knew that people were being harmed and your good earth was being desecrated.  Forgive us for assuming that we had no ability to speak your love into hurtful situations.  Forgive us for our lack of courage and our unwillingness to risk ourselves or even to ask for your amazing power to lead us through the danger.  We can do better, Lord.  Help us and love us, we pray.
 
Assurance of Pardon: 
 The heart of God rejoices when a son or daughter opens to the gift of forgiveness.  We are God’s by grace.  We are washed clean in God’s love.  Let us rejoice in the new life given through Jesus Christ, our Savior.  Thanks be to God 
 
OFFERING PEACE:
Our Amazing God stand with us and calls us together to know the joy of Christian Community, 
 
INTERLUDE:  There is a Sweet Sweet Spirt
 
Prayer of Illumination: 
 We come before you Lord to hear your truth and love.  You call us by name and whisper into our hearts.  May we set aside the many distractions to listen well.  May we then be empowered to leave this place as your disciples, dancing with the joy of following you.  Amen.
 
Scripture: 
 Exodus 33: 12-23
12 Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” 14 The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”17 And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” 18 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”19 And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” 21 Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”
​
 Matthew 22: 15-22
15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax[a] to Caesar or not?” 18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”21 “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.
 October 18 2020
Sermon Title:  When We’ve Run out of Gas.
                                        
“Who died and made you boss?”
 
“What gives you the right to challenge my decisions?”
 
“Why should we listen to you?”
 
Haven’t we all heard these questions?  They always seem to rise up when we’ve spoken in opposition to the dominant voice—to the way things are organized or what’s good for the most powerful. 

  • Maybe it’s the lowly manager who is questioning his or her Company’s Vice President about a process that seems unjust or unethical.
 
  • Maybe it’s an adult child who is chaffing at Mom’s unwillingness to let go of that parental authority to direct his life.
 
  • Maybe it’s one committee member who has finally worked up the courage to make sure her voice is heard by the domineering group leader.
 
  • We’ve just plain run out of gas.  We don’t have what it takes.
 
Sometimes we need to just go along.  At other times we have to stand up and speak our mind and push for what we know in our heart is right and good.  It’s never easy.  At least one part of the struggle is BELIEVING that we do have the right and the power to demand to be heard.  That might mean we need to do battle with our own insecurities, discouragement, and sense of powerlessness in order to keep moving forward on the path that we are being led.
 
You know what I’m talking about, right?  Haven’t we all felt discouraged and little broken by situations that seem so much bigger and more powerful that we can manage?  “What’s the use?  I’m just wasting my time and breath.  I just need to shut up and accept things the way they are because I have no power here.”
 
 
All of us have felt a bit of this in the midst of a pandemic…add on the Black Lives Matter unrest, the financial hardships where so many have lost their jobs or businesses, we’ve had to let go of our plans and our routines, many times even our ability to be with family.  More is needed from us at exactly the time when we have fewer resources to meet those needs.
 
Struggle.  Loss.  Fear.  Anger.  Disappointment.  Depression.  Loneliness.  Anxiety.  How do we be the faithful people of God in such a setting?
 
I actually think our scriptures for today give us some glimpses of the way forward.  Let’s begin with Moses.
 
It’s been quite a trip.  From the first time he stood on this mountain and God said, “I’m sending you to lead my people out of bondage.  I am who I am, and this will be a sign for you.  You will bring the people back to this mountain.”  So much had happened.  The plagues and still Pharaoh wouldn’t release them.  Then that really big plague in which the angel of death passed over the Hebrew cottages that had been painted with the blood of the lamb, and it landed smack dab in the bedrooms of the Egyptian people.  Then the people were running for their lives….. The Red Sea became an escape tunnel.  The people whining for food and water, and Moses was able to provide it by striking a rock and God sent down the manna.  God led them out, a pillar of cloud in the day and a pillar of fire at night.
 
And indeed, they did come back to this mountain.  God gathered the people at the base of the mountain and with smoke and fire and trumpet’s blast he spoke to them in his own voice, giving to them the 10 rules for living as God’s people.  Then God instructed Moses to come up the mountain to receive the finer details of his law.  God wrote the 10 commandments on stone so the people would have it.
 
But the people….
 
They were afraid and unaccustomed to freedom.  They had accepted Moses leadership—but he’d been up there for a very long time.  What if he’d been eaten my a mountain lion?  If he had fallen off a cliff?  If he’d been struck by lightning or just got tired and run away?  They NEEDED a conduit to God.  They NEEDED something they could manage and control.  The Egyptians used images formed from gold.  Why not?
And so, they made that golden calf.  Aaron would later tell Moses that they threw their gold bracelets and necklaces into the fire and the calf jumped out.  Yeah, right!
Can you imagine Moses?  God’s mad.  God is now ordering them to go forward from this place of relative safety.  He’s called them a Stiff-Necked people and telling Moses that he won’t go with them because if he did, his anger would consume them.
It’s like everything he had worked so hard to accomplish is gone—just gone.  Moses doesn’t know what to do, so he pleads with God to go with them and finally he asks a personal favor— “Show me your glory.”  It’s like Moses is saying, “God if you want me to lead this people forward, I need you to come along AND I need the strength and the direction that only you can give.”  
I understand Moses completely!
 
Now to Jesus.
 
Our passage for this morning is one that is often quoted by people who want to keep our faith out of our political lives.  They would quote” Give to the Emperor the things that are the Emperors and to God the things that belong to God.”  But before we go there, let’s step into the story a bit more.
 
Jesus has arrived in Jerusalem.  He knows what’s ahead and has tried to warn his disciples, but they don’t get it.  They only see the power and the miracles that he brings.  So, they whip up the crowds to greet Jesus at the city gate.  That doesn’t win any points with the Pharisees who have also heard all the rumors.  Then Jesus goes to the temple and chases out the money changers and merchants of animals.  How insulted the Pharisees are!  Who does he think he is?  Not only did he NOT bring his word from God to them so they could help direct it, now he’s trying to destroy the tradition of the Temple AND in the process getting people all riled up with his “Kingdom of God” talk.  If riots break out, Rome will blame them, and the Jews ability to worship at the temple could be taken away.  It’s their job to keep the people in line.  Jesus is threatening all of that.  This Jesus has to go.
So, they begin by asking him, “By what authority do you do these things?” Maybe they hoped Jesus would take the hint and get back in line.  Instead Jesus tells a series of parables that make them look like the bad guys!  Talk about rubbing salt in a wound!
So, they devise a sure-fire trap.  Paying taxes.  The people hate to pay taxes which are cruel and exorbitant.  If Jesus says people must pay them, the people will turn their back on him.  On the other hand, if he says they should not pay, then Rome will arrest him.  Either way, they win.  This Jesus problem will be taken care of.
 
I fully believe that Jesus, like Moses was fully aware that there was a tidal wave coming.  He knew, and that human part of him stood in dread of those waves crashing ashore and destroying him.  Remember all those times when he went out on his own to pray?  It’s clear to me that a good part of those prayers was, “God give me strength and wisdom.  Give me courage and faith and give me the right words to pull this off.”  You, see, Jesus was also dealing with a Stiff-necked people.  He would need all the help he could get.
So, for Moses, God showed his servant his glory.  Jesus wouldn’t need that so much—He WAS God’s glory.  But he was also human and that part of him would need the right words to deal with whatever the Pharisees and officials would throw at him.
 
And God gave Jesus the perfect response.  Jesus asked for a coin and the Pharisees presented a Roman coin.  Here’s the thing.  There were also Jewish coins.  Jewish coins were what the people used in the temple to make their offerings.  What was the difference in these coins?  The Roman coin had the image of Caesar and the Jewish coin had no image.  Do you remember that second commandment that God gave the people at Mt. Sinai?  “You shall not make for yourself an idol.”  Another translation says, “You shall not make for yourself any graven image.” 
 
Can’t you just see Jesus rubbing the face of the coin with his thumb and asking them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?”  When they answer “The emperor’s,” it’s like they have passed judgement on themselves, and all the people who watched knew it.  Jesus can then respond with that phrase we all know, “Give, therefore, to the Emperor the things that are the Emperors, and to God the things that are Gods.”
 
What belongs to the Emperor?  This coin which a faithful Jew should not really even have.  But what belongs to God—EVERYTHING!  Absolutely everything.  Our natural world, our families, our abilities, our possessions, our lives, our political privileges—EVERYTHING. 
 
Jesus received what he needed.  The way out of the trap that the Pharisees set, and in the process taught us something about our allegiances and priorities. 
 
You and I.  Don’t we also need God’s power and reassurance.  We also need the right words at times and the courage and faith to persevere.  We also need to know that God stands with us giving us what we need in the moment.  We’re no different than these 2 in this crucial aspect—One a prophet of God and the other the Son of God.
 
There’s something very powerful about laying ourselves at God’s feet and saying, “I can’t do this on my own.  I can’t fight any longer because I’m tired and defeated.  I am without the power to go forward.”  We don’t like to think of ourselves in those terms, but don’t we all get there?  Claim it—just as Moses did, just as I suspect Jesus did.  We might not get the answer we need immediately.  We might not get the answer in the way we might prefer, but our prayer won’t go unanswered.  God will give us his glory and his power and his wisdom to meet the demands of our lives.
 
So maybe it’s OK to be a bit broken.  Maybe it’s OK to find ourselves up against a stiff-necked people.  Shoot, we ARE the stiff-necked people at times.  But we are loved by our Lord, and we are equipped by his Spirit to offer God’s love and grace into the world around us.
 
May God cozy us into the cleft of that rock.  May he hold his hand over us and pass by, giving us the assurance of his glory and power and love.  
 
People of God, It’s OK to run out of gas.  Then we need to hold ourselves to God and walk with our hand in the Lord’s.  May we always rest in his love. Always.
 
Amen.
 
AFFIRMATION:               Apostle’s Creed, Ecumenical Version
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
 
Charge and Blessing:  
May we feel God holding us close and know the Glory of God that empowers us to be a people of love.  Go forth God’s Beloved and know the goodness of our God who guides us in this life of faith.  Amen.
 
Postlude 
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October 11, 2020 Worship Services Keep on keeping on by Pastor Jim Camp

10/11/2020

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​ ​SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY 

October 11, 2020

Gathering

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Let me remind you quickly of our protocols for everyone’s safety.
Attendance was taken by ushers as you entered
Offerings may be placed in the plate by the doors.
The bulletins were placed specifically for social distancing, one household per pew. Please sit exactly where you found your bulletin.
Please keep your masks on and remain seated through the whole service.
There will be no singing, and no physical contact.
You may read along silently,
Schedule reminders:
The office is reopened
Church Service 9:30 am
Joint Meeting with 1st Congregational church at 12:00 pm on October
     25th at the 1st Congregational church

MUSICAL OFFERING
 
WORDS OF WORSHIP 
“Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel the Lord Maker; 7for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.” Psalm 96:6-7
 
GATHERING PRAYER 
We ask, o Lord, as we gather to worship You, we might put other things aside. We want to bring ourselves to You so we can be more what You want us to be. We want to put aside the things that distract us so easily and focus on You. Help us to do that. Amen.
 
CONFESSION AND PARDON.
Almighty Father; we enter your presence confessing the things we try to conceal from you and the things we try to conceal from others. We confess the heartbreak, worry, and sorrow we have caused, that make it difficult for others to forgive us, the times we have made it easy for others to do wrong, the harm we have done that makes it hard for us to forgive ourselves. Lord have mercy and forgive us through Christ. Amen.
 
ASSSURANCE OF PARDON 
Psalm 103:8-12 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
 
OFFERING PEACE 
In the name and power of Christ we have been forgiven and are children of God amen.
 
INTERLUDE
 
                                                                                           Word
 
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
 May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to You, o God, our Lord and King. amen
 
SCRIPTURE LESSONS 
Philippians 4:4-9
4in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!5your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. the peace of God, transcends all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. You have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. the God of peace be with you.
 
SERMON “Keep on keeping on”
 
The house church at Philippi and Paul have a very special relationship. Philippi was one of the very first Christian fellowships developed by Paul. We all know we feel something different about our first child. We love all our children, but there is something extra in the relationship with the first child. Philippi was one of Paul’s earliest children and so there was a special place in his heart for them. In addition, Paul had received many gifts from that particular church while he was on his many journeys. While Paul may not have thought of Philippi as his “favorite” church, but there was no question they were special to him.
 
The section we read today was written while he was in prison and there was a very real possibility he might be put to death because he was proclaiming Jesus as lord and the Romans did not look with favor upon any lord other than Caesar. Besides that, there was some unrest caused when Paul had established these house churches and the resulting tensions among families had no doubt come to the attention of the Romans. Despite all these factors, the message we hear in this section is one of hope and encouragement.
 
The opening words of today’s lesson seem particularly strange for a person who is in jail with the real possibility of death facing them. “rejoice in the lord always, again I say rejoice.” It is indeed strange if we focus on the word rejoice but if we, like Paul, focus on what the rejoicing is about, the words do not sound so strange. Paul is not suggesting we should rejoice blindly, like the words of the popular movie, The Lion King, those words go like this: “Hakuna Matata! What a wonderful phrase. Hakuna Matata! Ain’t no passing craze. it means no worries for the rest of your days” 
 
This is not what Paul was advising. He was not the cock-eyed optimist from the musical “Oklahoma” his rejoicing was very clearly focused on one thing and one thing only: rejoice in the lord. Rejoice in the act of Christ’s sacrifice for us, rejoice in the fact that we now have access to eternal life. Rejoice in the fact that we now can be admitted to the kingdom of heaven. Paul’s rejoicing was very focused, it was rejoicing because of what all Christians have gained because of what God has done for us in the act of Christ’s death and resurrection.
 
He goes on to say, “do not worry about anything, but in prayer and supplication let your requests be known to God”. Again, we ask ourselves, how can a person in prison, with the possibility of death possibly say do not worry? We say to ourselves; how can we NOT worry about things around us? we can lift up a multitude of reasons for Paul to worry and we can easily see as many things for us to worry about. How can we not worry?
 
Again, we need to keep ourselves focused on the whole message, not just one part. He reminds us to “let our requests be known to God”. He says this with the assurance of one who is speaking of a loving parent. He does not say every request will be granted any more than a truly loving parent will grant every request of their children. If that were the case, every child who “really, really, really wants a pony” would have one. The loving parent will respond with the things that are beneficial and helpful for the child so they are well and safe.
 
Paul is one who knows very well that things do not always go the way you would like them to. He has often been rejected, particularly by his own people, the Jews he truly hoped would accept the message Christ has brought. He has been jailed several times, he has been beaten as a result of the message he delivered to the people, more than once, he has been run out of town by people who truly did not want to have anything to do with what he was saying. Yet, in the face of all that he could tell people to rejoice always. Clearly, either he was demented or he knew something worth knowing. We need to listen carefully to the things Paul says to the Philippians so we can see how it is possible to have this attitude especially in difficult times.
 
In the 8th verse he gives a litany of the things we should focus on. “finally, brothers, whatever is t rue, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on these things.” He has made a big shift, instead of the things we can find to worry about, he gives his listeners things which are uplifting, things which are positive and things which can give a person hope.  If, instead of worrying, a person can focus on these sorts of things, the world will, indeed, look brighter and you will feel better.
 
At the end of the reading he says, “keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.” Paul is doing a very dangerous thing, he is holding himself up as a role model, someone to look at and imitate. He is saying, you have seen me and heard me. You know the things I have taught and the things I stand for. Keep those things in your mind and work toward being like that.
 
When it is said in that way, we tend to shy away because it sounds very egotistical. It can sound as if Paul is telling people that if they are just like him, then all will be well. Everything will work out to the good. There are not many of us who would advise people to be just like us. we know our weaknesses and our shortcomings and would be reluctant to advise people to copy us. what, then, is Paul really saying?
 
The reason Paul can give this advice is based on the way he saw himself. In Romans, he calls himself a servant, other times, he refers to himself as an apostle. Neither of these words are words indicating a leader, but someone in a secondary position. A servant is under the orders of their master. The needs and considerations of the servant are not as important as the needs and consideration of the master. A servant is charged to carry out the wishes of the master fully and without question. The master, in their society, literally had the power of life and death over as servant. The word apostle is sometimes also translated as follower, or disciple. One who is dedicated themselves to the teaching of another person. The teacher has set the pathway and the task of the apostle is to follow.
 
Therefore, if the people of Philippi are doing the things Paul is doing, they are acting not as followers of Paul, but as followers, and servants, of the same Christ Paul is following. Paul, then, is not really saying they are to be like him, but rather they are to put themselves forward as servants, as followers of Christ, rather than being egotistical, Paul is telling the people to look past him and see the Christ he is following.
 
The hope and the joy Paul holds forth in this letter are not based on the things Paul can do. They are based on the things people have seen God do. These things rise from the stories of the OT where God rescued his people again and again even though they were often rebellious and totally disregarded the things God asked of them. It is a hope based on the things Jesus lifted up before them. It is the hope of salvation and the promise of the kingdom of God. It is a hope that can, indeed, rejoice always.
As I read the scripture lessons for this Sunday, this particular one seemed to speak to me about the things surrounding us in our world today. there were many reasons Paul could have rightfully been worried, there were many reasons Paul rightly could have been downhearted and yet he was able to hold forth this note of hope. He was in prison; he was far away from all his friends and supporters. He had no idea what the outcome of this time in prison might be. Communication from his friends was slow and undependable and would take a long time to reach him. Despite all this, he held forth this note of hope.
 
As I reflected on this, I began to see all the reasons we can easily be worried about things going on around us. we are in the midst of one of the worst health care situations all over the world since the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918. We are approaching ¼ million deaths in our country alone. Every time we begin to think things might be getting better, it seems they take another nosedive. We can easily give ourselves over to worry about the epidemic and its impact on our lives.
 
One of the side effects of the epidemic is its impact on our economy. Everywhere we look businesses are either shut down or operating on a very limited basis. The unemployment rate is at historic numbers. Many businesses we once looked upon as leaders are furloughing employees or flat shutting down parts of their operation. Along with these things we are in the midst of one of the most disruptive political seasons most of us can remember. Almost every political ad we see tells us how crooked the other person is. I have a really difficult time remembering the last time I have seen an ad telling me why I should vote for a particular candidate. It is far easier to recall the ads that tell me why I should NOT vote for a particular candidate. Conversations between friends can become very strained if one lifts up a particular candidate. To be in favor of the other candidate can easily be an invitation for some nasty remark rather than an invitation for healthy debate or discussion. It is really easy to find reasons to worry
.
Along comes Paul and tells me, “rejoice in the lord, always, again I say rejoice” and I want to scream “CAN’T YOU SEE WHAT’S GOING ON RIGHT AROUND US? HOW CAN YOU TELL ME TO REJOICE?”  when I catch my breath, I remember all that he said rather than just the word rejoice. His call was “Rejoice in the lord”. Then I can calm down a bit. Perhaps I can get my head straight and remember Paul is NOT telling me to rejoice in the things that are happening around me, but to rejoice in the good news of the gospel. He is calling me to rejoice in the blessings I have received because of the grace and love offered through Christ’s sacrifice. Then, indeed, there is reason to rejoice.
 
When I can see these things, it is easier to recall the words of the old hymn, “on Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand” I can rejoice. Not because of the pandemic, not because of the shaky economy, not because of the hostile political situation, but because of the promises offered to those who call on the name of the lord. As long as I can keep this clear in my head then I can, indeed, echo Paul, “rejoice in the Lord”
 
Paul then tells me to present my requests before God. Not as some magic Genii who will grant three wishes because I possess the magic lamp, but as a loving parent who will respond in a loving way. Paul did not want to go to jail. He certainly did not want to be rejected by his fellow Jews. He did not want to be run out of town. He did not want to be beaten. None of those things were on his wish list. As these things happened, I have no doubt he prayed to God they might be changed. Instead, God took those things and used them as ways for Paul to be able to present the gospel message in many different ways. God used those times as ways for the churches he had founded to express their care and concern for him with letters and other gifts. The requests Paul made were not honored, instead, God used these situations for both Paul and his fledgling churches to grow in understanding what it really meant to be a servant.
 
When we present our requests before God, we may not get the answer we expect. Instead, we may get something that seems like a bad answer at the time but as things develop, we discover the answer we got was a great deal richer than what we had asked for. Some writer once said God has 3 answers to prayer: there is yes, there is no, and there is, I have a better idea. This is what Paul is telling us as he says to let our requests be known, Paul wants us to know God will answer as a loving parent, not always giving us what we ask for, but giving us that which is good for us.
 
The list of things on which Paul wants us to focus is there to help us when we get caught in the trap of worrying. Instead of the worry, lift up the things around you that are true, honorable, just, pure, pleasing, commendable, excellent and worthy of praise. If we can get ourselves to lift these sorts of things, then we are not worrying.
The evening news we watch usually ends with a short uplifting story. Someone who has done something to help another person, someone who took a bad situation and turned it to something good. It is an attempt to end the broadcast on a positive note rather than all the bad things we have just heard during the news.
 
This is not what Paul is advising. He does not want us to take 5 minutes at the end of the day to lift up these things. He wants us to develop the habit of keeping ourselves focused on those attributes all during the day. The more we can get ourselves to focus on these uplifting things, the less time we will have to worry. It is really difficult to focus intently on more than one thing at a time. And so, Paul wants us to lift up the things which contribute to our peace, our sense of well being and those things which will benefit those around us as well.
 
At the end of our reading he tells the Philippians, and us, “keep on doing the things you have learned and received and heard and seen.” In other words, keep on keeping on. That doesn’t sound very exciting. We get very tired of the same old same old. We want to go on to something new and exciting. Paul’s advice to stay with that which has been beneficial in the past is sound advice.
 
Whether it is an exercise program, a diet or something else, we gain more from them when we continue to do them over a period of time. None of these sorts of things will be any real benefit to us if we only do them for a week or two. For the benefits to really begin to show up, we need to establish them as a regular part of our life.
 
In the same way, as we go through this time of pandemic, as we go through this time of political tension, as we go through this time of uncertain economy, we need to keep on doing the things we have been doing before. As individuals, we need to keep our time of prayer and bible study. We need to participate in worship, either in person or by means of the video sermons that are available. As a congregation, we need to continue finding ways we can minister to those around us. the congregation where I attend has reached out to the local school to ask how the teachers and students can be helped. Other churches have found ways to be involved in food pantries and other things which will help people during this time.
 
 Other churches have asked their deacons to make phone calls to those who live alone, just to check in on them, see if they need anything and express the love and concern of the congregation. While the events do bring us to do things in different ways, there are still many ways we can continue to show the love of Christ to our neighbors. We need to find ways to keep on doing the things we have always done.
 
There is no question that doing these things makes us feel good. We are happy when we have found ways to feed those who are hungry, to lift up those who are lonely, to do something for people we will probably never meet. At the same time, we know we are fulfilling the mandate we have about caring for those around us. we may not be able to do the acts of mission in person, but when we find ways to do the things we have always done, we are strengthened as a congregation.
 
When we have been part of the Christian fellowship for a while, we have seen people lift up their needs as well as celebrate answers to prayer. we have rejoiced with those who rejoice and mourned with those who mourn. In these days, when everything is different, we need to find ways to do the things we have learned. We can’t visit in person, but we can call. We are called to do the things we have done so the fellowship is maintained between us and so each of us can find ways to express our care for one another.
 
We are called to rejoice always, not because everything around us is light and clear skies, but because we know the love and power of God. We are called to bring our requests to God because we know God cares for His children and will respond in ways that are good for us. we are called to focus on the good around us because we are the people of the good news of the gospel, finally, we are called to keep on doing the things we have learned and seen and heard because we have seen over time the benefits of these things and we want others to understand their power. Indeed, we are called to keep on keeping on.
 
 
AFFIRMATION                Apostle’s Creed, Ecumenical Version
 
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
 
                                                                Sending
 
CHARGE & BLESSING
 we are charged to continue the acts of love we are now doing and to constantly search for ways to minister. Now, the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the holy spirit be with you all, Amen                                           
 
POSTLUDE
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October 04, 2020 Worship Services A Hands-On God Rev. Kristy Parker

10/3/2020

0 Comments

 
SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY 
October 04, 2020

Schedule reminders:October 04 2020
The office is reopened
Church Service 9:30 am
PRELUDE 
MUSICAL OFFERING
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Let me remind you quickly of our protocols for everyone’s safety.
Attendance was taken by ushers as you entered
Offerings may be placed in the plate by the doors.
The bulletins were placed specifically for social distancing, one  household per pew. Please sit exactly where you found your bulletin.
Please keep your masks on and remain seated through the whole service.
There will be no singing, and no physical contact.
You may read along silently,
Schedule reminders:
The office is reopened
Church Service 9:30 am, This is World Communion & Peace & Global Witness  you should have gotten an envelope about this and a percentage of the offering stays here in Clinton and is going to the Vinson Jetter Youth Center 
 
WORDS OF WORSHIP
O praise the Lord with me,
Let us exalt God’s name together.
 
GATHERING PRAYER
Almighty God, in Jesus Christ you have ordered us to live as loving neighbors. Though we are scattered in different places, speak different words, or descend from different races, give us common concern, so that we may be one people, who share the governing of the world under your guiding purpose. We pray that all people might enter your community of love promised in Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
 
CONFESSION AND PARDON
Gracious Lord, creator of this universe, in your generosity you have given us a world of abundance and diversity, yet we live guided by greed and selfishness. We confess that we have defaced your creation and poisoned our environment through our consumerist behavior and for personal gain. In Christ, you made us brothers and sisters and intended for us to be united, and yet we have built walls to separate us from those who are different from us. You gave us wisdom and creativity and we have used those to develop of destruction and death. You gave us laws to order our lives and we have abused them to take revenge and punish our enemies. We love war rather than strive for peace. We ignore the poor and the weak and honor the rich and powerful. In all this we have not lived according to your will. Forgive us, Lord, for daring to boast in our human achievements and for failing to recognize that you alone are worthy of praise. In your mercy, forgive us our sins.
Hear the good news: God’s love is everlasting. He doesn’t judge us according to our sins or repay us according to our iniquities. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is God’s love for those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west so far does he remove our sins from us. In Jesus Christ our sins are forgiven.
 
OFFERING PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you.
 
INTERLUDE
 
                                                    Word
 
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit, that as the Scriptures are read and your Word is proclaimed, we may hear with joy what you say to us today. Amen.
 
SCRIPTURE LESSONS               
 Psalm 19
9 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. 10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. 11 By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.12 But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. 13 Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. 14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
 
                                                       Exodus 20: 1-4,
20 1And God spoke all these words:
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3 “You shall have no other gods before[a] me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
 
 
Exodus 20: 7-9, 
7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 
 
Exodus 20:12-20
12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
13 “You shall not murder.
14 “You shall not commit adultery.
15 “You shall not steal.
16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.”20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning
 
SERMON                                        “A Hands-On God”

I was watching TV the one day, and a commercial came on about the unfortunate way our children today are addicted to video games. 
 
  • A little boy is sitting on the floor in front of the TV holding the control. 
  • As the camera zooms in on him, he has a crazed look on his face. 
  • He is totally absorbed in the TV screen, and oblivious to everything else around him. 
  • The rest of the family is ready to eat dinner, and his mother is calling him to the table, but he’s so wrapped up in his game that he doesn’t even hear or, or chooses to ignore her.
 
I thought it was going to be one of those service messages encouraging parents to take back their authority and set boundaries for their children. 
 
  • I expected the mother or father to go over and turn the game off, take the child by the hand and lead him to the table. 
  • I was shocked and amazed when instead, a device called the “Power Cop” flashed onto the screen. 
  • It was a small electronic box that one could plug into the video game or computer game and it would shut the game off after a certain time.
  • It seemed ridiculous to me that a family would need to invest $29.99 in the “Power Cop” when the mother and father were both right there in the room, and could just go over and turn the game off themselves.
  • But more than seeming ridiculous and unnecessary, it seemed sad – sad that parents would give the privilege and responsibility of guiding their children over to a box. 
  • Sad that parents would miss out on the chance to nurture a relationship with their child in which he would come to know that they set boundaries for him because they love him, and have his health and happiness in mind. 
  • Sad for a child to miss out on the firm, yet loving voice and touch of a parent’s leading. 
  • It seems that setting boundaries and nurturing relationships is just too much for us, anymore. 
  • It’s just a lot easier to go to “remote control.”
 
I wonder what would have happened to Israel if God would have purchased a “Power Cop” and decided to deal with them by “remote control.” 
 
  • What would have happened if God had looked down upon his children and despaired at them and decided it was just too much for him?
  • Imagine it – God looks down upon his children and sees that they are so absorbed in their games that they have time for little else. 
  • His children have crazed looks on their faces and they’re so riveted to the games that they can’t even come to the table when he calls them.
  • Nahor is worshiping idols today, and Milcah is swearing at him using God’s name. 
  • Zibeon is working 24/7 with no time off. 
  • Abdeel is defying his parents. 
  • Eliphaz is into adultery and his wife is furious enough to kill him.
  • Timna is stealing and Abimelech is spreading rumors around town.
  • Eshban and Ithran are just trying to keep up with the neighbors, who always seem to have more.
 
God observes the games they’re playing and heaves a sigh. 
 
  • “I must invest in a Power Cop,” he says to himself. 
  • “The children are too unruly, and they have ignored my voice for too long. 
  • I’ve had it.
  • I think I’ll just plug them and their games into a box and forget about them. 
  • It sure would be a load off of my mind.
  • So Nahor and Milcah, Zibeon and Abdeel, Eliphaz and Timna, Abimelech, Eshban and Ithran have thirty minutes more to play before the Power Cop will shut them off by remote control. 
  • Then they’ll sit there like robots waiting for the next time they get to play.
 
Fortunately for Israel, God chose not to let a box parent his children. 
 
  • He was the parent and he would take active part in their discipline. 
  • It was he who had made them and given them life. 
  • It was he who had freed them from the bonds of slavery in Egypt. 
  • All that they had, all that they were, had come from him, and he alone had the right to speak and to command. 
  • He would not give up his authority to a box. 
  • He would not operate by remote control.
  • He would take them by the hand and lead them to the table. 
  • He would be a “hands-on” God.
 
After God had delivered the Israelites and they were camped in the wilderness of Sinai, he called to Moses from the mountain and said, “Say to Israel, ‘I am the one who saved you. 
 
  • You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 
  • Now if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples. 
  • The whole earth is mine, but you are special to me. 
  • You are a holy nation. 
  • I’m lifting you up to be a light to all people.
 
Now this is what is necessary that you do if you are to live out the purpose I’ve created you for:
 
  • ‘You must be loyal only to me. 
  • No carved gods of any size, shape or form. 
  • Don’t bow down to them, and don’t serve them, because I am a jealous God, punishing the children for any sins their parents pass onto them, but I’m unswervingly loyal to the thousands who love me and keep my commandments. 
  • There are other “gods” out there that will compete for your attention.
  • Choose me and only me. 
  • Don’t curse in my name or invoke my power for things that aren’t about me or for my purpose,
  • honor your parents because it is they who will pass the faith to you.
  • You have six days to get everything done.
  • Keep one day holy just for me. 
  • Don’t keep working to exhaustion just for more money and more power. 
  • Have respect for life. 
  • Don’t kill, don’t steal, don’t sleep with other people’s spouses, and don’t envy what other people have. 
  • This is what you need to do to be healthy and happy, to be in loving relationship with me and with one another. 
  • God wrote the commandments on two stone tablets.
 
Even as God was speaking to Moses, giving him the law, the people were down at the foot of the mountain absorbed their games. 
 
  • They had gotten tired of waiting for Moses to return and they’d taken all of their earrings off and molded them into a golden calf to worship.
  • As Moses came down from the mountain, he saw them with crazed looks on their faces eating and drinking, and rising up to dance around the calf. 
  • When Moses came near the camp and saw them running wild, he was furious and he threw the tablets from his hands and broke them. 
  • He took the calf that they had made and burned it in the fire and ground it into fine powder. 
  • And then he stood in the gate at the camp and said, “Who is on the Lord’s side?  Come to me.”
 
Then making intercession for the people, Moses went the next day on their behalf to ask God for forgiveness. 
  • And God was good.
  • “You are a stiff-necked people,” he said. 
  • “I want you to take your people and leave this place. 
  • My presence will go with you. 
  • Cut two new tablets of stone and I will write on them the same words that were on the old ones.” 
  • And Moses bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped. 
  • He said, “Oh Lord, I pray, go with us. 
  • Although this is a stiff-necked people, pardon our sin, and take us for your own.”
  • And the Lord made a covenant to perform marvels, to do an awesome thing among his people.
 
A hands-on God. 
 
  • He refused to give his authority over to a box, to leave them to their games, to let them sit there with crazed looks on their faces, gazing at the calf. 
  • Instead he took them by the hand and led them out again. 
  • He was the parent, and he wouldn’t let his children be lost to their games.
  • I wonder what would have happened if God had decided to purchase a “Power Cop” and deal with Israel by remote control.
  • If he had decided it was just too much. 
  • It would have brought God pain and sorrow to miss out on nurturing a relationship with his children where they would come to know and understand that he set boundaries for them because he loves them. 
  • It would have been sad for his children to miss out on the firm, yet loving voice and touch of a parent’s leading.
 
We live in a permissive society today where it’s not too popular to follow God’s law. 
  • We don’t want any rules or conventions intruding on our personal freedom. 
  • We don’t have to look far to see that God’s children are playing games. 
  • The golden calf is alive and well and we’re running wild, playing at lying, stealing and adultery.
  • We’re killing and swearing, working 24/7 to try and keep up with the neighbors. 
  • God is calling us to the table, and we don’t even hear him, or we choose to ignore him.
  • It’s a real pain in the neck to quit what we’re doing to follow a bunch of rules. 
  • If he wanted to, God could buy a “Power Cop.” 
  • He could shut us down anytime he wanted and let us sit there unchanged and addicted to our habits, waiting for the next time we get to play.
 
But the truth is, he loves us too much for that.
  • God has made us, and he’s taken us by the hand and led us out of Egypt. 
  • He has liberated us from slavery, and now he refuses to let us be held captive by our sins, refuses to let us stay in the bondage of our games.
  • He takes us by the hand and he teaches us what we need to do to be healthy and happy, how we must be, in relationship with him and with one another. 
  • His law isn’t a harsh means of restricting us from freedom and fun. 
  • It is pure grace. 
  • It is relationship with a God who loves us enough to give us boundaries, who loves us enough to forgive us when we screw up,
  • and to continue to walk with us, to never take his presence from us.
  • It is a gift of love from a hands-on God. 
It is the God who loved us so much that when he saw we couldn’t keep the law, came to Earth to be physically present with us, to show us by his own example what he meant by love and fidelity and honor and rest and loyalty to God and God alone. 
 
  • He is the God who opened his hands to feed us and laid hands on us to heal us. 
  • He is the God who turned off our games, took us by the hand and led us to the table and said, “This is my body given for you.  Do this in remembrance of me.” 
  • He’s the God who carried his cross up the hill, who took the nails in his hands, who rose again and appeared to his people alive, who lifted his hands and said, “I am with you always.”
 
A Hands-On God. 
 
  • A God who cares about us so much that he refuses to deal with us by remote control. 
  • Who loves us enough to give us boundaries for our own health and happiness. 
  • “Be loyal to me,” he says. 
  • “Don’t curse in my name. 
  • Honor your parents, take time for rest.
  • Don’t lie, don’t gossip, don’t steal, don’t sleep with other peoples’ spouses, don’t envy what other people have. 
  • I love you. 
  • Here – take my hand. 
  • It’s time to turn off the game and come to the table.
 
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.      
 
 
AFFIRMATION   Apostle’s Creed, Ecumenical Version
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven,
He is seated on the right hand of the Father,
And he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
 
COMMUNION WITH PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION AND THANKSGIVING AND THE LORD’S PRAYER

Holy Communion Liturgy

INVITATION TO THE LORD’S SUPPER

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks & praise.
O Holy God. . . we lift our hearts in joyful praise 
We praise you. . . together, we proclaim the mystery of our faith.
Gracious God,...all glory and honor are yours, Almighty God, now and forever.

THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. 
 
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
 
CHARGE & BLESSING   


POSTLUDE             
 

 
 




 
 

 
 
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