​November 20, 2022
 
Gathering
 
MUSICAL OFFERING
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Let me remind you quickly of our protocols for everyone’s safety.                  
· Attendance was taken by Ushers as you entered.
· Masks are required by those not vaccinated  as well as social distancing
· Offerings may be placed in the plate by the doors.
· Please write your prayer request on the Yellow cards.  An usher will pick them up during the 1st hymn.
· Please join us after service for fellowship in Calvin Hall
 
PRAYER REQUESTS
Bob Bock, Joan Boyd, Wanda Hirl, Marilyn Neymeyer, Joan Pinkston, Maxine Wagner, Annette Conzett, Jo Lefleur  Judy Welcher, Dr Dyke, Harlan Marx, Lois Seger, Jon Ryner, Abagail Niles, Helanah Niles, Kay Werner, Ukraine, Arlene Pawlik, Angela and Tristan, Bonnie Pillers, Deb Weller and Joyce  Chamberlin and family as they mourn the passing of her father.
 
PRELUDE
 
*CALL TO WORSHIP
L:   What does it mean, O Lord, to call you King?
P:   It means that we listen to the voice of our Shepherd.  We follow where he leads.
L:   What does it mean to be a subject of Christ our King?
P:  It means we are a forgiven people who work for justice and righteousness.
L:  Bend low, Loving King,
P:  Receive our praise and thanksgiving, and lead us more surely into your kingdom.
All:  Amen.
 
*GATHERING PRAYER
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord.  Your power for life and hope astounds and amazes us.  As we offer our praise and thanksgiving this day, we ask that you might fill us with your power for life and allow us to offer our whole beings in dedication to you.  Amen.
 
*HYMN Rejoice, The Lord is King #155
(You may be seated.)
 
 
CALL TO CONFESSION
We are a people who lose sight of God’s design.  Too often we fail to live our own best intentions, and then we hang our heads in sorrow and shame.  Let us acknowledge these failings before the crown of our Lord.  Let us seek God’s grace that we might be washed clean and empowered to begin again.
 
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
On this Sunday set aside to consider the kingship of Christ and his claim upon our lives, we confess, O Lord,  that we don’t like to think of anyone as having authority over our days.  Yet, you who are the power of life, was obedient to God’s authority even unto death. In so doing you gave us the gift of grace and new life.   Forgive us our arrogance, Lord.  Help us to serve you, to lift your call for justice and righteousness and so bring new life into our world.  Amen.
 
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
Jesus laid down his life so that all who call upon his name might know ourselves released from the darkness of our sin.  Hear the good news.  In Christ’s gift upon the cross we are forgiven and healed.  May we claim this gift of new possibilities, and proclaim Jesus as Lord of all.  Thank you, Loving Savior. Amen.
 
SONG OF PRAISE Gloria Patri #579
 
PASSING THE PEACE
(Please greet those around you as we all say these words in unison.)
May the peace of Christ be with you. And also with you.
 
INTERLUDE
Word
 
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
As the people at the cross that day struggled to know your claim upon their lives, O Lord, we, too, seek to hear your call to us.  We need to feel your presence in our lives.  Remove the wax from our ears, Loving King, as we hear your word this day.  Give us the power to follow where you lead.  Amen
 
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
Jeremiah 23:1-6
23 Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord. 2 Therefore, thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord. 3 Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. 4 I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord 5 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’
Luke 23:33-43
33 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. [[34 Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’] And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35 And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, ‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!’ 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, 37 and saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!’ 38 There was also an inscription over him, ‘This is the King of the Jews.’39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’ 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.’ 42 Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ 43 He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.
 
SERMON Long Lives the King!
 
Jesus has many names. In the Old Testament Hebrew it would be Yeshua (we say Joshua) which means God saves. So, of course that goes with referring to Jesus as Savior or Redeemer. I mentioned recently some of the Old Testament laws regarding redemption, but when we refer to Jesus as Savior or Redeemer, we are talking about the one who rescues us and buys us back from the slavery of sin.
 
We call Jesus Rabbi which means Teacher as many did in the New Testament. As disciples then we also say Jesus is our Master. If we follow Jesus as teacher, we may also choose to serve Jesus as Master or Lord.
 
The Old Testament has various images of the leadership of a shepherd. David was a shepherd. Many love the shepherd theme in Psalm 23. Ezekiel also prophesied about a
Good Shepherd. The gospel writer John applies this in chapter 10. It is a favorite stained glass window scene. We refer to Jesus when we prayerfully sing, Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us.
 
Various Old Testament prophesies refer to Jesus as a branch or shoot or seed. Isaiah 11 is the one that is heard most often, “A shoot will go forth from the stump of Jesse.” Jesse was the father of King David from whom it was promised that the Messiah would come.
 
Of course we often give Jesus the title Christ (in the Greek of the New Testament) which is Messiah (in the Hebrew of the Old Testament) and means anointed one. When the people begged for a king, God told Samuel to anoint Saul as the first king of the Jews. When God’s favor departed from Saul because Saul departed from God’s instructions, Samuel was told to anoint one of Jesse’s sons. God’s favor rested on the youngest, the shepherd boy, David.
 
As Jesus fills many of these titles and promises, he has also been called the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Prince of Peace. Jesus as God’s Son has become our royal leader, a Shepherd King in the line and likeness of David. But Jesus is King and Lord of so much more!
 
How we think of kings and queens today? There are still monarchies in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Spain, Netherlands, and several smaller European countries. The Pope is considered as king over The Vatican. African monarchies include Jordan and Saudi Arabia; we hear about them on the news. There’s also United Arab Emirate and a few more. In Asian it’s Bhutan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Japan. There are a few islands in the world with monarchies that are NOT part of the British Commonwealth. Here in the United States we probably think first of the kings and queens of the United Kingdom. Perhaps you have watched their weddings or coronations on television or watched movies about them. We read about various kings and queens or other royals in the news, but usually we hear the bad news more than the good.
 
What do we expect from a sovereign leader? I think my ideals were shaped in part by the 1998 movie version of Cinderella titled “Ever After” played by Drew Barrymore. Her reading of Utopia and other lessons from her late father, gave her the notion that it is the role of the monarch to care for the people. Isn’t that exactly what God also expects? To me that is the good shepherd, one who protects and provides and guides without exploitation or oppression, one whose priority is the people’s needs and not personal gain. This is my expectation of all leaders, not just those bearing a royal title.
 
My ideals are also shaped by what I read in the Old Testament. After Saul, David, and Solomon, things did not go well. The kingdom was divided and many of the kings were not good either in the northern kingdom of Israel or the southern kingdom of Judah. There were a few exceptions of course, like Josiah or Hezekiah, but most of the kings are remembered as doing evil in the Lord’s sight. That often meant they led the people to worship something other than the One True God and they did not live or lead according to God’s way.
 
A good king is described in Jeremiah 22:1-5 and the benefits as well as consequences for those who do or do not live up to God’s expectations.
Thus says the Lord: Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and speak there this word, 2 and say: Hear the word of the Lord, O king of Judah sitting on the throne of David—you, and your servants, and your people who enter these gates. 3 Thus says the Lord: Act with justice and righteousness and deliver from the hand of the oppressor anyone who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the alien, the orphan, and the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place. 4 For if you will indeed obey this word, then through the gates of this house shall enter kings who sit on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses—they, their servants, and their people. 5 But if you will not heed these words, I swear by myself, says the Lord, that this house shall become a desolation.
These chapters of Jeremiah point out the disappointing kings after Josiah. They are Shallum and Jehoiakim, sons of Josiah, also Coniah, son of Jehoiakin, and finally Zedekiah. Jeremiah 23:1-2 compares a king or any leader to a shepherd and expresses the failures of the leadership under King Zedekiah. (Expositor’s Bible Commentary)
The "shepherds" on whom Jeremiah pronounced woe were not only kings but all the leaders of Judah—the civil leaders and the spiritual leaders (the prophets and priests). … The leaders were guilty of gross dereliction of duty. By oppression and shedding innocent blood, they destroyed the flock; those who were not destroyed were scattered to wander without protection. So the leaders were guilty of the very things the shepherds were charged with preventing. By leading the nation into idolatry, and so into the Babylonian captivity, the leaders had scattered the people. Moreover, contrary to the duty of shepherds to lead and feed the flock, they had driven the flock away.
Verses 3-5 go on to proclaim God as the good shepherd who will reverse the punishment and hardship of the exile. The people will be gathered and returned to their country just as a shepherd gathers the scattered flock and returns them to safe pasture. This signaled an end to the exile. Beyond that, God will set over the people new leaders, who will resemble the good shepherd and God will be the ultimate shepherd over all. For us this hints forward to Jesus as the Good Shepherd and Messiah.
 
Expositor’s Bible Commentary goes on to suggest,
there will be a time of blessing ahead. … he will reign as a true king, not as a puppet like Zedekiah and his immediate predecessors. He will execute justice and righteousness like his ancestor David (cf. 2Sa 8:15). In contrast to the inequities and injustices common to the Davidic kings, the Messiah's reign will be the opposite.
I’ve not read much of the leadership following the return of the exiles beyond what Nehemiah and Ezra accomplished rebuilding Jerusalem’s wall and temple. But by the time of Jesus it was the Hasmonean kings sitting on southern Judah’s throne. The one we know from the Christmas story is Herod the Great. While Herod thought of himself in grandiose terms and built magnificent fortresses with palaces, he was not so great in terms of the just and righteous king sought by the Jews. Nor was he one to free them from Roman domination. Instead those fortresses were built to secure his own escape route back to Edom from which his family came. History remembers him as cruel not only in the slaughter of innocents after Jesus’ birth, but even toward his own family.  The first of our lessons in the Wednesday Morning Bible Study took us through a comparison of Herod and Jesus. While Herod lived in a magnificent palace, Jesus’ crib was a manger. Herod did everything to appear strong and powerful, but Jesus came as a vulnerable, powerless infant. While Herod grabbed for earthly status, Jesus briefly left his eternal status of honor, glory, and authority to put on human flesh and dwell among us. Herod lived for his own glory and purpose. Jesus lived to honor God and fulfilled God’s purpose. Herod left behind huge, well built, architectural structures to honor himself, but they no longer stand. Jesus’ legacy was to build people into a family of faith that would outlast his earthly ministry and carry on his work. Herod was self-serving; Jesus came to serve God by serving others. (These concepts all come from chapter 1 of the Discovery Guide for Life and Ministry of the Messiah in the DVD series That the World May Know by Ray Vanderlaan. Which of these would you rather claim as your king? To which would you give your allegiance? While worldly leaders will disappoint us at some time or most of the time, Jesus best fulfills my leadership expectations.
 
Today is the last Sunday of the Christian calendar. It celebrates Christ the King. It’s one of those more obscure holy days like Transfiguration Sunday or Trinity Sunday. But I find it helpful at least once a year to reaffirm that Christ is the King I choose to serve. I want God’s anointed to be the lord of my life. I trust no earthly king or president or any other world leader as fully as I trust Jesus.
 
The Crucifixion scene from Luke 23 we read as our gospel lesson today shows clearly how far Jesus would go to be our shepherd king. He would give his life, and did, that we might live, that our sin debt would be paid and we would be redeemed from death. Not only that, but Jesus also invites us as forgiven sinners to live with him in his heavenly kingdom. He said to the thief who confessed his sin, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Jesus chose not to save himself but to save us. The one they accused of being “The King of the Jews” as an act of treason, is indeed my king for eternity.
 
It is common in many cultures to say respectfully some version of “Long live the King!” Truth be told whether it is king or queen, president or prime minister, pope or patriarch, CEO or Chair of the Board, or any other type of leader, some we might want to see in that position as long as possible and others we would like to get rid of as soon as possible. Whatever their intentions, self-serving or serving others, they are still human and therefore not perfect. But Jesus is the Son of God, the Holy One, and Jesus is perfect. Jesus is the only perfect king.
 
I found it curious that Pastor Joyce’s sermon title for today was not “Long live the king!” but rather “Long lives the king!” Sometime I’ll have to ask her what she had in mind for today’s message. But as I pondered my own take on it I thought of this. To say, “Long live the King!” we are wishing a human leader to stay on the throne for a long time. However, to say, “Long lives the King!” we are affirming that Jesus, our King, who is divine is still alive and always will be. Jesus lives on in that spiritual dimension we call heaven, and still wants to be Lord of our lives.
 
There is a saying my grade school friend taught me when we were young, “Joy is the banner flown over the castle of your heart when the king is in residence.” It’s a reminder of the joy that is ours if we allow Jesus to be our Lord and King. “Long lives the King!”
 
*HYMN Crown Him with Many Crowns #151
(You may be seated.)
 
PASTORAL PRAYER
 
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.
Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, now and forever. Amen.
 
OFFERING OUR LIVES
 
*DOXOLOGY Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow #592
 
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH  ((from Luke 1: 68-72, 78-79—Zechariah’s Prophecy)
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them.  He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we would be saved from our enemies and from all who hate us.
 Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant.
By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high breaks upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death to guide our feet into the way of peace.  Amen.
 
*HYMN How Great Thou Art #467
 
Sending Forth
 
*CHARGE & BLESSING
 
POSTLUDE
 
* Sections of the service preceded with * are times to stand if you are able to do so.
Bold text is to be read together aloud as a congregation.

November 13, 2022
Veterans Remembrance
 
Gathering
 
MUSICAL OFFERING
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Let me remind you quickly of our protocols for everyone’s safety.                   
· Attendance was taken by Ushers as you entered.
· Masks are required by those not vaccinated  as well as social distancing
· Offerings may be placed in the plate by the doors.
· Please write your prayer request on the Yellow cards.  An usher will pick them up during the 1st hymn.
· Please join us after service for fellowship in Calvin Hall
 
PRAYER REQUESTS
Bob Bock, Joan Boyd, Wanda Hirl, Marilyn Neymeyer, Joan Pinkston, Maxine Wagner, Annette Conzett, Jo Lefleur  Judy Welcher, Dr Dyke, Harlan Marx, Lois Seger, Jon Ryner, Abagail Niles, Helanah Niles, Kay Werner, Ukraine, Arlene Pawlik, Angela and Tristan, Bonnie Pillers, and Deb Weller.
 
TRIBUTE AND RECOGNITION OF OUR VETERANS
 
PRELUDE
 
*CALL TO WORSHIP    Psalm 98:1-3, CEB
Sing to the Lord a new song  because he has done wonderful things!
His own strong hand and his own holy arm  have won the victory!
The Lord has made his salvation widely known;
    he has revealed his righteousness in the eyes of all the nations.
God has remembered his loyal love  and faithfulness to the house of Israel;
    every corner of the earth has seen our God’s salvation.   
*GATHERING PRAYER
Almighty God, you who commands the heavenly host, we give you our thanks and praise for the many times and ways that you have saved us from danger or seen us through times of grave difficulty. As we worship today, may we recognize not only those who have served you in the name of freedom, but also that our freedom is ultimately found in you. Amen.
 
*HYMN  Eternal Father, Strong to Save  #562
  (You may be seated.)
 

CALL TO CONFESSION              2 Chronicles 4:17, ESV
“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
 
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Let us confess the sins of our people to the God who forgives and heals.
God of mercy and grace, as your people we have not always cared for one another. Nations have gone to war against nations. Peoples have oppressed other peoples. We have not always upheld the dignity, rights, and worth of all your children. We have allowed race, nationality, status, gender, economics, politics, religion, and other differences to become excuses to cause harm to others. Too often sins have been committed even using your name. We humbly bow our hearts before you and seek forgiveness, asking you to heal our land.
 
WORDS OF ASSURANCE    Ephesians 1:7, CEB
“We have been ransomed through his Son’s blood, and we have forgiveness for our failures based on his overflowing grace.”
Through Christ we are forgiven. Thanks be to God!
 
SONG OF PRAISE  Gloria Patri  #579
 
PASSING THE PEACE
  (Please greet those around you as we all say these words in unison.)
May the peace of Christ be with you. And also with you.
 
INTERLUDE
 
Word
 
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION     Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you, Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
 
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON    Isaiah 65:17-25, GW
17 I will create a new heaven and a new earth.
Past things will not be remembered. They will not come to mind.
18 Be glad, and rejoice forever in what I’m going to create,
because I’m going to create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people to be a joy.
19 I will rejoice about Jerusalem and be glad about my people.
Screaming and crying will no longer be heard in the city.
20 There will no longer be an infant who lives for only a few days
or an old man who doesn’t live a long life.
Whoever lives to be a hundred years old will be thought of as young.
Whoever dies before he is a hundred years old will be cursed as a sinner.
21 They will build houses and live there. They will plant vineyards and eat fruit from them.
22 They will not build homes and have others live there.
They will not plant and have others eat from it.
My people will live as long as trees,
and my chosen ones will enjoy what they’ve done.
23 They will never again work for nothing.
They will never again give birth to children who die young,
because they will be offspring blessed by the Lord.
The Lord will bless their descendants as well.
24 Before they call, I will answer. While they’re still speaking, I will hear.
25 Wolves and lambs will feed together, lions will eat straw like oxen,
and dust will be food for snakes.
“They will not hurt or destroy anyone anywhere on my holy mountain,”
says the Lord.
 
GOSPEL LESSON    Luke 21:5-19, NLT
5 Some of his disciples began talking about the majestic stonework of the Temple and the memorial decorations on the walls. But Jesus said, 6 “The time is coming when all these things will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!”
 
7 “Teacher,” they asked, “when will all this happen? What sign will show us that these things are about to take place?”
 
8 He replied, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and saying, ‘The time has come!’ But don’t believe them. 9 And when you hear of wars and insurrections, don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place first, but the end won’t follow immediately.” 10 Then he added, “Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, and there will be famines and plagues in many lands, and there will be terrifying things and great miraculous signs from heaven.
 
12 “But before all this occurs, there will be a time of great persecution. You will be dragged into synagogues and prisons, and you will stand trial before kings and governors because you are my followers. 13 But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me. 14 So don’t worry in advance about how to answer the charges against you, 15 for I will give you the right words and such wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to reply or refute you! 16 Even those closest to you—your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends—will betray you. They will even kill some of you. 17 And everyone will hate you because you are my followers. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish! 19 By standing firm, you will win your souls.
 
SERMON  Freedom
 
We began today by honoring our veterans, their families, and all who support them. In each case they made sacrifices for what they held dear, sometimes even sacrificing their lives. Sometimes they came home with broken minds or broken bodies or broken hearts because of what they experienced. Whether they served in times of war or times of peace they gave of themselves for our sake to preserve our freedom.
 
I always saw my connection to veterans as limited to gravesides with ceremonies by VFW or American legion and visits to parishioners at the VA hospital. My respect has grown significantly watching Fran offer her tribute each November for the past several years and being aware of honor flights and wounded warrior projects. Then suddenly this year I remembered that I too have veterans in my family. Both of my uncles served in Germany and my step dad served in Korea, but all in times of peace.
 
Part of my preparation this week has been finding quotes for Veterans Day. I read a couple of them earlier. Let me share a few more that spoke to me. They come from Reader’s Digest website:
 
G.K. Chesterton — “The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.”
Joseph Campbell — “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.”
From our current President Joe Biden —  “They have served selflessly, sacrificed greatly, and shouldered the burden of freedom quietly, asking no glory for themselves.”
You’ll see that freedom is an ongoing theme for Veterans Day and is my theme for today’s message.
John Doolittle — “America’s veterans have served their country with the belief that democracy and freedom are ideals to be upheld around the world.”
 
I was reminded by my ex-husband’s post that soldiers from other countries have also fought alongside Americans as allies. David posted a picture of his father in full military uniform with all his medals; he fought in WWII. So did one of David’s uncles.
They too gave of themselves for the cause of freedom.
 
Perhaps the most significant thing affirmed for me in reviewing this topic came from these two quotes.
 
Bob Dylan — “A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom.”
Eleanor Roosevelt — “Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being. With freedom comes responsibility.”
 
We talked about freedom in our Wednesday morning Bible class this week as some of our stories have shared the history of Jewish freedom fighters in or near the time of Jesus. Freedom is not a given. It is not entitlement. Freedom is a privilege, and with that privilege indeed comes responsibility. We are responsible for our own behavior within that freedom and we are responsible for how we respect and support the freedom of others. My freedom does not give me the right to take away yours.
  
We talked about freedom in two ways – as freedom from and freedom for. While we agreed that “freedom means I can do what I want,” we quickly added the qualifying statement, “within the law.”
 
I am finding this freedom to do what I want is exactly what I enjoy about retirement. I am free to sit in my chair and watch the birds or to watch a show. I can chat with friends or turn my phone over and ignore it awhile. I can eat what and when I want, but I choose to eat healthy most of the time. Freedom means I have a choice. I can say “No” when an opportunity arises or I can say “Yes” when it’s something I want to do and my health and time allow me to do it. Still choices have consequences. I can choose to keep up with the dishes and the mail or not. But the consequences might include mold or missing a bill. Again, freedom comes with responsibility.
 
Many of us exercised that responsibility as we voted last week. I suspect that everyone had some disappointment as well as some smiles with election results.
I think it would be quite rare if every candidate I voted for or my opinion on every referendum went exactly the way I wanted, but at least some do. Our vote is one way we express our opinions in a democracy, but our opinion will not always be the majority. Still, I am grateful to live where I have that privilege rather than living in a dictatorship.
 
Freedom from could include many things. The first one mentioned Wednesday was freedom from stress. We also want freedom from disease and freedom from debt. In this nation we have fought for freedom from colonial powers and over a difference of opinion on freedom from slavery. In a wider world perspective we all need freedom from prejudice, freedom from oppression, freedom from poverty and hunger, freedom from pandemic, freedom from abuse, freedom from harassment, freedom from natural disasters and much more.  We are easily overwhelmed by it all, but the one way we can make a difference is in how we treat ourselves, each other, and how we treat creation. When we take responsibility for the privilege of freedom, we help keep that freedom available for all of us.
 
As we read today’s scripture passages, you might wonder how they relate to freedom;  I stuck with the lectionary readings for today. But as I read Isaiah I recognized a time when Judeans had lost many of their freedoms. They were not allowed to live as they wanted to live. They could not worship where and how they wished. They lost their homeland and their way of life as exiles in a foreign land. The passage from Isaiah speaks of a time when they will once again have freedom from such oppression. They will again have freedom from the hardships they have known.
 
The images point not only to a return to Judah and Jerusalem; they also seem to point beyond that to a future that still awaits us. The NIV Study Bible suggests:
“God’s salvation goes beyond Israel’s renewal. All creation will be restored.”
This is also promised in the book of Romans, chapter 8. “creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. (v. 21)
“In the book of Revelation, John links the notion of a new heaven and a new earth with the “new Jerusalem” (Rev 21:1–2). A restored Jerusalem after the exile and in the Messianic kingdom points toward this greater Jerusalem.”
 
The NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible adds to this:
“describing in physical terms the benefits that come to those in fellowship with God: peace, security, abundance, freedom from sorrow and destruction.”
The statements are meant poetically, but some are also fulfilled literally.
There are “Metaphors of blessedness: long life (v. 20), enjoying the fruits of one’s labor (vv. 21–23), instant access to Yahweh and his power (v. 24; cf. 58:9).”
The last scene of Isaiah 65 was painted by Edward Hicks as the Peaceable Kingdom. The passage
“Directly quotes [Isaiah] 11:9a, connecting these promises to the work of the Messiah (see 11:6–8). It is his power that will enable his chosen ones, those who seek him in sincerity, to live the kinds of lives that result in true blessedness.”
As one writer put it,
“Salvation is not mere renovation; it is transformation.”
 
It seems to me that if we want to live in a transformed world of peace, security, and abundance then we must take seriously the responsibilities that come with the freedoms we seek. I think one of the most important things for me in our Wednesday morning conversation was the reminder that these freedoms are for all people. They are not just for those who look or think like me. If we do not work to secure “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” (Declaration of Independence) for all humanity, then are any of us truly assured of our own freedoms? 
 
We are reminded every Veterans Day that freedom comes with a price tag. Many gave their lives to protect the freedoms you and I enjoy. The same is true with our faith. The freedom we have as children of God also came at a cost. The consequences of some of our choices have a price tag. Paul wrote, “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) Jesus paid the price with his sacrifice so that death is not the end of our story. In our appreciation for that gift we can also choose to live in ways that share our freedom with others.
 
This gift does not mean that our lives will be smooth sailing. Our Gospel lesson reminded us of hard times that Christians would have to endure for their faith. Some would become martyrs. Some would give in and renounce their faith. Besides persecution there would always be other hardships as well.
 
The Believers Bible Commentary summarized that aspect of the passage:
There would not only be conflict among nations, but great catastrophes of nature—earthquakes, … famines and pestilences, terrors, and great signs from heaven.
We are well aware of all of these yet today. But Jesus encouraged believers to stand firm and endure.
 
In the midst of the hardships, I believe we are meant to encourage one another, and there may be times we choose to sacrifice our privilege so that someone else will be kept free. Paul put it this way, “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” (Galatians 5:13) To be a forgiven child of God means freedom from and freedom for many things. It is a privilege, but it also comes with responsibilities.
 
Let me share a few more thoughts from the Bible regarding freedom:
First, we remember from Exodus that God set free those who were enslaved in Egypt. This is also what Jesus and the disciples remembered as they shared the Passover meal that became our Holy Communion. In Exodus we read,
“‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.” (Exodus 6:6)
Jesus understood his own ministry in terms of freedom, but not the way the Zealots had anticipated:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free,” (Luke 4:16)
Jesus told his disciples:
“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free… So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:32,36)
Paul and Peter both encouraged the responsibility of our freedom in their letters:
Paul -- “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)
Peter -- “Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.” (1 Peter 2:16)
These passages might seem to contradict each other, but Paul is saying we are set free from our slavery to sin, and Peter emphasizes that we may then choose to become slaves or servants to God’s will instead.

Just as the freedom to live as we want and do as we want needs the qualifying phrase, “within the law” so for a person of faith our free will needs to be conditioned by this phrase, “within the covenant.” If we value the freedom with which God created us and for which Jesus sacrificed himself to save us, then we will choose to live within God’s covenant, upholding in our own lives what God values. That is the responsibility of our privilege as God’s children living in God’s kingdom.
 
I invite you in the days ahead to think about the freedoms you cherish. What responsibilities have come with those privileges? Whom do we thank for the freedoms we enjoy? How can we help preserve and protect those freedoms for others?
 
Today we have a table lit with candles to honor those who made sacrifices for our freedom as citizens of the United States. But we have another table bearing reminders of the One whose sacrifice purchased our freedom as citizens of God’s Kingdom. Today as you eat the wafer and drink from the cup, give honor and thanks to Christ who set you free to live as a privileged son or daughter of our God.
 
 
*HYMN  A Mighty Fortress  #260
(You may be seated.)
PASTORAL PRAYER
 
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.
Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, now and forever. Amen.
 
OFFERING OUR LIVES
Gracious God, may we give our lives in the service of freedom for all your children and daily remember that our true freedom is found in you. Amen.
 
*DOXOLOGY  Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow  #592
 
INVITATION TO HOLY COMMUNION
 
The Great Thanksgiving     from the Book of Common Worship
 
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 and praise.
 
Praise to you, O God, for all your works.
You created the world and called it good
and made us in your image to live together in love.
You made a covenant with us,
and even when we turned from you,
you remained ever faithful.
 
Therefore with all creation we sing your praise:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
 
Thank you, O God, for sending us your Son.
He lived among us and told your story.
He healed the sick and welcomed sinners.
He shared our pain and died our death,
then rose to new life that we might live,
and all creation be restored.
 
We give you thanks that the Lord Jesus,
on the night before he died, took bread,
and after giving thanks to you, he broke it,
and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take, eat. This is my body, given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me.
In the same way Jesus took the cup, saying:
This cup is the new covenant sealed in my blood,
shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.
Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me.
 
Remembering your boundless love
revealed to us in Jesus Christ,
we break bread and share the cup,
giving ourselves to you
to live for him in joy and praise.
Great is the mystery of faith:
Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
 
Gracious God, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us
and upon these your gifts of bread and wine
that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ
and that we may be his body for the world.
By your Spirit unite us with Christ and one another
until we feast with him and with all your saints
in your eternal realm of justice and peace.
Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honor are yours, almighty God,
now and forever. Amen.
 
PARTAKING THE BREAD AND CUP
 
*HYMN  God of the Ages  #262
 
Sending Forth
*CHARGE & BLESSING   
 
POSTLUDE
 
* Sections of the service preceded with * are times to stand if you are able to do so.
Bold text is to be read together aloud as a congregation.
Presbyterians practice open communion which means anyone who seeks to be in a relationship with Christ is welcome at the table regardless of denomination, age, or status. The communion elements are already in your pew, 
Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honor are yours, almighty God,
now and forever. Amen.
 
​

​November 6, 2022
ALL SAINTS REMEMBRANCE
 
Gathering
 
MUSICAL OFFERING
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Let me remind you quickly of our protocols for everyone’s safety.                  
· Attendance was taken by Ushers as you entered.
· Masks are required by those not vaccinated  as well as social distancing
· Offerings may be placed in the plate by the doors.
· Please write your prayer request on the Yellow cards.  An usher will pick them up during the 1st hymn.
· Please join us after service for fellowship in Calvin Hall
 
PRAYER REQUESTS
Merry Iverson's Bob Bock, Joan Boyd, Wanda Hirl, Marilyn Neymeyer, Joan Pinkston, Maxine Wagner, Annette Conzett, Jo Lefleur  Judy Welcher, Dr Dyke, Harlan Marx, Lois Seger, Jon Ryner, Abagail Niles, Helanah Niles, Kay Werner, Ukraine, Arlene Pawlik, Angela and Tristan, Bonnie Pillers,  Deb Weller, and the Gaulrapp Family.
 
PRELUDE
 
*CALL TO WORSHIP Psalm 145:1-5, NCV
I praise your greatness, my God the King; I will praise you forever and ever.
I will praise you every day; I will praise you forever and ever.
The Lord is great and worthy of our praise; no one can understand how great he is.
Parents will tell their children what you have done.
They will retell your mighty acts, wonderful majesty, and glory.
 And I will think about your miracles.
 
*GATHERING PRAYER
God, our King, we come bringing our praise and thanksgiving for the gift of life. We thank you for loved ones and friends, for this community of faith and for the witness to your love and blessing through all time and in every nation. As we pause to remember the saints who have gone before us, may we be inspired to give our lives daily in your service and praise witnessing to your love. Amen.
 
*HYMN For All the Saints #526                  (You may be seated.)
 
 
CALL TO CONFESSION
In ancient times those who entered the holy place to worship purified themselves first. This is what we do when we confess our sin and receive God’s forgiveness offered to us through Christ. Therefore, let us confess our sins that we may fully worship God.
 
PRAYER OF CONFESSION                                            (traditional)
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.
 
WORDS OF ASSURANCE                           Hebrews 10:10, CEB
“We have been made holy by God’s will through the offering of Jesus Christ’s body once for all.” Through Christ we are forgiven.  Thanks be to God!
 
SONG OF PRAISE Gloria Patri #579
 
PASSING THE PEACE
(Please greet those around you as we all say these words in unison.)
May the peace of Christ be with you. And also with you.
 
INTERLUDE
 
Word
 
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
God of the Living Word, by your Holy Spirit open our ears and our hearts to receive what you want us to learn of you this day. Amen.
 
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON                          Job 19:23-27a, NLT
23 “Oh, that my words could be recorded.
    Oh, that they could be inscribed on a monument,
24 carved with an iron chisel and filled with lead,
    engraved forever in the rock.
25 “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,
    and he will stand upon the earth at last.
26 And after my body has decayed,
    yet in my body I will see God!
27 I will see him for myself.
    Yes, I will see him with my own eyes.
    I am overwhelmed at the thought!
 
 
GOSPEL LESSON                           Luke 20:27-38, NLT
 
27 Then Jesus was approached by some Sadducees—religious leaders who say there is no resurrection from the dead. 28 They posed this question: “Teacher, Moses gave us a law that if a man dies, leaving a wife but no children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will carry on the brother’s name. 29 Well, suppose there were seven brothers. The oldest one married and then died without children. 30 So the second brother married the widow, but he also died. 31 Then the third brother married her. This continued with all seven of them, who died without children. 32 Finally, the woman also died. 33 So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all seven were married to her!”
 
34 Jesus replied, “Marriage is for people here on earth. 35 But in the age to come, those worthy of being raised from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage. 36 And they will never die again. In this respect they will be like angels. They are children of God and children of the resurrection.
 
37 “But now, as to whether the dead will be raised—even Moses proved this when he wrote about the burning bush. Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, he referred to the Lord as ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ 38 So he is the God of the living, not the dead, for they are all alive to him.”
 
SERMON God of the Living
 
In our Gospel reading today, the Sadducees who didn’t even believe in resurrection tried to trip Jesus up with one of their many trick questions. It relates to the Levirate law that appears in some Old Testament stories. If a woman becomes a widow without bearing a son to carry on the family name, it is the duty of the next closest male relative to marry her. So if there were seven brothers who each had to marry the same woman, who was her husband in the resurrection?
 
My family has something of the reverse situation. When Aunt Rhoda died, Uncle George married her younger sister, Aunt Grace. I wasn’t curious about what happened in heaven. I’d probably already heard this Gospel story. I was curious about what how they were buried. I’ve visited the Klemmedson family section of the cemetery at Sycamore IL. Aunt Rhoda and Uncle George are buried side by side, while Aunt Grace is buried head-to-head with him. I thought it was a good solution to honor both marriages.
 
Of course the Sadducees weren’t looking for solutions or even real answers regarding resurrection and marriage. They were testing Jesus’ theology and with it his patience. Jesus’ answer was that the resurrected children of God will not live the same way we do in this life. Marriage will not be a concern then. For those with a resurrection body that will not die, there is no need to worry about carrying on the family line. That concern belongs to this earthly life. Jesus is suggesting they have asked the wrong question. It is illogical and irrelevant because the levirate law does not apply in the resurrected life. But in our resurrected body we will become like angels. Note that it says like angels, not that we become angels. Jesus went on to claim that even Moses recognized God as still the God of those who have died and are now alive in God.
 
As we celebrate All Saints Day, let’s take a look at some more of what the Bible teaches us about resurrection.
 
Our Old Testament lesson came from Job’s story and his response to his friends trying to reason with him regarding the many tragedies he has suffered. He has lost his health, his crops, and flocks, and even his children. But in his suffering he insists that he has been faithful to God. He seeks to discuss this with God more directly and wishes his words would be preserved for a time when that judgment can take place.
 
In the middle of this passage is a line we often use on Easter Sunday regarding Jesus’ resurrection. It’s even the beginning of a classic Easter hymn. “I know that my Redeemer lives.” Job continues his faith statement with the belief that even after his own death he will see God with his own eyes. This suggests faith that he too will be resurrected in some bodily sense.
 
A key word in this statement is the word Redeemer. Job believes his Redeemer ultimately is God. Christians have attributed this title to Jesus, God’s Son. To understand what any of that means, we need to know how the word Redeemer is used in the Old Testament law. From Leviticus to Numbers to Deuteronomy there are multiple situations from which one might be redeemed. Suppose someone lost property or were themselves sold into slavery to pay a debt. Their Redeemer could buy back the person or the property. For example, Boaz bought back Naomi’s property so that she and Ruth would not lose it to someone else. He was called their Kinsman Redeemer. A Redeemer could avenge the death of a relative or marry a widow to preserve the family line of a deceased relative. That last is the Levirate law mentioned earlier, and Boaz also exercised that right by marrying Ruth.
 
What does it mean to say that God or Jesus is our Redeemer? This is a significant part of how we understand God’s mercy and grace in forgiving us. We humans are easily enslaved by our sin causing a debt we can never repay ourselves. It’s as if we have sold our souls to sin. When we say that Jesus is our Redeemer, we are saying that he bought us back from that slavery. Jesus paid our debt. He did so with his own life. That redemption allows us to enjoy a new life, here on earth and even beyond death, so that like Job we will one day see God with our own eyes. Redemption leads to our ultimate resurrection.
 
Another image of the resurrected life I have used in nearly every memorial service I have conducted. It is the promises of John 14, and in Bible Study a couple weeks ago the Wednesday morning group and I learned a whole new layer of meaning to this image of resurrection. John 14 is part of Jesus’ earnest words to his disciples after the Last Supper, before they went to the Garden of Gethsemane. In verses 2-3 Jesus promised, “2 My Father’s house has room to spare. If that weren’t the case, would I have told you that I’m going to prepare a place for you? 3 When I go to prepare a place for you, I will return and take you to be with me so that where I am you will be
too.” (CEB)
 
What we learned is that this language comes from the Jewish marriage customs of the day. When a family fixed an engagement or betrothal between a future bride and groom, there was a formal ceremony, and a bride price or dowry was paid to the bride’s family. This is another way of understanding Jesus’ sacrifice or payment for us, that Jesus paid the dowry for his future bride, the Church, or for each of us who are to be part of that marriage family in the resurrected life.
 
After the engagement, the groom must return to his own father’s house to build an addition where they will live as a married couple. The bride, of course, must stay with her own family until that new room is ready. The groom would say to her in effect, I am going to my Father’s house to prepare a room for you, then I will return and take you there to be with me. That is what Jesus was saying to his disciples and to all of us who believe that he is indeed God’s Son, that he is preparing a place so we can live with him in his Father’s house in the resurrection.
 
Another resurrection image comes from Paul’s letters to the church at Corinth. In 1st Corinthians 15 Paul first refers to Jesus’ resurrection appearances. “He appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve, 6 and then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at once—…. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me.”
 
Paul goes on to share what he believes about death and resurrection comparing our earthly life to Adam and our resurrection to a new spiritual life in Christ. Listen to verses 22-23. “22 Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. 23 But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back.” (NLT) Later he talks about what kind of body we
will have in the resurrection, for just as Jesus said, it will not be the same as our earthly bodies. Paul writes, “49 Just as we were made like the man of earth, so we will also be made like the man of heaven…. 54 So this body that can be destroyed will clothe itself with that which can never be destroyed, and this body that dies will clothe itself with that which can never die.” (CEV) In our new resurrected life we will have new spiritual bodies which do not decay, do not have disease, are not broken, but are whole and healthy and suited to that new life with Christ in God’s heavenly realms.
 
Perhaps this continued to be a concern to the Corinthians because Paul writes of death and the resurrected life again in his second letter. In Chapter 4 we read, “Though outwardly we are wearing out, inwardly we are renewed day by day. 17 Our suffering is light and temporary and is producing for us an eternal glory that is greater than anything we can imagine.” (GW) I find that comforting on the days my body is uncooperative, don’t you? And just as this body is wearing out, I am aware that my faith and inner life has grown stronger. Chapter 5 continues this theme. “We know that our body—the tent we live in here on earth—will be destroyed. But when that happens, God will have a house for us. It will not be a house made by human hands; instead, it will be a home in heaven that will last forever.” (v.1, NCV) To me this is Paul’s version of what Jesus said to the disciples, that a room has been prepared for us in God’s House. We won’t need these bodies anymore because God and Jesus have prepared something better for us.
 
These are some glimpses of the resurrection we anticipate as believers. They are images and promises we hang onto not only for ourselves, but perhaps even more so when we lose a loved one. We hold onto our faith that God has already called our loved one home to live in a new spiritual body in a home prepared for them as part of God’s family forever.
 
In that extended family home there are gatherings around the table of the heavenly banquet. This also goes with the marriage and family traditions in the time of Jesus. When the bride was brought into the new home, the wedding reception lasted for seven days, a true feast. We perhaps glimpse that when we take Holy Communion together. I also thought about it this summer when my mom died. Her cousin Carol died a few days before mom. I thought of the two of them skipping off together hand in hand to join a great Klemmedson family reunion in heaven. I imagine mom reunited with Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle Ron, my great grandparents, and lots of other family members. I cannot begrudge my mom enjoying that party. I look forward to my own turn to join them, but I’m not done serving God here on earth or enjoying the wonders God offers in this life yet.
 
As you name those you love today who have already found their new life, their new home in God’s heavenly House, I invite you to offer them peace and take with you the faith that you will be with them when your time here is complete. Give thanks to God for everything they meant to you while they were here with you. Take what you learned from them and put it into practice while you still live this life. Daily put your trust in God for this life and for the next.
 
 
 
*HYMN When We Are Living #400                         
(You may be seated.)
 
PASTORAL PRAYER
 
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.
Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
 
​now and forever. Amen.
 
OFFERING OUR LIVES
Holy God, Lord of heaven and earth, we affirm that we are your people and our lives belong to you. We offer ourselves in service and as a witness to those around us with every day you give us. Amen.
 
*DOXOLOGY Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow #592
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Apostle’s Creed (Ecumenical) p. 14
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 into hell. 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 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 life everlasting. Amen.
 
REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE US
(You are invited to light a candle for loved ones lost this year or that you are remembering from years past.)
 
*HYMN                               God Be With You Till We Meet Again #540
                                                    
Sending Forth
*CHARGE & BLESSING
 
POSTLUDE
* Sections of the service preceded with * are times to stand if you are able to do so.
Bold text is to be read together aloud as a congregation.