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June 11, 2023 Second Sunday after Pentecost Gathering MUSICAL OFFERING ANNOUNCEMENTS · Please join us in Calvin Hall following worship today for a time of fellowship. · Session will meet today at 10:45 in the Wee Dining Room. · “THE GATHERING PLACE” will be open Thursday, June 8. Please invite a friend and join us from 1:00 to 4:00! · We continue to receive the Pentecost Offering which goes to benefit youth. 40% of our receipts will go to The Vince Jetter Center here in Clinton. · Our gifts to Information, Referral and Assistance will be delivered June 29. Please bring your items and put them in the chapel before that date. · Find the address for Rich and Lois Lewis posted on the bulletin board. · Please sign up for the Ladies Lunch Bunch for Wed. June 14 at 11:30. We will dine at Candlelight Inn. PRAYER REQUESTS · JoAnn Grimm who struggles with health problems. · Arlene Pawlik who is recovering from a broken leg. · Joan Pinkston, on hospice. PRELUDE *CALL TO WORSHIP “Come.” It is a holy summons. Abraham heard the call and obeyed. In faith he became the father of a new people of God. “Come,” God still calls to us today. Will we hear? Will we be brave enough to follow? Let us approach to listen well. Let us hear and accept the strength to obey, to know the joy of new possibilities. We worship our God who calls and who then takes our hand to lead the way. Amen. *GATHERING PRAYER Like the woman who reached to touch your robe, O Loving Savior, let us reach to you this day. We seek our own healing, our own ability to glimpse your grace in our lives. Be with us, Lord, that we too might hear your assurance, “Take heart, your faith has made you well.” Amen. *HYMN God of Grace and God of Glory #420 (You may be seated.) CALL TO CONFESSION We are the recipients of God’s many blessings, more abundant that we can even name. One of those gifts is the assurance that even when we fall short of God’s desire, we can come and lay ourselves before our wonderful parent in heaven where we will be washed clean and offered new life. Let us come now to claim this most amazing gift. PRAYER OF CONFESSION Lord God. Forgive us for our arrogance and pride. Forgive us for the times when we look at the blessings we enjoy and congratulate ourselves for the hard work or good decisions we have made. Forgive us for not recognizing these gifts as flowing from your abundant grace. Forgive us for turning away from our neighbor’s misfortune. Forgive us for hard heartedly assuming that logical consequences or their lack of faith is at the root of their despair. Forgive us, Lord, and help us to recognize the many gifts that flow from your hand, including the gift of care for others. Amen. Assurance of Pardon How the heavens rejoice when a son or daughter claims the grace of your forgiveness! How joyfully God opens new doors that allows our faith to abound and our lives to become tethered to holy love. This is the good news that we celebrate today: We are forgiven and God’s hand leads us forward. Amen. SONG OF PRAISE Gloria Patri #579 PASSING THE PEACE May the peace of Christ be with you. And also with you. INTERLUDE Word PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION Precious Lord, You are the Great Physician. You called sinners and tax collectors to be your disciples. You desire mercy and not sacrifice. Let us hear your call this day that we might be healed of our misguided perceptions and our misplaced priorities. Amen. SCRIPTURE LESSONS Genesis 12: 1-9 12 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. 5 He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there. 6 Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him. 8 From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord. 9 Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev. Matthew 9: 9-13, 18-26 9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. 10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice. ‘For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” 18 While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples. 20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” 22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment. 23 When Jesus entered the synagogue leader’s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes, 24 he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. 25 After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. 26 News of this spread through all that region. SERMON Called and Healed Abraham and Sarah were the mother and father of our faith. But it wasn’t an easy decision. Can’t you just imagine the conversation between Abram and Sarai when he came home to tell her that God had called for them to leave the life and the home they had made for themselves? “You want to do what?” “But why?” “You do realize that with your arthritis and my glaucoma that this won’t be a stroll through the woods, right?” “Abram, we’re old. We don’t have any children to help us with this. What can we possibly gain? There are dangers out there, bad people, wild animals, storms, diseases, unknown pitfalls. Abram they haven’t even created a map of the land you want us to go into, let alone the GPS app!” Oh, the many reasons to stay home, and Saria didn’t even name the big ones. Fear, loneliness, and what will the neighbors say? But Abram might have had a few answers to offer. “Sarai, God has promised that we will be the parents of a great nation. We have no children. We have nothing to show for our lives. We cannot have children at this point. That day is past—at least on our own. We have nothing to look forward to.” So the conversations went. I imagine they went on for some time. I imagine Terah, Abram’s father, might have voiced his concerns. Other family and friends shook their heads at the folly. But still, once the decision was made, they resolutely went about the task of sorting and packing, planning and securing what they would need. Livestock was rounded up and prepared for the journey. Servants were outfitted and given specific instructions and responsibilities. And Abram probably kept in pretty close contact with God. This story is a transition point in God’s story. Previous to this moment, we have the story of humankind. Creation and Adam and Eve. Cain and Abel. Then we notice that the people had so turned their back upon God that God sent a flood to push the reset button. Only Noah and his family would be there to start over, but it really didn’t work. Sin and rejection of God was still rampant. Finally we learn that the people had undertaken a building project that would allow them to climb right up into the heavens to confront God. This isn’t what God intended. In chapter 11 we hear one sentence that encapsulated all of it. It was within the story of Terah and his 2 sons who moved from the land of Ur. Their wives are named and we hear, “Now Sarai was barren. She had no child.” It might have been the story of one couple, but it was a representation of humankind, as well. All of humanity had lived and worked and reproduced, but in the midst of it all was barrenness. God’s experience with these humans whom he had created in his own image was missing the vitality and life that God had desired. It was time to do something new. God had already pushed the reset button once. That was the flood, and it sure didn’t work. So it was time for Plan B. God found one man and one woman who were motivated to try something new. God would make of them his own people, a people who would live God’s intention for humanity. The nation of Israel was being born. Abram WAS motivated. Abram knew that there was exactly zero chance without God’s intervention. Abram had developed enough of a relationship with the Lord that he trusted God’s promises. He wasn’t without his own failings. He and Sarai would blow it many times as they journeyed forward. God’s grace, God’s gifts would continue to call them back, continue to give them the next steps, a way out of the jams they created. Israel was born. So that’s the thing about being human. On our own, barrenness is our story. Have you heard the saying, “The faster I run, the behinder I get?” We all know that feeling. Nothing goes the way it should because we are trying so hard. We try to cut corners in our hurry. We get pushy and selfish in our goals. We fail to see the bigger picture. We get a little lazy, and the result is barrenness. Nothing productive or hopeful emerges. There is conflict, destruction, injustice and dis-ease. Before we start beating ourselves up, let’s just recognize that this is the way it works. It just is! It’s part of the human condition. Some call it original sin. But that’s not to say there is no hope. Because God can do something that we cannot. That’s the purpose of Jesus’ entry into our world. He brings the power of God to heal our errant, misbegotten lives. He brings healing and hope and new possibilities for the fullness of life. Our gospel stories are an example of the complete futility of our efforts to heal ourselves and get it right. Two stories with one theme: On our own it is useless. With God, life flourishes! This leader of the Synagogue came to Jesus in a panic. His beloved daughter has just died. There’s 3 things to take into consideration. The first is that death is pretty permanent. That should be obvious, but in Mark’s telling of this story, the girl is very ill, near death when her father comes to Jesus. We need to stay with Matthew here. The second thing is that girls were often given very little value in the family. A girl was much more of a burden, so it wasn’t much of a tragedy for a family to lose a daughter! But here, her father uses his Jewish standing to approach Jesus, the one who offered healing to so many others in God’s name. The third thing is that nowhere in the Bible up to this point does God offer his resurrection gift to females, and Jesus has not lifted anyone from death yet, either. So putting those 3 things together—the finality of death, it’s just a girl, and God doesn’t bring girls back from death—and this is a pretty hopeless situation. It’s a classic example of a Hail Mary pass in football. It’s unexpected and unprecedented. And yet, Jesus does it. He doesn’t need to. No one would question him for saying “NO.” This is completely God’s good gift. This child is given back to her parents. God’s grace abounds. But there’s another story woven into this one. It also speaks to God’s gift of life in the midst of hopelessness. It also lifts a woman and demonstrates God’s care for all, regardless of societal norms. This time it’s an older woman. We don’t know anything about her except that she has been suffering from a medical condition which, under Jewish law, made her a pariah in her society. She had a flow of blood. Now today we would know that she would also be anemic, be weak and feel terrible, but according to Jewish law she was considered unclean, AND anyone who touched her would also be unclean, at least for the rest of the day. They could not participate with others or in worship to God. There was shame in that, as well as loneliness and exclusion. She probably shouldn’t have been out in the crowd, but this was her last hope. She’d tried everything to no avail. She knew the law. She knew she shouldn’t touch Jesus. She was afraid, but maybe, just maybe if she only touched his robe, she could attain the healing that she so desperately needed without passing on her uncleanness to him. It was suppose to be completely unnoticed. But Jesus did notice. He recognized the healing power that flowed from him. He saw her fear, and he knew. Instead of scolding her, he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” What was beyond human capacity and control was offered as a free gift by God in Jesus Christ. God’s gifts are for all people. But do you notice that in both stories the one seeking came to Jesus. The leader of the Synagogue had the authority to ask, even if the request seemed outside of God’s agenda. The woman had no right to ask, and yet she came. Her need was equally outside of God’s agenda—at least by most standards. I wonder. Do you think Abram had also been asking God for a child before God called him out from his father’s house? Do you think there’s a formula here? Hopelessnes -> seeking God’s intervention -> God calls us -> healing and new life arrives. God called Abraham and he followed and became the father of Israel. Jesus instructed the leader of the Synagogue, and he obeyed and his daughter was raised from the dead. Jesus reassured the woman and she was healed. So, what, we might ask is the barrenness in our lives, in our world? Where to begin, right? There are almost too many to name. But isn’t our life in Christ meant is to address some of that? Maybe we need to narrow the question. Where is the barrenness in our faith life, in our faith community? It’s so easy to fall into a rut. To go through the motions, to do church instead of being the church. Doing church isn’t what Christ calls us to. It doesn’t lead to the vibrancy of new life or the boldness of a rich and joyful faith. Doing church is showing up but keeping ourselves insulated from any of the efforts or demands of the gospel. God calls us to BE the church. That means we offer our gifts, and not just the check we put in the plate each week. We are called to be a people who offer healing and hope in the name of Christ. We offer it into the larger society in which we live. To be called is to be healed. To be called is to be blessed. To be called is to be a blessing in the name of Christ. We ae called to BE Christ’s church. It will take the lifting of all of us. Many hands can accomplish what just a few cannot. That might be scary, but if we remember the way Abraham was led through the wilderness, the way God guided him and cared for him along the way, we should be reassured. There is life in the call. There is hope and healing such that the barrenness is chased away. God is calling. Can we hear? Will we follow? Will we be healed in the name of our Lord? The next move is ours. Let’s go. Amen 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 GIFTS TO GOD *DOXOLOGY Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow #592 PRAYER OF DEDICATION *HYMN For the Bread Which You Have Broken #508 (you may be seated.) INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE THE GREAT THANKSGIVING (by Pastor) RECEIVING THE BREAD AND THE CUP COMMUNION PRAYER. *HYMN There is a Balm in Gilead #394 (You may be seated.) 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. Sunday June 4th Worship Services "In the Beginning to the End of the Age " by Kristine Ward6/4/2023
Gathering MUSICAL OFFERING ANNOUNCEMENTS * Please join us in Calvin Hall following worship today for a time of fellowship. Would you like to bring cookies or treats? Sign up sheet is in Calvin Hall. * THE GATHERING PLACE will be Thursday. Please invite a friend and join us from 1:00 to 4:00! * We will continue to receive the Pentecost Offering which goes to benefit youth. 40% of our receipts will go to The Vince Jetter Center here in Clinton. * Find the address for Rich and Lois Lewis posted on the bulletin board. * Please sign up for the Ladies Lunch Bunch for Wed. June 14 at 11:30. We will dine at Candlelight PRAYER REQUESTS · JoAnn Grimm who struggles with health problems. · Arlene Pawlik who is recovering from a broken leg. · Joan Pinkston, on hospice. PRELUDE *CALL TO WORSHIP (based on Psalm 8, Genesis 1) O Lord, our Lord, the majesty of your name fills the earth. Your glory is higher than the heavens. “We gather this day to praise you! “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth...”. “O Lord, our Lord, the majesty of your name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens.” We gather to celebrate our God! “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth... And God saw that is was good…” We gather to praise our God! “O Lord, our Lord, the majesty of your name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens.” We gather to give thanks to our God! “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth... And God saw that is was very good…” We gather to worship our God! Holy, Holy, Holy is our Lord God Almighty! *GATHERING PRAYER God in Three Persons, Blessed Trinity, we know that you are present here in this place and we come before you with grateful praise and adoration on this holy day that you have given us. Father and Creator, Son and Redeemer, Spirit and Advocate, we call upon you to fill our hearts and our minds with your Spirit as we gather together in our worship. We long to know you, Lord. Teach us to pray. Teach us to love. Teach us to be one, as you are one, merciful, mighty, most Holy Lord. Amen *HYMN Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty #138 (you may be seated.) CALL TO CONFESSION Friends, by the sacrifice of Jesus, we are reconciled and united with God and with one another and we are transformed to a new life through the Holy Spirit. Let us now come to God in shared confession: PRAYER OF CONFESSION Triune God, you protect and care for us, giving us all that we need through your Word and Spirit. Yet we so often miss your gifts and your blessings in our lives. We do not always see you, hear your voice, or follow your ways. Have mercy upon us and forgive us for sinning against you and one another. We have not loved one another as you have loved us. We have not shared the gospel as you commanded. We have hurt others, intentionally and unintentionally through our thoughtlessness, our selfishness, and our inattention to the needs of others. Restore us, Lord. Forgive us our sins and help us to set aside the hurt and disappointments and wrongs of the past to willingly and joyfully move forward in your will and be a blessing to one another in ways that show the world your love and grace Amen. WORDS OF ASSURANCE 18 Then Jesus came to them. He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 So you must go and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And you can be sure that I am always with you, to the very end.” SONG OF PRAISE Gloria Patri #579 PASSING THE PEACE May the peace of Christ be with you. And also 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 The Old Testament Genesis 1:2 – 2:4 2 The earth didn’t have any shape. And it was empty. There was darkness over the surface of the waves. At that time, the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 God said, “Let there be light.” And there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good. He separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day.” He called the darkness “night.” There was evening, and there was morning. It was day one. 6 God said, “Let there be a huge space between the waters. Let it separate water from water.” 7 And that’s exactly what happened. God made the huge space between the waters. He separated the water under the space from the water above it. 8 God called the huge space “sky.” There was evening, and there was morning. It was day two. 9 God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered into one place. Let dry ground appear.” And that’s exactly what happened. 10 God called the dry ground “land.” He called all the water that was gathered together “seas.” And God saw that it was good. 11 Then God said, “Let the land produce plants. Let them produce their own seeds. And let there be trees on the land that grow fruit with seeds in it. Let each kind of plant or tree have its own kind of seeds.” And that’s exactly what happened. 12 So the land produced plants. Each kind of plant had its own kind of seeds. And the land produced trees that grew fruit with seeds in it. Each kind of tree had its own kind of seeds. God saw that it was good. 13 There was evening, and there was morning. It was day three. 14 God said, “Let there be lights in the huge space of the sky. Let them separate the day from the night. Let the lights set the times for the holy celebrations and the days and the years. 15 Let them be lights in the huge space of the sky to give light on the earth.” And that’s exactly what happened. 16 God made two great lights. He made the larger light to rule over the day and the smaller light to rule over the night. He also made the stars. 17 God put the lights in the huge space of the sky to give light on the earth. 18 He put them there to rule over the day and the night. He put them there to separate light from darkness. God saw that it was good. 19 There was evening, and there was morning. It was day four. 20 God said, “Let the seas be filled with living things. Let birds fly above the earth across the huge space of the sky.” 21 So God created the great sea creatures. He created every kind of living thing that fills the seas and moves about in them. He created every kind of bird that flies. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them. He said, “Have little ones so that there will be many of you. Fill the water in the seas. Let there be more and more birds on the earth.” 23 There was evening, and there was morning. It was day five. 24 God said, “Let the land produce every kind of living creature. Let there be livestock, and creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals.” And that’s exactly what happened. 25 God made every kind of wild animal. He made every kind of livestock. He made every kind of creature that moves along the ground. And God saw that it was good. 26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings so that they are like us. Let them rule over the fish in the seas and the birds in the sky. Let them rule over the livestock and all the wild animals. And let them rule over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27 So God created human beings in his own likeness. He created them to be like himself. He created them as male and female. 28 God blessed them. He said to them, “Have children so that there will be many of you. Fill the earth and bring it under your control. Rule over the fish in the seas and the birds in the sky. Rule over every living creature that moves along the ground.” 29 Then God said, “I am giving you every plant on the face of the whole earth that produces its own seeds. I am giving you every tree that has fruit with seeds in it. All of them will be given to you for food. 30 I am giving every green plant as food for all the land animals and for all the birds in the sky. I am also giving the plants to all the creatures that move along the ground. I am giving them to every living thing that breathes.” And that’s exactly what happened. 31 God saw everything he had made. And it was very good. There was evening, and there was morning. It was day six. 2 So the heavens and the earth and everything in them were completed. 2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing. So on that day he rested from all his work. 3 God blessed the seventh day and made it holy. He blessed it because on that day he rested from all the work he had done.4 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the Lord God made the earth and the heavens. The Gospel Matthew 28: 16-20 16 Then the 11 disciples went to Galilee. They went to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him. But some still had their doubts. 18 Then Jesus came to them. He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 So you must go and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And you can be sure that I am always with you, to the very end.” SERMON In the Beginning to the End of the Age Today is Trinity Sunday --- and for me, at least, it is a somewhat difficult Sunday to preach. Last week I was fortunate to visit another church in our Presbytery and I was happy to preach on Pentecost Sunday --- the Holy Spirit coming down in tongues of fire, empowering Jesus’ followers in such a real and tangible way --- that’s a pretty easy sermon, right? The concept of the trinity --- three in one, three distinct persons of God, all one but still three separate persons? That is not quite so easy to talk about. When I don’t really think about it, it makes perfect sense to me … but when I do really try to think about or describe what that actually means, it doesn’t make quite as much sense to me. Our scriptures today point us to all three persons of the Trinity --- all three with their separate roles but also as one. In Genesis, the first 2 verses of the entire Bible tell us that In the beginning, God created and the Spirit of God hovered over the waters. And Jesus is very clear in the persons of the trinity in Matthew when he commands us to baptize in the name of the father and the son and the Holy Spirit. If we also look at John’s “in the beginning” passage in the Gospel of John, chapter 1, we also know that in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. Jesus and God are one, yet two. Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit are one, yet three. It’s confusing at best, and maybe one of those things that is “more than we can now bear, or understand,” as Jesus says in John 16:12. In the beginning, God ---- that is quite a statement on it’s own. Especially knowing as we do that the Holy Spirit was right there hovering over the waters and Jesus, the Word of God was with and of God. In the beginning God is the trinity. Science has always been fascinated with the beginning --- actually with both the cosmic beginning and ending. Both involve some speculation – although at least with the beginning of the universe there is some distinct tangible evidence to be considered. We have the evolution concept and more commonly in the realm of science, the Big Bang theory. Interestingly, the Big Bang theory it was first proposed in 1927 by an astronomer named George Lemaitre. His idea was that a very long time ago, the universe started as just a single point. He said the universe stretched and expanded to get as big as it is now, and that it could keep on stretching. Now I realize I’m simplifying this a lot, but doesn’t that sound a lot like God? Since the end has not yet come, of course, theory and speculation are all we have through science. The general idea, though is that the enormous amount of energy that came from the Big Bang and formed all of the universe will eventually end up being too much to sustain life, and the same rush of energy that created life will eventually result in extinction of the universe as we know it. Of course, even if this scenario were to be true, it would millions – actually trillions – of years away, so we don’t need to worry about that today. But scientists are saying that the same energy that will be the end of the universe is essentially the energy of the beginning of the universe. In reality, isn’t that what the Bible has said all along, way before science expressed that thought. And from our perspective of faith, this is all good news! In the beginning, God --- God, the three persons of the trinity --- present in the beginning and promised to be with us to the end of the age. We don’t actually need to understand much more than this --- we don’t need to understand the hows of what happened at the beginning or what will happen at the end … and no matter how hard science tries to understand and explain, we serve a much bigger God than any human mind, no matter how intelligent, educated, creative or informed, can explain or understand. In our very limited human understanding, we simply cannot comprehend all of the details of the wheres and whens and hows of something as complex as creation and the start and end of the universe. There are some things we do understand though, so let’s concentrate on those. On this Holy Trinity Sunday, right after the celebration of Pentecost, we look at the work all three persons of the Trinity in our lives. Of the work of God, our Father and the master creator in our lives … of the work of Jesus as our savior and redeemer in our lives, and of the work of the Holy Spirit our comforter, our advocate, who brings God’s presence, who brings God himself into our lives. I feel like we sometimes take the Holy Spirit for granted as the third person of the Trinity. We are quite familiar with the work of God the creator and our Father. We look all around us, and we can visibly see God’s creating work. God is still creating, still molding, still forming his creation. Our scripture from Psalm today that we said together in our call to worship is a good example of our understanding of the pure majesty of God our creator --- “O Lord, our Lord, the majesty of your name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens.” And so it is. We fully acknowledge and know Jesus as our savior, teacher and the redeemer in our lives. We have the Bible as a tangible historical record of Jesus walking on earth. We have Jesus’ teachings written down. We have no difficulty understanding and trusting in the saving work of Jesus. We know Jesus as the Son of God. We know Jesus --- What a Friend we have in Jesus, right? Sometimes though, we may get so focused on Jesus and his redeeming love for us, and God the Father, the creator, that we forget about the Holy Spirit, who is also at work, and actually at work constantly, in our lives. Scripture gives us much insight into the Holy Spirit, and to the three persons of the Trinity. Today, we read a passage known as the Great Commission from Matthew 28 --- Jesus tells us to “Go make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember,” Jesus says, “I am with you always, to the end of the age." Each of the gospels has this same command – the Great Commission – where Jesus tells his disciples – then and now – that we need to go and make disciples. If we look at this Great Commission passage in the gospel of John, we can very clearly see the triune God at work in this commission – Jesus says “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you” --- and then Jesus breathes on his disciples and says “receive the Holy Spirit.” From Matthew, we hear Jesus say we need to go and baptize and make disciples in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. From John, we know that the Father has sent us and Spirit comes to us and will guide us into all the truth through Jesus. We learn that all that belongs to the Father, God, all that is God, is Jesus, that Jesus has all authority just as God has, and we learn that the Spirit will glorify Jesus. The Spirit receives from Jesus what he makes known to us. It’s complicated, isn’t it, all of that working together, being together as the three in one. It’s complicated, but it’s also very clear that all three persons of the trinity work together in us, for us and through us. A year or so ago, I completed my CRE education through the University of Dubuque, and as part of that process I was required to write a statement of faith, both for the program at Dubuque and for the Presbytery. Although there certainly was not an exact format required, there were topics that should be covered, and of course those included my beliefs about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Trinity. Being required to write these things down made me really think about how I view the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. I’m going to share part of that with you today, as these are my own my beliefs about the three persons of the Trinity, and I would imagine at least some of these are similar to your own thoughts. I believe in God the Father, maker of all things, master of the universe, who is bigger than I can imagine, more powerful than I can comprehend, and who loves me and guides me and protects me as my heavenly Father in ways that far exceed even the very best examples of fatherhood here on earth. I believe that God is in total control of my life and of the world, even when I, and the world, turn away from Him and stop listening, going our own way instead of following His way. I believe that God has chosen me and knows me intimately and completely, and that nothing can separate me from the love of God my Father. I believe in Jesus Christ, son of God and son of man, and my personal Lord and Savior. I believe that God sent Jesus to the world to be the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, and I believe that because I totally accept Jesus as my savior and redeemer and confess my sins, I have the amazing promise of eternal life through the saving grace and redemption of Jesus. I believe that by living in Christ, and Christ in me, there is a peace and calm and power in me and that there is nothing that the two of us cannot accomplish within the will of God. I believe in the Holy Spirit, my comfort, my guide, my counselor, my ever-present help in times of trouble and in ordinary times. I have felt the Holy Spirit as a quiet presence in my life, guiding and directing me with a whisper, and I know the Spirit is with me always. I have also felt the Holy Spirit in a rush of almost tangible presence and emotion in a powerful worship service or a gathering of believers praying together or when hit by the meaning of the words of a hymn or praise song, or when viewing the amazing creation of God in rivers or mountains or a sunset, or simply when sitting alone in our beautiful sanctuary. Those were the easy beliefs to define …. Then it came time to write down what I believe about the Trinity – the three in one. This part was much harder, and you’ll notice much shorter : ) I believe in the Trinity … the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit … the three in one; one God with three distinct and equal persons in power and glory, in ways that I cannot fully comprehend or understand. Yet I believe. And that’s it --- I wrote what I understand, and it was not a lot. I don’t know everything. Sometimes, I feel like I don’t know anything. The mystery about the three persons of God is something that I simply have to believe and accept, even though I do not and cannot fully comprehend or understand. And that’s hard for me … I am someone who wants to understand things … who researches and figures things out … who likes to be in control. But the mystery of God, and the mystery of the Holy Trinity is something I simply have to believe in without understanding. Isn’t that the very definition of faith? From Hebrews 11, “Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” God is bigger than my very limited understanding, than our understanding, and thank goodness he is. One thing that I can understand, and that I feel the scriptures are clear about, is the relational nature of the three members of the trinity. The three members being deeply linked – intertwined - in a mutual relationship of love, service, sacrifice and dependence. As Jesus prepared to leave this earth, he left his disciples some very specific instructions --- commandments – as a farewell message and as a commission --- a duty to continue the work of Jesus here on earth. Jesus’ farewell messages are in all of the gospels, in multiple chapters and verses, but they have a few things in common … we are to go and tell people about Jesus … we are to baptize and bring others into the family of God … and we are to love one another as Jesus loved us. And as Jesus is leaving, he is also sending the Holy Spirit to be with us always, to the end of the age. This is important work, my friends --- to tell everyone, to all the ends of the earth, about Jesus, and not just to put the message out there, but to live out our faith by loving one another as Jesus loved us … We must love one another so the world will know Jesus. as much as we strive to be like Jesus, we fall short --- even the best of us fall short. We are human, and just can’t be expected to love just like Jesus, or reach all the ends of the earth from Clinton Iowa, can we? But Jesus knows we will fall short --- Jesus knows us and through the Father he sent the Spirit. And we are changed … we are empowered … we can do what we could not do on our own before. With the Holy Spirit, we can truly understand and give Jesus’ love and show the world God’s glory. God created us and sent his only Son to the world to walk with us … Jesus came to earth to save us and to teach us and to love us, and he sent the Holy Spirit to help us and to comfort us and to guide us. And we are to share all of this with everyone we meet so that all the world will know Jesus. I don’t know everything about the Trinity …. I don’t know exactly how three distinct persons, each one fully God, can also be one Triune God --- not separate parts of God, but fully one God. But I don’t have to know everything. I know that God - our Triune God - has been with us since the very beginning and will be with us till the end of the age, bringing us power and love and understanding and glory to share with the world. And that, my friends, is more than enough. Amen. *HYMN Lord Speak to Me, That I May Speak #426 (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 GIFTS TO GOD *DOXOLOGY Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow #592 *PRAYER OF DEDICATION Good and Gracious God, we pray that these our offerings, small and large, of money, gifts, and time, may be used to bring your kingdom here to earth. May our gifts strengthen this church and this congregation to be more faithful, more present, and more daring to be the hands and feet of Christ in our community, sharing your love with all as you have commanded to do. Amen. *AFFIRMATION OF FAITH from the Nicene Creed We believe in one God, The Father, the Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, Of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, The only Son of God, Eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, True God from true God, Begotten, not made, Of one being with the Father; Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation He came down from heaven; Was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary And became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again In accordance with the Scriptures; He ascended into heaven And is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, And his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, Who proceeds from the Father [and the Son], Who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, Who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, And the life of the world to come. Amen. *HYMN God of Grace and God of Glory #420 (you may be seated.) 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.
May 21, 2023 SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (Celebrating Jesus’ Ascension) Gathering MUSICAL OFFERING ANNOUNCEMENTS · Please join us in Calvin Hall following worship today for a time of fellowship. Would you like to bring after worship goodies? The sign up sheet in in Calvin Hall. · Bible Study will be this Wednesday at 9:00 AM. · Please see bulletin insert for items needed for Senior Hospitality Center. · Find the address for Rich and Lois Lewis posted on the bulletin board. PRAYER REQUESTS JoAnn Grimm who struggles with health problems. Arlene Pawlik who is recovering from a broken leg. Joan Pinkston, on hospice. PRELUDE *CALL TO WORSHIP Psalm 68:4, CEB L: Sing to God! Sing praises to his name! Exalt the one who rides the clouds! P: The Lord is his name. Celebrate before him! *GATHERING PRAYER P: Mighty God, your people are gathered before you to celebrate and honor you. Compassionate God, we give thanks for the many ways you have blessed us. Merciful God, we confess the ways we have strayed from your path. Gracious God, we seek your blessing for families and loved ones. Just and righteous God, we pray for those who need your help and ours. Awesome God, let us sing your praise! Amen. *HYMN All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name #142 (You may be seated.) 1 All hail the power of Jesus’ Name! Let angels prostrate fall; Bring forth the royal diadem, And crown Him Lord of all! Bring forth the royal diadem, And crown Him Lord of all! 2 Ye chosen seed of Israel’s race, Ye ransomed from the fall, Hail Him who saves you by His grace, And crown Him Lord of all! Hail Him who saves you by His grace, And crown Him Lord of all! 3 Let every kindred, every tribe, On this terrestrial ball, To Him all majesty ascribe, And crown Him Lord of all! To Him all majesty ascribe, And crown Him Lord of all! 4 O that with yonder sacred throng We at His feet may fall! We'll join the everlasting song, And crown Him Lord of all! We'll join the everlasting song, And crown Him Lord of all! CALL TO CONFESSION Psalm 68:5-6, CEB L: Father of orphans and defender of widows is God in his holy habitation. God settles the lonely in their homes; he sets prisoners free with happiness, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land. PRAYER OF CONFESSION P: Lord God, we confess that sometimes we are the rebellious ones. We see a need before us, but we feel unable to help at that time. We sense your nudge to check on a neighbor or friend, but we are busy at the moment. We say we trust you, but we still try to do things our own way. We believe you are King of the Universe, but we act as if you barely exist. Forgive our impatience, our ingratitude, and our lack of faith. Continue to teach us and guide us day by day to truly live in your light and your love where orphans and widows are befriended, where the lonely find companionship, where prisoners of doubt or addiction, fear or shame are set free, and where the rebellious turn back to you. WORDS OF ASSURANCE Psalm 68:7-10, CEB L: When you went forth before your people, God, when you marched through the wasteland, the earth shook! Yes, heaven poured down before God, the one from Sinai-- before God, the God of Israel! You showered down abundant rain, God; when your inheritance grew weary, you restored it yourself, and your creatures settled in it. In your goodness, God, you provided for the poor. Colossians 1:20, CEB God reconciled all things to himself through Christ— whether things on earth or in the heavens. He brought peace through the blood of his cross. Through Christ we are forgiven. P: 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 P: Holy Spirit, teach us as we hear God’s Word and reflect on it. Amen. GOSPEL John 17:1-11, CEB L: When Jesus finished saying these things, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, so that the Son can glorify you. 2 You gave him authority over everyone so that he could give eternal life to everyone you gave him. 3 This is eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you sent. 4 I have glorified you on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 5 Now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I shared with you before the world was created. 6 “I have revealed your name to the people you gave me from this world. They were yours and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 This is because I gave them the words that you gave me, and they received them. They truly understood that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 “I’m praying for them. I’m not praying for the world but for those you gave me, because they are yours. 10 Everything that is mine is yours and everything that is yours is mine; I have been glorified in them. 11 I’m no longer in the world, but they are in the world, even as I’m coming to you. Holy Father, watch over them in your name, the name you gave me, that they will be one just as we are one. ACTS Acts 1:6-14,NCV L: 6 When the apostles were all together, they asked Jesus, “Lord, are you now going to give the kingdom back to Israel?” 7 Jesus said to them, “The Father is the only One who has the authority to decide dates and times. These things are not for you to know. 8 But when the Holy Spirit comes to you, you will receive power. You will be my witnesses—in Jerusalem, in all of Judea, in Samaria, and in every part of the world.” 9 After he said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 As he was going, they were looking into the sky. Suddenly, two men wearing white clothes stood beside them. 11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing here looking into the sky? Jesus, whom you saw taken up from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you saw him go.” 12 Then they went back to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. (This mountain is about half a mile from Jerusalem.) 13 When they entered the city, they went to the upstairs room where they were staying. Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon (known as the Zealot), and Judas son of James were there. 14 They all continued praying together with some women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and Jesus’ brothers. EPISTLE 1 Peter 5:6-11, NIV L: 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. SERMON Cast Your Cares Cast your cares on him. He cares for you. Those two phrases have been in my head since 2nd grade, because this verse in an older version were the basis of my favorite song in our grade school song book at St. John’s Lutheran Grade School. I don’t remember the song anymore, but the verse is still with me. There are other scriptures that tell us not to be anxious. I think of Matthew 6:25 which tells us not to be anxious or worry about our life, that God will provide. Anxiety and worry are among the cares we need to throw away. Many scripture verses tell us not to be afraid. Fear is another care to cast away from us. While it is important to recognize these cares because they indicate there is a concern, an issue to be dealt with, 1 Peter 5:7 tells us what to do with them once we have recognized and admitted them to ourselves. We need to turn them over to God. We can’t solve or resolve them by ourselves, but God can give us whatever we need to get through them. There are many ways to say the same thing. Here are a few of my favorite translations and paraphrases of 1 Peter 5:7: Throw all your anxieties upon him, because he cares about you. CJB God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him. CEV Turn all your anxiety over to God because he cares for you. GW Leave all your worries with him, because he cares for you. GNT You can throw the whole weight of your anxieties upon him, for you are his personal concern. PHILLIPS Since God cares for you, let Him carry all your burdens and worries. VOICE Turn all your troubles over to him, because he cares for you and is watching over you. WE I love the way the Classic Amplified Version sums it all up: Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. So, choose your favorite version and make it a memory verse this week and for life, I’ve pinned some copies to one of the bulletin boards. There are two parts to this statement. The first is what to do with our cares whether they be worry or fear or anxious thoughts. They might be personal, for a friend or family member, or they might be the condition of the world around us, even far away from us. They might be health related, financial, political, or about a relationship. They might be occasional or constant. But all of them, every one of them we can toss into God’s hands because….Well, that’s the second part of the statement, because God cares. God truly cares about every detail of our lives and every other life on this planet. God cares about what is going on with you this week. God cares about the struggles of citizens in the Ukraine. God cares about the Uighurs in China. God cares about the children who lost their lives on our border. God cares about each and every one of us in every nation every day. God who created us loved us so much, that God sent Jesus into the world to save us. Jesus came to teach by word and by example and demonstrated over and over again God’s care and concern for the least and the forgotten, for those suffering from disease and those suffering from guilt or shame, for those the world chose to ignore or walk past. Jesus demonstrated God’s love and care for all of us. But Jesus didn’t leave it at that. He took it a step further. Jesus took upon himself the weight of the whole world. In Bible study this week, a few of us were reminded that Jesus felt that heavy weight not just on the cross. It began as he prayed in Gethsemane, which means olive press. We saw in video the weighty stone pillar used in Bible times to rest heavily on the olives pressing the oil out of them to be used in a variety of ways – for healing, for lighting lamps, for cooking, and more. Jesus knew the weight of those stone pillars and that’s how he experienced the weight of all our cares including our sin to the extent that he sweat out drops of his own blood as he prayed, “Father, not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:39-44) Jesus surrendered his life on this earth, so that we might be free of those burdens ourselves. Jesus died on the cross taking our sin with him, because he cares, because he loves us. But of course God didn’t leave it at that. What we have celebrated for this whole season of Eastertide, what we celebrate as a mini-Easter every Sunday is this, that God raised Jesus from that death to eternal life. Why is this important? Because the risen Christ has one more chance to teach his followers in a way they could now better understand, and because of the promise Jesus made to them. Turn back to the Gospel of John we read today. What did Jesus pray for them? That God would watch over them, and that they would become one, just as Jesus is one with God. In talking to his disciples just before this prayer, Jesus had promised them the Holy Spirit. That Spirit would guide them into the truth and empower them for ministry. Today in terms of the church calendar, we honor that time of waiting for the Holy Spirit to come which you will celebrate next week as Pentecost. Look next at the Ascension story in Acts 1. Luke completed his gospel telling the story of Jesus and hinted forward to this story where he begins the sequel; Acts is the story of Jesus’ faithful followers as they become what we call the Church. In chapter 1 the disciples still don’t quite understand what is going on; they are eager for a political kingdom which would reestablish the glory of Judea and Israel with Jerusalem at its center. But that is not at all what God had in mind or what Jesus came to accomplish. The kingdom is to be a spiritual one and it is meant to be much broader than just the territory claimed by the Jews. My favorite verse in this passage is v.8, to go into all the world and be witnesses, starting in Jerusalem and Judea, but continuing into the whole world. God’s care and concern and love and intentions are for more than just one nation, more than for just one religious affiliation. God’s love and care and concern are for the whole world. God is indeed King of the Universe. Just as the prophet Isaiah reminded the Jews they were to become a “light to the nations” Jesus told his disciples to take their witness to the rest of the world. As I read commentaries on these scriptures, I was struck that commentators on John’s Gospel and Luke’s book of Acts saw the same two things emphasized in these passages – unity and prayer. Jesus prayed for those belonging to him to become one just as he and God are one. After Jesus ascended, the disciples and other followers gathered together including the women who followed him and members of his own family. As another translation puts it, “all were united in their devotion to prayer, along with some women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.” And that we can toss all of our worries and fears to you, Because you have promised to be with us and to help us. We bring all of this to your throne of mercy and grace, Praying as you taught your disciples to pray… LORD’S PRAYER P: 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 P: God of the Universe, we thank you for our lives and all life and blessings around us. We offer you our gifts, our resources, our time, and our service. Amen. *DOXOLOGY Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow #592 *AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Apostle’s Creed ecumenical P: 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. *HYMN Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart #145 (You may be seated.) 1 Rejoice ye pure in heart! Rejoice, give thanks, and sing! Your festal banner wave on high, The cross of Christ your King. Refrain: Rejoice! rejoice! Rejoice, give thanks, and sing! 2 Yes, on through life's long path, Still chanting as ye go; From youth to age, by night and day, In gladness and in woe. (Refrain) 3 At last the march shall end; The wearied ones shall rest; The pilgrims find their home at last, Jerusalem the blest. (Refrain) 4 Then on, ye pure in heart! Rejoice, give thanks, and sing! Your festal banner wave on high, The cross of Christ your King. (Refrain) Sending Forth My announcement: I know I have missed some Sundays because of my own health issues. This worked out however for the Pastor Nominating Committee to meet. Prior to this I had asked to take the summer off. I need time for my health, for some projects at home, and for family. The Wednesday morning Bible Study will meet four more weeks to finish this unit. But today is the last time I will preach until September. Syd already has pulpit supply lined up as needed. I’ll see you back here then. So, now… *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.
May 14, 2023 Sixth Sunday of Easter Gathering MUSICAL OFFERING ANNOUNCEMENTS · Please join us in Calvin Hall following worship today for a time of fellowship. Would you like to bring after worship goodies? The sign up sheet in in Calvin Hall. · Bible Study will be this Wednesday at 9:00 AM. · Please see bulletin insert for items needed for Senior Hospitality Center. · Find the address for Rich and Lois Lewis posted on the bulletin board. PRAYER REQUESTS JoAnn Grimm who struggles with health problems. Arlene Pawlik who is recovering from a broken leg. Joan Pinkston, on hospice. PRELUDE *CALL TO WORSHIP God holds out to us the promise of new life. Life as unpredictable, as unrehearsed, as explosive as life at the very beginning. God calls us to respond to this gift with creativity, with joy, and with courage. In worship, we can begin to accept this gift of new life. Let us worship God. *GATHERING PRAYER God, you are the source of our life. Gather us now together, we pray. Form us into a holy community of your own people, molding us by the breath of your Holy Spirit, and revealing in us the face of your anointed Christ. Amen *HYMN Come Sing to God #181 (You may be seated.) CALL TO CONFESSION God’s love is steadfast, and God’s faithfulness endures from age to age. Our love falters and our faithfulness wanes from day to day. Let us confess our sin and our need for God. PRAYER OF CONFESSION Gracious God, you encourage us with your love, bringing new life out of death. We confess that we need your life-giving power in our lives and our relationships. We have hurt others and been hurt by them. We are often angry or afraid. We are not sure when to assert our needs and when to care for others’ needs. We continue to live in ways which do not lead to peace and justice. Forgive us, O God. Pour your Spirit of wisdom and healing upon us, that by our lives and our loving, we may glorify you. Amen. WORDS OF ASSURANCE We are the forgiven people of God! We are the awakened disciples of Jesus! We are the Body of Christ sent forth into the world! The chains have been broken! God’s love is poured out for us. Let us dance and sing because joyful is our God. Alleluia. Amen. SONG OF PRAISE Gloria Patri #579 PASSING THE PEACE May the peace of Christ be with you. And also with you. INTERLUDE Word PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION Open our ears and soften our hearts, Holy Spirit, that we might hear Christ’s love and grace poured out in the words of scripture this day. May the dry places in our soul be refreshed and enlivened to serve you and declare our love to all the world. Amen. SCRIPTURE LESSONS Acts 17: 22-31 22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you. 24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring. 29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.” John 14: 15-21 15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” SERMON The Advocate Shows Us the Way The Advocate Shows us the Way! “Are you saved?” It’s a question most of us have been asked at some point along the way. I’m guessing it might also be the point at which you started looking for the exit. There’s something pretty judgmental about that question. It implies that the one quizzing us, not only knows themselves to be saved, but now they are going to give us tell us what we must do. Who decided the criteria for being “Saved.” In Presbyterian theology, we believe that God is the only one who knows the answer to that question. We humans are to connect ourselves to Jesus Christ and leave the eternal life question to God’s grace. We can trust in God’s goodness. I’m skeptical about someone else’s answer. What if my version of “saved” is different than yours? Are you going to ask me to now get re-baptized into your theology? Is there a checklist I need to keep? Do I need to write a check to be assured of my everlasting salvation? Do I need to avoid my friends, vow never to allow alcohol to touch my lips and pass out religious pamphlets at the airport? But that leaves the question of how we share with others the incredible love of Jesus? How do we invite our neighbor to join us for worship? How do we tell our grandchildren about a God who loves them so much? We live in a world where talking about faith issues is awkward. There’s a strange dichotomy out there. People are incredibly hungry for meaning and a spiritual link, but they have a profound distrust of religion. It comes in the wake of some groups who have used religion to line their own pockets. In other cases people have been quite beaten up by “experts in the faith. There are significant wounds. Some in religious positions have taken advantage of other, or outright abused the respect that was offered to them. How do we tell the story in today’s world? Last week we looked at the scripture where Jesus told his disciples that he is the Way and the Truth and the Life. It’s a pretty clear and straight-forward understanding being offered. To follow Christ is our path to truth and life. It’s a joyful life in relationship with God where we care for others and live the teachings of Jesus. In that we can know a deep and abiding peace. The discussion continues in this week’s reading. Jesus is leaving. That was the message from last week. But he wants his disciples to know that they are not going to be on their own. He’s not abandoning them. He’s leaving, yes, but he will request that the Father will send back to them the Advocate. Later he refers to this as “The Spirit of Truth.” It’s a spiritual guide to be with them forever. The disciples will be able to receive this Spirit, the Advocate, because they will recognize it. In other words, they have developed the sensitivity and the expectation which will allow them to perceive and follow this guide. This is John’s version of the Holy Spirit which we will celebrate in two weeks at Pentecost. Think about having the power and the comfort of having an interior guide that shows us the way, and then helps us get there, all at the same time! It reminds me of my grandson who just knows math. He is very gifted in numbers. He can do advanced calculations in his head without a pause. It just makes sense to him in a way that I have to work at. 329 + 414. Give me a piece of paper and a pencil and I can give you the answer. Brody, though, just knows. 743. It’s so clear to him, so apparent. What would it be like to have that clarity and knowing about the way we need to go, the decisions we need to make to follow Christ? Instead of offering us a numeric answer. The Spirit offers us a path to God and to love others. Of course it’s not always that way. There will be times that the answer seems to evade us. It doesn’t come automatically. We need to pray about it, maybe to struggle with the question. We need to recognize that living into the question while we wait for the answer is part of the process, too. At times there’s pain involved, maybe people won’t understand. Maybe it will require extra work or inconvenience. But the Advocate is right there with us all the way. That’s half the equation. The other half is this, “They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me and those who love me will be loved by my father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.” So we’re right back to Jesus as the Way. To follow his commands is to know the love of God and to be aware of Jesus in our midst.It means to forgive our friend or brother—even if they have not asked our forgiveness. It means to sacrificially care for another—not just the crumbs that fall from the table, but to share from the essence of our being. It means to love someone who seems at first glance un-loveable, to accept them and offer respect and care. It means to let go of our own ego and instead lift up the accomplishments of others. These are not the practices of our world. Hollywood thrives on revenge movies where the little guy gets back at the bully….and don’t we all cheer?! But revenge isn’t Christ’s path. To grow rich and live in luxury is the national aim for so many, but Christ is more concerned with making sure that those at the bottom of the ladder of our society have the basics that they need to thrive. To be suspicious of those who are different is a human survival response, but Jesus calls upon us to accept others and to open our arms of friendship, to be a little vulnerable. To promote ourselves and to enjoy praise and recognition is something we all crave, but it can also diminish others and keep them pushed into the background. The Advocate shows us a better way and then helps us walk that path. Jesus’ teachings and commandments are the sign posts that help us to know the way, as well. Paul’s story in Athens is a case in point. Have you noticed that Paul is pretty good at stirring up controversy? He rolls into town and a week later he’s often running for his life! He tells the story of Jesus. Paul is the one who helps us to define the meaning behind Jesus life and resurrection. Sometimes people welcome and accept this truth that he brings, but often, not so much. Well, Paul has done it again. He got himself and Silas thrown in jail when he cast out the Spirit from a slave girl who earned her master a great deal of money by telling people’s fortunes. The Angel of the Lord frees them, and when the jailer was about to kill himself, assuming his prisoners had escaped, Paul stopped him and then told them the story of Jesus. But they are still seen as troublemakers. Then to Thessalonica and finally Beroea where in each of those places Paul needs to get out of Dodge quickly. So Paul goes on alone to Athens. It’s about 140 miles distance, so he has some time to think and pray. Once there he walks around, getting acquainted with the new city. Everywhere he looks there are idols to various gods—fertility, crops, weather, health. How upsetting! Paul begins speaking to people in the synagogue. That was his practice, but then he goes to the marketplace where philosophers tend to gather. It’s where Plato and Socrates and Aristotle once offered their wisdom. His words seem so strange to the people’s ear. They assume he’s the equivalent of a snake oil showman! They are suspicious, and so they bring him to the council. This was Paul’s moment. He needed to get it right this time. He needed to speak in a way that they could hear him. So he lifted up something he had seen, an altar that was inscribed, “To an Unknown God.” Instead of asking them to trash everything right at the beginning, he appeals to something they already acknowledged. He used that altar as a fulcrum, a lever to offer a new understanding. Take a look at this god. You already worship this one who is as of yet unknown to you. Let me tell you about that one. And she shares the story of Christ. He tells them how God made the world and everything in it. God made us! Humans can’t fashion gods. It goes the other way around. God is pretty sufficient all in himself. So here’s the good news. God is with us, and it’s in him that we live and move and have our being. And God continues to call us to accountability. He tells them about Jesus and his resurrection. Now not everyone accepted, but some did. They continued to seek more information, more clarity, more truth about our amazing God. I want to suggest that the Advocate, the Spirit of Truth showed Paul how to connect with the good people of Athens. Paul was able to relay the story of Christ because the Spirit showed him the opening. That’s what we need. I suggest that we don’t walk up to someone and ask, “Have you been saved?” It’s a conversation stopper. But I do believe that if we are patient, if we take a bit of time to build a relationship, if we can love this other and show them the love and joy of our relationship with God, a door will be opened in which they might be able to hear something new. It’s a YES moment. It affirms that this other is ready to hear. It invites us to tell our own story of Christ and how he is at work in our lives. Relationship and listening is the key. We are called into relationship with others, and that’s where we can hear about their sense of identity and their understanding of our world. Here in this church we are welcoming new friends, new neighbors into our space where we hope to build relationships and offer a needed place to connect with others. I hope that there will be times when they ask about our faith and what we as Presbyterians believe, and then I hope we can tell them, much as Paul spoke to the Athenians. The Advocate will lead us. Our job is to be open and willing, to risk a little and to love as Jesus loved. In the process we will be blessed to feel Christ in our midst. We’ll feel the love of God carrying us forward. Are we saved? You bet we’re saved, not by some equation or a specific prayer. We’ve been saved because we feel the Advocate near us and we walk into God’s amazing grace. Praise be to the Father! Amen 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 GIFTS TO GOD *DOXOLOGY Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow #592 PRAYER OF DEDICATION *HYMN We Come as Guests Invited #517 (you may be seated.) INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE THE GREAT THANKSGIVING O Lord, throughout the span of creation’s history, you have taken our hand to show us the avenues of life. You have led us to tables overflowing with the bounty and goodness that you have provided. You have offered us forgiveness that drives us to our knees and love that takes our breath away. And when we have pushed you aside, and wandered out into dangerous avenues on our own, you followed close behind, waiting for us to turn back to you. You came into our midst in the person of your Son, Jesus, to show us who you are and to make the most costly gift of all in order to win for us salvation and life. Obediently Jesus became one of us. He loved us to the end and then he carried our sins to the cross so that we might be able to call ourselves the children of God. Let us proclaim for all to hear: Christ died, for all our sins; Christ rose, for all our sakes; Christ will return to take us by the hand once more to lead us into your presence. So we gather at Christ’s table, joining our voices with all who proclaim your name to seek your spirit of life, that we might be filled with your mighty love, that we might live into the hope of your calling. In the breaking of bread in the pouring of the cup, in the sharing of Christ’s holy gifts of life, we offer ourselves to you. Take us, Lord, and lead us to be agents of healing in our families, in our community, and in our world. Let us praise God of life and hope. Awesome is our God. Hosanna. Amen. RECEIVING THE BREAD AND THE CUP COMMUNION PRAYER. *HYMN Song of Hope #432 (You may be seated.) 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.
May 7, 2023 Fifth Sunday of Easter Gathering MUSICAL OFFERING ANNOUNCEMENTS · Please join us in Calvin Hall following worship today for a time of fellowship. Would you like to bring cookies or treats? Sign up sheet is in Calvin Hall. · Session will meet briefly today at 10:45 in Pastor’s Office. · Please see bulletin insert for items needed for Senior Hospitality Center. · Find the address for Rich and Lois Lewis posted on the bulletin board. · Please sign up for the Ladies Lunch Bunch for Wed. May 10— Homer’s Deli at 11:30! PRAYER REQUESTS JoAnn Grimm who struggles with health problems. Arlene Pawlik who is recovering from a broken leg. Joan Pinkston, on hospice. PRELUDE *CALL TO WORSHIP The Word of God calls to us, inviting us, “Taste and know that the Lord is good.” We gather to proclaim, Christ, the living stone, Rejected by humans, yet chosen and precious in God’s sight. May we, too, strive to be living stones, built into a spiritual house, A royal people who proclaim the mighty acts of our Savior. We are called out of darkness and into the marvelous light. Praise to our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen. *GATHERING PRAYER Lord God. You call for us to believe and to know that there are many dwelling places in your house. Christ promises to prepare a place for us and to bring us to you. Help us to claim this promise and to rejoice in you, the Way and the Truth and the Life. Amen. *HYMN All Creatures of Our God and King (verses 1-3, 6) #455 (You may be seated.) CALL TO CONFESSION (from Psalm 31:2) Incline your ear, and rescue us, O Lord. Be our Rock of Refuge, our Strong Fortress of Salvation. Let us come to this time of prayer that we might unburden our souls to seek the redemption of our God. Please join with me in our prayer of Confession. PRAYER OF CONFESSION How we stutter and pause when someone challenges our faith in you, O Lord! We don’t like being seen as simpletons or as zealots. We don’t like it when people shake their heads at us. So we stay silent. We don’t speak our faith. We are afraid. Forgive us for our hesitancy and cowardice. Forgive us for pushing aside your assurance that you are the way and the truth and the life. Forgive us for not recognizing you as you stand right beside us. Help us, Lord, to offer our very selves into your care and to your glory. Amen. WORDS OF ASSURANCE Our times are in God’s hands. He delivers us from our enemies-- even when that enemy is from within our own hearts! God saves us in his steadfast love. Let us accept the forgiveness offered in Jesus Christ. Let us rejoice and be glad. Amen. SONG OF PRAISE Gloria Patri #579 PASSING THE PEACE May the peace of Christ be with you. And also with you. INTERLUDE Word PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION Precious Lord. With your words of truth and life, may our spirits be replenished this day. Help us to hear your love and to feel your care. Show us the way to you, that we might live your grace into our needy world. Amen. SCRIPTURE LESSONS Acts 7 : 55-60 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. John 14: 1-14 14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. SERMON Jesus Is The Way! My grandpa has what we all called “selective hearing.” Maybe you know the condition? He was really quite deaf, even with hearing aids, but he could read lips and he got by. But when Grandma asked him to take out the garbage or bring in groceries from the car, he just didn’t hear. BUT, if there was a discussion, even in the other room about going to get ice cream at the Dairy Freeze, he was on it with his shoes tied and the car keys in his hand! I think there’s some of that selective hearing going on in our world today. It’s pretty easy to tune out mundane things or even things that we just don’t agree with. It’s not that we are ignoring requests or other unsettling news. It’s that we concentrate on an activity or event such that those other things get pushed aside, or maybe we push it aside because it just doesn’t ring true. But when we hear something like, “Ice cream, anyone?” OR “Let’s talk about a raise,” or even, “that pretty girl from last night’s party asked for your phone number!” Well, that commands our attention! Some of the people of Jerusalem were not only concentrating on something else, but at least according to Luke’s account regarding Stephen’s death, they are actively covering their ears against hearing what this follower of Jesus had to say. He wanted to tell them why Jesus was “the Way.” He wanted them to know that truth and life were the gifts that Jesus could offer. He wanted to explain that throughout their scriptures, Jesus was always predicted, and he had come to them, but they had killed him on a cross. They didn’t want to hear it. In fact, those words totally enraged them such that they stoned him to death for blasphemy. Now here’s my question. If his words were so ridiculous, so bizarre, so out in left field, why were they so threatened? Why did they need to silence him, even to the point of death? I mean, after all, when we hear someone talking about being abducted by aliens to be poked and prodded and tested, do we feel threatened? Do we need to cover our ears? Do we need to silence that person at all costs? NO. Stephen was silenced because his words about Jesus suggested a whole new understanding of God, and therefore of life as they knew it. Now in case you missed that Sunday School class, Stephen was one of seven men who were selected to make sure that all of those in that first church were cared for and served equally. He was what we call a deacon. He was a church officer who serves God’s people, as well as those out in the community. Stephen, however went beyond preparing food or setting up communion or driving people to the doctor. Here’s what we hear about him, “Stephen, full of grace and power did great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belong to the synagogue of the Freedmen and others stood up and argued with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.” Stephen told them the story of their faith. From Abraham to Isaac and Jacob to Moses, he retold their story, but in his telling he emphasized the many ways in which the people consistently rejected God’s word. He reminded them how they had turned aside from God’s prophets and ignored God’s Holy Spirit. “That’s what you’re doing now,” he said. “You are rejecting Jesus Christ whom God sent to us and who died for our sins.” It was too much. They couldn’t hear more. They covered their ears and took him to the city gate where they stoned him to death. But not before Stephen was able to proclaim, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing on the right side of God.” He died a martyr’s death. He died offering to God his spirit and saying, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” Just like Jesus asked God to forgive those who nailed him to the cross, Stephen sought the redemption of those tossing the stones. What Stephen’s story illustrates, at least to me, is that we are a people who often fail to hear the voice of God’s Holy Spirit in our midst. Not only that, we don’t like to be challenged in our current understandings. So what does it mean when Jesus tells his disciples that there are many dwelling places in his father’s house? Are we talking heaven when we die? What does it mean that Jesus is the Way and the Truth and the Life? What does it mean when Jesus says that no one comes to the Father except through him? For so many, these things spell out a road map to heaven. For them it means that Jesus is the only pathway to eternal life. You’ve probably heard it suggested that you friend who is Jewish or Muslim or even atheist is doomed! That’s what many of us were taught. But I wonder if the Holy Spirit is trying to offer us something a bit more subtle, something that invites us to a new way of thinking and of living in our world. To begin with Jesus’ words here come at a time of high anxiety for the disciples. Jesus has washed the feet of his friends, something usually done by the lowliest of servants. He tells them that they’re not going to understand his actions until later. Peter would have refused, but Jesus told him, “Unless I wash you, you have no share in me.” Confusing! He tells them that one of them will betray him and even indicates that it will be Judas, “Go quickly to do what you are going to do.” He says to them “Little Children, I am with you only a little longer….Where I am going you cannot come.” And finally, when Peter declares he’s going too, Jesus tells him, “Before the cock crows, you will have denied my three times.” Is it any wonder they are upset and anxious? In our reading for today Jesus, their friend and teacher, is trying to calm them and reassure them. “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.” We’ve taken that to mean heaven. This is probably the most commonly used scripture in funerals. But here’s another way to see it. In God’s design of our world, there are many different dwelling places. Jesus is going to one in which the disciples cannot go, but he will still be with us. We all reside in our Father’s house—just in different sections. Do you remember as a child waking in the night and being reassured by the knowledge that your parents were just down the hall in their own bedroom. Could Jesus be trying to tell his disciples that he will no longer be right beside them, but he will be with them, in one of the other dwelling places in God’s house. Jesus is going now to prepare a place for us, the ability for us to know his presence. Thomas doesn’t get it and asks, “How do we know the way?” To which Jesus answers, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” The key word here is “WAY”. Jesus is the way to truth and life. We find those gifts when we follow in our Lord’s path, when we follow his example, his love. When Jesus says he will come to take us to himself, he means we will come to feel his presence and his amazing love. When we follow the path, the way. When we follow him, he comes to us. So now we are at the sentence that makes us afraid for our nonChristian friends. “No one comes to the Father except through me.” That one sentence has pitted Christians against nonChristians for centuries. But consider this: Jesus is speaking to HIS followers. John is writing to the followers of Jesus. For us, Jesus IS the avenue to God. Jesus and the Father are one. Jesus shows us God’s power, God’s forgiveness, God’s grace and goodness. So do you really think God’s grace is such that the person who dies in India who is a devout Hindu follower, and who has devoted his life to loving others as his faith teaches will be condemned by a God who loves in such a big and beautiful way? How many times in our scriptures did Jesus say to someone, “Nope. You’re not of the right group. This word of God is NOT for you?” None. Not once did Jesus reject someone, so why would we be afraid for our nonChristian friends? I suggest that we can trust God to handle that person. We can leave our Jewish friends in God’s hands. We can trust God to care for our Muslim brother and sister. But for us, for those who have experienced God’s love through Jesus, he IS the way. His grace enfolds us and calls us forward to follow in Jesus’ footsteps. That means loving others—ALL others. The Pastor Nominating Committee assures me that it doesn’t matter who walks through our doors. That person will be embraced and loved. They are children of God—even the person who is mentally ill and talking to himself. Even the two women who come in holding hands, even the toddler who is noisy and wants to run around. That person who speaks only Spanish or the person who just got out of jail. How about your neighbor who yelled at you last week about one thing or another? Are all these people welcome in our church? Can we embrace them and make them part of our community? Can we obey the guidance of the Holy Spirit? Can we feel Christ in our midst because we are actively assisting others to know a better, healthier, happier life? Jesus is the WAY. He’s the way to God. He’s the way to truth and life. He’s the way to peace and joy. Stephen lifted up the WAY, and those who listened couldn’t hear him because he challenged their assumptions. How about us? Can we hear? Can we follow? Can we love in order to find this truth and life? It’s precious and Jesus is pointing the direction. Let’s follow and discover these amazing gifts. Amen *HYMN Take My Life #391 (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 GIFTS TO GOD *DOXOLOGY Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow #592 *PRAYER OF DEDICATION *THE NICENE CREED (Traditional) We believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible; And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God.. Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made; who for us, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end. And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And we believe one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. And we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. *HYMN O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go #384 (You may be seated.) 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.
April 30, 2023 Fourth Sunday of Easter Gathering MUSICAL OFFERING ANNOUNCEMENTS · We continue to receive the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering today. · Please join us in Calvin Hall following worship today for a time of fellowship. · PNC will meet today at 10:45 · Please see bulletin insert for items needed for Senior Hospitality Center. · Find the address for Rich and Lois Lewis posted on the bulletin board. · Please sign up for the Ladies Lunch Bunch for Wed. May 10—Going to Homer’s Deli at 11:30! PRAYER REQUEST JoAnn Grimm who struggles with health problems. The family of Maxine Wagner who grieve for their aunt. Arlene Pawlik who is recovering from a broken leg. Joan Pinkston, on hospice. Kolleen Klemmedson who is recovering at home. PRELUDE *CALL TO WORSHIP Hearing the call of our Good Shepherd, we come to listen for his voice. We hear him call our names. We are led out, and we follow where he leads. We come to be saved in his love. We come to offer our praise and sing to his glory. Let us worship our God. Amen. *GATHERING PRAYER Through Christ, our Loving Shepherd, we have been led to trust in you, O God. You call us by name, lead us, protect us and offer new life. As we come to worship this day, may we place our lives and our hearts into your hands. Amen. *HYMN Love Divine, All Loves Excelling #376 (You may be seated.) CALL TO CONFESSION We are invited into God’s heart. Let us accept the invitation by laying our failings before our Lord. PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Psalm 23) “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” Forgive us, Lord, because we do want, and the wanting eats away at our peace. “He makes me lie down in green pastures.” Lie down? We don’t have time to lie down! There is too much to do. Forgive us, Lord! “He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.” But the paths are not clearly marked, and too often we fail to discern you leading us. Our souls cry out with loneliness and confusion. For failing to seek your guidance, forgive us, Lord. “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Are you with us, Lord? We have run ahead, trying to escape the darkness. Where are you? Your rod and staff sometimes feel like tools of punishment rather than care. Forgive us, Lord. “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows.” Forgive us for the times we have refused your invitation to the banquet. Forgive us for not giving you credit for the abundance of our blessings, and for our cup which does, indeed, overflow. Amen. WORDS OF ASSURANCE Hear the conclusion of this psalm—“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.”--- Goodness and mercy are the attributes of our God. With these, God sent his Son to take our sins upon himself that we might, indeed, dwell in the house of the Lord our whole lives long. Be assured, my Friends. We are forgiven and brought close the heart of our God. SONG OF PRAISE Gloria Patri #579 PASSING THE PEACE May the peace of Christ be with you. And also with you. INTERLUDE Word PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION O Christ, You are the Gate that we seek. This morning as scripture is read and proclaimed, may we find this entrance and discover a fuller understanding of your call upon our lives. May we be the lambs who recognize the voice of our Shepherd and follow with you into the green pastures of our world. Amen. SCRIPTURE LESSONS Acts 2: 42-47 [Those who received Christ and were baptized that day] devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. John 10: 1-10 10 1“Very truly I tell you anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them. 7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full. SERMON Listening for The Shepherd’s VoiceListening for the Shepherd’s Voice Diane hates to clean house! She will put off that hateful chore as long as she possibly can. But when she does clean, boy do things sparkle! Diane dislikes cleaning so much because her mother INSISTED that it be done thoroughly—every time. Every item must be removed from the self to dust it and then wiped clean before being replaced. Door jams, the top of doors, base boards and picture frames must be wiped clean. Floors must be mopped or vacuumed completely. That means moving anything that is capable of being moved. Under beds needed attention. Don’t let the dust bunnies get away! Sinks not only cleaned, but wiped clean, appliances polished and windows washed—at least on the inside if there was any speck to be seen. Cleaning house took all weekend. It totally understand Diane’s dislike for the chore. By comparison, Debbie was a good-enough kind of gal when it came to cleaning house. She cleaned with the eyeball test. If it didn’t look dusty, why dust? And when she did dust, she either went around things or moved them slightly out of the way so she could get the job done. Floors got the spot treatment unless they were obviously dirty throughout, and why move things? Who looks under the bed anyway? A quick wipe up here, a little vacuum there, throw some things in the closet or drawer and it’s all good. If anyone wanted to do a white glove test, then shame on them! So there you have 2 extremes in the art of cleaning. I think most of us would agree that there’s a sweet spot in the middle right? But at the same time, it’s tempting to fall into the Debbie category. Sometimes in all the things we do, we, as humans get a little lazy. We try to find short cuts. We question the value of taking those extra steps, we procrastinate and then rush through things without taking the time to review or put in that extra effort. I believe our scripture for today—both of them—argue that short cuts and sloppy processes just don’t cut it in our relationship with God—or for that matter in our relationships with one another. Jesus is our Good Shepherd. But how did he get there? Sure, God had a hand it it—Born of the Virgin Mary, given the Holy Spirit at his baptism, issued instructions and the power to heal. But don’t we also notice that this Jesus puts himself out there? Wouldn’t it have been easier and a lot more comfortable for him to set up shop, like say in Nazareth and had people coming to him for healing or for lessons from God? Wouldn’t it have been easier to show up in Jerusalem and present himself to the Pharisees, show them the power of God, done some healing on days other than the Sabbath and worked within the system? Wouldn’t it have been easier to at very least avoid confronting and antagonizing those in power? Those would have some of the possible short cuts. But God didn’t call Jesus to short cuts or to easy, safe solutions. He didn’t call his Son to love those who first loved him. He didn’t call him to look the other way when injustices were being enacted around him. If he had done some of those things he probably could have avoided the cross, but God had placed that cross squarely in Jesus’ path. There would be no avoiding it. Jesus is reminding his listener—you and me—that the true Messiah is to be like that loving shepherd who doesn’t take short cuts or avoid the difficult things in order to care for his sheep. Those who do take those short cuts, who do look out for their own skin are thieves and bandits—and they should NOT be trusted. We are the sheep of God’s pastures. We, too, have some responsibility here. We are called to listen for the call of our Shepherd. We need to be present and aware and ready to differentiate between the Shepherd’s voice and that of the thief. If we are overly involved in our day to day lives, if we are fixated on our phones or in getting to our next fun activity, if we have turned off our ear for God’s voice or plopped ourselves in front of a blaring TV, then we won’t hear, or if we do hear, we won’t recognize the call. Or maybe we hear any call and because we haven’t done our homework, we run to follow whomever gets through to us in that moment—much to our peril. Sometimes the bandit or the thief’s voice is smooth and silky. It promises such beautiful things and doesn’t require much of us in the process. It’s sort of like, “just send me your bank account information so I can transfer $300,000 into your account before I have to flee Nigeria!” Sounds good right? But then disaster strikes. Jesus is painting a picture of his efforts and care for God’s people. It’s because he doesn’t take short cuts that we can trust him. When Jesus offers these words, those listening don’t get it, so Jesus starts over again. This time he tells them that he is the gate. We get confused because we ask, “How can Jesus be both the Shepherd who is granted entrance through the gate AND the gate?” I think those are two completely separate, even if similar, metaphors. Jesus is saying, “OK, let’s scrap that one. Let me try a different way. “I am the gate for the sheep.” In other words, “I am the one who will open new life and salvation for you. Before he had asserted that the true shepherd didn’t jump over the fence. Now he’s saying that we, as sheep can’t hope to find true life and well-being by following the thief, or for that matter, by breaking through the fence. “Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out to find pasture.” Finding pasture is well-being and life for the sheep. It’s being led to lie down in green pastures, to be led beside the still waters, to be accompanied and guided through the darkest of valleys. It’s not winning the lottery or becoming rich and famous. It’s not gaining positions of great power or living in the lap of luxury. It’s everyday life where we go about our routines in peace, where we have friends and family around us, where we don’t worry about whether bombs will drop on our heads or if we will have enough to eat or heat for the winter winds. It’s serenity, satisfaction, calm and joy. The portrait of the early church is a picture of what that life in Christ looks like. We’re told that “they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayers.” In other words, they continued to grow in their understanding of the faith. They spent time together, working to know one another. They actively prayed, probably together and individually, as well. They practiced communion by taking the Lord’s Supper and just eating their meals together. The description goes on, “All who believed were together and had all things in common. They would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.” It’s an idealized version of what was happening at that time. I don’t think they probably held EVERYTHING together in common. Many person items would be exempt. Clothing and shoes, tools with which they did their work. The family business would continue to operate, maybe with hiring some of the members from the community, and part of the profit would be shared. Later in Acts we hear of Ananias and Sapphira who sold some land but gave only a portion of the proceeds to the community. In Peter’s rebuke, they were scolded, not for saving some back, but for not being truthful about that. That tells me that this community was exceedingly generous and caring with one another. They were willing to sell and share as it was needed and they were fully engaged in their new community of faith. Do you hear both the effort and the positive results? They prioritized their new faith and one another. They put in the time. They actively cared for one another and used their own personal resources to make that happen. We are human and our capacity to get hurt feelings, to have our egos get in the way, to be stubbornly focused on our desired path for doing something. We get angry. All these things would have still be present for that early group of Christians. But in spite of these things, they largely worked! These scriptures invite us to recognize that a life of faith isn’t without requirements upon each of us. Just like Jesus didn’t get to skate through things or jump the fence to become Messiah the easy way, we are required to devote time and energy to our relationship with Christ. We’re required to listen for his call and to be willing to follow, even when it might seem difficult or scary. We’re required to love one another—and let’s be clear, that doesn’t mean we like everybody. It means we offer to all the same respect and consideration. We work to make sure that everybody has the opportunity to know goodness and joy. We need a Good Shepherd. Our world needs the peace and the hope and the serenity that he brings. Let’s learn and grow together as a congregation. Let’s be in fellowship together and learn about one another. Let’s offer our gifts to this faith community. That means our presence, our prayers, our efforts and our dollars. We can’t recreate that early church reality, but we can keep that image as a model into which we can grow, at least in part. Our Good Shepherd is calling. Can you hear it? Let’s go. Together let’s follow. Amen. *HYMN Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us #387 (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 GIFTS TO GOD *DOXOLOGY Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow #592 PRAYER OF DEDICATION *AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (from Isaiah 40: 10-11, paraphrased) See, the Lord God comes with power and might, and he’s ready for whatever will come. He will deal with his enemies and bless those who have followed him. Like a shepherd, he will care for his flock, gathering the lambs into his arms, Hugging them as he carries them along, leading the nursing mothers to good sweet pasture. *HYMN Precious Lord, Take My Hand #404 (You may be seated.) 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. April 23 Worship Services "To Know. To Experience. To Accept. To Rejoice! !" by Joyce Chamberlin4/23/2023 April 23, 2023
Third Sunday of Easter Gathering MUSICAL OFFERING ANNOUNCEMENTS We continue to receive the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering today. Please join us in Calvin Hall following worship today for a time of fellowship. PNC will meet today at 10:45. There will be no Bible Study this Wed., April 26. Mission Team will meet on Wed., April 26 at 10:00. PRAYER REQUESTS JoAnn Grimm who struggles with health problems. The family of Maxine Wagner who grieve for their aunt. Arlene Pawlik who is recovering from a broken leg. Joan Pinkston, on hospice. Kolleen Klemmedson who is recovering at home. PRELUDE *CALL TO WORSHIP ( Adapted from Acts 2: 37-42) Upon learning of their role in Jesus’ crucifixion, the crowd asked of Peter, What should we do? Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven. And then we will receive the Holy Spirit. This promise is for us and for our children, And for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to us. Therefore, let us devote ourselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayer. Praise to our God. Let us worship. Amen *GATHERING PRAYER Through Christ our Savior we have come to trust in you, Loving God. You raised Jesus from the dead and gave him glory so that our faith and hope might rest in you. As we come to worship this day, may we offer our lives and our hearts into your hands. Amen. *HYMN The Day of Resurrection! #118 (You may be seated.) CALL TO CONFESSION In this season of resurrection we dance to the alleluias, knowing that the gift of new life offers forgiveness and hope. Let us come together to lay our hearts and souls at the feet of our living Lord that we might know the incredible joy of walking with our Savior. PRAYER OF CONFESSION Forgive us, Lord, when we fail to recognize you as you come to walk with us. Forgive us when we insist on our own truth and close our ears to your invitation and your love. Forgive us for failing to offer our hospitality to the poor and the hungry and in the process fail to see your presence in them. There are so many times when we insist on going our own way and clinging to our own truth. Help us to know you in the midst of our days. Help us to take your hand and go where you will lead. Amen. WORDS OF ASSURANCE In Jesus, God has ransomed us, not with silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ. Christ carried our sins to the cross so that we might be freed from guilt. Let us give thanks and rejoice. We are the beloved people of our Lord! SONG OF PRAISE Gloria Patri #579 PASSING THE PEACE May the peace of Christ be with you. And also with you. INTERLUDE Word PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION In the midst of our journeys we seek moments of clarity and grace that can show us the way. Like the disciples who heard the story of life from our Lord’s own lips—even though they did not recognize him—let us hear God’s truth this day. May our hearts burn within us for the glory of our Lord. Amen. SCRIPTURE LESSONS Acts 2: 14, 37-42 14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Fellow Jews[a] and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say.37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers,[a] what should we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” 40 And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Luke 24:13-35 13 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem, 14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16 but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad.[b] 18 Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” 19 He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth,[c] who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.[d] Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. 22 Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23 and when they did not find his body there they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive . 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.” 25 Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! 26 Was it not necessary that the Messiah[e] should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. SERMON To Know. To Experience. To Accept. To Rejoice! Jody didn’t understand her friend. Why couldn’t Connie couldn’t leave for their girl’s adventure until after worship? Why was she so involved in church, anyway? She taught Sunday School. She went to Bible Study on Wednesdays. She baked brownies for the Bake Sale. She was a Deacon who went with the pastor to take communion to shut-ins. What was the attraction with all this churchy stuff? Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior, Rose from the grave, Forgives our Sins, Calls us his disciples, Yada, Yada, Yada! Jody had gone to Sunday School as a child, too. She’d learned the whole bit, and she kind of liked the pageantry and feel of the candle light service on Christmas Eve. She still went to Easter worship with her mom, and once in a while was fine, but every Sunday? And to be so involved all during the week? What was with that, anyway? Jody called herself a Christian. She certainly didn’t follow any other religion, and she was a kind person. She just didn’t feel like she needed to go to church every week to be OK. She was too busy, had too much she wanted to do to spend all that time studying or praying or doing all the churchy stuff. There are a lot of people like Jody. They are Christian by virtue of living in a society that celebrates Christmas and that posts the 10 commandments. They read books and magazine articles that reference the parables of Jesus. They understand the concept of “I will pray for you,” and they talk about seeing Grandma again when they get to heaven. But this faith stuff really hasn’t taken hold of their hearts. It hasn’t engaged their whole being. That’s not a criticism. It’s just a fact. I wonder if Cleopas and that other disciple who hasn’t been named might have been a little like our Jody. They had obviously heard and seen Jesus in the week before his arrest, if not even earlier. They were well aware of what had transpired that day. They had witnessed the chaos and confusion, the grief and the questioning, but it hadn’t really broken through to their hearts. It hadn’t sunk into that inner place in their soul that makes the hope of Christ sparkle and shine. It was in their head only, and that meant it wasn’t quite real—not yet. They were talking about what the women had reported. They were probably exploring options for that empty tomb. Were the women pulling a hoax? Did someone steal the body? Did the women accidentally go to the wrong tomb? Had the other disciples done this to try to make Jesus’ words about rising again come to life? They talked through all these things—you know, just the way we, today try to solve the major problems and questions of our world. They were so busy talking, so concentrating on their conversation that when the stranger come up behind them, they didn’t notice for a time. They weren’t afraid of him. He wasn’t threatening. He asked what they were talking about, and Cleopas responds, “Are you the only person in Jerusalem who doesn’t know what has taken place in these days?” Jesus pressed them more, and they gave a succinct but accurate portrayal of events. “Jesus of Nazareth who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people—Our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified. But we hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes and besides all this, it is now the 3rd day, and some of our women were at the tomb and did not find his body there. They saw a vision of angels who said he was alive. Others went to the tomb, but did not see him.” I wonder how it felt for Jesus to hear that story. Luke tells us he chastised the men for their slowness in not grasping what had happened. He proclaimed that the words from their own prophets had told that this was exactly what must be. He then lifted up scriptures to interpret this event in the words of scripture. Why then are you surprised? Why are you speculating about what happened? Didn’t he tell you that this was going to be? The conversation went on with the stranger doing the teaching and the two disciples listening intently. It’s a typical Jesus thing—to teach and to help us understand the workings of our God. Wouldn’t you have liked to hear that discussion? At some point in the late afternoon they arrived in Emmaus, their destination. These two disciples were good people, polite and generous. They asked their traveling companion to stay with them overnight. That, of course, meant a meal, and Jesus was either asked to do the blessing or he, still being in the teaching mode took that place at the table. Listen to the way Luke describes what happened next. “When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it and gave it to them.” What does that remind you of? Exactly—Jesus’ last supper with the disciples. Let me remind you of Luke’s description of that event. “Then he [Jesus] took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body which is given for you’” Took --Blessed, or in this case, gave thanks, -- broke—gave it to them. That’s not a coincidence. This was a sacramental moment. Jesus had already offered his body to be broken. Now he brings these things to their memory--- and to ours. This is the moment that suddenly the scales covering their eyes fall away. Now they recognize Jesus. I think God needed Jesus to be unrecognized in the beginning of their encounter. He needed the disciples to hear the explanation that Jesus offered. God needed them to understand it on a cognitive level first. But the cognitive level by itself is insufficient until it hits the level of the heart. In the blessing and breaking of the bread their hearts were engaged. Now they got it. Now they understood with both their heads AND their hearts. Now they could fully accept Jesus as Risen Lord and Savior. These disciples encountered Jesus. They were now connected to him with a super-glue type of strength. Now they could reflect on their time on the road with Jesus. “Did not our hearts burn within us?” At that earlier point so much was going on. The stimuli of their surroundings, their muscles moving, their minds trying to keep up with Jesus, their questions and thoughts, their glances at one another to see if their friend was getting this, too. With all of that confusion, the experience of passion sort of got lost. It was just enough below the surface that they didn’t connect with it. But now, in reflection, they recognized that at a deep and instinctual level they had felt Jesus presence all along. We can relate to Cleopas and this other, can’t we? Do you remember when Jesus quit being an intellectual construct and became, instead, personal with you? Do you remember that moment when you wanted him to be YOUR Lord and Savior? It was probably NOT in the midst of an intellectual study. It was probably NOT when you memorized the 10 commandments. It was probably NOT when you played the shepherd or maybe even a sheep in the Christmas program in Sunday School. All that was important. It laid the groundwork, but it was when someone helped you to know the grandeur of God, and at the same time how very much God loved you that the personal nature of our faith sunk in. Maybe it was when the world around you seemed to be falling apart and God threw you a life line. Maybe it was at a moment when you felt something so passionately that you could almost hear God’s voice saying, “Do something. I will go with you.” That was the moment when the intellectual became the personal. That was the time when you really felt God’s incredible love, and his hope for our world and God’s power to help bring that hope to fruition. That’s what was happening with Cleopas and his friend. They were encountering Christ. Their protective shields had dropped, and they got it. In our opening story Jody had yet to experience Jesus in that personal way. Not her fault. It happens in God’s time, but Connie can help open the door. She can do exactly what these two disciples did. She can tell her friend the story and her own experiences of Jesus. That’s what the disciples did. They ran back to Jerusalem to share with the others what they had experienced. They helped to lay the ground work for God’s in-breaking moment to touch other hearts and other lives. That’s why we celebrate the Lord’s Supper. It’s not a legalistic thing. Rather it’s the means by which we remember in a totally experiential way. I think of it as a booster shot of faith. A booster shot of Jesus’ love. We all need booster shots. We all need to know that Jesus is as present as our very breath. We all need to know that God is using us to make our world a better place. We here at First United Presbyterian are working on our own booster shots. We will be telling the story of Jesus’ love by sharing our space with older adults in the community. It will give these beloved children of God a place to connect with others and to chase away the loneliness. We will be able to share God’s love with them, not through preaching or proselytizing, but in a relational way that opens doors to new life. I hope there will be opportunities to tell our stories of faith, to invite these others to join us for worship, to assure them that they are special and beloved by God. God will give us the opening for that when the time is right. So may we, too feel our hearts burning within us. Christ our Savior is risen. He is risen for us! Amen. *HYMN The Strife Is O’er #119 (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 GIFTS TO GOD *DOXOLOGY Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow #592 PRAYER OF DEDICATION *AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Apostle’s Creed *HYMN Lord, Dismiss Us with Thy Blessing #538 (You may be seated.) 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. |
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