Original Prayers, Aug/Sept

AUGUST 14
Let us pray to the Lord, saying, Lord, hear our prayer.

Gracious God, we ask that we, your church, may be inspired and empowered into faithful ministry this day. As we ask you to bless our leaders, we also ask you to help us to discern how we might participate in the fulfillment of your will, renewing your church through the power of your Spirit. We pray to you, Lord;
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for the leaders of the nations, especially our Queen, Prime Minister, Premier, and all our elected officials; that they may govern with hearts set on justice and truth. In our own positions of authority, we ask you to teach us to love others as you have loved us. We pray to you, Lord;
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for your world, hoping that it will become a place of peace and justice; not just between countries and regions but also in our hearts and our communities. Encourage us to be agents of change, to establish and maintain holy interactions that reflect your glory. We pray to you, Lord;
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for our home communities; the gifts of this area that we are blessed to share. Remind us to appreciate the natural beauty; encourage us to welcome all who travel here; open our hearts to extend true welcome to everyone we encounter. Help us to shine your light in this place. We pray to you, Lord;
Lord, hear our prayer.
We call to mind those who are experiencing sickness in mind, body, or spirit. (pause)
We remember those who have died, and ask you to comfort all who mourn. (pause)
We ask you to strengthen and relieve those who are in need, working through our hands and skills. Keep us mindful of the needs of others, so our actions demonstrate your healing wonders. We pray to you, Lord;
Lord, hear our prayer.
We offer our prayers of praise and gratitude; celebrating the abundant blessings of this life. Guide our minds to patterns of thanksgiving, that our lives may reflect the goodness that you have shown to us. Help us to live every day into the truth and promise of your life-giving Resurrection. We pray to you, Lord;
Lord, hear our prayer.Amen.




21 AUGUST
Taking refuge in the Lord, and leaning upon God for strength and salvation, we respond to the petition “Hear our prayer” with “Our praise shall be always of you!”

Loving God, you have entrusted us to be your church: a sacred gathering to hear your word, raise prayers, and respond to the needs of the world. We ask you to bring us your healing, that we may live as people who trust in your Resurrection hope. Bless those who lead us, that they may faithfully reflect your glory. Hear our prayer,
Our praise shall be always of you!
You who are ruler of heaven and earth, you empower us to select leaders of the nations for our time and space. We ask you to bless all in authority, that their governance may be based in justice, truth, and peace. Inspire us to participate in ways that lift up the goodwill of all. Hear our prayer,
Our praise shall be always of you!
We pray for ourselves and for our homes: may we see the goodness in each other, and respond with living kindness. May we see your face as we delight in the joys of this day: in music, in youthful energy, in companionship, in every opportunity before us. Strengthen our faith and keep us always in hope. Hear our prayer,
Our praise shall be always of you!
Creator God, as we enjoy our time in this life, help us to support and advocate for the most vulnerable – of people and nations, species and ecosystems. Give us the creativity and confidence to make your world an Eden of joy and felicity, for all to share, in this generation and the future. Hear our prayer,
Our praise shall be always of you!
Free us from all that denies us the fullness of life: the ills of society, the denial of compassion, the pain of apathy. We ask you to comfort and sustain those who are sick, lonely, oppressed, or ignored. Show us ways that we may serve you through the needs of our community. Hear our prayer,
Our praise shall be always of you!
We thank you, Lord, for all the goodness of this life: for the gifts of love and laughter, for the normal moments of care and concern, for the blessings both big and small. You pour out your grace upon us all, and we are grateful for each moment. Hear our prayer,
Our praise shall be always of you!
You know our needs before we ask, and you have already given us more than we can ask or imagine. We ask you to answer our prayers as may be best for us; and to help us see your presence in the answers we receive. Set us free from all that ails us; let our faith make us well; that we may stand and praise your holy name. Amen.

28 AUGUST

Holy God, you call us to prayer, taught us how to pray, and you hear our every word. We respond to “Lord, hear our prayer” with “Lord, graciously hear us.”

We pray for the church as the body of your Christ; help us to keep our focus on our call to pray and serve; to know you well and to help others come to know you. We ask you to bless our leaders as they help us live to praise your glory. Lord, hear our prayer;
Lord, graciously hear us.
We pray for all who exercise rule and authority, especially Queen Elizabeth, the Prime Minister, the Premier, and all elected officials. Guide their governance that they may defer to your power and grace, so that all may live in peace and concord. Lord, hear our prayer;
Lord, graciously hear us.
We pray for our communities, and all who live and visit here. As we enter our last week of summer, help us to retain all the goodness we have known this season, and cast off any adversity that clings to us. We pray for ourselves, that we may be faithful ministers of your love. Lord, hear our prayer;
Lord, graciously hear us.
We pray for the life of the world: For all your children, for all your creatures, for all your creation. Inspire us to think and act in ways that your lasting peace may be known throughout this age into eternity. Lord, hear our prayer;
Lord, graciously hear us.
We pray for those suffer injury, sickness, or loss: may the words we speak carry your compassion; may the actions we take convey your healing presence. We pause to call to mind the names we carry in our hearts, and to consider those who have no one else to pray for them. (pause) Lord, hear our prayer;
Lord, graciously hear us.
We pray with gratitude for the blessings of this life, for the promises of life eternal with those we love but see no more. Help us every day to find the new joys you are showing us. We lift our hearts to praise you and give you glory. Lord, hear our prayer;
Lord, graciously hear us. Amen.






PRAYERS 18 sept 2022

Merciful Lord, we pray for all who call themselves Christians; as we confess the name of Christ, may we be filled with the Holy Spirit that all our doings may proclaim your glory. Help us to live into our calling as holy people.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for the church; that our leaders may be faithful to their calling and rightly proclaim the word of truth. May we be inspired to acts of justice and peace through their leadership.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We continue to give thanks for the life and Witness of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth; and we hold before you His Majesty King Charles; that he may order all things in wisdom and equity, righteousness and peace, to the honour of your name, and the good of your Church and people.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for the leaders of the nations, the government officials and civil servants; and for those in authority, that all your people may live peaceable and productive lives.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for our community; asking you to strengthen the unity of our human family. Cleanse our hearts of prejudice and selfishness, and inspire us to find new ways of serving one another with integrity and grace.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We hold before you those places experiencing conflict (pause); those places experiencing devastation (pause); those places experiencing unrest (pause); those places experiencing exploitation (pause). Teach us to love your creation and each other that we may live in harmony.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Set free all who are bound by fear and despair, and all who are victims of unjust societies and structures. Strengthen those who give their energy and skill to care for those in need of healing. We hold before you in our hearts and minds those who we know to be sick (pause); those who have died and their loved ones who mourn (pause). May we be the hands of Christ offering a healing balm to all in need.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Eternal God: in the midst of change, you are our constant. Hear our prayers of thanksgiving for all the blessings of this life, and for the privilege to come together in faith and truth. Grant us courage; grant us wisdom; grant us your peace.
Lord, hear our prayer. Amen.

 

Sermon, Pente +15 (C)

We have had a gorgeous week this week! It’s that beautiful time of year when the days are still bright and sunny but the mornings and evenings are starting to have that bite of coolness. The colours and briskness of fall can be a joyful time! And we still have plenty of time to be bringing in the harvest from the gardens, when our kitchens may smell of the jams and soups and preserves that we’re still making, when the first wafts of ‘pumpkin spice’ are just starting to float through the air….

Yet the readings today take us to a different reality, where it’s not quite as positive and happy. Let’s consider these chronologically.

Jeremiah offers a lamentation that the harvest is past – not just in, but gone and done. Summer is ended - and we’re still not delivered. Our joy is gone, grief is upon us, and our hearts are sick. Eek.
And we know that Jeremiah’s not speaking about a harvest of pumpkins and tomatoes; but of spiritual fruits and bountiful souls.

Then we move to our psalm. Which starts out with a we/they division, and insults – heathens! The word itself was a stronger insult in biblical times than it is now. For these days, heathen means uncivilized and uneducated. In the Hebrew, however, the word hag-gO-yim meant people of the heath, or of the fields or nations. THOSE people, who not only were uneducated but considered unteachable. Useless for anything but hard labour. Not even worthy of steady shelter or community. The attitude demonstrates the very inhumaneness of humanity.
Ouch. No wonder the plea for salvation continues!

Then we move on to the Gospel. Yes, let’s go to the Gospel - the good news – the scriptures we turn to for comfort and peace and calmness.
Unless the passage we read doesn’t seem to make sense… like this week’s passage speaking about a dishonest manager who is being upheld. A parable about devotion, about choosing our masters; a warning to look at who we have given our devotion to. All this wrapped up into a lecture about economics.
Yet the hope starts to come through, as all those who would hear the words of Jesus start to reflect not on what we do with our earthly possessions, but also what we do with our faith – our heavenly promise. There’s a LOT for all of us to think about there!

And then Timothy gets a letter – from a friend who has suggested that he stay where he is, in Ephesus, because the community’s a hot mess. They’re putting the FUN in dysfunction. They have folks who are not teaching the truth of God’s law – but instead adapting it to their own use and benefit. They aren’t just uneducated, they are intentionally rejecting the Good News of God. And not just the hoi poloi doing this for themselves – but inviting others into their skewed and unsustainable system.

It's a bit overwhelming, isn’t it?
But: life can be overwhelming at times. We can all feel overrun by the happenings of our lives and of the world. From our hearts’ desires to the global structure in which we live, we know things are not perfect.
So what are we to do?

Well, we don’t give up. We don’t walk away – instead, we go deeper into the scriptures.
Because within the scriptures is the solution to the banality and frailty and challenges of this life.
Within scriptures, we see our journey always returning to God.
We meet the person of Jesus and know the presence of Christ.
We encounter the divine in ways that are both intimately personal and profoundly communal.
The scriptures ground us, and guide us home.

And today: the scriptures lead us on that journey through prayer.
This is explicit in the letter to Timothy. We hear in this letter not just a how-to manual on how to restore the conduct of the church, but the call to community: through prayer. Prayer is how it starts: Paul is very clear about that. The church prays.
And we – the church of this place and this time - We’re called to pray first and foremost. Not as an afterthought, but first of all. Pray. For everyone, whether we want to or not. We’re called to offer supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings.
Prayer, Paul reminds Timothy, is how the church connects; it’s how the church is directed into ministry; it’s how the church overcomes the challenges of the world. Thus They – we - are called to pray.

We pray.
Like the folks lamenting in Jeremiah, who in the midst of their turmoil, are called to pray. They’re called to look beyond the perception of utter bleakness to become satisfied with what is before them. There is anger, there is hurt, there is ill health.
And because of that they are challenged to pray for their leaders, to be the kind of people who worry about their people; to be rulers who bring the balm, the physician, the health, the end of grief. They – we - are called to pray.

We pray.
Like the people in the psalm, as Jerusalem lies in ruins, are called to pray. To look beyond the defiled temple, the blood poured out in the streets, the taunting and derision of neighbours. They’re called to pray for leaders who will journey with them beyond the earthly pain and anguish, and strive with them to seek the true glory of God’s name, who will journey with them through earthly conflict into heavenly compassion, who will journey with them as they transgress from shared anger into a time of the multitude knowing the power and mercy of God. They – we - are called to pray.


We pray.
Like the people baffled by Luke’s accounting of a parable that sounds inconsistent, contradictory, and incomprehensible. Jesus challenges them to pray for those masters whose extreme wealth does not minimise their cruelty towards those who owe him, and managers who only look after themselves and their earthly future, and for indebted folks who could be accused of changing their own debt sheets should they be caught, yet who see no other option before them.
The people are called to pray – for leaders without dignity or integrity, who have succumbed to the seductive corruption of financial wealth, who cannot resist the temptation to increase wealth at the ongoing expense of the poor who are barely surviving. To pray for anyone who is serving two masters, for those who are serving only the master of wealth, for those who are primarily serving only the Master, our Lord.
They – we - are called to pray.

Then we have the scripture of our own lives. The examples we set for others as we live our lives, day in and day out. We are called to pray for our own situation, for our leaders, for those in authority in our time.
For the victims of violence; and for the perpetrators.
For the people who are oppressed, and for their oppressors.
For those who experience need, and for those who turn away to avoid the discomfort of seeing need.
For the leaders whose decisions make us shout for joy, and those whose decisions make us cry in frustration.

We’re called to pray.
So I invite us to pray. To pray when we understand things, and when we don’t.
To pray when we are happy or sad or frustrated or ambivalent.
I invite us to pray when we know what to pray for, and especially when we don’t know what to pray for.

I invite us to pray: in our ignorance, in our knowledge, in our arrogance, in our humility.
For prayer takes us beyond ourselves;
beyond our preconceived notions; beyond our inward focus.
Prayer takes us to the place where God guides us:
to the place of peace and love; the place of our sustaining faith;
the place of our salvific assurance; the place where we truly belong.
It is prayer takes us home: where our true and only Master waits and welcomes.
Let us truly serve the Master who matters; the love who hears all our prayers. Amen.

Sermon, Pente +14

I don’t know about you, but the gospel today speaks to me about hope, and renewal.
Now, in fairness, the Gospel *always* speaks about the hope of Christ and the renewal of the Spirit. Sometimes it’s just a little bit easier to find.

So I’m going to invite us to a bit of a deep dive with the holy words this morning – because we can put ourselves into this scenario – in fact, all of them.

It starts with some grumbling. We’ve got some bad-tempered folks, who are accustomed to getting their own way. They have titles and prestige and historical authority, so they get rather perturbed when Jesus’ messages of hope and renewal for all people really throws them for a loop.
And they grumble.
Interesting thing, though, when people grumble. They’re making noise to indicate that there has been an unsettling reality… but grumbling doesn’t do anything to fix it.
Think about when you’re hungry – your body lets you know something’s not right by grumbling in the stomach – and we hear that, and know we need to address the situation.
Because grumbling on its own isn’t a solution. It’s just a complaint.
Yet the Pharisees and scribes today are trying to use it as that – they’re trying to make enough negative noise about Jesus, that he’ll just go away – and they can go back to being on top of things.
And the noise they’re making – they don’t want a solution – they want to shame and blame – so they attack his character. Who does this guy think he is? They seem to ask. He *welcomes* sinners. Even EATS with them.
Ew.

How awkward, then, when Jesus doesn’t reply to their juvenile grumbling.
Instead he jumps into the parables. The lost sheep: was found, and they rejoiced!
The lost coin – was located – and they rejoiced!
And sinners who repent and return to God – truly, all of heaven and earth is invited to rejoice!

So it would be really easy for us to hear the message of rejoicing. The celebration. The goodness!
And rejoicing IS good! Especially in the context that Jesus shares – these are not private parties, these are broad episodes of delight where folks are invited to gather together around a singular purpose – the return of what was lost.

Yet these parables also invite us to look at what’s happening from a broader perspective.
Because there’s something that needs to happen before something is found – the sheep, the coin, the sinner – whatever.
And that is: loss.
The sheep: was lost. The coin: was lost. The people: were lost.

We don’t like, as humans, to admit that we have not been perfect. We like to be right; and that means we don’t generally advertise our shortcomings!
So for the folks in these parables to admit that something had been lost – well that’s a big deal.
The one tending the flock – likely these were not his own sheep. He would have been an employee; having been given responsibility over the flock.
Thus, every one matters. The lost, the found, the always-there.
Even a 1% loss – that one sheep out of a hundred – is too much.
So when the one is found, the shepherd comes back – and though he could just keep tending the flock, and not tell anyone that his shepherding skills that day weren’t great – he admits that he lost a sheep. And went to find the sheep – thus the community is invited to rejoice with him.

The woman’s lost coin – one of her 10 – well now we’re chatting about 10% of her wealth! 10% of her economic stability. It’s possible, even, given the context, that this was 10% of her dowry… and thus 10% of her future.
That coin is a big deal to her!
And she’s alone in the house when she notices it is lost; and alone in the house when she has found it.
Yet she breaks through any social embarrassment in order to invite folks to celebrate with her: she calls her friends and neighbours together and tells them that she had lost a coin.
She’s not worried about being called careless or thoughtless; she’s so elated by having found the errant coin that she invites a celebration.

There’s a few parallels in the shepherd and the woman – that go beyond finding what they have lost.
These parallels are insinuated in the message that Jesus is sharing, when he speaks of the return of sinners to the family of God.

In all of these cases, the person dwells with humility.
As the saying goes: Pobody’s Nerfect.
We all make mistakes; we all lose things, we all drop the ball – or the coin.
And it’s okay: it’s helpful, in fact when we can recognise our own humility. Being realistic in our self-assessment. In fact, it can be liberating when we free ourselves from the burden of trying to appear perfect before our friends and neighbours. Because they aren’t perfect either – and that’s okay.
God didn’t make us to BE perfect. Hence the opportunity to repent and return to the Lord: and to join the rejoicing angels.

The second thing that these parables have in common is the call to honesty. To have a realistic and practical awareness of ourselves. The shepherd lost a sheep – yup. It doesn’t mean he’s a bad shepherd. The woman lost a coin – yup. She’s not a bad person.
We as humans lose our way and sin – yup. It doesn’t mean we’re beyond redemption.
In fact, it highlights the great gift of redemption: for perfect people don’t need to be redeemed.
So being honest about who we are – and whose we are: the Pharisees were reminded that they too are human just like everybody else. And that they too, like the sinners that Jesus was welcoming and eating with – are indeed wanted at the Holy Feast.

The third trend I’ll highlight here is that of accountability. We are responsible for our actions: good and bad. So when we have those ooops moments, we can seek ways to repair what is broken. And when we have those YAY! Moments, we can celebrate and rejoice. The shepherd is accountable for all 100 sheep. The woman is accountable for all 10 coins. Our humanity is accountable for every single human. The pharisees are being invited to recognise their connection and accountability for those who are considered sinners and outcasts – for the ones casting out may be held to account when we all stand before the throne of grace.

And the fourth theme I want to highlight from these parables is this: safety.
The people are safe enough within their community to share their true selves. They are members of a group where they know they are loved and valued; despite their imperfections, their losses, their sins. They will not be mocked or grumbled at – but embraceed in celebration and rejoicing. The community Jesus hints at today is a one where people are all humble, honest, accountable – and safe. They are coming together to rejoice.
And rejoice – means of course to return to joy.
RE – JOYce.

This is the good news of the Gospel: that all of us are being invited to a time of returning to joy. Of connecting with one another in safe and healthy ways that are life-giving, empowering, and encouraging. They are communities where hope is prevalent:
Hope for the finding of whatever sheep is lost.
Hope for the well-being for the future.
Hope for the promised redemption of God, for ALL people.

So let us rejoice: as we hear the comforting words of Jesus.
That when we are lost; our shepherd is looking for us.
And when we are feeling devalued; our caretaker is lighting the way for us to shine.
And when we are put down by our peers; our God is welcoming us with an indwelling hope – and the promise of a return to wholeness, completeness, entirety.

So let us repent: in our imperfect selves – being humble, honest, accountable, and safe – that we can know that there is joy in the presence of the angels – and rejoicing in the celebration of Christian community.
Amen.

 

Sermon, Pente +13 (C)

 Well, we certainly get some strong messages this morning, don’t we?

The potter crushing down and destroying what he doesn’t like. The foundation left with unbuilt tower. The king doing whatever he can to avoid war. AND: Jesus inviting us to hate our loved ones.

Did anyone here, when hearing these words, think that I had read it wrong?
It’s shocking. And it’s intended to be.

I spent some time with my bible commentary – my big book with small type - because of this shocking theme of hatred and destruction. It didn’t seem right. And it turns out, that was time well spent. Because it helped me to better understand what was happening with Jesus at the time.

Jesus is using the word HATE as an exaggeration, a demonstration of strong feelings. He’s being followed by a lot of people – and these folks are caught up in the heyday of being Jesus followers. Isn’t this great! Every day’s a parade, we’re having fun, I can do this.

But that’s not what God wants – he doesn’t want people who are followers just because it’s the cool thing to do. He wants people who will follow no matter what.

God wants people who will Love Him more than anything else. More than possessions, more than earthly connections, even more than the entire earthly experience.

So imagine, then, that Jesus said “love, less than me” rather than “hate”.
Whoever comes to me and does not love father and mother less than me, love wife and children less than me, love brothers and sisters less than me, yes, and even love life itself less than me, cannot be my disciple.

That’s a bit different, now, isn’t it. Because Jesus doesn’t want people to follow who are just along for the good time. Jesus doesn’t want followers who are just being trendy. He doesn’t want followers that are just doing what everyone else is doing.

No, Jesus wants followers who will love him with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength. He wants followers who are committed to spending their life with him, in his service. He wants followers who have a full understanding of what they’re getting into.

That’s why we get the warnings about the foundation with unbuilt tower. It’s a warning about faith – don’t start what you can’t finish – don’t leave your faith untended, half-constructed, where it doesn’t actually serve a purpose and in fact can be distracting from the rest of the world. In fact – imagine a half-built house. It becomes a talking point in the neighbourhood – an embarrassment – a point of scorn.

Jesus is suggesting that people choose to avoid that, when it comes to their faith. Unless you can commit to the whole package – 24/7 for the rest of your life – maybe you don’t want to start just yet.

And the king waging war -well, there’s another message for us. Don’t try and take on more than you can handle. Jesus is suggesting that we know our limits, that we remain humble, that we actively engage in discernment and spiritual practices. And, part of that means knowing when we aren’t going to be popular, or ‘win’. So Jesus doesn’t want us to be humiliated or decimated, he wants us to be strong in his service. So don’t try to start a spiritual war that we can’t win – rather, seek out peace.
And, if that’s not something you would be willing to do, maybe don’t start in the first place.

It’s a strong message. Are you willing to carry your cross? Are you willing to give up your possessions? Or is that not something you’re yet prepared to do?

Because – Jesus doesn’t want wishy-washy followers. Not then, not now. He wants followers who will follow him, despite what the world says. Despite what difficulties arise. Despite what makes this life easier and more comfortable – if it distracts us away from God, if it becomes a bigger priority than intentionally following Jesus, then we need to reconsider.

So. We are invited to consider our priorities, our formation. We are invited to see ourselves as the potter’s clay. What a great image – made, moulded, cared for. And we’re invited to recognise that when things do seem to be in a state that we think is destructive, it’s not the end of the story – the lesson of the potter’s clay is that God will use what we have, and re-build. God will never take his hand off of us, even when we aren’t wanting to – or willing to – feel it.

And so we are moulded. Into the being that God wants for us to be – into the being that God always intended. The more we are crushed down, the more we need to rebuild – and it’s hard. But, the more opportunity for us to consider where those faults have come from, and how to avoid them again in future. It’s an invitation to recognise how God is calling us to be, from the depths of our core. And we’re invited then not to fight against that creation – thus needing to be crushed down – but instead to embrace how God is forming us. Like clay on a wheel – always being transformed and refined and perfected.

And isn’t it wonderful, too, that we know that we can be reformed – and re-welcomed as a follower of God. No matter how many times we turn away, no matter how often our actions suggest that we are anything BUT followers of Jesus. We are welcomed back.



Like Onesimus, of whom Paul writes. Received, and received again. Without debt, without grief, just welcomed back. Invited to be obedient – in the true sense of obedience, which is about listening and hearing and proper effective communications. Obedient unto God, who is always inviting us into conversation, and welcoming us back into community.

So let us be like those in the Gospel – following God, not being possessed by the possessions of this life, because we have something to offer (not because we expect something to gain).

Let us be like the potter’s clay – sometimes messy, but continually held and intentionally moulded into the creation that God always intends for us.

Let us be like the psalmist – submitting our hearts to the wisdom of the God who created us from the beginning of time, celebrating how perfectly known we are by our God.

Let us be like Philemon’s community, welcoming and re-welcoming all who would come to us, whose witness is so strong that the saints will be confident in our obedience – our listening and praying and discerning – as we journey together as followers of God.

Let us live our lives as committed Christians – with our eyes open, with our hearts knowing, with all that we have and all that we are – for that is truly the only way to follow Jesus.

Sermon, Pente +12 (C)

Our scriptures today start to warn us about what happens when we cease to be hospitable.
And hospitality is not merely the act of greeting or catering to guests; it’s ensuring that an environment is pleasant – favourable to be in.
And God’s hospitality is what we have already received – and that we’re invited to extend.
Yet: our egos can get in the way. And when that happens, things start to fall apart. A smattering of meanness or a sprinkle of dishonesty can change an entire community from being a welcoming place to a place that’s… inhospitable.

And – as has always happened – God steps in to remind us of our option to return. To be accountable for our own actions, and to commit to a better, healthier way forward.
The passage from Jeremiah is one of those times that God steps in with a message. And God does not mince words with the prophet, when God says that even the heavens will be shocked at the TWO evils being enacted by God’s own people.
These are harsh words – then and now.
So let’s consider those two evils.

The first is forsaking God. Forsaking is not just forgetting - it's about intentionally abandoning. This is not something casually slipping from the mind – we all have those moments - this is the purposeful choice to put God behind you; to refuse to acknowledge God. It’s a disowning of God - a complete estrangement.
Ouch.

Obviously, this is not good. Because when we reject God, it means we're putting ourselves in a higher place than the Almighty. That we're turning our backs on the Divine. That we're acting as though we've got it all sorted out - we don't need God anymore.

Which reminds me of a joke - some scientist had decided that they could master all the mechanics of life, and so they had a chat with God. "Thanks ever so much" they said "but we can take it from here. We can create life on our own. We don't need you anymore."
To which God replies "really? Hmm. Tell me more."

The scientist goes into great detail, saying that Genesis was the inspiration - life from earth - adam literally means of the earth - so the scientist goes on about the biological and chemical aspects that they've been working on in the lab - they can now take dirt - DIRT! - from anywhere, clone the necessary particles, and grow life in a petri dish. Ain't it grand. Starting from the very earth, they can create a human life from dirt - like in Genesis - so God has become obsolete.

So God says to this person "okay. Humour me. Let's have a contest - right now, right here - let's both build life."
So the scientist is all ready, all full of themself, and starts to reach down and pick up a handful of the soil...
at which point God says "Um, no. That's my dirt. You get your own."

When we try to put ourselves above God, we fall. Hard. Because the very core of our being is from God. It's of God. It is of and from the fountain of all life, which connects us all.
And then we turn our backs on that.

No wonder God finds this evil - and problematic.
Which takes us to the next evil we heard about in Jeremiah... that we have chosen cisterns for ourselves – ones that we had to dig, and they're cracked, and can hold no water.

The water that's leaking away here, obviously, is not the living water - the connection to God - because that is so abundant, so profound, that we don't need to hold it and store it - we can find it anywhere and everywhere when we open our eyes to it. We find it in and with and from one another - we share it - because God is constantly sharing it with us. Living water - grace - perfect sustenance.

But we still think we can do better. We think we can do it without God. We think we can do it without depending on one another, helping one another, connecting with one another. We think we can make a cistern for ourselves, save up water - earthly, temporary, water - keep it for only ourselves, and never share. And this applies to any other resource, too: money, food, power, what-have-you.
But. It never works. That type of selfishness, that type of arrogance, that type of ego is just .... wrong. Ineffective. Useless. Pointless.

It’s that type of mindset that makes us act in ways that are inhospitable. Which leeches into our communities. It's that type of all-about-ME! attitude that we hear about in the other readings, too, where we learn more explicitly that God wants us to share what has been given to us. God wants us to share the living waters; he wants us to share the grace, he wants us to share our abundance. And my goodness, friends, we live in an abundant society.

The letter to the Hebrews is also a letter to us – inviting US to do good to others, because Jesus has done good to us. We're invited to offer hospitality to strangers - STRANGERS! That's hard. There are fear-based reasons we don't want to share this hospitality – we feel we deserve it – we’ve earned it – we possess it – we identify BY it.
We fear that sharing means we will lose whatever we’ve attached such cloying attachment to.

BUT - no matter how hard it is, no matter how intimidated we are, we are called by God to share.
And so often we try – we have generous ministries and expressions of concern; we practice outreach and care and open doors; we study and pray and worship together. We as a church regularly find ways to share what God has given us, taking seriously the note from the epistle to "say with confidence 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.'

Because when we don't, what we're doing is spiritually digging our own cisterns, telling God that those living waters aren't good enough for us. We're acting in ways that suggest that we don't fully trust in the promise that God will never leave nor forsake US. We're putting ourselves in that high and mighty spot, that place of honour.

And the fall will be hard, and it will hurt. As we hear about in the Gospel - when we put ourselves in that position, we will be knocked down a peg or two. We'll be reminded that we're not as important as we may think we are. We'll not be dismissed - but we'll be invited to re-locate ourselves at the proper spot. And that would cause humiliation, and pain, and embarrassment.
And for some, that causes them to leave the table – the church – altogether.
And that, I am confident, is not what God wants.

So instead, Jesus lets us know what IS wanted. We're wanted to come to the table - where there is ALWAYS room - but to come as a guest, like everyone else. To remember that we're not the host of the banquet – that’s God's place of honour. We're there as a guest, coming as we are, with humble heart and genuinely pleased to be receiving this great gift.

So let us come to the table - as we are, gently, humbly, prayerfully. As brothers and sisters in the Lord – having chosen to be part of the family of God.
Let us come having received the fullness of God's grace in this life, having left the cistern digging of our own egos aside.
Let us come to the table as invited guests, with our guests, in the beautiful mix of both receiving and sharing a radical hospitality from the host of Hosts.
Let us come to feast on the abundance of this life, recognising it as a foretaste of the overwhelming goodness of the life to come.

Let us come to God’s kingdom table - there's a place for us all, and Jesus is waiting.

 

Sermon Pente +11 (C)

Our readings this morning talk a couple of important things.
One of these is the assurance that God speaks to us – even when we aren’t expecting it.
Another of the themes is the reminder that we were made for God’s purposes…
And yet another is the call by God to God’s purposes.

I’m going to focus on the Jeremiah reading to highlight these, but we can see the power of these truths throughout the scriptures.

So Jeremiah: it’s good for us to recognise the starting point. This is the start of the prophet Jeremiah’s book. The passage today starts with the first connection between Jeremiah and God.

Jeremiah says - The word of the Lord came to me:
God speaks.
God is always speaking: we receive messages from God in an abundance of ways…
Sometimes it’s as clear words coming to us – like Jesus teaching in the synagogue; the WORD of God preaching on the word of God.
For those of us in this day and age, often we receive the word of God speaking to us through the Bible. The word of God is printed and accessible – in many translations and adaptations.
The word of God comes to us through the wisdom of the ages – the theologians and poets and faithful folks who have shared prayers and understandings and insights throughout the ages.
God speaks.
The word of God also comes to us in the actions that we see: when people go out of their way to do something to make the day a little better for someone else, without expecting anything in return – like Jesus’ miraculous healing, or like the stranger who holds the door open for you.
The actions of people who stand up or speak up against problematic behaviour – like bullying or lies – like we see the crowds around Jesus today celebrating what they saw, even though it wasn’t what the one person expected.

The word of God comes to us: we hear it, we see it, we sense it: because God is always speaking to us.
It can take us time and practice to learn how to hear it and recognise it, and then to act upon it. But the word comes.
The word of the Lord comes to us!

So let’s go into the second theme today:
We are made to give glory to God.
Jeremiah is told that God knew him even before he was born – this is the same way that God knows us!
And Jeremiah is told he was consecrated while still in the womb. He was prayed for, and God made him holy and sacred, and set for him a particular piece of work.
Because he was known.
He was loved. He was chosen!

…just as we are. We, all of us, are known by God. In our baptism we are named and claimed, but God knows us long before that celebratory say when we share in the sacrament.

God knows us. Knows who we are; who we will be; and what ways that we can live our lives in faith.
For we are loved into being. By the source of all true love.
What a gift!

And that leads into the third theme: God has made us for a reason.
Many reasons, in fact – that will change over time as we meet new people and go to different places and try new things.
But all of these, God has given us a piece of work to do.

Now for Jeremiah, that work was HARD. He was being tasked to speak to the leaders of the nations, against the ways that they were living. For they were living their best lives– and God sent Jeremiah.
No wonder Jeremiah wanted it to be a different person or a different time, when I said But I am only a boy!

Yet God reminds him. He was made, for this task. This is a calling.
And sometimes we too try to reject our calling, because it feels too hard. Or we feel alone. Or we don’t understand our part in the bigger picture.

But: God persists. And that’s good news.
God wants us to participate in God’s plan: all of us. God doesn’t just pick and choose: God has a part for all of us!
That’s evident in the Hebrews epistle today – God is here for all of us, wanting all of us to do our part together.

And God speaks to us this way too… giving us each other, and the resources we need, to come together for our shared purpose.
It’s not unlike a handbell.
Each bell rings its own tune. It has its note; that is its purpose. One bell isn’t the whole symphony; it’s not the whole song.
But to be without that one note means that the song can’t be completed.
So the bells need to ring!
And we need many people in order to have them rung – at the right time and place in the song.

And when that happens: how wonderful it is; as we receive the gift of music.
Our handbells today remind us that we are all wanted as part of the holy song; we are all participants in the soundtrack of our life.
We all have a purpose, a reason, and part of that is combining together to make something beautiful.

That’s why God made us: knowing that we would connect and collaborate in ways that make things beautiful. To root out sin and sadness; to build and plant joy and holyness.
It’s a powerful image; and a powerful theme.

God knows US – and always has, and always will.
God made US. Exactly as we are, inviting us to work together not just for ourselves but for everyone to benefit
God has given us all a ministry – a sacred task: that we, as the church, use the words that we have been given to make the world a better place.

Words of healing
Words of help
Words of support
Words of salvation:
Words of THE WORD of God.

So we’re reminded today – through Jeremiah and Jesus, through our own handbells and daily happenings – that we are called at all ages and stages! We are the church, called to the ministry of proclaiming the good news.
Good news that is already in our hearts, and our minds, and our words and actions.
What a great gift to proclaim what goodness God has given us – together.
Amen.

 

Sermon, Pente +10 (C)

 Our scriptures this morning certainly leave us scratching our heads a bit, don’t they?

Why did the good folks who put together the lectionary decide that we should focus on conflict?
After all, we get enough conflict in life. It’s in our societies, our churches, our families.

So where is the Good News that we seek when we come to church, if even the scriptures talk about conflict?

Well: here’s the painful reality: conflict happens.
It always has happened – the epistle takes us on a nice historical accounting of interpersonal challenges.
And it was happening in their time – Jesus was witnessing it happening, even with his friends, his followers, his apostles... They disagreed, they argued, they demonstrated very different ways of doing things.

And, we know, it happens in our time.
One barely needs to read or watch the news, or listen to chatter in town, to hear stories of conflict and strife; and the more often we hear these stories, the more our brains take us into those dark places.

So again, I’ll ask: why does the bible also take us into conflict?
Because the grace of God promises us the option of reconciliation.
The love of Jesus tells us that health and healing can be done.
The power of the Holy Spirit tells us that we already have what we need to return to the root – the source of spiritual nourishment –
As we are reminded again that we are all on the same plant.

Now, reconciliation can be hard work:
And it is NOT the preferred practice in the world.
But it is the way of God.
And it is what God is calling us towards… as God calls us back.
Again and again – God calls us back to the root.
We are rooted together,
In the family of God,
In the household of prayer.
We are in this together.
And we are thus united through our baptism –AH! Our baptism.

Jesus states very clearly: “I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed!”

There is a baptism to be done. An action needs to happen.
And Jesus himself is under stress to accomplish it! These are strong statements for us to hear, and pay attention to.

And I’ll start by inviting us to consider what it means to BE the baptised…

The baptismal practice that Jesus was referencing was a ritual Jewish cleansing – it’s called the mikveh. It is sacred, and powerful. It has the same root as the Hebrew word for living water – and the same root as the Hebrew word for HOPE.

It is a rite of reconciliation and re-unification; the first action for a mikveh is to do your best to make things right with the person you’re in conflict with – and then knowing those efforts have been made (regardless of how the other party responds) – then the mikveh celebrates the reconciliation with God.

So the spiritual cleansing of a mikveh – that baptism that Jesus is seeking – would have brought to mind of everyone listening the imagery of reconciliation, of living water, and of hope.
No wonder Jesus articulates that he is stressed to complete this baptism!

And of course, these themes continue in our baptism.
While Christian theology of baptism is that once we are baptised, that cannot be taken away from us, it is also helpful for us to recognise that we are called to live into our baptism every moment of every day.

Baptism unites us in mystical and sacred ways that are bigger and stronger than we can ask or imagine; they are life-long bonds to each other – whether we like it or not. And they are eternal. And they are actions for us to live into. We should be stressed when our baptism is not being acted upon.

For the people who live their baptismal vows are those seeking to be the family of God.

Our baptismal vows are our roadmap through life, giving us guidance on how to live together in, and to overcome divisions.
Being baptised doesn’t mean we’ll never have conflict – we all know better: but it reminds us of that holy hope that comes from the living water.

The baptism we were baptised with is not about getting everything perfect;
It’s about the journey towards communion with Christ and with each other.

The promise of forgiveness of sins – doesn’t mean our slates are wiped clean so we’re free to do what we want, but that we know we can ask for that forgiveness over and over again in order that we might do better - and that we have already received God’s forgiveness!

The sacrament itself – the rite of initiation – is a celebration of Christian family. It’s not an individual’s party, but a community’s enhancement.
But with that initiation, with that focus on community, we are reminded of our responsibilities as well.

I’ll remind us of our baptismal vows:
To continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers.
To persevere in resisting evil and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord.
To proclaim by word and example the good news of God in Christ.
To seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbour as yourself.
To strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.
To strive to safeguard the integrity of God's creation, and respect, sustain and renew the life of the Earth.

There’s a lot there.

And we find comfort when we are gentle enough with ourselves to know that none of us will get it right all the time – yet God’s grace has already been given to us.
And we know that we are not facing these vows alone: God is with us, and we are with each other.
Even in division: we are together.
Jesus and his friends ate the last supper with Judas, after all.
We are called to come together.

And so the division we hear of, in the scriptures, in our news, in our social circles – these divisions we hear of are difficult: but they are earthly, and we do not need to be bound by them. We do not need to be caught up in that spin.

In fact, when we live our faith, when we focus on the promise of our baptism: which is God’s assurance that we can overcome that division; through the gifts of the Spirit - that came to us in our baptism.


So we are not to be afraid of the fire that Jesus is calling down. The fire that God wants to be kindled can be a cleansing fire, a purifying fire: removing from us all that keep our hearts dampened and dark, instead igniting in us the inspiration to live out our baptismal commitments and vows.

Our baptism is a life-changing reality; so long as we are willing to be changed by it.
The words of the vows, the covenant, and the prayers are so rich and meaningful… they are life-changing words.
Baptism is not something that wears off, or dissipates over time: we are named and claimed as the family of God.
We are called to act in ways that are becoming of this familial connection.

And this connection should always be at our core.
And in our core, we find our baptismal strength, which sustains our faith, which cleanses us with living water, which promotes our hope.

At our core are the prayers offered during baptism – those prayed for the folks about to be baptised, and for all of who ARE the baptised.
As we all move toward our core: to the heart of our baptism, to the purifying fire of Christ alight in our lives, let us remember the power of those prayers:

Deliver us, O Lord, from the way of sin and death.
Open our hearts to your grace and truth.
Fill us with your holy and life-giving Spirit.
Teach us to love others in the power of the Spirit.
Send us into the world in witness to your love.
Bring us to the fullness of your peace and glory.
Grant, O Lord, that all who are baptised into the death Jesus Christ your son, may live in the power of his Resurrection, and look for him to come again in glory.

Lord, hear our prayer.
Amen.