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Job 23:1-17
Hebrews 11:1-13; 39 All is not Lost Let me begin by acknowledging that this is a difficult passage to hear, as is much of the book of Job. We have a tendency in our modern world to like things to be nice and clean; neat and easy to understand; joyful and upbeat. Job is really none of those things. We tend to try and make Job manageable by focusing on the "patience of Job," it is even a modern-day cliché; but Job is far more complex. Job does much more than merely exhibit patience. The book of Job is messy, complicated, and even depressing at times. Yet, this is precisely why Job is so important. We balk at the idea of being angry at God. We look at God as an ever-present, ever-loving being, and when all we feel are emptiness and sadness, we are afraid to talk about it because somehow this seems to be an inappropriate front to God. We have this general idea in our heads that we are being disrespectful if we cry out that God seems totally absent from our lives. And yet, this is precisely what Job does, and the passage we heard a few moments ago is a prime example of that. Job gives us permission to feel bitterness in the face of injustice. Job allows us be upset and to cry out when God seems absent. But Job also tells a story of faith; a faith which does not falter in the face of the greatest trials. And like Job, we must keep the faith no matter what we face. Today, I would like to focus on two ideas: Faith, and hope. I think to really talk about hope; about the importance of hope in our Christian journeys, and about having hope, we have to acknowledge that there are times in our lives when things are so bad it is as if all hope is lost. So we begin today with Job, who was in such a situation himself. As we know, Job is hit with one trial after another. And in the passage we hear this morning, Job is at his wits end. He admits a bitter complaint. Job acknowledges a heavy hand, despite his groaning. Job expresses his desire to go before God in trial, desperate to be free of his many difficulties, but laments that even this is not possible because he cannot find God; God is absent. Job cries out that his heart is faint and he is terrified. I think we all have at least a sense of what Job is feeling; perhaps at times such feelings have been more prevalent than at others, but it doesn't change the fact that there are times when we desperately need God and it seems as if God simply is not there. I believe we are all familiar with Mother Teresa; known the world over for her work with the poor, sick, orphaned, and dying in the slums of Calcutta, India. By all measures, she was and is an exemplar of the Christian faith. But as we began learning after her death in 1997, Mother Teresa's faith was not as rock-solid as outward appearances would indicate. Like so many who seek after God, Mother Teresa struggled in the midst of great doubt, wondering about the presence of God. In 1979, three weeks after accepting the Nobel Peace Prize for her work, Mother Teresa wrote in a letter to a spiritual confidant, "Jesus has a very special love for you. [But] as for me, the silence and the emptiness is so great, that I look and do not see,--Listen and do not hear—the tongue moves [in prayer] but does not speak...l want you to pray for me — that I let Him have [a] free hand." In personal letters and writings, Mother Teresa spoke of "dryness" and "darkness." In a lament to Jesus, Mother Teresa wrote, "When I try to raise my thoughts to Heaven — there is such convicting emptiness that those very thoughts return like sharp knives and hurt my very soul. — I am told God loves me —and yet the reality of darkness and coldness and emptiness is so great that nothing touches my soul." At times, she was even driven to a doubt about the existence of God. This spiritual pain seemed to persist through much of Mother Teresa's life and ministry. The truth is we all have periods of "darkness" in our lives. We all face the pain and sorrow of losing a loved one. Or we agonize in watching a loved one suffer. Some struggle themselves in the face of overwhelming illness or disease. Parents worry about their children; sons and daughters worry about their parents. Families break and marriages dissolve, leaving nothing but stress and depression in their wake. Presently, we are facing the darkness of a financial recession; once soon-to-be retirees have lost a lifetime of savings. Jobs are disappearing left and right. Such darkness in our lives is compounded when we cry out to God for help and for comfort and find no response, no reprieve, no respite from the agony. How can there be hope in the face of such hardships? All is not lost. There is always hope. But hope is nothing without faith. The eleventh chapter of the letter in Hebrews begins this way, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Faith brings assurance to hope. Our hope lies in the future, but it is mere optimism if we do not have faith in the God who raised Jesus from the dead. As difficult as it may be; in the "darkness" of our lives, we must seek to maintain our faith in God and hold fast to it. As we heard this morning, even as Job laments the absence of God, he forges ahead, persisting in his search for God. "God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me." Job says, "Yet 1 am not silenced by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face." Job is persisting in his faith. Despite the darkness cloaking his life, Job declared that he would not be silent, that he would continue to cry out for God. When we are relentless in our faith, we can hold on to hope. Mother Teresa, too, continually sought after her faith even in the darkest despair. She found ways to live through her spiritual struggles, and she never abandoned her belief or her work. That is our task too. If you are like me, then you have wondered how Mother Teresa maintained her belief and forged ahead in her work in Calcutta. Throughout her life and career, Mother Teresa had spiritual advisors and confidants. In perhaps her darkest hour of doubt, her spiritual advisor, Joseph Neuner, told her three things she desperately needed to hear, and things that we need to hear too. Rev. Neuner told Teresa that there is no human remedy for the "darkness" we sometimes find ourselves in. He told her that feeling Jesus is not the only proof of his being there, and that her very craving for God was a sure sign of God's hidden presence in her life. And finally, Neuner advised Mother Teresa that the absence she sensed was a part of the "spiritual side" of her work for Jesus. We were created to long for God. We are designed to desire God in our lives. God has made humanity this way. And when it seems that God is completely absent, this craving, as Neuner says, is a sure sign of God's hidden presence in our lives. This longing becomes the basis for faith, and with this deep desire for God within us, we must forge ahead. If we are to maintain faith in the dark hours of our lives, it requires patient perseverance. When John Wesley himself was in the throes of a period of doubt in his life, the German preacher, Peter Bohler said this to him, "Preach faith until you have it, then, because you have it, you will preach faith." We must preach faith until we have it, so to speak. We have to be diligent in our prayer life; even if that means our prayers are full of laments in God's absence. We have to study God's Word through the Scriptures. We have to abstain from those things which distract our attention from God. We must follow God's call and seek God's will. Of course, none of these things are easy, but they are the building blocks of our faith and in turn our hope. In the midst of everything, Job never stops talking to God, and neither can we. Job may not understand how God hears him, but it is a statement of faith that Job is able to voice even his pain and confusion to God. We are better off to rail against God as Job does, or cry out to God in pain as Mother Teresa does, than to turn away from God in our time of darkness. God has willingly entered into an hour of darkness on our behalf. God in Jesus Christ came to this earth and subjected himself to hatred, brutality, and even death, so that we might have hope. Will we shun that great act? We know God more fully because God incarnate walked on this earth. We know God's love and grace more fully because Jesus not only taught us about God's love and grace, he demonstrated it as well. Might we know God more fully even when God seems absent? In some way, we often come to know the meaning of a thing through its absence rather than its presence. Think of it this way. A carpenter goes into his well-furnished workshop, complete with stacks of wood, containers of nails, and racks and racks of tools. As the carpenter focuses on the work of his project, he thinks very little of the individual items. The wood, the nails, the hammer are simply taken for granted as part of the carpenter's activity. But then, in the midst of his diligent work, the hammer breaks as the shaft snaps off at the head. Suddenly, the carpenter is acutely aware of the hammer. Once simply taken for granted, the image of the hammer, what it does, how essential it is to his work, are all vividly present to the carpenter precisely because of its absence. So it was for Job, who felt not the justice of God, and so longed for it even more. So it was for Mother Teresa, whose soul was empty, and so she prayed God's hand at work in her life all the more. And so it shall be for us, if we hold fast to the faith as Job did and as Mother Teresa did. God's love and passion are no less real to those who hold fast the faith than the hammer is to the carpenter. God's time is not our time. God's ways are not always our ways. But we have known and experienced God's love in our own lives; that is most likely the reason we are all gathered here this morning. And having known and experienced God's grace and love, we can doubt its existence no more than our own reality. The Bible teaches us that if we meet the trials of life with the steadfast constancy of faith in Christ, life becomes infinitely more splendid than it ever was before. The struggle is the way to glory, and the very struggle itself is a glory. So, in those deepest, darkest hours of our lives, we can have faith because we already know of the reality of God's love through Jesus Christ. When that darkness stretches on for weeks, or months, or even years, we must cling to that faith and strive after it. And in our striving after faith, we will find hope. All is not lost. God is at work in this world. God is at work in our lives. And that, friends, is a glorious thing.
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 Malachi chapter 3 vs 8-12 Second Corinthian's chapter 9. Vs 6-8 Main message: Gods people are called into a "covenant" with God. Be it the Old Testament, or in the New Testament time. We are to honour Him. We are called to be different, To "not" be like the world! Not to be selfish. But generous towards God and others. God's covenants/promises are
The book of Malachi the prophet, is laid out as a "personal letter from God to his people". And is the last book in the Old Testament. His name means "My messenger". He was called to be a spokesperson for God to a people that were growing weary of Serving God. We read about bored Priests and hard hearted people. The nation of Israel was "going through the motions". Cynicism was rampant. Not unlike the way things are today. I'd like to give a brief overview of the outline of the book. But concentrate on the passage that speaks of "tithing". And I want us to notice that no matter how far we stray from God. Cynical. Or weary of serving. Disobedient. Not trusting God and doubting His love for us. Realize that. God is always there with open arms waiting for us to change our heart and turn to Him. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. 3:7 The outline of the book is this.
Chapter 3 verse 8. Will a man rob God? Yet you have Robbed me! But you say, in what way have we robbed you? In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and try me now in this, says the Lord of hosts. if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. 11 and I will rebuke the devourer for your sake's, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vinefail to bear fruit for you in the field, says the Lord of hosts. 12 and all the nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land, says the Lord of hosts. Notice first. The style of writing. Conversation or dialogue between God and his people. God reasoning with Israel. And their pathetic response. I want to clarify something... and point out something as well... For us today. Holding onto our money and not being generous toward God and in our case the ministry of the local church. is just plain wrong! And we need to have our attitudes on this subject correct. My personal experience with tithing.... However! This passage of scripture has been missused so many times to manipulate. To make it say something that it doesn't. And has caused people so much pain. In that they are pressured, coerced into giving way beyond what they can possibly afford to various so-called "ministries" "Church leaders" With the promise of. Getting rich. This "prosperity gospel" message that is very prevalent today among TV evangelists. Is dangerous, and is a complete and utter lie... don't believe it, you'll hear the same "preachers"blame people and say,,, if it doesn't work, well then you just don't have enough faith etc." For God cannot lie"/ They misinterpret, miss represent God! And His word. But that doesn't mean we should throw out the baby with the bath water because people manipulate and twist the word of God... we must rightly divide the word of truth. Tithing, giving is one of those subjects that preachers don't like to give. Because of all the abuse thats out there. So I will do it on behalf of Rockburn presbyterian church... The whole topic of giving... How much? 10%. 15%. 5%. Paul gives us a pretty good understanding in the new testament 2nd Corinthian's chapter 9 vs 6-8 notice it's not a question of percentage but of the heart! But I say, he who sows Sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 so let each one give as he purposes and his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 and God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. So here we see that is not an old testament thing... It is for us today. But that it is an "attitude of the heart" We are to give cheerfully, generously, We don't do it to get rich. We don't do it to get noticed. And we realize that it is a blessing. A true blessing towards Gods work. There is no set amount other than that which we decide in our heart to give. We should stick to that and trust God to provide and to bless us. And noticed that the more we give and the more we learn to trust the more we will be willing to give. So you see in conclusion.. We are called to honour God. To put him as our top priority. If you wanna know how people feel about something. Look at where they spend their money! The very act of tithing is both an act of worship. And reveals our trust in Him to provide for us, for his workers. And work. Personally, materially and spiritually. In doing this we share in God's plans. We invest in eternity. I am reminded of the passage. Luke chapter 12 verse 34. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also"... God has made a promise to us, he has made a covenant with his church. He's making a promise to you today. For We are called to be different than the world. In that we are not to be selfish and hoard all our riches. But we are called to honour and obey God in all things. Are we ready to trust him with money. Can we rob God? Yes we can,,, let's not! Let us be cheerful giver's from now on. Amen  CALL TO WORSHIP: ONE: The Spirit of God is upon us. ALL: We are called to be God's people. ONE: The Spirit of God is upon us. ALL: We are called to be the body of Christ. ONE: Come let us worship God, who binds us together in love and service. WELCOME: The Spirit of God is upon us. This is a holy place and we are a holy people. The joy of God is our strength. All of us, with all our gifts, we are the body of Christ. OPENING PRAYER: 0 wondrous God, on this holy day, we have gathered together once again after our summer break. We are here to celebrate Your presence among us, to praise You and to thank You for all You have given us. May this time of worship strengthen and refresh us, and fill us with such joy that we cannot help but share it with everyone around us. Though we are very different people, with many different talents and gifts, make us one in Your Spirit, that we may be Your disciples in the world. Amen PRAYER OF CONFESSION & THE LORD'S PRAYER: 0 God, You call us to be Your presence, Your body in this world, but too often we get caught up in other things and lose sight of the greater mission You set before us. We go our separate ways, forgetting we need each other to be whole. You have given us Your law to be our guide, but we often turn our backs on what we see as rules and restrictions, fearful that we won't live up to Your expectations. Help us to see with new eyes, and hear with the ears of our heart, the liberating spirit of the law that strengthens and revives and enables us to be and do all You call us to be and do. Lord, help us to be faithful witnesses to Your law of love and unity. This we pray in Your name. Amen. MEDITATION: Living For The Lord A Jewish man moved into a Catholic neighbourhood. Every Friday the Catholics went crazy because, while they were morosely eating fish, the Jew was outside barbecuing steaks. So the Catholics worked on the Jew to convert him. Finally, by threats and pleading, the Catholics succeeded. They took the Jew to a priest who sprinkled holy water on him, and said, "Born a Jew, raised a Jew, now a Catholic." The Catholics were ecstatic. No more delicious, maddening smells every Friday evening, they thought. But the next Friday evening the scent of barbecue wafted through the neighbourhood once again. The Catholics all rushed to the new convert's house to remind him of his new diet. They saw him standing over the grilled steak sprinkling it with water. As he did so he said, "Born a cow, raised a cow, now a fish." Change is difficult for most of us. Diversity is all around us, but not all of us are big fans. Or perhaps we're too set in our ways to accept all the changes happening around us. Our entertainment choices are numerous, we have a wide selection of goods at the grocery store. There are a wide variety of ethnic restaurants to choose from and good luck making a choice when buying a new car. Wherever we go we meet people from different countries, with different cultures, speaking different languages. Many people are enthusiastic about the increase in diversity. The combination of races, cultures and opinions gives us an opportunity to learn and grow and better understand one another. Other people are not so enthusiastic. Diversity has led to fear and insecurity. There is political division, racial and gender division, cultural and economic division. All these things have always been around, but today, they are much more prevalent. So what does God have to say about it all? In Galatians 3:28 it states, "Now, in Christ, there is no difference between Jew and Greek. There is no difference between slaves and free men. There is no difference between male and female. You are all the same in Christ Jesus." The church is called to be a Christ-centered community of diversity. The power of God can overcome the divisions that set people against each other. People must live together touched by God's grace. However, more than we like, the divisions of the world are brought into the church. Women are discriminated against, racial segregation still persists, and there is bullying throughout are communities. There are difference in the way people practice their various religions which causes distrust by so many. Differences of this kind have strained relationships among people for generations. Ever since the days of the Roman church there have been diversity problems which we know from Paul's letters. Some argued over whether or not to celebrate special holy days and they took these issues very seriously. And this brought about division in the church. So why do differences have to divide people? Whether in the workplace, in social gatherings, or in church, why does diversity bring about such devastating divisions? On the whole, we tend to be wary of people who aren't like us. If they don't look like us, act like us or think like us, we tend to back away. The make us feel uncomfortable and even afraid. And it's that fear that can cause us to lash out. Think about the Mosque shooting in Quebec City. The people who differ from us aren't necessarily against us. If someone disagrees with our opinion, we are often upset or hurt. The religious leaders in Jesus' time weren't too pleased with Him when He challenged them. They questioned His motives and lashed back by saying the healings and miracles He performed were done by demonic power. People who have different interests or opinions can often become competitive. People can easily become so intent on defending their beliefs that they can't see the bigger picture. Differences aren't going to just disappear. So how can we live with them in a way that honours Christ and is good for the church? Have you ever met a miser? If you have, you know that this kind of a person is not very well liked. A miser tends to be very selfish and almost hermit-like. They are loners and they're often hoarders. And there are other people in the world who aren't misers, but they too are selfish. People are selfish when they neglect to help others, or when they injure another person, physically or emotionally, to get what they want. Now, consider this question carefully. Did you ever do something all by yourself. For example, you have your morning breakfast, then you go outside and chop some wood. You're alone, but you really didn't chop the wood by yourself. Who made the ax? Who transported it to the store? Who sold it to you? If you think of it this way, there aren't too many things you've done by yourself! We have to work with one another and each one of us is dependent upon others. Think about all the people who helped you get ready to come here this morning. Let's start with your shoes. How many people worked on those? Farmers, tanners, factory workers, transport people, carpenters, lumbermen, shoe salespeople. That's quite a list just to get you a pair of shoes. Then, besides your shoes, there are socks, pants, skirts, dresses, sweaters, each with a long list of people who worked on them. In Romans 14:7 & 8, Paul wrote, "For we don't live for ourselves or die for ourselves. If we live, it's to honour the Lord. And if we die, it's to honour the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord." We need to come to terms with the fact that not one of us can stand alone. We need each other to do what God calls us to do. Only as we live together, differences included, are we ready to serve God. We're not perfect and we all need to be forgiven as well as to forgive. God calls us together with our differences. He has given us each other. We each fill in what is missing in the other. Together, even with our differences, we need to be ready to serve God. In the words of scripture, "Welcome one another, just as Christ has welcomed you for the glory of God." Paul tried desperately to try to get the people to understand that embracing difference would be the gateway to spiritual life and strength and growth. Paul was going around the ancient world setting up churches and establishing congregations wherever he went. But the Roman church had differences and Paul wanted to instill in the congregation a sense of vision for the future. Paul tells the Christians of the church that the way they speak to each other, the way they interact with one another and the way they cope with differences, is really a reflection to the world of how Christ responds to difference and how Christ wants to interact with the world. Paul is saying that we are reflecting God to the world in our words and actions. What people see of us, they see of God, and we need to live up to that responsibility. Paul spoke of our common unity in the church and urged us to demonstrate 5 virtues — humility, gentleness, patience, love and peace. We are one body, with one spirit, with one hope, having one Lord, one faith, one baptism and one God. We are not on this earth for the purpose of being served. We are here to serve God. May we always be the church God has called us to be, because at the end of the day, despite our differences, the church is at its best when we are able, in unity, to glorify and serve God. "For we don't live for ourselves or die for ourselves." As a church community we need to be nudged along. We need encouragement. We need kindness and understanding. We need each other. We mustn't be selfish and think only of ourselves. We should be like a fountain, bubbling all the time, refreshing the thirsty, cooling those who are hot and tired. There are so many tired and weary people in the world. Let's leave here today and go into our community and beyond, determined to do our share. Let's bow our heads in prayer. Dear Lord, just as it was when Jesus made His home on earth, the world can be a cruel and hateful place. We ask that you would guide our actions as believers. Give us an eagerness to be humble and gentle. Help us have hearts of patience and endurance. Thank you for the hope we have in You. May Your hope unify our thoughts and decisions and bring peace through the Spirit. Amen. BENEDICTION: Read Responsively
ONE: The Spirit of God is upon you. ALL: We go forth proclaiming God's love and liberation. ONE: The Spirit of Christ is upon you. ALL: We go forth to live lives of justice and freedom. ONE: The power of the Spirit is upon you. ALL: We go forth as one body, one spirit, one witness to the promises of our God. CHORAL AMEN: That’s What Fathers Do
It is said that Jesus had two fathers, Joseph, the husband of Mary, his earthly father, and also his heavenly father about whom he taught us the Lord’s Prayer, Our Father. Not much has been passed on to us about Joseph, but what we do know is that he was an honourable hard working carpenter. When Mary became pregnant while unmarried, Joseph offered her marriage and a home so that she would not be subject to scandal and so that her child, Jesus, would be raised with proper parents. Later, when it became clear that the edict by Herod the king put Jesus’ life in danger, Joseph arranged to spirit them away to Egypt in the dead of night, so no harm would befall the babe. He didn’t have to do this. He could have sacrificed the life of the child and kept their lifestyle otherwise stable. After all, Jesus wasn’t his child. But Joseph couldn’t let that happen. Jesus had become his stepchild, and the first thing a loving father does is to protect his family. That’s what fathers do, and Joseph did it without hesitation. Now, in a somewhat similar vein, I myself had two fathers, plus naturally our father in heaven. You see, my mother and my natural father separated in 1949 back in Budapest when I was 5 years old. It just about broke my heart because I loved my father. He used to take me once a year to an amusement park whose greatest feature was this huge wooden roller coaster. At the end of our day’s activities, my father would top it off with a grand finale, a ride on the roller coaster. And when the ride was over and I realized our day was coming to an end, I would beg my father for just one final ride, a second pass on that magic rail. And, naturally, he would give in to my pleading and let me have one last ride. Why? Because that’s what fathers do. Several years ago, I wrote a short poem in memory of these times, and I tried to re-create my feelings in the language of a 5-year-old. (The words that need small translation are: Anyu (Mom), Apu (Dad), and hulam vasut (roller-coaster). ‘Angol Park’ (English Park) June 12, 1997 Pick me up at the oom-pah-pah Stride me down to the village fair Ride me round the merry-go-round Let me look at the dancing bear Can I fly my rubber band plane From the loft of the princess tower? May we stay even in the rain? ‘Anyu’ won’t mind an extra hour (Anyu=Mom) Take me right to the bumper cars I want to be the very first Did you see, did you see that funny clown? He made me laugh till my belly burst ‘Apu’ I know what I want to do You promised after the rifle shoot Before we go home, to wait our turn For an extra ride on the ‘hulam vasut’ (hulam vasut=roller coaster) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright Ó 1997, Joe (Josh) Hevesy, all rights reserved. Yes, this is what fathers do. But my other earthly dad was William Hevesy, my stepfather, whom my mother later married. I would like to describe him from a short excerpt of a 4-part story I wrote about our escape from communist Hungary in 1949. “We stayed in that room/apartment for about a week. During that time, my mother kept trying to get me to call Mr. Will 'Edesapu.' (Dear Dad) But I insisted equally as often that he wasn't my Edesapu (Dear Dad). My father, I knew well enough, was back in our apartment in Budapest, and I had no intention of replacing him with Mr. Will, nice enough though he was. One day, Mr. Will showed me magic tricks with his hands and played a little game with me. He got me to chuckle and have a good time. It was the first time since we'd left home that I was in a really good mood. Later that same day, my mother whispered quietly to me. "Jozsikam, it was wrong of me to ask you to call Mr. Will, Edesapu. You will only ever have one Edesapu. You might not see him again for a long time. I'm really, really sorry about that. But we will write to him. I'll teach you how. And someday you will see him again. I promise. Meanwhile, Mr. Will is a very nice man, isn't he?" I nodded. "So, don't call him, Edesapu. I don't want you to. But you know what will make him very happy?" I shook my head. "Call him Apu (Dad). That will make him very happy." A few days later, I shyly went up to Mr. Will and said, "Apu, can you show me that magic trick again?" "What's that?" he said with his confident voice. "What did you call me?" "Apu," I replied very softly. With that he bounded across to me in one giant step, picked me up into his arms and gave me a bear hug that almost smothered my 5 years of life out me. I was proud to call him Apu to his face until the day he died, 50 years later.” He gave me love, protection, and a fine example of what a man should be…because that’s what fathers do. And, you know, fathers show love and pride in their children. They accompany them to their school activities, coach them in sports, root for them at all times and leave them with the message, “You can be anything you want to be in life.” In fact, isn’t this what God Himself displayed about His son, Jesus? He showed up at Jesus’ baptism to show His support and pride … In Matthew 13 it is written: And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him,c and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;17and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son,d with whom I am well pleased.” This, is what fathers do. Here are three real stories I’d like to share with you from 3 different people talking about experiences they’ve had with their fathers GOOD VIBRATIONS by Nancy Perkins, St. Johns, Michigan My dad died unexpectedly at age 78, leaving our family heartbroken. During the funeral mass, my sister felt her phone vibrate in her purse. She was a little surprised that someone would be calling her, knowing she was at dad’s funeral mass. Afterward, she found there was a message: “Hi, this is your dad,” said the male voice. “I wanted to let you know I made it home.” The caller obviously had the wrong number, but the message was clear. My dad had completed his journey to heaven and wanted us to know. Thanks, Dad—until we meet again. What an incredible adventure. Yes, the thought of life after death gives us pause. But this woman just knew that this ‘coincidence’ was an actual message from her dad to tell her, Hey! It’s quite all right over here, and I’m fine. HOW I LEARNED THE VALUE OF WORK by Rudy Berdine, Irvine, California My dad owned a fruit market on a busy street. The sidewalk in front of his store collected dust and trash, which needed to be swept daily. At age six, I used to hide behind bags of potatoes when my dad asked me to sweep, but while sweeping one day, I began to find dollar bills under the dust and trash. I had no idea where the money came from. My dad had been putting money on the sidewalk—and soon, I was happy to sweep even when no money was found. My dad had a different slant on teaching me the value of discipline. The first summer I worked for him he told me, “The bus leaves at 8. Make sure you’re on it.” Well, the next morning I was ready to go, but it was a few minutes after 8. When I looked for my dad, he was nowhere around. When I asked my grandmother where he was, she said he left a few minutes ago. No reminder. No calling out to me. Just gone. Well, let me tell you, it didn’t happen twice. After that, I was always ready to leave at 8 sharp. THE HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO FAMILY by Rachel O’Connor, Westtown, New York “Linda, look at the map!” My father slammed on the brakes, glaring at my mom. He didn’t believe in excessive planning, and so each summer we embarked on a spontaneous family road trip that didn’t always go smoothly. There were lots of late-night panics to find hotels, stops to ask for directions, and elevated tempers. One night, we picked up a hitchhiker somewhere in Kentucky. As we blasted the radio and my dad bought us all ice cream, the hitchhiker told me he’d give his life to have what I had. No two families are the same. But this family’s glue was the secret, sacred ingredient, a father who cared. And that’s what fathers do. You see, our heavenly father doesn’t care how smart we are, how hard working we are, how strong or how good looking or how talented we are. No, He loves us, all of us, unconditionally. No matter how many times we screw up. He’s always there. You know, Sue and I have three sons. The oldest and the youngest seem to be able to stand on their own two feet and make their way successfully through the world. Our second boy, Chris, suffers from schizophrenia and has proven to be a challenge for us at times, but mainly a challenge to himself. When he was younger it was suggested to us by certain authority figures that maybe he needs to be left to go his own way. Maybe that’s what he needs to, as they said, to straighten up and come around. But Sue and I wouldn’t allow that to happen. We should give up on our son? No, never. We’ll be there for him until our final breath, no matter what. Because that’s what fathers do….and that’s what mothers do. Today, Chris lives in a group home in Kitchener-Waterloo and seems content. Oh, yes. Sometimes we still have occasional moments when we worry, like the time recently when his medication was changed without our knowledge and he seemed to have a mood change. But I got in my car, drove down there, had a meeting with his care workers, and straightened things out. When we visited him on his birthday a couple weeks ago, he said he’s much better again. We told him how pleased we were. Yes, families often present challenges, but as fathers – and mothers – our job is there to rise to those challenges and be there – always – for our children, just as our heavenly father is there always for us. That’s what fathers do. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. This morning we welcome proud parents Taylor Lamb who bring their son Jasper John Lamb to be baptized… joining them are sister Georgina , God Parents: Lena McClintock & Garry Mathieu, Grandparents: Jack & Brenda Lamb, Alison Hardy ,James McClintock Great Gramma Eleanor Lamb and numerous other family members. Call to Worship
God calls us to a Baptism! God calls us to a feast! The fountain is filled, The table is set, and we will come from east and west, from north and south to sit in God’s house. Compassion, love, and grace are poured out like fine wine. We come to share our stories, to share our hope and our pain, to share our wisdom and our laughter. The fountain is filled, The table is set, so come let us worship God together! The Sacrament of Baptism - Randy The Invitation The Presentation – Shirley McNaughton Renunciation and Affirmation Prayer of Thanksgiving The Act of Baptizing The Declaration and Welcome The Prayers of the People The Sacrament of Holy Communion Invitation to the Lord’s Table Preparation of the Table The Great Prayer of Thanksgiving The Communion – The Breaking of Bread & Drinking of the Cup Prayer after Communion Does the Church still matter? Is the church really important? I mean, really, really important in the grand scheme of things? When someone needs medical attention, they go to the doctor. When someone needs to learn to read, they go to school. When someone needs legal advice, they go to a lawyer. When someone needs water, they go to the faucet. Food? Head to the fridge or the pantry. But where do we go when we need hope? Where do we go when we need spiritual guidance, or a renewal of faith? This is a crazy world. It's a scary world, with threats of missiles and global conflict in Syria. It's a tragic world, with the horrible crash in Saskatchewan. It's a confusing world, where evil and selfish people seem to get ahead while honest, hardworking folks have to scrimp to get by. Our world needs the church, because there are things only the church can provide for people: The church can be a source of hope for the hopeless. It can be a soft, quiet voice in a boisterous and screaming world. It can offer answers to questions that make us uneasy, or unsure. I hope, than as we examine the question of the church's importance today, we can be reminded about why this place matters in our lives, and that we can use the answers to challenge one another to live more fully in our covenant with Christ. The church is a place of refuge that we continually come to throughout our whole lives. We are baptized there when we are babies. We have the opportunity to attend Sunday school and youth groups when we're young. We celebrate love through marriage, and sorrow as we say goodbye to our loved ones who pass on. The church us a place where we share and develop our talents: Maybe we sing as a member of the choir.... Maybe we play the organ (and, by the way, my son Quinn just played his first Sunday as organist at Dundee last week!) or share talents with woodworking or repair. Maybe our talents lie in the kitchen, and aren't these folks popular! Pies and sweets, church dinners, I'm hungry just thinking about it! The church helps us to better know our community: Through pastoral care, and outreach in elderly care homes and schools, through card parties and sing-alongs, we meet and share with our neighbours that same love that we know and experience through our relationship with Christ. The church is a place where we continue to learn what it means to be a Christian; what it means to serve Christ and serve others. And as I said earlier: The church can be a refuge from a lost and broken world. The church CAN be a place free from the hatred and judgement by which we are sometimes bombarded. The church CAN be a place where ALL people are welcomed as children of God, despite what the outside world might think of them. The church CAN be a place a place where forgiveness is offered without cost. It's not always perfect, because WE are not always perfect, but it CAN be a place where we aspire to bring closer the Kingdom of God. We are all here this morning; every Sunday morning; at every concert, church dinner or other event, because the church means something to each and every one of us. And, as much as the church about affecting and changing the lives of we as individuals, it's also about affecting and changing the world. Here's why: Christ is no longer here anymore. That is to say: He is not physically present on this earth as he was two thousand years ago. That means that if people are going to experience Christ, they have to do it in a different way. Christ knew that his ascension was coming, so as we heard this morning, after his resurrection Christ went to his disciples and commissioned them. That's just a fancy way of saying that he told them to go out and continue the work he had started in His name. He sent them out into the world as witnesses to his ministry, to preach repentance and forgiveness and share the good news of the Kingdom of God. Once he had effectively assured his continuing presence here on Earth, the assurance of his continuing ministry, he left them and ascended into Heaven. That was the very beginning of the church, and it is also the very reason that the church matters in this world. What might have happened if Christ had ascended into Heaven without sending his disciples out as witnesses and ministers? What would have happened if those disciples had decided that they had had enough of Jesus' ministry and that they should head back to their families? That would have sealed the end of the church right there. Christ would have spent his few short years on this earth living, teaching, healing, dying and being resurrected................ And then would have been forgotten within a few generations. The healing would have faded away. The promise of eternal life would have been broken. The hope that he stood for would have been lost in history. Christ's love and the promise of salvation would have been limited to those few people that he had encountered during his brief time on earth. Another risk that the early church faced came from the fact that the disciples didn't seem to believe that Jesus actually had been resurrected. Our reading today tells us that, when Jesus appeared to his disciples, they were terrified! They thought that they were being visited by a ghost! A spector... An apparition! And here's the strange part of this reading: Why did the disciples struggle to believe and understand? Had Jesus failed to warn them in advance about what was going to happen to him? Actually, the gospels tell us that Jesus had been predicting his death and resurrection for some time before the actual events of Easter week. Sometimes he spoke in deliberately vague Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days." (John 2:18-19) However, in other places, Jesus speaks plainly and directly about his imminent arrest, death, and resurrection: Matthew 16:21 tells us: From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. (Matthew 16:21) If they had been so specifically forewarned—and especially if they knew in advance that Jesus would rise from the dead—why were the disciples so confused and frightened during the drama of Easter week? Ultimately, we don't know the answer. Surely, much of their confusion was simply the result of their being, well, human—like everyone else, they were prone to doubting things that were beyond their earthly understanding. And we might consider that Jesus' teachings profoundly challenged the religious assumptions they had grown up with. Because Jesus taught both in plain speech and in parables, the disciples might have had trouble understanding when he was speaking literally and when metaphorically. Perhaps, even though they'd seen him work many life-giving miracles, the disciples couldn't bring themselves to believe Jesus' most dramatic claim—that he would die and rise from the grave. And the events of Easter week were stressful, to say the least. But fortunately for us, and for billions and billions of other people over the last two thousand years, it didn't happen that way. The disciples got out, got busy, and took up the mantle of their role as witnesses and ministers. They kept his message alive by sharing the good news all across the world. And the new disciples that they made in turn insured that the church would continue beyond their lifetimes and into the future. Today, we as members and disciples of the church can do no less! If we in the church don't continue Christ's ministry, no one else will. That.... That is why the church matters. He helped the poor. He forgave those who sinned. He shared God's grace and God's love. He died on the cross so that we might learn the way to eternal life. That......................... That is why the church matters. It is as fundamental as the difference between life and death, and it's the church's responsibility to get that message out to people and communities across the world. Through Christ's message of peace and love, lives can and will be changed. And That... That is why the church matters. Paul said to the Colossians: "He is the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: Things in Heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." The church is the body of Christ, and the body of his teachings. We are his mouth, his ears, his hands and feet in this world. We are witnesses to the good news, and messengers to take that news across our communities and across the world. That is both a great responsibility and a great privilege. The church has the power to help and heal people across the world from now until the end of time, as long as we keep the message alive. Like those first disciples who came to believe in the resurrection and went out to bear witness, the church depends on us. It depends on us going out into the world and saying "You want to know what the love, mercy, grace and forgiveness of Christ means? Well, take a look at this! Look at what's happening here! See these very lives being changed!" The church really does matter. Look at the world today. Our world hurts. In Parkland, Florida where a shooting in a school cost many lives. In Humbolt, Saskatchewan where a community and the world were stunned by a recent tragedy. In Syria and other battlefields across the world where both civilian and soldiers die every day. When the television is on and the news is all bad. Where relationships fail because we prefer to tap fingers to our phone instead of engaging in conversation. When there is never enough money to keep up with the bills we have to pay. When the stress of our lives leads to despair and disease. It is easier to see the world as a bleak and daunting place than a place of beauty and light. it is easier to find apathy and fear than kindness and love. But, through the church, God in Christ Jesus is able to offer justice, peace and blessings. Christ is able to bring hope to the midst of hurt. Christ's love feeds the hungry, heals the sick and forgives the sinner. Above all, Christ brings unconditional love and abundant life. Through his ministry and teachings, we can find the strength to make it through this world. Through Christ, we can find the joy of this life, and the life to come. Through our discipleship out in the world, the church makes it possible for people to have real encounters with Christ's love And that... That is why the church matters.  Update to Morgan's trip to Haiti Because of the present situation in Haiti, Morgan has decided not to go there, but instea is helping out from here. Her friends have decided to go nevertheless. Our prayers for a safe journey and their safe return.  Webmaster's note: This is part 2 of Joe's message which started on Feb 11th. Good Morning, and welcome to my Sunday morning message which I am calling,
“Why God?” The last time I spoke to you, I talked about the road to happiness and said that it is a road we all walk on. It is a dream we all chase. I mentioned that we as humans chase two kinds of happiness. The happy-ness with a ‘y’ which is the happiness that is temporary, the physical happiness of a gift or an experience, the happiness that comes and goes, day in and day out, and that we often have little or no control over. Examples might range from a small snack to a great banquet, from a Sunday drive to a world cruise, from a modest apartment to a 100-acre ranch. All wonderful experiences, but also all tinged with a certain sadness. Why? Because none outlast a physical timeframe. None give us eternal satisfaction. All are a part of this material world in which we are born and in which we die. We are left wondering…Can we expect anything more? We are asked by our bible teachers to believe, but we again ask why. And no matter how many ways or how many times we ask the question, we still wonder what it’s all about. We are told God is the way to ultimate happiness In the Gospel of John it is written… “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God…… This ‘Word’ we acknowledge to be the Second Person, the Son of God. The Gospel carries on to say that nothing has been made except it was made through God, and that if we believe in Him, we all become children of God. Which is all beautiful. It is a glorious idea. But still it leaves us with questions. Anne Graham Lotz in her article, “Why God Why?” puts her questions this way, My mother's pale, gaunt face was transformed into wreathes of joy when I walked through the door of her hospital room. Although her eyes seemed sunken, they sparkled with the zest for life that is her own special trademark. With IVs dangling from her arms, she lifted her trembling hands to welcome me. I embraced her frail body, feeling the heat of her temperature and the protrusion of her bones through the thin hospital gown. She was unable to speak clearly, so I just patted her and sat down nearby. Within moments, she was asleep. And I was left to wonder, Why? Why does my mother's life seem to be ending in suffering and, at times, confusion? Why, after a life lived selflessly for others, must her old age be, in some ways, a curse? Yet I was reminded that unanswerable questions are not restricted to any particular age group when my son recently went through a series of tests to determine his physical condition five years after cancer surgery. The whys buzz through my head like irritating mental insects: Why? Why is my handsome, six-foot-nine-inch, 32-year-old son still stalked by the shadow of this horrific disease? During the times when you and I can't trace God's hand of purpose, we must trust His heart of love. While wrestling with the illnesses of my mother and son, a beloved young friend was entering into the living death that is divorce. Why? Why doesn't God melt the heart of the offending spouse and bring that person to genuine repentance so the marriage can be saved? And once again, the angel of death has struck, this time taking the life of the beloved pastor who ministered to my family and shepherded me through my formative years. Why? And before that personal loss, I had other "whys." Why would God let 110 fathers of unborn children perish in the collapse of the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001? Why would God withhold children from godly parents and give them to a mother who would bash in their heads with a rock or drown them in a bathtub? Why would God allow thousands of people to lose their pensions because of greedy corporate executives who are padding their own retirement fortunes? Why would God allow the kidnapping of babies and children for the perverted pleasure of some pedophile? Why do the young die? Why do the wicked prosper? In meditating on these themes, let me begin to answer them by saying that we are not alone with these thoughts. In fact, from the beginning of time, when people have first begun to gaze at the stars, such questions have been asked, and clear answers have been hidden behind a screen in some other dimension. Nevertheless, in every primitive human society, every remote tribe, no matter how isolated, no matter how different, no matter what strange ritual they might follow, has believed in God. Oh, they might not call it God. It might be Yahwheh, or Baal, or the Great Spirit, or a hundred thousand other names. But every one has acknowledged the presence of such a Creator, whatever form it might take. If you allow me, I will tell you of a true personal experience that took place many years ago and that nudged me over the line and convinced me to believe. I always speculated on such matters from a very young age. In my teens I thought about becoming a Catholic priest but my three sons are happy I didn’t go that way. And so am I. Well, one night after reading from one of my favourite books, The Imitation of Christ, by Thomas a Kempis, I went to sleep with thoughts of belief and non-belief swirling through my head. Some time in the very early morning, between the hours of midnight and dusk, I awoke from a dream state, or maybe I should say I awoke into a dream state. In this state, not fully realizing where I was, I felt myself being drawn over, over into what I can only call, the other side. And when I was partially in that place, sort of half here and half there, I felt a heavenly calm come over me. I can truly attest that never before, or since, have I ever felt that way. Suddenly, the realization hit me that if I kept floating along like this, I just might pass all the way over to wherever I was drifting. And I got suddenly very scared. And that fear sucked me back like a mighty surge, and I was all here again, fully awake. And sweating. So, I jumped out of bed because I wanted to capture as completely as I could this unique but glorious experience. So, I started to write. And I wrote it all out in words that became a poem, a poem that had a form I had never used before. I have never recited it before to anyone, so please bear with me and see if you can share in some small way with my experience. I call this ‘Assurance’…… I woke within the framework of the night And felt the silent presence of the dead As if they lingered floating in my head In chambers lacking roof or walls or bed. I stepped inside expecting to be led Past alabaster angels but instead A hollow toneless madrigal was read By figments, of implicit pending dread. I strained to see some path that I might light To free my presence from that empty drone And read or heard or felt a different tome Timeless - yet insistent and alone. “Come,” it shivered, piercing to the bone “Come,” in sounds that suddenly had grown To make me wonder how I must atone For sins like seeds a prouder man had sown. Straining still with eyes that spent their sight The call beguiled me to an open door Frameless hung, as if a fabric tore Rent long and yawning open to the floor. “Come,” it rang, more vibrant than before As wispy fingers off some distant shore Tugged gently at my soul, my unlocked core Till I was carried drifting through the door. At once my every fibre lost its might And nerve and sinew stayed behind the shade And I emerged more placid and restrained As peace like snow descended in the glade To which I’d come imperfect and unmade. Then I knew the longer that I stayed That time would stop, and I would merge and fade Into eternity...I felt, afraid. And in that fear new vision lost its sight And I awakened wholly mine once more The sweat of ages clung to every pore Of this thin shell, this mortal husk I wore, And wear still better than I did before Until the day that legends, tales and lore Fill up the book whose page this passage bore And promises to kin and kith shall ring like truth, once more. ——-— Joe Hevesy, June 1, 1997. So, what does this prove? Well, obviously, it may not convince anyone else of God, or an afterlife, or any description that may be the same for everyone. But what it does prove is that somehow a single person on this earth believes wholeheartedly that he received a glimpse into Paradise. And I also think that if one person can be led to that state of belief, so can every other person, someday, somehow, even if only at the moment of truth, the moment of death. But what about these hanging questions about why God allows suffering? Well, once again, no single answer will suffice equally for all of us. I can only pass on to you my personal belief. God allows suffering for a couple of reasons at least. One, it proves definitively that this life, no matter how blessed it may be, is not without serious downsides. There is pain and, in many cases, there is pain that is so abundant, so excruciating that many of us at the end cry for release. And two, even in the midst of all this pain, god is with us. There is a rabbi - I can’t recall his name now - who was in the Holocaust with his Jewish people. This question of God’s presence in all his people’s suffering kept nagging at him. “Where is this God who is all-caring?” “Why does He allow His own ‘chosen’ people to suffer such extremes?” “How can He justify all this pain?” But this rabbi soldiered on. He stayed faithful to God, he showed a persevering faith to God visibly to all his people. He prayed every day and every night for an answer. And one day, he said, the answer was revealed to him. When he asked where God was, God whispered, “I am here. I am with you in all of this extreme terror. You are the ones who have been chosen to carry this burden for all mankind as my representatives. You are my Chosen people.” Furthermore, as we Christians believe, God sent us His son, God-made-flesh, to suffer such terrible extremes with us, to show us that physical happyness-with-a-y is not the final answer. Our sufferings of one extreme or another is meant to coax us to let go of our grasp on earthly things. Without it, without suffering, we would want to stay here forever and not make it home to an ultimate reward. But why do it at all? Why have Creation? Why not just stay in Paradise without the intervention of a physical world. Well, I will let you figure that one out through your own conversations with God. Hopefully, this message gave you some food for thought, maybe enough to spend a little bit of every Sunday in peaceful contemplation, reflection and prayer in the presence of God. Now, let me leave you with yet another poem - don’t worry, not another one of mine. This poem is called Trees, not the one by Joyce Kilmer, but by Canadian Bliss Carman. I first learned it in grade 3 and it has reverberated with me ever since. Does the Church still matter?
Is the church really important? I mean, really, really important in the grand scheme of things? When someone needs medical attention, they go to the doctor. When someone needs to learn to read, they go to school. When someone needs legal advice, they go to a lawyer. When someone needs water, they go to the faucet. Food? Head to the fridge or the pantry. But where do we go when we need hope? Where do we go when we need spiritual guidance, or a renewal of faith? This is a crazy world. It's a scary world, with threats of missiles and global conflict in Syria. It's a tragic world, with the horrible crash in Saskatchewan. It's a confusing world, where evil and selfish people seem to get ahead while honest, hardworking folks have to scrimp to get by. Our world needs the church, because there are things only the church can provide for people: The church can be a source of hope for the hopeless. It can be a soft, quiet voice in a boisterous and screaming world. It can offer answers to questions that make us uneasy, or unsure. I hope, than as we examine the question of the church's importance today, we can be reminded about why this place matters in our lives, and that we can use the answers to challenge one another to live more fully in our covenant with Christ. The church is a place of refuge that we continually come to throughout our whole lives. We are baptized there when we are babies. We have the opportunity to attend Sunday school and youth groups when we're young. We celebrate love through marriage, and sorrow as we say goodbye to our loved ones who pass on. The church us a place where we share and develop our talents: Maybe we sing as a member of the choir.... Maybe we play the organ (and, by the way, my son Quinn just played his first Sunday as organist at Dundee last week!) or share talents with woodworking or repair. Maybe our talents lie in the kitchen, and aren't these folks popular! Pies and sweets, church dinners, I'm hungry just thinking about it! The church helps us to better know our community: Through pastoral care, and outreach in elderly care homes and schools, through card parties and sing-alongs, we meet and share with our neighbours that same love that we know and experience through our relationship with Christ. The church is a place where we continue to learn what it means to be a Christian; what it means to serve Christ and serve others. And as I said earlier: The church can be a refuge from a lost and broken world. The church CAN be a place free from the hatred and judgement by which we are sometimes bombarded. The church CAN be a place where ALL people are welcomed as children of God, despite what the outside world might think of them. The church CAN be a place a place where forgiveness is offered without cost. It's not always perfect, because WE are not always perfect, but it CAN be a place where we aspire to bring closer the Kingdom of God. We are all here this morning; every Sunday morning; at every concert, church dinner or other event, because the church means something to each and every one of us. And, as much as the church about affecting and changing the lives of we as individuals, it's also about affecting and changing the world. Here's why: Christ is no longer here anymore. That is to say: He is not physically present on this earth as he was two thousand years ago. That means that if people are going to experience Christ, they have to do it in a different way. Christ knew that his ascension was coming, so as we heard this morning, after his resurrection Christ went to his disciples and commissioned them. That's just a fancy way of saying that he told them to go out and continue the work he had started in His name. He sent them out into the world as witnesses to his ministry, to preach repentance and forgiveness and share the good news of the Kingdom of God. Once he had effectively assured his continuing presence here on Earth, the assurance of his continuing ministry, he left them and ascended into Heaven. That was the very beginning of the church, and it is also the very reason that the church matters in this world. What might have happened if Christ had ascended into Heaven without sending his disciples out as witnesses and ministers? What would have happened if those disciples had decided that they had had enough of Jesus' ministry and that they should head back to their families? That would have sealed the end of the church right there. Christ would have spent his few short years on this earth living, teaching, healing, dying and being resurrected................ And then would have been forgotten within a few generations. The healing would have faded away. The promise of eternal life would have been broken. The hope that he stood for would have been lost in history. Christ's love and the promise of salvation would have been limited to those few people that he had encountered during his brief time on earth. Another risk that the early church faced came from the fact that the disciples didn't seem to believe that Jesus actually had been resurrected. Our reading today tells us that, when Jesus appeared to his disciples, they were terrified! They thought that they were being visited by a ghost! A spector... An apparition! And here's the strange part of this reading: Why did the disciples struggle to believe and understand? Had Jesus failed to warn them in advance about what was going to happen to him? Actually, the gospels tell us that Jesus had been predicting his death and resurrection for some time before the actual events of Easter week. Sometimes he spoke in deliberately vague terms; it's perhaps understandable in these cases that the disciples wouldn't have picked up on Jesus' meaning without help. For example, Jesus predicted his death and resurrection early in the gospel of John using a metaphor: Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days." (John 2:18-19) However, in other places, Jesus speaks plainly and directly about his imminent arrest, death, and resurrection: Matthew 16:21 tells us: From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. (Matthew 16:21) If they had been so specifically forewarned—and especially if they knew in advance that Jesus would rise from the dead—why were the disciples so confused and frightened during the drama of Easter week? Ultimately, we don't know the answer. Surely, much of their confusion was simply the result of their being, well, human—like everyone else, they were prone to doubting things that were beyond their earthly understanding. And we might consider that Jesus' teachings profoundly challenged the religious assumptions they had grown up with. Because Jesus taught both in plain speech and in parables, the disciples might have had trouble understanding when he was speaking literally and when metaphorically. Perhaps, even though they'd seen him work many life-giving miracles, the disciples couldn't bring themselves to believe Jesus' most dramatic claim—that he would die and rise from the grave. And the events of Easter week were stressful, to say the least. But fortunately for us, and for billions and billions of other people over the last two thousand years, it didn't happen that way. The disciples got out, got busy, and took up the mantle of their role as witnesses and ministers. They kept his message alive by sharing the good news all across the world. And the new disciples that they made in turn insured that the church would continue beyond their lifetimes and into the future. Today, we as members and disciples of the church can do no less! If we in the church don't continue Christ's ministry, no one else will. That.... That is why the church matters. He helped the poor. He forgave those who sinned. He shared God's grace and God's love. He died on the cross so that we might learn the way to eternal life. That......................... That is why the church matters. It is as fundamental as the difference between life and death, and it's the church's responsibility to get that message out to people and communities across the world. Through Christ's message of peace and love, lives can and will be changed. That That is why the church matters. Paul said to the Colossians: "He is the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: Things in Heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." The church is the body of Christ, and the body of his teachings. We are his mouth, his ears, his hands and feet in this world. We are witnesses to the good news, and messengers to take that news across our communities and across the world. That is both a great responsibility and a great privilege. The church has the power to help and heal people across the world from now until the end of time, as long as we keep the message alive. Like those first disciples who came to believe in the resurrection and went out to bear witness, the church depends on us. It depends on us going out into the world and saying "You want to know what the love, mercy, grace and forgiveness of Christ means? Well, take a look at this! Look at what's happening here! See these very lives being changed!" The church really does matter. Look at the world today. Our world hurts. In Parkland, Florida where a shooting in a school cost many lives. In Humbolt, Saskatchewan where a community and the world were stunned by a recent tragedy. In Syria and other battlefields across the world where both civilian and soldiers die every day. When the television is on and the news is all bad. Where relationships fail because we prefer to tap fingers to our phone instead of engaging in conversation. When there is never enough money to keep up with the bills we have to pay. When the stress of our lives leads to despair and disease. It is easier to see the world as a bleak and daunting place than a place of beauty and light. it is easier to find apathy and fear than kindness and love. But, through the church, God in Christ Jesus is able to offer justice, peace and blessings. Christ is able to bring hope to the midst of hurt. Christ's love feeds the hungry, heals the sick and forgives the sinner. Above all, Christ brings unconditional love and abundant life. Through his ministry and teachings, we can find the strength to make it through this world. Through Christ, we can find the joy of this life, and the life to come. Through our discipleship out in the world, the church makes it possible for people to have real encounters with Christ's love. And that... That is why the church matters.   Opening Prayer
God of new life, we come with our praises and prayers. We come rejoicing in the mystery of the Risen Christ, present among us always; blessing us with life-giving good news, We come led and nurtured by your Holy Spirit. Dear Lord, Thank you for all your blessings, For our family, friends and neighbours. Thank you for all the beauty In the skies, the lakes and the mountains. Thank you for all the excitement of celebration, Birthdays, weddings and christenings. Thank you for all the variety of animals, birds and insects. Thank you for all the enrichment of music, art and literature. Thank you for the amazing jigsaw of life! What a beautiful picture is made when we place all these pieces together! Thank you for the promise of eternity, For the sacrifices you made so that we can be free, Free to make our lives into a glorious patchwork of thanksgiving That carries us onwards to the promises of new heavenly pieces to add to all that we already hold. We Thank you Lord.... Shall we now pray the words he taught us: Our Father… Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom the power and the glory forever and ever” Amen Offertory Prayer Glorious God, we know that your capacity to love is infinitely greater than our own ability. Indeed, you call us to love one another in truth and in action. We yearn to be active disciples, so that our hearts truly abide with you. Use these gifts to increase our ability to be your followers. In the name of the One who laid down his life for us, Jesus Christ, we pray. Matthew 5:3-12 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad,because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. We Listen to God’s Word & Pray for Understanding As your word is read, may it settle upon us and nestle deep within us. May it become more life-giving than the air we breathe, more solid than the earth beneath our feet, more powerful than the gravity that draws your creation together. Amen. Good morning. It is a blessing to be here with you today. My sermon topic is “Giving and Receiving Blessings.” There are so many facets to what we consider to be blessings – like joy, healing, grace, and gratitude. In the movie “White Christmas” Bing Crosby sings “When I’m worried and I can’t sleep,I count my blessings instead of sheep.” We know on some level that we have many blessings, and that when we become aware of them, or count them, the natural response is to feel gratitude, a feeling that dispels our worries. But are our blessings the good countable “things” in our lives – things we are grateful for? That may be one aspect of blessings, but there is more to it. In David Spangler’s book “Blessing: The Art and the Practice,” he describes blessing as an invocation of the presence and power of the sacred. He encourages all of us, to experience the rewards of being a conduit for God’s blessings. We can bless through a kind word, a prayer, a ritual, a gesture, an embrace, or a gift – but the blessing is the sacred space that is experienced rather than the outward visible sign that helped convey the blessing. A blessing is more than something you like or a kindness. A blessing is that which lifts us toward experiencing our spiritual nature. It brings Spirit into the picture. It gets us in touch with the essence qualities of God – like wholeness and perfection. The phrase “circular blessing” comes to mind. It can become clear that every blessing has the potential to bless both the giver and receiver of any blessing. We pray that our blessings have a positive effect on those we are blessing. Yet we, too, are reaping great benefit from being a blesser! On a psychological level, when we bless, we are thinking good thoughts. Good thoughts feel good. We open our minds to something better or greater, which gives us hope for a happier future. Positive thoughts naturally have a positive impact on our mind and our body. On a spiritual level, we are opening to God’s Good flowing through us outward into the world. We become joined with the brotherhood of God’s people. Blessings are a way of re-membering God’s family. Many of us have had the joy of sharing blessings through prayers of the people. We’ve prayed for one another, especially those on our weekly prayer list, asking for God’s healing blessings for our extended church family. When we pray for another’s health and well-being, there is a range of experiences that we can have. My focus today is on the connection we can feel when we are extending blessings from a place of spiritual connection. An image that comes to mind is a hose that has the potential to spray water onto a garden. My word of blessing is like turning the tap that allows the water to flow through the hose. The hose gets to feel the water flowing through it while the garden receives the benefit of the sprayed water. In the same way, any blessing I invoke flows through me, touching and cleansing me in the process. The water and the blessing are not mine. I am just the channel through which it flows when I am willing to turn the tap. That is the experience of “circular blessing.” On the other hand, if I speak the words of a blessing while feeling separate and vulnerable, it is as if the hose is not attached to the water source. Nothing flows through it. As St. Paul writes in I Corinthians 13, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” The power of the blessing is in staying connected to our Source, to our Creator, and allowing the Divine Presence to flow through my heart, mind, and soul. The power of “circular blessing” is in remembering to connect to the Father’s Love that heals and transforms. That’s the Good News. I am not responsible for creating the blessing. My job is to invite God’s blessing and allow it to do its work. The one who blesses from a state of communion with God is the voice for God in that moment. We are the hands and feet of God in the world, and we are invited to be the conduit for God’s blessings in any environment or circumstance. What do we choose moment by moment? Do we extend blessings, or judge and complain? Do we just say “God bless you” when someone sneezes? When I sneeze and you say “God bless you” where is your focus of attention? Are you present with me? affirming my health? wondering if I have a contagious cold or just an allergy? or maybe you just said it out of reflex and your mind was a million miles away, not really present with me or divinity. Where your attention is when you say “God bless you” does make a difference. Maybe the next time you say it, there will be an extra dose of God’s Presence in your mind. Most of us don’t speak blessings on a regular basis, but we can begin to exercise our blessing muscles. We can choose to feel gratitude and give praise for the blessings in our lives while remembering the Source of our Good. We can speak a blessing before meals, giving thanks for the abundance and variety of our nourishment. We can enjoy the blessing of our freedom. We can notice the miracles that flow from being a blesser instead of a complainer. We can bless those who seem sad, confused, or lost from a place of peace in our own lives. We can bless through mercy, kindness, compassion, beauty, and humor. A deep spiritual blessing, in full openness to God’s Unconditional Love, can crack the heart wide open. Instead of my individual desire to wish another well, there is no “other”, just another part of myself seen through God’s eyes. Divine Wholeness is a healing balm that can be experienced by giving blessings. In the Beatitudes (today’s Gospel reading of Matthew 5:3-12) Jesus speaks of people normally thought to be in disfavor. He pronounces them blessed because He tells us that God’s Healing Presence is available to all His Children. He teaches us that we, even in our brokenness, are due to receive an abundant life in God’s kingdom, regardless of our status or circumstances. Blessing is a holy act that any Child of God can do, not just Jesus. It is our spiritual duty to remember that. We can and should bless by offering God’s blessing silently or aloud. Silent blessings are powerful, too, shining the Love of God into the world. All things made by God are His children. Bless them all. Feel the healing power of “circular blessing.” There is a spiritual principle that what you give comes back to you. Give blessings, and you will receive blessings. Practice makes perfect. Bless often. Hold God’s Hand, and ask for His Help to Bless with His Eternal Unconditional Love. With God’s help we are His Blessing in the world. My message today is to bring awareness to the benefit of blessing, both giving and receiving. We come to church to be reminded of our spiritual nature. Be willing to allow your spiritual nature to expand and express through the practice of blessing. My prayer for each of you is that your heart fully opens to receive Spirit’s richest blessings of unconditional love and divine communion. OPENING PRAYER: God, You have given us armor to enable us to stand against the attacks of Satan and the sin fighting for our hearts. Help us to take up this armor so that we do not fall. Help us to persevere by taking up truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation and the Word of God as our covering armor each day. Lord, we pray that whatever the enemy throws at us, we will be able to withstand, for we know we can do all through Christ who gives us strength. Help us to remember to apply the full Armor of God to our daily lives. Be at our side whenever we call and especially at times when we may fall. We declare that on this day, we will walk by faith and not by sight, clothes in the full Armor of God. In Your name we pray. Amen. PRAYER OF INTERCESSION & THE LORD'S PRAYER: God of everlasting love, who provides all things, we pray for all people: make Your way known to them, Your saving power among all nations. We pray for the welfare of Your church here on earth; guide and govern it by Your Spirit, so that all who call themselves Christians may be led in the way of truth ad hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life.. We commend to Your fatherly goodness all who are afflicted or distressed in body, mind or circumstances. Relieve them according to their needs, giving them patience in their sufferings, and deliverance from their afflictions. This we ask for the sake of Jesus Christ who taught us when we pray to say: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. Forgiving God, You bring us the joy of salvation. Your steadfast love surrounds those who trust You. We are grateful that You nurture us with Your Word. By Your Spirit, help our congregation draw closer to You, even as we reach out to share Your Good News with our neighbours. We dedicate our offerings in the name of Your faithful Son, Jesus Christ, Amen. Meditation Put on the armor of God.
 PROCESSIONAL: Thy Word CALL TO WORSHIP: ONE: We've come to worship God who makes streams flow from rock. ALL: Who turns the parched earth into springs of water. ONE: Who sends the rain from heaven ALL: and makes the wilderness blossom and flourish. ONE: As the deer thirsts for flowing streams, so we thirst for You, 0 God. ALL: Come, let's worship our life-giving God, who pours our living water on all who thirst. WELCOME: OPENING PRAYER & THE LORD'S PRAYER: In the dry wilderness of our lives, in the days of heat and thirst, You offer us living water. When we begin to doubt Your presence, and grumble that Your love is unreliable, You offer us living water. When life's regrets and the bad choices we have made leave us feeling excluded and unworthy, you offer us living water. When circumstances, or the inhumanity of others have left us alone and wounded, you offer us living water. We thank You and praise You, 0 God, that however we may thirst, whatever we may need to satisfy our souls, you offer it freely and abundantly in Christ. So we drink deep of the living water and, as we draw from Your wells, we seek to pass the cup to others who, like us, are thirsty for Your grace. And now, as Jesus taught us, let us pray together: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. SCRIPTURE READINGS: Isaiah 12 John 7:37-39 Offertory Prayer: God is our source, our unending supply. With these gifts we carry our gratitude into action. God's blessings flow through us and fill our world. We give and we live with absolute joy. Amen. SPECIAL MUSIC: Therefore With Joy Shall Ye Draw Water — Nancy & Gord MEDITATION: Living Water We have all heard the pearls of wisdom found in sayings, such as "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush," or "Take time to smell the roses," and "Silence is golden." There is one saying in particular that is relevant to this morning's subject: "You will never miss the water until the well runs dry." Living in Ormstown, we know about being without water. The infrastructure is old and pipes are always breaking. The water is often brown and slimy, undrinkable and not suitable for bathing, doing laundry or washing the dishes. When dirt gets in the water, it is no longer pure and good to drink. When there is no water readily available, it is very upsetting. Imagine the people living in places where there are droughts with no hope of water coming any time soon. We complain if we're without for a day or two, but there are others in this world who are dying from lack of clean water. We all know that a well is a deep hole or shaft sunk into the ground to obtain water. A cistern is a reservoir, tank or container of some kind designed for storing or holding water. Water is a necessary part of life. We drink it, we use it to bathe, to clean our clothes, dishes and other items. We need water in order to make things grow. Water is very valuable to us all. Over 2000 years ago, people were asking and wondering what God did for people. So God sent Jesus Christ to try to explain to them and answer their questions about God. One of the things Christ said was, "I am the living water." What was Jesus telling us when He said that? Many people believe that Jesus actually is the living water. But Jesus Himself intended the phrase to mean the Holy Spirit who lives in believers and seals them for salvation. It's the ministry of the Spirit, flowing out of a heart redeemed by God that blesses believers and brings life and light to the world. God wants us to have the means to refresh ourselves when we get tired or overwhelmed. We use water to cool ourselves when we get too hot, and to warm ourselves when we get too cold. We use water to irrigate the land to help make things grow. We use water to keep our body and other things clean. Water does all these things. God wants to help the world grow to be good, strong, wholesome people. And what helps things grow? Water. I wonder how we would feel if all of a sudden God took all things Christian out of this world. Things like churches, schools, hospitals, peace, love and kindness. There are so many good things in this world, but we must never substitute them for God, anymore than we would substitute anything for water. Perfume is a good thing — it has a nice, sweet smell. But if you tried to clean your face with it every day, it would only make your face sore. If you were to drink perfume, it would make you sick, or perhaps even kill you. If you were to spray the garden with perfume, it would kill the plants, flowers and grass — not because perfume is bad, but because perfume is not used for these things — water is. That's much the way it is with Christ and religion. Religion is the thing with which God has provided us so we may cleanse our lives and refresh and strengthen ourselves. Let's not use substitutes and let's not let the well become filled with dirt or let it run dry. There are six ways we can drink of the living water. These six ways are given in the scripture we read this morning from Isaiah 12:3-6. We can drink the living water by thanking God. We can thank Him for anything and everything. Every time we utter thanks to Him, we drink the living water. It's like taking a drink from a refreshing well. We are watered and revived. The next way to drink is to call upon the Lord's name. We can call on His name throughout the day just by saying "Oh Lord" or "Lord, I love You." Each time we call His name out loud, we drink of the living water. We can also drink by making Christ's deeds known among people. Perhaps we feel parched because we haven't talked to anyone about Christ. But when we do, we are taking a drink and are watered and refreshed by the living water. We can also tell people that Christ's name is exalted. Even our own personal exalting of Jesus' name when seen or heard by others, will remind them that His is the highest name. When we tell others that Jesus is Lord, we drink living water from the well of Salvation. Opening our mouth and singing hymns to the Lord is one of the best ways to drink from the Fountain of Living Water. As we sing, the fountain begins to well up in us, even to the point of overflowing. The more we sing with our hearts to the Lord, the more watered and refreshed we'll be. We can drink the water of life by crying out and giving a ringing shout. We can cry out to praise and thank the Lord. "Praise the Lord. You are so good. I love You, Lord Jesus!" When we cry out like this to the Lord, we get saved from all the thoughts in our mind and take a deep drink of the life-giving Spirit as the water of life. You can practice these six ways to drink every day. Whenever you feel spiritually parched, you can try thanking God, calling on His name, speaking about Christ to someone, telling another that Jesus is Lord and that His name is the highest, and singing with your heart to the Lord, or crying out and giving a ringing shout. Let us pray: The well is so deep and the water is so far away from our parched hands, our parched throats and our parched souls. Drawing, consuming, repeated drawing, repeated thirsting, drawing again! God, only You can break this cycle of filling our souls with things that can never fully satisfy. Lead us to the living water of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, and quench the thirsting of our souls. Amen. If a spring has not been opened in a soul, a spring of living water from God's own Son, no waters can flow and there is no life in you. BENEDICTION & CHORAL AMEN: Drink deeply of the waters of Salvation and quench your thirst for truth, for the Lord is with you. Go in God's peace and bring good news to all you meet. " If a spring has not been opened in a soul, a spring of living water from God's own Son, no waters can flow and there is no life in you." G.V. Wigram  As there has been cancellation due to weather, here is the whole series so you can follow: Lenten Candle Lighting Liturgy
First Sunday: Seeds In this season of Lent we reflect on our journey of faith with Christ, remembering our Jesus’ sacrifice, that he is the Bread of the World. We remember how Jesus faced temptation in the wilderness, and the temptations we face to look for sustenance elsewhere. We are reminded that through Christ our needs are fulfilled. We light this candle on this first Sunday of Lent, remembering Christ’s perseverance and praying for Christ’s strength in our lives. (light the first candle) Prayer: As the days lengthen and we begin to plant seeds for the future harvest, may we remember how Christ became broken for us, and that through Christ we will hunger no more. In the name of Christ, with whom we journey towards the cross, we pray. Amen Second Sunday: Earth In this season of Lent we reflect on our journey of faith with Christ, remembering that Christ has offered us new life here on earth, that God so loved the world that he sent his Son, so that the world might be saved through him. While we await the heavenly kingdom, we prepare for God’s reign on earth. We light this candle on this second Sunday of Lent, remembering God’s assurance of new life through the signs of spring in the earth. (light the second candle) Prayer: As the days lengthen and bulbs are preparing deep in the earth, dear God, may we be ready for what you are preparing to grow in us. Nourish us so that we might bear spiritual fruit. In the name of Christ, with whom we journey towards the cross, we pray. Amen. Third Sunday: Water In this season of Lent we reflect on our journey of faith with Christ, remembering all the ways God throughout history has delivered the people, through the Red Sea, crossing the river Jordan, and through the waters of our rebirth at our baptism. We know Christ is the spring of living water, and through Christ we will never thirst again for eternal life. We light this candle on this third Sunday of Lent, remembering God’s love for us through his son Jesus the Christ, that we might have new life in him. (light the third candle) Prayer: As the days lengthen and the rivers fill with spring waters, dear God, may we be filled with your love. Let wellsprings of living water spring up in us. In the name of Christ, with whom we journey towards the cross, we pray. Amen. Fourth Sunday: Sand (or Mud) In this season of Lent we reflect on our journey of faith with Christ, remembering that life was brought forth from the ground in our creation, and that new life for one man was created when Jesus took mud from the ground and made a blind man see. As his eyes were opened for the first time, so our eyes are opened to the need for hope and healing in our world. We light this candle on this fourth Sunday of Lent, remembering God’s promise for all of us, new life here on earth, and eternal life hereafter. (light the fourth candle) Prayer: As the days lengthen, dear God, may we remember that it is you who gives us new life on earth, that we might know your love and peace, and share your love with the world. In the name of Christ, with whom we journey towards the cross, we pray. Amen. Fifth Sunday: Stone In this season of Lent we reflect on our journey of faith with Christ, remembering that death no longer has a hold on us. Through Christ we are freed from the cold stone of the tomb and know the warm embrace of the light of life. We light this candle on this fifth Sunday of Lent, remembering God’s redeeming grace, and that new life comes out of death. We remember the former covenant written on stone, and the new covenant, written on our hearts, that we are God’s children, and God’s promise is life forevermore. (light the fifth candle) Prayer: As the days lengthen, dear God, may we remember that spring comes only after a long winter, that new life, eternal life, comes only after passing through death. In the name of Christ, with whom we journey towards the cross, we pray. Amen. Palm Sunday: Wood In this season of Lent we reflect on our journey of faith with Christ, remembering that long ago God planted the Tree of Life, and yet it is on a tree that Christ is crucified. We are again reminded that life comes out of death, and we are promised that death does not have the final word. We light this candle on this Palm Sunday, the last Sunday of Lent, remembering God’s faithfulness through the cross upon which our Lord was crucified, that death will be no more, mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for Christ triumphs over death. (light the sixth candle) Prayer: As the days lengthen, dear God, may we remember that you are the one who calls life out of death, that you are the Lord of our lives. In the name of Christ, may we have the strength found in him to journey towards the cross. Amen Call to Worship S.- Lent calls us to journey, this and every day, following Jesus wherever he leads us. P. - Lent calls us to journey: to the place where God covenants with us, to receive the new names we are given. S. - Lent calls us to worship together, to tell future generations the good news. P. - Lent calls us to practice justice, to bring God's hope to all people. S.- Lent calls us to faithful living, to trust the One who gives us life. P.- Lent calls each of us to take up our cross, to trust the One who bears it with us. S.- Lent calls us to journey with God. P. - Let us worship God, who walks with us, this and every day. We've come again to the beginning of the season of Lent. It
began a few days ago with Ash Wednesday, and we'll walk this sombre and sometimes lonely road all the way to Easter. And, as Lent begins, we are reminded of Christ's call to deny ourselves, to take up our own cross, and to follow in the steps of Jesus. It's a difficult thing, this call to discipleship, and it comes as we find Jesus and his disciples on their way to Jerusalem and his inevitable death. Lent is the quiet time of preparation leading up to the passion and joy of Easter. It's a time when we followers of Christ reflect upon our own shortcomings and find ways to grow in our relationships with God. It's a time when we make decisions to put life's distractions aside so that we can direct our focus to our relationship with Christ. So today we begin our Lenten journey, along the roads that Christ traveled towards Jerusalem. We will pause with him as he preaches. We'll wait with him while he teaches. We'll watch as he heals, and as he performs miracles. We will focus our energies on this journey that we walk with him, as we deny ourselves and take up our own crosses, all the while remembering that Easter is coming, and that the promise of Easter makes this a journey of hope. But, here we are at the beginning of the road, and our first stop is in Judea. We stop here for a moment to watch Jesus teach, and then lift some children into his arms. And there, friends, is a great opportunity for a nice neat segue.... For whenever a road trip and children are mentioned in the same breath, the inevitable question pops into our brain: "Are we there yet?" As absolutely ANNOYING that question can be when you're cooped up in a car for hours and hours and it's hot, and the kids are fighting, and the radio's too loud, and every little thing is driving you CRAZY and Wait What was I talking about? Are we there yet? It's a good question to ask, in this very specific circumstance. Unlike the disciples accompanying Jesus on his journey, we have the benefit of perspective. We know how the journey is going to turn out. We know that the tomb will wind up empty. And that's wonderful. And we'll welcome that day with Hosannas and Alleluias and rejoicing. But, because we happen to know how the journey ends, we tend to forget about the hard road we walked to get there. To look at it another way: We focus on eternal life with God, and sometimes we tend to forget how we are called to live now. It's easy to feel like we've arrived at the destination, that we are "there". A wise person once remarked: "You're never THERE. You're always HERE. And HERE is at the beginning of a long road. HERE is where we are called to deny ourselves, to pick up our own cross, and to follow Christ. So let's take a little time today to think about some of the things that hinder us from doing these things, and from developing our relationship with God. What are some of the things that get in our way of our relationship with Christ. When the little children in today's reading started making their way towards Jesus, who exactly tried to keep them away? It was his own disciples, wasn't it? We have to keep something in mind here: Jesus was on his way to the cross, and HE knew it. That shadow must have always been close to his mind. But, even though he knew the hardships he was bound to face, he still took time to teach, and to spend a few moments with these children. He had time to take them in his arms, and he had the heart to share a smile with them, and perhaps play for a while. But his disciples wanted to keep these kids away. Not because they were mean, or anything, but they felt it was their job to protect Jesus. Jesus had not shared the exact knowledge of what was coming with them, but they knew quite clearly that tragedy did lie ahead, and they knew that he carried a heavy burden. They simply didn't want Jesus to feel bothered. They couldn't imaging that he actually wanted all these kids around him. But Jesus said: "Let the children come to me." And the lesson that followed, about Children and the Kingdom of God, is a great way to answer our Question: What are the things that hinder us from journeying with Christ? J esus is ALWAYS ready to receive us into his presence, but sometimes things get in the way... Sometimes our good intentions get in the way, like the Disciples who tried to stop the children. Think about those children; about children in general: Children possess many traits that make them an ideal example of people worthy of the Kingdom. First, think about a child's humility. With few exceptions, most kids are embarrassed to be the centre of attention. Young children generally don't strive for pride or prestige; they haven't yet learned self-importance. Children are also obedient. Ok, wait, wait I'm just now thinking about my own kids and how that's patently not true. Ok, kids are not always obedient, but I like to think that a kid's NATURAL instinct is to obey their elders, at least for the first few years. Let's put this one aside for now. Children are trusting. This one is easier. Young kids recognize that they need guidance and help, and they trust people who they believe know better. A child's trust can be seen in the child's confidence in other people. It's almost unique to young children that they do not naturally expect any person to be bad. I enjoy watching the TV show, "Big Bang Theory." There's one episode where the main character, Sheldon, a brilliant theoretical physicist with absolutely no social skills, is trying to learn how to make friends. His efforts land him in a bookstore where he has gone to find a book about how to make friends. The salesperson in the bookstore directs Sheldon to the children's section, where Sheldon picks out an appropriate book, "Stew the Cockatoo is New at the Zoo," sits down in one of the child-sized chairs, and proceeds to pick up a conversation with a young girl sitting across the table. The girl talks openly with Sheldon, clearly thinking nothing about the fact that this adult is sitting here reading a child's book, nor about the fact that Sheldon wants to be the girl's friend. The child has not yet learned to suspect the world. She still believes the best about others. Children also have short memories. I KNOW this one is true, because every time I ask Quinn to do the dishes or clean his room, it takes him exactly NO TIME AT ALL to forget completely. But what I actually mean here is that kids haven't yet learned to bear grudges or to nourish bitterness. Even when they're subjected to unjust treatment, the kid can forget, and forget so completely that forgiveness is unnecessary. All these traits.... Humility, obedience, trust. These are the traits of people who take the journey with Christ and grow as his disciples. When we find our relationship with Christ strained or distant, when we find it's hard to walk along that road, it's usually because we have lost some of these traits. Instead of being humble, we are egotistical. Instead of being obedient, we are stubborn. We hold grudges. We blame. When called down a path towards forgiveness, we hold onto hatred and we cast judgement. Friends, we cannot know the Kingdom if we do not live by the ideals of the Kingdom. We cannot walk with Christ if we are not willing to follow his ways. Christ told his disciples, told all of us, that we must deny ourselves, we must take up the cross. He knows the way won't be easy. He knows the road is going to be hard. He has seen what's coming. But he also knows that it's the only way into the Kingdom. And it's the path that we need to follow. The journey beside Christ follows a different path, a road that requires us to sometimes make the hard choice to put aside flaws in our characters that keep us from Him. It's a path that sometimes may lead us in a different direction from some of our friends, family or others in our lives. A family member might get in the way if they are skeptical about religion. A friend who doesn't believe in church might encourage us towards other uses of our time. Maybe our colleagues might think we should work all the time, at the expense of family and worship. The list could go on and on. We normally think of peer pressure as a problem for teens, but let me tell you friends, it's a perpetual problem for each and every one of us. The influences of people that we know and see every day can very easily block our road to hope. Now, I'm going out on the proverbial limb here, there being so many apple experts here today, but I learned something interesting this week about fruit trees. Sometimes, fruit trees put so much energy into growing up that little or no energy is invested in bearing fruit. Do you know the solution to this problem? It's called scoring. The farmers will take a knife, and they make a deep cut in the trunk of the tree near the ground. While severe, this wound always produces change, and depending on the time of year that the tree is scored, positive change results. And to you experts out there, even if I'm completely wrong, just go with me for now, would you? `Cause listen: I don't think any of us would deny the fact that when it comes to our relationship with Christ, we could all bear more fruit. None of us are "there" yet. There are all places where we could make a few good cuts in our own lives so that we might grow in our life with Christ. It can be an act of denial, it requires a change of life, and it is sometimes even painful. But it is the call of Christ to all people, "deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me." I know some of this seems sombre and sad, but what do you want... It's Lent! But seriously, we NEED to remember that the call to follow Christ is a call to a life of abundance. The Lenten road we're starting this morning is ultimately a journey of hope! Though all these trials we are to walk, through the denials, and beneath the weight of the cross, we have before us not only hope, but also the promise of eternal life with God. This Lenten season we, as Christians, are tasked to examine our lives. We need to find the roadblocks that keep us from walking alongside Christ. We need to humbly acknowledge our shortcomings and our weaknesses. Like children, we need to be less egotistical, more humble. Less stubborn, more obedient. Less doubtful, more trusting. Bit by bit, piece by piece, step by step. And we can always trust that, like those children, Christ is always waiting to welcome us into his arms. |
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Previously:
April 2019
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