Prelude
Welcome and Announcements *Call to Worship A Litany for Independence Day As we remember the birth of our nation, and the gifts of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, let us offer our thanks and prayers to God, giver of all good things. For the women, men, and children who braved the long journey by sea to come to this new world. For the tribes and nations who inhabited this land for generation upon generation. For patriots who dreamed of, and labored for, a free nation. For the men and women who laid the foundations of our democracy, and who pledged liberty and justice for all. For those who built this country brick by brick, road by road, and town by town. For the brave soldiers who have left hearth and home to serve our country, for all who paid for our freedom with their very lives. For the innovators and artists, poets and teachers, farmers and factory workers, for all who labor and provide for the common good. For those who protect our community in emergencies and for all who work to restore order. For the exquisite beauty of this land, with its peaks and valleys, coasts and deserts, fields and meadows. For our own community, for those who came before us in this place, and for our neighbors near and far. Lord, we pray for these United States, that we might always be a nation which defends and promotes liberty and freedom, truth and justice. That we might always be a nation where all are free to worship and pray. That we might be a beacon of freedom to all those who live under the shadow of terror and hopelessness. That those who are elected to govern and lead would look to you for wisdom and guidance, and carefully guard the public trust. That we would be a people who repent from our sins, and who always return to you and to your ways. Gracious God, Father of all the nations, bless and defend us and our land, prosper the work of our hands, and increase in us your courage, grace and compassion. Hear our prayer, O Lord, our rock and our salvation, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. *Hymn 454 God of Our Fathers, Whose Almighty Hand Prayer of Confession Gracious God, our sins are too heavy to carry, too real to hide, and too deep to undo. Forgive what our lips fear to tremble to name, what our hearts can no longer bear, and what has become for us a consuming fire of judgment. Set us free from a past we cannot change, open to us a future in which can be changed, and grant us grace to grow more and more in your likeness and image, through Jesus Christ, the Sovereign Lord. Amen. *Hymn 698 Take, O Take Me As I Am Declaration of Forgiveness Hear the good news! Who is in a position to condemn? Only Christ, and Christ died for us, Christ rose for us, Christ reigns in power for us, Christ prays for us. Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. The old life is gone and a new life has begun. Friends, believe the good news of the gospel: in Jesus Christ our sins are forgiven. Alleluia! Amen. Time With Our Young Disciples Scripture Reading Isaiah 58:1-12 Morning Message *Hymn 453 Battle Hymn of the Republic, Verses 1 and 2 *Affirmation of Faith The Apostles’ Creed p. 35 * Hymn 581 Gloria Patri Sharing Our Joys and Concerns Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer Presenting Our Tithes and Offerings Offertory *Hymn 607 Doxology *Prayer of Dedication Almighty and merciful God, from whom comes all that is good, we praise you for your mercies, for your goodness that has created us, your grace that sustains us, the discipline that corrects us, your patience that has borne with us, and your love that has redeemed us. Receive our gifts, offered in humility and gratitude, that the world may know, love and serve you. We give in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. *Hymn 453 Battle Hymn of the Republic, Verses 3 and 4 *Blessing Go out into the world in peace; have courage; hold onto what is good; return no one evil for evil; strengthen the fainthearted, support the weak and help the suffering; honor all people; love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. *Postlude Prelude
Welcome and Announcements *Call to worship We worship the God who inhabits our world and indwells our lives. We need not look up to find God… we need only to look around… within ourselves… beyond ourselves… into the eyes of another. We need not listen for a distant thunder to find God… we need only to listen to the music of life… the words of children… the questions of the curious… the rhythm of the heartbeat. We worship the God who inhabits our world, who indwells our lives. *Hymn 463 How Firm a Foundation Prayer of Confession God, you know us better than we know ourselves. You know our thoughts, our weaknesses, our sins. and you love us still. Forgive us when we don’t believe such love is true or possible. When we wonder how you could love us just as we are, when we forget our intricate construction, that we are fearfully and wonderfully made… in Your image! Remove from our minds every thought that keeps us from You. Break down the walls, push aside the pride, and help us trust anew. You know our hearts and You love us still. Amen. Assurance of Pardon Nothing is impossible with God. There is no place you can go. No end of the earth to which you can run. There is nothing on earth or beyond death that can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. You are forgiven and freed to live in God’s infinite love, grace, and peace. Amen. Moments With Our Young Disciples Scripture Reading Genesis 28: 10-19a The Morning Message “Building Spiritual Cairns” Summer is travel and vacation season. For some, the beach beckons. For others, the great trees of the forest wave them into the respite of cool and shade and musical streams and waterfalls. For still others, it’s a time to take the kids and grandkids to historic places, landmarks where something important happened in the life of the nation or state, or family. Ed remembers the summer his parents took him to every county in the state, where they stood him by the black and white historic marker sign and snapped a picture for their photo album. A friend of mine took a trip out west recently and you could feel the sense of awe in her Facebook posts as day after day she filled it with pictures of snow in July, the magnificent Rockies and Mount Rushmore. Memories are important to us. Can you close your eyes and remember your first car? Your first date? The day you walked across the stage to receive your diploma? The feel of a newborn baby in your arms? A wave of nostalgia can wash over us at the thought. But, not all memories are good ones and we have a tendency to avoid or shove out of sight those things that remind us of painful times. One day Sarah Beth and I were driving thru Milton, and passed the old middle school. I pointed toward the building and said something like, “We’re in your old stompin’ grounds. You had a great time there.” To which she whipped her head around to face me and said something like, “Eat rocks! I hated that place!” And then there are the thin places, the holy moments of our lives, when the distance between this world and the next is as close as a whisper. We know that God is always near, but there are holy moments when the gossamer veil is lifted and we are standing in God’s presence in an intimate way. In today’s Genesis text, Jacob receives a vision, a holy visitation, following an act of cunning and cowardice. He has hurt his brother and father in his selfishness. His cover story is that his mother has sent him off to find a decent wife, but, in truth, Jacob is running scared, as if putting distance between himself and his despicable behavior will save him. On his way toward Haran, Jacob came to a place to rest for the night. Scripture says he took one of the stones of the place and put it under his head and lay down to sleep. And he dreamed there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching into heaven, and angels of God were going up and down on it. And he dreamed the Lord stood beside him and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring. Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and bring you back to this; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Then Jacob woke up and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place and I did not know it.” It frightened him. It would frighten anyone to have an experience this intense. Jacob took the stone that he had used as a pillow, and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on it. He anointed it, set it apart, and called the place Beth-el, even though the place was called Luz at the time. Kind of like re-naming 16th Street Hal Greer Blvd. or 20th Street for the victims of the tragic Marshall University plane crash. “Beth-el” means place of God in Hebrew. This was a holy place, not just to Jacob, but to his descendents and all the children of the earth forever. Jacob is no choir boy. He is narcissitic and self-serving. He has lied and cheated and schemed his way thru life. He is a scoundrel and the last person we’d think of as deserving God’s attention. But, God runs him to ground, so to speak, hotly pursuing Jacob, to tap him for holy work. Barbara Brown Taylor says Jacob is on no spiritual quest; he has simply pushed his luck too far and left town in a hurry. He is between times and places, in a limbo of his own making. He stops in a place that isn’t distinctive at all, or so he believes. And it is here that God comes to meet Jacob. Our colorful history and misdeeds matter not one bit when God decides to call, when God comes pursuing us. Taylor writes, “Jacob is nowhere, which is where the dream touches down…not where it should be, but where he is.” In this text, and in the Matthew text, God demonstrates an extraordinary capacity for grace. Here he reaches out to a man with a checkered past to set him on a path that leads to a future that will define a whole culture, race and religion. In the Matthew text, God allows the weeds to grow alongside the good wheat for a time, though they are detrimental to the crop and deserving of a bonfire. Which brings me to a couple of ideas I’d like us to take away this morning: One is the idea of nearness and distance. Jacob’s place in his family of origin is damaged thru his own sinfulness. Being in close proximity becomes dangerous for him and he runs away. He is cut off from his own family and faith community and yet, through the mighty acts of God, Jacob becomes the link between their long history and their deepest hopes for the future. Later on in Jacob’s story, he will be re-named “Israel.” No matter how alone he may have felt, and even before he knew it, Jacob belonged to something greater than himself. He tricked his brother and father to gain an undeserved birthright and is now the one through whom the entire human family will be blessed. But, let’s remember that Jacob is not an entirely new person. He is flawed and so are we have devoted our lives to love and serve the Lord, we sin. We commit acts that harm others and we fail to come to the assistance of those who need us. Day by day, I am reminded of the chorus of a little song that witnesses to that reality: “Grace grace, God’s grace. Grace that will pardon and cleanse within. Grace, grace, God’s grace. Grace that is greater than all my sin.” The other idea I want to lift up is the question of place, of the distance between God and human beings. All of our texts today testify to the very present nature of God. God is with us. Always. And everywhere. There is nowhere we can go to escape, hide or hope God forgets about us or gives up on us. This is our great good news. Sometimes the presence of God overwhelms us. These are the thin places the Celts talked about. These are the moments that shape us, that tell us who God is and who we are to God. Maybe these times are so profound that we feel compelled to do something to set them apart. We set up memorials. Like Jacob took his stone pillow and set it up as a monument. My friend, David, says the little chapel that is secreted away on the ground floor of Trinity Episcopal Church is one of those places for him. It is a place that he experienced a vivid experience of God’s presence and love. For me, it’s the moment the mountains come into view at the intersection of Black Mountain Road and Cherry Street in Black Mountain, North Carolina. It always takes my breath away. Do you know what a cairn is? It is a pile of rocks set up as a memorial to a special person or place or moment of importance. Cairn is a Scottish word. Cairns have been made since prehistoric times. In modern times, they are used as monuments, but they could also mark a burial site. They have been used for ceremonial purposes, to mark trails, or for use in astronomy. Friends of mine recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary by hiking a favorite trail, reflecting on their life and love in all its challenges. Then they built a cairn to remember this milestone, and their hopes for another forty years and to give thanks to God. How would you build your cairn? What experiences do you want to remember forever? How do you want your family and friends to remember you? Where have you encountered God…where has God run you to ground? This red brick building on the corner of Main and Park in Barboursville is a cairn of sorts. It is the testimony to the faith and vision of the first church members. A lot has changed since then. A few more stones have been added to the first pile. What are they? Where are they? Who carried them to this site and worked them into form and function? Some of us have been overwhelmed by nostalgia in recent weeks. The Beverly Hills property has come under contract and will soon be sold. There are some cairns in and around that building as well as this and every church home. Some of my favorites are the hand-painted dishes in the curio cabinet in the parlor. Some of the church women went to Fenton glass and learned to paint on china. The women have all joined the Church Triumphant since, but on the rare occasion that a relative visits, they make their way to the parlor to check and see if we still have Mother’s plate. The tears always come as they stand looking at a tangible connection to a spiritual presence. And, the gap is closed. Today, I invite you to come build a cairn. Take up a rock or more and let’s leave a memorial to this day and to our God who has been with us for over one hundred years, in our work and in our play, in our joys and in our sorrows, in our disappointments and in our dreams and in what is still to come. *Affirmation of Faith The Apostles’ Creed p.35 *Hymn Gloria Patri Sharing Our Joys and Concerns Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Lord God, of heaven and earth, we praise you with thanksgiving and joy, for you create and sustain and redeem all things. We thank you for making us in your image, and sending Jesus, your Son, whose life of love and mercy is the pattern for our lives. We thank you for your energy behind all things, for your Spirit to inspire us in this season of challenge and change. Strengthen us in the days ahead, show us how to adapt to new ways of worship, service, and fellowship. We pray for those who lead this and all the nations of the world, that they may work for the well-being of the people entrusted to them, with hearts, minds, and intentions to improve the lives of all the world’s peoples; for teachers and others whose plans for the fall cannot yet be confirmed; for those in the healing professions, that they remain healthy, alert, and dedicated to their patient; for all whose incomes have been diminished or lost as a result of the pandemic; for families trying to cope with the stress of caring for restless children during a long, hot summer; for young people, that they may not be tempted by destructive activities when boredom sets in; for the poor, the hungry, those seeking shelter, the sick, the forgotten; for those we lift now, who are in need of your presence and love and care… Eternal God, keep us in the embrace of your care, that we mayserve you faithfully, with cheerful hearts, praying as Jesus taught us, saying, Our Father…Amen. Presenting Our Gifts of Tithe and Offering Offertoy *Hymn 607 Doxology *Prayer of Dedication *Hymn 37 Let All Things Now Living *Blessing Go now, with your hope set on Christ. Let the Spirit guide you. Let your righteousness shine like the sun until darkness and light are one. And wherever you go, whether you scale the highest heavens or plunge to the depths, may God’s presence be known to you, may Christ Jesus welcome you into his embrace, and may the Spirit assure you that you are beloved. *Postlude Welcome and Announcements
Prelude *Call to Worship Come, sing praises to God! Rejoice in God’s presence, for he is our God: Father to the fatherless, and the defender of all who need protection; the One in whom the lonely find a home, and the prisoner finds release! *Hymn 370 This Is My Father’s World Prayer of Confession God of power and love, we hear the stories in scripture, the ones that speak of your strength and miraculous power, and wonder if you still act to still storms and raise twelve-year-old girls from the dead. We still have storms that destroy and diseases that rob people of life. We still need your help, aware that help may come in ways we cannot imagine or expect. Forgive us when our faith is trembling, when our hearts are troubled and our minds worn out. Help us to believe that we are your beloved children, whom you will never leave nor forsake. Amen. Hymn 698 Take, O Take Me as I Am Assurance of Forgiveness Fear not! God is always with us, stilling our storms, pointing us in hope’s direction, and restoring the joy of our salvation. Believe the good news of the gospel: know you are forgiven and live in God’s peace. Amen. Old Testament Reading Psalm 133 Pew Bible p. Time With Our Young Disciples Gospel Reading Mark 4: 35-41 Pew Bible p. Morning Message This is a Sunday that is so packed full of good material, I feel like a preacher can’t lose. If they are paying attention, that is. This week we celebrate Father’s Day, Juneteenth, and West Virginia Day. I learned this recently: It is believed that the first Father’s Day was celebrated in Fairmont, West Virginia, under the direction of a woman named Grace Golden Clayton, who was mourning the loss of her own father in the Monongah mining disaster. That event left over a thousand children fatherless. Let’s just take a beat here and think about it a moment. I can’t even imagine the devastation to the community, the grief and pain. Gone were life’s companions, gone were a family’s provider and protector. Gone was their security. What remained was their faith. So Grace Golden Clayton asked her Methodist pastor if they might set aside a Sunday to honor fathers, and so they did on Sunday, July 5, 1908. No record remains of the sermon delivered that day, and Grace did not seek to further the observance, so it was two years later that a woman in Seattle, Washington, Sonora Smart Dodd, who wanted to pay tribute to her father, a veteran of the Civil War, and the single parent of six children. Dodd asked her pastor if he might preach about fathers on the first Sunday in June, but he told her he needed more time to prepare for such an important occasion. So, he proposed a special service focusing on fathers on the third Sunday of June and that tradition has endured. My good mentor and Quaker pastor, Philip Gulley, says we need a new definition, a new image of what it means to be a man, what it means to be a father. I’m a mother, and not really qualified to give my opinion in such a discussion, except to say that, in my own experience, the men who were successful fathers, had two important attributes: they were appropriately strong, assertive, protective, and bold, and appropriately attentive, supportive, tender, compassionate, and the best cheerleader a kid could have. A snapshot into how that played out in my husband’s family: Ed was in the band and played sports in school. Shortly after his father’s death he said he hoped to be a dad after the order of his own-a man who proudly attended every game, even if it were to watch his son sit the bench. He was present and involved in every activity Ed undertook, which means other kids benefitted from his attention. Being a good dad to his own children extended to the other children in their orbit. Philip Gulley believes that the real measure of success for any man, whether or not he is a father, is to consider all the world’s children their own. To be as unswervingly devoted to their well-being as we are to our own. To be an effective parent and role model is to take a long view of life, to care as much for tomorrow’s world as today’s. It is to measure ourselves, men and women, not by what we accumulate, but by the service we have rendered. I didn’t know it, but I tested this out way back in my freshman year at Marshall. Speech class. The assignment was to deliver a persuasive speech. Is it still called that? Well I had some great material. I participated in campus ministry and I had just returned from Bluestone where people of faith from all over West Virginia, several college communities, and people interested in the cause of relieving hunger, had gathered for a weekend of education and advocacy. We talked about the importance of nutrition from life in the womb through every life stage. We talked about food deserts and poverty. We read a book called Diet for a Small Planet which advocates things like raising grass-fed livestock and how that could improve our health. Plant-based diets were explained in depth. We ate such meals that weekend and survived. I was excited about delivering that speech. I was 18 and I had a cause. Hank Sullivan was my teacher. Good Presbyterian, he gave me an A for my effort. The next class day a man delivered a rebuttal to my speech. His argument? He worked hard so he could feed all the appetites his kids had. He would not deny them a thing. Nutrition was overrated and no one would tell him how to eat. If other kids had inadequate food, that was just too bad. Obviously, their parents were deadbeats living off government hand-outs. Let them eat beans and rice. His kids would have steak. This is the truth, I had never heard such an argument in my life and I was shocked. Later, Mr. Sullivan spoke with me and said I had just learned something important going forward. We might all live on the same planet, but, we interpret it from our own worldview. He encouraged me to continue to cast a wide vision, to learn as much as I could not only from my point of view, but the other side’s. He urged me to hang onto my idealism, and try not to get jaded when things got tough. I counted it as valuable fatherly advice and it has served me well. I have no idea what grade the other student received, but he never spoke to me after that day and went out of his way to huff past me on his way out the door most days. I guess I really offended him. My friend Philip says he has been thinking a lot about the emotional aspects of being a man and being a father. He says he has been thinking about the dispensing of affection and why it has taken him so long to appreciate its value. He credits this epiphany with becoming a grandfather. He says when his sons were little, it was very important to him to teach the boys about strength and discipline and how to face a hard and difficult world. So, he raised them with rules and expectations and demands. Now, he says, he’s a grandfather and sees matters differently. For example, Philip was given a red goose made of plaster used in a shoe store promotion for Red Goose Shoes. He says he admired it because it reminded him of his mother taking him to shop for shoes in Plainfield, Indiana when he was a kid. It was nostalgic. So, the plaster goose took up residence on their fireplace hearth and Philip told the boys to never pick it up. He didn’t want them to drop it and break it. It survived nearly 15 years without a scratch. Then one day, his little granddaughter, Madeline, picked it up and you know what happened. It broke into several pieces. His son, Spencer, came to him, and apologized. “Dad, don’t be upset, but Madeline broke your red goose.” The reaction was priceless: “Wow, how about that! I can’t believe she was strong enough to pick it up.” Spencer just shook his head, mystified, and said, “You would have killed us if we had done that.” And he’s right. He would have. But he has changed. Phil says he once thought the most important thing to teach children was responsibility and obedience and how to make it in this cruel world. But being a grandfather has taught him that there is more to manhood than that. It has mellowed him. I relate. Our younger grandson spent several days with us awhile back. We found all sorts of surprises after he left. I have some large lanterns that we fill with candles at Christmas. One was sitting empty on the dining room floor. Tad turned it into a garage for his hot wheels! Our kitchen floor was as sticky as fly paper from all the milk, cereal, and ice cream spills. Our creaky joints were protesting all the extra physical effort involved in keeping up with a five year old.. We were in recovery for a month, but wouldn’t miss that time with Tad for anything in the world. Time. The older we get, the faster it seems to fly. It is a precious gift and one we shouldn’t waste. My dad died when I was forty one. Our children were ten, fifteen, and twenty. They have great memories of their grandfather, but we all expected more years to make more memories. Which is why we planned our recent trip south around our grandchildren’s schedules, so we could see all of them, if only briefly, and remind them how much they are loved. And to acknowledge the good ways their parents are loving, teaching, and nurturing them. For some, this day is one to dread. The experience with their fathers are full of pain. A friend of mine posted something to that effect on Facebook a few days ago. The best advice I can give is to urge you to break the pattern, and set your intentions to do better in your own relationships. And that goes for all of us, whether or not we are parents. We are all children of God. God is the father who doesn’t fail, but is always present, always loves, is always gracious, and always welcomes us home. To all of you who are sons, brothers, fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and friends, your lives and contributions are important. The memories you make with those in your orbit, related or not, will be cherished. May God bless you this day and every day with both strength and tenderness. It’s what the world needs now. *Hymn 630 Fairest Lord Jesus *Affirmation of Faith The Apostles’ Creed *Hymn 581 Gloria Patri Sharing Our Joys and Concerns Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer Presenting Our Tithes and Offerings Offertory *Hymn *Prayer of Dedication All that is in the heavens and on the earth is yours, O Lord, and of your own, we give you. Use us, and what we have gathered, in reaching the world with your love, through him who gave his life for us, Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen. *Hymn The West Virginia Hills Music: H. E. Engle Lyrics: Mrs. Ellen King Adopted in 1961 as an Official West Virginia State Song We will sing verses 1 and 4. The West Virginia hills, how majestic and how grand, with their summits bathed in glory, like our Prince Immanuel’s land! Is it any wonder then, that my heart with rapture thrills, as I stand once more with loved ones on those West Virginia Hills! Chorus Oh, the hills, beautiful hills. How I love those West Virginia hills! If o’er sea or land I roam, still I’ll think of happy home, and my friends among the West Virginia hills. Oh, the West Virginia hills! I must bid you now adieu. In my home beyond the mountains I shall ever dream of you. In the evening time of life, if my Father only wills, I shall still behold the vision of those West Virginia hills. Chorus *Blessing Shine, O Lord, upon the homely mosaic of West Virginia’s land: upon her steep-hewn hills and angled draws, her maple-strewn valleys and ridges clad in mountain rhododendron. Shine, Lord, upon her citizens, armed only with freedom, scrappers all for such measure of dignity as fearlessness and faith may win. Shine, O God, into those deep recesses where thou hast abundant riches, that those who dig in the earth, and those who watch for their return, may know the radiance of thy light and the safety of thy love. Bright be the cleaning fire of thy truth in the hearts of the people, and in the public weal of their common life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Washington National Cathedral, prayed for the week starting March 1, 2020. *Postlude
Prelude
Welcome and Announcements *Call to Worship 1 John 4:9-10 In this is love, not that we have loved God, but that God has loved us and sent God’s Son into the world so that we might live through him. Prayer All powerful God, in Jesus Christ you turned death into life, and defeat into victory. Increase our faith and trust in him, that we may triumph over all evil, relying on the strength of the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever. Amen. *Hymn 35 Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty Prayer of Confession Almighty God, you love us fully, completely, but, we have not loved you with our whole selves. You call, but we do not listen. We walk away from neighbors in need and we condone prejudice, conflict, and greed. God of grace, help us admit our sins, that we may turn from indifference and ignorance, and turn toward you, see the needs of the world, and resolve to speak with your voice and walk in your ways. Amen. Hymn 698 Take, O, Take Me As I Am Assurance of Forgiveness Scripture declares that God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Friends, believe the good news of the gospel: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Be at peace. Old Testament Reading Time With Our Young Disciples Gospel Reading Morning Message *Affirmation of Faith The Apostles’ Creed p. 35 *Gloria Patri 581 Sharing Our Joys and Concerns Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer Presenting Our Tithes and Offerings Offertory *Hymn 607 Doxology *Prayer of Dedication Gracious God, we dedicate these gifts and our lives to your service, that the hungry may be fed, the oppressed receive justice, and the stranger be welcomed. That we may faithfully bear your good news into the world, we offer these gifts of time, talent, and resources. Amen. *Hymn 37 Let All Things Now Living *Blessing Go now at the call of God and follow wherever the Lord leads you. Love truth and justice and share the healing mercy of God with all. And may God bless you and make you a blessing to others; May Christ Jesus take you by the hand and lift you to new life. And may the Holy Spirit nourish you in hope so that you may grow in faith. Amen. *Postlude
Prelude
Welcome and Announcements *Call to Worship Carmina Gadelica, Vol. III Bless to me, O God, each thing mine eye sees; Bless to me, O God, each thing mine ear hears; Bless to me, O God, each fragrance that goes to my nostrils; the Three that seek my living soul. Bless to me, O God, each taste that goes to my lips, each note that goes to my song, each ray that guides my way, each thing I pursue, each lure that tempts my will, the zeal that seeks my living soul; the Three that seek my heart; the zeal that seeks my living soul; the Three that seek my heart. *Hymn 2 Holy, Holy, Holy Prayer of Confession God of grace, love, and communion, we confess that we have failed to love you with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. We ignore your commandments, stray from your way, and follow other gods. Have mercy on us. Forgive our sin and raise us to new life that we may serve you faithfully and give honor to your holy name. Amen. Response Take, O Take Me As I Am Assurance of Forgiveness Romans 8: 34; 2 Corinthians5:17 Hear the good news! Who is in a position to condemn? Only Christ, And Christ has died for us, Christ rose for us, Christ reigns in power for us, Christ prays for us. Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. The old life is gone; a new life has begun. Know you are forgiven and be at peace. Time With Our Young Disciples Recognition of High School Graduate, Capri Roma. Gospel Reading John 16:12-15 Morning Message Today is Trinity Sunday. If you think of the church year as the face of a clock, we are right about at 6:00. Starting off the church year with Advent, at the end of November, we have moved through Christmas, Epiphany, Ash Wednesday, Lent, Holy Week, Easter, Ascension and Pentecost. And now we come to Trinity Sunday. We are half-way through the cycle of church seasons. Next week, we begin a long stretch of time- Kingdomtide, also called Ordinary Time. It is called Ordinary Time, not because it is insignificant, but because it refers to the orderly counting of weeks that ends on Christ the King Sunday, or 11:59 on our clock, the last Sunday of the liturgical year. From now until then, our objective is to follow the Great Commission, going into all the world, making disciples, building the kingdom of God. Trinity Sunday calls us to celebrate God in three persons: God, the Father, or Creator, God the Son, Jesus Christ, the Redeemer, and God, the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, also called the “Paraclete.” The doctrine of the Trinity is among the most difficult concepts to explain. Many a well-meaning Christian has been called out or even condemned as a heretic over the proper way to explain the Trinity. Which is a good reason why I won’t attempt to define it, but will simply suggest that we understand the three natures of God- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as the Holy Other, existing together eternally. The term “Trinity” does not appear in Scripture. The doctrine took shape in the early Church as it began to discern, to witness, to understand God’s relationship to human beings, to you and to me. Today’s Old Testament text directs our attention to the creation story, the work of God, accomplished in the span of six days, as described by the author of Genesis. Sometimes, with the prospect of a long, cold winter ahead of us, I’ve wished we lived in a warmer, less harsh, climate. But, then a beautiful Christmas Eve snowfall blankets everything, as it did a few years ago, and once again I am reminded of how much I enjoy each season in its turn, and how our lives crave a sense of order. Ed went out to run some errands one night in early summer. I received a text from him immediately that directed me outside to see a remarkable sight: against a blue and purple sky, was a circular fuchsia rainbow. Incredible. It left me in awe of a sky that is always changing, with colors in dynamic shades and combinations. God surprises us in new and fresh ways all the time. God’s wonders are new every morning and sure as the sunrise. In nearly 65 years, this was the first circular rainbow I had ever seen. It was awesome. All of nature has its genesis in the mind of God. And you and I can’t even raise a blade of grass without the mind of God to give it form and function and life. Did you notice as we read this text, that when God completes his work each day, God leans back and considers the results, and then pronounces it “good?” The day God created man and woman is declared “very good.” We have come through a period of tremendous unrest and unspeakable violence raging through the land. Tempers rose in public, in private, and even around our dinner tables. Ed and I were invited to the home of close friends one night for dinner. Ed mentioned someone serving in public office and our host said, “We don’t talk about that person here.” The tension was so great that just speaking someone’s name had the potential to hijack a pleasant evening. I don’t know about you, but, I’ve wondered many times how we could have fallen so far from what God had pronounced “good.” As the months, and now years, of the Covid pandemic wore on, the divisions became chasms, communication was strained to the breaking point and sometimes the result wrought destructive actions A person who serves in a high public office was interviewed during the chaotic summer months. She wanted to encourage the American people to be hopeful. She is a woman of Christian faith who said that this world God created is still good, very good. That has not changed. God still creates. God still redeems. God still comforts and sustains. In her opinion, we would emerge from these troubled times, hopefully as better citizens, better caretakers of one another. The follow-up question came swiftly: where do we find this hope? I hope to never forget her answer: Hope is found where it always is, between faith and charity, or love. We recall this truth from the love chapter of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians:. “Faith, hope, love abide, these three. But the greatest of these is love.” So, with faith as our sure foundation, and acts of love our goal, how did we start to turn this around? The Rev. Stephen Bryant, of the Upper Room Ministries, offers this thought: “The call of Christ leads us to share in his life, his suffering, and his ministry, to do each day what he would do in our place. And he asks the questions we are all asking, “Where do we begin? What would Jesus do in our place?” Bryant recommended three practices:
Three years ago, we were watching our grandson, Tad, while his parents moved the family from Charlotte to Raleigh, NC. He was so easy to entertain. He would stand at our patio doors, inside or out, watching for the wildlife to show up. Rabbits, squirrels, birds, and an occasional blue-tailed lizard. For hours, it seemed, he would watch in anticipation, jumping and bouncing, and calling to them, obviously trying to establish some form of communication. Waving at them, hoping to coax them to come just a little closer. If we weren’t nearby, he would run and urge us to come quick so we could witness with him the wonder of God’s good creation. Pure delight. We have a lot to learn from children. Tad seemed to know instinctively where hope was. Right there between faith and love. And as a result, he delighted at the appearance of creatures unlike himself, who navigated the world unlike he does. Creatures who will never speak his language. But, with whom he shared his bread, the warm sun, the cool, dewy grass of the morning. That summer, Tad learned new things about this good creation. He learned to ride a two-wheeler. He could read some words. Life was sweet. Now, going on six, he has much more mastery over his body. He ran a 3K yesterday and he is learning karate. He knows well that that actions and attitudes have consequences. He has suffered the death of his dog, Seneca. He knows that when he thinks of her, he feels sad and will sometimes cry. He is growing and changing. But one thing hasn’t changed: he can always go to Mommy or Daddy for help, for comfort, for solace, for love. One thing has not changed for us: we can always turn to God, whom Jesus called Father, for our needs as well. And, it is good. It is very good. *Affirmation of Faith The Apostles’ Creed *Hymn Gloria Patri (inside front cover) Sharing Our Joys and Concerns Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer Presenting Our Tithes and Offerings Offertory *Hymn Doxology(inside front cover) *Prayer of Dedication *Hymn 469 Grace Greater Than Our Sin *Blessing May God bless you this week, from morning’s waking til night’s folding. Bless your comings and goings, the spinning of your labor and lives. May the ones you meet, even those with whom you compete, be the better for it. God bless this week. God bless this journey. God bless your work and your leisure. Amen. William John Fitzgerald, A Contemporary Celtic Prayerbook, Chicago, IL, 1998. *Postlude Prelude
Welcome and Announcements Call to Worship Joel 1, 2 The Word of the Lord to the prophet: I will pour out my Holy Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your old shall dream dreams, and your young shall see visions. Prayer of the Day Christina Rosetti, 1830-1894 As the wind is your symbol, so forward our goings. As the dove, so launch us heavenward. As water, so purify our hearts. As a cloud, so abate our temptations. As dew, so revive our languor. As fire, purge out our dross. Amen. *Hymn 291 Spirit, verses 1 and 2 Prayer of Confession Almighty God, you poured out your Spirit upon the gathered disciples, creating bold tongues, open ears, and a new community of faith. We confess that we hold back the force of your Spirit among us. We do not listen for your word of grace, speak the good news of your love, or live as a people made one in Christ. Have mercy on us, O God. Transform our timid lives by the power of your Spirit, and fill us with a flaming desire to be your faithful people, doing your will for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. *Hymn 698 Take, O Take Me as I Am Assurance of Forgiveness The Lord separates us from our sins as far as the east is from the west. Know you are forgiven and freed to live in peace, to testify to the saving love of God through Jesus Christ, and are empowered by the indwelling Spirit. Amen. Time With Our Young Disciples Reading from Scripture Acts 2:1-8, 11b-21 Morning Message It was a beautiful July day at Cooper’s Rock State Forest near Morgantown. The loud, fierce storm that had blown thru the night before had left the world a bright, fresh green. Wedding guests had assembled…as many as could be seated under the roof of the picnic shelter. The music had begun…there’s nothing more lovely to a West Virginian than the sound of stringed instruments against a backdrop of majestic mountains and sweet summer air. Nothing lovelier except the bride, my daughter. In antique white lace, an exquisite veil falling from the crown of her head, over her shoulders, gently blowing in the breeze. Prayers, promises, rings, and the moment for which all the little cousins waited…the kiss…and the wedding party made their way of out of the shelter to pose for a few quick pictures before joining the guests. Perfect. This was the second time I was officiating clergy and mother of the bride and I was feeling a great sense of relief. I was looking forward to the cake and champagne. And then we heard the groom’s father shout, “Dad!” And then the groom shout, “Papaw!” We all turned to see a woman in a green taffeta dress streak across the shelter, hurdling benches. She started slapping the head of an elderly man with the crowd rising to their feet, some running toward the commotion and others making room for help to move in, the gentle strains of guitar and violin drowned out by gasps of guests and cries of family members. And then we saw it…the plume of smoke…and it seemed to be coming from Papaw. On his way out of the picnic shelter, he had tripped on the stone floor and stumbled into the unity candle, catching his hair on fire! My sister, Amy, was the one smacking him on the head in an effort to put out the flame. She was successful and no permanent damage was done, though it gave us all a fright. Later, trying to elicit a smile from me, my husband observed that we had re-enacted the Pentecost event as described in the book of Acts. A crowd gathered from the four corners of the country, a service of worship, lots of conversation in all kinds of dialects, and flames dancing over the head of at least one person. I wasn’t amused and only stopped shaking sometime in the middle of the next week. Pentecost, Shavout, in Hebrew, is a Jewish festival held on the fiftieth day after Passover, to celebrate the spring fruits. Later, it was expanded to include the arrival of the Hebrew people from Egypt to Mt. Sinai, and the gift of Torah. At the time of the event described in the text, devout Jews were obligated to assemble each year in Jerusalem in celebration of both Passover and Shavout. In our text, we find Jesus’ disciples and other followers gathered in the upper room on that day. In addition to the obligation to assemble in Jerusalem for this festival, the disciples were following the explicit instructions given by Jesus to remain there until that time when they are baptized by the Holy Spirit and empowered to take the Good News of salvation to the ends of the earth. So on that day they were waiting. And suddenly from heaven came the noise and the wind and the fire, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them. Pilgrims from every nation were gathered in Jerusalem that day and they were drawn to the site of all this commotion, amazed, because they were hearing about God’s mighty acts of power each in their own language, in a way they could understand. What was this language? Was it the kind we speak, with subjects and predicates, verbs that can be conjugated, and participles threatening to dangle? Or was it the phenomenon of ecstatic language, glossalalia, described as a gift of the Holy Spirit? I can’t answer that. But one of my go-to scholarly sources, Dr. Bob Newman, offers this helpful information: “God’s Holy Spirit does not eliminate cultural differences from his modus operandi, but on the contrary, moves in and inhabits cultural differences, co-ops them, in this case different languages, so that these cultural differences become working instruments, tools valuable and necessary in order to make witness real and true. It is worth remembering that the Hebrew Torah insists one time that “you shall love your neighbor as yourself,” while there are many, perhaps innumerable, examples throughout the Hebrew canon which insist upon love for the alien, or the stranger whom you may encounter.” It is about the importance of language, a valuable and necessary tool, that can make witness real and true, that I want to lift up today. Here’s why: I recently sat with a session engaged in a pastoral search. We talked about what initially attracted them to the church and what might be said to a newcomer about what they find meaningful there. I saw a look of pain cross the face of one of the members. His grief and concern were evident as he shared his observation that there is a palpable sense of depression in the community, and in the wider world, but people aren’t turning to the church for help, for fellowship, guidance or support. This church member asked the question we should all ask: “Where do people find help, where do they find meaning for their lives? We find it in a relationship with Jesus Christ, but have we lost our ability to bear witness to Christ’s message in such a way as the family of faith expands?” As I drove away, I recalled a sermon I once heard given by Rev. Dr. James Forbes. Before he retired, Forbes was the Senior Minister of the famed Riverside Church in New York City. I have been blessed to hear him preach from that pulpit. His reputation is that of a strong progressive voice for the mainline Church and social justice issues in particular. Briefly, the sermon I remembered was titled “Are All the Children In?” Forbes grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina, one of eight children in a Christian home. When the family would gather around the table each night for supper, before anyone prayed over the meal or took even a bite of food, his mother would look around the table and ask, “Are all the children in?” And if someone was missing, they set about fixing a plate so that the one absent would have something to eat when he or she did arrive. He says this simple question has served as a guide to his life and ministry over the years, especially when working through areas of conflict. Many conflicts erupt in the church about who’s in and who’s out, who’s worthy to be a member, or an ordained officer. That little question had served to clarify many issues that arose in church life. When he asked himself if this sort of radical hospitality would advance the kingdom, the answer was always yes. God made us for God’s self and calls all of us to the table. That was not an easy sell. Ever. But when he applied himself to listening, really listening to the various concerns, he heard the language of fear. Once the language was identified, he could work on that, and in time, through love and grace and lots of reassurance, folks would come around. He says, quite honestly, he could relate to their fears, because he had once had them, too. But, as scripture tells us, perfect love casts out fear. We may not be perfect but Jesus is and he will show us the way. Friends, I don’t have to tell you the church has changed. We simply can’t do church the way we did it fifty years ago, or even two years ago. But, our call is still the same: to be Christ’s witnesses to the ends of the earth. We Presbyterians do that thru works of justice, kindness and mercy. In practical terms, what does that mean? It means that when we gather for worship, or summer camp or circle meeting or session, or a work project, or any other time or place we may assemble in order to bear witness to our faith, the question that rises from our lips should be, “Are all the children in?” My husband and I visited a church for a wedding once. There was a sign hanging in the entryway of the church that read: “These things are not allowed in God’s house: Women in pants, make-up, jewelry, drinkers or smokers.” Something told us they were deadly serious about these prohibitions, though we knew God had bigger problems to solve. It’s been forty years since we saw that sign, and I still don’t think those things are what offends God. I believe what offends God is for his people to intentionally welcome some people and reject others. I want to be part of the church that welcomes everyone without applying a litmus test. I made that speech many times and it sounded pretty good until I was directly questioned about it. Not long ago, I sat in my doctor’s office. It was the day after Easter and he wanted to share some of the ways his church had observed Holy Week. He is a Christian and he enjoys talking about his faith. Then he looked right at me and asked if my church allowed gay Christians to participate in worship and church activities. There was a gay man in their church choir and the pastor had told him that he was not permitted to sing in the choir any longer. This troubled him. He asked some other very pointed questions that I don’t feel comfortable sharing here, but, were important in that moment. Before responding, I sent up an emergency prayer, “Help!” And I said, “When a person walks through our doors, I am their pastor. Just as when a patient walks into your office, you are his or her doctor. They are entrusting themselves to your care and you seek to serve them to the best of your ability. Same with me.” Friends, the divisions in our society are many. They are like fault lines about to open up and swallow us whole. Everyone is shouting at once: neighbors, families, politicians, some pastors. We are grieving a multitude of losses. Following closely on the heels of grief is anger. And we can’t or won’t understand each other while we are angry. How different could this world be, how different could this year be, if we would pause at the end of our day and just ask, in whatever sphere of influence or belonging in which you dwell, “Are all the children in?” Is everyone being cared for? Do they a safe home, adequate food? Are they lonely? Do they have human interaction/ Consider our brothers and sisters in Ukraine. So many will be forever broken as they look around their tables. Never again will all their children be in this side of heaven. Consider the families in Uvalde, Texas, suffering from the terrible violence that was unleashed on Robb Elementary School. Longing to gather their children in their arms once more and knowing that will never happen. And then there are our adult children. Are they in? The ones who have been rejected by their pastors or their parents? I don’t have the answer for ending violence or resolving international or even family conflict. But, I have confidence that the same fire and wind that birthed the Church can empower us today to bring healing and wholeness to our community and beyond. We can find a common language. Let’s start with love. We all need and want love. We can find common goals. We all want to live. We want our children and their children to live long and prosper. But, we won’t live long and we won’t prosper unless and until we make this question a part of our every day: “Are all the children in?” * Hymn 291 Spirit, verses 3 and 4 *Affirmation of Faith From A Brief Statement of Faith, p. 38, section 4 *Hymn 581 Gloria Patri Sharing Our Joys and Concerns Celebrating the Sacrament of Communion Invitation Words of Institution Great Prayer of Thanksgiving Distribution of the Elements Prayer After Communion Loving God, you have fed and blessed us in this sacrament, united us with Christ, and given us a foretaste of the heavenly banquet. Send us out in the power of your Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory. For the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Presenting Our Gifts of Tithe and Offering Offertory *Hymn 606 Doxology *Prayer of Dedication *Hymn 338 America the Beautiful Congregational Meeting *Blessing Women: Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on us. Men: Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on us. Leader: Melt us, mold us, fill us, use us. All: Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on us. *Postlude Welcome and Announcements
Prelude *Call to Worship Revelation 5:13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing: To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever! *Prayer of the Day God of heaven and earth, we rejoice today before the throne of Christ’s power and peace, for he has put down tyrannies that would destroy us, and unmasked idols claiming our allegiance. We thank you that he alone is Lord of our lives. by your Spirit, give us freedom to love with his love, and to embrace the world with his compassion. Accept the offering of our lives, that we may obey your commands to witness and serve. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. *Hymn 826 Lift High the Cross, verses 1 and 2 Prayer of Confession Lord Jesus Christ, crucified, risen, and ascended for us, we have not loved you as our Redeemer, or obeyed you as our Lord, we have not brought our prayers to you, or heeded your tears shed over the world you created. Forgive us, breathe into us a new spirit of compassionate service, and make us joyfully adherent to your will and way. Amen. Hymn Take, O Take Me As I Am Assurance of Forgiveness The mercies of the Lord are from everlasting to everlasting. They are new every morning and sure as the sunrise. Know you are forgiven and be at peace. Scripture Reading Luke 24:44-53 Time With Our Young Disciples Scripture Reading Morning Message Does the name Peggy Whitson mean anything to you? Ms. Whitson, age 63, became the oldest woman in space when she when she rocketed off the planet on Thursday. She headed for the international space station, where she will celebrate her next birthday. Peggy’s first mission was in 2002, which was an extended stay aboard the international space station. She became the first woman to command the ISS, the first woman to become NASA’s Chief Astronaut, the most senior position in the NASA Astronaut Corps. She holds the records for the oldest female spacewalker and the most spacewalks by a woman. She retired in 2018, but, returned to the field as Axiom’s commander of Axiom Mission 2. Whitson was chosen years ago as Christa McCauliff’s back-up teacher in space, which she finally accomplished in 2007. Her academic background is rich. She received degrees from Iowa Wesleyan and Rice Universities in biochemistry. She also studied overseas in preparation for her career. I know there are outstanding male astronauts in our country’s history, but Peggy Whitson was the astronaut whose contributions were on the news this week. Have you ever wondered what it feels like to be launched into space? According to one astronaut, the main engines ignite at six seconds before liftoff, the entire orbiter rattling and shuddering like a skyscraper in an earthquake. A deep rumble shakes the cabin as the main engines came up to thrust. At T-minus zero, the solid rocket boosters ignite, giving the astronauts a massive kick in the back as the ship blasts off the pad, accelerating at 2.5 Gs, ripping through the atmosphere, eventually reaching 3 Gs for a final minute to reach orbit. They say it feels like two of your friends are standing on your chest until the main engine drops to zero. Then the pressure on your body vanishes, and you are afloat under their straps, in free fall at last. You lived to make it through orbit with an exhilarating sense of physical and mental relief to pass through the risky phases of lift-off and ascent into orbit. There are only a few select individuals who know what it means and how it feels to slip earth’s bounds and ascend to heavenly heights. I do not know if these are people of faith, but, it seems if there were ever an occasion to seek God’s presence and protection, streaking though the earth’s atmosphere at unimaginable speed, leaving kith and kin behind, this would be it. Such other-worldly things could not have been achieved in Jesus’ day. We do know people of Jesus’ day thought about heaven and located it high above us in a place called heaven, or paradise. They must have wondered how to reach it. And, according to witnesses, this is the way Jesus slipped earth’s bounds and ascended to heaven. But, what about those he left behind? They must have been equally awed and grief-stricken. They would not see their friend again in this life. Jesus is fully aware of the impact of his leaving- first at his death and then again at his ascension. And so he turns to prayer. The exquisite passage in John’s gospel has been affectionately called “the other Lord’s Prayer.” Sometimes it is called “Jesus’ high priestly prayer.” Words describing it fail us. The setting is the upper room, where so much has happened that very night…a Passover meal, the institution of the Lord’s Supper, the washing of feet, a betrayal. Still in Jesus’ presence, the disciples remain attentive to his words. But now, the words are not directed to them. Here, Jesus is praying for them. Jesus is praying for that time when they would carry on his ministry, but without his earthly company. Commentators say this is the most detailed prayer of Jesus in all the gospels. In the fifth century, CE, the Bishop of Alexandria, whose name was Clement, said that in this prayer Jesus was fulfilling his role as a high priest for his people. This is the origin of the term, “high priestly prayer.” In the Old Testament, there were three holy offices: Prophet, Priest, and King. No one assumed these offices on their own. Only those called by God and anointed by the Holy Spirit entered into these offices. As we look back over the entirety of Jesus’ life, we can see how he came to fulfill these holy orders. At his birth, Jesus is referred to as the infant king. You recall that Herod decreed that all baby boys two years of age and younger were to be put to death because Jesus’ birth was interpreted as a threat to Herod’s rule and reign. Throughout his ministry, from the time he read scripture in the Temple, to his trek down to the seashore, in visiting the crowded cities, and dining at the homes of his friends, Jesus was prophet. Remember, when we come across the term “prophet” in scripture, we may substitute the word “preacher.” Jesus preached, or prophesied, wherever he went. But, here, in these last few moments with his disciples, in the upper room, their gathering place, it is Jesus, the High Priest, speaking. The work of the priest was to mediate between human beings and God. People would bring their sacrifices to the temple and the priest would present them to God. There were thank offerings that were burned. There were memorial offerings that were waved. And then, there were the sin offerings that were sacrificed. As the people brought their offerings forward, the priest would take the animal, present it to the Lord, sacrifice it, throw some of the blood on the curtain in front of the Holy of Holies, and then throw some of the blood on the sinner. As he performed this rite, the priest would say, “The Lord has forgiven you all your sins.” The High Priest did not mediate for a specific man, woman, or family. The High Priest mediated for the whole nation of Israel collectively. The High Priest carried out one special offering to the Lord. Every year, on the Day of Atonement, the High Priest would enter alone into the Temple. No one else was permitted to enter. He would take one animal, a lamb, into the temple, on behalf of the whole nation, and sacrifice it at the altar. He would then take the blood of that one lamb behind the curtain, into the Holy of Holies, and pour it out onto the Ark of the Covenant, where God himself was believed to dwell. The High Priest would atone for the sins of the whole nation by one sacrifice, “once for all.” We can see how Jesus is, for us, the Great High Priest. He mediates between us and God. He offers himself, the Lamb of God, to take away the sins of the world, to take away our sins. In this prayer, Jesus gives us a glimpse into the warmth and depth of the relationship between himself and God. He prays for his friends. He prays for us in our generation. This passage is exclusively prayer. There are no instructions, no charges, no challenges. Jesus is asking God to bless his friends with the kind of relationship he has with God, whom he calls Father. He asks that God bring his friends together as one, as he and God, Father and Son, are one. He pleads for unity among them. He expresses his deep desire that they love one another as he has loved them. How very important these things will be to the fledgling church. To be united in purpose and love would strengthen and empower the believers in the strife-filled years to come. The love of Christ will compel his followers to mighty heroic acts, breaking the chains of oppression and bringing relief to those who suffer. They would advance the kingdom, in size and in spirit, and bear it to generations yet unborn. This idea about unity is important. Jesus asks God to bring his followers together like he and God were united. You know, we may claim to be united, but, it is a hard-to-achieve state. Yesterday the Presbytery of West Virginia examined a young woman for ordination. She will be serving the largest of our churches, First Presbyterian in Charleston. The candidate is presented with a series of questions about Bible and Theology, Polity, Worship and Sacraments, and Christian faith. Then any presbyter in attendance may ask the candidate a question. This candidate was asked how she would pastor opposing factions in a church. It almost took my breath away, for I am aware of the challenges such a high-profile church in the state capital face. The red and the blue can clash, and do. How does a pastor respond? How can a pastor lead opposing groups of Christian people to set aside their tightly-held issues in order to serve Christ and his Church? She answered simply that a starting point would be to identify those things they hold in common, which she hoped would inspire them to realize they had more hopes, dreams, and desires in common than ideologies that divided them. May it be so. Especially during the legislative session. Where have we witnessed some significant demonstrations of unity? I recall that about two years ago, a crack was discovered in the Hernando de Soto Bridge that spans the Mississippi River between Arkansas and Tennessee. The discovery called for an immediate closing of the bridge. An inspector actually called 9-1-1 to report the emergency and seek help stopping traffic. But that wasn’t the only concern. The traffic passing under the bridge, the boats and barges, would have to be re-directed, too. Think about that a moment. Picture yourself trying to cross that bridge. Maybe its rush hour and you are anxious to get home, pick up your kids, let the dog out. And you are not alone. Hundreds of others have urgent reason to get to the other side. Those on the river have products to move, deadlines to meet. We can almost feel the adrenalin pumping. With a single goal, a unified purpose, that community prevented a tragedy. The repairs would take awhile and inconvenience everyone. But on the other side of this crisis is a great unified celebration, with the governors of both states in attendance, and high school bands marching from one side of the bridge to the other on the day it re-opens to traffic. Sadly, we can point to incidents when the power of unity is mis-used. People can be compelled to unite around destructive ideas. They can be emboldened to perform heinous acts that seem to be increasing in frequency and degrees of destruction. Jesus recognizes the presence and power of evil and asks God to protect his friends from the evil one. We don’t talk much about Covid these days, though it is still a threat to our health. Health professionals taught us that the antidote to Covid is a vaccine. Being vaccinated is a process. I’ve been through it and survived. In the beginning you had to qualify by age or condition or occupation. Get your name on a list. Show up when its your turn. Roll up your sleeve. Feel a tiny pinch. Wait fifteen minutes, then off you go. Hopefully, you will not suffer side effects. The antidote to evil is love. No qualifying, no waiting, no pain, no side-effects. For God is love. And, as you’ve heard before, those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. In heaven and on earth. I’m not a very quantitative person, but I think it’s safe to estimate that approximately none of us has witnessed a person being taking up from earth into the clouds and vanishing from sight to be transported to the right hand of God. Which presented me with a problem this week as I considered the message I would share with you. I stumbled around my theological attic a bit until I learned that an extended family member had just that day been delivered to the entrance of a local hospital by family members, to have joint replacement surgery. No one was permitted to accompany him. I wondered how that felt on both sides of that event. What does it feel like to be a patient, or to face surgery alone, and what does it feel like to drop off a loved one and see the doors close behind him, shutting them out. When would they see each other again? Would they see each other again? I know many of you have experienced this same thing recently. And then I remembered how this scripture text connects to our life and faith. Since Advent and Christmas, I have been thinking a lot about the nature of Jesus, fully God and fully human. We celebrate his humble birth at Christmas. This is Emmanuel, God with us, a baby like we once were, who would grow and learn and experience the full range of human life. We call that “low Christology.” Here, in his ascension, we witness his divinity. Though he was born like us, he ascends to heaven, unlike us. This is high Christology. In my preparation, I was getting stuck in how we could relate to the divinity of Jesus, when all around me, and indeed, around all of us, are testimonies of his humanity, his presence with us in this time that has brought separation, mortal threat, fear, and a real “cloud of unknowing.” This is a very disquieting and discomforting time. We may not want to acknowledge it. We were raised on rugged individualism here in the mountain state. We’re strong and sturdy and nothing can shake us or shake our faith. So, dear friends, why did we strip bare the grocery shelves and fight over toilet paper? Oh, we can justify it. We needed to be prepared. I said that, too. Why? Because we had been plunged into a disaster we hadn’t anticipated. We were not in control. So, we took control in whatever way we could. This is human nature. Several weeks later, we are in a different place. We are making plans to return to church and other gatherings. We are thinking about going out to lunch or shopping at the mall for the first time in months. Maybe we will even dare to make vacation plans. I can hear the beach calling my name. But, in our efforts to get back to life as we knew it, let’s think of how we have been changed…for the better. I think one of the most important lessons we will have learned as we emerge from this Covid 19 era, is that the last time we kissed a loved one good-bye, hung up the phone, turned in an assignment, borrowed sugar from our neighbor…may well be the last time we see that person for awhile. And, those precious moments, that we probably took for granted because we couldn’t anticipate how the pandemic would interrupt life, may have been the last time we will be with that person this side of heaven. And that is sobering. The story of Jesus’ ascension is repeated in the book of Acts, which is also attributed to the writer of Luke’s gospel. In the Acts account, as Jesus disappears, a couple of angels appear to the disciples. Now, usually when angels show up in scripture, they say, “Fear not!” That’s the first message. Not here. In this text, the angels ask the disciples why they were standing still, staring at the sky. And in the Luke text, Jesus gives them their job description: repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in Jesus’ name to all the world, beginning at home right there in Jerusalem. If we take these two accounts together, we might interpret the message to be: “Shake a leg, people! There’s work to do. You will miss Jesus. You will grieve his loss. Do something with what Jesus taught you. Love people. Forgive offenses. Show people the abundant life that results from turning away from sin and turning toward God. And, that’s what I would offer to all of you who have seen a teacher for the last time, or a classmate, or a neighbor, or a loved one. Do something with what he or she taught you. It will be a tribute to their life and give purpose to yours. *Hymn 826 Lift High the Cross, verses 3 and 4 *Affirmation of Faith The Apostles’ Creed p. 35 *Hymn Gloria Patri Sharing Our Joys and Concerns Pastoral Prayer Including the Lord’s Prayer God of Goodness, grace, and love, like the Apostles, we stand looking toward the sky, not fully understanding all that this day means. We fail to grasp the wonder of your ascension. Forgive the smallness of our vision, the narrowness of our outlook, the weakness of our love, the nervousness of our witness, our repeated failure to recognize the fullness of your revelation in Christ. Give us a deeper sense of wonder, a stronger faith, and a greater understanding of all you have done for us. We have many concerns on our hearts today and we lift now the names of those in need… …the sick, those in the midst of treatment, the recovering, their families and caregivers; the lost, the lonely, the confused, and the forgotten; those in the halls of government, boards of educations, and all public servants; for those who are returning to work and those who must now search for it; for all those who are given charge of family and loved ones; give us your strength, wisdom, and love that we may care for them as you have cared for us. We pray in the way Jesus taught us saying, Our Father…Amen. *Hymn 839 Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine *Blessing May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of glory, give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation that makes God known to you. May the eyes of your heart have enough light to see what is the hope of God’s call, what is the richness of God’s glorious inheritance among believers, and what is the overwhelming greatness of God’s power that is at work among us. Amen. Postlude: Prelude
Welcome and Announcements *Call to Worship We gather together in worship. as a mother calls her family around the table. A loving, nurturing God, Who, like a mother, loves us unconditionally, teaches us in the way we should go, and comforts us in times of need. All praise be to God, the source and sustainer of life. Prayer of the Day We bless your name, O Lord, for sending your own incarnate Son, to become part of a family, so that, as he lived his life on earth, he may experience life’s worries and joys. We ask you, Lord, to protect and watch over all our families, so that in the strength of your grace, its members may enjoy the priceless gift of your presence and peace, and, as the Church alive in the home, bear witness in this world to your glory. In the name of Christ, our brother, Amen. *Hymn 14 For the Beauty of the Earth, Verses 1-3 Prayer of Confession Eternal God, in whom we live and move and have our being, whose face is hidden from us by our own sins, and whose mercy we forget in the blindness of our hearts: Cleanse us from all offenses, and deliver us from proud thoughts and vain desires, that with humble hearts we may draw near to you, confessing our faults, confiding in your grace, and finding refuge and strength, through Jesus Christ your Son. Amen. *Hymn Take, O Take Me As I Am Assurance of Pardon Hear the good news! Who is in a condition to condemn? Only Christ, And Christ died for us, Christ rose for us, Christ reigns in power for us, Christ prays for us. Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. The old life is gone and a new life is begun. Know you are forgiven and be at peace. Amen. First Reading 1 Peter 3:13-22 Time for Young Disciples Reading from Scripture John 14:15-21 The Morning Message I have vivid memories of the days before mandatory seatbelts and child safety seats. We were not a seatbelt kind of family, which could be the subject of therapy. My dad would stuff them down deep between the seats of his baby blue LTD because he thought the buckles were only good for marring the car’s upholstery. But, we still had a restraint system…it came by way of an arm flung out across the seat to keep whoever was in the front seat from flying head first into the dashboard. Thank goodness we have evolved since those days. Leonard Sweet, prolific preacher and writer, calls mothers “the original seat belt.” I have found myself doing the same thing whenever I come to a sudden stop. I sweep my arm out, like my mother and my grandmother did, whenever I perceive a sudden threat while driving. Even though we all know it would be wholly ineffective in an accident on today’s crowded, roaring, over-driven roads, it is still a gesture of love to me, tucked deep into my memory. What gesture, or phrase, or activity speaks love to you? Murray Bowen wrote the textbook on Family Systems Theory. He says, “Watch what people do, not what they say.” You’ve heard that before. The credit goes to Bowen. An outward gesture of care is the culmination of words made flesh and ideas put into action. It is one of the constant challenges for Christians: how will we engage in actions that demonstrate what we believe about love, hope, confession, forgiveness, redemption, regeneration? Yesterday our fellowship hall was full…of women gathered to do what church women have done for ages…welcome a new baby into the fold and surround his or her mother with love and support, to celebrate with the family. Cake, coffee, presents, and punch were there as were the things we could not see: faith, hope, joy and a whole lot of love. I love it when nature, we can call that God, plops a sermon right before my eyes. Last spring, Ed discovered a couple of robins were building a nest on the ledge outside our kitchen window. He confessed he didn’t know what it was at first and swept and hosed it down. Then, he witnessed those tenacious birds re-constructing a nest. Now he was in protection-mode. Soon we could see one of the birds flying up to the windowsill with a mouthful of twig or a dollop of mud. One of nature’s masterpieces began to take shape in the corner of our window, and we found ourselves drawn to it repeatedly during the day. Mostly an earthy brown, to disguise the little home, we noticed that this robin family was into contemporary nest architecture…around the base of the nest were long strips of something that looked like the backing of our pool cover, providing a foundation of blue and white stripes. One morning Ed reported there was one brilliant blue egg in the nest. I had to climb up on the pool deck to see into the nest. What I noticed first was that the blue and white fabric strips were serving as camo of the base of the nest against our white window frames. Smart birds. The robins took their place on the nest to brood. We went to the Google machine to read up on robins. We learned that both male and female, mama and daddy robins, build and shelter. We have witnessed it. If we made a sudden movement in the kitchen, turned on the overhead light, or make a noise, the bird flew away, but, just a few feet to the railing around the back deck. They were right back when the threat was over. Soon there were two blue eggs in the nest and the birds are spending even more time there, waiting, waiting, making plans for feeding those hungry mouths and teaching those babies to survive outside the home that had protected them thus far. Eventually, there were four eggs in the nest. When they hatched, we witnessed a real labor of love, as the moma and daddy birds brought food and deposited it into thse little beaks. It was days before their eyes opened. And sonn they began the hard work of teaching them to fly. Oh, my goodness, what lessons we saw, as they taight them to perch on the rime of the nest and make the short flight to the deck just a few feet away. We witnessed them leave the nest, one by one, until there was only one left. And them something really remarkable happened. Not only did the parent birds continue to urge that baby out of the nest, the others the brothers or sisters would appear and coax that reluctant bird. You could almost hear them, “C’mon. You can do it!? And eventually, dasy after the others, it balanced on the rim of the nest. One foot attached and one wobbling in the air while testing the proverbial winds. And then it sailed. Just a few feet at first. And then up, up, and away to places we won’t see or imagine. Like I said, I love it when God sends me a sermon and this one was all gift-wrapped. The connection is obvious, isn’t it? This is Mother’s Day and the season of graduations. Most of us have made that move from nest to the wide world already. We made it. We succeeded. Many of us have passed the baton to the next generation in our professions and roles. Last year we had many, but, we have no new graduates this year. This year we can congratulate young people, a neighbor or family member, around us for accomplishing their academic, vocational goals. They should be celebrated. A friend of mine is at Princeton Theological Seminary this weekend for the graduation of her daughter. It hardly seems possible. We watched this young person learn to ride a two-wheeler! Tempis fuget. Time flies. Her future is before her. So much has changed and more changes will come. The way in which her parents relate to her will change. It’s inevitable. And someday soon, this new grad and all the rest taking that big step into the future, will write our laws, pave our streets, teach our students, diagnose our ailments, and sell us groceries. It’s their time. For the parents who have raised them, it’s their time, too. Time for a change. Moms and dads have prayed, planned, anticipated, welcomed and celebrated their children. They have educated, evaluated, and vaccinated. They have hosted play dates, scrutinized car dates, marked milestone dates. They have loved wholly and completely, even sacrificially, always unconditionally, even if that love was tested. We rarely use the word “success” in church conversation because it seems prideful. But, I will break that taboo today because you mothers and fathers, and those who were like parents, need to hear, you need to feel, you need to celebrate your success in raising your family, even if those days are far behind you. I would tell parents of the newly-launched to take a trip, if they have any funds left after writing those tuition checks. Or take up a new interest. Write that book they have always wanted to pen. Replace the bunk beds with a treadmill and weights. We bought a treadmill. We hang clothes on it. To the newly empty-nested, don’t fall into the trap of thinking that your service has ended, your contributions are not needed, your joy is complete. Because it’s not. If you can’t figure it out, call me or call a counselor. You can figure out the next steps. Mother Teresa said there’s always someone’s porch to be swept. Start there. See where God is at work in the world and join God there. Take your broom. In this gospel text, we are in the front seat with Jesus. And it is Jesus who puts his arm around us in the face of what is to come. “Little children,” he says, “you cannot go where I am going.” And then, in the text, Jesus uses both words and actions to prepare his friends for his absence, He washes their feet. He offers them bread. He prepares them for the harsh reality of the next days. He prays for their future. Like a father. Like a mother. We don’t know everything that the future holds, but, we know who holds that future. It is bigger, more expansive, with more opportunities than we can ever know or imagine. When our youngest daughter was five, according to a little booklet made in kindergarten, her chosen profession was to be a “dolphin-chaser” and be on Jeopardy! She also wanted to live with Mommy and Daddy forever. She changed her mind about that. Today she is a pediatric nurse in an endoscopy clinic in Raleigh, NC. Did we envision that for her future? Of course not. But we believe God did and does guide her through all the stages of life. Like I said, it’s a big, wide, vast, important, needy, hurting, exciting world out there. It is a gift of love from God to us. We may not be actively parenting these days, but we can support those who are. Listen to their concerns, celebrate the milestones, and imagine with them how their children’s or grandchildren’s future will unfold. What professional direction will they take? To what purpose might God call them? I’m pretty sure God could still use some dolphin-chasers! *Hymn 14 For the Beauty of the Earth, Verses 4 and 5 Affirmation of Faith The Apostles’ Creed *Hymn 581 Gloria Patri Sharing Our Joys and Concerns Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer Presenting Our Gifts of Tithes and Offering Offertory *Hymn 607 Doxology *Prayer of Dedication *Hymn 92 While We Are Waiting, Come *Blessing Go out into the blessing of a new week. As Christ prays for you, pray for one another. As Christ forgives you, forgive one another. As Christ loves you, love one another. And may the grace of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit go with you today and always. Amen. *Postlude Prelude
Welcome and Announcements *Call to Worship I am the vine, you are the branches, says the Lord. Jesus said, “No one comes to the Father except through me.” *Prayer of the Day O God, form the hearts of your people into a single will. Make us love what you command and desire what you promise, that amid all the changes of this world, our hearts may be fixed where joy is found, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. Amen. *Hymn 361 Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation, verses 1 and 2 Prayer of Confession Holy and merciful God, in your presence, we confess our failure to be what you created us to be. You alone know how often we have sinned in wandering from your ways, in wasting your gifts, in forgetting your love. By your mercy, help us live in your light and walk in your ways, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen. *Hymn Take, O Take Me As I Am Assurance of Pardon The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. Believe the good news of the gospel: our sins are forgiven. Be at peace. First Reading 1 Peter 2:2-10 Time for Young Believers Gospel Reading John 14: 1-14 The Morning Message What is the story of your home? How would you describe it to others? Would you begin with the price, the design, or the builder, or the neighborhood, or the fine schools that attracted you in the first place? Maybe it is the home’s history that is so compelling. We’ve lived in the same house for over thirty-five years, but, our present home has been bought and sold so many times, that when a “For Sale by Owner” sign once went up in the front yard, it simply read: “Look what’s for sale again!” One of the families who lived there had ten kids. We had only three and when company came, we had bodies all over the place. I can’t imagine how we’d manage a family of ten in the confines of our house. What comes to mind when Jesus says he goes to prepare a place for you? What image comes to mind? How does the promised future shape your life now, today? Do you even think about it? Pastor Janet Hunt writes that she recently saw an exhibit at the Minnesota History Museum. It was called, “If These Walls Could Talk.” She describes the experience of walking through the history of one house in St. Paul- to hear about the different families who lived there: immigrants all, and also to witness how their lives had been changed by the rapid advances in industry and technology in the years many had arrived. Janet says it was her privilege to officiate at the funeral of the woman, who, along with her husband, had built the home in which Janet now lived. It was in visiting with the woman’s children that she gained a glimpse into the house’s personality, a window into the lives and faith of those who had first called it “home.” She says she can only imagine the hope that filled them when the woman welcomed her husband home from war, got married, and bought land on Meadow Lane where they would build a home. The first build was a simple one: a kitchen and living room, two bedrooms and a bath, all sitting atop a basement they never felt the need to finish. The house was small and sturdy and just right for their family of three. They had just been blessed by the birth of a daughter. A son followed close behind and they found they needed more space. So they hoisted the roof right up and turned the attic into more bedrooms and a bathroom and remodeled the downstairs to better suit their changing needs. Janet says when she met with the family, they pulled out the photo albums, and she found herself searching for glimpses of the house she lived in in its original shape. She looked for pictures of the additions or re-models as they happened. But, those pictures didn’t exist. The albums were full, but, the subject of all the pictures were of what? They were of the family members, the young couple who became Mom and Dad, of babies wrapped in fringed shawls being borne into the house from the hospital, a son in a scout uniform, a daughter in a prom dress. And so it is for all of us, at least those of us who know the privilege of having a home. While the architecture or garden or workshop of a particular domicile are meaningful, the most interesting part of a house is the story of those whose lives were built within it. I know some of you have moved in recent months, and some are planning moves. All three of our daughters sold and bought new homes during the pandemic. There were some anxious times when all that was going on. Frustration, deadlines, upgrades, repairs, open houses, moving from one city to another, finding new jobs, in the case of one of our daughters and her husband. Having a place to lay our heads is important and can become complicated. So, we should welcome Jesus’ first words about the home he is preparing for us: “Don’t let your hearts be troubled, and don’t be afraid.” I have no idea what this promised home will look like. I don’t think my wish list will include a fireplace this time or stainless steel appliances. It won’t matter if the school bus comes by the house, or if the neighbors keep their lawn mowed. I can imagine it will be a place of peace and welcome, a place so comfortable that I never again think about the need for safety and security. It will be the place we have strived to create here on earth, where our children were loved and nurtured and friends and pets welcomed. Where we dropped into a cozy chair at the end of a hard day, where aromas from the kitchen smelled like love. Some of you knew Gray Hampton. Gray was a long-time and much-loved pastor in Huntington. At his funeral, one of his daughters described what happened in the Hampton home when a summer thunderstorm arrived. Gray would rearrange the living room, turning the sofa, where it stood with its back to the big picture window, completely around so that the whole family, all six of them, could sit together, tucked safely inside the house, sheltered from the wind and rain and lightning, while watching the meteorological show outside. This home Jesus is preparing for us will be something like that-designed and created out of love, constructed by the master designer. There will be plenty of room-no need for bumping out a wall or raising the roof. No need for power or heat sources or paint. No need for keys. I don’t know the dimensions, or if it will be brick or frame or stucco. It doesn’t matter. But, my friends, I do know this: when we arrive we will know we are home. It is no surprise that these words in John’s gospel are often read at funerals. They are a great comfort when we need to hear them most. We are reminded of a great promise- that when our time for making a home on earth is done, a place is waiting for us in God’s own house. I visited Sue Yoak this week and she told me about the family tree of photos she planned to create on one of the walls of her single room at the nursing home. She has plans to hang three new pictures-pictures of her grandchildren and her great-grandson who is yet to be born. And, I have no doubt that such a view will bring her joy and comfort. To hear her describe it brought me joy. Her face just lit up in anticipation. So, until we join the Church Triumphant, and enjoy the hospitality of heaven, we can so order our lives and homes, even if they are a room in a nursing home, to be a foretaste of what is yet to come. May it be so for all of us. Amen. *Hymn 361 Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation, verses 3 and 4 *Affirmation of Faith The Apostles’ Creed p. 35 *Hymn 580 Gloria Patri Joys and Concerns of the Church Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer Presenting Our Tithes and Offerings Offertory *Hymn 607 Doxology *Prayer of Dedication *Hymn 462 I Love to Tell the Story *Blessing Just as God’s Word was sent into the world to heal and redeem, so God sends you into the world this day to be light and love, healing and hope. Go now, and share the good news generously, and may the grace of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit be with you today and always. Amen. *Postlude Prelude
Welcome and Announcements *Call to Worship O Come let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For the Lord is our God; we are the Lord’s people; the flock that God shepherds. Prayer of the Day God of all power, you called from death our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep. Send us as shepherds to rescue the lost, to heal the injured, and to feed one another. with knowledge and understanding. through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. Amen. *Hymn 39 Great Is Thy Faithfulness Prayer of Confession Merciful God, We confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart and mind and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. In your mercy, forgive us, and call us back to your fold, that we may walk in your ways and delight in your will, to the glory of your name. *Hymn 698 Take, O Take Me as I Am Assurance of Pardon Ours is a gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He gathers us to him as surely as the shepherd rescues his wayward flock. I declare to you, in the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. We are safe in the arms of God. Be at peace. Amen. First Reading Psalm 23 Time for Young Disciples Gospel Reading John 10:11-18 The Morning Message My next door neighbors have three grandchildren, two boys and a girl. Since their daughter and son-in-law both work, and they live in the area, the grandparents have provided child care from the days the children were born. One day when a grandson was just a toddler, he toddled into the kitchen and held out his sippee cup, indicating that he wanted more of whatever it was he was drinking- water, juice, milk. His grandmother took the cup and re-filled it, taking her eyes off the baby for just a second or two. When she turned around, he was passed out on the floor. Still as a stone. He didn’t respond to her attempts to rouse him. You can imagine the fear that pierced her heart. She gathered him up and ran for the phone to call 9-1-1. Then she called her husband, who worked in the west end of Huntington, yet, somehow he arrived before the paramedics! More than one emergency vehicle showed up on Iroquois Trail, lights flashing, sirens blaring, ramping up the anxiety. By this time, little Adam had regained consciousness, but, he was showing signs that he had suffered a seizure. He had no history of seizures at all, which is one reason the incident was so terrifying. Of course, he was transported to the hospital asap. We have good neighbors. Three sets of us moved into our present homes in 1987. We’ve taken care of each other’s kids, borrowed cups of sugar, fixed each other’s sinks and computers, picked up the paper and mail for each other when we are away. And so much more. We are blessed. So, naturally I headed to the hospital. My clergy ID badge got me into the ER and to the exam room where I would find Adam, looking so very small in that hospital bed, his mother’s arms around him, and his grandparents just a breath away, speaking to him in soothing tones. I’ve been in a few ERs and have witnessed some pretty scary things. But, as I stepped into the room, I saw something I had never before seen and it was so profound and so deep that I felt the roots of my hair tingle. The women acknowledged my presence, but, didn’t take their eyes off Adam. The grandfather turned toward me. One look at his face and I knew… I knew the man would die for that little boy. Thankfully, a few days and lots of tests later, it was determined that Adam’s seizure was not a sign of some life-threatening condition. He had had a febrile seizure and the family learned about how to treat another one should it happen. The gospel of John is known for the many “I am” statements of Jesus. We have a few of them in today’s text. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.” “I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep, and my sheep know me-just as the Father knows me and I know the Father-and I lay down my life for the sheep.” In Jesus’ day, it was commonplace to see shepherds all over the landscape. The Judean countryside was a rough and craggy plateau. The distance between Bethel and Hebron was about 35 miles. The width of the plateau was around 14 feet across. The land dropped off sharply on each side, a death sentence if a sheep or shepherd should fall. So, the safety of the flock was of primary concern. The dangers were many: predators like wolves and predators in human form-thieves and robbers. The shepherd had few tools: an animal skin in which food was carried, a club imbedded with nails for fighting off the wild beats, a staff, with a hooked end to retrieve a straying sheep. And a good shepherd had instinct and intuition. He could anticipate the needs of his flock. He could sense the lurking threats. At night, the flock was herded into a sheepfold. It was typically a walled-off space with an opening to go into and out of. The shepherd would stretch out across the opening to prevent any of the flock from straying in the night and to avert any threats to their safety. Jesus describes himself as the “good shepherd.” In Greek, there are two words for “good.” The word “agothos” describes the moral quality of a thing. The word “kalos” means that a thing or a person is not only good, but in the goodness there is a sense of winsomeness, loveliness, beauty, In this text, when Jesus is referred to as “good,” it is written as “kalos,” meaning Jesus is more than efficient, or dutiful. There is a certain beauty, loveliness, sincerity, graciousness. When our family lived in Ohio, the girls’ pediatrician lived just down the street. He took piano lessons from Ed. We would often refer to him as “the good doctor.” By that we meant he was competent in his profession, and more than that, he cared about his patients outside the office. He was neighborly. He appreciated and supported the community in which he lived and worked. The image of Jesus as the good shepherd holds within it a sense of fidelity and skill, for sure, but it also conjures up a rich description of the one who defines compassion and sympathy and love. Which leads us to the most astounding of his comments. Contained in the “I am” discourse, is the greatest of revelations, the one thing that sets Jesus apart from all others: “And I lay down my life for the sheep.” I found these words in Barclay’s commentary: The difference is this (between the good and the bad shepherd) A real shepherd was born to his task. He was sent out with his flock as soon as he was old enough to go; he grew into the calling of a shepherd; the sheep became his friends and his companions, and it became second nature to think of them before he thought of himself. The false shepherd came into shepherding not as a calling but as a means to an end. He did not care to learn of each sheep’s personality, or go the extra mile when presented with challenging circumstances. In fact, it was not unusual for some such people to run away from his post, abandoning his flock. Jesus seems to be saying that our lives can be motivated by reward or motivated by love. When we are called to a task or responsibility, the man or woman who works for love thinks more about the people they are trying to serve than about him or herself. Jesus was the good shepherd, who so loved his sheep that for their safety, he would risk, and one day give, his life. Rev. David Roberts says the shepherd image of Jesus is one of gentle power, of someone who can control the uncontrollable in our world. And isn’t that what we want of Jesus? We want Jesus to tame what is wild and unruly in the world, who, with the crook of his staff, can solve what is unsolvable and answer what is unanswerable in life, who can protect and defend against the thieves and bandits of this world who would steal, kill, and destroy. While we hold that ideal image in our hearts, we also have to recognize that all is not sweetness and light in our world. The world can be an unpredictable place, with trouble and danger lurking around every corner. There are questions without answers, where good people are devastated by calamity and babies can have seizures. He says he always assumed the shepherd was leading the flock to safety, and that is one of the shepherd’s roles. But, with each day’s sunrise, the shepherd wakes and calls the sheep to follow him out of the sheepfold. And they follow. Not to safety, but to the open wilderness. And it is in the wilderness that we find abundant danger but also where we find abundant life. When we look over each of our texts today, we see three images of shepherding: the one being comforted, the shepherd who provides care, and the faith community as shepherd. Psalm 23 recounts the experience of the psalmist being cared for by the Spirit of God. Being led to still waters, comforted as he walks through the valley of the shadow of death, whose life-long companions are named “goodness” and “mercy.” In the gospel passage, Jesus describes what it is like to be the one doing the shepherding: calling forth his sheep in a voice his flock recognizes as uniquely his. This is a generous shepherd, giving abundantly, sacrificially, laying down his very life for his own. And then we have the Acts text which speaks of the community that shepherds. And I think it is a good description of where we, here on Main Street, find ourselves today. We are “one-anothering.” We are caring for, shepherding, each other in ways that were off limits to us during the heights of the pandemic. A cup of coffee and a piece of cake become almost sacramental after the isolation we experienced. Planning a routine event like a work party, such as we have coming up this Saturday, generates enthusiasm rather than yawns. We have responded to a request for help for this summer’s revived work camp. We are taking intentional steps as the beloved community living out God’s call for us. All these things are reflections of what we find in Acts 2: our shepherding of the flock involves generosity, hospitality, the gathering around worship, and rejoicing in simple togetherness.* If you think it doesn’t sound like much, remember this: one of the most important needs of every human life is belonging…finding our identity within and among others who accept, affirm, and support us, offer counsel, look out for our welfare, love us. A community of faith can give birth to such a culture that “one-anothers” its flock with all the best fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23) The community as shepherd gathers around us in celebration at the font and walks with us in the valley of the shadow and welcomes us to the Church Triumphant. This is our call. This is our challenge. This is our joy. *Jenna Smith, The Christian Century *Hymn I Cannot Tell Why He Whom Angels Worship, verses 1 1md 2 *Affirmation of Faith p.35 The Apostles’ Creed *Hymn 581 Gloria Patri Joys and Concerns of the Church Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer Presenting our Tithes and Offerings Offertory *Hymn 607 Doxology *Prayer of Dedication *Hymn I Cannot Tell, Why He Whom Angels Worship, verses 3 qnd 4 *Blessing Go now, following the voice of the shepherd. Fear no evil, for God is by your side. Devote yourselves to the works of God, to words of mercy, to good deeds and to acts of love. And may God wipe every tear from your eyes; May Christ Jesus be your shepherd and all that you need; And may the Holy Spirit tend you with goodness and love all the days of your life. Amen. *Postlude |
PastorCinda Harkless Archives
March 2024
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