Prelude
Welcome and Announcements *Call to Worship Psalm 95 O come, let us sing to the Lord! Shout to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into God’s presence with thanksgiving, singing joyful songs of praise. *Hymn 482 Baptized in Water Prayer of Confession Mighty and merciful God, you have called us to be your people and claimed us for the service of Jesus Christ. We confess that we have not lived up to our calling. We have been timid and frightened disciples, forgetful of your powerful presence, ignoring the strength of your Spirit among us. O God, forgive us in our weakness, strengthen us anew, and gift us with everything we need to fulfill our common calling, through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. *Hymn 698 Take, O Take Me As I Am Assurance of Forgiveness The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. I declare to you, in the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven. May the God of mercy, who forgives all your sins, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, keep you in eternal life. Amen. Old Testament Reading Psalm 103 Pew Bible p. Time With Our Young Disciples New Testament Reading Luke 10: 25-37 Pew Bible p. Morning Message “There are different gifts, but it is the same Spirit who gives them. There are different kinds of service, but it is the same Lord. There are different types of working, but, in all of them, and in everyone, it is the same God at work.” Today is a special day when we celebrate God’s call to John, Bonnie, Nancy, Connie, Judy, and Tim to serve the Lord and his church as elders-ordained, set aside, for particular tasks. We know what some of those tasks will be. They will help the church to continue in worship, study, fellowship, and service. They will do some things the ways they have always been done, but, if we have learned anything in the past four years, we have learned that life is dynamic, unpredictable, often challenging but, also full of opportunity. So the session will do some things differently than in the past. I have come to believe that it is in those unplanned moments that we learn and grow and draw closer to the people God created us to be. I’ve been reflecting on some unplanned moments recently. We were in Winston-Salem awhile back, to see our daughter and her family. It is a “his, hers, and ours” type of family. After an evening at their pool, we headed home for a late dinner. The oldest of the kids is fourteen. He picked up his fork and says to us, “I don’t really know what to call you. What would you prefer?” Neither of us was anticipating the question, nor the hugs that followed, nor the warmth that flooded our faces, and the lump in the throat. Unplanned, but, a blessing indeed. We have gained another grandson, which makes three plus a granddaughter. Thank you, Lord. No, he won’t call us Fifi and PaPaw. Ed and Cinda will do just fine. And we hope that all our unplanned, unexpected events will present themselves in such a good way. There are some things that do stay the same, are planned, for this new configuration of the session and all the sessions in the past and in the future. God called each elder into service. Service on the session is not just taking a turn on the board of directors. When we stand before the congregation, deacons, elders, and ministers all answer the same ordination questions. Ordination is for life, for the whole church. When an elder is not serving on the session, they are still eligible to perform many functions of ministry, such as serving as clerk, attending meetings of presbytery, serving a presbytery or higher office. A new opportunity is that a Ruling Elder may administer Communion in their church of membership provided they have session approval and complete the required instruction. Two of our elders are fully qualified to do this. We will make decisions in a particular way. We are Presbyterian, not episcopal or congregational. Episcopal types of churches authorize their bishops to make decisions for the congregation. Congregational churches make decisions by action of the entire membership. The pastor is not a voting member. In the Presbyterian Church, the whole congregation votes to call or dissolve pastoral relationships, but, most decisions are made by the session, a group of people elected by the congregation for this work. A lot of trust is placed in the session. To that end, the session works together seeking the mind of Christ in all they do. Each member of the session will be eligible to attend meetings of presbytery as a commissioner. They can participate by voice and vote and can help shape the life of the presbytery. The Presbytery of West Virginia meets four times a year around the presbytery and by Zoom for those who can’t attend in person. The General Assembly recently met in Salt Lake City and the presbytery meets at the Highlawn Church in Huntington on August 17th. Presbyters, or elders, are commissioners, not delegates. This is something of which we must remind ourselves from time to time, especially in times of disagreement. Whether we are serving on the session or a higher governing body, we seek to find the will of Christ, not the will of those who elected us. While their opinions may certainly influence us, they do not bind us. When we gather together as a governing body, we pray for God’s guidance, listen to discussion and debate, and then vote as we are led by the Spirit. Speaking of voting, that is an action that is addressed in a book called, “Parliamentary Procedures in the Presbyterian Church (USA).” The author, Marianne Wolfe expresses our purpose and practices in this way: The rights and the unity of the body shall be preserved; the will of the majority will prevail; the rights of the minority shall be protected. We bear in mind that Christ alone is head of the church and is to be honored by all of our actions. We are a constitutional church, informed by the Book of Confessions and the Book of Order. We believe that our life together is best when lived with a disciplined concern for order. The contents of each part of the Constitution are more than a collection of rules. They are evidence of how we understand God’s will for our faith and lives. While the session takes care of matters of business, they must do so with a spirit of compassion. In some churches, deacons are assigned the responsibility for ministries of compassion and care. In churches which have a unicameral, or single body of leaders, such as Kuhn, the session takes on those responsibilities, too. Ed and I like to say we have a mixed marriage: he comes from a General Motors family, and I come from a Ford family. We have had mostly friendly disagreements about cars. And…try as they might, every session encounters moments of disagreement. We don’t all drive the same make of car, so it is reasonable that we should differ on matters that come to our attention. Way back in 1788, when the church in the United States was young, Presbyterians recognized that “there are truths and forms with respect to which men (people) of good character and principles may differ.” When that occurs, we need to exercise “mutual forebearance”. Disagreement is not a bad thing when it is expressed in ways that do not disturb the peace, unity, and purity of the church. We are a connectional church. Each congregation is part of a web of relationships in our Presbyterian family. In part, this means that each congregation and each session is accountable to the larger church through the presbytery. We submit reports annually that are a witness to our activities and health of our congregation. Likewise, the presbytery and synod report to the next higher governing bodies. We are all in this together. As has been the case for many churches and denominations, the pandemic changed the way we live and move and have our being. We have learned to adapt. Our call now is to move forward, embracing the opportunities and challenges set before us. This is the story of our faith, as testified in scripture: From Moses to maps, God’s people have loved and worshipped God, cared for God’s people, and demonstrated tremendous courage all in a spirit of justice, kindness, and humility. God has gifted each of our elders to meet the needs of the congregation and this community. God has gifted each and every one of you to advance to the kingdom. As I began this message, I mentioned that I’ve witnessed a couple of unplanned events, moments that were gifts to those who experienced them. The first was the special conversation we had with the fourteen year old who is our newest and oldest grandchild. This happened to someone else. It was in a moment of crisis, which had the potential to be a real disaster. I’ve spoken mamy times about my cousin who was seriously ill for several months. Among the assaults to her body over the course of a year, was a stroke and the loss of vision in one eye. She was hospitalized when it occurred. The staff acted immediately to get her emergency attention. She had to be transported. One of the staff who was attending to her told her that she was going to be ok. Even if her vision never returned, she would be ok. He was a Christian and had the same condition years before and God helped him cope and adjust to his new reality. This man kept reassuring her and she was able to gain strength and courage from him. She had no fear, which is truly remarkable. And though her health continued to deteriorate, she had no fear. And scripture tells us “perfect love casts out fear.” To which I always add, “We’re not perfect, but Jesus is.” I predict that we will have lots of opportunities to exercise that love in the year ahead. There are different gifts, but it is the same God who gives them. May it be so for all of us. *Hymn 69 Here I Am, Lord *Affirmation of Faith The Apostles’ Creed p. 35 * Hymn 580 Gloria Patri Service of Ordination and Installation Through the voice of the church, God has called the following church members to ordained and active service: John Ball, Bonnie Draper, Nancy McIntosh, Connie Morgan, Tim Moore, and Judy Napier Sharing Our Joys and Concerns Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer Presenting Our Tithes and Offerings Offertory *Hymn 607 Doxology *Prayer of Dedication Blessed are you, O God of all creation; through your goodness, we have these gifts to share. Accept and use our offerings for your glory and for the service of your church. Amen. *Hymn 187 Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us *Blessing Now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Alleluia! Amen. *Postlude Prelude
Welcome and Announcements *Call to Worship O God, We gather together in your presence with expectation, hungry for an encounter with you, eager to hear your Word. Open our eyes and ears to the presence of your Holy Spirit. May the seeds of your Word, scattered among us this morning, fall on fertile soil. May they take root in our hearts and lives, and produce an abundant harvest of good words and deeds. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, our teacher and our Lord. Amen. Christine Longhurst, re:Worship *Hymn 667 When Morning Gilds the Skies Prayer of Confession Loving Lord, you watch over us all our days. Help us to feel your presence today. We confess that we have allowed a host of concerns and frustrations to compete with your word and will for us. Remind us that you are not the author of confusion, but of peace. Guide our thoughts, strengthen our bodies, inspire holy intentions within us, that we might be faithful to you and gospel-bearers to our neighbors and families, strangers and friends. Response Take, O Take Me as I Am Words of Assurance Hear the good news- while we worry and fret, God is at work in our lives and in our world, that we might have a taste of God’s blessed kingdom, the realm of justice, freedom, mercy, and peace. Believe in the good news of the gospel: in Jesus Christ our sins are forgiven. Alleluia! Amen. First Reading Psalm 3 Moments With Our Young Disciples Gospel Reading Matthew 13:24-30 The Morning Message In the 13th chapter of Matthew, we find a string of parables. Father Robert Capon says that the parable of the sower, the first in the chapter, is the touchstone of all parables. He notes its primacy in the synoptic gospels-Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Even the Gnostic gospel of Thomas includes the parable of the sower. This story leads to a string of parables. One of which is today’s text about wheat and weeds. I really hadn’t thought much about this parable for awhile, but, it came back in vivid detail this past week at the obedience class we are attending with our dog, Maeve. We meet in a large room, air conditioned, thank goodness. We meet twice a week and each time we meet, there are the regulars and a few newcomers. Maeve has always been the smallest dog on the training floor and the most resistant to instruction. So, the instructor calls the stars of the class to do recall, sit, heel, stay, amaze the crowd. For an hour we watch and praise CeCe and Phoebe and Hank and the others. Maeve is called to the floor. Ed, usually Ed goes thru the paces with her, moves to the other side of the room. Maeve is supposed to sit and stay and when he calls, “Maeve, come!” she is expected to race to his outstretched hand which bears a very stinky treat. The instructor says the stinkier the better for treats. Food is the motivation for training. Maybe for every other dog on the planet, but not ours. We’ve been at this for a month and we’re still trying to learn the simplest commands. We’ve tried a number of treats and nothing works. She is simply not food-motivated. We spend a lot of time on the bench while the better students take the floor. On Thursday, the cutest little K-9 officer-to-be came to class. She’s 13 weeks old. She’s a quick learner. She knows sit, stay, and down already. She loves her treats. The instructor says that’s how service dogs are selected. The ones that are food motivated are the ones they keep. I didn’t dare ask the follow up question, but I held Maeve close for the rest of the class. We had no delusions that she would be a service dog, which is a good thing, because it was clear we were solidly in the weed category. We’ll let you know how this all shakes out. She may be a weed in the dog world. but, we love her. I’ve told this story before, but it fits, so bear with me. Years ago, there was a local theatre group called Community Players. They produced a few plays each year, usually at the Abbot Theatre, which was on 14th Street West, what we now call “Central City.” Community Players was supported by patrons who appreciated the art of live productions and the seasonal offerings were much enjoyed. One of our neighbors was always urging me to audition for children’s roles. She took me to some of the productions to stimulate my interest. It worked. When I was in fifth grade, CP advertized that their fall production would be The Bad Seed, an adaptation of a novel written by William March. I remember our neighbor coming to the house with the flyer she had just received and said I was going to audition for the role of Rhoda, the young girl in the story. She would take me. Well, fine. I’d never been in a play before, but, ok, I’ll go to the auditions. To my great surprise, at the end of auditions, the director stood to announce the cast. He did so by walking up to each person cast and handed them a script. He walked up to me and placed a script in my hand. What followed was about two months of work that eventually became a play and a love for live performances of all kinds. I loved it, especially rehearsals. The Bad Seed. To make a long and twisted story short, Rhoda, a girl in grade school, looks like perfection personified. Winsome, clever, pretty- with long, blonde braids, starched pinafore, shiny shoes with taps on the heels. Remember that detail. Rhoda was a fine student. Sharp and talented. On the last day of school, awards were given to outstanding students. Rhoda was expecting the coveted penmanship medal. When the winner was announced, that medal was awarded to Claude Daigle, a boy in her class. This angered Rhoda fiercely. She hated to lose. She acted out, taunting the classmate and leading him to a dock at the edge of an open body of water. We do not see what happens next, but, by the end of school picnic, little Claude was dead. While the other children played and adults chatted, he had drowned. Strange thing, though, he had marks on his hands and on his forehead that seemed strangely like the shape of the taps on Rhoda’s shoes. By now you’ve figured out the rest of the story. Rhoda stole the medal and hid it in her room. Eventually, Rhoda’s mother, Christine, discovers the medal and other items Rhoda has stolen over time. The awful truth of her daughter’s deadly deed becomes apparent. She quickly comes to the realization her beautiful, intelligent, well-behaved daughter, has a hidden darkness in her personality, in what we would call her soul or spirit. She could not feel empathy. She had no conscience, could only feel for herself, the center of her own world. Her interactions with others were largely motivated by what that person could do for her. She was manipulative and cruel. As Christine was coming to terms with this ugly truth, she began to wonder about what caused Rhoda’s abnormal behavior. She automatically thought of her own childhood. She was adopted. Christine’s parents welcomed her into their family, loving and nurturing her. She turned out happy and well adjusted. But given the problem with her daughter, she sought out more information from her father about her birth parents. What she discovered was she was the biological child of a serial killer. Christine began to wonder if the tendency toward anti-social behavior could be inherited. Had she passed the gene to her daughter? Some psychologists adhered to that theory. Fearing what her daughter was capable of doing in the future, Christine attempts a murder-suicide. It was, in her mind, the most benevolent thing she could do. She would put an end to the bad seed. Christine succeeded in taking her own life. Rhoda survived, charming and deceiving her way into the affection of her father and grandfather. In our text, Jesus says the kingdom of God is like a farmer who sows wheat in his field. At night, an interloper sneaks onto the property and sows weeds, bad seeds if you will, among the wheat. Now, for a little Greek lesson. The word for “weed” in Greek is “zizania.” It is a very particular type of weed that looks just like wheat as it grows. You could hardly tell the difference. It looks like wheat, it appears like wheat, but it is not wheat. It can fool you. The field grows up and the servants notice there are weeds growing among the wheat. They ask the farmer is he wants them to pull the weeds. “No, no no, says the farmer. By doing so, you may pull up some wheat with the weeds. Leave it until the harvesters come. They will sort it out. They’re experts at it. They will bundle up the weeds and burn them.” This text could lead us in several directions. And as I read and studied this parable, the only way I ever heard this one interpreted was like a morality play. There are good people and bad people. Believers and non-believers. They live alongside one another until such time as the final judgment. Then they will be separated and God will save the good seed, the faithful, the pious, the tithers, those who come to church every time the doors were opened. They are the wheat in our story. But, woe be unto the bad seed, the non-conformists, the doubters and infidels. They would be destined to burn in hell for all eternity. The weeds. And when the day of judgment comes, the wheat would cluck their tongues at the weeds and say with sick satisfaction, “I told you so.” Oh, my goodness. I just don’t think it’s that cut and dried. Literally. First, the farmer was not very troubled at the presence of weeds in his field. “Let them be. It’s someone else’s job to sort them out. We really can’t tell them apart, can we?” I let this thought rumble around in my head for a few days. We can’t really tell them apart. Is it possible to distinguish the wheat from the weeds? They grow in the same soil, draw nourishment from the same soil, water, and sunlight. In a recent Christian Century magazine, I read an article I’ve been anticipating: the action taken by the Southern Baptist Convention to dis-fellowship-sever the relationship- between the national body of southern Baptist churches and those churches in particular that had female pastors or significant leaders. They were attempting to purify the denomination. Clearly, those who adhered to the ruling were labeled “wheat.” Those who did not comply and continued to have women in pastoral leadership, were deemed the “weeds.” Makes my head spin, too. But, that is the way that denomination chooses to govern itself and we have no standing there. If it works for them, then may they be faithful witnesses to the gospel as they understand it. Thankfully, the PCUSA adheres to a different understanding of who is qualified for service in the church. In A Brief Statement of Faith we affirm that the Holy Spirit calls both women and men to all ministries of the church. If a Presbyterian congregation tried to establish a “male only” pattern of calling pastors, elders, or deacons, there would surely be a mutiny. When our girls were young and still vacationed with us, we would often attend a Sunday morning church service at one of the local Presbyterian churches. One such Sunday, we went to a lovely PCUSA church at Hilton Head. We knew the senior minister, but he wasn’t there and a guest was preaching. Well, it was very strongly on the fundamentalist side, the denominational hymnal was nowhere to be found, and there was an invitation to come forward and be saved. The speaker encouraged our response by saying God can save anyone. His wife was a Catholic and God even saved her. At that, one of the girls leaned over and wrote on my bulletin, “This was your idea.!” So, now who would be labeled “Wheat” and who are the “weeds?” You can hardly tell the difference, right? In that particular church and ours, the congregation met weekly on Sundays. We both prayed, sang hymns, heard the Word read and proclaimed, received an offering and left with a blessing. We each reached out to help and support others, visited the sick, observed the Sacraments, held VBS, doled out graham crackers and juice to our kids, and rested from our labors. Like Rhoda, the bad seed, we can hardly tell the adherents of one church from adherents of the other.. They look alike, have the same routines, send their kids to the same schools. I’m interested to see what fallout will come from this move by the SBC, the largest Protestant denomination in the world. At a church not far from here, a session grappled with an issue that has really caused a rift in the congregation. A child of the church, preparing for ordained ministry, has been asked to preach or lead a service of some kind. That is expected of candidates for ministry in our denomination. But, after deliberation, the session declined to approve the request to preach. Battle lines formed immediately. Any more information would reveal identities and that is beside the point. Those who supported the candidate’s request to preach obviously claim the wheat status. They see the session as weeds. Those who were not in favor of granting the request believe to do so would be hurtful to the congregation. They believed they were being faithful wheat. The whole thing is hurtful and damages the body. This does not honor God. And we can’t accuse either group of failure to love. My grandmother Stiltner loved me dearly and I loved her. But she didn’t support my call to ministry. “The Bible says a pastor is the husband of one wife. You can’t be the husband of any wife. I think you would make a good teacher.” Her proclamation had less to do with love and more to do with a faith that was based on fear of a punitive God. She was trying to keep me on God’s good side and making sure I had my fire insurance. That was how she bore witness to her faith. The point is none of us is capable of judging who’s in and who’s out, who’s a faithful believer by following the rules and who is faithful by following the Spirit into the unknown. That is a job for God alone. Scripture tells us that God gave his only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but, have everlasting life. For Christ did not come into the world to condemn the world, but, that the world through him might be saved. This I believe. In the end, love wins. Grace wins. It is God’s greatest desire. I pray it is so for all of us. Amen. *Hymn A Farmer In a Field Carolyn Winfrey A Farmer In a Field ST. THOMAS 6.6.8.6 ("I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord"A farmer in a field sowed good and healthy seedsBut in the cover of the night, somebody planted wThe wheat grew tall and strong, but thistles flourThe workers saw the mix of them and wondered The farmer wisely said, "They'll grow as one todaBut when we harvest all the wheat, we'll throw thO Lord, we want to know why evil prospers here Why, next to love and justice, grow such hatred, pGod, may we humbly see the harvest still is yoursAnd one day we'll be blessed to find that love is w*Affirmation of Faith The Apostles’ CreedPastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer Presenting Our Tithes and Offerings Offertory *Hymn 607 Doxology *Hymn 408 There’s a Sweet, Sweet Spirit *Blessing May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peacpower of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope *Postlude Prelude
Welcome and Announcements *Call to Worship Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness! Come into God’s presence with singing! For the Lord is a gracious God, whose mercy is everlasting, and whose faithfulness endures to all generations. *Hymn 127 To God Be the Glory Prayer of Confession Holy and merciful God, In your presence we confess our short-comings and our offenses against you. You alone know how often we have sinned, in wandering from your ways, in squandering your gifts, in forgetting your love. Have mercy on us, Lord, forgive our sins and help us live in your light and walk in your ways. Hymn 698 Take, O Take Me As I Am Assurance of Forgiveness The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. I declare to you all, in the name of Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. Be at peace. First Scripture Reading Psalm 145: 8-14 Time With Our Young Disciples Gospel Reading Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 Morning Message *Hymn Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine *Affirmation of Faith The Apostles’ Creed *Hymn Gloria Patri Sharing Our Joys and Concerns Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer Presenting Our Tithes and Offerings Offertory *Hymn Doxology *Prayer of Dedication Blessed are you, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have these gifts to share. Accept and use our offerings and our lives for your glory and for the service of your kingdom. Amen. *Hymn God Be With You Till We Meet Again *Blessing Go out remembering all God has done for you. Break down the walls of hostility and proclaim peace. Have compassion for all, including yourself. And may God be with you wherever you go. May Christ Jesus heal you and refresh you. And may the Holy Spirit encircle you and give you strength. Amen. *Postlude 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 when it has been disturbed. 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 1 Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty! 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 The prophet speaking in Isaiah 58 issues a tall order. For faithful Jews of the time, it was a tall order. It was aspirational. A job description for a real dream team. It is a tall order for all of us who call ourselves Christians, as we, too, adhere to the canon of Scripture established in the fourth century, and still held up as our rule for faith and life these many centuries hence. The goals may be high, perhaps even unattainable this side of heaven, but, there are about a thousand faithful Presbyterians gathered in Salt Lake City this week who will be applying themselves to Isaiah’s vision. The 226th General Assembly began its on-line meetings June 25th, with commissioners joining from their homes or offices around the country. Yesterday, the majority of them traveled to Salt Lake City, where it has been reported that they were welcomed by hundreds of volunteers from all over the Presbytery of Utah. The General Assembly is the highest governing body of the PCUSA. It meets every two years in different locations around the country. This year’s assembly is meeting through July 5th at the Salt Palace in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. Now, I’ve been to Salt Lake and there is a Presbyterian Church there, but, we know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the Mormons, dominate the religious landscape. To hold a GA meeting requires lots of volunteer help from what’s called a “local arrangements committee”. I wondered how that would work in Utah, but, I was just ignorant in this. I’ve learned there are twenty PCUSA Churches in the Salt Lake area and they are all on board to keep this important meeting running smoothly. Who goes to GA? Delegates are elected from every presbytery based on membership. The Presbytery of West Virginia sent two commissioners-one Ruling Elder, Susan Perry of Logan’s First Presbyterian Church, and Teaching Elder Rev. Chris Kilbert of the Riverlawn Church in St. Albans. There are an equal number of Ruling and Teaching Elders at GA, because, what does the Book of Order say? Our call is to serve the church, pastor and session together. That is one of our distinctives. We love our polity based on the “Priesthood of all believers,” lay and ordained ministers alike. Although few of the commissioners have attended GA before, all have served in the other church courts: the session, which provides care and oversight of a local congregation, the presbytery, which provides care and oversight of a group of congregations, or the synod, which provides care and oversight for several presbyteries. We belong to the Presbytery of West Virginia and the Synod of the Trinity which is housed in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. What does the GA do? It reviews the work of synods, resolves controversies in the church, is responsible for matters of common concern for the whole church, and serves as a symbol of unity for all of us. It also engages in some pretty awesome worship services. You can join these services on-line. Go to PCUSA General Assembly and follow the directions. You can observe what goes on on the floor of the assembly and keep track of committee actions on-line as well. How does it work? First, reports and recommendations come from various arms of the Presbyterian Mission Agency and the Office of General Assembly. The Stated Clerk and his staff work to ensure that the Presbyterian Church maintains itself as a church. The Office of General Assembly carries out all constitutional, and most ecumenical, functions at the General Assembly. Overtures from synods and presbyteries are the second source of GA business. These governing bodies use overtures to bring recommendations and matters of concern before the whole church. Commissioners Resolutions are the third source of GA business. As a commissioner, one is entitled to sign two resolutions which will come before the whole assembly. The first order of business is to elect the Moderator who will preside over the assembly and represent the denomination for the next two years. Moderators are recommended by presbyteries. I’ve participated in two assemblies as an observer and witnessed the election of one moderator, Rev. Bruce Reyes Chow, I believe the youngest Moderator elected to date. Bruce hails from San Francisco. His young family accompanied him to the floor as he took his vows of installation. It was very moving. The assembly is organized into committees months before it begins deliberations. I understand commissioners receive mountains of documents, maybe less now that we are moving to paperless meetings. They began their work last week. They have finalized their plans to bring recommendations to the floor where the whole assembly will be informed, deliberate and vote. Business is referred back to the presbyteries for adoption. These actions provide guidance for the church in the years ahead. If you want to know more from someone who has attended a GA meeting, I’m sure our very own Kay Adkins will be glad to share with you her experience when she was a commissioner. I believe it was when the northern and southern streams of the church were re-uniting more than thirty years ago. I have a confession: I always look forward to news coming from GA and I’m especially interested in hearing about our commissioners’ experiences. But- I always dread it a little bit as well. Included in every GA are controversial items to be considered. I expect that the most controversial item at this assembly will involve the denomination’s position on the Israel-Palestine conflicts. If history predicts the future, this may be the single item reported on by the national news networks. Other faith groups have held large denominational gatherings this spring and summer: the Episcopal Church, the United Methodist, the Southern Baptist, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, and probably others I’m not aware of. Each has made the news, generally the items most likely to prompt ardent reactions, and I doubt such reports have been very helpful to the people in the pews. The good news for Presbyterians is that recommendations that are approved by the GA will come back to the presbyteries as proposed amendments to the Constitution. Over the course of the next year, presbyteries will inform and debate with their members. and finally we will vote to approve or disapprove the amendment. I mentioned Bruce Reyes-Chow earlier in this message. As a former Moderator, he has offered a prayer for the whole church, especially the commissioners as they do their work over the next week. He asks us to pray these things with him. I’ve edited it for length. God of curiosity, restoration, compassion, and hope, as we gather to discern the mind of Christ and your will, we strive to live into these promises you have made. Let us live into trust enough to bring our whole selves into this space, not to avoid conflict, just get along, or to suppress righteous indignation, but to rage together, fear together, and struggle together. Let us live into grace enough to assume goodness in one another, not to see one another as adversaries, enemies, and the other, but as collaborators, accomplices, and members of One Body. Let us live into courage enough to wrestle with one another, not to destroy, dominate, or diminish the other but to discern, discover, and adventure into what you are calling us to become. Let us live into humility… Let us live into creativity… Let us live into generosity, enough to honor the realities of our time together, offering patience to the moderator, staff, assistants, volunteers, and one another affirming that we are imperfect people, trusting an imperfect process, paying attention to the timer, flags, and microphones, and savoring the honor and privilege of being gathered in this space. Let us live into action enough to transform decisions made into actions lived out, to follow thru on promises made to one another. God, throughout the generations, we have gathered, in different configurations, during different cultural moments, with different attitudes of engagement. We have been agents of healing and hope and we have reinforced systems of hurt and pain. And yet, over and over again, because of and what we have done General Assemblies have been opened up to the surprising abd sweeping movement of the Spirit. May we again and always be open. And the 226th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) says Amen. *Hymn 340 This Is My Song *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 8 Eternal Father, Strong to Save *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 39 Great Is Thy Faithfulness 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. My sister and some friends are at Destin Florida this week. For others, the great trees of the forest wave them into the respite of cool and shade and the music of 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. For some, it’s camp, although it would be challenging in this heat. 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, “Are you kidding? 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. Even though 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. We neglect our relationship with God. 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.” I am thankful for that grace that never fails. 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. This is one of my favorite pictures of Briar, our oldest grandson when he was about four years old. It was mid-summer and I was really missing our family. Ed surprised me by arranging to meet Katy and Briar at Pipestem, which is about half-way between here and Winston-Salem where they live. For the better part of three days we played, rode the tram, waded in waterfalls, watched baby raccoons and deer,and played in the cold, clean river that only came up to our knees. On our last evening, Briar wanted to stay longer at the bottom of the hill by the river. So Ed and I came back to the lodge to get ready for dinner. We had a ground-floor room. There was a knock on the patio doors that opened onto the field outside our room. And by the door was this lovely cairn, fashioned from river rocks that Briar and Katy had gathered and carried to the lodge via the tram. The meaning was clear: This was a holy moment, a holy place. A time and place set apart to remember our visit and our love for one another. 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? Today, I invite you to consider building your own cairn. Think about your life and its milestones. Think about your faith and how it has been shaped by the worship, study, fellowship and service you have been blessed by here at Kuhm. Take a walk and gather some stones, if you can stand the heat, and leave a witness to this place, 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. *Hymn 353 My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less *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 443 There Is a Redeemer *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 Time With Our Young Disciples Gospel Reading Mark 4: 35-41 Morning Message Summertime has always been translated “pool-time” for our family. I think my kids were always happiest when we were at the pool or on the beach. Happy, carefree, laughing and playing with their friends or their sisters. Fueled with peanut butter sandwiches and juice boxes. When our older two, Katy and Sarah Beth, were ten and five, we joined the Guyan Estates pool, mainly for swimming lessons. At the time, taking swimming lessons there led to participation on the swim team. We decided to give it a try and see what happened. On the first day of lessons, at 9:00 in the morning, Katy gingerly made her way into the cold water, uncertain that she wanted to be there. Sarah Beth jumped into water over her head and came up ready to race. Both girls learned quickly, and because everyone else was on the swim team, they joined in. Swim meets were posted on our calendar. We hoped it would be a good experience for the whole family. Katy has asthma, so swimming was good exercise for her. She worked hard at every stroke, every kick. But, even though she expended great energy, she often finished last in her events, sometimes through tears. I know some of you have experienced this: your heart hurts to see one child struggle while an- other excels in a skill or a sport. And that’s exactly what happened. It was humiliating for Katy to be out-done by her little sister and in front of a crowd. There were easily a hundred people gathered around whatever pool was hosting a meet. We were more than willing to let her quit, but she would not admit defeat. She would struggle on with our support. We all struggle sometimes. The proverbial water turns choppy and threatening. Or we find ourselves in over our heads. We need to change course before it’s too late. Our scripture text describes the disciples in a similar situation. Jesus is teaching and preaching and people are responding. His message is compelling. His miraculous works are drawing crowds. Teaching one day on the Sea of Galilee, the crowd grows so large that he has to speak from a boat on the water so that people can see and hear him. At the end of a long day, probably in search of rest, Jesus has them cross to the other side. Now they set sail at the widest point of the sea. It is estimated to be thirteen miles across. And Jesus, exhausted from his work, falls asleep. I have never been out in open water when a storm blows up. I have only been as close as the shore, the beach. But, that’s been close enough. The sky can change color. I’ve seen everything from gray to purple to a weird green announce an impending storm. The air changes from hot bursts to cold blasts. The air even smells different. Have you been there, too? Do you rush to gather up your belongings and hurry off the beach, maybe prompted by cracks of thunder? Lightning slashing at the sky? That’s what I imagine happening to the disciples that day. I can imagine their fear. And I can imagine their fear turning to anger as Jesus slumbers on, blissfully unaware of their plight. “Wake up, man! Don’t you care that we’re about to die out here? Do something!” The boat is rocking wildly. It is taking on water. Catastrophe is imminent. And from Jesus, a stern command: “Silence! Be still!” And the wind and the sea obey. As he has sternly commands nature, he sternly demands an answer from his disciples: “What’s the matter with you? Have you no faith yet?” This is the most interesting part of the whole episode to me: Jesus sleeps through the storm and the disciples interpret that as he doesn’t care about them. They have witnessed his interaction with many other people in need by this time. They know first-hand that his love and compassion for people is genuine. They know the awesome nature of his power. They know its source is God. They wake Jesus. Jesus has made them privy to every interaction he has had with people in need. He has demonstrated that his love and care and power are genuine. They know the source of all that is God. And now, the very ones who are closer to Jesus than anyone else on earth, are terrified and are accusing him of not caring. I can imagine how Jesus responded to that. I can imagine him feeling angry. I can imagine he wonders if his ministry, his message, have been futile. And, friends, I can imagine this scene playing out in families everywhere. A crisis hits and family members accuse one another of not caring or not responding appropriately. They doubt each other’s love. They question each other’s commitment. Soon, the crisis, whatever it is, increases in intensity, and the family is trapped in the cycle of fighting with each other instead of fighting the problem that is threatening their lives. They forget that Jesus is in their boat. It happens. It has happened to me, maybe to you as well. Facing a problem, a serious one, we do as our faith instructs us. We pray. We wait. We hold on and Jesus seems to be asleep. We ask our friends to pray. They call us to check in. They bring food. And Jesus is still sleeping. Maybe we get so frustrated or angry that we shake our fists and shout, “What’s the matter with you, Jesus? We’ve been good and faithful, and you don’t even care!” Jesus slept. At the end of a long, crowded day, Jesus piled his friends in a boat and tells them to go to the other side. Then he retreats for rest. Could it be that Jesus, the rabbi, the master teacher, has so much confidence is his message, and so much confidence that his message has been taken to heart, that he trusts his disciples to cross the troubled waters relying on their faith, their skill, his blessed assurance that he will never leave them nor forsake them? They don’t know it yet, but, Jesus has so much confidence in them that one day they will receive power to do mighty, miraculous things themselves. When we consider the long arm of history, the centuries of information, knowledge, and wisdom God’s people have accumulated, the risks brave people have taken, the catastrophies that have shaped human experience, the threats that have prompted research, the discoveries, the developments, the inventions that have made our lives so rich and rewarding, I am left with this one truth: Jesus is in our boat. And I’m counting on Jesus being there as we try to make our way to the other side of the communal angst of this time. I’m counting on Jesus to be there as we work out our differences, as we recognize our prejudice. I’m counting on Jesus being there when we change laws that have kept some of God’s children oppressed. And I’m counting on Jesus being there when we grow so weary and worn it hurts to breathe. My little girl who wanted to swim in spite of asthma worked as a lifeguard all through college. My fearless middle child still jumps first and figures things out as she goes. They’ve both suffered storms, hurricanes even. The kinds that leave homes lying like sticks strewn on the ground. But, they made it to the other side. Maybe you or someone you love has suffered deeply, with their lives lying like sticks strewn on the ground. You, and they, can make it to the other side, too. This I know: Jesus is in your boat. *Hymn 630 Fairest Lord Jesus *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 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 *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 Hosea 6:1-6 Time With Our Young Disciples Gospel Reading Luke 7:36-8:3 Morning Message Anne Lamott is a gifted writer and I would call her a genious at practical theology. She is not a minister or religion professor in the traditional sense. Yet, the way Anne writes is like venturing into the mighty redwood forest of life…looking up the length of an ancient tree to its distant leafy canopy, inviting us to catch a glimpse of God. While she has written many books and regularly contributes to periodicals and magazines, makes personal appearances, and is frequently on tour inspiring new writers…she has not always enjoyed success. Far from it. Here’s what she says in a recent blog post: “Thirty-seven years ago, July 7, 1986, I got clean and sober. It is the great miracle of my existence, from which everything I love about life has sprung. I had published three books, had a great persona and reputation, and everyone knew and loved me-my soul felt like Swiss cheese, full of holes, toxic and nuts, until I had that first cool refreshing beer of the day, just to get the flies going in one direction. …I was dirt poor and could not go off somewhere and clean up. And I had run out of any more good ideas, which is what grace looks like sometimes. But God is such a show-off, and I fell in with some kind people who were sober, who wondered if I might be sick and tired of being sick and tired, and if so, if I needed a ride. I was broke for the first five years but I had a luscious little boy, and these people I’m telling you about. I was happier than I had ever been. They’re the exact same people who will be there for you with rides and cookies and wisdom and loyalty and love that will blow your mind Some of them are here today, and if you reach out to them, they will respond. You never have to hurt like you’re hurting now, and you will never again be alone.” Anne was living in the San Francisco Bay area. Walking through town one Sunday morning, pregnant and scared and hungry, she heard the singing of an African American gospel choir coming from an ordinary-looking storefront church. She recognized a few words of their song: Jesus. God. Love. The sounds were so compelling, that she opened the door and slipped in incognito. Or so she thought. You can’t be anonymous in the community of faith. But she tried. She slipped in and out of the church a few times in the weeks that followed. After she attended several times, comfortable with what happened in worship and the faces more familiar, she cracked the door a little on her life. She was immediately embraced. Her yet-to-be-born child was embraced. One woman saved all the dimes she got from week to week and gave those to Anne. She says those dimes saved her from starvation some weeks. It served as food for her body as surely as worship in a storefront church, hearing and feeling the energy of the gospel choir, being inspired, challenged, forgiven, and loved by the pastor and everyone else. Once she was worn out and weary, afraid of the future, afraid of childbirth, nearly penniless, and the church opened its arms wide and took Anne in, and she found rest. It transformed her life. Being so grateful for their help, she has stayed faithful to this church, which, I’m happy to report, is Presbyterian USA, under the leadership of a dynamic pastor. With drinking and drugging behind her, she knows she will always hear a message that echoes with a note of grace. California is a long way to go to find inspiration, but, I may have to figure out a way to tap into that energy, that sense of hope and optimism. The last several weeks have been challenging, if not, downright hard. I have become a little weary. The AC at our house was on its last leg and company was coming. Two of our family members were hospitalized. Ed had eye surgery and I am facing another eye procedure. And, with all of you, we are experiencing a period of loss and grief. Like a hot humid summer with no rain, I could use those showers of blessings they used to sing about at my grandmother’s church. Soon after I spoke those concerns aloud on Friday morning, a prayer that kind of sounded like, “Help!” my phone started ringing and pinging. Offers of help, offers to do whatever it takes to care of things here and at home began pouring in. I was able to see things a little more clearly and figure out the way forward. Showers of blessing had arrived at 167 Iroquois Trail. And that’s the way it is when we are weighed down with concerns, questions, doubts, needs, burdens- and remember to turn to God and to recognize God working through others. Help may not come in the way or in the shape of what we expect, but be assurred, God’s storehouse is never empty and never closed. May you find it so for yourselves. *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 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits. Our hope is in God’s Word. My soul waits for the Lord, more than those who watch for the morning. Our hope is in God’s Word. *Hymn 38 How Firm a Foundation Prayer of Confession God of perfect love, you continually bring forth life. transforming sadness to joy, and despair to hope. We are weak, but you are strong. Our ways are flawed, but your ways are true. Sometimes we stray from your way. You are always faithful. Forgive us, redeem us, transform us. Take away the sin that burdens us, and restore us to the people you would have us be, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen. Take, O Take Me As I Am Take, O take me as I am; summon out what I shall be. Set your seal upon my heart and live in me. Repeat. Declaration of Forgiveness God seeks us out relentlessly. With abundant grace and boundless mercy, God seeks us out and calls us by name. This is the good news: in Jesus Christ we are loved and forgiven. Be at peace. Reading from the Psalms Psalm 138 Time With Our Young Disciples Gospel Reading Mark 3: 20-35 Morning Message Who remembers when Nik Wallenda walked a tightrope across the Grand Canyon gorge? He was1500 feet in the air with no special equipment, no special body gear to save him if he fell. I watched a video of that event yesterday. I had forgotten that Nik wore a microphone and he said a series of prayers and verses of scripture with each step to keep him focused, steady, and brave. On the side where he would finish his feat was a popular TV evangelist praying out loud for Nik’s safety. The event was highly anticipated and advertised. I remember feeling conflicted about the whole affair. Who does that? To tempt the forces of nature and pray that God would save you from disaster? I couldn’t be the only one watching that broadcast that night who thought, “He must be---crazy!” In our text, it’s not a tightrope walker, it is Jesus, who seems to be tempting fate. The 1995 Contemporary English Version of the Bible says it this way: “When Jesus’ family heard what he was doing, they thought he was crazy and went to get him under control.” Bishop Michael Curry of the Episcopal Church says that Jesus wasn’t the only one considered crazy, so were those who would follow him, those who would be his disciples, those who would live and be the people of the Way, called and summoned and challenged to be just as crazy as Jesus. Bishop Curry says We need some crazy Christians!” I think what he means is that the gospel calls us to a different way of life, a life that is often against conventional wisdom and behavior. For example, what the world calls wretched, Jesus calls blessed. And blessed are the poor and the poor in spirit. Blessed are the merciful, the compassionate. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst that God’s righteousness would prevail. Blessed are those who work for peace. Blessed are you when you are persecuted just for trying to love and do what is good. Jesus, according to Bishop Curry, was crazy. One of my daughters is a psychologist and she would insist we use another word to describe such folks. But, Curry presses on with the term, which will have to be ok for today. Jesus said, “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, pray for those who despitefully use you.” Even when he was hanging on the cross he called out to God to forgive those who were executing him, saying, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” By our standards and expectations, that’s pretty crazy. Setting that term aside, I’d have to say I’m in full agreement with the good bishop. We do need some Christians, and people of other faith traditions who are courageous enough to love like Jesus, give and forgive like Jesus, to transform this conflicted nightmare of a world into the world of our dreams, the world God created it to be. Some of Jesus’ first followers were just that daring and brave. Let’s consider Mary Magdalene. Mary followed him all the way to the cross. Crucifixion was public torture. It sent the message that revolution would not be tolerated. If you were a supporter or follower of the person being crucified, it was dangerous to stand too close by during the execution. The rational and sensible thing to do was to go into hiding or exile. Who else from that inner circle bore witness to Jesus’ death? Simon Peter? No. James? No. Andrew? Absent. Bartholomew? Absent. But Mary was there. One of the least powerful people of that day witnessed the execution of her Savior. She was with him to the end. Bishop Curry wrote a book about some of our saints, people who marched to the beat of a different drummer and who advanced the kingdom of God. One of those people is Harriet Beecher Stowe. She was born in 1811 into a devout family committed to the gospel of Jesus in order to transform the world. She is best-known for her book, Uncle Tom’s Cabin. She told a hard story in her book. She told about the practice of slavery and how it afflicted families held captive by it. She told of the brutality, the injustice, the cruelty, the inhumanity of the institution of slavery. Her book went the equivalent of 19th century viral. The book had such an impact that it was read by President Abraham Lincoln. Upon meeting Ms; Stowe, he is quoted as saying, “So this is the little lady who started this great war!” Harriet Beecher Stowe marched to the beat of that different drummer. Sometimes that means we are pay attention when we are tempted to care less, we stand up when others sit down, we speak up when others go silent. Back in 1997, Steve Jobs and company worked to re-brand Apple products. A commercial was created and the tag line was “Think different,” which is grammatically incorrect, but that was the point. In the commercial, were photos and video images of well-known people who invented, created, and sacrificed to improve the world. Bob Dylan, Amelia Earhart , Frank Lloyd Wright, Maria Callis, Muhammed Ali, Jim Henson, Martin Luther King, Jr., Albert Einstein, Pablo Picasso, Mahatma Ghandi, and others appeared in that commercial. As the images rolled by, a narrator says: “Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. While some may see them as they crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do. T The evening that Nik Wallenda inched his way across that very thin wire above the Grand Canyon gorge, my nephew, who was in high school at the time, tweeted a message that had us doubled up with laughter: Borrowing from a Johnny Cash hit, he quipped: “Because he’s mine, (meaning Jesus), I walk the line.” And, you know what, there’s truth in that statement. Some of you walk a very dangerous line every day; some have walked it in your past, and some have yet to be tested. If you are called on to make a difference in your neighborhood, break an unhealthy pattern in your family, re-create a work environment, serve as an elected leader, or serve dinner tonight, a challenge will eventually appear. And, because you are a Christian, you can let your faith bear you up and say, “Because he’s mine, I walk the line.” *Affirmation of Faith The Apostles’ Creed *Gloria Patri (inside cover of hymnal) Sharing Our Joys and Concerns Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer Presenting Our Tithes and Offerings With gratitude for God’s faithfulness and with thanksgiving for all that we have received, we bring our gifts to God. All contributions may be left on the Communion table in the plates provided. Offertory *Hymn Doxology (inside cover of hymnal) *Prayer of Dedication O God, with faith and hope, we offer these gifts. Use them, even as you use us, to accomplish your purposes in Jesus Christ, the head of the church and the Lord of our lives. Amen. *Hymn 367 The Church in the Wildwood *Blessing Go forth from this place trusting that God is always with us and for us in every moment of every day. May you know the blessings of grace, love, and companionship through the Triune God. Amen. *Postlude Prelude
Welcome and Announcements *Call to Worship Let us give thanks for the land of our birth with all its chartered liberties, for all the wonder of our country’s story. We give you thanks, O God. For leaders in nation and state, and for those who in days past and in these present times have labored for the commonwealth. We give you thanks, O God. For those, who in all times and places have been true and brave, and in the world’s common ways have lived upright lives and ministered to their fellows. We give you thanks, O God. For those who served their country in its hour of need, and especially for those who gave even their lives in that service. We give you thanks, O God. Almighty God, and most merciful Father, as we remember these your servants, remembering them with gratitude and strength, we hold before you those who mourn them. Look upon your bereaved servants with your mercy. As this day brings memories of those they have lost awhile, may it also bring your consolation and the assurance that their loved ones are alive now and forever in your living presence. Amen. Permission for one-time use in worship granted by The Armed Forces Chaplains’ Board, Washington, D.C. *Hymn 331 God of the Ages, Whose Almighty Hand Prayer of Confession God of every nation, as we remember those who gave their lives for the sake of the nation, let us be stirred to action in their memory. We confess that we have not done all that is possible to promote peace and justice in our world. We have not loved our neighbors, let alone our enemies. Forgive us for failing to live up to your commandments. Empower us to work for your kingdom in this world, and welcome us by your grace into your eternal realm. *Hymn Take, O Take Me As I Am Assurance of Pardon The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. I declare to you, in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven. Amen. First Reading Micah 6:6-8 Moments With Our Young Disciples New Testament Reading Romans 8:31-39 The Morning Message Five words that strike terror in the heart of every preacher: “Explain the Trinity to me.” Good luck. We stammer around and try to compare God in three persons to things found in nature- like a three-leaved shamrock. Or to the three forms of water- ice, water, and vapor. I seriously tried to get a trinity illustration out of the robin family that took up residence on our windowsill, but I couldn’t really get any traction. It should reassure me and us that generations of Christians have debated the right way to explain this doctrine. It arose around the time of the Council of Nicaea, which convened in the fourth century. The trinity doctrine gets us in trouble with our Jewish and Muslim associates because we claim to worship one God as they do. Usually they are kind about it, but there have been some unnecessary insults hurled at those who do worship One God, who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In doing some research this week, I ran across an essay by Alyce McKenzie, a contemporary theologian. It is a unique take on the subject. I hope it is helpful. She writes, There is a Norwegian proverb that goes, “ All good things come in threes.” I’d agree with that as I have three children, all daughters. Alyce says she has friends who are parents to a young child, Katie. Good name. Katie’s mom, dad and grandmother all shared in childcare for little Katie. This incidence happened when she was two. Dad was preparing dinner. He left the oven door open while he turned around to retrieve a tray of chicken to be roasted. Then he heard the scream. Katie had come right behind him and put her hands directly on the inside of the oven door. It was right within her reach. Of course he rushed her to the hospital, calling his wife along the way. Katie lay quietly on a stretcher in the ER, the doctor applying medication and wrapping her burned hands. Katie kept her her eyes squeezed shut. Remarkably, she wasn’t crying. But she was mouthing over and over, these words: “Mommy, Daddy, Grandma. Mommy, Daddy, Grandma.” The Trinity according to Katie. We can all take a page out of a two-year-old’s playbook. When we are in trouble, unable to affect the outcome of some situation, we would do well to put such a mantra to work. Mine is, “When I am afraid, I will trust in you.” A good and effective one would be “Come, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” You see, when we concentrate on something repetitive, we can control wild-running thoughts and fears. We invoke the presence of the God who never leaves us or forsakes us. As Christians, the witness of Scripture is to the Power of Three, even though the term never appears in scripture. But we do have many many examples testifying of the function and nature of the Triune God. Fortunately, three seems to be easiest number to remember. The Rule of Three is a principle that suggests that things that come in threes are inherently funnier, more satisfying, or more effective than other numbers of things. Audiences and readers are more likely to consume information presented in threes, like plays that have a beginning, a middle, and an end. The same could be said of sermons. Some preachers like to organize their thoughts like that. There is a Latin phrase, omne trium perfectum. Everything that comes in threes is perfection or complete. Then there are the Three Little Pigs, Goldilocks and The Three Bears, Three Billy Goats Bluff. We sit down to eat with a knife, fork, and spoon. We hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil. We are threatened occasionally by lions, tigers, and bears. We buy a campaign hook, line, and sinker. We affirm that each American is entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We have three branches of government to help us achieve that end. Robert Frost said it this way, “In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life.” “It goes on.” And since it does go on, we should recognize that we have made it here to face another day. Let us call on the Power of the Three as we live out this day: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, or Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer, acknowledging with gratitude the One who created us, the one who saves us, and the One who guides us. *Hymn 730 I Sing a Song of the Saints of God *Affirmation of Faith Apostles’ Creed p. 35 *Hymn 581 Gloria Patri Sharing Our Joys and Concerns Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer Presenting Our Gifts of Tithe and Offering Offertory *Hymn 607 Doxology *Prayer of Dedication *Hymn 338 O Beautiful for Spacious Skies *Blessing Send your peace, O Lord, which is perfect and everlasting, that our souls may radiate peace. Send your peace, O Lord, that we may think, act, and speak harmoniously. Send your peace, O Lord, that we may be contented and thankful for your bountiful gifts. Send your peace, O Lord, that amidst our worldly strife, we may enjoy your bliss. Send your peace, O Lord, that we may endure all, tolerate all, in light of your grace and mercy. Send your peace, O Lord, that our lives may become a divine vision, and in your light, all darkness may vanish. Send your peace, O Lord, that we, your children of earth, may unite in one family. Hazrat Inayat Khan *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 Recognition of Graduates Ellis Ciccollela Cabell Midland High School Rayen Ciccollela, Marshall University, Master of Social Work Degree L Jackson, Mountwest Community and Technical College, Associate Degree in Animation and Game Design 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 offend God. I believe what offends God is for his people to intentionally welcome some people and intentionally 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 and individuals held hostage in Gaza. Lacking security and safety, without shelter, dying from their wounds, or exposure, or starvation. And the families, friends and associates outside of Gaza longing to gather their loved ones in their arms once more and knowing that will likely never happen. 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 607 Doxology *Prayer of Dedication *Hymn 286 Breathe On Me, Breath of God *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 |
PastorCinda Harkless Archives
July 2024
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