Kuhn Memorial Presbyterian Church Christmas Eve Service of Candles and Communion December 24, 202012/23/2020
Prelude
Lighting the Christ Candle Do not be afraid, for see- I am bringing you good news of great joy. To us is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: You will find the baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger. Tonight we light the Christ Candle to symbolize God’s promise fulfilled. For a Child has been born to us. A Son has been given to us. Authority rests upon his shoulders, and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. The Sacrament of Communion* The Invitation, Words of Institution, Great Prayer of Thanksgiving, Distribution of the Elements Prayer After Communion All glory to you, great God, for the gift of your Son, whom you sent to save us. With singing angels, let us praise your name, and tell the earth his story, that all may believe, rejoice, and bow down, acknowledging your love through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. Blessing Go now, singing a song to the God of our salvation. Sing of God’s mighty acts and proclaim God’s glory. Join the heavenly chorus and sing: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth, peace.” Amen. Postlude *Those worshiping at home may partake of the elements of bread and juice as available. Prelude
Lighting the Advent Wreath, the Candle of Love Amy, Tim, Brennan, and Lia Moore Hymn O Come, All Ye Faithful Text and music: John Francis Wade, 1743 O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem. Come and behold him, born the King of angels. O come let us adore him O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him, Christ, the Lord! Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exaltation, Sing all ye citizens of heaven above. Glory to God, glory in the highest! O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come let us adore him, Christ, the Lord! Prayer of the Day We give you all thanks and praise, O God, for your mercy embraces the faithful, one generation to the next, and your fidelity, for all ages. You created the heavens and the earth, and chose for yourself a covenant people, bringing them from slavery to a land of their own. In your servant, David, you established your rule and promised his throne to the one who would save your people and reign forever. And now, the mystery kept secret for long ages has been revealed to all the earth: Your own Son, Jesus Christ, is conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of Mary and emerges to claim the throne of his ancestor, David. Though he was killed by the proud and powerful, you have raised him up, and with him, the humble of all the earth, and of his reign there will be no end. We seek to be his faithful witnesses, bearing the gospel into the world, caring for the sick, the weak, the rejected, the mourning, the lonely, and the lost, and praying as he taught us saying, Our Father…Amen. Scripture Reading Luke 1:26-38 The Morning Message “We are all called to be Mothers of God, for God is always waiting to be born.” These are the words of Meister Eckart, 13th century philosopher. Theologian Nancy Rockwell says, “She enters our Decembers with an angel, gloriously winged, who honors her. The moment is spellbinding. We are entranced by the arrival of this woman, Mary, on the stage of Christmas and in the story of God.” I’ve spent considerable time lately looking at images of Mary-paintings, sculptures, old and archived, new and freshly created in photographs, digital art, and in a gazillion pictures on Pinterest. I’ve researched the Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Cloisters, the Met’s museum of medieval art. I was looking for a special sculpture I saw while visiting the Cloisters years ago. It was mounted on a wall. I was surprised by it and stood before it for a long time. Baby Jesus, plump and content, in the arms of his young, laughing mother. There is an endless inventory of human interpretations of the central female figure of the Christian faith, the Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus, the one that some like to call, “the God-bearer.” The images come in all forms and shapes: Mary’s representing the world’s races and cultures. I have a collection of nativity sets. I didn’t unpack all of them this year. There were no little ones visiting this year, no one whose eyes might light up in wonder. No one, asking with their eyes, if it’s ok to touch. But, I did unpack a few. I’m always on alert for new ones or old ones that show up in new places. One day I was browsing the Habitat for Humanity Restore and spied a tiny nativity. I recognized the small unfired clay figures, hand-painted, and distinctively Peruvian. I have a few of the same type at home. I love the simple form and the expressions on the tiny faces. They were a mix of uncertainty and mirth. And that’s one definition of joy for me: uncertainty and mirth. Surprise. Kind of like a bride and groom on their wedding day-excited, eager, a little uncomfortable in their formal clothes, expectations high, taking a courageous step into a season, a lifetime we hope, that is largely unknown. A step that is motivated and empowered and energized by love. Surprised by Joy: the Shape of My Early Life, is the title of C. S. Lewis’s autobiography. Lewis’s purpose in writing this book was not primarily historical. It was to identify and describe the events surrounding his accidental discovery of, and consequent search for, the phenomenon he labeled, “Joy.” “Joy” was his best translation of the German word, sehnsucht, or longing, in English. This joy was so intensely good and so high up it could not be explained in words. He just knew it when it happened. He says he was struck with what he called “stabs of joy” throughout his life. Lewis eventually discovers the true nature of joy, born of the unconditional love of God. This discovery leads to an overwhelming conversion experience from atheism to Christianity. Lewis writes that this sense of joy is like a signpost to those lost in the woods, pointing the way, and that its appearance is not as important “when we have found the road and are passing signposts every few miles.” Lewis’s life was consumed by learning, though he did participate in civic endeavors. He also served in the armed forces as a young man. His mother gave him a love of reading. She taught him Latin at a young age. He was devastated by her death when he was only nine years old. In his late teens, he shed the Christianity in which he had been raised, studied widely, and declared himself to be an atheist. But, still, there was something unresolved troubling him. He continued his quest for joy. He called it the “inconsolable longing for the real Desirable.” As a child, his joy came though reading, writing, and drawing. In his youth, he discovered Wagner’s Ring Cycle and Norse mythology. As he matured, he realized that pleasure did not equate with joy, neither physical nor aesthetic, nor music, poetry, or intellectual gratification. Lewis studied in public and private schools, eventually studying with a private teacher in preparation for Oxford. His teacher, Mr. Kirkpatrick, was an atheist, a rationalist, and a logician. Under his tutelage, Lewis read great works in their original languages. It was a dear friend, Arthur, who urged him to read books written in English. He read the Brontes, Jane Austin, Donne, Milton, Spenser, Yeats, and others, including George MacDonald. He began to revise some of his worldviews. Ultimately, George MacDonald, the Scottish author and theologian, gave him glimpses of other than the material world, the world that is neither seen nor felt but stirs in the human heart. “Unde hoc mihi.” Unfamiliar with that phrase? Me, too. It’s Latin. I had to look it up and found this meaning: “And whence is this to me?” Or, “And why is this granted to me?” These are the very words exclaimed by Elizabeth upon Mary’s arrival at her home. Surprised by joy. As Mary was surprised, honored, and yet terrified, not quite believing that God should come to her, conceive his Son through her, bear a Savior into the world through her body and through her humility. She asks, “And why is this granted to me?” Lewis writes, “As I was reading, two-thirds into George MacDonald’s autobiography, these words leapt out: “Unde hoc mihi?” And why is this granted to me? In the depth of my intellect, all this was given to me without asking, even without consent.” Just like Elizabeth. Just like Mary. Lewis describes this moment, this epiphany, as “holiness.” He was converted from atheism to belief in God. Lewis said he was the “ most reluctant convert in all England.” He hated authority, he had a deep need for independence, and was unsure of the one he called, “the Transcendental Interferer.” To accept the Incarnation brought God near. He wasn’t so sure he wanted God all that close. But when Lewis finally came to faith, he said he submitted to divine humility, the Incarnation, Emmanuel. God with us. Born in humility and love. I learned of Lewis’s story first in the beautiful and moving movie, “Shadowlands.” Here was a man whose life had been devoted to intellectual pursuits. A bachelor of many years. If he had once believed in God, he had set that belief aside, probably a result of his mother’s death. Like many of us, Lewis may have concluded that getting close to others involved way too much risk, too much pain. But, when God pried his heart open, he found the earthly example of God’s love for us: the love of another. In Lewis’s case, it was Joy Davidman, an American author, whom he married. Their time together was much too short, but, for a time, Clive Staples Lewis knew and lived and celebrated love. C.S. Lewis is often quoted in Christian circles. He was known for his prolific writing in defense of the faith, and, of course, the Narnia stories enjoyed by all ages. The words are beautiful and poignant. I looked for an appropriate quote for this day, the fourth Sunday in Advent, the Sunday of Love: Here is what I found: “Once in our world, a stable had something in it that was bigger than our whole world.” The Last Battle” (1956) I pray that is so for all of you. Merry Christmas. Amen. Hymn O Come, All Ye Faithful Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning, Jesus to thee be all glory given. Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing! O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord! Blessing Go now, and celebrate God’s love all your days. Give to Christ Jesus the obedience of faith, offering yourself as the servant of the Lord and allowing God’s Word to be fulfilled in you. And may the only wise God establish you forever. May the mysteries of Christ be conceived within you. And may the Holy Spirit strengthen and encircle you. Amen. Postlude Announcements A Service of Communion and Light will be held Christmas Eve, December 24, from 7-8PM at the sanctuary entrance. You may come any time during that hour. The Communion elements will be distributed in sealed containers for purposes of health and safety. Please wear your mask and maintain a safe distance from other worshipers. May the blessings of hope, peace, joy, and love be yours this Christmas and always. Cinda Harkless Prelude
Lighting the Candle of Joy Robin McComas, Charles and Barrett Seay, with Ellis Ciccolella recording *Hymn People, Look East, verses 1-3 Eleanor Farjoen, 1881-1965 1. People, look east. The time is near of the crowning of the year. Make your house fair as you are able, trim the hearth and set the table. People, look east and sing today: Love, the guest, is on the way. 2. Furrows be glad, though earth is bare, one more seed is planted there. Give up your strength the seed to nourish, that in course, the flower may flourish. People, look east and sing today: Love, the rose, is on the way. 3. Birds, though you long have ceased to build, guard the nest that must be filled. Even the hour when wings are frozen, God for fledging time has chosen. People, look east and sing today: Love, the bird, is on the way. Prayer We come, O God, with thanksgiving and praise. Our anticipation grows as we approach the day of Jesus’ birth. Open our hearts that we may truly receive the gift of your Son, and know the joy of abundant life with you. Through Christ, who comes to make all things new. Amen. Scripture Reading Luke 1:39-56 The Morning Message Mary’s Song Once upon a Sunday, in a Pentecostal church, which is typically a little more lively than a Presbyterian church, the preacher got so wound up with the Holy Spirit, joy and excitement just poured out from her and spilled onto the congregation. She was so full of the Spirit, in fact, that she had some left over, and when she stepped down out of the pulpit, she twirled around on the red carpet a few times, pumped her arms in the air, and shouted, “Yes, Lord! Woo-hoo! Woo-hoooo! A-men!” W. H. Auden once wrote, “When grace strikes you, you have to sing and dance.” I can agree with that. Today is the third Sunday in Advent. Gaudete Sunday, the Sunday of joy. It provides us a reprieve from the quiet reflective days of Advent and cracks the door on what lies ahead. I don’t plan to dance down the aisle at the end of the service, but, I do wonder if we might be missing out on occasions of unrestrained joy. There seems to be a shortage of joy these days. We are living through a grim time, aren’t we? I don’t have to name all the issues that are complicating life right now. We are all too well aware of them. Ed and I stayed up way too late Tuesday night after we heard news of the explosion at the former Dupont plant. That plant is very close to Cedar Grove, where my husband grew up and where his brother lives. They were on the phone with each other at midnight… because that’s what you do when tragedy strikes so close to home. Just checking in gives us a sense of the peace that passes understanding, even in the throes of tragedy. Episcopal priest, Barbara Brown Taylor, writes, “Joy doesn’t depend on what’s going on in the world. This is what makes joy different from happiness, pleasure, or fun. All of those depend on positive conditions…good health, good job, happy family, lots of toys. But the only condition for joy is the presence of God.” “Joy happens when God is present and people know it, which means that it can erupt in a depressed economy, in the middle of a war, in an intensive care waiting room…or on a Sunday morning at 11:30.” Think about when you have witnessed this type of joy. It can happen in some unlikely places. Do you remember the Iran hostage crisis? Several American diplomats were taken hostage and subjected to unknown conditions. Attempts to free them had failed. But on Christmas Day, the Rev. William Sloan Coffin, of the Riverside Church in New York City, was granted permission to visit the men and women held captive. Seated at a piano, Bill Coffin led the hostages in singing Christmas carols. As they recalled the words to familiar carols, the expressions on their worn and weathered faces softened. As they sang about peace on earth and good will to all, they bore witness to Christian hope. They would still be hostages the next day, but that night, it seemed possible that they might sleep in heavenly peace. Closer to home, it was about seven years ago, when I answered the phone and my daughter was on the other end telling me that I had gotten my wish at long last: she was pregnant. Ed was outside retrieving our mail from the mailbox. It’s across the street from our house…and he heard me whooping and hollering so loudly that he said he knew without asking what caused my joyous outburst. You know what happened next: this news was too good to keep to ourselves… we had to tell someone! And so we did. When grace strikes you, you just have to sing and dance, call your family, and rush out to buy life-sized teddy bears! When Mary found out she was to have a baby, she started singing, “My spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” When she reached her cousin, Elizabeth’s home, she was awed by the mystery of it all, and she intones the song attributed to Hannah, one of the mothers of the Hebrew faith, when she learned she would bear a son, Samuel. Mary praised God for finding her worthy of the privilege of bearing this child, for bringing down the powerful, lifting up the lowly, and filling the hungry with good things… all game-changers in Mary’s day and in ours. When God’s presence breaks in, we can’t ignore it. We open our mouths and notes pour out. I was teaching a first grade Sunday School class years ago. When it was time for class to end, the older sister of one of my students came into the room to retrieve her brother. She was singing the sweetest tune. I asked her what it was she was singing. She replied, “I don’t know. I just heard it in my heart.” Pure joy. The same joy that prompted unrestrained song from an aged Hannah, a shocked Zechariah, a teenaged Mary, barren Elizabeth, angels in the cold dark night, Simeon and Anna upon Jesus’ presentation in the temple… …You and me and believers everywhere when we are given the word that singing is not a danger to our health any longer. Then we might just dance down the aisle, singing with all that’s in us, “My soul magnifies the Lord!” Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer Gracious God, we give thanks today for the gifts of love and life, for the gift of joy that transcends this season and sustains us year-long, for the gift of comfort when our joy is dimmed, for the gifts of mercy, healing, and wholeness, for the gifts of patience and serenity, for the gift of hope as we prepare our hearts for the Savior’s birth. As Christ has come to change our world, we pray that he may be born in us afresh, and that through the ministry and mission of the faithful of this age the world may be re-shaped and renewed, and we may see your kingdom emerge among us. Comfort your people who are in any distress, including those we name in our hearts, strengthen all caregivers, enable the faithful to persevere, enlighten those who govern that they may protect and provide for the local and global community. Usher in your peace, that passes all understanding, and keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, in whose name we pray, saying, Our Father…Amen. Hymn People, Look East, verses 4 and 5 4. Stars, keep the watch, when night is dim, one more light the bowl shall brim, Shining beyond the frosty weather, bright as the sun and moon together. People, look east, and sing today: Love, the star is on the way. 5. Angels, announce with shouts of mirth, Christ, who brings new life to earth. Set every peak and valley humming, with the word, the Lord is coming. People, look east, and sing today: Love, the Lord, is on the way. Blessing Go now, for you are chosen and sent in the Spirit. Pray at all times, be thankful in all circumstances. Keep what is good, avoid every kind of evil. To all in need bear witness that the time is come when yhe Sovereign Lord will save his people. And may God who gives peace make you holy in every way. May Christ Jesus clothe you with salvation and victory. And may the Holy Spirit speak through you with the good news of life everlasting. Amen. Postlude Announcements Weather permitting, and in observance of health and safety precautions, we will hold a Christmas Eve Service of Communion and Light, Thursday, December 24th. You may come to the sanctuary entrance of the church anytime between 7 and 8PM to receive the Sacrament of Communion and celebrate the birth of the Lord of Love. Please remember to return your pledge card. This helps us prepare the budget for 2021. We are thankful for all gifts given to support the ministry and mission of Kuhn Memorial. Prelude
Lighting the Candle of Peace Vince and Brenda Keys, Annie Kendrick and Brooks, Elliot Keys with Josh Keys recording Greensboro, North Carolina Today we light the candle of peace. We all hope for peace. As you read your Sunday paper, notice all the places, near and far, consumed by fear, where struggle is the people’s daily bread, and there is no real rest from labor. Consider all the people of the world in need of God’s peace. How might you be an agent of peace? Hear these words of scripture from the prophet Isaiah: The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. Isaiah 11:6 And these words from Second Peter: In accordance with God’s promise we wait for new heavens and a new earth where righteousness is at home. 2 Peter 3:13 Let us pray for God’s peace: Almighty God, you have made us and all things to serve you. Now prepare the world for your rule. Come quickly to save us, so that wars and violence shall end, and your children may live in peace, honoring one another with justice and love; through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. Hymn O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Text: Latin prose, pre- 19th century; Music: Plainsong, adapt. Thomas Helmore, 1852 1 O Come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. 2 O come, thou Wisdom from on high, who ordains all things mightily; to us the path of knowledge show; and teach us in her ways to go. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. 5 O come, thou Key of David, come, and open wide our heavenly home; make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path to misery. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. Prayer of the Day May this eternal truth be always on our hearts: That the God who breathed this world into being, placed the stars in the heavens, and designed a butterfly’s wing… is the God who entrusted his life to the care of ordinary people and became vulnerable that we might know how strong is the power of Love… a mystery so deep it is impossible to grasp, a mystery so beautiful it is impossible to ignore. Amen. Scripture Readings Isaiah 40:1-11; Mark 1:1-8 The Morning Message I read a story this week that captured the scripture readings in just the right way for us today. The Rev, Nathaniel Phillips, of the Kirk in the Hills Presbyterian Church in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan* writes that one summer he led a mission trip to his hometown in Maine. His group had a day off and they were headed to the beach for a day of rest, relaxation, and fellowship. He writes, “My wife is there, too, with my five-year-old daughter and our baby who is just a few weeks old. My wife is driving our car to the lake and I am guiding the group so I am in the church van. I am riding as a passenger, offering directions to the driver on our way through town to the lake. We will have a picnic there, we’ll play Frisbee, we’ll swim.” They must be much hardier than this preacher. Have you been to Maine? Even in the summer, it’s sweater weather. Phillips continues with his story: “As this is my hometown, I’ve seen the Farmington roadside go by thousands of times, and I tell our driver to stay straight on Route 4 until we hit the next town. All the familiarity seeps in, I am drifting…” “As we pass the diner, my eyes lock on the spinning blue lights of a police car. And there, in front of the diner, I see my wife. She is running with purpose around our car to the backseat where I know our three-week-old baby girl is strapped in. The police car is behind hers and the officer stands, looking helpless, next to the car. An ambulance brackets our vehicle from the front. Panic shoots through me. “That’s my wife,” I say to nobody in particular. We need to turn around. We need to turn around! The most dreadful possibilities race through his mind in the seconds it takes to turn around and go back to the scene. Was there an accident? Did the baby choke on something? And he prays, please God, let everything be OK. And by turning around, they became fully informed about what had happened. He says this incident reminds him of how we receive the good news about our lives and faith. People tend to talk about choosing to embrace the Christian faith, or any other faith, as though it is an intellectual exercise. Our Reformed and Presbyterian understanding is that we don’t get to choose whether God loves us, but we do get to chose whether we will turn around from whatever path we are on, like Phillips turned the church van around that day in Maine, and live into that marvelous love of God. We don’t get to decide whether God loves this or that person, whether or not they are worthy of love, but we do get to help the world turn around and live into that love. Living into God’s love should take us down the road that leads to peace. Going down that road often calls for change. This is John’s message in the gospel text. He calls the people to repent, turn around, for the kingdom of heaven is near. This account is also found in the gospel of Matthew. Matthew uses the Greek word, metanoia, which is translated “repent.” Meta means change and nous means mind. So, John is calling us to change our minds…go in another direction. This idea of turning around is not new to our New Testament characters. In Hebrew, we find the word, shuv. It is translated “repent,” and it, too, means to turn around, to change our ways. Last week Ed and his brother were watching a basketball game. Their team was lagging behind. They were headed toward a loss when they should have been winning considering the team they were playing. I heard one of the spectators shout at the television, “You’ve got to turn this around, boys!” Indeed, they needed to change their strategy before they were defeated. Apparently that was the message they heard in the locker room at half time. Because when they took the floor for the second half, they turned the game around and won it. We aren’t all basketball players. But we all make decisions every day that define our lives. What kind of emotional climate do we set for the day? What face will we wear when we greet the other people who live in our home? How will we approach the day’s tasks? How will we respond to an emergency? Or a disappointment? Or the governor’s press briefing? I usually appreciate those press briefings. A few days ago, he referred to the residents of West Virginia as frogs and that we are “proud of our pond.” I’m still thinking about that one… Most of us will not make the decisions the governor faces each day. But we will be affected by his choices. We all hope he takes us down the road that leads to success in all the ways that impact our lives as West Virginians. This year, the decisions have been critical life or death choices. Sometimes those choices produce anxiety and sometimes they are more reassuring. We receive them with a sense of peace. The bottom line is we are always on a quest for peace. When we lay our heads on our pillows at night, we don’t want to toss and turn, worrying about the day’s events, the day’s choices. We want rest. We need peace. What are some ways we can find peace now, today? I can only speak for myself. I’ll crack the door on the climate in our house. I have been known to wait until everyone goes to bed and then clean the house, or do the laundry or some other task because it is unacceptable to me to go to bed if there are dishes in the sink or crumbs on the floor. I am as addicted to neatness as some are to alcohol. I have learned that they are both destructive. Both are methods that are meant to ease anxiety. But, in reality, both rob their practitioners of peace. Frederick Buechner reminds us that, “The real turning point in our lives is less likely to be the day we win the election or get married, than the morning we decide to mail the letter or the afternoon we watch the woods fill up with snow. The real turning point in human history is less apt to be the day the wheel is invented or Rome falls, than the day a child is born in a stable.” Can you imagine, if we had been in that church van in Maine the day Nathaniel Phillips saw his wife’s car surrounded by emergency vehicles? We, too would have been compelled to stop and turn around. We would have turned around for that baby. And we would have found what Nathaniel did that day: that the baby had worked herself up into such a lather that his wife was concentrating more on taking care of the baby’s needs than the speed she was driving. We’ve probably all been there. She was near the diner when a police officer pulled her over. She pulled into the diner parking lot right behind an ambulance already parked there. Apparently the EMTs were taking their breakfast break. Nathaniel was compelled to turn around so he could be with his wife and children that morning in Maine. He had to turn around. So, what about us? Can we turn around from whatever is distracting us to be fully present for the baby in the manger? When will we stop, turn around, and think about the life of that baby? WE we consider how he grew in wisdom and stature, accepted his mission from God, his father, and eventually exchanged his swaddling clothes for a robe that was gambled over and a crown of thorns on the head his mother had kissed? These things he did for us. These things he did for love. These things he did to bring us peace. And even if we don’t choose him, he chooses us. His arms are always open. In them we will always find peace. May it be so for all of us. Amen. Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer O God, our Peace, On this Sunday of preparation, this Sunday that celebrates your peace, help us so to live that peace may be found in our lives, homes, workplaces, and our church. May we do our part to usher in peace in the world and in the Village of Barboursville. Where we have sinned, move us to repentance, and help us to muster the courage to make amends with those we’ve harmed in thought, word, or deed. Where others have sinned against us, may we find a sense of forgiveness and trust that you will reconcile all things in your time. We pray for all those who face violence daily, for all in need, for those near and far away who are sick or troubled, for all suffering due to the pandemic, for those who mourn, for all leaders everywhere, that they may seek the welfare of the city, nation, and the world. Make us all new in the One to whom John pointed, Jesus, our Savior and friend, praying as he taught us, saying, Our Father…Amen. Hymn O Come, O Come, Emmanuel 6 O Come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer thy people by thine Advent here. Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. 7 O come, Desire of Nations, bind all peoples in one heart and mind; bid envy, strife, and discord cease; fill the whole world with heaven’s peace. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. Blessing Go now: wait and work for the coming of the Lord. In the wild places prepare a straight path for our God. Lead lives of holiness and godliness, strive to be found at peace, and speak freely of the Lord’s comfort and promise. And may God our shepherd gather you in loving arms, may Christ Jesus reconcile justice and peace within you; and may the Spirit fill you with holy intentions. Postlude *Day1.org Announcement We welcome your participation in our Advent/Christmas worship. Please contact Cinda Harkless to make arrangements. 304.634.5831 cell/text [email protected] Prelude
Lighting the Candle of Hope James Walters, Readers Light a candle before beginning the reading. It does not matter what kind of candle. One of the interesting things about the pandemic is seeing how resourceful people can be. Read: Advent is a time of holy expectation. Of waiting. Of preparing for the coming of the Christ Child. For the four Sundays before Christmas, we prepare ourselves by recalling both the prophecies that foretold of Christ’s coming and the gospel stories of his birth. In prayer, we examine our hearts and reflect on our life of faith. We consider the needs of the world, as well as the needs of those close to home. We seek a fresh sense of God’s presence and power for the year ahead. On this first Sunday we light the candle of hope. We light this candle as a sign of the coming light of Christ. Advent means coming. The prophet Isaiah announced: We are preparing ourselves for the days when the nations shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. Isaiah 2:4 Prayer Eternal God, through long generations you prepared a way for the coming of your Son, and by your Spirit, you still bring light to illumine our paths. Renew us in faith and hope that we may welcome Christ to rule our thoughts and claim our love, as Lord of lords and King of kings, to whom be glory forever. Amen Book of Common Worship, Westminster, John Knox Press, 1993, Louisville, Ky. Hymn Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus Charles Wesley Come, thou long-expected Jesus, born to set thy people free. From our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee. Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art. Dear desire of every nation, joy of every trembling heart. Born thy people to deliver; born a child and yet a king. Born to reign in us forever; now thy gracious kingdom bring. By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone. By thine all-sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne. Prayer of Confession God of the future, you are coming in power to bring all nations under your rule. We confess that we have not expected your kingdom, for we live causal lives, ignoring your promised judgment. We accept lies as truth, exploit neighbors, abuse the earth, and refuse your justice and peace. In your mercy, forgive us. Grant us wisdom to welcome your way, and to seek things that will endure when Christ comes to judge the world. Take, O Take Me as I Am Summon out what I shall be. Set your seal upon my heart and live in me. Repeat. Assurance of Pardon The mercies of the Lord are from everlasting to everlasting. Know you are forgiven and be at peace. Scripture Reading Luke 1:1-4, 26-38 The Morning Message Once in Chicago there was a group of boys, teen-age type, who assembled themselves under the basketball hoops at their school. They did this almost daily. Good friends. Stayed out of trouble and were generally good to have around. On one particular day, a big, tall and bald African American man strode up and asked if he could play a little with them. They looked him over and said sure, that would be ok. Then they went to work wearing each other out, an event of sweating and heavy breathing from one end of the playground to the other. The new guy was good. He could jump and run and never missed a shot. But he was not a ball hog and wasn’t mean. The boys glanced at each other often during this event. Who is this guy, they silently asked each other, and why would he want to spend time with us? They suspected he might be that famous basketball star whose initials are MJ, but surely he wouldn’t be caught dead on a school playground with a bunch of boys who wouldn’t impress anyone with their skills. So on they ran and jumped and shot and rebounded until the sun went down and it was time to head for home. On the way, they wondered if it could really be MJ or was it just wishful thinking? Luke goes to great effort to tell his readers that the story we are about to hear is authentic, real. He sets it in a concrete time and place to lend authority to his facts. In 1968 my grandmother and I went to England to visit my uncle and his family. They lived there off and on for twenty years. Neither of us had a passport, so there was some leg work to be done. Mine was no problem. Grandma’s was. She was born in 1916 in Ironton, Ohio. The Lawrence County courthouse had since burned and all records including birth records had been destroyed. So, in order to have proof of her birthplace, birth date and birth parents, she had to find someone who could testify in a court of law to these things. And she did. She located “Aunt Addie” who was present at the birth of one Phyllis Eileen Parker, on Dec. 14, 1916, in Ironton, Ohio. That is what Luke is doing here, laying out proof these things took place. They were not conjured up by some religious cult or the teachings of a camel-shirted mystic. The news can be trusted. And before we think that people are immediately enlightened by good tidings of great joy, think again. Remember how often we question just how authentic and reliable our own news is in 2020. The whole year seems like a continuous newsfeed. Some reliable, some not. Brian Blount, of Union Seminary, reminds us that the Christmas we celebrate today is a far cry from the one the shepherds attended and the angels sang about. He called the first Christmas, the birthday of Jesus, an “edgy thing.” This was a radical thing that God was doing, something way out on the edge of wisdom and experience. It was certainly not what an oppressed people had in mind. A baby? A needy little kid? And worse, a poor, needy, probably illegitimate baby? Yes. When Cyreneous was Governor of Syria in a town called Bethlehem. He grew in wisdom and stature. He assumed a rabbi’s life. He spent his days among the people…healing the sick and hurting, comforting the hearts of the bereaved, feeding hungry crowds, pointing the way out of a sinful, destructive life and toward a loving, generous, forgiving God. This was the life the early followers were called to share. This is the story of our faith and we celebrate it every year, though we may do that differently this year. And I think that may be a good thing. Our lack of Christmas parties and programs may just offer us a little extra time for thoughtful reflection. We could approach this season as a time to ask ourselves if we’ve grown any this year, learned something new, made a new friend or helped someone. We may even be brave enough to review our hardships, the moments of pain and struggle, the times we didn’t feel like trusting God and we didn’t see any need to forgive our debtors. These are our edges, the gnarly places that have been around every corner this year. How many of us know someone who has lost a job or lost a family member? As compassionate believers, how readily have we shared the good news of Jesus Christ with someone in need or hurting, to take them a plate of something or comfort them when their hearts were breaking? There have been many , many opportunities to skate on that gospel edge this year, too. Can we trust scripture? Is it still reliable? Can we apply the lessons of the first believers to our 21st century lives? Yes. Mary was only around 15 years old when the angel visited her announcing the news about her pregnancy. What most young women of her day would consider a scandal, a thing of shame, Mary received as a gift. The life she bore, with all its complications, gave life to the world. I thought about this many times recently. The pandemic has us thinking and planning and behaving differently. But how many of us went to some extra effort to make up for the sense of loss we experienced this Thanksgiving? Did you Zoom or Facetime or text repeatedly on Thursday to let your loved ones know how very much you missed them? To say, “I love you. You are important to me.” We have met enormous challenges in 2020. Edgy realities were forced upon us. But we are Christians. And if this season gives our lives meaning, then we will meet whatever 2021 holds…I am so thankful to be in this life and in this time with all of you. Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer God of all years, you have blessed us in so many ways. Our hearts are full of gratitude. Though most of us celebrated Thanksgiving in a different way, apart from loved ones, we are never far from you. Your presence comforts us. As we dedicate ourselves to mindfulness over our health and safety, we have hope that we may soon live with more freedom of movement and freedom from fear. Our neighbors, friends and family have many needs. Walk alongside them, Lord, as you have done with your people over time, that they might find peace and security in you love and compassion. As we begin this season of Advent, our hopes are genuine, that you will come in glory to reconcile all things. With a sense of healing and wholeness, we give you all thanks and praise, this day and always, as we pray in Jesus’ name, saying, Our Father…Amen. Blessing Isaiah 12 Surely God is our salvation, we will trust in God and not be afraid, for the Lord God is our Strength and Might. Shout aloud and sing for joy…for great in our midst is the Holy One of Zion. Postlude Announcements The Worship and Evangelism Committee welcomes your contributions for worship this Advent season. Please contact Cinda Harkless to make arrangements. 304,634.5831(cell/text) Prelude
Call to Worship Revelation 22:13 The Lord is a great God who says, “I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Prayer of the Day Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things to your well-beloved Son, our Lord and King, grant that the people of earth, now divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his gentle and loving rule, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen. Hymn We Gather Together to Ask the Lord’s Blessing We gather together, to ask the Lord’s blessing. He chastens and hastens his will to make known; the wicked oppressing now cease from distressing. Sing praises to his name, he forgets not his own. We all do adore thee, thou leader triumphant, and pray that thou still our defender wilt be. Let thy congregation escape tribulation; Thy name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free! Reading from Scripture Matthew 25:31-46 The Morning Message I have two questions for us to consider today: 1.Do you choose to live in the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ…or not? 2.How can you make your choice real? I confess that this is not an original idea, but one I heard during Thursday’s presbytery meeting. It was also the subject of a blog I enjoy reading.* I ask these questions, because, we have come to the end of the liturgical year, the very last Sunday. Advent, preparing for the birth of Christ, is our first season. As we move through the months, we meet Jesus at the mileposts of his life. When we get to this Sunday, Christ the King, or Reign of Christ, we are called on to consider the year we’ve traveled, how we have related to Christ and how we have exhibited his kingdom on earth. This year, Christ the King Sunday may mark the end of the church year, but it does not mark the end of our challenges. They will continue and that truth hurts. How many of us quietly held onto the hope that, though this year of the pandemic has been disruptive in so many, many ways, we had Thanksgiving and Christmas to look forward to? I certainly did. My husband and I miss our daughters and our grandchildren all the time. They are in North Carolina. But, we always visit at the holidays. It’s like filling up at the emotional fuel station. Memories are made, plans are made to tide us over til the next visit. Our son-in-law lost his grandfather this year. There is nothing like being in the heart of family to heal a wound that deep. But, it may not be possible in this season. We are being warned against traveling. Here we are. Christ the King Sunday, the feast day that celebrates the fact that, though earthly rulers come and go, and even at the height of their power, they only rule over a very small part of the created universe. But, Jesus’ reign is eternal and cosmic in its proportions. It is a reign that is founded on the principals of justice and integrity-where those who live according to the values of the Kingdom will feel at home- and those who do not will find it an alien place. Christ knows us, all of us, no matter our circumstances. And Christ knows that how we live our lives, day in and day out, shows what kind of person we are. How we live is a better measure of our character than what we say. In this text, Jesus’ criteria for separating people is based on their actions, how they live out their days on this earth. Those that had done the tasks of Kingdom living-feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned-they were told, that whenever they ministered to a person in need, they were doing those things unto Jesus himself. This shouldn’t have been earth-shaking news. This is what they had witnessed Jesus himself doing. Then, turning to the others, Jesus said that when they refused to help a person in need, they were refusing him. This was a surprise, too, but, it shouldn’t have been. Jesus was teaching, or re-teaching-a fundamental rule of kingdom-living: We are the body of Christ. We are united with him- in life, death, and resurrection. What we do, one for another, builds up, enriches, and heals the body. What we fail to do, when we fail to serve as Christ serves, weakens and diminishes the body. Jesus is a king unlike any ruler of this earth. For which we can truly thank God. Jesus is not an authoritarian, a despot who orders his subjects to be at his beck and call. A tyrant who wields insults and inflicts pain because that’s the way he intimidates and controls people. No. Jesus, is the king who throws open the doors of his dwelling-place and invites us all in. Jesus welcomes us into the fullness of his life. A life that calls a little boy to share his lunch, a life that compels a paralyzed man’s friends to cut a hole in the roof of a house so he can be lowered into Jesus’ presence. A life of spiritual adventure. So, friends, will you choose kingdom-living in the year ahead? If you live with a sense of mutuality, if you find comfort, peace, fulfillment, in community, you will likely find this way of life appealing. If you are a solitary soul, independent, not a joiner, you might find this way of life un-appealing. I get it. I have strong introversion tendencies. Being alone usually isn’t a problem for me. But, I urge you to trust Jesus and his associates on this. Eight months of solitude gets old, even to an introvert. I think we know how 2020 ends. What we don’t know is what the future holds. But we know who holds the future. I can live with that. So, I invite you to choose Christ’s realm and to make that choice real. *Wellspring of the Gospel Prayers of the Faithful and the Lord’s Prayer O God, the first and the last, our beginning and our ending, hear our prayers on this Christ the King Sunday. Remind us that our true citizenship is in your kingdom and empower us to seek your love, justice, and mercy in all we do and say. Grant us courage to speak out against any hatred, prejudice, or abuse of power that seeks to harm others. May we work to usher in a fuller image of your kingdom here on earth, where all are treated with respect, where none go without life’s basic necessities, and people of all races, religions, and circumstances are welcomed and valued. As we review these last days of the church year, may our good intentions be blessed and may we be granted grace where we failed. We pray for those who are need of healing and wholeness this day, those in our fellowship of faith, and those we name in our hearts. As the pandemic wears on, encourage and strengthen us to persevere. While we will miss coming together with friends and families in this season, comfort us with your presence while we are absent one from the other. We pray in Jesus’ name and for his sake, saying, Our Father…Amen. Hymn Crown Him With Many Crowns Crown him with many crows, the Lamb upon his throne; hark, how the heavenly anthem drowns all music but his own! Awake, my soul, and sing of him who died for thee, and hail him as thy matchless King through all eternity. Crown him the Lord of Love; behold his hands and side, rich wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified; no angel in the sky can fully bear that sight, but downward bends his burning eye at mysteries so bright. Crown him the Lord of Peace, whose power a scepter sways From pole to pole, that wars may cease, absorbed in prayer and praise. His reign shall know no end; and round his pierced feet fair flowers of paradise extend their fragrance ever sweet. Crown his the Lord of Years, the Potentate of Time; Creator of the rolling spheres, ineffably sublime. All hail, Redeemer, hail! For thou hast died for me; Thy praise shall never, never fail throughout eternity. Blessing Through every season of every year, may God’s blessing be upon you that you may be strengthened to do your part in advancing Christ’s Kingdom. Amen. Postlude Kuhn Memorial Presbyterian Church 955 Main St. Barboursville, West Virginia 25504 November 15, 202011/14/2020
Worship for November 15, 2020 The following service of worship was produced by the staff of the Presbytery of West Virginia. Appropriate for the season, the theme directs our attention to the themes of Thanksgiving and Stewardship. May you find it a blessing. Gratefully yours, Cinda Harkless STEWARDSHIP-THEMED SERVICE OF WORSHIP
LED BY THE STAFF OF THE PRESBYTERY OF WEST VIRGINIA November 2020 Call to Worship Sarah Specht and Ed Thompson One: Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth. All: We glorify our God with songs of thanksgiving and joy. One: God has done great things for us, filling us with joy. All: God fed our ancestors in the wilderness, God clothes us with hope. One: We will offer our hearts to God, always saying, 'thank you!' to the one who loves us. All: We will sing our praises, shouting of God's presence in our lives. Let us worship God. Hymn “Now Thank We All Our God” Susan Sharp Campbell 1 Now thank we all our God with heart and hands and voices, who wondrous things hath done, in whom this world rejoices; who, from our mothers' arms, hath blessed us on our way with countless gifts of love, and still is ours today. 2 O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us, with ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us; and keep us in God's grace, and guide us when perplexed, and free us from all ills in this world and the next. 3 All praise and thanks to God, who reigns in highest heaven, to Father and to Son and Spirit now be given: the one eternal God, whom heaven and earth adore, the God who was, and is, and shall be evermore. Call to Confession Sarah Specht God has poured out God’s grace that overflows for us through Christ Jesus. Trusting in God’s grace, let us confess our sins. Prayer of Confession Ed Thompson God of every blessing, too often we sow sparingly, because we want to be the ones who reap. We don’t want to share the reward of our work. We question the motives of people who ask for our help. Too often we sow sparingly, because we fear we will not have enough. Too often we sow sparingly, because we lose confidence that our offerings make a difference. We confess that we sow sparingly, because we forget to see the world you are calling into being, emerging in the very midst of the world as we know it. We confess that we think this work is all up to us, instead of trusting your providence. Open our hearts and hands and minds, Generous One, to new vision and new trust. Help us, God, to know that in the very act of giving, we are praying for a healed world. Remind us that our gifts are seeds that multiply into a great harvest. A-men. Assurance of Pardon Sarah Specht This is the good news: as God dresses creation in wonder, so you will be clothed in grace; as God pours out abundance upon the earth, so you will be blessed with peace and joy. Thanks be to God for healing, for life, for wonder, for mercy. We are blessed, for we are forgiven. Amen. Prayer for Illumination Amy Robinson Holy and gracious God, may your Holy Spirit give us a spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that, with the eyes of our hearts enlightened, we may know the hope to which Christ has called us, the riches of his glorious inheritance among us, and the greatness of his power for those who believe. Amen. Scripture Readings Deuteronomy 8:7-18 Rocky Poole 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 Time with the Children Maureen Wright Sermon Rocky Poole Hymn “We Give Thee but Thine Own” 1 We give thee but thine own, whate'er the gift may be; all that we have is thine alone, a trust, O Lord, from thee. 2 May we thy bounties thus as stewards true receive, and gladly, as thou blessest us, to thee our first fruits give. 3 The captive to release, to God the lost to bring, to teach the way of life and peace: it is a Christ-like thing. 4 And we believe thy word, though dim our faith may be; whate'er we do for thine, O Lord, we do it unto thee. Prayers of the People Mark Miller Offering Nellie Howard Offertory Music Barbara Chalfant Prayer of Dedication Hymn “Take My Life “ 1 Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee; take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise; let them flow in ceaseless praise. 2 Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of thy love; take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for thee, swift and beautiful for thee. 3 Take my voice and let me sing always, only, for my King; take my lips and let them be filled with messages from thee, filled with messages from thee. 4 Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold; take my intellect and use every power as thou shalt choose, every power as thou shalt choose. 5 Take my will and make it thine; it shall be no longer mine. Take my heart, it is thine own; it shall be thy royal throne, it shall be thy royal throne. 6 Take my love; my Lord, I pour at thy feet its treasure store; take myself and I will be ever, only, all for thee, ever, only, all for thee. Benediction Rocky Poole The Call to Worship and Assurance of Pardon are from lectionaryliturgies.blogspot.com, 11/17/14 by Thom M. Shuman. The Prayer of Confession is adapted from ucc.org/oghs/resources. The Prayer for Illumination is from pcusa.org. Kuhn Memorial Presbyterian Church 955 Main St. Barboursville, West Virginia 25504 November 8, 202011/7/2020
Prelude
Call to Worship Psalm 78 Let us open our minds to God’s teaching; and tune our ear to God’s word. Let us listen to the stories of the faith of our ancestors; and share our stories with our children. We put our trust in God. We worship the One who gives us life. Prayer of the Day God of heaven and earth, God of sunrise and sunset, God of the highest mountain and the deepest valley, hear our prayers as we come before you. Declare your message to us and grant us the courage to listen. May our listening turn to action. May our actions touch the hearts of those who need to hear your voice. We live today and every day confident of your everlasting presence, care, and love. Amen. Hymn Thy Word Is a Lamp Unto My Feet Text: Amy Grant; Music: Michael W. Smith, 1984 Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto thy path. When I feel afraid, and I think I’ve lost my way, still you’re there right beside me. Nothing will I fear as long as you are near. Please be near me to the end. Repeat. Readings from Scripture Joshua 24:14-24 Matthew 25:1-13 The Morning Message “As for me and my house, we will love the Lord.” This beautiful cross stitch has been in my office ever since I was ordained. It was a gift from a friend and former member of the church I served for almost twenty-five years. The needle work is lovely, and the Bible verse is one by which my friend lives. She is a ruling elder, but, truth be told, she is a minister, living out her calling as a therapist, working with people caught in the real hell of drug and alcohol abuse, giving them hope and courage to begin the life-long commitment to recovery. This sets them on the path to be reconciled to God and loved ones. In many churches, this is stewardship season. It was during last year’s stewardship season that I first joined you as your pastor-to-be. That special dinner, held every year around Thanksgiving, is a time to come together and consider all God has given us, now and eternally, and how we might return to God what is God’s- our time, our gifts, and our money. Because of the pandemic, the church is doing lots of things differently, including stewardship campaigns. It is a quiet one this year. We are missing a delicious fellowship meal and the joy of one another’s company. But we are not without hope. We know that we will be together one day to break bread and catch up. Until and beyond that time, the mission and ministry of Kuhn Memorial continues. The question still remains: How shall I respond to God’s love and care for me? For my family? For my church? How do I thank God for this life of blessing, even in these challenging times? In our Old Testament reading, Joshua preaches, what pastor Peter Wallace calls “a barnburner of a stewardship sermon.” Joshua declares to the Israelites, “If you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve.” In other words, if you won’t serve the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, then go right ahead and choose the idol of your fancy. “But, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” And what do the people do? They shout, “Yes! Yes! We will serve the Lord!” But then Joshua tests them: “You cannot serve the Lord, for he is a holy God, a jealous God. If you forsake the Lord and serve idols, then God will turn and do you harm…” The message apparently finds its mark because the people reply, “No, we will serve the Lord!” We Presbyterians avoid talking about “sinners in the hands of an angry God.” We don’t urge giving as fire insurance. Instead, we focus on God’s love and grace and providence. We believe stewardship touches all aspects of our lives. How we spend our time, how we care for our homes and vehicles, how we educate our children are all a matter of stewardship. In our gospel reading, Jesus tells the parable of the bridesmaids. Now, I officiated a wedding recently. It was a beautiful day, full of joy and hope and dancing and a bountiful feast. The sun was high in the azure October sky. Color was all around the outdoor setting. If the wedding party ran out of anything, we’ll never know. It seemed pretty flawless to me. In the Matthew text, we are at a wedding. A number of young women are awaiting the groom’s arrival. When he arrives, they will accompany him to the bride’s home. That was the custom. Apparently he watched the game too long and got a late start to the ceremony. The delay had an impact on the bridesmaids. Some of the girls had extra oil and could keep their lamps burning, but some packed light for this event and they ran out. So, the “foolish” ones run out to the mall to buy more oil. When they return, the party has started, the door is shut, and they miss out. Now, we usually hear this story in judgmental terms, in reference to Christ’s ultimate return to judge the living and the dead. But, borrowing again from Peter Wallace, let’s reframe this story a bit. He suggests that Jesus may be setting us up in this story. We are so anxious to get the point that we miss it. This parable is more than who has oil and who does not. Who meets the groom when he arrives late for his own party, and who is running errands. It’s about more than who gets into the wedding and who the bouncer sends packing. Wallace suggests it’s a story of relationships. He says sometimes we’re so distracted by our lamps and our oil, the height of the grass in our front yard, the hundred Zoom links we have to juggle to keep up with our classes in Covid Academy, that we focus on the “doing” in life, the busyness and duties, that neglect the “being.” We cross tasks off a list, and we’re good at it, but in the process, we sacrifice our relationships. Some questions are raised in this text that are never answered. Like, why was the groom so late? That seems disrespectful to the bride and her family. Why didn’t the girls who had oil to spare not share it? Why did the others go shopping when they knew they ran the risk of missing the groom? And, why would a host be so offended that he would slam the door in the faces of some teenage girls who misjudged the supplies they needed to participate in a wedding tradition? We can get so obsessed with our obligations that we forget to take care of ourselves. A friend of mine once said she had gotten so tied up with the care of her kids, checking their school work, and getting them to the doctor for flu shots, that she hadn’t visited the bathroom all day. I know, I could have kept that to myself. But, the point is, we should never find ourselves so busy that we fail to care for the body we’ve been given, for it is God’s masterpiece, too. We may read this story differently at another time, but, for today, this is my take on it. We all have lamps and oil. It doesn’t matter how much oil we have, or how plentiful our resources are or aren’t. What matters is receiving and using our gifts as expressions of our gratitude for grace given. During these stressful days, those expressions may be found in loving and supporting one another while we are apart. This is one way we can live out Joshua’s words, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Prayers of the Faithful and the Lord’s Prayer Blessing Go now and follow in the footsteps of those who have gone before us in Christ. Love the Lord. Serve God in sincerity and faithfulness. Teach those who come after you to trust in God. And may God protect you along the way; May Christ Jesus keep you alert and prepared. And may the Holy Spirit fuel the lamp that guides your path. Postlude Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.
And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1 Prelude Call to Worship Holy God of wind and fire, dance through our worship today. Holy God of earthquakes and illness, share our memories, our tears of sadness and loss. Holy God of creation and new beginnings, show us again your vision of healing and wholeness and the promise of life here and in the world to come. Opening Prayer Eternal God, you have knit together your people of all times and places into one communion in the mystical body of our Lord Jesus Christ. Grant us your Holy Spirit that we may be encouraged and strengthened, persevering in our part of faith’s course, until such time as we join the great cloud of witnesses in our eternal home. Amen. New Testament Readings Revelation 21:1-6; Matthew 5:1-12 The Morning Message From Presbyterian Outlook, Rev. Jill Duffield, Editor Ed and I took our daughter and grandson for a ride on the Durbin Rocket, a steam-powered train, a few days ago. We got there via Elkins. On our way to and from Durbin, we drove through the Tygart Valley, a beautiful, expansive valley dotted with farms and houses and very few businesses. We noticed a number of churches of all sorts of Christian persuasions. But when we came upon the Tygarts Valley Presbyterian Church, we were so struck by its beauty that we stopped, backed up and just took it in. In fact there are at least four Presbyterian churches along that drive, all of them testifying to faith in Jesus Christ across the centuries. At home, I started doing some research on that church in particular and found a rich history. The church has been in existence since before the Revolutionary War. A lot of history has taken place between that era and this, and I wondered how we 21st century Christians might measure up to our hardy forebears. What would they think of how our churches live out the call of Christ, what our response has been to a devastating pandemic, why we are emoting with such ardor over the election to come next Tuesday? I ran across an article in the current issue of Presbyterian Outlook that spoke to me in this moment. I offer it to you in the spirit of our ancestors, who labored in extraordinary circumstances to settle this land we call “almost heaven.” May they find us faithful. All tribes, every nation, together in worship. How lovely. God has such love for us that we are called children of God. How beautiful. When God appears we will be like God because we will see God for who God is. How utterly astounding and good. Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, the hungry and thirsty for righteousness, the peacemakers, those persecuted for righteousness. How hopeful and powerful. The texts for this Sunday, this All Saints’ Day, resound with glory and grace, unity and belonging, blessing times blessing times blessing. The contrast of such language cannot be denied when laid alongside the bombardment of political ads and fearmongering and social media yelling coming at us mere days before the election. A picture of every tribe and nation united in worship seems naïve if not laughable. Envisioning each other as God’s children feels all but impossible when the message of our culture is one of winning and losing, for us or against us, completely right or completely wrong. Even Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount riff with blessings comes across as more fantasy than the living, true word of God. What do we do with such a stark rift between the signal of the Bible and the noise of our world? Can we really look like the God we profess to follow when we are so shaped by our professed secular tribes? I listened to the podcast “Crackers and Grape Juice” recently with Douglas Harink as the guest. Harink he discussed his book, “Resurrecting Justice: Reading Romans for the Life of the World.” Harink, a Canadian commenting on the American political landscape said: “Both sides are thinking that somehow or another getting this or that party elected is good for Christians. I think my point of view is neither side is good for Christians. Because effectively they have become idolatrous powers that Christians are looking to for salvation.” He went on to say that he in no way believes Christians should not engage in politics and that there is an important role for such engagement. However, again and again, he emphasized that Christians look only to Jesus Christ for salvation and that justice is accomplished by God through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Our focus, our ultimate hope, ought to be the same as that of every tribe and nation in Revelation: Jesus Christ. I appreciated the conversation and it caused me to examine my own anxiety and hopes around this year’s election. Unquestionably, much is at stake and I believe it is incumbent upon people of faith to participate and vote. But regardless of outcome, Jesus will continue to be Lord of all, the Lamb on the throne of heaven, the Word made flesh, Emmanuel and God Incarnate. We do not need to forget or discount this irrevocable truth. Further, we will still be called the children of God and Jesus’ blessings of the meek and the mourning and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will not be rescinded nor prevented. All Saints’ Day this year provides me with a sure and certain hope that is embodied not solely in Jesus Christ, but made tangible in the people of faith who have gone through many ordeals and remained steadfast in their loyalty to Christ and their love for neighbor and world. I do not want to tether my hopes too tightly to any earthly power because to do so is to diminish the providence and omnipotence of the Triune God who has no equal. This Sunday, this All Saints’ Day just days before our presidential election in the year of a global pandemic, I need to worship the Lamb who died that we might live, the Messiah who ate with sinners and told us to love the unlovable and the unlovely in order that the world would know that we are his followers. I need to remember the great cloud of witnesses and the members of every tribe and nation over the vast expanse of time who refused to succumb to the lesser (but so appealing) gods of vengeance, hate and cynicism. When I picture that glorious heavenly worship, I see some of the saints who entered the Church Triumphant this year. Saints like John Lewis who said at Montreat in 2015, “Never, ever let someone pull you down so low you hate them.” The saint who said to all of us in words published in the New York Times the day of his funeral: “Though I may not be here with you, I urge you to answer the highest calling of your heart and stand up for what you truly believe. In my life I have done all I can to demonstrate that the way of peace, the way of love and nonviolence is the more excellent way. Now it is your turn to let freedom ring.” When I think this All Saints’ Sunday about the children of God who resemble the One they follow, I think about an elder in a church I served who worked tirelessly for equity in education, who when he could no longer speak, used a letter board and his pointer finger to slowly spell out “I love you” at the end of what would turn out to be my last visit with him. I think of so many who have endured so much and yet kept the faith, living the faith, focused on the saving power of Jesus Christ. I think of them and know they would tell me they were blessed through it all because they served a loving God who kept them from sinking so low that they hated another but instead had a good hope for all. I do not know what we will wake up to on Wednesday morning — or any morning for that matter. I do know, though, the Lamb sits on the throne in heaven, Jesus came to save sinners, Christ will come again and nothing will be lost to the One who came to save the world. This beautiful, glorious truth enables me to worship this Sunday and tomorrow and the next day, even as I seek to do God’s will, however poorly, but surely with the promise that I, that you, that we, are so beloved we are called children of God and so we are. Solo Pie Jesu Gabriel Faure (1895-1924) Pious Jesus, give them rest Madeline Blake - soprano Affirmation of Faith From A Declaration of Faith, Chapter 10, Hope in God, PCUSA 1985 In the death of Jesus Christ, God’s way in the world seemed finally defeated. But death was no match for God. The resurrection of Jesus was God’s victory over death. Death often seems to prove that life is not worth living, that our best efforts and deepest affections go for nothing. We do not yet see the end of death. But Christ has been raised from the dead, transformed and yet the same person. In his resurrection is the promise of ours. We are convinced the life God wills for us is stronger than the death that destroys us. The glory of that life exceeds our imagination but we know we shall be with Christ. So we treat death as a broken power. Its ultimate defeat is certain. In the face of death we grieve. Yet in hope we celebrate life. No life ends so tragically that its meaning and value are destroyed. Nothing, not even death, can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Prayers of the Faithful and the Lord’s Prayer This morning we remember family, friends, and loved ones who have joined the blessed company of the saints in light during this church year. John Minichan, Betty Nikolaus, Jane Brown, Laura Fry When we were baptized into Christ Jesus, we were baptized into his death. We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that, as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live a new life. For if we have been united with Christ in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. Romans 6:3-5 Eternal God, we bless you for the great company of all those who have kept the faith, finished their race, and now rest from their labor. We praise you for those dear to us: John, Betty, Jane, and Laura and for those we name now in our hearts whom you have received into your presence. Help us to believe where we have not seen, trusting you to lead us through our years. Bring us at last with all your saints into the joy of your home, through Christ Jesus who taught us to pray, saying, Our Father…Amen. Hymn I Sing a Song of the Saints of God Text: L. Scott, 1929; Music: John Henry Hopkins, 1940 I sing a song of the saints of God, faithful and brave and true, who toiled and fought and lived and died for the Lord they loved and knew. And one was a doctor and one was a queen and one was a shepherdess on the green. They were all of them saints of God and I mean, God helping, to be one, too. They loved their Lord so dear, so dear, and God’s love made them strong. And they followed the right for Jesus’ sake the whole of their good lives long. And one was a soldier and one was a priest, and one was slain by a fierce, wild beast. And there’s not any reason, no, not the least, why I shouldn’t be one, too. They lived not only in ages past, there are hundreds and thousands still. The world is bright with the joyous saints who love to do Jesus’ will. You can meet them in school, or in lanes or at sea, in church, or in trains, or in shops, or at tea; for the saints of God are just folks like me, and I mean to be one, too. Blessing Go out in confidence that your lives are safe in God. Keep your hands clean and your hearts pure. Do not act falsely or deceitfully. Trust in the Lord, even in the face of death, and follow in the footsteps of all God’s saints. And may God keep a protective eye on you; May Christ Jesus show you his grace and mercy; And may the Holy Spirit give you a vision of the life of the world made new. Postlude Announcement Work is nearing completion on the heating and air conditioning project. The congregation will be notified as soon as possible of a date when we will gather again for worship in the sanctuary. Prelude
Call to Worship Psalm 46:1-3, 8-11 God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. Come, behold the works of the Lord; see what desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. The Holy One says, “Be still and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth.” The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Hymn A Mighty Fortress Is Our God Text: Martin Luther, 1529 Translator: Frederick H. Hedge, 1852 A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing. Our helper he amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing. For still our ancient foe does seek to work us woe; his craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal. Did we in our strength confide, our striving would be losing. Were not the right man on our side, the man of God’s own choosing. You ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is he. Lord Sabaoth his name, from age to age the same; and he must win the battle. And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us. We will not fear, for God has willed his truth to triumph through us. The prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him. His rage we can endure, For lo! His doom is sure; one little word shall fell him. That Word above all earthly powers no thanks to them abideth. The Spirit and the gifts are ours through him who with us sideth. Let goods and kindred go; this mortal life also; the body they may kill, God’s truth abideth still. His kingdom is forever! Prayer of Confession Almighty God, We confess that we have taken your commandments and turned them into rules. We have criticized those who have fallen short and selfishly proclaimed ourselves righteous. We have failed to understand the spirit of the commandments and the way you showed us to live- loving God and loving neighbors. Forgive us for turning your law into burdens and ignoring the glorious freedom from sin, gained by the saving death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Assurance of Grace 1John 4:16 God is love. Those who abide in love, abide in God, and God abides in them. Friends, believe the good news of the gospel. Know you are forgiven and be at peace. Scripture Reading Romans 8:22-39 The Morning Message This is a special day in the life of Presbyterian and Reformed Churches. It is Reformation Day. Some churches may celebrate this day with a traditional “Kirkin’ of the Tartans,” or parade of tartans, or colors, in the church, by which each Scottish clan is identified. This is a nod to our Scottish history and a fun way to remember our forebears in the faith. I don’t own a tartan, although there is a good Scottish presence in my family. So, I might just enjoy some tea and shortbread. Until the Renaissance of the 15th century, the authority of the Roman Catholic Church remained largely unquestioned in Western Europe. The invention of the printing press in Germany around 1440 made it possible for common people to have access to printed materials including the Bible. At this time in history, the language of the church was Latin, an academic language, and unknown to the general public. The ability to read the Bible in one’s own language enabled many to discover religious thinkers who had begun to question the authority of the church. Martin Luther was one such person. He was a German priest and professor. Luther started the movement known as the Protestant Reformation. In 1517, Luther posted his list of 95 theses – grievances against the Roman Catholic Church- on a church door in Wittenburg, Germany. Some twenty years later, a French-Swiss lawyer and theologian, John Calvin, further refined the Reformers’ way of thinking about the nature of God and God’s relationship with humanity in what came to be known as Reformed theology. John Knox, a Scotsman who studied with Calvin in Geneva, took Calvin’s writings back to Scotland. Other Reformed communities developed in England, Holland, and France. And we shouldn’t leave out the Waldensians of Italy in this movement toward a Protestant way of life and faith. Important to the Reformers are what became known as the Five Solas, or Solae. These ideas shaped the doctrine of the early Protestant churches. The five solas are: Sola Scriptura. “Scripture alone.” Sola fide. “Faith alone.” Sola gratia. “Grace alone.” Solus Christus. “Through Christ alone.” Soli Deo Gloria. “Glory to God alone.” That little word, “alone,” set Reformed theology apart from Roman Catholicism. Reformers held that authority in the church came via sola Scriptura, or, Scripture alone. Rejected were the elements of tradition and experience, to which the Roman Church adhered. Reformers held that we are saved by faith alone that comes through the grace of God alone. Good works were not efficacious to our salvation. Reformers taught that Jesus Christ is the only mediator between human beings and God. Rejected were any other mediators- saints, the Virgin Mary, priests. And that our salvation is won for us, by God, through the saving death of God’s Son, Jesus, and not due to any merit on our part. The result, at least in Presbyterian circles, was to reject or eliminate what some Reformers believed were unnecessary or ostentatious accoutrements of the church. Protestant worship could seem austere. Gone were the icons, incense and bells, and the Mass from every service of worship. Only two Sacraments were acknowledged: Baptism and Communion, because these were the Sacraments Jesus instituted. Calvin taught that the congregation was the primary choir for worship and so the choir went to the back of the congregation. The original choir loft at Kuhn was located in the back, what we now call the balcony. It was Calvinistic in its placement. A lot has changed in the world and in the church in the last five hundred years. I’m writing this message on Wednesday afternoon in my kitchen. Just looking around the room I see a refrigerator that keeps our milk and eggs cold; I see a television that keeps me up-to-date with a twenty-four-seven news feed; a tea kettle, a crock pot, a toaster, and a stove which eliminate the need to keep a fire going in the backyard. I am working from a laptop computer on which I compose sermons and newsletter articles and committee reports. It also connects me to the session and my grandchildren in North Carolina. On it, I can chat with friends all over the world. I shop on-line. It is safe and convenient. Twenty years into the 21st century, it seems progress leads us to limitless possibilities. And that’s just the view from the kitchen in an average home. We have made huge social advancements: earlier today, my husband and I voted in the US General Election. We participated in democracy. And, probably the greatest change is that I am speaking to you as an ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament. Ordination for women was not adopted until the latter half of the 20th century in our denomination. And the icing on the cake, for me, was that early in my ordained service, I was elected Moderator of the Presbytery of West Virginia. All unheard of in any earlier era. The Canon of Scripture was closed in the 4th century. But the traditions and practices of the Church have changed due to culture and necessity. The Church is a dynamic living organism. It has grown and gained prominence. It has failed and suffered losses in adherents and reputation. While the Church has sometimes failed to act, it has typically rushed to the side of the suffering, even at the peril of losing its own life. The result is we have a more global orientation. Our children are in school with children of other faiths, cultures, and languages. We find meaning and value in meeting our neighbors of other faiths and even with those who claim to have no faith. Learning what is important to our neighbors and friends is important to us. Often we discover that we share common understandings of the Holy One who created the world and every man, woman, girl and boy who lives upon it. Our common understandings and our shared challenges, even our common tragedies, increase our capacity for compassion, lead us to better trust one another, and to work toward those things we all hold dear, like peace and freedom. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul writes these words about the church, the body of Christ: “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were baptized into one body-Jews or Greeks, slaves or free-and we were all made to drink of one Spirit…If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.” One of the great realities of the New Testament church was that it was diverse, Sometimes diversity led to conflicts, as was true in Corinth. But Paul viewed diversity as a tremendous gift. To Paul, the church was stronger when the God-given gifts are shared to build up the church and strengthen its ministry. In our Book of Order we read, “Christ calls the church into being, giving it all that is necessary…Christ alone rules, calls, teaches, and uses the church as he wills. Each member of the body of Christ is given a manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” Our mission in the world is the ministry of Christ. Just as Christ was called to bring good news to the poor…to proclaim release to the captives and …to let the oppressed go free, this is our call, as attested in Luke 4:8. A motto of the Presbyterian Church (USA) is “The Church reformed, and always reforming.” We would add these words, “ According to the Word of God and the call of the Spirit. (Book of Order.) So it is no surprise, that as opportunities, controversies, and problems occur in the life of the world, the Church and her people will engage it, struggle with it, and faithfully discern how God is leading the church to speak and act. We have not shied away from such topics as abortion, genetic engineering, divorce, sexuality, the role of women in the church, war, ecology, economy, health care, public policy, criminal justice, and more. They are all works in progress. The more we learn, the more we understand, the better we respond and adapt. I am confident that issues we’ve never dreamed of will emerge in the future to command the faith and practice of those who follow us. And confident of all these things, I offer these words attributed to Paul: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39. May it be so for all of us. Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer Blessing For all that God can do within us, for all that God can do without us. Thanks be to God! For all in whom Christ lived before us, for all in whom Christ lives beside us. Thanks be to God! For all the Spirit wants to bring us, for where the Spirit wants to send us. Thanks be to God! The blessing of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be with you today and always. Amen. Postlude |
PastorCinda Harkless Archives
July 2024
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