Paths to Explore: May 2020

Saturday 30 May 2020

Pentecost Sunday

Today's service has been offered by a Guest Blogger. The Reverend Tim Sale is a retired clergy and Manitoban politican. Tim has a long association with the Congregation of St. Paul, Fort Garry. Tim has put together a service for your enjoyment today and has recorded with Doug and Rachel our trusty musicians, as well as a few parishioners from St. Paul.

Holy Eucharist Pentecost Sunday 2020

Click here to play the Recorded Service

Prelude music Spirit of God –            G. Norbet, Western Priory

Chorus    Spirit of God, be for us joy,
                 healing gift of love,
                 creating a new heart.
               Longing to be spirit alive:
               very life of God,
               be rooted within us.

Voice which calls us
beyond scattered dreams, barren days,
to receive and give of God’s love.

Chorus

May you kindle our hope
in the morning of life;
may you bring us peace with days end.

Chorus

In silence of prayer
inner freedom will sing
of more being, vision and truth.

Chorus

Welcome to St. Paul’s Fort Garry Anglican Community worship on this Pentecost Sunday. Today, we will be celebrating the Eucharist, here in our church building, and at home wherever you are. If you would like to share in our meal together, please take a moment now to get some bread and perhaps some wine so we can share together in one spirit, even though we are apart physically.

The Grace of our companion Jesus,

the Love our Creator God and the energy of the Spirit Be in you all:

Response: And also in you!

Today we are going to be joined by some of our parishioners reading scripture and prayers from their homes. We welcome Mikaela Oldencamp, Joel Odogun and Evelyn and Amelia Little as our readers and leaders in prayer.

Collect Mikaela Oldencamp

Prayer
Faithful Protector, I feel vulnerable. I am easy prey for those people, events or things that can hurt me. Teach me how to protect myself without building walls that keep me from needed growth. Help me to have good boundaries.... shield me from harm. Draw me away from that which can destroy me. Lead me toward what will encourage to share my gifts. May I become an ever more loving person.

(By Joyce Rupp Your Sorrow is my Sorrow 1999.)

A reading from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians Joel Ogodun

Paul is writing to his friends in the young church in Corinth, a major city of Greece. He wants them to understand that together, their community of faithful people has lots of gifts and skills. He encourages them to each offer their particular gift so that the community will be strong, and thus be able to serve their neighbours better.

Paul writes

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. 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 all baptized into one body - Jews or Greeks, slaves or free - and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

Song: Wind Who Makes All Winds That Blow 249 BCP

Wind who makes all winds that blow—
gusts that bend the saplings low,
gales that heave the sea in waves,
stirrings in the mind's deep caves—
aim your breath with steady power
on your church, this day, this hour.
Raise, renew the life we've lost,
Spirit God of Pentecost.

Fire who fuels all fires that burn—
suns around which planets turn,
beacons marking reefs and shoals,
shining truth to guide our souls—
come to us as once you came;
burst in tongues of sacred flame!
Light and Power, Might and Strength,
fill your church, its breadth and length.

Holy Spirit, Wind and Flame,
move within our mortal frame.
Make our hearts an altar pyre.
Kindle them with your own fire.
Breathe and blow upon that blaze
till our lives, our deeds, and ways
speak that tongue which every land
by your grace shall understand.

Psalm 104: 25-35 Amelia and Evelyn Little
O Lord, how manifold are your works! in wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
Yonder is the great and wide sea with its living things too many to number, creatures both small and great.

Send forth your Spirit, O God, and renew the face of the earth.

There move the ships, and there is that great whale, which you have made for the sport of it.
All of them look to you to give them their food in due season.
You give it to them; they gather it; you open your hand, and they are filled with good things.

Send forth your Spirit, O God, and renew the face of the earth

You hide your face, and they are terrified; you take away their breath, and they die and return to their dust.
You send forth your Spirit, and they are created; and so you renew the face of the earth.

Send forth your Spirit, O God, and renew the face of the earth

May the glory of Creator endure for ever; may Creator rejoice in all his works.
Creator looks at the earth and it trembles; she touches the mountains and they smoke.

Send forth your Spirit, O God, and renew the face of the earth

I will sing to the Holy One as long as I live; I will praise my God while I have my being.
May these words of mine please God; I will rejoice in our Creator.
Bless the Lord, O my soul. Hallelujah!

Send forth your Spirit, O God, and renew the face of the earth

Song Peace - G. Norbet, Western Priory

Peace I leave with you my friends,
Peace the world cannot give.
Peace I leave with you my friends,
So that your joy be ever full.

Creator’s love I come to give,
To be the hope for all of us.

Peace I leave with you my friends,
Peace the world cannot give.
Peace I leave with you my friends,
So that your joy be ever full.

Take God’s gift and be at peace,
The spirit of our love I bring.

Peace I leave with you my friends,
Peace the world cannot give.
Peace I leave with you my friends,
So that your joy be ever full.

THE HOLY GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO JOHN

Michaela Oldencamp

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

Homily:

If I had preached a sermon in November, 2019, warning you that in three months, you would separated from your family, banned from church, and worried about toilet paper, would I have been:

Referred for counselling
Ignored and laughed at
Taken absolutely seriously as you rushed out for toilet paper?

My hunch is that a majority would opt for (2), a worried few for (1) and no one at all for (3).

But that’s what happened, isn’t it? One of our neighbours, a single person, ordered her 30 rolls of toilet paper from Costco… now that’s a lot of TP!

But no one saw this pandemic coming, even though epidemiologists have for years warned us that one would, and that the world was no where near prepared.

On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, I was in my office doing a press conference when suddenly all the media were packing up and rushing out. Was it something I said? Of course not, it was when the planes struck the World Trade Centre. No one saw that coming either, although there were plenty of warnings about terrorism threats..

Driving through the South Island of New Zealand after lunch on February 22nd, 2011, heading for Christchurch, we stopped for gas and learned of the devastation of Christchurch at 11:51 that morning. No one saw it coming.

It is clear that none of the disciples saw what was coming either. They ignored the signs of the times; they ignored three years of Jesus’ teaching, and at first, they even ignored the amaze3d excitment of the women running from the tomb. They did not recognize Jesus until the breaking of the bread and the giving of the Holy Spirit.

Yet immediately around each of these unforeseen and usually unwelcome events, there came a fork in the road of human behaviour.

In every one of them, many, many people rallied. Firefighters ran INTO the World Trade Centre, and some gave their lives to save others. In our current pandemic, nurses and care-givers, doctors, emergency responders, truck drivers, grocery store workers, shelter givers put themselves in harm’s way. Most political leaders left their usual behaviours behind. On September 11th, planes landed in Gander and passengers became welcomed guests; the same happened in a less dramatic way in Winnipeg too. In the Christchurch earthquake, a wonderful Mayor gave calm, clear and compassionate advice, just as the current Prime Minister, Ms. Ardern has done in 2020. Citizens banded together and cared for each other. Many took complete strangers into their homes.

And in Jerusalem, crowds heard the in-breaking of the spirit. Those who were “other”, minorities, strangers, even the “unclean” understood each other in amazement. The disciples, once fearful and fleeing suddenly became bold and believing, preaching, taking chances, sharing and witnessing to the teachings of Jesus.

I have often struggled to comprehend what is meant by the Holy Spirit/Wisdom/Sophia. What did it mean when Jesus “breathed on them and told them to receive the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Wisdom and Truth”? What does it mean to say that “The Father is in you and I am in the Father, and I am in you?”

We speak of Jesus as “God Incarnate” What does that mean? We say that all life is Holy; not just human life, but all life, life of the creatures, the forest, the earth itself, all creation.

These are enormous questions; libraries are full of our attempts to discern answers. Angels have danced on the heads of many, many pins! But what if we changed a few words. And said instead; “I am in the Holy, and the Holy is in me, and I am in you, and you are in me. That the Holy is right there beside us, inside us, around us. It is the deep meaning of every living thing, every relationship, every face we meet, the Ground of our Being. The question always, are we open to hear and bear witness to that holiness?

Tragedies, times of great trouble, pandemics provide a chance for those openings, a thin place as Celtic spirituality says. A chance for the deep holiness, the incarnational holiness of Christ that Christ says is already deeply embedded in us all to be revealed. Our “real” self comes forth, sometimes from the tombs of our own making, and shines brightly for all the world to see.

That is what Pentecost is all about. It is the sudden sense of a community of diverse souls, who used to be strangers, all suddenly making sense to each other. It is the caregivers acting selflessly. It is the compassion, generosity and justice-seeking breaking forth against the iron rules of the “economy” of selfishness and presumed scarcity. It is our deepest, truest nature, becoming real.

My prayer is that this Pentecost will last much longer than usual!
Amen, so be it.

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession
As we begin our intercessions, take a deep breath and quiet your soul, open to the presence of the Holy....

In trust let us pray to the one coming into our hearts to awaken holiness in our midst...

Let us offer thanksgiving for all the blessings of this life...

Let us pray for the outcasts, the prisoners, the hungry, the homeless, the poor, the unemployed, the exploited...

Let us pray for the coming of justice in the world, for peace that is a just reconciliation, for the earth on which we walk and to which we will one day return...

Let us pray for ourselves, trusting in God's wisdom and compassion...

For these and all our deepest concerns, God in your wisdom answer.

Offering Hymn Spirit of Gentleness - Jim Manley

Refrain Spirit, spirit of gentleness,
blow thro' the wilderness calling and free.

              Spirit, spirit of restlessness, stir me from placidness, wind,
                 wind on the sea.

You moved on the waters, you called to the deep,
then you coaxed up the mountains from the valleys of sleep;
and over the aeons you called to each thing,
wake from your slumbers and rise on your wings.                    Refrain

You swept thro' the desert, you stung with the sand,
and you goaded your people with a law and a land;
and when they were blinded with their idols and lies,
then you spoke thro' your prophets to open their eyes.            Refrain

You sang in a stable, you cried from a hill,
then you whispered in silence when the whole world was still;
and down in the city you called once again,

when you blew thro' your people on the rush of the wind.        Refrain

You call from tomorrow, you break ancient schemes,
from the bondage of sorrow the captives dream dreams;
our women see visions, our men clear their eyes,
with bold new decisions your people arise.                            Refrain

Prayer over the Gifts
Giver of life, receive all we offer you this day. Let the Spirit you bestow on your Church continue to work in the world through the hearts of all who believe. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord.

The Eucharistic Prayer:

The Lord’s Prayer - (Cameron)

Prayer After Communion
Creator God, may we who have received this Eucharist live in the unity of your Holy Spirit, that we may show forth his gifts to all the world. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessing:
As we have been gathered, so must we be sown back into the world to witness to the power of God`s transforming love, to support and challenge each other, to bring peace and justice to the world around us.

Said together:    And now may the God who shakes heaven and earth,
                           Whom death could not contain,
                           Who lives to disturb and heal us,
                            Bless us with the power to go forth
                           And proclaim the gospel. Amen.

Thanks to our readers and singers, and to all of you out there joining us this Holy Day. Please be safe, love each other and your neighbours and come together again with us next week.

Song:    Breathe on Me, Breath of God 649 BCP

Breath on me, breath of God;
fill me with life anew,
that I may love what thou dost love, and do what thou wouldst do.

Breathe on me, breath of God,
until my heart is pure,
until my will is one with thine to do and to endure.

Breathe on me, breath of God,
till I am wholly thing,
until this earthly part of me glows with thy fire divine.

Breathe on me, breath of God:
so shall I never die,
but live with thee the perfect life of thine eternity.

Saturday 23 May 2020

Easter 7 -- Ascension

For a number of weeks the same format has been followed for the service, a Morning Prayer style of the Anglican Church of Canada. Anyone who knows me well can tell you that I get tired of the same thing over and over, so with thanks to the musicians we have changed it up a bit for you. The link to the recording is just below, I hope that you enjoy today's service.

Karen

Click here for the Service

Jesus Shall Reign Were’er the Sun 383 BCP

Jesus shall reign were’er the sun
doth its successive journeys run;
his kingdom stretch from shre to shore,
till moons shall wax and wane no more.

People and realms of every tongue
dwell on his love with sweetest song,
and infant voices shall proclaim
their early blessings on his name.

Blessings abound where’er he reigns;
the prisoners leap to lose their chains;
the weary find eternal rest,
and all who suffer want are blest.

Let every creature rise and bring
peculiar honours to our King,
angels descend with songs again,
and earth repeat the loud Amen.

Call to Celebration

Open our eyes, our hearts, our whole selves and sense the good things we have from the Lord our God
Bless the Lord for all that our God has done

Together we pray:
Creator of the universe, we are your people. You bless our earth with natural beauty and wealth. Show us the way to use these blessings without destroying them. Increase our appreciation of clean air, pure water and the breathtaking beauty of the natural landscape. May our lifetime here enable others to have such blessings in future generations. We ask this in your holy name. Amen

As we read the word of God, and Listen to the word of God, Let it Speak to us

THE HOLY GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO JOHN
Jesus said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them."

JOHN 14:15-21

Reflection

Wind Upon the Waters Marty Haugen

Wind upon the waters, voice upon the deep,
rouse your sons and daughters, wake us from our sleep,
breathing life into all flesh, breathing love into all hearts,
living wind upon the waters of my soul.

Showers from the heavens, water from the earth,
gift so wholly given, source of every birth,
joy of every living thing, making all creation sing,
shower down upon the dry earth of my soul.

Rock and hill and garden, wood and desert sand,
prairie, field, and meadow shaped by Love’s own hand,
Love that fills the world around, springing up from barren ground,
grow your love within the garden of my soul.

Blazing light of wonder, flame that pierces night,
burst the dark asunder, fill our souls with light.
Lord of glory, fill the skies, make an end to hatred’s cries,
be the blazing sun of justice in our lives.

Wind upon the waters, rains upon the sand,
grace your sons and daughters, newborn by your hand.
Come, O Spirit, and renew all the life that comes from you,
send your winds upon the waters of my soul.

Reflective Prayers

God worked to create this world with its order, its beauty and its unexplored possibilities. Let us thank the creator

Thank you, God, for the harmony of the seasons, the rhythm of the sun and rain, seed time and harvest. We look at the stars and we marvel at the vast unlimited space. We explore the moon and planets and rejoice in the amazing skills that you have given us and your trust in us to care for all of creation. Thank you for believing in us even when we mar your creation and become arrogant in our use of it rather than being the stewards of it.

Song   Spinning Blue Planet Ian Macdonald

This is the moment, Creation’s first glance,
light plays with darkness and chaos with dance,
Spirit with matter, forms heaven, forms earth;
Creation continues God’s breath gives dust birth.

Chorus:    On a spinning blue planet, third place from the sun,
                   here words are spoken, here words are done.
                   Alive in the struggles, the laughter, the peace,
                   The Creator is singing and never will cease.

This is the calling, Creations first fire
to journey in search of God’s deepest desire.
Smashing the idols of privilege and wrong,
in exodus freedom our spirits belong.                  Chorus

The earthbound journey, Creation’s first song,
from Genesis gardens to sad Babylons.
Lost in the rhythms of power, of pride,
seeking the music only mercy provides.              Chorus

This is the Mystery: how life becomes whole!
Bread broken body; wine poured out soul!
Come, seed your lives, grow like grapes, grow like grain;
the vine will connect you, love’s rising again.     Chorus

Jesus came into the world to do the work of God. To embody all that God calls us to do and be. Jesus brought light where there was darkness. Jesus made the days holy by living them to exemplify the glory of creation

Thank you for the work of Jesus. Thank you for the example that he set in teaching, healing, reconciling. This example of his ministry was entrusted to the disciples and to each successive generation to us. Help us to be better disciples. Upholding the faith that Jesus lived and to be teachers, healers and reconcilers in our own time

Silently take some time and consider the life of Jesus and his invitation to each of us

Rest in My Wings          Colleen Fulmer

Chorus      Don’t be afraid, I’m holding you close in the darkness,
               My love and my grace will carry you through the long night.
               The life that I give bubbles in you like a fountain,
               So rest in my wings and put all your fears to flight.

Tho you be burdened, I will cradle you deep in my nest,
Tho you be weary, my wings will enfold you in rest.
Tho you be desert, my rivers will flow deep inside,
Tho you be barren, I’ll fill out your womb with new life.    Chorus

Tho you be orphaned, I’ll always be here at your side,
Tho you be empty, I’ll bring forth new fruit on the vine.
Tho you be thirsty, you’ll drink from the well of my side,
Tho you be hungry, the finest of bread I’ll provide. Chorus

We think about the work of all the generations in between us and the early followers. The growth of faith. The care for each other as well as the creation that has been entrusted to us.

God our creator we give you praise for all those who have worked towards making the world a better place. For scholars and saints; for sensitive people who have cared for and loved their neighbour; for the pioneers who have dared to go off into the unknown and for those who quietly go about doing ministry and live their faith each day un-noticed. We give thanks for the tasks that test our skills and our strength. We thank you for helping us feel fulfilled with a job well done and for the new challenges that each new day will bring to us. We give thanks for those who work with us

Silently give thanks for those that we share ministry with

During these days of uncertainty and fear because of Virus Covid 19 we give thanks for those who serve us through their daily work

We acknowledge with deep gratitude clerks, custodians, doctors, nurses, personal care attendants, orderlies, chaplains, drivers, educators, postal workers, police, fire fighters, delivery people, paramedics, morticians, parents, partners, children, janitorial staff, government officials at the municipal, provincial and federal levels. Help them to find joy in their service even amidst the fear and uncertainty that comes each day.

Silently recall those who serve with generosity

Be Not Afraid              Bob Dufford

Refrain      Be not afraid, I go before you always.
                   Come follow Me, and I will give you rest.

You shall cross the barren desert, but you shall not die of thirst.
You shall wander far in safety though you do not know the way.
You shall speak your words in foreign lands
and all will understand. You shall see the face of God and live. refrain

If you pass through raging waters in the sea you shall not drown.

If you walk amid the burning flames, you shall not be harmed.
If you stand before the pow'r of hell and death is at your side,
know that I am with you through it all. Refrain

Blessed are your poor, for the kingdom shall be theirs.

Blest are you that weep and mourn, for one day you shall laugh.
And if wicked tongues insult and hate you all because of me,
blessed, blessed are you. Refrain

Give thanks for all who have finished their life journey and have passed into God’s eternal realm, lovingly received by the God who created them

We remember all those who have died. We pray for those who have succumbed to Covid-19. We pray for those whose lives have ended tragically and too soon. We remember today the family members that are grieving the loss of loved ones, the RCMP family that grieves the loss of a colleague and the Canadian Forces Family that mourns the recent loss of seven of its members. We give thanks for the lives and the light that each shone in the world and for those whose lives they touched and changed.

We take time to give thanks for all that we have been blessed with during our life.

Consider in what moments does my heart find meaning during these days that I find difficult and lonely to navigate?

And Now as our Saviour taught us, we pray Our Father….

The Blessing

The Dismissal

Filled with God’s praises we glorify our creator. May peace be with us all, now and forever. Amen Alleluia

Hail the Day that Sees Him Rise 247 BCP

Hail the day that sees him rise, alleluia!
To his throne above the skies; alleluia!
Christ, the Lamb for sinners given, alleluia!
Enters now the highest heaven! Alleluia!

There for him high triumph waits; alleluia!
Lift your heads, eternal gates; alleluia!
He hath conquered death and sin; alleluia!
Take the King of glory in. Alleluia!

Highest heaven its Lord receives, alleluia!
Yet he loves the earth he leaves; alleluia!
Though returning to his throne, alleluia!
Still he calls the world his own. Alleluia!

See! He lifts his hands above, alleluia!
See! He shows the prints of love; alleluia!
Hark! His gracious lips bestow alleluia!
Blessings on his church below. Alleluia!

Saturday 16 May 2020

Easter 6 If you Love Me

This service is in the format of the Anglican Church of Canada

The Book of Alternative Services is used throughout for the collect, prayer over the gifts, dismissal

Online resources have been credited accordingly

The service and resources are for personal use only

My apologies the songs links had to be removed as blogger changed and would not give the link. I will figure out how to fix it you can find the suggested songs on YouTube

Sentence of the Day

If you love me, you will keep my word, and my Father will love you, and we will come to you.

John 14.23

Hymn Christ be our Light © Bernadette Farrell 1993.

Longing for light, we wait in darkness.
Longing for truth, we turn to you.
Make us your own, your holy people,
light for the world to see.

Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today.

Longing for peace, our world is troubled.
Longing for hope, many despair.
Your word alone has pow’r to save us.
Make us your living voice.

Longing for food, many are hungry.
Longing for water, many still thirst.
Make us your bread, broken for others,
shared until all are fed.

Longing for shelter, many are homeless.
Longing for warmth, many are cold.
Make us your building, sheltering others,
walls made of living stone.

Many the gifts, many the people,
many the hearts that yearn to belong.
Let us be servants to one another,
making your kingdom come.

Gathering (based on Psalm 66)

It is about time that we stat making happy noises about God. Be bold about the proclamation and not be embarrassed to sing praises

We know from history all of the good works of God, of those who give witness and those who remind us of all that God constantly provides and does for us

Yes, we are tested, experience conflict, sorrow, pain

God uses these moments to help us find our inner strength, enabling us to carry on and we renew our promise to seek God in those times.

Are you seeking God? What things has God done for you?

God has accepted us despite our short comings and failures, listens when we cry out for help and responds. We proclaim praise to God, God will love us forever.

As the scriptures are read,

we allow God’s word to speak to us, and ponder its meaning in our lives.
Let us hear the words of scripture:

A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles 17:22-31

Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, “Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things. From one ancestor he made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him—though indeed he is not far from each one of us. For ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we too are his offspring.’ Since we are God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals. While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church R: Thanks be to God

Psalm 66:8-20

Bless our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard, who has kept us among the living, and has not let our feet slip.

For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried.

You brought us into the net; you laid burdens on our backs; you let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a spacious place.

I will come into your house with burnt offerings; I will pay you my vows, those that my lips uttered and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.

I will offer to you burnt offerings of fatlings, with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams; I will make an offering of bulls and goats.

Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for me.

I cried aloud to him, and he was extolled with my tongue.

If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.

But truly God has listened; he has given heed to the words of my prayer.

Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me.

A Reading from the first letter of Peter 3:13-22

Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil. For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church R: Thanks be to God

Hymn Deep Within © David Haas

Refrain: Deep within, I will plant my law,
not on stone, but in your heart.
Follow me; I will bring you back.
You will be my own, and I will be your God.

I will give you a new heart, a new spirit within you,
for I will be your strength. Refrain

Seek my face, and see your God,
for I will be your hope. Refrain

Return to me, with all your heart,
and I will bring you back. Refrain

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. John 14:15-21

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you." I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”

The Gospel of Christ R: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ

Reflective Questions:

What commandment of Jesus is most important to you?

How is the Holy Spirit active in your life?

Invitation to the offering

God loves us and provides all that we need in abundance. We are called to love one another in truth and action. May our gifts reflect our trust in God's care and may our offering show our willingness to love one another.

Offering Hymn What a Friend We Have in Jesus

What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He'll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.

Copyright: Lyrics © Original Writer and Publisher

Prayer over the Gifts
God of glory, accept all we offer you this day, and bring us to that eternal city of love and light, where Christ is King. We ask this in his name. Amen

Hear, O Israel
Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first and the great commandment.

The second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.

Prayers of Intercession

O God, who made the world and everything in it, we pray with one voice, proclaiming your presence to all the earth.

For skeptics and believers, For those who seek God at home, at work, in the streets, and in the pews: for Clergy, For all who search for life, come and listen:
And we will tell you what our God has done for us.

We are alive in the spirit. We are saved through water. Because Christ lives, we also live.
For we too are God’s offspring.

For the leaders of the countries of the world, For employers, workers and volunteers; For those who set the course at home, at work, in the streets, and in the pews, For all who wield power, come and listen:
And we will tell you what our God has done for us.

We do not fear what others fear. We proclaim the hope that is in us. Because Christ lives, we also live.
For we too are God’s offspring.

For friends and lovers, for neighbors and strangers, For those who eat bread at home, at work, in the streets, and in the pews, For all who live in the world, come and listen:
And we will tell you what our God has done for us.

In God, we live and move and have our being. From God, we have life and breath and all things. Because Christ lives, we also live.
For we too are God’s offspring.

For the sick and troubled, for the fearful and alone, For those in pain at home, at work, in the streets, and in the pews, For all who suffer, come and listen:
And we will tell you what our God has done for us.

Our prayers are not rejected. Our souls are held in life. In truth, our God has heard us, and love is not withheld. Because Christ lives, we also live.
For we too are God’s offspring.

For those kept in memory, for those long forgotten, For all who ever took the breath of life at home, at work, in the streets, and in the pews, For the dead and those who mourn them, come and listen:
And we will tell you what our God has done for us.

We are blessed by your presence. We are filled with the Spirit. Because Christ lives, we also live.
For we too are God’s offspring.

God of heaven and earth, Companion in life, Spirit of truth, to you alone we turn our eyes and lift our hearts. Amen.

~ written by Margaret D. McGee, and posted on In the Courtyard. www.inthecourtyard.com

Collect
Merciful God, you have prepared for those who love you riches beyond imagination. Pour into our hearts such love toward you, that we, loving you above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

The Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Dismissal
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia
May the God of peace enable us to do his will in every kind of goodness, working in us what pleases him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Hymn The Trees of the Field

You shall go out with joy
And be led forth with peace
The mountains and the hills
Will break forth before you
There'll be shouts of joy,
And all the trees of the field
Will clap, will clap their hands

And all the trees of the field
Will clap their hands (Clap, Clap)

The trees of the field
Will clap their hands (Clap, Clap)

The trees of the field
Will clap their hands (Clap, Clap)

While you go out with joy

Love is the key.

Joy is love singing.

Peace is love resting.

Long-suffering is love enduring.

Kindness is love's touch.

Goodness is love's character.

Faithfulness is love's habit.

Gentleness is love's self-forgetfulness.

Self-control is love holding the reins.

Donald Grey Barnhouse

Saturday 9 May 2020

Easter 5 -- You Know the Way

Please note this is in the format of the Anglican Church of Canada, the collect, prayer over the gifts, Lord’s prayer all come from the Book of Alternative Services other sources have been noted. If an item is not sourced I am the author

Prayers found on line have been sourced

** this is for personal use as the church is unable to gather in our houses of worship but together we can worship in our own homes.

Sentence of the Day

I am the way, the truth, and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father, but by me.

John 14.6

Hymn    Lord of all Hopefulness #506 BCP
Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy,
whose trust, ever childlike, no cares could destroy,
be there at our waking and give us, we pray,
your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.

Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith,
whose strong hands were skilled, at the plane and the lathe,
be there at our labours and give us, we pray,
your strength in our hearts, Lord, at the noon of the day.

Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,
your hands swift to welcome, your arm to embrace,
be there at our homing and give us, we pray,
your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.

Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,
whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm,
be there at our sleeping and give us, we pray,
your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.

Gathering
Be present with us Lord and show us the freedom that comes from you
Lord, there are so many paths, help us to find our way
We have been called out of darkness into light
We sing the praises of the One that shows us the way

Loving God, you have created opportunity upon opportunity for us to follow you and be faithful and still we struggle. We struggle to hear what you tell us, we struggle to understand the directions and we struggle with the hope that you offer and yet you call us to even greater works than even you were able to accomplish, so great is your faith in us. Be present to us always, show us new ways and fill us with new hope for the work that you call us to be a part of, the building up of the kingdom so that all may know the freedom and hope that you offer.

Listen for the word which God has spoken;
Speak, Lord, to our speaking,
Speak, Lord, to our listening,
Speak, Lord, to our souls’ deep understanding
As the scriptures are read, we allow God’s word to speak to us, and ponder its meaning in our lives.  Hear these words of Scripture:

A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles (7:55-60)
But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!"  But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."  Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he died.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church R: Thanks be to God

Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16
In you, O LORD, I seek refuge; do not let me ever be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me.

Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily. Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me.

You are indeed my rock and my fortress; for your name's sake lead me and guide me, take me out of the net that is hidden for me, for you are my refuge.

Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.

My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.

Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.

A Reading from the first letter of Peter (2:2-10)
Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation- if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture: "See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame." To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the very head of the corner," and "A stone that makes them stumble, and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church R: Thanks be to God

Hymn   I Was There To hear Your Borning Cry - #770 With One Voice
"I was there to hear your borning cry,
I'll be there when you are old.
I rejoiced the day you were baptized,
to see your life unfold.
I was there when you were but a child,
with a faith to suit you well;
In a blaze of light you wandered off
to find where demons dwell."

"When you heard the wonder of the Word
I was there to cheer you on;
You were raised to praise the living Lord,
to whom you now belong.
If you find someone to share your time
and you join your hearts as one,
I'll be there to make your verses rhyme
from dusk 'till rising sun."

In the middle ages of your life,
not too old, no longer young,
I'll be there to guide you through the night,
complete what I've begun.
When the evening gently closes in,
and you shut your weary eyes,
I'll be there as I have always been
with just one more surprise."

"I was there to hear your borning cry,
I'll be there when you are old.
I rejoiced the day you were baptized,
to see your life unfold."

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. John (14:1-14)
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him." Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?  Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.
The Gospel of Christ R: Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ

Homily

Invitation to the Offering             (inspired by Psalm 23, 1 John 3)
The Shepherd cares for us, providing all that we need in abundance.
The Shepherd calls us to love one another in truth and action.
May our gifts reflect our trust in the Shepherd’s care.
May our offerings show our willingness to love one another.

** Although not physically at our church buildings to share our offering together I would encourage you to set you offering of money and food aside so that it can be mailed, dropped off or placed in the church once services resume** Please remember ministry is still taking place

Offering Hymn   Fashion for Me – Steve Bell

Fashion for me a desert of peace
A land that is empty of endless disease
With no one to suffer, hate or appease
With nothing to covet, desire or compete
But You alone

Grant to me Lord by Your sovereign hand
To wander forever in this boundless land
Where all of my yearnings, fears and demands
Are abandoned and lost to the great desert sands
Surrounding me

Fashion for me a desert of peace
Where Father, Son and Spirit meet
Together as one – together release me
Free from sin to enter in
To life forevermore

Fashion for us a city of love
Where the lamb and the lion together lie down
Where all of the wandering pilgrims are found
Rejoicing in song for the Saviour is crowned
As Lord and King

Grant to us Lord by your sovereign hand
A city of joy in the heart of the land
A home for the weary alien man
The fatherless children, the widow whose hands
Are tired and worn

Fashion for us a city of love
Where Father, Son and Spirit live
Together as one – together allow us
Free to take and celebrate
The life forever more

Prayer over the Gifts
Gracious God, you show us your way and give us your divine life. May everything we do be directed by the knowledge of your truth. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the risen Lord. Amen

Hear, O Israel
Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul,
with all your mind, and with all your strength.
This is the first and the great commandment.
The second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself.
There is no commandment greater than these.

Intercessions and Thanksgivings A Mother's Day Litany

Like a mother eagle teaching her young to fly, You push us to stretch our wings and risk falling,
yet You do not abandon us but lift us up, protecting us from evil.

We thank You, mothering God.

Like a mother bear, furious when her cubs are in danger, You bring justice on those who oppress the young.

We thank You, mothering God.

Your Spirit comforts us as one whom a mother comforts.

We thank You, mothering God.

Holy Spirit, You are everywhere the Lord and Giver of life. We praise You for the gift of mothers through whom You give us life.

We thank You for their willingness to nurture life, for their trust in You to guide them

through the labor of childbirth, the uncertainties of youth, the letting go of young adulthood.

We thank You for all those women, who did not give us birth, but through whom You give us abundant life:

We thank You for school teachers, aunts, grandmothers, sisters, pastors, elders, Sunday School teachers, supervisors, and friends who share wisdom.

We ask Your tender mercies on all those whose mothers now sing with the heavenly chorus, for those whose tears are not yet dry.

Grant them Your peace, which passes understanding.

We ask Your comforting presence on those mothers who have buried sons and daughters.

Grant them the grace to trust their loved ones to Your never-ending care.

We pray for those who are alienated from their mothers by harsh words, distance, misunderstanding.

Grant them Your grace to forgive and to love again.

We pray for mothers whose children met a violent death. We especially remember the missing and murdered indigenous women and their families who seek answers, closure and justice.
Deliver them from anguish.

We pray for mothers who work but cannot earn enough to feed and clothe and educate their children.
Wake us to our responsibility for common welfare.

We pray for mothers who are dying of AIDS and other diseases for which we know no cure.
Raise up among us caregivers for their children and expand our compassion.

We pray for mothers who are guardians for grandchildren whose parents are unable or unwilling to care.
Grant them courage and strength and patience for the living of each day.

We pray for mothers whose children face limitations of intelligence, emotional, or physical ability.

Deliver them from hovering; grant them wisdom to encourage each child’s full potential with You.

We pray for mothers whose sons and daughters defend our way of life as firefighters, officers of the law, and in the military.

Grant them confidence in Your presence with their children in life, in death, in life beyond death.

And now with the bold confidence of beloved children, we pray as Jesus taught his friends to pray:

Our Father

—written by Trish Holland,
posted on The Presbyterian Outlook website.

Collect
Almighty God, your Son Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. Give us grace to love one another and walk in the way of his commandments, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

Hymn Now The Green Blade Rises - # 237 BCP
Now the green blade rises from the buried grain,
wheat that in dark earth many days has lain;
love lives again, that with the dead has been;
love is come again like wheat arising green.

In the grave they laid him, Love by hatred slain,
thinking that he would never wake again,
laid in the earth like grain that sleeps unseen
love is come again like wheat arising green.

Forth he came at Easter, like the risen grain,
he that for three days in the grave had lain;
raised from the dead, my living Lord is seen;
love is come again like wheat arising green.

When our hearts are wintry, grieving, or in pain,
your touch can call us back to life again,
fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been;
love is come again like wheat arising green.

Blessing

May the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ go with us, where ever he may send us.
May he guide us through the wilderness, protect us through the storm.
May he bring us home rejoicing at the wonders he has shown us.
May he bring us home rejoicing once again into our doors. Amen

The Dismissal
Let us bless the Lord
Thanks be to God. Alleluia

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Saturday 2 May 2020

Easter 4 Morning Worship -- The Good Shepherd

We begin to day with a reflection by the Reverend Tim Sale on Vulnerability and Simplicity. Please follow the link below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=JM904dEYbBQ&feature=emb_logo

Sentence of the Day:

I am the good shepherd, says the Lord: I know my own and my own know me.

John 10.14

Hymn All People that on Earth do Dwell

All people that on earth do dwell,

Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice;

Him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell,

Come we before him, and rejoice.

Know that the Lord is God indeed;

Without our aid he did us make;

We are his folk, he does us feed,

And for his sheep he does us take.

O enter then his gates with praise;

Approach with joy his courts unto;

Praise, laud, and bless his Name always,

For it is seemly so to do.

For why? the Lord our God is good:

His mercy is for ever sure;

His truth at all times firmly stood,

And shall from age to age endure.

To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,

The God whom heav’n and earth adore,

From us and from the angel host

Be praise and glory evermore.

Gathering together

Alleluia, Christ is risen!

He is risen indeed, Alleluia!

He has triumphed over death

Alleluia!

He has triumphed over the grave

Alleluia!

He has risen

Alleluia!

Christ is alive

Alleluia!

(from the Rhythm of Life By David Adam)

Together we Pray

Loving shepherd you know and care for each of us. When we feel loss, alone and in darkness you walk with us and remind us that you are always beside us. When we long for your love remind us that you are always present. When we struggle in fear, filled with doubt and uncertainty remind us that you light our path and that your goodness and mercy are ever present. Amen

Christ our Passover

Alleluia! Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us; * therefore let us keep the feast, Not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, * but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia!

Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; * death no longer has dominion over him. The death that he died, he died to sin, once for all; * but the life he lives, he lives to God. So also consider yourselves dead to sin, * and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Alleluia!

Christ has been raised from the dead, * the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by a man came death, * by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, * so also in Christ shall all be made alive. Alleluia!

Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

Listen for the word which God has spoken;
Speak, Lord, to our speaking,
Speak, Lord, to our listening,
Speak, Lord, to our souls’ deep understanding
As the scriptures are read, we allow God’s word to speak to us, and ponder its meaning in our lives. Hear these words of Scripture:

A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles (2:42-47)

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church R: Thanks be to God

A Song of Praise
You created all things, O God, and are worthy of our praise forever
You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power.
For you have created all things, and by your will they have their being.
You are worthy, O Lamb, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed for God saints from every tribe and language and nation.
You made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God, and they will reign with you on earth.
To the one who sits on the throne and to the lamb be blessing and honour and glory and might, forever and ever. Amen
You created all things, O God, and are worthy of our praise forever

A Reading from the first letter of Peter (2:19-25)
For it is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God’s approval. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church R: Thanks be to God

Hymn Spirit Open my Heart
Listen Here
Spirit open my heart, to the joy and pain of living.
As You love, may I love; in receiving and in giving.
Spirit open my heart.

God replace my stony heart, with a heart kind and tender.
All my coldness and pain to Your grace, I now surrender. (Refrain)

Write Your love upon my heart, as my law, my goal, my story.
In each though, word and deed, may my living be Your glory. (Refrain)

May I weep with those who weep; share my joy with sisters, brothers.

In the Name of Christ, may we welcome one another. (Refrain)

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. John (10:1-10)“Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

The Gospel of Christ R: Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ

The Homily today is offered by the Reverend Canon Mary Lysecki

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer.

Karen has asked me to prepare a sermon for the fourth Sunday of Easter. Now as I understand it the preacher’s job is to open up for us the scripture that is read each week. I thought I should maybe let you know how I approach the reading of scripture, so you will have some clue as to how I am led to understand it.

Elder Betty Ross taught me a good way to approach God in prayer.

Close your eyes,

be still and go deep inside yourself,

go very deep,

look for that little spark, deep inside.

Pay attention to that spark.

Now let us pray.

And I thought maybe that is a good way to approach God through the reading of scripture as well. Get in touch with that of God in me, that little spark, and let that spark recognize that of God in the scripture.

On a good day that is how I read scripture.

Another clue to where I get my Biblical interpretation from is this passage from the first letter of John:

“Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him.” 1 John 4: 7-9

That is to say, I read scripture knowing that God is love and love sent love’s only son into the world so that we might have life through him.

So with all that in mind, let’s look at the gospel for today, Jesus’ parable of the good shepherd. I first asked, “What is the context?”

To begin with this took place on a Sabbath day. We read in chapter 8 that on the morning in question, Jesus had been in the temple, where he had accused the others present of being children of the devil. They asked him (hotly, one would imagine) who he thought he was. He replied, ‘Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.’ So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. Jesus cured the man’s blindness and then went on his way. The man’s neighbours were amazed and concerned, wondering how could this be? So they brought the man to the Pharisees. The Pharisees, on hearing the man’s testimony, were divided – is this Jesus a man of God or not – he doesn’t observe the Sabbath but how can a man who is a sinner perform miracles?

They called the man back and said, “We know this man is a sinner.”

The man said, “We know that God does not listen to sinners, but does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. . . , If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”

The Pharisees said, “You were born entirely in sins and are you trying to teach us” And they drove him out.

Jesus heard that they had driven him out and went to find him. Jesus invited the man to believe in Jesus as the Son of Man and when he did, Jesus said, ‘I came into this world for judgement so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.’

Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, ‘Surely we are not blind, are we?’ Jesus said to them, ‘If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, “We see”, your sin remains.’
And here is where the gospel reading for today begins.

Jesus continued, ‘Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit.’

Understandably, I think, the disciples had trouble following this shift in the conversation. Let’s see if we can.

This is one of Jesus’ parables or metaphoric stories. Jesus invites his hearers to figure out what the story represents.

The sheepfold – could be the people of Israel, could be all God’s creatures.

The gate – could be God, or in other words love.

The one who enters by the gate, who comes in love, is the true shepherd of God’s people. The one who will lead them to green pastures, beside still waters. The one who will keep them safe from evil even though they walk through the valley of death. The one who restores their souls.

The ones who do not know God, who do not follow the two great commandments, are the ones who try to lead the sheep out of the fold for their own reasons, not for God’s sake, not for love’s sake. They do not approach God’s people through love, but climb in by another way.

Sound like anyone in the previous encounter? The religious authorities, maybe?

And the shepherd calls the sheep by name. Because the shepherd recognizes that of God in the sheep.

He calls you by name. Isn’t that amazing?

He calls you by name.

Because he knows you.

He recognizes that spark deep inside you that has been there since he created you. He sees God in you.

And, Jesus, says, the sheep follow him because they know his voice.

The sheep recognize the one who enters by the gate, by God, by love. That of God in them recognizes God in the shepherd. That of love in them recognizes that of love in the shepherd.

It took the man born blind a little while but he eventually realized that he recognized the shepherd.

As Pastor David Lose says, “Jesus not only says that he is the good shepherd, he also reminds the sheep that they know him, that they’ve trusted him, and that they will continue to trust him, that they will be able to tell the difference between false hope and real hope, that they’ll detect a genuine offer of abundant life and all the counterfeits being peddled to them.”

Because that little spark in us recognizes Jesus, recognizes love.

But we do have to pay attention to that spark.

Br. Nicholas Bartoli of the Society of St. John the Evangelist says, “One day, perhaps, those seeking answers from Jesus will remember what has always been true, that they are, already, being guided by the Good Shepherd; that they are, already, dwelling in the pasture we call God’s Kingdom. God’s Truth is not so much hidden or difficult to attain, but merely forgotten. All we need do is remember.”

He also says, “But when our minds are distracted by worry and anxiety, we forget God’s eternal presence. We forget, and so we fail to recognize Christ’s Light in a flower, a friend’s face, a cloud in the sky, the play of shadows at dusk, the sound of rustling leaves, or even the subtle sense of our own beingness.”

When we forget it is as if we become blind. When we’re spiritually blind, we are a danger to ourselves and others.

And so I invite you to take some time this week to sit quietly.

Close your eyes,

be still and go deep inside yourself,

go very deep,

look for that little spark, deep inside.

Pay attention to that spark.

And then pray for whatever your spark/that of God in you is calling you to pray for.

Do we know that within each one of us is the unspeakably beautiful beat of the Sacred? Do we know that we can honor that Sacredness in one another and in everything that has being? And do we know that this combination—growing in awareness that we are bearers of Presence, along with a faithful commitment to honor that Presence in one another and the earth—holds the key to transformation in our world? —John Philip Newell

Invitation to the Offering (inspired by Psalm 23, 1 John 3)
The Shepherd cares for us, providing all that we need in abundance.
The Shepherd calls us to love one another in truth and action.
May our gifts reflect our trust in the Shepherd’s care.
May our offerings show our willingness to love one another.

** Although not physically at our church buildings to share our offering together I would encourage you to set you offering of money and food aside so that it can be mailed, dropped off or placed in the church once services resume** Please remember ministry is still taking place

Offering Hymn The Lord's my Shepherd
Listen Here
The Lord's my Shepherd, I'll not want;
he makes me down to lie
in pastures green; he leadeth me
the quiet waters by.

My soul he doth restore again,
and me to walk doth make
within the paths of righteousness,
e'en for his own name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through death's dark vale,
yet will I fear none ill,
for thou art with me; and thy rod
and staff me comfort still.

My table thou hast furnished
in presence of my foes;
my head thou dost with oil anoint,
and my cup overflows.

Goodness and mercy all my life
shall surely follow me;
and in God's house forevermore
my dwelling place shall be.

Prayer for the offering
God of love, you abide with us; you provide for all our needs and guide us in your ways. Out of gratitude for your care, we bring our gifts before you. Use them for your work of caring, that all may feast at the table of abundance, walk without fear, and drink deeply from the cup of compassion. Amen.

~ written by Mary Petrina Boyd,
and posted on Ministry Matters.

An Affirmation of Faith
We believe, O God of all gods,
that you are the eternal maker of life:
we believe, O God of all gods
that you are the eternal maker of love.

We believe, O Lord and God of all people,
that you are the creator
of the high heavens,
that you are the creator
of the skies above,
that you are the creator
of the oceans below.

We believe, O lord and God of all people,
that you are the one who created our souls
and set their course,
that you are the one who created our bodies
from dust and from ashes,
that you gave to our bodies their breath
and to our souls their possession.

God, bless to us our bodies,
God, bless to us our souls,
God, bless to us our lives,
God, bless to us our belief.   (A Wee Worship Book)

Intercessions and Thanksgivings
Loving Shepherd, we hear your word and let it speak to us, let it wash over us and let it renew us so that we know your presence and mercy are always with us, we prepare ourselves for this time of prayer, focusing on You with our every breath.   We breathe you in and we cry out O Lord, our Shepherding God, come close to us now. Come near us in our time of need.

Loving Shepherd we pray for our world and all of its needs,
   for the environment and its much-needed rest,
   for the wars that continue when peace is desperately needed,
for the healing of the many who are sick,
(please take the time to offer your petitions)