Staycation Part 2

Aslan ready to roll, he likes the windows down, 

a breeze in the face and the wind in his hair!

I've actually been back  to work for a week but somehow didn't get around to writing the second week of the holiday in the blog.  There were a few more day trips, just my pup and I.  My DH was working on the submission of a paper for the PhD program that he is in and had a deadline.  Aslan and I were as free as the birds and so we slept late (most days it was at least 8 am), decided if we'd veg out in the air conditioned house or explore another road.

We explored another road and had some fun.  Problem was it was hard to drive and snap pictures.  There was a beautiful one of a train coming down the line at a great distance and since we were more to the side you could appreciate just how long it was.  But we were in a construction area and it was too hard to pull off and find a side road and then get back in the madness so I admired it from the car but wishing and hoping that I'd have another opportunity.  So far no luck.

We saw beautiful fields of hay

An Automobile Museum in Headingly

Sadly it was closed for the summer but we found a  Roastery it was open and I scored some green coffee beans for roasting and in my excitement I forgot to get a picture

Beautiful fields on the way to Elie

The church of the Blessed Sacrament (Elie MB)

Added to that there was a long weekend and most places were closed so less exploration and of course my furry friend would have been too hot in the car since the temperature was in the 30's daily.  We didn't go out everyday though because then my Christmas gifts would not be completed and we couldn't have that.  Too bad I personalized most and can't offer a sneak peek!  But I will say that they turned out lovely! Yes. I know it's too early to talk about Christmas . . . but when you want to hand make things you need a head start!  

My furry friend and I hope to have another road trip soon and you never know my DH just might be free to join us and get the wind in his hair and enjoy the scenery too

Wastefulness, Fearfulness, Indifference

Some months ago I went on facebook and was utterly annoyed at a post that a friend had shared.  Knowing the friend very well I suspected that they had read the post and then hit share thinking it was humour and wanted to pass along the joke but in reality it was degrading and insulting.  The post suggested that a new Canadian was walking in a city, thanking those encountered for the opportunity to live in this great country.  The new Canadian encountered others who were also from visible minorities  and when the question was raised where the Canadians were the response was that all the Canadians were at work.

I was appaled, I was angry.  My first reaction was to report the post to facebook but previous attempts at this causes even greater frustration when I am told that it is "deemed to be within the guidelnes."  When did an attempt to shame people become acceptable?  When did it become "ok" to be so unwelcoming and so protectionist?

So I had a choice, I knew facebook would not do anything so I made a comment on the post.  It was less than gracious and certainly not diplomatic and yes I admit I wrote in anger.  I wrote "WOW, I am shocked.  Many new Canadians add to and enrich the Canadian fabric, are hard working, contributing members who work and pay taxes.  Just WOW!"  Happily I noticed (yes I purposely went back to look) the post was removed.

So after sitting with this in my head all day (because unlike the Disney song, Let it Go, I could not) I reached a conclusion.  I can sit and stew or I can challenge the thinking.  When I see such negative shares or comments, when a negative light gets shed on those in a minority I have a responsibility to challenge it and to speak against it.  Several friends have already discovered this and happily they still speak to me.

Social media is a means for me to stay in touch with friends, but if I have to read these kinds of posts then I seriously question why I hold on to this relationship in any capacity.  I also wonder if it is facebooks purpose to help feed dissention and hatred for the "other" the minority.  We have forgotten how to welcome the stranger, we are reluctant to welcome those who flee for safety to another country, we have forgotten the lost and the neglected.  We are quick to blame, complain and point the finger.  We have lost the very essence of who we are and how to take care of each other.  We have become intolerant of any who might be "different" and somehow we think that is fine.  

So for a time (many months have now passed) I was hurt and disgusted but this is another day and another time.  One in which to stand against injustice, racial slurs and the slighting of others because of the differences that lay on the surface.  Mother Teresa said "At the end of our lives we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, or how many great things we have done."  We will be judged by the hospitality that we extended, the cup that we offered, and the injustice that we refused to perpetuate.  

It is time to re-evaluate the intolerance that lies just below the surface, that gets passed off as a joke, that is systemic in our society and insitiutions and deemed acceptable or the "way we've always done it."  It is time to realize we have a challenge to face to become better human beings because ALL can't matter when minorities continue to be overlooked, ill treated and deemed the lesser children of God.  ALL can't matter if the minorities are not valued and treated equally.

An Obsession with . . . Perfection

Every morning without fail; rain or shine, unbearably hot or unbearably cold, I walk.  Now don't be too impressed, my DH and I have a beautiful Golden Retriever and he is a big walker.  So Aslan and I walk 6-10 kms a day.  Yes we walk a lot throughout the day.  It is not an obsession but my 10,000 steps a day are and there is only one way to acquire them!

On these walks along the streets of Winnipeg I notice a lot of things.  Pretty chalk drawings on the sidewalk, decorative windows, rabbits (lots and lots of them), other people (yes I talk to strangers), gardens and especially lawns.  Winnipeg summers, at least in the eight years my DH and I have lived here, are hot and dry.  This is not at all conducive to lawn growth.  So, I really notice lawns!  Some, these days, are yellow and crisp from lack of water and others are lush and green.  On those walks I marvel at the number of lawns that are regularly watered with the sprinklers flowing freely in the morning and again in the evening.  I marvel for a number of reasons, one is the cost since we all have water meters and the second is the waste.  (I likely won't win friends for that one)  

Water is a precious commodity and yet day after day I watch (and yes get annoyed) as the water is used so freely and wastefully (entirely my opinion).  The Lawn is not my obsession, but I do wonder why there does not seem to be a ban or a limit on this kind of wastefulness in the city.  My DH and I have lived in many places, both large and small towns, and there always seemed to be a watering ban for lawns.  So for my DH and I this free flow is a weird concept.  

The other thing that I've noticed on my walks are the number of totally weedless gardens (poor bees and butterflies)  This mystery has been solved.  We have weeds and a neighbour suggested we use weed killer.  Not the environmentally friendly kind (is there any such thing?) either but Weed be Gone and Round Up so that it will kill everything.  These are used regularly and can be easily bought.  Again we wonder at this because the majority of places we have lived have banned the use of herbicides and pesticides. 

So as our lawn, despite new soil and seeds (and yes watering) refused to grow and is bare spots and weeds, and a perfect mess.  We have decided to go minimalist, the front yard is tilled to mud, a dozen shrubs have gone in, small paths about the yard installed, a little garden left for blooming flowers to feed the bees and butterflies and all that is left is an edging and the mulch. 

Feeling pretty proud of the work that we had done, a neighbour soon deflated the afterglow of all the hard work when were asked about the patch of grass we share (about two feet wide) because the weeds are "encroaching" on the perfect lawn!  Oh the things we obsess over...me and my 10,000 steps and others with the prefection of the green lawn...

You are an obsession, you're my obsession... 

(ft. Nate Dogg & Animotion)

  

Pentecost 10 August 9, 2020 -- do not fear...only believe

                              

… But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath (his feet,) he lost his nerve … 

(Mt 14:30 The Message Translation) 

Gathering Song – Jacob and Sons

Way way back many centuries ago, not long after the Bible began
Jacob lived in the land of Canaan, a fine example of a family man 

Jacob, Jacob and sons, depended on farming to earn their keep
Jacob, Jacob and sons, spent all of their days in the fields with sheep

Jacob was the founder of a whole new nation,
Thanks to the number of children he'd had
He was also known as Israel but most of the time
His sons and his wives used to call him dad
Jacob, Jacob and sons, men of the soil, of the sheaf and crook
Jacob, Jacob and sons, a remarkable family in anyone's book

Reuben was the eldest of the children of Israel,
With Simeon and Levi the next in line
Napthali and Isaachar with Asher and Dan,
Zebulun and Gad took the total to nine
Jacob, Jacob and sons, Benjamin and Judah, which leaves only one
Jacob, Jacob and sons, Joseph -- Jacob's favorite son

Jacob, Jacob and sons
Jacob, Jacob and sons
Jacob, Jacob and sons 

Jacob, Jacob, Jacob, Jacob and sons.

Gathering         (based on Psalm 105)

Give thanks to the Lord,
We call upon God and share the stories of all the wonderful things God has done

We will sing praises about the glory of God
And about the abundance that God offers and we will continually seek God’s presence and love in our lives

Even when we turn away reconciliation is made possible through God who continues to protect us
Praise the Lord

Together we Pray
Loving God, you have taught us through the ages that you are always with us and seek to keep us protected. We do not always appreciate the way you work in and through us. We rebel and you patiently wait for our return. Help us to come to a better understanding of your love in our lives and help us to be open to you working through us. Amen

Collect of the Day
Almighty God, you sent your Holy Spirit to be the life and light of your Church. Open our hearts to the riches of your grace, that we may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit in love, joy, and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen

A Reading from the book Genesis (37:1-28)

Jacob settled in the land where his father had lived as an alien, the land of Canaan. This is the story of the family of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was shepherding the flock with his brothers; he was a helper to the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he had made him a long robe with sleeves. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him.

Once Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. He said to them, “Listen to this dream that I dreamed. There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright; then your sheaves gathered around it, and bowed down to my sheaf.” His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Are you indeed to have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more because of his dreams and his words. He had another dream, and told it to his brothers, saying, “Look, I have had another dream: the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him, and said to him, “What kind of dream is this that you have had? Shall we indeed come, I and your mother and your brothers, and bow to the ground before you?” So his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

Now his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near Shechem. And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” He answered, “Here I am.” So he said to him, “Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock; and bring word back to me.” So he sent him from the valley of Hebron. He came to Shechem, and a man found him wandering in the fields; the man asked him, “What are you seeking?” “I am seeking my brothers,” he said; “tell me, please, where they are pasturing the flock.” The man said, “They have gone away, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’“ So Joseph went after his brothers, and found them at Dothan. They saw him from a distance, and before he came near to them, they conspired to kill him. They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; then we shall say that a wild animal has devoured him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams.” But when Reuben heard it, he delivered him out of their hands, saying, “Let us not take his life.” Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him” —that he might rescue him out of their hand and restore him to his father.

So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the long robe with sleeves that he wore; and they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it. Then they sat down to eat; and looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels carrying gum, balm, and resin, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers agreed. When some Midianite traders passed by, they drew Joseph up, lifting him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.

Hear what the spirit is saying        R: Thanks be to God

Gradual Song - 174 Eternal Lord of Love 

Eternal Lord of love, behold your church
Walking once more the pilgrim way of hope,
Led by your cloud by day, by night your fire,
Moved by your love and toward your presence bent;
Far off yet here- the goal of all desire.

So daily dying to the way of self,
So daily living to your way of love,
We walk the road, Lord Jesus, that you trod,
Knowing ourselves baptized into your death;
So we are dead and live with you in God.

If dead in you, so in you we arise,
You the firstborn of all the faithful dead;
And as through stony ground the green shoots break,
Glorious in springtime dress of leaf and flower,
So in Creator’s glory shall we wake.

The Lord be with you          R: And also with you
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Matthew (14:22-33)
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

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

The Homily ( A reflection from 2017 is further along in the blog, you can find it under the title Stick to the Boat)

Post Homily Song – MV 161 I Have Called You by Your Name
I have called you by your name, you are mine;
I have gifted you and ask you now to shine.
I will not abandon you; all my promises are true.
You are gifted, called and chosen; you are mine.

I will help you learn my name as you go;
Read it written in my people, help them grow.
Pour the water in my name, speak the word your soul can claim,
Offer Jesus’ body given long ago.

I know you will need my touch as you go;
Feel it pulsing in creation’s ebb and flow.
Like the woman reaching out, choosing faith in spite of doubt,
Hold the hem of Jesus’ robe, then let it go.

I have given you a name, it is mine;
I have given you my Spirit as a sign.
With my wonder in your soul, make my wounded children whole;
Go and tell my precious people they are mine.

Affirmation of Faith

We believe in God: omnipresent, in every time, and in every place, generating and sustaining all life, nurturing relationship with Creation.

We believe in Jesus, the Christ, who lived and loved, taught and died; the One who conquered death and who surprises us with grace, when we least expect or deserve it.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, who journeys with us and makes our faith possible, in every situation and every circumstance.

We believe that every place we pause to recognize the mystery of our Triune God, is a sacred place, from sanctuaries on North Drive to the majesty of sunrises over the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic Oceans. Surely, God is with us in every time and in every place, and we are grateful.

by Jerie Lukefahr, Commissioned Ruling Elder (PCUSA) 

 *Loosely based on Gen 28:10-19 

Prayers of the People
Our response to the prayers today is Holy One, in your love and mercy: hear our prayer.

Holy One, creation was envisioned by you and is sustained by you;
in gratitude we pray for the world:
that its riches and resources be used responsibly and fairly;
that its rulers and leaders may govern with justice, compassion and humility;
that humankind may live with understanding and respect, noticing what unites us;
In your love and mercy: hear our prayer.

Holy One, Teacher of Love and compassion, you lived among us to teach us and to show us by your example how to love;
in humility we pray for our siblings around the globe:
for those dehumanized by their struggle for existence, may we listen;
for those overshadowed by the constancy of death, may we notice;
for those besieged by fear, anger and relentless peril, may we show up;
for those ensnared by systems beyond their control, may we be willing to add our voices to demand change.
In your love and mercy, hear our prayer.

Holy One, Breath of Being, you are here – in this very moment – a constant presence and insistent voice; in gratitude we pray…with boldness we pray:
inundate the world with humanity,
overwhelm the world with truth,
flood the world with kindness and hope,
upset our indifference so that complacency comes to an end,
accelerate our action so that those who wait for justice see it take shape and happen,
fortify our resolve to continue to seek equality for all,
compel us to authentic discipleship that nurtures creation, embodies love and breathes life, hope and justice for all.
In your love and mercy, hear our prayer.

Triune and blessed Creator,
we look at our world that is full of pain and we say we want to help,
we want to stand in solidarity, we want to lend our voice and our hands and ourselves.
Remind us, walk with us and show us how to continue to be a “squeeky wheel”
so that issues of reconciliation, justice and equality do not get ignored
but are addressed in a timely manner. Let truth be spoken without fear.
In your love and mercy, hear our prayer.

approach and confession: storyteller

God, you are a storyteller, and you made us in your image. You spoke, and you still speak, through unexpected people, through silence, through your word written and proclaimed through the centuries. We come to hear your story once again, to find our place among your people and within your vision for all creation. We hear You call us to share your story in our words and in our actions, but we confess that more often our lips are sealed. We are afraid to tell your story. We think we don’t know enough, and we are afraid of offending. We prefer to keep you to ourselves.
Yet still Your word, O Lord, is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.
Forgive us for letting the book gather dust on the shelf, and the story gather dust in our hearts.
Speak to us, and through us, Lord.
Help us to know you so well that we cannot help but love you, and to love you so much we
cannot help but serve you, sharing your good news in every place, for it is in doing your
will that we find perfect freedom.
We pray in the name of the one who is your Living Word, Jesus the Christ.

by Rev. Teri Peterson, 

St. John’s Church of Scotland, Gourock, Scotland 

May peace be with you

The Celebration of the Eucharist

Offering Hymn 432 Jesus Called Us! O’er the Tumult
Jesus calls us! O’er the tumult
of our life’ wild restless sea,
Day by day his sweet voice soundeth,
Saying “Christian, follow me!”

As of old Saint Andrew heard it
By the Galilean lake,
Turned from home and toil and kindred,
Leaving all for his dear sake.

Jesus calls us from the worship
Of the vain world’s golden store,
From each idol that would keep us,
Saying “Christian, love me more.”

In our joys and in our sorrows,
Days of toil and hours of ease,
Still he calls, in cares and pleasures,
“Christian, love me more than these.”

Jesus calls us! By thy mercies,
Saviour, may we hear thy call,
Give our hearts to thine obedience,
Serve and love thee best of all.

Prayer over the Gifts
Creator, receive all we offer you this day, and grant that in this eucharist we may be enriched by the gifts of the Spirit. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Supplementary Eucharistic Prayer 2 (S2)

Presider      May God be with you.
People        And also with you.

Presider      Lift up your hearts.
People        We lift them up to God.

Presider      Let us give thanks to God our Creator.
People        It is right to offer thanks and praise.

Eternal God, Source of all being, we give you thanks and praise for your faithful love. You                call us into friendship with you and one another to be your holy people, a sign of your presence in the world. When those we trust betray us, unfailingly you remain with us. When we injure others, you confront us in your love and call us to the paths of righteousness. You stand with the weak, and those, broken and alone, whom you have always welcomed home, making the first last, and the last first. Therefore we raise our voices with angels and archangels, forever praising you and saying

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed are you, O Holy One: when Hagar was driven into the wilderness you followed her and gave her hope.
When Joseph was sold into bondage, you turned malice to your people’s good.
When you called Israel out of slavery, you brought them through the wilderness into the promised land.
When your people were taken into exile you wept with them by the river of Babylon and carried them home.
People      Restore us, O God, let your face shine!

At the right time you sent your Anointed One to stand with the poor, the outcast, and the oppressed. Jesus touched lepers, and the sick, and healed them.
He accepted water from a woman of Samaria and offered her the water of new life. Christ knew the desolation of the cross and opened the way for all humanity into the redemption of your reconciling love.
On the night he was betrayed, Jesus, at supper with his friends, took bread, gave you thanks, broke the bread, gave it to them, and said, “Take and eat: this is my body which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”
After supper he took the cup of wine, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “Drink this, all of you: this is my blood of the new covenant which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”
Loving and Holy One, recalling Christ’s death and resurrection, we offer you these gifts, longing for the bread of tomorrow and the wine of the age to come.
Therefore we proclaim our hope.

People      Dying you destroyed our death, rising you restored our life. Lord Jesus, come in glory.

Pour out your Spirit on these gifts that through them you may sustain us in our hunger for your peace. We hold before you all whose lives are marked by suffering, our sisters and brothers. When we are broken and cast aside, embrace us in your love.

People      Restore us, O God, let your face shine!

Through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory are yours, O Source of all life, now and for ever. Amen.


The Lord’s Prayer

The Breaking of the Bread
        We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.
All   We, being many, are one body, for we all share in the one bread.

The Communion
These are the gifts of God for the People of God.          Thanks be to God.

Prayer after Communion

All your works praise you, O Lord.
And your faithful servants bless you. Gracious God we thank you for feeding us with the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ. May we, who share his body, live his risen life; we, who drink his cup, bring life to others; we, whom the Spirit lights, give light to the world. Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us, so that we and all your children shall be free, and the whole earth live to praise your name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Blessing
The Spirit of God inspires…listen!
The Spirit of God transforms…grow!
The Spirit of God empowers…go…and be…and do!

And may you…
those you encounter…
and those who are touched beyond that encounter…
discover and know the grace, love, and peace of God
each and every day. Amen.

by Scott Cervas, pastor 

at Meadowthorpe Presbyterian Church 

The Dismissal                  (based on Psalm 105:4, 7-8, The Message)
As you go from here into the week ahead,
Keep your eyes open for God, watch for His works; be alert for signs of His presence.

For He is God—our God—in charge of the whole earth.
And He remembers His Covenant— for a thousand generations He’s been as good as His word.

So go with confidence and joy, knowing that God goes with you.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia

Sending Hymn – Lord Jesus of You I will Sing
Lord Jesus, of you I will sing as I journey, 

I’ll tell everybody about you wherever I go:
You alone are our life and our peace and our love.
Lord Jesus, of you I will sing as I journey.

Lord Jesus, I’ll praise you as long as I journey.
May all of my joy be a faithful reflection of you.
May the earth and the sea and the sky join my song.
Lord Jesus, I’ll praise you as long as I journey.

As long as I live, Jesus make me your servant,
To carry your cross and to share all your burdens and tears
For you saved me by giving your body and blood.
As long as I live, Jesus, make me your servant.

I fear in the dark and the doubt of my journey
But courage will come with the sound of your steps by my side.
And with all of my people you saved by your love
We’ll sing to your dawn at the end of our journey.

Pentecost 9 August 2, 2020 How will you feed them?

Opening hymn Wind in the Willows     Author: Alan Bell      

Listen Here

As I went a walking
One morning in spring
I met with some travelers
On an old country lane
One was an old man
The second a maid
The third was a young boy who smiled as he said

Chorus    "With the wind in the willows
                  The birds in the sky
                  There's a bright sun to warm us wherever we lie...
                  We have bread and fishes and a jug of red wine
                  To share on our journey with all humankind".

So I asked them to tell me their names and their race
So I could remember each smile on their face
"Our names, they mean nothing...
They change throughout time
So come sit beside us and share in our wine"      CHORUS

So I sat down beside them
With flowers all around
We ate from a mantle
Spread out on the ground
They told me of prophets
And peoples and kings
And all of the one god that knows everything
"We're traveling to Glaston
Over England's green lanes
To hear of men's troubles
To hear of their pains
We travel the wide world
Over land and the sea
To tell all the people
How they can be free..."

So sadly I left them
On that old country lane
For I knew that I'd never see them again
One was an old man
The second a maid
The third was a young boy who smiled as he said...

Gathering:
Leader: I will sing your praises O God
All: God’s greatness is cause for celebration and thanksgiving

Leader: God is gracious and merciful
All: God is patient and compassionate

Leader: Proclaim the greatness of God and show in all we do
All: God is faithful and just, help us to strive to be the same.

Prayer for the day:
Loving God your love and compassion showed itself in and through Jesus. When people gathered, he cared for them and their needs. Help us to be more compassionate, show us how to feed those who hunger and help them find satisfaction. Amen 

Hymn     Lord you have come to the seashore            written by Cesareo Gabarain

                                                                                        performed by Tim Lewis

Listen Here
Lord, You have come to the seashore 

Neither searching for the rich nor the wise. 

Desiring only that I should follow. 

REFRAIN     O Lord, with Your eyes set upon me 

                      Gently smiling, You have spoken my name. 

                       All I longed for, I have found by the water. 

                      At Your side, I will seek other shores. 

Lord, see my goods, my possessions. 

In my boat You find no power, no wealth. 

Will You accept then my nets and labor?         REFRAIN 

Lord take my hands and direct them. 

Help me spend myself in seeking the lost. 

Returning love for the love You gave me.         REFRAIN 

Lord, as I drift on the waters 

Be the resting place of my restless heart. 

My life's companion, my friend and refuge.         REFRAIN

Gospel

Leader: May God be with you     All: and also with you.
Leader: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew. (14:13-21)

All: Glory to you Lord Jesus Christ.


Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They replied, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Leader: The Gospel of Christ.         All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. 

Song for Reflection     Kindness         Ryan Adams 
Listen Here
 

If you're so kind 

Can you let down your hand 

Can you let down your hand 

If you're so kind 

If you're so strong 

Can you shelter the weak 

Will you listen as the strangers speak 

Bring them calm 

Kindness don't ask for much 

But an open mind 

Kindness can cure a broken heart 

Honey are you feelin kind 

Do you believe in love 

Do you believe in love 

If you're so kind 

Can you let down your hand 

Will you try and understand 

When it goes wrong

 

Days come and gone 

And it's been said and been done 

I will shelter you with my love 

And my forgiveness 

Kindness don't ask for much 

But an open mind 

Kindness can cure a broken heart 

Honey are you feelin kind 

Do you believe in love 

Do you believe in love 

Kindness don't ask for much 

But an open mind 

Kindness can cure a broken heart 

Honey are you feelin kind 

Do you believe in love 

Do you believe in love

Prayers of Intercession

Sisters and brothers, God our Savior is our refuge! So let us pray to God saying, “Incline your ear to us; Hear our words.”

God our Savior, show us your face. May your Church be satisfied in your presence. May you reveal to us your ways so that we might walk in the light of your truth.
Silence
Incline your ear to us;   Hear our words.


O God, your eyes are fixed on justice. We pray for all victims of war and violence and famine. Give heed to the cries of those in need throughout the world.
Silence
Incline your ear to us;  Hear our words.

God of Abundance, you have blessed the Earth to bring forth plenty. May we recognize the abundance in our own lives and so that those with little may also have their fill.
Silence
Incline your ear to us;   Hear our words.

O God, have compassion on the people of our region. Show us your marvelous loving-kindness so that our fears may be replaced with trust in your goodness.
Silence
Incline your ear to us;    Hear our words.

God of Blessing, we call upon you, for you answer us in our need. We pray this day for all those desperate for your blessing. Moved by compassion, heal the sick and suffering ones we hold in our hearts this day.
add your own petitions and thanksgivings, followed by Silence
Incline your ear to us;  Hear our words.

The Lord's Prayer

Song         Until All Are Fed                              – Brian McFarland One Licence A-605236 

Listen Here

How long will be sing? How long will we pray? 
How long will we write and send? 
How long will we bring? How long will we stay? 
How long will we make amends? 

Chorus 
Until all are fed, we cry out. Until all on earth have the bread. 
Like the one who loves us, each and everyone… 
We serve until all are fed. 

How long will we talk? How long will we prod? 
How long must we fret and hoard? 
How long will we walk to tear down this façade? 
How long? How long, oh lord? 

Chorus 

How can we standby and failed to be aghast? 
How long till we do what’s right? 
How could we standby and choose a lesser fast? 
How long till we see the light? 

Chorus 

On the green, green grass they gathered long ago, 
To hear what the master said. 
What they had they shared - some fishes and some loaves. 
They served until all were fed. 

Chorus