As we gather, we recognize that we live, work, pray, and play
in the traditional, unceded lands
of the Cowichan Tribes and Coast Salish People. 
We continue to commit ourselves
to the work of reconciliation and relationship-building
with our First Nations neighbours.     

Call to Worship:

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

John 14.6
 

Gathering

Almighty God,
to you all hearts are open, all desires known,
and from you no secrets are hidden.
Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the
inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ, our Lord. Amen. 

Collect for Today

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 forever.  Amen.

The Proclamation of the Gospel:

John 14. 1 -14 

Sermon:  The Ven.  Brian Evans

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of
our hearts be ever acceptable to you, O Lord.  Amen.

       “ The Way – The Truth – The Life "

First, I must get this out of the way.  

In case you should think I have lost it, as the Gospel may sound very familiar from last week. In my defense, I have included more verses today.

As we would hear in preaching class: it’s all about context.            

In addition to Jesus’ statement defining his ministry, the other theme, particularly from the first three readings, is about stones.            

Thinking about stones, I was reminded of ‘The Great Stone Wall of Saskatchewan,’  I bet you have never heard of this before.  It is pictured on the back page of our bulletin today.

I am sure we have all encountered roadside monuments, or ‘larger than life’ community mascots in our travels. This wall is one of those.   It is 7 miles from our family home.  I had the good fortune of as a young boy watching it grow, like an outcropping from the prairie landscape. Day after day we watched as Mr. Johnson created this masterpiece. (Makes me think of John Sipkes, mason and artist)            

In the first three lessons for today we have:

• Acts text: Stoning of Stephen – rocks, as weapons;

• Psalm 31: Metaphor of God as a rock, a fortress in the storms of life;

• 1 Peter: The ‘rock’ – PETRA – Peter acknowledges Jesus as both a cornerstone for believers, and a stumbling stone for those who do not believe.  

What about the Gospel?

The first few verses (skipped over last Sunday) are very familiar to us, from our funeral liturgy.

“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.    John 14. 1-4            

All burial sites are a reflection of faith.

For many religions, our place of burial is marked by stone, or alternative sign of permanence. There is significance in the metaphor, for a witness to our common belief. Once more we have this idea of a rock….a permanency in Christ …in the resurrection of Christ and a permency in our travel and life among the angels…and archangels.     

And Jesus says to  us in verse 4 "And you know the way to the place where I am going.”        

At the same time, rocks or stones have a variety of values added to them, by being created together.           

It is interesting how such an everyday object like a rock can embody so many values in our lives.

They can be seen as positive or negative, empowering, or harmful, life-giving or death-dealing.   It is all in our individual experience.

• If you are a stone mason, like John Sipkes, they can embody art.
  Just like Mr. Johnson's stone wall....it embodied art.
  If you have never seen the front of John and Ida’s home, you should. Shows part of the scenery of their view of the valley….              

Stones, then become living stones.            

I know you have seen this stole before. It is my Cursillo stole. It was given to me the first time I was the Spiritual Team for a Cursillo weekend. A review of the symbolism contained herein is: the backing  is stones/ the  front has living objects pictured, and is a reminder for us that amongst the stones is light, and life-giving.            

We are all called then to be those living stones.

In 1 Peter 2.4-5

'...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.'       

Here, we have Peter portraying the church as a spiritual house. Yet, there is more.

Peter draws on several Old Testament references to assist the community in understanding of the 'us to become living stones'.            

Within this spiritual house, that is - us, not these four walls that hold the roof  up on the building, Christ is our foundation stone.

We symbolize that in any number of ways.

One is with the tradition of laying a corner stone for each new building. How many of us know where the corner stone is for St. John the Baptist Church, in Duncan?            

Corner stones have among their many features, is that of giving direction. If you travel the world and lose direction, all you need to do is find the cornerstone of a building. They are always placed in the NE corner of the building. You have your direction, again.     

Just like Christ is our direction.    With Christ, we find our direction.

Christ is the foundation and cornerstone of our faith.

AND as Christ is the head, we the believers are the stones, holding up the faith or foundation.
One stone does not make a wall, or temple, just like we read a few weeks back about the bones…all are connected, to create life.

Herein comes part of the message for us today.
In this individualistic society, we have a tendency sometimes to forget just how dependent we are of each other.            

When God calls us to a task, remember God is calling you to a work with others - in community.         

With reference to Stephen today, the Patron Saint of Deacons, it is a perfect reminder for all deacons, and all members of the parish, just how Diaconal Ministry works.
In short form, the work of the deacon is in the community.   Except it does not start, or stop there.

The beginning is: The Deacon is ordained and sent into the world.
The next step, is to bring that world back in observations to the community of faith, the parish, and share the needs observed.
Then, the third part is for the community to be part of that ministry, with the deacon.            

I continue to be reminded how so much of our mission is 3-fold.
In this case: Sending, Reporting, Building.
This is not unlike the builder, going out into the field/forest to find the materials, returning with those materials, then assembling them.            

When we do this, our individual efforts multiply beyond measure. It is then, we build the beautiful house of God--not the building, but the house of God in our lives.         

Visiting some of the great cathedrals around the world, your first impressions, or question, is quite likely, how did they do it?  

When we think about this, our first task, after the idea and design, is to build the foundation.

This is followed by many parts/people coming together to form the structure. The finishing part, is the completed design, giving life to the structure.            

The nature of our faith is not unlike an instant pudding mix.
Our faith is one of longing and searching.
Ours is to sift through the rocks, choosing the ones which give us life.            

One of discovering the way, the truth, and the life.            

Then, with each stone we have gathered along the road of life, we will discover just how, with Christ, we have done greater works than thought possible, as Jesus reminds us.            

Just as the cornerstone on a building can give us geographical direction, “Christ, our cornerstone” will give us a way to follow; fill us with truth; a truth which gives us life of faith. 

Thanks be to God. Amen. 

Let Us Pray

United in the hope of joy and resurrection,
let us pray for the Church, the world, and all in need.

God of life,
strengthen your church to proclaim your gospel, even in the times of trouble.
As we remember Stephen, we give thanks for diaconal ministry,
and for our Deacon Trish.
Bless all deacons, and strengthen them for their bridge-building ministry
between church and world. 

Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great. 

Creating God,
you show your steadfast love through mighty waters,
towering mountains, verdant fields, and arid deserts.
Protect the earth’s diverse habitats from the forces of pollution,
erosion, extinction, and global warming. 

Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great. 

Mighty God,
your Spirit guides us into all truth.
Give wisdom to world and local leaders, and organizations as they begin,
build, or renew, relationships.
Strengthen leaders and aid organizations in areas needing to be rebuilt
following conflict, unrest, or natural disaster. 

Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great. 

Loving God,
you make your home among us.
Abide with refugees, those experiencing homelessness,
those fleeing war and poverty, and all who question if
there is a 'home' in your heart.
We pray for all who are sick, and in need of your healing touch.
We continue to pray for those in need, particularly in our parish:
Roy & Gail; Daryl & Sue; Roy; Jay;  Sheila; Elaina ; and those on our hearts. 

Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great. 

Assuring God,
you accompany your people amid uncertainty and change.
Uphold people in this community who have recently moved, changed jobs or schools,
retired, or are going through transition of any kind.
Lead us in your ways. 

Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great. 

Renewing God,
you gather the saints at your heavenly banquet.
We give you thanks for the care shown us by those who have gone before us.
Grant confidence, and comfort, for all awaiting the place you have prepared. 

Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great. 

Rejoicing in the victory of Christ’s resurrection,
we lift our prayers and praise to you,
almighty and eternal God;
through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord. Amen. 

As our Saviour taught us:
Our Father,
who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as in heaven. 
Give us today our daily bread. 
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive
those who tresspass against us.
And lead us  not into temptation,
but deliver us fom evil.  
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power and the glory,
forever and ever.  Amen.

We give thanks today that, through Word and Sacrament,
God does show us the way, and 
God gives us a division of the divine life.

And we ask God that we may also have the power to do
all that is necessary in the ministry of our Saviour, Jesus Christ,
and that we, too, may be always responsible for sharing the truth.   

May we always walk in the way of our Lord, 
in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Blessing: 

May the peace of God,
which passes all understanding,
keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and
love of God, and of his son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

And may the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be with you, and remain with you, always.  Amen.