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:

The time is fulfilled,
and the kingdom of God is at hand;
repent, and
believe in the gospel. 

Mark 1.15

O, Come.   Let Us Worship.

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, 
by grace alone you call us and accept us in your service. Strengthen us by your Spirit, and make us worthy of your call; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

The Proclamation of the Gospel: Mark 1.14-20 

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.

“Something Different”

Today’s 3 lessons, outside of the Psalm, are certainly reminders for us about how we live in a changing world; how God has provided for us over the generations, the changing of life, and life-changing for us.

Jonah 3.1-5,10

In Jonah we have this archetypal type of prophet who is reluctant, and God has called him to go to Nineveh and to cry out against that community for its wickedness. I’m sure that Jonah had some hesitations.

1 Corinthians 7.29-31

And then, Paul in writing to the church in Corinth talks about how times are changing, about life and how our status sometimes will change in life

Mark 1.14-20

And Jesus, in Mark’s Gospel, begins his public ministry with words of mission and calling to mission.

(© 1996-2024 Chris Haslam)

I remember well the words of the bishop when appointed to our first parish. The parish had been through some difficult situations.

The bishop said, “all I want you to do for at least the first year is to simply love the people. They are good people, and you need to affirm their goodness by simply loving them. He did not say make no judgements or to go and make judgements or changes; simply to affirm the people of the parish in their commitment to their Christian faith.

Thank goodness. I’ve always been thankful for that advice, sound advice, because had I not received that, I may have been tempted to run in the opposite direction.

He did not say to me, as God said to Jonah to go to Nineveh and shout out to those terrible people, how bad they are and what sinners they are. Yet Jonah did go to Nineveh, and on the first day when he began his ministry there which because of the size of the city, would take at least 3 days to walk across it; but on the first day he said to the people, “Forty days, forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!"

Imagine how well he was received!

What this did for the people of the city was to challenge them to see life differently. Or, to do something different.

Believing the scriptures and the people responsible for selecting the portions to be read on a given Sunday are to challenge the church today, just as in the time of the prophets.

This is not to say the church today is filled with committing errors.

At the same time, the scriptures do assist us in our focus on the ministry of Jesus Christ.

What is the good news we are being called to proclaim to the world? Not only being called to proclaim, we are also being called to action.

Sometimes God needs to call us more than once. It is like when your parent called you as a child and the 3^rd time when they said, “Brian”, it was with definite and it was more like, “BRIAN.”

As we see from the prophet Jonah today, there are two forces at work in the world:

ONE, is of an introverted and isolationist stance toward others.

The SECOND is an attitude of reaching out. To see our life, personally and corporately, as the nature of reaching out on behalf of others.

The silkworm provides a great example for us.

There is a sense in which the worm builds this protective cocoon around itself. I see that as sort of an attempt to a sense of isolationism. But it’s all kind of part of the program. As metamorphosis then takes place, two great events happen. The first event, or first sign that we see clearly is this beautiful butterfly emerging from that cocoon. But then, when we look closer, we see that what has been left behind is this beautiful web of  fine thread that makes the finest silk cloth.

Today, like generations past, we are being called to reach out to the “Nineveh’s” of today.

Daily we are being called to look for those places in the world, calling us to reach out beyond ourselves. To reach out with what we have and to give great gifts to the world.

Sometimes it is as simple as stopping to hold a door open, and then there are other moments which call us to reach much further.

The most difficult place to reach is often the place closest to us even in our own neighbourhood.

It is interesting to note in the BAS service of baptism, and in the marriage canon, we are called in the prayers for the new Christian and the newly married to reach out beyond ourselves, to be a sign of Christ’s faithfulness in the world.

In my preparation of these words today, I was sitting looking across the inlet toward Duke Point with a foot +/- of fresh snow. This snow fall came on the heals of the predictions of a lack of snowpack. I am sure this past week has made a difference.

Reminding us though, in the big picture: one foot of snow is not going to cure the snowpack, while at the same time it will make a difference.

Like the little cocoon left by the silkworm; it’s not going to make a whole blanket, but when you put it all together, it make a fine garment.

In the same way we might ask, “what difference can I make—little me—when at the same time however small our action, they do make a difference.

This is one of the essential understandings, I believe, of Epiphany.

Reminding us of the difference that 3 gentlemen travelling to Bethlehem made over 2000 years ago.    

Not to give all the credit to them, we must also not forget Mary and Joseph who listened to the angels' voices, who went into the world committed to bring Jesus into the world. To give birth to this child.  

Sometimes we do not see the difference that we can make in the world, but when we reach out beyond, we discover and begin to believe that we can and do make differences. Often our accomplishments are beyond what we ever thought possible.

So, amid this “something different time” Paul says to us today, “for the present form of this world is passing away.” How exciting!

As we ended the Epistle reading today though the reader said, “The word of the Lord,” and we all responded, “Thanks be to God.”

Other Anglicans or other churchces may have decided to say: “Hear what the Spirit saying to the Church today,” or coined phrases like, “This is the inspired word of God.”

In each the response is the same: THANKS BE TO GOD.

Thanks be to God for the gift of His Word that we hear and are called to fulfill.     

My question is, are we truly convinced, though, at that moment, that this is the Word of God? Or the inspired word of God or the Spirit?

At the same time, it truly is God’s Word.          

The world as we know it is passing away. Are we prepared to move forward with God? And to accept the challenge we hear from the Scriptures.          

We are called by God in this time when we feel like the familiar form is just fine, let it remain. But, at the same time God is calling us to make a commitment to his calling. To new life.

In many ways, daily, Jesus comes into our “Galilee” and calls us out from our so-called comfortable pew to new discoveries, and we will “become.”

Possibly the most significant word in the gospels, TO BECOME.   

There is an old Celtic saying of when we ‘become’ we will discover wonder upon wonder, and every wonder will be true.

The world gives us something different each and every moment.

AND thankfully it does not take being swallowed up by a whale to recognize our ministries.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Let Us Pray

I ask your prayers for God’s people throughout the world, for people gathered in worship; in a more formal setting; for people gathering for worship privately at home or in other communities.

I ask your prayers for God’s people in our ordained clergy, particularly for our bishop Anna. I ask your prayers for myself, and for Rev. Trish and the ministries of this Parish. and all people. Pray for the Church.

Silence. 

Almighty and everlasting God, by your Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified. Receive our supplications and prayers, which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in our vocation and ministry we may truly and devoutly serve you; though our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  Amen.

I ask for your prayers for peace, for goodwill among nations, and for the well-being of all people. 

Silence.

Almighty God, kindle, we pray, in every heart the true love of peace, and guide with your wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth, that justice and peace may increase, until the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. 

I ask your prayers for the poor, the sick, the hungry, the oppressed, and those in prison. Pray for those in any need or trouble. Pray particularly in this wintertime for those who are without homes, for those who may not be able to seek shelter on this day.

Silence.

Gracious God, the comfort of all who sorrow, the strength of all who suffer, hear the cry of those in misery and need. In their afflictions show them your mercy, and give us, we pray, the strength to serve them, for the sake of him who suffered for us, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

I ask your prayers for the mission of the Church. Pray for the coming of God’s kingdom among all nations and peoples.

Silence.

O Lord our God, you have made all races and nations to be one family, and you sent your Son Jesus Christ to proclaim the good news of salvation to all people. Pour out your Spirit on the whole creation, bring the nations of the world into your fellowship, and hasten the coming of your kingdom. We ask this through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

I ask your prayers for those who have died in the peace of Christ, and for those whose faith is known to God alone. Pray that God may be glorified in all his saints.

Silence.  

O God, the giver of eternal life, we give you thanks and praise for the wonderful grace and virtue declared in all your saints. Grant to us, and to all who have died in the hope of the resurrection, a share in the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ and the fulness of joy in the fellowship of all your saints. All this we ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honour and power. You are worthy to receive blessing and praise, now and for ever. For yours is the majesty, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, now and for ever. Amen.    

As our saviour taught us to pray, we say:

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 trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us fom evil.   For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever.  Amen.

Gracious God,
Our lives have been nourished by You today. May we continue to be strengthened through the power of Your Holy Spirit in your service for all people. Amen.

The Blessing: 

And the Peace of God, 
which passes all understanding, 
keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge
of the love of God, and of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

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

Amen.