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:

God so loved the world that
he gave his only Son, 
that whoever believes in him
should not perish but
have eternal life. 

John 3.16 

O, Come.   Let Us Worship.

Gathering:

In this time and place we gather on the ancestral lands of Kwakwake’wakw, Nuu-chah-nulth ,Coast Salish peoples and the Cowichan Tribes. From many places and peoples, we come to this house in prayer.

In this time and place we are not alone for we meet in the presence of the living God.

In this time and place we are not alone, for the Risen Jesus stands in our midst.

In this time and space, we are not alone for the wind of the Spirit moves in and through us.            

In this time and in this space, we are not alone for we gather with the whole company of heaven, In this time and in this space heaven and earth are one.            

In this time and place together, one people in Jesus Christ. 

In the name of God, Creator, Saviour, and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Collect for Today:

Gracious Father, 
whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world, evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him, who lives and reigns with our and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

The Proclamation of the Scripture:
Numbers 21.4-9

The Proclamation of the Gospel:
John 3.14-21

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.

“God’s Promise to Moses”

“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”   

John 3.14-15

There is a wonderful scene in the scriptures, taking us back to an image that we don’t fully see at our baptism: and that is the lifting up of the new Christian at the baptismal font (small bowl, ornate font, river, pool of water—whatever the scene is) there is a great metaphor for us taken from the scene that we read of in Numbers Ch. 21 today.         

Then, in today’s gospel, Jesus says he will be lifted up on the cross like the serpent was, so that those who look to him in faith will live.         

When I read this word “live” I stop to think about what it means to “LIVE.” What does it mean: to have life?         

What does the sign of the cross mean?

At baptism, we receive the sign of the cross on our foreheads and say, “You have been marked as Christ’s own, forever.”         

After a number of years of performing this action on numerous new Christians, (from the very young to some much older than I at the time) I became aware of just how powerful the experience was, for my own personal life. What appears, at first, ‘a very simple action,’ while at the same time, one which is filled with overflowing emotions.

Gradually, I changed process at baptism, and for the past number of years—rather than myself doing this wonderful action—I have invited Godparents to perform this action.         

I do so, believing it brings a real and tangible connection to the gift that is being given: the gift of faith.         

The picture attached in your bulletin is taken on Mount Horeb in (what is today) Jordan. In real life, it is a remarkable work of art.  At the same time, in its place, you stand—and there it appears to fill the landscape that you are looking out upon.         

It is one of the most memorable moments of our trip to the Holy Land a number of years ago, for myself.         

When you stand back and look, standing by the monastery building, you don’t totally grasp the full image, until you walk closer and look beyond the cross. It is like it is 'standing guard' over all of the land today that we reference as Israel.         

What you see is one of the most remarkable scenes of green vegetation. At one moment, you are standing on desert, and then you look to the horizon, and you see this 'metaphorically-promised' in the lush crops being produced in the valley below.         

At that moment, we had not travelled to Israel on our trip; our lack of knowledge would keep us from seeing the truth.          

What we quickly learned, a day or two later, was the soil below the green crops was little more than desert. And that seemed amazing!

What we saw from Mount Horeb was, in my mind, the ‘healing power of God’—metaphorically speaking.          

It is for myself, one of the gifts of water. For the soil, the gift of water gives new life. For the Christian, the gift of ‘the waters in baptism’ gives new life.          

Let us step back for a moment. Let us step back to the point of what was happening with Moses and the people at that time—as they were trekking towards the Promised Land. They are getting tired and cranky. In some ways, they were behaving like a child who needs to have a rest, except let us not blame children: regardless of age, we all have childlike performance.         

It is at those moments when our outward spiritual actions can be seen as “not faithful words” towards God. We begin to grumble, and we act-out improperly to the manner in which God would call us. We forget, at times, just how fortunate we are.         

Reading from the Book of Numbers today, we get an image of God as parent, ‘who has seen enough.’ His response is, for all intents and purposes, rather extreme for the modern-day reader.          

He sends venomous snakes. Wow!          

Where do we go when in trouble? We go home to our parents. In the reading, the people go to their leader Moses, and cry out for help. Believing that Moses had the ear of God, they ask (maybe told) Moses to pray to God on their behalf.         

God says OK.

‘The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” So, Moses made a bronze snake and put it on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.’ 

Numbers 21. 9         

The people, at that moment, had no idea what was in the future. Today, we know the fuller meaning; the significance of which we look forward to each year as we journey with Christ, in this journey to Jerusalem during Lent.          

In John 3.14-15, Jesus explains what is about to happen, and the relationship between ‘the serpent on the pole in the desert’ and ‘the cross of salvation.’ The power of the Cross!          

At baptism, we take the place of the people of ancient Israel, standing looking out from Mount Horeb to a valley below. At first glance, this is only a valley which (at that time, I presume) was not as green with vegetation as we encountered in the 20^th century.          

As we rise from the baptismal font, figuratively, we may only see a world which, at first glance, we are not aware of ‘the power of that sacred moment.’          

The people wandering in the desert with Moses, at first glance, could only see a world of harsh treatment, but would soon experience a ‘God who saves,’ rather than a ‘God who condemns.’          

The serpent on the cross—the cross on which Jesus was crucified—are reminders for all the world to see, that God is a God who loves!          

This is the God who Paul writes to us about, in the Letter to the Ephesians, ‘God’s salvation was given to us by grace through the crucified and risen Christ.’          

I want to share with you today--a writing by David. L. Miller, a theologian, who discovered something about this moment. 

He says:

‘Several years ago, I visited the old Gothic cathedral in Barcelona. A crucifix drew me into a side chapel, where I stood entranced by the image of a dark, twisted, emaciated Christ, dying on the cross. I could not look away. Tears formed as the tortured Christ spoke in my heart. “Everything, he said, is this.” And I knew that all the suffering, all the sorrow, and all the death that has ever been died – or ever will – was there, in him, held, loved, eternally embraced.’            – David L. Miller

So today, we can stand at Mount Horeb, entranced by this image of a serpent hung on a cross in the middle of the desert: an image which reminds me of the moments I have felt as if I am standing in the desert of life. Or, as some would suggest: ‘the world as we see it at this moment.’          

Then, to stop and be reminded of God’s promise to the people, who so many years ago, stood at the foot of that cross, and I am sure, wondered!         

Then, to move to the cross, which at first, we encounter with Christ dying on that cross, while at the same time encountering a bare wooden cross, reminding us that God is still at work in our lives.         

Salvation comes! Thanks be to God.

Amen.

Let Us Pray

Trusting in God’s promise to reconcile all things, let us pray for the church, the well-being of creation, and a world in need.

Gracious God, your love unites.
Give vision to the global church and foster cooperation in mission. Increase inter-religious understanding and ecumenical dialog. Make your church a sanctuary for all fleeing persecution, disaster, and war. 
Hear us, O God, for your mercy is great.

Creating God, your love enlivens.
Restore balance to the earth’s fragile habitats. Preserve wilderness lands, rainforests, and wildlife. Cleanse oceans and rivers. Make us good stewards of the earth. 
Hear us, O God, for your mercy is great. 

Righteous God, your love liberates.
We give thanks for those who courageously witness to your liberating love. Free all people from the evils of racism, religious strife, and hatred. 
Hear us, O God, for your mercy is great. 

Merciful God, your love heals.
Care tenderly for all whose loved ones perished from pandemic disease in every nation. Strengthen health care workers, first responders, and caregivers. Relieve all who live with chronic illness and pain. In our parish we continue to pray for: Gail; Sue; John; Sheila; David; and those on our hearts.
Hear us, O God, for your mercy is great.

Incarnate God, your love enlightens.
Open our hearts and minds to fresh understandings of our faith. Deepen our love for you and for one another. Teach us to pray for our enemies.
Hear us, O God, for your mercy is great.

Abiding God, your love saves.
Those who died in the faith are made alive in Christ. We give thanks for your promise that we also will be raised to newness of life. 
Hear us, O God, for your mercy is great.

Accompany us on our journey, God of grace, and receive the prayers of our hearts, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour.  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.

Giver of life:
We give thanks that You enlighten each of us as we come into your world. 
May You continue to fill our hearts with the splendour of your grace.

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.