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:

Come, Holy Spirit,
fill the hearts of your faithful;
and kindle in us
the fire of your love. 

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 and everliving God,
who fulfilled the promises of Easter
by sending us your Holy Spirit
and opening to every race and nation
the way of life eternal,
keep us in the unity of your Spirit,
that every tongue may tell of your glory;
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:

John 14. 8-17 

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.

       “ Trusting Our Advocates "

Checking the dictionary the definition for ‘advocate’ I discovered this: 
‘to publicly support and suggest an idea, development, or way of doing something.’

Occasionally I think of advocate and confidante as equal.

In the gospel today we read:

"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you." (John 14.16-17)         

When I think of an advocate, I reflect back on all those in my life who have been advocates. Possibly one of the first who I places in that slot would be Reverend Art Bell.

Reverend Bell came to us fresh out of seminary, and it was like the winds of change arrived in our community.

He also came at a time in the mid-sixties, and we all know the change that was happening in a lot of our culture at that time—a new generation of young people were being raised up, and for us as teenagers, this fresh, new, young clergy-person was the idol of our lives.

And about the same time, a new Roman Catholic priest arrived in the area.

He too, was quite young, and I’m sure, quite fresh out of seminary, and the two of them started to work together and even brought our two youth groups to share in social activities like swimming parties, and dances and creative ideas to do new things.         

Next, would come the person who tutored me in my municipal administration career.

In fact, there was two: one who had been a part of our community and lived close by. And then, the first person that I tutored under—I will always be thankful for Neil and Jerry along the road.          

Along the road there have many more, each in harmony with the other.         

It is like the lines we read in Luke’s account of the scene at what we now refer to as Pentecost.

‘And now, how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”  (Acts 2.8-12)

And then Luke quotes Jesus once more:

‘In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. (Acts 2.17-18)

In our parish we have had a very active weekly Bible study group—in our second parish, I should say.

One among us was totally committed to the King James Version of the Bible. Each time we would be discussing the readings for Pentecost, there would be a great debate around the word, 'Advocate.'

Ms. Forley was the first to share with myself and the others to say, ‘The Holy Spirit, the Advocate, is like people who walk alongside of you, sharing advice or direction for your life.’

Hence, my title for today, “Trusting Our Advocates”.

The idea of an advocate (who we know as a person for whom we have direct relationship within life) is not all that different, but in some ways is the same, as the Advocate Jesus tells us about, yet, similar.

At Pentecost, the holy scriptures tell us or point us to the power of the Holy Spirt, the Advocate, who is at the center of our lives.

It is the same ONE who speaks to us in our times of trouble and uncertainties. For this time and place, for us as Christians, to hold onto this power, or pastoral relationship who is with us in times of earthshattering changes.         

We are, at this time in history, very much a part of our world.

A world that is in the midst of change. A world that at times appears out of control. A world in which we see global climate change.

We witness changing identities. A world in which we might say, being judgmental. A world which no longer trusts in God and in what God might be doing in our lives.          

This often causes fear.

And then, along comes the Advocate. One that tells us that first, we belong to Christ, and we are wrapped in the protective shell of our baptism.         

Two significant events I see taking place in our lives.

First: we are keeping the Feast of Pentecost, and that is important.
Second: we are renewing our baptismal vows.

Each in its own way brings advocacy, encouragement, assistance, support, and intervention into our lives. All necessary qualities for life.

And so, the Advocate that Jesus speaks of, which is the Holy Spirit, dwells within us and walks along side of us, and brings us that encouragement, that assistance, that challenge to reach out into the world.

Not that unfamiliar or dissimilar to those who have been significant in our lives in a personal and physical way.

They too give us that encouragement.

And so, just as we trust maybe our neighbour or our friend, or our tutor—whoever it is—so too as Christians we trust the Holy Spirit.

We trust the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We trust the guidance of the Holy Spirit as an Advocate, as a friend who is walking along with us.

And so, Pentecost is that barrier-breaking moment for our Christian life. At the same time, those who are personal advocates break down barriers for us in our lives.

And they often assist us, just like the Holy Spirit, to walk through the barriers that we encounter in life—trusting in our Advocate. Trusting in the Holy Spirit. Trusting in Jesus Christ; trusting in God, the Father, and the Son.

Thanks be to God. Amen. 

Let Us Pray

God of resurrection and new life,
we come before you in prayer for the church, the world and all who are in need.

We pray for the church.
Continue to inspire our sharing of the gospel and equip us to tear down the barriers we have created. Make our welcome expansive, intentional, and open to loving challenge.
Hear us, O God,
Your mercy is great.

We pray for Creation, and particularly in this time of forest fires, we pray in thanksgiving for those who are committed to challenge those fires. We pray in thanksgiving for our governments who are willing to stand and bring resources to fight those fires and to protect peoples’ lives.

Allow fire to burn safely in habitats where it’s needed and quench flames where they threaten to run wild. We pray that you will protect our forests, our prairies, and our grasslands from destruction from natural forces or human misdeeds. Safeguard firefighters and rescuers in their dangerous work.

Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great. 

We pray for courts and legislatures. Write your commandments on our hearts, and inspire all who govern to lead with love over retribution. Unite judges, lawyers, and systems of justice in a desire for reconciliation.

Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great. 

We pray for the sick in body, mind, or spirit. We lift up all who have been bowed low by circumstances or internal strife. Bring to wholeness those who cry out to you in need. We continue to pray for Sheila, and John, and Geoff, and Gail, and those on our hearts.

Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great. 

We pray for us, here at St. John the Baptist, in Duncan.
Raise up in us a deep desire to live out our baptismal promises and to support those of all ages in our shared journey of faith.

Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great. 

We offer thanks for the faithful departed who now rest in you. 
Let their lives encourage our own daily living. Console us with the promise of eternal life.

Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great. 

We commend these and all our prayers to you, O God, trusting that you are always with us; in the name of Jesus Christ, our risen Saviour.   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 trespass 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.

Father,
In this eucharist we will have received the Sacrament of new birth as we renew our promises that we made, or were made on our behalf, at our Baptism. And may the unity of that Spirit continue to strengthen Christians around the world and strengthen us as a parish here in downtown Duncan.

We know that Your power working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.  Amen.

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