Epiphany 6 Feb 13, 2022
As we gather, we recognize that we live, work and play in the traditional 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.
Welcome.
Call to Worship:
Rejoice and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven.
Luke 6.23
O come, let us worship.
Opening Hymn:
Jesus Shall Reign
Public Domain
Jesus shall reign where'er the sun
doth it’s successive journeys run;
his kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
till moons shall wax and wane no more.
People and realms of every tongue
dwell on his love with sweetest song,
and infant voices shall proclaim
their early blessings on his name.
Blessings abound where’er he reigns;
he prisoners leap to lose their chains;
the weary find eternal rest,
and all who suffer want are blest.
Let every creature rise and bring
peculiar honours to our King,
angels descend with songs again,
and earth repeat the loud Amen.
Gathering:
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
And also, with you.
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 Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Gloria:
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly king, almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God,
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God, the Father. AMEN.
Collect of the Day:
Almighty and ever living God,
whose Son Jesus Christ healed the sick and restored them to wholeness of life, look with compassion on the anguish of the world, and by your power make whole all peoples and nations; 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 Word
1st Reading: Jeremiah 17. 5-10
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 1
Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.
Therefore, the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.
Giver of life,
save us from the desert of faithlessness and
nourish us with the living water of your word,
that we may bring forth fruit that will last,
in the name of Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Amen.
2nd Reading:
1 Corinthians 15. 12-20
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Gradual Hymn:
Alleluia, Alleluia, Give Thanks
Copyright protected. Unable to post lyrics.
The Lord be with you.
And also, with you.
The Good News of Jesus according
To: Luke 6. 17-26
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Sermon: The Venerable Brian Evans
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be ever acceptable to you, O Lor One of the United Methodist’s most famous missionaries, E. Stanley Jones, when asked: “What do you think of the Beatitudes?” responded: ‘At first sight, you felt they turned everything upside down. A second sight, you understand that they turn everything right side up. The first time you read them they are impossible. The second time, nothing else is possible. The Beatitudes are not a chart for Christian duty. They are a charter for Christian liberty.’
On Wednesday of this week, we read:
Matthew 6:19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
My focus was not about treasure in the sense of stewardship of our monetary resources. For some there, is a tendency to believe giving money for God’s work as “heaven insurance”. My NIV Study Bible says, our intention should be to seek God’s purposes in all we do, not merely what we do with our money.
Following the service, a parishioner offered: ‘the word “treasure” is so interesting’. We need to think about what is our treasure, or what we treasure and how significant is the “treasure” we are holding onto.
Every once-in-a-while timing is everything.
When I came to work on Wednesday, Tina shared with me their daughter Michelle is participating in the “Coldest Night of the Year” with a group of friends. It so happens that, over the years, I have been involved with this event in another community. Initially we thought how can St. John’s participate? Could we be a warming spot for the walk?
We emailed CMHA Cowichan Valley…… They already have warming spots organized. The challenge to the parish is to create a St. John’s Team.
FAST FORWARD: The WALK is on Saturday evening February 26th. Executive decision has been made.
We are creating a St. John the Baptist Team for the 2 km route.
About CMHA Cowichan Valley
'CMHA-Cowichan Valley Branch facilitates access to the resources people require to maintain and improve mental health and community integration, build resilience, and support recovery from mental illness and addiction. We have almost 30 programs available in the Cowichan Valley, including Warmland House (18+). Warmland is a 30-bed emergency shelter and 24 transitional apartments, a kitchen that produces roughly 120 meals daily, laundry facilities, showers, storage for belongings, a volunteer run garden and access to and referrals for support. We have recently had to close our Open-Door Youth Services Centre. We are raising funds to create a safe space and programming for homeless youth.'
Here we are. One gospel reading talking about sacrificial giving, and one talking about turning everything right-side up.
There is a connection.
Sacrificial giving and sacrificial living.
ENTER THE BEATITUDES
Often when we quote the Beatitudes, we mis-quote them. We will say; it says in Scripture, “Blessed are the poor.”
Look closer it reads, “Blessed are YOU who are poor.”
Not long before Mother Teresa’s death, in a documentary depicting her daily life, they showed the conditions in which she worked and lived.
Ironically, possibly– possibly not, the commercials interrupting the flow provided this sequence:
- lepers (bikinis for sale);
- mass starvation (designer jeans);
- agonizing poverty (fur coats);
- abandoned babies (ice cream sundaes);
- the dying (diamond watches).
It may be helpful for us to think of Jesus as putting in a good word for poverty, hunger, and sadness.
Back to Jesus’ words: Blessed are you who are poor, who give, who sacrifice.
Last week I spoke about casting our nets deeper, about going deeper.
I love how Jesus makes use of the crook in the Shepherds staff.
For following the blessed part, he moves onto the “woes”.
Luke 6:24-26
24"But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.
25Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.
26Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.
Then the question becomes; “Will I live for the moment?”
OR “Will I live to enjoy my own riches?”
OR Will I live with a sense of sacrifice, knowing it will yield joy in the next life?
Looking in the mirror while writing these words, I might ask, “What does my discipleship look like in the light of these beatitudes?”
At the same time, not that Sermons should solve all the questions with stand-pat answers, the jury is still out!
If we ask the question: “What brings happiness—wealth or poverty?” I am sure if I asked for all of us to were line up with the center aisle—those who believe poverty ,and those who believe wealth—I suspect we would be busy going back and forth.
What is important is, in the mind of Jesus, being poor allows, make us available, free to live without the entanglements of the world.
This in turn makes us free to serve God.
A worship resource I have access to suggests this opening prayer for today:
‘Living God, in Christ you make all things new. Transform the poverty of our nature by the riches of your grace, and in the renewal of our lives make known your glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.’
The prophet Jeremiah is less merciful in Chapter 17.5, as we read today; “Thus says the Lord; Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals and make their flesh their strength, whose hearts turn away from the Lord.”
The news comes to us in Luke 6.23: ‘Alleluia! Rejoice, and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven. Alleluia!’
E. Stanley Jones when asked: 'What do you think of the Beatitudes?' responded: "At first sight, you felt they turned everything upside down. A second sight, you understand that they turn everything right side up. The first time you read them they are impossible. The second time, nothing else is possible. The Beatitudes are not a chart for Christian duty. They are a charter for Christian liberty.”
Blessed are we in the eyes of God, for we have inherited the charter for Christian liberty.
Thanks be to God, AMEN.
Amen.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
The Apostles Creed:
Let us confess the faith of our baptism, as we say:
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Prayers of the People
Blessed are those whose trust is in you.
Strengthen the faith of those who profess your name and bring reassurance to those who doubt or fear. Through your church speak continued blessing into the world.
God of grace,
hear our prayer.
Those who trust in you are like trees planted by streams of water.
Bless fruit trees with an abundant harvest. Protect rainforests from destruction.
Restore land that has eroded after deforestation. Resurrect woodlands after forest fires.
God of grace,
hear our prayer.
Search the hearts of those who govern, that they lead with humility.
Inspire leaders to collaborate on policies that protect people and the planet.
Sustain truth-tellers and social movements
that challenge society to become more honest and just.
God of grace,
hear our prayer.
Send your blessings of mercy upon those who long for consolation.
Tend to those struggling with poverty, unemployment, uncertainty and health issues.
In our parish we pray for:
Carole, Yasmin, Roy & Gail, Daryl & Sue, Maureen, Sheila,
Roy, John, Joseph, Mark, and those on our hearts.
God of grace,
hear our prayer.
We pray for Anna, our Bishop,
Rev. Wally Eamer - St.Mary Metchosin, Bishop John Stephens-Diocese of New Westminster, and Archdeacon Brian.
That they may remain faithful to their calling and rightly proclaim the word of truth.
God of grace,
hear our prayer.
Renew this congregation in our shared mission.
As we plan and dream for the future you are preparing,
bless new projects and new ministry partnerships.
God of grace,
hear our prayer.
Since we have such great hope in your promises, O God,
we lift these, and all, our prayers to you in confidence and faith;
through Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Amen.
Confession and Absolution
Dear friends in Christ,
God is steadfast in love and infinite in mercy;
God welcomes sinners and invites them to the table. Let us confess our sins, confident in God’s forgiveness.
Most merciful God:
We confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us, that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name. Amen.
Celebrant
Almighty God have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins,
confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in eternal life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Distance-Sharing of The Peace
The Celebration of the Eucharist.
Offertory Hymn:
A Whispered Breath
Copyright protected. Unable to post lyrics.
Prayer over the Gifts:
Eternal God,
you are the strength of the weak and the comfort of sufferers,
receive all we offer you this day; turn our sickness into health and our sorrow into joy.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, the Lord. Amen.
Eucharistic Prayer #3
The Lord be with you.
And also, with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, gracious God, creator of heaven and earth;
you are the source of light and life for all your creation, you made us in your own image, and call us to new life in Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Therefore, we praise you, joining our voices to proclaim the glory of your name
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
We give thanks to you, Lord our God, for the goodness and love you have made known to us in creation; in calling Israel to be your people; in your Word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus your Son.
For in these last days, you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Saviour and Redeemer of the world. In him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life.
On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, a death he freely accepted, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said,
“Take, eat: this is my body which is given for you. Do this in 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 in remembrance of me.”
Therefore, Father, according to his command,
we remember his death,
we proclaim his resurrection,
we await his coming in glory;
and we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine.
We pray you, Gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts, that they may be the sacrament of the body of Christ and his blood of the new covenant.
Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, that we, made acceptable in him, may be sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In the fullness of time, reconcile all things in Christ, and make them new, and bring us to that city of light where you dwell with all your sons and daughters;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation;
by whom, and with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory are yours, almighty Father, now and for ever. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
As our Saviour taught us, let us pray,
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those that trespass against us;
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Breaking of the Bread:
We break the bread of life,
and that life is the light of the world.
God here among us, light in the midst of us,
bring us to light and life.
The gifts of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
Communion Hymn:
Spirit of the Living God
Copyright protected. Unable to post lyrics.
Prayer After Communion:
God of tender care, in this eucharist we celebrate your love for us, and for all people.
May we show your love in our lives, and know its fulfilment in your presence.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, the Lord. Amen
The Doxology
Glory to God,
whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.
Glory to God from generation to generation,
in the Church and in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Blessing
Announcements
Closing Hymn:
Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
Public Domain
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but thou art mighty;
hold me with thy powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
feed me now and ever more,
feed me now and ever more.
Open now the crystal fountain
whence the healing stream doth flow;
let the fiery cloudy pillar
lead me all my journey through.
Strong deliverer, strong deliverer,
be thou still my strength and shield,
be Thou still my strength and shield.
When I tread the verge of Jordan,
bid my anxious fears subside;
death of death, and hell's destruction,
land me safe on Canaan's side:
songs of praises, songs of praises,
I will ever give to thee,
I will ever give to thee.
Dismissal
Go in peace, to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia!
The recording ends.