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As we gather, we recognize that we live, work, pray, 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.
Call to Worship:
Watch and be ready,
for you do not know on what day
your Lord is coming.
Matthew 24. 42, 44
O Come, Let Us Worship
Collect:
Almighty God,
you sent your Holy Spirit to be the life and light of your Church.
Open our hearts to the riches of your grace,
that we may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit in love, joy and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
The Proclamation of the Gospel:
Luke 12:32-40
Sermon: The Venerable Brian Evans
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of
our hearts be ever acceptable to you, O Lord. Amen.
“ Investing in God ”
I fully understand.
It is not the end of June, neither is it the beginning of September. I share this reflecting on our school days when, prior to June exams, or upon our return to school in September, we were treated to the indulgence of our teachers taking us through “review” sessions.
It is the middle of summer. Your “teacher” has decided it is time for a review.
If this was the classroom, your “teacher” might ask: Who remembers the sermon topics for the past 3 weeks?
A hint:
- Wants vs. Needs
- How, When, Why
- Building Barns
Not that this is preparing for the final exam; at the same time, these past few weeks nicely fit into the Gospel for today and my title for today: Investing in God.
Chris Haslam correctly points out in his introduction for the gospel today:
Having told the story of the farmer, who allowed wealth to completely obliterate God from his life, Jesus has said that striving for the kingdom is much more important than acquisition of material goods. Now he gives two examples of this striving: first, selling possessions to ensure that one’s focus is on the kingdom of heaven, and second, that we should be ready for his return.
We might ask: ‘what I am to do?’ A quick trip down memory lane:
- Wants & Needs:
The incident with Mary and Martha.
Jesus reminds the community to examine the difference between needs and wants. - How, When, Why:
About prayer. Time to examine our prayer life. - Building Barns:
An opportunity to examine the focus of our spiritual life.
In asking, ‘what am I to do,’ our answer comes from our forefathers and foremothers. Our answer goes even further back in history. Paul reminds us of this in his letter to the Hebrews, as we have read today.
Did we all note how often one word was used in the text today?Th e word Faith.
- Faith is assurance.
- Understanding.
- Obedience or deference. (Abraham)
- Even when you are not sure of the place you are heading toward.
- Being prepared to stay in a foreign land.
- To consider the promise of what is to be.
- By faith, Abraham and Sarah were able to have a child.
- By faith, Abraham and Sarah’s descendants were numbered more than the grains of sand by the seashore.
Reading the balance of this portion of Paul’s letter today, I am reminded of a charitable act Flo and myself have participated in for the past number of years on July 1st.
Each July 1st, the City of Nanaimo has a giant cake (4’ X 8’) decorated as a Canadian Flag.
Each year, the people first to gather around the cake are new Canadians who have adopted Canada. Their sense of excitement and appreciation for their independence, autonomy, sovereignty, and liberation, overflows in the sense of what the true meaning of the “Maple Leaf” is in their lives.
Listen again, to these words:
“They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, for a people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.
If they had been thinking of the land they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return.
But as it is, they desire a better country, that is a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.”
Should it be the prophet Isaiah speaking to the people of Judah and Jerusalem, where the prophet reminds them God cares for them. A very good reason to invest in God. For by trusting in God, their lives are spared.
Our recessional Hymn this morning speaks words of encouragement for our worship and work.
Worship the Lord!
Praise the Creator, the Spirit, the Son,
raising our hands in devotion to God who is one!
Raising our hands as a sign of rejoicing,
and with our lips our togetherness voicing,
giving ourselves to a life of creativeness,
worship and work must be one.
Refrain
Praying and training that we be a blessing,
and by our gifts and skills daily confessing:
we are committed to serving humanity,
worship and work must be one.
Refrain
Called to be partners with God in creation,
honouring Christ as the Lord of the nation,
we must be ready for risk and for sacrifice,
worship and work must be one.
Refrain
Bringing the bread and the wine to the table,
asking that we may be led and enabled,
truly united to build new communities
worship and work must be one.
Refrain
Now in response to the life you are giving,
help us, creator, to offer our living,
seeking a just and a healing society,
worship and work must be one.
Refrain
Words © 1974 Hope Publishing Company, 380 S Main Pl, Carol Stream, IL 60188
God has invested his only Son in us. Now it is our turn to be “Investing in God”
Thanks be to God. Amen.
Let Us Pray
Trusting in God’s extraordinary love,
let us come near to the Holy One in prayer.
Our response today:
Merciful God,
Receive our prayer.