John the Baptist: Getting Rid of the Detours to God

3 Advent b      December 17, 3 Advent
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 Psalm 126
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 John 1:6-8,19-28

 Lectionary Link

Why didn't the Gospel writers read each other?  Jesus is quoted in the Gospel of Matthew as saying, "If you will accept it, John the Baptist is the Elijah who was to come."  In John's Gospel, "John the Baptist is quoted as saying, I am not Elijah."  Who are you going to believe Jesus or John the Baptist and if you literally believe Jesus, then you might adopt the belief in reincarnation or transmogrification of the soul.  Of course, when one reads the Gospel, one chooses interpretive modes.  "The Elijah" does not need to refer to a return of Elijah but to a prophet functioning in a similar role as the original Elijah, a kind of "third person" Elijah-like figure.

One might note that the writer of John's Gospel perhaps did not read the writer of Matthew's Gospel.  They were writing at different times in different places for variety of different communities.  The oracle of Christ in the early Christianity community had a specificity in application to the needs of the community at the time when the writing was first written for a specific group or gathering of followers of Jesus.

How is the beginning of John's Gospel different?  It has no genealogy of Jesus.  It has no infancy narratives with shepherds, no angels, no marvelous and miraculous birth stories, no star moving in the skies guiding magi, no Simeon, no Anna, no Herod, no flight to Egypt, no slaughter of the innocent.  The Gospel of John does not even tell us that Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist.

As readers of the Gospels, we might want to ponder the differences in the Gospel presentations.  

John Gospel states that Christ was a pre-existent figure who was originally THE WORD WITH GOD and THE WORD BEING GOD.

Logically for humanity any awareness of ourselves existing happens because we live in the web of words and living in a web of word, we know ourselves to be word users.

COSMIC PRE-EXISTING WORD, became flesh in the person of Jesus revealing basically that even the experience in flesh and blood is mainly an experience of existing in words.

Jesus the Christ became the superlative configuration of a word event in humanity and the pre-story for how the pre-eminence of Jesus came about had to be told.

And in telling the story of Jesus, John the Baptist is a bridge figure between Hebrew Scripture traditions and the way in which Christians came to understand Jesus.

John's Gospel was the last canonical Gospel written and it was written by writers who knew that the community of John the Baptist had been a significant Movement in Palestine.  John's Gospel was written in a later time when there were still remnants of the community of John the Baptist around.

The writers of the Gospel of John were wondering:  Why haven't all of the followers of John the Baptist come over to follow Jesus yet?  Don't they know how John regarded himself?  Don't they know that he denied being the Messiah, he denied being Elijah and he even denied being a prophet.  Don't the followers of John the Baptist know that when John compared himself to Jesus, he said he was not worthy even to tie the thong of his sandals

Don't the follower of John the Baptist know that he introduced his most devout followers to Jesus and encouraged them to follow Jesus?

In the Gospel of John, the words of John the Baptist are completely self deprecating when he is comparing himself to Jesus.  He is not Elijah, he is not the Messiah, and he is not a prophet.  John reduced himself to a facet of language which is found in the Hebrew Scriptures:  John said he was but a Voice of one crying in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord.

What was John the Baptist saying according to the writer of John's Gospel? 

He was saying, don't go to the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Zealots, the Herodians, the Levites or the Samaritans and don't come to me.   Why?  All of these contain ways of the Lord but why take an indirect route when the straight and direct path to God's will was now to found in Jesus?

The Good News of the Gospel of John is that a direct path was open to God.  There was no longer any need to go on a long detour to God, around mountains, up mountains, down into valleys.  Go directly to Jesus.

John the Baptist said he was like a single pointing finger, pointing at Jesus.  "I'm not the main man, Jesus is. Go directly to him."

God as Word came most directly to humanity in Jesus Christ.  John the Baptist said, "You don't need any human detours of mediation from other human traditions.  The God as Word came most directly to us in Jesus Christ.  Now you go directly to God in Jesus Christ.

John the Baptist's evangelism is the same evangelism that we embrace today:  Like John, we say, "Go directly to Jesus.  Go directly to how the Word of God is made known to your life."

As Gospel evangelists, let us adopt the evangelism of John the Baptist as we say with him: "Go directly to Christ, the Messiah."   Amen.

Sunday School, December 17, 2017 3 Advent B

Sunday School, December 17, 2017   3 Advent B

Theme:

Gospel

What does Gospel mean?

Good News.

Gospel is also what we call the first four books of the New Testament:  Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are called Gospels because they tell the story of the good news of Jesus

Where did the word Gospel come from?

It came from the book of the prophet Isaiah.

The Hebrew word is “basar” and the prophet wrote about one who had a special mission from God to bring good news to people who were suffering, people who were sick and people who were in prison.

When Jesus read this from the prophet Isaiah, he told everyone that his life was about bringing good news, just like what the prophet Isaiah wrote about.

The life of Jesus is Good News

John the Baptist wanted everyone to know that Jesus was the Good News for the world.  He recommended everyone with his voice to follow Jesus.

Think about what is good news for you today.

Think about how you can share and bring good news to other people today

Sermon:

  Do you know what “Good News” is?  Christmas is coming…Is that good news?  Why is it good news?  You are going to have special fun with your family and friends.  You are going to have parties and good food.  And Santa Claus will come and leave some presents.   Is that good news?  Of course it is.

  If you know what good news is…then what is bad news?  If you fall and hurt your knee, that’s bad news.  If you are sick…that’s bad news.  And if we have more bad news than good news, then our lives can be very difficult, very hard to live.

  And we know that in our world today there is some very bad news.  Lots of people do not have jobs.  Lots of people do not have enough to eat.  Lots of people are sick.  Lots of people live in fear because of war and fighting.

  So we need to be thankful because in our lives we have more good news than bad news.

  Do you know what the word Gospel means?  It means “Good News.”  We call the books about Jesus Christ, “Good News,” because Jesus brought Good News.

  In the reading from the Prophet Isaiah, Isaiah wrote that the one who God anoints will bring good news.

  God’s anointed is the Messiah or the Christ.  And Christ is the one who brings good news.

  And what news did Jesus bring us?

  God loves, God cares for us, and God forgives us and God gives us everlasting life.  That is good news isn’t it?  It is great news.

  But Jesus wants us not just to receive good news, he wants us to do something more.  He wants us to take good news to people who need hear good news.

  And how do we do this?  By helping others.  At Christmas we are helping to buy some gift cards for some families who need special good news at Christmas.  So we are helping some families who have had some bad news, and we are trying to bring them some good news.

  Today let us be thankful for the Gospel, for the good news in our lives.  Let us ask God for more good news.  But as we ask God for good news, let us become people who bring good news to other people by helping people who have to overcome some bad news in their lives.

  How many of you like good news?  How many of you are willing to help bring good news to other people today?  Good, then we can help Christ make this a merry Christmas for more people.  Amen.

St. John the Divine Episcopal Church

17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037

Family Service with Holy Eucharist

December 17, 2017: The Third Sunday of Advent

Gathering Songs: Light a Candle, The Lord is Present,   Eat This Bread, I Want to Walk

Song: Light A Candle   (tune: Jimmy Crack Corn)

1-Light a candle for hope today, light a candle for hope today, light a candle for hope today.  Advent time is here.  

2-Light a candle for peace today…

3-Light a candle for joy today….

Liturgist:         Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

People:            And Blessed be God’s kingdom, now and forever.  Amen.

Liturgist:  Oh God, Our hearts are open to you.

And you know us and we can hide nothing from you.

Prepare our hearts and our minds to love you and worship you.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

First Litany of Praise: Alleluia (chanted)

O God, you are Great!  Alleluia

O God, you have made us! Alleluia

O God, you have made yourself known to us!  Alleluia

O God, you have provided us with us a Savior!  Alleluia

O God, you have given us a Christian family!  Alleluia

O God, you have forgiven our sins!  Alleluia

O God, you brought your Son Jesus back from the dead!  Alleluia

Liturgist:   A reading from the Prophet Isaiah

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor,

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 126

When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, * then were we like those who dream.

Then was our mouth filled with laughter, * and our tongue with shouts of joy.

Then they said among the nations, * "The LORD has done great things for them."

Birthdays:   Terry Rounds,   Bob Dwyer

Anniversaries: 

  

Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God! (chanted)

Liturgist:

For the good earth, for our food and clothing. Thanks be to God!

For our families and friends. Thanks be to God!

For the talents and gifts that you have given to us. Thanks be to God!

For this day of worship. Thanks be to God!

For health and for a good night’s sleep. Thanks be to God!

For work and for play. Thanks be to God!

For teaching and for learning. Thanks be to God!

For the happy events of our lives. Thanks be to God!

For the celebration of the birthdays and anniversaries of our friends and parish family.

   Thanks be to God!

Liturgist:         The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.

This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, "I am not the Messiah." And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" He answered, "No." Then they said to him, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, `Make straight the way of the Lord,'" as the prophet Isaiah said. Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, "Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?" John answered them, "I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal." This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

Liturgist:         The Gospel of the Lord.

People:            Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon – Father Phil

Children’s Creed

We did not make ourselves, so we believe that God the Father is the maker of the world.

Since God is so great and we are so small,

We believe God came into our world and was born as Jesus, son of the Virgin Mary.

We need God’s help and we believe that God saved us by the life, death and

     resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We believe that God is present with us now as the Holy Spirit.

We believe that we are baptized into God’s family the Church where everyone is

     welcome.

We believe that Christ is kind and fair.

We believe that we have a future in knowing Jesus Christ.

And since we all must die, we believe that God will preserve us forever.  Amen.

Litany Phrase: Christ, have mercy. (chanted)

For fighting and war to cease in our world. Christ, have mercy.

For peace on earth and good will towards all. Christ, have mercy.

For the safety of all who travel. Christ, have mercy.

For jobs for all who need them. Christ, have mercy.

For care of those who are growing old. Christ, have mercy.

For the safety, health and nutrition of all the children in our world. Christ, have mercy.

For the well-being of our families and friends. Christ, have mercy.

For the good health of those we know to be ill. Christ, have mercy.

For the remembrance of those who have died. Christ, have mercy.

For the forgiveness of all of our sins. Christ, have mercy.

Liturgist:         The Peace of the Lord be always with you.

People:            And also with you.

Song during the preparation of the Altar and the receiving of an offering.

Offertory:The Lord Is Present  (Renew! # 55)

1.         The Lord is present in his sanctuary, let us praise the Lord.  The Lord is present in his people gathered here, let us praise the Lord.  Praise him, praise him, let us praise the Lord.  Praise him, praise him, let us praise Jesus.

2.         The Lord is present in his sanctuary, let us sing to the Lord.  The Lord is present in his people gathered here, let us sing to the Lord.  Sing to him, sing to him, let us sing to Lord.  Sing to him, sing to him, let us sing to Jesus.

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him, all creatures here below.

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Prologue to the Eucharist

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, for to them belong the kingdom of heaven.”

All become members of a family by birth or adoption.

Baptism is a celebration of our birth into the family of God.

A family meal gathers and sustains each human family.

The Holy Eucharist is the special meal that Jesus gave to his friends to keep us together as the family of Christ.

The Lord be with you

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to God.

It is right to give God thanks and praise.

It is very good and right to give thanks, because God made us, Jesus redeemed us and the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts.  Therefore with Angels and Archangels and all of the world that we see and don’t see, we forever sing this hymn of praise:

Holy, Holy, Holy (Intoned)

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of Power and Might.  Heav’n 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. Hosanna in the Highest.

Our grateful praise we offer to you God, our Creator;

You have made us in your image

And you gave us many men and women of faith to help us to live by faith:

Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachael.

And then you gave us your Son, Jesus, born of Mary, nurtured by Joseph

And he called us to be sons and daughters of God.

Your Son called us to live better lives and he gave us this Holy Meal so that when we eat

 the bread and drink the wine, we can  know that the Presence of Christ is as near to us as  

 this food and drink  that becomes a part of us.

The Prayer continues with these words

And so, Father, we bring you these gifts of bread and wine. Bless and sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Bless and sanctify us by your Holy Spirit so that we can we love God and our neighbor.

On the night when Jesus was betrayed he took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to his friends, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."

After supper, Jesus took the cup of wine, gave thanks, 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 for the remembrance of me."

Father, we now celebrate the memorial of your Son. When we eat this holy Meal of Bread and Wine, we are telling the entire world about the life, death and resurrection of Christ and that his presence will be with us in our future.

Let this holy meal keep us together as friends who share a special relationship because of your Son Jesus Christ.  May we forever live with praise to God to whom we belong as sons and daughters.

By Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory

 is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.

And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we now sing,

(Children rejoin their parents and take up their instruments)

Our Father: (Renew # 180, West Indian Lord’s Prayer)

Our Father who art in heaven:  Hallowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done: Hallowed be thy name.

Done on earth as it is in heaven: Hallowed be thy name.

Give us this day our daily bread: Hallowed be thy name.

And forgive us all our debts: Hallowed be thy name.

As we forgive our debtors: Hallowed be thy name.

Lead us not into temptation: Hallowed be thy name.

But deliver us from evil: Hallowed be thy name.

Thine is the kingdom, power, and glory: Hallowed be thy name.

Forever and ever: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Breaking of the Bread

Celebrant:       Alleluia.  Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.

People:            Therefore let us keep the feast.  Alleluia!

Words of Administration

Communion Song: Eat This Bread, (Renew! # 228)

Eat this bread, drink this cup, come to me and never be hungry. 

Eat this bread, drink this cup, trust in me and you will not thirst.

 Post-Communion Prayer

Everlasting God, we have gathered for the meal that Jesus asked us to keep;

We have remembered his words of blessing on the bread and the wine.

And His Presence has been known to us.

We have remembered that we are sons and daughters of God and brothers

    and sisters in Christ.

Send us forth now into our everyday lives remembering that the blessing in the

     bread and wine spreads into each time, place and person in our lives,

As we are ever blessed by you, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Closing Song: I Want to Walk As a Child of the Light (Renew!  # 152)

I want to walk as a child of the light.  I want to follow Jesus.  God set the stars to give light to the world; the star of my life is Jesus. 

Refrain: In him there is no darkness at all; the night and the day are both alike.  The lamb is the light of the city of God.  Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.

I want to see the brightness of God; I want to look at Jesus.  Clear sun of righteousness, shine on my path and show me the way to the Father.  Refrain

Dismissal   

Liturgist:    Let us go forth in the Name of Christ.

People:      Thanks be to God! 

Transition to a New Mentor

3 Advent b      December 14, 2014

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 Psalm 126

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 John 1:6-8,19-28

 Lectionary Link

      History is always after the facts.   It is an attempt to explain what and why things happened.   It is written in hindsight.  An event is written about because one knows what happened after the event about which one is writing.  History is never final because there will be histories written about histories.  So contemporary journals or news reports of eye witness events will be different than the history of events.

  The Gospel writings are collections of historical writings.  They are histories of histories about the life of Jesus.   A person who writing at the end of the first century about Jesus was writing from historical fragments of the previous seven decades.  It is likely that during the time of Jesus, the community of followers of John the Baptist was larger in number than the community of followers of Jesus of Nazareth.

  But by the end of the first century, the followers of Jesus Christ within the cities of the Roman Empire grew and the followers of John the Baptist who were more limited to geographical area of Palestine diminished.

  In the history of the Jesus Movement, there are the accounts about how some of the earliest followers of Jesus first had been followers of John the Baptist.

  At the end of the first century in the community from which came the Gospel of the John, the writers could reflect upon 7-8 decades of transpiring events.  They could write about the significance of John the Baptist as a transitional figure between the more established schools of Judaism, like the Pharisees and Sadducees and the new rabbinical movements such as the school of Jesus of Nazareth.  Why would I say the school of Jesus of Nazareth?  Because Jesus had pupil, called disciples.  The master/pupil relationship was the standard mode of formal religious education.

  What had happened by the end of the first century?  John the Baptist preceded Jesus in his death.  The movement of John the Baptist diminished in numbers, even more so after the Romans destroyed the Temple in the year 70 and forced the various religious communities into exile from the region of Palestine.  Some followers of John the Baptist had become leaders in the early Christian Movement and they believed that their former mentor John the Baptist had proclaimed Jesus as his logical successor.

  Within the Christian Movement, John the Baptist was assigned the role as the one who set the stage to introduce Jesus of Nazareth.

  The writer or writers who wrote the Gospel of John lived knowing the success of the Jesus Movement within the cities of the Roman Empire.  They observed that the more exclusive synagogue communities did not grow because they limited their communities to person mainly from Jewish families.  While proselytes to Judaism were to be found, one could hardly find that the Jewish communities appealed in a significant way to those outside of their own ethnic heritage.  What made the Jesus Movement different is that it was successful in bringing Gentile members into their residential gatherings within Roman cities.  Other Jewish movements and the movement of John the Baptist could not match this appeal that Jesus of Nazareth had to people who were not Jews.

  The writer of the Gospel of John had to try to explain the roots of the Jesus Movement within Judaism and as the successor of the Movement of John the Baptist.  The writer of the Gospel of John was writing within a community which had become composed mainly Gentile Christians, but what made Christian movement distinctive and attractive is that one could follow Jesus without fulfilling all of the  ethnic religious customs of Judaism.  So the Christian movement became a Christ-centered Judaism which very early became to be an innovative departure from traditional Judaism.

  John the Baptist was compelling enough as a prophetic figure to have people wonder about his identity.  In a time of great public depression for the Jewish people of Palestine, the hope for a Messiah and other apocalyptic intervening figures was very much a part of the religious and political discussion.

  Who was John the Baptist?  Was he the messiah?  Did his method of baptism and the success of his movement mean that he could be the Messiah or a reincarnation of Elijah or some other prophet?

  If the followers of John the Baptist were discouraged after the death of John the Baptist, what would be the future of the John the Baptist movement? 

  The followers of Jesus made this appeal to the followers of John the Baptist.  John was the cousin of Jesus.  John was a mentor of Jesus.   John baptized Jesus in the Jordan.  John launched the ministry of Jesus.  John recommended that his followers switch their allegiance to Jesus as their new teacher.

  One of the hardest events in life is the experience of graduation.  We call graduation commencement because something new begins.

  The transition for many people from John as their mentor to Jesus as their new mentor was a significant transition.  How do I honor the teachers in past and yet obey the new teachers who are providing vital new insights for my life now?

  Advent is a season when we work at the integration our past life experience with our current life experience.  Sometimes when we feel like to leave a former view of life we have to demonize those who are associated with such perspectives.  If I were to count all of the successive influences in teachers and schools of thought that I have had since childhood, it would include quite a significant number.  So how can I honors the lights in my life in the past and yet be open to receive the light and wisdom of new insights from new people, teachers and mentors?  What do I do with a book which highly benefited me in the past when I have come to read another book which provides more adequate answers than the previous book?  Our life involves the continuous re-assignment of the relevance of the past influences of our lives.

  In our world of religious quarrels and disagreement, we sometimes diminish each other in order to justify why we believe and practice the way in which we do now.

  I think the example of John the Baptist and Jesus is an example of the necessary transition which we have to go through as we grow from one expression of faith to another more adequate expression of faith to take into account the new things which have happened in our world and life.

  Let this Advent season be for us an affirmation of the process of always surpassing ourselves in a future state because we are repenting, we are becoming more educated in the insights of God.  The light of Christ means that we can reconcile our new insights with our former insights without anger or bitterness.  We can leave former understandings without being bitter about the times when these understandings and the people who held these views seem to lose their telling relevance to our lives.

  Advent is a time of the anticipation of future coming events.  Are you preparing for the next significant new insight in your life?  Do you anticipate another insight which will change your life and be more adequate to the tasks of living?  John the Baptist saw another significant event on his horizon; the event for him was Christ as the light of the world.

  Let us during this season understand that Christ as the Light of the world will and can be made known as we make the transition to new understandings and new events of insights.  I wish and pray for all of us, new insights which will change our lives.  Amen.

Sunday School, December 14, 2014 3 Advent, Cycle B

Sunday School, December 14, 2014 3 Advent Cycle B

Themes

Changing of teachers

Have student think of when they had a favorite teacher but they had to move on to a new grade in school and learn from a new teacher.

The Gospel theme is about how some disciples graduated from following John the Baptist as their teacher and coming to follow Jesus as their teacher.

John was a good teacher because he wanted what was best for his students.  He wanted them to come to know Jesus Christ because he knew that Jesus could teach them some special way to live.

From the Isaiah reading show them the roots of the word Gospel.  Gospel or good news is from a Hebrew word “basar.”  And Jesus Christ was this good news which the prophet Isaiah wrote about because of his care for the those who were sick and blind and for the way in which he preached and taught to help people in their lives to have faith.

A Children’s Sermon

  Do you know what “Good News” is?  Christmas is coming…Is that good news?  Why is it good news?  You are going to have special fun with your family and friends.  You are going to have parties and good food.  And Santa Claus will come and leave some presents.   Is that good news?  Of course it is.

  If you know what good news is…then what is bad news?  If you fall and hurt your knee, that’s bad news.  If you are sick…that’s bad news.  And if we have more bad news than good news, then our lives can be very difficult, very hard to live.

  And we know that in our world today there is some very bad news.  Lots of people do not have jobs.  Lots of people do not have enough to eat.  Lots of people are sick.  Lots of people live in fear because of war and fighting.

  So we need to be thankful because in our lives we have more good news than bad news.

  Do you know what the word Gospel means?  It means “Good News.”  We call the books about Jesus Christ, “Good News,”  because Jesus brought Good News.

  In the reading from the Prophet Isaiah, Isaiah wrote that the one who God anoints will bring good news.

  God anointed is the Messiah or the Christ.  And Christ is the one who brings good news.

  And what news did Jesus bring us?

  God loves, God cares for us, and God forgives us and God gives us everlasting life.  That is good news isn’t it?  It is great news.

  But Jesus wants us not just to receive good news, he wants us to do something more.  He wants us to take good news to people who need hear good news.

  And how do we do this?  By helping others.  At Christmas we are helping to buy some gift cards for some families who need special good news at Christmas.  So we are helping some families who have had some bad news, and we are trying to bring them some good news.

  Today let us be thankful for the Gospel, for the good news in our lives.  Let us ask God for more good news.  But as we ask God for good news, let us become people who bring good news to other people by helping people who have to overcome some bad news in their lives.

  How many of you like good news?  How many of you are willing to help bring good news to other people today?  Good, then we can help Christ make this a merry Christmas for more people.  Amen.

St. John the Divine Episcopal Church

17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037

Family Service with Holy Eucharist

December 14, 2014: The Third Sunday of Advent

Gathering Songs: Light a Candle, The Lord is Present,   Eat This Bread, I Want to Walk

Song: Light A Candle   (tune: Jimmy Crack Corn)

1-Light a candle for hope today, light a candle for hope today, light a candle for hope today.  Advent time is here.  

2-Light a candle for peace today…

3-Light a candle for joy today….

Liturgist:      Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

People:         And Blessed be God’s kingdom, now and forever.  Amen.

Liturgist:  Oh God, Our hearts are open to you.

And you know us and we can hide nothing from you.

Prepare our hearts and our minds to love you and worship you.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

First Litany of Praise: Alleluia (chanted)

O God, you are Great!  Alleluia

O God, you have made us! Alleluia

O God, you have made yourself known to us!  Alleluia

O God, you have provided us with us a Savior!  Alleluia

O God, you have given us a Christian family!  Alleluia

O God, you have forgiven our sins!  Alleluia

O God, you brought your Son Jesus back from the dead!  Alleluia

Liturgist:   A reading from the Prophet Isaiah

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor,

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 126
Children’s Creed
Doxology
 
Our grateful praise we offer to you God, our Creator;
You have made us in your image
And then you gave us your Son, Jesus, born of Mary, nurtured by Joseph
The Prayer continues with these words
 
 Post-Communion Prayer
Everlasting God, we have gathered for the meal that Jesus asked us to keep;

2. I want to see the brightness of God; I want to look at Jesus.  Clear sun of righteousness, shine on my path and show me the way to the Father.  Refrain

People:      Thanks be to God! 

When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, * then were we like those who dream.

Then was our mouth filled with laughter, * and our tongue with shouts of joy.

Then they said among the nations, * "The LORD has done great things for them."

  

Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God! (chanted)

Liturgist:

For the good earth, for our food and clothing. Thanks be to God!

For our families and friends. Thanks be to God!

For the talents and gifts that you have given to us. Thanks be to God!

For this day of worship. Thanks be to God!

For health and for a good night’s sleep. Thanks be to God!

For work and for play. Thanks be to God!

For teaching and for learning. Thanks be to God!

For the happy events of our lives. Thanks be to God!

For the celebration of the birthdays and anniversaries of our friends and parish family.

   Thanks be to God!

Liturgist:         The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.

This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, "I am not the Messiah." And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" He answered, "No." Then they said to him, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, `Make straight the way of the Lord,'" as the prophet Isaiah said. Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, "Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?" John answered them, "I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal." This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

Liturgist:         The Gospel of the Lord.

People:            Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon – Father Phil

We did not make ourselves, so we believe that God the Father is the maker of the world.

Since God is so great and we are so small,

We believe God came into our world and was born as Jesus, son of the Virgin Mary.

We need God’s help and we believe that God saved us by the life, death and

     resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We believe that God is present with us now as the Holy Spirit.

We believe that we are baptized into God’s family the Church where everyone is

     welcome.

We believe that Christ is kind and fair.

We believe that we have a future in knowing Jesus Christ.

And since we all must die, we believe that God will preserve us forever.  Amen.

Litany Phrase: Christ, have mercy. (chanted)

For fighting and war to cease in our world. Christ, have mercy.

For peace on earth and good will towards all. Christ, have mercy.

For the safety of all who travel. Christ, have mercy.

For jobs for all who need them. Christ, have mercy.

For care of those who are growing old. Christ, have mercy.

For the safety, health and nutrition of all the children in our world. Christ, have mercy.

For the well-being of our families and friends. Christ, have mercy.

For the good health of those we know to be ill. Christ, have mercy.

For the remembrance of those who have died. Christ, have mercy.

For the forgiveness of all of our sins. Christ, have mercy.

Liturgist:         The Peace of the Lord be always with you.

People:            And also with you.

Song during the preparation of the Altar and the receiving of an offering.

Offertory Anthem

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him, all creatures here below.

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Blessing of our Commitment Cards

Prologue to the Eucharist

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, for to them belong the kingdom of heaven.”

All become members of a family by birth or adoption.

Baptism is a celebration of our birth into the family of God.

A family meal gathers and sustains each human family.

The Holy Eucharist is the special meal that Jesus gave to his friends to keep us together as the family of Christ.

The Lord be with you

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to God.

It is right to give God thanks and praise.

It is very good and right to give thanks, because God made us, Jesus redeemed us and the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts.  Therefore with Angels and Archangels and all of the world that we see and don’t see, we forever sing this hymn of praise:

Holy, Holy, Holy (Intoned)

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of Power and Might.  Heav’n 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. Hosanna in the Highest.

(Children may gather around the altar)

The Celebrant now praises God for the salvation of the world through Jesus Christ our Lord.

And you gave us many men and women of faith to help us to live by faith:

Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachael.

And he called us to be sons and daughters of God.

Your Son called us to live better lives and he gave us this Holy Meal so that when we eat

 the bread and drink the wine, we can  know that the Presence of Christ is as near to us as  

 this food and drink  that becomes a part of us.

And so, Father, we bring you these gifts of bread and wine. Bless and sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Bless and sanctify us by your Holy Spirit so that we can we love God and our neighbor.

On the night when Jesus was betrayed he took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to his friends, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."

After supper, Jesus took the cup of wine, gave thanks, 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 for the remembrance of me."

Father, we now celebrate the memorial of your Son. When we eat this holy Meal of Bread and Wine, we are telling the entire world about the life, death and resurrection of Christ and that his presence will be with us in our future.

Let this holy meal keep us together as friends who share a special relationship because of your Son Jesus Christ.  May we forever live with praise to God to whom we belong as sons and daughters.

By Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory

 is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.

And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we now sing,

(Children rejoin their parents and take up their instruments)

Our Father: (Renew # 180, West Indian Lord’s Prayer)

Our Father who art in heaven:  Hallowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done: Hallowed be thy name.

Done on earth as it is in heaven: Hallowed be thy name.

Give us this day our daily bread: Hallowed be thy name.

And forgive us all our debts: Hallowed be thy name.

As we forgive our debtors: Hallowed be thy name.

Lead us not into temptation: Hallowed be thy name.

But deliver us from evil: Hallowed be thy name.

Thine is the kingdom, power, and glory: Hallowed be thy name.

Forever and ever: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Breaking of the Bread

Celebrant:        Alleluia.  Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.

People:            Therefore let us keep the feast.  Alleluia!

Words of Administration

Communion Song: Eat This Bread, (Renew! # 228)

Eat this bread, drink this cup, come to me and never be hungry. 

Eat this bread, drink this cup, trust in me and you will not thirst.

We have remembered his words of blessing on the bread and the wine.

And His Presence has been known to us.

We have remembered that we are sons and daughters of God and brothers

    and sisters in Christ.

Send us forth now into our everyday lives remembering that the blessing in the

     bread and wine spreads into each time, place and person in our lives,

As we are ever blessed by you, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Closing Song: I Want to Walk As a Child of the Light (Renew!  # 152)

1.      I want to walk as a child of the light.  I want to follow Jesus.  God set the stars to give light to the world; the star of my life is Jesus. 

Refrain: In him there is no darkness at all; the night and the day are both alike.  The lamb is the light of the city of God.  Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.

Dismissal   

Liturgist:    Let us go forth in the Name of Christ.