Jesus, Why Aren't You My Superhero Interventionist?

11  Pentecost, A p 14, August 13, 2023
1 Kings 19:9-18 Psalm 85:8-13
Romans 10:5-15,  Matthew 14:22-33

Lectionary Link

Can we agree that the Bible readings are "textual events?"  Can you and I agree that we are "word events" too?  I means that you and are are constituted, made up in our insides by the words that have come to order the details of our lives.  And to change our lives, we need to do some serious re-ordering of our interior word life in hopes that such re-ordering will help our body language lives behave different toward more excellent actions.

We get involved with the words of the Bible because we look for biblical words to interact with our worded lives so that we might be advanced in creative excellence in our lives.

When people say, "it's only words," they cheapen and limit the meaning of words.  Our entire existence is ordered because of words and so there is nothing "cheap" about words.

The Gospel writers were so certain that words re-create our lives that the writer of John called the pre-existent Jesus Christ, the Word from the beginning who is God.  That makes Word a powerful co-extensive entity with God.

The Gospel writers were wordsmiths of their eras.  They used language within the styles and forms of their times.  Bible mis-readers in our times like to think that Gospel writers were writing exact eye-witness journalistic reports about Jesus.  How could this be so when the Gospels were not written in Aramaic and were written in an Greek style of educated scribes who were writing decades after Jesus had left this world?

Versions of the reality of the Risen Christ were placed into teaching parable narratives of Jesus, which of course, had remnants of oral traditions which had been passed on to them.

The Gospel writers understood the spiritual codes of their contexts; they understood the hero types of the Hebrew Scriptures and so Jesus as the Risen Christ for the Gospel writers used narratives of Jesus to portray the reality of the effects of knowing the presence of the Risen Christ.

If Jesus walking on the water and calming the storm was an actual event and not an allegorical visionary presentation, then it should be the normal practice for followers of Jesus to expect such miraculous interventions within the actual storms of wind, earthquake, floods, and fire.  And seeing that such interventions are not regular, but perhaps very rarely uncanny, it betrays the purpose of the Gospel writer to set this story up as the normative expectations of deliverance from every event of harm that is faced in nature.

However, to understand the visionary intent of the Matthew writer to present Jesus as the one has a special place within nature, even with the worst storms of nature, is to present the Risen Christ as the All and in All accompaniment to our lives who can help us survive, thrive, and ultimately live beyond the harming events of nature, including death itself as the supposed terminus of life.

Please don't literalize what is meant to be figurative, unless you know in your life of faith the consistent intervention in the laws of nature to exempt you from all of the forms of harm which can happen in life.  To literalize Jesus as some kind of super hero then means that such a super hero is drastically missing in our lives today where we are subject to the obvious conditions of weal and woe in our everyday lives.

I believe that the purpose of the Gospel writer is to help us live with our lives as they are not exempt from the probabilities of what might befall us, including the harms from natural events of winds, earthquakes, floods, and fire.  In our lives subject to human probable events, we can know the accompanying presence of the Risen Christ, surfing over and within the storms that face us.

The Risen Christ always already accompanies as the always already intervention before bad things happen, when bad things happen, before good things happen, when good things happen, and even when death happens.

You and I can subscribe to a disappointing magical Christianity of perpetual disappointment about the lack of super hero interventions in our lives; Or we can experience the Risen Christ whose presence accompanies us always already and who is as Paul wrote, "All and in All.  Amen.

Sunday School, August 13, 2023 11 Pentecost, A proper 14

 Sunday School, August 13, 2023   11 Pentecost,  A proper 14

Theme:

Water and Wind Stories in the Bible

Water and Wind, when combined can be wild and dangerous.

The disciples took a night boat trip and experienced a storm on the water.

They were frightened until they saw Christ appear to them in the storm.

On a normal day, water on the lake and wind in the sails of the boat would be great and wonderful.

But darkness, storm and bumpy waves means that water and wind can be dangerous.

We know that good and wonderful things in life can be dangerous if we have the wrong experience with them or if we are in the wrong place at the wrong time.

When we are sailing on the lake on a nice breezy day we are grateful and we can feel safe and we might find it easy to have faith in God.

If we are on the lake in a boat during a storm we can experience fear and when we have fear it might be very difficult to have faith in God.

Baptism is about water and wind.  How so?

We are baptized in water and we believe that we remember that in the end we survive death and fear of death because we are raised with Christ in the resurrection.

Baptism is about Wind.  Wind or Breath is a symbol of the Holy Spirit.  In our lives we can become aware of the Holy Spirit as like God breathing in and through us.

When Peter tried to walk to Jesus on top of the water, he fell into water.  Jesus grabbed his hand and lifted him up.

This is what we celebrate in baptism.  We are “buried” with Christ in baptism but we are raised with Christ when we come up out of the water of baptism.

Our life can be like sailing on a breezy lake or life can be like being in a boat on a stormy lake.

When life is easy, we need to have faith.  When life is stormy we need to have faith and look to find the presence of Christ with us to help us through the stormy or difficult times of life.

We are baptized because we believe that God can tame the water and the wind in our life experience by giving the presence of Christ and the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Sermon:

Has anyone ever had a dream?  Do you remember any of your dreams?  Have any of you ever had a water dream?  Or a dream about   a storm?  Some people think that water dreams are about us being fearful and anxious in life.

  We worry about things in our life.  We worry about little things like scoring goals in soccer.  We worry about big things like earthquakes.  The story of Peter and Jesus on the lake during a big storm is a story about fear and faith.

   We are born with ability to have fear or have faith.  And if too many sad things happen to us we can begin to be fearful.  We can let our imaginations make us think that only bad things are going to happen and we can begin to begin to be fearful.  In baseball, if I strike out once.  I can get sad and think that I am going to strike out next time and every time.

  Peter was in a boat on a very stormy.  He was fearful.  He did not think he would survive but he saw Jesus walking on the water.  And suddenly he had hope.  And he decided he wanted to walk towards Jesus.  And he did but then he looked at the frightening water.  And he fell into the water.  But Jesus rescued him and told him not to fear but to have faith.

   The storms of our lives are all the things that can go wrong.  The storms of life are the bad things that can happen to us.  And these things can make us worry.  These things can make us fearful.

  But we need to remember that hope is greater than fear.  We need to look for the people who give us hope.  When we have hope we let our mind think about good things happening to us.  We let our mind think about keep trying hard to do our very best because with practice we can always get better.

  When we have hope we can change our fear and worry to faith.  Faith means that we just keep trying to do our very best no matter what happens, whether it is stormy or sunny, we just keep doing our best.

  Jesus is the one who can inspire us to keep trying, even when we are faced with difficult things in our life.

  Jesus is like a magician who can help us convert our energy of worry and fear into the energy of faith.

  And with faith we can become our own heroes.  We can become our own heroes when we do not quit but just keep trying to do our very best.

  Remember Jesus is the one who walks in the middle of the storms of life.  And he inspires us to convert our energy of fear into the energy of faith.

  Let me see your faith muscles.

  Say, “I am strong.  I have converted the energy of fear into the muscles of faith.”  Amen.

Intergenerational Family Service with Holy Eucharist

August 13, 2023: The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

Gathering Songs: Hallelu, Hallelujah, This Little Light, Alleluia, When the Saints Go Marching In

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.

Song:  Hallelu, Hallelujah  (Christian Children’s Songbook,  # 84)

Hallelu, hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah!  Prasie ye the Lord. 

Hallelu, hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah!  Praise ye the Lord. 

Praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah!  Praise ye, the Lord, Hallelujah. 

Praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah!  Praise ye the Lord!

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

Grant to us, Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and 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

A reading from the Letter to the Romans

If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, "No one who believes in him will be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 105

Give thanks to the LORD and call upon his Name; * make known his deeds among the peoples.

Sing to him, sing praises to him, * and speak of all his marvelous works.

Glory in his holy Name; * let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.

Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God! (chanted)

Litanist:

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 Matthew

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid."  Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

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 Song: This Little Light of Mine (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 234)

This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.  This little light of mine, I’m going let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel, No!  I’m going to let it shine.  Hide it under a bushel, No!  I am going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Don’t let anyone blow it out, I’m going to let it shine.  Don’t let anyone blow it out.  I’m going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let is shine.

Shine all over my neighborhood, I’m going to let it shine.  Shine all over my neighborhood, I’m going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

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 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.

(All may gather around the altar)

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.

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 may 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,

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: Alleluia (Renew!  # 136)

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.  Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

He’s my savior, alleluia.  He’s my savior, alleluia.  He’s my savior, alleluia.  He’s my savior, alleluia.

He is worthy, alleluia.  He is worthy, alleluia.  He is worthy alleluia, he is worthy, alleluia.

I will praise him, alleluia.  I will praise him, alleluia.  I will praise him alleluia.  I will praise him, alleluia

Maranatha, alleluia.  Maranatha, alleluia.  Maranatha, Alleluia, Maranatha, Alleluia.

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: When the Saints Go Marching in (O When the Saints # 248)

O when the saints, go marching in.  O when the saints go marching in.  Lord I want to be in that number, when the saints to marching in.

O when the boys go marching in.  Ho when the boys go marching in.  Lord I want to be in that number, when the boys go marching in.

O when the girls go marching in.  O when the girls go marching in.  Lord I want to be in that number, when the girls go marching in.

Dismissal:   

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

People:      Thanks be to God! 

Jesus As a Surfing Dude?

10  Pentecost, A p 14, August 9, 2020
1 Kings 19:9-18 Psalm 85:8-13
Romans 10:5-15,  Matthew 14:22-33

Lectionary Link

The Bible gives us clues about how to read it.  And we should follow the invitation to read it as spiritual poetry.  We have been intimidated by modern science, modern historical writing and modern eyewitness journalism.   Modern scholarly practice have caused many biblical interpreters to fall in the trap of reading the Bible as though it is modern accurate journalistic reporting with the scientific standard of empirically verifiable events.

The Gospel writers took up the symbolic poetic order of the Hebrew Scriptures and used the metaphors as ways to present in narrative form the spiritual and mystical meaning of Jesus Christ.  Why?  People were having Holy Spirit mystical experiences.  They had sublime experiences and they needed to know how these experiences were connected to this special person Jesus.

How do we understand this sublime?  And how is it connected with an incarnation of God in the person of Jesus who became inseparable from these post-death and resurrection experiences of the Risen Christ?

How do we understand these sublime experiences and teach their meaning?  And how do we teach a program of orientation into the mysteries of the sublime experience of the Holy Spirit?

To be born of water and the Holy Spirit, means that there exists a parallel realm within each initiate through which one interprets the exterior and landscape events of life.

Narratives of the landscapes in the life of Jesus of Nazareth were presented in the Gospels to illustrate the meaning of the Risen Christ found within each Christian.

Where can we find the Risen Christ to accompany us in our lives?  According to the Gospels:  Everywhere.  The Gospels present some material situations where the Risen Christ can be found to accompany us.

What has always been some of the greatest conflicts for human life?  They have occurred with events of Nature.  Why the conflicts?  Human schedules and Nature's schedules are sometimes in conflict.   A great storm on the Sea of Galilee would be just plain impressive, unless the schedule of fishermen conflict with the schedule of Nature to put the fishermen in harm's way.

As organisms with the prolific abilities to grow and become parasitic on other life, like cancer and Covid-19 and a large hosts of bacteria and viruses are very impressive.  And if their life and growth could be totally isolated from human interaction, we could be awed observers.

But these living organisms in nature interact with human schedules in time  in our bodily lives and they frighten and they reek havoc, because they cause sickness, suffering and death.

God who is perfect freedom, presides within a world which shares in this freedom.  And because of our love of science to make every an external observable event, we have been tempted to exteriorize the presentation of Jesus in the Gospel.  The Jesus of the Gospel is written to illustrate in a graphic way the profound interior rising of the Risen Christ who can co-exist with all of the freedom which we face in our lives.  And in faith, we need to realize that we are never exempt from the conditions of freedom.

And because we are not exempt from the conditions of freedom, we use probability theory to anticipate and predict.  We want to negotiate our lives in the safest way through the conditions of freedom.  Sometimes we are safe because of wise behaviors that we can learn from science and our biblical tradition.  But in many other things, we find we are not exempt from an entire array of events, sublime, marvelous, good, ordinary, bad, horrendous and evil.  In life's conditions of freedom, we are not exempt from a continuum of events of what might happen to us.

So what is the Gospel for us? If God and Jesus honor freedom and we know that they are not exempt from the array of freedom, how should we live?  We can either live by faith or by fear.  We can be Murphy Law devotees, fearing more of what can go wrong, than enjoying and savoring the vast amount of goodness.  

The ancient God moved by the Spirit on the deep waters of chaos to created through God's Word.  For Elijah, God was not in the earthquake, wind and the fire; God was in the peaceful stillness which co-existed with wind and the fire.

The Gospel writers believed the experience of the Risen Christ was graphically presented in Jesus walking on the stormy waters faced by his friends.  How does one walk in the middle of the stormy sea?  With faith?  Yes and according to gravity, one sinks into the waters.  And who is with us as we sink?  The hand of the Risen Christ.

And when we sink into the ocean of our eventual death because Time and freedom govern our bodily lives, who will be there?  The hand of the Risen Christ to lift us up.

Let us practice knowing the still peace of God within us and the ever rescuing hand of the Risen Christ who truly walks in the storms of Nature with us.    When some of us see the crashing ocean waves, we think awesome frightening power.  But what does the surfer see?  Heavy waves, now that's a challenge.  Jesus is the model for us of a life surfer.  He sees the waves and says, "Heavy waves Dude! now jump on my board!"  Amen.

Sunday School, August 9, 2020 10 Pentecost, A proper 14

Sunday School, August 9, 2020   10 Pentecost,  A proper 14

Theme:

Water and Wind Stories in the Bible

Water and Wind, when combined can be wild and dangerous.

The disciples took a night boat trip and experienced a storm on the water.

They were frightened until they saw Christ appear to them in the storm.

On a normal day, water on the lake and wind in the sails of the boat would be great and wonderful.

But darkness, storm and bumpy waves means that water and wind can be dangerous.

We know that good and wonderful things in life can be dangerous if we have the wrong experience with them or if we are in the wrong place at the wrong time.

When we are sailing on the lake on a nice breezy day we are grateful and we can feel safe and we might find it easy to have faith in God.

If we are on the lake in a boat during a storm we can experience fear and when we have fear it might be very difficult to have faith in God.

Baptism is about water and wind.  How so?

We are baptized in water and we believe that we remember that in the end we survive death and fear of death because we are raised with Christ in the resurrection.

Baptism is about Wind.  Wind or Breath is a symbol of the Holy Spirit.  In our lives we can become aware of the Holy Spirit as like God breathing in and through us.

When Peter tried to walk to Jesus on top of the water, he fell into water.  Jesus grabbed his hand and lifted him up.

This is what we celebrate in baptism.  We are “buried” with Christ in baptism but we are raised with Christ when we come up out of the water of baptism.

Our life can be like sailing on a breezy lake or life can be like being in a boat on a stormy lake.

When life is easy, we need to have faith.  When life is stormy we need to have faith and look to find the presence of Christ with us to help us through the stormy or difficult times of life.

We are baptized because we believe that God can tame the water and the wind in our life experience by giving the presence of Christ and the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Sermon:

Has anyone ever had a dream?  Do you remember any of your dreams?  Have any of you ever had a water dream?  Or a dream about   a storm?  Some people think that water dreams are about us being fearful and anxious in life.

  We worry about things in our life.  We worry about little things like scoring goals in soccer.  We worry about big things like earthquakes.  The story of Peter and Jesus on the lake during a big storm is a story about fear and faith.

   We are born with ability to have fear or have faith.  And if too many sad things happen to us we can begin to be fearful.  We can let our imaginations make us think that only bad things are going to happen and we can begin to begin to be fearful.  In baseball, if I strike out once.  I can get sad and think that I am going to strike out next time and every time.

  Peter was in a boat on a very stormy.  He was fearful.  He did not think he would survive but he saw Jesus walking on the water.  And suddenly he had hope.  And he decided he wanted to walk towards Jesus.  And he did but then he looked at the frightening water.  And he fell into the water.  But Jesus rescued him and told him not to fear but to have faith.

   The storms of our lives are all the things that can go wrong.  The storms of life are the bad things that can happen to us.  And these things can make us worry.  These things can make us fearful.

  But we need to remember that hope is greater than fear.  We need to look for the people who give us hope.  When we have hope we let our mind think about good things happening to us.  We let our mind think about keep trying hard to do our very best because with practice we can always get better.

  When we have hope we can change our fear and worry to faith.  Faith means that we just keep trying to do our very best no matter what happens, whether it is stormy or sunny, we just keep doing our best.

  Jesus is the one who can inspire us to keep trying, even when we are faced with difficult things in our life.

  Jesus is like a magician who can help us convert our energy of worry and fear into the energy of faith.

  And with faith we can become our own heroes.  We can become our own heroes when we do not quit but just keep trying to do our very best.

  Remember Jesus is the one who walks in the middle of the storms of life.  And he inspires us to convert our energy of fear into the energy of faith.

  Let me see your faith muscles.

  Say, “I am strong.  I have converted the energy of fear into the muscles of faith.”  Amen.

Intergenerational Family Service with Holy Eucharist

August 9, 2020: The Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

Gathering Songs: Hallelu, Hallelujah, This Little Light, Alleluia, When the Saints Go Marching In

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.

Song:  Hallelu, Hallelujah  (Christian Children’s Songbook,  # 84)

Hallelu, hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah!  Prasie ye the Lord. 

Hallelu, hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah!  Praise ye the Lord. 

Praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah!  Praise ye, the Lord, Hallelujah. 

Praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah!  Praise ye the Lord!

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

Grant to us, Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and 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

A reading from the Letter to the Romans

If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, "No one who believes in him will be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 105

Give thanks to the LORD and call upon his Name; * make known his deeds among the peoples.

Sing to him, sing praises to him, * and speak of all his marvelous works.

Glory in his holy Name; * let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.

Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God! (chanted)

Litanist:

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 Matthew

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid."  Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

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 Song: This Little Light of Mine (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 234)

This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.  This little light of mine, I’m going let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel, No!  I’m going to let it shine.  Hide it under a bushel, No!  I am going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Don’t let anyone blow it out, I’m going to let it shine.  Don’t let anyone blow it out.  I’m going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let is shine.

Shine all over my neighborhood, I’m going to let it shine.  Shine all over my neighborhood, I’m going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

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 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.

(All may gather around the altar)

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.

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 may 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,

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: Alleluia (Renew!  # 136)

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.  Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

He’s my savior, alleluia.  He’s my savior, alleluia.  He’s my savior, alleluia.  He’s my savior, alleluia.

He is worthy, alleluia.  He is worthy, alleluia.  He is worthy alleluia, he is worthy, alleluia.

I will praise him, alleluia.  I will praise him, alleluia.  I will praise him alleluia.  I will praise him, alleluia

Maranatha, alleluia.  Maranatha, alleluia.  Maranatha, Alleluia, Maranatha, Alleluia.

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: When the Saints Go Marching in (O When the Saints # 248)

O when the saints, go marching in.  O when the saints go marching in.  Lord I want to be in that number, when the saints to marching in.

O when the boys go marching in.  Ho when the boys go marching in.  Lord I want to be in that number, when the boys go marching in.

O when the girls go marching in.  O when the girls go marching in.  Lord I want to be in that number, when the girls go marching in.

Dismissal:   

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

People:      Thanks be to God!