Gospels: Structure of a Religious Revolution

4 Pentecost,  A p 8, July 2, 2017
Jeremiah 28:5-9  Psalm 89:1-4,15-18

Romans 6:12-23   Matthew 10:40-42

Lectionary Link

What do we call the events in America in 1776?  We call the events, The American Revolution.  A revolution is a successful revolt.  The successful revolt results in the establishment of new thinking and new institutions.  The American Revolution used insights from what had happened in the governance in England and the Continent and American founders brought into existence new thinking and new political practice.  The political practices were inspired by what they inherited from England and Europe but the practices included new articulation and application to fit the American situation.  England had their Parliament; America had Congress.  Similar in purpose but different in make up.

We can say that the American Revolution was birthed out of England and we have always retained Englishness without being English.  This week we celebrate the lives of American prophets and heroes, Patrick Henry, Thomas Payne, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, John Adams and many others.  We find them still present in our lives as part of our American identity.

The New Testament is about a religious revolution.  It is about the separation of an offspring religion from a parent religion.  It was about both subtle and significant changes in religious behaviors, practices and understanding.  It was about the separation of the church from the synagogue.

The process of separation in a revolution is not always peaceful.  The separation of the church from the synagogue was not always peaceful.  Former friends and family members became separated.  Some of the hardest words attributed to Jesus in the Gospel come as explanation for why the separation was occurring between the synagogue and church.  The New Testament is a book of a faith community being born in revolution.

Probably one of the most significant books of the last half of the 20th century was a book that gave us the phrase "paradigm shift."  T. S. Kuhn called the revolution within the scientific community a "paradigm shift."  Einsteinian physics was a revolt against Newtonian physics.  Einstein discovered problems with energy, mass and matter that could not be answered with Newtonian mathematics so he proposed his theory of relativity to provide answers to new unsolved problems.

The Christian Church was a paradigm shift from the synagogue.  The New Testament are the writings about this paradigm shift.  What was the main issue or the main problem which brought about this paradigm shift?

One becomes a part of a family by birth.  One cannot choose birth or the family into which one is born.  How can one become a part of a family without being born into it?  One can be adopted.  Can one understand that the naturally born might have a sense of superior family identity over the adopted children?

Probably the paradigm shift occurred between the synagogue and the church mainly because of the nature of the adoption program of the synagogue.  Most Jews were those who were born into Jewish families, but Judaism did have an adoption program, they had proselyte baptism for the non-Jew to be received into the synagogue community.  But if you were received into the synagogue, you were expected to follow the ritual purity requirements of the synagogue.

The adoption pattern of Christian baptism was too inclusive for the synagogue.  Peter and Paul began to let people into the community of faith without fulfilling all of the ritual purity customs of Judaism.  Peter and Paul had too lenient requirements for being a part of the church.  Why?  The Gentiles people who were enamored with message of Christ, were not enamored with all of the ritual purity requirements of Judaism.

Christian evangelism was much more inclusive than Jewish evangelism.  This drive to share the message of Jesus Christ with as many people as possible is what caused the great revolution and paradigm shift which gave birth to Gentile Christianity.

How does one change paradigms?  Science is supposed to take a non-emotional approach to subject matter, but T.S. Kuhn said that to change paradigms one had to make a conversion.  It was quite a novelty to use religious and political language to speak about changes in scientific thinking.

Between the paradigms of the synagogue and church there were irreconcilable differences which led to practices of separation and divorce.

The widespread incorporation of Gentiles as adopted members of the church brought about the painful divorce between synagogue and church.  Peter and Paul wanted the people of the synagogue to accept evangelism to the Gentile people.  Peter and Paul wanted members of synagogue to accept the churches' tolerant evangelism of the Gentiles.  St. Paul wrote that all people Jews and Gentile were born under the conditions of sin.  One did not avoid sin, simply by being an observant Jew; one dealt with sin by receiving the grace and power of God's Spirit.  The Gospel of Matthew is about the effort to convince people of the synagogue that they still had a place in the Jesus Movement.  But many members of the synagogue believed that such evangelism to the Gentiles would result in the loss of Jewish identity.

Why do people convert?  They convert when they find winsome ideas.  With new ideas, new social practices follow.  Conversion happens for pragmatic reason even if it is a spouse converted to the faith community of his or her spouse.  How does conversion happen?  Conversion happens when we welcome new ideas and new friends to influence our lives.

The Gospel evangelists registered their success when they were welcomed into the lives of people and when people welcomed the Gospel message into their lives to become the faith practice of their lives.

As people welcomed the Gospel and evangelists the presence of Christ has been transmitted through history.  You and I received and welcomed the Gospel into our lives from people who gave it to us.   And in so doing, we believe that the presence of Christ has been known.

Today we believe in a God who welcomes all to good news.  In the converting event of welcome, the presence of Christ is known and renewed into a new time and place.

You and I have probably been through many different conversion experiences in our lives; some of those conversions have been quite radical, even to the point of leaving participation with former acquaintances and taking up new friends.

Today, you and I are challenged by the promise of conversion and welcome.  Have we made our Episcopal Church so exclusive and inflexible that we are no longer winsome to people in our world?  There have been so many paradigm changes in our post-modern culture today, people of the church often feel that we will lose our Christianity if we compromise too much with the culture-at-large.

The early Christians adopted the paradigm of evangelism to include the Gentiles in a new faith community.  How will we let evangelism change us?  What must we do as a parish to have more people welcome the Gospel of Christ into their lives.

Let us live and speak our commitment to Christ in such a way that we will be able to be welcomed into the lives of people who need the good news of Christ.  Amen.

Sunday School, July 2, 2017 4 Pentecost, A proper 8

Sunday School, July 2, 2017     4 Pentecost, A proper 8

Theme:  Passing on Identity

Life is about receiving identity and passing it on.

We are born into a family, and we have family identity.  We have birth certificates and we are raised by family member who teach us who we are and where we have come from.

We have a citizenship identity as Americans.  How do we know that we are Americans?  We were born here or we applied for and received our citizenship.  We learn about our heritage and our fathers and mothers pass on citizenship to us.  We may have citizenship but we still need to practice citizenship by obeying the laws of our country.

What about our Christian identity?  How did we receive it?  Someone shared with us the life of Jesus Christ.  And we have welcomed the message of Jesus Christ as our life identity.

Jesus told his disciples that “whoever welcomed them were also welcoming him.”  For two thousand years people have been sharing the life of Jesus Christ with others.  And when we welcome the people who bring us the message of Christ, we are welcoming Jesus Christ.  In this way, the church has stayed alive and grown for two years, because we believe the presence of Christ is passed on as we share it with people.

Remember when we share Jesus Christ with other people; Christ is present and is being welcomed into the future life of other people

Sermon:

  Jesus said to his friends, “Whoever welcomes you, welcomes me.”

  How many of you are alone?  Are you a son or a daughter?  Are you a brother or sister?  Are you a mom or dad?  Are you someone’s friend?

  Even though we each have a name and we are each different from one another, we also know ourselves from our relationships with one another.

  Something happened to me when I got married.  I used to be  Phil, but suddenly lots of people were calling me Karen’s husband.  Something else happened to me when I had children.  Lots of people started called me Tessa’s dad or Simon’s dad.  So I used to be just Phil, but then I became Karen’s husband, Tessa’s dad and Simon’s dad.  What happened to me?

  I became very close to other people; so close that I sometimes would lose my name in them.

  Let me tell you how close this feeling was.  Did you know that when someone did something nice to my children or to my wife, I actually thought that they were doing it to me too?  That how close I felt with them.

  So when Jesus said, “Whoever welcomes you, welcomes me.”  That is how close Jesus felt with his friends.

  And that is how close Jesus wants to feel with us.  And that is how close Jesus wants us to feel with each other.

  When God sees us doing nice things for each other, God feels like we are doing these things for him.  Jesus called God is father.  And Jesus invited us to live as a part of God’s family and live so close that when we do things for each other, we are doing them for God and for Jesus.

   In the church, we celebrate the fact that we are part of God’s family.  And when we welcome each other, we are pleasing Jesus, because each time we welcome someone, each time we do a kind deed, each time we love one another, we are doing it to Christ.

  Now do you understand how close Jesus wanted to be with his friends?  Do you understand how we are live together as friends?  It means we share our lives with each other.  If you are sad, then all of feel your sadness.  And if you are joyful, then all of us feel you happiness.  Why?  Because God has put us together to be the family of Christ in this place.

  Just remember when someone does something nice to you, your parents feel so joyful; because they know that if someone is nice to you, they are also nice to them.

  And that kind of feeling together, is the feeling that Jesus gave to the church.  Let us learn how to feel together for one another as we were taught by Christ.  Amen.

St. John the Divine Episcopal Church

17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037

Family Service with Holy Eucharist

July 2, 2017: The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Gathering Songs: Jesus Loves the Little Children, The Butterfly Song, There is a Redeemer, Soon and Very Soon

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: Jesus Loves the Little Children, (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 140)

Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. 

Red and yellow, black and white, all are precious in his sight. 

Jesus love the little children of the world.

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; 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 of Paul to the Romans

Do not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions.  No longer present your members to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and present your members to God as instruments of righteousness.  For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.  

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 13

But I put my trust in your mercy; * my heart is joyful because of your saving help.

I will sing to the LORD, for he has dealt with me richly; * I will praise the Name of the Lord Most High.

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 said, "Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple-- truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward."

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: Butterfly Song (Christian Children’s Songbook # 9)

If I were a butterfly, I’d thank you Lord for giving me wings.  If I were a robin in a tree, I’d thank you Lord that I could sing.  If I were a fish in the sea, I’d wiggle my tail and I’d giggle with glee but I just thank you father for making me, me.  Refrain: For you gave me a heart and you gave me a smile, you gave me Jesus and you made me your child.  And I just thank you father for making me me.

If I were an elephant, I’d thank you Lord by raising my trunk.  And I I were a kangaroo, you know I’d hop right up to you.  If I were an octopus, I’d thank you Lord for my fine looks, and I just thank you Father for making me, me. Refrain

If I were a wiggly worm, I’d thank you Lord that I could squirm.  If I were a billy goat, I’d thank you Lord for my strong throat.  And if I were a fuzzy wuzzy bear, I’d thank you Lord for my fuzzy wuzzy hair, and I just thank you Father for making me, me.  Refrain

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,

(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: There is a Redeemer (Renew!  # 232)

There is a redeemer, Jesus, God’s own Son, precious Lamb of God, Messiah, Holy One.  Refrain: Thank you, O my Father, for giving us your Son; and leaving your Spirit til the work on earth is done.

Jesus, my Redeemer, name above all names, precious Lamb or God, Messiah, hope for sinners slain.  Refrain

When I stand in glory I will see His face, there I’ll serve my King forever, in that holy place.  Refrain

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: Soon and Very Soon (Renew! # 276)

Soon and very soon, we are going to see the king; soon and very soon, we are going to see the king.  Soon and very soon, we are going to see the king.  Hallelujah, hallelujah, we are going to see the king.

No more dying there, we are going to see the king; no more dying there, we are going to see the king.  No more dying there, we are going to see the king.  Hallelujah, hallelujah, we are going to see the king.

Dismissal:   

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

People:      Thanks be to God! 

  

Commencement in the School of Jesus

Youth Sunday Sermon, June 29, 2014

2 Pentecost, ap8, June 29, 2014 

Jeremiah 28:5-9 Psalm 89:1-4,15-18

Rom. 6:1b-11    Matt. 10:24-39

 Lectionary Link

(Connor begins by serving pouring cups of water and serving them to the people in the front.)

Kalum:  Connor, what are you doing?  And could it not wait until after the service?

James:  I know what Connor is doing.  I give him credit for reading today’s Gospel.  But will his shameless showboating really get him extra brownie points in heaven?

Connor: You talking head preachers can preach the Gospel; some of us actually do the Gospel.  Jesus said whoever gives a cup of water to these little ones will not lose their reward.

Kalum: Well, excuse me, Saint Connor; I did not know I lived so close to a holy one!

James: Saint Connor, please could I get your autograph before you become a relic? 

Connor: Are you being ironic or just plain mocking? 

Kalum: We are sincere……..in our mocking, that is.  But you have initiated a very worthy topic for discussion.

Connor: I have? Accidents do happen.  What worthy topic do we have to talk about?

James:  Well, you are right about the importance of doing the Gospel rather than just talking about it.

Kalum: Yes, actions do speak louder than words.

Connor: That’s a cliché which happens to be true.  But what else can we learn from the Gospel?

James: Well, we have just graduated from high school.  And we now have a diploma which is an official record of our achievement.  And it is a piece of paper which represents more than just being piece of paper.

Kalum: What do you mean?

Connor: I think that he means it stands for 12 years of blood, sweat and tears of all of the work and study that we had to do to get it.

James: When we present our diploma, grade average and test scores, we are able to gain admittance into colleges and universities.

Kalum: The Gospel lesson is about accreditation and the credibility of the disciples of Jesus.

Connor:  Once Jesus was gone, his disciples worried about their credibility.  They worried about whether people would accept their teaching.  They did not have seminary diplomas and official ordinations so how could they be sure that people would accept their teaching as valid?

James: What it shows us is that authority and respect comes from one’s wisdom, learning, character and the reputation that one gets from studying with good teachers.

Kalum:  I guess if you studied physics and you had Albert Einstein as one of your professor, you might get a little more attention for your resume than if you just studied with Joe Blow.

Connor: So if the disciples were worried about whether they would be accepted, Jesus reminded them that he had taught them well.  He had taught them not just to preach the Gospel but to live Gospel.  So if people did not accept the teaching of the disciples then they probably would not of Jesus either.

James: Did you know that the church had its own way of issuing graduation diplomas?

Kalum: What would that be?

James: It is called apostolic succession.  It is an unbroken record of church leadership which has lasted these two thousand years.

Connor: Is that why we have bishops?

Kalum:  Each bishop is ordained by three bishops who were ordained by three other bishops and so the Gospel has been passed down in an unbroken chain.

James:  I don’t think that this means only bishops can do valid ministry.   I think that a bishop represents that the basic message of Jesus Christ has been transmitted from one generation to the next over these many years.

Connor: Because we have this unbroken tradition from Jesus, it means that we can believe and trust that Christ is still present in the life and ministry of the church. 

Kalum: We have the example of Christ which has been preserved in the writings of the New Testament but we have 2000 years of people who have tried to follow the teaching of Jesus.

James: Even though we have bishops and priest and official ordinations, the proof of the authority of the Spirit of Christ is to be found in how we live.

Connor:  And how are we supposed to live?

Kalum: We are supposed to live without sin.

Connor: How can we do that?

James:  St. Paul wrote that living without sin is about learning impulse control.

Kalum: I have impulse control; I choose chocolate over strawberry all of the time.

Connor:  Bravo Kalum!    How did you manage to set the bar so high?

James:  I think that St. Paul was trying to teach his students about the goodness of our lives but also about the responsibility that we have because of freedom.

Kalum: It is like he’s saying that life and the energy and desire is good; but it still needs to be directed.

James:  If we get too fixated on idols or things which are not worthy we can become enslaved to bad habits.

Connor:  So sin is not about being bad or despising ourselves; it is about understanding that we can always be better.  Sin is like pain.  Pain sends us a message about doing something about what is causing us discomfort.  Sin is the awareness and we need to and can always do better than we have done before.

Kalum:  So, being a sinner is not such a bad thing.

James:  Well, we don’t have to be proud of our sin but always learning from the condition of feeling inadequate.  Being a sinner is good, if it means were always looking to amend and improve our lives.

Connor:  The character of Christ comes from learning the power and freedom of impulse control.

Kalum:  I don’t think that we will ever graduate from the School of Sinners.

James:  Well, you really don’t want a diploma for sin; not really the life achievement that one wants to be proud of.   But the goodness of Christ is like knowledge and learning.  In the field of learning we are ignorant of what we have not yet learned.

Connor:  So we are always sinners because there is always more goodness to achieve.

Kalum: Well, now we know how baptism is like commencement; we are always ending something in order to begin something else.

James: At baptism we all have received our diploma in the school of Jesus.  And it is an important diploma.

Connor:  But it also means that we have to choose each day to live up to the standards of love and kindness that we’ve learned from Jesus Christ.

Kalum: We sure have our work cut out for us.

James:  Just think of it in this way; we will never be unemployed Christians, because there will always be more Christian things to do.

Connor:  Let us thank God today for our baptismal diplomas today!

Kalum: We are now guaranteed a life time of much more Christian work!  Let’s get to work!  Amen.