To Live in a World of Change is to Have Birth Pangs

26 Pentecost B 28 November 17, 2024
1 Samuel 1:4-20 1 Samuel 2:1-10
Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25 Mark 13:1-8

Lectionary Link

In our appointed readings from the Hebrew Scriptures, we have an account of the marvelous birth of Samuel to Hannah.  In place of the Psalm, we have the famous Song of Hannah.  Apparently childless women in her time were treated as those who had been cursed by God so as not to fulfill their societal and family expectations.  A married woman was expected to have children and not to be able left her open to hidden and not so hidden scorn and derision of her society.  Hannah made a bargain with God, "Give me a child and I will give that child back to you."  Hannah bore the boy Samuel and gave him to the service of God at the shrine in Shiloh with Eli.

The song of Hannah is about her rescue from her social shame of being childless and it includes rebukes for those who disparaged her former condition.  It is a song of judgment against the proud.

It certainly can be seen as a model for the Song of Mary, another woman who had a miraculous conception and birth.  Mary's song is also a song of judgment against the proud and powerful.

The Song of Hannah and the Song of Mary accompany the arrival into the world of two history changing people, Samuel and Jesus.  The songs appear in literature of communities which are assessing significant changes which have taken place in their past and they attribute the changes to the arrival of these two figures, Samuel and Jesus.

Samuel arose as a prominent Judge of Israel, who combined the roles of prophet, judge, and priest in his roles.  He lived before Kings Saul, David, and Solomon and before the Temple was built.  He interrupted the priest lineage of Eli, because the sons of Eli had corrupted the practice of the priestly leadership of Israel.  Samuel was one to reestablish creditability to leadership in Israel and he is the crucial prelude for the age of a divinely established monarchy in Israel.

The writers of Book of Hebrews and the Gospel of Mark reflect upon the meaning of the changes which had happened within the people who were followers of Rabbi Jesus and who had become dispersed throughout the cities of the Roman Empire.

The were assessing what they had lost and learning how to cope with the loss and also find new meanings for living forward into the future as vulnerable communities within the Roman Empire.

What had the writers of the New Testament lost?  They had lost their sacred homeland, sacred city, and sacred Temple.  Jerusalem and the Temple had been razed in the year seventy.  The holy city and environs were uninhabitable.  All the communities associated with Judaism, including the Jesus Movement had become dispersed and forced to re-define their lives in new places.

For the writer of the Gospel of Mark, the Risen Christ was presented in story form as an oracle to the disciples.  The Risen Christ as an oracle in Mark gave words of assurance.  "Yes, the Temple and Jerusalem are destroyed and because of this crisis there will be lots of people giving proud and certain answers for why things have happened and they will want your loyalty for their claims of being God's chosen leaders.  Don't listen to them; what has happened is only another example of what has always being happening in the changes of natures and the changes in human societies.  To live with change is to always be living with birth pangs."

Birth pangs is a metaphor for living in the world of change.  It is the combination of joyful hope and the pain of the not yet.

Without a holy city and a holy Temple, the writer of the Book of Hebrews wrote about the spiritualization of the Temple and the priesthood.  The Temple had always been in the invisible heaven, the priest had always been the heavenly Advocate Christ.  The heavenly Temple as a worship center and the heavenly priestly advocate Christ, had to have earthly history for the meaning to unfold within human experience.  When earthly models of Temple and priest get altered by events of human war, the center of worship and the priestly is still eternally retained only to find new and other expressions within the visible world.

In the new Christly era of the Jesus Movement, the body of each person is a Temple of the Holy Spirit.  The collective body of believers is a nomadic, movable, and portable temple of people who are called to be priestly in the various locations throughout the world.

The birth pangs of changes have given birth to new meanings of temple and the priestly and they were painful because it included the destruction of the Temple and the holy city of Jerusalem, and the loss of the priesthood.

As those early members of the Jesus Movement endured their birth pangs of changes forced upon them by outside forces, and gave birth to new ways of making worship completely portable and of expressing priestly vocations, let us do the same with the current birth pangs forced upon us by the changes in our lives.

Let us endeavor to find ourselves as the temples of the Holy Spirit, and let us find ways to be the priestly intercessory persons to which we are called in the places where we find ourselves.   Amen.

Sunday School, November 17, 2024 26 Pentecost, B proper 28

  Sunday School, November 17, 2024    26 Pentecost, B proper 28

Theme

How people are more than their important buildings

Think about this?

What if your home was destroyed or burned down?  Would you feel badly?  Yes, of course.  How would Americans feel if the White House of the Capitol were destroyed?  Really sad.  And if these important buildings were destroyed by an attack by people who hated us, we would feel not only sad but angry.

If our home is destroyed but all of the members of our family are safe, then we would be relieved because a house is just a building which can be rebuilt.  A home is a house which belongs to one’s family, if a family is still alive and together, a family can build another house and make the house into a new home.

The most important building in the time of Jesus was the Temple in Jerusalem.  In the year 70, the Roman armies destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple.  The Temple was the religious Home for Jesus and the Jews and for the earliest followers of Jesus.

Did the Jewish people die out after the Temple was destroyed?  No.   Did the followers of Jesus quit after the Temple was destroyed?  No.  Why, because people are more important than buildings.  The gatherings of the peoples of God continues even after the Temple was destroyed.

For the Jews a synagogue can refer both to a building where they meet but it also refers to a gathering of people.

For Christians, a church can refer to both the building where they meet to pray but church also refers the gathering of Christians who come together to pray.

So the lesson is that People are greater than buildings since the gathering of people will continue even after churches and temples are built, destroyed, torn down, renovated and re-built.  People build buildings.   People build temples and churches.

The writers of the Gospel of Mark knew that their prayer communities would be changing after the Temple was destroyed.  First, it meant that people were going to be more important than a building.  Second, it meant that people were going to be the living bricks of a moving building, because the gathering of Christians spread throughout the world.  It meant that people would not limit God’s presence to being in just one special building; it meant that God’s Spirit could be present wherever God’s people were gathered to pray.

The letter to the Hebrews writes about Jesus being a heavenly priest and as a heavenly priest Jesus can make his church anywhere in the people who are gathered to pray.

Yes, we are sad about the destruction of the temple and the destructions of homes and churches, but we are also glad that the People of God are more important than the places that they gather to pray.

A Children’s sermon about warnings and emergencies

  What is a fire drill for?  Do you have fire drills at your schools?  Why do you have fire drills?

  Why do we have first aid kits?

  Why do we have police men and women?

  Why do we have firemen and women?

  Why do we have hospitals?

 We have fire drills, fire men and women, police men and women, and hospitals, because bad things can happen.  Emergencies can happen.

  Do we want fires to happen?  Do we want people to get sick?  Do we want to have accidents?

  No of course not.  But do fire happen?  Do people have accidents?  Do people get sick?

  Yes, they do.  And since these bad things can happen, we need to be prepared.

  How do we prepare?  First we prepare by knowing how bad things happen, and by knowing how bad things can happen, we work to prevent bad things from happen.  We practice care and safety.  We wear helmets when we bike and skate.  We look carefully when we cross the street.  We don’t play with matches or knives.

  We practice prevention and safety.

  Jesus Christ gave him followers a message about emergencies, about safety and prevention.

  Jesus said that if we don’t learn to live right now, we can have a very difficult time in the future.

  Would you rather have a healthy and happy future or a future with lots of emergencies?

  We want to have a healthy and happy future?

  Then you and I need to learn how to live now with safety and prevention.

  We can make our world and our lives safe by taking good care of each other and by being kind and helpful to all the people we meet.

  With kindness and love, we are living with safety, and we are making a better future and we will avoid emergencies in the future.

  Jesus warns us about future emergencies so that we might live now with safety and prevention.  Amen.

Intergenerational Family Service with Holy Eucharist

November 17, 2024: The Twenty-Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

Gathering Songs: Deep in My Heart; Butterfly Song; Father, I Adore You; Shalom, My Friend

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

People: And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and for ever.  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: Deep in My Heart (Christian Children’s Songbook # 46)

I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy, deep in my heart. (Where?)  Deep in my heart (Where?) Deep in my heart.  I’ve the joy, joy, joy, joy, deep in my heart.  (Where?) Deep in my heart to stay.

I’ve got the love of Jesus, love of Jesus, deep in my heart. (Where?)  Deep in my heart (Where?) Deep in my heart.  I’ve the love of Jesus, love of Jesus, deep in my heart.  (Where?) Deep in my heart to stay.

I’ve got the peace that passes understanding, deep in my heart. (Where?)  Deep in my heart (Where?) Deep in my heart.  I’ve the peace that passes understanding, deep in my heart.  (Where?) Deep in my heart to stay.

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Litany Phrase: 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 Hebrews

Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 16

I will bless the LORD who gives me counsel; * my heart teaches me, night after night.

I have set the LORD always before me; * because he is at my right hand I shall not fall.

My heart, therefore, is glad, and my spirit rejoices; * my body also shall rest in hope.

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 Mark

People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

As Jesus came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!" Then Jesus asked him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down."  When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, "Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?" Then Jesus began to say to them, "Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, `I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs."

Liturgist:         The Gospel of the Lord.

People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon:  Fr. 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.

Song: If I Were a Butterfly (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 9)

If I were a butterfly, I’d thank you Lord for giving me wings.  And if I were a robin in the tree, I’d thank you Lord that I could sing.  And if I were a fish in the sea, I 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 elephant, I’d thank you Lord by raising my trunk.  And if I were a kangaroo, you know I’d hop right up to you.  And if I were a 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.  And 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 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.

Children 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.

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 so that we may love God and our neighbors.

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:  Father, I Adore You (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 56)

Father, I adore you, lay my life before you, how I love you.

Jesus….

Spirit…

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: Shalom, My Friends, Shalom, (Renew # 294)

Shalom, my friends, shalom, my friends, shalom, shalom.  Shalom, my friends, shalom, my friends, shalom, shalom.

Salaam, my friends, salaam, my friends, salaam, salaam.  Salaam, my friends, salaam my friends, salaam, salaam.

Share peace, dear friends, share peace, dear friends, God’s peace, God’s peace.  Share peace, dear friends, share peace, dear friend, God’s peace, God’s peace.

Dismissal:   

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

People: Thanks be to God! 

Temple Edifice Complex and the Apocalyptic

25 Pentecost B 28 November 14, 2021

Daniel 12: 1-3 Psalm 16

Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25 Mark 13:1-8

 

Lectionary Link 

Some of the milestones in history have been created by what has happened to buildings.

 

9/11 is an event where buildings were destroyed as well as the precious lives of people and that has marked our history forever.  But we did not proclaim the end of the world.  We responded by destroying lots of building and people in Afghanistan and Iraq.

 

The Day that lives in infamy was an attack on the ships and the buildings of Pearl Harbor, and the people there.   And we did not declare the end of the world, but we did unleash a response which included the only use of atomic weapons in human warfare.

 

Harm which comes to people and their homes create unforgettable milestones and those who have known the damage of Californian earthquakes and fires and landslides know that their lives were changed forever.  You don't live the same after such a thing happens; one's life get redefined.

 

The greatest building and the greatest city of Jewish identity, the Temple in Jerusalem were destroyed in the year 70.  And life could not be the same for anyone who lived in Palestine or who claimed Jerusalem and the Temple as their spiritual homes.

 

After the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem, life could never be the same.  Though life does involve rebuilding and repetition of similiar events.  Jerusalem has been destroyed and rebuilt several times.  Although the last Temple has never been rebuilt, the portion of the Temple known as the Wailing Wall has been a constant symbol of the once complete standing Temple, and a spiritual pilgrimage place for many,many Jews.

 

The history of oppression, exile, destruction of cities and homeland are found throughout the history of biblical people.   This repeating history is so common that a genre of history was created to respond to these recurring destructive attacks in the lives of people.

 

This genre of history is called "apocalyptic literature," and the Gospels include sections of the oracle of the Risen Christ speaking the various images of what has been called apocalyptic.

 

We have had to live with biblical literalists who have used the apocalyptic literature continually to presume to know God's will in our history about the end of the world and precisely when the armies of Jesus the King to return to make sure that "we the good guys" will win.  Presuming to be insiders about the end of the world, creates community drama and entertainment and works to raise money to keep mega-churches and TV preachers in their high styles of living.

 

How can you and I acknowledge the apocalyptic genre of the Bible without avoiding it or without being embarrassed by scientific naivete?

 

Apocalyptic means an "unveiling."  And one could understand the human history as becoming in time, as a continuous unveiling, as a continuous evolution, and as a continuous birthing process.

 

Might we take the insight of time being a continuous binary; the binary of before and after.

 

And if time is always a before and an after, where does the apocalyptic reside?  Where does the unveiling occur?

 

Might we understand the apocalyptic as the threshold between the before and the after, as an extended time of adjustment to what has passed away and what has become new?

 

The oracle words of Jesus channeled by the Gospel writers in the aftermath of the destruction of Jerusalem deal with threshold, the unveiling of the new and different time.

 

Before the Temple and after the destruction of the Temple.  That's where the unveiling apocalyptic experience is revealed.

 

What do the apocalyptic words of the Risen Christ reveal about life after the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple?

 

1-First a warning, about all the people who will claim to know why things precisely happened.  The history of the world is the history of conspiracy theories being spun by people who claim to have secret knowledge and information.  And it does give people the comfort of thinking that they are in control because they can provide an answer for why bad things have happened.  Conspiracy theories prove that there is a "sucker born every minute."  But the words of the Risen Christ warn against following the prophets of conspiracies.

 

2-A second insight of the Risen Christ about the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem is what we might call a supreme ambiguous positive.  What is the supreme ambiguous positive in life?  Labor pains, birth pangs.  I've never had them, but I have experienced a person closely having them, and so I have also experienced the glorious new lives that followed the birth pangs.

 

Let us take the birth pang image from the words of Jesus as being insightful about the apocalyptic as the threshold between the old which passed away whether we wanted it to or not, and the new which is fresh but challenging because we have not yet gained the ability to learn new responses.

 

Our era like every era in our country is in its own kind of apocalyptic.  There is an unveiling and we are in a liminal time between what is passing away and how we are becoming new.

 

Our country has seen a revolt against justice and kindness for all our people.  Our country has seen a revolt against the basic science of vaccinations and wise behaviors during a pandemic.  We have perhaps lost half a million lives needlessly because of our attitudes toward health science.  The unveiling of how minorities have long been treated has angered people who do not want our unjust ways revealed.  And we have been exposed in how we have failed at the equal provision of life, liberty, health and safety for all people in our society.  We are uncomfortable and even angry that our failures are exposed.  We are in pain; and as people of faith, we need to be those who can articulate these pains as "apocalyptic birth pangs."  We need to hold on to the arrival of the birth of our better angels as people learning to live together well with mutual respect and integrity.

 

Today the words of Jesus invite us to the "apocalyptic," the unveiling during the time of birth pangs.  Let us do our faith Lamaze methods of breathing prayer as we hold on to the birth of the better angels of people learning to live the life of God's love together.  Amen.

Sunday School, November 14, 2021 25 Pentecost, B proper 28

 Sunday School, November 14, 2021    25 Pentecost, B proper 28

Theme

How people are more than their important buildings

Think about this?

What if your home was destroyed or burned down?  Would you feel badly?  Yes, of course.  How would Americans feel if the White House of the Capitol were destroyed?  Really sad.  And if these important buildings were destroyed by an attack by people who hated us, we would feel not only sad but angry.

If our home is destroyed but all of the members of our family are safe, then we would be relieved because a house is just a building which can be rebuilt.  A home is a house which belongs to one’s family, if a family is still alive and together, a family can build another house and make the house into a new home.

The most important building in the time of Jesus was the Temple in Jerusalem.  In the year 70, the Roman armies destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple.  The Temple was the religious Home for Jesus and the Jews and for the earliest followers of Jesus.

Did the Jewish people die out after the Temple was destroyed?  No.   Did the followers of Jesus quit after the Temple was destroyed?  No.  Why, because people are more important than buildings.  The gatherings of the peoples of God continues even after the Temple was destroyed.

For the Jews a synagogue can refer both to a building where they meet but it also refers to a gathering of people.

For Christians, a church can refer to both the building where they meet to pray but church also refers the gathering of Christians who come together to pray.

So the lesson is that People are greater than buildings since the gathering of people will continue even after churches and temples are built, destroyed, torn down, renovated and re-built.  People build buildings.   People build temples and churches.

The writers of the Gospel of Mark knew that their prayer communities would be changing after the Temple was destroyed.  First, it meant that people were going to be more important than a building.  Second, it meant that people were going to be the living bricks of a moving building, because the gathering of Christians spread throughout the world.  It meant that people would not limit God’s presence to being in just one special building; it meant that God’s Spirit could be present wherever God’s people were gathered to pray.

The letter to the Hebrews writes about Jesus being a heavenly priest and as a heavenly priest Jesus can make his church anywhere in the people who are gathered to pray.

Yes, we are sad about the destruction of the temple and the destructions of homes and churches, but we are also glad that the People of God are more important than the places that they gather to pray.

A Children’s sermon about warnings and emergencies

  What is a fire drill for?  Do you have fire drills at your schools?  Why do you have fire drills?

  Why do we have first aid kits?

  Why do we have police men and women?

  Why do we have firemen and women?

  Why do we have hospitals?

 We have fire drills, fire men and women, police men and women, and hospitals, because bad things can happen.  Emergency can happen.

  Do we want fires to happen?  Do we want people to get sick?  Do we want to have accidents?

  No of course not.  But do fire happen?  Do people have accidents?  Do people get sick?

  Yes, they do.  And since these bad things can happen, we need to be prepared.

  How do we prepare?  First we prepare by knowing how bad things happen, and by knowing how bad things can happen, we work to prevent bad things from happen.  We practice care and safety.  We wear helmets when we bike and skate.  We look carefully when we cross the street.  We don’t play with matches or knives.

  We practice prevention and safety.

  Jesus Christ gave him followers a message about emergencies, about safety and prevention.

  Jesus said that if we don’t learn to live right now, we can have a very difficult time in the future.

  Would you rather have a healthy and happy future or a future with lots of emergencies?

  We want to have a healthy and happy future?

  Then you and I need to learn how to live now with safety and prevention.

  We can make our world and our lives safe by taking good care of each other and by being kind and helpful to all the people we meet.

  With kindness and love, we are living with safety, and we are making a better future and we will avoid emergencies in the future.

  Jesus warns us about future emergencies so that we might live now with safety and prevention.  Amen.

Intergenerational Family Service with Holy Eucharist

November 14, 2021: The Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

Gathering Songs: Deep in My Heart; Butterfly Song; Father, I Adore You; Shalom, My Friend

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

People: And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and for ever.  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: Deep in My Heart (Christian Children’s Songbook # 46)

I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy, deep in my heart. (Where?)  Deep in my heart (Where?) Deep in my heart.  I’ve the joy, joy, joy, joy, deep in my heart.  (Where?) Deep in my heart to stay.

I’ve got the love of Jesus, love of Jesus, deep in my heart. (Where?)  Deep in my heart (Where?) Deep in my heart.  I’ve the love of Jesus, love of Jesus, deep in my heart.  (Where?) Deep in my heart to stay.

I’ve got the peace that passes understanding, deep in my heart. (Where?)  Deep in my heart (Where?) Deep in my heart.  I’ve the peace that passes understanding, deep in my heart.  (Where?) Deep in my heart to stay.

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Litany Phrase: 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 Hebrews

Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 16

I will bless the LORD who gives me counsel; * my heart teaches me, night after night.

I have set the LORD always before me; * because he is at my right hand I shall not fall.

My heart, therefore, is glad, and my spirit rejoices; * my body also shall rest in hope.

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 Mark

People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

As Jesus came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!" Then Jesus asked him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down."  When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, "Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?" Then Jesus began to say to them, "Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, `I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs."

Liturgist:         The Gospel of the Lord.

People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon:  Fr. 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.

Song: If I Were a Butterfly (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 9)

If I were a butterfly, I’d thank you Lord for giving me wings.  And if I were a robin in the tree, I’d thank you Lord that I could sing.  And if I were a fish in the sea, I 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 elephant, I’d thank you Lord by raising my trunk.  And if I were a kangaroo, you know I’d hop right up to you.  And if I were a 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.  And 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 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.

Children 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.

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 so that we may love God and our neighbors.

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:  Father, I Adore You (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 56)

Father, I adore you, lay my life before you, how I love you.

Jesus….

Spirit…

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: Shalom, My Friends, Shalom, (Renew # 294)

Shalom, my friends, shalom, my friends, shalom, shalom.  Shalom, my friends, shalom, my friends, shalom, shalom.

Salaam, my friends, salaam, my friends, salaam, salaam.  Salaam, my friends, salaam my friends, salaam, salaam.

Share peace, dear friends, share peace, dear friends, God’s peace, God’s peace.  Share peace, dear friends, share peace, dear friend, God’s peace, God’s peace.

Dismissal:   

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

People: Thanks be to God!