Who Are We "In?"

 2 Pentecost, Cp7, June 22, 2025
1 Kings 19:1-4, (5-7), 8-15a  Psalm 42
Gal. 3:23-29   Luke 8:26-39
 

Lectionary Link

St. Paul wrote that to be "in Christ" meant that this was a surpassing, persuasive, and favored identity to other identities such as gender or ethnic or socio-economic ones. And it might behoove us to asked what it means to be "in Christ?"

In is a preposition of location, which in our external world means having specific environment in the landscapes of our lives. But figuratively we know that the preposition can have other nuances. Being in America certainly means physical location but it also means having other identity trappings which come from our national heritage, having specific history, and many national symbols which are meant to unify us as being Americans in America. And we know that such symbols have relative effects of actually getting all of us to act as though we are one, E Pluribus Unum.

Being in Christ in the locative sense, can have poetic meaning, consistent with another deutero- Pauline, writing phrase, "Christ as All and in All." If Christ is the Eternal Word of God, such Word is so expansive and present in language users as to support the poetic notions of "Christ as All and In All."

If I were to say, I am in America and America is in me, it would mean that I am possessed by the powers of the symbolic identity with which America encodes my life experience.

For Paul, Christ was in him, and he was in Christ. This was a belief in an dynamic mutual and reciprocal perhaps mystical or spiritual relationship which for Paul was initiated in his divination experiences of the Risen Christ being revealed in him. And it was to this experience of being in Christ, and knowing Christ within oneself that was the cornerstone of what Paul called "his Gospel."

Perhaps the entire biblical tradition is about convincing people about the best place to be "in," that is, the best place to found one's personal and social identity upon. The Hebrew Scriptures were written to persuade people to be in a covenantal relationship with the One Holy God, and not be drawn away from this special Oneness to follow the many lesser gods and goddesses of their Canaan environment.

Elijah the prophet acted in the power of being "in" the One and Holy God of Israel, and he prevailed in the holy ritual showdown against the priests of the god Baal on Mount Carmel. But his great victory in the ritual showdown against the prophets of Baal did not defeat King Ahab and his wife Jezebel. Elijah who acted in and through the power of the Holy One, fell into fear for his life, and he felt alone, and he ran away to escape the wrath of King Ahab. What was true for Elijah is true for all of us; fear of the current threatening situations, can make us forget what being in the power of the Holy One means, particularly when it seems as though the Holy One does not always seem to intervene for us in the ways in which we want.

St. Paul believed in the covenant of the Law of Moses as a guardian. The Law was a reminder for us to be in the Holy One, and to live our lives accordingly. But in experience, the Law was often experienced to be like a bad parent continually reminding us of our failure without providing the actual ability to live the recommended behaviors of the law.

This is where St. Paul discovered the covenant of becoming "in Christ," and Christ becoming known, "in him." This experience could be known by having the "faith" of Christ, that is, the faith that Jesus had in God as his Parent, was the same faith that each person made in the image of God could know.

St. Paul believed that being "in Christ," was a protective identity to have because Paul also believed in a vast invisible hierarchy of other identities and other principalities and powers in heavenly places. The Devil, fallen angels, false gods, demons were all part of the cosmology of evil for Paul in his setting.

In the Christ-ophany which Paul had, he knew his life to be whispered and changed even as he often knew himself to be harassed by the forces of evil and darkness, even by the demon that he attributed for a personal weakness which would not go away. In Paul's confession of the Risen Christ, he confessed him to be far above all principalities and powers of darkness in heavenly places.

As this spiritual cosmology came to be presented in the narratives of Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus is seen to be the one above the principalities and powers of darkness in his role as a whispering exorcist of the diabols who tortured the inner lives of people. Jesus is seen in a "public health" role within the Judaic purity codes which involved labeling the clean and the unclean. In the purity codes, swine and demons had the designation of being "unclean." A person could only be made clean by prescribed ritual processes, by purification rituals for personal and social public health.

So, Jesus as the one above principalities and powers, commanded the unclean spirits to enter the unclean swine, who carried the unclean spirits to what they feared the most, into water. Water is the symbol of a purifying force against the unseen beasties of germs and unclean spirits. Water was prominent in a sacred rituals of purification including, Christian baptism.

The Gospel for us today is to live the identity of being "in Christ," and this is the place to live amid all the other powers which would tempt us to forget this primary identity of our lives.

St. Paul's life was "whispered" by the Risen Christ to become a person freed from the inner power of his own hatred and discord. We too need to be "whispered," exorcised by the Christ identity, so that we might maintain the very best lives of love and justice in the midst of the many terrible counter-powers of life. Let us endeavor to live "in Christ" as Christ has promised to live, "in us." Amen.

Sunday School, June 22, 2025 2 Pentecost C proper 7

 Sunday School, June 22, 2025         2 Pentecost C proper 7

Jesus as a People Whisperer

Some people have special abilities to interact and tame animals.  A person who is very good with horses is often called a "horse whisperer."  A person who can make a dog feel very calm is a "dog whisperer."

Sometimes people are just very good at getting along with animals.

There are time when we need someone to "whisper" us as people or calm us down.  When are those times?  a baby crying.  falling down getting your knee skinned.  waking up in the night because of a bad dream.  whenever we are afraid.   Can you think of some other times when you need someone to comfort you and let you know that everything is going to be fine.  What about when we lose at a game and we are disappointed or sad?  What about when we don't get something which we really wanted?

Jesus was a people whisperer.  He knew how to calm people when they were upset or when they would feel very confused inside.  Jesus would tell people to calm down and be peaceful and they would come to be peaceful.

Jesus was like a doctor of our souls, our emotions, our thoughts and the place inside of us where we decide.

We also need to learn to whisper other people.  The best way to whisper people is by gentleness and kindness and always making other people feel safe and comfortable.  If we can learn to make other people be safe and comfortable, then we can learn to be people whisperers like Jesus.

  Have you ever been to a circus?  Have ever seen someone who works with animals?  With wild animals?  Have you seen a lion tamer?  Or have you seen someone who teach a dog to do amazing tricks?

  Have you ever taught your dog some tricks? Can you get the dog to fetch a ball?  Or roll over?  Or sit?  Or does your dog train you to feed it whenever it wants?

  Some people have a special gift with animals.  A person who can tame a wild horse is sometimes called a horse whisperer.  A horse whisper has such a calming effect upon the horse so that the horse will become very friendly and peaceful.  Sometimes a horse is wild and seems to be angry because the horse has been taught to be fearful and not trust anyone.

  Did you know that as people we can have things that make us wild?  Do you know what can make us wild?  Pain, loss and fear can make us wild.

  Do you ever remember falling and hurting yourself and all you can do is scream in pain; you cannot do anything else.  Pain makes us seems as though we are wild.  Fear also makes us seem like we are wild.  Losing important things and people in our lives makes us have a sadness and this sadness controls our lives.

  Just as a wild horse needs a horse whisperer; we as people need people whisperers.

  When we hurt ourselves, we need our parent or someone with us to hold us and help us, to give us a band aid.  We need someone to calm us down from the wildness caused by pain.

  When we are afraid, we need a people whisperer; we need someone with us to show us that we are safe and that everything is okay.

  Jesus was a wonderful person because he was a people whisperer.  Jesus knew how to calm and tame people from the wildness of pain and fear.  We have many stories of Jesus helping people when they suffered from pain and fear; he gave them hope and encouragement and he made them peaceful and calm just to be with them.

  And Jesus wants us to be people whisperers too.  He wants us to learn how to be with each other when we are hurt by pain and fear.  Everyone has pain and fear at some time in their lives and so it is very important that we learn how to be people whisperers with each other.

  We need to know how to be with each other in pain and fear.  When your friend gets hurt on the playground what do you do?  You try to help them; you run and get help, you call 911 if they are really hurt badly.  When people are in the hospital what do you do?  You visit them, you send them cards or flowers, you pray for them, you let them know that you care.

  Why?  Because Jesus wants us to be people whisperers.  Jesus wants to know how to help each other when we have pain and fear.

  Can you say today, “I will be a people whisperer when people are in pain or fear?”  Because I want to be cared for too when I have pain or fear.  Amen.

Intergenerational Family Service with Holy Eucharist

June 22, 2025: The Second Sunday after Pentecost

Gathering Songs: Here I Am Lord; As the Deer; Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart; Oh When the Saints

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: Here I Am, Lord, (Renew!, # 149)

I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard my people cry.  All who dwell in dark and sin my hand will save.  I who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright.  Who will bear my light to them?  Whom shall I send?  Refrain: Here I am, Lord.  Is it I, Lord?  I have heard you calling in the night.  I will go, Lord, if you lead me.  I will hold your people in my heart.

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving-kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Litany of Praise: Alleluia

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 Prophet Isaiah

I was ready to be sought out by those who did not ask, to be found by those who did not seek me.  I said, "Here I am, here I am,” to a nation that did not call on my name.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 22

My praise is of him in the great assembly; * I will perform my vows in the presence of those who worship him.

The poor shall eat and be satisfied, and those who seek the LORD shall praise him: *
"May your heart live for ever!"

All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, * and all the families of the nations shall bow before him.

For kingship belongs to the LORD; * he rules over the nations.

Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God!

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!

For our fathers on this father’s day.  Thanks be to God!

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

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.

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.

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.

Youth 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: As the Deer Pants for the Water, (Renew! # 9)

As the deer pants for the water so my soul longs after you; you alone are my heart’s desire and I long to worship you.  Refrain: You alone are my strength and shield, to you alone may my spirit yield; you alone are my heart’s desire, and I long to worship you!

I want you more than gold or silver, only you can satisfy; you alone are real joy-giver and the apple of my eye.  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)

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

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

You have made us in your image

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

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

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

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

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

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

  this food and drink  that becomes a part of us.

The Prayer continues with these words

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

People:            Therefore let us keep the feast. 

Words of Administration

Communion Song: Give Thanks, with a Grateful Heart, (Renew! # 266)

Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy One, give thanks because he’s given Jesus Christ, his son.  (Sing twice)

And now let the weak say “I am strong”, let the poor say “I am rich” because of what the Lord has done for us.  (Sing twice)

Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy One, give thanks because he’s given Jesus Christ, his son.  (Sing twice)

And now let the weak say “I am strong”, let the poor say “I am rich” because of what the Lord has done for us.  (Sing twice) Give thanks.

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 (Christian’s Children’s Songbook # 248)

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

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

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

Dismissal:   

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

People: Thanks be to God! 

Christ-Identity As Primary Identity

 2 Pentecost, Cp7, June 19, 2022

1 Kings 19:1-4, (5-7), 8-15a  Psalm 42

Gal. 3:23-29   Luke 8:26-39

 

Lectionary Link

 

Paul wrote some very startling things.  Like in Christ, there is neither Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female.

 

It could be that everyone was given a Christ-identity at creation, in that everyone is made in the image of God.  But what has humanity occupied itself with?

 

Taking on identity after identity and regarding them as being more important than the original identity, the original blessing.

 

Our societies and cultures teach us to put on may personae, many layers of identity.  And not just put them on, but idolize them and make them primary.

 

Our lives are full of qualifying adjectives: American, Russian, Californian, Episcopalian, male, female, Gay, Straight, Transitioning, Republican, Democrat, Liberal, Conservative, Wealthy, poor, Middle Class, educated, uneducated.  On and on, the list of qualifying identities pile up in our lives and we can become like the man wearing a hundred coats, and wondering why he's feeling hot.

 

Was Paul trying to say that being Jew, Greek, slave, free, male or female were unimportant and irrelevant identities?  Was he silly enough to live in such denial?  I don't think so.

 

I think what Paul was trying to teach is that we need to understand and know how to be related to all the identities which we come to have in our life settings and cultures.  How do we moderate between all the identities?

 

We find our Christ-identity, our baptismal identity, our original blessing identity and we make it our primary identity.  And from our Christ-identity we learn to articulate, control, and balance our other identities so that they serve our Christ-identity rather than replace our Christ-identity.

 

One of the purposes of spiritual practice is to learn how to let one's Christ-identity rule our lives.  One of the outcomes of the practice of meditation and contemplation is the silencing of all our identities so that the Christ-identity can come to recognition in the deep silence of peace within us.

 

St. Paul believed that one could find this Christ-identity and be lifted into heavenly places above all principalities and powers, all controlling impulses which can wreck us if we allow them to make our secondary identities our primary identities.

 

St. Paul believed in this mystical experience of being in-Christ.  How did this get presented in the Gospel narratives of Jesus?

 

Jesus was the one who was above all inner principalities and powers; above all demons.  In ancient Greek a daemon in the negative sense was a controlling impulse.  The poor man in the story from the Gerasenes,  and being a place where pigs were raised it was not inhabited by Jews.  Jesus what are you doing there?  The man is not a Jew.  He's is crazy, the kind of crazy that is so deep that we say he has a dirty, impure, unclean spirit.  What is the dirty and unclean animal for Jews?  The swine.  So ,Jesus who is above all principalities and power puts the unclean spirits into the unclean animal and they rush to their elimination.

 

This story is highly parabolic and symbolic.  The man who had a non-Jewish identity and an unclean inner life identity, was brought to his Christ-identity.  Can we understand how the Jesus story exemplified what was happening within the really foreign Gentile peoples who were coming into their Christ-identity and having their lives transformed.

 

What everyone wants in life is their God-identity, their Christ-identity.  The Psalmist said his soul longed for God like a deer panting for the water.

 

Our Christ-identity is something that is both character and situationally active.  By practicing coming to realize over and over our Christ-identity, it becomes our habit and character.

 

Elijah was a prophet, with a practiced God-identity; but he still allowed in a situation his "fearful identity" to assert itself.  He fled in fear from Ahab and Jezebel and went to spend time alone in the mountain cave, there he became re-established in his God-identity as he realized the still small voice of the divine within him.  And he was restored.

 

Let the Scriptures for today teach us that our hearts seek the divine with a profound thirst.  And let us practice the finding of our God-in-Christ identity over and over again so that we can tame and control other potential proudful identity or fearful or tyrannical identities.  Let the Christ-identity become the controlling identity of our lives, and let us not be too proud to admit when in practice we still sometimes forget the Christ-identity and allow a past habitual identity enslave us or bring us to acting out in wrong ways.

 

The Gospel is that no matter how much we fail to act from our Christ-identity, it is always there for us to return to.  And we come here as a community to say, let the Christ-identity be our identity, again today.  Amen.

Sunday School, June 19, 2022 2 Pentecost C proper 7

 Sunday School, June 19, 2022         2 Pentecost C proper 7

Jesus as a People Whisperer

Some people have special abilities to interact and tame animals.  A person who is very good with horses is often called a "horse whisperer."  A person who can make a dog feel very calm is a "dog whisperer."

Sometimes people are just very good at getting along with animals.

There are time when we need someone to "whisper" us as people or calm us down.  When are those times?  a baby crying.  falling down getting your knee skinned.  waking up in the night because of a bad dream.  whenever we are afraid.   Can you think of some other times when you need someone to comfort you and let you know that everything is going to be fine.  What about when we lose at a game and we are disappointed or sad?  What about when we don't get something which we really wanted?

Jesus was a people whisperer.  He knew how to calm people when they were upset or when they would feel very confused inside.  Jesus would tell people to calm down and be peaceful and they would come to be peaceful.

Jesus was like a doctor of our souls, our emotions, our thoughts and the place inside of us where we decide.

We also need to learn to whisper other people.  The best way to whisper people is by gentleness and kindness and always making other people feel safe and comfortable.  If we can learn to make other people be safe and comfortable, then we can learn to be people whisperers like Jesus.

  Have you ever been to a circus?  Have ever seen someone who works with animals?  With wild animals?  Have you seen a lion tamer?  Or have you seen someone who teach a dog to do amazing tricks?

  Have you ever taught your dog some tricks? Can you get the dog to fetch a ball?  Or roll over?  Or sit?  Or does your dog train you to feed it whenever it wants?

  Some people have a special gift with animals.  A person who can tame a wild horse is sometimes called a horse whisperer.  A horse whisper has such a calming effect upon the horse so that the horse will become very friendly and peaceful.  Sometimes a horse is wild and seems to be angry because the horse has been taught to be fearful and not trust anyone.

  Did you know that as people we can have things that make us wild?  Do you know what can make us wild?  Pain, loss and fear can make us wild.

  Do you ever remember falling and hurting yourself and all you can do is scream in pain; you cannot do anything else.  Pain makes us seems as though we are wild.  Fear also makes us seem like we are wild.  Losing important things and people in our lives makes us have a sadness and this sadness controls our lives.

  Just as a wild horse needs a horse whisperer; we as people need people whisperers.

  When we hurt ourselves, we need our parent or someone with us to hold us and help us, to give us a band aid.  We need someone to calm us down from the wildness caused by pain.

  When we are afraid, we need a people whisperer; we need someone with us to show us that we are safe and that everything is okay.

  Jesus was a wonderful person because he was a people whisperer.  Jesus knew how to calm and tame people from the wildness of pain and fear.  We have many stories of Jesus helping people when they suffered from pain and fear; he gave them hope and encouragement and he made them peaceful and calm just to be with them.

  And Jesus wants us to be people whisperers too.  He wants us to learn how to be with each other when we are hurt by pain and fear.  Everyone has pain and fear at some time in their lives and so it is very important that we learn how to be people whisperers with each other.

  We need to know how to be with each other in pain and fear.  When your friend gets hurt on the playground what do you do?  You try to help them; you run and get help, you call 911 if they are really hurt badly.  When people are in the hospital what do you do?  You visit them, you send them cards or flowers, you pray for them, you let them know that you care.

  Why?  Because Jesus wants us to be people whisperers.  Jesus wants to know how to help each other when we have pain and fear.

  Can you say today, “I will be a people whisperer when people are in pain or fear?”  Because I want to be cared for too when I have pain or fear.  Amen.

Intergenerational Family Service with Holy Eucharist

June 12, 2022: The Second Sunday after Pentecost

Gathering Songs: Here I Am Lord; As the Deer; Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart; Oh When the Saints

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: Here I Am, Lord, (Renew!, # 149)

I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard my people cry.  All who dwell in dark and sin my hand will save.  I who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright.  Who will bear my light to them?  Whom shall I send?  Refrain: Here I am, Lord.  Is it I, Lord?  I have heard you calling in the night.  I will go, Lord, if you lead me.  I will hold your people in my heart.

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving-kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Litany of Praise: Alleluia

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 Prophet Isaiah

I was ready to be sought out by those who did not ask, to be found by those who did not seek me.  I said, "Here I am, here I am,” to a nation that did not call on my name.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 22

My praise is of him in the great assembly; * I will perform my vows in the presence of those who worship him.

The poor shall eat and be satisfied, and those who seek the LORD shall praise him: *
"May your heart live for ever!"

All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, * and all the families of the nations shall bow before him.

For kingship belongs to the LORD; * he rules over the nations.

Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God!

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!

For our fathers on this father’s day.  Thanks be to God!

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

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.

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.

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.

Youth 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: As the Deer Pants for the Water, (Renew! # 9)

As the deer pants for the water so my soul longs after you; you alone are my heart’s desire and I long to worship you.  Refrain: You alone are my strength and shield, to you alone may my spirit yield; you alone are my heart’s desire, and I long to worship you!

I want you more than gold or silver, only you can satisfy; you alone are real joy-giver and the apple of my eye.  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)

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

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

You have made us in your image

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

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

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

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

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

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

  this food and drink  that becomes a part of us.

The Prayer continues with these words

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

People:            Therefore let us keep the feast. 

Words of Administration

Communion Song: Give Thanks, with a Grateful Heart, (Renew! # 266)

Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy One, give thanks because he’s given Jesus Christ, his son.  (Sing twice)

And now let the weak say “I am strong”, let the poor say “I am rich” because of what the Lord has done for us.  (Sing twice)

Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy One, give thanks because he’s given Jesus Christ, his son.  (Sing twice)

And now let the weak say “I am strong”, let the poor say “I am rich” because of what the Lord has done for us.  (Sing twice) Give thanks.

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 (Christian’s Children’s Songbook # 248)

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

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

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

Dismissal:   

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

People: Thanks be to God!