Being Related to the Call of God in Christ

3 Pentecost, C p 8, June 26, 2022

2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14  Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20

Gal. 5:1, 13-25   Luke 9:51-62  

Lectionary Link

Today the appointed readings from Scriptures provides an invitation for us to assess our relationship to the call from God, in Christ.  What if you have a call from Christ and it requires that you cannot fulfill family responsibilities what would that mean?

 

If following Christ is bad for my family, why should I do it?

 

Today's lessons from Holy Scriptures encourages us to understand the difference between the general call of Christ and the specific call of Christ, but also to understand some misunderstandings that people might have about following Christ.

 

Elisha had the general call of God to love God and follow the Torah; but he also came to receive a specific call to succeed Elijah in having a lead prophetic role.

 

The departure of Elijah in the chariot of fire is a story about the changing of the guard.  And this story is about the prophetic and ministerial process.  Elijah was never going to be replaced.  Why?  No one is ever replaced because everyone is unique and different in their gifts, ministry, and personality.

 

The main issue for Elisha, the protege of Elijah was this?  Can I be confident that my relationship with God will be like the relationship with God which Elijah had?  "Elijah, please give me a double portion of your spirit, because it is going to take two of us to fill your shoes."

 

Symbolically, what does having a double portion of the spirit of Elijah mean?  It means that the memory of the example of Elijah is the first portion of spirit that would always be with Elisha.  And the second portion of spirit would be the new ministry that God would perform through Elisha.  The past of excellent witnesses is a portion of spirit which we always have access to as we seek to emulate the models of best practices.  The double portion of God's spirit comes when we are willing to go forward and let God do new things through our personalities.

 

A second point that I would present regarding the call of God, does not have anything to do with the ordained ministries of deacon, priest, or bishop.  It is the essential call which we receive in Holy Baptism when the life of the Holy Spirit is invoked upon our lives.  The Holy Spirit imparts the fruits of the Spirit which is the general call of God for everyone, and what are those fruits?  Love, joy, peace, patience, faithfulness, kindness, gentleness, generosity, and self-control.  And if we are allowing the fruits of the Spirit to work in us, we can be guaranteed that the gifts and ministries of the Holy Spirit will happen in our lives and for some they may be post-baptismal ordinations, but everyone has the ordination to ministry in Holy Baptism.

 

If we are worried about our gifts and our ministries, perhaps the real work of discernment begins with letting the fruits of the Spirit be primary and in so doing we will be doing ministry without even knowing it.

 

The Gospel words of Jesus present to us some insights regarding our relationship with the call to ministries.

 

One mistake is to think that our views are so perfect that God needs to punish those who disagree with us.  "Jesus, shall we call down fire from heaven and nuke those non-receptive Samaritans?"  Our views are never going to have universal acceptance, and if we resort to violence to force the reception of our views, we violate the love of God who wishes for people to come to persuasion in freedom.

 

Another mistake about our call and ministry, is having too much pride in our own gifts and abilities.  Peter was sure that he would be faithful to Jesus, but he denied Jesus when Jesus was arrested.  A potential follower of Jesus was quite sure too of his ability to follow Jesus, and Jesus responded, Aare you sure? "I don't have a home and even a fox has more shelter security than I do."  The lesson, don't be too sure of yourself, but be very sure of Christ.

 

The next misconception of the call of Christ is that it will be bad for my family.  I think for many years the church limited ministry to celibate persons because of the false belief that following Christ is incompatible with family life.  Jesus was implying with exaggerated sayings,  “if you think following me means that you have to leave your family for good and that you would not be free to take care of your aged parent, or even prepare their burials, then you have the wrong understanding of how my call can interweave every aspect of your life.” 

 

Further, the call of Christ and the call of life itself is best lived looking forward and not looking backward.  Why does the farmer plow looking ahead?  The farmer wants to get the plow rows straight; to look back would cause the deviation from the best prepared field for the planting of crops.

 

To live looking back is to be caught in the tyranny of regression without a vision for how one might surpass oneself in the future.

 

So, what is the Gospel of the call of Christ for us?

 

We have the promise of the double portion of Spirit.  We have the models and examples of best practices from people in our past.  We have the promise of an active Spirit of God in our lives going into the future.

 

Next, the secret of finding our specific calls happens as the collateral effect of being true to the general call of the Holy Spirit, whose call to us provides us with the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, generosity, and self-control.  If we are activating the fruits of the Spirit, we will be finding specific ministry everywhere in our lives.

 

Further, our call from Christ is not the violent destruction of people who cannot yet accept our vision.  And, the call of Christ is adaptable to our life situation in family, culture, and society.  If we are proposing that the call of Christ cannot be interwoven with many family and life situation, then we do not understand the call of Christ or are looking for reason not to follow.

 

And last, the call of Christ is built on hope, looking forward continuously on how we can surpass ourselves in excellence in the future.  Yesterday's virtue is not good enough for today, except as a model for us to build on in better ways.

 

Today, let us say, “Lord, here I am send me.  Jesus, we accept your call today and we accept the aid of the Holy Spirit to fulfill it.”  Amen.

 

Sunday School, June 26, 2022, 3 Pentecost C, proper 8

 

Sunday School, June 26, 2022,  3 Pentecost C, proper 8

Themes

Can a student ever become as wise as a teacher?

Elisha was the student of Elijah and when it came time for Elijah to die, Elisha was fearful about losing his teacher.  He was worried that God would not be the same for him as God was for Elijah.  Before leaving Elisha wanted his teacher Elijah to promise that God would make him a good prophet and teacher for other students just as Elijah had been.  Elijah said that if Elisa would see him depart this earth, then it would be proof that God would make Elisha a good prophet and teacher.  Elisha had a vision of Elijah leaving this world riding on a chariot.  And so he knew that God heard his prayer and would be with him just as God was with Elijah.

Students, remember that some day you will be teachers, parents and you can have faith to know that God will be with you in the same way that God has been with the people who have been good teachers in your life.

The Epistle Lesson is about the Fruits of the Spirit

The soil of the earth can grow some really ugly thistles and weeds but if the soil is taken care of properly, soil can grow vegetable and fruit.

St. Paul shows us that our life is like “soil” which needs to be taken care of.  Out of our lives we can grow the weeds of bad behaviors OR we can grow the fruits of God’s Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  We need to learn how to tend the “soil” of our lives and allow the Holy Spirit to help us grow the fruits of the Spirit.

The Gospel Lesson

Jesus taught his followers not to be angry if people did not follow or agree with them.  People have to be ready to hear the good news of the Gospel and we need to be ready to share the good news of God’s love when people are ready to receive it.

Some people think it would be very easy to follow Jesus and other people make excuses about why they can’t follow Jesus.

Jesus used his riddles to help people understand that following Christ can be adjusted to every situation in our lives.  Jesus used his riddles to prove that most of the time when people say, “I can’t follow Christ” it really means “I won’t follow Christ.”

Today, Jesus is trying to convert our “I won’t” into “I can and I will.”  Remember at our baptism we make promises and we say, “I will with God’s help.”

A Children’s sermon on “I can’t,”  “I won’t,” and “I, will!”

How many of you have ever told your Mom or Dad, “I can’t?”

  Please eat your carrot…No I just can’t do it.

  Please pick up your toys.  No I just can’t do it.

  Please don’t tease your brother or sister.  No, I just can’t do it.

  Please finish your homework.  No, I just can’t do it.

  I can’t, I can’t, I can’t, I can’t.

Why do we say, “I can’t?” 

  It is okay to say I can’t when we are asked to do something that is impossible or when something is not good for us.

  But do our parents ask us to do things that are impossible?  No, our parent only ask us to do things that they know that we can do.

  So most of the time when we say, “I can’t to Mom or Dad, we really mean, “I won’t or we mean I do not want to.”

  Please pick up your toys…

  Jesus had some people who were not sure that they wanted to follow him.

  They were trying to say to Jesus, I can’t.

  And Jesus was using a playful language to try to get them to see that when Jesus ask them to do something, he was only asking them to do things that were possible for them to do.  And he was promising God’s help to anyone who followed him.

  So we need to be careful when we say “I can’t” to our parents or to God.

  When God asks us to do something, even if it seems hard to do, we need to learn to say, “I will do it with God’s help.”  If we learn to say this, then we will surprise our selves about how much we can do.

  Let us not say to Jesus today, I can’t.  Let us say, “I will, with God’s help.”  Amen.

Family Service with Holy Eucharist

June 26, 2022  3 Pentecost C, proper 8

Gathering Songs:

 I Have Decided to Follow Jesus,  I will make you Good Fisher Folk, Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,  I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light

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: I have Decided to Follow Jesus  (All the Best Songs for Kids, # 130)

1-I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back.

2-Though none go with me, still I will follow, though none go with me, still I will follow, though none go with me still I will follow, no turning back, no turning back.

3-The cross before me, the world behind me, the cross before me, the world behind me, the cross before me, the world behind me, no turning back, no turning back.

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..

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 Second Book of Kings

Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you." Elisha said, "Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit." He responded, "You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not." As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha kept watching and crying out, "Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 77

I will remember the works of the LORD, * and call to mind your wonders of old time.

I will meditate on all your acts * and ponder your mighty deeds.

Your way, O God, is holy; * who is so great a god as our God?

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!

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

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus and and his disciples entered into another village.  As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, first let me wait until my father has passed away." But Jesus said to him, "Then you will wait too long; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first get advice from all of my family at home." Jesus said to him, "If a farmer looks only behind him while he plows he will plow a crooked row; you must look to your future for the kingdom of God."

Liturgist:         The Gospel of the Lord.

People:            Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Lesson – Fr. Cooke

                           

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 with you always.

People:                        And also with you.

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

Song for the Offertory: I will Make you Good Fisher Folk (Christian’s Children Songbook, # 58)

1-I will make you good fisher folk, good fisher folk, good fisher folk.  I will make you good fisher folk, if you follow me.  If you follow me, If you follow me.  I will make you good fisher folk, if you follow me.

2-Hear Christ calling come unto me, come unto me, come unto me.  Hear Christ calling come unto me, I will give you rest.  I will give you rest, I will give you rest.  Hear Christ calling come unto me, I will give you rest.

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.

(All 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.

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: Swing, Low Sweet Chariot

Refrain: Swing low, sweet chariot, Coming for to carry me home. Swing low, sweet chariot, Coming for to carry me home.

1-I looked over Jordan, and what did I see, Coming for to carry me home.  A band of angels coming after me, Coming for to carry me home.

2-If you get there before I do, Coming for to carry me home.  Tell all my friends I’m coming too,

Coming for to carry me home.

3-The brightest day that ever I saw Coming for to carry me home.  When Jesus wash’d my sins away,

Coming for to carry me home.

4-I’m sometimes up and sometimes down, Coming for to carry me home. But still my soul feels heavenly bound, Coming for to carry me home. 

Post-Communion Prayer

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

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

And His Presence has been known to us.

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

    and sisters in Christ.

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

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

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

Closing Song: I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light

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

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

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

3-I’m looking for the coming of Christ, I want to be with Jesus.  When we have run with patience the race we shall know the joy of Jesus.  Refrain

Dismissal:

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

People: Thanks be to God! 

The Call of Christ and Living Excessively

3 Pentecost, C p 8, June 30, 2019 

2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14  Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20

Gal. 5:1, 13-25   Luke 9:51-62  

Lectionary Link

Today's lesson from the Hebrew Scriptures is a story about the departure of Elijah and the changing of the guard; the passing on of the prophetic mantle to his disciple Elisha.

Elijah had been tempted to become a pouting, doubting old prophet.  He ran in fear from the forces of Ahab and Jezebel even after he won an incredible showdown with the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel.

Elijah ran away in ministerial despair, presuming that he alone was left as the only faithful person in all of Israel.  Elijah, like any minister, might have felt obsolete when not enough of the faithful didn't throng around him proving that his ministry was a success and not in vain.  And God told Elijah, "You are not alone, there are more than 7,000 who have remained faithful....don't pout, just because you can't see them."

Obviously, God wasn't angry with Elijah; why would he get to avoid death and take a chariot of fire to heaven?  His disciple Elisha did not want him to leave and so he demanded to see Elijah leave as a sign that the prophetic spirit would remain alive and active in his ministry after his teacher prophet Elijah was gone.

And sure enough, the spirit which worked for Elijah was going to work in and through Elisha too.  And maybe Elijah should have shared some of the load with Elisha earlier and with others in the company of the prophets so he didn't feel so alone.

The God of Elijah was the God of Elisha, but God did different things through Elisha because Elisha lived in a different time and a different place than Elijah did.  Ahab and Jezebel died; Elisha had other challenges to prove the faithfulness of God.  God is the same in different times but how God works through different people in different time changes.  God is equal in all time; how God gets funneled into actual outcomes depends mainly on the "funnel shape" of the people involved.  The prophetic mantle gets passed on to another generation and how ministry is done will be different but God's grace remains the same.


In agriculture, there is the repetition of cycles; prepare the soil, fertilize, plant, prune, cultivate, and deal with the weather and the harvest is sometimes extra bountiful and sometimes sparse.  But every phase has to be faithfully executed even when we cannot know the exact success of the harvest.  As one looks at the ministerial cycles of parish life, one can observe going through many cycles.  It may be easier to be faithful when there is a very bountiful harvest, but we need to remember that faithfulness has to be the same and consistent during any phase of the cycles of ministry.

I would like to challenge us with insights from the Gospel reading for today and from the Epistle.

First, let us appreciate how infinitely flexible and adaptable the call of Jesus Christ is to each one of us today.  Second, one of the secrets in life is to discover where we can be completely excessive without addiction, guilt,  or regret.

We, in the church, have often limited the call of Christ to the specific ordained ministry.  When the church required the standard of poverty, chastity and obedience for the clergy, there was this notion that the call of Christ was something heroic and therefore only for a few people who could leave the ordinary life to live such a life of "heroic" sacrifice.

The Gospel reading for today provides us inappropriate responses to the call of Jesus based upon some wrong understandings of the call of Jesus.

The first misunderstanding is that the call of Jesus is necessarily a call to the heroic abandonment of one's everyday life.  One bold person said, "Jesus I will follow you wherever you go."  If I might paraphrase the response of Jesus,  "Hold on buddy....I don't know where I'm going to sleep tonight and I travel fairly light.  Perhaps you want to come with me as a way of escaping some important situations in your life.  Start first with finding my call within the particulars of your life as it is now.  Being faithful and obedient doesn't mean being heroic and leaving everything."

You and I might associate the call of Christ as something too heroic and so we excuse ourselves from activating our full response to the call of Christ in situations of our normal everyday lives.  We might view the call of Christ as something entirely negative, as having to give up too much.  Imagine this view of Jesus.  "Jesus, I can't follow you because you are not going to be good for my life and the life of my family."  Imagine Jesus thinking, "Tell me what you really think of me?"  The call of Christ is not the false choice between heroic obedience or nothing at all.  The call of Jesus is precisely adjustable to exactly where you are right now.  So you don't need to be heroic to respond and obey exactly where you are.  You remember the Gospel reading last week?  The man who was freed from the many demons in his life, wanted to follow Jesus.  What did Jesus say, "No, go home and tell everyone what God did for you.  Imagine what kind of witness you will be to the people who knew you in your former state."

The second misunderstanding regarding the call of Jesus is this:  The call is so heroic that it will interfere with all of the family loyalties which I must honor.  "Jesus let me wait until I have been able to bury all of my grandparents and parents.  Jesus, let me wait until I have honored and kept all of the farewell events with the people who are close to me."  What did Jesus say?  He said, "Don't let the normal rites of passage which occur in your life or the lives of your family and friends be an excuse not to respond to my call."  The call of Christ is within and adjustable to birth events, maturation events, sickness, vocational change, failure, success, marriage, divorce, graduations, aging and finally death itself."  Don't limit the call of Christ to that which is not inclusive of all of the events which can occur in anyone's life.  The call of Christ is totally integrated and totally accessible to us within everything that can possibly happen to us.  In my last 18 years of ministry, both of our parents have died and I've lost two younger siblings, and the call of Christ to me never diminished because of these losses.  Let us remember not to use any life excuse to refuse to respond to the call of Christ.  Accept the fact that the call of Jesus Christ is adjustable to you in your current circumstances.  And accept the fact the call of Christ to you in service in your parish church is adjustable to you in your life as it is now constituted.  Christ is not asking you to give heroically; Christ is only asking that you give exactly how you are currently constituted.  Do not say that the call of Christ is incompatible with your life.  That would be a lie.

Finally, I would like to end with the secret of life as written about by St. Paul.  St. Paul tells the secret of where we can be completely excessive in life.  Manifesting the fruits of God's Spirit is where we can live our lives completely open throttle and completely excessive.  "There is no law against the fruit of the Spirit."  Where we have been successful in the past, it has been a manifestation of the fruits of the Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is given without measure; the Spirit is an inexhaustible reservoir of continuous gifts.  In parish ministry, we have have experienced the outcomes of love, joy, peace, gentleness, goodness, patience, self-control, kindness, generosity and faithfulness.  I believe in all of these.  I believe that these can never be exhausted.  I believe in the Holy Spirit who will continue to manifest these wonderful fruits of the Holy Spirit here and there will be dynamic and actual outcomes of blessing.

My charge to each of you:  Accept, receive, respond to the call of Christ even now as it is precisely adjusted to everything in your life.  Don't make the call of Christ into something that is inaccessible and then excuse yourself for not responding.  And finally, live in the excess of God's Holy Spirit who endlessly provides the wonderful fruits, love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, kindness, generosity, self control and faithfulness.  With the call of Christ and the fruits of the Spirit you have a wonderful future.

The call of Christ is adjustable to your life even now.  Respond and follow right where you are.  Do you want to live excessively?  There is no limit to what the fruits of the Holy Spirit can produce in us.  Let us ever access these inexhaustible fruits of the Holy Spirit of God. Amen.

Sunday School, June 30, 2019 3 Pentecost C, proper 8

Sunday School, June 30, 2019  3 Pentecost C, proper 8

Themes

Can a student ever become as wise as a teacher?

Elisha was the student of Elijah and when it came time for Elijah to die, Elisha was fearful about losing his teacher.  He was worried that God would not be the same for him as God was for Elijah.  Before leaving Elisha wanted his teacher Elijah to promise that God would make him a good prophet and teacher for other students just as Elijah had been.  Elijah said that if Elisa would see him depart this earth, then it would be proof that God would make Elisha a good prophet and teacher.  Elisha had a vision of Elijah leaving this world riding on a chariot.  And so he knew that God heard his prayer and would be with him just as God was with Elijah.

Students, remember that some day you will be teachers, parents and you can have faith to know that God will be with you in the same way that God has been with the people who have been good teachers in your life.

The Epistle Lesson is about the Fruits of the Spirit

The soil of the earth can grow some really ugly thistles and weeds but if the soil is taken care of properly, soil can grow vegetable and fruit.

St. Paul shows us that our life is like “soil” which needs to be taken care of.  Out of our lives we can grow the weeds of bad behaviors OR we can grow the fruits of God’s Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  We need to learn how to tend the “soil” of our lives and allow the Holy Spirit to help us grow the fruits of the Spirit.

The Gospel Lesson

Jesus taught his followers not to be angry if people did not follow or agree with them.  People have to be ready to hear the good news of the Gospel and we need to be ready to share the good news of God’s love when people are ready to receive it.

Some people think it would be very easy to follow Jesus and other people make excuses about why they can’t follow Jesus.

Jesus used his riddles to help people understand that following Christ can be adjusted to every situation in our lives.  Jesus used his riddles to prove that most of the time when people say, “I can’t follow Christ” it really means “I won’t follow Christ.”

Today, Jesus is trying to convert our “I won’t” into “I can and I will.”  Remember at our baptism we make promises and we say, “I will with God’s help.”

A Children’s sermon on “I can’t,”  “I won’t,” and “I, will!”

How many of you have ever told your Mom or Dad, “I can’t?”

  Please eat your carrot…No I just can’t do it.

  Please pick up your toys.  No I just can’t do it.

  Please don’t tease your brother or sister.  No, I just can’t do it.

  Please finish your homework.  No, I just can’t do it.

  I can’t, I can’t, I can’t, I can’t.

Why do we say, “I can’t?” 

  It is okay to say I can’t when we are asked to do something that is impossible or when something is not good for us.

  But do our parents ask us to do things that are impossible?  No, our parent only ask us to do things that they know that we can do.

  So most of the time when we say, “I can’t to Mom or Dad, we really mean, “I won’t or we mean I do not want to.”

  Please pick up your toys…

  Jesus had some people who were not sure that they wanted to follow him.

  They were trying to say to Jesus, I can’t.

  And Jesus was using a playful language to try to get them to see that when Jesus ask them to do something, he was only asking them to do things that were possible for them to do.  And he was promising God’s help to anyone who followed him.

  So we need to be careful when we say “I can’t” to our parents or to God.

  When God asks us to do something, even if it seems hard to do, we need to learn to say, “I will do it with God’s help.”  If we learn to say this, then we will surprise our selves about how much we can do.

  Let us not say to Jesus today, I can’t.  Let us say, “I will, with God’s help.”  Amen.

St. John the Divine Episcopal Church

17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037

Family Service with Holy Eucharist

June 30, 2019  3 Pentecost C, proper 8

Gathering Songs:

 I Have Decided to Follow Jesus,  I will make you Good Fisher Folk, Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,  I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light

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: I have Decided to Follow Jesus  (All the Best Songs for Kids, # 130)

1-I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back.

2-Though none go with me, still I will follow, though none go with me, still I will follow, though none go with me still I will follow, no turning back, no turning back.

3-The cross before me, the world behind me, the cross before me, the world behind me, the cross before me, the world behind me, no turning back, no turning back.

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..

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 Second Book of Kings

Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you." Elisha said, "Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit." He responded, "You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not." As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha kept watching and crying out, "Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 77

I will remember the works of the LORD, * and call to mind your wonders of old time.

I will meditate on all your acts * and ponder your mighty deeds.

Your way, O God, is holy; * who is so great a god as our God?

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!

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

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus and and his disciples entered into another village.  As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, first let me wait until my father has passed away." But Jesus said to him, "Then you will wait too long; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first get advice from all of my family at home." Jesus said to him, "If a farmer looks only behind him while he plows he will plow a crooked row; you must look to your future for the kingdom of God."

Liturgist:         The Gospel of the Lord.

People:            Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Lesson – Fr. Cooke

                           

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 with you always.

People:                        And also with you.

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

Song for the Offertory: I will Make you Good Fisher Folk (Christian’s Children Songbook, # 58)

1-I will make you good fisher folk, good fisher folk, good fisher folk.  I will make you good fisher folk, if you follow me.  If you follow me, If you follow me.  I will make you good fisher folk, if you follow me.

2-Hear Christ calling come unto me, come unto me, come unto me.  Hear Christ calling come unto me, I will give you rest.  I will give you rest, I will give you rest.  Hear Christ calling come unto me, I will give you rest.

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.

(All 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.

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: Swing, Low Sweet Chariot

Refrain: Swing low, sweet chariot, Coming for to carry me home. Swing low, sweet chariot, Coming for to carry me home.

1-I looked over Jordan, and what did I see, Coming for to carry me home.  A band of angels coming after me, Coming for to carry me home.

2-If you get there before I do, Coming for to carry me home.  Tell all my friends I’m coming too,

Coming for to carry me home.

3-The brightest day that ever I saw Coming for to carry me home.  When Jesus wash’d my sins away,

Coming for to carry me home.

4-I’m sometimes up and sometimes down, Coming for to carry me home. But still my soul feels heavenly bound, Coming for to carry me home. 

Post-Communion Prayer

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

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

And His Presence has been known to us.

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

    and sisters in Christ.

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

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

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

Closing Song: I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light

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

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

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

3-I’m looking for the coming of Christ, I want to be with Jesus.  When we have run with patience the race we shall know the joy of Jesus.  Refrain

Dismissal:

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

People: Thanks be to God!