Gospel: Discovering What Always Was

 4 Pentecost, C p 9, July 3, 2022

2 Kings 5:1-14  Psalm 30

Gal. 6:1-18 Luke 10:1-12,16-20 

Lectionary Link

 

The first experience of something very wonderful is so great it has the power to inspire exaggeration.  Like the first time that one eats ice cream, one can think that one actually invented the experience of eating ice cream.  First time experiences can make think that we originated the experience or that the experience began to occur because of the way that it happened to us.

 

There is a difference between things which have always been, and things which arose or came about in history.  All our modern day inventions at one time did not exist, and they have become so integrated to our lives that we find it hard to imagine them not existing.   What did we do in our cars before GPS?  What did we do before email?  Text messages?  Photo-copying?

 

There are things which always were and many of those things have not always been experienced by people.  And when some wonderful things which always were, are experienced by people, we can easily begin to treat those things like something that has been invented.

 

Jesus came to the world not to invent the love of God; the love of God has always been.  But it has been undiscovered.  Jesus came to help us overcome the alienation within ourselves which has kept us from experiencing what has always been.

 

Our biblical readings provide us with insights about how to be related to "original" conditions.  Is health and healing only for some people or is it a universal right?  

 

For the prophet Elisha, healing was for everyone, including one's enemy.  Just because Naaman was a commander in a foreign army did not mean that he was excluded from his right to seek to be healed in any way that might bring success.  As we ponder the high cost of health and the lack of access to health care for many people, we need to consider the universal right of people to seek and have healing in their lives.  Wanting good health is an "original" blessing.  The Psalmist composed a poem and a song exalting in a return to health from sickness.

 

St. Paul wrote about how practical justice should be in a community.  The justice of giving and requiring each person what is appropriately due is an ancient virtue which has to be continually realized in very practical ways.

 

In ministry, we can get too proud of accomplishments and perhaps begin to think that we originated love, joy, Holy Spirit power, and the rest.  Jesus warned his disciple not to be on a power trip or ego trip in ministry.  Just rejoice that your name is written in book.  Just rejoice that you said, "here" when God called attendance and as is it were "put your name" in the attendance book.

 

In the ministry of Jesus Christ, we have the privilege to announce to people the things that always have been:  God loves you.  God cares for you.  God forgives you.  God dwells in you so that you can find the divine presence.

 

The state of human alienation from these obvious things requires patience and ministry.  We cannot force people out their alienation.  Some people are not ready or do not have the life situation to open their doors of perception.

 

What did Jesus say about people who seem to reject the obvious?  Move on, don't get angry.  The dust of your feet is symbolic of what you shared with them so that they might be able to come back to it when they are ready.  The memory of you having shared the fact that everyone lives in the kingdom of God will be a continual protest to their inability to perceive the always, already reality of the kingdom of God.

 

The alienation of people from the love of God is vast, so the harvest is great.  The work of the promoting love and membership is God's kingdom is never ended.  We need to always be at the work of persuading people about the wonderful love of God.

 

On this eve of the Fourth of July, we Americans, need to know that we did not invent life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as the important values of life.  We did find a national constitutional way to teach the practice of these original virtues of life.  And we know that the consistent and just application of these rights has not always been lived and many people have been excluded in practice from a fair chance at these rights which are God-given.

 

The ministry of Jesus Christ and the ideals of our country invite us to experience and practice things which we did not invent.  We are invited to know how to be graceful receivers and givers of love, joy, peace, justice, liberty and faith.

 

Let us all have many more delicious events of awareness of the original blessings of God's love for us as we live up to the image of God on our lives.  Amen.

Sunday School, July 3, 2022 C proper 9

Sunday School, July 3, 2022      C proper 9

Theme:  The kingdom of God is near

Imagine being born in the United States and not being aware that one is an American citizen.  What if you went to mom or dad and ask them, “Can I be an American citizen?”  Your parents would say, “Dear, you are already an American citizen.  You have been an American citizen since you were born.  Why don’t you know and believe that you are an American citizen?”

Jesus chose messengers because he knew that many people were living without the knowledge of the most important information of their lives.  Jesus wanted people to know that the kingdom of God was very near.

Since God created the world, it means that the world is God’s kingdom.  And so all people born in God’s kingdom are God’s children and citizens of God’s kingdom.  Jesus found that there were many people who did not know that they were in God kingdom.  Jesus found that many people had been tricked by religious leader to believe that God did not care for them and that God was not their Father.  Jesus gathered his friends and he taught them to go and tell people about God as their Father and about everyone living in the Kingdom of God.  He also sent his friends to tell people the truth about their own lives; to tell all people that they were children of God in God’s kingdom and that no one, not even religious leaders could tell them otherwise.

Today on 4^th of July Weekend when we remember that we belong in our country as citizens, we also need to remember that we are citizens of God’s kingdom.

Jesus told his friends that even though they did great and important things, that the best thing of all to remember is that “their names were written in heaven.”  This means that being a citizen of God’s kingdom is the greatest thing in life and this is something which we celebrate when we are baptized.

A sermon

Imagine that all of you are princes and princesses and that you live in a castle as your home.  And your mom and dads are kings and queens.

  That would be like living in a Disney Movie, wouldn’t it?

  If your mom and dad were king and queen and you lived in their kingdom, how would you find out that you lived in their kingdom?

  Well they would tell you wouldn’t they?  As soon as you could walk and talk and understand, you would be told about your family kingdom so that you would know.  Wouldn’t it be terrible to be a prince or a princess but not know that you were living in a kingdom?  If you were a prince and princess, wouldn’t you want someone to come and tell you about your kingdom?

  When Jesus came, he found that many people did not know about a great and wonderful kingdom.  So Jesus called and trained disciples and friends to go to as many places as possible and tell people about one thing:  He told them to tell all people that the Kingdom of God has come near to you.  Jesus told everyone that the Kingdom of God belongs to children.  Why did he say this?  Because you don’t have to do anything to be in God’s kingdom.  When you are born as a baby and as a child, you are already in God’s kingdom.  Why?  Because God owns everything and everything and everyone belongs to God.

  When Jesus came, he saw that people had forgotten this.  He saw that people were telling lies.  What kind of lies were they telling?  They were saying that the world belonged to the Roman Emperors.  They were saying that God’s world belonged to the people of one religious belief like the Pharisees or the Sadducees.

  Jesus did not like that the wrong information was being taught so he sent his followers to bring the correct message.  He said to tell everyone that the kingdom of God has come very near to them.

  Jesus came to remind us that even though we have parents; we are also sons and daughters of God and so we live in God’s kingdom from the very day that we are born.

  So why do we come to church?  Why do we baptize?  Why do we have Holy Communion?  We come to church to remember that we live in God’s kingdom as children of God.  We are baptized as a celebration of our membership in God’s family.  We have Holy Communion each Sunday; we eat the bread and drink the wine because we Jesus asked us to do this to remember the kingdom of God.  And we are supposed to do this until everyone understands that they live in God’s kingdom.

  So we too are to remind people that we live in God’s world and God’s kingdom.  When Jesus came, he reminded people that God’s kingdom was very near to them.  We need to remember and remind people today of that same message.  The kingdom of God is very near to us.

July 3, 2022: The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Gathering Songs:

My Country ‘Tis of Thee; This Land is Your Land; America the Beautiful; God of Our Fathers

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: My Country Tis of Thee, (Blue Hymnal:  # 717)

My country tis of thee, sweet land of liberty of thee I sing.  Land where our fathers died, land of the pilgrim’s pride.  From every mountainside let freedom ring

Our father’s God to thee, author of liberty.  To thee we sing; long may our land be bright with freedom’s holy light; protect us by thy might, great God, our king.

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

O God, you have taught us to keep all your commandments by loving you and our neighbor: Grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to you with our whole heart, and united to one another with pure affection; 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 letter to the Galatians

My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves. All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbor's work, will become a cause for pride.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 30

 I will exalt you, O LORD,because you have lifted me up *and have not let my enemies triumph over me.

O LORD my God, I cried out to you, *and you restored me to health.

You brought me up, O LORD, from the dead; *you restored my life as I was going down to the grave.

Sing to the LORD, you servants of his; *give thanks for the remembrance of his holiness.

  

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 country and the blessings of freedom that we enjoy.  Thanks be to God!

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

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Whatever house you enter, first say, `Peace to this house!' And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, `The kingdom of God has come near to you.'

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 those who serve in our armed forces.  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: This Land Is Your Land 

Refrain: This Land is your land, this land is my land, from California, to the New York Island, from the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters, This land was made for you and me.

As I was walking that ribbon of highway, I saw above me an endless skyway, I say below me that golden valley: This land was made for you and me. Refrain

I’ve roamed and rambled, and I followed my footsteps to the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts; and all around me a voice was sounding:  This land was made for you and me. Refrain

When the sun comes shining and I was strolling, and the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rollinging; As the fog was lifting a voice was chanting: This land was made for you and me. Refrain

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him, all creatures here below.

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Prologue to the Eucharist

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, for to them belong the kingdom of heaven.”

All become members of a family by birth or adoption.

Baptism is a celebration of birth into the family of God.

A family meal gathers and sustains each human family.

The Holy Eucharist is the special meal that Jesus gave to his friends to keep us together as the family of Christ.

The Lord be with you

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to God.

It is right to give God thanks and praise.

It is very good and right to give thanks, because God made us, Jesus redeemed us and the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts.  Therefore with Angels and Archangels and all of the world that we see and don’t see, we forever sing this hymn of praise:

Holy, Holy, Holy (Intoned)

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of Power and Might.  Heav’n and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 

Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the Highest.

(Children may gather around the altar)

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: America, the Beautiful, (blue hymnal # 719)

O beautiful for spacious skies for amber waves of grain, for purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain!  America!  America!  God shed his grace on thee, and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.

O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife, who more than self their country love, and mercy more than life!  America!  America! God mend thine every flaw, confirm thy soul in self control, they liberty in law.

O beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years, thine alabaster cities gleam, undimmed by human tears!  America!  America!  God shed his grace on thee, and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.

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:  God of Our Fathers (Blue Hymnal # 718)

God of our fathers whose almighty hand leads forth in beauty all the starry band of shining worlds in splendor through the skies, our grateful songs before thy throne arise.

Thy love divine had led us in the past, in this free land by thee our lot is cast; be thou our ruler, guardian, guide and stay, thy word our law, thy paths our chosen way.

Dismissal:   

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

People: Thanks be to God! 

The Gospel Needs Strategies

4 Pentecost, C p 9, July 7, 2019

2 Kings 5:1-14  Psalm 30

Gal. 6:1-18    Luke 10:1-12,16-20 

Lectionary Link

The church history professor with tongue in cheek asked the seminarians, "Why was the Episcopal Church so late to arrive on the frontier?"  Answer:  "They were waiting for the invention of the Pullman Car."  Obviously, they would leave evangelical poverty to others.  The laborer is worthy of his hire meant something different for those Pullman Car Episcopalians.

When we read the Gospels, we are used to the "big 12" getting all of the attention.  It could be that 12 was more symbolic as the early church tried to reinterpret the church as the new 12 tribes of Israel with 12 corresponding leaders.  We know that there were women who were considered close associates of Jesus and we read today about the seventy who were sent in pairs to get the message out about the kingdom of God being near.

We know that some religious groups still are very literal about going two by two in their mission, as we all know when we see two young men in white shirts and ties and riding mountain bikes on the streets.

Rather than being literal about how mission work should be done, whether from the comfort of a Pullman car or with evangelical poverty, the big point being made is that the Gospel needs strategies.  In legal theory it is said that a law that is not promulgated is invalid; meaning if no one knows about the law, how can they know be held responsible for keeping the law.  The Gospel which is not promulgated is a Gospel that is not given the opportunity to be responded to.

The Gospel always needs strategies of promulgation.  I would like to share some insights from our biblical readings today about potential strategies for the spreading of the Gospel.

First, everyone one needs good news.  And what does good news mean for someone who is sick and afflicted?  It means health.  The fullest meaning of salvation is holistic health.  Health, salvation and good news is not just for us; it's for everyone.  Foreigners outside of Israel got sick too.  Even a foreign general like Naaman needed good news of possible recovery.  He was even willing to go into foreign territory and submit himself to their strange folk remedy to seek health. The prophet Elisha had to be big hearted enough to represent a God who offered health and salvation to all.  What is the insight for us?  We need to know that God wants us to reach outside of our familiar crowd to offer the best news that we have.

The second insight that I'd like to share is St. Paul's law of karma.  "You reap what you sow."  This has nothing to do with whether God forgives us our sins; it has to do with the unavoidable outcomes of what we do in our lives.  Our deeds are always affecting future outcomes.  If we keep our good news locked up in insider arcane theology and liturgies, we may find ourselves like the spiritual equivalent of the Shakers.  They died out because they didn't propagate; if we don't sow the seeds of the Gospel in inspired ways, we too can be responsible for our own diminishing numbers.

The Gospel evangelical mission commissioned by Jesus offers us several insights.  Jesus said that he had a message that everyone needed.  There is a harvest because the knowledge of the nearness of God's kingdom or realm is something which everyone needs to know.  As much as our nationalities are important to us, everyone needs to know citizenship in a larger realm, the realm of God.  We are God-ites first before we are Americans.  We live and move and have our being in God; that is our primary identity and it is really good news if we can come to experience this God-identity.  In a Roman occupied country, what value did their national heritage do for Jews and for their spiritual freedom?  Jesus was inviting everyone to the nationality of God; there was no greater citizenship identity to have than to accept one's citizenship in the realm of God. 

What were the strategies for the evangelical mission?  Get the message out quickly.  Travel light; don't get bogged down in over administrated logistics.  Live off the land.  Don't worry about rejection; just move on to the next opportunity.  Go in pairs so you have fellowship and encouragement and someone to consult with on the mission.  Finally, don't make success or failure the issue; the message of being a citizen in God's realm is its own reward.  Your name is written in heaven, whether you have the metrics of success or failure.

So, what insights might we ponder today for Trinity Cathedral?  What are our strategies for the Gospel future here?  Lots of people want to know the way to San Jose.  We are in the middle of great wealth, great intellectual property, and great technological information revolution.  How can we let it be known that God's realm is very near?  How can we let it be known that we live and move and have our being, not in San Jose, not in the Silicon Valley but, first in God?  How can we make relevant the basic identity with God's realm in this temporal realm and location?

Certainly, you continue in your ministry to those who speak Spanish.  We can seek to provide a welcome to an incredibly diverse crowd in our neighborhood.  God's love is able to be translated into every language.  You work to have a voice to deal with the great and looming housing crisis.  Trinity has a moral voice to offer at the table for those deciding the provision of housing for everyone who needs to live and work in this city.  Trinity has the mission to offer the complementing experience of the sublime experienced in music, art, and poetry.  Trinity has the big chair, the cathedra, the seat of our bishop.  While the geographical center of our diocese is further south, Trinity Cathedral is at the heart of the population center of our diocese.  The call for Trinity is to be a center that befits a cathedral at the population center of our diocese.  Perhaps Trinity has a role to be a satellite learning center for our Episcopal seminary in Berkeley.  Wise learning needs to go forth from this place.  Trinity Cathedral has a mission to the largest religious group in society today, those whom the pollsters call the "nones."  Those who say they are not religious but spiritual.  Trinity Cathedral, in a university city with plenty of religious skeptics can create the intellectual forum for a new hearing of the Gospel in Episcopal overtones, and give people a reason not to reject Christ because of really bad behaviors and really bad thinking by the people who often misrepresent the Gospel in the loudest way.  Trinity Cathedral can offer a graceful aesthetic liturgical presentation of good thinking attaining corporate prayer.  And Trinity has the mission to represent good stewardship of the earth and of human resources.    In one of the wealthiest places, one is seeing a failure in philanthropy, a failure in the stewardship of wealth being applied in creative ways.  If Trinity Cathedral lives in an environment which boasts a commitment to a free market;  then this parish needs to influence participants in this free market to make the best use of freedom by including the creative care of the common good of the many as the very best function of the free market.

Friends, I presume too much as an outsider,  so forgive me as a one-shot preacher, but I believe the Gospel would provoke us all to develop strategies, tactics and actions plans for letting the people in this city know that God's realm is very near to them.

And so I commend you here at Trinity to rejoice in all that you've done to make God's realm evident here, but now in your current transition to seek Jesus as the Lord of the harvest to inspire some new strategies for the future harvest to be known here through your ministry.  Amen.

Sunday School, July 7, 2019 C proper 9

Sunday School, July 7, 2019                    C proper 9

Theme:  The kingdom of God is near

Imagine being born in the United States and not being aware that one is an American citizen.  What if you went to mom or dad and ask them, “Can I be an American citizen?”  Your parents would say, “Dear, you are already an American citizen.  You have been an American citizen since you were born.  Why don’t you know and believe that you are an American citizen?”

Jesus chose messengers because he knew that many people were living without the knowledge of the most important information of their lives.  Jesus wanted people to know that the kingdom of God was very near.

Since God created the world, it means that the world is God’s kingdom.  And so all people born in God’s kingdom are God’s children and citizens of God’s kingdom.  Jesus found that there were many people who did not know that they were in God kingdom.  Jesus found that many people had been tricked by religious leader to believe that God did not care for them and that God was not their Father.  Jesus gathered his friends and he taught them to go and tell people about God as their Father and about everyone living in the Kingdom of God.  He also sent his friends to tell people the truth about their own lives; to tell all people that they were children of God in God’s kingdom and that no one, not even religious leaders could tell them otherwise.

Today after the 4^th of July  when we remember that we belong in our country as citizens, we also need to remember that we are citizens of God’s kingdom.

Jesus told his friends that even though they did great and important things, that the best thing of all to remember is that “their names were written in heaven.”  This means that being a citizen of God’s kingdom is the greatest thing in life and this is something which we celebrate when we are baptized.

A sermon

Imagine that all of you are princes and princesses and that you live in a castle as your home.  And your mom and dads are kings and queens.

  That would be like living in a Disney Movie, wouldn’t it?

  If your mom and dad were king and queen and you lived in their kingdom, how would you find out that you lived in their kingdom?

  Well they would tell you wouldn’t they?  As soon as you could walk and talk and understand, you would be told about your family kingdom so that you would know.  Wouldn’t it be terrible to be a prince or a princess but not know that you were living in a kingdom?  If you were a prince and princess, wouldn’t you want someone to come and tell you about your kingdom?

  When Jesus came, he found that many people did not know about a great and wonderful kingdom.  So Jesus called and trained disciples and friends to go to as many places as possible and tell people about one thing:  He told them to tell all people that the Kingdom of God has come near to you.  Jesus told everyone that the Kingdom of God belongs to children.  Why did he say this?  Because you don’t have to do anything to be in God’s kingdom.  When you are born as a baby and as a child, you are already in God’s kingdom.  Why?  Because God owns everything and everything and everyone belongs to God.

  When Jesus came, he saw that people had forgotten this.  He saw that people were telling lies.  What kind of lies were they telling?  They were saying that the world belonged to the Roman Emperors.  They were saying that God’s world belonged to the people of one religious belief like the Pharisees or the Sadducees.

  Jesus did not like that the wrong information was being taught so he sent his followers to bring the correct message.  He said to tell everyone that the kingdom of God has come very near to them.

  Jesus came to remind us that even though we have parents; we are also sons and daughters of God and so we live in God’s kingdom from the very day that we are born.

  So why do we come to church?  Why do we baptize?  Why do we have Holy Communion?  We come to church to remember that we live in God’s kingdom as children of God.  We are baptized as a celebration of our membership in God’s family.  We have Holy Communion each Sunday; we eat the bread and drink the wine because we Jesus asked us to do this to remember the kingdom of God.  And we are supposed to do this until everyone understands that they live in God’s kingdom.

  So we too are to remind people that we live in God’s world and God’s kingdom.  When Jesus came, he reminded people that God’s kingdom was very near to them.  We need to remember and remind people today of that same message.  The kingdom of God is very near to us.

Confessing Primary Citizenship

7 Pentecost, C p 9, July 3, 2016  

Isaiah 66:10-14 Psalm 66:1-10

Gal. 6:1-18    Luke 10:1-12,16-20  

Lectionary Link
  What if you were ask me today:  Can I be American citizen?  I would be rather shocked and I might have some questions for you.  Like: Aren't you already an American citizen?  Were you not born in the United States?  Were not your parents American citizens?  And how did you come to believe that you are not an American citizen?  Didn't you get instructed about your identity and rights as an American citizen?  Did someone not tell you that you were an American citizen?  Did someone tell you that you were not good enough to be an American citizen?  Why are you confused about not being an American citizen? 
   If you did not know about your American citizenship the I would want to teach you about your true identity as an American citizen.
  When Jesus grew up in Palestine he discovered something about many people.  He discovered that many people did not believe that they were children of God.  Why?  They did not have good knowledge about God or themselves.  Why?  Because many religious leaders made them feel like God was not their heavenly Father?  Why?  Because these religious leaders had some many special little rules which people did not and could not easily follow, and so the religious people came to tell people that only certain people were God's chosen people or children.
  This angered and saddened Jesus.  Why?  Because when he prayed, he prayed to God as his Father and he wondered why all people could not pray to God as God's children too.  Jesus knew that God created the world and that God made people in God's image, and so everyone is a child of God.  And Jesus knew that God had created a world for God's children to live in.  So all people live as God's children in God's world or God's kingdom.
  Jesus was sad that people did not know and believe this.  He was angry with people who did not preach this correct information to people.
  So when Jesus began his ministry he realized that he had a big mission to accomplish.  He had to correct all of the bad information that people had about themselves and about God.
  Jesus trained his friends and disciples to become group of people to spread the true message about God and about how all people could accept themselves as sons and daughters of God.  Jesus trained his evangelist to go to people and offer them peace and to tell them: The kingdom of God is near.
  Jesus wanted all people to know that everyone lives in the kingdom of God as a citizen of God's kingdom.
  When the disciples of Jesus came back from their mission, they were excited that they had defeated the devil who is the father of lies.  When they brought the truth of the message of God's kingdom, they defeated the lies that had ruled peoples' life.  And they were very proud of their mission.
  But Jesus had an important reminder for them.  No matter what we do, we need to rejoice that "our names are written in heaven."  This is a poetic way of saying, "The most important truth of our lives is that we are sons and daughters of God and we are made in God's image and we are citizens of God's kingdom in our lives while we live and we will continue to be citizens of God's kingdom after we have died.
  Tomorrow is the 4th of July and we will celebrate the birthday of our country.  We are proud of our country and we are proud to be citizens of our country.  But let us remember today,  that we have another larger country, we have the entire country of God's creation and so we live too as citizens in God's kingdom as God's sons and daughters.
  Let us be thankful that Jesus came to remind us that we live as citizens in God's kingdom as sons and daughters of God.  Amen.

Sunday School, July 3, 2016 C proper 9

Sunday School, July 3, 2016                    C proper 9

Theme:  The kingdom of God is near

Imagine being born in the United States and not being aware that one is an American citizen.  What if you went to mom or dad and ask them, “Can I be an American citizen?”  Your parents would say, “Dear, you are already an American citizen.  You have been an American citizen since you were born.  Why don’t you know and believe that you are an American citizen?”

Jesus chose messengers because he knew that many people were living without the knowledge of the most important information of their lives.  Jesus wanted people to know that the kingdom of God was very near.

Since God created the world, it means that the world is God’s kingdom.  And so all people born in God’s kingdom are God’s children and citizens of God’s kingdom.  Jesus found that there were many people who did not know that they were in God kingdom.  Jesus found that many people had been tricked by religious leader to believe that God did not care for them and that God was not their Father.  Jesus gathered his friends and he taught them to go and tell people about God as their Father and about everyone living in the Kingdom of God.  He also sent his friends to tell people the truth about their own lives; to tell all people that they were children of God in God’s kingdom and that no one, not even religious leaders could tell them otherwise.

Today on 4^th of July Weekend when we remember that we belong in our country as citizens, we also need to remember that we are citizens of God’s kingdom.

Jesus told his friends that even though they did great and important things, that the best thing of all to remember is that “their names were written in heaven.”  This means that being a citizen of God’s kingdom is the greatest thing in life and this is something which we celebrate when we are baptized.

A sermon

Imagine that all of you are princes and princesses and that you live in a castle as your home.  And your mom and dads are kings and queens.

  That would be like living in a Disney Movie, wouldn’t it?

  If your mom and dad were king and queen and you lived in their kingdom, how would you find out that you lived in their kingdom?

  Well they would tell you wouldn’t they?  As soon as you could walk and talk and understand, you would be told about your family kingdom so that you would know.  Wouldn’t it be terrible to be a prince or a princess but not know that you were living in a kingdom?  If you were a prince and princess, wouldn’t you want someone to come and tell you about your kingdom?

  When Jesus came, he found that many people did not know about a great and wonderful kingdom.  So Jesus called and trained disciples and friends to go to as many places as possible and tell people about one thing:  He told them to tell all people that the Kingdom of God has come near to you.  Jesus told everyone that the Kingdom of God belongs to children.  Why did he say this?  Because you don’t have to do anything to be in God’s kingdom.  When you are born as a baby and as a child, you are already in God’s kingdom.  Why?  Because God owns everything and everything and everyone belongs to God.

  When Jesus came, he saw that people had forgotten this.  He saw that people were telling lies.  What kind of lies were they telling?  They were saying that the world belonged to the Roman Emperors.  They were saying that God’s world belonged to the people of one religious belief like the Pharisees or the Sadducees.

  Jesus did not like that the wrong information was being taught so he sent his followers to bring the correct message.  He said to tell everyone that the kingdom of God has come very near to them.

  Jesus came to remind us that even though we have parents; we are also sons and daughters of God and so we live in God’s kingdom from the very day that we are born.

  So why do we come to church?  Why do we baptize?  Why do we have Holy Communion?  We come to church to remember that we live in God’s kingdom as children of God.  We are baptized as a celebration of our membership in God’s family.  We have Holy Communion each Sunday; we eat the bread and drink the wine because we Jesus asked us to do this to remember the kingdom of God.  And we are supposed to do this until everyone understands that they live in God’s kingdom.

  So we too are to remind people that we live in God’s world and God’s kingdom.  When Jesus came, he reminded people that God’s kingdom was very near to them.  We need to remember and remind people today of that same message.  The kingdom of God is very near to us.

St. John the Divine Episcopal Church

17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037

Family Service with Holy Eucharist

July 3, 2016: The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

Gathering Songs:

My Country ‘Tis of Thee; This Land is Your Land; America the Beautiful; God of Our Fathers

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: My Country Tis of Thee, (Blue Hymnal:  # 717)

My country tis of thee, sweet land of liberty of thee I sing.  Land where our fathers died, land of the pilgrim’s pride.  From every mountainside let freedom ring

Our father’s God to thee, author of liberty.  To thee we sing; long may our land be bright with freedom’s holy light; protect us by thy might, great God, our king.

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

O God, you have taught us to keep all your commandments by loving you and our neighbor: Grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to you with our whole heart, and united to one another with pure affection; 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 letter to the Galatians

My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves. All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbor's work, will become a cause for pride.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 30

 I will exalt you, O LORD,because you have lifted me up *and have not let my enemies triumph over me.

O LORD my God, I cried out to you, *and you restored me to health.

You brought me up, O LORD, from the dead; *you restored my life as I was going down to the grave.

Sing to the LORD, you servants of his; *give thanks for the remembrance of his holiness.

  

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 country and the blessings of freedom that we enjoy.  Thanks be to God!

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

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Whatever house you enter, first say, `Peace to this house!' And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, `The kingdom of God has come near to you.'

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 those who serve in our armed forces.  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: This Land Is Your Land 

Refrain: This Land is your land, this land is my land, from California, to the New York Island, from the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters, This land was made for you and me.

As I was walking that ribbon of highway, I saw above me an endless skyway, I say below me that golden valley: This land was made for you and me. Refrain

I’ve roamed and rambled, and I followed my footsteps to the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts; and all around me a voice was sounding:  This land was made for you and me. Refrain

When the sun comes shining and I was strolling, and the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rollinging; As the fog was lifting a voice was chanting: This land was made for you and me. Refrain

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him, all creatures here below.

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Prologue to the Eucharist

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, for to them belong the kingdom of heaven.”

All become members of a family by birth or adoption.

Baptism is a celebration of birth into the family of God.

A family meal gathers and sustains each human family.

The Holy Eucharist is the special meal that Jesus gave to his friends to keep us together as the family of Christ.

The Lord be with you

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to God.

It is right to give God thanks and praise.

It is very good and right to give thanks, because God made us, Jesus redeemed us and the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts.  Therefore with Angels and Archangels and all of the world that we see and don’t see, we forever sing this hymn of praise:

Holy, Holy, Holy (Intoned)

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of Power and Might.  Heav’n and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 

Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the Highest.

(Children may gather around the altar)

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: America, the Beautiful, (blue hymnal # 719)

O beautiful for spacious skies for amber waves of grain, for purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain!  America!  America!  God shed his grace on thee, and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.

O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife, who more than self their country love, and mercy more than life!  America!  America! God mend thine every flaw, confirm thy soul in self control, they liberty in law.

O beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years, thine alabaster cities gleam, undimmed by human tears!  America!  America!  God shed his grace on thee, and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.

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:  God of Our Fathers (Blue Hymnal # 718)

God of our fathers whose almighty hand leads forth in beauty all the starry band of shining worlds in splendor through the skies, our grateful songs before thy throne arise.

Thy love divine had led us in the past, in this free land by thee our lot is cast; be thou our ruler, guardian, guide and stay, thy word our law, thy paths our chosen way.

Dismissal:   

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

People: Thanks be to God!