Sunday School, January 28, 2018 4 Epiphany B

Sunday School, January 28, 2018  4 Epiphany B

Theme:

Being a people whisperer.

Have you ever seen a mother calm her crying baby?  How does she do that?

Have you ever seen a dog owner calm a barking dog?  How does a person do that?

Have you ever seen a horse trainer, tame and calm a wild horse?  How does a person do that?

Some one who knows how to calm an animal is called a whisperer.  A dog whisperer is able to be so friendly with a dog that a dog becomes calm, friendly and peaceful with a dog whisperer.  A horse whisperer can be so friendly with a wild horse that they horse calms down and will let the horse whisperer ride without being bucked off.  How does a horse whisperer do that?

It is something that you can learn, but it is also a special gift.

We might call Jesus a people whisperer.  Today we read about Jesus meeting a man who was really upset.  He was like a crying and screaming baby out of control.  But he wanted to be in control.  He wanted to find someone who could calm him.  The people were afraid of this wild acting man and they wanted him removed, but Jesus calm the man down and showed him how he could be friendly and peaceful.  Jesus was a people whisperer.

You and I are supposed to be people whisperers too.  How do we do that?  When people are hurt or in pain or when people are sad and angry, we can help them by being kind and feeling safe.

When we say: The Peace of the Lord be with you, we are accepting our role to be people whisperers.  We are to learn how to make people feel calm and peaceful and we are to learn how we can accept the help of others when we need it to have some calm in our lives.  

Let us remember that Jesus was a people whisperer and he taught us to be people whisperers today.  Remember we exchange the greeting of peace today, we are accepting our role as people whisperers.

Sermon:

Today, we read about when Jesus went to a synagogue.  A synagogue was a place where people in the time of Jesus went to pray and to read their holy book. 

  And Jesus surprised the people by how he taught.  Usually, the teachers of his time were taught by a famous teacher or rabbi.  And when a someone graduated from the  school of a famous rabbi, a student’s diploma depended upon the reputation of the teacher whom he studied with.

  So, the people were surprised by the teaching of Jesus.  Because they did not know where he had learned everything that he knew.

  They said that he taught with authority.  What is authority?  Authority is a power and strength and ability.  We say a doctor has authority, because a doctor knows all about medicine.  A doctor can use knowledge of medicine to help patients recover from their illnesses.  So, a good doctor has authority…power and ability to make people better.

  Jesus was a person who had authority.  He had power and ability to make people better.

  How can you and I get the kind of power and authority that Jesus had?  We like powerful people.  We like football heroes, baseball heroes because of their strength and their ability.  We like super heroes because of their power.

  Big muscles may make us strong and powerful, but that does not give us the kind of power and authority that Jesus had.  Jesus wants us to have the same kind of authority and power that he had.

  And how can we have that same authority?  How do you and I get authority in our lives?  We get authority by keeping our word, and by doing the right things that we’re supposed to do.

   Why is it hard to clean your room?  Why is it hard to do your homework?  And why does it look easy when your mom or dad are cleaning your room?  If we do not have practice in cleaning our room, we do not have authority or power.  Mom and dad have cleaned before many times and so they have authority and power to clean.  The same thing with our homework.  Mom and dad can do your homework because they have practiced.  So they have authority and power to do it.

  Jesus wants you and me to have authority.  And how do we get authority?  We get it by practicing.  When we learn how to do something well, then we have authority.  Sometimes practice is very difficult, but we need to remember that with practice we are gaining the power to have authority.  We are gaining the power to do something well.

  Jesus wants each of us to have authority and power today.  He wants us to work hard at practicing how to live good lives, so that we can have power and authority.  Jesus wants each of us to be a superhero of our own lives.  I am powerful.  I have authority.  I can control myself.  I can practice to be better everyday.

St. John the Divine Episcopal Church

17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037

Holy Eucharist

January 28, 2018: Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

Gathering Songs:

To God Be the Glory, Christ Beside me, Dona Nobis, We Are Marching

Processionial Song: To God be the Glory, Renew! # 258

To God be the glory great things he hath done,

so loved he the world that he gave us his Son,

who yielded his life an atonement for sin,

and opened the lifegate that all may go in.

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear his voice!

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice!

O Come to the Father through Jesus the Son,

and give him the glory, great things he hath done.

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.

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Litany of Praise: Chant: 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 Book of Deuteronomy   

Moses said, The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet. This is what you requested of the LORD your God at Horeb…

The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Let us read together from Psalm 111

Hallelujah! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, *in the assembly of the upright, in the congregation.

Great are the deeds of the LORD! *they are studied by all who delight in them.

His work is full of majesty and splendor, *and his righteousness endures for ever.

He makes his marvelous works to be remembered; *the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.

He gives food to those who fear him; *he is ever mindful of his covenant.

Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God! (chanted)

Litanist:

For the good earth, for our food and clothing. Thanks be to God!

For our families and friends. Thanks be to God!

For the talents and gifts that you have given to us. Thanks be to God!

For this day of worship. Thanks be to God!

For health and for a good night’s sleep. Thanks be to God!

For work and for play. Thanks be to God!

For teaching and for learning. Thanks be to God!

For the happy events of our lives. Thanks be to God!

For the celebration of the birthdays and anniversaries of our friends and parish family.

   Thanks be to God!

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

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus and his disciples went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. And Jesus healed a man who was troubled in his heart.  They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. …At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

Liturgist:         The Gospel of the Lord.

People:            Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon – Father Phil

Children’s Creed

We did not make ourselves, so we believe that God the Father is the maker of the world.

Since God is so great and we are so small,

We believe God came into our world and was born as Jesus, son of the Virgin Mary.

We need God’s help and we believe that God saved us by the life, death and

     resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We believe that God is present with us now as the Holy Spirit.

We believe that we are baptized into God’s family the Church where everyone is

     welcome.

We believe that Christ is kind and fair.

We believe that we have a future in knowing Jesus Christ.

And since we all must die, we believe that God will preserve us forever.  Amen.

Litany Phrase: Christ, have mercy.

For fighting and war to cease in our world. Christ, have mercy.

For peace on earth and good will towards all. Christ, have mercy.

For the safety of all who travel. Christ, have mercy.

For jobs for all who need them. Christ, have mercy.

For care of those who are growing old. Christ, have mercy.

For the safety, health and nutrition of all the children in our world. Christ, have mercy.

For the well-being of our families and friends. Christ, have mercy.

For the good health of those we know to be ill. Christ, have mercy.

For the remembrance of those who have died. Christ, have mercy.

For the forgiveness of all of our sins. Christ, have mercy.

Youth Liturgist:          The Peace of the Lord be always with you.

People:                        And also with you.

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

Offertory Song:  Christ Beside Me   (Renew! # 164)

1          Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me—King of my heart;  Christ within me, Christ below me, Christ above me—never to part.

2            Christ on my right hand, Christ on my left hand, Christ all around me—shield in the strife:  Christ in my sleeping, Christ in my sitting, Christ in my rising—light of my life

3          Christ be in all hearts, thinking about me, Christ be on all tongues, telling of me; Christ be the vision, in eyes that see me, in ears that hear me, Christ ever be.

4  Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me—King of my heart; Christ within me, Christ below me, Christ above me—never to part.

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 God.”

All become members of a family by birth or adoption.

All are born into the family of God by Baptism.

A family meal gathers and sustains each human family.

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

The Lord be with you

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to God.

It is right to give God thanks and praise.

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

Holy, Holy, Holy (Intoned)

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of Power and Might.  Heav’n and earth are full of your glory.  Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.  Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the Highest.

(All may gather around the altar)

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

You have made us in your image

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

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

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

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

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

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

  this food and drink  that becomes a part of us.

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

On the night when Jesus was betrayed he took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to his friends, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."

After supper, Jesus took the cup of wine, gave thanks, and said, "Drink this, all of you. This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."

Father, we now celebrate the memorial of your Son. When we eat this holy Meal of Bread and Wine, we are telling the entire world about the life, death, 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 may rejoin their parents and take up their instruments)

Our Father (Sung): (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 by thy name.

Thine is the kingdom, power, and glory: Hallowed be thy name.

Forever and ever: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Breaking of the Bread

Celebrant:       Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.

People:            Therefore let us keep the feast.  Alleluia!

Word of Administration.

Communion:  Dona Nobis Pacem, (Renew # 240)

Dona nobis pacem, pacem, dona nobis pacem. 

Dona nobis pacem, dona nobis pacem. 

Dona nobis pacem.  Dona nobis pacem.

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: We are Marching in the Light of the Lord, Renew! # 306

We are marching in the Light of the Lord;

            we are marching in the light of the Lord

            We are marching in the Light of the Lord;

we are marching in the light of the Lord

We are marching in the Light of the Lord;

we are marching in the light of the Lord

We are singing in the Light of the Lord…..

           

Refrain: We are marching, marching, we are marching, oh,

we are marching in the light of the lord.       

We are marching, marching, we are marching, oh,

we are marching in the light of the lord.

Dismissal:   

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

People: Thanks be to God! 

Equal Calling, Different callings

3 Epiphany B  January 21, 2018
Jonah 3:1-5, 10 Psalm 62:6-14
1 Corinthians 7:29-31 Mark 1:14-20
Lectionary Link
There was an old man who spent most of the day on the wharf fishing and talking.  And someone one asked him about religion.  And he said, "I guess fishing is my religion, but I have to admit that I'm quite impressed that Jesus was able to get some men to leave their fishing and take up preaching.  He must of been a pretty special guy."

There is some irony in reading about the prophet Jonah and the Gospel call to the fishermen since Jonah was the one who caught by a big fish.

Remember the story of Jonah?  He was told to go preach a message of repentance to the foreign city of Ninevah, but Jonah believed that the message of the Torah only belonged to his own people of Israel.  He knew it to be such a good message, he knew that if God treated the people of Ninevah like God treated obedient people everywhere, they would embrace the good news of God.

What did Jonah do when he was first called?  He ran away and took a slow boat in the opposite direction.  And nature was used by God to perform an intervention in the flight of the disobedient prophet.  A storm arose and threated the life of all on the ship; and finally Jonah confessed about how his disobedience was the cause of the storm.  So, he convinced them to throw him overboard to make the storm cease.  And what happened to Jonah?

He was swallowed by a big fish.  He spent three nights in the belly of the big fish and he prayed while in the belly of the big fish.  He made the big fish sick that the big fish spit him upon the beach.  And Jonah received a second call to go to Ninevah and he obeyed and sure enough Ninevah received and obeyed his message.

Peter, Andrew, James and John were fishermen who got caught.  They were not caught and swallowed by a big fish; they were caught by this charismatic rabbi Jesus who was preaching on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

They liked the dynamic of being "caught" by Christ; finding the best teacher of their lives must have been exciting.  And Jesus told them that he would help them catch others in a similar way.  They became his students in his school of discipleship.  They wanted to learn from Jesus how to activate their wisdom and their personal charisma in a way that would help them to reach other people.  The call of Christ involves each of us learning how to help people activate their call to the goodness of God.

The Call of God is a multi-faceted; it involves how each human being can understand the purpose of his or her life.

The Call of God needs to be understood in its fullness. 1-the Pre-Christian Cosmic Call.  2-The personal call by Jesus.  3-The institutionalization of call in baptismal practice and ordination.  And 4-Call as the complementing vocation in everything that we do.

The PreChristian Call is articulated in our Creation belief that we are made in the image of God and so the homing device of God's image within us is always already trying to lead us back to God.  The law, the sages, the prophets all came as ways to assist us in restoring the best performance of the image of God in our lives.  The limitation of the call to just the people of Israel and to certain religious parties, such as happened in the life of Jonah, meant that a new call had to be made explicit. And so we have the personal call of God to humanity in the person of Jesus Christ.  Jesus came to be the Image of God in a human person to model how the image of God on humanity is to be lived out.  And God became known as a specific person in Jesus of Nazareth and Jesus of Nazareth attracted people to find their purpose of life.  He built a Movement and a community to gather to model and live out these behaviors of good news, the good news of love and kindness and justice.  And this message of Jesus became so successful that it caught on, not only with Jews but with Gentiles.

And when something is a really successful social phenomenon what has to happen?  Organization has to arise to help to consolidate people in the message.  Christianity went  from being a small charismatic movement meeting in private homes with very informal structures and it became a massive cultural force taking over the Roman Empire and so it needed the same structures of law and order found in the Roman government and military.  The call of God in Christ received institutional meaning and definition.  The informal and personal charismatic gifts of the church become regularized in structure of ministry in the four orders: Lay, diaconal, priestly and episcopal.  The main call of God is regularized in baptism.  The Lay order is the main order of ministry shared by all Christ.  Baptism is an event which expresses that God's grace calls all us at all ages to activate God's image in our lives and accept ourselves as God's children.  This is the basic call and it makes us all equal in grace.  The orders of ministries as deacons, priests and bishop are callings for some as specific ways to articulate baptismal grace and calling.  A baby is equal in grace to a bishop, priest or deacon.  And that brings us to the call as the complementing vocation of everything that we do.  If you are baptized and you are a lawyer, you have the call of Christ.  If you are a doctor, teacher, mother, father, engineer, business person, landscaper, you have the para-calling of Christ that means you bring the values of Christ into all of the behaviors within one's career.  The call of Christ is alongside everything else that we do in our lives.

So, where does that leave us today?  Don't be like Jonah.  Don't try to avoid the particular call of Christ upon your live to express and live out the good news about God's love.  You cannot use the busy-ness of your career as being an excuse to say, "I am not called because I have never been ordained."

Do not let the church uphold bishops, priests and deacons as being the main persons called in the church.  The ordained ministries are only particular kinds of baptismal calling.  We have bishops, priests and deacon as signs and symbols within church announcing that all people are called by Christ.  All people are ordained in their baptisms to share the message and life of Christ in all that they do.

The call of Christ is equally given to us of us in our different life circumstances.  May God help each of us to honor the call of Christ in our lives.  Amen.

Sunday School, January 21, 2017 3 Epiphany B

Sunday School, January 21, 2018    3 Epiphany B

Theme:

The Call of Christ

What do you do in life?  What is your job?  What is your current responsibility?

I don’t have a job, but I am a student.  I am a son or daughter.  I am a friend.  I like to dance.  I like to play soccer and football.  I am a good citizen of my country.

A person has many jobs because in life we have many things that we have to do to live.

James and John were fishermen.  They fished in the Sea of Galilee with their dad Zebedee.  But they were given another job, another purpose in their lives.

Jesus visited them at the sea side while they were repairing their fishing nets.  He call James and John to follow him.  Peter and Andrew were fishermen too and Jesus called them to follow him and become his students and learn to become teachers of the Gospel.

James, John, Peter and Andrew were fishermen.  They never would forget how to fish.  But they could be fishermen and follow Jesus too. 

So whatever we do, we still have something else that we can do.  We can follow Christ.  When we are being a student at school we can follow Christ.  When we are playing soccer, we can follow Christ.  When we are dancing, we can follow Christ.  When we are playing, we can follow Christ.  When we are at home as a son or a daughter we can follow Christ.

So we always have the greater job to do in life and that great job is following Christ.  We do that by living with love and kindness and by teaching others to do the same.

Remember you don’t have to be a priest or a preacher to hear and follow the call of Christ.  Christ calls each us where we are.

Sermon

  How many of you have ever been fishing?  Why do you go fishing?  To catch fish, right?  It’s fun to catch fish but sometimes, fishing is a lot of waiting.  I probably quit fishing because I do not have the patience to wait.   One time, as a boy I went fishing in Minnesota, and a school of crappie were right under the dock.  And we caught fish as fast as we could pull them out of the water.  We caught so many fish that we had to designate limits for even the babies that went with us that day.  But every other time, I have gone fishing; it has not been that easy.  It has been a lot of waiting.  I can wait for lots of things but not for fish to bite so, I gave up fishing.

  Most of us fish for recreation and for fun but two friends of Jesus, Andrew and Peter, they fished because it was their job.  They helped their father Zebedee, who was also a fisherman.  And they used nets in the Sea of Galilee to catch fish and bring them ashore to sell in the towns.

  When Jesus met Peter and Andrew, he told them that he was going to give them another job.  He told them that they were going to fish for people.  What did Jesus mean when he said that they would fish for people?

  Jesus fished for people.  He caught Peter and Andrew.  What does that mean?  It means Jesus knew how to make friends.  He made friends by giving people hope.  He made friends by telling them that God loved them, God cared for them, God forgives them, and that God will preserve them forever, even after they die.  Jesus needed help from people to help get this happy news to as many people as possible.  So he asked Peter and Andrew to help him share this wonderful news.

  Peter and Andrew quit their fishing because they went with Jesus and they learned how to catch people and make them friends of God.  They learned how to tell people good news about God.

  Did yes know that God is fishing for us today.  God is not trying to catch us in a net or on hook.  God is trying to win our hearts and make us friends of God.  How is God trying to make us friends?  God wants us to believe in God’s love, God’s care, God’s forgiveness.  God wants us to have faith instead of fear; God wants us to have hope instead of worry.  God wants us to know that God will preserve our lives even after we die, so we don’t have to live in fear of the future.  That is good news for us, isn’t it?

   And God wants something else.  Just as God fishes for us and catches us.  God wants us to help share the good news with other people and to make them friends of God.  That is how we fish for other people.  We fish for other people by sharing with them the good news about God.

  Today, our message in the Gospel, reminds us that we are to learn how to make friends by sharing with them the good news about God’s love.  How many want to help make friends for God?  I know that you are going to be very good at fishing for people, because you are going to be good at making friends for God.  Amen.

 

St. John the Divine Episcopal Church

17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037

Family Service with Holy Eucharist

January 21, 2018: The Third Sunday after the Epiphany

Gathering Songs:   Jesus in the Morning, He Is Lord, I Will Make You Good Fisher Folks, When the Saints 

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

People:            And Blessed be God’s kingdom, now and forever.  Amen.

Liturgist:  Oh God, Our hearts are open to you.

And you know us and we can hide nothing from you.

Prepare our hearts and our minds to love you and worship you.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Song: Jesus in the Morning  (Christian Children’s Songbook,  # 134)

1.         Jesus, Jesus, Jesus in the morning, Jesus at the noontime.  Jesus, Jesus, Jesus when the sun goes down.

2.         Love him, love him, love him in the morning, love him at the noontime.  Love him, love him, love him when the sun goes down.

3.         Serve him, serve him, serve him in the morning, serve him at the noontime.  Serve him, serve him, serve him when the sun goes down.

4.         Praise him, praise him, praise him in the morning, praise him at the noontime.  Praise him, praise him, praise him when the sun goes down.

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Litany of Praise: Alleluia (chanted)

O God, you are Great!  Alleluia

O God, you have made us! Alleluia

O God, you have made yourself known to us!  Alleluia

O God, you have provided us with us a Savior!  Alleluia

O God, you have given us a Christian family!  Alleluia

O God, you have forgiven our sins!  Alleluia

O God, you brought your Son Jesus back from the dead!  Alleluia

Liturgist:   A reading from the Prophet Jonah

The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time, saying, "Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you." So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days' walk across. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's walk. And he cried out, "Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.  When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 62

He alone is my rock and my salvation, * my stronghold, so that I shall not be shaken.

In God is my safety and my honor; * God is my strong rock and my refuge.

Put your trust in him always, O people, * pour out your hearts before him, for God is our refuge.

  

Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God! (chanted)

Liturgist:

For the good earth, for our food and clothing. Thanks be to God!

For our families and friends. Thanks be to God!

For the talents and gifts that you have given to us. Thanks be to God!

For this day of worship. Thanks be to God!

For health and for a good night’s sleep. Thanks be to God!

For work and for play. Thanks be to God!

For teaching and for learning. Thanks be to God!

For the happy events of our lives. Thanks be to God!

For the celebration of the birthdays and anniversaries of our friends and parish family.

   Thanks be to God!

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

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news."

As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea-- for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

Liturgist:         The Gospel of the Lord.

People:            Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon – Father Phil

Children’s Creed

We did not make ourselves, so we believe that God the Father is the maker of the world.

Since God is so great and we are so small,

We believe God came into our world and was born as Jesus, son of the Virgin Mary.

We need God’s help and we believe that God saved us by the life, death and

     resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We believe that God is present with us now as the Holy Spirit.

We believe that we are baptized into God’s family the Church where everyone is

     welcome.

We believe that Christ is kind and fair.

We believe that we have a future in knowing Jesus Christ.

And since we all must die, we believe that God will preserve us forever.  Amen.

Litany Intercession Phrase: Christ, have mercy. (chanted)

For fighting and war to cease in our world. Christ, have mercy.

For peace on earth and good will towards all. Christ, have mercy.

For the safety of all who travel. Christ, have mercy.

For jobs for all who need them. Christ, have mercy.

For care of those who are growing old. Christ, have mercy.

For the safety, health and nutrition of all the children in our world. Christ, have mercy.

For the well-being of our families and friends. Christ, have mercy.

For the good health of those we know to be ill. Christ, have mercy.

For the remembrance of those who have died. Christ, have mercy.

For the forgiveness of all of our sins. Christ, have mercy.

Liturgist:         The Peace of the Lord be always with you.

People:            And also with you.

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

Offertory Song:  I Will Make You Good Fisher folk (Christian Children’s 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, and I’ll give you rest.  And I’ll give you rest, and I’ll give your rest.”  Hear Christ calling, “Come unto me and I’ll 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 our birth into the family of God.

A family meal gathers and sustains each human family.

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

The Lord be with you

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to God.

It is right to give God thanks and praise.

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

Holy, Holy, Holy (Intoned)

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

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

Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the Highest.

(All may gather around the altar)

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

You have made us in your image

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

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

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

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

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

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

 this food and drink  that becomes a part of us.

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

Our Father: (Renew # 180, West Indian Lord’s Prayer)

Our Father who art in heaven:  Hallowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done: Hallowed be thy name.

Done on earth as it is in heaven: Hallowed be thy name.

Give us this day our daily bread: Hallowed be thy name.

And forgive us all our debts: Hallowed be thy name.

As we forgive our debtors: Hallowed be thy name.

Lead us not into temptation: Hallowed be thy name.

But deliver us from evil: Hallowed be thy name.

Thine is the kingdom, power, and glory: Hallowed be thy name.

Forever and ever: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Breaking of the Bread

Celebrant:       Alleluia.  Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.

People:            Therefore let us keep the feast.  Alleluia!

Words of Administration

Communion Song: He Is Lord  (Renew! # 29)

He is Lord, he is Lord.  He is risen from the dead and he is Lord.  Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

He is King, he is King.  He will draw all nations to him, he is King: and the time shall be when the world shall sing that Jesus Christ is King.

He is Love, he is love.  He has shown us by his life that he is love; all his people sing with one voice of joy that Jesus Christ is love.

He is life; he is life.  He has died to set us free and he is life; and he calls us all to live evermore, for Jesus Christ is life.

Post-Communion Prayer

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

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

And His Presence has been known to us.

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

    and sisters in Christ.

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

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

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

Closing Song: When the Saints Go Marching in (Christian Children’s Songbook,  # 248)

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

O, when the girls, go marching in….

O, when the boys, go marching in…

O, when the kids, go marching in…

Dismissal   

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

People:      Thanks be to God! 

Mutual Epiphany:The Call of Christ

2 Epiphany B  January 14,2018
1 Samuel 3:1-10  Psalm 63:1-8
1 Corinthians 6:11b-20  John 1:43-51

Lectionary Link

We are in the season of the Epiphany, the season of the manifestation of Christ to this world.  One of the themes of the season of the Epiphany is what I would call the Counter-Epiphany or the Reverse-Epiphany.

Now what would I mean by that?  I mean that the Reverse Epiphany is the manifestation of men and women to Christ.  People are made known to God in Christ.

Christ is made known to us; we are made known to Christ.  And this is the event of human friendship with God.  This event is marked and celebrated by what we call the Call of Christ.

When Jesus met Nathaniel, Jesus said to him, "Behold an Israelite in whom there is not deceit or guile."  He said, "Rabbi how did you know me?"  Jesus said, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you."  Jesus was saying, "Nathaniel, I was checking you out even when you did not know it.  I saw your body language.  I knew I wanted to call you."  Jesus had an Epiphany of Nathaniel before Nathaniel had his Epiphany of Jesus.

And isn't that how love and friendship and calling occur.  It is a mutual Epiphany.

Einstein once said the main question of the universe: Is it a friendly place?  The main Christian question is:  Is God personally friendly to me?  Does God love me?  Am I known by God?  Has God had an epiphany of me and let me know about it?

You and I remain unknown to most of the population of the entire earth, even if we get 15 or more minutes of fame.  We remain unknown to most of the world.

We depend upon a core number of people in our lives to have an epiphany about who we are and if we can enter the regard of enough people it is significant for establishing our sense of worth and esteem.  But sometimes having the mere regard of significant people is not enough.  There remains a nagging sense of wanting another kind of recognition, something which cannot be given by mere family or peer relationship.

St. Augustine was quite a lover; he was a scholar, a rhetorician and he had plenty of regard by people in his life.  But he later wrote: The human heart is restless until it finds its rest in God.

How did Augustine come to find his rest in God?  His mother, Monica prayed endlessly that the playboy scholar would find his rest in God.  And God answered her prayers and Augustine came to find his rest in God and he received a call from God to devote the rest of his life as a scholar bishop and he became one of the amazing theological architects of the Christian Church.

How might we understand the dynamic of this mutual epiphany between Christ and a person known as the call of God in Christ?

I believe that creation is like the Trojan Horse of the Divine.  How so?  God hides something of the image of the divine in each person.  And this image of the divine within is like a powerful homing device that is always seeking out its likeness and owner.  And this homing device like God's preset GPS is sending out continuous instruction about finding our way home to God.  In our sin and ignorance we misread what this homing signal of the power force of inward desire.  We let the desire linger and focus too long on things that are not divine and we let idolatry slow us down and send us on long detours of addiction and distractive behaviors.  When our GPS is too far out of whack, we need to have  milestone people in our environment onto whom we can project our desire to get it back on track to the divine.  Jesus Christ arises in human history to be the One onto whom we can project so that our desire can be reorganized and become the energy to propel us in the right direction.

Since all of us have the divine homing device within us, we can all be a part of God's mission to call and reconcile all people to the reality of their true being.  Before Jesus called Nathaniel, Philip was the set-up man for Jesus.  "Hey, Nate, I found this great teacher Jesus who has knocked my socks off.   I have to tell you about him.  Okay...where's this Jesus from?  He from Nazareth.  Nazareth?  You're kidding me."   That's like asking a Giants' fan to find something good about the Dodgers.  Sometimes our regional bias and other prejudices will not let us regard the truth of our own being because we want to control how we get the message.  Philip the evangelist was at his wits end so he said: "At least come and see.  Meet him."

Today, we are called to be like the evangelist Philip.  We need to be willing to pray for future members of St. John's.  We know that there are many habits and biases which would keep people away from our parish.  We need to have the boldness to invite and say, Come and see.  Come and see if you can find your calling to Christ in our midst.

Let us make this new year a year of mutual Epiphany.  Believing that God in Christ knows us and loves and helps us activate that homing device within us to lead us back to God, but also calls us to be those who invite others to be with us as we are finding our way back to God and finding a way to let the image of God in our lives be seen as the most important thing about us.  Amen.