Sunday School, May 23,2021 The Day of Pentecost B

Sunday School, May 23, 2021   The Day of Pentecost B

Theme:

Meanings of Pentecost

Pentecost is fifty days after Easter

Anglicans call it Whitsunday or “White” Sunday, called that perhaps because of the white robes worn by the candidates for baptism.

The English Church, retains the color white for Pentecost while the Episcopal Church and other churches use the color Red for Pentecost, symbolizing the red flames of the tongues of fire that is reported in the Pentecost event.

The tongues of fire seem to appear on the disciple in Jerusalem and the disciple began to speak about Christ in other languages.

This means that the message about Christ can be translated into all languages and all people can be united by the One Spirit of God even though all people are different in many ways.

Pentecost is a celebrate of our unity, perhaps, better called a “harmony.”  It is how God’s love is lived and expressed among people who have many differences.

When Jesus left this world, he reminded us that God’s Holy Spirit was with us to let God’s presence be known to us.

Sermon:

Many churches have a musical instrument with big pipes.  This instrument is called a pipe organ.  A pipe organ is made up of lots of pipes.  A pipe is just like a whistle.  You blow air through the pipe and it makes a sound.  But each pipe makes a different sound.  And when they play together, it like having an entire band all within the cabinets.  Some of the pipes can been seen and many are hidden and cannot be seen.

  To make the pipe organ work there has to be a powerful fan which can blow air through tubes and into chests so that when the holes under each pipe are opened the air blows the pipe and makes the sounds.

  Today, is the Day of Pentecost.  It is a day when we celebrate that God is known as the Holy Spirit.  We say God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The word Spirit means Wind or breath.  Take a deep breath and blow.  Can you see your breath?  No.  But how do you know it is there?  You can feel it blow against your hand.  Can you see the wind?  No.  But can you see the wind blow the branches of a tree?  Yes.

  The Holy Spirit is like the wind and breath.  We cannot see God but we can see the effects of God in our world.  When we see love and kindness and beauty we know that God’s Spirit is present. 

  When a pipe organ is played there is one wind that plays all of the different sounds of the pipes.

  This is how we can understand God’s Spirit.  There is one Spirit of God who lives in each of us, but each of us are different and each of us have different things that we can do to make this world a better place.

  Today, we are baptizing Bishop.  It is like we are adding a new pipe to the wonderful pipe organ of God.

  Today, we know that the life of God’s Spirit is in Bishop and he is going to make some wonderful sounds with all of the good things which God will do with his life.  And he joins all of us as pipes in the great pipe organ of God with the Wind of God Spirit blowing through us.

  And so each of is like a different pipe in this great pipe organ of God.  Let us be thankful today that each of us is special and different.  But let us also be thankful that God’s Spirit is in us to help us make beautiful music together as we live together to love and care for one another.  Amen.

Intergenerational Family Service with Holy Eucharist

May 23, 2021: The Day of Pentecost

Gathering Songs: Glory be to God on High, Creating Spirit, Every Time I Feel the Spirit

Liturgist: Alleluia, Christ is Risen.

People: The Lord is Risen Indeed.  Alleluia.

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:  Glory be to God on High,     (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 70)

Glory be to God on high, alleluia.  Glory be to God on high, alleluia.

Praise the Father, Spirit, Son, alleluia.  Praise the Godhead, three in one, alleluia.

Sing we praises unto thee, alleluia, for the truth that sets us free, alleluia.

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

O God, who on this day taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of 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   Letter to the Romans

We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Let us read together from Psalm 104

You send forth your Spirit, and they are created; * and so you renew the face of the earth.

May the glory of the LORD endure for ever; * may the LORD rejoice in all his works.

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 John

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus said to his disciples, "When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.  "I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But, now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, `Where are you going?' But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.  "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it 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 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 Spirit of the Living God, (Renew # 90)

Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.  Spirit of the living God fall afresh on me. Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me.  Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.

Spirit of the living God, move among us all; Spirit of the living God, make us one in love: humble, caring, selfless, sharing— Spirit of the living God, fill our lives with love.

Doxology

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

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

Prologue to the Eucharist

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

All become members of a family by birth or adoption.

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

A family meal gathers and sustains each human family.

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

The Lord be with you

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to God.

It is right to give God thanks and praise.

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

Holy, Holy, Holy (Intoned)

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

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

Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the Highest.

All may gather around the altar

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 so that we may love God and our neighbors.

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

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

Father, we now celebrate the memorial of your Son. When we eat this holy Meal of Bread and Wine, we are telling the entire world about the life, death and resurrection of Christ and that his presence will be with us in our future.

Let this holy meal keep us together as friends who share a special relationship because of your Son Jesus Christ.  May we forever live with praise to God to whom we belong as sons and daughters.

By Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory

 is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.

And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we now sing,

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: Creating Spirit, Holy Lord  (Renew! # 283

Creating Spirit, holy Lord, the gentle breeze, the mighty wind, with warmth and pow’r and graciousness in grace refashion heart and mind.

O comforter of all who toil, gift from the fountain head of light, O Spirit of all love and fire, anointing chrism of all might.

 

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: Every Time I Feel the Spirit, (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 48)

Refrain: Every time I feel the spirit moving in my heart, I will pray.  O every time I feel the spirit moving in my heart I will pray.

1-On Pentecost day, the Spirit came.  The people praised with joyous tongues.  The Spirit came to everyone.  Jews and Gentiles, all the same. Refrain

2-God’s Spirit lives, within the church.  He gives us gifts to build us up.  God’s Spirit fills us with his love.  O blessed Spirit, heavenly dove.  Refrain

Dismissal:   

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

People: Thanks be to God!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

Is the Prayer of Jesus being Answered for Us?

7 Easter  B    May 16, 2021
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26   Psalm 1
1 John 5:9-13  John 17:6-19

 

Lectionary Link

Here's a quote from the long prayer of Jesus recorded in the seventeenth chapter of John:   "While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them"

What verb tense is "was," "protected," and "guarded?"  Past tense.  If Jesus prayed, "While I was with them," does this imply that he is no longer with them?

And if Jesus is no longer with his disciple during this prayer, where is he?

Today is Ascension Sunday.  So what this prayer may be considered is a post-Ascension prayer.  The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews wrote: Jesus ever lives to intercede for us.  Jesus is one who prays for us; he did it while he was visible on earth; he does it in the invisible realm after the ascension.

The prayer of Jesus in John appears to be a post-Ascension prayer.  So how did the words of Jesus get written down when he is already ascended?

There was a method of delivering the post-Ascension words of Jesus.  It is what I call the oracle function of the Risen and Ascended Christ within the communities of the followers of Jesus.  How is this oracle function introduced in the New Testament writings?  In various ways, like when Jesus told his disciples to speak in his name.  This means that the words that he inspired in them would be His Words too.  This means that when Paul said that he had the mind of Christ, that some of his words would be channeling the words of the Ascended Christ.  The entire Gospel preaching tradition involves a rather great presumption: presuming to speak in the name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

That presumption has been widespread but only a few of those words have been written down and through a long process of church meeting votes, some have become the official text book of the church, the New Testament.

So what is this prayer of Jesus we have read?  It is an inspired writer answering the question, "When Jesus is no longer with us, "what would Jesus pray?

And this is where it really gets exciting, because it is quite profound what Jesus asks God his Father for?

He asks God the Father that each of his followers would come to be one with God as he is one with God.

Jesus is asking for nothing less than that you and I experience a mystical union with God.  This is almost too deliciously holy to even ponder.  Why?

What would happen if we really accept this and believed that we too could be such children of God?

If we believed and lived our mystical union  with God, we would be living an inspired life in our time and place just like Jesus lived an inspired life in his time and place.  Our time and place is completely different from the time and place of Jesus; so we are inspired to do things which are appropriate to the meaning of love and justice within the very specifics of our time and place.

Lot of people think to be in a holy oneness with God means one has to be somewhere completely different than in the very ordinary lives which you and I inhabit.

What do you mean?  Mystical union with God in Ramona?  At St. Mary's-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church?  Yeah right, that's even laughable.

Mystical union happens everywhere because God as the great originator is omnipresent; God is everywhere and in everything.  We human beings have the exalted privilege of consciously recognizing to very high degree of how much God is in and through us.

And this is what the prayer of Jesus is asking for us to realize.

And so the question for you and me is this?  Is the prayer of Jesus being answered in you and me?  And if it is, by accepting our mystical union with God through Christ, how are we going to live?  And what kind of parish are we going to make St. Mary's-in-the-Valley?

Let us open ourselves to the possibility of the prayer of Jesus being answered in us today.  Amen.

Sunday School, May 16, 2021 The Seventh Sunday of Easter B

 Sunday School,  May 16, 2021   The Seventh Sunday of Easter B

Themes:

Choosing the replacement for Judas by casting lots

Casting lots is like choosing straws

Why do we choose straws or cast lots to make selections?

When people are equally worthy and qualified, sometimes using “chance” is the way in which we give everyone an equal chance to do a something important on behalf of the community or family.  So it takes the politics or favoritism out of the selection.  A person who draws the short straw might feel disappointed at “losing” but at least he or she knows that he or she had an chance.

Matthias was chosen to replace Judas as one of the Twelve Disciples.  The number 12 was important to the early church because there were 12 Tribes of Israel and the early Christians believed that the church was like a New Israel.

Psalm 1 Emphasizes the important of the people whom we hang out with called our peers.  If we choose good friends, they can help us do better and make good decision.  If we choose to be with people who model bad behaviors, we can be influenced toward those bad behaviors.

The Gospel of John and the Epistle of John

The Gospel is the real “Lord’s Prayer” because it is a prayer of Jesus with his Father.  The other “Lord’s Prayer” is better called the “Our Father” because it is a group prayer.

The prayer of Jesus shows us some important lessons.  First, we need to know God as our Father or heavenly parent, as one who listens to us and who encourages us to speak with Him at anytime.  So Jesus show us that as He is the Son of God, we are sons and daughters of God.   The prayer of Jesus is all about sharing conversation with the family of God to which we belong.  The prayer of Jesus shows us that we are to prayer for each other, for safety and protection and for the growth in knowledge and in truth.

If Jesus prayed, then so should we.

Gospel Puppet Show:

Telephone prayer between Jesus and God the Father

Jesus: Hello, Dad.  This is your Son Jesus.

The Father: Hello, Son, I’m so glad that you called.  I always like to hear from you.  I know that you will soon be sitting next to me.

Jesus: Dad, I would like to talk to you about something.

The Father:  Of course, What is it?

Jesus: Dad, I’ve made some friends here and I know that when they will no longer see me in person they might have some fears.

The Father:  And what would you like?

Jesus: Well, you know how close you and I are.  We are so close we are like One being.

The Father: Yes, we are very close.

Jesus: Well, could you give to my friends the same close relationship that you and I have?  Could you let them know that you are their Father too?

The Father:  Well, of course I can.  After all, I created people in my image and so I sent you to be with them so they could discover that they are sons and daughters of God.

Jesus: Yes, could let them know how special they are to you?  If you do, they will know the special feeling about themselves, the feeling of esteem or glory.  I feel that glory because I am your Son and I want them to feel that glory too.

The Father:  Son, you and I really agree on this and I will do what you ask.  And I will let your friends know that I am their Father, but you need to remind them to treat me like their Father.  And the way that they can do that is to talk to me, like you do.

Jesus: Yes, I will tell them to pray and I have taught them to pray because if they practice talking to you they will get to know you in a special way and that is what I want for them.

The Father:  Amen….Son, anything else?

Jesus: Dad, could you also keep them in safety and protection?

The Father: I certainly will do, I can keep them all the time, even in death because I can preserve their lives forever, just like your life will be forever.

Jesus:  And Dad, could you help them to grow in what is wise and truthful.

The Father: Yes, I will.  I made people with curiosity to seek and know what the right thing to do is at all time.  I will give them a Book, a Bible with words which they can read to guide them in honest truth.

Jesus: And Dad, could teach them to be like turtles?

The Father: What do you mean?

Jesus: Well, turtles have to know how to live in the water and on the land.  People have to learn how to live in inner world of their spirit and in the outer world of their lives.  Sometimes it is hard to balance the inner and the outer worlds.  Can you help them balance their inner worlds and their outer worlds.

The Father:  I will help them do this but you need to remind them to talk to me and ask for help.  I cannot help them if they do not ask.

Jesus: Thank you, Dad.  I love you.  And now I must go finish the work you gave me to do before I return to be with you heaven.

The Father: I love you.  Thanks for calling.  I love when you and your friends talk to me.  And soon you will be with me again.  Amen.

Sermon:

How many days are in the week?  Seven right.

  When God created the world how many days did God work?  Six days.  And what did God do on the seventh day?  God rested.

  And in the 10 commandments what is the seventh day called?  It is called the Sabbath.  And one of commandments says: Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy.

  Do you know what that means?  It means that one day out of seven belongs to God.

  So how can we possibly give 24 hours a week of special time to God?

  Jesus showed us how we can give at least 24 hours a week to God.  How did he show us?  Jesus prayed to God his Father.

  How do you get to know someone?  You have to talk to them to get to know them, right?  If you don’t ever spend time with someone you don’t get to know them.

  So how do we spend time with God?  We spend time with God by praying.  That one of most important things that we do in life.  We pray when we come to church.  How do we pray.  We praise God because we see God’s greatness in the things that God has done.  We thank God too in our prayers, because of the wonderful things that God has given us.  And we ask God for the things that we need in our life.  And we offer the prayers over the bread and wine, because Jesus asked us to do this.  Did you know that our singing is prayer too?  And when we are kind and help each other, did you know that is prayer too?

  Do we pray only when we come to church?  No, we can pray in many ways in many places.  Before our meals.  Before we go to bed.  Before we go out to play.  And we can pray before we take an exam at school.  Do you know that my favorite prayer is a one word prayer.  Do you know what that prayer is?  Help.  Help me God.  Amen.

  If we learn to pray in all of the times of our lives then we can easily give 24 hours a week to God. 

  Jesus prayed that his disciples would become just like him and his father.  Jesus wanted his friends to know that they were sons and daughters of God.  And they could know that if they would spend some time getting to know God.  And the best way to get to know God is to pray as often and in as many ways as possible.

  Remember that Jesus prayed.  And we should pray too.  That is how we get to know God.  That is how we learn to honor God by keeping the Sabbath.  Let us all remember to pray today.  Amen.

Intergenerational Family Service with Holy Eucharist

May 16, 2021: The Seventh Sunday of Easter

Gathering Songs: The King of Glory, The Butterfly Song, Father I Adore You, This Little Light

Song: The King of Glory! (Renew! # 297)

Refrain: The King of glory come, the nation rejoices.  Open the gates before him, lift up your voices.

Who is the King of Glory; how shall we call him? He is Emmanuel, the promised of ages. Refrain

In all of Galilee, in city or village, he goes among his people curing their illness. Refrain

Sing then of David’s son, our savior and brother: in all of Galilee was never another. Refrain

Liturgist: Alleluia, Christ is Risen.

People: The Lord is Risen Indeed.  Alleluia.

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

O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. 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 First Letter of John

And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Let us read together from Psalm 1

Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked, * nor lingered in the way of sinners,
nor sat in the seats of the scornful!

Their delight is in the law of the LORD, * and they meditate on his law day and night.

They are like trees planted by streams of water, bearing fruit in due season, with leaves that do not wither; * everything they do shall prosper.

  

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!

For the blessing of our mothers on Mother’s Day. Thanks be to God!

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

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Looking up to heaven, Jesus prayed, "I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth."

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  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

Song:  The Butterfly Song   (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 9)

If I were a butterfly, I’d thank you Lord for giving me wings.  If I were a robin in the tree, I’d thank you Lord that I could sing.  And if I were a fish in the sea, I’d wiggle my tail and I’d giggle with glee, and I just thank you Father for making me, me. 

Refrain: For you gave me a heart and you gave me a smile, you gave me Jesus and you made me your child and I just thank you Father for making me, me.

If I were an elephant, I’d thank you Lord for raising my trunk.  If I were a kangaroo, you know I’d hop right up to you.  And if I were an octopus, I’d thank you Lord for my fine looks and I just thank you Father for making me, me.  Refrain

If I were a wiggly worm, I’d thank you Lord that I could squirm.  If I were a Billy Goat, I’d thank you Lord for my strong throat.  And if I were a fuzzy, wuzzy bear, I’d thank you Lord for my fuzzy, wuzzy hair, and I just thank you Father for making me, me.  Refrain

Doxology

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

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

Prologue to the Eucharist

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

All become members of a family by birth or adoption.

Holy 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 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 so that we may love God and our neighbors.

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

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

Father, we now celebrate the memorial of your Son. When we eat this holy Meal of Bread and Wine, we are telling the entire world about the life, death and resurrection of Christ and that his presence will be with us in our future.

Let this holy meal keep us together as friends who share a special relationship because of your Son Jesus Christ.  May we forever live with praise to God to whom we belong as sons and daughters.

By Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory

 is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.

And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we now sing,

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

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

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

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

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

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

As we forgive our debtors: Hallowed be thy name.

Lead us not into temptation: Hallowed be thy name.

But deliver us from evil: Hallowed be thy name.

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

Forever and ever: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

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

Breaking of the Bread

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

People:            Therefore let us keep the feast.  Alleluia!

Words of Administration

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

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

Jesus, I adore you, lay my life before you. How I love you.

Spirit, I adore you, lay my life before you.  How I love you.

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: This Little Light of Mine (Christian Children’s Songbook # 234)

This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.  This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel, no!  I’m going to let it shine.  Hide it under a bushel, no!  I’m going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Don’t let anyone blow it out, I’m going to let it shine.  Don’t let anyone blow it out, I’m going o let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Shine all over my neighborhood, I’m going to let it shine.  Shine all over my neighborhood, I’m going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Dismissal:   

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

People: Thanks be to God! Alleluia!  Alleluia!

Graduating to be Friends of Christ to Make More Friends

6 Easter B         May 9, 2021
Acts 10:44-48    Ps. 33:1-8,18-22
1 John 4:7-21      John 15:9-17     

Lectionary Link

The Gospel of John presents Jesus in the most ideal parent-child relationship.  In fact, Jesus, in the Gospel of John is proposing that we know ourselves as children of God and experience this ideal relationship to God.

A happy Mother's Day to all mothers today and we offer thanksgiving to the only person in whom we ever literally lived.

Jesus said: Abide in me.  Our birth mothers did not have to say that to us; we were in them from our beginnings.

In our Gospel today, Jesus clarifies what he meant by the notion of abiding in him.  Abide in my love as I abide in my Father's love.

Obviously we were doubled blessed by literally abiding in our mothers from before birth and when we were born, we were blessed if we could abide in our Mother's love.

One might say the profound effect of Jesus of Nazareth is that he cast an aura of love, so profound that he created a "love environment" within which people were invited to abide and live and dwell and develop their own ability to have a love aura for the befriending of others in this world.

And that is what the church is to be today; a befriending society creating a love aura, a love environment where people can find acceptance and nurture and peace for growth into their full personhood.

In the history of the church, it is sometimes hard to find the original genius of our foundation; we were made to be a society of friends, who befriend others because of the good news about a love relationship with God.

We can note that the institutional structures of the church have often functioned, not for befriending but for separating us from each other as exclusive clubs with tight boundaries.  Sometimes the boundaries have been seen in doctrinal wars between people who are Christian or other people who profess a different belief in God.  Sometimes the boundaries have been ethnic and racial.  Apparently colonial powers of European and American Christians were happy to convert people of color to the love of Jesus, without ever truly practicing the justice of the love of Jesus with such people.  We, white people, have taken a Middle Eastern religion and made it into a "white empire" of privilege, admitting people of color as long as they did not insist on interacting with us with the same kind of privilege.

We who have been glad about the success of Gospel among people of color, need to pray for the success of the Gospel to attain the fullness of loving practice in our own communities.

Befriending is perhaps the major issue in our world today.  Befriending can only happen between people who are willing to live out equality with each other.  Jesus of Nazareth wanted his students to graduate, from being mere pupils and disciples with diminutive status to become full blown friends with him.

Jesus said, "I now call you friends; you have graduated because you now have become the teachers to others and I send you to befriend other people as I have befriended you.  You have learned the curriculum well; the curriculum of my commandments of love."

One of the goals of motherhood is to have one's children grow up and become parents too.  Once a parent, one reaches a new type of equality with one's own parent, an equality of identity.

Let us remember the graduation ceremony of Jesus for his disciples. "Peter, James and John, and the rest, I confer upon you the certificate of friendship.  You are my friends, because you have learned to befriend other people to be able to find their friendship with God."

My friends, we can in the middle of being an institution with property, and lots of other baggage, forget about the core reason of why we exist.  We exist to befriend each other and our world with the love of God in Christ.

Befriending happens when we cast an aura of love from God's Spirit of love which creates an environment for people to abide in the wonderful friendship community founded because of God in Christ.  Let us go forth in love to befriend and heal our world trapped in broken relationships with each other and God.  Amen.