Sunday School, May 22, 2022 6 Easter C

 Sunday School, May 22, 2022     6 Easter C

The followers of Jesus wrote about the life of Jesus after they had “graduated” from the school of Jesus.

What did the followers of Jesus do?  They prayed together.  They studied the Bible together.  They preached good news about God’s love and forgiveness.  They prayed for sick people.  They share their food, clothing, homes and money with people who were in need.  They ate the Holy Meal of Eucharist together.  They welcomed people into their community through baptized.

And what did they realize?  They realized that they were doing exactly what Jesus taught them.  And when they realized this, they remember that before Jesus left he had told them that he would be with them and give them a helper after he was gone.

When we teach someone we leave something of our self in the person whom we taught.  Jesus was the teacher of his followers and when he was gone, his followers realized that the life of Jesus from his teaching was with them and it included a power and ability to continue to do the good things which Jesus taught them.

One of ways in which a person never dies is to pass on the wonderful gifts of one’s life to other people.  When a person teaches or helps or gives something to another person, a person lives on forever with the people who received the gift.  And the people who are taught also keep teaching and so many people continual to live on.

Today, we celebrate that Jesus and all of the followers of Jesus who have been in the church for over 2000 year continue to live on in us now.  We have the opportunity to keep the life of Jesus alive in our world as we pass what we have learned from Jesus to other people.

Jesus told his students that what he taught them would stay with them because the Holy Spirit would continue to help them learn and remember about the life of Jesus.

The Good News for us today is this:  When we teach and give and help others, it means that we will in very important ways, live forever.

Let us join with Jesus and Christians of all times continue to pass on to others the good news of God’s love and care.  In this way, we will continue to live forever with Christ.

Children’s Sermon

  Can you brush your teeth by yourself?  Can you wash your hands by yourself?  Can you eat with a fork and a spoon by yourself?  Who taught you to do all of these things?  Your mom or your dad did or maybe your big brother or sister.

  The older that you get, the more things you learn.  And when you learn things you do not have to have your mom and dad there with you to do them for you.

  So what things can you do on your own now?  Can you brush your hair?  Can you make your bed?  Can you clean your room?  Can you take your dishes from the table into the kitchen?  Can you read a book?  Can you take care of your pets?

  Yes you are learning to do many things by yourself now.  Your mom and dad used to have to help you but now you can do them yourself.  So it’s like your parents have been your teachers and when they are not with you it is like they are still with you because they have taught you to do so many things to do by yourself, you don’t need them to help you with them anymore.

  When Jesus knew that he was going to leave this earth and when he knew that he would not be with his friends, he told them that when he left that he would leave a teacher with them. Or a helper or an advocate.

  So when the friends of Jesus who were students of Jesus did not see him anymore, they would still know what to do, because he taught them so well, it was like he was still with them, even though he was gone.

  Did you know that life is all about learning and teaching.  When you learn how to do something, it means that you too will become a teacher to help someone else learn.

  When we learn from our parents and teachers, it means that they do not have to be with us all of the time to do things for us.

  When we teach someone something, it is like we leave a part of ourselves in them.  Because every time they do something that we taught them, it is like we are still with them.

  Jesus told his students that he was going to leave, but he promised that he would still be with them.  And how was he with them?  He taught them to do things well, so when they did things on their own, they knew that it was like their teacher Jesus was still with them.

  Remember our life is about learning and teaching.  When you learn, your parents and teachers will always be with you when you do what you learned from them.

  And you too will be a teacher, when you help others to learn.

    Jesus was such a good teacher, that his friend knew that he was with them even when they did not see him.  Let us learn to be good students and good teachers, too.  Amen.

Family Service with Holy Eucharist
May 22, 2022     6 Easter C

Gathering Songs: If You’re Happy and You Know It, God Is So Good, Eat This Bread, Awesome God

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: If You’re Happy And You Know It, (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 124)

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.  If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.  If you’re happy and you know, then your face should surely show it.  If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.

If you’re happy and you know it stomp your feet.  If you’re happy and you know it, stomp your feet.  If you’re happy and you know, then your face should surely show it.   If you’re happy and you know it stomp your feet.

If you’re happy and you know it, shout, Amen! Amen!  If you’re happy and you know it, shout, Amen! Amen!  If you’re happy and you know it, then your face should surely show it. If you’re happy and you know it, shout Amen!  Amen!

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; 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 Revelation to John:

In the spirit the angel carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Its gates will never be shut by day-- and there will be no night there. People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 67

Let the peoples praise you, O God; * let all the peoples praise you.

The earth has brought forth her increase; * may God, our own God, give us his blessing.

May God give us his blessing, * and may all the ends of the earth stand in awe of him.

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 special blessing of our Mothers whom we honor today.  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 Judas (not Iscariot), "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me. "I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, `I am going away, and I am coming to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe."

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: God Is So Good, (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 73)

God is so good.  Good is so good.  God is so good; he’s so good to me.

He cares for me.  He cares for me.  He cares for me; he’s so good to me.

I love him so.  I love him so.  I love him so; he’s so good to me.

I’ll praise his name.  I’ll praise his name.  I’ll praise his name; he’s so good to me.

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.  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,

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: Eat This Bread (Renew!, # 228)

Eat this bread, drink this cup, come to me and never be hungry. 

Eat this bread, drink this cup, trust in me and you will not thirst.

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: Awesome God (Renew!  # 245)

Our God is an awesome God.  He reigns from heaven above.   With wisdom, power and love, our God is an awesome God.

(Sung three times)

Dismissal:   

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

People: Thanks be to God!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

Language and Love

 5 Easter   C      May 15, 2022

Acts 11:1-18 Psalm 148

Revelation 21:1-6 John 13:31-35

Lectionary Link

 

As a species, we are distinct in being very language centered beings.  Everything gets mediated through language; even when we were infants and were undeveloped in having language, as more advanced language users, we have to project upon infants their humans experience as though they were advanced enough to talk about it.  When we see a baby's response, we make assumptions about how they are experiencing their world and we use language to do so on their behalf.

 

We are prisoners of having language but that does stop us from speculating about beings who are outside our language prison.  We just assume, like the proverbial Dr. Doolittle, we can talk to the animals, and they can talk to us.  And we assume that our plants react to our speech as well.

 

The Psalmist imagines that all the creatures and creation can praise the Lord.  If praising the Lord with human language is our highest profession, then surely the creatures and creation must be able to do that too in their own way.  Can we understand that as human beings with language communication ability, we cannot help but project that on everything which we experience?

 

The spiritual reason we do it is because in understanding Jesus Christ to be God with us, as the eternal Christ who was also declared to be the Eternal Word, the Eternal Language from the beginning.  And we are made in the image of Eternal Word.

 

St. John the Divine writes it in a bit different way, by saying Christ is the Alpha and the Omega, in effect Christ is everything which can come to any alphabet.

 

As language users, we use language to first declare that we have experiences, and those experiences are classified by language.  The Psalmist wrote poetry of projected experience, assuming that animals and creation were enough like us to have the vocation to praise the Lord.  In fact, the Psalmist declares that the highest vocation of all creation is to praise the Lord.  And this is completely consistent with the first commandment, "The Lord our God, is One.  Worship only the One God."

 

What are other human experiences which we have classified in our language experience?  We have dreams and visions, and dreams and visions are alike in the sense that they are different than our ordinary "feet on the ground" commonsense experience.  Space and time rules don't apply in dreams and visions.  Gravity doesn't apply in visions.  In dreams and visions, the doors or gates of perception get opened and every sort of reality can get juxtaposed in this dream and visionary seeing.  Peter had a vision, which he believed was God giving him command to eat "non-kosher" animals, the ones eaten by the Gentiles who were coming to accept Christ and having experiences of the Holy Spirit.  This dream for Peter was preparation for him to be receptive to people who had different cultural eating traditions than his own.  He was commanded not to make kosher habits as the basis for the determination of the love and favor of God.  And in an expansive way, we need to see this as a teaching for us not to attach cultural and national restrictions on what the love of God can do for people who may be foreign to us.

 

St. John the Divine, wrote that he was "in the Spirit."  He had his perceptual doors opened to the kaleidoscopic and merged presentations of heavenly realities.  He saw and wrote about unbelievable and impossible things; things which cannot be possible within our commonsense reality.  He heard a declaration that death, tears, crying, and mourning would be no more.  He heard a declaration about their being a new heaven and a new earth.  What could that mean?  Why would God make a new heaven?  Isn't the heavenly abode of God already perfect or was it polluted by the rebellious angels who promoted themselves as lesser gods?

 

St. John the Divine perhaps was one who had been a prisoner and forced to work in the mines of the Isle of Patmos.  Suffering and extreme deprivations can create visionary states and these visionary states can be an analgesic from the severity of pain.  Christians have been reading the Book of Revelation for years with some trying to force visionary states upon the commonsense state of human existence.  It can't be done; what can be accomplished is the comfort of knowing that the fullness of parallel reality can provide insight, comfort, creativity, invention, hope, and inspiration for us as we have to live in commonsense reality most of the time.  Many biblical fundamentalists would like to promote dream reality as the same thing as commonsense reality, and we need to be aware of where that kind of thinking is influencing our current political life today.

 

The last kind of human language experience which I would like to cite from our Bible reading today is what I call the declaration of providence.  Providence is the reflection upon a higher and guiding purpose that one cites about a past event.

 

John's Gospel was written more than a half century after Jesus.  It is a book of the providence of God as observed from the perspective of what had happened within the Jesus Movement.  Practically speaking there is no past until the present.  The past is invented when it is contrasted with the present.  The leaders of the Jesus Movement could not pretend that everything which had happened in the fifty years after Jesus, didn't happen.  The Jesus Movement had been successful.  Why was it successful?  To explain the success of the Jesus Movement, the life of Jesus is retold which include the seeds of why the Jesus Movement became lasting and successful.  Telling the past means that logic has to be challenged.  If a close friend of Jesus, Judas betrays him and turns him over to be killed by the Roman authority, Pontius Pilate, what is the commonsense logic?   Jesus would be removed, and his movement will end and die.  But how is the story told?  When Judas is revealed at the Last Supper, Jesus said a strange thing:  "Now the Son of Man is glorified."  Jesus also told Pontius Pilate, that Pilate did not have any power to release him.

 

From the advanced position of fifty years of a growing and successful Jesus Movement, the individual events in the life of Jesus are declared to be the providence of God.  And it is wonderful that some things turn out very surprising from some very dire circumstances.

 

As much as we believe in providence, and because we have experienced some eventual good things occurring after some very bad things, we still need to be very careful about presuming to know specific providence in the present, because we can really minimize present time suffering.  And providence does not mean that everything bad has equally good consequences.  How many people want to say that it is God's will for the Ukrainian people to be going through what they are because there is something better for them in the future?  Can we see how shallow and minimizing it is for us to declare God's will for other people who are suffering while they are suffering.

 

Let us appreciate the language of having really big hope in such visionary presentations of a new heaven and new earth, without any dying, mourning and suffering.  It is a vision of the reconciliation of all things; and in hope we can experience this as a parallel reality, even while we know that in our commonsense reality of the world, there is lots of real, real, suffering which we cannot minimize by declaring our hope in eventual reconciliation.

 

Christ as the eternal Word, invites us to learn how to understand our experience with language which presents God's love, as found in the most profound gritty proclamation which the writer of John's Gospel understood to be the words of Jesus: 

I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."  Amen.

Sunday School, May 15, 2022 5 Easter C

 Sunday School, May 15, 2022  5 Easter C

The disciple were friends of Jesus but they were also his students.  Jesus watched how his students were learning.

What did he notice about his student?  He noticed that his student argued about who could have the best seats in the kingdom of Jesus.  Peter was very sure of himself even bragged about how brave he was.  Jesus knew that Jesus was planning to help some people who did not like Jesus.

So what did Jesus think that his students and disciples needed?  They needed to know how to live together.  When Jesus hosted a meal for his students, he noticed that none of them washed the feet when they came to the meal.  In the time of Jesus, it was the custom to have one’s dusty feet washed when one arrived at a person’s house.  The disciples and students of Jesus believed that they were too important to do the job of a servant.  They only wanted to be important people.  So Jesus, decided to wash the feet of his disciples.  He said to them, I am your teacher but I washed your feet.  And you need to do this for each other.  Why?  Because all of the small courteous things in life are very important.  So Jesus gave the disciples the “11^th Commandment.”  “Love one another as I have love you.”  Jesus showed his love for his disciples by washing their feet and he said that they needed to practice the small deeds of courteous love for each other.

Have the children list lots of very small things which they can do to show that they love the people in their lives.

A Children’s sermon on the “11^th Commandment”

You remember that we have studied the rule book that God has given us to show us how to live our lives.  What are those famous rules called?

  The 10 Commandments: Love the One God.  Don’t let anything else be the god of your life.  Don’t use God’s name in a wrong way. Make time for God.  Don’t steal.  Don’t kill.  Don’t tell lies.  Be content with what you have. Respect the family.  Honor your father and mother.

    So we have the 10 commandments.  But today we read about a new commandment that Jesus gave to his friends.  So now we have 11 commandments.  What is that new commandment?  Jesus said, “I want you to love one another, just as I have loved you.”

  Jesus had watched his friends and some times he did not like how they behaved.  Sometimes they would argue about who should have the best jobs.  Some times they thought that they were better than other people.

  And that is why Jesus had to give them the 11th commandment.  Was Jesus an important person?  Yes he was.  And what did Jesus say that really important people do?  He said that they served other people.  How do we serve other people?  By being kind.  By doing nice things.  By helping with the chores. 

  Jesus said to his friends, “ you need to love and care for each other, just like I have loved and cared for you.  That is the only way that you will be able to stay together without hurting each other.”

  So loving one another as Jesus loved us.  This is the best rule of all.  This is what makes your family work well.  This is what makes our parish work well.  When we love one another, we are doing the best of all.

  So can you remember the 11th commandment, the new commandment?  Love one another as Jesus loved us.   And I will tell you a secret:  If you learn and practice this 11th commandment, then you will be keeping all of the other 10 commandments too.

Intergenerational Family Service with Holy Eucharist

May 15, 2022: The Fifth Sunday of Easter

Gathering Songs: I Am the Bread of Life, This Little Light of Mine,  Ubi Caritas, Soon and Very Soon

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: I Am the Bread of Life,  (Blue Hymnal, # 335)

1-I am the bread of life, they who come to me shall not hunger; they who believe in me shall not thirst.  No one can come to  me unless the Father draw them. 

            And I will raise them up, and I will raise them up, and I will raise them up on the last day.

2-I am the resurrection, I am the life, they who believe in me, even if they die, they shall live forever.  And I will raise them up, and I will raise them up, and I will raise them up on the last day.

3-Yes Lord we believe that you are the Christ, the Son of god who has come into the world.

And I will raise them up, and I will raise them up, and I will raise them up on the last day

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; 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 Revelation to John

And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true." Then he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life."

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 148

Hallelujah! Praise the LORD from the heavens; * praise him in the heights.

Praise him, all you angels of his; * praise him, all his host.

Praise him, sun and moon; * praise him, all you shining stars.

Praise him, heaven of heavens, * and you waters above the heavens.

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.

At the last supper, when Judas had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.' I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

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: 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 to 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.

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. 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,

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: Ubi Caritas (Renew!, # 226)

Ubi caritas et amor, ubi caritas, Deus ibi est.

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: Soon and Very Soon (Renew!  # 276)

Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King.  Soon and very soon, we are going to see the king.  Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King.  Alleluia, alleluia, we are going to see the King.

No more dying there, we are going to see the King.  No more dying there, we are going to see the King.  No more dying there, we are going to see the King.  Alleluia, alleluia, we are going to see the king.

Dismissal:   

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

People: Thanks be to God!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

Contradictory Metaphors: Lamb and Shepherd

4 Easter C May 8, 2022
Acts 9:36-43 Ps.23
Rev 7:9-17 John 10:22-30

 Lectionary Link

On Mother's Day, I should be quoting Jesus as saying, "My mother Mary and I were one during the nine months of gestation."  And that would be literally true.  Instead, from the Gospel, we have the words of Jesus saying, "The Father and I are one."

 

Okay, so much for lining up Scriptures with our favorite Hallmark holiday.

 

Well, this is also Good Shepherd Sunday, and a Shepherd is one who uses power and ability to take care of the vulnerable sheep, and who does that better than good mothers, and aren't we thankful for that today.  Like a shepherd, a mother does so much that is unseen, seemingly invisible but the effects of good shepherding and good mothering are significant and telling for the benefit of our world.

 

Jesus as the Good Shepherd and the Lord God as Shepherd of the Psalmist, perhaps David the shepherd, are themes of Good Shepherd Sunday.  Every metaphor has a limit before losing its signifying effectiveness.  The Lord is My Shepherd, nothing shall I lack,  and Jesus is the Good Shepherd.

 

There is something wonderful feeling as though we are favorite pets of God the Father and Jesus Christ.  Have you ever said about a pet lover, "Wow, when I die, I want to return as your pet dog?"  People who love their pets really treat them well, making them feel very specially loved.

 

But what is the limit of the shepherd-sheep metaphor?  When I lived in Iowa as a boy, my school friends were farmers, and each were given a sow to feed, and that pig became their pet and friend.  But when they took their well-fed sow to the State Fair, they auctioned their pet friend to the highest bidder and got good money for bacon and other pork treats.  Same with sheep; they are a commodity needed for their wool and their meat.  They may be pets but with a shelf life on their pethood status.

 

It is nice to be God's favorite lambs, but being such, we know that we are vulnerable to what eventually happens to all lambs, yes, death.  As human lambs, we know that the conditions of aging, growth, and freedom exposes us to have a physical shelf life.

 

And that may help us to understand the contradictory metaphors about Jesus.  Jesus is both shepherd and the lamb who was slain.  Jesus had these two roles in identity with us to give us hope in being both lambs and shepherds.  As lambs we know that we are often vulnerable, and often needing help from others, and we may often need to be sacrificial lamb for the quality and betterment of the lives of other.  But we are also empowered shepherd who are given gifts to benefit the lives of others especially the lives of those who are in need.  And both roles are fitting metaphors for the lives of good mothers, who live in sacrificial anonymity for the benefit of others, but as shepherds they get the sense of pleasure or completeness in the success of their children.

 

One of the most important phrases in today Gospel is this, Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice and I know them."

 

In the entire Gospel of John, what does "hearing the voice of the Good Shepherd mean?"  It really means having the interpretive wisdom to perceive that the presentation of matters of the physical senses are used to impart spiritual meaning.  Hearing, seeing, touching, tasting, walking, drinking, and living, does not refer to physical life but to perceptive aspects of spiritual life.

 

Being able to hear Jesus means that one learns the non-literal life of spiritual awakening in mystical experience of God's Holy Spirit.

 

As Lazarus was a symbol of having resurrection life even while one still lived in John's Gospel, that Lazarus tradition is shown to be continued with the coming to life again of Dorcas through the intercession of the apostle Peter.  The experience of resurrection life even while we know that we're going to physically die was a chief metaphor of Paul, the Gospels, and the Acts of the Apostles.

 

Today on Good Shepherd Sunday, let the Gospel for us be learning how to live the conditions of being both lambs and shepherds.  We are vulnerable to the probability conditions of true freedom, and sometimes like Mom, we have to take it for the team.  The strength to live sacrificially is what also makes us shepherds, shepherds of care for those who need us to be there for them.

 

And if everything I'm saying sound silly, it is silly to the literal mind which cannot hear from having had an inward conversion to see the spiritual within the seeming visible and physical world.

 

May we be converted from crass literalism to be able to see the wonderful world of wisdom metaphors which enrich us with poetry of spirituality, and may we have the wisdom to know when to be literal and scientific and when and how to be poetic and spiritual.  We can do both without confusing the two.  In this way, let us hear with our spiritual ears the voice of the Risen Christ. Amen.