Sunday School, February 19, 2023 Last Sunday after the Epiphany A

 Sunday School, February 19, 2023    Last Sunday after the Epiphany A

Theme

Comparing the Giving of the Law of Moses to Jesus

How did Israel receive the Law?  Moses went up on Mount Sinai

What was Mount Sinai life when he went there to receive the law?  It was cloudy and had the fiery light of God’s presence.

What happened to Moses face after he received the law on the mountain?  His face was shiny bright.  In fact, it was so shiny that he had to put a veil on his face to keep from blinding the people of Israel.

Mount of the Transfiguration

Who was on the Mount of Transfiguration?  Peter, James, John, Jesus and Moses and Elijah appeared too.  And the voice of God was heard.

What was the Mountain top experience like?  It was covered with clouds.  It had a bright light which was the shiny face of Jesus.

What happened there? Jesus was talking with Elijah and Moses.  Peter was nervous and he wanted to build three tents,booth as worship shrines for Jesus, Elijah and Moses.

What was the most important event on the Mountain?  The voice of God announced that Jesus was God’s Son and that God was pleased with Jesus and the Voice told everyone to listen to Jesus.

What is the meaning of the events of the Mount of Transfiguration?

Peter, James and John who were Jews were to understand that Jesus was a friend of two of the greatest Jewish heroes, Moses and Elijah.  Moses and Elijah had returned to endorse Jesus as their friend and leader.  And the voice of God announced the most important identity of Jesus to be that He was God’s Son.

How can I understand the meaning of transfiguration?

Transfiguration is the word metamorphosis and this refers to the natural process of the cycles of growth in life.  Our lives are in the process of metamorphosis like the larva, caterpillar, and cocoon waiting to become butterflies.  There is a butterfly “spirit” within us that is waiting to break out of us in our resurrection from the dead.  Until then we are being transformed or changed into becoming more like Jesus, who has also called us to be beloved sons and daughters of God.  We have God’s Spirit within us a wonderful Light that helps to change or transform our lives to be more like Jesus.

The story of Jesus tells us that Jesus was God’s special Son and that the Light of the Holy Spirit was in Him.  It also means that we are invited to let the light of the Holy Spirit rise in us to change ourselves to be like our Brother Jesus, who reminds us that we are beloved sons and daughters of God.  And we can know that God loves us and is pleased with us too.

Sermon

Today is the last Sunday of the season of the Epiphany.  Can you tell me what the color is for Epiphany?  Green.  How did you guess?  And what season comes next?  The season of Lent.  And what day does it begin on?  Ash Wednesday.  And why do we call it Ash Wednesday?  We do some face painting on Ash Wednesday.  We draw a black cross on our foreheads to remind ourselves about the parts of our selves that last forever and the parts of our selves that wear out.  Do your clothes wear out?  Do your shoes wear out?  Do cars get old?  Do our bodies wear out?  Our bodies do wear and someday they will just stop working.  And if we wait long enough, they will turn back into dust.  And so on Ash Wednesday, we begin the season of Lent by reminding ourselves that part of our life is going to wear out.

  But you know we have another part of our self that is never going to wear out.  And that part of our self is what we call “Spirit.”  Our spirit is the part of us that will live forever.

  Our spirit is all of that stuff inside of our bodies that we cannot see.  Our spirit is like the light in the light bulb.  On the outside a light bulb is just a piece of glass.  But when you turn the light bulb on it becomes warm and bright.

  You and I have to learn how live our lives like a light bulb that is always turned.  We have to learn to make our spirits light up our bodies?  How do we do this?  We can do this in many ways.  With curiosity.  With learning new things.  With laughter.  With wonder and surprise and excitement.  With kindness and love and care.   In many ways we can make the life of our bodies shine with the life of our spirit.

  Today we read a story about Jesus when his face shone like a very bright light.  You see, Jesus had such a strong and wonderful Spirit, he was able to make his face shine when his friends saw him in a very special way.  Jesus was a very special friend.  His friends called him the Light of the world, because he helped them to learn and live their lives better.  We need to follow Jesus and learn how to be lights in this world for each other.  We need to learn how to make our spirits so strong and so full of knowledge and love and kindness that we become lights in our world for the people in our world.

  Can you learn how to shine like a light today?  Okay let’s turn on our lights…now.  Amen.

Intergenerational Family Service with Holy Eucharist

February 19, 2023: The Last Sunday after The Epiphany

Gathering Songs: I’ll Be a Sunbeam; This Little Light, Climb Climb Up Sunshine Mountain, Shine, Jesus, Shine,

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

People: And Blessed be God’s Kingdom, Now and forever. Amen.

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

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

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

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Song: I’ll Be a Sunbeam (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 112)

1-Jesus wants me for a sunbeam, to shine for him each day; in every way try to please him, at home, at school, at place.  Refrain: A sunbeam, a sunbeam, Jesus wants me for a sunbeam.  A sunbeam, a sunbeam, I’ll be a sunbeam for him.

4-I’ll be a sunbeam  for Jesus, I can if I but try; serving him moment by moment, then live with him on high.  Refrain: A sunbeam, a sunbeam, Jesus wants me for a sunbeam.  A sunbeam, a sunbeam, I’ll be a sunbeam for him.

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

O God, who before the passion of your only­ begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Litany of Praise: 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 Exodus

Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud. Now the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God

Let us read together from Psalm 99

The LORD is great in Zion; * he is high above all peoples.

Let them confess his Name, which is great and awesome; * he is the Holy One.

"O mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity; * you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.

 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 Matthew

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Six days after Peter had acknowledged Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!" When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Get up and do not be afraid." And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.  As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, "Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

Liturgist:         The Gospel of the Lord.

People:            Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Lesson – 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.

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

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

1-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.

2-Hide it under a bushel, No!  I’m going to let it shine.  Hide it under a bushel, No!  I’m going let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

3-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.

4-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 God.”

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: 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:   Climb Up Sunshine Mountain, (The Christian’s Children Song Book # 1)

            Climb, climb up sunshine mountain, heavenly breezes blow,

            Climb, climb up sunshine mountain, faces all aglow. 

            Turn, turn from sin and doubting, look to God on high;

            Climb, climb up sunshine mountain, you and I.

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: Shine, Jesus Shine  (Renew! # 247)

Lord the light of your love is shining, in the midst of the darkness shining. Jesus, light of the world, shine upon us. Set us free by the truth you now bring us. Shine on me.  Shine on me.

Refrain: Shine Jesus Shine, fill this land with the Father’s glory.  Blaze, Spirit, blaze set our hearts on fire.  Flow, rivers, flow, fill the nations with thy grace and mercy.  Send forth your word, Lord, and let there be light.

Dismissal:   

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

People: Thanks be to God!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

The removal of “alleluia” until Easter

Announcements, Snack and Fellowship

Right Being Is More Difficult Than Right Doing

6 Epiphany A February 12, 2023

 Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Psalm 119:1-8
1 Corinthians 3:1-9 Matt.5:21-24,27-30,33-37

Lectionary Link

Oswald Chambers, the writer of the popular devotional "My Utmost for His Highest," described the words of Jesus in the beatitudes as Jesus requiring not only right doing but also right being.

By right being, he was referring to the inner life which can be kept well hidden from the public view.  The actions of our lives can often be seen by the public and in our socialization, we are taught to look good in public if we want to impress the audiences of our lives.

In short, we from childhood are taught rote habits by our families and other important mentoring figures. From childhood, we are forced to go to church, to school, and lots of other civic events, even while we may not have always wanted to be doing these civic acts.  We learn lots of rules, customs, and protocols within our society which we learn to do so as not to be embarrassed, even though we may not really inwardly be attached to them.  "I have to act good, even when I don't feel like doing so."

In short, our training teaches us to be good actors.  Playing good roles on the outside even while we have hidden conflict and many counter emotions and feelings within.  In another place, Jesus referred to such religious actors as "hypocrites," which comes from the Greek word hupokrisos.

The Beatitudes expose the fact that people are hypocrites, or actors of doing good things even while the interior life is not always so inclined to be good.

St. Paul believed that the law of highly recommended good behaviors toward God and each other, set us up to be hypocrites, that is, they inform about how we should be in our behaviors but they cannot help us with the tenth commandment, the one about coveting, about wrongly desiring to have and be what we should not want.

And if we are wise, we will submit to our acting training of doing what the rules indicate even if we cannot make our inward desires and our unconscious and subconscious lives of our dreams behave in lawful manners.

The words of Jesus make it seems like hating and murder are equal in their sinfulness, and lusting and adultery are equal in their sinfulness.  But we know that in the actual practice of jurisprudence and social custom, societies cannot treat doing a bad act as being equal to thinking about doing a bad act.

So what was Jesus trying to do by presenting such a high standard of seemingly saying that right being and right doing have equal status in the eyes of God?

Jesus is the one who said, "Be perfect as my Father in heaven is perfect."  And for people to grow in perfection, it means that one's good motives and one's good deeds are in agreement.

Perhaps, we should see the spiritual method of Jesus as revealing the human condition of despair as preparation for the humility of the experience of grace.  It is the kind of despair expressed by the Psalmist when writing, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."

Religions can become societies with rules for members to pat themselves on the back for keeping all the religious rules in front of each other and in member in turn judge harshly the outsiders who don't keep the rules in the same way.

In words of Jesus, our righteousness must exceed the behaviors of certain religious leaders whom he had observed.

"So you think you've made it because you've convinced yourself that you are right doing in your public behaviors, such that you can judge others as being lacking.  Well don't stop with just your outward behavior, look at your inward desire; let God bring you to grace to receive the inward grace, even the clean heart of the Holy Spirit as the one who help us tolerate ourselves on the path of repentance."

The Gospel of the beatitude words of Jesus is a challenge for us to accept our need for grace to deal with our inward lives.  And when we accept our need for grace, we can have the humility to know that such grace is offered to everyone on the path of being perfected in love.

May God give each of us grace as we wrestle to couple right doing with right being as we accept the inner grace of God's Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Sunday School, February 12, 2023 6 Epiphany A

 Sunday School, February 12, 2023    6 Epiphany A

Themes:

Doing the right thing and being the good inside

Jesus told some riddles about how sometimes we have to do good things even when we don’t feel like doing them.

Sometimes we have to do chores like cleaning our rooms or washing the dishes, even though we don’t feel like doing them.

Sometimes there are laws and rules that we don’t like to follow.

What does it like not to like doing something that is good?  Why do we often not like to follow the rules and the law.

Sometimes we think that we are better than other people because we keep rules that they don’t keep.  If I know the rules of playing soccer but my little brother doesn’t.  I might think that I am better than my little brother.  I might get angry at him for breaking a soccer rule that he doesn’t even know.

But my anger at my little brother is much worse than my brother not knowing or keeping the rules of soccer.  What good is it for me to know the rules of soccer if I use the rules to be angry at my little brother.

I need to know the rules of soccer and I cannot be angry at people who don’t know the rules.  If I know the rules of soccer, then I then to be patient to teach my little brother the rules of soccer.

Jesus said that there were people who were keeping the rules but they were very proud about keeping the rules.  They were angry at people who did not know and keep the rules like they did.  He said that their anger was just as bad and harmful as those who did not know or keep the rules.

We can sometimes ruin very good rules and laws by the way that we use the rules.  If we keep the rules and think that we are so much better than people who don’t know the rules or don’t keep them, then our pride, anger and impatient is breaking the greatest rule of all, to love our neighbor.

If we keep the rules and understand how good the rules are, then instead of being angry at other people who do not keep the rules, we will be patient to show and teach other people how good the rules are.

Jesus said the rules were given as a gift to teach and share with others.  The rules and laws of God were not given to us so that we can pretend that we are better than other people who do not know or keep the rules.

We have to learn how to keep the rules and at the same time we have to have the greatest rule of love in our hearts even for people who do not know or keep the rules.

Jesus reminds us that we have to both do good and be good inside.  The purposes of training ourselves to keep the rules is to learn how to make ourselves good inside, good with love and kindness and sharing.

Sermon:

Can you tell this?  Let’s say there is a candy bar on the table that belongs to someone else.  Which is worse?  Thinking about taking the candy bar?  Or Taking the candy bar?

  Of course, taking the candy bar is worse.  If we do everything that we desire, we can get into trouble.

  Today we read some words of Jesus.  And Jesus spoke in some riddles. And sometimes his riddles are hard to understand.  In the riddle of Jesus, he said that it is just as bad to be angry with someone as it is to kill someone.  Now that is quite a riddle.  Why would Jesus say something like that?

  Jesus was talking to some people who thought that they were better than other people.  And he wanted to teach them a lesson.

  What if you came to my house and played a game with me.   Let say we were playing soccer and I kept touching the ball with my hands.  And when I touched the ball with my hands, you wanted to call a hand ball foul and get a free kick.  But what if I say to you, “This is my house and my ball and so I get to use my hands and you don’t.”  What would you say to me?  You would say to me, “That’s not fair.  I did not know your rules before we started to play and if I had known your rules, I wouldn’t have played with you.”

  So Jesus saw that some people were making special rules that other people did not know about.  And they thought they were better because they made and kept special rules for themselves that other people did not know about.

  And Jesus reminded them that they were not perfect.  And since they were not perfect they did not have the right to say they were better than other people.

  And how did Jesus show them that they were not perfect?  He said to them, “You may look good in what you do?  But what are you like inside?  Do you have anger inside of you?  Do you ever want what is not yours?  Have you ever wanted to push or shove someone?  Have you ever wanted to call someone a bad name?”

  So no matter how good we think that we are, we always have room for improvement.  Jesus reminds us that we need to be good on the inside and we need to also do good things.

  It is sometimes hard to be good on the inside.  Can you and I control all of our thoughts?  Can we control all of our emotions?  What about when someone pushes or shoves us?  Is it hard to control our feelings of anger?  Can we always control our desire to want to eat 10 pieces of candy when we know it is best if we only have one or two pieces of candy?

  So do you see the meaning of the riddle of Jesus?  Jesus was saying no matter what we do, we always need God’s help to make us good and clean inside.  And no matter how good we are, we can always be better.  And no matter how good we are, we still need God’s love and forgiveness to help us become better.  And no matter how good we are, we should not think that other people are worse than we are.

  If we are always aware of how much we need God to make our insides good, then we will be forgiving of other people.

  Can you remember this riddle of Jesus?

Intergenerational Family Service with Holy Eucharist

February 12, 2023: The Sixth Sunday after The Epiphany

Gathering Songs:

Hallelu, Hallelujah, O, Be Careful, I Come With Joy, He’s Got the Whole World

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: Hallelu, Hallelujah   (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 84)

Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelujah, Praise ye the Lord. 

Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelujah, Praise ye the Lord.  

Praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah, Praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah. 

Praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah, Praise ye the Lord.

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

O God, the strength of all who put their trust in you: Mercifully accept our prayers; and because in our weakness we can do nothing good without you, give us the help of your grace, that in keeping your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Litany of Praise: 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 Ecclesiasticus

For great is the wisdom of the Lord; he is mighty in power and sees everything; his eyes are on those who fear him, and he knows every human action. He has not commanded anyone to be wicked, and he has not given anyone permission to sin.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord.

Peope: Thanks be to God

Please read with me from Psalm 119

Happy are they whose way is blameless, * who walk in the law of the LORD!

Happy are they who observe his decrees * and seek him with all their hearts!

Who never do any wrong, * but always walk in his ways.

.

Litany of Thanksgiving: Chant: Thanks be to God!

Litanist:

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

For our families and friends. Thanks be to God!

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

For this day of worship. Thanks be to God!

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

For work and for play. Thanks be to God!

For teaching and for learning. Thanks be to God!

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

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

   Thanks be to God!

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

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, `You shall not murder'; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, `You fool,' you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

Liturgist:         The Gospel of the Lord.

People:            Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Lesson –  

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 of Asking:  Chant: 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 sick. Christ, have mercy.

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

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

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

People:                        And also with you.

Offertory:  O Be Careful (Christian Children’s Songbook #180)

O be careful little hands what you do, O be careful little hands what you do.  There’s a Father up above and He’s looking down in love, so be care little hands what you do.

O be careful little feet where you go….

O be careful little lips what you say….

Doxology (Stand)

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.

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 him 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 (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!

Words of Administration.

Communion Song: I Come With Joy   (Renew! # 195)

I come with joy a child of God, forgiven, loved, and free, the life of Jesus to recall, in love laid down for me.

I come with Christians, far and near to find, as all are fed, the new community of love in Christ’s communion bread.

As Christ breaks bread, and bids us share, each proud division ends.  The love that made us makes us one, and strangers now are friends.

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: He’s Got the Whole World (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 90)

He’s got the whole world; in his hands he’s got the whole wide world in his hands.  He’s got the whole world in his hands; he’s got the whole world in his hands.

Little tiny babies. 

Brother and the sisters  

Mothers and the fathers

Dismissal:   

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

People: Thanks be to God!  

 

To Abolish the Law or Not

5 Epiphany A February 5, 2023
Isaiah 58:1-9a, (9b-12) Psalm 112:1-9
1 Corinthians 2:1-11 Matt.5:13-20

Lectionary Link

In the words of Jesus, he states that he did not come to abolish the law and the prophets but to fulfill them.

But what does fulfilling the law and the prophets mean in such words?   And how do these words comport with many other writings in the New Testament?

To fulfill the Torah, wouldn't that mean honoring the customs of the sabbath, the dietary rules, and the obligatory rule of circumcision?  Didn't St. Paul have a different view in his mission to the Gentiles which dispensed with the circumcision and dietary requirements of the Torah?

Did St. Paul disagree with Jesus?  And what are we to make of this apparent discrepancy?

Rather than pretending a nice and neat harmony among all the New Testament writers, it is important that we recognize the diversity among the early followers of Jesus.  First, there was no rigid and neat separation between Judaism and Christianity found in the New Testament.  The followers of Jesus were followers of Rabbi Jesus, a teacher in the Judaic tradition.  Jesus had followers of his teaching tradition, so did the Pharisees who followed the chief rabbi Gamaliel.  The Zealots had their own firebrand tradition which included open rebellion to the Roman occupiers.  The Temple based religion had priests, Sadducees, who were more conservative than the Pharisees in accepting what authoritative Hebrew Scriptures could be used for anchoring their practices.  They limited themselves for theological precedence to the Torah, the first five books of the Bible.  The Pharisees embraced the other two divisions of the Hebrew Scriptures, the writings and the prophets, as basis for defining their beliefs and practices and so they considered the notions of the messiah and resurrection.  In this way the beliefs of Jesus and his followers were closer to the Pharisees than to the Sadducees.  St. Paul was a Pharisee who believed that Jesus was the Christ; many other Pharisees believed in the Messiah, but did not think Jesus was the Messiah.

Just as there were different parties within Judaism, so too there were many different parties within the early Christ communities.  The differences would arise from location of the gathering and the make up of the life experiences of the people in the gathering.  Some may have been followers of Jesus who remained in the synagogues which accepted the teachings of Rabbi Jesus.  Others may have been members who were lapsed Jews in their lack of adherence to Jewish ritual purity customs.  Other gatherings may consisted of exclusive Gentile followers of Jesus.  And still other gatherings may have consisted of mixture of all three groups.

But what unified all of these groups?  Jesus Christ.  They all followed a Christ-centered Judaism, and even the Gentiles, who came to see themselves as grafted into the spiritual traditions of the Hebrew Scriptures.

So one can say the writer of the Gospel of Matthew, writing in or around the year 80 of the Common Era, was writing to a different community than the Corinthian community to whom Paul was writing in the late 50's or early 60's.

The writer of Matthew was channeling words of Jesus to a gathering familiar with the Hebrew Scriptures and traditions.

The words of Jesus in accepting the prophets and the Psalms as important foundation, was accepting that the prophets were already a development within Judaism from the writings of the Torah.  In fact, the prophets were extremely critical of their people who had ritual adherences to fasts, sabbath, sacrifices, and circumcision, but whose practice toward the poor, widows, and orphans indicated that they had religion without loving mercy, justice, and humility toward God.

Jesus, like the prophets, criticized religious people who emphasized ritual adherence but who did not practice love, mercy, justice, and humility.  He criticized religious leaders who reduced teachings about God to but political loyalty to a religious party or view point.  He said that his followers had to have a righteousness beyond the appearance of performing ritual behaviors.

For Jesus, the fulfillment of the law was in the doing of what is right everywhere, and not just for public performance in synagogue or Temple.

For Jesus, God's house, as this world was to be a place of worship for all people, a house of prayer for all people, just as it was stated by the prophet Isaiah.

What is the result of doing the religion of Jesus?  It makes one salt and light.  Following Christ, means that one's humble charisma is activated to season and influence one's environment and through one's life example one can help other people taste and see God's goodness.  Jesus said, be salt so that others can taste and see God's goodness.

Jesus also said his followers should be lights.  This means that with wisdom, we learn to provide contrasting contexts for people to be able to make more enlightened decision toward the way of God's love and justice.

For Paul, such wisdom meant that one learned inner knowledge, the poetry of the soul.  One could live poetically, and be motivated by another kind of energy rather than be trapped into crass literalism devoid of knowing the parallel inner charismatic life to accompany our very flesh and blood lives.

Whether for Jesus or Paul, the religion of God was to be universally available and not locked within any exclusive ethnic or national community.  The fulfillment of the law is for it to be accessibly promulgated to everyone.  This is what Jesus believed about his own life, namely, God being made accessible to all.  And this is what St. Paul believed his mission to be: To make God in Christ accessible to everyone and so fulfill the expansive law and the prophets.

It is to this universal tradition, and not to be limited by our experience, that we are to proclaim to all today.  Let us preach and live the universality of God to be the fulfillment of the law in as many ways as we can today.  Let us live the wisdom of God today. Amen.