Sunday School, November 2, 2025 21 Pentecost, C proper 26

 Sunday School, November 2, 2025   21 Pentecost, C proper 26

Zacchaeus Story, wanting to be good

Zacchaeus was a wealthy man but he was rich because he overcharged people for their taxes.  He worked for the Roman government and he was hired by them to collect taxes from his own people, the Jews.  So, of course he was hated by members of his city and country.

It is not easy to be disliked.  And as long as he was a tax collector he was not going to be liked by his neighbors.

Zacchaeus was trapped and he wanted to find a way to get out of his trouble.  He needed help.  Where could he find help?

He heard about the famous teacher.  So he went to see the famous teacher Jesus.  But he couldn’t get close.  He climbed a tree to see Jesus, but that meant that Jesus saw him too.

Two things about the life of Zacchaeus and us.

We need to always be seeking Jesus.  And we need to know that Jesus is always seeking us.  It takes two sides in a relationship.  We look for the help of Jesus to become better people.  And Jesus is a teacher who wants us to learn more.

How do we know if we have made Jesus our friend?

Our life changes.  Our behaviors change.  We become more honest.  We work to repair relationships that have become unfriendly because of things that we have said and done.

Remember: Let us seek the help of Jesus to become better people.  Let us know that Jesus is also seeking us.  Jesus went to the home of Zacchaeus.  God comes to us and gets very close to us.  Our bodies can become the homes of the Holy Spirit who will help us become better persons.

Sermon

  I have been watching children at our church and preschool for many year.  And do you know the most favorite place of all children who come to St. John’s for church and for preschool?

  It is right outside of this window in this olive tree.  This olive tree is the perfect tree for children to climb in.  It’s not tall; it is easy to get into and it fits several children at the same time.  It has leaves all year round and so you can still have privacy.

  So most children do not want to be in preschool or in church; they want to be outside climbing in this tree.  Maybe we should have school and church in the tree and you would have more fun.

  Why do you like to climb in trees?  Why do people like to build tree houses?  Do you want to be like birds?  Or is it because I feel short and when I climb in a tree, I can feel taller.

  In the Gospel story today, we read about a short man who climbed a tree.  His name was Zacchaeus.  He was not a very popular man because he collected taxes for the Roman government.  And sometimes he would charge too much tax so that he could have more money for himself.

  When people do not like us for something bad that we are doing, what can we do?  We can say, “I want to be liked by other people.  I want to have friends.”  But someone might say to us, “If you want to be like by others and if you want to have friends, you have to learn how to act in friendly ways.  You have learn to act better.”

  That is what Zacchaeus thought.  “I need to be a better a better person.  Who can I see to help me become a better person?”

  Zacchaeus heard about a famous teacher, Jesus of Nazareth.  Jesus was teaching and he was doing many good things.  And he was helping people to live better lives.  But wherever he went, there was a crowd of people.  He was popular and so it was very difficult to get close to him.

  Zacchaeus heard that Jesus was coming to his neighborhood and so he ran to see him, but he could not get close because of the crowd of people.  And Zacchaeus was so short that he could not see over the crowd of people.  So what did he do?  He climbed up a sycamore tree so that he could see and hear Jesus.  And when Zacchaeus was in the tree, he got quite a shock.   Jesus looked at him and said to him, “Come down from the tree, because I’m coming to your house today.”

  Zacchaeus was shocked that Jesus noticed him.  He invited Jesus into his house and became his friend.  And he made his life better; he gave money to help the poor and he promised to return money that he had wrongly charged people in their taxes.

  Zacchaeus wanted to be better, so he went to Jesus.

  We come to church each Sunday, because we want to learn how to be better.  We come to learn about God and Jesus and we come to share friendship together because we want to help each other become better people.

  Zacchaeus had a curiosity to become a better person, so he went to see Jesus.  You and I need to remember to be curious about being better people.  We need to do everything we can, include climbing a tree, to try to be better people.  We need to study about the life of Jesus and the lives of all good people to learn how we can be better.  And just as Zacchaeus had the reward of meeting Jesus, we too can be rewarded with learning how to be better people.  Amen.

Family Service with Holy Eucharist

November 2, 2025   Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost

Gathering Songs: Zacchaeus; O Come Let us Adore Him; Jesus, Stand Among Us; When the Saints Go Marching In  

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: Zacchaeus,   # 252, Christian Children’s Songbook

Zacchaeus was a wee little man, A wee little man was he.  He climbed up in a sycamore tree, For the Lord he wanted to see.  And as the Savior passed that way, He looked up in the tree; And he said, “Zacchaeus, you come down!”  For I’m going to your house today, For I’m going to your house today.”

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

Almighty God, you have joined together your chosen people into one family of people who enjoy a special friendship as we are gathered as the body of Christ on earth today; Give us grace so to follow the great heroes in good living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen

Litany of Praise: Alleluia

O God, you are Great!  Alleluia

O God, you have made us! Alleluia

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

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

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

O God, you have forgiven our sins!  Alleluia

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

Liturgist: A reading from the Second Letter to the Thessalonian Church

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of everyone of you for one another is increasing. Therefore we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith during all your persecutions and the afflictions that you are enduring.  To this end we always pray for you, asking that our God will make you worthy of his call and will fulfill by his power every good resolve and work of faith, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

A Reading  from  Psalm 119

 You are righteous, O LORD, *and upright are your judgments.

 You have issued your decrees * with justice and in perfect faithfulness.

Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God!

Litanist:

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

For our families and friends. Thanks be to God!

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

For this day of worship. Thanks be to God!

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

For work and for play. Thanks be to God!

For teaching and for learning. Thanks be to God!

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

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

   Thanks be to God!

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

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today." So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, "He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner." Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much." Then Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost."

Liturgist:         The Gospel of the Lord.

People:            Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Lesson – Fr. Cooke:  

                                        

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

Song for the Offertory: O Come, Let Us Adore Him (Renew # 1)

O come, let us adore him; O come, let us adore him; O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.

We’ll give him all the glory.  We’ll give him all the glory; we’ll give him all the glory, Christ the Lord.

For he alone is worthy.  For he alone is worthy.  For he alone is worthy, Christ the Lord.

We’ll praise his name forever.  We’ll praise his name forever.  We’ll praise his name forever, Christ the Lord.

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, 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:  Jesus Stand Among Us (Renew # 237)

1-Jesus, stand among us in your risen power; let this time of worship be a hallowed hour.

2-Breathe the Holy Spirit into every heart; bid the fears and sorrows from each soul depart.

Post-Communion Prayer

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

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

And His Presence has been known to us.

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

    and sisters in Christ.

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

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

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

Closing Song: When The Saints Go Marching In

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

When the girls go marching in…..

When the boys go marching in….

Dismissal

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

People: Thanks be to God! 

The Apocalyptic, Dying Proclamation, and Mercy

20 Pentecost Proper C 25, October 26, 2025
Joel 2:23-32 Psalm 65

2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18 Luke 18:9-14

Lectionary Link

Rather than trying to force some unifying and totalizing organization upon the biblical writings, even when the lectionary makers try to match readings for a given Sunday for preachers to present a seasonal or Proper specific theme for the week, it is probably more accurate to acknowledge how the various writings in the biblical collection are more context specific to their writing occasions than to an overall scheme which any of them were privy to.

The Psalmist was a poet and he attributed a great Personality behind the cyclic patterns of nature as well as those which stood out because of the attention getting magnitude.  For the Psalmist, nature events were signs of God.

Biblical writers also read nature events as portents for human community, particularly in the literature which pertained to the end of life as we know it for the human social order.

The proto-apocalyptic portion of the Prophet Joel might be called a preparation writing for the end of life as humans have known it.  For an individual, writing for a personal end might be called a dying proclamation, or a very sad version of such would be a suicide note.  The writing that we have from the Second Epistle of Timothy purports to be a dying proclamation of St. Paul.  It does seem to me to be a redacted version of  how disciples of Paul would want him to address the impending ending of his life.  His dying proclamation seems too confident, and maybe too specifically presumptuous about what his afterlife reward would be: a crown of righteousness given by the Lord.  Why does anyone need visions of hyper reward in the afterlife unless it is presented as motivational encouragement to a community that is not experiencing much real time reward?  The dying words refer to his own experience of personal abandonment in his ministry.  Such words are diagnostic of the internal struggles which Paul and the early Jesus Movement experienced.  The words are also apocalyptic because they refer to the longing for the day of the Lord's appearing.  Like the Prophet Joel, and the many other portions of apocalyptic writings in the biblical and extra-biblical writings, the afterlife is viewed as a great reward and correction for how bad things have been for those who trusted God in the times of their lives in their various missions.

In many ways the Bible is a collection of books containing writings about people who held to the normalcy of justice that gave rise to the analgesic imaginations of an everlasting future where correction, reparation, and reconciliation would occur so that justice as normal could ultimately be upheld as a current comfort.

Given the personal ending in death that each person will face and given the fact that large groups of people also face possible catastrophic endings at various times; how should we as human beings live?

The Gospel parable about the self-righteous religious leader, and the contrite tax collector provides some clues to the Christ-recommended way to live.  We should live hoping for the mercy of God as it is filtered through the particular consequences filtered toward us in the vulnerable circumstance of life itself.  And we should live with mercy toward each other not presuming to have superior cause to have contempt for other people because of their differences from us in their life experience.

The Gospel for us then is this: Mercy.  Mercy from the God of All and in All and how the all is funneled to us in our life situation.  And knowing mercy, we should live with mercy toward each other because of the vulnerable situation of what may happen to any of us at any time in the realm of the probable.

Lord have Mercy.  Christ have Mercy.  Lord have mercy upon us, sinners.  Amen.

Sunday School, October 26, 2025 20 Pentecost, C proper 25

 Sunday School, October 26, 2025   20 Pentecost, C proper 25

Themes

Comparisons

Sometimes we use differences to say that people are worse than we are.

We might say someone is a bad person because they play on a different team than we do.

We might criticize someone as being unimportant because we are more skillful than other people.

We might think, “I’m glad that I play soccer better than that boy.”  Or “I’m glad that I’m a better dancer than that person.”  Or, “I’m glad that I get better grades than that person.”

Sometimes we use our differences to say that we are better than other people.

Jesus told a story about two men.  One was a religious person who was very proud of his religious behaviors.  When he saw a tax collector, he said, “I thank God that I am not like this tax collector.”  When we think that we are better than other people we commit a greater sin, the sin of pride.

We can be proud of our accomplishment without having the kind of pride which is mean towards other people.

Jesus said the tax collector had the right attitude toward God.  When he prayed he said, “God be merciful to me a sinner.”  The tax collector realized that he needed to be better and so he asked God for mercy to give him time to improve his behavior.  The religious man did not think that he needed to get any better and he was proud about this.  He was so proud that he compared himself to the tax collector and despised this man.

The message of Jesus is for us to avoid comparisons with each other if we are trying to say that we are better than other people because of who we are and what we do. 

The lesson for us is to avoid the sin of pride.  Since God is perfect, no matter how good we think that we are, we still have a long way to grow to become even better.  And since we have a long way to go to be perfect, we should be accepting and forgiving of people who are different from us in their abilities and in their faults.

Sermon

  If I have am taller than you, does being taller make me a better person than you?

  If you are older than your brother or sister, does that make you better than your brother or sister?

  If you go to church more than another person does that make you a better person?

  If your soccer team wins a game does that make you better boys or girls than the boys or girls on the losing team?

  When we compare ourselves with other people sometimes we make a big mistake.  Sometimes we think that if we are taller, smarter, faster or have read more books than other people that it means we are better people than those who are different.

  Different does not mean better; it only means different.

  Our country has a famous saying, “All people are created equal.”  This means that even though people are different, they are still equal in the eyes of God.

  Who is the only one who can say that “I am the best?”  Only God can say, “I am the best.”  Only Jesus can say, “I am the best.”  But do God and Jesus brag about how much better they are?  No.

  They try to help us be better; they forgive us and they mercy even as they encourage us to be better every day of our lives.

  Jesus told a story about two men.  One man thought that he was better than the other man.  And the other man did not think that he was better, he just knew that he needed God’s mercy, love and forgiveness.

  And Jesus said it is better to know that we need God mercy and forgiveness because then we will always know that we need to work to be better in life.

  The man who thought that he was better should have been saying, “God is much better than me and even though I can never be as perfect as God, at least I should be working to be as good as I can be.  And when I make some mistakes, I hope God will forgive me, so I can continue to try to be the best I can.”

  Remember the message of Jesus today…We are all created equal, because we all need God’s mercy as we try to be better today than we were yesterday.

  Repeat after me: We are different;  but we are equal.  We are equal because God made us.  God loves us all.  And God has mercy on us all.  Amen.

A young child friendly, Holy Eucharist

October 26, 2025: The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

Gathering Songs: Standing in the Need of Prayer; We Are Marching; As the Deer, Jesu, Jesu

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: Standing in the Need of Prayer   (Christian Children’s Songbook # 210)

Refrain: It’s me, it’s me, it’s me O Lord, standing in the need of prayer.  It’s me, it’s me, it’s me O, Lord, standing in the need of prayer.

Not my brother, not my sister, but it’s me O Lord, standing in the need of prayer.  Not my brother, not my sister, but it’s me O Lord, standing in the need of prayer.  Refrain

Not my neighbor, not my classmate, but it’s me O Lord, standing in the need of prayer.  Not my neighbor, not my classmate, but it me, O Lord, standing in the need of prayer.  Refrain

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Litany of Praise: Alleluia

O God, you are Great!  Alleluia

O God, you have made us! Alleluia

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

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

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

O God, you have forgiven our sins!  Alleluia

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

A reading from the Second Letter to Timothy

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 65

You visit the earth and water it abundantly; you make it very plenteous; * the river of God is full of water.

You prepare the grain, * for so you provide for the earth.

You drench the furrows and smooth out the ridges; * with heavy rain you soften the ground and bless its increase.

You crown the year with your goodness, * and your paths overflow with plenty.

Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God!

Litanist:

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

For our families and friends. Thanks be to God!

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

For this day of worship. Thanks be to God!

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

For work and for play. Thanks be to God!

For teaching and for learning. Thanks be to God!

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

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

   Thanks be to God!

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

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, `God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, `God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted."

Liturgist:         The Gospel of the Lord.

People:            Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon – 

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: We Are Marching (Renew!,  # 306)

We are marching in the light the Lord, we marching in the light of the Lord.  We are marching in the light of the Lord, we are marching in the light of the Lord.

Refrain: We are marching, marching we are marching, Oh, marching we marching in the light of the Lord, of the Lord.  We are marching, marching, we are marching, Oh, marching we are marching in the light of the Lord.

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.

(Children may gather around the altar)

The Celebrant now praises God for the salvation of the world through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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

You have made us in your image

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

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

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

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

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

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

  this food and drink  that becomes a part of us.

The Prayer continues with these words

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Children rejoin their parents and take up their instruments) 

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

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

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

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

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

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

As we forgive our debtors: Hallowed be thy name.

Lead us not into temptation: Hallowed be thy name.

But deliver us from evil: Hallowed be thy name.

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

Forever and ever: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

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

Breaking of the Bread

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

People:            Therefore let us keep the feast.  Alleluia.

Words of Administration

Communion Song:   As the Deer Pants for the Water, (Renew # 9)

1          As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs after you; you alone are my heart’s desire and I long to worship you.  Refrain: You alone are my strength, my shield, to you alone may my spirit yield; you alone are my heart’s desire, and I long to worship you!

2          I want you more than gold or silver, only you can satisfy; you alone are the real joy-giver and the apple of my eye.  Refrain.

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: Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love (Renew! # 289)

Refrain: Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love, show us how to serve the neighbors we have from you.

Kneels at the feet of his friends, silently washes their feet, Master we acts as slave to them.  Refrain

Neighbors are rich and poor, neighbors are black and white, neighbors are near and far away.  Refrain

These are ones we should serve, these are the ones we should love all these are neighbors to us and you. Refrain

Dismissal:   

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

People: Thanks be to God! 

Prayer as Persistent Nagging for Justice

19 Pentecost C proper 24 October 19, 2025
Jeremiah 31:27-34 Psalm 119:97-104
Timothy 3:14-4:5 Luke 18:1-8

Lectionary Link

We might not think that ancient people had the scientific method for attaining greater accuracy in understanding causation, but they did have what we call common sense and with their five senses they could judge repetitive patterns of behavior in the natural world, even to gain assurances about predictable repetition.

One might say that their wise ones came to try to apply common sense thinking to human behavior in coming to the promulgation of laws.  The authorities of societies came to enforce their insights on what makes human interaction more or less successful for their goals of a smooth running social order, even though the fickle freedom of human beings wasn't so predictable as the sun appearing every cloudless day in the sky.

If common sense might be called a natural human habit in probability theory, one might say that law making is the effort to extend probability theory into the realm of human interaction for the purpose of social order.

Moses and the giving of law is presented in Hebrew Scriptures as perhaps the major revelation to humanity.  The Hebrew Scriptures also include the narrative about how the law cannot exist as perfect legislation in a vacuum; it needs models, enforcers, adherence, continual teaching and social and liturgical promulgation of the law to guarantee it a prominent place in forming the identity of the people.  The Hebrew Scriptures also narrate how all these important supporting elements of the law were often missing and they cited the lack of social support for the law to be the cause of the demise of their social order.

We read an appointed Psalm of praise and delight for the law, an acknowledgment for the importance of the law to not just the identity of the people but for the social order.  However, the Prophet Jeremiah laments the lack of the supports for the law and the resulting social chaos of future generations suffering because of the misdeeds of former generations.  He wishes that the law could be written upon the heart, on the inside of each person.  He desires the day when the law could be made obvious to all wishing for perfect guiding consciences to be within each person.

Why indeed is the law important?  The law is important for guiding probable behaviors of people.  But what does the record of human behavior reveal?  It reveals that law do not guarantee good human behaviors.  Having laws do not guarantee that bad thing won't happen to you.  Having laws do not guarantee that there will be honest authorities.

And that is the truth of any law; having laws do not always cause people or events to be just and fair.  Life still has to be lived vulnerable to what may happen, vulnerable to an entire range of probabilities.

The vulnerability to what may happen is expressed in the famous Serenity Prayer, associated with many of the 12 Step programs.  God, grant me the serenity to accept the things that I cannot change, courage to change the things that I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Jesus told a parable about the unjust judge who would not give justice to a poor widow, but the widow nagged the judge until he got tired of her persistence, and he gave in.  The woman wanted to hold the judge to his purpose for being, namely just rulings and she had the nagging courage to to believe that she could change him.

Prayer is in fact the belief that no matter what may happen, the right thing to happen is the practice of justice.  The unjust judge represents the reality of probability; good things can happen and bad things can happen, and when bad things are persisting, we can lose heart and believe that what is bad is to define what is normal about life.  And this is where the faith is the persistent affirmation, aspiration, and longing for the triumph of goodness and justice over what is evil and unfair.  This faith is the faith of Jesus, an interior law, the New Covenant Law of the Spirit written on the heart to be continually expressed in begging prayers for what is right and just.

Nagging prayer means that no matter what is happening to us we cannot compromise to accept anything less than goodness or justice as what is to be the normal condition of life.

Jesus presents nagging prayer for what is good and just as sort of psychic energies which build and tip the scales of probable outcomes toward what is good and just.  The parable is a teaching about being persistent always about what is good and just, and this persistence can have cumulative effects in bringing about what is good and just.

The writer in the Pauline tradition in Second Timothy implores the younger ministers to be faithful in this righteous tradition and to be patience in teaching what is good and right.  The tradition of the law and the tradition of Jesus Christ need exemplars in word and deed to promulgate continually and persistently what is good and just.

Let us today appreciate the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament writings to be insights for living with probable conditions of life, and let us be especially deliberate when injustice seems to reign to be persistent in prayer and action to help bend the arc of history towards better expressions of justice.  Amen.