Folie à Milliards or Dynamic Immanent Charismatic Personalism

16 Pentecost, a p21, September 28, 2014

Exodus 17:1-7   Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16

Philippians 2:1-13 Matthew 21:23-32

Lectionary Link    

 I think that one of the most baffling things for us today might be the reason we are in church today. Here we are today almost two thousand years after Jesus of Nazareth left this earth, claiming to have a relationship with Christ and continuing to meet to celebrate this relationship.  This is rather amazing and the reason that we don't find it amazing is because it has become such a cultural habit that we don't ever stop to think about the fact that it might really be classified as absurd behavior.  In psychology, there is a condition of a mutually shared delusion between two people known as Folie à deux.  You've probably drunk the wine with the same name, which I believe was a winery started by two psychiatrists as their shared delusional project.  Folie à deux is one thing but what about Folie à milliards, a shared delusion of billions?  Here we are under the "irrational delusions" of being in relationship with a person who left almost 2000 years ago.  Surely if billions have shared this delusion, it would qualify for the being objective truth by sheer number of participants.  Why call us crazy if so many of us share it?  On the other hand does popular practice guarantee the sanity or meaningfulness of a practice?

  It is this widespread condition which calls for explanation.  It was this widespread condition early on in the life of the church which called for an explanation and an origin narrative for why this condition prevailed.  I would call this condition the lingering authority of Jesus Christ.  This authority is characterized by the confession of so many people who claim to be under the persuasive influence of Jesus Christ even though he has not been seen or heard or touched for almost two thousand years.

  The earliest followers of Jesus were truly baffled by the continuing authority of Jesus Christ in their lives and in the ability of this persuasive authority of the Spirit of Christ to be able to inspire people to live in community with each other and to achieve the state of fellowship in face of the ethnic and social diversities which were known in the urbanization which took place in the cities of the Roman Empire.

  The Gospel writers tried to track the source of this pervasive authority back to the origin events in the life of Jesus.  And so it was obvious that the question of the authority Jesus began in the original setting of his life ministry.  Those who had official authority in their religious leadership roles were presented as questioning the authority of Jesus in his ministry.  And Jesus responded, "Are you going to question the popular authority of John the Baptist too?"  Authority does not necessarily come by the words that one says about oneself; it comes in the actual performance of love and justice.  And so there was a parable of Jesus given to illustrate the importance of obedient action.   There were official religious people who were saying that they were obeying God and they had seminary degrees to prove it; but in actual practice they did not practice love, mercy, forgiveness and justice.  And then there were tax-collectors, prostitutes, peasants and fisherfolk and obvious sinners who made no profession of official religious standing but in their actions they had come to obey God and love God and do the works of righteousness.  The punchline of the parable is this: The proof of authority is in the doing.  By their fruits you shall know the authenticity of their faith and belief in God.

  Where does authority lie?  Does it lie in obvious visible offices of power, those which are couched in the appearances of wealth, physical strength, power and social and political position?  The authority of Moses was to be found in willingness to be the one who interceded on behalf of the people who were dependent upon him.  The dependent children of Israel needed food and water in the wilderness and Moses was presented as the one who approached everything that he did out of a motive of care for the people who needed it.

  The people in the churches of St. Paul knew that Jesus was not a god like the gods and goddesses of the Roman Empire.  They knew that Jesus was not a god because like the Caesar he was declared to be god or son of a god by the Roman Senate.  So if Jesus did not look like a Roman god or like the divinized Caesar, what kind of God was Jesus and how could one characterize the strength and nature of the authority of Jesus?

  And so we have this wonderful Christological hymn or poem about the essence of the divinity of Jesus.  It was to be found in his humility to empty himself of looking like the way in which an earthly god would look.  Jesus was God who empty himself of looking like God and taking upon himself the complete identity of humanity so that humanity might recognize what true godliness was and begin to express human godliness in finding the most excellent way to be human.

  The humility of Jesus in denying the "office of being God" in order to do and perform the fullness of being human was proof that Jesus both obeyed God in taking on human form but he also completely performed humanity as a human person.  He put his words of obedience together with his actions of assuming complete humanity.  He became God hidden in a human person.

  And that is the authority of Christ which remains for us today.  Jesus exposed God as hidden within the created order as a wonderful and caring personal Spirit.  And so after Jesus left this earth, his followers continued within this tradition of knowing God as personal dynamic Holy Spirit hidden within the created order but not so hidden as to escape recognition in the influencing the lives of many, many people who have come to know God as a loving, caring, dynamic, immanent personally present Being.

  This is the authority of Christ which caused the Gospels to be written.  This is the authority Christ which continues to witness to us today because Christ shows us that God as incognito in the created order can still be known as loving and caring dynamic personal Holy Spirit who can be a higher power and friend to us in the midst of living.  Let us rejoice in this continuing authority of Christ today.  Amen.

Sunday School, September 28, 2014 16 Pentecost A Proper 21

Sunday School, September 28, 2014  16 Pentecost A Proper 21

Sunday School Begins at around 9:45 a.m.
Schedule:
Children grab quick refreshments Youth Choir Director prepares children for next week's anthem: Butterfly Song, All Things Bright and Beautiful

  (in preparation for the outdoor blessing of the animals for October 5th)

  Outdoor Puppet Show
  Sunday School leader needs to choose puppeteers
Theme:  Learning to make our actions agree with our words.  Discuss the importance of verbal contracts.  If we say we're going to do something, then we need to do.  And also remember when we say we will not do something, we can still change our minds and do the right thing.  Talk about the practical promises children make regarding home chores and school homework.

  Exercise:  With News print.  Have the children list some times they have made promises and broken them.  Have them list things that they say they would not do, but went ahead and did anyway.  But then have them list the things which they promised to do and did, so as to show them how their words and deeds need to be in agreement.

Puppet Show:

Matching Words and Deeds

Noah:  Okay animals, you need to brush your teeth.  There is lots of bad breath on this ark and so you need to brush your teeth.  Ally, please brush your teeth.  Mrs. Noah will help you.

Ally: No, I won't.  I've got more teeth to brush and it takes me too much time.  I won't do.

(Ally, goes away but then sneaks in and lets Mrs. Noah brush his teeth)

Noah:  Roary, go brush your teeth.

Roary: Okay, Mr. Noah.  I will brush my teeth.

(Roary does not brush his teeth)

Noah: Tookey, please go brush your teeth.  Mrs. Noah will help you.

Tookey: Okay, Mr. Noah, I'll get my teeth brushed.

(Tookey goes to Mrs. Noah and gets her teeth brushed)

Noah: Shem, please go and get your teeth brushed.

Shem: No, I will not go. And I won't get my teeth brushed.

(Shem refused to get his teeth brushed)

(Later Noah returns)

Noah:  Okay, it is now inspection time for your teeth.  Ally, let me see your teeth.

Ally: Okay.

Noah: Very good Ally.  You said that you would not brush your teeth but you decided to get them brushed.

Noah: Okay Roary, let me see your teeth.  Your teeth did not get cleaned.  You told me you were going to brush your teeth but you didn't.  I am disappointed with you.

Roary:  Oh, Oh I must have forgotten.  How about if I brush just once a week?

Noah: That won't do.  Your breath smells awful.  Okay Tookey.  What about your teeth?  Wow, your teeth are very clean.  And you did exactly what you said you were going to do.  I'm very proud of you.  Okay Shem.  Let me see your teeth.

Shem: I told you that I wasn't going to brush my teeth and I didn't do it.

Noah:  Well, I am very disappointed Shem.  You need to learn to say and to do the good things for your life.  Brushing your teeth is good for the health of your teeth.  You need to follow the good rules.

Noah:  Okay boys and girls.  We have learned that it is good to say and do good things in our life.  Which animal said I will brush my teeth and he also did it?

Tookey:  I did.

Noah:  Well let's give Tookey a hand.

Noah:  Who said that he would not brush his teeth but he went and brushed his teeth anyway.

Ally: I did.

Noah: That's good Ally but you need to remember to say yes to the good rules for your life.

Still, Ally brushed his teeth so let's give Ally a hand.  Okay, who said that he would brush his teeth but he didn't do it?

Roary: I did.  Sorry.  I told you I would because I did not want to hurt your feelings.

Noah:  But my feelings are still hurt because it is important that you take good care of your teeth.  And by saying that you would brush them and not doing it, you lied to me.  You need to work on your obedience Roary.  Okay, now who said that they would not brush their teeth and didn't do it?

Shem: I did.  I don't want to brush my teeth.  It takes me too long.

Noah:  Shem you have to learn how to follow rules.  The rule to brush our teeth are for the protection of your health.  You need to learn to honor the rules and do them.  So boys and girls, we have learned a lesson.  We need to learn how to make our words agree with what we do.  This is how we can live honest and truthful lives.  Can you remember that today?

Family Liturgy

Gathering Songs: Do Lord; Thy Word; May the Mind of Christ, Our Savior; Awesome God

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: Do Lord  (Christian Children’s Songbook,  # 42)

1.    I’ve got a home in glory land that outshines the sun.  I’ve got a home in glory land that outshines the sun.  I’ve got a home in glory land that outshines the sun, ‘way beyond the blue.

Refrain: Do Lord, oh do Lord, oh, do remember me.  Do Lord, oh, do Lord, oh, do remember me. Do Lord, oh, do Lord, oh, do remember me, way beyond the blue.

2.    I took Jesus as my Savior, you take Him too. I took Jesus as my Savior, you take Him too. I took Jesus as my Savior, you take Him too, ‘way beyond the blue.  Refrain

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:          And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure; 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: Alleluia (chanted)

O God, you are Great!  Alleluia

O God, you have made us! Alleluia

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

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

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

O God, you have forgiven our sins!  Alleluia

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

A reading from the Letter of Paul to the Philippians

If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus…

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 78

Hear my teaching, O my people; * incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

We will recount to generations to come the praiseworthy deeds and the power of the LORD, *
and the wonderful works he has done. 

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.

When Jesus entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" Jesus said to them, "I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?" And they argued with one another, "If we say, `From heaven,' he will say to us, `Why then did you not believe him?' But if we say, `Of human origin,' we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet." So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And he said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.  "What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, `Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' He answered, `I will not'; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, `I go, sir'; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him."

Liturgist:         The Gospel of the Lord.

People:          Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon – Father Phil

Children’s Creed

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

Since God is so great and we are so small,

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

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

     resurrection of Jesus Christ.

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

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

     welcome.

We believe that Christ is kind and fair.

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

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

Litany Phrase: Christ, have mercy. (chanted)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

People:          And also with you.

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

Offertory Music:  Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling,   St. John’s Children’s Choir

Doxology

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

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

Prologue to the Eucharist

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

All become members of a family by birth or adoption.

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

A family meal gathers and sustains each human family.

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

The Lord be with you

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to God.

It is right to give God thanks and praise.

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

Holy, Holy, Holy (Intoned)

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

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

Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the Highest.

(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.

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 Hymn:  May the Mind of Christ, My Savior, (Renew! # 285)

1.    May the mind of Christ, my Savior, live in me from day to day, by his love and power controlling all I do and say.

2.    May the word of God dwell richly in my heart from hour to hour, so that all may see I triumph only through his power.

3.    May the peace of God, my Father, rule my life in everything, that I may be calm to comfort sick and sorrowing.

4.    May the love of Jesus fill me as the waters fill the sea.  Him exalting, self abasing: this is victory.

5.    May we run the race before us, strong brave to face the foe, looking only unto Jesus as we onward go.

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.  (Sing three times)

Dismissal:   

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

People:      Thanks be to God!