Holy Irony! Jesus is King?

Last Sunday after  Pentecost, Cp29, November 24, 2019  Christ the King

Jeremiah 23:1-6  Ps. 46           

Col. 1:11-20    Luke 23:23-33   

Lectionary Link

We might think that billboards were a modern invention for mass advertising, but we find from the Gospels that the cross of Jesus Christ was also a billboard.  On the cross of Jesus, it was written, "The King of the Jews."

This inscription would be interesting to ponder during the actual time of Jesus.  Why would writing be placed upon a cross?  Who would see it?  How many people who would be in the audience for the event that lasted just a few hours would actually be literate?  Would it be an internal joke among the Roman soldiers who could read?  Crucifixions were public spectacles to discourage others about even thinking about rebellion and insurrections.

It is hard for me to understand who the actual viewers would have been to see the words written on the cross.

What is easier for me to understand is the literary function of this billboard within the early Christian community.  "The King of Jews," being written on the cross in the account of the crucifixion is a proclamation of the profound irony which was involved in the cross of Jesus.

Today is the feast of Christ the King and this is perhaps the original irony which instigated the split between the church and the synagogue.

The feast of Christ the King, became a feast because a pope observed the success of the Bolshevik revolution and secular and atheistic political movements in Europe.  How could Christians celebrate an event of Christian politics?  So, we have the arising of the feast of Christ the King.

We know that for us that not only was Christ as king, an ironic notion; the very notion of monarchical governance is a big problem for us as Americans.  We formed our country because we did not believe that monarchy was  true to the nature of free independent people who could determine their own governance.

Americans love the romance of European tourism monarchies and gossip about the Royal family.  We enjoy the Disney fantasies about royalty, even while we are very skeptical about the notion of kings and monarchies.

In the Hebrew Scripture, the notion of kingship was originally problematic.  The tribes of Israel were a loose federation governed by prophets, seers and judges.  The tribes of Israel begged the last famous Judge Samuel to give them a king who would lead an army to protect because all of their enemies had kings with armies.  Samuel, warned them that it was not God's will.  He warned them that a king would be a "socialism of one; a king is a very demanding central government."  The king would take your young men for his army and he would take a disproportionate amount of the goods and services of the country to support his life style.  Reluctantly, God and Samuel, agreed to have a God chosen king, who would be invested in the act of pouring oil on the head.  This anointing is where the word and notion of Messiah derives.  The oil is symbolic of God's spirit selecting and initiating God's chosen leader.  This is also perhaps a variation of the ancient notion of the "divine right" of kings that is found in many ancient societies.  It is also the highest religious political propaganda because, "if God has chosen the leader, then how can mere people oppose such a leader?"  It becomes blasphemy to oppose the divine king."

Let us ponder how the designation of "The King of the Jews" is a highly ironic notion for first century Palestine.  In the time of Jesus, who was the actual King of the Jews?  It was the Caesar and his local representative, King Herod.  So, the Roman soldiers who knew that Caesar was King, mocked the small town prophet king as being but a joke.  In the Passion story, the notion of Jesus as a King was presented as a threat to the Caesar.  Jesus as King was seen as disclosed to the Roman authorities by the Jewish religious leaders who paid Judas 30 pieces of silver for this secret knowledge held by the followers of Jesus.  They confessed Jesus as being the chief candidate for this mythical successor of King David, the Messiah.  The Passion crowd cried, "We have no king but Caesar," which meant that Jesus was presented to Pilate and Herod as a competing pretender to the throne.

That Jesus died a death on the cross was proof that he was not a military king Messiah like David who would be so great as to deliver Israel from the domination of Caesar.  And because Jesus was not a military Messiah, at the death of Jesus, his followers scattered.  How could Jesus on the cross be the Messiah?  And so we understand the chief reason that the synagogue separated from the Jesus Movement.  It was the irony about how Jesus was the king; it was the irony of not being able to believe one's eyes.  For most of the members of the synagogue, Jesus could not be a true Davidic Messiah king because he did not deliver Israel.  In fact, Israel was destroyed by the Roman armies with Jerusalem and the Temple being razed to the ground in the year 70.  How could Jesus be the Davidic Messiah with such devastation of the homeland?

The irony of Jesus as a king and as a Messiah was fulfilled in the early church, through what I would call the mysticism of Jesus Movement.  What is the mysticism of the early church which would bring a person to confess Jesus as the Messiah?  The followers of Jesus had the privilege of the mystical encounters with Risen Christ which was so real, they were convinced that he was still living.  If Jesus of Nazareth, transcended death and appeared as the Risen Christ, this powerful post-death transformation was more than enough proof of Jesus being God's chosen and anointed Messiah-King.

But you see the problem.  If you did not have the mystical experience of the Risen Christ, you could only believe your eyes and think that Messiah would be a powerful military king.  One can sympathize with people who did not have the mystical experience of the Risen Christ; one can sympathize with those who did not have this baptism of the Holy Spirit to be able to experience this interior and vital King of Hearts.

Jesus as the Messiah became evident to those who had this experience of the Risen Christ and understood this parallel kingdom of God that transcended the visible world which was still in control of the tyrants of the world.

Now do you understand the irony of the billboard on the cross of Jesus, "This is the King of the Jews?"

It was an irony because the Risen Christ had become known and revealed as the Messiah to the Jews who had this mystical experience of the Risen Christ, but also to the Gentiles who had the same mystical experience available to them as well.

The history of the church throughout the ages is the history of the irony of Christ as king.  Even when Christianity converted kings and rulers and when so-called Christian Emperors and Kings tried to pretend they were the kingdom of the Messiah, it has not been evident that they could make it heaven on earth.  It has more often been the case that Christian leaders and popes with absolute power also found the all too human way to be absolutely corrupt.  And yet in the continuous failure to make heaven on earth, the irony of Christ as King and Messiah continues.

How does it continue?  It continues as an inside job.  Christ is the Messiah the King is known in the continuing availability of the mystical experience of the Risen Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit to transforms the inner lives of the person.

Sometimes the political situations in our world seem so corrupt and bereft of genuine care for the common good, we can get discouraged about the kingdom of the Messiah ever being actually within our grasp.

I believe that many religious people think that if we can convince the kings and the leaders of the world to support us, we can make our heaven on earth. But to ally ourselves with corrupt leaders for our own power is to compromise the values of Christ.

And we can easily betray the irony of Christ the Messiah.  The Gospels of the early churches are the mystical spiritual manuals of the early churches; they present the inner mysticism within the narrative of the life of Jesus.

For those who have had the experience of the Risen Christ, they have entered into the path of identity with Jesus and with Paul, they could say, "I have been crucified with Christ, yet I live, yet not I for Christ lives within me."

The narrative of the life of Jesus in the Gospel is the narrative of the mystical identity with Christ.  This includes the mystical irony of Jesus on the cross as the king of the Jews and as the king of anyone who wants to know the power of the death of Jesus become the mystical power within each of us to die to that which is unworthy.

On this feast of Christ the King, let us be true to the mystical experience of the Risen Christ becoming the King of our hearts who has initiated us into a parallel kingdom of God.  And the wonderful thing about this mystical experience is that many, many times in our lives we find experiences in this visible world which partakes of the delicious presence of the Risen Christ, who is our King and Messiah.  Amen.

  

Sunday School, November 24, 2019 Last Sunday after Pentecost, Christ the King C proper 29

Sunday School, November 24, 2019  Last Sunday after Pentecost, Christ the King 
C proper 29

Theme:

How is Christ a King?

Did Jesus live in a palace?  Did he have a large army of soldiers?  No.

How is it that Jesus is a king and how is it that he has a kingdom?

Jesus said that the kingdom of God is within you.  He said it was among us.

What is so special about an invisible kingdom and an invisible king?

The kings of this earth are leaders who have power.  They can force people to obey them.

Jesus is the king of persuasion.  He wins our hearts.  He teaches us to things which are good for us.  He does not force us.  He allows us freedom to choose whether we want to be a part of his kingdom.

Jesus is not like any king that this world has ever had.

If it seems as though Jesus is a king without any power, just remember he had the power to come back to life again.  He had the power to reappear to his followers again and again.  He has the ability to be with us by the Holy Spirit and help us have power to be better people.

Christ is a king, a very different king than the other kings of this world.

The fact that Jesus has not been seen for 2000 years and yet he still remains followed and loved by more people than any other king or person on earth, shows us what a special king that Christ is.

Sermon

Bring two crosses, a crucifix and a Christus Rex

Use the sermon to speak about how we speak of Christ as a King after his resurrection.  After his resurrection, we understand the cross in a different way.

Text: 

  Today is the end of the longest church season.  What is the longest church season?  Pentecost.  If this week is the end of the Christian year, then that makes next Sunday, New Year’s Day.  And what do we call the first day in the Christian New Year?  The first Sunday of Advent.  So what Christian season comes after the season of Pentecost?  Advent.

  We have a special name for this Sunday, the last Sunday in the season of Pentecost.  It is called the Feast of Christ the King.

  And so today we want to think about how Christ is our King.

  We heard the reading from the Gospel today and we wonder how Christ can be our king.  The reading that we have listened to tells us about how Jesus died.  In fact, he died when the soldiers of the great Roman king, the Caesar put him on a cross.  And they put a sign on the top of the cross that was making fun of Jesus.  The sign said: Jesus, King of the Jews.  How can a person who dies this way be a king?

  Let me show you another cross.  This cross is called the cross of Christ the King.  Do you see that Jesus has on wonderful robes and he is wearing a crown?  This cross is different from the other cross.

  How did Jesus become Christ the King?  He became Christ the King, because he did the strongest thing that could ever be done; he came back to life and he promised that God could give us life after our deaths too.  That is a great thing.  And that is why Christ is our king.

  And since we know that Christ is our king and since we know that God is bigger and stronger than death, do you know what that means?  It means that we can live our lives without fear.  We can live our lives with joy, love and faith, because we know that Christ is our King who has been stronger than death.

  So today, let’s celebrate because Christ is our King.  Christ is stronger than death.  And we can live with joy and faith because Christ is our King.  Amen.

Intergenerational liturgy with Holy Eucharist

November 24, 2019: The Last Sunday after Pentecost: Feast of Christ the King

Gathering Songs: Majesty; Peace Before Us; Lord, Be Glorified; Lift High the Cross    

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: Majesty (Renew! # 63)

Majesty, worship his majesty.  Unto Jesus be all glory, honor and praise. 

Majesty, kingdom authority flow from his throne unto own; his anthem raise. 

So exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus. 

Magnify, come, glorify Christ Jeus the King. 

Majesty, worship his majesty; Jesus who died, now glorified, King of all kings.

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for 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 Letter of Paul to the Colossians

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers-- all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 46

Come now and look upon the works of the LORD, * what awesome things he has done on earth.

It is he who makes war to cease in all the world; * he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear,
and burns the shields with fire.

"Be still, then, and know that I am God; * I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth."

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.

When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots to divide his clothing. The people stood by, watching Jesus on the cross; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews." One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

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

Song: Peace Before Us (Wonder, Love and Praise, # 791)

1-Peace before us, peace behind us, peace under our feet.  Peace within us, peace over us.  Let all around us be peace.

2-Love  3-Light   4-Christ

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 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:  Lord, Be Glorified (Renew! # 172)

In our lives, Lord, be glorified, be glorified, in our lives, Lord, be glorified today.

In our homes, Lord, be glorified, be glorified, in our homes, Lord, be glorified today.

In your church, Lord, be glorified, be glorified, in your church, Lord, be glorified today.

In your world, Lord, be glorified, be glorified, in your world, Lord be glorified today. 

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: Lift High the Cross (Renew! # 297)

Refrain: Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim ‘till all the world adore his sacred name.

Come, Christians, follow where our savior trod, our King victorious, Christ, the Son of God.  Refrain

All newborn servants of the crucified bear on their brows the seal of him who died.  Refrain

Dismissal:   

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

People: Thanks be to God! 

  

Utopian and Apocalyptic: Analgesic Discourse

23  Pentecost, Cp28, November 17, 2019

Isaiah 65:17-25 Ps. 98:

2 Thes. 3:6-13     Luke 21:5-19   

Lectionary Link

    You and I are aware of the word utopia and for us it refers to ideal conditions or best conditions.  We sometimes might think that the literal meaning of utopia means "good place" which would be eu-topia, but the actual word utopia was constructed from a negative Greek word, not meaning "good place," but "not a place," or "no such place," perhaps even meaning an impossible place.
    When you go to the health spa which is called "Utopia," remember it really means "no such body, and no such good looks," but you should try anyway.
    Utopia is not mentioned in the Bible; it became a word coined by the "Man for All Season," Thomas More, the critic of Henry the Eighth, who wrote a book of the same title. Utopia was a fictional island and he did this when there was chaos in the political world of England and Europe.  O that there would be an impossible place, a "no such" place to escape to in our imaginations for but a moment of satirical relief from our current chaos.
    I find it interesting that the utopian words of the prophet Isaiah are put in contrast with the dystopian world referred to in the words of Jesus as written in the Gospel of Luke.
    The Gospel of Luke was written after the destruction of Jerusalem.  The Jesus Movement and the early Christ-communities went through periods of flying under the radar from harm  and times of severe persecution.  The words of Jesus in the Gospels are layered to be appeals of the oracle of Christ depending upon what a particular group of Christians were facing in terms of persecution. 
     How does the Bible deal with the conditions of dystopia when the bad guys are winning and when those who believe they know God's spiritual favor are not favored in the actual circumstances of their lives?  How do we continue to believe in God and in justice when God is not an apparent intervening protector of God's people?  How can one believe in truth and justice when lying and persecution abound?
    In the Bible, there is literature which is called apocalyptic.  It was a language of comfort for suffering people.  Language of comfort can be both utopian and apocalyptic.  When one is in pain or distress, what does one want?  One wants the freedom from pain and the end of the circumstances which causes the pain.  We use aesthetic, poetic, artistic and musical language to ease the pain of the body and soul.  Oncology and pain management regimes involve visualizations of states of bliss and freedom from pain.  Children in oncology units are encouraged to draw pictures of what fighting means to end the cancer that attacks their body.  They draw pictures of angels and superheroes and tanks and bombs fighting against their disease and pain.  They try to envision the apocalyptic end of their cancer and pain.  Is the language of the apocalyptic and utopian true and meaningful?  It is indeed meaningfully true to fight pain in suffering with every kind of linguistic assault that can provide an analgesic.  Fundamentalists say that utopian and apocalyptic language is predictive about an actual empirically verifiable future, and the scientists make fun of them.  To make such language literal is to violate the analgesic and true meaning of utopian and the apocalyptic language.  The true meaning of such language is found in a large portion of our literature and cinema of futurism which is seen everywhere in our entertainment culture.   Just because we have separated apocalyptic and utopian from religion does not mean that the people who comprised the biblical books did.  Remember the Bible as the first of its kind in being unique published use of language, presented many of the genres which modern society has stolen from in the many derived correspondences.
    Utopian and apocalyptic language was true and meaningful analgesic language of comfort to the people of the Bible at different times of their lives.  If we understand the function of such language, we understand it as meaningfully true.  Persons who literalize such language try to literalize poetry and it only makes their religion look silly.
     We use apocalyptic and utopian language and modes of thinking all of the time in common speech, even though we don't label it as such.
        When a mother comforts her sick baby, with "There, there, all will be well.  You'll be just fine."  She does not know what she is saying can or will be verified but the major truth of her words is the truth of comfort, real comfort, godly comfort.  And it would be silly for anyone to criticize her speech as being scientifically unverifiable, and therefore not true.  The language of comfort is the language of hope for time to pass and better conditions to arise.
      The apocalyptic is also the delayed impulse of rage and anger.  We often are so enraged by the sheer injustice of something, we could wish ourselves to be all powerful enough to intervene and correct with force the immediate situation.  Our better selves are more restrained; oppressed people who want to strike at their captors have to choose servile survival instead of enraged reactions that might get themselves and others harmed.  What do such people do to delay their rage?  They leave vengeance to God in a delayed future reckoning.  The discourse of delayed future reckoning is the discourse of the apocalyptic.
      Today in our cinematic art we use the action adventure film to channel the rage for immediate intervening justice.  The action adventure hero in less than two hours can right all wrong and bring the bad guys to order, something that really is impossible in actual life.
        The art of the apocalyptic functioned for people of biblical cultures; we just use the art of the apocalyptic in a different way today and people who are oppressed still need the art of the apocalyptic to retain a belief in the normalcy of a final justice for everyone.
   The discourses of the utopian and the apocalyptic are words of confession about a hope that life can be better, and greater harmonies can be achieved.  They are confessions of our belief in justice and no matter what the current conditions are. We still confess the normalcy of justice for all.
   You and I live on the continuum of the freedom of all difference agents and actors in this life; some human and some not.  In the free condition of different agents, we can hope for a harmony which acknowledges difference but also celebrates a perfect reciprocity among everyone and all things.  Given our knowledge of our less than angelic natures, we doubt the fulfillment of perfect harmonies in our world, even though we need to have the utopian visions of harmonies, or the apocalyptic intervention of an almighty force eventually persuading the outcome of justice.  In our lives based upon evolutionary theory, we can observe the fittest survive by over-powering in various ways the weak.  And in our lives of faith and love, we believe that the weak have the right to play their part in the big orchestra of life, without being eliminated by the strong.  The utopian and the apocalyptic genres are the poetic language of justice in a greater Power to persuade into a full harmony of all things.
  Today, you and I need not worry about the apocalyptic words of Jesus as being foreign to human experience.  We need not be cynical about the utopian vision of Isaiah or even the poetic license of John Lennon's song, "Imagine."
    Today, I finish with the example of the conductor of the new Junior High symphony.  The first day of class results in a total cacophony of bad sounds.  "Everyone thinks.....this is really terrible."  But then the conductor plays the recordings of a major symphony to show the kids what they could eventually sound like.  The conductor gives them a utopian, seemingly unattainable model.  But the conductor also begins to lower the apocalyptic boom on them in demanding practice and hours of private lessons.  The conductor intervenes in a severe way to transform the skills of the instrumentalist toward the ideal.
   Today, you and I need both the utopian and the apocalyptic.  We need the vision of the perfect us, a utopian people, no such people yet, as a vision to which we are called.  The biblical utopian Person is the Messiah, the Christ.  He is the one who calls towards our utopian selves.  He calls us a parish and society toward the harmony of being non-competitors, causing no harm.  He assures us of a final apocalyptic power to ultimate persuade us and everyone toward our better angels.
  Remember that if people today mock the utopian and the apocalyptic language of the Bible, they still are getting their utopian and apocalyptic discourse in other ways in the discourses of the culture within which we live.  Most of these discourses derived from the great themes that are laid down in the Bible.
   We need not feel inferior about the biblical discourse, because you and I have found the utopian person, Jesus Christ to be a life transformer, and we have found the Holy Spirit to be an apocalyptic intervener in our lives to advance us on the path of love and justice today.  Amen.

Sunday School, November 17, 2019 23 Pentecost, C proper 28

Sunday School, November 17, 2019  23 Pentecost, C proper 28

Theme: Buildings and Homes

What is the first question that we ask when a house is destroyed by fire or a flood?

Do we ask first if all of the furniture and the belongings are safe?   No, we ask if all of the family members are safe.

Why?  Because a building can be reconstructed.  Things can be replaced.  But people cannot be replaced.  We know it is a very sad time when someone loses their home, but the loss of lives is even sadder.

There are important buildings in every state, city and country.  In America we think that the Capitol Building and the White House are important building.  If these buildings were destroyed it would be very sad and painful for our country, but if the buildings were destroyed, would our country be destroyed?   Probably, not because our country is not buildings, it is all of us as people and as Americans.  As Americans we could rebuild buildings, even important buildings.  In fact we are building them all of them because we are fixing them up and remodeling them. 

Jesus spoke about the destruction of the most important building in Jerusalem for the Jews.  The most important building was the Temple.  The Roman armies destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple.  But was this the end of God’s people.  No.  God’s people continued to meet in synagogues and the followers of Jesus met in house churches.  The destruction of the Temple did not mean the destruction of God’s people.  In fact, Jesus taught us that God dwells within each person.  St. Paul called the body of each person, the Temple of the Holy Spirit.  So when Christians gather each person is a temple of God’s Holy Spirit.  This means that God can be everywhere people are.  We don’t have to go to Rome or to Jerusalem to meet or to find God.  God is present wherever we are and is especially known when people gather together to form what St. Paul called the body of Christ.  The Body of Christ is the Church, not the temple or any building.  Just as a body has parts which do different things for us, so in the Body of Christ, we are all parts of the body of Christ who do different things but we worked together as we are led by Christ.  St. Paul call Christ, the head of the Body of Christ.

Jesus also said that even though we have some very hard and difficult times in our lives we can still know that God is close to us.  He said that even when people do some bad things to us, we should remain true to what Jesus taught us about love and kindness.  He said that we can endure, we will preserve our souls.

Let us remember even when we lose important things like the Temple, God is still very near to us and in us.  Let us also remember that when people want to hurt us, we cannot become like them and act in hurtful ways as a response.  If we remain strong in goodness, we will prove that our souls will last because of being faithful to goodness and kindness of Christ.

Sermon

One of the nice things about our country is that we have the freedom to worship God.  So when you came to church today, the army or the police did not stop you and say, “You can’t go to church.”

  But did you know that in other places and at different times, people did not always have freedom to worship God in the way that they wanted to?

  Wouldn’t it be frightening if we came to church one day and a big bulldozer was knocking over the church building and we were told that we could not pray here anymore?

  A long time ago, in the land where Jesus was born, the people of his land lost their freedom of worship.  The land of Israel was control by a powerful army of Roman soldiers.  The King of Rome, called a Caesar decided that everyone should worship the Caesar.

  But the followers of Jesus did not want to worship Caesar.

  The armies of Caesar attacked Jerusalem and destroyed the temple where Jesus used to go to pray.

  And so the followers of Jesus had to run for their lives and they faced great danger.

  And they became great heroes because they would not worship the Caesar, they continued to worship God and follow Jesus Christ.

  They kept our religion alive because of their faith.

  And so we need to remember to keep our religion alive too.  We do that by coming to church to worship God and following the teaching of Jesus.  And parents teach their children to follow Jesus, so that when they grow up, they can teach their children too.

  So today, we gather today, to keep alive our faith and pass it on for the future.

  Let us be thankful for great heroes who kept our faith alive in some very difficult times.  And let us remember to keep our faith alive when we are given such easy freedom to worship.

Family Service with Holy Eucharist

November 17, 2019: The Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost

Gathering Songs: Hallelu, Hallelujah; I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light; Jesus Stand Among Us, Hosanna

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’s 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

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; 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 Prophet Isaiah

For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating; for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy, and its people as a delight. I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and delight in my people;

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 98

Sing to the LORD with the harp, * with the harp and the voice of song.

With trumpets and the sound of the horn * shout with joy before the King, the LORD.

Let the sea make a noise and all that is in it, * the lands and those who dwell therein.

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.

When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, Jesus said, "As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down." They asked him, "Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?" And he said, "Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, `I am he!' and, `The time is near!' Do not go after them.  "When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately." Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.  "But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls."

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: I Want to Walk as A Child of the Light (Blue Hymnal # 490)

1-I want to walk as a child of the light, I want to follow Jesus.  God set the stars to give light to the world.  The star of my life is Jesus.

Refrain: In him there is no darkness at all.  The night and the day are both alike.  The Lamb is the light of the city of God.  Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.

2-I’m looking for the coming of Christ.  I want to be with Jesus.  When we have run with patience the race, we shall know the joy of Jesus.  Refrain

Doxology

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

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

Prologue to the Eucharist

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

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,

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.

Beaking 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! #17

1          Jesus stand among us, at the meeting of our lives, be our sweet agreement at the meeting of our eyes; O, Jesus, we love You, so we gather here, join our hearts in unity and take away our fear.

2          So to You we’re gathering out of each and every land.  Christ the love between us at the joining of our hand; O, Jesus, we love You, so we gather here, join our hearts in unity and take away our fear.

3          Jesus stand among us, the breaking of the bread, join us as one body as we worship Your, our Head.  O, Jesus, we love You, so we gather here, join our hearts in unity and take away our fear.

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: Hosanna (Renew! # 71)

1-Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest!  Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest!  Lord we lift up your name with hearts full of praise; Be exalted, Oh Lord my God!  Hosanna in the highest.

2-Glory, Glory, Glory to the King of kings!  Glory, Glory, Glory to the King of kings!  Lord we lift up you name with hearts full of praise; Be exalted, oh Lord my God!  Glory to the King of kings.

Dismissal:   

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

People: Thanks be to God!