Sunday School, January 24, 2020 3 Epiphany B

 Sunday School, January 24, 2020    3 Epiphany B

Theme:

The Call of Christ

What do you do in life?  What is your job?  What is your current responsibility?

I don’t have a job, but I am a student.  I am a son or daughter.  I am a friend.  I like to dance.  I like to play soccer and football.  I am a good citizen of my country.

A person has many jobs because in life we have many things that we have to do to live.

James and John were fishermen.  They fished in the Sea of Galilee with their dad Zebedee.  But they were given another job, another purpose in their lives.

Jesus visited them at the sea side while they were repairing their fishing nets.  He call James and John to follow him.  Peter and Andrew were fishermen too and Jesus called them to follow him and become his students and learn to become teachers of the Gospel.

James, John, Peter and Andrew were fishermen.  They never would forget how to fish.  But they could be fishermen and follow Jesus too. 

So whatever we do, we still have something else that we can do.  We can follow Christ.  When we are being a student at school we can follow Christ.  When we are playing soccer, we can follow Christ.  When we are dancing, we can follow Christ.  When we are playing, we can follow Christ.  When we are at home as a son or a daughter we can follow Christ.

So we always have the greater job to do in life and that great job is following Christ.  We do that by living with love and kindness and by teaching others to do the same.

Remember you don’t have to be a priest or a preacher to hear and follow the call of Christ.  Christ calls each us where we are.

Sermon

  How many of you have ever been fishing?  Why do you go fishing?  To catch fish, right?  It’s fun to catch fish but sometimes, fishing is a lot of waiting.  I probably quit fishing because I do not have the patience to wait.   One time, as a boy I went fishing in Minnesota, and a school of crappie were right under the dock.  And we caught fish as fast as we could pull them out of the water.  We caught so many fish that we had to designate limits for even the babies that went with us that day.  But every other time, I have gone fishing; it has not been that easy.  It has been a lot of waiting.  I can wait for lots of things but not for fish to bite so, I gave up fishing.

  Most of us fish for recreation and for fun but two friends of Jesus, Andrew and Peter, they fished because it was their job.  They helped their father Zebedee, who was also a fisherman.  And they used nets in the Sea of Galilee to catch fish and bring them ashore to sell in the towns.

  When Jesus met Peter and Andrew, he told them that he was going to give them another job.  He told them that they were going to fish for people.  What did Jesus mean when he said that they would fish for people?

  Jesus fished for people.  He caught Peter and Andrew.  What does that mean?  It means Jesus knew how to make friends.  He made friends by giving people hope.  He made friends by telling them that God loved them, God cared for them, God forgives them, and that God will preserve them forever, even after they die.  Jesus needed help from people to help get this happy news to as many people as possible.  So he asked Peter and Andrew to help him share this wonderful news.

  Peter and Andrew quit their fishing because they went with Jesus and they learned how to catch people and make them friends of God.  They learned how to tell people good news about God.

  Did yes know that God is fishing for us today.  God is not trying to catch us in a net or on hook.  God is trying to win our hearts and make us friends of God.  How is God trying to make us friends?  God wants us to believe in God’s love, God’s care, God’s forgiveness.  God wants us to have faith instead of fear; God wants us to have hope instead of worry.  God wants us to know that God will preserve our lives even after we die, so we don’t have to live in fear of the future.  That is good news for us, isn’t it?

   And God wants something else.  Just as God fishes for us and catches us.  God wants us to help share the good news with other people and to make them friends of God.  That is how we fish for other people.  We fish for other people by sharing with them the good news about God.

  Today, our message in the Gospel, reminds us that we are to learn how to make friends by sharing with them the good news about God’s love.  How many want to help make friends for God?  I know that you are going to be very good at fishing for people, because you are going to be good at making friends for God.  Amen.

 

Intergenerational Family Service with Holy Eucharist

January 24, 2021: The Third Sunday after the Epiphany

Gathering Songs:   Jesus in the Morning, He Is Lord, I Will Make You Good Fisher Folks, When the Saints 

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: Jesus in the Morning  (Christian Children’s Songbook,  # 134)

1.         Jesus, Jesus, Jesus in the morning, Jesus at the noontime.  Jesus, Jesus, Jesus when the sun goes down.

2.         Love him, love him, love him in the morning, love him at the noontime.  Love him, love him, love him when the sun goes down.

3.         Serve him, serve him, serve him in the morning, serve him at the noontime.  Serve him, serve him, serve him when the sun goes down.

4.         Praise him, praise him, praise him in the morning, praise him at the noontime.  Praise him, praise him, praise him when the sun goes down.

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; 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

Liturgist:   A reading from the Prophet Jonah

The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time, saying, "Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you." So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days' walk across. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's walk. And he cried out, "Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.  When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 62

He alone is my rock and my salvation, * my stronghold, so that I shall not be shaken.

In God is my safety and my honor; * God is my strong rock and my refuge.

Put your trust in him always, O people, * pour out your hearts before him, for God is our refuge.

  

Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God! (chanted)

Liturgist:

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 Mark

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news."

As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea-- for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed 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 Intercession 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 Song:  I Will Make You Good Fisher folk (Christian Children’s Songbook # 58)           

1.         I will make you good fisher folk, good fisher folk, good fisher folk.  I will make you good fisher folk, if you follow me.  If you follow me, if you follow me.  I will make you good fisher folk, if you follow me.

2.         Hear Christ calling, “Come unto me, come unto me, come unto me.”  Hear Christ calling, “Come unto me, and I’ll give you rest.  And I’ll give you rest, and I’ll give your rest.”  Hear Christ calling, “Come unto me and I’ll give you rest.”

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.

(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.  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: He Is Lord  (Renew! # 29)

He is Lord, he is Lord.  He is risen from the dead and he is Lord.  Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

He is King, he is King.  He will draw all nations to him, he is King: and the time shall be when the world shall sing that Jesus Christ is King.

He is Love, he is love.  He has shown us by his life that he is love; all his people sing with one voice of joy that Jesus Christ is love.

He is life; he is life.  He has died to set us free and he is life; and he calls us all to live evermore, for Jesus Christ is life.

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 (Christian Children’s Songbook,  # 248)

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

O, when the girls, go marching in….

O, when the boys, go marching in…

O, when the kids, go marching in…

Dismissal   

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

People:      Thanks be to God! 

The Call of Christ as Spiritual Mobility

3 Epiphany B  January 21, 2018

Jonah 3:1-5, 10 Psalm 62:6-14

1 Corinthians 7:29-31 Mark 1:14-20

 Lectionary Link

 

A calling from God can bring significant changes in one's life.  Remember Abraham?  His calling took him from Ur of the Chaldees to the far way land of Canaan.  And Jonah, his calling to go to Ninevah brought him a detour of being fish food in the belly of a big fish at the bottom of the sea.

 

America is a nation of immigrants.  Only the Native Americans are original residents.  People from all across the world seem to think that they have been called to be here, and often for economic reasons.  I ask a Danish American why his father came from Denmark to South Dakota?  He said that his father was one of many brothers, and his grandfather had only one farm in Denmark, and that farm went to the oldest son.  So, his dad came to South Dakota for land to farm on.

 

Imagine St. Peter in Rome, on his way to his own upside-down crucifixion.  Can you imagine Peter thinking, "Wow, Peter you've come a long way from fishing on the Sea of Galilee.  This call to follow Christ and spread the Gospel has brought me to threaten the Emperor in the city of Rome."  Peter could not have imagined the changes and the adventures which came to him because of the call of Christ.

 

The call of Christ sometimes, is reduced to a religious vocation or specific ministry, or ordained ministry.  And it is that, but it is much more.  Peter would probably say, “the call of Christ is going to knock your socks off if you embraced the holistic life transformation of the call of Jesus.”

 

To have a holistic spiritual calling from Christ is to begin a path of social, vocational, geographical, and intellectual path of mobility.

 

Why weren't the fathers of Peter and Andrew and James and John upset about Jesus stealing their sons from the family fishing business?  Well, it could be that there were too many brothers for the business and so if a couple of brothers found something else to do, then that solved the passing on of the family fishing businesses.

 

Think about the social and intellectual transformation of Peter and his fellow fisherfolk?  Following Jesus made them into public speakers; it gave them the opportunity to travel and to use and develop people gifts which they did not know that they had.  It maybe gave them the opportunity to become literate, able to learn how to read and write.

 

When one thinks about the call of Christ, one should think about holistic mobility.  The Holy Spirit means mobilization in one's life.  The call of Christ is the holistic educational program of repentance.   Repentance is the translation of the Greek word, "metanoia," which means the renewal of one's mind.  This is what mobility means; it means perpetual change toward becoming more like Christ, and change may mean doing some things which may not be in logical continuity with what one has been trapped in.  I imagine that many people are "burned out" by their jobs because they feel locked in with no possibility for the kind of mobility that one needs to surprise oneself in personal and social development towards excellence.

 

We might be afraid of what changes the call of Christ might instigate.  I had a parishioner who grew up in a small town in Texas.  He thought that he would be stuck there forever.  But he became a glider pilot in the Second World War.  He landed those flying plywood boxes on rough fields at Normandy and in the Netherlands, and he survived.  And he was grateful that his military call him got him out of that little town and allowed him to see the world and he saw open to him many new directions for his life and business opportunity.

 

This illustrates something of the kind of mobility that the call of Christ can offer to us.  The call of Christ invites us to surprise ourselves in what we never thought possible.

 

We now seem to be locked in as individuals, families and as a parish by all of the restrictions of our pandemic.  And yet we pray afresh to Jesus, let your call come to us even in the middle of our dire circumstances.  Let your call come to us with spiritual wisdom for creativity in how to remain connected as a parish family and how we can best share the good news of God in Christ.

 

Our nation has just experienced the change of administrations; we do not need to be political to interweave Gospel values of binding wounds and bringing good tiding to the oppressed and the suffering with what our governmental organizations are trying to do for the health of the people of our country.  Let us respond in new ways to the call of Christ and perhaps we can know future amazement with the new life mobility that will come from responding to the call of Christ.

 

I hope and pray that the call of Christ will surprise us in new ways today.  Amen.

Call of Christ beyond Regional Biases

 2 Epiphany B  January 17, 2021
1 Samuel 3:1-10  Psalm 63:1-8
1 Corinthians 6:11b-20  John 1:43-51

 

One of the themes of the season of the Epiphany, meaning the manifestation of Christ to this world, is the theme of the call of God.

 

How did the Jesus Movement begin?  It began, of course, with Jesus of Nazareth.  But why didn't Jesus remain a solitary forgotten figure?

 

Jesus had the charisma to befriend.  He had the ability to lead, because he had the ability to attract followers.  The events of attracting followers are recounted in the stories of the calling of the disciples.

 

A calling is an originating event in one's life.  It is an event which gives profound insight about what one is supposed to do with one's life.

 

We've read the story of the call of the boy Samuel.  He was the marvelous birth child of Hannah who had been childless and she promised that she would give her child to God's service if she would conceive.  While being an acolyte in the service of the High Priest Eli, he received a call from God during his attempts to sleep.  He was not sure about hearing voices and Eli gave him advice on how to respond.  And Samuel grew up to become the judge who became the leader of Israel to reform Israel from the corruption of the sons of Eli.  Samuel was the crucial transition leader to the monarchy of kings Saul and David.  Samuel answered his call but in his ministry he had to keep being refreshed in a wisdom relationship with God to lead the people of Israel.

 

The Jesus Movement was given birth by the call of Jesus.  We have read today about the call of Jesus to Philip who immediately shared with his friend Nathaniel, who was initially skeptically because of regional bias.  When told about wonderful Jesus, Nathaniel replied, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?"  Apparently the people of Bethsaida had some negatives views for the town of Nazareth.  Jesus does not get sidetrack by such bias, he seems amused and says, "I have been watching you from afar and I think you and I can have a very long term relationship.  Don't be impressed with this first encounter, you will find that I am like Jacob's ladder connecting the unseen world with the visible world.  Angels, or God's messages will go up and down upon me as the ladder connecting heaven and earth."

 

Why do we celebrate birthdays?  It is because we believe in our continuing lives as much as we believe in the importance of one's birth.

 

This is how we should understand the call of Christ.  We all may have had originating events when God's message because obvious to us for the first time.  

 

But what is the message of the Gospel of John?  The call of Christ becomes the habit of the continuous messages of Christ to our lives.  It is not enough to be nostalgic about an initial break through event;  we are to live in a continuous call of Christ.

 

Jesus updates the meaning of Jacob's ladder; signifying the messengers and messages which happen between the invisible abode and the visible life to guide in our efforts to help God's will in the invisible heaven become God's will on earth.

 

In John's Gospel, the Word from the beginning is God.  Word is essentially invisible; you can't see word even though we know the results of having the languages of word organize our lives.  That invisible word was made flesh in an exemplary way in Jesus.   So Jesus has become the ladder between the invisible world of Word as God, and the organizing and structuring of our world because we have language.  The angels on the ladder of Jesus are the continuous insights from the invisible realm of Word as God, into our lives because that Word as God is still seeking occasions to become flesh in our lives in how we speak and how we act with our body language deeds of virtue, love and justice.

 

Jesus saw Nathaniel from afar, he befriended him and even dealt with his small minded regional bias.  But then he promised to be one on whom the messengers of God, the angels would ascend and descend signifying the continuous communication which we have with the Eternal Realm of Word as God.

 

Let us thank God today, for the milestone of originating events of the call of Christ, but let us not live in the past.  Let us know Christ as the ladder of God between the eternal realm of Word as God on which we are engaged in continual and perpetual communication, as we are always praying, let the Word of God be made flesh again in us today.  Let us as a parish be renewed in the Word of God being made flesh in our parish life together in our mission in our time and place.  Amen.

Christ as Jacob's Ladder?

 2 Epiphany B  January 17, 2021
1 Samuel 3:1-10  Psalm 63:1-8
1 Corinthians 6:11b-20  John 1:43-51

Lectionary Page

One of the themes of the season of the Epiphany, meaning the manifestation of Christ to this world, is the theme of the call of God.

How did the Jesus Movement begin?  It began, of course, with Jesus of Nazareth.  But why didn't Jesus remain a solitary forgotten figure?

Jesus had the charisma to befriend.  He had the ability to lead, because he had the ability to attract followers.  The events of attracting followers are recounted in the stories of the calling of the disciples.

A calling is an originating event in one's life.  It is an event which gives profound insight about what one is supposed to do with one's life.

We've read the story of the call of the boy Samuel.  He was the marvelous birth child of Hannah who had been childless and she promised that she would give her child to God's service if she would conceive.  While being an acolyte in the service of the High Priest Eli, he received a call from God during his attempts to sleep.  He was not sure about hearing voices and Eli gave him advice on how to respond.  And Samuel grew up to become the judge who became the leader of Israel to reform Israel from the corruption of the sons of Eli.  Samuel was the crucial transition leader to the monarchy of kings Saul and David.  Samuel answered his call but in his ministry he had to keep being refreshed in a wisdom relationship with God to lead the people of Israel.

The Jesus Movement was given birth by the call of Jesus.  We have read today about the call of Jesus to Philip who immediately shared with his friend Nathaniel, who was initially skeptically because of regional bias.  When told about wonderful Jesus, Nathaniel replied, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?"  Apparently the people of Bethsaida had some negatives views for the town of Nazareth.  Jesus does not get sidetrack by such bias, he seems amused and says, "I have been watching you from afar and I think you and I can have a very long term relationship.  Don't be impressed with this first encounter, you will find that I am like Jacob's ladder connecting the unseen world with the visible world.  Angels, or God's messages will go up and down upon me as the ladder connecting heaven and earth."

Why do we celebrate birthdays?  It is because we believe in our continuing lives as much as we believe in the importance of one's birth.

This is how we should understand the call of Christ.  We all may have had originating events when God's message because obvious to us for the first time.  

But what is the message of the Gospel of John?  The call of Christ becomes the habit of the continuous messages of Christ to our lives.  It is not enough to be nostalgic about an initial break through event;  we are to live in a continuous call of Christ.

Jesus updates the meaning of Jacob's ladder; signifying the messengers and messages which happen between the invisible abode and the visible life to guide in our efforts to help God's will in the invisible heaven become God's will on earth.

In John's Gospel, the Word from the beginning is God.  Word is essentially invisible; you can't see word even though we know the results of having the languages of word organize our lives.  That invisible word was made flesh in an exemplary way in Jesus.   So Jesus has become the ladder between the invisible world of Word as God, and the organizing and structuring of our world because we have language.  The angels on the ladder of Jesus are the continuous insights from the invisible realm of Word as God, into our lives because that Word as God is still seeking occasions to become flesh in our lives in how we speak and how we act with our body language deeds of virtue, love and justice.

Jesus saw Nathaniel from afar, he befriended him and even dealt with his small minded regional bias.  But then he promised to be one on whom the messengers of God, the angels would ascend and descend signifying the continuous communication which we have with the Eternal Realm of Word as God.

Let us thank God today, for the milestone of originating events of the call of Christ, but let us not live in the past.  Let us know Christ as the ladder of God between the eternal realm of Word as God on which we are engaged in continual and perpetual communication, as we are always praying, let the Word of God be made flesh again in us today.  Let us as a parish be renewed in the Word of God being made flesh in our parish life together in our mission in our time and place.  Amen.

Sunday School, January 17, 2021 2 Epiphany B

 Sunday School, January 17, 2021  2 Epiphany B

Theme:

The Call of God

The Bible teaches us that God like us.  How do we know?

God calls to be God’s friends.

The boy Samuel heard a voice in his efforts to try to sleep.  It was the voice of God calling to him.  Samuel was shocked to find out that God was interested in him.  When Samuel said, “Speak Lord for your servant is listening,” he accepted a friendship with God to become an important leader for the people of Israel.  He became the most important Judge of Israel and God used Samuel to select the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David.

God like us so much, God sent God’s son Jesus to live with us and Jesus like us and called us to be his brothers and sisters and friends.

Philip was so excited that Jesus called him, he told his friend Nathaniel.  Nathaniel was not so sure at first about Jesus, but when he met Jesus he became very excited.  Jesus had a special way of making friends.

You and I are called by Jesus to be his friends and we are also asked by Jesus to introduce other people to Jesus.  How do we do that?

How do you make a friend?

Take an interest in them.  Share your life with them, your story and your good news.  You ask them to share their story with you.  You care for them.  One of the best things we can share with our friends is what Jesus means to us and to our lives.  The best news we can give our friends is the knowledge that God loves them and that Jesus calls them into a special relationship with God to help them live their lives in the very best way for themselves, their family and for our world.

Sermon:

What church season are we in now?  Epiphany.  And what is the color that we use during Epiphany.  Epiphany sounds like a funny word; what does it mean?

  Epiphany is when you discover something and your life changes because of that discovery.

  As a baby, when you learned that you can walk; that is an Epiphany.  And when you learn how to read and sound out words; that is an epiphany because it changes your life.

  Do you know what one of the greatest discoveries is in life?  It is the discovery of a friend.  Friends change our lives; they share with us their time; they help us when we’re sad; they encourage us.

  Today, we read about a man named Philip and he had a friend Nathaniel.  And since Philip was Nathaniel’s friend, he wanted to share with him his best news.

  And Philip had some good news.  And what was that good news.  Philip had met a wonderful teacher named Jesus.  And Jesus was such a good teacher who had taught Philip so many wonderful things; Philip wanted to share his friend Jesus with his friend Nathaniel.  Why?  Because he knew that Jesus could be a friend and teacher to Nathaniel too.

  Nathaniel was not sure that he wanted a new friend.  But he decided to go with Philip and meet Jesus.  And Nathaniel found out that Philip was right; Jesus was a good friend and teacher and Nathaniel became the friend of Jesus too.

  Epiphany is about discovering Jesus as our friend and teacher.  Epiphany is about discovering each other as friends and sharing our very best news with each other.

  The word Gospel means, “good news.”  And as friends we share good news with each other.  And what is our good news?  That God loves us, God cares for us, God forgives us when we make mistakes, God gives us family and friends to share our good news with.

  So remember the word Epiphany…it is when we discover that God is our friend and God sent his Son Jesus to let us know about the friendship that we can have with God.  And that is good news.  Amen

Family Service with Holy Eucharist

January 17, 2021 The Second Sunday After the Epiphany

Gathering Songs: Hallelu, Hallelujah; Peace Before Us; Lord, Be Glorified; 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: Hallelu, Hallelujah (Christian Children’s Songbook # 84)

Hallelu, hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah!  Praise ye the Lord!  Hallelu, hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah!  Praise ye the Lord!  Praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah.  Praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah.  Praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah.  Praise ye the Lord!

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ's glory, that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for 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

Liturgist:   A reading from the First Book of Samuel

Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. The LORD called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, `Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place.  Now the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 139

How deep I find your thoughts, O God! * how great is the sum of them!

If I were to count them, they would be more in number than the sand; * to count them all, my life span would need to be like yours.

Birthdays:   James Gabbard, Greg Parish, Ed Ludwick, Chad Church

Anniversaries:   Frank and Bethan Bath

  

Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God! (chanted)

Liturgist:

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

For our families and friends. Thanks be to God!

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

For this day of worship. Thanks be to God!

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

For work and for play. Thanks be to God!

For teaching and for learning. Thanks be to God!

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

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

   Thanks be to God!

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

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!" Nathanael asked him, "Where did you get to know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you." Nathanael replied, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

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

Peace before us, peace behind us, peace under our feet.  Peace within us, peace over us, let all around us be peace.

Love before us….

Light before us…

Christ before us….

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.

(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.  Sanctify us 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: Lord, Be Glorified  (Renew! # 172)

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

In our homes, Lord…

In your church, Lord…

In your world, Lord…

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!