The True Miracle? Knowing Togetherness

4 Pentecost Cycle B Proper 7 June 23, 2024
1 Samuel 17: (1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 Psalm 9:9-20
2 Corinthians 6:1-13 Mark 4:35-41

Lectionary Link

Let's be unrealistic for awhile and wish for the following miracles: no one get sick ever, no one ever die, thunder and lighting are perfectly timed with all human interaction so as to be but nature's firework show without ever striking a human or without ever emptying rain to flood, and no people ever go to war with each other.  In short, what about the miracle of perfect harmony among everything and everyone that exists?


If miracles were the norm, then they would not exist because the state of the non-miraculous would not exist.

So, getting real about life means that what is fortune, what is miraculous, and what is good and perfect, exists because in our experience we've come to know that all intermix with what is known as bad luck,  bad, evil, and imperfect.

Since we have known so much pain, deprivation, evil, war, discord, accidents, and the experience of the death of our favorite people, and other people, and of pets and other animals, the contrast of what is unfortunate has arisen within the field of what can probably happen.

What is the field of probability otherwise called?  The field of true freedom for probable outcomes.

The Bible is a book of insight from people who believed that God is compatible with the field of free probabilities of what can happen in this life.  God is so compatible with the way things are that God is the fullness of sustaining the continuous creative process which is always already going on.

What are some of the probably things that can happen?  Some of the worst things that can happen people, even taunting giants like Goliath who seem to challenge one's right to have continuing life.  Such giants may be the leaders of nations and people who want to threaten the lives of peoples of other nations.  In the many conflicts which arise among people, sometimes a miracle is but a statistic, meaning a miracle is when a highly improbable good outcome occurs.

When the forces of Israel were being threatened by the Philistines, their generals did not have this as their military strategy:  "Okay, let's recruit a young shepherd from Bethlehem who is good with a sling shot.  Let's have him encounter alone the great tall warrior Goliath.  If he is able to hit Goliath with a stone in the forehead and drop him to the ground, the Philistines will see this and run in fright."

David was the improbable and the unplanned battle strategy of the Israelite leadership.  He appeared and he ad libbed with his own suggested strategy.  David knew some things about himself that no one else knew.  Being a lonely shepherd defending his flock gave him experience.  He had trained himself to be accurate with a sling shot to fight off and even kill threatening beasts.  Only David knew that if he had killed a lion with a stone from his sling shot, he could also fell the giant Goliath.

Faith then often means that we need to know our own abilities and how to deploy them against circumstances which seem on the surface to be impossible to negotiate.

To have faith is to know how to live with both the probable and the improbable.  Faith is the overall art of living and life skill to live one's best given the specific probabilities which befall us and those with whom we live.

St. Paul made a list of all the hardships which had come to him and he confessed that his inspiration in surviving and thriving was to have the freedom of service.  Perhaps the supreme way to live with all that can probably happen is life is to have it on our survival resume so as to able serve others more effectively.  As mere mortals, the very best that we can do is to be serving mentors to help those who might fall prey to believing their lives are meaningless because of the severity of the hurts of life.

One was the chief requirements of life is living the best that we can with the probabilities of what can happen, not only because of human misbehavior, but because we have but human nature within Nature itself.

Nature experience is a full experience.  We can stand in awe at the pounding waves of the ocean with their powerful awesome beauty.  Our lives can be overwhelmed by the ocean waves of the tsunami which wipes out people and property without warning.  Rain can water our lawns and crops, it can flood us and drown us.  Lack of rain can harm us.  We live in all kinds of probable occurrence with events in Nature; some more predictable than others.  We have developed the scientific method as the best probability predictor so that we can prepare ourselves to face the various situations of Nature.

Nature has a particular imposing milestone for human nature, the milestone that we call Death.  So in a real sense how do we live with the perpetual sword of Damocles,  death, hanging over every moment of human existence?  Death seems to be the Goliath of life which cannot be defeated; it has no forehead that can be penetrated by the stone of some human skill of combat readiness.  With the supremacy of death, all we can do is to "bargain" for the most time possible.  "God give us and all at least a shelf life of 70, 80, 90 years and then in a comparative sense of life with each other, we can say that we've been fortunate."  All our bargaining for life expectancy does not work because death comes in varied and indiscriminate ways and times.

The parable of Jesus calming the sea is a faith parable of the early Christians.  If Christian faith meant that every time that we're in harm's way, Jesus would appear Abra Cadabra and fix us and save us from harm, then there would not be any successful people of Christian faith.  The faith life is not having Christ as a personal interventionist fixers.  If this were the case, then the disciples would have asked Jesus to intervene and not let the storm on the lake happen while they crossed it.  Can one appreciate how silly some people are when they talk about the selective miraculous interventions of Christ.  If Christ's only truly loves those who have known improbable interventions, what does that say about his concern for all who have not known any such improbable interventions.  Let us be very careful how we appropriate the faith meaning of the disciples encounter with the threatening nature situation.

The faith key for probability living is what I would call togetherness.  In birth, life, and in death, Christ is the good news of God being with us.  And as Paul found Christ to be with him in all that he experienced, Paul said, "It happened to me so that I could also be with you to help you in facing all that confronts you in your lives."

The Gospel for us today, is not about having interventionist miracles from all the threats of humanity and nature; the Gospel is knowing that the Risen Christ is with us in everything, to help us be with each other in the very best way to help each other handle what may arise in the best possible way, even if some of the probabilities are loss and death.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ does not exempt us from the spectra of probabilities; the Gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us the completeness and perfection of togetherness, together with God in Christ, and together with each other to face what probably will happen, because love means that we are never separate from everything.  Amen.

Sunday School, June 23, 2024 5 Pentecost B, Proper 7

  Sunday School, June 23, 2024     5 Pentecost B, Proper 7

Themes:

One has to choose Hebrew Scripture/Psalter selection

David and Goliath in the time of all   the battling super heroes might be popular with the youth even though the story itself might be PG-13 or even regarded to be violent if one tells the ending with the beheading of Goliath by David.

One could also use the loyal friendship theme between David and Jonathan even though the story includes Saul’s effort to kill David.

If one wants to match themes, one could go with God speaking out of the whirlwind to Job informing Job that he is really not as big as God to be able to understand how and why everything that happens to us in this world, so we have the necessity to have faith in one who is greater than us to handle all situations in life and in death.

The whirlwind theme of job could be coupled with the storm on the sea with Jesus sleeping in the boat while the disciples are terribly frightening.  Jesus reminded them to have faith because he was present with them and if he was calm enough to sleep during the windy storm, they could have faith in his presence even during a difficult times.

A possible fruitful line of instruction might be to present Storms as great events over which we have no control as to when they happen, how strong they are and when they will end.  Storms could be a metaphor for all of the big challenges in life that we have to face, like an exam in school and other things which come up in our life and even may surprise us.  The lesson that we can learn is that if we have this natural energy to fear, then we can have the energy of fear converted to faith, if we can trust that others are with us to help us as they represent the presents of Christ to us.  When we are tempted to fear, we are to take some deep breaths and say inside of ourselves, “Jesus, speak peace to my stormy heart.”  It is important to stop and remember Christ and remember to have faith instead of fear.

I think that we can find out in our lives that Christ is not sleeping and ignoring us; quite the opposite, we often are forgetting and ignoring Christ.  When we make the effort to awaken the presence of Christ in our hearts, then we have the chance to know the voice of Christ say within us, “Peace be Still.”

You can have your children mention times when they really needed to have peace in their hearts.

Sermon:

We read a story today about the friends of Jesus.  They were sailing with Jesus in a boat across the Sea of Galilee.  And suddenly a wind storm came up and caused some very big waves.  And where was Jesus?  He was sleeping in front of the boat.  And so they woke him up and said, “Don’t you care that we are in danger?”  And Jesus woke up and said to the wind and sea, “Peace be still.”  And the wind and the sea became quiet.  And Jesus asked them, “Why are you so fearful?”

  Jesus knew that his friends were fishermen.  They fished on this lake all of the time and they had gone through many storms.  So why were they more fearful now than other times?

  Well, they probably thought that nothing bad should ever happen to them if Jesus was with them.

  Sometimes we think that nothing bad should happen to us when our parents are with us.  And you know what?  Your parents never want anything bad to happen, but still some things can go wrong.  Why?  Because they believe in freedom.  Have you ever lost a game when your parents were watching?  Yes.  Now it would look silly if your parents tried to play on your team to help you win.  Have you ever fell down when you are playing and when your parents are watching?  Of course.  So we can have accidents even when our parents are watching.

  Have you ever gotten a B on your homework, even when your parents helped you to do your project for school?

  Should we quit playing baseball and soccer, just because we lose some games?  Should we quit playing on the playground, just because we fall down and skin our knee a few times?  No… If we quit, then we would let fear of bad luck control our lives and we would never try anything because of fear.

  Just because we have some bad things happen to us in life, it does not mean that God is not caring for us.  God does not want us to be afraid of life.  God wants us to keep on trying to do new and better things.

  So, when we fall, what do we do?  Yes, we cry when our knee hurts.  We get some love from our parents.  We get a band aid on our knee.  And we try to be careful.  But do we quit playing?  No.  We keep on playing and having fun.  Why?  Because we want to live in faith about the good things in life.  We don’t want to live in fear about the bad things and the hurt that can happen in life.

  Jesus tried to teach his disciples to live by faith instead of fear.  That is a good lesson for us to learn too.  Let us learn to live by faith today. Amen.

Intergenerational Family Service with Holy Eucharist

June 23, 2024: The Fifth Sunday After Pentecost

Gathering Songs: Only a Boy Named David, Peace Before Us, Precious Lord, When the Saints

Song: Only a Boy Named David (All the Best Songs for Kids # 112)

Only a boy named David, only a little sling.  Only a boy named David but he could pray and sing.  Only a boy named David, only a rippling brook.  Only a boy named David and five little stones he took.  And one little stone went in the sling and the sling went round and round.  And one little stone went in the sling and the sling went round and round.  An-----------------------------------------d, Round and round and round and round and round and round and round.  And one little stone went up in the air; and the the giant came tumbling down.

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

People: And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and for ever.  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.

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Litany Phrase: Alleluia (chanted)

O God, you are Great!  Alleluia

O God, you have made us! Alleluia

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

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

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

O God, you have forgiven our sins!  Alleluia

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

A reading from the First Book of Samuel

Then David took his staff in his hand, and chose five smooth stones from the wadi, and put them in his shepherd's bag, in the pouch; his sling was in his hand, and he drew near to the Philistine, Goliah.  The giant said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?"  But David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with sword and spear and javelin; but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This very day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not save by sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD's and he will give you into our hand."  When the Philistine drew nearer to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. David put his hand in his bag, took out a stone, slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead; the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

 

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 9

The LORD will be a refuge for the oppressed, * a refuge in time of trouble.

Those who know your Name will put their trust in you, * for you never forsake those who seek you, O LORD.

Sing praise to the LORD who dwells in Zion; * proclaim to the peoples the things he has done.

Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God! (chanted)

Litanist:

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

For our families and friends. Thanks be to God!

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

For this day of worship. Thanks be to God!

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

For work and for play. Thanks be to God!

For teaching and for learning. Thanks be to God!

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

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

   Thanks be to God!

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

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

When evening had come, Jesus said to his disciples, "Let us go across to the other side." And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?" And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

Liturgist:         The Gospel of the Lord.

People:            Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon – Father Phil

Children’s Creed

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

Since God is so great and we are so small,

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

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

     resurrection of Jesus Christ.

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

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

     welcome.

We believe that Christ is kind and fair.

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

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

Litany Phrase: Christ, have mercy. (chanted)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

People:            And also with you.

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

Song: 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…  3. Light before us…..4. 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 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.

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: Precious Lord, Take My Hand (Wonder, Love and Praise # 800)

Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand, I am tired, I am weak, I am worn; thought the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light, take my hand, precious Lord, lead me on.

When the way grows drear, precious Lord, linger near, when my life is almost most gone; hear my cry, hear my call, hold my hand, lest I fall, take my hand, precious Lord, lead me on.

When the darkness appears and the night draws near, and the day is past and gone; at the river I stand, guide my feet, hold my hand, precious Lord, lead me on.

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 (Christian Children’s Songbook # 248)

1-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.

2-O when the girls go marching in….  3-O when the boys go marching in….

Dismissal:   

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

People: Thanks be to God! 

            .

Contrasting Realms

4 Pentecost Cycle B proper 6     June 16, 2024
1 Samuel 15:34-16:13 Psalm 20
2 Corinthians 5:6-10,  14-17  Mark 4:26-34

Lectionary Link

Biblical readers and scholars might assert that the message of the kingdom or realm of God is a very basic message in the tradition of the words of Jesus which made it to the synoptic Gospels.  The later Gospel of John does not include the parables of the the kingdom of God.  

Another insight regarding the parables of the kingdom of God found in the synoptic Gospel would be the appropriation of their meaning for the writing contexts of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

What does the message of a kingdom of God mean in the years 70-90 of the Common Era for the members of the Jesus Movement who certainly knew the reality of what living in a kingdom, a realm, an Empire, meant.

Surely, it was not lost on the readership of the Gospels the stark contrast of realms or kingdoms.

For the Gospel readers, the kingdom of the Caesar was the reality of the Roman Empire whose laws and armies impinged upon each person within the realm.  As far as anyone could travel, they still remained within the realm of the Caesar.  They lived and moved and had their social being within the realm of the Caesar.  Many of the Caesars were designated by decrees of the Roman senate to be gods.  So, the Caesars were gods and/or sons of a god.

What would it mean in contrast for the propagation of the message about the kingdom of God, the great God of the Hebrew Scriptures, the great God who was called Father by Jesus of Nazareth?

The Jesus Movement of the Gospel settings did not have expansive social reality; there was no Christendom, Holy Roman Empire, or impressive visible evidences of the kingdom of the Christian God.

The Gospel writers had the boldness to perpetuate a kingdom message to contrast the obvious presence of the kingdom of the Caesar, which engaged members of society through laws, administration, armies, and the collection of taxes.  The kingdom of the Caesar was unavoidable and participation in it was not voluntary, but required.

Participants in the Roman Empire believed in other realms; they believed in the realms of the gods and goddesses.  They believed in fate such that the gods and goddesses favored their leaders and marked their interactions through their various mystery traditions.  Through auguries the Roman sought to interpret the messages being received from the gods.

The message of the kingdom of God as presented in the Gospel is a message about a greater realm, one greater than Caesar's visible realm, and one greater than the realm of the gods and goddesses.  This Great God was on the expanding horizons of any human possibility and was all inclusive.

The message of the kingdom of God in the Gospel was not just about the existence of this great realm of God; it also was about the uncanny, the mysterious, the delicious discovery of this Great God within one's own territorial being of what was internal to the epidermis of a person.

The Gospel Kingdom of God message was that enlightenment to this great kingdom was like the mystery of an organic event, the planting of seed that goes from a tiny thing planted in soil only to surpass itself in exponential growth and arrive at a place of producing more seed for more plants.

The Gospel writers were proclaiming that Christ, the Messiah King, through the power of the invisible but knowable Holy Spirit could personally tap a person into the knowledge of being connected with God.  And the results were uncanny, enigmatic, and marvelous.

How could such surpassing greatness have come from something seemingly so insignificant?

The Gospel of the contrasting Realm of God is that the seeming unnoticed Spirit can gradually take over one's life and create such impressive collateral effects as to spread to influence people to become a significant social reality of goodness, love, and justice in the world, in a way in which the realm of the Caesar could not happen.

The parables of the Jesus as recounted by the Gospel writers, was a witness to the mysterious and uncanny enlightenment event which let people know in personal ways their specific relationship with God in identity with the Risen Christ through the experience of the Holy Spirit.

The early members of the Jesus discovered that they could live knowing the realm of God as being primary to their existence and enlightenment, even as they knew in their life situations they lived in the realm of the Caesar with his armies, administration, laws, taxes, and various mystery religions.

Today there are too many people who call themselves Christians who want our governments to force their Christian views on this world and this country.  They would try to replace the persuasive and mysterious work of the Holy Spirit in giving the unique orientation of each person into the enlightenment about the one God who loves and without force seeks to use love to lure us to enlightenment.

May God help us today to know how to live in contrasting kingdoms without confusing the modes of enlightenment through which we come to know them.  And may God's loving Spirit enlightenus and make us agents of love as the valid mode of administration of the God of Love.  Amen.

Sunday School, June 16, 2024 4 Pentecost, B proper 6

  Sunday School, June 16, 2024   4 Pentecost, B proper 6

Lesson:

Parables of the kingdom of God

Jesus tried to translate the life of God and God’s concerns into the language and story of people.

He told stories to try to get people to understand how they were living in God’s kingdom because all of creation is God’s kingdom because God is the creator.

Understanding that we live in the kingdom of God and letting us know how God is close to us was the Good News that Jesus came to tell us.

Parables are stories and in them Jesus used comparisons to teach about the Kingdom of God.

Comparisons use what we call metaphors and similes.

If I say, “He is a bear.”  I am comparing a person directly with an big animal who is not bear but that person may behave or look like a bear in some ways.

If someone says, “He eats like a pig” this is not saying that he is a pig but the way in which he slurps his food reminds a person of the way in which a pig eats.

Have everyone think of some well known comparisons.

He’s fast as a..

He’s slow as a

His neck is long as a

So Jesus said, The kingdom of God is like….and what is it like?

It is like seeds which grow become a plant and then has flowers and blossoms and fruits.

The kingdom of God is also our natural created world; and we should recognize that God’s kingdom is creation and it is as common and ordinary and as close as any garden which grows.

The kingdom of God is like a very tiny mustard seed.  From this tiny seed a great plant grows and spreads and takes over the entire field or meadow and the birds, bees and insects have plenty of food and a place for their rest and bird nests.

By this Jesus means that big things happen because of the collection of little acts of practice that we do every day.

If you study every day, what happens?  Your knowledge collects and some day you do something very big like graduate.  But remember you won’t ever graduate unless you study and learn every day.

In sport, you practice do all of the little exercises over and over again so that when the big game comes you can do your very best.

In dance, you go to practice each week and you practice at home so that when the performance and recital comes you are ready.

Jesus came to show us that God’s life of love and fairness could be known and understood and that is why he told us the parables about the kingdom of God.  He showed us that we can live better lives if we understand that we live in God’s kingdom.

Sermon:

What is put on the head of the king when he becomes a king?  A crown, right.

  Today we have read about the selection of the king of Israel.  There was a famous judge named Samuel.  And God told Samuel to choose the new king of Israel.  And God told him to go see Jesse, because Jesse had 8 sons.  So Samuel went to Jesse house and Jesse brought the 7 oldest sons to see Samuel.  These seven sons were big and strong and Samuel thought that one of them would make a good king.  But God said, None of these seven is God’s chosen king for Israel.  Do you have another son?  Jesse said, “Yes, there is little David but he’s just a shepherd, surely you don’t think that he could be king.”  And when David came to Samuel.  God said to Samuel, “He is to be king.”  Do you think that Samuel put a crown on David’s head?  No, he took a horn that was filled with olive oil and he poured it upon David’s head.  Would you rather have a crown or oil poured on your head, if you were made king.  When you pour oil on someone’s head…he is called the Meshiach… or the Anointed…that means he is chosen by God.  In English we don’t say Meshiach, we say Messiah.  And how do we say Meshiach in the Greek language?  We say Christos or Christ.  Jesus is called the Christ or the messiah because he was chosen by God to be a king?  But just like the shepherd boy David, Jesus did not always look like a king.  But Jesus told stories about the kingdom of God.  And he said that it might look like the Caesar and the other kings are in charge, but this world is really the kingdom of God.  And Jesus taught us how to see this world as the kingdom of God.

   He said that a very tiny mustard seed grows into a large bush.  And he said the kingdom of God is like that?  What did he mean?  Do you want to graduate from school some day?  Yes, but you can only graduate from school if you do each and every small homework assignment each day.  When all of the little things that you do are added up they begin big and important things.

   Jesus taught us that it is all of the little deeds of love and kindness that really make this world keep going.  Sometimes we think it is only the famous people who do important things.  No so; Jesus said that you can find the kingdom of God in all  the really small deeds of love and kindness.

  So remember each little thing that you do each is very important: doing your homework, cleaning your room, exercising your muscles, eating good food, being kind….all of these little things add up to make your future life even more special.

  Little boy David didn’t look like a king; Jesus did not look like the great Caesar in Rome, but they were God’s chosen kings because they let all of the small deeds of their lives add up to be a great example for us today.

 

Intergenerational Family Service with Holy Eucharist

June 16, 2024: The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Gathering Songs:

Sing a New Song; Lord, I Want to Be a Christian; Jesus, Stand Among Us; Hosanna

Song: Sing a New Song (Renew! # 21)

Refrain: Sing a new song unto the lord; let your song be sung from mountains high.  Sing a new song unto the lord, singing, “Alleluia.”

Yahweh’s people dance for joy; O come before the Lord.  And play for him on glad tambourines, and let your trumpet sound.  Refrain

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

People: And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and for ever.  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.

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Litany Phrase: Alleluia (chanted)

O God, you are Great!  Alleluia

O God, you have made us! Alleluia

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

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

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

O God, you have forgiven our sins!  Alleluia

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

A reading from the First Book of Samuel

Samuel, the judge went to the sons of Jesse to anoint a new King of Israel.  When the sons of Jesse came, he looked on Eliab and thought, "Surely the Lord's anointed is now before the Lord." But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one." Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one." Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, "The Lord has not chosen any of these." Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here." He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said, "Rise and anoint him; for this is the one." Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 92

It is a good thing to give thanks to the LORD, * and to sing praises to your Name, O Most High;

To tell of your loving-kindness early in the morning * and of your faithfulness in the night season;

On the psaltery, and on the lyre, * and to the melody of the harp.

Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God! (chanted)

Litanist:

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

For our families and friends. Thanks be to God!

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

For this day of worship. Thanks be to God!

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

For work and for play. Thanks be to God!

For teaching and for learning. Thanks be to God!

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

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

   Thanks be to God!

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

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus said, "The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come."  He also said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade."  With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.

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.

Song: Lord, I Want to be a Christian  (Renew! # 145)

Lord I want to be a Christian in my heart, in my heart, Lord, I want to be a Christian in my heart.  In my heart, in my heart, Lord I want to be a Christian in my heart.

Lord, I want to be more loving in heart, in heart, Lord, I want to be more loving in my heart.  In my heart, in my heart.  Lord, I want to be more loving in my heart.

Lord, I want to be like Jesus in my heart, in my heart.  Lord, I want to be like Jesus in my heart.  In my heart, in my heart.  Lord, I want to be like Jesus in my heart.

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 birth into the family of God.

A family meal gathers and sustains each human family.

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

The Lord be with you

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to God.

It is right to give God thanks and praise.

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

Holy, Holy, Holy (Intoned)

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

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

Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the Highest.

Children may gather around the altar

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

You have made us in your image

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

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

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

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

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

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

  this food and drink  that becomes a part of us.

The Prayer continues with these words

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Children rejoin their parents and take up their instruments)

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

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

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

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

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

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

As we forgive our debtors: Hallowed be thy name.

Lead us not into temptation: Hallowed be thy name.

But deliver us from evil: Hallowed be thy name.

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

Forever and ever: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

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

Breaking of the Bread

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

People:            Therefore let us keep the feast.  Alleluia!

Words of Administration

Communion Song: Jesus Stand Among Us, Renew! #17

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.

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.

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, Hosanna in the Highest! (Renew! # 71)

1          Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest!  Hosanna, 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 your 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!