Faithful Investment and the Law of Atrophy

24 Pentecost A p. 28 November 19, 2017
Judges 4:1-7    Psalm 123     
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11  Matthew 25:14-30

Lectionary Link

The parable of the talents includes some interesting insights about life and it is not without irony either.

There is fact that it doesn't translate exactly to the justice sensitivities of our time.  None us believe that Jesus would tell stories about slaves if he were with us today.  The stories of Jesus were told in a time when slavery was a social and economic reality.

The metaphor of slavery was used in early Christianity.  Followers of Jesus called themselves servants or slaves of Christ.  They regarded themselves to be branded with sign of the cross, a brand indicating to whom they belonged.  St. Paul further articulated, "You are not your own for you have been bought with a price."

The insight of the slave metaphor is that the one who creates all and who outlives everyone, is the legitimate owner of all things and all people.  We are all born with no choice about the great Plentitude in which we are born and with no choice about the great Plenitude which will survive us.  Limited people have limited freedom in the face of great Plenitude.

However a profound limitation of the "slave" metaphor is that it can imply a diminished significance of human freedom.  Instead of slaves, we today would prefer the terms managers or stewards or God's associates.   These are terms which imply a greater sense of creative freedom.

Beyond the slave metaphor, we have the insight about human life; people are gifted in diversity of quantity and quality of gifts.  That is a fact of the life.

The assumption of this parable is that God gives gifts.  And God expects the development and the investments of the gifts of one's life.

The assumption of this parable is that like in farming, growth is expected by the farmer.  A farmer who merely collects seeds without planting them is not a farmer but just a seed collector.  And God is not a seed collector; God is more like a farmer.  God expects growth.

Growth is a natural process in all phases of life; some growth is automatic and accidental but there is a significant amount of growth that happens because of willful and determining human efforts. 

We find in the Plenitude of Life, gifts come to people in diverse measures; God does not require the same measureable results from everyone.  Why?  God tailors investment success to the gifts, experiences and circumstances of each individual.

God's great investment strategy for humanity is to give us the potential of perfectability.  But God only makes judgments based upon whether one has surpassed oneself in a future state.

God's belief in human perfectability and fruitfulness does not mean that one-size fits all.  A person is only compared with himself or herself in a future state.

This means that in our own freedom, faith, creativity and efforts that we are judged.  We are judged by our own performance relative to our own situation.

The parable also includes a harsh reality of both personal and community life.  Atrophy is a cruel reality with cruel consequences.  "Use it or lose it" is a harsh reality of life.  And to add insult to injury, what one loses ends up becoming the resumes of people who are faithful, diligent and creative.   In lot of volunteer organizations, the 80/20 rule is often a reality: 20 percent of the members end up doing and giving 80 percent of ministry and the money.  In the ministry that needs to be done, that which is not taken up by the slackers ends up being performed by those who make themselves available for ministry and generosity.  People who are faithful get the joys of the outcomes simply because they made themselves available and were willing to accept the ministry.

What insights can you and I take from this parable today?

First, God has given everyone gifts and they are different gifts.  God only asks that we thankfully accept the gifts of our lives, even as they may be in seed form.  We are responsible for the planting, the cultivating and the harvest of what is given to us.  We are very important stewards in the gifts that God has given us.  We need not compare ourselves with each other; we need only to compare our current self with what we are yet called to be in the development of our gifts and ministry.  Yes, in our faithful development of our gifts we will find joy in doing more than we ever thought we could do, because we will end up doing what others refused to do.  And it is only great joy to be excessive in generosity.

Along with the great invitation that we have for investment, growth and creativity, there is also a frightful warning.  Atrophy, FEAR IT.  The most literal meaning of hell in the Bible refers to the garbage dump near Jerusalem.  Hell is the waste  of one's life for both personal and community benefit.  The parable indicates that the slave with one talent did not invest it because he was afraid of losing it.  Fear is the opposite of faith.  Many people act out of a fear of God and are paralyzed to act.  Creative faith is the basic gift that God gives to everyone and even though it is given, we still have to exercise it.

Today, you and I are invited to be stewards of God, following the life of Jesus who loved us and has given us the direction of perfection for each of our lives.  We are always forgiven for not yet being perfect, but we are always accountable for placing ourselves on the forward road of perfection.

Let us embrace our identity as investing creative stewards of the gifts of God today.  Amen.

Sunday School, November 19, 2017 24 Pentecost, A proper 28

Sunday School, November 19, 2017    24 Pentecost, A proper 28

Theme:  Use it or lose it

The Parable of the talents

Jesus told a story about people who were given money.

Some invested their money and received more money.

One person buried his money in the ground and when he did not invest it, the person who gave him the money took it away and gave it to the one who invested wisely.

This story is about some important things in life:

Everyone is given gifts.  Our gifts are different in what they are and in our ability to use them.

Jesus does not ask that we compare ourselves with each other.  Jesus asks that we compare ourselves with ourselves in the future when we have developed and learned and practiced.

How do you know if you can play soccer, play the piano, dance or sing, or invent things if you never try them or practice?

Practice makes perfect and if we don’t practice, we will never know what gifts we have or how good we can be with our gifts.

Jesus wants us to develop ourselves to max. We are not to hide our gifts but to use them, share them and develop them and perfect them.

Atrophy is the law of nature which says, “Use it or lose it.”   That is the message of the parable of the talents.

Sermon:

  Sometimes it hard to understand things in lives.  And Jesus knew that things were hard to understand, so he told stories to help people understand some of the difficult things in life.

  He told a story about a rich man who gave some money to three of his workers.  He gave five thousand to one, two thousand to another and one thousand to another.  He left town and when he came back he ask his workers what they did with their money.  The one with five thousand earned five thousand more.  The one with two thousand earned two thousand more.  But the one with only one thousand, did not earn anymore.  He simply hid his money so that no one could steal it.

  Jesus told this story to remind us that God is the owner of our lives and that we are all supposed to be working for God.  And God has given us many gifts.  But we still have to find our gifts and practice to use our gifts.

  If I have a gift to run fast, but never practice.  Will my gift be useful?  If I have the gift of singing or dancing or doing mathematics, but never practice, what will happen?

  I am going to teach you a word.  The word is Atrophy.  Atrophy means that if you don’t practice and use your ability, you lose your ability.

  Did you know that if you stay in bed too long without exercise, that your legs will not work?

  Jesus reminds us to work and practice our gifts.  The people who practice their gifts do not lose their gifts and they enjoy their gifts because they help many people.

  So remember today.  God has given you many gifts.  And the fun in your life is discovering your gifts.  But you also must practice your gifts as well.

  Say:  God has given me gifts.  I will practice my gifts.  I will help God and other people with my gifts and abilities.

Liturgy for the Day

St. John the Divine Episcopal Church

17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037

Family Service with Holy Eucharist

November 14, 2014: The Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Gathering Songs: The B-I-B-L-E, I Am the Bread of Life, Peace Before Us

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: The B-I-B-L-E, (All the Best Songs for Kids   # 119)

The B-I-B-L-E, yes that’s the book for me.  I stand alone on the word of God, the B-I-B-L-E.  

The B-I-B-L-E, It is God’s word for me.  I will obey God’s holy word, the B-I-B-L-E.  

The B-I-B-L-E, yes that’s the book for me.  I stand alone on the word of God, the B-I-B-L-E.  

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

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

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 the First Letter to the Thessalonians

For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 123

So our eyes look to the LORD our God, * until he show us his mercy.

Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy, * for we have had more than enough of contempt,

Too much of the scorn of the indolent rich, * and of the derision of the proud.

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 Matthew

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus said, "For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, `Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.' His master said to him, `Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, `Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.' His master said to him, `Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, `Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' But his master replied, `You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' "

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:  For the Beauty of the Earth,    # 416  (blue hymnal)

1-For the beauty of the earth, for the beauty of the skies, for the love which from our birth over and around us lies, Refrain: Christ our God to thee we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise.

2-For the beauty of each hour of the day and of the night, hill and vale, and tree and flower, sun and moon, and stars of light, Refrain.

Doxology

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

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

Prologue to the Eucharist

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

(Alll may gather around the altar)

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

You have made us in your image

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

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

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

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

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

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

 this food and drink  that becomes a part of us.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

As we forgive our debtors: Hallowed be thy name.

Lead us not into temptation: Hallowed be thy name.

But deliver us from evil: Hallowed be thy name.

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

Forever and ever: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

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

Breaking of the Bread

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

People:            Therefore let us keep the feast.  Alleluia!

Words of Administration

Communion Song:  Give Thanks With a Grateful Heart   (Renew!,  # 266 )

Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy One, give thanks because he’s given Jesus Christ his Son.  (sing twice)

And now let the weak say, “I am strong”; let the poor say “I am rich” because of what the Lord has done for us.  (sing twice)

Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the holy one, give thanks because he’s given Jesus Christ his Son (sing twice) Give thanks!

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

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….

Dismissal   

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

People:      Thanks be to God! 

Stewardship as Wise Preparation

23 Pentecost, Cycle A proper 27,  November 12, 2017
Wisdom of Solomon 6:12-16   Psalm 78
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Matthew 25:1-13
Lectionary Link

The parable about the five wise bridesmaid and the five foolish bridesmaids made me think about Eliza Doolittle's song in "My Fair Lady:"
I'm getting married in the morning!
Ding dong! The bells are gonna chime.
Pull out the stopper!
Let's have a whopper!
But get me to the church on time!

The foolish bridesmaids of the parable did not stock up on enough oil for their lamps and when the great procession of the groom arrived they did not have enough oil and so they had to leave to purchase oil and they missed the ceremony.  And to add insult to injury, when they came back to the wedding feast, they were locked out.

Can you imagine the Episcopal Church locking the doors of the church after the liturgy has begun?  Our attendance usually triples after the processional hymn, so if the doors were locked, what would our attendance be?

I think this parable of Jesus is about the basic actuarial wisdom which is expressed in the motto of the Boy Scouts, "Be prepared."

Wisdom is about being prepared.  And the entire Bible might be about the Wisdom of being prepared to welcome God into our lives.

Mimi:  Father Phil, could I interrupt for a second and ask some questions?

Father Phil:  Sure, we always welcome hecklers from the pew.  What questions do you have?

Mimi:  If wisdom involves being prepared, what do you think we are supposed to be prepared for?

Father Phil:  I think we need to be prepared for the serendipity of good things happening to us.  But we also need to be prepared for Murphy's Law events; we need to be prepared for what can go wrong.  But what do you have in mind?

Mimi: What is the "hidden" meaning of the what the bridesmaids were supposed to be preparing for? Five were thrilled and five were very disappointed.

Father Phil:  It could be that the early Christians believed that the goal of life was union with the Risen Christ.  A metaphor for the mystical union with Christ was the wedding event.  Since not everyone came to accept the Risen Christ, some were prepared and some were not.  Some were locked out of knowing this mystical union with the Risen Christ.

Mimi: Why do you think they were locked out?

Father Phil:  Probably because of their preconceived notions about who could or could not be the Messiah.  Also some thought that God could only really be known by those who observed the ritual purities that they knew in their religious tradition.  The parable shows that we can be blinded by even good things in our own traditions and we can prevent ourselves from receiving something new and wonderful, even the mystical union with the Risen Christ.

Mimi: Do you think that we at St. John's are living a life of being prepared for an enhanced experience of the Risen Christ?

Father Phil:  Well, what do you mean?  Sounds like you have an agenda?

Mimi:  Well, I am the chairperson for the Stewardship Committee, so I have some very practical concerns about our parish being prepared.

Father Phil:  Prepared for what?

Mimi: Prepared for finishing this year solvent.  Prepared to enter 2018 with enough commitment to find and fulfill our parish mission.  I want to make sure that we have purchased enough oil for our lamps to be ready.  Do you think we're ready?

Father Phil:  Well, you know it is said that there are lies, damnable lies, and then there are statistics.  But statistics can be for us revealing truth about our state of preparedness.

Mimi: What do you mean?

Father Phil:  Our attendance, like the attendance of most mainline churches has been declining.  We have about the same number of people on our roles but our average attendance has gone down.

Mimi:  Why do you think that is?

Father Phil:  It probably involves lots of things.   People are very busy with work and so their time off becomes more important.  Our culture used to have fewer things to compete with Sunday attendance but now most all youth sports have Sunday games.  And people with financial means have the ability to afford to travel and do other things.  What do you think?

Mimi:  Well, I'm worried that if we neglect something that we like and take it for granted, we might just wake up some day and find it gone because of lack of interest and support.

Father Phil:  That is true, but as the parable teaches, some were wise and prepared and some were foolish and unprepared.  And the message of the church is to be prepared, mainly for one's relationship with God in Christ.  And no matter what kind of statistical success that we have or don't have we have to be faithful in being prepared.  We cannot fall asleep on the job.  So what is the stewardship committee doing to help us in preparation?

Mimi:  Well, we just cannot highlight the negative statistics; we have to accentuate the positive.

Father Phil: Like what?

Mimi:  Like our very active prayer chain.  We have core group of people who faithfully pray for the special needs and concerns of our members.

Father Phil: It is a great ministry;  I would call them Ministers of the Interior.  You don't see them but you know they're at work.  And what about music?

Mimi: Ginny leads three choirs and they are faithful in practice and their offerings to our liturgies.  It takes a commitment to make a joyful noise unto the Lord.   We also have a wonderful preschool for our community.  Like the church it has up years and down years but it is good stewardship to make use of our campus five days a week and fill the playground with young children.

Father Phil: In what other ways are we being wise in our preparation?

Mimi:  There is Simply Divine.  For many years they have expanded our craft ministries and they have raised significant funds to be used in the support of our parish.

Father Phil:  And what about the taken for granted ministries?

Mimi: What do you mean?

Father Phil:  I mean like the altar guild, the flower guild, the parish life guild of people who provide refreshments and clean up.  There are people who do Outreach work.  I mean the people who fix broken faucets and trim trees and maintain the property.  There are real significant people who regularly do all of these things.  And they are important.  Even when attendance is down, there remains significant ministries that are being fulfilled.  But being prepared means that after we take inventory of what is good, we also look at areas where we need to improve, especially if we want to survive into the future.  What about our youth?  We say that the young are our future, but if they are going to be our future, they also have to be our present.

Mimi:  We need improvement in the opportunities of learning and fellowship for our youth.  We have great Youth Sundays, we have wonderful young liturgists and we have youth in our handbell choir.  But we need inspiration and support in attracting youth to be coming to faith development together in our parish.  And if there is competition for adults to be active in church and Christian education, there is also competition for youth.

Father Phil:  It is hard to discover the mystery of the youth biorhythms and to develop the kind of peer experience that invites and attracts participation.  Youth need to know that someone is interested in them and their social and spiritual development.

Mimi:  It can sometimes be discouraging to be a "small" parish, particularly if we are lacking critical mass in an area that is important to us and to our family at crucial ages of our children.

Father Phil:  On the other hand, as small as we are, and when we have lacked youth programs, I can say that I am quite proud of the youth who have gone on from St. John's parish.  And I think that it is because no matter how good youth programs are or teachers or pastors are, parents are and have been the main ministers in the lives of their children.  And we need to support this crucial ministry role that parents have in their lives of their children.

Mimi: So, we can always be working at being prepared.  That this will be our stewardship mission for this fall and next year.

Father Phil:  We also need to remember the most important teaching of the parable of Jesus.

Mimi:  What is that?

Father Phil:  The most important thing is the mystical union of each person with the Risen Christ.  Missing out on that is what is truly sad.  In fact, a couple can have a very wonderful marriage ceremony, but a terrible marriage.  And we need to remember that the purpose of all church programs and our liturgy is to assist in in our mystical union with Christ, a union that is offer to us all, no matter our age or circumstances.  And I have witnessed the effects of people at St. John's who know this mystical union with Christ, even a pleasant heckler like yourself.

Mimi:  Well, look out, because Stewardship season is here and St. John's wants and needs everyone to find their ministry as we prepare for 2018.

Father Phil:  Thank you Mimi, and thank you Jesus Christ who invites us all again into this wonderful mystical union.  Amen.

Sunday School, November 12, 2017 23 Pentecost, A proper 27

Sunday School, November 12, 2017    23 Pentecost, A proper 27

Theme:

Wisdom means being prepared.

What is motto of the Boy Scouts?

Be Prepared

What do we prepare for?  We try to prepare to make the best response for all things that can happen to us in life.  We prepare for emergencies.  We also prepare for good things in life, like for graduation, for learning skills, sports, dancing and we prepare for the work and jobs that we will do in our lives.

Jesus told a parable about being prepared.  Jesus used stories to teach lessons.

He told a story about five wise bridesmaids who were prepared and five foolish bridesmaids who were not prepared.

In the time of Jesus bridesmaids had an important role at weddings;  they had the important role when the groom made a parade to get his bride and bring her back to the wedding feast.  And the bridesmaid had to be ready to greet the wedding party.even if it was late at night.

The five wise bridesmaid had enough oil for their lamps to be ready to give light for the parade of the groom.  The five foolish bridesmaids did not have enough oil and so when the wedding parade arrived, they could not help light the parade.  They were locked out of the wedding.

What is the message of Jesus that is hidden in the story?

We need to be prepared.  For what?  For the wedding of our souls with God.  A wedding is the beginning of a special friendship between two people.  Jesus used the wedding to teach us about the special friendship that we can have in our lives.  And we need to be prepared for this friendship with God.  And if we are lazy and not prepared we will miss out on a wonderful relationship with God that has been shown to us by Jesus Christ.

We come to church and learn so that we can be prepared for our wonderful relationship, for our wedding with God as a special companion and friend.

Sermon:

Have any of you ever been to a wedding?

  A wedding is a very happy time when two people get married.  It is a great celebration and a great celebration needs lots of people to do things that make the celebration special.

  Besides the people getting married who else is at the wedding?  A priest or pastor, or judge.  There are groomsmen and bridesmaids and the bridesmaids get to wear those “once in a life time” dresses.  And the men get to wear tuxedoes.

  And in many weddings there are boys and girls.  What do the boys get to do in some weddings?  They get to carry the rings.  And what do the girls do?  They carry the flowers.

  A wedding needs someone to arrange pretty flowers; someone to fix and cater the food; music for dancing and much more.  And there is one more very important wedding job:  The photographer.  Someone to take pictures of the wedding. 

  Can you imagine a photographer at a wedding taking all of the pictures at the wedding and when the wedding is over, going back to print the pictures.  And he discovers that the memory card in his camera was not formatted and so he has no pictures of the wedding.  How do you think that bride would feel when the photographer tells her that there are no pictures?  She would be angry and hurt.  She would say, “Why did you not check your camera?  Why did you not have a backup camera?  Why weren’t you prepared?”  The photographer would be quite embarrassed

  How would you like to be the photographer who did not provide the wedding pictures?  It would be a horrible feeling and a feeling of failure.

  Jesus told a story about some bridesmaid who had a special job at a wedding.  At a certain time in the evening when the groom would come, they were supposed to be there to greet the groom, and this was just as important as the photographs of a wedding in our time.

  But some of the bridesmaid did not get enough oils in their lamps and so it was dark, and they could not provide light for when the groom came.  And they failed at their jobs.

  This was just a story that Jesus told.  And he told stories to teach lesson.  And the lesson of his story is this:  Be prepared!  Be prepared is a scout motto, right, because being prepared is very important in life.

  How do you prepare if you know it is going to be raining?  How do you prepare if you know that it is going to be cold?  How do you prepare if you know that you have to take a very difficult test in school?  How do you prepare for a soccer game?

  How do you prepare for meeting the most important person in the world?

  The story of Jesus tells us that we need to be prepared to meet God, who is the most important of all.  And how do we prepare?  We practice what God wants us to do?  And what does God want us to do?  To love with all our hearts and to love our neighbors.  If we practice these two things, then we will be prepared to meet God; we will be ready to meet God.

  Remember the message today.  Be prepared! Why because we want to give our very best to God.

St. John the Divine Episcopal Church

17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037

Family Service with Holy Eucharist

November12, 2017: The Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost

Gathering Songs: Give Me Oil in My Lamp, The Butterfly Song, Alleluia, 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: Give Me Oil in My Lamp (Christian Children’s Songbook,   # 53)

Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning.  Give me oil in my lamp I pray.  Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning, keep me burning ‘til the break of day.  

Refrain: Sing hosanna, sing hosanna, sing hosanna to the King of kings.  Sing hosanna, sing hosanna, sing hosanna to the king.

Give me joy in my heart, keep me shining.  Give me joy in my heart, I pray.  Give me joy in my heart keep me shining.  Keep me shining ‘til the break of day.  Refrain

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

First Litany of Praise: Alleluia (chanted)

O God, you are Great!  Alleluia

O God, you have made us! Alleluia

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

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

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

O God, you have forgiven our sins!  Alleluia

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

A reading from the Wisdom of Solomon

Wisdom is radiant and unfading, and she is easily discerned by those who love her, and is found by those who seek her. She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her.  One who rises early to seek her will have no difficulty, for she will be found sitting at the gate. To fix one’s thought on her is perfect understanding, And one who is vigilant on her account will soon be free from care, because she goes about seeking those worthy of her, and she graciously appears to them in their paths, and meets them in every thought.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 78

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

 He gave his decrees to Jacob and established a law for Israel, * which he commanded them to teach their children;

 That the generations to come might know,
and the children yet unborn; * that they in their turn might tell it to their children;

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 Matthew

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus said, "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, `Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, `Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise replied, `No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.' And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, `Lord, lord, open to us.' But he replied, `Truly I tell you, I do not know you.' Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour."

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:  The Butterfly Song  (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 9)

If I were a butterfly, I’d thank you Lord for giving me wings.  If I were a robin in the tree, I’d thank you Lord that I could sing.  If I were a fish in the sea, I’d wiggle my tail and I’d giggle with glee, but I just thank you Father for making me, me. 

Refrain: For you gave me a heart and you gave me a smile.  You gave me Jesus and you made me your child and I just thank you Father for making me, me.

If I were an elephant, I’d thank you Lord by raising my trunk.  If I were a kangaroo, you know I’d hop right up to you.  If I were an octopus, I’d thank you Lord for my fine looks and I just thank you Father for making me, me.  Refrain

If I were a wiggly worm, I’d thank you Lord that I could squirm.  If I were a Billy goat, I’d thank you Lord for my strong throat.  If I were a fuzzy-wuzzy bear, I’d thank you Lord for my fuzzy-wuzzy hair, and I just thank you Father for making me, me.  Refrain

Doxology

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

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

Prologue to the Eucharist

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, for to them belong the kingdom of 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.  Bless and sanctify us by your Holy Spirit so that we can we 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: Alleluia, (Renew! # 136)

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

He’s my Savior, alleluia….

He is worthy, alleluia….

I will praise him, alleluia…

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! 

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