Saturday, March 31, 2012

Striving for Justice and Peace


RCL Palm Sunday
1 April 2012

Saint Faith's Anglican Church
Vancouver BC

            The summer of 1995 marked a turning point in the life of our family here in Canada.  In May of that year Paula was ordained to the diaconate and began her curacy at Saint Philip’s Dunbar.  I was finishing my second three-year term on the national Doctrine and Worship Committee.  On a whim I accepted a nomination as a clergy member of General Synod and, to my surprise, I was elected.
            So off I went to Ottawa in June unaware of the change that was about to occur.  The first indication that something unusual was afoot was a telephone call from Paula telling me that my office had been emptied and had just been blown up --- for a movie shoot.  I knew that I had agreed to the use of my office for the movie, but no one had said that the plan was to empty and then blow it up!
            The second indication was the sudden bout of laryngitis that afflicted the rector of the parish who had agreed to host a group of Synod member, including me, for The Sunday.  I was drafted to preside and preach in a three-point charge in the Ottawa Valley --- on Pentecost --- with little time to prepare.
            But the third tremor occurred after that Sunday during a televised session of the Synod on the place of gays and lesbians in the Anglican Church of Canada.  During the hearing I found myself jotting down some notes and then walking to a microphone, something that I had not really planned to do.
            Those who were watching the telecast in Vancouver expected me to express my support for the continued  sanctions on the ordination of gay clergy and the blessing of gay and lesbian relationships.  That, however, was not what they were to see and hear.
            In the days leading up to Pentecost and to the hearing I had come to believe that the continued sanctions denied the human dignity of gays and lesbians.  Given that the sanctions, in my opinion, denied the dignity of gays and lesbians, these sanctions were unjust.  Since I, as a baptized Christian, had repeatedly committed myself to ‘strive for justice and peace among all people, and [to] respect the dignity of every human being’, the final commitment of our baptismal covenant, I had no choice but to challenge the sanctions.  This is what I said and this is what I still believe.
            In two minutes at a microphone I lost friends and colleagues.  Since 1995 a fair portion of my professional life has been associated with the movement to include gays and lesbian disciples of Christ more fully into the life of the Anglican Church.  There is still much to be done and there are faithful Christians whom I respect who do not share my views.
            God’s peace, what the Hebrew Bible calls shalom, is not possible without justice.  God’s peace, shalom, can only be experienced when human beings live in equitable relationships where no person is used for another person’s gain and when human beings acknowledge our dependence upon God and upon each other.
            Justice, however, is not possible without respecting human dignity.  Human dignity is based upon the conviction that every human person whether villain or hero, whether abuser or abused, whether male or female, whether believer or non-believer, is imprinted with image of God.  Our task as Christians is to strive towards a world in which every person can live in the likeness of God, so that her or his life reveal God’s stamp upon us..  We can obscure God’s image in us.  We can suppress God’s image in us.  We can deny God’s image in us, but it remains in all of us.  God’s image in us is a seed that awaits the gentle touch of the Spirit’s rain and Christ’s warmth so that it can burst forth from the soil and reveal God’s life hidden in each one of us.
            But human dignity requires an environment  of respect rather then mere tolerance.  Respect means that I acknowledge the presence of God in you and invite you, by my words and actions, to experience that same divine presence in me.  If we can respect each other and experience how God makes the divine presence known in each of us, then perhaps the whole of our relationship may exceed the sum of its parts.  From this respect for our shared dignity, justice many arise, and from this justice we may experience shalom.
            Notice we commit to striving not achievement.  God’s permanent shalom remains just beyond the horizon of our world, but we can experience moments, some brief, some longer, where that shalom embraces us.  But just as Jesus rides into Jerusalem Palm Sunday after Palm Sunday, so do we strive, day by day, week by week, month by month, and year by year, to ‘draw the circle wide’ and extend our respect for human dignity wider and wider.
            There are people living in Metro Vancouver whose dignity is not respected.  But here at Saint Faith’s and everywhere the baptismal commitment is made to strive for justice and peace their dignity will be respected.  Some people may question our wisdom and may consider foolish.  Some people may actually claim that we are acting politically.  But we will continue to strive for justice and peace so that ‘all God’s children may be free’ and taste that shalom for which pray and for which we wait.  Amen.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Ordo for Palm Sunday


Palm Sunday
1 April 2012

The Gathering of the Community

The Opening Hymn

‘Ride On, Ride On in Majesty’  Common Praise #182

Introductory Responses

Christ became obedient unto death for us,
even death upon a cross.
He was pierced for our sins,
bruised for no fault but ours.
His punishment has won our peace,
and by his wounds we are healed.
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
to receive power and riches and wisdom,
strength, honour, glory and praise.  Amen.

The Hymn of Confession

‘Before I Take the Body of My Lord’  Common Praise #610

The Absolution

May the God of compassion,
who in Jesus Christ has made us a royal priesthood,
forgive you your sins,
open your eyes to God’s truth,
strengthen you to do God’s will
and give you the joy of eternal life,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The Collect of the Day

Let us pray.

Sovereign God,
you have established your rule
over the human heart,
not by force
but by the servant example of Jesus Christ.
Move us by your Spirit
to join the joyful procession
of those who confess Christ Jesus
with their tongues
and praise him with their lives.  Amen.

The Proclamation of the Word

First Reading

Isaiah 50.4-9a

The Psalm of the Day

Psalm 118.1-2, 19-29 in Songs for the Holy One

The Second Reading

Philippians 2.5-11

The Gradual Hymn

‘Sunset to Sunrise Changes Now’  Common Praise #188

The Gospel

Mark 11.1-11

The Sermon

The Apostles’ Creed

Let us confess the faith of our baptism.

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.  Amen.

The Prayers of the Community

The Prayers of the People

The Exchange of the Peace

May the peace of our servant Lord be with you all.
And also with you.

The Holy Communion

The Offertory Hymn

‘God of Grace and God of Glory’  Common Praise #577

The Prayer over the Gifts

O Giver of life,
day by day you sustain the weary with your word
and gently encourage us to place our trust in you.
Awaken us to the suffering of those around us;
save us from hiding in denials or taunts that deepen the hurt;
give us the grace to share one another’s burdens  in humble service.
We ask this in Christ’s name.  Amen.

The Great Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is right to give you thanks and praise,
O Lord, our God, sustainer of the universe,
you are worthy of glory and praise.
Glory to you for ever and ever.

At your command all things came to be:
the vast expanse of interstellar space,
galaxies, suns, the planets in their courses
and this fragile earth, our island home;
by your will they were created and have their being.
Glory to you for ever and ever.

From the primal elements
you brought forth the human race
and blessed us with memory, reason and skill;
you made us the stewards of creation.
Glory to you for ever and ever.

But we turn again you and betray your trust;
and we turn against one another.
Again and again you all us to return.
Through the prophets and sages
you reveal your righteous law.
In the fullness of time you sent your Son,
born of a woman, to be our saviour.
He was wounded for our transgressions
and bruised for our iniquities.
By his death he opened to us
the way of freedom and peace.
Glory to you for ever and ever.

Therefore we praise you,
joining with the heavenly chorus,
with prophets, apostles and martyrs,
and with those in every generation
who have looked to you in hope,
to proclaim with them your glory,
in their unending hymn:

Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven 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.

Blessed are you, Lord our God,
for sending us Jesus, the Christ,
who on the night he was handed over
to suffering and death,
took bread, said the blessing,
broke the bread, gave it to his friends,
and said, “Take this, and eat it:
this is my body which is given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.”

In the same way, after supper,
he took the cup of wine;
he gave you thanks,
and said, “Drink this, all of you:
this is my blood of the new covenant,
which is shed for you and for all people
for the forgiveness of sins.
Whenever you drink it,
do this for the remembrance of me.”
Glory to you for ever and ever.

Gracious God,
we recall the death of your Son Jesus Christ,
we proclaim his resurrection and ascension,
and we look with expectation for his coming
as Lord of all the nations.
We who have been redeemed by him,
and made a new people by water and the Spirit,
now bring you these gifts.
Send your Holy Spirit upon us
and upon this offering of your Church,
that we who eat and drink at this holy table
may share the divine life of Christ our Lord.
Glory to you for ever and ever.

Pour out your Spirit upon the whole earth
and make it your new creation.
Gather your Church together
from the ends of the earth into your kingdom,
where peace and justice are revealed,
that we, with all your people,
of every language, race and nation,
may share the banquet you have promised;

through Christ, with Christ and in Christ,
all honour and glory are yours,
Creator of all.
Glory to you for ever and ever.  Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

As our Saviour taught us, let us pray,
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever.  Amen.

The Breaking of the Bread

We break this bread,
communion in Christ’s body once broken.

Let your church be the wheat
which bears its fruit in dying.
If we have died with him,
we shall live with him;
if we hold firm,
we shall reign with him.

The gifts of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.

The Communion

The Hymn after Communion

‘In God Alone’  Common Praise #563 (sung 3 times)

The Sending Forth of the Community

The Blessing of the Palms

Dear friends in Christ,
during Lent we have been preparing
for the celebration of our Lord’s paschal mystery.
On this day our Lord Jesus Christ
entered the holy city of Jerusalem in triumph.
The people welcomed him with palms and shouts of praise,
but the path before him led to self-giving, suffering and death.
Today we greet him as our Sovereign,
although we know his crown is thorns and his throne a cross.
We follow him this week from the glory of the palms
to the glory of the resurrection
by way of the dark road of suffering and death.
United with him in his suffering on the cross,
may we share his resurrection and new life.

Let us pray.

Assist us mercifully with your help,
Lord God of our salvation,
that we may enter with joy
into the celebration of those mighty acts
whereby you give us life and immortality;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is right to praise you, almighty God,
for the acts of love by which you have redeemed us
through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Hebrews acclaimed Jesus as Messiah and Sovereign,
with palm branches in their hands, crying,
Hosanna in the highest.
May we also, carrying these emblems, go forth to meet Christ
and follow him in the way that leads to eternal life;
who lives and reigns in glory with you and the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever.  Amen.

The Distribution of the Palms

The Processional Hymn

‘All Glory, Laud and Honour’  Common Praise #181

The Dismissal

Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Let us go forth in peace.
In the name of Christ.  Amen.

Anglican Journal: Presiding bishop on Middle East peacemaking: Don’t divest, engage

Please take a moment to read this story.

Anglican Journal: Presiding bishop on Middle East peacemaking: Don’t divest, engage

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Anglican Journal: Church of England votes down Anglican Covenant

I invite you to look at this excellent summary of the situation regarding the proposed Anglican Covenant.  I  can say that I am grateful to the diocesan synods of the Church of England for affirming the Anglican tradition of mutual interdependence rather that juridical structures as the means for maintaining our Communion.

Visit  Anglican Journal: Church of England votes down Anglican Covenant

Monday, March 12, 2012

Ordo for Lent 4


fourth Sunday in Lent
18 March 2012

The Gathering of the Community

The Opening Hymn

‘Amazing Grace’  Common Praise #352

The Introductory Responses

We cast our burdens upon you, O Lord,
and you will sustain us.

Create in us clean hearts, O God,
and renew a right spirit within us.

Cast us not away from your presence
and take not your Holy Spirit from us.

Give us the joy of your saving help again
and sustain us with your bountiful Spirit.

Blessed are you, O Lord, day by day,
the God of our salvation who bears our burdens.

The Hymn of Confession

‘Before I Take the Body of My Lord’  Common Praise #610

The Absolution

May the God of compassion,
who in Jesus Christ has made us a royal priesthood,
forgive you your sins,
open your eyes to God’s truth,
strengthen you to do God’s will
and give you the joy of eternal life,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The Collect of the Day

Let us pray

Steadfast God,
you reach out to us in mercy
even when we rebel against your holy call
and prefer to walk in disobedience
rather than in the way of your divine truth.
Soften our hearts with the warmth of your love,
that we may know your Son alive in us,
redeeming us and raising us up
into your eternal presence.  Amen.

The Proclamation of the Word of God

The First Reading

Numbers 21.4-9

The Psalm of the Day

Psalm 107.1-3, 17-22 in Songs for the Holy One

The Second Reading

Ephesians 2.1-10

The Gradual Hymn

‘Tree of Life and Awesome Mystery’  Common Praise #179 vv. 2, 4, 6e

The Gospel

John 3.14-21

The Sermon

The Apostles’ Creed

Let us confess the faith of our baptism.

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.  Amen.

The Prayers of the Community

Intercessions, Petitions and Thanksgivings

Exchange of the Peace

May the peace of Christ which unites us in love be with you all.
And also with you.

The Holy Communion

Offertory Hymn

‘Now Thank We All Our God’  Common Praise #399

The Prayer over the Gifts

Sustainer of creation,
embrace our gifts in your compassion
and welcome all people to this banquet,
where we may rejoice in your love
and celebrate the inheritance you have given us
in Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The Great Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is right to give you thanks and praise,
O Lord, our God, sustainer of the universe,
you are worthy of glory and praise.
Glory to you for ever and ever.

At your command all things came to be:
the vast expanse of interstellar space,
galaxies, suns, the planets in their courses
and this fragile earth, our island home;
by your will they were created and have their being.
Glory to you for ever and ever.

From the primal elements
you brought forth the human race
and blessed us with memory, reason and skill;
you made us the stewards of creation.
Glory to you for ever and ever.

But we turn again you and betray your trust;
and we turn against one another.
Again and again you all us to return.
Through the prophets and sages
you reveal your righteous law.
In the fullness of time you sent your Son,
born of a woman, to be our saviour.
He was wounded for our transgressions
and bruised for our iniquities.
By his death he opened to us
the way of freedom and peace.
Glory to you for ever and ever.

Therefore we praise you,
joining with the heavenly chorus,
with prophets, apostles and martyrs,
and with those in every generation
who have looked to you in hope,
to proclaim with them your glory,
in their unending hymn:

Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven 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.

Blessed are you, Lord our God,
for sending us Jesus, the Christ,
who on the night he was handed over
to suffering and death,
took bread, said the blessing,
broke the bread, gave it to his friends,
and said, “Take this, and eat it:
this is my body which is given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.”

In the same way, after supper,
he took the cup of wine;
he gave you thanks,
and said, “Drink this, all of you:
this is my blood of the new covenant,
which is shed for you and for all people
for the forgiveness of sins.
Whenever you drink it,
do this for the remembrance of me.”
Glory to you for ever and ever.

Gracious God,
we recall the death of your Son Jesus Christ,
we proclaim his resurrection and ascension,
and we look with expectation for his coming
as Lord of all the nations.
We who have been redeemed by him,
and made a new people by water and the Spirit,
now bring you these gifts.
Send your Holy Spirit upon us
and upon this offering of your Church,
that we who eat and drink at this holy table
may share the divine life of Christ our Lord.
Glory to you for ever and ever.

Pour out your Spirit upon the whole earth
and make it your new creation.
Gather your Church together
from the ends of the earth into your kingdom,
where peace and justice are revealed,
that we, with all your people,
of every language, race and nation,
may share the banquet you have promised;

through Christ, with Christ and in Christ,
all honour and glory are yours,
Creator of all.
Glory to you for ever and ever.  Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

As our Saviour taught us, let us pray,
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever.  Amen.

The Breaking of the Bread

We break this bread,
communion in Christ’s body once broken.

Let your church be the wheat
which bears its fruit in dying.
If we have died with him,
we shall live with him;
if we hold firm,
we shall reign with him.

The gifts of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.

The Communion

The Hymn after Communion

‘And Now, O Father, Mindful of the Love’  Common Praise #66

The Commissioning of the Community

The Prayer after Communion

God of the covenant,
in the glory of the cross
your Son embraced the power of death
and broke its hold over your people.
In this time of repentance,
draw all people to yourself,
that we who confess Jesus as Lord
may put aside the deeds of darkness
and embrace the works of light.
In Christ’s name we pray.  Amen.

Glory to God,
whose power, working in us,
can do infinitely more
than we can ask or imagine.
Glory to God from generation to generation,
in the church and in Christ Jesus,
for ever and ever.  Amen.

The Closing Hymn

‘Lift High the Cross’  Common Praise #602

The Dismissal

Let us go forth as witnesses to the steadfast love of God.
Thanks be to God.


Liturgical Notes

The Introductory Responses are adapted from The Book of Alternative Services (1985), p. 97.

The Absolution is adapted from Common Worship (2000), p. 136.

The Collect is taken from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers (2002), p. 85.

The Apostles’ Creed is taken from Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), p. 105.

The Prayer over the Gifts and the Prayer after Communion are adapted from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers (2002), pp. 84, 76.

The Dismissal was prepared by the Rev’d Dr Richard Geoffrey Leggett.

All other liturgical texts are taken from The Book of Alternative Services (1985), pp. 185-228.