Sunday, February 25, 2018

An Ordo for the Third Sunday in Lent (RCL Lent 3B, 4 March 2018)

The Third Sunday in Lent

4 March 2018


The Gathering of the Community


Gathering Music


Announcements


Greeting


Blessed be the Lord day by day,
the God of our salvation,
who bears our burdens.

Confession


Before I take the body of my Lord,
before I share his life in bread and wine,
I recognise the sorry things within ---
these I lay down.

The words of hope I often failed to give,
the prayers of kindness buried by my pride,
the signs of care I argued out of sight,
these I lay down.

The narrowness of vision and of mind,
the need for other folk to serve my will,
and every word and silence meant to hurt,
these I lay down.

Of those around in whom I meet my Lord,
I ask their pardon and I grant them mine
that every contradiction to Christ’s peace
might be laid down.

Lord Jesus Christ, companion at this feast,
I empty now my heart and stretch my hands,
and ask to meet you here in bread and wine ---
which you lay down. [1]

Absolution


May the God of all mercies
cleanse you from your sins,
and restore you in the divine image
to the praise and glory of God’s holy name,
through Jesus our Redeemer.  Amen.[2]

The Collect of the Day


The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.

Holy God,
through your Son you have called us
to live faithfully and act courageously.
Keep us steadfast in your covenant of grace,
and teach us the wisdom
that comes only through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.  Amen. [3]

The Proclamation of the Word


The First Reading:  Exodus 20.1-17


A reading from Exodus.

            20.1 Then God spoke all these words:

            2 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; 3 you shall have no other gods before me.

            4 You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.  5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, 6 but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.

            7 You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.

            8 Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy.  9 Six days you shall labour and do all your work.  10 But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work — you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns.  11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it.

            12 Honour your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

            13 You shall not murder.

            14 You shall not commit adultery.

            15 You shall not steal.

            16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.

            17 You shall not covet your neighbour’s house; you shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.
Thanks be to God.

The Psalm:  Psalm 19


Psalm 19 from Songs for the Holy One

Refrain (sung twice):  The heavens are telling the Holy One’s glory.

The heavens are telling the Holy One’s glory;
heaven’s arches proclaim God’s handiwork.
Day to day pours forth speech,
night to night declares knowledge.
There is no speech, there are no words;
no sound can be heard.
Their call goes out to all the world,
to the ends of the earth their message.

Refrain:  The heavens are telling the Holy One’s glory.

In the heavens God pitched a tent for the sun,
which comes forth as a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,
like a strong man running his course.
From the uttermost edge of the heavens it goes
and runs about the end of them again;
nothing is hid from its burning heat.

Refrain:  The heavens are telling the Holy One’s glory.

The Holy One’s teaching is perfect,
restoring my soul.
God’s decrees are sure, making wise the simple.
The Holy One’s precepts are right,
rejoicing my heart.
God’s commandments are pure,
giving light to my eyes.

Refrain:  The heavens are telling the Holy One’s glory.

Reverence for God is clean,
enduring for ever.
The Holy One’s judgements are true,
altogether just.
More to be desired are they than gold,
more than much fine gold,
sweeter far than honey in the comb.
By them is your servant warned,
for in keeping them there is great reward.

Refrain:  The heavens are telling the Holy One’s glory.

Who can discern unwitting sins?
O cleanse me from my secret faults.
Above all, keep your servant from arrogant sins;
let them not control me.
Then shall I be whole and sound,
and innocent of grave offense.
May the words of my mouth
and the meditations of my heart
be always acceptable in your sight,
O God, my strength and my redeemer.

Refrain:  The heavens are telling the Holy One’s glory.

The Second Reading:  1 Corinthians 1.18-25


A reading from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians.

            1.18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

            19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

            20 Where is the one who is wise?  Where is the scribe?  Where is the debater of this age?  Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?  21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe.  22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, 23 but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  25 For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God.

Hymn before the Gospel


‘Tree of Life and Awesome Mystery’  Common Praise #179 v. 3

The Gospel:  John 2.13-22


The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

            2.13 The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.  14 In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables.  15 Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle.  He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!”  17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”  18 The [Jews who did not believe in him]  then said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?”  19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”  20 [They] then said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?”  21 But he was speaking of the temple of his body.  22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

The Hymn after the Gospel


‘Tree of Life and Awesome Mystery’  Common Praise #179 v. 6d

The Sermon


The Affirmation of Faith


Let us affirm our faith.

We believe and trust in God the Author of creation,
source of all being and life, the one for whom we exist.

We believe and trust in God the Word of redemption,
who took our human nature, died for us and rose again.

We believe and trust in God the Spirit of wisdom,
who gives life to all people and makes Christ known in the world.

We believe and trust in one God:
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen. [4]

The Prayers of the Community


Intercessions, Petitions and Thanksgivings


The Exchange of the Peace


The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.

The Holy Communion


The Offertory Hymn


‘Let Us with a Gladsome Mind’  Common Praise #398

Prayer over the Gifts


Let us pray.

God our provider,
you have not fed us with bread alone,
but with words of grace and life.
Bless us and these your gifts,
which we receive through your bounty,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. [5]

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.

Blessed are you, gracious God,
creator of heaven and earth;
because you bid your faithful people to cleanse their hearts
and to prepare with joy for the paschal feast;
so that reborn through the waters of baptism
and renewed in the eucharistic mystery,
we may be more fervent in prayer
and more generous in the works of love. 
Therefore we raise our voices to you in praise
to proclaim the glory of your name. [6]

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. [7]

Blessed are you, gracious God,
creator of the universe and giver of life. 
You formed us in your own image
and called us to dwell in your infinite love. 
You gave the world into our care
so that we might be your faithful stewards
and show forth your bountiful grace.

But we failed to honour your image in one another and in ourselves;
we would not see your goodness in the world around us;
and so we violated your creation,
abused one another and rejected your love. 
Yet you never ceased to care for us
and prepared a way of salvation for all people.

Through Abraham and Sarah you called us into covenant with you. 
You delivered us from slavery,
sustained us in the wilderness
and raised up prophets to renew your promise of salvation. 
Then, in the fullness of time,
you sent your eternal Word, made mortal flesh in Jesus. 
Born into a human family and dwelling among us,
he revealed your glory.
Giving himself freely to death on the cross,
he triumphed over evil, opening the way of freedom and life.

On the night before he died for us,
our Saviour Jesus Christ took bread,
and when he had given thanks to you,
he broke it, 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.’

As supper was ending, Jesus took the cup of wine,
and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said: 
‘Drink this all of you:  this is my blood of the new covenant,
which is poured out for you and for all for the forgiveness of sins. 
Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.’

Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith: 

Christ has died. 
Christ is risen. 
Christ will come again.

Remembering his death and resurrection,
we now present to you from your creation this bread and this wine. 
By your Holy Spirit may they be for us the body and blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ. 
Grant that we who share these gifts may be filled with the Holy Spirit
and live as Christ’s body in the world. 
Bring us into the everlasting heritage of your daughters and sons,
so that with all your saints, past, present and yet to come,
we may praise your name for ever.

Through Christ and with Christ and in Christ,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
to you be honour, glory and praise,
for ever and ever.  Amen. [8]

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


Jesus, Lamb of God,
have mercy on us.
Jesus, bearer of our sins,
have mercy on us.
Jesus, redeemer of the world,
give us your peace. [9]

The Communion of the Community


The Hymn after Communion


‘Here, Lord, We Take the Broken Bread’  Common Praise #65

The Sending Forth of the Community


Prayer after Communion


Let us pray.

Compassionate God,
you have fed us with the bread of heaven.
Sustain us in our Lenten pilgrimage:
may our fasting be hunger for justice;
our alms, a making of peace;
and our prayer, the song of grateful hearts,
through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.  Amen. [10]

The Prayer over the People


Look mercifully on this your family,
God of the covenant,
so that by your great goodness
they may be governed and preserved evermore;
through Jesus our Redeemer.  Amen. [11]

The Closing Hymn


‘Lift High the Cross’  Common Praise #602

The Dismissal


Go forth in the zeal of Christ.
Thanks be to God. [12]

[1] Common Praise (1998), #610.

[2] Common Worship (2000), 135 alt.

[3] Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 28 alt.

[4] Common Worship (2000), 144 alt.

[5] Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 64.

[6] The Book of Alternative Services (1985), 220.

[7] Common Praise (1998), #735.

[8] Enriching Our Worship 1 (1998), 57-59 alt.

[9] Common Praise (1998), #747.

[10] Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 65 alt.

[11] The Book of Occasional Services (2004), 25 alt.

[12] The Rev’d Dr Richard Geoffrey Leggett (2018).

Friday, February 23, 2018

Promise and Risk: Reflections on Genesis 17.1-7, 15-16 (RCL Lent 2B, 25 February 2018)

Promise and Risk
Reflections on Genesis 17.1-7, 15-16

RCL Lent 2B
25 February 2018

Saint Faith’s Anglican Church
Vancouver BC


            17.1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless.  2 And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous.”  3 Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to him, 4 “As for me, this is my covenant with you:  You shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations.  5 No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations.  6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you.  7 I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.”

            15 God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name.  16 I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her.  I will bless her, and she shall give rise to nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.”

         It is a rare promise that does not involve some risk.  Let’s imagine ourselves within the story of Noah and the flood.  The waters have receded and the dry land has re-appeared.  The animals are re-populating the earth and plants have begun to spring forth from the earth.  Noah and his family are re-establishing some semblance of normal life.  Shelters have been built and the tasks of everyday life occupy the people.

         Then there is the sound of thunder in the distance.  Clouds fill the sky and creatures seek shelter from the approaching storm.  Noah and his family know the promise that God has made, but it would only be natural for them to experience a moment of doubt, a moment of uncertainty.  As the rain begins to fall and the family takes shelter, I can see the exchange of glances.  Has God forgotten the promise?  Has something happened to change God’s mind?  Will there be another flood?

         The storm passes and the rainbow appears in the sky.  Another day dawns and life does seem to be returning to the patterns familiar to one and to all.  God has kept the promise.  It may have taken a few months, even a few years, before the memory of the flood was not stirred up by the sound of thunder and the coming of the rain.

         Then, centuries later, Abraham and Sarah leave the comfort of Haran on account of a word spoken by God, the promise of a future beyond the hopes of any human being.  And so they travel and experience moments of promise and moments of dread.  They grow old with no legitimate child to make good on the promise of God that they would be the ancestors of a people too numerous to count.  They’ve done all that God asked them to do, but the promise has not yet been fulfilled.

         Well into their old age, Abraham and Sarah wait.  Finally a word from God comes again and the promise is renewed.  Do they take the risk to believe in the promise or choose to be satisfied with the material wealth they have accumulated, with the knowledge that Abraham’s nephew has children?  After all, Abraham does have an acknowledged son, Ishmael.  Perhaps this was what God meant.  Divine messages can be difficult to decipher.     

         But the risk of faith pays off.  Sarah does give birth to a son, Isaac.  The next generation, at least, is assured.  In the years ahead Abraham and Sarah will see the concrete fulfilment of the promise made so long ago.

         It is, as I said, the rare promise that does not carry a certain risk.  Whether the risk is endurable or not depends upon how important we believe the fulfilment of the promise to be.  If I promise Paula to bring home the ingredients for a particular dinner dish and I forget, then the risk I face is Paula’s disappointment and a less than pleasing dinner, depending upon what we have available at home.  But if I promise another human being to be faithful for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, for as long as I live, then the risk of not fulfilling that promise is certainly more costly than forgetting the ingredients for supper.

         Whether it is the covenant God made with humanity and sealed with the rainbow or the covenant God made with Abraham and Sarah and sealed with the birth of Isaac or the covenant God has made with you and me and sealed in the waters of baptism, there is always some risk in believing in the promises of God.  These risks arise because God’s promises are never ones for which we are supposed to sit around and wait for their fulfilment.  God’s promises require those to whom the promise is made to act as if the promise has already been fulfilled in its completeness.

         In the covenant with Noah we are promised that ‘all God’s critters got a place in the choir’, that every creature, human and non-human, is so precious in God’s sight that God cannot envision bringing its life to an unnatural end.  Yet we know all too well how many of God’s creatures suffer as a consequence of human sin.  For some people this is reason to disbelieve the promise of God; for others, such as you and I, it is a reason to renew our efforts and work for a world in which all God’s children can be free.

         In the covenant with Abraham and Sarah we are promised that God calls ordinary people to achieve God’s purposes.  By entering into covenant with Abraham and Sarah, God does not set aside the earlier covenant with Noah.  God seals that covenant with something more grounded than the rainbow:  a people whose very existence is a sign of God acting in history.  The descendants, whether in the flesh or not, of Abraham and Sarah witness to God’s faithfulness through their own faithfulness to the covenant that God has made with them.  This sign is distorted when it is used to glorify one part of God’s family to the exclusion of any other part, but that is the risk of being chosen.  We sometimes forget what we are chosen for.

         In the covenant of baptism we are promised that God will transform us more and more into the likeness of Christ.  There is risk here, for transformation requires change and every change, even a positive one, means a loss and every loss brings some grief.  But if we are committed to seeing Christ more clearly, to loving Christ more dearly, to following Christ more nearly, then the risk of discipleship is more than bearable; it is greeted as a sign of growth.

         Even when we hear the rumble of distant thunder, we know that God has promised to sustain ‘this fragile earth, our island home’ and we continue the ministry entrusted to us.  Even when we realize that we are being called from the comfort of familiar patterns of how to be church, we know that God has promised to bring new life into being and the promise of a future.


         When I look at the risk of being a Christian today, I find myself returning to an ancient Christian text, the Exsultet, the Easter proclamation sung at the lighting of the Paschal candle.  In some ancient versions the deacon sings, ‘O blessed iniquity!  That such a sin should merit such a Saviour!’  It is a reminder that when God created us and gave us free will, God took the risk that we would fail.  But in Christ God takes another risk, the risk that we will return to our right minds.  When a God such as this takes such risks for us, who are we not to respond and take the risk of faith?