The Eighth Sunday after Pentecost

10 July 2016

The Gathering of the Community

Gathering Music

Announcements

The Opening Hymn

‘Stand Up and Bless the Lord’  Common Praise #350

The Greeting and Litany

Blessed be the one, holy and living God.

Glory to God for ever and ever. [i]

You raise the dead to life in the Spirit:

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

You bring pardon and peace to the broken in heart:

Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

You make one by your Spirit the torn and divided:

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy. [ii]

Holy One,

lift from us every burden

that hinders us from walking in the way of Jesus

and renew in us his joy and confidence in your love and mercy;

through Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.  Amen. [iii]

The Hymn of Praise

‘Bless the Lord, My Soul’  Common Praise #360 (sung three times)

The Collect of the Day

Let us pray.

Compassionate God,

whose love demands our all:

reveal to us our wounds

and give us grace to know our neighbour

who tends us with foreign hands;

through Jesus Christ, the merciful one.  Amen. [iv]

The Proclamation of the Word

The First Reading

A reading from the prophet Amos (7.7-17).

            ⁷ This is what he showed me:  the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand.

            ⁸ And the Lord said to me, “Amos, what do you see?”  And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said, “See, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I will never again pass them by; ⁹ the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate,

and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste, and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.”

            ¹⁰ Then Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent to King Jeroboam of Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against you in the very centre of the house of Israel; the land is not able to bear all his words.

            ¹¹ For thus Amos has said, ‘Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel must go into exile away from his land.’”

            ¹² And Amaziah said to Amos, “O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, earn your bread there, and prophesy there; ¹³ but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom.”

            ¹⁴ Then Amos answered Amaziah, “I am no prophet, nor a prophet’s son; but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees, ¹⁵ and the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’

            ¹⁶ “Now therefore hear the word of the Lord.  You say, ‘Do not prophesy against Israel, and do not preach against the house of Isaac.’  ¹⁷ Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘Your wife shall become a prostitute in the city, and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword, and your land shall be parceled out by line; you yourself shall die in an unclean land, and Israel shall surely go into exile away from its land.’”

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.

Thanks be to God.

The Psalm

Psalm 82 with refrain from Songs for the Holy One

Refrain (sung twice):  Holy One, yours is the earth and all its peoples.

¹ God stands in the council of heaven *

            and gives judgement in the midst of the gods:

² “How long will you judge unjustly, *

            and show favour to the wicked?

³ Save the weak and the orphan; *

            defend the humble and needy;

⁴ Rescue the weak and the poor; *

            deliver them from the power of the wicked.

Refrain:  Holy One, yours is the earth and all its peoples.

⁵ They do not know, neither do they understand;

            they go about in darkness; *

            all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

⁶ Now I say to you, ‘You are gods, *

            and all of you children of the Most High;

⁷ nevertheless, you shall die like mortals, *

            and fall like any prince.’”

⁸ Arise, O God, and rule the earth, *

            for you shall take all nations for your own.

Refrain:  Holy One, yours is the earth and all its peoples.

The Second Reading

A reading from the letter to the Colossians (1.1-14).

            ^1.1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

² To the saints and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae:  Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

            ³ In our prayers for you we always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁴ for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, ⁵ because of the hope laid up for you in heaven.  You have heard of this hope before in the word of the truth, the gospel 6 that has come to you.  Just as it is bearing fruit and growing in the whole world, so it has been bearing fruit among yourselves from the day you heard it and truly comprehended the grace of God.  ⁷ This you learned from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant.  He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, ⁸ and he has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

            ⁹ For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, ¹⁰ so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God.  ¹¹ May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully ¹² giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.  ¹³ He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.

Thanks be to God.

The Hymn before the Gospel

‘What Does the Lord Require’  Common Praise #171 vv. 1, 2

The Gospel

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke (10.25-37).

Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

            ^10.25 Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus.  “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  ²⁶ He said to him, “What is written in the law?  What do you read there?”  ²⁷ He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself.”  ²⁸ And [Jesus] said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”

            ²⁹ But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?”  ³⁰ Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.  ³¹ Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.  ³² So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.  ³³ But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity.  ³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them.  Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.  ³⁵ The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’  ³⁶ Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?”  ³⁷ [The lawyer] said, “The one who showed him mercy.”  Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

The Gospel of Christ.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

The Hymn after the Gospel

‘What Does the Lord Require’  Common Praise #171 vv. 1, 2

The Sermon

An Affirmation of Faith

Let us declare our faith in God.

We believe in God the Creator,

from whom every family

in heaven and on earth has its being.

We believe in God the Word Incarnate,

who lives in our hearts through faith,

and fills us with the love of God.

We believe in God the Spirit of counsel and wisdom,

who strengthens us

with power from on high.

We believe in one God,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

now and until the ages of ages.  Amen. [v]

The Prayers of the Community

Intercessions, Petitions and Thanksgivings

The Exchange of the Peace

The peace of Christ be with you all.

And also with you.

The Holy Communion

The Offertory Hymn

‘God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending’  Common Praise #601 (sung to #374)

Prayer over the Gifts

Let us pray.

God of mercy and grace,

the eyes of all wait upon you,

and you open your hand in blessing.

Fill us with good things at your table,

so that we may come to the help of all in need,

through Jesus Christ, our redeemer and Lord.  Amen. [vi]

The Thanksgiving at the Table

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 indeed right that we should praise you, gracious God,

for you created all things. 

You formed us in your own image: 

male and female you created us. 

When we turned away from you in sin,

you did not cease to care for us,

but opened a path of salvation for all people. 

You made a covenant with Israel,

and through your servants Abraham and Sarah

gave the promise of a blessing to all nations. 

Through Moses you led your people from bondage into freedom;

through the prophets you renewed your promise of salvation. 

Therefore, with them, and with all your saints

who have served you in every age,

we give thanks and raise our voices

to proclaim the glory of your name.

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. [vii]

Holy God, source of life and goodness,

all creation rightly gives you praise. 

In the fullness of time, you sent your Son Jesus Christ,

to share our human nature,

to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you,

the God and Creator of all. 

He healed the sick

and ate and drank with outcasts and sinners;

he opened the eyes of the blind

and proclaimed the good news of your kingdom

to the poor and to those in need. 

In all things he fulfilled your gracious will.

On the night he freely gave himself to death,

our Lord Jesus Christ took bread,

and when he had given thanks to you,

he broke it, and gave it to his disciples,

and said, “Take, eat:  this is my body which is given for you. 

Do this for the remembrance of me.”

After supper he 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 shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sins. 

Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”

Gracious God,

his perfect sacrifice destroys the power of sin and death;

by raising him to life you give us life for evermore. 

Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith. 

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

Recalling his death,

proclaiming his resurrection,

and looking for his coming again in glory,

we offer you, O Holy One of Israel, this bread and this cup. 

Send your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts,

so that all who eat and drink at this table

may be one body and one holy people,

a living sacrifice in Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

all glory is yours, Source of all life, now and for ever.  Amen. [viii]

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

‘I am the bread of life,’ says the Lord.

‘Whoever comes to me will never be hungry;

whoever believes in me will never thirst.’

Taste and see that the Lord is good;

happy are they who trust in him!

These are the gifts of God for the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

The Communion of the Community

The Hymn after Communion

‘All Who Love and Serve Your City’  Common Praise #590 (sung to #500)

The Sending Forth of the Community

Prayer after Communion

Let us pray.

Gracious God,

in this meal you have drawn us to your heart,

and nourished us at your table with food and drink,

the body and blood of Christ.

Now send us forth to be your people in the world,

and to proclaim your truth this day and evermore,

through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.  Amen. [ix]

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

‘Judge Eternal, Throned in Splendour’  Common Praise #594 (sung to #381)

The Dismissal

The Deacon sends the Community forth with an appropriate Dismissal.

---

[i] Enriching Our Worship 1 (1998), 50.

[ii] Common Worship (2000), 133.

[iii] Hebrews 12.1-12 as adapted by the Rev’d Dr Richard Geoffrey Leggett.

[iv] The Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Collects for Years A, B & C and seasonal Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion,’ 135.

[v] Common Worship (2000), 148 alt.

[vi] The Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Collects for Years A, B & C and seasonal Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion,’ 160.

[vii] Common Praise #732.

[viii] The Book of Alternative Services (1985), 193-195 alt.

[ix] The Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Collects for Years A, B & C and seasonal Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion,’ 163.

The Obligations of Thankfulness: Reflections for Canada Day Weekend (3 July 2016)

The Obligations of Thankfulness

Reflections on Canada Day Weekend

3 July 2016

Saint Faith’s Anglican Church

Vancouver BC

 Click here to listen to the Sermon as preached at the 10.00 a.m. Eucharist.

        When I was seven years old, my father was transferred from Colorado Springs to Wiesbaden in what was then known as ‘West’ Germany.  Because there was not enough housing for families in Wiesbaden, my mother, sister and I spent the school year living with my grandparents in England.  I went to a near-by elementary school for US military families.

         It was a momentous year for me and for the United States.  In November of that year John Fitzgerald Kennedy was elected President and became the first president to be born in the twentieth century, the first Roman Catholic president and the youngest president in US history.  I do not remember what my parents thought of the election, but I do know how excited everyone seemed to be.

         In January of 1961 Kennedy was inaugurated as President, taking the reins from the only president I had ever known, Dwight Eisenhower.  What Kennedy said on that January day, however, shaped many of my generation.  Although a short address, it was filled with hope, with determination and with a vision of a world free from poverty, war and oppression.  But certainly its most memorable phrase was this:  “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you --- ask what you can do for your country.”

         Behind Kennedy’s exhortation was a simple belief many of us will know from Luke’s gospel:  “[Jesus said,] “From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.” (Luke 12.48b)

         It is rare these days to hear anyone speak about obligations.  If they do speak about obligations, they usually are referring to financial commitments we have made or some of the less pleasant responsibilities that may attach themselves to our work or to family life.  To hear the word, ‘obligation’, is more likely to conjure up feelings of resignation, even resentment, than feelings of thankfulness.

         Yet, for those who follow the way of Jesus of Nazareth, thankfulness is precisely the source of one’s obligations.  There is a popular grace at meals that captures this relationship succinctly:

For food in a world where many walk in hunger,

for friends in a world where many walk alone,

for faith in a world where many walk in fear,

we give you thanks, O God.

What we do not often say after this prayer is this:

Open our hands to feed the hungry.

Open our hearts to embrace the lonely.

Open our minds to share our faith.

Grant us courage.  Grant us wisdom.

Grant us strength, so that we and all your children shall be free.

To be thankful for food, for friendship, for faith requires a response and imposes upon us an obligation to be agents of God in whatever situation we find ourselves.

         It is tempting on Canada Day weekend to be so lost in gratitude for the freedoms and privileges we enjoy that we forget our responsibility to work, in whatever way we can, to ensure that all God’s children enjoy these freedoms and these privileges.  We might well paraphrase Kennedy’s exhortation and say, ‘Ask not what God can do for us --- ask what we can do for God.’

         So let us enjoy this weekend.  Let us give thanks for our country.  Let us remember all those throughout the generations who have worked and sacrificed to ‘keep our land glorious and free’.  And then, let us fulfill the obligations of thankfulness as we work to widen the circle, so that, from sea to sea to sea, our land will be filled with the glory of God.

Almighty God, Father of all mercies,

we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks

for all your goodness and living-kindness

to us and all whom you have made.

We bless you for our creation, preservation,

and all the blessings of this life;

but above all for your immeasurable love

in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ;

for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.

And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies,

that with truly thankful hearts

we may show forth your praise,

not only with our lips, but in our lives,

by giving up ourselves to your service,

and by walking before you

in holiness and righteousness all our days;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

to whom with you and the Holy Spirit,

be honour and glory throughout all ages.  Amen.