June 1, 2014

7th Sunday of Easter

Lessons
Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) Roman Catholic (RC)
Acts 1:6-14 Acts 1:12-14
Ps 68:1-10, 32-35 Ps 27:1, 4, 7-8
1 Pet 4:12-14, 5:6-11 1 Pet 4:13-16
Jn 17:1-11 Jn 17:1-11

Speakers Introduction for the Lessons
Lesson 1
Acts 1:6-14 (RCL); Acts 1:12-14 (RC)
After seeing Jesus ascend into heaven, the disciples devote themselves to a
time of prayer and discernment.

Lesson 2
Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35 (RCL)
Whatever challenges we face in our world, we can be assured that God
always travels with us.
Psalm 27:1, 4, 7-8 (RC)
When the world seems to be against us, we can trust that God will always
be faithful.

Lesson 3
1 Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11 (RCL); 1 Peter 4:13-16 (RC)
If we find being a Christian an easy task in this world, the author of 1 Peter
assures us that were not doing it right.

Gospel
John 17:1-11 (RCL/RC)
Jesus offers a final prayer of intercession for his disciples before his arrest
and crucifixion.

Theme
In our hurry up and get it done world, God invites us to take things slowly.

Thought for the Day
Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose
your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems
upset.
Saint Francis de Sales
Sermon Summary
After witnessing the ascension of Jesus, the disciples do not immediately rush
out to tell the good news. Instead, they make a sabbaths journey (short walk)
to Jerusalem. There, they wait in prayer for the Spirit to move. In this way, they
teach us the importance of waiting in prayer.

Call to Worship: (based on Psalm 68)
One: Let us rejoice today in Gods presence.
All: Let us sing praises to God.
One: Let God rise up and drive away all despair.
All: Let us sing praises to God.
One: Let us praise our God who protects those left on the margins.
All: Let us sing praises to God.
One: Let us praise our God who brings us unity and prosperity.
All: Let all heaven and earth sing praises to God.


Pastoral Prayer
Help us, O God, to come into this place with calm, unhurried minds. There are
so many items on our to do list that often we forget to simply be exactly where
we are. Bring us into this present moment, Holy One, so that we may truly feel
your presence, and the presence of community around us. We give you thanks
for this moment, for this place and this time when we can join in celebration of
your love and mercy together.

Prayer of Confession and Assurance
We are a culture of impatience, God. We live in a world where get it done is
often the golden rule. Forgive us, O God, when we have been so caught up in
the worries and cares of the day that we have rushed past those who are in need.
Forgive, O God, that in our busyness, we have forgotten how to slow down and
admire this amazing world that you have created for us. Help us, Holy One, to
recognize more of you in the world around us: in the homeless and hungry, in
each flower and refreshing breeze, in all the places and ones in which you dwell
with us. We know that you are faithful, God, and that when we stop and
recognize you, we are a forgiven and blessed people.

Prayer of Dedication of Gifts and Self
As we bring our gifts of time, money, and talent into the storehouse today, God,
we ask for your blessings. We trust in you to multiply these gifts, to make them
more powerful than they already are, so that others will hear and know the good
news of your mercy and grace. Help us to dedicate ourselves to being your
channel, your hands and heart, in this world that still has so many unmet needs.
Bless and strengthen our efforts.

Hymn of the Day
Come and Find the Quiet Center
New Zealander Shirley Erena Murray has written many contemporary hymns for
the church. This focuses our minds and spirits not only as we gather but also as
we prepare to move out into the joys and pains of this world. The tune often set
with these words is Beach Spring, which made its first published appearance in
the classic 1844 collection of a cappella hymnody entitled The Sacred Harp.

Childrens Time: Sharing the Good News
Talk with the children about sharing good news with others. Who do you tell
when you have good news to share?
Mention that Jesus disciples had really good news to share. They were so
excited about it that they told everyone they met. In our Bible story today, Jesus
tells them that they will be sharing the good news to the ends of the earth. The
news the disciples had to share was the story of Jesus and his message of Gods
love for all.
Ask each child to run and tell one person in the congregation the good news
God loves you! Jesus said so! Ask each person to pass it on to their neighbor,
who does the same. Watch as the good news spreads around the congregation.
Explain that this is exactly what happened in the world. The disciples
shared the good news with the people in Jerusalem, who passed it on to people
from other towns and countries, who passed it onto others. The good news
passed from one person to another to the ends of the earth. Now its our turn
to hear the good news and pass it on.
Pray with the children, giving thanks for all the people who passed on the
good news so that we could hear it too.

The Sermon: Hurry Up and Wait
Scripture: Acts 1:6-14

Waiting. Its something that we hate so much that we buy books and pay time-
management experts to give us all their advice on how to stop waiting and start
acting. The art of waiting has been lost. Instead, if we wait, were branded
procrastinators or worse yet, dreamers. You know the sort: the ones who
spend their time daydreaming, or lost in thought . . . or praying.
Modern-day motivational speakers and time managers would be clearly
frustrated with Jesus disciples. In our passage from Acts, we find them talking
with the risen Jesus. He promises them that soon the power of the Holy Spirit
will come upon them and they will be very, very busy. So busy, in fact, that they
will be spreading the good news of Jesus to the ends of the earth.
Whew! Now thats a big task, and an even bigger marketing plan.
The time managers and motivational speakers among us will look
approvingly on the two men who stood beside the disciples as they watched
Jesus ascend into heaven and out of sight. Why do you stand looking up toward
heaven? they ask.
And the time managers and motivational speakers among us try to finish the
sentence with, Get busy. Youve got work to do!
But, the disciples do the exact opposite of what our time managers and
motivational speakers advise. Instead of jumping into their new assignment as
Gods messengers, they hurry up and wait. They go back to Jerusalem, where
they go into their upper room and devote themselves to prayer. They devoted
themselves to the ultimate art of waiting.
Our culture of impatience makes it hard for us to understand why the
disciples would react this way. After all, theyve just been visited by a risen
Jesus, an exciting event if there ever was one. On top of that, theyve just seen
Jesus ascend into heaven, taken up into the clouds to be with God. Imagine what
an energizing and awe-inspiring event that had to be! They had to be snapped
out of their stupor by angels and reminded that there was work to be done.
If we had been present for all of these events, we would probably spring
into action: blogging about our experience, posting it on Facebook. Maybe we
even would have caught it on our cell phone cameras in the hope that the images
of Jesus ascending to heaven would go viral on YouTube! In short, wed be
sure that we were the first ones to tell the world of the amazing and wonderful
things we had just witnessed.
But would it even occur to us to slow down and pray before we shared
anything we had seen or experienced with the world around us?
Consider those first disciples. The only thing they could think about was
hurrying back to their upper room in Jerusalem to pray, to wait with each other
until the Spirit moved them into action.
Let us not think, however, that the disciples took no action during this time.
In fact, they took an action that I think we overlook in our rush to get places and
do things. The scripture tells us that that they were constantly devoting
themselves to prayer. This is not a passive act of doing nothing, but a very
active form of waiting on God. The disciples werent just sitting around, waiting
for a great idea to hit them. They werent brainstorming their marketing plan,
trying to figure out the best strategy to spread the good news in order to more
effectively leverage their influence.
No, they were taking perhaps the only true action that really matters when
we are pursuing great actions in the following of God: they devoted themselves
to prayer and not just once, but constantly. When we are devoted to
something, we give it all of our time and attention. We are enraptured by
whatever we are devoted to. As if devoted wasnt strong enough, though, the
author of Acts makes it even stronger: they were constantly devoting
themselves to prayer.
The disciples were very active during this time, immersing themselves in
seeking connection with the holy. How often do we simply run off with our
latest idea without even a moments contemplation, much less spending time
constantly devoting ourselves to praying over that idea? How often do we get
motivated by an idea and go off with wild abandon, only to give up on the idea
at the first sign of resistance?
Can we see the wisdom in the disciples decision to hurry up and wait?
They knew that they faced a daunting task. They had this amazing experience,
this invigorating call: they had seen and heard, and now their task was to go into
the world and make them believe it, too! Can you imagine if they had gone right
out after their experience and on their first mission trip found it impossible to
convince even one person of their message? What would have happened then?
Its likely that Jesus message would have died, right there. The massive
resistance may have hurt their resolve or bruised their egos. They may have
become too discouraged to continue.
Instead, the disciples knew, and they continue to teach us this lesson today:
Whenever we are faced with any daunting task, be it a business plan, a life-
changing event, or spreading the good news, wed better hurry up and wait. We
cannot face the worlds rejection or the acceptance that seduces us into
thinking we are the ones responsible for success unless we are first prepared.
The only way to properly prepare for whatever results from our message of good
news is to pray: to devote ourselves to being in the presence of the holy
constantly. It is in prayer that we open ourselves to be Gods channel in this
world. It is only in prayer that we learn to accept the risks and put aside our own
egos, and thus prepare to give ourselves entirely to fulfilling the job the holy has
given us: to spread the good news of Gods love and grace.
Candace Chellew-Hodge

Hymns
Opening: Alleluia! Gracious Jesus!
Sermon: Christ, Enthroned in Heavenly Splendor
Closing: Eternal Christ, Who, Kneeling

June 8, 2014
Day of Pentecost

Lessons
Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) Roman Catholic (RC)
Acts 2:1-21 or Num11:24-30 Acts 2:1-11
Ps 104:24-34, 35b Ps 104:1, 24, 29-31, 34
1 Cor 12:3b-13 or Acts 2:1-21 1 Cor 12:3-7, 12-13
Jn 20:19-23 or Jn 7:37-39 Jn 20:19-23


Speakers Introduction for the Lessons
Lesson 1
Acts 2:1-21 (RCL); Acts 2:1-11 (RC)
Jesus promise of the Spirit is fulfilled on Pentecost. Tongues of fire come
upon all gathered, filling them with the Spirits power so all may call on the
name of the Lord and be saved.
Numbers 11:24-30 (RCL alt)
Gods power is unlimited as it fills the leaders of Israel with the Spirit,
enabling them to assist Moses as they make their way through the
wilderness.

Lesson 2
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b (RCL); Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-31, 34 (RC)
The Lord created this earth, continues to provide for it abundantly, and
renews it through the Spirit. Let us sing praise and bless the Lord.

Lesson 3
1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 (RCL); 1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13 (RC)
Gods Spirit gives each of us gifts, the varieties of which are used for the
same purpose: to serve the common good. Baptized into Christ, we drink of
one Spirit and serve.
Acts 2:1-21 (RCL alt)
Jesus promise of the Spirit is fulfilled on Pentecost. Tongues of fire come
upon all gathered, filling them with the Spirits power so all may call on the
name of the Lord and be saved.

Gospel
John 20:19-23 (RCL/RC)
Jesus comes as risen Lord, bringing peace and the gift of the Holy Spirit to
the fearful disciples. He commissions them to carry out his mission of
forgiveness.
John 7:37-39 (RCL alt)
The Lord gave water to the rebellious people in the wilderness (Num
20:11). In Jesus and through his Spirit, we receive living water that gives
eternal life.

Theme
We are one in the Spirit.

Thought for the Day
The Holy Spirit . . . calls, gathers, enlightens, and makes holy the whole
Christian church.
Small Catechism of Martin Luther,
Explanation to the Third Article of the Apostles Creed

Sermon Summary
The Holy Spirit calls us to serve, not in competition but in cooperation with one
another. We each have different spiritual gifts to share, but find our unity is in
Jesus Christ our Lord.

Call to Worship
One: Let us bless the Lord.
All: Great are the works of the Lord.
One: The earth is wonderfully made,
All: The seas, plants, animal life, and all good things.
One: Let our praise and meditation be pleasing to the Lord God our creator.
All: Renew our spirits and fill our hearts with the peace of Christ.
One: By your Spirits power, O Lord, bring us healing and joy.
All: Bless the Lord, O my soul Praise the Lord!

Pastoral Prayer
God of Grace and Power, we thank you for the many blessings we have received
from your hand. We thank you for the beauty and complexity of our world. We
thank you for the many different peoples, traditions, and cultures that you have
fashioned. Grant that we may honor and respect our diverse gifts and find our
deeper unity in your love as revealed in Jesus Christ. May your renewing Spirit
continue to call, gather, and enlighten us as we seek to serve your good
purposes. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Prayer of Confession and Assurance
God, so often we find ourselves in competition rather than cooperation with
others. We let our differences and diversity devolve into division. We forget the
common good, seeking only our own selfish agendas and goals. We neglect
gathering together as a community of faith and, instead, go it alone. We find
time for so many personal projects and leisure activities, but fail to make time to
gladly hear and receive your word in worship. Give us courage and faith, O
God, that we may resist the temptations that pull us away from you and Christs
church. Help us to see our brothers and sisters as partners in the faith. Empower
us by your Holy Spirit so that we may boldly share our gifts, always seeking to
complement and support the mission of our Lord Jesus Christ. We pray, trusting
in your great mercy through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer of Dedication of Gifts and Self
O Lord, thank you for all that you have given to us. Use these offerings we
return to you to accomplish your ongoing renewal of your creation. Bless the
labor of all who work the land and care for your resources. Bless the labor of our
hands and minds as we engage in diverse ministries of teaching, healing,
proclaiming, organizing, nurturing, feeding, counseling, and befriending. May
all that we have, both abilities and resources, be used to serve you and our
neighbor for the common good. In the name of Jesus Christ who gives us his
power and peace. Amen.

Hymn of the Day:
When Minds and Bodies Meet as One
The practical implications of the image of unity exercised by diverse gifts in the
1 Corinthian passage today finds a lyrical expression in this hymn. Written by
Brian Wren in collaboration with composer Peter Cutts (who composed the tune
Trinity Carol), When Minds and Bodies Meet as One is a fascinating series of
images of how and when the vision of unity is tested and demonstrated in the
give and take of life and witness in the church of Jesus Christ. The variety of
images contained in each verse of how such unity works out comes joined at the
common end to each verse: revealing God, forever One, whose nature is
community. Christian unity and community, far more than a pleasant way to
work together, is the very expression of Gods own nature to be in relationship
with us all.

Childrens Time: Pentecost
(Bring some bubble mixture and a bubble wand.)
Blow lots of bubbles and encourage the children to chase them and try catch
one. Let them blow some bubbles too. Observe that you need breath to form and
blow the bubbles. Draw attention to ways in which the breath changes the
bubble mixture.
Comment that today is Pentecost Sunday, the day the church celebrates the
coming of the Holy Spirit on Jesus followers. Explain that the Spirit is
sometimes described as a life-giving breath that blows through the church
bringing change and new life.
Take a tour around your worship area, noticing the colors and decorations
that have been used for Pentecost Sunday. Describe Pentecost as a very special
day, because it is a celebration of the day the Christian church was born.
Explain that the same Holy Spirit who came to Jesus followers is with us
today and will help us share Gods love in the world. Teach the children a
simple breath prayer. Ask them to take a deep breath in as you say, Come, Holy
Spirit. Then breath out slowly as they say, Bring Gods love. Say this breath
prayer several times over.
Pray with the children, giving thanks for the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Sermon: Invited to Take a Seat
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13

At a recent college reunion a friend of mine and I were reminiscing as we sat in
the college cafeteria. There, down at that end, is where all the football players
sat for dinner in the Caf. Remember when we were freshmen and didnt know
that that was their section of tables? I did indeed remember. It was a very
intimidating moment for two first-year female college students: scowling
football players surrounding us, giving the clear message to move out. And
move we did. We soon learned the invisible dividing lines in the Caf between
classes, clubs, and teams.
At our reunion that fall, we asked a current student: Do the football players
still own that end of the cafeteria? The answer was, pretty much, yes. The
temptation to separate ourselves into groups lives on.
Paul is wrestling with this issue of territory and separate, even competing
groups, in our reading. The church isnt immune from such divisions. Members
of the Corinthian church have different gifts: service, learning, speaking in
tongues, the gift of healing, and more. Each group seems to think that its gift or
ministry is more important than the other. To speak to these problems Paul
writes about the same Spirit who empowers every believer. He begins in verse 3
with what is thought to be the earliest creed in the Christian church: Jesus is
Lord. Paul shows us the basis of our unity: it is the one and same Spirit who
brings us to confess Jesus as Lord. We are all brought to the same table by the
Spirit. Jesus is the head of the table. We are not. The Spirit, in Jesus name, pulls
out a chair for each one of us so we may all be gathered together.
Remember all those times Jesus did sit at table with very different people?
He sat with tax collectors, prostitutes, and sinners. He ate with self-righteous
Pharisees. He sat at table at a wedding in Cana and gave abundant joy to all.
Christ is the head of the table, and we are all invited to take a seat. Remember
the story of that first Pentecost? The Spirit came in as a violent wind and
tongues of fire, settling on the heads of every believer in that gathering that day.
To be sure, they spoke in different languages but they all spoke.
What then of our different gifts? Paul recognizes our differences. He readily
admits that not every person has a gift for leadership, or the same wisdom or
understanding, or the ability to heal or prophesy. But each of these gifts is a part
of the whole work of the Holy Spirit. Each gift benefits. It is the Holy Spirit who
chooses to give us these gifts, and who are we to argue with Gods Holy Spirit?
We might even say it this way: it is the Holy Spirit who not only calls us to the
table, but also numbers the chairs at the table and pulls them out for us. This is
assigned seating, but we dont do the assigning. The Spirit does. So Paul writes
in verse 11: just as the Spirit chooses. And the Spirit has some very interesting
ideas about who sits at Christs table. We not only have to be ready for these
surprises, but also are called by God to welcome the ones who surprise us as,
no doubt, some will be surprised at our presence!
There is a true story of a man named Ed that speaks of the Spirits work. Ed
loved his congregation and loved his Lord. He had an eighth grade education,
was unemployed, and was now on disability. When his congregation began a
new Sunday morning greeter program, Ed got up the courage to ask the pastor if
he could be a greeter. When the pastor submitted Eds name to the evangelism
committee, they were very hesitant. Eds manners werent exactly polished. His
clothes were quite old and plain. Fortunately the Holy Spirit prevailed and Ed
became a greeter. As it turned out, he was the most faithful greeter the
congregation had. He not only showed up every Sunday, but was always ready
to fill in when someone didnt. He had a heart for this greeting ministry and took
it very seriously.
Because he was not physically strong, Ed knew how hard it was to open the
heavy entry doors. So, in good weather and bad, Ed greeted people by standing
outside the building and opening the door for them. He took his greeter duties so
seriously that he worked at remembering the names of visitors and new
members. At the end of the worship service, he was the first one out to the
narthex so that he could greet people again especially the visitors. He was the
one who steered them toward the fellowship hall for refreshments and
conversation.
Ed had a gift and a calling, along with the courage to use the gifts he had
been given. The Spirit pulls a chair out for us, but we also have to be willing to
take a seat and serve. Sometimes, to serve in a new way sometimes, to enable
the service of others.
The pastor began to understand the impact of Eds ministry when new
member after new member mentioned the warm welcome theyd received from
Ed. Why, he even talked to us after the service. Hed give us his name and
phone number in case we had any questions about the church. He remembered
our names from one Sunday to the next.
The Holy Spirit chose Ed. The Holy Spirit loosened up the evangelism
committee to give Ed room to serve. The Holy Spirit blessed Eds serving.
We are all welcome at Christs table. We are all invited to take a seat and
serve. In the name of Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit, take a seat and
be a partner with everyone else at the table.
Jeanette B. Strandjord

Hymns
Opening: God of Tempest, God of Whirlwind
Sermon: Gather Us In
Closing: Like the Murmur of the Doves Song

June 15, 2014
Trinity Sunday

Lessons
Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) Roman Catholic (RC)
Gen 1:12:4a Ex 34:4-6, 8-9
Ps 8 Dan 3:52-56
2 Cor13:11-13 2 Cor 13:11-13
Mt 28:16-20 Jn 3:16-18

Speakers Introduction for the Lessons
Lesson 1
Genesis 1:12:4a (RCL)
God created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. Humankind
was made in Gods image and God pronounced it all to be very good.
Exodus 34:4-6, 8-9 (RC)
Gods people have been a rebellious people. The Lord renews the covenant
with them as Moses makes a second set of tablets to replace those that were
broken.

Lesson 2
Psalm 8 (RCL)
Our most high God has given us mere mortals a share of Gods own dignity
and set us to be stewards of Gods creation.
Daniel 3:52-56 (RC)
We bless the Lord. God, who is exalted above all else, was present to our
ancestors and is present to us now in the glory of his temple.

Lesson 3
2 Corinthians 13:11-13 (RCL/RC)
Paul blesses his readers with the grace of God revealed in Jesus Christ and
with the Holy Spirit, who holds us in God and leads us to love one another.
Gospel
Matthew 28:16-20 (RCL)
Jesus gathers his disciples, speaks with authority, and calls them (us) to
make disciples of all nations. They (we) are to baptize and teach in the
name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
John 3:16-18 (RC)
Gods loving purpose was and is to save the world through the only Son,
given freely to the world so we might trust in him and receive eternal life.

Theme
God creates, redeems, and makes holy. We are invited to join in this saving
work.

Thought for the Day
In the Son and in the Spirit, God comes to us totally.
Eduard Schweizer, The Good News According to Matthew

Sermon Summary
God is a God of action in this world and for all nations. In Jesus Christ and the
Holy Spirit, God comes to this world to baptize, teach, and save. We are invited
to share in this saving mission and are empowered by God as we follow.

Call to Worship (suggested by Psalm 8)
One: The Lord God grants us life and salvation.
All: O Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth.
One: The Lord God created the moon, the stars, and all things.
All: O Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth.
One: We are made in the image of our Lord God.
All: We praise and thank you, O Lord.
One: Fill us with your Holy Spirit, Lord.
All: Renew us in body and spirit this day by the power of your Word.
Pastoral Prayer
God of Spirit and Power, we come before you with thanksgiving for your
creating and redeeming power in our lives and our world. Through your
presence with us this day, speak to our hearts and minds with both comfort and
challenge. Let the promise of forgiveness through Jesus Christ give us peace
where we are anxious and confidence where we are timid. Kindle in us the fire
of faith, so that we may hear your word and do it. So work in our lives that
discipleship becomes as natural as breathing is to us. In Jesus name Amen.

Prayer of Confession and Assurance
God of action we confess to you our reluctance to act. We often become so
preoccupied with our own lives and the acquisition of material goods that we
neglect the sharing and teaching of the good news of Jesus Christ. Our hearts
and minds wander from your word and will, and thus we do not listen to your
call to baptize and teach in Jesus name. We lack focus and dedication in our
outreach to others. We leave discipleship to others. Light a fire under us, God:
the fire of your Holy Spirit. Move our feet, hands, and hearts in actions that
witness to you. Give us words of promise and hope to speak. Use us to bring
others to the waters of baptism. Remind us, again and again, that in our witness
and serving, the Lord Jesus is with us always. Amen.

Prayer of Dedication of Gifts and Self
Most loving God, we give you thanks for all your mercies toward us and our
world. Accept the gifts we offer this day so they may be used to your glory and
to do your saving will. Lead and shape our lives, time, resources, and talent so
that we may serve you wherever we are. May we glorify you in our workplaces,
homes, congregations, and communities. Give us joy in our teaching, baptizing,
and witnessing. In the name of the one who calls us to teach and baptize, Jesus
Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Hymn of the Day
Womb of Life, and Source of Being
This hymn by Ruth Duck celebrates the life of the Trinity in rich and inclusive
imagery. Each of the first three verses lifts up both the identities and vocations
of each person of the Trinity. The fourth version blends further metaphors for
the mystery of three-in-one, closing with an invitation to the congregants to join
not simply in the song but in the life and passion of the Trinity as we find our
lives drawn into the community of God. Editors note: The tune often paired
with this, Ladue Chapel, was written by Ronald Arnatt, at one time the
choirmaster of the Christ Church Cathedral (St. Louis) Boys Choir I was
honored to be part of in my youth. Arnatt greatly contributed to my own love of
music in the church.

Childrens Time: Trinity Sunday
(Bring three thin candles or tapers and a lighter. Ahead of time, recruit three
adult volunteers to help you with the talk. As directed below, hold the candles
together in one hand and light all three wicks, so that they burn with one flame.)
Hold the candles up and explain that today is Trinity Sunday, a day to
celebrate the three ways we know God. Explain that Jesus told his disciples to
baptize people in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Tell how we know God as a loving parent who loves and made us (hand one
candle to a volunteer and light it); as Jesus who came to show Gods love (hand
the second candle to a volunteer and light it); and as the Holy Spirit who is
always with us and helps us live like Jesus (hand the third candle to a volunteer
and light it).
Exclaim that we have three ways of talking about God, but one God (have
the volunteers hold the wicks of the candles together). After having the children
watch the single flame created by the three, carefully extinguish the candles.
Look around your worship space for symbols of the Trinity (for example:
three interlocking circles, three fish, fleur-de-lis). Point out the three individual
components that make one symbol.
Pray with the children, giving thanks for the different ways we can know
God.

The Sermon: Cast into Teaching
Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20

God is a God of action. The Holy Trinity is all about action: doing, loving,
teaching, and saving. Perhaps a true story, from daily life might help to explore
the gift of the Trinity further.
Mr. E. B. Garner of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, loves to fish.(Milwaukee
Journal Sentinel, June 12, 2011). He also loves to teach others to fish. He is all
about doing and teaching. At age 64, he began running fishing clinics at a
nearby lagoon. He started with just 12 kids, many of them with troubled
backgrounds. They werent doing well at school or in their family life. One of
the boys had been skipping school and getting into serious mischief. When
Garner learned of the boys struggles, he did this: I told him if he stopped
acting like a fool Id take him fishing after the school year. A month later, the
boys mother asked Garner what he said, because her son had made an amazing
turnaround. He had passed all his final tests and had not missed a day of school
over the last four weeks. That summer, Garner took the boy fishing often.
Other children from the neighborhood joined in. Garner found himself cast into
the teaching role from that point onward. Now he runs a free fishing clinic every
year.
Why this story about E. B. Garner? Like Garner, the Holy Spirit likes to
fish. Like Garner, the Spirit is all about teaching, gathering others, giving life:
all done in the name of love, and through actions that express love. Garners
story helps us begin to understand the work of God the Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit. This Holy Trinity Sunday we have unique verses from Matthews Gospel
before us (vv. 19-20). God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit has been at work:
doing, loving, teaching, and saving; and now, we are encouraged to do the same.
This is Gods work, Holy Trinity work.
Too often we think of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as only proper
names: static nouns, just helpful labels. But Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are full
of doing, loving, and teaching. God is a God of action. God created. God sent
Jesus to save. Jesus lived, served, died, and rose. Gods Holy Spirit has been
creating since the beginning of time and now comes to create the Christian
community by bringing Christ to the world.
Mr. E. B. Garner isnt interested in calling attention to himself with his free
fishing clinics. He simply loves fishing and has discovered that fishing is good
for kids. One year after starting his clinic, he had 325 anglers. Each received
free instruction, free equipment, and a free lunch (if they can make themselves
lay down their rod and reel long enough to eat). Garner is in this for the good of
the kids, for the love of the sport, and for the sake of the community.
We could say the same of the Holy Trinity. God acts in creation, in Jesus,
and through the Holy Spirit for our good and for the love of the world. God
gives freely, so freely that God gives up Jesus to the cross; so freely that when it
seems sin, death, and the devil have won, God gives Jesus Christ back to us and
the world. Then, through the Spirit of Jesus, God keeps on giving: and that
giving consists of faith and understanding to us all.
Over the span of 13 years, Garners free fishing clinic grew tremendously:
2700 percent! Now he has friends, family, the Department of Natural Resources,
and many volunteers working at his summer clinics. Garners love of fishing
and of community have generated and energized a great deal of cooperation.
More important, lives have been changed for the better.
The good news of Jesus Christ spread from 12 disciples to peoples and
nations around the world. We could say that God continues to be at work
through the Holy Spirit holding the Trinitys brand of free clinics everywhere,
wherever the word of God is taught, shared, and celebrated. Just like Garner
motivated others to participate, so does God. We are called to be part of the
Spirits work. We become the voice, hands, and feet of the good news.
There is no doubt about it: by the power of God the Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit, you are cast into the role of teaching. The question is whether you will be
a good teacher or a bad one. We are called to go and make disciples, baptizing
and teaching. Are we? Today, Holy Trinity Sunday, provides a good day to
think about what we are doing to bring Gods love, forgiveness, understanding,
and faith to others and what we are doing to nurture it in our own lives.
Our words and actions teach. Attending worship sets a good example.
Sleeping in or going golfing in place of worshiping God sets a bad example. Our
concern for and generosity toward others in need teaches Christian love. Our
avoidance and neglect of the needy teaches just the opposite. When we open the
Holy Scriptures and read, study, and share them with others, we foster
understanding and growth. When our Bibles lie unused and gathering dust, we
have all lost an opportunity to learn and grow.
At one of Garners summer fishing clinics, nine-year-old Kadiyah made her
first toss with a spin-cast outfit. Teacher Garner said, Perfect. Youre going to
be teaching this someday. Likewise, Gods Spirit blesses our efforts, speaking
words of encouragement and promise.
Jesus invites us to cast the line and help others cast as well. So be one who
casts the line of discipleship yourself: baptize and teach. For in doing so, as
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit will be there: praising, empowering, and creating
new faith and life.
Jeanette B. Strandjord

Hymns
Opening: We Are Baptized in Christ Jesus
Sermon: We Are Called
Closing: Sent Forth by Gods Blessing

June 22, 2014
2nd Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 7 [12])
RC/Pres/UCC: 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lessons
Semi-continuous (SC) Complementary (C) Roman Catholic (RC)
Gen 21:8-21 Jer 20:7-13 Deut 8:2-3, 14b-16a
Ps 86:1-10, 16-17 Ps 69:7-10 (11-15) 16-18 Ps 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20
Rom 6:1b-11 Rom 6:1b-11 1 Cor 10:16-17
Mt 10:24-39 Mt 10:24-39 Jn 6:51-58

Speakers Introduction for the Lessons
Lesson 1
Genesis 21:8-21 (SC)
Jealousy puts in action the expulsion of Hagar and her son. This story is a
reminder that people on the opposite side of our conflicts also are called to
believe in the faithfulness of God.
Jeremiah 20:7-13 (C)
This anguished and defiant song of the prophet proclaims that even when it
would appear that God has not upheld the righteous, there will be a day of
reckoning and a time when justice will prevail.
Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14b-16a (RC)
The Deuteronomist calls upon Israel not to forget Gods providing care in
the wilderness, particularly in the gift of manna.

Lesson 2
Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17 (SC)
In this psalm of lament, the psalmist seeks God to turn to me and deal
graciously in a time of crisis and threat.
Psalm 69:7-10 (11-15), 16-18 (C)
In another psalm of lament, the psalmist cries out that the shame heaped on
her stems from following God yet the psalmist still affirms the goodness
of Gods steadfast love in the face of such circumstances.
Psalm 147:12-15, 19-20 (RC)
The psalmist bids praise of God for the gifts of peace and providential care.

Lesson 3
Romans 6:1b-11 (SC/C)
Paul offers a stirring charge to new life as he describes the capacity of grace
to do away with our old, sinful existence and to make all life new.
1 Corinthians 10:16-17 (RC)
Paul reflects on the nature of community as sharing through the gift of the
Eucharists cup and loaf.

Gospel
Matthew 10:24-39 (SC/C)
Jesus has assembled a team of twelve, and he now thinks that they are
ready. But are they? Are any of us ready for the ministry to which Jesus
calls us? Listen and follow.
John 6:51-58 (RC)
Jesus stirs controversy and questions by identifying himself as living
bread and going on to the mystery entailed in eat my flesh and drink
my blood.

Theme
Discipleships high demands are encouraged by Gods abiding care.

Thought for the Day
The God who calls us cares about us.

Sermon Summary
Amid the trying dimensions and demands of life and ministry, there is the
delightful reality of Gods continual caring presence with us on the journey.
Call to Worship
One: God, we enter into a brand new moment of worship this moment.
All: We come with deep gratitude and wide expectation.
One: Thank you for dreaming this day into being.
All: Thank you for inviting us to celebrate it with you and with one
another.

Pastoral Prayer
Holy One, we are thrilled to no end to know that there is no end to your grace
and mercy. We receive the same in our hearts and minds, anew. Inspire us to
live from grace and mercy, and to share these gifts freely with others. We give
thanks for those gentle souls who live the way of grace and mercy, prompting us
to try to do the same: for harried mothers in grocery stores, who know to pause
and hug their children; for teachers and administrators in the toughest schools,
who daily seek to turn the tide of hopelessness that spawns fury in those who
feel cast aside; for police officials and judges, who seek ways to bestow a
healing grace in those who have grown hard; for diplomats and world leaders
who never give up the elusive quest for peace among the peoples of the earth.
Encourage them all, and give them some small victory today that will enable
them to rise tomorrow and try again. In gratitude we pray. Amen.

Prayer of Confession and Assurance
Dear God, though we know you to be our all, there are times when the all of life
is too much. In such moments, we are tempted to give up. Yet, we know too that
you impart strength and courage. Do for us what we have not done for others,
and in your undeserved graciousness, help us to see that life does not have to be
what it is. Grant us in grace to receive such astonishing and wondrous blessings.
And, with our new strength and courage, we will not forget to say thank you.
Amen.

Prayer of Dedications of Gifts and Self
God, your gift to us is life. Our gift to you is how we choose to live life,
including our choices of offerings to advance your work in the world. So take
these gifts from our hands, loving God, along with our prayer that they will help
accomplish not what we will, but what you intend. Multiply our seed sown this
day, we pray. Amen.

Hymn of the Day
Guide My Feet While I Run This Race
While it has its roots in the 19th century, this African American spiritual found
renewed prominence in the civil rights movement during the 1950s and 1960s.
Its prayer for Gods guidance echoes the closing theme of todays sermon: the
reassuring presence of Almighty God, even as the spirituals imagery of the race
illustrates the demanding nature of following Jesus as a disciple and not simply
a curious bystander. Faith runs, not watches, the race.

Childrens Time: Gods Love Is Huge
(Bring a measuring cup, tape measure, a watch, and some bathroom scales.)
Look at these items together and explain that all of these things are used to
measure things. Ask the children to name each one and guess what kinds of
things might be measured with them.
Ask the children if you could use any of these things to measure Gods love.
Observe that Gods love is so big that it just cant be measured.
Ask the children and the congregation to think of words that mean big
(for example: huge, gargantuan, enormous, immense, vast). Comment that even
of all these words can only begin to describe Gods love.
Explain that in our Bible reading today, Jesus reminds us that God loves us
so much that God even knows how many hairs we have on our head!
Ask for a volunteer to step forward and try and have the hairs on his or her
head counted. Try to count each hair. Its impossible! Observe that if God
knows about even the smallest details of our life, then God must love us very
much. Jump up and down as you exclaim that Gods love is amazing. Invite the
children to join you.
Pray with the children, giving thanks for Gods ginormous love.

The Sermon: The Delightful in the Demanding
Scripture: Matthew 10:24-39

Engage the gift of sanctified imagination: observe as one person, who is
listening to Jesus make his speech in todays passage from Matthew to devoted
followers and disciples-in-training, tweets from his smart phone some parts of
the speech to another who, though interested in Jesus, is unable to be physically
present.
Do not fear those who kill the body.
Whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father.
I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
And ones foes will be of ones own household members.
And whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of
me.
All the while the listener has been tweeting, hes been waiting for but not
received any response. Finally, he hears a beep telling him a response has been
tweeted to him:
No longer interested.
Can we blame the person whos been receiving the electronic messages?
Put the statements together that hes read. What comes across is less an
invitation to adventure and more a recipe for disaster. In five sentences, Jesus
has made following him not only less attractive but nearly impossible. Hes
asking for too much; hes asking for it all.
How dare Jesus! What right does Jesus have to ask those who would follow
him to be willing to risk it all?
One of my former seminary students, John Reynolds, has written a book
entitled: The Fight for Freedom A Memoir of My Years in the Civil Rights
Movement. He includes an account of his first meeting with Martin Luther King
Jr.:
I do remember shaking Dr. Kings hand and feeling totally in awe that I was
actually meeting him . . . Dr. King asked me two questions. The first was if
I believed in, and could accept, the principle of non-violence. I remember
saying that I didnt know anything about non-violence, but I was willing to
accept it as a tactic. He said that non-violence was important to SCLC and it
must be important to those who worked for SCLC.
The other question was whether I was willing to die for what I believed
in.
How dare Martin Luther King, Jr.! What right did Martin Luther King, Jr.
have to ask of one who would follow him to be willing to risk it all?
Perhaps the two young upstart preachers, divided by centuries but bound by
Spirit, knew that only such an unfair question could fairly highlight the terrain
and the stakes of the gospel calling.
This is no small, meek, and mild call.
This call has to do with ultimate choices made by the deepest part of
ourselves, our souls.
This call has to do with encountering persons in their deepest valleys.
This call has to do with presenting our authentic selves to a mysterious
God.
This call has to do with asserting that Gods love is as relentless as evil
is hurtful.
This call has to do with believing and inviting others to believe that no
matter how deep the hurt, Gods love is deeper.
All of this and more compels Jesus, and those who followed in his leadership
steps centuries later, to place all of their cards on the table and come clean from
the start with their followers, at the risk of losing more than a few temporarily
interested prospects.
This work has to do with matters of ultimate meaning, value, and weight. Its
matter is all-important. So, make no mistake about it, unless you are willing to
give it your all, do yourself and the world a favor, and step aside, now. All
deserves all.
Jesus hopes that the call to adventure with matters of ultimate meaning, the
sheer dimensions of the mission, will be compelling enough so as to not scare
everyone off, and make the demands worth it. But maybe there was something
else some heard him say that day that made them stick around. Something that
didnt get tweeted but had it been, it may have been enough to inspire
continued interest in Jesus. What I am referring to are these words:
Dont be afraid, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Now this assurance matters, even if you are, like me, bald.
Jesus made that comment in reference to God knowing when each sparrow
falls. His point was that Gods love was universally and lavishly microscopic
and not limited to sparrows.
How utterly confounding, if not downright dumb, to think that a Holy
Creator manifests such care for creation and creature and how outright
delightful!
Would not the person being tweeted to in the beginning of our sermon be
halted by a notion of Gods personal care amid ultimate concerns? Are we?
I remember my first car purchase, and driving that new used car home in a
driving rainstorm. My prayer was as follows: God please dont let me wreck
my car. When youre in trouble, you dont pray long prayers. As I drove, from
time to time, I would look in my rearview mirror. Each time I looked, I was
encouraged to just keep driving and everything would be alright. The person I
saw in my mirror was my father, Frederick Jesse Jones. He had driven me to
pick up my new used car, and he was trailing me home. Just knowing he was
there made the daunting drive doable.
Come what may, the reassuring presence of God Almighty makes up for it
all!
Oh, happy day!
Kirk Byron Jones

Hymns
Opening: This Is the Day
Sermon: Blessed Assurance
Closing: Oh, Happy Day

June 29, 2014
3rd Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 8 [13])
RC/Pres/UCC: 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lessons
Semi-continuous (SC) Complementary (C) Roman Catholic (RC)
Gen 22:1-14 Jer 28:5-9 Acts 12:1-11
Ps 13 Ps 89:1-4, 15-18 Ps 34:2-9
Rom 6:12-23 Rom 6:12-23 2 Tim 4:6-8, 17-18
Mt 10:40-42 Mt 10:40-42 Mt 16:13-19

Speakers Introduction for the Lessons
Lesson 1
Genesis 22:1-14 (SC)
Our faith is constantly tested, whether by God or by the turns of life itself.
Faith perseveres in the time of trial.
Jeremiah 28:5-9 (C)
Prophecies of dire tidings often come to pass, but the prophecies of peace
can only come to fruition by the living God.
Acts 12:1-11 (RC)
The death of James is followed by the arrest and miraculous deliverance to
freedom of Peter.

Lesson 2
Psalm 13 (SC)
The faithfulness of our God is always made most manifest in Gods care for
us in trying times.
Psalm 89:1-4, 15-18 (C)
The psalmist sings of Gods promise that someone from Davids family
would be king, a promise that Christians understand to be fulfilled in Jesus.
Psalm 34:2-9 (RC)
The psalmist employs an acrostic poem (each successive verse begins with
the next letter in Hebrew) to celebrate the encompassing goodness of Gods
trustworthy deliverance.

Lesson 3
Romans 6:12-23 (SC/C)
This passage from Pauls letter to the church at Rome is a trumpet call to
ethical living. We have been freed from the condemnation of sin, and now it
is up to us to live like it.
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18 (RC)
Traditionally attributed to the time of Pauls final imprisonment and
imminent death, these verses use a metaphor from athletic contests to assert
he has completed his ministry and rests confident in Gods deliverance.

Gospel
Matthew 10:40-42 (SC/C)
At the conclusion of a pre-ministry speech to his disciples, Jesus offers
them the assurance of their association with God.
Matthew 16:13-19 (RC)
Simon Peter confesses Jesus to be the Christ, and Jesus declares he will
build his church on this rock (Peter is a transliteration of the Greek petros,
which means rock).

Theme
Let us never forget that we are Gods children.

Thought for the Day
One of the great contributions of Jesus to religious thought is his uninhibited
association of himself with God, and each person with God.

Sermon Summary
Because God may be found in us all, we are inspired to live with awareness,
alertness, and abiding appreciation.

Call to Worship
One: God is a God filled with wonder and surprise.
All: We open our minds and hearts to the surprising blessings of God.
One: God calls us Gods own, children of Gods own creation.
All: We affirm our God-given identity with gratitude and celebrate
with joyful service!

Pastoral Prayer
Dear God, we thank you for the living of our days. We thank you for the
inventions of schedules, watches, and even smart phones. These and more have
helped us to be more committed, efficient, and productive. But, we know of the
shadow as well, when we become addicted to our creations. Help us not to be
bound to boundaries that diminish our sensitivity to your presence and activity
outside our plans. May the shadow never separate us from the holy surprise that
you are in us, and with us. Amen.

Prayer of Confession and Assurance
O God, we are your children, but the sad truth is that we can behave so unlike
you all too often. Seduced by the protection of the comfortable and the power of
the familiar, we reject newness. Help us to see the deadening in this, and seek to
be alive in your capacity for surprise. In spite of our fear, we believe that we are
blessed not simply by you we are blessed to live with you. In Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Prayer of Dedication of Gifts and Self
To your presence, dear God, we present our gives. As you have asked us to
receive you, please do receive what we are offering. Indeed, please receive us
again, again, and again. Amen.

Hymn of the Day
All Are Welcome
This hymn is the work of modern-day writer and composer Marty Haugen,
whose works are used extensively in Protestant and Catholic liturgies. All are
welcome is the repeated refrain used to conclude each verse. Equally
significant, each verse begins Let us build a house . . . Welcome and
hospitality do not happen without effort and the five verses of this hymn name
a whole variety of tasks for building our churches as places of welcome and love
and justice. An interesting exercise beyond the scope of worship would be to
convene small group conversations for five weeks, each week taking on one of
Haugens verses in the context of your congregation. How might its images
affirm current practices and/or generate new possibilities for the welcome you
extend and embody?

Childrens Time: Welcoming Others, Welcoming God
Invite some people in the congregation to share where they originally came
from. If you have visitors, invite them to introduce themselves and say where
they live. Ask the children if they know where their families came from.
Comment that the people in the church today have come from many
different places and yet they all have something in common: they are all loved
by God and are a part of Gods family. You might also mention that many of
you are followers of Jesus. This is what the church is. Whenever followers of
Jesus meet together, we are the church.
Explain that sometimes visitors come to our church. It is our job to
welcome them and help them feel at home. Jesus said that when we welcome
other people, its as if we are welcoming Jesus. When we welcome Jesus, we are
also welcoming God.
Talk briefly about the ways in which your congregation welcomes visitors.
What else might we do to help visitors feel welcome? Accept all suggestions
and affirm the childrens welcoming spirits. Exclaim that God must feel very
welcome in your church.
Pray with the children, asking that God would help you as you welcome
others.

The Sermon: The God-Surprise
Scripture: Matthew 10:40-42

You and I may share a childhood memory in common. It has to do with opening
a box of caramel popcorn called Cracker Jack. Do you remember it? If you do,
then you must also remember that each box contained more than the famous
snack food. A part of the charm of opening a box of Cracker Jack was
anticipating what prize you would receive inside. Every box of Cracker Jack
contained a prize. Maybe it would be a small picture book, or a medal, or a
small toy. It didnt matter so much what the prize was, what mattered was that
there was a surprise in the box. The sweet popcorn came with something else.
To receive the box of sweet popcorn was to receive the surprise that came along
with it.
Jesus is making an astounding assertion in todays passage from Matthew
regarding a surprise association with a reception. He tells his first followers that
if persons would receive them and their ministry of word and deed, it would be
as if they were receiving the word and ministry of Jesus himself. Now in and of
itself, that is fine, all well and good. But, Jesus doesnt stop there. He continues
on to link the reception of himself in the minds and hearts of persons to
receiving God Almighty.
You do the implied logic. Jesus, believe it or not, suggests that in a real way
to receive a human being, be it a representative of Jesus or Jesus himself, is to
receive God. Is this a sacrilege to so closely associate the link between
receiving others with the receiving of the Holy One? Or is this, to borrow an
assessment made about the gospel by the wonderful writer Frederick Buechner,
too good not to be true. That is, is Matthew 10s too good not to be true
message the assertion that contained within the box of humanity is the surprise
of divinity?
Linking persons so close to God, and God so close to persons, opens up
extraordinary new possibilities. It means, among other things, that God may
show up in some of the strangest places and persons and doing some of the
smallest yet most wonderful things.
Once, while in a grocery store, I went up to a person I had not formally met
to say, Thank you. Though I didnt know his name, I recognized his face. It
was the same full, jovial face Id seen at a major intersection in our city for
years as I drove our daughters to school. He was a street crossing guard who,
while ably assisting youth and others across the busy streets, greeted as many
drivers as he could with a smile and a wave. His smile and wave were
compelling; they drew you to smile and wave back. It was sad to me, and I know
to many others in the city, when suddenly he was no longer there at his post
directing and protecting, and smiling and waving. So, when I recognized him in
the store, I just had to approach him, introduce myself, shake his hand, smile,
and say, with genuine gratitude, Thank you. Only God knows how many loads
he lifted and hearts he encouraged with his grace-drenched smile and wave. And
God would easily know because, in the fantastic mystery of it all, God was the
one doing the smiling and the waving through him.
To believe that God may be found in anyone at any time may inspire us to
live on the lookout for God, to be alert for God.
When our son Jared was two or three, he started doing something that lasted for
several weeks. He began to announce that he was up for the morning. The shriek
came from his bedroom, sometimes at an hour that was too early for us to
appreciate it at first: I waked up! He did this morning after morning. It got to a
point where I began to wonder whether or not we needed to consider medical
attention for him.
I waked up!
Well, at some point he stopped but I never stopped hearing him
completely. In retrospect, his morning cry was a celebration of appreciation and
anticipation for the moment, for the new morning, and for what the day might
hold.
I hear his cry now as I think of our need to live on high alert for God within
humanity, moving amongst those we know and love and just as important,
dwelling with and working through those we dont know and may even despise.
Alertness to the divine moving among us is no small inducement to live
more abundantly.
Alertness smacks of vibrant and vital life as it is, and as it is yet to be. To be
alert is to be at attention for what is and what is to be. Living alertness is the
sum of appreciation and anticipation. It is to be aware, hopefully at times with
no small glee, of the God-surprise, anywhere, anytime, and in anyone.
Kirk Byron Jones

Hymns
Opening: Have Thine Own Way
Sermon: Amazing Grace
Closing: More Than Wonderful