23 Pentecost/Year C
Isaiah 65:17-25
Canticle 9
2 Thessalonians 3:6-13
Luke 21:5-19
Collect: Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Julie: Intro after the collect and before the first reading:
We are going to have an opportunity to practice this as we listen to the scriptures this morning…you’ve all been given some coloring pencils, to mark up your scripture inserts this morning…circle, underline words, color around the words that jump out at you today as you are listening to them, reading them, learning from them…and we will have a moment to pause to reflect on them….and inwardly digest them before we move on to the next lesson….And as we listen to the scriptures this morning…I ask you to listen perhaps, in a new way…listen with your mind, your heart, your spirit and your soul…wide open…to anticipate and be surprised with joy…in the hearing of the good news of God proclaimed throughout all of the scriptures today…
And to get us started…let’s begin with this…..I’m sure all of you are familiar with the jack-in the box toy…we wind it up, listen to the music…and wait and watch and are joyfully surprised when the cover finally pops open….
And if you remember, back to your childhood, or when your children were young… this is one of those toys that could keep you/them entertained for hours….with a plea….to do it again, and again and again….
This is the kind of anticipation and hope I want us to be engaged in…as we listen to the scriptures this morning…Because this is what God wants us to do…to be awake, to be alert, to be watching for, to be anticipating with hope….that God is indeed, about to do a new thing…even as we look around us, and see that there are all kinds of terrible things happening in the world today…from wars, famine, divisions, violence, earthquakes, fires….God is about to do a new thing…creating new life, all the time…even in the midst of the signs of death and destruction all around us…In all of this…God is always here… breaking into our lives with surprising joy…over and over again…
Wind up jack in the box – until monkey pops up… one of the kids invited to come up and to help with this…
After the Isaiah reading: Isaiah 65: 17-25
Julie says…I wonder if you noticed the words: new heavens, new earth, be glad, rejoice forever, joy, delight….
After the Canticle: Canticle 9
Julie says…I wonder if we put our trust in God day after day… our fears would be changed and transformed into reasons to rejoice and give thanks and praises to the Lord, for all of the great things he has done…
After the 2nd reading: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13
Julie says…I wonder if we work and toil to proclaim the good news of God’s love, as shown to us in Jesus…our joy in doing this would not leave us wearied…but hopeful and faithful in doing what is right…
After the Gospel: Luke 21:5-19
Julie says… I wonder what good news you heard in the gospel reading? Were you watching for it, anticipating it, hopeful you would hear it…were you surprised when in the midst of the long litany of terrible things to happen, Jesus said: This will give you an opportunity to testify…or in the words of the good news translation: This will be your chance to tell (and share) the Good News.
We heard the good news in all of the scriptures today:
In our reading from Isaiah we heard: The Lord God says to his people: “Behold….I am about to create new heavens and a new earth”
In our canticle today: The people of God respond by saying: “Surely it is God who saves me; I will trust in him and not be afraid…”
IN our reading from 2nd Thessalonians: The people of God and followers of Jesus encourage one another to be faithful in all they do: “Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.”
And finally, in our gospel reading today, Jesus points us to the surprising good news in the midst of the long litany of terrible things to happen, when he says to us: This will give you an opportunity to testify…This will be your chance to tell (and share) the Good News.
Right here, right now, in Sitka, Alaska… This will be your chance to tell (and share) the Good News.
May this be our hope and our joy: God is about to do a new thing…creating new life, all the time…even in the midst of the signs of death and destruction all around us…In all of this…God is always here… breaking into our lives with surprising light and joy…over and over again…
Wind up jack in the box – until monkey pops up… one of the kids invited to come up and to help with this…then continue to read the hymn lyrics/play on piano/instrumental
The Hymnal 1982 - #667 Sometimes a light surprises
Sometimes a light surprises the Christian while s/he sings;
it is the Lord who rises with healing in his wings:
when comforts are declining, the Lord grants the soul again
a season of clear shining, to cheer it after rain.
In holy contemplation we sweetly then pursue
the theme of God's salvation, and find it ever new;
set free from present sorrow, we cheerfully can say,
let the unknown tomorrow bring with it what it may.
It can bring with it nothing but God will bear us through:
who gives the lilies clothing will clothe his people, too:
beneath the spreading heavens no creature but is fed;
and God who feeds the ravens will give his children bread.
Though vine nor fig tree neither their wonted fruit should bear,
though all the fields should wither, nor flocks nor herds be there;
yet, God the same abiding, God’s praise shall tune my voice;
for, while in God confiding, I cannot but rejoice.
* did this one more time before the Deacon’s dismissal words – sending them out into the world, anticipating the surprising light and joy of the good news of God’s love active in the world, and encouraging them to go out and share this good news! Wind up jack in the box until monkey pops up… one of the kids invited to come up and to help with this…
Rev Julie Platson
St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church
Sitka, Alaska