SERMON: 7 Epiphany Year C

7 Epiphany Year C

Feb 24 2019

Genesis 45: 3-11, 15; Psalm 37:1-12, 41-42;

1 Corinthians 15: 35-38, 42-50; Luke 6:27-38

 

Opening Prayer: (Renew Hymnal #91) Open Our Eyes, Lord

Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus, to reach out and touch him, and say that we love him. Open our ears, Lord, and help us to listen, open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus. Amen.

I love this sequence hymn, (prayer) for its simplicity and directness…especially when it comes to trying to make sense of Jesus’ teachings and some of the other scriptures in the bible. Sometimes Jesus’ teachings sound poetic and lovely, and we have no trouble connecting with the message he is trying to get across to His listeners. But other times, his teachings are quite simple and direct…and not so lovely sounding…and they really don’t leave much wiggle room for interpretation. But, we as human beings, have some pretty strong minds and wills…so we are quite adept at filtering out what we think He is saying, and finding creative ways, to dismiss some of his more difficult teachings, as only pertaining to certain people, in certain times, and in certain places.

Our brain’s default, is often to “hear” and “see” what we already know…and feel comfortable with…So, I do think our challenge…in learning new things, considering and accepting new teachings…does call for us to pray to God, to open wide our eyes and our ears…and especially our hearts and our minds…to consider these uncomfortable teachings...these basic and direct teachings that Jesus is longing for us to understand.

IN today’s 1st reading from Genesis, we may shake our heads in disbelief, wondering, how in the world could Joseph ever return to his family, to his brothers who did the unthinkable, first plotting to kill him, but then decided instead to sell him into slavery… and the brothers also caused years of deep heartache and suffering for their father, lying to him and telling him that his son Joseph was likely killed by a wild animal. And how unthinkable, or impossible, that Joseph not only returned to his family, his brothers…but he forgave them…he chose to love them again…having been sent by God to return to them to save them from starvation and poverty…Imagine having to forgive and love and bless the very people who abandoned you and cut you off from your livelihood? Difficult, very difficult to imagine…yet with the love of God poured into Joseph’s heart….we saw how that was possible…Joseph had mercy upon his brothers, forgave them, making room for love to reconcile and heal their family.

Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain in today’s gospel is equally hard to digest. As if the Blessings and the Woes that Jesus spoke about last week were not confusing enough. Today, Jesus continues with his Sermon on the Plain when he was speaking to the crowds gathered…the apostles, his disciples, and many others who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases

This time, he is tackling the very uncomfortable topic about loving your enemies, and forgiveness…

Lets take a look at Jesus’ words in the gospel again…this time…I am going to ask you to repeat after me the words that we just heard a few moments ago….I ask that you listen to your own voice…and listen for how the Spirit is nudging you… I ask that we all listen to each other…all of our voices speaking together…and be aware of how the Spirit might be at work in all of us, seeking to unite us, and reconcile us to one another, our enemies, those we need to forgive, and our own need to be forgiven…

Luke (6:27-38)

(Follow along in your insert, and repeat each line after me)

Jesus said, "I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

Congregation repeat

If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt.

Congregation repeat

Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again.

Congregation repeat

Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Congregation repeat

"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.

Congregation repeat

 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.

Congregation repeat

If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

Congregation repeat

But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return.

Congregation repeat

Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.

Congregation repeat

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Congregation repeat

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.

Congregation repeat

Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you.

Congregation repeat

A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back."

 Congregation repeat

These are some pretty basic and direct words from Jesus today. Difficult to digest. Hard to make sense of. Easier said, than done.

Difficult, hard, uncomfortable…yes…but they need not keep us from striving to understand the live-giving ways of God, made known to us, through the love and witness of Jesus Christ. For this love is the greatest gift given to us...May our hearts be opened to receive this gift and trust in its power to heal and transform the most difficult moments when we are called to love our enemies and to forgive those who have caused us or others great suffering …

The psalmist tells us today: put your trust in the Lord, take delight in the Lord, commit your way to the Lord, be still before the Lord…and wait patiently for him…If nothing makes sense today…don’t give up…

Begin again tomorrow morning, every morning… put your trust in the Lord, take delight in the Lord, commit your way to the Lord, be still before the Lord…and wait patiently for him…for God’s mercies are new every morning… begin again with asking God to open your ears, eyes, hearts and minds to hear what the Spirit is trying to teach you…about the saving power of God’s love…

And perhaps, a good place to start, tomorrow morning…is to read this scripture once again…Read it slowly, line by line…write down some things that come to mind after each verse…let God’s Word work on you, not only, tomorrow, but throughout the week…allow it to inspire in you…a path forward….in walking the Way of Love…that Jesus is teaching us…

One last offering I commend to you today is another way to consider the teachings in today’s scripture…The practice of the Daily Examen…

This practice is a great daily discipline, most often used at the end of the day, in the evening...but it can be especially helpful, I think…to help us be honest with ourselves when it comes to the uncomfortable and difficult teachings of Jesus today, about loving our enemies, and forgiving others..

 

The Examen is a method of reviewing your day in the presence of

God. It’s actually an attitude more than a method, a time set aside

for thankful reflection on where God is in your everyday life. It has

five steps, which most people take more or less in order.

Here it is in a nutshell:

THE EXAMEN

Ask God for light.

I want to look at my day with God’s eyes, not merely my own.

Give thanks.

The day I have just lived is a gift from God. Be grateful for it.

Review the day.

I carefully look back on the day just completed, being guided by the Holy Spirit.

Face your shortcomings.

I face up to what is wrong—in my life and in me.

Look toward the day to come.

I ask where I need God in the day to come.

Version of the Examen from A Simple, Life-Changing Prayer by Jim Manney © Loyola Press      www.ignatianspirituality.com

 

Ask God for light, Give thanks, Review the day, Face your shortcomings, Look toward the day to come.

 

I close in prayer and song this morning, with probably the most difficult and uncomfortable part of the Examen…to face up to our shortcomings….

Lift Every Voice and Sing II - #176 An Evening Prayer

1       If I have wounded any soul today,

          If I have caused one foot to go astray,

          If I have walked in my own willful way,

          Dear Lord, forgive!

         

2       If I have uttered idle words or vain,

          If I have turned aside from want or pain,

          Lest I offend some other through the strain,

          Dear Lord, forgive!

         

3       If I have been perverse, or hard, or cold,

          If I have longed for shelter in the fold,

          When thou hast given me some fort to hold,

          Dear Lord, forgive!

         

4       Forgive the sins I have confessed to thee;

          Forgive the secret sins I do not see;

          O guide me, love me, and my keeper be.

          Dear Lord, forgive!

          Amen.

 

 

Rev Julie Platson

St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church

Sitka, Alaska

 

 

 

 

 

List of some Lent 2019 Resources

 

·        Living Well Through Lent 2019: Practicing Forgiveness with all your heart, soul, strength and mind - https://www.livingcompass.org/lent

 

·        Lent Madness – have fun while learning about the saints

https://www.lentmadness.org/

·        Lenten Meditations 2019 (Episcopal Relief & Development)

        https://www.episcopalrelief.org/church-in-action/church-campaigns/lent

·        d365 - Devotionals 365 days a year - https://d365.org/

·        United Thank Offering Lenten Calendar

https://www.episcopalchurch.org/files/documents/uto_2019_lenten_calendar.pdf

 

·        Life Transformed: The Way of Love in Lent https://www.episcopalchurch.org/life-transformed

·        Church Next: Walk in Love, a 5-Course Curriculum with Scott Gunn and Melody Shobe

https://churchnextblog.wordpress.com/

 

FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN

·        Building Faith - https://www.buildfaith.org/

·        Grow Christians - http://www.growchristians.org/

·        Lent in a Box

https://familyministrytools.org/2018/11/09/coming-in-mid-january/

BOOKS

·        A Resurrection Shaped Life: Dying and Rising on Planet Earth by Jake Owensby

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1DP0ud5lU4

 

·        Living the Way of Love: A 40-Day Devotional, by Bea Sullivan

https://www.churchpublishing.org/livingthewayoflove

LENT 2019 at St Peter's by the Sea Episcopal Church

Lent/Easter 2019

St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church

611 Lincoln St   Sitka, AK

747-3977; stpetersbytheseak@gmail.com

stpeters-sitka.org

 

·        Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper -  March 5 (5:30pm-7pm)

·        Ash Wednesday Services – March 6 @ Noon and 5:30pm

·        Sunday Services: 8am and 10am

·        Sunday March 17 – one service @ 10am - Special choir guests - The Meistersingers

·        Sunday school – March 10 & 24

·      Special Family Night - March 31 – 5pm

·        Mondays: Scripture Reflections @ 11am

·        Tuesdays: Walk in Love: Inquirer’s/Newcomer’s Forum @ 6:30pm

·        Wednesday Night Prayer Service (New Zealand prayer Book) @ 5:30pm
The service will be a quiet, contemplative service using prayers, scriptures, and reflections from a Lenten Devotional (Living Well Through Lent 2019: Practicing Forgiveness with all Your Heart, Soul, Strength and Mind)

·        Thursday Book Group – Begins March 7 @ Noon

A Resurrection Shaped Life: Dying and Rising on Planet Earth (by Jake Owensby)

·        Lent Quiet Day Retreat – March 16 (10am-1pm)

·      Holy Week Services:

*April 14 – Palm Sunday – One service at 10am

*April 18 (Maundy Thursday) – Holy Communion Service at 6pm

*April 19 (Good Friday) – Service at Noon

*April 20 (Holy Saturday) – Service at 9am

  • April 21 - Easter Day Service  - One service at 10am

 

6 Epiphany Sermon - Feb 17 2019

6 Epiphany Year C

Feb 17 2019

10am service

Jeremiah 17:5-10 (NIV); Psalm 1

1 Corinthians 11: 23-26 (NIV); Luke 6:17-26 (NIV)

 

Opening Prayer: God of blessings and woes, bless us this day with lives filled with love, caring, generosity, and deep, abiding hope. We pray that your kingdom will dwell among all people, and that we may be instruments of your love and your grace. Open our hearts with the joy of healing a world filled with brokenness and pain. In the name of the one who taught us the ways of light and love, be in our worship and in our very lives. Amen.  (from the Abingdon Worship Annual 2019)

The last several weeks, we have focused on our invitation to follow Jesus, in walking the Way of Love…we have explored the idea that all of us have unique gifts, and ways that God uses each one of us, throughout our entire lives, to spread his love and compassion and care with others we meet….to build up the body of Christ, through loving God, one another, and all of creation…

Today’s gospel reading in Luke follows the part in the story, when the scribes and Pharisees were angry about Jesus’ teaching and healing on the Sabbath day…and they were discussing what to do with him…

Then, the scriptures tell us: that Jesus went out to the mountain to pray; and he spent the night in prayer to God. 13 And when day came, he called his disciples and chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles: 14 Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, and James, and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, 15 and Matthew, and Thomas, and James son of Alphaeus, and Simon, who was called the Zealot, 16 and Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Today’s gospel continues with Jesus, coming down from the mountain with his newly called apostles, to stand on a level place, to speak to the large crowd of disciples and other people who came from many places, to hear what Jesus had to say, and to be healed of their diseases.  We sometimes refer to this passage today as the beginning of Jesus’ sermon on the plain. We have also heard today’s particular passages referred to as the “beatitudes.”…meaning blessed…

He begins his sermon, with words about being blessed:

Jesus, looking at his disciples, says: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.

And then, as Jesus often does, he gives us another example using opposites, an upside down, topsy-turvy look at what he is trying to help us see…and perhaps, break open our hearts a bit more to make room for a new way of looking at the world around us…as we consider his teaching from a different angle…from the angle of “woe”…a place of sorrow or distress..

 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.

Blessings and Woes….a part of all of our lives…sometimes we are hungry, sometimes we feel well fed…sometimes we laugh…sometimes we weep and cry… sometimes, it feels as if the world is against us…or on other days, we feel like the world is on our side…

The kingdom of God, the family of God, that Jesus is talking about in his statements about blessing and woes speaks to us, about our life and relationship to one another in this family. He points out to his listeners…that yes…sometimes,  in this family, there are people who are hungry, that are in need…and that those of us, who may not be experiencing hunger presently…are called to be mindful of the neighbor who is hungry, and reach out by sharing as we are called…And at times, there are those among us, who are grieving, while others are celebrating and laughing…and remembering how very quickly our roles in supporting another person in grief, will certainly be switched around in a split second…

At other times, we are called to be mindful, that there are people among us who are being excluded, for a variety of reasons…not just because we are trying to spread the good news of God’s love for ALL his people… on account of the Son of man..

They may be excluded because they are struggling with addiction…. Others face judgment, and ridicule for staying in an abusive relationship…yet others may be unemployed, struggling to get work and provide for their families, and unfairly labeled lazy…There are others who may be oppressed and discriminated against on the basis of their race, culture, religious views, personal identity or lifestyle…

There are people among us, who may feel excluded from receiving the love and blessings of God, as they strive to live into the person that God has created them to be…this may be all of us, at different times throughout our lives…

God’s love is for all people…which means, all of us,  should be taking a look at our own words and actions, in relationship to our neighbors around us…are there ways we are unintentionally excluding others…are there ways we can share more with others…are there ways in which we can listen more deeply to the needs of others… are there times we can learn to be more patient with another when we don’t understand the choices they are making…are there ways that we can get out of the way, with our expectations of another, and just love them and bless them, as we have been loved and blessed by God, and allow them to grow and flourish into the child of God, that God created him or her to be?

For me, that’s an important take away from Jesus’ sermon on the plain today… are there ways that I can get out of the way, with my expectations of another, and just love them and bless them, as I have been loved and blessed by God, and allow them to grow and flourish into the child of God, that God created him or her to be?

I don’t think Jesus’ purpose was to tell us who is in and who is out. I don’t think he was telling us that we have to behave a certain way, in order to be blessed. And I don’t think he is telling us, that that is our purpose or mission in life either…to judge others in that way…

The good news I am hearing today, is that we are loved and blessed as we are. We are being called, right from the place we find ourselves in now, to trust in the Lord’s blessing…be like a tree planted by water, sending out its’ roots by the stream… be sowers of God’s love and blessing. ..be people who plant seeds of hope in other’s lives…be encouraged and uplift others with the Good News that God’s love and blessings are for all people.  Be loved and blessed. Be who you are.

Invite kids up/Read story: Be Who You Are, by Todd Parr

After the story:

*Tell the kids that knowing we are loved and blessed can make us happy…truly happy!

So, let’s sing a song about celebrating being happy:

If You’re happy and you know it:

Clap your hands

Stomp your feet

Shout Amen!

 

Rev Julie Platson

St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church

Sitka, Alaska

 

 

 

 

 

 

5 Epiphany Sermon

5 Epiphany Year C

February 10, 2019 

Isaiah 6:1-8, Psalm 138, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11;

Luke 5:1-11

 

Opening Prayer:  Loving God, you have called forth disciples and prophets to live and speak your word. Give us ears to hear, lives to respond, and voices to proclaim the good news of salvation, which we know in our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Textweek.com)

This is surely one of those Sundays when I feel like a “fish out of the water”. I am looking out at all of you, sitting in the pews: Many of you have lived in Sitka your whole life, or other areas of Alaska. Many of you have spent long days, long nights, long weeks and months, fishing year after year, to provide for your family, and for those of us who are the recipients of the fruits of your labors - those of us, who are grateful to enjoy fresh fish that is locally caught. I think to myself – I am unworthy to even begin to unpack today’s Gospel reading from the perspective of the fisherman, most especially from Simon’s perspective in today’s story.

I’ve only been in Sitka for about 4 years. I moved here from the desert, having lived there for 30 years. We didn’t come across too many people fishing in the desert.

Before that, though…I did live by the ocean...I was born in Florida, and my family eventually moved to Massachusetts and Cape Cod, where I grew up, before moving to Nevada in 1985.

But even though I grew up near the ocean, and there were lots of people in my area who fished for a living, my personal interaction with most of them was pretty limited….I just knew that’s what some people did for a living there.

My own immediate family, were not involved in the fishing business…but my brother and grandfather did occasionally do some summer fishing. My grandfather used to buy old boats, to fix up, and keep for a few months before selling them again. I have fond memories of him sitting down by the harbor in Harwichport, enjoying his lunch every day.

I have special memories of walking to the pond with him and my brother and sisters, down the street by his house, with a stick and a string, to do a little fishing…nothing we ever kept.

And…I do have some relatives who live in Gloucester and Rockport, MA, where several of them have been involved in the fishing industry over the years, whose life’s work has been out in the dark, and deep waters of the ocean. Every summer, when I was growing up, we had a family reunion there, and got to listen to lots of stories about their work, and I had the chance to spend a week with extended family members, whose lives seemed to be so very different from my upbringing, and family life on the Cape.

But, I realize now, how those once a year stories, and experiences with my cousins and aunts and uncles, have been embedded and grafted into my heart…and still, to this day…bring me comfort, gratitude, blessing and a deep sense of peace….memories that enable me to believe in the love and faithfulness of God, for all people, in all times, and in all places…

Looking back on that one week in Gloucester and Rockport every summer with my relatives, has helped me understand that even though our day to day lives appeared to be so very different from each other, we shared so much in common: we all had fears, struggles, sorrows, heartaches…we all laughed a lot, shared joys, and desires and dreams and hopes for ourselves and our loved ones…

So…yes..I feel unworthy to share my thoughts on the gospel reading today from the perspective of Simon, or James or John…but I can share my perspective, and my wonderings, as a fellow sojourner in this world, as someone who is in the “boat”, with you...striving to make sense of this sometimes, difficult and confusing and wonderful world, we find ourselves in..

That’s all any of us are called to do…to share our own authentic faith story, with one another…from the place in our hearts, from where we believe we have heard God’s voice and his call to us – that voice that speaks to each of us – wherever we are – calling our attention for a moment – even in a fearful moment – most often in a fearful moment – to stop – listen – listen to the words of Jesus – Do not be afraid…

Each of our readings today, included a “call” message. Isaiah’s call, Paul’s comments on his call, and then Simon (and James and John’s) call…each one of them, were called in the midst of where they were, each one of them, perhaps taken by surprise…each one of them, perhaps, experienced a moment of fear, unbelief, or unworthiness…and yes, even those things we thought were most important..but when they said, yes with their hearts, when they opened up their eyes, ears and hearts, to the miracle and mystery of the saving grace of God’s love they were witness to, in that moment…something changed in them, something transformed them…to boldly take a step forward, leaving everything behind: the worries, the fears, the weariness, the feelings of unworthiness…all left behind…to answer God’s call to them… believing that God had chosen them for something greater than what they had yet to imagine…

 In today’s gospel reading, this is the good news I’m hearing today:

There were people eager to hear some good news…not just any good news…but the good news that Jesus had been teaching everywhere he went… the Word of God’s love and faithfulness for his people…a love that has the power to free people from the bondage of sin and suffering, calling them instead…to an abundant life, revealed to us in Jesus’ teachings and miracles…

Jesus got into the boat, belonging to Simon…and asked him to put out a little way from the shore…and from there Jesus spoke to the crowds who were gathered to hear the life-giving Word of God…

I believe Jesus chose Simon’s boat that day…knowing that He and his partners James and John had worked all night long fishing, and had caught nothing. I believe he knew just how tired they were, that they had toiled and worked themselves to the bone, all night….but still had to clean up everything afterwards, they still had to get everything set for the next day, they still had to summon up the strength to work tomorrow, the next day, and the next…wondering and worrying whether there will be any fish tomorrow…they were exhausted, perhaps discouraged…perhaps feeling depleted and empty…

I believe Jesus chose Simon’s boat that day….because sometimes we don’t know that we need to hear the good news of God’s love for us…But Jesus does…and it is precisely in those moments of exhaustion, weariness, discouragement, and unworthiness, that through the saving grace of Jesus Christ, God’s voice does call out to us…and reveals a new way forward…a way forward that invites us to follow Jesus, in walking the Way of love…paying attention to the miracles that are unfolding right before our eyes…right in the midst of the most difficult times in our lives…

So, yes…Jesus was speaking to the crowds, but he was most certainly speaking to Simon, too…..intentionally choosing him that day, to assure him…that God’s love and faithfulness is with him, for all of his days…

Simon and the others were amazed, perhaps stunned, perhaps unbelieving, perhaps fearful, scared to death, of the abundance of fish that were caught in their nets, when they responded to Jesus’ words, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch."

But, it was precisely in the midst of those mixed emotions, and trusting enough to go where Jesus was asking them to go, that Jesus’ words and actions became the healing balm that soothed their souls, softened their hearts, and allowed for the Holy Spirit to revive their souls once again…

Jesus assured Simon (and the others who heard him say), “Do not be afraid, from now on you will be catching people.”

It was their turn now… to deliberately choose to reach out in love to others as Jesus had chosen to show his love for them…they left everything, and decided to follow Jesus.

They decided to follow Jesus, because they now believed and knew from their own personal experience, that indeed Jesus is the One…

He is the one in whom we have received the life-giving Word of God’s love, and that others need to hear, too…It is this love, that has the power to reconcile us to God, one another, and all of creation.

In a world that is currently experiencing great division, and fear…we ourselves, are all being called now, we are being chosen by God, in this time and in this place…wherever we are, whomever we are… to share the healing balm of Jesus Christ…so that others know, and we ourselves know…that deep down, we are not so different after-all… we all have fears, struggles, sorrows, heartaches…we all yearn to laugh and experience joys…we all share many of the same desires and dreams and hopes for ourselves and our loved ones…

It is our turn now…to share our own authentic faith story, with one another…from the place in our hearts, from where we have heard God’s voice and his call to us – that voice that speaks to each of us – wherever we are – calling our attention for a moment – even in a fearful moment – most often in a fearful moment – to stop – listen – listen to the words of Jesus – Do not be afraid…stop – listen to the heart-cries and hopes of our neighbors…and share the good news of God’s healing balm…

There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole; There is a balm in Gilead

to heal the sin-sick soul.

Sometimes I feel discouraged, and think my work’s in vain,

But then the holy spirit revives my soul again.

There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole; There is a balm in Gilead

to heal the sin-sick soul.

This is what I take away from the gospel story today….

What about you? You, the tired fisherman, you, the weary parent, you the worried soul, you, who can’t see the end of our troubled times, you who is tired from the long journey of grief…

What good news, from your perspective, did you hear today? And with whom will you share it this week?

HYMN:  Lift Every Voice and Sing II - #203 There is a Balm in Gilead

 

Rev Julie Platson

St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church

Sitka, Alaska

The Good Book Club

Week of January 28

This week: Romans 8:9—10:4

Paul continues his letter with an emphasis on our obligation to live in the Spirit – bathed in the rivers of living water. When we live in the Spirit, Paul says, we live as a child of God. To help explain this idea, Paul offers a metaphor of adoption. Commentators say that in biblical days, a son once adopted no longer had claim to his old life (and family) but gained all the rights and privileges of the new family. Any debt was wiped clean, all past forgotten. So too when we are adopted by the Spirit, living anew as children of God, all debts are wiped clean. That doesn’t mean we won’t suffer. We will. But in joining Jesus in suffering, we also are able to join him in glory as all creation awaits. In other words, life won’t be easy but God’s help in difficult days is an enduring promise: “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

In Romans 9, Paul moves a bit off his main theme of God’s love revealed to us in Christ Jesus through the Holy Spirit and into problems with Israel—once the beloved chosen and now rejected and cursed. He discusses both sides of the coin: this is God’s will, and this is the fault of the Israelites, who stumbled, who did not seek God’s goodness by faith. In the following week, we’ll dive deeper into Paul’s response about Israel but for now, I urge you to read and re-read Romans 8:38, which I think could be considered the entire letter’s “nut graph”—what journalists call the heart of the story, the main point in a nutshell.

Paul writes, “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Nothing. That is good news, indeed.

For Discussion:

How do you know if you are living in the Spirit? How can you invite the Spirit into your life?

Where is the Spirit leading you? What is keeping you from following?

What does it mean to you to be a child of God?

Do you think Romans 8:38 is the heart of Paul’s letter? Why or why not? What does this verse mean to you personally?

(forward day by day)

3 Epiphany Sermon - Annual Meeting Day

3 Epiphany Year C

January 27, 2019

Annual Meeting Day 

Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10; Psalm 19, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a; Luke 4:14-21

  

Opening Prayer: Gift-giver, you call us together, with our different gifts,our different ideas, our different tastes. You call us together, to share what makes us special, to build each other up, to serve each other in love. You call us together, knowing that we need all parts of the body of your faithful people, if we are to be whole. You call us together, to sing, to pray, to listen, to speak, to be refreshed so that we can go out and serve.  You call us together in the name of the One who has taught us, what it means to walk in love, with God, one another, and all of creation. Amen  ~ (posted by Rev Gord)

Today’s reading from the 1st letter of Paul to the Corinthians, is surely a great text to hear on the day we will gather for our annual meeting... to reflect and review the ways we have functioned as the body of Christ, here in this place, in our community, and in the world. It’s a text that reaffirms, that we are all a part of the body of Christ. And each one of us, has an important role, in building up the body of Christ…by serving God, and one another, by being the eyes and the ears, and the hands and the feet of Christ in this world….

Through our baptisms, we are all members, of one body, Christ’s body.

There is one Body and one Spirit;

There is one hope in God's call to us;

Every one of us, is called and invited to share our diverse gifts, which are constantly changing, transforming us, and those among us, throughout our lifetime…throughout every season of our lives…The spirit unites us to one another, it empowers us, reveals our gifts to be shared with one another, for the well-being and wholeness of the community gathered…here in this place…in our communities, and throughout the world.

Everyone one of us, is called and invited to engage in the mission of Christ…the mission of all those baptized and welcomed into the household of God:

Jesus read from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah that spoke to what His mission was:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.

This is the mission of Christ, and of all the baptized.

To proclaim the good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of God’s favor…

Every one of us:

We are young, we are old; we are quiet, we are outgoing; we are teachers, we are students; we are fishermen and fisherwomen, we are counselors, and advocates; we are prayer warriors, and healing practitioners; we are musicians and singers; we are ushers and greeters; we are lectors, and chalicists; we are bell-ringers and acolytes; we are vestry members and convention delegates; we are mayors and city committee members; we are nurses and medical personnel; we are mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers, we are sisters and brothers, we are aunts and uncles; we are quilters, we are knitters; we are bakers, we are gardeners; we are artists and writers; we are builders, we are craftsmen; we are business owners, and entrepreneurs; we are priests and deacons; we are dancers and gymnasts; we are walkers and runners; we are creation care enthusiasts and domestic violence advocates; we are archivists, and sacred story-keepers; we are federal workers, and government employees; we are people who serve our country in the armed forces, we are coast guard families.

We are a diverse body of God’s beloved children, who share the same Spirit, which unites us to one another, through the Love of God, made known to us, in Jesus Christ.

All of us together are Christ’s body, and each of us is a part of it. 

Let us reaffirm this good news today, by taking a few moments to re-dedicate ourselves and bless our bodies, for the mission and ministries to which every one of us will be invited and called to engage in, as we seek to follow Jesus in walking the way of love…

 

Blessing of the Body by Joyce Rupp

Forehead: May you have keen insights and think clearly. May your thoughts be kind and wise. May you resolve anything in your mind that keeps you from being your true self.

Ears: My you listen to the inner Voice of the Beloved and act on the word of God. May your hear the melodies of your own goodness and treasure who you are.

Eyes: May you have inner vision to see more clearly the path that is yours. May you look upon others with love as you search for your way home.

Mouth: May you speak with love, proclaim the truth, and make your needs known. May you laugh at the absurdities of life and taste life with joy and enthusiasm.

Nose: As you take in air and let out air, may you be reminded of the cycle of life with its dying and rising, it’s emptying and filling. May you breathe in the aroma of goodness and breathe out what needs to be let go.

Hands: May you use your hands to touch all of life with reverence and gratitude. May these hands reach out with care to others. May these hands be willing to receive from others.

Skin: May you be not too thick-skinned or too thin-skinned as you journey. May you reverence and protect the dignity of others no matter what color of skin they have.

Heart: May you develop awareness of what stirs deep within you. May you have a vibrant, compassionate heart, one that is filled with generosity and kindness.

Feet: As you travel through the many ups and downs of life, may all the places your feet take you lead you to greater transformation and inner freedom. May you seek to walk in the way of love…with God, one another, and all of creation.

May God Give us grace, every one of us, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works. Amen (Collect of the day/3 Epiphany)

 

HYMN: #539 – O Zion, haste, thy mission..(vs 1-3)

Rev Julie Platson

St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church

Sitka, Alaska

The Good Book Club | Week of January 21

This week: Romans 6:1—8:8

Paul opens chapter 6 with a good question, one we might all have asked at some point: If nothing we do (or stop doing) can earn our salvation—and indeed it is only by grace that we are saved—then why stop sinning? Might continued sinning be okay based on an equation that more sin equals more grace? If we can never earn an A+ in God’s grade book, then why try?

Paul spends most of this week’s readings addressing these questions. He moves from justification by faith to the necessity of sanctification and holy living. Yes, grace is at the heart of the Christian life, but how we receive and act upon that grace is important too. Sin separates us from God, when our goal should be union with God—theosis. The end of sanctification is eternal life; the wages of sin are death. In other words, the stakes are high. A life without sin is impossible without the grace of God, but that doesn’t mean we should stop striving for it. My teenage daughter doesn’t think she’ll get a top score on the Advanced Placement Statistics test—but she’s not allowed to stop studying (much to her chagrin).

We may not always understand our own decisions, we may do the things that we know not to, and we may avoid the actions that we should take. God knows: This life is hard—throughout chapter seven, he talks about his own journey of faith. But, Paul insists: God through Christ Jesus rescues us, helps us start anew, and so we must recommit time and again to a holy life patterned after Our Lord and Savior. Amen.

For Discussion

  • If we can’t earn our salvation, what’s the point in trying?

  • Paul describes the relationship between Christian and sin in several ways, including death, baptism, slave, and master. What do you think of these descriptions? How would you describe the relationship?

  • How can you encourage those (and perhaps yourself) who feel like they keep losing the battle with sin?

  • What does it mean to be a mature Christian? Is Paul one? Are you?

(forward day by day)

2 Epiphany - January 20, 2019 - Water into Wine

January 20, 2019 – John 2:1-11 - Water into Wine

written by The Rev Kathryn Snelling

 

Ah weddings

Wonderful events – one of the biggest events in life

And once it is decided to go through with it….. all the preparations begin

The license and any other paperwork done, the date set, the location decided, the maid of honor chosen, set the number of bridesmaids – making sure and the dress flatters all body sizes and shapes (good luck with that) - Choosing the colors and the flowers

Then there’s the groom’s best man and the number of groomsmen to choose

Of course the invitations, the guest list: friends of the bride – friends of the groom, family from both sides

Then the reception. A whole other event to be orchestrated. The location, the decorations, the cake, the food, the drinks, the seating arrangements, the entertainment

And now there’s THE DANCE!

Whether it’s the bride and groom – or the bride and her father – or all the groomsmen or all the bridesmaids – some choreographed and rehearsed dance is all the rage these days – many are posted on Facebook and some even make it on to YouTube   

Ahh, Weddings - no wonder they are rated high on the scale of life’s stressful events. And there’s really no surprise that they would be

Even being a happy occasion doesn’t eliminate the stress levels generated

Has anyone ever been involved in a wedding that that went off without a single hitch?

It may not have been a disaster but something doesn’t go exactly as planned.

It can happen – I suppose - but it is probably not the norm.

Last Friday – January 18th was the day the church remembers the Confession of St. Peter. So what does that have to do with weddings? Nothing really except it is also the date chosen for my ordination.

And I got to thinking – ordinations have a lot in common with weddings

Once you decide to go through with it, there’s all the preparations

Making sure all the paperwork is done and according to the canons

Setting the date – making sure the bishop can be there

The location is easy – the church, naturally

But you need to plan the ceremony - Who is presenting? Who will do the various readings and the prayers? What hymns we will sing? What color – yes there’s a choice – between white and red.

There isn’t anything to do for clothing – all the clergy have their vestments

Though I did have to get mine ordered and adjusted when it arrived

The guest list was pretty easy – everyone is invited

So an announcement had to be printed up and sent out

And oh – out of town family wants to come – that’s great – just find housing

And there was a lovely reception in the See House with great food and other refreshment and fellowship and wonderful gifts. And it was all lovely and Whew! It’s done.

Ordinations and wedding: momentous events  

And in this morning’s Gospel reading we hear of one such event as retold by John

Jesus and his disciples and his mother Mary have all been invited to a wedding

Now there is a lot to wonder about in this story

We could wonder how Jesus and the disciples and his mother are connected to the two families involved

Were they related to either of the families or perhaps friend of one or both?

Were the families wealthy? Or was this affair going to strain the family’s finances

In their culture, wedding celebrations lasted a whole week long. That’s a lot of food and wine.

There’s other things un-said in this story that sort of hang all around the peripheral

For example, I wonder about Mary – she’s a guest at the wedding – she’s not in charge of anything – like the supply of wine, for instance.

And yet she takes notice – she is alert to a need

They are going to run out of wine before the celebration is complete

Now this may seem a small thing to us in our day and age and culture – but I think in this situation it would constitute a disaster - a huge embarrassment on the host family at the very least - and certainly a dark cloud over the celebration and perhaps a lingering shame for the two newlyweds who are beginning a new life.   

So Mary turns to her son Jesus – this son of who she has heard amazing things foretold about – even before he was born

She has pondered all these things in her heart as she watched him grow.

Jesus has a special ministry – this she knows – and he knows it too

And we hear this little exchange between them

“They have run out of wine.”
“Woman, what has that to do with you or me? My time has not yet come.”

Now theologians and scholars have been wondering about the meaning of that conversation for over 2 thousand years

Is Mary a pushy mom? – is Jesus a reluctant God? I don’t know, and I’m not going to resolve it this morning – sorry.

But if Jesus was a little hesitant – I can relate!

It took a few nudges to get me going on the pathway to ordination

And I suspect that some of you have had situations in your life when you kinda- sorta – thought maybe – you wanted to do, go, be … something – but ………

And someone gave you a nudge – and you were grateful for it

Thank God for the “Nudgers” in our lives

But the important thing is Jesus took action – after Mary took action

What was it she did? Did you catch it? She recruited help.

She turns to the servants and says, “Do whatever he tells you.”

And we know the rest of the story.

He tells them to fill the six jars that are nearby with water.

They fill the jars to the brim

He has them dip some out and take it to the person in charge of the wine service

And everyone is amazed – the water is now wine

And not just wine -- but the best wine - EVER!

But I wonder

Was that it? Just water into wine? Now I admit, that is amazing in its self – I can’t do that. But is that really it?

I don’t think so

Jesus took potential disaster and brought joy 

Jesus took scarcity and turned it into abundance

Jesu took simple actions and transformed their outcome

Jesus took a seemingly simple situation and displayed the limitless love of God

And there is one more thing I wonder about.

The scripture passage ends with “…he revealed his glory and the disciples believed in him.”

Well, that’s good --- we’d expect that. But what about those servants? We know nothing about them except that there were more than one. Maybe there were two or maybe six – one for each jar.

But they knew where the wine came from.

What did they believe?

What did they do with that knowledge?

And whatever happened to them?

Where are they? --- Oh, I think I know

They’re here.

When we respond to: “do whatever he tells you”

We too, are dipping into our jar of new wine – the wine of God’s limitless love - and sharing it with others

In many seemingly smalls ways

Helping to feed the hungry – clothe and shelter those without

Sharing time with one who needs the presences of a caring soul

Speaking up and taking action on behalf of those oppressed and who have no voice

Being alert to the needs around us

Small things - but small actions can spread and grow and always make a difference

So I wonder, what are we serving from our jars today?

Amen