1st Sunday of Advent - The Candle of Hope

1 Advent/Year B

Pledge In-Gathering Sunday

Dec 3, 2023

Isaiah 64:1-9; Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Mark 13:24-37

 

Opening Prayer: (Church of Scotland)

O Advent God, come to us we pray.

Enter our hearts this day, as we worship, bring our prayers and our praise to You.

As we light the candle of hope in our hearts, may we hold the small flickering flame throughout this week.

May the flame of Jesus Christ's love stay within us, and be close by us. Amen.

 

Today, on this 1st Sunday of Advent…we light a candle of Hope on the Advent Wreath…and as we begin the season of Advent, a time of preparation and expectation for the coming celebration of our Lord's nativity, and for the final coming of Christ “in power and glory”, I can’t think of a better way to begin this new season and new church year than with this prayer I just opened with…a prayer asking God to enter our hearts, anew this day, lighting a candle of hope in our hearts, and praying for the love of Jesus Christ to abide in our hearts…

I wonder how our hearts and minds and daily lives would be transformed, if we set aside a few moments in the morning, every day, to pray this simple prayer…before we even got out of bed…before we turned on the daily news…before we jumped right in to the work of the day…before our own thoughts of worry and fear about all that is going wrong in the world had a chance to grab hold of our hearts for the day…

Imagine...one simple prayer intention …to begin our day…that lights a way for hope and love to grab hold of our hearts….to grab hold our lives…to grab hold of our minds…to grab hold of all that we say and do…

Imagine…one simple prayer intention…at the noon of the day, at the eve of the day, at the end of our day… that lights a way for hope and love to grab hold of our hearts….to grab hold our lives…to grab hold of our minds…to grab hold of all that we say and do…

I wonder if a prayer practice such as this...would help us “keep awake” in this season of Advent…as we wait and watch with an expectant hope for the coming celebration of our Lord's nativity, and for the final coming of Christ “in power and glory.”

Those words, “keep awake” in today’s gospel jumped out at me…Jesus didn’t just say it once, but a few times, in today’s parable about the landowner going away on a journey and commanding the doorkeeper to keep watch, to keep awake…

At the conclusion of the parable, Jesus instructs the disciples, “Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”

Michael Toy, a Ph.D. candidate in Religious Studies at a University in New Zealand…says “this is an impossible task. One cannot keep constant vigilance without fatigue. And yet, three times in this passage, Jesus instructs his disciples: Keep watch.

He goes on to shed more insight and context to this parable in the words of New Testament Scholar Leroy Huizenga:

Leroy points out that this injunction in Mark 13 to keep watch is literarily connected to the events that unfold in the Garden of Gethsemane one chapter later.

The temporal pattern of the owner’s return is not of a twenty-four-hour system but of evening, midnight, cockcrow, or dawn. This four-part division of time mirrors the events of Jesus’ final night: the last supper in the evening, the arrest in the night, denial by Peter at cockcrow, and delivery to Pilate in the morning. Furthermore, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus (three times) tells his close disciples to keep watch with him. And (three times) they fail. They fail to stay awake with him in his final hours.

Keeping watch does not mean paying attention so one can be “in the know” about what is happening or what will happen next. The call to be watchful, alert, and aware is an invitation into the unfolding divine mystery. This mystery is somehow personal yet universal, offering glimpses of a boundless God amongst a groaning creation.

So, as we embark on the journey through the season of Advent…the call to be watchful, alert and aware is an invitation into the unfolding divine mystery…

We are invited to wait and watch with an expectant hope for the coming celebration of our Lord's nativity, and for the final coming of Christ “in power and glory.”

We are encouraged to take on a new or renewed spiritual practice by rooting our lives in prayer, at the break of the day, at the noon of the day, at the eve of the day, at the end of the day…

Prayer asking God to enter our hearts anew, to light a candle of hope in our hearts, and to pray for the love of Jesus Christ to abide in our hearts…Prayer that lights a way for hope and love to grab hold of our hearts….to grab hold our lives…to grab hold of our minds…to grab hold of all that we say and do…

Prayer that will renew and strengthen our call as the church to be an “Outpost of Hope” in our communities…

 

Closing Prayer/Hymn: (H) 482

1        Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy,

          whose trust, ever child-like, no cares could destroy,

          be there at our waking, and give us, we pray,

          your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.

 

2        Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith,

          whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe,

          be there at our labors, and give us, we pray,

          your strength in our hearts, Lord, at the noon of the day.

 

3        Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,

          your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace,

          be there at our homing, and give us, we pray,

          your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.

 

4        Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,

          whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm,

          be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray,

          your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.

Rev Julie Platson

St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church

Sitka, Alaska

Christ the King Sunday Sermon - called to love and serve

Last Sunday after Pentecost/Christ the King/Year A

Fall stewardship time: Called to be an “Outpost of Hope”

November 26, 2023

Ephesians 1:15-23; Psalm 95:1-7a; Matthew 25:31-46

 

Opening Prayer:

O God, our Heavenly Creator, give us a vision of our world as Your love would make it: a world where the weak are protected and none go hungry or poor; a world where the benefits of civilized life are shared, and everyone can enjoy them; a world where different races, nations and cultures live in tolerance and mutual respect, a world where peace is built with justice, and justice is guided by love; and give us the inspiration and courage to build it, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. Geoffrey Brown & John Pridmore, St Martin-in-the-Fields’ Prayer for the World.

It is good to be with all of you today. I look forward to this time together every week, when we can come together to be inspired by the Word of God, through scriptures, prayer, music, breaking bread with one another, and enjoying fellowship time with each other after the services. I look forward to this time every week, to gather in community, to re-envision what our neighborhoods and our world-wide community could look like, when we take seriously our call to love and serve one another, as Jesus has taught us, and shown us.

And, in particular, during this month of November, I’ve been inspired by the heartfelt “Outpost of Hope” reflections that were shared these past few weeks by Chip, Ruth Ann, and Elisabeth and Harry…all stories that captured the essence and purpose of the church’s call to be an Outpost of Hope in our communities. We’ve also been sharing other reflections in our Tuesday emails this month, that reflect how our church finances are being used to build up communities, Where Hope Can Be Found.

We’ve come to the end of our liturgical year today, the last Sunday after Pentecost, or as it is also known, named, and celebrated, as Christ the King Sunday.

This last Sunday in the current liturgical year, wasn’t always called Christ the King Sunday. According to a description on churchyear.net, it was 1st given this name in 1925 at a time in the world where God seemed to be losing ground, the devastating First World War had been fought, and the powers of nationalism and secularism were rising. Pope Pius XI instituted the Feast of Christ the King to lend courage to Christians whose faith and hopes might be flagging…

Fast forward to the year 2023…recalling this day as Christ the King Sunday, is still as relevant now, as it was in 1925 for very similar reasons….there are devastating wars being fought in many places, the powers of nationalism and secularism are rising, and many people…not just Christians, are struggling with finding reasons to hope, in a world that is plagued with so much suffering, division, and loneliness.

So, here’s the thing…the name, Christ the King Sunday…may leave some people scratching their heads now in 2023…or thinking, perhaps…that the church, the religious institutions, are aligning themselves with worldly power, whose communities, whose kingdoms, are marked with powerful rulers and rules set up to control others, and to separate people from one another…

But that’s not the type of Kingdom we as the church are seeking to model. We are striving to follow Jesus, a humble king, a compassionate king, a forgiving and merciful king, a loving king, who aligned himself with those who have been tossed aside and separated from society, those deemed unworthy, those left hungering and thirsting for Hope.

From the very beginning, Jesus has been clear about his role as king…and it has nothing to do with power and control over anyone. It has nothing to do with aligning ourselves with the status quo. It has nothing to do with us judging who is worthy and who is not.

It has always been about love…loving God, and loving our neighbor, with all of our heart, soul, strength and mind.

It has always been about re-envisioning what our neighborhoods and our world-wide community could look like, when we take seriously our call to love and serve one another, as Jesus has taught us, and shown us…

This week’s gospel reading, just one of many important teachings of Jesus, can help us align our vision with Jesus’ vision by focusing on whom our primary concerns should be…as we strive to build up communities of hope where-ever we are…

Jesus said, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’

The message has always been clear…Jesus’ mission, and ours as followers of Jesus, as the body of Christ, the church…has always been to proclaim and build up the kingdom of God, the family of God, here on earth, as in heaven…a kingdom, a beloved community, where people thrive, here and now, by being nourished by the love of God, as made known to us in the stories of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ascension…a kingdom of heaven, a beloved community, where peoples’ lives are transformed by the love of God, in Christ Jesus, as we listen deeply to each other’s stories, and as we look into the faces of all we meet, seeking and serving Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves…

When we strive to live into this mission and ministry of Christ, the mission and ministry of the church: With God and with one another, we can restore Hope in the hearts and lives of all God’s people…

I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you…(Ephesians 1:15-23)

 

*Prayer/Hymn after sermon: (WLP 779)

The Church of Christ in every age

Beset by change but Spirit led,

Must claim and test its heritage

And keep on rising from the dead.

 

Across the world, across the street,

The victims of injustice cry

For shelter and for bread to eat,

And never live until they die.

 

Then let the servant Church arise,

A caring Church that longs to be

A partner in Christ's sacrifice,

And clothed in Christ's humanity.

 

For he alone, whose blood was shed,

Can cure the fever in our blood,

And teach us how to share our bread

And feed the starving multitude.

 

We have no mission but to serve

In full obedience to our Lord:

To care for all, without reserve,

And to spread his liberating Word.

 

Rev Julie Platson

St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church

Sitka, AK

 

Benediction: Christ the King Sunday

It is not enough to acclaim Jesus Christ as our Lord and King. Our mission in life is to make his kingdom a reality among us and to bring it to those around us by our words and deedsThe way to do this is to live as he lived: for others, in love and service.

May Almighty God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you and be upon you always, as you answer the call to build up communities of hope, through loving God, and loving your neighbor, with all of your heart, soul, strength and mind. Amen.

~ from Liturgies Alive, Models of Celebration.

 

Photo: From the Vanderbilt Divity Library - Reign of Christ Sunday

 

Outpost of Hope

ALL SAINTS’ SUNDAY/ Year A - November 5, 2023

Fall stewardship kick off: Called to be an “Outpost of Hope”

Revelation 7:9-17; Psalm 34:1-10,22; Matthew 5:1-12

 

*Opening Prayer: A Prayer for All Saints/All Souls Day (Order of Saint Helena)

Gracious God, You stand us among the saints so that we can hear the Word of truth and love in a variety of voices, so that we can live with hope and courage as others lift us up and cheer us on.  You surround us with saints so that we can know wisdom and revelation in the sharing of word and experience; so that we can sing in glory and stand in the fullness of the body of Christ.  We’re grateful for those saints who have gone before us and for those living at our sides today.  Raise us up with the faith of the saints, for the glory of your holy name.  Amen.

You’ve heard me say it many times…but I begin this morning by repeating it again… All Saints’ Sunday is my favorite special day on the church calendar. There are so many things to love about this day…

I love that we set aside this day to remember our connection to those who have gone on before us…yet are still so alive in our hearts now and who still move us and inspire us to keep on going…to keep on living…to keep on hoping….to keep on loving and blessing one another…

I love that on All Saints’ Sunday, we can be reminded that we don’t navigate this world alone…because by our baptisms into the household of God, we are always in the company of those famous and every day saints we call family and friends, who have gone on before us…those beloveds who still manage to inspire us, encourage us to keep on going…to keep on living…to keep on hoping….to keep on loving and blessing one another…

And I love that on this All Saints’ Sunday, we get to listen to the gospel reading from Matthew…and imagine ourselves on the mountaintop with the disciples gathering at the feet of Jesus to be encouraged and uplifted by his words of blessing:  “Blessed are you, the poor in spirit, those who mourn, those who are humble, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness…Blessed are you, the merciful, the pure in heart and the peacemakers…for you will be called children of God.”

And I love that on this All Saints’ Sunday, we get to prayerfully consider how this vision of being blessed as Jesus teaches us in this sermon on the mount…is a relevant teaching to us today, just as it was over two thousand years ago.

We are kicking off our fall pledge drive this weekend…and this year’s theme, is based upon Bishop Mark’s invitation to the people of the Episcopal Diocese of Alaska to renew and strengthen our call as the church to be an “Outpost of Hope” in our community.

I think of that time and place on the mountaintop with Jesus, as an example of an “outpost of hope”…a church gathering space…a place where people can gather to be encouraged, be inspired, to be fed by the word of God, and to be renewed and strengthened through the prayers and fellowship with one another, to go out into one’s community to love and bless one another…

I think of Jesus being an “outpost of hope” himself…using his presence and words to encourage and uplift those who perhaps have struggled to see how and where God is present in their lives or blessing them now…I imagine him looking directly at those who are in need of hearing it… “Blessed are YOU!”

And I think of all the saints, past and present, who have been an “outpost of hope” to others…

Can you recall a time when someone has been an “outpost of hope” for you…when you were weary, afraid, overwhelmed by the cares and concerns of the world and its people, when you felt powerless to change any of the difficult circumstances that you find yourselves or your loved ones in, or when you had moments of doubt when your faith and your hopes had been dimmed?

And I wonder…where you see yourself, and St Peter’s church as an “outpost of hope” today…and as we look forward to the new year…

Will you strive to be an outpost of hope to others…by sharing your compassion-filled words and kind actions to help offload that sense of being overwhelmed by the cares and concerns that are weighing heavily on someone’s heart?

Will you strive to be an “outpost of hope” to others… by being present to them and sharing encouraging words to help them see some new possibilities before them when they feel powerless to take just one step forward?

Will you strive to be an “outpost of hope” to others…by sharing words of love and blessing directly with others, “Blessed are you”…words of love and blessing to help rekindle the light of their faith and hopes just in the moment they need to hear them most?

And finally…Will you strive to help the church…the physical spaces that we use to gather people together, and the church as the body of Christ in the world… to serve as an “outpost of hope” to all in our community?

In the renewal of our baptismal covenant in a few minutes, we will be reminded that indeed we can answer with a bold Yes to all of this…Yes…We will, with God’s help…

And yes, we can and we will… because by our baptisms into the household of God, we are always in the company of those famous and every day saints we call family and friends, who have gone on before us,  those beloveds who still manage to inspire us, encourage us to keep on going…to keep on living…to keep on hoping….to keep on loving and blessing one another… those beloved saints of God who have already shown us, how the church can serve as an “outpost of hope” in our communities…

Thanks be to God for those saints who have gone before us and for those living at our sides today…

*Prayer/Hymn after sermon: We sing of the saints  - My Heart Sings Out, #118

          We sing of the saints filled with Spirit and grace,

          blest women and men through all time, from each place.

          God chose them, the holy, the humble the wise

          to spread the Good News of salvation in Christ.

 

         All Saints (November 1)

          There are many saints whom we don’t know by name,

          for God works through people who never find fame;

          but, gathered together, they now sing God’s might,

          with martyrs and prophets, in heavenly light.

 

          All Faithful Departed (November 2)

          We honor the mem’ry of those now at rest,

          who followed the Gospel, whose lives were so blest;

          from fam’lies and friendships, they make heaven seem

          more home-like for us, in our prayers and our dreams.

 

          We, too, have been chosen to follow the way

          of goodness and truth in our study and play,

          we raise up our song, living saints here below,

          with heavenly saints, as our praise ever flows.

 

 

Rev Julie Platson

St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church

Sitka, AK

Saying yes to the invitation : Today's sermon

20 Pentecost Year A

October 15, 2023

Isaiah 25:1-9; Psalm 23, Matthew 22:1-14

Opening Prayer: Holy Spirit of God, shine your light upon this Word and into our hearts that we may be enlightened with fresh understanding. Amen. (from Feasting on the Word: Worship Companion)

 

These gospel readings are not getting any easier the past few weeks. Today’s parable is another difficult one to wrap our minds around.

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus is speaking once again to the priests and Pharisees. This time it’s the parable of the Wedding Banquet. “The kingdom of God may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son.” According to the customs of that time, two invitations were expected when banquets were given. The first asked the guests to attend; the second one announced that all was ready. In today’s story, the king invited his guests three times! And as you heard, the king became quite enraged, and things became quite ugly. Failure to turn up at a dinner party that one was invited to was of course extremely bad manners. But outright refusing to attend was even more serious.

What a disgrace this was to the king who had prepared this glorious feast in honor of his son, and for the enjoyment of all who were invited to attend this special celebration.

How many of us here have had a similar experience with planning a wedding, a special occasion, a holiday party or other community event, that left you feeling frustrated by those who didn’t give you the courtesy of a reply or being disappointed by your friends who you really wanted to accept your dinner invitation, but then didn’t show up… 

You planned a glorious party…a joyous occasion, you were holding it for good cause, your daughter, your son, your charity…all good…all for the purpose of coming together to celebrate joy!

You sent out the invitations in plenty of time…you even sent out a “save the date” notice way before the official invitation went out.

You included an RSVP date – which is a way of politely asking the recipients of the invitation to give the hosts the courtesy of a reply so they can plan the celebration accordingly.

But, as many hosts soon find out, some people flat out ignore the request to reply, which leads many hosts and event organizers to now get on the phone to extend the invitation again! A lot of work and a lot of frustration…

So, going back to the parable... you can sense the king’s concern and frustration…He had pulled out all the stops to plan this joyous occasion. He extended the invitation, several times, he wanted others to come, and celebrate with him and all who gathered for the special occasion, and he expected a reply, an affirmative yes to this invitation.

I can sense God’s concern for us, too… An invitation is extended to us, many times, daily, to come to the banquet, to come to this feast, to come to the table, where the life-giving love of God, made known to us in Jesus, will gather us all together, to celebrate with one another, to break bread together, to help us see that God’s people can learn to live together in love and peace, and can strive to live as a people of hope, with hearts full of joy, even in the midst of such unfathomable suffering, heartache, and violence, all around us…

What keeps us from saying yes to entering into this covenant of love with God, one another, and all of creation…why do we keep finding ourselves turning down the invitation, or maybe ignoring it all together?

Are we too busy, too tethered to what we already know, and too comfortable in the way things are…maybe it’s fear, being overwhelmed at how much suffering and violence we are witness to every day, near and far.

Maybe we are just at the point in life, when we are trying to wrap our minds around all of the difficult news, and the unrest and turmoil in the world around us, and that it is just hard, super difficult to imagine that this invitation to this “banquet” set for all of us, could possibly help us see that there is love and joy and peace and hope that is to be found in this life, together, even in the midst of so much turmoil, unrest, sorrow and grief…

We will never know though, until we simple begin (again and again) by saying yes to God’s invitation to come to the banquet of love that has been set before us.

We will never know though, until we say yes to following Jesus in the way of love, that there is another way to be in this life with one another…that doesn’t accept that violence, hatred, and oppression over one another will lead to anything good.

We will never know though, the peace of God that surpasses all understanding, even in the midst of so much turmoil, unrest, sorrow and grief… until we say yes...Yes, Lord…I will follow you and you will follow me, all the days of my life.

 

LEVS 104 - The Lord is my Shepherd

1       The Lord is my Shepherd, no want shall I know;

                   I feed in green pastures, safe-folded I rest;

          He leadeth my soul where the still waters flow,

                   Restores me when wand’ring, redeems when oppressed.

 

2       Through the valley and shadow my death though I stray,

                   Since thou art my guardian, no evil I fear;

          Thy rod shall defend me, thy staff be my stay;

                   No harm can befall, with my comforter near.

 

3       In the midst of affliction my table is spread;

                   With blessings unmeasured my cup runneth o’er;

          With perfume and oil thou anointest my head;

                   O what shall I ask of thy providence more?

 

4       Let goodness and mercy, my bountiful God,

                   Still follow my steps till I meet Thee above;

          I seek by the path which my ancestors trod,

                   Through the land of their sojourn, thy kingdom of love.

 

 

Rev. Julie Platson, Rector

St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church

Sitka, AK

 

 

 

 

 

Oct 8th: Sunday Sermon

Today’s sermon was written/offered by Kit Allgood-Mellema…

19th Sunday after Pentecost/Year A/Proper 22

Psalm 80:7-14; Isaiah 5:1-7; Matthew 21:33-46

I think at any time in the last two thousand years, the possibility of change, so long needed and desired, has seemed to most people to be overwhelmingly impossible to achieve. Our times are no different than times past in that way. And yet, there is hope. There has always been hope.


5th Sunday in the Season of Creation: BLESS

18 Pentecost/Year A/5th Sunday in the Season of Creation: BLESS

(Pray, Learn, Act, Advocate, Bless)

Oct 1, 2023

Philippians 2:1-13; Psalm 25:1-8; Luke 12: 22-32 (from St Francis’ feast day)

 

Opening words: Show us your ways, O God, and teach us your paths…

 

On this 5th and final Sunday in the Season of Creation, we pause to reflect on the theme of “BLESS” this week.

The Season of Creation series that we’ve been participating in these past few weeks officially ends on October 4th.

Today’s gospel reading that we just heard, is the gospel reading assigned for the Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi, which many churches will observe on the actual day, Oct 4, or today or in the next week sometime, and will most likely include a Blessing of the Animals as part of their services. If you’ve brought your pet with you this morning, we will have a blessing of the pets, immediately following each service today.

Most people associate Francis with his love of animals, and his praise and thanksgiving to God for all of creation, as is beautifully written by him in, “The Canticle of Brother Sun and Sister Moon”. In our 1982 Hymnal, hymn #406 captures a beautiful version of this Song of Praise and Blessing.

Francis comes to mind for many, as we often read the prayer attributed to St Francis on page 833 (in the BCP) – Lord, make us instruments of your peace…

But, the description about Francis that may be lesser known to many, can be found in the lesser feasts and fasts publications…In this episcopal church resource, we learn about his early years, and a time of radical transformation that shaped his faith and the way he looked upon the people and the world around him…and how his faith and prayer life shaped the way he lived out his life in relationship with all of God’s creation…

Listen to an excerpt from that…

Francis, the son of a prosperous merchant of Assisi, was born in 1182. His early youth was spent in harmless revelry and fruitless attempts to win military glory. Various encounters with beggars and lepers pricked the young man’s conscience, however, and he decided to embrace a life devoted to Lady Poverty. Despite his father’s intense opposition, Francis totally renounced all material values and devoted himself to serve the poor. In 1210, Pope Innocent III confirmed the simple Rule for the Order of Friars Minor, a name Francis chose to emphasize his desire to be numbered among the “least” of God’s servants. His last years were spent in much suffering of body and spirit, but his unconquerable joy never failed.

His unconquerable joy never failed…I believe, because his faith was continually teaching him and reminding him that wherever he looked, he could find signs of God’s blessing being poured out upon all of God’s creation…

In the midst of a life where he dared to renounce all material values according to worldly standards, and serve his most vulnerable neighbors, trusting that God, through the hands and feet and actions of himself, and all those who would join with him, in serving the most vulnerable among them…his faith was continually teaching him and reminding him that wherever he looked, he could find signs of God’s blessing being poured out upon all of God’s creation…

I look to his story, his whole life story, as we have heard about it so far…and I find hope in his witness…and in the words of today’s Gospel reading…that….

In all our times of trial and worry about all the material needs and the overwhelming issues always before us…we need only look all around us in the gift of Creation, and in the changing seasons throughout the year, to see where time and time again, we can be reminded that even when we are not sure, even when life seems overwhelming, even when we can’t see it or believe it ourselves yet -we can hold onto the hope and trust that God has always been present, always caring, always providing, always acting, always advocating on behalf of all creation…

In the beginning, God was.

Here and now, God is.

In the future, God will be.

It’s up to us now, the time is now, for us to share this good news with those who struggle with seeing themselves in God’s beloved story and included in the embrace of God’s love and blessing. And this includes our island home and all fellow creatures that we share our breath and daily life with…

Like Jesus, like Francis, we are called to pay attention to all of God’s people, all of God’s creation…

And as we continue to grow in our faith, through the practice of praying, learning, acting, and advocating on behalf of all of God’s people, all of God’s creation…we can hold onto the promise and the resurrection hope, that following Jesus in the way of love and life Jesus has taught us and shown us, and remembering the examples of St Francis, and all the other every day saints who walked before us, will lead to the healing and reconciliation and restoration of life for all of God’s creation.

Show us your ways, O God, and teach us your paths that lead to your abundant blessings showing forth in all of creation, and in the lives of all we will meet on our earthly pilgrimage…

 

Let us pray: Hymn prayer after sermon: Bless now - Voices Found, #142

1        Bless now, O God, the journey that all your people make,

          the path through noise and silence, the way of give and take.

          The trail is found in desert and winds the mountain round,

          then leads beside still waters, the road where faith is found.

 

2        Bless sojourners and pilgrims who share this winding way,

          whose hope burns through the terrors, whose love sustains the day.

          We yearn for holy freedom while often we are bound.

          Together we are seeking the road where faith is found.

 

3        Divine Eternal Lover, (Creator)You meet us on the road.

          We wait for land of promise where milk and honey flow.

          But waiting not for places, You meet us all around.

          Our covenant is written on roads, as faith is found.

 

 

Rev Julie Platson

St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church, Sitka, AK

 

*TODAY’S FINAL BLESSING:

 

Go forth now to care for God’s world.

Use resources wisely. Share your knowledge.

Sacrifice where necessary.

Live in harmony with all creation.

Go out into all the world as prophets of a new way of

living and preach the good news to all.

And the blessing of the Creator God, the Risen Son,

and the Promised Holy Spirit bless you

that you might be a blessing to others

today and always. Amen.

 

 

  • BLESSING: Prayer from “Prayers for the Planet” at a service at Hinde StreetMethodist Church, London, before the Climate March, December 2005, as published in Season of Creation 2 (Green Anglicans, the Anglican Church of Southern African Environmental Network, 2012)

4th Sunday in the Season of Creation: ADVOCATE

17 Pentecost/Year A/4th Sunday in the Season of Creation: ADVOCATE

(Pray, Learn, Act, Advocate, Bless)

 September 24, 2023

Philippians 1:21-30; Psalm 145:1-8; Matthew 20:1-16

 

Opening Prayer: (adapted from A Litany for the Earth, Form A)

Creator God, you call us into being. Inspire us with your extravagant generosity, and sustain us with hope in resurrection life. All this we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, the Wisdom of all Creation. Amen.

On this 4th Sunday in the Season of Creation, we pause to reflect on the theme of “ADVOCATE” this week.

In the past few weeks, we’ve touched upon the themes of prayer, learn, and act so far as they relate to the gospel readings assigned in this Season of Creation. The gospel readings, more specifically Jesus’ teachings on what it means to be a follower of Christ these past few weeks, have been some of the more difficult ones for his listeners to grasp. And we have been challenged to think about what it means to be a follower of Jesus, as we are called to be instruments of healing and reconciliation for all God’s people, and for the healing and restoration of all God’s creation.

In the sermons these past few weeks, we’ve wondered aloud and explored how it is that prayer, and learning from creation using all of our senses, can help us better understand and discern how to take that difficult first step in following Jesus in the way of love and life he is advocating for... through the action of turning and returning over and over again to the source of all Creation, by centering our hearts, minds, and lives on the life-giving, life-liberating love of God made known to us in Jesus…

Even when we don’t fully comprehend what Jesus is talking about, even when his teachings are such that it turns upside down everything the church, the world and its people have taught us over the years, even in those times we would rather just walk away from the hard truths and needs right before us that are evident in the people, in all of creation that we share this planet with, even when all of this seems overwhelming…we can hold onto the promise and the resurrection hope, that following Jesus in the way of love and life Jesus is advocating for, will lead to the healing and reconciliation and restoration of life for all of God’s creation.

I hope you have noticed so far that none of these themes, to pray, learn, and act are stand-alone concepts.

And as we touch upon the theme of advocate this morning as it relates to the gospel reading and the Season of Creation – I hope you will see how being an advocate for God, being an advocate for our loved ones, our children, our grandchildren, being an advocate for our neighbors, being an advocate for all of Creation…is another one of those critical links, not a stand-alone concept, that is needed to bind us to one another, under the banner of God’s generous love for everyone and for all of creation.

In today’s gospel reading, there are a variety of ways this story could be told or interpreted…from the perspective of the landowner, the early morning laborers, the manager, the laborers hired throughout the day, and at the end of the day.

Yet, in any story that we read, or listen to, we most often view it or hear it through our own lived experiences, our own “backstories”. Take a moment right now to think about any reactions or feelings that came up for you when you heard this parable of the workers in the vineyard this morning. Who or what do you think you most identified with in the story? Which part perhaps rubbed you the wrong way?

Now take a moment to imagine some other peoples’ reactions to the story, other peoples’ lived experiences or perspective on this same story that we all just heard… Are you able to open up your mind and heart just a bit to consider and welcome their perspective on the story? Their backstory, that we really don’t have all the details, as of yet. If not, what’s holding you back?

In Jesus’ parable today, Jesus begins the story by saying, “the kingdom of heaven is like”…And as the story unfolds, he invites us to pay attention to the whole story, to pay attention to the needs and perspectives of all people, of all creation, and most especially to be an advocate for the voices that are often silenced or pushed aside, and most especially to be an advocate for all of creation, who is crying out every day to be cared for, honored, healed and restored, so that all God’s people, so that all of God’s Creation, will share in the benefits of God’s generous love for everyone, and for all of creation.

The challenge before us, in seeking to understand what the “kingdom of heaven on earth is like”, is to first acknowledge and accept that there are other voices crying out in the room to be heard, voices that are not speaking from the same lived experience as you and I; there are other forgotten people, who are passed by every hour of the day, who have been judged unfairly as not being worthy of respect and stripped of their human dignity; there are those who are regularly not invited to the table or invited early on to help with the decision-making and work of the day…and when they are…their words and offer to help are often brushed aside.

Creation is calling out for her voice to be heard. We can’t ignore her pleas any longer.

Our children are calling out for their voices to be heard. We can’t ignore their pleas for us all to take actions now, to reverse the harm and destruction that threatens their livable planet, long after most of us have passed on.

As adults, as parents and grandparents, as aunts and uncles, we advocate on behalf of our children’s needs every day.  The care and protection of creation is one of the greatest needs we must advocate for, on behalf of the children among us now, and their children’s children, and their children’s children, and all those in generations to come.

We advocate for them and their future when we advocate for all of creation’s needs.

Here’s a simple plan to get us started as we begin this 4th week in the Season of Creation…

We begin with prayer, with all of our senses we can learn about the ways we can do this together, we can discern ways, together, that we are being called to act on behalf of all creation, and we can pay attention to the gaps, the broken links, and we can advocate for all of creation, who is crying out every day to be cared for, honored, healed and restored, so that all God’s people, so that all of God’s Creation, will share in the benefits of God’s generous love for everyone, and for all of creation.

 

Let us pray: Hymn prayer after sermon: Here Am I, Send Me/Lift Every Voice and Sing II, #126

 

1        Hark! The voice of Jesus calling, Who will go and work today?

          Fields are ripe the harvest waiting, Who will bear the sheaves away?

 

                             Loud and long the Master calleth,

                                      Rich reward He offers free;

                             Who will answer, gladly saying,

                                      “Here am I, send me, send me.”

 

2        Let none hear you idly saying, There is nothing I can do;

          While the souls of some are dying, And the Master calls for you.

          Refrain

 

3        Take the task He gives you gladly, Let His work your pleasure be;

          Answer quickly when He calleth, “Here am I, send me, send me.”

          Refrain

 

 

Rev Julie Platson

St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church, Sitka, AK

***PHOTO TAKEN BY LIZ FINN - SEE HOUSE GARDENS/SEPT 23,2023

3rd Sunday in the Season Creation: ACT

16 Pentecost/Year A/3rd Sunday in the Season of Creation: ACT

(Pray, Learn, Act, Advocate, Bless)

September 17, 2023

Genesis 50:15-21; Psalm 103:(1-7), 8-13; Matthew 18:21-35               

                                  

Opening Prayer:  Called to be God’s partners in the care of the planet (Prayer from The Book of Occasional Services 2018, 339)

Bountiful God, you call us to labor with you in tending the earth: Where we lack love, open our hearts to the world; where we waste, give us discipline to conserve; where we neglect, awaken our minds and wills to insight and care. May we with all your creatures honor and serve you in all things for you live and reign with Christ, Redeemer of all, and with your Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

On this third Sunday in the Season of Creation, we pause to reflect on the theme of “ACT” this week. And today’s scriptures invite us to consider this theme in relationship to the topic of forgiveness. Not forgiveness as the world defines it, and acts or doesn’t act upon it, but forgiveness as Jesus has taught us and shown us. Forgiveness that creates a space for healing to happen, not only between human beings, but for the healing and restoration of all creation.

Peter, once again, this week…is wrestling with understanding Jesus’ teachings on what it means to be a disciple of Christ. He asks the question this week, How often should I forgive, How many times must I forgive?

Jesus answers him, effectively telling him…that there is no set number.

That forgiveness, as Jesus is talking about, is a daily practice of re-orienting our hearts, and minds, and lives, beyond the confines of our learned and stubborn human ways and systems, to help us imagine a new way of being in relationship with God, each other, and all of creation.

A new way out of the confines of human minds and limitations, to imagine all the multitude of possibilities and opportunities for healing for all God’s people and all of creation.

What’s the change of heart and mind needed? How do we re-orient our lives around Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness?

We begin again and again with prayer…a prayer that can open up our minds and hearts to learn more, to consider a new way of being in the world with God and each other and all of creation.…prayer that asks for forgiveness for things done and left undone…and prayer to help us move from just learning about something, and just talking about something, to taking that first step, a simple action, with a “yes”, I will try that new hard thing, even though it’s not convenient or in my comfort zone, even though my mind currently says it makes no sense…even though it would seem easier to just walk away, and let someone else take care of it…

Every one of us is called to be God’s partner in the care of our planet and the healing and restoration of all of creation. All of us.

And the best way to help us discern, where to even begin…is through the action of turning and returning over and over again to the source of all Creation, by centering our hearts, minds, and lives on the life-giving, life-liberating love of God made known to us in Jesus…

And in today’s teachings about forgiveness, we are reminded that it is the love, compassion, mercy, and grace of God is that KEY touchstone along the way, that can help us forgive as we have been forgiven, that can help us love as we have been loved, that can help us heal as we have been healed…and to help us move from prayer, to learning, to taking actions that will lead to the healing and restoration of all God’s people, for all God’s creation.

Looking forward, as we begin the 3rd week in the Season of Creation: begin each new day with prayer, asking for forgiveness for the ways in which we, individually and communally, have contributed to the harm and destruction of God’s beloved creation, and then through the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit, choose at least one simple action that you can take this week, on behalf of healing our planet…

 

Let us pray: Hymn prayer after sermon: An Evening Prayer

Lift Every Voice and Sing II, #176

 

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, AK