Are we using our tongue for blessing or cursing?

17 Pentecost/Year B Sermon/September 15, 2024 - Rev Julie Platson

Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 116:1-8; James 3:1-12; Mark 8:27-38

 

Opening Prayer: ~ posted on The Minor Keys, adapted

Holy One of Blessing, give us open hearts and open hands.

Make us eager to hear your voice and seek your guidance.

Open our minds to your ever-present spirit that is always moving within and around us. Open our spirits to your nudging and open our lives to your love. Amen

 

We continue this week with a reading from James (5 weeks of James) …he continues to speak to us about our words and actions…This time, he speaks about the power of our tongue and our words... He points out the discrepancy that is sometimes there, between our words and our actions…We say we love God and our neighbor, we say we want to follow in the footsteps of Jesus…but oh, how often, that tongue of ours, reacts and speaks too soon…and oh, how we regret what we have just blurted out….words that have nothing to do with loving God or our neighbor…

Sometimes, it’s quite obvious, when we react to someone negatively….but at other times, the tongue can be used to hurt others in the quiet conversations that take place behind closed doors…or in the whispers between two persons on the other side of the room….or in the e-mails or texts that get sent off in a fury….The tongue, our words, are so strong, powerful…and they can crush one’s spirit with one word…one word uttered in anger…one word belted out in a moment of impatience…one word spoken in ignorance…

James tells his listeners in today’s reading…From the same mouth come blessing and cursing…

James tells us, the tongue is not just capable of cursing and damaging one’s spirit, … the best part is, is that it is capable of something so much better! It can be used for blessing, for encouraging and advocating for one another, for forgiveness, for speaking words of hope and healing…

Blessing others with the use of words that we would hear if we were following in the footsteps of Jesus, walking with Jesus, and eavesdropping on his teachings and conversations with others, words we would speak that reveal our love for God and for our neighbor…words that reveal that it is indeed God’s Holy Spirit directing, informing and guiding us…Words that speak of love, patience, understanding, compassion, tolerance, forgiveness – words that seek to build up and bring persons together, as one, in God’s family….Words, that if used in this way, could set a whole forest on fire, a whole community of people, ablaze with the love of God, to build up his beloved community here and now. That is indeed good news!

It’s tough, though…we are human beings…we make mistakes, many mistakes…yet we have the opportunity to learn from them throughout our lives…we most likely set out to say and do the right thing …probably try real hard to use our tongues for blessing not cursing…But it’s hard. Our words, what comes out of our mouths at times, and our intentions don’t always line up. But this isn’t about beating ourselves up over it or judging ourselves and others. It’s about taking a stand once again, choosing to start anew, over and over again, to embark on a new direction, with hope and faith in following and walking with Jesus Christ…a way of life of walking in the way of love, that calls us, as the psalmist describes today:  to walk in the presence of the Lord, in the land of the living.

Perhaps that’s what one of the things Jesus is talking about when he speaks to the crowd and the disciples about taking up their cross and following him.

In the reading from Mark today, Jesus called the crowd with the disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.”

It’s not always an easy choice to say or do the right and most loving thing…we often want to say the popular thing, we want to say things that build us up, we may want to say certain things because we don’t want others to know that we are fearful about something, we don’t want to be portrayed as the underdog or the weak one. It’s hard - we use our words in these situations that curse others because we are reacting, trying to save our life - we don’t want to lose our life, or our reputation.

But, Jesus tells us – that’s exactly what we have to do – we have to give up our “so-called” life, the worldly life of expectations – our ego, our self-importance, our need to be right, our need to be in control, our need to be always strong. And as we do that, we gain life, abundant life, kingdom life – where all are welcomed, where all belong, where all are loved and blessed by God.

There’s an old Cherokee Legend that some of you are probably familiar with…

An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy.

"It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego." He continued, "The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed.”

So, this gives an opportunity to pause and ask ourselves: Which one are we feeding these days? The one that will enable us to speak words of blessing or the one that will cause us to speak words of cursing?

Which one are you following? Are you striving to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, the one whose life speaks boldly of abundant blessings and life? Or are you being led astray by “setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”, as Jesus tells Peter in today’s gospel reading. 

As we prepare to begin a new day, a new week….

Let us seek to walk, together, in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living….by taking up our cross, following in the footsteps of Jesus by striving to love others and bless others, as we have been so loved and blessed; and let our hope and faith in Jesus Christ lead us and guide us in choosing words (and actions) that proclaim the love and blessing of God…for all people and for all of creation.

 

Closing Prayer/Hymn: May the Good Lord Bless & Keep You (Meredith Willson)

May the Good Lord bless and keep you whether near or far away
May you find that long awaited golden day today

May your troubles all be small ones and your fortune ten times ten
May the Good Lord bless and keep you till we meet again

May you walk with the sunlight shining and a blue bird in every tree
May there be silver lining back of every cloud you see.

Fill your dreams with sweet tomorrows, never mind what might have been, May the Good Lord bless and keep you till we meet again, May the Good Lord bless and keep you till we meet again.



The bread that satisfies our deepest hungers and longings in our hearts. - Aug 25 sermon

14 Pentecost/Year B Sermon/Aug 25, 2024 - Rev Julie Platson

Joshua 24:1-2a,14-18; Psalm 34:15-22; Ephesians 6:10-20; John 6:56-69

 

Opening Prayer:

God of Israel old and new, write in our hearts the lessons of your law; prepare our minds to receive the gospel made visible in your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.

The past five weeks, we have been journeying through a portion of the gospel of John, and listening to a series of Jesus’ teachings on bread, and his passion to help his listeners and followers come to believe that he is the One they’ve been waiting for, longing for, the true bread that can finally satisfy their deepest hungers for themselves and the community among them; the One they’ve been waiting for, longing for, who can finally satisfy their longing in their hearts for justice, for freedom, for mercy, for wisdom, for courage, for comfort in times of sorrow and grief, for healing, for wholeness, for new life, for belonging, for love…for the love of God, made visible to us in Jesus Christ.

Let me give you a re-cap on Jesus’ teachings from the gospel of John these past several weeks…

I think back to week one (John 6:1-21)…with the feeding of the five thousand with five barley loaves and 2 fish and his disciples questioning how it would be possible to feed so many with just 5 barley loaves and 2 fish…When Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.”

Week two (John 6:24-35): Jesus continues with these words, after the feeding of the five thousand...telling them that he IS the bread of life and whoever comes to believe in him will never be hungry or thirsty… “Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

Week three (John 6:35, 41-51): More doubts and questions arise for the Jewish leaders among them, questioning Jesus saying “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”… because they knew him as the son of Joseph and knew his mother, too… Jesus goes on to tell them in that gospel passage that week: “I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

Week four (John 6:51-58): Jesus’ teachings seem to become much more difficult to comprehend… the Jewish leaders were said to be disputing among themselves…  “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So, Jesus attempts to unpack this question for them, “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me.” Jesus makes it completely clear now, right?????

This brings us to today, on week 5 of the bread of life teaching (John 6:56-69)…in the synagogue in Capernaum. Jesus’ disciples say it plainly and probably speak for most of today too as we’ve listened to Jesus’ words today and the past few weeks… “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it? Jesus responds by asking them, Does this offend you?  Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? He goes on to try and help them understand the difficult teachings through another lens of interpreting his words and coming to believe that he is the One that they have been longing for, waiting for…“It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

We heard in the conclusion of today’s gospel, that many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So, Jesus turns to the disciples still there and asks them… “Do you also wish to go away?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

As we come to the end of this five-week teaching series…where do you stand today? What have you come to believe? What are you still trying to make sense of in these gospel readings the past several weeks? Perhaps you are struggling with what to believe? About God, about Jesus, about what is possible when you can’t quite imagine that there truly is a way forward? Why not find someone to sit down with and process through these scripture passages further…together…

Are you in the midst of some difficult transitions or circumstances of your own? Or your loved ones? Trying to make sense of your own suffering or the widespread sufferings and injustices you are aware of in our community and worldwide? Why not find a friend in grief to sit down with to support one another.

When you close your eyes at night and when you anticipate the coming of a new day - What are you longing for? What are you hoping for? Why not meet up with someone to share your concerns…your longings and your hopes…

Will you turn away from what’s difficult…or will you turn once again to receive the gospel, the good news made visible to us in Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life, and allow His Words of spirit and life to satisfy your deepest hungers and longings in your heart…

Throughout our lifetime, we will all be faced with difficult circumstances and challenging transitions, unanswerable questions, longings that we don’t think could ever be satisfied.

Yet, this isn’t a solo journey we are on in life. We are meant to be in community and in relationship with one another.

With Jesus, the bread of life, at the center of all our prayers, our gatherings with one another, we can be nourished, fed, comforted, uplifted, and encouraged to keep on striving to love one another and care for one another in such a way…that we truly come to believe and understand that we are not alone…our prayers are heard…and all of our deep hungers and longings in our hearts can be satisfied, through the love of God, made visible to us in Jesus Christ, and by the power and inspiration of the Holy Spirit that unites us together in this lifetime, and for eternity.

Today, and every morning anew, we are invited to make a choice. Will we choose to turn away from all the difficulties that threaten to overcome us? Or will we lean into them and choose hope, by turning again and again, to walk with Jesus in the way of love that nourishes us with the true bread of life that can satisfy our deepest hungers and longings in our hearts. May it be so.

 

 

Closing Prayer/Hymn: There is a longing in our hearts, O Lord

 

                  There is a longing in our hearts, O Lord,

                   for you to reveal yourself to us.

                   There is a longing in our hearts for love

                   we only find in you, our God.

 

 

1        For justice, for freedom,

          for mercy: hear our prayer.

          In sorrow, in grief:

          be near, hear our prayer, O God. Refrain

 

2        For wisdom, for courage,

          for comfort: hear our prayer.

          In weakness, in fear:

          be near, hear our prayer, O God. Refrain

 

3        For healing, for wholeness,

          for new life: hear our prayer.

          In sickness, in death:

          be near, hear our prayer, O God. Refrain

 

4        Lord save us, take pity,

          light in our darkness.

          We call you, we wait:

          be near, hear our prayer, O God. Refrain

An invitation to Taste and See - Aug 11 sermon reflection

12 Pentecost/Year B Sermon/Aug 11, 2024 - Rev Julie Platson

1 Kings 19:4-8; Psalm 34:1-8; Ephesians 4:25-5:2; John 6: 35, 41-51

 

Opening Prayer:

Almighty God, your Son Jesus Christ

fed the hungry with the bread of his life and the word of his kingdom.

Renew your people with your heavenly grace, and in all our weakness

sustain us by the true and living bread, Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

—posted on The Church of Scotland’s Starters for Sunday website.

 

We’ve been talking about Jesus and bread for the past three weeks. And for two more weeks, we will still be on the topic of Jesus and bread. Makes one wonder – why five weeks talking about bread? What’s so important about something so basic as bread?

To those of us, who appear to have their daily needs met, by always having food to eat, having a roof over our head, a pillow to lay our heads down at night, work that is meaningful, family life that is good, health that is robust…something as basic as bread, may not enter our minds too often.

So, perhaps five weeks talking about something as basic as bread is calling our attention to someone else. Maybe we are being nudged to consider that for many among us, in our communities and outside of our church, something as basic as bread, has a whole different meaning for them.

There are those who experience hunger are all around us, from all walks of life, and all ages - these are all people, who are all beloved children of God…They all have a story to tell…ones that perhaps we need to pay more attention to and listen more closely to.

Jesus is concerned about everyone’s story: your story, my story, people living in poverty’s story, children going to bed hungry and waking up hungry – their story; he’s concerned about the farmers in rural communities; he wants to hear the story of the working poor in our urban communities; he wants to hear from the women and girls who account for over 60 percent of the world’s hungry; he’s concerned about the seniors, who are often overlooked and go hungry in isolation.

And we are called, as Jesus reminds us often, to be concerned about our neighbors’ story, especially the hungry among us. Hungry for food, hungry for belonging, hungry for love, hungry for respect and compassion and understanding of their needs.

I think back to our first reading today from 1st Kings…and wonder how many of us or those we identify as experiencing hunger, have ever been in that place of deep despair as Elijah was – at the point of giving up and not feeling like he could go on? And then to have an angel of the Lord come and nudge him to get up and eat...and be strengthened for the journey…It was an angel of the Lord, who shared the bread of life with Elijah.

I wonder how many people among us, that you are aware of, are often at this point of giving up? Whether it’s from physical hunger, or dealing with chronic illness, health issues, family issues, struggling to pay rent, or put food on the table for their families? How many would be encouraged to go on, if only an “angel of the Lord”, someone who looked like you or I, showed up and shared the bread of life, the Good News of God, in Christ? Someone who uses their words to build up and encourage, to be kind and tenderhearted towards one another…

I am thankful for all the ways, that there are angels and messengers of hope that walk among us now through the various ways we are working with the hungry among us here in Sitka, through our weekly manna meal offering in collaboration with other Sitka churches, collecting lakeside receipts to help fund some of our outreach ministries, collecting non-perishable foods, partnering with the Sitka Homeless Coalition. On a national level, Episcopal Relief and Development donations help with various life-giving resources to encourage communities at risk worldwide establish their own ways of addressing the extreme poverty in their areas. Bread for the World is another world-wide organization that addresses poverty and hunger through advocacy efforts to address the ongoing systemic practices that contribute to the ongoing barriers that trap people in a cycle of poverty and hunger.

So, yes, the past few weeks, Jesus has been talking about bread, but not necessarily only about bread in regard to our physical nourishment which we often associate hunger with. Addressing hunger and poverty, as you can see in the examples of these different types of outreach efforts that are working on hunger and poverty issues that I just mentioned, is not only about putting a meal on someone’s table. It’s about learning to live together in love with one another and learning from one another, listening to one another, in such a way that brings about healing and wellness and fullness of life for all of God’s people.

Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

Jesus is talking about believing in Him, the bread of life, that is broken, blessed and shared at the table of God’s kingdom, a banquet to which all are invited.

When was the last time you thought about inviting or welcoming the poor and hungry among you to the table and banquet of God’s love? When was the last time you stopped to consider for a moment that there might be people among us, in our communities and outside of our church, that are hungry for the Good News of God, in Christ?  

There might be someone among us that is longing to hear your Good News story, your witness…that yes, the Lord is good. There might be someone among us who is longing to share their story with you, their sorrows, their hopes?

This week, I encourage you to consider, how you, in this time and season of your lives, are being called to be an angel of the Lord to someone who is hungry for food, hungry for belonging, hungry for love, hungry for respect and compassion and understanding of their needs.

Invite them to come, taste and see that the Lord is good.

 

Closing Prayer/Hymn:

Taste and see.

Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

O Taste and see.

Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

 

 

Closing Benediction

May the love of God which gives life to the world, sustain you;

May the bread of life, Jesus Christ, feed you with the food that endures to eternal life;

May the power of the Holy Spirit nourish and strengthen you in faith.

~ written by Moira Laidlaw, and posted on Liturgies Online.  http://www.liturgiesonline.com.au/

 

Prayer and expecting miracles - Sunday sermon

10 Pentecost Year B

7/28/2024

2 Kings 4:42-44; Psalm 145:10-19; Ephesians 3:14-21; John 6:1-21

 

Opening Prayer: (adapted from a Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals)

Lord, grant us the ability to think with your mind, to hear with your ears, to see with your eyes, to speak with your mouth, to walk with your feet, to love with your heart…so that we can be strengthened to transform our world with your abundant love and blessings, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Have you ever heard the phrase, “be careful what you pray for?”…or how about the “Prayer of Jabez” book series that was released over 20 years ago? Millions of books in this series were sold about the power of praying this prayer from 1st Chronicles which is this: Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from hurt and harm!” And God granted what he asked.

We might say to ourselves…surely, I am not afraid to pray for miracles, or to pray for more abundance in my life and the life of those we know and love. But, might we be just a little afraid, just a little hesitant at times if our prayers really did get answered? I’m not talking about the ones when we are asking for healing and comfort for others or the ones when we are praying for those celebrating birthdays or wedding anniversaries… but the ones that would call us out of our comfort zones, the ones that would ask us to be agents of change and instruments of God’s healing and peace in time of such division and chaos…

I think of some of the prayers in our book of common prayer (ones that we don’t regularly hear on Sunday mornings)…and how praying them, and really believing in the outcome…could leave us feeling a little uneasy of the potential outcome…I’m especially thinking of the ones that speak to some potential big changes in our own personal lives… the prayers that are spoken that would invoke a change needed in us or a call to action by us.

For example: The prayer for Social Justice
Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart [and especially the hearts of the people of this land], that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace;through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

What would our world look like, if we believed in this holy and life giving Spirit of God to move our hearts to break down the barriers which divide us, to move our hearts to hate no more, and to truly live as one people – with justice and peace for all. It would take a lot of work and collaboration on behalf of all of us. It would require some radical love and imagination to envision and work towards a world in which this would ever be possible.

What about this prayer: The prayer for the Oppressed
Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

This prayer is loaded with a call to action. This would mean facing the people who live on the margins, the ones who are often forgotten, ignored, the ones who live with terror in their lives every day, who deal with death and disease as an everyday occurrence. This would mean acknowledging and reckoning with our part in being cruel to our neighbors, directly or indirectly…And striving to work together to live into God’s dream of beloved community…a community that no longer differentiates between them and us…but truly welcomes and respects the dignity of every human being…

There are so many other prayers you might look to in our book of common prayer section…as other examples of some of the more challenging prayers…For unity of the Church, for peace in our nation, for times of conflict…

Let’s turn to the gospel reading now to help shed some insight and good news to help us with these challenging prayer topics…

 

IN our gospel reading today, Jesus had a large crowd following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples…perhaps hoping once again, for a rest. As they looked up, they saw that the crowd was coming towards them again…and Jesus looked at Philip and asked him, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” Philip answered him, “Six months’ wages would not be enough bread for each of them to get a little.” Philip’s first response was that of fear and scarcity, impossibility and perhaps…why are you asking me? What does this have to do with me? What could I do? I think many of us, would initially react the same way, if we saw 5000 people walking towards us, and then having someone asks us to feed them…

Then, we have Andrew speak up, “there is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish.”

So, at least we have Andrew here suggesting an option – as improbable as it seemed to him, when he asked Jesus “But what are they among so many people?” I imagine Philip and the others rolling their eyes in disbelief at the absurd suggestion Andrew makes.

But, here we come to the point in the story, when Jesus reveals his power to “increase and multiply”. Jesus had the people (all 5000 of them) sit down on the grass, he took the loaves and the fish and gave thanks for them, and then had them distributed among all who were there. They all ate and were satisfied, and there were even leftovers!

Wow! If only miracles like that happened today...wouldn’t that be wonderful?

What if I suggested to you, that perhaps miracles like that are still possible today? Would you look at me strangely and wonder, what?

I go back to my initial thoughts at the start of my sermon – about praying for miracles and abundance…I think about our hesitancy in praying for miracles as we contemplate the implications in our lives if we really believed in the power of prayer…especially those challenging prayers!

We gather together to pray weekly…we use prayers from our “Book of Common Prayer”, we offer free intercessions and thanksgivings, we give thanks and break bread together every week, in remembrance of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Prayer is an important part of our faith traditions.

Prayer has the power to change lives. Do we really believe that when we recite our prayers every week?

Have you ever noticed that we end most of our prayers with “through Jesus Christ our Lord”?

I think that’s important to notice… because the power in our prayers, to change lives, to perform miracles, to increase and multiply, and to bless, is through the power of God, made known to us in Jesus Christ. (not by any strength or power of our ow

It is through the power of God, in the presence of Jesus that any loving action we are called to share and do with our hands and our feet and with our hearts will be multiplied beyond our imagining to transform our world and bring about miraculous healing and an abundant and joyful life for all God’s people…

So, don’t be hesitant or afraid or careful what you pray for:

Pray that you may strengthened in your inner being with power through God’s Holy Spirit, Pray that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, pray that you may have the power to comprehend what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

 

Closing Prayer/Hymn: Hear Our Prayer, O Lord   - Lift Every Voice and Sing II, #249

Hear our prayer, O Lord, hear our prayer, O Lord;

Incline thine ear to us, and grant us thy peace.

Words: George Whelpton (1847-1930). Music: George Whelpton.


Rev. Julie Platson

St. Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church

Sitka, Alaska

 ***Photo by Michelle Kavouras

July 21 - rest awhile - Today's sermon reflection

9 Pentecost/Year B – July 21, 2024

Jeremiah 23:1-6; Psalm 23; Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

 

Opening Prayer: (adapted from a Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals)

Lord, grant us the ability to think with your mind, to hear with your ears, to see with your eyes, to speak with your mouth, to walk with your feet, to love with your heart…so that we too can be compassionate instruments of your healing for those around us and for ourselves.  We ask this through Jesus Christ, our loving and compassionate Shepherd of our souls. Amen.

It is so good to be with all of you today. It’s been quite a few weeks for Loyd and I with travelling long-distance for the general convention, and for another long-distance trip for a shorter trip to visit with family. It’s been quite a couple of months, for all of us here, with the death of 4 St Peter’s related loved ones…as well as several beloved community member deaths. It’s been quite a year, looking back on others who have been affected by the loss of their close loved ones, and for those struggling with ongoing health issues this past year.

All of this, mixed in with the collective grief and division that is playing out across the world…is a lot to bear…is a lot to comprehend…is a lot to even know where to begin… and so we are often left to wonder if there’s anything we can do to help ease the pain and the worries of so many folks, or if there is really any possibility of hope to restore peace in the lives of those that continue to be shattered by violence of every kind.

The good news is yes…there is hope…healing is possible, peace can be restored in our hearts and in the lives of all God’s people…

Yes, to all of this…when we strive to set aside time on a regular basis, to rest awhile with Jesus. Not just learn from him, and follow him in going out to offer healing to others…but to set aside time to just be with him and let the healing grace of his love and compassion heal our grieving hearts, soothe our worries, and remind us…that we don’t walk alone in this world…and we weren’t created to live in such a way…

We were created to live in love with God and one another…so this also means continually discerning ways to ensure that all people have this same opportunity to rest awhile in the presence of a loving and compassionate Shepherd for all of our souls…

We live in such a time, where a lot of folks think we can just fix everything that is broken quickly or even worse…just set aside our grief, bury it, and just keep on keeping on…Yet that’s not how true healing can ever happen…

In the gospel reading today Jesus invites the apostle’s to come away with him to rest for a awhile…and yes, after a very short time…they were approached by those who needed healing once again…and this pattern comes up throughout the gospels, with Jesus modeling a time to set aside for prayer, to draw on the strength and Spirit of God, to be able to go out and attend to the ongoing needs of the world…

Yet, even though there will always be interruptions…the key to restoring our souls for the work we are being called to do, is in our returning over and over again to a time of rest by the still waters…

So, striving to balance time to be with Jesus, and time to be like Jesus in how we go about bringing true healing to our collective lives…is a life-long way of love, walking in this world with one another…not just something we commit to for a day, a week, a month, a year…

The good news in Psalm 23, which is an excellent daily prayer to use, reminds us that God’s goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives…and that we will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.   

So, let us pause today, and use this time to be with Jesus and pray for healing for ourselves and all of God’s people…

I will offer up a closing prayer using the words of a hymn entitled “Heal me, hands of Jesus”, and as I’m playing the music to these words, I invite you to go to the baptismal font for a short prayer of healing and anointing with oil by Mim and Nancy Jo.

 

Let us pray:

Closing Prayer/Hymn: (WLP) 733 - Heal me, hands of Jesus

 

1        Heal me, hands of Jesus,

                   and search out all my pain:

          restore my hope, remove my fear

                   and bring me peace again.

 

2        Cleanse me, blood of Jesus,

                   take bitterness away;

          let me forgive as one forgiven

                   and bring me peace today.

 

3        Know me, mind of Jesus,

                   and show me all my sin;

          dispel the memories of guilt,

                   and bring me peace within.

 

4        Fill me, joy of Jesus:

                   anxiety shall cease

          and heaven’s serenity be mine,

                   or Jesus brings me peace!

 

Heal me, hands of Jesus, #773 from Wonder Love and Praise — Words: Michael Perry. Music: Sharpe, Carl Haywood (b. 1949), from Tunes for Grace.

 

 

 

Rev Julie Platson

St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church

Sunday Sermon - St Peter's by the Sea - July 14 2024

Today’s sermon by Chip Camden - July 14, 2024

Readings: Amos 7:7-15; Psalm 85:8-13; Mark 6:14-29

Our lesson from the Book of Amos today begins with a vision:  Amos sees the Lord standing by a wall with a plumb line in his hand.  A plumb line is a cord with a weight suspended at the end of it used to form a true vertical by which to align an upright wall.  We are told that the wall in the vision is a "plumb wall" -- a wall that was made with a plumb line.  In the vision, the wall represents the nation of Israel, and the Lord will set a plumb line in their midst, to see if they are still upright.

This passage follows visions of two disasters: locusts and fire, both of which are threatened as judgment for Israel's sins, but in both cases Amos pleads for mercy and the Lord grants it.  With this third vision, however, the Lord says, "I will not pass by them any more."  The truth revealed by the plumb line will not be ignored.

Interestingly, the plumb line will be set "in the midst" of the people of Israel.  Normally one expects a plumb line to be held alongside a wall, but here the metaphor breaks down.  The Hebrew word for “midst” (קרב, qerebh) is often used for internal organs of a person or an animal.  Applied to the nation, it indicates that this measure of the people will come from within.

Next follows an interesting scene in which Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, first complains to Jeroboam (the king of Israel) about Amos, and then confronts Amos directly.  Amaziah warns the king that Amos is conspiring against him in the center of the house of Israel.  The word translated "center" in our reading is again the Hebrew word qerebh, and I believe that it is used here specifically to indicate that Amos’ message is the plumb line of the vision immediately preceding.

The job of the prophet is to uphold the truth in the midst of a people who have embraced falsehood.  But Amaziah seeks to trivialize Amos' message by casting it as nothing more than partisan politics.  Some background will help make this clear.

At this period (the eighth century BC), there were two Israelite kingdoms.  According to the received history, the northern tribes had split from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin after the death of Solomon, almost two centuries before our current narrative.  This northern kingdom was often called Israel, while the southern kingdom was called Judah.  Because worship of Yahweh had been (again, according to the received tradition) centralized in Jerusalem, the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel supposedly established the worship centers at Bethel and Dan, at either end of that kingdom.  The southern kingdom of Judah considered these sites to be illegitimate, and thus a religious schism overlaid the political division.

The office of prophet had also become politicized.  The "sons of the prophets" were essentially a guild supported by the state to act as advisers to the throne in matters both religious and political.  The story of the prophets who advised Ahab to go to war against Ramoth Gilead in I Kings 22 illustrates this role, as well as clearly indicating how political self-interest could cloud the vision of the professional prophets.

Amaziah presumptively accuses Amos of being just such a seer from the south with a political agenda to discredit the northern kingdom.  He says, "O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, earn your bread there, and prophesy there; but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king's sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom."

Amos replies that he isn't a professional prophet at all. "I am no prophet, nor a prophet's son; but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees, and the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, 'Go, prophesy to my people Israel."  Amos does not represent any political faction, but instead is called by God to speak truth to power.

What exactly has Israel done that merits Amos' message of doom?  The accusations are many, but a good sample can be found in Amos 2:6-7, "...because they have sold the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; they trample on the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and deny justice to the oppressed."  In other words, money and power had become more important than justice and compassion. 

Friends, our nation is in grave danger of falling under the same condemnation today.

The prophet does not predict an unconditional future.  As William Maccall wrote in 1852, prophets are “forthtellers, not foretellers” – they warn of what will happen if things continue on their current course, but they also hold out hope of respite if their audience will listen and change their ways.  Amos, in chapter 5 verse 6 says “Seek the LORD and you will live, lest he break out like a fire in the house of Joseph, and there be no one to quench it in Bethel.”  There is still time to measure up to that plumb line, but time is running out.

John the Baptist was another prophetic plumb line for his time, and because he spoke the truth to power he paid for it with his life.  Even though Herod believed that John was righteous, and even though he tried to protect John and enjoyed listening to him speak despite the difficulties raised by his message, Herod was unable or unwilling to save John from the machinations of those who did not want that message to be heard.  

Unlike the false prophets who told Ahab what he wanted to hear, Amos and John and many other true prophets risked their lives and property to tell the truth, hoping to avert disaster for others.  We can learn much from their examples.  When we hear exhortations that favor a comfortable situation for the speaker, we should doubt its prophetic origin.  When we hear messages that make us comfortable with the way things are, we should look out for the wool being pulled over our eyes.  When we see injustice and decide to keep quiet, we should ask ourselves if we are quenching the spirit of prophecy within us.  The path of life is a path of growth and transformation, not a path of ease and comfort.  "Narrow is the gate, and difficult is the way that leads to life," Jesus said.  May we heed the prophetic voices that call us on that path.


July 7 2024 Sermon - Christ has no body but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours

7 Pentecost/Year B – July 7, 2024

Ezekiel 2:1-5; Psalm 123; Mark 6:1-13

Opening Prayer:

O Lord of light and vision, open our eyes to behold your presence, to perceive your love and to see your purpose for us; that rejoicing in your presence and strengthened by your love we may do your will and become what you have called us to be; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen

 

In the opening verses from our gospel reading today, we hear that the people were astounded by Jesus’ teachings in the synagogue. They were initially amazed and shocked all at once by what they were hearing and by whom they were hearing it from.

When was the last time you were astounded by something? I mean…really amazed and shocked by something so unbelievably wonderful… Something too good to be true? In a time when the world is feeling very heavy for so many people, I have a feeling that quite a few of us gathered here might have to think on that question for a minute.

Oftentimes, despair creeps up on us and threatens to crush our spirits, and dulls our receptivity of anything amazing and wonderful. And often times, it seems the more knowledge we acquire, and the more experiences we have in life…. the amazing and wonder factor in our spirits can often be dimmed…we tend to default on the side of not being “wowed or shocked” by anything anymore.

Children, on the other hand…seem to be the experts at being amazed, especially toddlers. I think about the non-stop energy they have, and how often they jump from one activity to the next, never tiring of the discovery of something new.

And they don’t seem to be satisfied with just one or two amazing things…they want more…and they will keep looking, keep searching, until their eyes can no longer stay open.

Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.(Matthew 18:3)

As disciples and followers of Christ…what lessons could we learn again, by “becoming like children?”

Perhaps, we begin with allowing ourselves to be amazed and astounded…and not “think” ourselves out of it. Adopt some spiritual practices that help us find peace and comfort in the midst of your sorrows or despair. Make room in our hearts to be amazed and be astounded by the Good News shared by Jesus…allow the amazement to lead us to more questions that will lead us to new discoveries….

In the well-known Sunday school curriculum called Godly play... it is suggested to begin a reflection on the scriptures starting with these words: “I wonder”…

In our gospel reading…the disciples were initially amazed by what Jesus was saying, but then they started to question their own response with the explanation that Jesus was “just a carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon…and they took offense at him.

“I wonder” about the disciples’ secondary response had they followed their initial response to Jesus’ words …and allowed their amazement to lead them to consider something new…and acted on that hope... instead of defaulting back to what they already knew…and shut it down as not possible..

“I wonder” if we can open up our minds a little more – to allow ourselves to believe in something new – every day…just as little children are eager and open to all the new experiences in their daily lives…

Perhaps we can learn to pray in a way that we really do believe God hears our prayers, even when things don’t seem to go the way we want them to…maybe we open up our minds a little more to understand that oftentimes, there is so much good that can come out of our times of weakness and suffering…

“I wonder” if we can open up our hearts a little more to allow ourselves to consider just how wide God’s love is for all people, and trust as little children trust in the unconditional love of the people who care for them every day…

“I wonder” if we can imagine opening up our hearts a little wider to love others, as Jesus has loved us and shown us…

And as I imagine this radical and amazing kind of love…I imagine the kind of love that jars us out of our sleepiness, and out of the daily routine of life that dulls our senses, and closes our hearts and minds to the daily miracles and amazing things happening all around us…

I imagine this radical and amazing kind of love that can help us hear God’s Word, and be transformed by it…and to be inspired to go where God is calling us to go to love and serve one another, rejoicing in the power of the One who sends us out…Jesus.

Jesus tells us…you don’t need anything else…no bread, no bag, no money…just go…you have what you need to plant the seeds of love in every heart of every person you meet along the way. Even when those seem to turn you away, you have done as Jesus has asked…you have reached out to the people with love…you may be the one person that day who touches a person’s life that moves them from despair to hope…

Jesus has the power to do amazing things in this world. But he needs our hands, our feet, our hearts, our God-given gifts to go out into the world to share this amazing love of God with the world…

Go to the ones that are hungry, go to the ones that are lonely, go to the ones that are hurting, go to the ones who are not often seen or acknowledged, go to the ones whom we disagree with, go to the ones who need to hear the good news! (That would be all of us!)

Teresa of Avila (1515–1582) gives us some beautiful words to remind us that it is through our hands and feet and hearts now that the amazing and wondrous love of God made known to us in Jesus, can help us heal and transform the world, to be a place of welcome and belonging for all God’s people.

Christ has no body but yours,

No hands, no feet on earth but yours,

Yours are the eyes with which he looks

Compassion on this world,

Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,

Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.

Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,

Yours are the eyes, you are his body.

Christ has no body now but yours,

No hands, no feet on earth but yours,

Yours are the eyes with which he looks

compassion on this world.

Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

 

Rev Julie Platson

St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church

Closing Prayer/Hymn: Love astounding (VF 143)

1        Love astounding, love confounding

          limits fearful minds impose.

          love renewing, love pursuing

          every heart until it knows

          love’s transforming, healing goodness,

          love’s abiding, gentle grace,

          love’s endurance, love’s assurance,

          love’s consoling, strong embrace.

 

2        Love receiving, love believing,

          we rejoice with thanks and song,

          faith regaining, hope proclaiming;

          love has taught us, we belong

          safe within love’s tender keeping,

          safe from fear’s persistent call.

          Love defending, love unending,

          love of God enfolding all.

 

When in our music God is glorified - Sunday reflection

4 Pentecost Year B/6/16/24

Ezekiel 17:22-24; Psalm 92:1-4, 11-14; 2 Corinthians 5:6-17; Mark 4:26-34

 

Opening Prayer: For Church Musicians and Artists

O God, whom saints and angels delight to worship in heaven: Be ever present with your servants who seek through art and music to perfect the praises offered by your people on earth; and grant to them even now glimpses of your beauty, and make them worthy at length to behold it unveiled for evermore; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The psalm we heard today, psalm 92, often has a sub-title under the heading in the bible versions – The sub-title reads:  A psalm. A Song for the Sabbath Day. According to a commentary that I reviewed this week, this psalm, is the only one that specifically makes reference to the Sabbath Day. So, it is a good and joyful occasion that we read this psalm today.

This psalm: This song for the Sabbath day, is full of words proclaiming boldly: thanksgiving, praise, loving-kindness, faithfulness, music, joy, gladness, righteousness, growth, steadfastness…..it reminds us of the abundant fruits of the Spirit, the fruits of God’s Kingdom, as they have been described in Paul’s letter to the Galatians 5:22-23 as: “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

The Sabbath Day is set aside to celebrate and proclaim the abundant fruits of God’s kingdom - His work, and his creation! We do this as we join together on Sundays as a community of God’s beloved, to “remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8). We do this with our liturgy, the work of the people, by coming together to pray, praise and give thanks for the goodness of God.

And one of the most wonderful ways we glorify and give thanks to God, is in our music.

St Peter’s has a rich history of glorifying God with its music. We have been blessed beyond measure by those who have shared their musical talents with the people who have gathered here, over the years…those who have played the organ, piano, violin, and other instruments…and those who have sung their hearts out…they have truly used the gifts God has given them, to uplift all of us, to rejoice, to renew our lives, and to give thanks to God, for his Son, Jesus Christ.

I am very grateful to St Peter’s choir for all the ways they are helping to keep the music alive in this time together. They’ve had to adjust how they go about leading us all in the service music without a full time organist/pianist to guide them. And I think back to our time of covid, too…when they got together to record hymns to use for our weekly online services when we were unable to worship in person.

The music in our Sunday services and in our daily lives has a way of encouraging us to walk by faith, not by sight. Music has a way of uniting us in understanding, beyond the barriers of language, or culture. Music has a way of calling us up and out of the depths of grief and suffering. Music has a way of creating something new…when we don’t quite see the way, yet. It calms, it comforts, it encourages and uplifts us, into new life.  And so it is with Jesus Christ: For if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see everything has become new! 

It is often in our music, that we can see God at his best, in the ways in which music can create in us, new life. As we reflect on the different styles of music over the years, the new creations never cease. If you had the chance to attend the Sitka Summer Music festival this past week/weekend, you would understand what I mean about new creations in music. The Simply Three Trio was described in the program as (Classically Trained. Pop Influenced. String Driven). The piano player, Matt Herskowitz this weekend, breathed new life into some Chopin pieces, with jazz arrangements. Most likely a new creation beyond anything that Chopin would have imagined in his day.

As I looked around the room, while enjoying the concert, just about everyone there had a smile on their face. The energy was so uplifting, and you couldn’t help but be moved in some way.

If you ever check out any of the music programs offered through the Sitka Fine Arts Camp and throughout the year in our schools, you can see signs of new life and new creations in all the music lifted up for us to enjoy.

The different ways in which music is shared and enjoyed, seems to be ongoing… there always seems to be the creating of a new masterpiece, in the works. That’s what God’s kingdom is like. He is always creating, renewing and providing for us, all that we ever need.  New seeds are scattered every day by us. He uses us to tend to his kingdom, to take care of each other, and to allow his work of creating new life, in us…to come to fruition…

But then, he says to us, after many days of working and creating… I’ve done all of this for you…sit for a moment….be still…be quiet…take a look, listen, enjoy…

 2 And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation. (Genesis 2:2-3)

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8).

For it is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to His Name….Psalm 92:1

 

 

Closing Hymn/Prayer: When in our music God is glorified

My Heart Sings Out, #140 – vs 1,2,5

Music: Mayflower, Marty Haugen (b. 1950

 

1        When in our music God is glorified,

          and adoration leaves no room for pride,

          it is as though the whole creation cried:

          Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

 

2        How often, making music, we have found

          a new dimension in the world of sound,

          as worship moved us to a more profound

          Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

 

5        Let every instrument be tuned for praise!

          Let all rejoice who have a voice to raise!

          And may God give us faith to sing always:

          Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

 

 

 

Rev. Julie Platson

St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church

Sitka, Alaska