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Sunday, August 30, 2020 || 13th Sunday After Pentecost Pastor Christy Wright We invite you to light a candle at 9 AM and join us in prayer, ONLINE or over the PHONE only this week. Audio worship is also available at (978) 990-5000, access code 719365#. Just dial in, enter the access code on your keypad, and you will hear the service begin with music. Scripture Reading Ezekiel 37:1-14 The hand of the Lord came upon me, and God brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. God led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. God said to me, “Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O Lord God, You know.” Then God said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you and you shall live. I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord.” So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. Then God said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.” I prophesied as God commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude. Then God said to me, “Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.’ Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act, says the Lord.” Sermon Last week, we started a new four-part sermon series called Re-Creation, exploring new spiritual practices that lead us toward deeper relationship with God and one another. We shared in communion as we remembered Jesus’ abundance in providing a sacred meal for his disciples in the midst of scarcity. This week, we will be exploring how God transforms death into new life, life that is prosperous and hopeful even in the darkest of valleys, through the practice of Lectio Divina, which will follow our message. A month or so ago, my dad was cleaning up the yard, collecting branches and fallen limbs that had come down during the tropical storm. Some limbs were large enough that he needed to fire up the chainsaw to break them down into smaller, more manageable pieces. But as he stood in the garage, continuously pulling the cord to start the machine, he realized he had a larger project on his hands: his chainsaw wouldn’t start. He examined and checked and double-checked all of the settings and eventually took the whole thing apart, grasping at straws to figure out what was going on. He Googled and YouTubed, attempting to find a solution, or at least something to try as he troubleshooted. Finally, he noticed that one of the switches was loose and kept slipping out of its slot - it was apt to misalign itself in regular wear and tear and prevent the chainsaw from starting. Elated and hopeful, he carefully zip-tied the lever to its designated place, held his breath, and pulled the cord. At the time, Mom and I were talking in the living room while he worked, and when we heard the tell-tale acceleration of the engine, we knew Dad was victorious. A once inert and silent machine was now rumbling with life, and our branch-strewn front yard would soon be cleared to make room for Mom’s new plants and flowering trees. In this week’s scripture reading, we hear of a bleak, lifeless, and silent reality; God has led Ezekiel into a dark valley filled with dry bones. Just that phrase gives us an idea of the magnitude of the emptiness and spooky stillness of this place. The writer doesn’t shy away from the reality: it is named and owned, not brushed by or trivialized. As a church, we may find ourselves in this valley. We may be in an extended time of mourning and grief, perhaps even for years. We have lost too many beloved members far too soon. We have had to say goodbye to beloved pastors far too frequently. We have struggled financially for years, and our fears have been compounded by the uncertainty of our future. And now, we are seemingly ungrounded and unmoored, unsure of how to be the church when we can’t regularly meet in the middle of a pandemic. The bones in our valley are the driest of dry; we cannot deny it. Ezekiel sees the same reality: an arid and stark environment that is still and lifeless. The possibility of organic growth seems out of the question, even as Ezekiel places that uncertainty in God’s hands with a sigh: “God, You know if life is possible. But I don’t.” God responds by putting the ball back in Ezekiel’s court, encouraging him to speak light and life into the darkness. Encouraged by God’s call, and without hesitation, Ezekiel speaks a new reality into being, and what was once chillingly silent is now rattling with possibility and new energy. The dry bones come together to form a community ready to do God’s work. But suddenly, all is silent again. They are still. They are a static sign of potential movement, and it isn’t until God’s breath enters them that they take action and begin the work of the kingdom come, God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Beloved congregation, God has called us to a new place. The bones in our valley are the driest of dry; we cannot deny it. So we name it. We face it. And as we call it what it is, God walks alongside us and empowers us to take hold of a new future and a new hope: life is possible. There is potential in these dry bones, potential for us to soar as a congregation and be filled with the breath of God who animates our souls for the sake of the world. We don’t hesitate, and we don’t question God’s power: there is life here. So we partner with God in embracing our reality and witnessing and partaking in its transformation. There is life from death; it is God’s gift to us through Jesus’ resurrection, the resurrection we can access each and every day, not just on Easter morning. And so, may we learn to embrace that which is lifeless, knowing that God meets us in our valley of dry bones. May we embrace God’s call to lead our congregation into new life by taking risks, trusting that God’s got us. And may we experience the four winds of God through the Holy Spirit, leading from every direction into the newness of Christ’s resurrection, now and forever. Amen. Spiritual Practice: Lectio Divina I invite you to join in the four steps of Lectio Divina using our scripture passage from this morning: Ezekiel 37:1-14. You can reflect in your mind and heart, or feel free to journal your responses. This practice can also be repeated with other scripture passages, hymns, poems, or pieces of writing that are inspiring and life-giving, and I encourage you to continue to engage with this practice as often as you feel led. 1. Lectio (Read). Mindfully read the passage, noting any themes, phrases, or words that may arise for you. 2. Meditatio (Meditate). Mindfully read the passage again, this time focusing on what stood out to you and what surrounds and frames those themes, phrases, or words. You may also find that you relate to a character or situation in the reading; make a note of this as you read deeper into the passage. 3. Oratio (Respond). In your third reading of the passage, what questions arise for you? How is God speaking to you in this reading? How might you respond as you reflect on your life? 4. Contemplatio (Rest). In the final reading of the passage before us, allow the words to wash over you as you reflect on all you have found during your time with this practice. Upon reading the last sentence, remain in silence for a few minutes as God meets you in this moment. Express gratitude for the love and peace you may have experienced, and slowly come to awareness of your surroundings once more. And now, may the peace of the Lord Christ go with you wherever God may send you; may God guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm; may God bring you home rejoicing at the wonders God has shown you; may God bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
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Stream Audio Worship AboveCovered under ONE LICENSE: #400013-P Re-Creation: Abundance
Sunday, August 23, 2020 || 12th Sunday After Pentecost Pastor Christy Wright We invite you to light a candle at 9 AM and join us in prayer IN-PERSON at Charmil Drive or through audio worship Audio worship, including music, prayers, and the sermon is available through our phoneline at (978) 990-5000, 719365#. Scripture Reading John 21:1-12 After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off. When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. Sermon Last week, we finished up our sermon series on Creation by speaking about the Sabbath day and some practices of journaling and reflection. When we spend time with God through spiritual practices, we learn new ways to connect with the Divine, and often we are met with new peace and comfort, even in the midst of the storms of life. You see, creation isn’t something that just happened ages ago; it is something that happens continuously through God’s love. We are made new each and every day, and our lives are re-created through the transformative power of Jesus’ resurrection. Over the next four weeks, we will be exploring this re-creation through new spiritual practices, where we can find abundance, life from death, joy in Godly play, and understanding in our personal stories as redemptive models of God’s action in the world. Through it all, we know that God is working behind the scenes, and we can take heart in knowing that God’s love knows no bounds. I heard a funny story the other day from an online personality. Several years ago, he went to his parents’ house for vacation, and part-way through his trip, he realized he was gaining weight from his mother’s cooking - as is the norm for a lot of people. One evening, as he was watching TV with his family, he saw an ad for NutriSystem (a weightloss program), and decided on a whim to order the food and get started when he returned home. When he pulled into his driveway, the boxes of food were waiting for him. And as he unpacked from his trip, he realized he was wound up and wouldn’t be able to sleep, so he took a sleep aid. The next morning, he woke up and found that he had eaten "six weeks worth of desserts." He had "gained weight trying to lose weight!" (@thelesliejordan on Instagram) Sometimes, when we see an abundance before us, we are tempted to consume without a second thought. When we have everything we need and more, it’s easy to believe that God is with us, helping us to rest easy and enjoy all that life has to offer. But what about those times when life doesn’t feel quite so abundant? What about those times when God feels distant, or when joyous laughter is scarce? Isn’t it harder to believe that God is with us in those times? In this morning’s scripture reading, we hear of Jesus’ appearance to the disciples following his resurrection. He appears on the shore while his disciples are on the boat fishing, but having no luck. Jesus calls out to them and tells them to cast their nets on the other side of the boat. They don’t recognize him, but they follow his instructions, and it’s a miracle: after a long evening with no fish in sight, the disciples are suddenly so overwhelmed by their catch that they’re not able to pull the net into the boat. When Simon Peter sees the abundance, he realizes who the man on the beach must be: Jesus. He jumps into the water and furiously swims to shore, where he finds fish already roasting on an open fire, and plenty of bread for the disciples to share. This is a story of a reality flipped upside down. Here’s the reality: the disciples are experiencing scarcity like none other. They have lost everything: they dropped their nets to follow Jesus. They left their profession to take a vow of poverty with a Jewish Rabbi who seemed to be creating quite a stir. And then their leader is murdered, before their very eyes. Without Jesus, they were seemingly left on their own to fend for themselves, and they were often persecuted for being associated with Jesus, even after his death. The disciples were forced to return to work as fishermen, but even that seemed to fail them. They were unable to bring in a catch worth anything, and their prospects for making a living were bleak. But here’s where things are flipped: enter the resurrected Jesus. From a distance, Jesus can see what’s going on, names the scarcity, and offers the disciples some free advice. Through Jesus’ abundance, the disciples were gifted with much more than a net brimming with fish: they were offered communion with the risen Christ, a holy and sacred meal on the threshold of their new reality. The meal was already there, with Jesus. And the disciples were invited to add their catch to the abundance that Jesus had provided. In this season of our lives, it has become increasingly easy to name the things we are without. The pandemic has truly taken a toll on our emotional and mental lives, and even before then, we were easily listing our daily wishes, the things we wanted but didn’t have. Jesus offers us a new reality. Just as Jesus didn’t deny the scarcity of the disciples who were unable to catch anything, but instead offered help, in the same way Jesus doesn’t brush aside our difficult circumstances. Rather, Jesus meets us at the water’s edge of life’s disappointments and gently coaches us toward abundance, toward something we had always already had: fish, miraculously appearing on the fire. Love, already present, if we allow Jesus to guide us toward abundance. This week, we will share communion together in-person for the first time since March. It has been a long road, but we know that God has walked with us through it all. Let us join now in the abundance we have always already had with us through Jesus Christ. Amen. Service of the Word and Table If you are joining us from home rather than in-person, please reach out to Pastor Christy, who will drop off the consecrated elements so you can participate with our community. This Communion Service has been adapted from Larry Peacock’s Water Words Lenten Service Setting. Christ our Lord invites to the Divine Table all who love God, who earnestly repent of their sin, and seek to live in peace with one another. Therefore, let us confess our sin before God and one another. Merciful God, we confess that we have not loved You with our whole heart. We have failed to be an obedient church. We have not done Your will; we have broken Your law; we have rebelled against Your love; we have not loved our neighbor; and we have not heard the cry of the needy. Forgive us, we pray. Free us for joyful obedience, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Hear the good news: Christ died for us while we were yet sinners; that proves God’s love toward us. In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven! In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven! Glory to God. Amen. Our God be with you! And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give our thanks to the living God. It is right to give our thanks and praise. Holy God, it is right that we should always and everywhere give you praise because Your love has no end. In the depths of our grief, the sadness of our scarcity, or the heights of our joy, Your love crosses all boundaries. We see hope in Jesus the Christ who rose victorious from the dead, promised to be with us in the valleys of darkness and lives to raise us up to eternal life. Therefore, with Your people on earth and all the company of heaven, we praise Your name and join the unending hymn: Holy, holy, holy God. God of power and might. Heaven and earth are full of Your glory. Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest! Loving God, in the fullness of time, you sent Jesus, who welcomed the disciples to enter into this new journey with him. Jesus was with them through it all, even beyond death and welcomes a new community beyond all time, and prayed for our peace and blessing. By Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection, You gave birth to Your Church, delivered us from unending grief and promised to be with us always in the abundance and power of Your Word, Sacrament, and Spirit. On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat. This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” When the supper was over, he took the cup, gave thanks, gave it to his disciples, and said, “Drink deeply, for this is the sign of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many, for the abundant forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” And so, in remembrance of these Your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living testimony, in union with Christ’s offering for us as we proclaim the mystery of faith. Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again! Pour out Your Holy Spirit on us gathered by the union of our hearts, and pour Your Spirit on these abundant gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us the body of Christ, the sign of new life. By Your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in communion with all Your saints. Bring us all to the banquet table of the feast in Heaven, where all will find generous love and goodness, through Your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in Your Holy Church. All honor and glory is Yours, almighty God, now and forever. Amen. Let us join now in the Lord’s prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen. Though we are separated by time and distance, we partake of the same sacred meal because God’s love knows no bounds. If you are joining us in person, You will notice that we have all been given generous portions of juice and bread; it is a symbol of the abundance we find in Christ. Let us join in partaking in the bread, the sharing in the body of Christ. Let us join in partaking in the juice, the sharing of the blood of Christ. Let us pray. Eternal God, we give You thanks for this holy mystery in which You have given Yourself to us. Grant that we may go into the world in the strength of Your Spirit, to give ourselves for others, in the name of Jeuss Christ our Lord. Amen. *If you have an overabundance of bread and juice, please return it to the earth by feeding the bread to the birds and pouring the juice into the ground rather than throwing it away. Consecrated communion elements are sacred symbols of God’s love and should be returned to the earth in loving ways. And now, may the peace of the Lord Christ go with you wherever God may send you; may God guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm; may God bring you home rejoicing at the wonders God has shown you; may God bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
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Sunday, August 16th, 2020 || 11th Sunday After Pentecost Pastor Christy Wright We invite you to light a candle at 9 AM and join us in prayer: ONLINE ONLY TODAY Audio worship is also available at (978) 990-5000, access code 719365#. Just dial in, enter the access code on your keypad, and you will hear the service begin with music. Introduction This morning’s service will look a little different because we are entering the last Sunday of our Creation series. Over the past six weeks, we have explored God’s creation, one day at a time, and our call to care for the world and each other. We have finally reached the seventh day, the day to which we are called to care for ourselves, and the day which God has set apart to be holy. Rather than listening to me preach on the Sabbath, this morning we are exploring Sabbath as a spiritual practice by using what is known as examen, or personal reflection. I invite you to take out a notebook and pen and join us as we journal in our own personal reflection this morning. As we read the scriptures and quotes below, whether on your own or with the help of the recording found on our website or on our phoneline, let us gather together and reflect on God’s word. Listed below you will find the scripture readings as well as some questions to mull over. Put on some music, light a candle, and let us join now in a time of worship. Scripture Reading Genesis 2:1-3 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work God had been doing; so on the seventh day, God rested. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all the work of creating. Isaiah 58:9-14 If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; God will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it not by going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. Mark 2:23-28 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” Quotes for Reflection From Abraham Joshua Heschel, The Sabbath “There is a realm of time where the goal is not to have but to be, not to own but to give, not to control but to share, not to subdue but to be in accord. ” “Six days a week we wrestle with the world, wringing profit from the earth; on the Sabbath we especially care for the seed of eternity planted in the soul. The world has our hands, but our soul belongs to Someone Else.” - “To observe the Sabbath is to celebrate the coronation of a day in the spiritual wonderland of time, the air of which we inhale when we ‘call it a delight’: a delight to the soul and a delight to the body.” Questions for Reflection I invite you to write or thoughtfully consider the following questions.
And now, may the peace of the Lord Christ go with you wherever God may send you; may God guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm; may God bring you home rejoicing at the wonders God has shown you; may God bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
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Sunday, August 9th, 2020 || 10th Sunday After Pentecost Pastor Christy Wright We invite you to light a candle at 9 AM and join us in prayer: IN-PERSON at Charmil Drive or ONLINE. Please be sure to download a worship guide and follow the guidelines for in-person worship found within. Short version: wear a mask, bring your own lawnchair, and plan to be physically distant from one another. Thank you! Audio worship is also available at (978) 990-5000, access code 719365#. Just dial in, enter the access code on your keypad, and you will hear the service begin with music. Scripture Reading Genesis 1:24-31 And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind: cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind.” And it was so. God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind, and the cattle of every kind, and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.” So God created humankind in the Divine image, in the image of God, God created them; male and female God created them. God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” God said, “See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. God saw everything that was made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. Sermon Some of you may know that I was once a wedding photographer. After I graduated from college, I opened up my own business and over the next three years, I photographed over twenty weddings. It was such a joyous experience, to be part of the Big Day, and to be able to create images for the happy couple that they would be able to treasure for a lifetime. My photographic style can be described as photojournalistic because I don’t tend to pose people; I instead prefer to be a witness to the love rather than to stage a particular shot. The last wedding I photographed was beyond comparison; the bride was cool as a cucumber, and the groom was authentically laughing and joking around with his closest friends and family. The love and peace they exuded enveloped everyone at the wedding, and it was by far one of my favorite events to photograph. Even though I took thousands of photographs that day, every frame clearly poured forth the love they shared. The images mirrored the vows they took that day, and shone light on their friends and family; they were an image of love. They were an image of loving recklessly, loving without borders, loving with abandon. Loving selflessly, loving generously, loving deeply and eternally. In much the same way, God created us as an image of love. We hear in this morning’s scripture that humankind was created in the image of God: sacred and beautiful, and indeed, very good. If we zoom out, we see that we are a mixture of cosmic stardust and Divine breath, held together by love and with the potential for healing and cultivating and nurturing and loving. Just as a photograph mirrors the image of humankind, we are the “photographs” of God: we are Light-sensitive and reflective beings, who take on the image of our Creator. We are Light-sensitive because we can sense the presence of the Holy Spirit, the Light of our lives who guides us no matter where we go, and who has promised to be with us forever. And we are reflective beings, because we are the image Divinity bound in a single, brief moment on earth, bearing the likeness of the One who created us. You know how, in some of the most striking photographic portraits, it almost feels as though you can peer into someone’s soul? The same is true for us: when we truly see ourselves and one another as children of God, when we look deeper, we can also see the sacred worth of all of humanity. And something amazing happens when we see our true identity in the Light of God: we fall in love with God and with one another. No matter where that other person has been, no matter what they’ve gone through, no matter their political affiliation or reputation, we know that they are created in the image of God, and they, too, are of sacred worth. How does this knowledge change the way we treat one another? And how does it change the way we treat ourselves? There’s another component to photographs that I’d like to explore. We’ve all heard it said that a photograph is worth a thousand words. The same is true for each of us, as we all have our own unique story in any given moment. We might be experiencing the ultimate joy in the birth of a child, and some may be experiencing the utter and indescribable heartbreak of the death of a loved one. We may be walking through a time of uncertainty and instability, or we might be striding down a path of confidence and security. Regardless of where we find ourselves in the journey, we all have a story. The book of Genesis is the catalyst of our story, the origin of God’s love for us which continues to ripple out from the very beginning of time. When we recognize our common origin, that we all have a story, and that we are all of sacred worth, amazing things can happen. But I’ll be the first to admit that this is a tall order. It’s far from easy to love someone who challenges you. We are just three months out from one of the most contentious presidential elections in the history of our nation. And the stress and mud-slinging is manifesting itself in ugly ways, ways that deny the love by which we were created, through which Jesus was resurrected, and for which God orders our lives so that we might live as though we were created as sacred beings in the image of God. Though the strife is unlikely to dissolve, we have a crucial role to play in treating one another with the love by which we were created. It is a challenge. I can’t deny it. And I confess that I have done and said some things that weren’t loving in regards to this upcoming election. But this is an opportunity; this is where God calls us to rise up, to see one another with sacred worth, and to recognize that we all have a story; we all have reasons for believing what we believe. So here’s our challenge: love. Love recklessly, love without borders, love with abandon. Love selflessly, love generously, love deeply and eternally. Recognizing sacred worth in others means that we love one another in a different way, regardless of our differences. For when we love ourselves and others as God loves us, we are able to rise above the fray and meet the world’s greatest needs, enveloped in our call to simply love. So, may we learn to love recklessly, love without borders, love with abandon. Love selflessly, love generously, love deeply and eternally, through the power of the Holy Spirit, in the nature of Jesus Christ, and by the freedom we find in our Creator. Amen. Hymn of Meditation: Sacred the Body, TFW 2228 Sacred the body God has created, temple of Spirit that dwells deep inside. Cherish each person; nurture creation. Treat flesh as holy, that love may abide. Bodies are varied, made in all sizes, pale, full of color, both fragile and strong. Holy the difference, gift of the Maker, so let us honor each story and song. Love respects persons, bodies, and boundaries. Love does not batter, neglect, or abuse. Love touches gently, never coercing. Love leaves the other with power to choose. Holy of holies, God ever loving, make us your temples; indwell as we do. May we be careful, tender, and caring, so may our bodies give honor to you. And now, may the peace of the Lord Christ go with you wherever God may send you; may God guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm; may God bring you home rejoicing at the wonders God has shown you; may God bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
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Sunday, August 2nd, 2020 || 9th Sunday After Pentecost Pastor Christy Wright We invite you to light a candle at 9 AM and join us in prayer: Online Only Today NEW: Audio worship is also available at (978) 990-5000, access code 719365#. Just dial in, enter the access code on your keypad, and you will hear the service begin with music. Scripture Reading Genesis 1:20-23 And God said, “Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky.” So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm, and every winged bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day. 2 Corinthians 4:6-9; 16-18 For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen, but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal. Sermon One of the ways I find inspiration is by listening to other peoples’ stories of success, and oftentimes they include the failures that it took to get them to where they are. Whether it’s opening a new restaurant in the middle of a pandemic, like our family friends are doing right now in Connecticut, or if it’s a new start-up company like where my brother works, I truly enjoy witnessing people soar, taking risks, and learning from their mistakes and failures as they grow in their success. One of the reasons I find their stories so inspiring is because they have been empowered by their supervisors, mentors, and colleagues to do such amazing work, and it’s like the baton has been passed down, and they’re now in charge of creating the future they wish to see. Even here at George Whitefield UMC, we are trying something new. We are doing something we’ve never done before: We are learning how to worship and be a congregation from a distance, and we are learning how to care for one another during a pandemic. There have been missteps, and there have been times where I’ve made mistakes as your pastor. But as a congregation, I believe we are heading toward a place where we can soar, breaking down barriers, and being unafraid to try something new. In our first scripture reading this morning, we are brought into the fifth day of creation through the fish of the sea and the birds of the sky. God created them, saw that they were good, then empowered them to flourish on the earth, to make a life of their own, to fail and succeed, to try and try again. God didn’t lay out every single step for them, or micromanage their ideas, or demand things be done a certain way. Instead, God set them free. God set them free to collaborate, to create habitats of their own, to evolve and grow into their own communities, all the while staying present and providing all they needed to succeed. In much the same way, God has created us as humans and empowered us to rise to our current moment. The pandemic has surely taken a lot out of us; we can’t deny the effect it’s had on our community and world. But perhaps we were created for such a moment as this: to face adversity head on and create the future of which we’ve always dreamed. You see, we read in 2 Corinthians that though “we are afflicted in every way, we are not crushed.” Some days, it seems like the bad news just keeps piling itself on, and sometimes we feel like there’s no escape. But God doesn’t want us to be buried in our newspapers and media reports; God desires that we soar, finding that to which we were called and meeting the world’s needs with our God-given gifts. So we do not lose heart, for we know that God is with us through it all. We have the light of Christ within us, guiding us and inspiring us to rise up just as Christ arose from the grave. We have this hope because though we recognize that the outward appearance of things looks bleak, we know that God is doing something new. And we know that we have a role in creating a new reality and a better future for ourselves and all those who come after us. Just as God blessed the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, empowering them to create a life of their own, God blesses us as humans to soar, to take on new challenges, and to live into the life of Christ, whose resurrecting power lives on. I can remember back to the moment when my congregation prayed over me as I became a certified candidate for ordained ministry. We were holding my certification session in a cramped meeting room, and it was a packed house. One of my mentors anointed me, drawing an oily cross on my forehead, a sacred symbol of blessing and love, all the while my church family prayed over me and blessed me. That blessing has stayed with me, through the doubts and trials and hardships of ministry. I know that my home church stands with me, empowering me to soar, to hear God’s call and run with it. Here’s the most beautiful part: blessings multiply. The power of blessing someone, of sharing your encouragement and guidance and hope, is an invisible sign of God’s infinite love. And we know that it never fades. Blessings are eternal, and we all have the ability to share them with one another. Yes, all people, not just people who have been ordained for fifty years, or those who are certified candidates for ministry, or lay leaders. All people can bless one another, for we are the priesthood of all believers, and we proclaim that what is unseen is eternal, just as Christ proclaimed eternal life. This week, I’d like to challenge you to bless someone you love: your spouse, your coworker, your friend. You can bless them through your words, through a card in the mail, or in prayer. I’d also like to encourage you to bless someone who you have a hard time loving: a family member, a public figure, an ex. Those blessings go a long way, and often, they are so healing that we can feel ourselves soar in the freedom it offers. And we do not lose heart, for we know that Christ walks with us, whispering, “We will rise.” Amen. Hymn: Leaning on the Everlasting Arms UMH 133 1. What a fellowship, what a joy divine, 2. O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way Leaning on the everlasting arms; Leaning on the everlasting arms What a blessedness, what a peace is mine, O how bright the path grows from day to day Leaning on the everlasting arms. Leaning on the everlasting arms Refrain Refrain Leaning, leaning, 3. What have I to dread, what have I to fear, Safe and secure from all alarms Leaning on the everlasting arms? Leaning, leaning, I have blessed peace with my Lord so near Leaning on the everlasting arms Leaning on the everlasting arms And now, may the peace of the Lord Christ go with you wherever God may send you; may God guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm; may God bring you home rejoicing at the wonders God has shown you; may God bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors. |
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