Today's Worship Service - Sunday, July 28, 2024

 

Worship Service for July 28, 2024

Prelude

Announcements:

Call to Worship

L:      Why have you come to this place?

P:      We have come to find Christ.

L:      Why have you come today?

P:      We are tired in body and spirit.

L:      Come, rest awhile and be fed through music and word.

P:      We are here to worship and to be renewed.

L:      Then let us worship God together.

 

Opening Hymn – O Worship the King           #476/104  5 verses in Blue

 

Prayer of Confession

God of steadfast love, fools say in their hearts: “There is no God.”  How often, O Lord, are we the fools who confess You with our lips, but deny You with our actions?  How often do we act as if You sleep, O God confident that You know not what we do?  How often do we cause others to stumble, when we act hypocritically in our faith?  Help us be constant as the north star, O God, that others have no occasion to witness our example and say: “I’d be a Christian if it weren’t for the Christians.”  Forgive us, O Lord.  (Silent prayers are offered)  AMEN.

Assurance of Pardon

L:      God’s love is lavished upon you.  It is always there for you, offering healing and hope.

P:      Thanks be to God for God’s steadfast love.  AMEN.

Gloria Patri

Affirmation of Faith/Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.  I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.  AMEN

 

Pastoral Prayer and Lord’s Prayer

Gracious God, we give you thanks for all the blessings that come from your hand, especially for the invitation to live as your holy people, the body of Christ.  We lift in prayer today your church, in all its various forms, as it struggles to proclaim your gracious reign in a world dedicated to wealth and possessions.  Strengthen the people of this planet for an attitude of peace and goodwill and all who lead them.  For the nations that struggle with war, violence, and injustice, grant your full measure of peace and righteousness. 

 

We especially lift up to you the people of other countries that have been torn apart by violence, civil war, invasions, and radical ideologies that hurt and destroy, but we also must include our own country in the midst of so many acts of violence against one another.

 

For the sick and those facing death, we pray that you send your Spirit and your people to bring comfort and hope.  We pray for…

 

For this congregation, as we endeavor to let Christ rule our hearts, open those hearts that we may give and serve gladly; that the witness of those who have gone before us is a guiding hand. 

 

In this time of silence, we lift our personal petitions to you…

 

These and all other things you know we need, we ask in the name of Jesus, the only name that matters as we pray together saying... 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.  Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.  AMEN.

 

Hymn – Alleluia! Sing to Jesus   #144/377   Brown/Blue

Scripture Reading:

First Scripture Reading –    Psalm 14

Second Scripture Reading – John 6:1-14

Sermon –   Much More Than Just Loaves and Fishes

(based on John 6:1-14)

 

          Last week we read the passages that came right before and right after this miracle story of the feeding of the 5,000 in the gospel according to Mark.  This morning we read the miracle itself from John’s point of view.  How many times have you read it or heard it read?  Probably for most of you, that we be a fair number, right?  After all, it is one of those astounding miracles that amaze us; how Jesus took two fish and five loaves of bread and somehow managed to feed 5,000 or more people.  Over the years Biblical Scholars and various Commentators have had much to say about this miracle, one debate that has endured over the centuries is the estimate of 5,000 people in attendance.  Several scholars have alleged that the normal counting of people in attendance was to only count the men, not women and children, pushing the crowd size to perhaps 10,000 or more.  However, the original Greek term used here in this passage of John 10:6 is anthropolous which literally means human beings, therefore both male and female.  Regardless of the number of actual people in attendance, it was a huge number that far exceeded the ability of the disciples to feed everyone.  Even the largest amphitheater in the area, in the town of Sepphoris, only held 3,000 people and no town in the area would be able to come up with enough food to feed that many people.

          But this miracle story is much more than how five loaves of bread and two fish fed such a large number of people.  One of my contemporaries asked the question, “under what circumstance would you retell this miracle story?”

          A lot of my colleagues had comments to share.  One said that they planned to focus on Jesus' invitation for everyone to sit on the grass together.  To ask the question: What does it mean to sit with God, especially when we hunger for something?  Imagine all the different ways those 5,000 people, and all of us, are in need of something.  And upon recognizing the crowd and the need, the first thing Jesus does is invite them to sit down in the grass with him and with one another.  How do we live into this non-anxious presence?  How do we learn to trust God and one another when experiencing need?  And maybe it was this sitting down together that allowed for the "multiplying of generosity.”

Another colleague said, of course the most obvious take is “stone soup”.  An aside for a moment before I go on; you all know the story of stone soup, right?  For those of you who have never heard the story, it is an old European folktale story in which a hungry stranger in town convinces the town-folk to share a small bit of food in order to make a meal.

It goes something like this: “Once upon a time, there was a great famine.  The people in one small village didn't have enough to eat, and definitely not enough to store away for the winter.  People were afraid their families would go hungry, so they hid the small amounts of food they did have.  They even hid their food from their friends and neighbors.  One day a wandering stranger came into the village.  He asked the different people he met about finding a place to eat and sleep for the night.  "There's not a bite to eat in the whole county," they told him. "You better keep moving on."  "Oh, I have everything I need," he said.  "In fact, I would like to make some stone soup to share with all of you."  He pulled a big black cooking pot from his wagon.  He filled it with water and built a fire under it.  Then, he reached slowly into his knapsack and, while several villagers watched, he pulled a plain gray stone from a cloth bag and dropped it into the water. 

By now, hearing about the magic stone, most of the villagers were surrounding the stranger and his cooking pot.  As the stranger sniffed the stone soup and licked his lips, the villagers began to overcome their lack of trust.  "Ahh," the stranger said aloud to himself, "I do like a tasty stone soup.  Of course, stone soup with cabbage is even better."  Soon a villager ran from his house into the village square, holding a cabbage.  "I have this cabbage from my garden." he said as he held it out for the stranger.  "Fantastic!" cried the man.  The stranger cut up the cabbage and added it to the pot.  "You know, I once had stone soup with cabbage and a bit of beef, and it was delicious."  The butcher said he thought he could find some beef scraps.  As he ran back to his shop, other villagers offered bits of vegetables from their own gardens--potatoes, onions, carrots, celery.  Soon the big black pot was bubbling and steaming.  When the soup was ready, everyone in the village ate a bowl of soup, and it was delicious. 

The villagers offered the stranger money and other treasures for the magic stone, but he refused to sell it.  He had many offers for a cot to sleep on that night.  And the next day he traveled on his way.”  Pause   

My colleague continues: Nobody (in Jesus’ day) would have gone out into the wilderness with nothing to survive.  The real miracle is, that in a limited goods society, where people lived in fear of scarcity, Jesus got people to share.  And scarcity becomes abundance.  He said that he was going to contrast this banquet with the banquet that was part of the lectionary passage two weeks ago that I skipped.  It’s a story that I don’t like very much from Mark when Herod held a banquet for his friends and his daughter danced before him.  In a show of male bravado, so pleased with her dancing, he offered her whatever she wished as a gift.  Conspiring with her mother, she asked for the head of John the Baptist.

Very different kinds of banquets, don’t you think?  Which banquet would you wish to live into?  Pause.   But, when we are spending more than 800 billion dollars on defense (more than the next 10 countries combined) and incarcerating more people than any other country in the world, while 1 in 5 children in the US go to bed hungry, and 15,000 children a day across the globe die of starvation, which banquet are we choosing?   That of fear, scarcity, domination and death, or are we choosing the banquet of peace, abundance, freedom and life?

          And the final comments of another colleague; I have always thought this was a story of the multiplication of generosity and not the multiplication of fishes and loaves.  It makes no sense that all the multitude was so irresponsible as to leave home without food, especially in that culture when most workers packed a lunch of bread and dried fish when they left home in the morning.  My thought is some had food and some didn’t.  The example of offering all one had and sharing it, I think inspired some to open their bags and put food in the baskets as others who had none removed enough for their need.  When it was all over, all were fed and an abundance was still available.  The miracle of generosity is if we open our hands and hearts to share, instead of grasping and believing the lie of insufficiency, we will discover the miracle of God’s gift of enough for all and blessings in abundance.  Pause.

          So, when would we retell this miracle story?  I think we’d retell it when the crowd is afraid of losing something, when they are afraid of using up when little they have left, when we are afraid of scarcity.  In which case, this miracle story speaks of abundance.  In spite of there being only five loaves of bread and two fish, all were fed with twelve full baskets of leftovers.

I think we should retell this miracle story when we feel sad, when we think everything is wrong with the world.  Imagine the wonder and joy on the faces of over 5,000 people sitting there on the hillside at the end of the feast.

I think we should retell this miracle story when we are tired of doing mission, when we feel burned out, when we feel worried about the future, when we feel bone-sick – perhaps an extension from last week, “come away for a while to rest.”  To sit down on the grass and rest awhile in the presence of Christ.  To allow him to minister to us.  Allow him to fill that empty void in our bodies and souls.  To curl your toes in the dirt and the grass and to be re-grounded, re-rooted in the wonder and awe of creation.

And finally, I think we should retell this miracle story when we feel isolated from one another, when our politics make us enemies, when our beliefs and worldviews are at odds with one another, when we are in conflict and have stopped seeing God in each other’s eyes.  Because, the truth is, we are all part of the same human family and should be ready and willing to break bread with one another and share a meal in spite of our differences.

Yes, my friends, this story is much more than just about two fish and five loaves of bread. 

Thanks be to God.  AMEN.

Offertory –

Doxology –

Prayer of Dedication –

Lord, you have called us to be the very presence of Christ in this hurting world.  We offer these gifts to you as symbols of our willingness to spend our time, energy, and material resources to continue Christ’s ministry of sacrificial love.   AMEN.

Closing Hymn – O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee        #357/665 

Blue/Brown

Benediction –

          The world is thirsting for God’s good news of love and grace.  People struggle for words of hope and peace.  As you have been blessed, now go to be a blessing in God’s Name.  AMEN.

Postlude

Today's Worship Service - Sunday, July 21, 2024

 

Worship Service for July 14, 2024

Prelude

Announcements:

Call to Worship

L:      We have been called here to face into God’s gracious way of living.  We are to leave the past behind us and walk into these new days of our ministry.

P:      Sometimes we’d rather remember how things used to be.  Sometimes we are afraid to be disciples.

L:      But this is a new day, and Christ is sharing freedom with us.  It is a day to put aside all fear, to leave doubting behind, and to take courage in God’s loving call.

P:      We will look to the new day, and we will set ourselves on the Jerusalem road.  We will strive for faithfulness, even at the cost of popularity, and we will be disciples of Christ, renewing and healing the world around us.

 

Opening Hymn – God of the Ages, Whose Almighty Hand #262/809

 

Prayer of Confession

Most holy and most merciful God, in Your presence we must face the sinfulness of our nature and the errors of our ways, intended and accidental.  You alone know how often we have failed by wandering from Your paths, wasting Your gifts, and underestimating Your love.  Have mercy upon us, O God, for we have broken Your requirements for justice and overlooked opportunities for kindness.  Humble us with Your truth and raise us by Your grace that we may truly be the people of Christ and the witnesses of Your Spirit.  (Silent prayers are offered)  AMEN.

Assurance of Pardon

L:      Rejoice!  God, whose love is poured over you at all times in all places, has healed your hearts and spirits.  Be people of peace and joy, bringing hope to others.

P:      Thanks be to God for His love and grace.  Amen.

Gloria Patri

Affirmation of Faith/Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.  I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.  AMEN

 

Pastoral Prayer and Lord’s Prayer

Holy God, as we enter this space of quiet and prayer, we are reminded that our prayers are sometimes one-sided.  So, today our prayer is not only for the usual things we pray for, but also for the opposite things.

We pray today not only for the sick who need your tender care and your compassion as they go through treatments and healing, but we also prayer for those who are well, lest pride rule happy hearts.  We pray not only for the poor who struggle with daily living, face days of hunger, who worries about making ends meet, but we also pray for the rich who find it so hard to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  We pray not only for the troubled, those who are depressed and worried about today’s difficulties, but we also pray for the favored ones, lest peace with the world be confused with the peace of God.  We pray not only for the dying, those who face terminal illnesses, cancer treatments, but we also pray for the living, since they face eternity as well.

We pray not only for the burdened but also for the casual, lest indolence rot the very soul they hope to save.  We pray for not only the President of our country and leaders around the world, but we also pray for the people of the world, because it is they who pay for misrule when it comes.  We pray not only for missionaries on foreign shores, but also for the rest of us who still don’t know that in Christ there is no east or west, north or south, but one great human family in a house that grows smaller and smaller by the years.

We pray not only for ministers of the Gospel, but also for people of the gospel, since all who believe are called to be doers of the Word and not hearers only.  We pray not only for fair weather, but also for bad weather, since nature is impartial and often prodigal, and human estimates of good and bad do not count.  We pray not only sinners to turn and be saved, but also for the rest of us who think we have no sin and are in the greater need of penitence and healing.   And finally, Lord, we pray not only for others, but also for ourselves, because salvation and righteousness begins right here, in the household of God.  We especially pray today for…

 

We pray with words spoken aloud, but also with hearts unburdened by language in this time of silence.

 

Hear us as we pray... 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.  Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.  AMEN.

 

Hymn – It is well with my Soul    #705 Brown

Scripture Reading:

First Scripture Reading –    Psalm 89:20-37

Second Scripture Reading – Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

Sermon –                     Rest for Your Soul

How is it that our world seems to be spinning faster and faster with every passing year?  And that our lives just seem to get busier and busier?  And that even with all of the progress we have made, we seem to have less time than ever? 

As you know, many of our modern inventions were created to give us more time.  Dishwashers, washing machines, microwave ovens, even cars and cell phones.  These are great inventions, and I’m sure we are all thankful to have them.  But they are supposed to help us to do more in less time.  So why is it that we seem to have less free time than ever before? 

The pandemic seemed to slow the world down for a little while, for many people but now that the pandemic is over, we seem to be getting back to business as usual.  The world is speeding up again – at breakneck speed. 

With that in mind, Christ’s offer in today’s gospel reading to his first disciples, to “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while” seems like a good invitation.

Those chosen disciples had just returned from their first mission trip.  And they were excited.  They “gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught.”  They were healing the sick, and casting out unclean spirits, and proclaiming the gospel.  And they were ready to do more, to build on their success.  But Jesus responded to their enthusiasm with this invitation to “come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.”  Jesus knew that this rest was the most important thing that his disciples could do now, the most needed thing.  They have done important work, but now it was time to rest. 

But I don’t think that Jesus meant that this rest would simply be a physical rest.  I think Jesus is offering them spiritual rest, rest not just for their bodies, but for their souls, as well.  What Jesus is doing is inviting his disciples to do what he did regularly.  Back in Chapter 1 of Mark’s Gospel we have a great example of this.  Jesus is in Capernaum, home base for his ministry.  And “the whole city was gathered around the door” of the house where he was staying.  And Jesus “cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons.”  Everything was going well, and his ministry and influence was growing. 

So, what did he do?  “In the morning, while it was still very dark,” we read in Mark 1:35, Jesus “got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.”  Jesus followed up his healing and teaching by resting in prayer.  Not by sleeping or taking a much needed nap.  He actually had to give up a little sleep, and leave while it was still dark so that no one would stop him.  But he did this, and he went to this deserted place to pray, and to get some needed spiritual rest.  Some rest for his soul. 

When we think of rest, we usually think of rest for our bodies.  But when Jesus thinks of rest, he’s usually talking about rest for our souls.  And those two things are very different.  Unfortunately, in this fast-paced world of ours, we often forget to do either of these. 

Studies have shown that we Americans currently average 6.8 hours of sleep a day, which is down by more than an hour from the preindustrial era.  Many studies talk about our ancestors sleeping twice each night – a biphasic sleep where most people slept from 9 or 10pm until midnight or so, then would get up for an hour or two, then sleep again until morning.  Most of us are actually familiar with this pattern, we just don’t know it.  That second sleep for us is usually characterized by a quick trip to the bathroom, followed by vivid dreaming and a lot of tossing and turning just before we wake up in the morning.   

Of course, we all know that there are many studies these days that show that getting 7-9 hours of sleep a night is important for most of us.  But many of us are not getting that kind of physical rest.  And our physical health is affected by that; we simply get sick more often. 

Ok, so that’s what we know about physical rest.  But what about spiritual rest?  Are we getting enough of that?  And what happens when we don’t get enough rest for our souls?  When we don’t spend enough time in prayer?  When we don’t spend enough time in worship?  When we don’t spend enough time with God’s Word?  I think it is similar to what happens when we don’t get enough sleep.  Our souls become vulnerable to illness. 

We might become, for example, more and more frustrated and burned out, even if we are doing good things.  We might forget why we are doing those good things.  We might forget to rely on God when we are doing those things.  Or forget that it is really not about us; but rather, it’s about God. 

I think that this is why in today’s scripture reading, Jesus is encouraging his disciples to get away and rest a while, after they have returned from their mission trip.  Come away to a deserted place, Jesus says – perhaps even the same deserted place where he prayed? – and rest a while. 

But I have to wonder what his disciples thought about that.  Did they wonder if this was really the best idea?  Shouldn’t they capitalize on the success of that mission trip, and keep spreading the gospel?  Keep healing the sick, casting out demons, and doing the work of bringing God’s kingdom to earth?  But no.  Jesus knew that the work of ministry needs to be followed by rest.  By spending time with God in prayer.  Why?  Often times, that’s the only way we can process in our minds and in our spirits what has happened, how we’ve been changed and what we can do with all that change, how we behave and act in the future.  If we don’t take that time to rest and process, we’ll simply go back to doing things the way we’ve always done them.

And isn’t that the case in our world now?  Doesn’t our work need to be balanced by rest?  And especially by resting in God?  Isn’t that what it means to “remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy”?  Aren’t we simply doing what God modeled for us in Genesis, when after creating our world, the Lord rested?  We need a reset button.  But not a reset back to the factory setting, but rather a reset to where we’ve grown and how we’ve been changed.  By doing so, we’re simply doing what Jesus modeled for us in Mark Chapter 1, when he got up while it was still dark and went to a deserted place to pray. 

Dallas Willard wrote the book, “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry.”  He said that “Hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life in our day.”  If you want to be the person that God is calling you to be, “you must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.”  Or as Corrie ten Boom put it, “if the devil can’t make you sin, he’ll make you busy.  Busy is good enough to the devil, because it doesn’t leave any time to worship or pray or rest in God.”  I like this quote from an unknown author, “If you are too busy to worship, you are far busier than God intended you to be.”  God intends for us to spend time in worship, and in prayer.  We need this spiritual rest, just as we need physical rest. 

But it is also good to remember that we don’t worship, pray, and rest in God simply to rest.  This rest has a purpose.  It equips us to continue doing the work to which we are called.  It helps us to proclaim the gospel, and serve people following the example of Jesus, and strive for justice and peace.  Spiritual rest helps our spiritual work, just as physical rest helps our physical work. 

After Jesus spent time in the deserted place praying, he got up and went back doing what he was called to do.  Spiritual rest leads to spiritual work, to serving and loving and proclaiming and striving for justice and peace.  If you remember, in today’s gospel reading, the deserted place that Jesus took the disciples to did not stay deserted for long.  “Many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns.”  So, what did Jesus do?  Did he tell the crowds to leave, or did he go with his disciples to find a new and more deserted place?  No, when he saw the crowd, Jesus “had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.”  The much needed rest led to the very needed mission. 

Which might raise the question of which is more important, or which should be done next.  Rest, or work?  And I love the answer I once came across, using the analogy of breathing.  Which is more important, breathing in or breathing out?  It all depends on which one you did last!

If you have been spending lots of time doing ministry, then it is probably more important to take time to go to a deserted place, or at least a relatively quiet and solitary place, and rest a while in God’s presence.  On the other hand, if you have been spending time in prayer and worship, resting in God’s presence, then it is probably more important now for you to do ministry.  Which is more important depends on which you have been doing more of lately.  There is rhythm to the Christian life that Jesus himself models for us, and that today’s Gospel reading illustrates very well.

This lesson doesn’t come only from Mark, but from Matthew 11:28-29, as well.  It is one of my favorite Bible passages:

“Come, to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Rest for our weary souls is what Jesus offers to us all.  And we all need that rest.  We all carry heavy burdens at times.  We all find ourselves weary at times.  If this is one of those times for you, then hear Jesus’ words today and come to him.  Cast your burdens at his feet.  Entrust him with what is troubling you.  Come to him, all who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and find rest for your souls.

And then, of course, when you are done, go.  Go and be his hands, his feet, his ears, and his voice.  Go in his name to feed the hungry and care for the sick, to comfort the despairing, and share the good news of his love for us all.

Come, and then go.  Breathe in, and breathe out.  Worship and pray, then love, serve and proclaim.  Both are important to the Christian life.  Both are commanded by Jesus himself. 

May all you who are weary come to Jesus, and find rest for your souls.  And may all you who are rested, go out into the world to continue his mission on this earth. 

Thanks be to God.  Amen    

Offertory –

Doxology –

Prayer of Dedication –

          Lord, take these gifts, multiply them for your use in the World and make our hearts and hands busy with the burdens of those in need.  AMEN.

Closing Hymn – God Be With You Till We Meet Again      #232   Brown

Benediction –

          Dear Friends, find rest for your souls so that you can be people of peace and joy, bringing hope to others. AMEN.

Postlude

Today's Worship Service - Sunday, July 14, 2024

 It's good to be home after a visit with my Dad in North Carolina and helping a friend bid a final farewell to her mother who passed away earlier this year.

In light of yesterday's shooting at the political rally for former President Donald Trump, I've included appropriate prayers during the Pastoral Prayer time for today's worship.  Although the bitterness of Michal in the 2 Samuel reading could have led me to write a different sermon, I chose not to alter what I'd already written.  And I'm really glad I didn't choose to write a sermon on the gospel text from Mark today - it recalls the story of King Herod beheading John the Baptist for his wife's and daughter's pleasure.

Worship Service for July 14, 2024

Prelude

Announcements:

Call to Worship

L:      We come here shouting, our voices lifted in praise.

P:      We come here singing, our songs full of joy.

L:      We come here dancing, our hearts rejoicing.

P:      Let the mountains tremble and the seas roar at our worship!

L:      Praise the King of glory who guides our lives.

P:      Praise the Lord of hosts who watches over us.

 

Opening Hymn –         Come, Christians, Join to Sing      #150/225

 

Prayer of Confession

You have called us by name, O Lord, and made us into Your family.  Yet we do not always live as one body in Christ.  We neglect to care for Your creation; we forget that our neighbor is also our brother, our sister; we ignore suffering children in lands far away.  Forgive us, we pray.    Loosen the chains we place on our lives – chains of burden and busyness, chains of ignorance and stress.  Free us to care for Your family, that we all might dance, sing, and praise Your glorious name.  (Silent prayers are offered)  AMEN.

Assurance of Pardon

L:      We belong to the King of Glory who joyfully sets us free.  In Christ’s healing hands, we find forgiveness.

P:      In Christ’s healing touch, we find forgiveness.  Glory be to God!  Amen.

Gloria Patri

Affirmation of Faith/Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.  I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.  AMEN

 

Pastoral Prayer and Lord’s Prayer

Lord of the dance of life, You have breathed into us Your creative, joyful Spirit.  You have lifted us from the dust into the swirling joy of Your presence.  We are so grateful for all that You have done for us.  Each day reminds us in many ways of Your mercy and Your love.  Yet there are times in our lives when we have felt lost and alone.  We have been hurt and frightened and wondered where You were.  Remind us again of Your loving presence.  Place Your hands of healing on our lives.  Comfort us when we become afraid, lost, lonely, and fearful.   Prepare us to serve You faithfully all our days.  (PAUSE)

Once again, O Lord, we bow before You in the wake of gunfire and shooting.  This time violence has occurred not across the globe in another part of the world, but here on our own shores against a political candidate, a former president.  We pray for ex-president Donald Trump, that he is indeed ok after yesterday’s shooting at a political rally in Butler, PA.  We mourn the loss of life of an innocent bystander in the crowd, and yes, even the gunman killed by law enforcement, as well as the injuries sustained by others. 

Gracious God, we pontificate that this shouldn’t happen in our country and indeed it shouldn’t, but we’ve been here before at the reckless shooting and killing of innocent children at school, those attending a concert, those in a movie theater, those at a dance club – and still we do nothing about the hatred in our hearts, the need for retribution, the frustration we feel when we disagree, the methods we have at hand to wipe out entire crowds of people when we are angry and afraid. 

Holy Lord, hear our cries of humility and heal us.  Help us find a way forward that is absent of violence and hatred against those we do not like, against those with whom we disagree, and frankly against You and Your creation.  Watch over our thoughts, that we think positively towards one another, carefully measured so that our thoughts don’t lead to hateful words.  Watch over the words that come out of our mouths, that they be respectful of people even when we disagree, so that our words do not lead to bad actions.  Watch over our actions, that they may be in service always to one another, that our swords indeed become plowshares. 

This morning, I pray for my fellow colleagues in other churches and for their congregational members who are dealing with what to say and how to say it.  Afraid of being accused of taking one political side over another, we often remain silent.  But in the face of violence, there should not be silence, for there are no sides besides good and evil.

Again Lord, hear our cries.  (PAUSE)

We have lifted the name of dear ones to You who are in need of Your healing love.  We especially pray for…

Lord, allow us a moment to also reflect on our own needs for Your love and our response in dedicated service to You in these moments of silence…

The earth burst forth at Your word, O Lord, and we respond to that creative voice, praying... 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.  Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.  AMEN.

Hymn – Christ is Made the Sure Foundation        #417/403

Scripture Reading(s): 

First Scripture Reading – 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19

Second Scripture Reading – Ephesians 1:3-14

Sermon –   Keep on Dancing - (2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19)

You’ve all heard the phrase, “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.”  Right?  Well, someone else once wrote, “For every action, there is an equal and opposite criticism."  That’s what we’re dealing with in this passage from 2 Samuel.  The action of David singing and dancing with joy before the Lord and Michal, his wife, on the sidelines watching David, seething with anger and frustration.

Sometimes we can be some of the most critical people in the world.   But, everything in life has a critic, and you will more often be put down, rather than built up as you live in this world.  What makes all the difference is how you handle your faultfinders and their commentaries.

In other words, will you keep on dancing, or will you simply take a seat?

King David had to deal with criticism in almost every chapter of the bible that he is spoken of, yet he managed every reproach with a coolness beyond compare.  No wonder God made him King, because regardless of his critics, David kept on dancing.

In our scripture reading this morning, the time that this event has taken place is one of great joy for the nation of Israel, its enemies have been conquered, the anointed king is on the throne, and now the ark bearing the law of God has been brought to the place prepared for it in the City of David.  This event was taking place after many years of decline in public worship.  The people of God had, for the past several generations, stopped worshipping God.  That’s one of the reasons why David had made such a fuss over building the temple in Jerusalem and bringing the Ark of the Covenant to its rightful home in the temple in Jerusalem.

Well, everyone in town is celebrating it would seem, except for Michal, David’s first wife.  Michal is disquieted about everything that her dear husband was up to and she in no uncertain terms lets him know about it.

There are three important things to discover in this story, the first is that David is leaping and dancing before the lord, he is sacrificing and reveling with the people of Israel, and just having an all-around good time.  David is where he should be, celebrating the victories of the Lord.

The second discovery is that Michal is burning mad about the victory that her king has received.  She is so angry about the celebrating that the bitterness has gone to her heart, she is sad and she is lonely.  Michal is where she should not be, hating the victories of the Lord.

The third discovery is that Michal is hurting herself, and only herself; because she is the only one that is unhappy.  And she really has no reason to be unhappy.

When you come right down to it, your life and what you do with it begins and ends with God.  There is no escaping that fact.  If you are not happy about where you are in life, it is because you are not celebrating the victories that God has brought into your life.

Everyone in this room has shared a victory with God!  Believe it or not.  Many of you can probably list several.  Others of you, might not be so sure.  But, you have.  That fact that you were born and are living today, that you exist in this world is victory enough. 

God danced and sang at the moment of your birth.  God accepts you when no one else does, no matter where you have been or what you have done in your life God wants you, God cares about you.  Michal, forgot that.

The love of God in Christ will cover a multitude of sins.  So will you be a victim, never seeing the victories God is winning all around you, angry, envying others who are rejoicing in the blessings of the Lord, or will you keep on dancing?

Michal is grasping for a reason to transfer her guilt and unhappiness to her husband, so she hits him with his great sin of "being seen out gallivanting with the commoners", as if somehow there are some people in this world who are lower life forms than others.

People will find an excuse to criticize.  In this case, Michal is trying to embarrass David by saying that a king would never lower himself by dressing, celebrating with, and acting like the commoners.

Michal wants David to feel bad, so that she will feel better.

Over the years, I’ve been the brunt of “constructive criticism” and I’ve spent time giving what I thought was “constructive criticism.”  But, there is no such thing as "constructive criticism", criticism is really only destructive.  When you criticize others, the intent is to make them feel bad for what they have done.  You may have an excellent motive for your review of the situation, you may think you are helping, but in reality you are doing more harm than good. 

I learned this from Jim Burn’s book, The Youth Builder, who talks about the importance of building up young people with affirmation and trust.  But, what he says about criticism applies to every age group: For every critical comment we receive, it takes nine affirming comments to even out that one negative comment and the effect it has on our lives.  Most young people receive more critical comments a day than encouraging ones.  You can have a very positive, life transforming effect when you develop a attitude of affirmation.

Even though we are prone to say that things are getting worse, they really aren’t.   In many ways things are much better.  It’s just that we see life globally rather than in our own little village.  Criticism has been around since the beginning of time.  And it tends to be much easier to hurt than it is to heal.   Yet the power of praising God for the lives of others can be a valuable mechanism for positive change in their life, and yours.  You will do so much more for yourself and others when you spend time praising them, thinking on the things that are lovely and good, rather than criticizing them.

In our reading from 2 Samuel this morning, David stands up for himself, and he lets Michal know the real reason that she has her dander up.  Her father was King Saul.  He is gone, most of her family are all gone, and they are gone because of Saul’s disobedience to God.  Instead, David has been selected to replace Saul, and that has certainly added to Michal’s sorrow.

David is saying, "I know you miss your father and your family.  I know you are bitter about God choosing me.  But, I will celebrate and humble myself before God and God’s people.  I’m going to keep on dancing!”

God wants you to be bold in your testimony.  God wants you to be bold when you speak of Him, and if you are going to be bold in your witness you will most likely be put down for it.  Be ready to defend the faith you believe in.  It is a rarity these days.

“Oh, you still do that church thing?”

Just getting questioned for doing that church thing, or criticized for believing in an outdated religion, as some have called it, is not proof that you are wrong, so stand up for yourself and politely, though powerfully, explain your position – testify to your faith.  Do that, and no matter what the outcome, keep on dancing!

"The reality is that criticism and opposition will drive you somewhere.  Let it drive you closer to God and you will become better.  Let it drive you away from God and you will become bitter."

A practicing lawyer loved to attack his opponents through scathing letters printed in newspapers.  In 1842, he ridiculed the wrong man.  James Shields did not take kindly to the anonymous writer who lampooned him in the Springfield Journal.  Mr. Shields tracked down the attorney who had publicly embarrassed him and challenged him to a duel.  The man was a writer, not a fighter, but he could not get out of the duel without losing his honor.  He was given the choice of weapons and chose swords in hopes of using his long arms to his advantage.  He trained with a West Point graduate as he prepared to fight to the death.  On the appointed day he met Mr. Shields on a sandbar in the Mississippi River.  At the last minute their seconds intervened and convinced the men to stop the duel.  The lawyer returned to his practice as a changed man.  Never again did he openly criticize anyone.  In fact, years later when he heard his wife criticize the southern people of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln said, "Don’t criticize them; they are just what we would be under similar circumstances."  

Do you have a critical spirit?  Lincoln did, but he changed.  Make the change today so you, like Lincoln, can be known more for your kindness than for your bitterness.  And like David, Keep on Dancing.

Thanks be to God.  AMEN.

Offertory –

Doxology –

Prayer of Dedication –

          Creator of all things, we give back to You in praise of Your glory.  We do not wish to simply praise You with our song and our words and our hands; we wish to praise You by loving our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Take and use our gifts, that they may serve Your holy kingdom.  AMEN.

Closing Hymn – O Love That Will Let Me Go        #384/606

Benediction –

          Children of God, go forth dancing, singing, and praising.  Dance joy into sorrowful places!  Sing hope into places of despair!  Praise God this day and always.  Go forth in peace.  AMEN.

Postlude