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For January 19, 2025:

• Marriage As Metaphor by Dean Feldmeyer based on Isaiah 62:1-5 and John 2:1-11.
• Second Thoughts: Just The Beginning by Katy Stenta based on John 2:1-11.
• Sermon illustrations by Mary Austin and Chris Keating.
• Worship resources by George Reed.
• Children's sermon: The Necessity Of Variety by Tom Willadsen based on 1 Corinthians 12:1-11.

Marriage As Metaphor
by Dean Feldmeyer
Isaiah 62:1-5, John 2:1-11

In the 40-plus years of my career as a minister of the gospel, I have dealt with the aftermath of seven suicides including that of my own grandfather.

His was a passive suicide. He contracted tuberculosis when he was a young man and, fearing that, if he survived, he would spend the rest of his life as “a hopeless invalid” (a specious assumption), he refused to accept treatment and went home to die. He left a wife, a teenage daughter (my mother) and two pre-teen sons. The effects of his suicide reverberated through his survivors for the rest of their lives.

In four of the other six, the trigger event, if not the cause of the suicide was the death of a relationship — a divorce, a separation, a breakup, a rejection, an abandonment.

Nowhere is the power of the gospel so clearly evident as it is in human relationships — in friendship, in family love, and especially in marriage. And nowhere is human emotional pain so forcefully demonstrated as when a relationship dies.

This week, the lectionary brings us two texts wherein marriage is a prominent theme and invites us to reclaim the power of healthy marriage as a metaphor for our life of faith.

In the Scriptures
Throughout the scriptures, themes such as love, covenant, faithfulness, intimacy and redemption find a home in passages wherein marriage is used as a metaphor for the relationship between God and the people of God.

In Isaiah (54:5) and Jeremiah (3:14) God is described as husband to bride Israel. When in Ezekiel (16) and Hosea (1-3) Israel is unfaithful to the covenant, the unfaithfulness is likened unto adultery. In Ephesians (5:25-27) and Revelation (19:7-9) the church is described as the bride of Christ. In Malachi (2:14) God’s covenant is described as a marriage bond and in the gospel of John (3:29) John the Baptizer describes Jesus as the bridegroom.

In this week’s passage from Isaiah 62 (vss. 1-5), what scholars call Second Isaiah, God speaks through the prophet to the children if Israel living in exile in Babylon. They have been called forsaken and desolate he says, but soon they will be called my-delight-is-in-her and married. Then the marriage metaphor changes to a simile comparing God’s rejoicing over Israel to that of a bridegroom rejoicing over the love of his life.

Marriage as it is celebrated at a wedding feast is Isaiah’s symbol for the relationship of God and Israel that is built upon love and reconciliation.

The gospel lesson is set amid a wedding feast in Cana of Galilee about four miles from Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth. Jesus and his friends and family are guests at the party which could run anywhere from one to five days depending on how wealthy the groom was. At some point the supply of wine begins to run low and finally runs out completely, which will ruin the party, not to mention the reputation of the groom.

Mary points this out to Jesus but his response is, “Hey, not my problem.” But good Jewish mother that she is, she takes charge and tells the servants to do what Jesus tells him, putting him on the spot.

You know the rest of the story. Jesus turned the water into a whole lot of very good wine and by this “revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.”

This is the first miracle in John’s gospel, and John sets it in a wedding feast amid dancing and feasting, a celebration of a human relationship based in love and intimacy and faithfulness. And, when the celebration is threatened to be cut short, Jesus steps forward (at his mother’s insistence) and saves the day. Loving human relationships, John seems to be saying, are worth saving and it is the role of Jesus and his bride, the church, to save and promote them.

So, the love of God for God’s people is like the love that is expressed and demonstrated in marriage and Jesus is the champion of that kind of love who will work miracles to encourage and enable it.

Unfortunately, sometimes the powers of this world stand opposed to the kind of victory which that kind of love represents.

In the News
Matthew Livelsberger was a 37-year-old U.S. Army veteran, a decorated Green Beret. Records show that he was suffering from PTSD, depression, and other possible mental health issues and was on leave from his army base, living at home in Colorado Springs over the Christmas/New Year holidays. A few days after Christmas, his wife left him after they argued over allegations that he had been unfaithful.

That was the last time any of his friends or family heard from him until just after 8.40 A.M. on Wednesday, January 1, when he pulled a rented Tesla Cybertruck filled with improvised explosives up to the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, parked it, set off an improvised bomb and shot himself in the head.

The FBI continues to investigate. Spencer Evans, FBI Special Agent in Charge said at a news conference: "Although this incident is more public and more sensational than usual, it ultimately appears to be a tragic case of suicide involving a heavily decorated combat veteran who was struggling with PTSD and other issues."

“Other issues.” What, one might reasonably wonder, were the “other issues” of which SAC Evens speaks?

While we may never know what all those issues were, we can infer from what Livelsberger said in the two

brief letters that he left that some of them had to do with the breakdown of the relationships in his life, not the least of which was his marriage.

Psychological studies have shown that suicidal ideation increases drastically when we are faced with the loss of a loved one. This is especially true of elderly widows but also appears in all age groups. So, it is not unreasonable to allow that the loss of any important relationship in one’s life whether through death, divorce, or abandonment, can create that profound loneliness that leads to self-destructive behavior.

Matthew Libelsberger was suffering from PTSD and, possibly, other mental health issues so the army put him on leave and sent him home to deal with his issues. With one stroke of a pen, he lost his relationship with the most important support structure in his life and his relationships with the friends and fellow soldiers who peopled that structure. Once at home, his wife left him after an argument about alleged infidelity on his part. Relationship after relationship and the support they represented, destroyed.

We know that the loss of relationships can cause devastating grief, a sense of profound loneliness, and even self-destruction, but this is true at more than the individual level. Groups and organizations can suffer from the loss of relationships. The United Methodist Church is still reeling from the departure of nearly a third of the churches from the denomination in a dispute over gay marriage and ordination. Some of the departed churches are trying to create a new denomination, some are remaining independent but joining together in an association of large independent churches, others are just becoming independent community churches. Whether they will flourish or even survive in these new relationships or no relationships at all is yet to be seen.

And on the national level, our president elect seems, according to what he has said, poised to slash and burn his way through the long established relationships our country has created with our neighbors in Canada and Mexico and our allies in NATO.

There is no question that we suffer when we are not involved in intimate, supportive relationships and we thrive best when we are surrounded by friends, colleagues, and those we love. What, one wonders, will be the effect on our place in the world when “America First” becomes “America Alone?”

In the Sermon
Marriage is good for us. According to numerous studies, married people live longer, have fewer strokes and heart attacks, and have a lower chance of becoming depressed. They are less likely to have advanced cancer at the time of diagnosis and more likely to survive cancer for a longer period of time. They survive major operations more often.

Married men enjoy better physical health, while women enjoy better mental health. Marriage may also improve individuals' economic well-being and the well-being of their children.

Small wonder that we celebrate weddings so joyously, dancing, drinking, eating, and acting crazy at the receptions.

Marriage isn’t the only way to benefit from close relationships, however. According to the Mayo Clinic, we can also benefit mentally, emotionally, and physically from strong social connections and friendships. Benefits include reduced risk of depression, high blood pressure, and an unhealthy body mass index (BMI). Friendships and social connections also result in less loneliness and social isolation which we know can lead to self-destructive behavior and even suicidal ideation.

Friendships can have a big impact on your health and well-being. Follow the tips to make lasting friendships.

Better mental and physical well-being — reduced stress, emotional support, personal development, a sense of belonging, and support through challenges — often arise out of friendships and social connections.

In the new Netflix series A Man on the Inside, Charles Nieuwendyk, a retired engineering professor and grieving widower, played by Ted Danson, is enlisted by a private investigator to go undercover in a San Francisco retirement home to find a missing ruby necklace and the person who stole it if, indeed, it was stolen.

At first, Nieuwendyk is skeptical about the job and whether he will be able to do it but he decides to give it a try. What he discovers, however, as the episodes progress, is that it’s not the job but the people that reinvigorate him and give a new sense of purpose to his life. As he searches for the necklace and the thief, what he finds is friendship and a caring community that feeds his soul.

We live best when we live in relationships — with friends, families, spouses. And often it is in churches where such relationships can be found.


SECOND THOUGHTS
Just the Beginning
by Katy Stenta
John 2:1-11

Right after baptism, which is a miracle by God, we have the first miracle by Jesus. I love the idea that both miracles are water based and both have something to do with cleansing water. However, this time, the water is what is transformed, instead of the individual. This is a moment of community celebration — and here is the moment for Jesus to be commissioned into power. Jesus does not think it is time, but his mother disagrees. I always like to picture the “mom look” that passes here, between Mary and Jesus, and then between Mary and the servants. That must have contained a sermon in itself. Mary knew it was time, even if Jesus did not. In the Presbyterian church, your ordination has to be confirmed by the community to be legitimized. This is where Jesus is publicly legitimized, as he is baptized by another, and then told to start his work by his mother.

The legitimacy of others is part of what makes power work, is it not? In terms of the next president, Republican’s seem to think that investing money in the inauguration seems to be the way to legitimize Trump’s power. They give $150 million for the party, with billionaires lining the pockets of Trump, hoping to reap the benefit of g(r)ifting the new president’s party. Meanwhile, the Democrats focus remains on shoring up peace as they prepare for giving the example of how to transfer power peacefully during the inauguration.

All of this politicking speaks to the quality of the party and the wine. The reality is that having enough wine is the bare minimum — getting the president into place is the bare minimum. Having a democracy and a country that runs well and strides forward toward goals that are believable and legitimate is better.

The party for the inauguration or the wedding, after all, is just the beginning of the journey. There is still work and relationship-building to be done afterward. Perhaps this is why Jesus serves the really good wine for the beginning of his ministry, because the real work is just begging. After all, one can throw a really good party, but the question is, can one do the work that is called for afterward?

Jesus took to the road for three years of healing, teaching, and preaching. We shall see if Trump will get anything done after his historic inauguration. The good news is, the preaching, teaching, and healing work is still important, and still counts. The joy of the miracle of Cana, for us, is real and is also just the beginning.




ILLUSTRATIONS


From team member Mary Austin:

2 Corinthians 12:1-11
The Shape of Faith
Paul writes to the believers in Corinth about the thorn in his flesh, which persists in spite of his prayers. Writer K.J. Ramsey, who lives with a chronic illness, writes about a process much like Paul’s, noting, "Suffering can erode our trust in God. I think it also rebuilds it. But first suffering kills the god I thought I was worshiping so I can know the God who is actually here. In his book The God-Shaped Brain, psychiatrist Timothy Jennings discusses a study done by Baylor University researchers who found that only 23 percent of Americans view God as benevolent or loving, while 72 percent have a fear-based view of God. Further, Jennings describes research that demonstrates worshiping a God of love stimulates the brain to heal and grow.”

As Paul demonstrates in his own life and faith, Dr. Jennings argues that “worshiping a God of love is what shapes our brain to be healthy and whole, which I agree with entirely, but we can’t scrunch our face, hope really hard, and open our eyes to believing in a God who is love when we’ve spent a lifetime accustomed to believing God might be punishing us. This is the central, critical reversal of suffering in faith. Will I allow suffering to strip away the angry god I fear but want to love so that I can encounter the God who loves me through my fear?” (from This Too Shall Last: Finding Grace When Suffering Lingers)

In this letter, we get to see Paul doing that exact wrestling, and the way it shapes his faith.

* * *

2 Corinthians 12:1-11
Going Somewhere Else
Paul tries to explain an experience of God’s presence outside his everyday life to the faithful in Corinth, remembering when he found himself outside of his physical experience and outside of ordinary time. In Wintering, writer Katherine May describes how that happens in our own lives. She observes that illness, sorrow, grief and physical pain take us out of the ordinary.

"There are gaps in the mesh of the everyday world, and sometimes they open up and you fall through them into somewhere else. Somewhere Else runs at a different pace to the here and now, where everyone else carries on. Somewhere Else is where ghosts live, concealed from view and only glimpsed by people in the real world. Somewhere Else exists at a delay, so that you can’t quite keep pace. Perhaps I was already teetering on the brink of Somewhere Else anyway; but now I fell through, as simply and discreetly as dust sifting between the floorboards. I was surprised to find that I felt at home there."

Paul, too, feels at home there, and the experience changes the substance of his faith.

* * *

Isaiah 62:1-5
Getting a New Name
When Israel’s fortunes change, the prophet Isaiah announces they will now be called by new names. No longer called “Forsaken” and “Desolate,” they names affirming God’s love.

Experts say that babies born in 2025 will get a variety of new names. For girls, “The idea that "you're not naming a baby, you're naming an adult" is holding less sway with today's parents. "For girls, 'Baby Names, Literally,' are one of the fastest-growing trends," says Sophie Kihm, editor-in-chief of the baby-naming site Nameberry.” On trend are “names like Scottie, Lottie, Nori and Dolly are playful choices in this trend, along with novel word names like Wednesday, Echo, Posey and Blossom." For those who like to keep it sweet and possibly short, there are lots of baby names to consider: Aqua, Bunny, Dovie…” and similar names.

Another trend in baby names is that “every name is basically a gender-neutral name: Any name is fair game for any gender, no matter which one used it traditionally…Babylist predicts that the name Drew will eclipse them all. Look around to the other dads in your life for more inspiration for names like these.” Names like Andie, Blake, and Benny are also growing in popularity.

For boys, cowboy names are trending, along with science fiction inspired names like Atlas, Apollo, Castor, Cielo, Cosmo, and Elio.

All of the names reflect the parents’ love and hope, just as Israel’s new names do.

* * *

Isaiah 62:1-5
Called By Many Names
The prophet Isaiah announces God’s favor by telling the nation that they will have new names, several of them. He says, “You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate; but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her.”

Author Cole Arthur Riley recalls how she, too, was called by many names growing up. Different family members had different variations of her name to express their love. She says, "Years later, on my wedding day, all of these names converged. The priest calls me Cole, and it’s grave, serious—me, as I’ve known myself. My father strokes my face and whispers, Nicole, babygirl. My uncle jukes toward me before drawing me in, What’s good, Nick Nick? Even Nikki made her appearance, and for once this felt right, too; I could access the joy in it that day. And these people, who all their lives had known a variation of me, collided.”

For her, there was an element of fear, as there may have been for the people of Israel, fearful about trusting this news from God. Cole Arthur Riley says, “ I was terrified for this collision; I really was. I wasn’t nervous to get married, I was worried about having so many sounds of me clanging around at once. Which is to say, I was afraid of myself…The collision did not end in destruction but union. I floated bravely in and out of different parts of me—sister, niece, daughter, friend, quirky, serious, quiet, rowdy.” Perhaps this is the experience that Israel has, after the exile. Riley says, “somewhere along the way I had found a tether. Something to bind me to who I am when everything goes quiet at night.” (from Black Liturgies: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Staying Human)

* * *

John 2:1-11
Water Sommelier
Most of us don’t need to change our water into anything — thankfully, since Jesus isn’t hanging around in our kitchens. Water expert Martin Riese, “who has 30 years in the hospitality business under his belt...[originally] relocated from his native Germany on an “Einstein” visa. [He] has made a career out of being a water sommelier. Co-founder of the International Water Alliance, Riese is no snob. “It’s totally fine to drink filtered tap water” at home, which he says he does. If a restaurant doesn’t have a water he likes, he selects from six bottles he stows in his car.”

“So far,” he jokes, “no one has charged me a corkage fee.”

Our abundant, clean water is its own kind of miracle.

* * *

John2:1-11
Anything Can be a Party
When he changes water into excellent wine, Jesus keeps the wedding celebration going. Creative people can make a celebration out of almost anything. One woman recalls a celebration around cereal. “Birthday cereal,” she says, “is huge in our family. My mom started it. During the week of our birthday, we got to pick any cereal we wanted at the grocery store (think Lucky Charms) and eat it until it was gone. It felt so indulgent that we looked forward to it even more than our cake, and we never complained about only having healthier cereal options the rest of the year.” (from the book Weird Parenting Wins: Bathtub Dining, Family Screams, and Other Hacks from the Parenting Trenches)

* * * * * *

From team member Chris Keating:

Isaiah 62:1-5
You shall be called “My delight is in her”
While Isaiah’s metaphor for marriage may require a bit of updating to include the varieties and orientations of contemporary couples, there is wisdom in the theology expressed. Employing a metaphor of marriage, Isaiah seeks to convey the abundance and wisdom that flows from relationships built on trust and delight. The relationship experts at the Gottman Institute, whose founder John Gottman has decades of research into vibrant relationships, would likely agree. Based on his research, Gottman holds that he can predict with “90 percent accuracy” which couples will stay together. Among Gottman’s findings is that marital stability occurs in heterosexual marriage where men learn how to “yield to win” by accepting, understanding, and inviting their partner’s perspective and feelings into serious decisions.

* * *

1 Corinthians 12:1-11
For the common good
Paul’s admonition that the Spirit’s gifts are offered for the upbuilding of community and the mutual benefit of all cuts across the grain of popular notions of independence. It’s a virtue missing from much of our common life, symbolized perhaps by how surprised commentators were to see former presidents and vice presidents chatting amicably at the state funeral ofPresident Jimmy Carter. Jesuit priest Sam Sawyer observes that one of Carter’s lasting contributions to American society was his ability to use politics as a mechanism for the common good. Sawyer writes that last fall he gave a few lectures that drew heavily on Pope Francis’ descriptions of politics as “a lofty vocation and one of the highest forms of charity, inasmuch as it seeks the common good.”He quotes the pope’s 2020 encyclical “Fratelli Tutti,” which calls for a “better kind of politics.”

Jimmy Carter’s entire life, says Sawyer, could be viewed as a commitment to seeking the common good. He describes it as an example of pursuing a vocation “even more significant than the office of the presidency.” He notes:

From building houses with Habitat for Humanity to monitoring elections around the world to leading a remarkably successful campaign to eradicate guinea worm disease, he remained devoted to the common good long past the end of his career as a politician. One thing consistent across those various efforts was that they were not designed to put Mr. Carter front and center. He allowed us to pay less attention to him and more attention to the problems being solved—and to the people serving and being served in those efforts.

* * *

John 2:1-11
Where did the booze go?
John gives us few details about the wedding in Cana. We don’t know the name of the bride or the groom, and haven’t a clue what colors she wore, the types of flowers she carried, or even if her second cousin made the cut into the bridal party. But like any well-planned wedding, there was, apparently, someone in charge. While other translations render 2:9 as “the steward” (NRSV) or “headwaiter” (CEB), the NRSVUE simply says “the person in charge.”A wedding coordinator, if you will.

As a pastor, I’ve come to appreciate the good work of a wedding planner.Certainly, Paul would have included wedding planners in his lists of spiritual gifts had he known better. In one congregation, the wedding coordinator reminded me of a curious blend of chief protocol officer and traffic cop. She had served the church for decades and had armloads of stories about weddings, including the time she caught a group of groomsmen sneaking liquor into their dressing room.

The best man had carried an expensive bottle of Canadian whiskey in his tuxedo bag. When she heard the young men laughing about how they had fooled her, she waited until they had gone to take photographs to investigate. Sure enough, inside the Sunday school room sat a large bottle of Canadian whiskey. She quickly grabbed the contraband and removed it. “What did you do with the whiskey?” I asked her. “I did the only right and proper Christian thing: I locked it in my trunk and took it home!”

No one dared to ask her what had happened. If they had, her reply would have sounded much like Jesus, “What concern is that to me?”

* * *

John 2:1-11
Stressed out celebrations
Given the cost and expectations associated with weddings, no one wants to ever hear the words Mary shares with Jesus, “They have no wine.” Studies show that nearly every couple experiences high levels of stress in planning weddings. Yet it’s the one emotion few ever mention. Few ever speak about the stress and worry that go into planning the perfect wedding—yet we all know that the steward was right to be concerned about how his poor management of wine would be received. One blogger reminds couples that nerves, anxiety, and even imperfections are all part of the wedding process. “If no one asks about your mental health,” writes Claire Gould, “you might assume it’s not normal to be feeling overwhelmed, anxiety or worse. But it really is. You shouldn’t have to hide your feelings – and you don’t have to.” Another blogger points out what seems to be Jesus’ point. Instead of fretting about what you don’t have, simply appreciate what’s been given. “Understand that not everything will go according to plan, and that’s okay,” writes Sunny Cash of Bened Life. “Embrace imperfection and find beauty in the unexpected moments that make your wedding day uniquely yours.” Who knows? Maybe those empty barrels will turn out to be filled with incredibly surprising wine!

* * *

John 2:1-11
Don’t try this at home
It’s impossible, of course, to turn water into wine. Or is it? On his Basic Science blog, science teacher Craig Beals reminds students that turning water into wine isn’t magic, it’s just chemistry. He recalls watching a college chemistry professor pour a clear pitcher of water into a wine bottle. Holding the bottle in front of the class, the professor next poured the water into wine glasses. What had gone in as plain water came out as reddish-pink wine. “Not bad for a Mormon boy,” the professor said. “To me, the showmanship and the story were brilliant. I found myself signing up for a teaching class the next semester, and ultimately, I ended up becoming a high school science teacher. Now, I get to steal the attention of my students by turning water into wine, lemonade, soda, milk, and Pepto-Bismol using the principles of chemistry.” Beals’ blog spells out the incredibly detailed process, which involves a variety of solutions including sulfuric acid, baking soda, and barium nitrate. All that work, however, doesn’t mean you can actually sample your designer vino. Beals notes that many of those compounds are dangerous and highly toxic.



* * * * * *

WORSHIP
by George Reed

Call to Worship
One: The steadfast love of God extends to the heavens.
All: The faithfulness of our God reaches the clouds.
One: How precious is the steadfast love of our God.
All: All people may take refuge in the shadow of God’s wings.
One: God gives us to drink from the river of God’s delights.
All: With God is the fountain of life and in God’s light we see light.

OR

One: God comes to join us in a holy union with God’s own self.
All: We bow in humility that God would love even us.
One: The love of God is deeper that deepest space.
All: The love of God is brighter than the brightest star.
One: There is nothing that can defeat the love of God.
All: We welcome God’s love and will proclaim it to all.

Hymns and Songs
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
UMH: 89
H82: 376
PH: 464
GTG: 611
AAHH: 120
NNBH: 40
NCH: 4
CH: 2
LBW: 551
ELW: 836
W&P: 59
AMEC: 75
STLT: 29

Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
UMH: 103
H82: 423
PH: 263
GTG: 12
NCH: 1
CH: 66
LBW: 526
ELW: 834
W&P: 48
AMEC: 71
STLT: 273
Renew: 46

There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy
UMH: 121
H82: 469/470
PH: 298
GTG: 435
NCH: 23
CH: 73
LBW: 290
ELW: 587/588
W&P: 61
AMEC: 78
STLT: 213

Spirit Song
UMH: 347
AAHH: 321
CH: 352
W&P: 352
Renew: 248

Dona Nobis Pacem
UMH: 376
H82: 712
GTG: 752
CH: 297
ELW: 753
STLT: 388
Renew: 240

Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
UMH: 384
H82: 657
PH: 376
GTG: 366
AAHH: 440
NNBH: 65
NCH: 43
CH: 517
LBW: 315
ELW: 631
W&P: 358
AMEC: 455
Renew: 196

More Love to Thee, O Christ
UMH: 453
PH: 359
GTG: 828
AAHH: 575
NNBH: 214
NCH: 456
CH: 527
AMEC: 460

Come Down, O Love Divine
UMH: 475
H82: 516
PH: 313
GTG: 282
NCH: 289
CH: 582
LBW: 508
ELW: 804
W&P: 330

O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go
UMH: 480
PH: 384
GTG: 833
NNBH: 210
NCH: 485
CH: 540
LBW: 327
AMEC: 302

By Gracious Powers
UMH: 517
H82: 695/696
PH: 342
GTG: 818
NCH: 413
ELW: 626
W&P: 75

How Majestic Is Your Name
CCB: 21
Renew: 98

Your Loving Kindness Is Better than Life
CCB: 26

Music Resources Key:
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
GTG: Glory to God, The Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
ELW: Evangelical Lutheran Worship
W&P: Worship & Praise
AMEC: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal
STLT: Singing the Living Tradition
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship

Prayer for the Day/Collect
O God who is love beyond all human imagination:
Grant us the faith to trust in your constant love
which seek to unite us with you and with all creation;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

OR

We praise you, O God, because you are love. You are love that exceeds all we can imagine. Help us to trust in your love which seeks to unite us with you and with all of your creation. Amen.

Prayer of Confession
One: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins and especially our failure to trust in your great love.

All: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us how much you care for us from the very beginning. You made creation to shelter and provide for us. You came and dwelt among us. You sent us your judges, kings, seers, prophets, and psalmists to proclaim your love for us. But we resist. We hold ourselves back from you. We are afraid of you, and we are afraid of who we think we are. Forgive us our blindness and help us to rest in your love so that we might find strength to love all your children. Amen.

One: God’s love is deep and measureless. Receive God’s forgiveness and rejoice in God’s love as you share it with others.

Prayers of the People
Praise and glory to you, O God of love who desires to be with us. You come to us as a bridegroom comes to receive the bride.

(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)

We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us how much you care for us from the very beginning. You made creation to shelter and provide for us. You came and dwelt among us. You sent us your judges, kings, seers, prophets, and psalmists to proclaim your love for us. But we resist. We hold ourselves back from you. We are afraid of you and we are afraid of who we think we are. Forgive us our blindness and help us to rest in your love so that we might find strength to love all your children.

We give you thanks for your great love which pervades all of your creation. We thank you for those who have faithfully recorded their journey with you so that we can learn how they experienced your loving care. You have blessed us with grace, mercy, and kindness beyond all we could expect. We thank you for those who have mirrored your love for us so that we can see it in human form. We thank you for Jesus who showed us how to live faithfully as your beloved.

(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)

We pray for others in their need. We lift up to you those who struggle to believe in your love for them. We hold up the rejected and hated into the holy light of your love. We pray for those who offer your love to others when no one else will. We pray that we might be numbered among those who share your love graciously.

(Other intercessions may be offered.)

Hear us as we pray for others: (Time for silent or spoken prayer.)

All these things we ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ who taught us to pray saying:

Our Father....Amen.

(Or if the Our Father is not used at this point in the service.)

All this we ask in the name of the Blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.


* * * * * *

CHILDREN'S SERMON
The Necessity Of Variety
by Tom Willadsen
1 Corinthians 12:1-11

You will need something tasty to give to each child. You will also need the ingredients that go into making it.

My jam is pumpkin bars, so in advance of Sunday I will make a batch and keep them hidden from the kids until the big finish.

After the kids come forward, give each of them an ingredient from what you made. Give it to them in a form that they can taste. I’ll have salt, flour, baking soda, cinnamon, sugar, eggs, cooking oil, canned pumpkin, and water. On its own, each of these things does not taste good — except, maybe the sugar.

Each of them has been given a gift — not a gift “of the Spirit,” but it’s implied. After each child tastes and comments on the ingredient you’ve given them, point out that the ingredients in this, or any recipe, only work if they all work together.

It’s the same with the church. Every one of us has been given gifts, to use for the common good. That’s the important part of gifts, not that you have them, not even that you use them, but that you use them for the common good. Each ingredient, on its own, doesn’t taste good, but when they’re all together, they taste really good, because they work together!

At this point, give each child a pumpkin bar, or whatever you’ve made. You can build a prayer around Psalm 34:8 — “O taste and see that the Lord is good.”

One note on pumpkin bars: some people put cream cheese frosting on them. That’s fine, though for this purpose, it might get a little messy. I don’t put cream cheese frosting on my pumpkin bars for the same reason they didn’t put aluminum siding on the Sistine Chapel.

If baking isn’t your thing, you might want to try a combination of Chex cereal, raisins, nuts, pretzels, M&Ms, and so on. This raises the potential for allergies, it also doesn’t quite make the same point, because M&Ms taste terrific on their own.


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The Immediate Word, January 19, 2025 issue.

Copyright 2024 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.

All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.