One God, Many Faiths, And A Divided World
Children's sermon
Illustration
Preaching
Sermon
Worship
This Sunday The Immediate Word writers will be discussing how hearing the words, "I'm sorry" often soothes our hearts and souls, but only if we believe in the honesty and sincerity of the speaker. "I'm sorry," means little when there is no conviction or heartfelt outpouring behind it. Stephen McCutchan writes about our divided world and the different faiths within. Barbara Jurgensen offers an alternate view. Completing the installment are the usual illustrations, worship resource, and a children's sermon.
One God, Many Faiths, And A Divided World
By Stephen McCutchan
THE WORLD
The recent furor over the words of Pope Benedict XVI and the strong reaction of the Islamic world to them has illustrated again how volatile our world is. Of course no one has to remind a pastor who is constantly dealing with conflict, if not in her or his church then in the denomination, how fragile the bonds are that bind us. The reaction to the Pope's words, as well as the previously strong reaction to the cartoons printed in the Danish newspaper that were seen as mocking Mohammed, forcefully remind us that it is a grave error to ignore the explosive power of religion in our society. It is striking to remember that the three major religions around which much of the world has experienced violence in recent years all have a central focus on peace in this world. Islam contains peace in its name, Christians worship the Prince of Peace, and Shalom is a major vision of peace and wholeness in Judaism. Also all three of us consider Jerusalem, the city of peace, to be a major geographical location in our faiths, and it also happens to be a critical center for the violence that threatens to consume the world.
Another feature of our three faiths that is germane to what is happening is the power of the word. Unlike some of the other major world religions, our three faiths are religions of words. In addition to our respective sacred texts, all three gather people to study and be inspired by the word spoken. While it is easy for non-Catholics to criticize the Pope for not being more sensitive to his use of words, what pastor has not experienced the destructive power of a careless word spoken by either clergy or member? Two weeks ago our lectionary passage from James 3:1-12 reminded us "How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire." Not only the initial statement of the pope but also the artful way he has seemed to apologize without fully acknowledging the power of his words to hurt remind us again of the power of words to both heal and fail to heal.
Sunday at sundown, October 1, begins Yom Kippur or Day of Atonement in Judaism in which all sins are forgiven and a new beginning is experienced. September 24 begins the season of Ramadan in Islam where they refocus on the disciplines of faith that strengthen their consciousness of the presence of God. It is perhaps appropriate that in many Christian churches October 1 is a Sunday in which we celebrate World Wide Communion. Our three faiths are interacting with each other with increasing frequency, sometimes with positive and sadly often with destructive results. In the Gospel lesson for this week, the disciples seem to be seeking exclusive possession of the healing power of God. Jesus objected and said, "Whoever is not against us is for us." Perhaps the competition among our faiths should be in demonstrating the peace of God for which we all yearn.
The lesson from James 5:13-20 provides us an approach to Christian community that may well serve as a witness both to other faiths and to ourselves as well. In the words of the old hymn, "We've a story to tell to the nations" but lately we have not been doing a very effective job of telling that story either by our words or our lives.
THE WORD
James 5:13-20
In a time when too many political leaders fail to understand the powerful impact of religion in our world and even many church members consider the church as a nonessential add on to the more important business of their lives, the words of James are instructive. The church is the communal gathering of the people of faith that encourages and nurtures our life in faith. We live in a very individualistic society. According to a recent study by the National Science Foundation reported on in the Washington Post, we are rapidly becoming a socially isolated society in which everyone lives in their own cocoon. "Over the past 20 years, according to this study, the number of people who said they could count on a neighbor as a confidant fell by more than 50 %." It is too easy in such a fragmented and isolated world for individuals to allow their respective sufferings to throw them into despair. Because we are increasingly isolated from the sufferings of others, it is equally tempting in good times to forget the source of our blessings.
A major role of the church is to act as a counter culture to this lonely world. It is the community of faith that reminds us that if we are suffering, we should pray; and if we are cheerful, we should sing songs of praise. When we are ill, we are not left alone. It is the responsibility of the elders to bring the resources of faith to bear on our illness (James 5:13-14). Most active members of churches experience that healing, supporting, strengthening aspect of the church community throughout the year. What we are discovering in our tightly connected world is that the sense of isolation and hurt that needs attending to extends far beyond our local congregation. Many a church has experienced the value of taking their members on mission trips to help people who are suffering in other parts of the world and discovering that they received as much as they gave. We are learning, in the words of Paul, to "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15).
Whether it be in a single congregation or around the world, we are discovering that when we do that well, it is one of our most powerful testimonies to our faith. When that is done for people of other communities and even of other faiths, it is a powerful expression of the universal power of God to heal and to love. As was mentioned in the section entitled The World, we are a faith that experiences the power of words, but our words are much more powerful when we "walk the walk" and don't just "talk the talk."
Of course, we don't always live our faith in the way that we know that we should. Despite our best intentions, we treat neighbors near and far as if they are strangers rather than one of God's beloved. Yet here again is a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate the power of the faith. Again James instructs us to trust in the power of the community of faith. As James assures us, "anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven." In a world in which people are always saying or doing the wrong things and offending others, what a powerful witness the church has to offer. Here is a place when you fail, as we all will, you can come and be forgiven and healed.
The challenge for us is our willingness to fully acknowledge our sins. In the apologies of public figures, political, religious, and business figures, we have seen sad examples of people trying to appear to apologize without really saying, "I was wrong." Far too frequently major figures have gotten themselves in deep problems not because of the failed act itself but because of their resistance to fully acknowledging that they had done wrong. The church needs to demonstrate another way. As James reminds us, in the church when we sin we can "confess (our) sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that (we) may be healed." There is a power in the community of faith that is not available to the individual.
It is popular in our individualistic society to dismiss the church through pointing out the failures of the church. While most churches provide plenty of evidence of their failure to demonstrate the faith they proclaim, they also provide the arena in which we can grow in the faith. Paul recognized from the beginning that the treasure of the faith was contained in the clay jars of the church (2 Corinthians 4:7), but he saw in that very fact the power of God at work. James had rehearsed and admonished his people for their many shortcomings. Yet it is to the church, with all its frailties, that he called the people. It is the church that preserves the Scriptures, the rituals that nurture us, and the opportunity for praise that points us to the giver of all that we have. It is the church that both invites and offers forgiveness as we grow in our understanding of the grace of God. It is the church that reminds us that "the prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective."
In the end, we are all dependent on the grace and forgiveness of God. As we experience that grace mediated out from one person to the other it contributes to the vitality of the community as a whole. In the words of our Gospel lesson, it is like salt that flavors our food. "Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another." (Mark 9: 50) It is a prescription worthy of the churches of Christ.
CRAFTING THE SERMON
The prophet Amos demonstrated the strategy of beginning by condemning others far away from us and then slowly tightening the circle until we were all caught up in the judgment (Amos 1:2-2:16). That may be a strategy for constructing your sermon.
You could begin your sermon by talking about the reaction to the Pope's words and the tragedy that three faiths whose central tenet is peace have such a difficulty relating to each other. Or you could lift up the image of Jerusalem, the city of Peace (Jeru Salem the foundation of peace) and speak of the tragedy that a center of three faiths is also the center of so much violence in our world.
Then, while people's attention is focused on the failure of faiths to bring peace, you could tighten the circle of concern by speaking of the difficulty of even local churches to demonstrate the peace of Christ in their life as a congregation. If you began with mention of the words of the Pope, you could then speak of how frequently words cause offence and raise hostilities even among close neighbors.
You could move from there to speak of the frequent failure to recognize the power of the church in demonstrating the peace of Christ. You could read the words of James about the healing power of the church in caring for each other and the importance of our praise to keep life in perspective. It is a good reminder of what churches can celebrate in their congregation. It also would be a good time to remind people while words can be very destructive they can also be powerful instruments of healing. You might even note how our liturgy guides us in using words to both praise and forgive. Every week we demonstrate the power of this gospel that is contained in earthen vessels.
You might want to conclude by circling back out and reminding the congregation that as they demonstrate the healing, forgiving, nurturing, praising power of our faith, they are providing a beacon of hope for the world around them that desperately needs to hear words of hope and healing.
If you have access to that old song, "We've a Story to Tell to the Nations," it might be an appropriate song to sing following your words or even to read it to the congregation as a reminder of the power of living the Gospel on the lives of others. We live in a divided world, but for the God we worship it is one world, and we have the capacity to offer healing and in the process offer praise to the God who loves us.
ANOTHER VIEW
By Barbara Jurgensen
Early this evening, as soon as the sun has set and the first star can be seen in the sky by the youngest member of the family, our Jewish neighbors will begin celebrating Yom Kippur (yoam kip-POOR), the Day of Atonement, the holiest day of the entire Jewish calendar.
They'll be fasting from sunset today till sunset tomorrow, thinking back over the year, searching their hearts and asking all those that they have wronged in any way, including the Lord, to forgive them. And they will be granting forgiveness to all those who come seeking forgiveness from them, and making amends for any problems they have caused.
Yom Kippur culminates a forty-day period of self-examination that began, near the end of August, on the day of Slichot (slee-COAT), which means "forgiveness." Then, a little over a week ago, on Friday evening at sunset, our Jewish brothers and sisters began celebrating Rosh Hashanah (roash hah-shah-NAH), the Jewish New Year, the beginning of the thoughtful ten-day period known as the Days of Awe, which will end on Yom Kippur, this evening.
In Biblical times, on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, a goat was brought to the place of worship and the priest then placed both of his hands on the goat's head, and transferred all of the people's sin, all of the people's wrongdoing for the past year, onto the goat.
The sin-laden goat, now to be known as the "scapegoat," was led by an attendant out into the wilderness (Leviticus 16:10) and there was brought into God's powerful presence. We tend to think of the wilderness as an empty place, but they thought of it as a place where, free from distractions, one could come more easily into the presence of the Almighty.
The scapegoat, loaded down with the people's sins, foreshadowed our Lord being led outside the city, loaded down with the sins of the whole world.
The service this evening that will begin the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, will start as the haunting strains of the Kol Nidre (coal NEED-ruh) resound throughout the worship space, asking the Lord to wipe clean each person's slate so that they may enter the great day with a clean conscience.
The confession of sins on Yom Kippur is spoken in the plural: "For the sins which we have committed," reminding worshippers that they're part of a community and therefore are responsible, together with that community, for the wrongs in the world. The fasting and prayer that have led up to this day are to have led each individual into a deeper commitment to work for justice and peace in the world.
Through the prophet Isaiah the Lord says to them and to us:
Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of injustice,
to undo the thongs of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover them,
and not to hide yourself from your own kin?
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your healing shall spring up quickly...
-- Isaiah 58:6-8a
Can we learn something from our Jewish neighbors? After they've celebrated Slichot and Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and forgiven each other, there can be no more going back to accusing or blaming or punishing anyone for something they did in the past. All that has been forgiven; all that has been taken care of; all that has been done away with.
No offense that anyone committed in the past can ever be brought up again. This means that we're all set free! Everyone begins the new year with a clean slate.
We all need to admit our mistakes and ask for forgiveness. And we need to ask the Lord to forgive us for the wrongdoing that we're not aware of. "But who can detect their errors?" the Psalmist asks in our alternate Psalm for today. "Clear me from hidden faults" (Psalm 19:12).
We all need to forgive others and remember their wrongdoing (and our own) no more.
We all need to lay down the heavy burden we're carrying, the burden of our own wrongdoing and the wrongdoing of others. If we don't, we can become tense and nervous. Or we can develop serious health problems because we're so angry with someone, or because we're holding a grudge. Or because we haven't been able to forgive ourselves. By not forgiving, we're damaging our health and shortening our lives-and forgoing the peace and the joy in life that we could be having.
In the Lord's Prayer we pray, "Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us," and our Lord has promised to forgive us. "If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).
We need, with our Lord's help, to lay down our heavy burden. Our epistle today from the book of James urges us to "confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed" (James 5:16).
And the Psalmist reminds us, "As far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:12). Our sinfulness, the wrongdoing of all of us, has been loaded onto the One who carried it outside the camp, and now it's gone. We are free, and we need to grant ourselves and all others this freedom. If Christ has made us free, we are truly free. John tells us, "So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36).
ILLUSTRATIONS
St. Francis and Forgiveness
With the Pope's remarks about Islam, the temptation is to keep this talk about our words and forgiveness on a global level between the three major religions. However, if it remains there, we have not come to terms with our own need to rein in our words and seek forgiveness.
It has been reported that St. Francis once had a woman, prone to gossip, approach him for forgiveness. Her words got her into trouble to often and she was looking for a new start. When she came in to the church, asking for forgiveness, before pronouncing the absolution, St. Francis told her to go out that night and place a feather at the doorpost of everyone she had offended. The woman did and the next morning returned to the church. St. Francis then offered the words of forgiveness and then told her to return that night to all of those same homes and collect the feathers. When the woman returned the following morning, she had no feathers in her hand. "They have all blown away. I couldn't retrieve any of them." "So it is with your word," her priest told her. "Your actions can be forgiven by God but you cannot take back your words-or the damage they caused. They are like those feathers, forever gone. For that, you need to make amends with those you've offended and seek to restore those damaged relationships."
* * *
Etch A Sketch
Before X-Box there was PS2. Before PS2 there was Nintendo. Before Nintendo there was Atari (remember Pong? You are old!) And before Pong there was Etch a Sketch.
I love these things. I can draw a line going up or down. Steps are easy. Circles are difficult. But the best thing about this Etch a Sketch is if you don't like it, what do you do? Shake it up and presto! A clean slate. You start all over again.
You can't do that with many things. You hit a bad shot in golf and it is with you the entire 18 holes. You drop a glass, and there is no putting it back together again. You miss an important event for your kids and there is no turning back the clock. You can't even do that with your spouse. If you've done something wrong, you can be for-given, but you know what? It is always there. Isn't it? Even somewhere in the back of your mind, it never really goes away because we have this pesky thing called a memory.
And that goes for yourself, also, doesn't it? We all have regrets, we all have skeletons in the closet, don't we? We remember. And shake it off as much as you try, it still lingers.
The Bible says in Colossians 3:14, "He has forgiven all our sins and canceled every record of the debt we owed." The gift of forgiveness is the gift of the clean slate. There will be consequence for our misdeeds and harmful words, to be sure. Relationship will need to be mended. Trust will have to be rebuilt. But with God, he promises not only to forgive our sins but to forget them as well through his son who came to shake things up a bit.
"If you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive?" (Psalm 130:3).
* * *
This is a story that comes from Max Lucado:
Have you ever heard of the Pelicano? In 1986, it was the world's most unwanted ship. The Pelicano traveled the high seas and no one wanted her.
Sri Lanka, Bermuda, Haiti, Netherland, South Africa. Nobody. The problem not the boat. It was rusty and full of barnacles but still sea worthy. The problem was not the owner. He had paid all of his licenses and taxes. The problem was not the crew. They were very capable sailors. The problem was the cargo. Trash. Fifteen thousand tons of trash. Orange peelings, beer bottles, fastfood leftovers. In 1986 the Philadelphia trash collectors went on strike. So the someone put it on the ship, thinking that he could just dump it someplace for the city and turn a quick buck. Unfortunately, no one wanted it. They went to port to port with no takers so they just cruised around for a long time with garbage in their hull.
I think some people feel like that Pelicano. They've got this history, this garbage they've picked up and no where to dump the trash. And so, they just carry it around.
Like Julie. Julie was a 31 year old divorced woman who did a couple of things that she shouldn't have done and her husband left with the kids. She says now, "I feel awful. I hate my job. I see my kids part time. I go home alone and cry. But no one is there, no one holds me. No one asks me how I am doing. And I don't see anything change. I feel as if I have to sit out the rest of my life in the penalty box." She is a walking Pelicano.
Tired of the garbage? Tired of living in the Penalty Box? When it comes to forgiveness we have a choice. We can live with the garbage of our past or we can choose to dump it at the foot of the cross and start anew. Jesus likened himself to a physician. He came not for the healthy but he for the sick, for those sick of the garbage of their past, for those ready to experience the health of forgiveness and live garbage-free.
* * *
It was Richard Nixon that said: "I am not a crook."
Clinton said: "I did not have sex with that woman."
And now Pope Benedict has said that he was "sorry for some of the reactions" to a few lines he quoted from a fourteenth-century Byzantine Emperor.
Those statements don't sound like apologies, do they?
What makes it so hard for us to take responsibility for being human? Do we not all misspeak from time to time? Are we not at times all a bit hasty with our remarks?
What is so bad about saying? "Yes, I said it. I did it. I'm sorry."
It has been said that if Nixon, or Clinton, and now the Pope had just made a complete, enthusiastic, and authentic apology, a great deal of misery and recrimination could have been avoided. Instead there were impeachment proceedings, and riots in the streets of the Islamic world. Thus the response seems often to be out of proportion to the original offence. In the blame game things do seem to go from bad to worse
* * *
Why is it so important for us to find someone to blame? It seems easier to blame someone else rather that accept responsibility for the fact that we all sin and that we are all accountable.
One of the foundational principles of the Institute for Servant Leadership is; "Blame is always a cover-up!" That statement has often seemed like a fine corrective to me.
If it is true then when anyone points a finger at someone else, there will always be four pointing back. Perhaps there is a better way.
It was John, the beloved apostle who said; "But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:1, 2), I must say that does sound a bit better to me than blame.
* * *
The Forgiveness Book, written by Bob Libby in 1992 and published by Cowley Press is a gem of a book for the modern world. Too bad it is so obscure. It found its way onto my bookshelf when it was published because of that refreshingly hopeful title. I have always hoped I would be forgiven. Many people come to my office hoping that they can be forgiven. Many feel that it is impossible. But this exquisite little book explores the mystery of forgiveness for the unforgivable, reconciliation for the irreconcilable and love for the unlovable. What remarkable and reassuring idea. It is an idea that is urgently needed in this dangerous world. It is as if the world we live in is aching for Good News! Here it is! Who has the courage to proclaim that news from the rooftops? We are Forgiven!
* * *
"Elements of the Washington power elite, formed in the cold war, have attempted to configure the Muslim world as the new Soviet Union.
"The problem, of course, is that the Muslim world is not actually like the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union was a state... a power to be reckoned with. Almost all of the states of the Muslim world, in contrast, are close friends and allies of America. As for Muslim publics, they evince an enthusiastic appreciation of democracy in all the polls taken, and mainly criticize the U.S. on specific policies and the immorality of Hollywood films. They do not hate our way of life, or at least no more than does America's own Bible Belt."
-- Juan R. I. Cole, "Sacred Space and Holy War: The Politics, Culture, and History of Shi'ite Islam"
* * *
"To work patiently alongside people of other faiths is not an option invented by modern liberals who seek to relativize the radical singleness of Jesus Christ and what was made possible through him. It was a necessary part of being where he is; it is a dimension of 'liturgy,' staying before the presence of God and the presence of God's creation (human and nonhuman) in prayer and love. If we are truly learning how to be in that relation with God and the world in which Jesus of Nazareth stood, we shall not turn away from those who see from another place. And any claim or belief that we see more or more deeply is always rightly going to be tested in those encounters where we find ourselves working for a vision of human flourishing and justice in the company of those who do not start where we have started."
-- Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury
* * *
God, our Father and Mother, creator and sustainer of the universe, we thank you for the wondrous ways in which you have revealed your love to us through the teachings of the sages of India, wise men of the East; through the enlightened words of the Buddha and the disciplined words of the Prophet Mohammed, and through the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We pray that you will pour you love into our hearts that with open minds we may accept all peoples of the world as brothers and sisters, and serve them in true humility, so that all humankind may find the joy of true freedom in you.
-- Rajah Jacob
WORSHIP RESOURCE
By Thom Schuman
Call To Worship
Leader: We have walked with you, O God,
from many parts of the world
to this time and place.
People: And we will walk with you, O God,
into the world to serve all people.
Leader: We leave behind our old securities;
we leave behind our reliance on worldly goods.
People: And we will walk with you, O God,
into the world to live with all people.
Leader: We leave behind all which holds us back;
we leave behind all which keeps us
from following you.
People: And we will walk with you, O God,
into the world to work with all people.
Leader: We leave behind the fears that bind us;
we leave behind the hurts which damage us.
People: And we will walk with you, O God,
into the peace you offer to all people.
Prayer Of The Day
Wherever the stories of Jesus are told,
wherever gifts are offered in service,
wherever hope is a part of healing,
wherever songs of joy are sung,
in every land, in every heart,
in every village, and every place:
Bless to us, O God,
the tenderness of your heart.
Bless to us, Christ of Peace,
the path which people walk
seeking to follow you:
worn smooth by the feet of pilgrims,
yet still rocky in places;
the destination unknown to many,
yet the way to life and hope.
Bless to us, Salty Spirit,
the companions you give to us:
mentors and mischief-makers,
curmudgeons and gigglers,
builders and believers,
brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles;
neighbors and strangers
who gather in dusty villages
and centers of power
to feast on the goodness of your grace.
God in Community, Holy in One,
give us your peace, as we pray
as Jesus has taught us, saying,
Our Father ...
Call To Reconciliation
Sometimes our words and actions show how we are salt for the world. But then come those moments when we lose our flavor and our way. Let us confess our sins to our God, so we might be restored and forgiven.
Unison Prayer Of Confession
Called to be your people, Living God -- why do we find it so hard to answer? You ask us to speak out against injustice, and we whisper because we are afraid someone might hear us. You ask us to see the pain and poverty around us, but we close our eyes. You tell us that everyone, and each one, is created in your image, yet we persist in noticing the differences between us and others.
Forgive us, God of the Past and Creator of the Future. May we be the ones who go out into the world, bearing your gifts of peace, of hope, of healing, of joy to every one who is broken, even as we have been made whole through the gift of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
(Silence is observed.)
Assurance Of Pardon
Leader: Touched by the healing hands of our Lord,
filled with the grace of our God,
led by the compassion of the Holy Spirit,
our hearts are opened and we discover
we are forgiven and at peace with God.
People: Those who are created to love the unlovable;
those who are created to bear grace;
those who are created to embrace all people:
we receive our forgiveness, giving thanks
to our God. Amen.
Great Prayer Of Thanksgiving
Leader: My beloved sisters and brothers,
may the Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: My beloved brothers and sisters,
lift up your hearts.
People: Our hearts are lifted high to God.
Leader: Beloved of God,
let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: Thanksgiving is in our hearts,
and praise is on our lips.
It is our hearts true longing
to praise and glorify you,
God of all glory.
You shaped us in your image,
so we might reflect your grace;
you breathed the Spirit into us,
so we might live your hope.
But we were wiser than you
and so chose another path.
You spoke to our grandparents of the faith
in a shrub burning with the cries of captives;
in the thunder of stuttering prophets;
in the still, small voice of a weeping mother.
Yet we persisted in our stubbornness,
hardening our hearts towards you.
And so, you whispered to us one morning
in the borning cries of a Child
in the dirt and grime of a stable.
Therefore, we join our voices
with our sisters and brothers in all the world,
and with those of every time,
singing songs of joy to your heart:
Sanctus
We praise you in this congregation, Holy God,
and bless your Son, Jesus our Lord.
Stamped with your image,
he walked among us
so we could see who we could become.
When he spoke your Word of peace,
he shattered the walls of war and violence.
When he was offered the easy way out
of his suffering and death,
he carried his integrity to Calvary,
where he was broken to make us whole,
where he died so we might live with you.
We remember, and in remembering,
we would tell others of your wonderful love,
and would be peacemakers for the world,
even as we live out that mystery we call faith:
Memorial Acclamation
Pour out the Spirit of the Prince of Peace
not only on us
and the gifts of the bread and the cup,
but on all your children throughout the world:
who gather around war-scarred tables
and at the tailgates of humvees
to pass the Bread of Life
from hand to hand
until all the hungry are fed;
and who stand on both sides
of those walls built of our fears and hurts
and dare to offer the Cup of peace
to those known only as "the enemy"
unto all are graced
and embrace one another in love.
Through your Son, Jesus, who is our peace;
through the Spirit, who empowers us to be weak;
we honor and glorify your hopes
for all people in all creation,
Great God our hope and our joy,
now and forever. Amen.
CHILDREN'S SERMON
Who is on the Lord's side?
Object: a shirt or jacket with the name or logo of a school that you did not attend
Good morning, boys and girls. Have you ever seen anyone wear a shirt or jacket with a school name on it? (hold up your jersey or jacket) If you saw me wearing this jacket, would you think that I went to this school? (let them answer) The fact is I did not go to this school, but I can still wear the jacket. However, if I wear this jacket, I probably like the school.
The disciples of Jesus found some people one day healing people in the name of Jesus. These people were not part of their group. The disciples didn't like it that these people were using the name of Jesus and they tried to get them to stop it. But the people kept on doing it because people were being healed. How do you think these strangers felt about Jesus? (let them answer) They liked him even if they did not know him. Jesus told the disciples not to pick on these people. God was working with the strangers and they were coming closer to Jesus even if they did not know him.
Sometimes we find ourselves feeling funny about people who go to other churches. There are Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and many other churches. Why don't they come to our church? Are we the best church? Why do they have different kinds of songs, prayers, and other parts of worship? Why don't their pastors dress like our pastor? Why do they worship on different days, at different times? Those are all very good questions. But if they believe Jesus is the Savior and that he forgives us for our sins and died on the cross to save us, we should be happy that they are serving God and Jesus.
Jesus said to his disciples that if people were not against us they were for us! We may not play on the same team, but we can play the same game. We may not say the same words, but if we all believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that he loves us and shares his life with us, then we are all Christians.
The next time you see someone wearing a school jacket or a shirt, ask him/her if they go to that school. If they say no, they don't go to that school, then ask them if they like the school and the people that go there. I think they will tell you they like the school. The next time you see someone going to a different church, ask him or her if they love Jesus. I think they will tell you that they do and they hope you do also.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Immediate Word, October 1, 2006, issue.
Copyright 2006 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 permissions@csspub.com or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 517 South Main Street, Lima, Ohio 45804.
One God, Many Faiths, And A Divided World
By Stephen McCutchan
THE WORLD
The recent furor over the words of Pope Benedict XVI and the strong reaction of the Islamic world to them has illustrated again how volatile our world is. Of course no one has to remind a pastor who is constantly dealing with conflict, if not in her or his church then in the denomination, how fragile the bonds are that bind us. The reaction to the Pope's words, as well as the previously strong reaction to the cartoons printed in the Danish newspaper that were seen as mocking Mohammed, forcefully remind us that it is a grave error to ignore the explosive power of religion in our society. It is striking to remember that the three major religions around which much of the world has experienced violence in recent years all have a central focus on peace in this world. Islam contains peace in its name, Christians worship the Prince of Peace, and Shalom is a major vision of peace and wholeness in Judaism. Also all three of us consider Jerusalem, the city of peace, to be a major geographical location in our faiths, and it also happens to be a critical center for the violence that threatens to consume the world.
Another feature of our three faiths that is germane to what is happening is the power of the word. Unlike some of the other major world religions, our three faiths are religions of words. In addition to our respective sacred texts, all three gather people to study and be inspired by the word spoken. While it is easy for non-Catholics to criticize the Pope for not being more sensitive to his use of words, what pastor has not experienced the destructive power of a careless word spoken by either clergy or member? Two weeks ago our lectionary passage from James 3:1-12 reminded us "How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire." Not only the initial statement of the pope but also the artful way he has seemed to apologize without fully acknowledging the power of his words to hurt remind us again of the power of words to both heal and fail to heal.
Sunday at sundown, October 1, begins Yom Kippur or Day of Atonement in Judaism in which all sins are forgiven and a new beginning is experienced. September 24 begins the season of Ramadan in Islam where they refocus on the disciplines of faith that strengthen their consciousness of the presence of God. It is perhaps appropriate that in many Christian churches October 1 is a Sunday in which we celebrate World Wide Communion. Our three faiths are interacting with each other with increasing frequency, sometimes with positive and sadly often with destructive results. In the Gospel lesson for this week, the disciples seem to be seeking exclusive possession of the healing power of God. Jesus objected and said, "Whoever is not against us is for us." Perhaps the competition among our faiths should be in demonstrating the peace of God for which we all yearn.
The lesson from James 5:13-20 provides us an approach to Christian community that may well serve as a witness both to other faiths and to ourselves as well. In the words of the old hymn, "We've a story to tell to the nations" but lately we have not been doing a very effective job of telling that story either by our words or our lives.
THE WORD
James 5:13-20
In a time when too many political leaders fail to understand the powerful impact of religion in our world and even many church members consider the church as a nonessential add on to the more important business of their lives, the words of James are instructive. The church is the communal gathering of the people of faith that encourages and nurtures our life in faith. We live in a very individualistic society. According to a recent study by the National Science Foundation reported on in the Washington Post, we are rapidly becoming a socially isolated society in which everyone lives in their own cocoon. "Over the past 20 years, according to this study, the number of people who said they could count on a neighbor as a confidant fell by more than 50 %." It is too easy in such a fragmented and isolated world for individuals to allow their respective sufferings to throw them into despair. Because we are increasingly isolated from the sufferings of others, it is equally tempting in good times to forget the source of our blessings.
A major role of the church is to act as a counter culture to this lonely world. It is the community of faith that reminds us that if we are suffering, we should pray; and if we are cheerful, we should sing songs of praise. When we are ill, we are not left alone. It is the responsibility of the elders to bring the resources of faith to bear on our illness (James 5:13-14). Most active members of churches experience that healing, supporting, strengthening aspect of the church community throughout the year. What we are discovering in our tightly connected world is that the sense of isolation and hurt that needs attending to extends far beyond our local congregation. Many a church has experienced the value of taking their members on mission trips to help people who are suffering in other parts of the world and discovering that they received as much as they gave. We are learning, in the words of Paul, to "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15).
Whether it be in a single congregation or around the world, we are discovering that when we do that well, it is one of our most powerful testimonies to our faith. When that is done for people of other communities and even of other faiths, it is a powerful expression of the universal power of God to heal and to love. As was mentioned in the section entitled The World, we are a faith that experiences the power of words, but our words are much more powerful when we "walk the walk" and don't just "talk the talk."
Of course, we don't always live our faith in the way that we know that we should. Despite our best intentions, we treat neighbors near and far as if they are strangers rather than one of God's beloved. Yet here again is a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate the power of the faith. Again James instructs us to trust in the power of the community of faith. As James assures us, "anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven." In a world in which people are always saying or doing the wrong things and offending others, what a powerful witness the church has to offer. Here is a place when you fail, as we all will, you can come and be forgiven and healed.
The challenge for us is our willingness to fully acknowledge our sins. In the apologies of public figures, political, religious, and business figures, we have seen sad examples of people trying to appear to apologize without really saying, "I was wrong." Far too frequently major figures have gotten themselves in deep problems not because of the failed act itself but because of their resistance to fully acknowledging that they had done wrong. The church needs to demonstrate another way. As James reminds us, in the church when we sin we can "confess (our) sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that (we) may be healed." There is a power in the community of faith that is not available to the individual.
It is popular in our individualistic society to dismiss the church through pointing out the failures of the church. While most churches provide plenty of evidence of their failure to demonstrate the faith they proclaim, they also provide the arena in which we can grow in the faith. Paul recognized from the beginning that the treasure of the faith was contained in the clay jars of the church (2 Corinthians 4:7), but he saw in that very fact the power of God at work. James had rehearsed and admonished his people for their many shortcomings. Yet it is to the church, with all its frailties, that he called the people. It is the church that preserves the Scriptures, the rituals that nurture us, and the opportunity for praise that points us to the giver of all that we have. It is the church that both invites and offers forgiveness as we grow in our understanding of the grace of God. It is the church that reminds us that "the prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective."
In the end, we are all dependent on the grace and forgiveness of God. As we experience that grace mediated out from one person to the other it contributes to the vitality of the community as a whole. In the words of our Gospel lesson, it is like salt that flavors our food. "Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another." (Mark 9: 50) It is a prescription worthy of the churches of Christ.
CRAFTING THE SERMON
The prophet Amos demonstrated the strategy of beginning by condemning others far away from us and then slowly tightening the circle until we were all caught up in the judgment (Amos 1:2-2:16). That may be a strategy for constructing your sermon.
You could begin your sermon by talking about the reaction to the Pope's words and the tragedy that three faiths whose central tenet is peace have such a difficulty relating to each other. Or you could lift up the image of Jerusalem, the city of Peace (Jeru Salem the foundation of peace) and speak of the tragedy that a center of three faiths is also the center of so much violence in our world.
Then, while people's attention is focused on the failure of faiths to bring peace, you could tighten the circle of concern by speaking of the difficulty of even local churches to demonstrate the peace of Christ in their life as a congregation. If you began with mention of the words of the Pope, you could then speak of how frequently words cause offence and raise hostilities even among close neighbors.
You could move from there to speak of the frequent failure to recognize the power of the church in demonstrating the peace of Christ. You could read the words of James about the healing power of the church in caring for each other and the importance of our praise to keep life in perspective. It is a good reminder of what churches can celebrate in their congregation. It also would be a good time to remind people while words can be very destructive they can also be powerful instruments of healing. You might even note how our liturgy guides us in using words to both praise and forgive. Every week we demonstrate the power of this gospel that is contained in earthen vessels.
You might want to conclude by circling back out and reminding the congregation that as they demonstrate the healing, forgiving, nurturing, praising power of our faith, they are providing a beacon of hope for the world around them that desperately needs to hear words of hope and healing.
If you have access to that old song, "We've a Story to Tell to the Nations," it might be an appropriate song to sing following your words or even to read it to the congregation as a reminder of the power of living the Gospel on the lives of others. We live in a divided world, but for the God we worship it is one world, and we have the capacity to offer healing and in the process offer praise to the God who loves us.
ANOTHER VIEW
By Barbara Jurgensen
Early this evening, as soon as the sun has set and the first star can be seen in the sky by the youngest member of the family, our Jewish neighbors will begin celebrating Yom Kippur (yoam kip-POOR), the Day of Atonement, the holiest day of the entire Jewish calendar.
They'll be fasting from sunset today till sunset tomorrow, thinking back over the year, searching their hearts and asking all those that they have wronged in any way, including the Lord, to forgive them. And they will be granting forgiveness to all those who come seeking forgiveness from them, and making amends for any problems they have caused.
Yom Kippur culminates a forty-day period of self-examination that began, near the end of August, on the day of Slichot (slee-COAT), which means "forgiveness." Then, a little over a week ago, on Friday evening at sunset, our Jewish brothers and sisters began celebrating Rosh Hashanah (roash hah-shah-NAH), the Jewish New Year, the beginning of the thoughtful ten-day period known as the Days of Awe, which will end on Yom Kippur, this evening.
In Biblical times, on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, a goat was brought to the place of worship and the priest then placed both of his hands on the goat's head, and transferred all of the people's sin, all of the people's wrongdoing for the past year, onto the goat.
The sin-laden goat, now to be known as the "scapegoat," was led by an attendant out into the wilderness (Leviticus 16:10) and there was brought into God's powerful presence. We tend to think of the wilderness as an empty place, but they thought of it as a place where, free from distractions, one could come more easily into the presence of the Almighty.
The scapegoat, loaded down with the people's sins, foreshadowed our Lord being led outside the city, loaded down with the sins of the whole world.
The service this evening that will begin the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, will start as the haunting strains of the Kol Nidre (coal NEED-ruh) resound throughout the worship space, asking the Lord to wipe clean each person's slate so that they may enter the great day with a clean conscience.
The confession of sins on Yom Kippur is spoken in the plural: "For the sins which we have committed," reminding worshippers that they're part of a community and therefore are responsible, together with that community, for the wrongs in the world. The fasting and prayer that have led up to this day are to have led each individual into a deeper commitment to work for justice and peace in the world.
Through the prophet Isaiah the Lord says to them and to us:
Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of injustice,
to undo the thongs of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover them,
and not to hide yourself from your own kin?
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your healing shall spring up quickly...
-- Isaiah 58:6-8a
Can we learn something from our Jewish neighbors? After they've celebrated Slichot and Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and forgiven each other, there can be no more going back to accusing or blaming or punishing anyone for something they did in the past. All that has been forgiven; all that has been taken care of; all that has been done away with.
No offense that anyone committed in the past can ever be brought up again. This means that we're all set free! Everyone begins the new year with a clean slate.
We all need to admit our mistakes and ask for forgiveness. And we need to ask the Lord to forgive us for the wrongdoing that we're not aware of. "But who can detect their errors?" the Psalmist asks in our alternate Psalm for today. "Clear me from hidden faults" (Psalm 19:12).
We all need to forgive others and remember their wrongdoing (and our own) no more.
We all need to lay down the heavy burden we're carrying, the burden of our own wrongdoing and the wrongdoing of others. If we don't, we can become tense and nervous. Or we can develop serious health problems because we're so angry with someone, or because we're holding a grudge. Or because we haven't been able to forgive ourselves. By not forgiving, we're damaging our health and shortening our lives-and forgoing the peace and the joy in life that we could be having.
In the Lord's Prayer we pray, "Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us," and our Lord has promised to forgive us. "If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).
We need, with our Lord's help, to lay down our heavy burden. Our epistle today from the book of James urges us to "confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed" (James 5:16).
And the Psalmist reminds us, "As far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:12). Our sinfulness, the wrongdoing of all of us, has been loaded onto the One who carried it outside the camp, and now it's gone. We are free, and we need to grant ourselves and all others this freedom. If Christ has made us free, we are truly free. John tells us, "So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36).
ILLUSTRATIONS
St. Francis and Forgiveness
With the Pope's remarks about Islam, the temptation is to keep this talk about our words and forgiveness on a global level between the three major religions. However, if it remains there, we have not come to terms with our own need to rein in our words and seek forgiveness.
It has been reported that St. Francis once had a woman, prone to gossip, approach him for forgiveness. Her words got her into trouble to often and she was looking for a new start. When she came in to the church, asking for forgiveness, before pronouncing the absolution, St. Francis told her to go out that night and place a feather at the doorpost of everyone she had offended. The woman did and the next morning returned to the church. St. Francis then offered the words of forgiveness and then told her to return that night to all of those same homes and collect the feathers. When the woman returned the following morning, she had no feathers in her hand. "They have all blown away. I couldn't retrieve any of them." "So it is with your word," her priest told her. "Your actions can be forgiven by God but you cannot take back your words-or the damage they caused. They are like those feathers, forever gone. For that, you need to make amends with those you've offended and seek to restore those damaged relationships."
* * *
Etch A Sketch
Before X-Box there was PS2. Before PS2 there was Nintendo. Before Nintendo there was Atari (remember Pong? You are old!) And before Pong there was Etch a Sketch.
I love these things. I can draw a line going up or down. Steps are easy. Circles are difficult. But the best thing about this Etch a Sketch is if you don't like it, what do you do? Shake it up and presto! A clean slate. You start all over again.
You can't do that with many things. You hit a bad shot in golf and it is with you the entire 18 holes. You drop a glass, and there is no putting it back together again. You miss an important event for your kids and there is no turning back the clock. You can't even do that with your spouse. If you've done something wrong, you can be for-given, but you know what? It is always there. Isn't it? Even somewhere in the back of your mind, it never really goes away because we have this pesky thing called a memory.
And that goes for yourself, also, doesn't it? We all have regrets, we all have skeletons in the closet, don't we? We remember. And shake it off as much as you try, it still lingers.
The Bible says in Colossians 3:14, "He has forgiven all our sins and canceled every record of the debt we owed." The gift of forgiveness is the gift of the clean slate. There will be consequence for our misdeeds and harmful words, to be sure. Relationship will need to be mended. Trust will have to be rebuilt. But with God, he promises not only to forgive our sins but to forget them as well through his son who came to shake things up a bit.
"If you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive?" (Psalm 130:3).
* * *
This is a story that comes from Max Lucado:
Have you ever heard of the Pelicano? In 1986, it was the world's most unwanted ship. The Pelicano traveled the high seas and no one wanted her.
Sri Lanka, Bermuda, Haiti, Netherland, South Africa. Nobody. The problem not the boat. It was rusty and full of barnacles but still sea worthy. The problem was not the owner. He had paid all of his licenses and taxes. The problem was not the crew. They were very capable sailors. The problem was the cargo. Trash. Fifteen thousand tons of trash. Orange peelings, beer bottles, fastfood leftovers. In 1986 the Philadelphia trash collectors went on strike. So the someone put it on the ship, thinking that he could just dump it someplace for the city and turn a quick buck. Unfortunately, no one wanted it. They went to port to port with no takers so they just cruised around for a long time with garbage in their hull.
I think some people feel like that Pelicano. They've got this history, this garbage they've picked up and no where to dump the trash. And so, they just carry it around.
Like Julie. Julie was a 31 year old divorced woman who did a couple of things that she shouldn't have done and her husband left with the kids. She says now, "I feel awful. I hate my job. I see my kids part time. I go home alone and cry. But no one is there, no one holds me. No one asks me how I am doing. And I don't see anything change. I feel as if I have to sit out the rest of my life in the penalty box." She is a walking Pelicano.
Tired of the garbage? Tired of living in the Penalty Box? When it comes to forgiveness we have a choice. We can live with the garbage of our past or we can choose to dump it at the foot of the cross and start anew. Jesus likened himself to a physician. He came not for the healthy but he for the sick, for those sick of the garbage of their past, for those ready to experience the health of forgiveness and live garbage-free.
* * *
It was Richard Nixon that said: "I am not a crook."
Clinton said: "I did not have sex with that woman."
And now Pope Benedict has said that he was "sorry for some of the reactions" to a few lines he quoted from a fourteenth-century Byzantine Emperor.
Those statements don't sound like apologies, do they?
What makes it so hard for us to take responsibility for being human? Do we not all misspeak from time to time? Are we not at times all a bit hasty with our remarks?
What is so bad about saying? "Yes, I said it. I did it. I'm sorry."
It has been said that if Nixon, or Clinton, and now the Pope had just made a complete, enthusiastic, and authentic apology, a great deal of misery and recrimination could have been avoided. Instead there were impeachment proceedings, and riots in the streets of the Islamic world. Thus the response seems often to be out of proportion to the original offence. In the blame game things do seem to go from bad to worse
* * *
Why is it so important for us to find someone to blame? It seems easier to blame someone else rather that accept responsibility for the fact that we all sin and that we are all accountable.
One of the foundational principles of the Institute for Servant Leadership is; "Blame is always a cover-up!" That statement has often seemed like a fine corrective to me.
If it is true then when anyone points a finger at someone else, there will always be four pointing back. Perhaps there is a better way.
It was John, the beloved apostle who said; "But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:1, 2), I must say that does sound a bit better to me than blame.
* * *
The Forgiveness Book, written by Bob Libby in 1992 and published by Cowley Press is a gem of a book for the modern world. Too bad it is so obscure. It found its way onto my bookshelf when it was published because of that refreshingly hopeful title. I have always hoped I would be forgiven. Many people come to my office hoping that they can be forgiven. Many feel that it is impossible. But this exquisite little book explores the mystery of forgiveness for the unforgivable, reconciliation for the irreconcilable and love for the unlovable. What remarkable and reassuring idea. It is an idea that is urgently needed in this dangerous world. It is as if the world we live in is aching for Good News! Here it is! Who has the courage to proclaim that news from the rooftops? We are Forgiven!
* * *
"Elements of the Washington power elite, formed in the cold war, have attempted to configure the Muslim world as the new Soviet Union.
"The problem, of course, is that the Muslim world is not actually like the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union was a state... a power to be reckoned with. Almost all of the states of the Muslim world, in contrast, are close friends and allies of America. As for Muslim publics, they evince an enthusiastic appreciation of democracy in all the polls taken, and mainly criticize the U.S. on specific policies and the immorality of Hollywood films. They do not hate our way of life, or at least no more than does America's own Bible Belt."
-- Juan R. I. Cole, "Sacred Space and Holy War: The Politics, Culture, and History of Shi'ite Islam"
* * *
"To work patiently alongside people of other faiths is not an option invented by modern liberals who seek to relativize the radical singleness of Jesus Christ and what was made possible through him. It was a necessary part of being where he is; it is a dimension of 'liturgy,' staying before the presence of God and the presence of God's creation (human and nonhuman) in prayer and love. If we are truly learning how to be in that relation with God and the world in which Jesus of Nazareth stood, we shall not turn away from those who see from another place. And any claim or belief that we see more or more deeply is always rightly going to be tested in those encounters where we find ourselves working for a vision of human flourishing and justice in the company of those who do not start where we have started."
-- Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury
* * *
God, our Father and Mother, creator and sustainer of the universe, we thank you for the wondrous ways in which you have revealed your love to us through the teachings of the sages of India, wise men of the East; through the enlightened words of the Buddha and the disciplined words of the Prophet Mohammed, and through the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We pray that you will pour you love into our hearts that with open minds we may accept all peoples of the world as brothers and sisters, and serve them in true humility, so that all humankind may find the joy of true freedom in you.
-- Rajah Jacob
WORSHIP RESOURCE
By Thom Schuman
Call To Worship
Leader: We have walked with you, O God,
from many parts of the world
to this time and place.
People: And we will walk with you, O God,
into the world to serve all people.
Leader: We leave behind our old securities;
we leave behind our reliance on worldly goods.
People: And we will walk with you, O God,
into the world to live with all people.
Leader: We leave behind all which holds us back;
we leave behind all which keeps us
from following you.
People: And we will walk with you, O God,
into the world to work with all people.
Leader: We leave behind the fears that bind us;
we leave behind the hurts which damage us.
People: And we will walk with you, O God,
into the peace you offer to all people.
Prayer Of The Day
Wherever the stories of Jesus are told,
wherever gifts are offered in service,
wherever hope is a part of healing,
wherever songs of joy are sung,
in every land, in every heart,
in every village, and every place:
Bless to us, O God,
the tenderness of your heart.
Bless to us, Christ of Peace,
the path which people walk
seeking to follow you:
worn smooth by the feet of pilgrims,
yet still rocky in places;
the destination unknown to many,
yet the way to life and hope.
Bless to us, Salty Spirit,
the companions you give to us:
mentors and mischief-makers,
curmudgeons and gigglers,
builders and believers,
brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles;
neighbors and strangers
who gather in dusty villages
and centers of power
to feast on the goodness of your grace.
God in Community, Holy in One,
give us your peace, as we pray
as Jesus has taught us, saying,
Our Father ...
Call To Reconciliation
Sometimes our words and actions show how we are salt for the world. But then come those moments when we lose our flavor and our way. Let us confess our sins to our God, so we might be restored and forgiven.
Unison Prayer Of Confession
Called to be your people, Living God -- why do we find it so hard to answer? You ask us to speak out against injustice, and we whisper because we are afraid someone might hear us. You ask us to see the pain and poverty around us, but we close our eyes. You tell us that everyone, and each one, is created in your image, yet we persist in noticing the differences between us and others.
Forgive us, God of the Past and Creator of the Future. May we be the ones who go out into the world, bearing your gifts of peace, of hope, of healing, of joy to every one who is broken, even as we have been made whole through the gift of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
(Silence is observed.)
Assurance Of Pardon
Leader: Touched by the healing hands of our Lord,
filled with the grace of our God,
led by the compassion of the Holy Spirit,
our hearts are opened and we discover
we are forgiven and at peace with God.
People: Those who are created to love the unlovable;
those who are created to bear grace;
those who are created to embrace all people:
we receive our forgiveness, giving thanks
to our God. Amen.
Great Prayer Of Thanksgiving
Leader: My beloved sisters and brothers,
may the Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: My beloved brothers and sisters,
lift up your hearts.
People: Our hearts are lifted high to God.
Leader: Beloved of God,
let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: Thanksgiving is in our hearts,
and praise is on our lips.
It is our hearts true longing
to praise and glorify you,
God of all glory.
You shaped us in your image,
so we might reflect your grace;
you breathed the Spirit into us,
so we might live your hope.
But we were wiser than you
and so chose another path.
You spoke to our grandparents of the faith
in a shrub burning with the cries of captives;
in the thunder of stuttering prophets;
in the still, small voice of a weeping mother.
Yet we persisted in our stubbornness,
hardening our hearts towards you.
And so, you whispered to us one morning
in the borning cries of a Child
in the dirt and grime of a stable.
Therefore, we join our voices
with our sisters and brothers in all the world,
and with those of every time,
singing songs of joy to your heart:
Sanctus
We praise you in this congregation, Holy God,
and bless your Son, Jesus our Lord.
Stamped with your image,
he walked among us
so we could see who we could become.
When he spoke your Word of peace,
he shattered the walls of war and violence.
When he was offered the easy way out
of his suffering and death,
he carried his integrity to Calvary,
where he was broken to make us whole,
where he died so we might live with you.
We remember, and in remembering,
we would tell others of your wonderful love,
and would be peacemakers for the world,
even as we live out that mystery we call faith:
Memorial Acclamation
Pour out the Spirit of the Prince of Peace
not only on us
and the gifts of the bread and the cup,
but on all your children throughout the world:
who gather around war-scarred tables
and at the tailgates of humvees
to pass the Bread of Life
from hand to hand
until all the hungry are fed;
and who stand on both sides
of those walls built of our fears and hurts
and dare to offer the Cup of peace
to those known only as "the enemy"
unto all are graced
and embrace one another in love.
Through your Son, Jesus, who is our peace;
through the Spirit, who empowers us to be weak;
we honor and glorify your hopes
for all people in all creation,
Great God our hope and our joy,
now and forever. Amen.
CHILDREN'S SERMON
Who is on the Lord's side?
Object: a shirt or jacket with the name or logo of a school that you did not attend
Good morning, boys and girls. Have you ever seen anyone wear a shirt or jacket with a school name on it? (hold up your jersey or jacket) If you saw me wearing this jacket, would you think that I went to this school? (let them answer) The fact is I did not go to this school, but I can still wear the jacket. However, if I wear this jacket, I probably like the school.
The disciples of Jesus found some people one day healing people in the name of Jesus. These people were not part of their group. The disciples didn't like it that these people were using the name of Jesus and they tried to get them to stop it. But the people kept on doing it because people were being healed. How do you think these strangers felt about Jesus? (let them answer) They liked him even if they did not know him. Jesus told the disciples not to pick on these people. God was working with the strangers and they were coming closer to Jesus even if they did not know him.
Sometimes we find ourselves feeling funny about people who go to other churches. There are Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and many other churches. Why don't they come to our church? Are we the best church? Why do they have different kinds of songs, prayers, and other parts of worship? Why don't their pastors dress like our pastor? Why do they worship on different days, at different times? Those are all very good questions. But if they believe Jesus is the Savior and that he forgives us for our sins and died on the cross to save us, we should be happy that they are serving God and Jesus.
Jesus said to his disciples that if people were not against us they were for us! We may not play on the same team, but we can play the same game. We may not say the same words, but if we all believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that he loves us and shares his life with us, then we are all Christians.
The next time you see someone wearing a school jacket or a shirt, ask him/her if they go to that school. If they say no, they don't go to that school, then ask them if they like the school and the people that go there. I think they will tell you they like the school. The next time you see someone going to a different church, ask him or her if they love Jesus. I think they will tell you that they do and they hope you do also.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Immediate Word, October 1, 2006, issue.
Copyright 2006 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 permissions@csspub.com or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 517 South Main Street, Lima, Ohio 45804.
