May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.
Could all of the kids please come up here?
Are you ready to be counted?
Do any of you know what a census is?
Why did I ask you about a census?
Why did we come to church tonight? What is special about tonight?
We are all here tonight because we believe that there was something special about a baby who was born more than two thousand years ago. We are here because we believe that boy has something to offer to us in our lives today. That boy who lived so long ago can still change our lives for the better.
Do you ever insist that God give you something?
Do you pray and expect that your prayer will come true?
Good. That little baby was just one of the people talked about in the Bible who told us to do that. God wants us to ask for things. God wants to give us things.
Does God insist that we do anything?
(Love God, love ourselves, love each other … love)
What happens when we don’t do what God asks of us?
(God forgives us)
What happens when God doesn’t do what we ask?
?
Are there other things that God asks us to do, not what we must do but some things that would be a good idea?
- Taking care of the poor and the sick
- Helping each other
- … (lots more)
Why do we go to church?
- Worship God
- Pray
- Learn
- Community
God asks us to go to Church. In church, we learn about what God wants us to do. In church, we gather so that we can do God’s work together. In one way, church is kind of like that census: we are counted by God and by each other as helpers who are trying to make the world a better place.
Are you ready to be counted?
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Jesus Emmanuel
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.
There two very important words in our Gospel today. Well, there are more, but I’m just going to look at two of them.
Jesus and Emmanuel.
Jesus – he will save.
What does Jesus save us from?
(Sin) But what is sin?
Sin is turning away from God. That is why we are called to repent. The word which we translate as repent does not mean to be sorry for what we have done. It means to re-turn. It literally means to turn back around and continue on a different path.
When I first felt called to become a priest, I sinned against God. I turned away from that call. I put my head in the sand and pretended that I didn’t hear. This is a common reaction to any call from God. When God calls to us, we don’t always want do to what God asks of us. This is sin – resisting God’s call, acting in ways which we know we shouldn’t, doing things which we know we shouldn’t.
This is what Jesus saves us from – ourselves.
But how?
Emmanuel – God is with us.
God understands us, not only as our creator, but as a fellow human being. God walks with us through all of our lifelong journey.
When we experience the joys of our life, God is with us.
When we experience the pain of loss, God is with us.
When we follow God’s call, God is with us.
When we turn away from God and walk in the path of sin and despair, God is with us.
This is the true meaning of Christmas. This is the incredible grace of God. God is with us.
There two very important words in our Gospel today. Well, there are more, but I’m just going to look at two of them.
Jesus and Emmanuel.
Jesus – he will save.
What does Jesus save us from?
(Sin) But what is sin?
Sin is turning away from God. That is why we are called to repent. The word which we translate as repent does not mean to be sorry for what we have done. It means to re-turn. It literally means to turn back around and continue on a different path.
When I first felt called to become a priest, I sinned against God. I turned away from that call. I put my head in the sand and pretended that I didn’t hear. This is a common reaction to any call from God. When God calls to us, we don’t always want do to what God asks of us. This is sin – resisting God’s call, acting in ways which we know we shouldn’t, doing things which we know we shouldn’t.
This is what Jesus saves us from – ourselves.
But how?
Emmanuel – God is with us.
God understands us, not only as our creator, but as a fellow human being. God walks with us through all of our lifelong journey.
When we experience the joys of our life, God is with us.
When we experience the pain of loss, God is with us.
When we follow God’s call, God is with us.
When we turn away from God and walk in the path of sin and despair, God is with us.
This is the true meaning of Christmas. This is the incredible grace of God. God is with us.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Slow Down
May the words of my (our) mouth(s) be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.
Where has all the time gone?
Before Advent started, Bishop Sue sent a message out to all of the clergy telling us not to plan too much. She told us to make sure that we had time to prepare ourselves for the coming of our Lord. After all, that is what Christmas is really about.
It is not about buying things. It’s not even really about giving presents to our friends and families.
It is about the coming of Jesus Christ into our lives. It is about the coming of Jesus Christ into my life.
Where has all the time gone?
This is supposed to be a time of preparation. It is supposed to be a time when we slow down, when we take a step back and take a good look at our lives.
My last week started as usual with a very busy Sunday. On Monday I had a morning meeting in Truro followed by the AGM for the co-op in the evening. Tuesday – catch up on reading, try to clean my office, Cape Smokey Christmas concert. Wednesday – laundry, the rest of the day is a blur but there was some family time. Thursday – visiting, service preparation, invites for next Sunday, bulletins, vestry meeting and getting a start on this. Friday – meeting in Sydney, celebration of new ministry for Gloria McLure-Fraser. Saturday – visioning session in Ingonish, visiting and finish writing this. Plus finding time for prayer at least twice a day. And now we’re back to Sunday.
Where has all the time gone?
And after all that, I know what I want to talk about today, but all of you are going to have to help me. There just hasn’t been time to put it all together.
With all that we have going on in our lives, how do we find the time to make ourselves ready for the coming of our Lord?
…
How do we find the time to slow down and take stock of our lives?
…
Please help me, because I don’t know. All I know for sure is that we need to do it. Even in Jesus’ time someone with as much insight as John the Baptist had trouble being sure that Jesus was the Christ. How, in my overly busy life, am I ever supposed to see what is Christ-like in those around me let alone recognize Christ, himself, when he steps into my life.
…
The busier my life gets, the more often I think I have to do it alone.
When I get overwhelmed, I forget to ask for help.
I have a feeling that I’m not alone. Is there anyone else here who has that problem?
Who can we ask for help? Who do you turn to when there just isn’t enough time or energy to do everything you need to do?
… (God)
Let us share a repeat after me prayer.
Gracious God,
When life is easy
I forget to give thanks.
When life is busy
I forget to take time for you.
When life is hard
I forget to ask for help.
Please God,
Help me to remember
To look for you in my life.
Help me to remember
To slow down and pray.
Help me to remember
That you are always there to help me.
Help me to be ready
For your birth.
Amen.
Where has all the time gone?
Before Advent started, Bishop Sue sent a message out to all of the clergy telling us not to plan too much. She told us to make sure that we had time to prepare ourselves for the coming of our Lord. After all, that is what Christmas is really about.
It is not about buying things. It’s not even really about giving presents to our friends and families.
It is about the coming of Jesus Christ into our lives. It is about the coming of Jesus Christ into my life.
Where has all the time gone?
This is supposed to be a time of preparation. It is supposed to be a time when we slow down, when we take a step back and take a good look at our lives.
My last week started as usual with a very busy Sunday. On Monday I had a morning meeting in Truro followed by the AGM for the co-op in the evening. Tuesday – catch up on reading, try to clean my office, Cape Smokey Christmas concert. Wednesday – laundry, the rest of the day is a blur but there was some family time. Thursday – visiting, service preparation, invites for next Sunday, bulletins, vestry meeting and getting a start on this. Friday – meeting in Sydney, celebration of new ministry for Gloria McLure-Fraser. Saturday – visioning session in Ingonish, visiting and finish writing this. Plus finding time for prayer at least twice a day. And now we’re back to Sunday.
Where has all the time gone?
And after all that, I know what I want to talk about today, but all of you are going to have to help me. There just hasn’t been time to put it all together.
With all that we have going on in our lives, how do we find the time to make ourselves ready for the coming of our Lord?
…
How do we find the time to slow down and take stock of our lives?
…
Please help me, because I don’t know. All I know for sure is that we need to do it. Even in Jesus’ time someone with as much insight as John the Baptist had trouble being sure that Jesus was the Christ. How, in my overly busy life, am I ever supposed to see what is Christ-like in those around me let alone recognize Christ, himself, when he steps into my life.
…
The busier my life gets, the more often I think I have to do it alone.
When I get overwhelmed, I forget to ask for help.
I have a feeling that I’m not alone. Is there anyone else here who has that problem?
Who can we ask for help? Who do you turn to when there just isn’t enough time or energy to do everything you need to do?
… (God)
Let us share a repeat after me prayer.
Gracious God,
When life is easy
I forget to give thanks.
When life is busy
I forget to take time for you.
When life is hard
I forget to ask for help.
Please God,
Help me to remember
To look for you in my life.
Help me to remember
To slow down and pray.
Help me to remember
That you are always there to help me.
Help me to be ready
For your birth.
Amen.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
What is Baptism about anyway?
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.
What is baptism all about?
What was baptism about in the time of Jesus? Does anyone know?
Well, the Jews had a ceremony called Mikvah. It was a ritual of cleansing. It was not really about sin. It was about being ritually clean so that you could enter the temple. For example, if you had been defiled by coming in contact with the dead you had to go through the ritual immersion of Mikvah to return to the temple. It was also required of those who wished to convert to Judaism. You could go through Mikvah more than once if you needed to.
John the Baptist took this ritual and adapted it as a rite of conversion to his particular branch of the Jewish faith: those who believed that the time of the Messiah was upon them. For him, baptism was about being ready to enter into the presence of the Messiah, not the temple.
In the early church, what age do you think people were typically baptised?
Usually, they were baptised as adults. Baptism gave you full entry into the church. The only time children were baptised was when a whole family got baptised together.
As Anglicans, what do we believe baptism is all about?
If you open your BCP to page 532 and read the paragraph starting “Dearly Beloved” you will see what the church believed in 1662. These explanations and prayers have changed only slightly from that edition of the prayer book.
What does this paragraph tell us?
1. Without baptism, we cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
2. Through baptism we receive the Holy Spirit.
3. Through baptism we become part of the Christian community.
4. Through baptism we become members of the body of Christ.
… …
What has changed in our understanding of baptism since these words were written?
Now we turn to the BAS. Please open it to page 156 and look at the last paragraph read by the celebrant. What does this paragraph tell us about the change in our understanding of baptism?
…
It is the sacrifice made by Jesus that frees us from sin, not anything that we can do. It goes on to talk about baptism as being a way to be made one with Christ and to be cleansed from sin.
This is a very important distinction. Christ’s sacrifice frees us from the bondage of sin. By baptism we are cleansed from sin and enter into the community and body of Christ.
This is a very subtle difference, but worth thinking about.
If you haven’t already done it, please open your BAS to page 158 and we will renew, together, our baptismal covenants.
What is baptism all about?
What was baptism about in the time of Jesus? Does anyone know?
Well, the Jews had a ceremony called Mikvah. It was a ritual of cleansing. It was not really about sin. It was about being ritually clean so that you could enter the temple. For example, if you had been defiled by coming in contact with the dead you had to go through the ritual immersion of Mikvah to return to the temple. It was also required of those who wished to convert to Judaism. You could go through Mikvah more than once if you needed to.
John the Baptist took this ritual and adapted it as a rite of conversion to his particular branch of the Jewish faith: those who believed that the time of the Messiah was upon them. For him, baptism was about being ready to enter into the presence of the Messiah, not the temple.
In the early church, what age do you think people were typically baptised?
Usually, they were baptised as adults. Baptism gave you full entry into the church. The only time children were baptised was when a whole family got baptised together.
As Anglicans, what do we believe baptism is all about?
If you open your BCP to page 532 and read the paragraph starting “Dearly Beloved” you will see what the church believed in 1662. These explanations and prayers have changed only slightly from that edition of the prayer book.
What does this paragraph tell us?
1. Without baptism, we cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
2. Through baptism we receive the Holy Spirit.
3. Through baptism we become part of the Christian community.
4. Through baptism we become members of the body of Christ.
… …
What has changed in our understanding of baptism since these words were written?
Now we turn to the BAS. Please open it to page 156 and look at the last paragraph read by the celebrant. What does this paragraph tell us about the change in our understanding of baptism?
…
It is the sacrifice made by Jesus that frees us from sin, not anything that we can do. It goes on to talk about baptism as being a way to be made one with Christ and to be cleansed from sin.
This is a very important distinction. Christ’s sacrifice frees us from the bondage of sin. By baptism we are cleansed from sin and enter into the community and body of Christ.
This is a very subtle difference, but worth thinking about.
If you haven’t already done it, please open your BAS to page 158 and we will renew, together, our baptismal covenants.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Jesus Remember Me
I speak in the name of the one, true and living God: Creator and ruler of the kingdom of heaven. Amen.
Time to learn a new hymn. It’s a very short one from Taizé which repeats over and over again.
"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom" (Common Praise # 634)
Today we celebrate The Reign of Christ or Christ the King. It is also the last Sunday of the season of Pentecost, the last Sunday in the church year.
Today is our last regular reading from the Gospel of Luke for two years, and we end with not one but two very important readings from Luke.
Our first reading is called the Song of Zechariah. Does anyone know who this song is about? … There is a huge clue near the end of it. “You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation.”
Zechariah is the husband of Elizabeth. He is the father of John the Baptist. This song comes near the beginning of the Gospel of Luke, just after Mary tells Elizabeth that she is pregnant. The song tells us of the history of Israel and the promise of a new covenant; a covenant brought to life in Jesus Christ.
"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom" (Common Praise # 634)
Our second reading from Luke takes place upon Golgotha … the place of the skull, where Jesus is being crucified along with two convicted criminals. Even upon the cross, Jesus has compassion for those who are hurting him. They torment him and he forgives them. They taunt him and he explains their actions to God.
“He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!”
“This is the King of the Jews.”
“Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
“Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”
None of them get it. None of them understand that Jesus is not there because of his own inaction. He is there because of their own sins. He is on the cross because of our sins. He is on the cross because of my brokenness, because of my sins.
Out of all of those gathered around Jesus, only one acknowledges his own faults. Only one of them does not push Jesus to save himself or anyone else.
What does he ask of Jesus?
"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom" (Common Praise # 634)
And then we have one of those words which we need to look at: “Paradise.” Paradise is not Eden, nor Heaven, nor Nirvana, nor even the Kingdom of God. Paradise is the Jewish name for the temporary resting place of the godly dead; those who are righteous when they die.
Jesus tells the convicted criminal who admits that he has done wrong, who asks Jesus not to be saved, but rather to be remembered, that they will both end the day in Paradise. Jesus tells him that he is right with God. His sins, which he freely confesses, have been forgiven.
In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high has broken upon us, shining on us, as we dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and guiding our feet into the way of peace.
"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom" (Common Praise # 634)
Time to learn a new hymn. It’s a very short one from Taizé which repeats over and over again.
"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom" (Common Praise # 634)
Today we celebrate The Reign of Christ or Christ the King. It is also the last Sunday of the season of Pentecost, the last Sunday in the church year.
Today is our last regular reading from the Gospel of Luke for two years, and we end with not one but two very important readings from Luke.
Our first reading is called the Song of Zechariah. Does anyone know who this song is about? … There is a huge clue near the end of it. “You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation.”
Zechariah is the husband of Elizabeth. He is the father of John the Baptist. This song comes near the beginning of the Gospel of Luke, just after Mary tells Elizabeth that she is pregnant. The song tells us of the history of Israel and the promise of a new covenant; a covenant brought to life in Jesus Christ.
"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom" (Common Praise # 634)
Our second reading from Luke takes place upon Golgotha … the place of the skull, where Jesus is being crucified along with two convicted criminals. Even upon the cross, Jesus has compassion for those who are hurting him. They torment him and he forgives them. They taunt him and he explains their actions to God.
“He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!”
“This is the King of the Jews.”
“Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
“Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”
None of them get it. None of them understand that Jesus is not there because of his own inaction. He is there because of their own sins. He is on the cross because of our sins. He is on the cross because of my brokenness, because of my sins.
Out of all of those gathered around Jesus, only one acknowledges his own faults. Only one of them does not push Jesus to save himself or anyone else.
What does he ask of Jesus?
"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom" (Common Praise # 634)
And then we have one of those words which we need to look at: “Paradise.” Paradise is not Eden, nor Heaven, nor Nirvana, nor even the Kingdom of God. Paradise is the Jewish name for the temporary resting place of the godly dead; those who are righteous when they die.
Jesus tells the convicted criminal who admits that he has done wrong, who asks Jesus not to be saved, but rather to be remembered, that they will both end the day in Paradise. Jesus tells him that he is right with God. His sins, which he freely confesses, have been forgiven.
In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high has broken upon us, shining on us, as we dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and guiding our feet into the way of peace.
"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom" (Common Praise # 634)
Saint Andrew the Apostle - Who is he anyway?
May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.
Today we are celebrating our connection to Saint Andrew. Who here can tell us something about Saint Andrew?
… Wait …
What is he known for?
- Fisherman
- patron of Scotland
- brother of (Simon) Peter
- the first apostles
- fisher of men
Does anyone know how much of this is from the Bible and how much is from other writings and later traditions?
… Wait …
The Bible actually says very little about Andrew. It says that he was a Galilean fisherman minding his own business when along came Jesus. The Lord called him, and Andrew got up and walked – he walked into the story of Jesus. From that moment on, his life was no longer his own; Andrew had no other story but the story of Jesus, the story that is told about Jesus, the story that Jesus himself tells.
The Bible tells us that he is the brother of Simon Peter and that, according to the Gospel of Mark, the first house that Jesus entered belonged to Simon and Andrew.
He is the son of Jonah or John and he was born in Bethsaida on the Sea of Galilee. He is always named near the beginning in any list of the Apostles. He is one of the few who clearly recognize Jesus as the Christ. He was often present when Jesus did something important.
Everything you know or think you know about Saint Andrew comes from somewhere else.
Saint Andrew appears quite often in the Gospels, but he almost never does anything. He does not have any major roles to play like Judas and Peter. He does not go off and do things on his own. He answers a couple of questions as part of a group, but he never asks questions. He never does anything to put himself forward, to stand out.
Does anyone know what it means that the church is decorated with white today? What about Saint Andrew says that we should use white hangings (the official term for them is ante-pendia which means hanging before)?
We use white when we commemorate Teachers of the Faith, Spiritual Teachers, Pastors, Educators,
Monastics, and Feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Which of these applies to Saint Andrew? Or for that matter to any Apostle?
They are all Teachers of the Faith.
Does anyone know what it means that I am wearing Red vestments? What about Saint Andrew says that we should decorate with red?
We use red in the church when we commemorate martyrs and missionaries. Which of those was Saint Andrew? If you don’t know, you will find a hint on the front of your bulletin.
He was actually both. All of the Apostles were sent to proclaim the good news to the kingdoms. They were missionaries. Saint Andrew is also a martyr. But how do we know that? The Bible says nothing about the end of Andrew’s life.
There is much information that is available about what Andrew went on to do in his later life. His life is described by some of the Church Fathers who wrote in the earliest days of the Church. There are even two books, the Acts of Andrew and the Gospel of Andrew, which can be found in a list of books rejected from canon sometime in the 4th or 5th century. In fact, there is so much written about Saint Andrew that some of it must be myth: fiction written to explain some theological or moral point.
I believe the Saint Andrew described in the Bible is a very apt choice as the Patron of this church and as one of the Patrons of this Parish. I also believe that this Parish is being called to live into the rest of what Saint Andrew stands for. As we go forward into Advent, I would challenge you to find out more about our Patron Saint. Find out what it means to us as a Parish that your ancestors chose to dedicate this church in his name. I also ask that you bring what you find and share it with our community.
Let us pray,
Brother of Simon Peter, you heard John the Baptist say: "Behold the Lamb of God," and you chose to follow Jesus. Leaving your nets, you became a successful fisher of souls. Lover of the Crucified Christ, you too were crucified like him. Teach us to live and suffer for him and to win many souls for Christ.
Today we are celebrating our connection to Saint Andrew. Who here can tell us something about Saint Andrew?
… Wait …
What is he known for?
- Fisherman
- patron of Scotland
- brother of (Simon) Peter
- the first apostles
- fisher of men
Does anyone know how much of this is from the Bible and how much is from other writings and later traditions?
… Wait …
The Bible actually says very little about Andrew. It says that he was a Galilean fisherman minding his own business when along came Jesus. The Lord called him, and Andrew got up and walked – he walked into the story of Jesus. From that moment on, his life was no longer his own; Andrew had no other story but the story of Jesus, the story that is told about Jesus, the story that Jesus himself tells.
The Bible tells us that he is the brother of Simon Peter and that, according to the Gospel of Mark, the first house that Jesus entered belonged to Simon and Andrew.
He is the son of Jonah or John and he was born in Bethsaida on the Sea of Galilee. He is always named near the beginning in any list of the Apostles. He is one of the few who clearly recognize Jesus as the Christ. He was often present when Jesus did something important.
Everything you know or think you know about Saint Andrew comes from somewhere else.
Saint Andrew appears quite often in the Gospels, but he almost never does anything. He does not have any major roles to play like Judas and Peter. He does not go off and do things on his own. He answers a couple of questions as part of a group, but he never asks questions. He never does anything to put himself forward, to stand out.
Does anyone know what it means that the church is decorated with white today? What about Saint Andrew says that we should use white hangings (the official term for them is ante-pendia which means hanging before)?
We use white when we commemorate Teachers of the Faith, Spiritual Teachers, Pastors, Educators,
Monastics, and Feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Which of these applies to Saint Andrew? Or for that matter to any Apostle?
They are all Teachers of the Faith.
Does anyone know what it means that I am wearing Red vestments? What about Saint Andrew says that we should decorate with red?
We use red in the church when we commemorate martyrs and missionaries. Which of those was Saint Andrew? If you don’t know, you will find a hint on the front of your bulletin.
He was actually both. All of the Apostles were sent to proclaim the good news to the kingdoms. They were missionaries. Saint Andrew is also a martyr. But how do we know that? The Bible says nothing about the end of Andrew’s life.
There is much information that is available about what Andrew went on to do in his later life. His life is described by some of the Church Fathers who wrote in the earliest days of the Church. There are even two books, the Acts of Andrew and the Gospel of Andrew, which can be found in a list of books rejected from canon sometime in the 4th or 5th century. In fact, there is so much written about Saint Andrew that some of it must be myth: fiction written to explain some theological or moral point.
I believe the Saint Andrew described in the Bible is a very apt choice as the Patron of this church and as one of the Patrons of this Parish. I also believe that this Parish is being called to live into the rest of what Saint Andrew stands for. As we go forward into Advent, I would challenge you to find out more about our Patron Saint. Find out what it means to us as a Parish that your ancestors chose to dedicate this church in his name. I also ask that you bring what you find and share it with our community.
Let us pray,
Brother of Simon Peter, you heard John the Baptist say: "Behold the Lamb of God," and you chose to follow Jesus. Leaving your nets, you became a successful fisher of souls. Lover of the Crucified Christ, you too were crucified like him. Teach us to live and suffer for him and to win many souls for Christ.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Saint Andrew's Day Message
May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.
Sorry ... no spoiler today. You will have to come to church. (I will post the sermon after the service)
Sorry ... no spoiler today. You will have to come to church. (I will post the sermon after the service)
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