Sermons

August 30th, 2020 Leighmoor Uniting Church Suggested hymns: TIS 132: Holy, holy, holy TIS 690: Beauty for brokenness TIS 658: I, the Lord of sea and sky TIS 473: Community of Christ TIS 477: Jesus calls us here to meet him TIS 607: Make me a channel of your peace TIS 624: Christ be my leader by night as by day Prayers of Adoration, Thanksgiving and Confession In the words of the Psalmist:  ‘O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, Make known his deeds among the peoples. Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful works.’(Psalm 105) We join our own praise to those of long ago, telling of your hand in history, the imprint of your fingerprint on our own lives and hearts. You are an amazing God, creator and dreamer of all that is good, and beautiful, and all that works together to your glory. The heavy rain last weekend, the days of sunshine during the week, the frost over night, and the cloud cover during the day…what variety there is in the little we notice. As we turn on our heaters, or see the bright red of camellia bushes, or bottle brushes-may we remember the story of the burning bush. You may not reveal yourself to us in as dramatic a fashion…but you do…if we but take note. Thank you for caring about us, Thank you for all your gifts-of the natural world, of our own family and friends. Thank you for involving us in ministry, partnering with you to bring hope to this troubled world. Thank you for the divine line-the network of prayer. And yet, as we remember your many gifts to us, we know we have fallen short of all you wish us to be…and know that we can be. Forgive us. Forgive us when we have allowed anxieties to cloud our vision of you, when we have allowed the media to dampen the seedling of hope that we water in our souls with prayer and Scripture. Forgive us when we have succumbed to our human frailties. In a time of silence, we remember other things for which we seek forgiveness. (silence). God is love. Through Christ our sins are forgiven  (thanks be to God) Take hold of this forgiveness and live your life in the power of the Spirit. Amen Bible Readings:  Exodus 3: 1-15 Psalm 105: 1-6, 23-26, 45b Romans 12: 9-21 Matthew 16: 21-28 Sermon Call…and response. That’s what happens in good Gospel music-often a soloist or preacher sings or shouts something, and the choir or congregation responds with their answer. We may have seen this on tv, or in films, or been fortunate to be at such a service in the United States. Call. In today’s reading from Exodus, we hear of Moses’ call. Some of us may envy such a dramatic call: I’m not saying we would necessarily notice burning bushes in the suburbs of Melbourne, but a neon sign in the sky with “Yes, I have called you to pursue the path to ordained ministry’ would have been appreciated. At least in my case.  I struggled with a sense of call for a number of years, thinking God had either made a mistake (but God doesn’t make mistakes) or that I had heard incorrectly.  Surely God did not mean me?  Maybe God meant my next door neighbour?  I am not smart enough, knowledgeable enough…those and many other excuses arose in my heart, and came out of my mouth. BUT When I speak of ‘call’ this applies to each one of us…for we are called to be Christian, we are all involved in ministry. Moses-he is not a priest, or a prophet. He is just minding his sheep, not expecting or indeed inviting a divine intrusion. It is his curiosity the leads him to hear the call.  Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight…” AND is surprised by what happens. God hears the cries of God’s people, and responds by calling Moses. This is God’s story, as well as Moses’s story. God hears, remembers, sees, and knows. God is intimately involved in their suffering.  This is not a God who is remote, safe and secure, untouched by the sufferings of the world.  God knows it from the inside. God calls Moses to help in the work of liberating the children of Israel from Egyptian slavery. The call. Moses has a conversation with God.  God promises to be with him.  God reassures Moses; the God speaking to and with him is the God of his ancestors, God can be trusted. It is worth noting that even though Moses recognizes the holiness of God ( ‘Moses hid his face…’ ) Moses hesitates. -he hesitates…before the Holy God. In Chapter Four, Moses protests: “suppose they do not believe me, or listen to me.” God intervenes by providing him with a staff that becomes a snake. Another sign is when his hand becomes leprous-then changes back to normal when placed back within the fold of his cloak -and another sign-water from the Nile changed to blood. Moses protests.  “Oh my Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past not even now that you have spoken to your servant; but I am slow in speech and slow of tongue.” The Lord said to him, “Who gives speech to mortals?  Who makes them mute or deaf, seeing or blind?  Is it not I, the Lord?  Now go and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you are to speak.” Yet…even after God’s wonderful promises and reassurance, Moses begs: “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.”  “Please send someone else.” Some of us may have voiced the same words, as we tested our call to be Christian, to follow Christ, to be in ministry with him. Moses dares to challenge, dares to question, is open with God. From worship-to conversation This is a God who invites interaction. This

Service August 23rd, 2020 Leighmoor Uniting Church -Rev Barbara Allen Hymn suggestions: TIS 132: Holy, holy, holy! Lord God almighty TIS 444: Dear Shepherd of your people, hear TIS 564: O God of Bethel, by whose hand TIS 590: What a friend we have in Jesus TIS 547: Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart TIS 619: Have faith in God, my heart TIS 779: May the feet of God walk with you Prayers of Adoration, Thanksgiving and Confession Loving, Creator God, We marvel at the world, the world you created out of love. We thank you for the gift of water: from rain, oceans, waterfalls, creeks and rivers, trickling streams, to the water that comes out of our own taps. We need water in order to live our physical lives.  We need you in order to live our physical, emotional and spiritual lives.  Water reminds us of our emotions: rain drops resemble our tears. Water reminds us of our spiritual life: the waters of baptism, cleansing and becoming fresh and renewed once more. Water reminds us of what can be achieved: as droplets of water form the ocean, our giving and loving  actions extend outwards to a wide community. Thank you for the gift of water.  Help us to reflect on all your gifts, and what they can teach us about our faith. God of majesty, we come before you, mindful of your power, of your might, which is bigger than any wave crashing against a cliff-yet you can be as gentle as a light mist, caressing our cheeks. As we are in awe of you, we are mindful of having fallen short of your dream and vision for each one of us. Forgive us. Forgive us for when we have become all-consumed by other things, by other matters, and have neglected you. Forgive us for closing inwards, for being in ‘lock down’, shutting out our care and concern for others. Forgive us for when we have doubted you, or when we have forgotten your love for each one of us. In a time of silence, we remember other things for which we seek forgiveness. (silence) God is love. Through Christ our sins are forgiven (thanks be to God) Take hold of this forgiveness, and live your life through the power of the Spirit. Amen. Bible Readings: Exodus 1: 8-2:10 Psalm 124 Romans 12: 1-8 Matthew 16: 13-20 Sermon I remember when I read the book The Contemplative Pastor by the late Eugene Peterson-because I was shocked when I read: ‘Pastors think people come to church to hear sermons.  They don’t; they come to pray and to learn to pray.’ I don’t agree with all of that statement; we gather together as a community of believers, to be ‘fed’ or ‘nourished’-by way of the Scriptures, by singing our praise, by listening and (hopefully) responding to the sermon, in fellowship afterwards-and by praying together. But reading that remark did make me stop to think…and I am trying to work out what would be an appropriate sermon for this time in lockdown. I have been urging you to exercise the ministry of prayer- So, this week, I am deviating from the lectionary readings, to focus instead on the topic of prayer. Prayer is a key pivotal part on our lives together, as a church body, and alone, in communion with God. The Uniting Church is called to be a worshipping church, and therefore a praying church. Prayer is original research in unexplored territory -it is prayer itself that brings us into the deepest and highest work of the human spirit -real prayer is life creating and life changing. BUT this is a warning! -to pray is to open yourself to change. -if you don’t want to change-don’t pray! Prayer is the central avenue God uses to transform us. If we are unwilling to change, we will abandon prayer. The closer we come to the heartbeat of God-the more we see our need and the more we desire to be conformed to Christ. All who have walked with God have viewed prayer as the main business of their lives. It was an integral part of Jesus’ life: Mark 1: 35: ‘In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.’ Matthew 14: 23: ‘And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray.’ There are many other examples too. When the apostles were tempted to invest their energies in other important and necessary tasks, they were determined to give themselves over to prayer, and to ministry of the word: Acts 6:4- ‘while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word.’ Martin Luther declared, ‘I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three hours daily in prayer.’ He also said ‘he that has prayed well has studied well.’ John Wesley said, “God does nothing but in answer to prayer,’ and backed up his conviction by devoting two hours daily to prayer. For these people-prayer was not something tacked on to their lives-it was their lives.  For them, to breathe was to pray. Many of us, however, are probably feeling discouraged rather than encouraged by such examples.  Those ‘giants of the faith’ are so beyond anything that we have experienced that we are tempted to despair. BUT we should remember that God always meets us where we are-and slowly moves us along into deeper things. Runners don’t suddenly enter an Olympic marathon. They prepare and train themselves over a period of time. We, too, should do the same when it comes to prayer, and our prayer lives. Now, what I’m about to say sounds like a contradiction: Real prayer is something we learn AND It is natural to pray BUT it isn’t a contradiction- as you’ll see later. -for it is natural to pray. Before the end of today we will have eaten

Service and Sermon: August 16th, 2020 Leighmoor Uniting Church -Rev Barbara Allen Hymn Suggestions TIS 156: Morning has broken TIS 693: Come as you are TIS 154: Great is your faithfulness TIS 232: O the deep, deep love of Jesus TIS 690: Beauty for brokenness TIS 653: This is the day of new beginnings Prayers of Adoration, Thanksgiving, and Confession Amazing God, You fill the skies with lights for the morning, and for the night time. You fill our lives with light: bright candles in the form of families, friends, and faith. We thank you for the light of the world, your Son, Jesus Christ. As light decreases the darkness around it, may your light lessen our anxieties. We thank you for the gifts of simplicity.   During this time of covid 19 may we remember the lives you meant us to live, where we remember others, where we have time for you, where we are mindful of our many blessings. We thank you for priceless, precious, eternal gifts of love, of compassion, of hope. And yet, O God, we are a forgetful lot. Help us to remember the bounty we have-rather than the things we do not have. Help us to sit in quiet reflection, drawing on our memories of good times, rather than be stuck grumbling about what we cannot do at this time in history. May we be reminded that prayer is action, and praying for someone, or for the community, or for the world-is an act of hope, an act of faith, an act of blessing. Forgive us when we think small-rather than when we are empowered by you, supported by your Spirit, to think BIG. And in a time of silence we remember other things for which we seek forgiveness. (silence). God is love. Through Christ our sins are forgiven. (thanks be to God). Take hold of this forgiveness, and live your life in the power of the Spirit. Amen Bible Readings Genesis 45: 1-15 Psalm 133 Romans 11: 1-2a, 29-32 Matthew 15: 21-28 Sermon Crumbs. Crummy. What does the word ‘crummy’ mean?  It originally meant something that was good.  It also meant ‘plump’-referring back to the soft or fleshy part of bread (as opposed to the crust).  Among soldiers, the word, instead of meaning something ‘good’ came to mean ‘lousy’, initially in the literal sense-infested with lice-hence our sense of ‘crummy’ to mean inferior, poor. The reference was to the eggs of a louse, which were like crumbs of bread.  So crumbs- are they good or bad? Plump or inferior?   Do the crumbs from your slice of bread or toast, get eaten, or are they rinsed from your plate? Perhaps they get vacuumed up by your dog!  Our dog Harry nearly always gets a bit of the crust from a slice of toast, or a cut off wedge from a crumpet. Vs 26: ‘He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.”  She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” When today’s reading from Matthew is set against its background, it becomes one of the most moving and extraordinary in the life of Jesus. Jesus has moved on- he is now in the region of Tyre, part of Syria which lay between Galilee and the sea coast.  Jesus is in Gentile territory. Why? This incident is wedged between two accounts of feeding-feeding the 5,000 (the lectionary reading 2 weeks ago), and the feeding of 4,000 (found at the end of this chapter). Bread.  Crumbs.  Lots of them. In the episode before today’s story, there’s a dispute about what is clean and what is unclean-the debate with the Pharisees in regard to ritual cleansing -and then, this event, the movement into foreign territory, into Gentile land. Why? This is an important move on the part of Jesus, for Jesus moves out of Galilee. He was in danger: 1. The Galilean’s support for Jesus after the feeding of the 5,000 angered Herod Antipas and his supporters.  Herod was to be feared; he had already had John the Baptist killed, he wouldn’t hesitate to kill again. Jesus was regarded as a threat, a menace. 2. Some Jewish rulers were against him because of the dispute over ‘uncleanliness’.  He broke rules and regulations.  Perhaps some may have seen him as a threat to their influence. The point is, Jesus went north for peace (many were following him due to his power, the miracles of healing, the miracles of feeding-his fame had spread) Or to escape danger -or both For the next few months, Jesus and his twelve disciples travel to Gentile lands. This is when we are shown the first glimmerings of understanding of Jesus’ true identity and mission: I’ll come back to this later. So here is Jesus, Jesus on the move, moving out of his native habitat Galilee into foreign territory. WE are on the fringe with Jesus It is important to note that when the gospel writers use geography, they use the setting to tell us something about Jesus, or something about his mission. And indeed, IS HE REALLY ENTERING FOREIGN TERRITORY? Joshua 19: 29: ‘the boundary turns to Ramah, reaching to the fortified city of Tyre.’ -where is Jesus?  In the region of Tyre! And to continue from Joshua: ‘This is the inheritance of the tribe of Asher according to their families-these towns and their villages.’ Perhaps it was not a strange land into which Jesus came, it was land God had given them long ago. But it is also worth noting, that maybe for that very reason, great bitterness had built up between the Jews and the Gentiles in this border region between Tyre and Galilee.  There was social and economic prejudice. It had been enemy territory since the time of Jezebel. So, Jesus goes north, for rest, or to escape, or maybe for both- But his fame has spread, he finds no rest.

Service and sermon August 9, 2020 -Leighmoor UC,  Rev Barbara Allen Hymn suggestions TIS 119: I sing the almighty power of God TIS 138: Eternal Father, strong to save TIS 580: Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us TIS 589: Jesus calls us!  O’er the tumult TIS 590: What a friend we have in Jesus TIS 392: At the dawning of salvation TIS 585: I heard the voice of Jesus say Call to Worship You are a God who speaks and there is light, a God who wills, and there is life, a God who moves, and there is change. Come to us, quieten our frightened hearts with the calmness and peace of your presence. Amen Prayers of Adoration, Thanksgiving, and Confession Loving, Creator God, we praise you with the whole of creation. As your human creatures, we gather in our homes to worship you. We give you thanks for diversity, for the gifts of each season. At the close of a glorious summer, we rest under the vibrant colours of autumn. Without the chill of winter, we would not be as thankful for the growth during spring. We see these seasons in our own lives. In the midst of our own storms, at sea during the world’s calamity, we would not appreciate or be aware of other gifts -stories of hope and compassion, a recognition that we are stronger than we thought, a stronger sense of you being beside us in our boat in the middle of the world’s rough waves. Give us the grace to see you walking beside us, comforting us in our struggles, encouraging us in our sadness. As we are more mindful of your presence, in awe of your majesty, may be conform more and more to the blue-print of the Christ-like nature that is your will for each one of us. With you beside us, we are able to face all that life throws at us, with courage. With you walking ahead of us, we are able to walk with confidence, for you are our God. And yet, we confess, at times, our lack of faith, especially when fears and anxieties pull us down into the waters. Forgive us. Forgive us when our own worries have prevented us from noticing the needs of others, when we have neglected our neighbour, when we have not prayed for the world. Forgive us. Forgive us when we have done things, or neglected to do things which make it hard for us to forgive ourselves. In a time of silence we remember other things for which we seek forgiveness. (silence) God is love. Through Christ our sins are forgiven (thanks be to God) Take hold of this forgiveness, and live your life in the power of the Spirit. Amen Bible Readings Genesis 37: 1-4, 12-28 Matthew 14: 22-33 Sermon (Matthew 14: 22-33) ‘A young man was apprenticed to a master artist who produced the most beautiful stained glass windows anywhere.  The apprentice could not approach the master’s genius, so he borrowed his master’s tools, thinking that was the answer. After several weeks, the young man said to his teacher, “I’m not doing any better with your tools than I did with mine.”  The teacher replied, “So, it’s not the tools of the master you need; it’s the spirit of the master you need.” -it’s not the tools of the master you need; it’s the spirit of the master you need. v.30: ‘But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” Two questions appear in the New Testament over and over again: Who is Jesus? and What is the life of true discipleship? -what does it mean to be a disciple? Today’s story, of the wind-battered boat, of Jesus’ walk on the lake- of Peter’s doubt and fears- tackle both these questions. For many of us-this is a familiar story and the trouble, or danger, with a story we know is-that we skim when we read it, or tune in a little when we hear it. -oh, that story!  I know what happens! -which is often our approach/manner when hearing the Christmas story, or the Easter story. We skim-and miss so much. That’s a danger with this story, too. So let’s take some time, listen, and allow this episode to take hold of you-and the way you live your life. Today’s story follows on the heels of the account of the feeding of the 5,000. In that episode, Jesus brings home to his disciples that they will later be in charge-that they will, in a sense, be leaders, or shepherds of the flock. When Jesus says to them ‘They (meaning the 5,000) need not go away; you give them something to eat’ Jesus wanted the disciples to realize that, as shepherds or leaders, they could not undertake that function in their own strength-they needed his power as well. So let’s keep that story in the back of our minds-because it helps us understand today’s reading. Jesus has demonstrated to them his power in the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000. Now-Jesus is to outline his power-and their role as his disciples in another way. But first- as I mentioned earlier- The question: ‘Who is Jesus?’ is answered. Here- the sea or lake-is part of the answer. Jesus has sent his disciples on ahead of him, across the lake, while he went up the mountain to pray. When Jesus finished his time of prayer, he was able to see from the mountain that the boat was having problems in a rough sea against a head wind. Between three and six o’clock in the morning (the 4th watch) he came towards them-walking across the sea. The sea. Water. The sea can conjure up two different types of experiences: The pleasurable –holidays at the beach, a picnic on the sand,

Sermon and Service: August 2, 2020 Leighmoor Uniting Church -Rev Barbara Allen Suggested Hymns TIS 156: Morning has broken TIS 157: O Lord of every shining constellation TIS 114: Blessed be the everlasting God TIS 602: O Love that wilt not let me go TIS 604: Make me a captive, Lord TIS 151: The love of God is greater far TIS 447: Lord your almighty word Prayers of Adoration, Thanksgiving and Confession O Creator God, you spoke, and the world came into being. From towering cliff faces…to our own faces. You spoke, and the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us. From a babe named Jesus, helpless as any newborn is…through to an adult, with trials and struggles, from a cluster of mix-matched disciples, educating them about you through miracles…and love… and then to a risen Christ, leading those scared and scarred disciples out in love to form small communities of faith-which became the early church. You spoke, and we were comforted. You never leave our sides, or indeed, our hearts. And yet, mysterious God, we confess that we would rather relate to the gentle comforting aspects of your being than to the disturbing, gripping aspects of your nature. Forgive us. Forgive us when we make you in the image of the God we want-a tame-able, ‘soft’ divine. We know that sometimes we need a shocking word, an unsettling experience, a night of struggle or wrestling, to bring us to our senses- a journey into the dark night of the soul-for us to be enclosed by your arms-and blessed. Forgive us when we try to hide from you. We know that your love is such that you will not let us go until you fulfil your plan for each one of us. Forgive us when we have turned away from our neighbours, when we have switched off the cries of the needy. In a time of silence, we bring before God other things for which we seek forgiveness.  God is love. Through Christ our sins are forgiven (thanks be to God). Take hold of this forgiveness and live your life in the power of the Spirit. Amen Bible Readings: Genesis 32: 22-31 Psalm 17: 1-7, 15 Romans 9: 1-5 Matthew 14: 13-21 Sermon: Wounds of Love  (Genesis 32: 22-31) Jacob-a cheat-one of the great patriarchs -a deceiver-given the name Israel -a supplanter or heel-loved by God. Jacob-a universe-disturber-yet human -a dreamer-seeking the sacred, filled with a sense of wonder and awe. He bargained with God-his response to the sacred. And now? He had wrestled all his life-with his father, Isaac, his twin brother, Esau, his father-in-law Laban. -but here was the struggle that changed him. -indeed-the change was so marked he could no longer go by the name Jacob -he needed to be renamed Israel ‘the one who strives with God,’ The fight for the blessing. In Chapter 27 he had fought for his father’s blessing-he tricked Isaac, disguising himself as Esau -a blessing cannot be retracted. But in this encounter, this wrestle, he does not gain God’s blessing by deceit, or in an underhanded manner- but by being open and honest about it. v.26: “Let me go, for the day is breaking”.  But Jacob said “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” There was a young man who approached a hermit with this request: “Show me how I can find God.” “How great is this desire of yours?” asked the saintly man. “More than anything in the world” came the reply. The hermit took the young man to the shore of a lake and they waded into the water until it was up to their necks.  Then the holy man put his hand on the other’s head and pushed him under water.  The young man struggled desperately, but the hermit did not release him until he was about to drown.  When they returned to the shore, the saint asked, “Son, when you were under water, what did you want more than anything in the world?”  “Air” he replied, without hesitation.  “Well then, when you want to find God as much as you just then wanted air, your eyes will be opened to the wonder of God.” ‘when you want to find God as much as you just then wanted air, your eyes will be opened to the wonder of God.’ Jacob wanted to find God. -to encounter God -even to wrestle with God. For Jacob, it wasn’t enough to meet God in a dream (though most of us would have been quite content with the dream of a ladder of angels linking heaven and earth!) He wanted to meet God face to face.-with all the risk that involved. (it was thought that to see God face to face involved death-it was a fatal experience-remember Moses, having to veil his face?) Jacob wanted this encounter so badly-to confront God-not in a dream, lying down, but upright, with his eyes open. Abraham and Isaac both submitted to God-the idea had come from God, whereas Jacob provoked this confrontation. Let’s pause for a moment, to consider the possible reasons for such a desire. -why Jacob was willing to force such an encounter-to risk his life. Is anything worth that much? Jacob was scared about meeting his brother Esau.  After dispatching his embassy to Esau, hoping to appease Esau’s anger with presents, Jacob was still deeply troubled.  That very night, without waiting for daylight, he decided to move his family across a nearby ford of the Jabbok river, to a place on the other side. Jacob-left alone-with his fears and doubts. He’s scared about meeting Esau(and no wonder-Jacob stole his birthright and the blessing reserved for the elder son-he’s got a lot to lose) Earlier in this chapter Jacob expressed some of his fear, asking God to v. 11: “Deliver me, please, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I am afraid of him; he may come and kill us all.” Jacob, in his

Service and sermon July 26, 2020 Leighmoor Uniting Church -Rev Barbara Allen Hymn suggestions: TIS 130: We plough the fields and scatter the good seed on the land TIS 137: For the beauty of the earth TIS 581: Happy the home that welcomes you, Lord Jesus TIS 650: Brother, sister, let me serve you TIS 703: As the deer pants for the water TIS 613: Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy Prayers of Adoration, Thanksgiving and Confession O God, you are our holy parent. We, your children, are thankful that you gather us to yourself as a mother hen her chicks. You cover us, and shield us with your love. We know you are with us as we sometimes struggle to live as human family. We thank you for the gift of family-blood relatives, friends, and church family. Help us as we reflect on the biblical family and our own. Help us to be amazed yet again, at your patient forgiving love, active in the stories of your children’s lives. Help us to praise you with undivided hearts. And yet, O Loving God, we confess the disorder in our human family. We fight, we bicker.  Others irritate us-in our blood family, and in our church family too. Forgive us. We weep when the vulnerable are abused, but often we fail to honour and respect the ones closest to us. Forgive us. Help us to welcome your Spirit within us, and among us, so that our shadows do not block out your healing Spirit that glows within us. May we feel forgiven, and strengthened so that we may, with joy, bless the lives of those whom you have chosen to accompany us on this journey called life. This is the best of all: When we are empty, God fill us; When we are disheartened, God is compassionate; When we are wounded, God brings healing; When we confess our sin, God forgives. In Christ, through Christ and because of Christ, our sins are forgiven. (Thanks be to God) Bible Readings Genesis 29: 15-30 Romans 8: 26-39 Matthew 13: 31-33, 44-52 Sermon: Are families perfect? Genesis 29: 15-28 ‘Always keep in mind that parenting is like gardening.  You plant and you wait.  Some seeds take a long time to sprout and develop.’ (Denis Waitley, 1985) Jacob-the trickster. In today’s story-Jacob is tricked.  Is this a family trait? Will he learn from someone else’s deception, will he, at long last, sprout and develop? Or Does this story-of deception and trickery, fit more in line with this quote from George Bernard Shaw: ‘If you cannot get rid of the family skeleton, you may as well make it dance.’ (repeat) Most of us remember the television series The Brady Bunch.   It was set in the 1970s.  The story of a widow and a widower, each with 3 perfect children.  They became a ‘blended’ family- but unlike most- or indeed all families, this TV series depicted a ‘perfect’ family; the dramas were usually trivial-who keeps using the telephone and those sorts of things, but, on the whole, a ‘perfect’, unrealistic family.-a family many hoped for. -our own families appeared to be flawed-they didn’t come up to the standard of the Brady Bunch -were our families the only ‘wrong’ ones? -was every other family like the Brady Bunch? What was real?   -and what was fantasy? How did this compare with our own family holidays? We have the ‘ideal’ in our mind, or we see the ads, but, in reality, someone becomes sick the first night away, the accommodation isn’t what it should be, the teenagers argue and bicker all the way to your destination -making everyone as miserable as they are! REAL FAMILIES! -the reality rarely turns out to be as we plan.  Jacob is still on the run, in exile, after tricking his brother out of his birthright and out of his blessing. Last Sunday’s reading spoke of Jacob’s incredible experience of awe and wonder -when, blessed with a divine vision, he saw a ladder of angels- ascending and descending from heaven. A schemer he might be-but he is also one chosen by God to be part of the family by whom the world shall be blessed. Perhaps Jacob’s life may take a turn for the better… Perhaps. Today’s episode is a strange story. It’s caught in the middle-between the dramatic dream of the ladder of angels, from last week-and Jacob’s encounter with God at the river of Jabbok-Jacob’s  ‘wrestle’ with God. Between those two God-filled stories, the vision and the encounter-we have a more mundane episode. Jacob arrives safely at his mother’s home town of Haran.  He finds himself among relatives.  He meets Rachel at the well, helps water the flock. Rachel’s father, Laban, welcomes Jacob, the down-on-his-luck relative from far away-into his household. At first, things go well, and Jacob is no doubt grateful that he has ended up among relatives, family who will care for him and pay him as he works for them. In a sense- he becomes part of the family business But, as in some families- when they work together-there is the potential for conflict. There will be conflict, because Laban and Jacob are similar- Both are schemers, both are tricksters! Laban has another daughter, Leah-she is older than Rachel, her eyes are either ‘weak’ or ‘lovely’- the Hebrew word is unclear.  But whichever- it does not matter, for Jacob has set his sights on Rachel.  He is so smitten with her that he offers to work for Laban for 7 years, in order to make enough money to marry her. (now, if you are married, or in a relationship-would you have worked 7 years for your loved one?) v15: ‘Then Laban said to Jacob, ‘Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing?  Tell me, what shall your wages be?’ v 18: ‘Jacob loved Rachel; so he said: “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter, Rachel.” 7 years: a

Service July 19, 2020  Leighmoor Uniting Church -Rev Barbara Allen Hymn suggestions TIS 134: Praise my soul, the king of heaven TIS 128: Sometimes a light surprises TIS 398: Come down, O love divine TIS 564: O God of Bethel, by whose hand TIS 651: Take, take off your shoes TIS 547: Be thou my vision Call to Worship Jacob woke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place and I did not know it!” (Genesis 28:16).  God is indeed in this place…wherever we are during lockdown.  We may offer God our praise, and listen to God’s word-wherever we are.  God is indeed in your living room, or in your kitchen, or sitting outside with you in the garden. The Lord is in those places too. Prayers of Adoration, Thanksgiving and Confession Eternal God, how great you are! On the first day of the week, we commemorate your creation of the world, and all that is in it. We also praise you for raising Jesus from the dead, on the first day of the week. We give thanks that you sent your Holy Spirit on your disciples, on the first day of the week. This day is, indeed, special: from Genesis to the Gospels, to the book of Acts…remembered by the church, making this day, Sunday, our Sabbath. O God, you are our holy parent. We, your children, are thankful that you gather us around you, that you cover us with your love. We come trusting in you, as we quite often struggle, trying to live together as human family-in the home, in church, in our community, and in the world. As we reflect on the biblical family story-seeing it as our own story too-help us to be aware, and then thankful for, your patient, forgiving love. O God, you are a dream maker. You have shown us your vision and spoken your word through prophet and angel, and you have revealed the fullness of your dream for all of us in Jesus Christ. Help us to grow into the dream you have for each one of us. And yet, O God, we confess that we do not always want to hear you, or listen to the dreams you have for each one of us. At times we prefer to follow our own desires. Forgive us. Sometimes we run away to avoid hearing you, in case your dreams for us are different from what we want, in case you ask of us that which might make us uncomfortable, or risk unsettling our comfortable lives. Forgive us. Forgive us when we return your love with apathy, Forgive us when we return your dreams and hopes for us with a sense of unworthiness. Forgive us when we neglect our neighbours, when we have become self-consumed. And in a time of silence, we remember other things for which we seek forgiveness… God is love. Through Christ, our sins are forgiven (thanks be to God) Take hold of this forgiveness and live your live in in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen Bible Readings Genesis 28: 10-19a Psalm 139: 1-12, 23-24 Matthew 13: 24-30, 36-43 Sermon: Dreams are more than just wishful thinking  Genesis 28: 10-19   [It was hard to choose between the Genesis reading, and Psalm 139, which is one of my favourite psalms.  Maybe I will preach on it another time.] A student went to a famous old rabbi and said, “Master, in the old days there were people who could see God.  Why is it that nobody sees God nowadays?” The old man answered- “My child, nowadays nobody can stoop so low.” -“nowadays nobody can stoop so low!” v.16 ‘Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place-and I did not know it!” The story of Jacob’s dream at Bethel is remarkable, all the more remarkable when one considers the character of Jacob. -from birth-Jacob is a ‘grabber’.   In last week’s reading:  ‘Afterward his brother came out, with his hand gripping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob.’ (‘he takes by the heel’, or ‘he supplants.’) He has duped his brother Esau out of his birthright-Esau sold his birthright -for a bowl of red lentil soup.  Now, I think my lentil soup is pretty tasty, but would I expect someone to give me their inheritance-that’s what Esau’s birthright meant-for a bowl of soup-or even for the recipe? Jacob is a shrewd, conniving, trickster! Jacob isn’t named ‘Heel’ or ‘Grabber’ -for nothing. Jacob also deceived his father Isaac; when Isaac was blind and on his deathbed, Jacob dressed up in animal skins and tricked his father into blessing him-giving him the blessing, or the inheritance that is for the eldest son –grabbing the inheritance that should have gone to Esau. Not a likeable person A shady character A trickster. Poor Esau-the not so smart brother. We feel for him- In Genesis 27, after he realizes what Jacob has done: ‘ …he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, :Bless me, me also, father!”  and  “Have you only one blessing, father?  Bless me, me also, father!” And Esau lifted up his voice and wept. Later, ‘Esau said to himself. “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.’ (Gen 27:41) Jacob gets out in time. -slips out the back door. Jacob, a shrewd, conniving trickster- flees his homeland, pursued by his estranged brother. A fugitive. He had wanted, more than anything- -to inherit the estate -to have it all -to supplant his older brother in the process. Now he’s ‘out there’ -out between Beersheba and Haran- Which is another way to say ‘nowhere’ Between the ‘known’-his family And the ‘unknown’- the future. -He is without family protection -He is without family support -banished, alone. Alone.  Vulnerable.  Nowhere. It is night, time when wild beasts roam. Jacob prepares to sleep with nothing but a stone for

Service/sermon July 12, 2020  Leighmoor Uniting Church -Rev Barbara Allen Possible hymns: TIS 703: As the deer pants for the water TIS 125: The God of Abraham praise  TIS 442: All praise to our redeeming Lord TIS 595: O Jesus, I have promised TIS 650: Brother, sister, let me serve you Call to Worship Generous God, you are beyond all imaginings, all formulas. We worship you, the great gift-giver. Gift us with grateful hearts, open hands, and gentle souls. Let us worship you today, and always, Amen Prayers of Adoration, Thanksgiving and Confession God of life, our solar system is a magnificent creation. The  galaxy, the Milky Way, contains the moon, the planets, and more than 2 billion stars. In the universe we see some of your glorious works. God of life, within the smallest insect, and inside the tallest giraffe, and in everything in between, is your breath, the breath of all creation. In birdsong and in the calls of other creatures, we hear the work of your hands. God of life, in the dampness of winter’s drizzle and showers, in the chill of a frosty morning, we feel the work of your hands. God of life, you also gift us families and friends. We thank you for the gifts of love, of friendship, of encouragement. And yet, as we remember these gifts, and many others, we come before you to confess our sins, to say we have not measured up to be the people you have created us to be. Forgive us. Forgive us when we have neglected your creation, of which we are stewards. Forgive us when we have taken the wonders of this world, this amazing planet, our home, for granted. Forgive us when we have failed to love others, or have taken their love for granted, especially in families. Forgive us if we have favourites.  May we see that danger, and seek to love all, equally. In a time of silence, we remember others things for which we seek forgiveness. God is love Through Christ our sins are forgiven (thanks be to God). Take hold of this forgiveness, and live your life in the power of the Spirit, Amen   Bible Readings: Genesis 25: 19-34 Matthew 13: 1-9. 18-23 Sermon What a troublesome family!  This legacy of Abraham’s! From the near sacrifice of Isaac-to trickery and deception! We go from drama, through to a love story where Isaac is comforted after his mother’s death, due to the love of his wife, Rebekah, to this! Sibling rivalry, and the disastrous results of favouritism! Problems in parenting are not confined to our times! School holidays-usually good times for families, can also be stressful-emotions are on edge, tantrums erupt, personalities come into play. Just think of a family holiday-for some of us that was quite some years ago-and now-with lockdown-impossible to do-so no long car trips.  But we can remember, can’t we? The elbowing in the back seat…the “Are we there yet?” The whinging, the petty arguments. Or shopping.  “I want what she’s got!” Or, if one child is given something-the other thinks it is better than what they received. In my husband’s household-growing up-if a cake or dessert had to be sliced-one of the children would cut…the other would choose which slice they would have. (that scheme worked in a two-child household!) Peace! Ah-if only it had been that simple in today’s story. We see struggle. We see sibling rivalry. We see the dangers of favouritism. Today’s reading needs to be read, with another unassigned lectionary reading in mind. Next week we are three chapters ahead, in Genesis 28 BUT this rivalry, and stealing, happens again in Chapter 27, when Jacob steals Isaac’s blessing from Esau. We need to have these stories side by side to really grapple with the consequences. The consequences of having favourites. One Australian comedian said that when a parent says to his or her child: “Darling, I don’t have favourites,” you can bet your bottom dollar that parent means “You are not my favourite!” Is that true? It is interesting to note the many similarities between this story of the birth of Jacob and Esau, and the birth of Isaac. Rebekah is barren, as was Sarah-the Lord finally granted Isaac’s request for a child (which is odd in itself-how were Abraham’s descendants going to be ‘as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore’…without a child?  Of course he had other children-Ishmael, and others with the wife he married after Sarah’s death, Keturah…but the promise was thought to be continued through the line of Isaac.) Rebekah’s utterance “Why do I live?” as they struggled within her.  She wasn’t prepared to put up with this (yes, childbirth is difficult-it is life threatening-we forget how dangerous it is and why prayers were recited in times past).  Rebekah was at the end of her tether, so she went and asked God about it, or consulted God through an oracle, which goes to show though desperate, she was not as yet resigned to her fate. ‘the elder shall serve the younger’ : family law.  Usually the elder son was entitled to an inheritance which was double that of the younger; however, in Mesopotamian legal practice, the sharer in the larger portion could be designated, contrary to the actual order of birth.  The interesting thing about this is, that this was later outlawed (in Deuteronomy 21:16 [setting out laws regarding the children from more than one wife]: ‘on the day that he wills his possessions to his sons, he is not permitted to treat the son of the loved as the firstborn in preference to the son of the disliked, who is the firstborn.’ The tradition behind this narrative as well as behind Genesis 27, is a focus on the prehistory of the nations of Israel and Edom. The contrast between the two is highlighted: Esau is a man of the outdoors, who is given to hunting. Jacob, on

Service and sermon.  July 5, 2020  Leighmoor Uniting Church -Rev Barbara Allen Suggested hymns: TIS 135: All things bright and beautiful TIS 137: For the beauty of the earth TIS 129: Amazing Grace TIS 604: Make me a captive Lord TIS 585: I heard the voice of Jesus say Bible Readings: Genesis 24: 34-38, 42-49, 58-67 (Isaac and Rebekah) Song of Songs 2: 8-13 (romantic love) Matthew 11: 16-19, 25-30 Prayers of Adoration, Thanksgiving and Confession Creator God, we give you thanks for the richness of life. During these challenging times may our souls be nourished by your gifts -of creation -of family and friends -of church family, church history, and our church tradition. In Song of Songs we hear words of romantic love.  We give you thanks for the love we have received during our lives-be it romantic love, parental love, love for and from our children, love from our friends, our colleagues, our neighbours, from our animal companions. Love that makes us feel special. Love that gives us a glimpse of the love you have for each one of us, your creation. As we dwell on the beauty and scope of your love we confess that we have not always shown our love to You -to others -or to ourselves. Forgive us for neglecting those who are on the fringe of society, those who are lonely, those who are the ‘forgotten.’ Forgive us when we feel overwhelmed by the crisis of covid-19-help us to keep praying, to keep loving-to have HOPE. Help us to bring comfort, joy, and hope to those who need it, especially during these trying times, when the ways we would normally reach out to show love-such as in a hug, or with a handshake-are now forbidden. Forgive us when we have given up, saying it is all ‘too hard.’ You never give up, you never proclaim ‘it is too hard’…neither should we. In a time of silence, we remember other things for which we seek forgiveness. God is love. Through Christ our sins are forgiven (thanks be to God). Take hold of this forgiveness, and live your live in the power of the Spirit. Amen. Sermon  ‘O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy.’ No, it is NOT Christmas in July (and don’t get me started about THAT tradition!) BUT sentiment, or emotions we associate with the Christmas Season, could be the title of today’s sermon. Today’s readings are much brighter than last week’s Bible reading from the Old Testament, from the Hebrew Scriptures. -the near killing of Isaac by his father, Abraham. It was necessary to tackle the dark stories of the Bible, -to acknowledge the dark tales in our own lives BUT Today, today we have some lightness, some comfort, even some deep joy. In the continuation of the story in Genesis, we have a love story-of Isaac and Rebekah-and much needed comfort for Isaac after his mother Sarah, had died: ‘He took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her.  So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.’(Gen 24:67) ‘Love, love, love. All you need is love…’ -from the pens of Lennon and McCartney, and from the Bible! Song of Songs is also part of today’s lectionary, speaking of romantic love: ‘The voice of my beloved! Look, he comes, leaping upon the mountains, bounding over the hills. My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag.’(Song of Solomon 2: 8-9) Ah, the Mills and Boon of the Bible!    These days we probably  wouldn’t describe our romantic interest as a ‘gazelle.’   I wonder what an Australian equivalent might be?   A brumby? A roo?  Back to Song of Songs– enchanting poetry.  It may not make it on today’s Hallmark Card, or as an instant card on the internet, but for the times-it was sheer beauty. Over the centuries, this book of the Bible, which, by the way, doesn’t mention God, has been a source of embarrassment.  Why was it included?  Was it a mistake?  Why do we have a book about physical love in the Bible?   To compensate for what was seen as a mistake, or, if not a mistake- meant to mean something else, scholars came up with explanations. From the 2nd century AD, some Jewish writers wrote that this scripture was a symbol of God’s love for his people Israel.  Later, during Christian times, from about the 4th century, these poems were viewed as allegory, describing Jesus’ love for us, the church, his bride.  This idea is pivotal in the Book of Revelation. In Revelation 19: 7-8: ‘’Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.’ And in Revelation 21: 1-2: ‘’ Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth…And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.’(Rev 21: 1, 2) The church was viewed as Christ’s bride.  In Catholicism becoming a nun meant to become a ‘bride of Christ.’ Some of you may remember the ABC series with that title, about 20 years ago. (I just did a check on Google-it came out 29 years ago-and is now available to watch on ABC iview). In the series, a young woman growing up in the 1960s, walks away from her fiancé, to join a convent, after feeling she has received a call to become a nun. In some female orders, when the postulant receives ‘the habit’, becoming a novice, she has a wedding, or a marriage ceremony-dressed in white with a veil, to symbolize her marriage to Christ.  She then receives a habit, and wears a white veil. This ceremony is described by Karen Armstrong, in her autobiography Through the Narrow Gate**: ‘The congregation waited breathlessly.  Then right at the back of the procession a single file of five young girls entered the

Service June 28, 2020  Leighmoor Uniting Church,  Rev Barbara Allen Hymn suggestions: TIS 454: Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness TIS 137: For the beauty of the earth TIS 619: Have faith in God, my heart TIS 599: Take my life, and let it be TIS 658: I, the Lord of sea and sky TIS 547: Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart Prayers of Adoration, Thanksgiving and Confession O loving, merciful, nurturing God, we gather in our homes-as a scattered community-apart-but joined. We are physically distant, but emotionally and spiritually connected. We raise our voices to you, wherever we are, separated, but as one voice, to worship you, our Creator God. We thank you for each new day. We may feel the monotony of being in lock down, but if we take on its lessons of valuing the preciousness of life, rekindling an appreciation of the simple things in life, then -we can always give you thanks, and see this experience as a time of building up our faith and our trust. We thank you for the magnificent planet earth, for its many beauties and delights. From bird song, to frog croaking, from vast stretches of wilderness to blue ocean, we give you thanks. We thank you for family, our blood relatives, our church family, and our friends. Although we know you love us dearly-at times, we still have questions. We know that faith is about believing in things unseen…but we are human. Forgive us when we demand to know everything…for when we are cross because we are denied answers. Forgive us when we neglect our planet, our earthly home, Forgive us when we become self centred, only concerned about ourselves and our loved ones…when we neglect others in this world. Forgive us when we act and sound like head-strong toddlers-demanding what we see as rightfully ours…and clutching at things, instead of sharing. In a time of silence, we remember other things for which we need forgiveness. God is love Through Christ our sins are forgiven. Thanks be to God. Take hold of this forgiveness and live your lives, as forgiven and much loved people, in the presence of the Spirit. Amen  Bible Readings: Genesis 22: 1-14 Psalm 13 Romans 6: 12-23 Matthew 10: 40-42 Sermon In Jerusalem, inside the old city, stands the great gold mosque. The Dome of the Rock.  When you see photographs of Jerusalem-this gold dome stands out.  The mosque is built over the place where the temple stood-the only piece left is what is known as the ‘Wailing Wall’- many Jews go there to pray, to place prayers from others-written on paper-into the cracks in the wall- to ascend to heaven. The Rock over which the shrine is built is sacred to both Muslims and Jews. In Islam, this is thought to be the place where the prophet Muhammad, founder of Islam, is believed to have ascended into heaven. For Jews, it is a special holy place, the site of today’s story from Genesis. – Mt Moriah-the rock where Abraham laid Isaac and raised his knife to kill him. On a visit to Jerusalem, I saw this rock, or a portion of the exposed part of Mt Moriah. As I gazed at it-my skin prickled. -my skin prickled. -a wild and windy mountain! The story from Genesis 22 of the near sacrifice of Isaac is one of the most troubling, disturbing, and powerful stories in the Bible. -The story defeats those who would use the Bible as a book of answers- because, even after we have finished interpreting the story, there are still unanswered questions. A story of a God who might threaten the life of an innocent child is deeply disturbing, perplexing. Remember that Abraham has set out on a journey with God-on the basis of little more than a promise -a promise that, through him, would lead to the entire world being blessed. Yet- without descendants, there will be no blessing to the world, through Abraham and Sarah. Much is at stake here in how the story ends. Last week we heard of the story of Ishmael and Hagar.  Abraham had had a son through his wife’s slave, Hagar. Then Sarah bore Isaac. Last week’s story saw Abraham sending Hagar and Ishmael out into the desert -in a sense-Abraham lost his son Ishmael -he never saw him again. Now-is he to lose his only other child, Isaac? Other questions- Is Isaac on the altar, similar to Ishmael in the desert? Is Abraham, who sent Hagar and Ishmael at Sarah’s command-any different from Abraham who acts at God’s command? Is Sarah’s ‘get rid of Ishmael’ now replaced by God’s ‘get rid of Isaac?’ Can God protect and provide for both Ishmael and Isaac? Questions, questions- this dark story is a story ringed with questions. Let’s enter this story for we can gain strength from it-eventually! ‘After these things God tested Abraham.’ God, after assuring Abraham that through Isaac his name would endure in his descendants -directs him to slay this child of promise -and risks leaving him as he was before-alone in the world without prospect for the future. “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I will show you.” -‘your only son’ -and we jump up and down and say “What about Ishmael?  He’s your son too!” In one Jewish commentary the writer tells of an old tradition-that Abraham was tested by God because he favoured Isaac over Ishmael. ‘Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love …’ But-but-if we were to assume for a moment that God wished to punish a sinful father-why would he inflict a worse punishment on the son? ‘So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; he cut the wood for